Steve Irwin ~ Wildlife Warrior

[LibraLiz1973]

So the Animal Planet is showing a documentary on Steve Irwin and I am SO sad about his passing.
As a teacher, I was always happy to share Steve's documentaries with my classes. Through the years
his work has really been a valuable teaching tool- especially in the years since Bush took office.. with what
has been happening with the environment, Steve's work was a great way to get young children (I teach Kindergarten)
to better understand how important conservation and being concerned for the environment really is.

During the show they put up a graphic for
http://www.wildlifewarriors.org.au/
Which is where you can go to make a donation to the organization that Steve & Terri started.

I know some of you were fans as well, so I thought I would post it here.


Also, for anyone wanting to send condolences, this site is up:


http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/crochunter/steve/condolences/condolences.html
"To see the incredible impact the "Crocodile Hunter" has had on so many people is beyond words. As thanks, we'd like to share with you a few of our favorite posts. We'll be adding more in the coming days. Please feel free to add your memorial message."



Oh- and did anyone see this? Touching
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=fa2e32e9-c32f-4df0-ae88-41808b6a4cc7&k=21494

In the surf memorial, about 300 boardriders, some dressed in khaki shirt and shorts of the kind that Irwin adopted as his uniform, paddled out from Alexandra Headland, carrying sprigs of wild flowers in their teeth.

"They paddled out probably about 300 metres offshore and made a very large circle," said lifeguard Nigel Morton. "There were several surfers in the centre of the circle that conducted the service."

A wildlife fanatic, Irwin, 44, was also an accomplished surfer.






Reading this article from an Australian paper, I was really touched by the fact that not only did he die doing what he loved- it also happened while he was doing something for someone he loved.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Croc-Hunter-Steve-Irwin-dead-in-accident/2006/09/04/1157222051588.html
"Mr Stainton said bad weather had stopped the filming for their documentary about some of the world's deadliest sea creatures.

Mr Irwin instead decided on a whim to shoot footage for his daughter Bindi's upcoming series.

"He said 'I might just go off and shoot some segments for Bindi's show, just stuff on the reef and little animals," Mr Stainton said"








http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/09/09/tribute_wideweb__470x434,0.jpg

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/09/08/zoo9906_wideweb__470x300,0.jpg

[Gold Metal Flake]

1. Thank you for this post.

The good ones die young.

[LibraLiz1973]

3. I'm just so heartsick over his death

People like Steve and Al Gore are a big part of the reason I am so passionate about teaching my students about the environment.

[BlooInBloo]

2. that's not a stringray. Now THAT'S a stingray!

:rofl:

[Gold Metal Flake]

4. .

:eyes:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

5. My God Are You An Insensitive Jackass. Shame On You.

[BlooInBloo]

7. Yah, whatEVER.

I guess understanding of the gravity of the loss of the world's foremost animal reporter continues to elude me.

In case the sarcasm above was too subtle: he WASN'T JFK. He WASN'T (even) Princess Di. He was more or less just a joe with a tv show about animals. Who had the height of good fortune to die doing what he loved.

Perspective, people, perspective. Lincoln was mistaken in saying it, so we'll shamelessly commandeer his words - the world will little note nor long remember anything Irwin did. Does saying that somehow "disrespect" or "diminunize" Irwin? No - not unless one has an absurdly inflated opinion of Irwin's stature from the get-go. It's that antecedently-hypothesized stature that needs to go.

[LibraLiz1973]

10. Right... Whatever

I mean really- why would anyone WANT to mourn a man that was loved by millions of people? Why would anyone want to mourn a man who was a champion for animals the world over?

You can try and throw words at it all you want, but your post was rude and inflammatory. And whats worse, I think you meant it to be just that.

I mean really... your being a real prig about this. Your right- he was not JFK. But that doesn't mean he should not be mourned.
Your comparing apples to oranges and I can only conclude it is because you like to poke fun at people for showing emotion.

Sorry to have emoted in your presence. In the future I will be sure to ask if the person I wish to mourn meets your criteria.
Have you instructed those around you not to mourn when you die because you are not important enough?

[Bluebear]

12. I'm wondering who on my ignore list this is . . .

. . .then again, I guess there is a reason :)

[LibraLiz1973]

14. ROFLMAO

Ok, you just made my day!!

:yourock:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

11. You really don't get it, do you?

Steve Irwin was more than an animal reporter. He was a role model to millions who lived his passion and shared it with the world. He is a once-in-a-generation human being and I'm honored to have shared the universe with him for a time.

[LibraLiz1973]

13. Exactly. The legacy Steve leaves

is that there are millions and millions of children who learned about animals from him.
That's not a small accomplishment, and I am quite comfortable mourning him.
I'm completely repulsed by the poster who is trying to say he should not be internationally mourned
(and, in fact, wont even be remembered in 6 months!) because he just was not relevant enough.

[HannibalBarca]

15. Alot of things continue to elude you my friend.,

Your verbose tirade notwithstanding had you actually took time to understand and investigate what Steve Irwin had accomplished with the money derived from his "animal reporting" then perhaps even someone as intellectually vacant as yourself might have come to appreciate him. The shows were a means to an end in order to further his conservation goals of which there were many.
It's odd that especially coming from this website I see so many ready to belittle based on what they see on television, a characteristic often ascribed to right-wingers with respect to Bush and those same people hypocritically call for "perspective" when they themselves ostensibly lack that very feature.

[LibraLiz1973]

17. True

[CatWoman]

16. Bloo

ordinarily I'm right there with you, side by side, but this time I must join the others in their disdain for your uncalled for ridicule and scorn for this man.

Please stop it.

Please take it somewhere else.

[LibraLiz1973]

6. I'd ask what you find funny about this

But with people who enjoy being insensitive there is often no point.

[citizen snips]

9. crikey!

[DemExpat]

8. Thanks, for years I enjoyed his passion and his authenticity

and was deeply saddened by his passing, but now I feel those who loved him will do what they can to continue his wildlife and conservation work in his spirit.

He loved life, loved the earth and its creatures, and wasn't afraid to live OR to die - what a lovely soul.

:loveya: Steve :loveya:

DemEx

[greccogirl]

18. All those people

on surfboards 300 yards out in Australia? Not me!