Polar bear near Churchill. Photo copyright: Wendy Worrall Redal
While polar bears have long been at the forefront of concerns over climate change, International Polar Bear Day — which happens every year on February 27 — has been set aside to draw special attention to their plight. And there’s no better way to honor it and show your concern for polar bears than by taking a few deliberate steps today to reduce your CO2 output.
Polar Bears International has all kinds of ideas, from simple steps like turning down your thermostat a few degrees and avoiding idling your car in drive-through lines, to bigger moves, like organizing a community service day to install weather stripping for seniors or coordinating a campaign to install solar panels at your workplace.
If you’ve got kids (or even if you don’t!), teach them about polar bears by doing something fun like making polar bear “cubcakes” to share with their class, or adopt a polar bear through WWF and get a plush toy and other special polar bears gifts.
Want to learn more about polar bears? Check out National Wildlife Federation’s fact list detailing “13 Things You May Not Know About Polar Bears” or explore WWF’s polar bear page, which features a delightful slide show and lots of information on the species, as well as ways you can help raise awareness about polar bears and work for their protection.
Naturally, the best way to celebrate polar bears is to see them in all their native, wild majesty in the northern realm they call home: join NHA on a polar bear tour to Churchill, Manitoba in the fall of 2012. There isn’t a more exciting nature expedition on the planet for all who love the King of the Arctic!
Here’s to Ursus maritimus,
Wendy
