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I still remember the Exxon Valdez oil spill. I remember watching the nightly news in our kitchen, seeing the footage of animals covered in oil, getting beached on the shore, and struggling to move. Those images were haunting and they stay with me to today. It was at this time that I first fell in love with sea otters and my lifelong interest in marine wildlife began in earnest. I remember thinking at the time, there is no way that the powers that be would allow another disaster like this to happen.

Cut to 21 years later, almost to the month, and another disaster struck. We watched it in the office and wondered how far the impact would spread. For almost six months, the oil flow was continuous and we sat horrified - worried that it wouldn't end and that we were powerless to stop it. Now, however, it's been almost a year, and I don't hear much about it anymore.

How can things be so powerful and then lose their impact? Do we become desensitized when no longer faced with the immediacy of the threat. Or perhaps, if the threat isn't in our backyard, it's easier to forget? Well I for one, don't want to see this happen again.

We worked on a video with Defenders of Wildlife last summer. If you visit Defenders of Wildlife's Gulf Page you can sign a petition urging President Obama to reinstate the ban on offshore drilling. Defenders still needs 75,000 signatures, so please consider signing up. It takes less than a minute.

Thanks!
Alicia

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From the Defenders website -

Experts say that the spill threatens at least 400 species, at least 19 vital wildlife refuges and communities dependent on the Gulf’s multibillion dollar commercial and recreational fishing and tourist industries.

President Obama has ordered a temporary moratorium on offshore drilling in new areas, but Big Oil and their political allies remain committed to industrializing our coasts… even at the cost of another ecological disaster.

Help save the lives of the whales, sea turtles and other wildlife that could be lost to the next drilling disaster. Urge President Obama to reinstate the moratorium on drilling off our coasts.

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Adopting an Animal - a dilemma

When we were naming one minute ideas for What You Can Do, one of the first that came to my mind was Defender's of Wildlife's Adopt an Animal Program. Through Defenders, you can symbolically adopt a wild animal in order to help fund protection for that specific species. We joked around a bit over here about what we would do if they allowed us to adopt an animal for real. Would I keep my seal in my bathtub? That might prove unpleasant to house guests (and the seal). Lucky for me and the animal, the animal gets to stay in his or her own house (or habitat).

I have given these adoptions as presents to many people. Depending on your gift level, your adoption comes with a certificate and a stuffed animal, making the gift ideal for a kid you know that loves animals.

During my one-month, one-minute challenge, I knew that I wanted to adopt an animal, but which one? I've long been interested in endangered species. In fact, growing up, my bedroom door featured a giant poster of many of the world's endangered species. As I went into my room, I'd pass their faces and get outraged that the wolf, the elephant and the manatee were looking back at me.

So now comes the dilemma. As part of my challenge, today I'm going to adopt an animal, but I can only adopt one. Which one? Normally I'd go elephant, or wolf but I just saw the Animal Planet's program - Polar Bears, Spy on the Ice, and I was once again blown away by these creatures and devastated by their loss of habitat.

Being the chicken that I am, I brought it up for vote in the office, and we decided to adopt a Polar Bear. I shall name him Peepers.

What would you adopt?
Take care - Alicia