What may have been the cutest animal to ever have lived, suddenly died this past week. Knut, the polar bear (5 December 2006 – 19 March 2011).
If a photo is not enough to move you, then test your humanity by watching this video.
If you aren't moved to the brink of tears or beyond, get to a doctor immediately. You may have "heartless empty chest disease" more commonly known as Dick Cheney Syndrome.
http://abclocal.go.com/...
BERLIN -- Berlin's beloved polar bear Knut, who rose to international stardom as a cuddly cub hand-raised by zookeepers, died suddenly on Saturday, a zoo official said.
The world-famous bear died alone in his compound without warning, bear keeper Heiner Kloes told The Associated Press.
"It was a completely normal day: He was with the female bears before, who had just been shut away," Kloes said. "Then, Knut strolled around the enclosure, went into the water, had a short spasm and died."
The polar bear is facing near-certain extinction this century without swift and dramatic action to curb and reverse climate change. And yet, they are not even listed as endangered. Under Dubya,
the EPA finally listed them under the Endangered Species Act, but most agree the move is too little, too late.
The Interior Department lists the polar bear as a "threatened" species--one at risk of becoming endangered--due to dangerous declines in their sea ice habitat
Better than nothing, sure. But kicking the can down the road is how this majestic species, just one more canary in our coal mine, is perilously close to vanishing from the wild.
http://www.adn.com/...
...what should be done when the primary threat to polar bears is the loss of their sea- ice habitat?
"How do we fix that?" the judge asked Kassie Siegal of the Center for Biological Diversity, the lead lawyer for the environmental coalition seeking to change polar bears from merely threatened to endangered status.
"Deep and rapid greenhouse gas reductions," Siegal said.
Altogether now:
No fucking shit!
http://www.sfgate.com/...
the zoo said it was starting a special account to accept donations on Knut's behalf, which will be used for polar bear research and the preservation of their habitat.
"He has brought joy to us, the Berliners and many others around the world," the zoo said in a statement. "Knut also was an icon for the endangerment of his species and natural habitats of all wild animals."
The tears I am shedding today are from the loss of this one animal, but also from my intense anger at mankind for our superlative arrogance and selfishness.
How much suffering, misery, and extiction is required before we wake the fuck up?
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Online condolence book:
http://www.zoo-berlin.de/...
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