Penguin Pullovers

My mother used to have a wise saying about how the world could be a much better place:

“Each one, help one.”

Mama explained to me that back in the cruel days of slavery, when it was against the law for slaves to read or write; anyone who was able to learn against all odds, was obligated to secretly teach someone else. In our modern times, Mama altered the phrase... Thankfully, there is no longer a need for: "Each one, teach one" (in the majority of the world nowadays); but there is still an urgent need—sometimes a very desperate one—for: "Each one, help one."

Can you imagine what a difference for the better that would make, if each one of us reached out to help someone else? Here is one way many people found inner peace and fulfillment by 'threading a needle': Helping to protect little Fairy Penguins, by knitting pullover jumpers (sweaters) after an oil spill; to prevent them from ingesting toxins when preening.

How did this endeavor come about? It all started in Australia. My absolute favorite, most enjoyable thing to do is to wait until the sun has set over Phillip’s Island; then watch the little Fairy Penguins come ashore like clockwork, every night. It truly is a magical, breathtaking sight which I wish every human could experience! Fairy Penguins are the smallest penguins of them all. I cannot express how much I love these brave little penguins! Enthralled watching them come ashore, I think to myself:

"How brave they have to be, to swim past the jaws of the many predators in the sea who gather, forming a daunting barrier between the little penguins and the seashore! How courageous those little penguins who make it onto the rocky shore have to continue to be; waddling as quickly as they can, past the flying predators in the air, who are just waiting to swoop down to snatch them up! How fearless the surviving fairy penguins have to be, to journey right past all of us humans (who are frozen in our seats, mesmerized by quietly observing them from the bleachers); in order to finally reach their homes—little burrows they’ve made in the distance up this sandy seashore!”

Answering the call for knitting to help Fairy Penguins endangered by an oil spill… I often wished I could protect those brave little penguins, but there was nothing I could do. Then one day, a human-made disaster happened that put them in even greater danger! A tragic oil spill… How could rescuers stop the Fairy Penguins from ingesting the dangerous oil when they were preening? A desperate call for help was sounded near and far. This time, there was something people could do to help. A pattern was made available on the internet for knitting little jumpers (sweaters) which would prevent the fairy penguins from injecting the toxic oil when they preened—until the oil could be better cleaned up.

I guess plenty of other people desired to help the precious Fairy Penguins, too; because THOUSANDS of people responded! Most have never had the privilege of seeing the results of their efforts—they never got to experience the once-in-a-lifetime sight of cute little Fairy Penguins waddling ashore, wearing an assortment of darling tiny jumpers (sweaters). But, they didn't do it for the marvelous sight. They didn't blow a trumpet ahead of them and seek special recognition for the precious pullover jumpers (sweaters) they knitted and mailed... They did it for the sheer pleasure of helping fellow-beings that we share this planet with. But, for those who were privileged to see first-hand the results of their volunteer efforts; what a wide variety of the most adorable fashion they ever did see, as these little ones waddled up the beach, modeling their kind gifts—penguins on parade!

Currently, no more pullover jumpers (sweaters) are needed, as the danger is long past (thankfully); and Phillip's Island now has plenty on hand stockpiled, in reserve. Some of the extra jumpers (sweaters) are being used up on toy penguins, sold in their gift shop, to raise money for conservation efforts in this area of the 'Land Down Under'.

This was a very fulfilling, successful project... I can't describe the joyful heart and peace of mind it gave. In addition, it left all who participated on the lookout to stand ready to help all creatures, great and small, affected by any future (heaven forbid) oil spills. Since humans are responsible for oil spills, isn't it also our obligation to help the animals adversely affected by them? I am reminded of (Proverbs 12:10) regarding how we should feel about animals with whom we share this 'big blue marble':

"The righteous one takes care of his domestic animals, but even the mercy of the wicked is cruel." (Proverbs 12:10)

Oil spills cause suffering and death. Sea creatures live in the sea, yet oil spills hinder their ability to swim! Similarly, oiled feathers hinder seabirds' ability to fly! Here are some reasons why it doesn't take much oil to devastate entire populations of seabirds and sea creatures.

Why injesting or inhaling oil is so dangerous to wildlife... We all know that injesting any contamination is dangerous. But, there is more danger than just an upset tummy and digestive issues, from injesting oil—plus even more detrimental effect from inhaling oil! Congested lungs, damaged airways, emphysema, hemorrhaging, eye and skin lesions, stomach ulcerations, etc. Oil spills have a horrible effect on wildlife, leading to decreased weight and growth—if they manage to survive. Sometimes we forget that when fur and feathers are matted by oil, animals can die of hypothermia, because they lose heat quickly. Even some of the creatures who live in the sea drown! It's impossible to swim when your flippers are stuck against your body, from being coated in oil. Then, there are the long-reaching side effects we don't often consider... For instance, if the animals use smell to identify their young, they sadly often reject and abandon their poor babies, because oil has masked their baby's natural smell. Yes, besides lesions in kidneys, livers, stomachs; oil spills even adversely affect a creature's parenting!

Illegal dumping is pollution done on purpose... While this project highlighted the best of humanity, polluting on purpose highlights the worst. It's hard to believe that anybody would ever be so callous as to pollute the water on purpose, with oil spills being so dangerous to wildlife! However, I was shocked, absolutely shocked to discover, that illegal discharges of oil from ships is taking place—purposely ruining pristine environments, perhaps more often than we can imagine. Research such as a 2002 Canadian study off the Grand Banks over a 10-year period, revealed that 90% of the oil spill they collected was mixed with lubricating oil—found only in the bilges of ships! Let me repeat that figure... 90%! So, there is no doubt that illegal dumping by unscrupulous people is an enormous problem, with ships that traverse Earth's oceans. This makes me so extremely angry! I hope that by spreading the word, perhaps it will shame people into thinking twice, before they purposely discharge oil from their bilges into our oceans. Sadly, it's more likely, though, that it will take increased funding and increased Coast Guard-types of international patrol, to protect Earth's precious waters from people who break the law and pollute it on purpose.

Final thoughts… Cute little animals may especially tug on our heartstrings, but they certainly aren't the only ones who need our help! For instance, sewing clubs can help alter clothing for the disabled—who have unique needs, when it comes to clothing!

But, we can also help others in many other ways besides threading a needle... Lately, because of my grown daughter's volunteer efforts with "Make a Wish" (for terminally ill children); I've become interested in donating to cut down the lengthy list of children waiting for their dying wish to be granted. (Do you realize the sad fact that many of the children die before their wish can be granted, due to not enough funding?)

My daughter has also made me aware of the need to stop community parks from filling their playgrounds with wood chip mulch, because it prevents children in wheelchairs from even being able to enter a park like that! There is so much we can do to make this world better if we would all resolve to, as my Mama used to plead: "Each one, help one".

I hope something I’ve written will spur your sincere motivation to reach out and help someone in need—be they animals or people. It doesn’t matter what you do or who you help, just always be on the lookout to do SOMETHING to help someone else—to lift them up. Nothing will fulfill your own life more... By doing so, you truly will be helping yourself, the most. I believe it’s truly what gives us humanity, in God’s image—when we care about others’ well-being, whether they are animals or people.