Steve Irwin's daughter to finish ray film

LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin's eight-year-old daughter last night (14.09.06) vowed to copy her father and swim with stingrays.

Brave Bindi even said she will film the same giant fish who killed her father when she presents her own wildlife TV show 'Jungle Girl', scheduled to air in January.

Wow! Read more here...


My sentiments:

Go Bindi, go Bindi! I hope the show is great! I'm so proud of this little girl, it brings a tear to my eye. No doubt critics will say some terrible Irwin media pig forced the little girl to painfully work after the death of her daddy. No. No way. Her mother would only let her do it if she REALLY really wanted to. So it must be very important to her to keep doing what she loves, and what her father loved. I'm really impressed. If the show is good, I'll do everything I can to promote it. I was really worried the ball would drop on Steve's work, and the Irwin momentum and good works would fade away. I really didn't see this Bindi thing coming. I feel a renewed hope in my heart... which is good because I've been feeling so sad and truly worried since losing Stevie.

I will continue to find my own way of making up for Steve's absence, but now I will rest a bit easier as I do it. Thanks Bindi! You have my support and admiration!

Irwin fans line up for memorial tickets

There were remarkable scenes in Queensland today as Steve Irwin's fans queued up for tickets to his memorial service.

3,000 tickets were given away in a matter of minutes for next Wednesday's public farewell to the man known as the Crocodile Hunter.

Details here...

Animal Planet to air 15-hour Steve Irwin marathon

Animal Planet, owned by Discovery Networks, will air a 15-hour package ''Croc Rules! Remembering Steve Irwin'' from noon to 3 a.m. Sunday featuring the best of Irwin's programs as well as interviews with celebrities and crew members who knew Irwin and promotions for his Wildlife Warriors conservation fund. The fund supports study and protection of endangered animal species around the world.

More about show here...

PETA Replies, blaming Steve Irwin for Stingray Killings

NOTE: This is an automatic reply based on certain words in your e-mail to PETA. Due to the large volume of mail that we receive, we are unable to respond to each e-mail personally, so we hope you will forgive this form letter, and expect that this reply will cover the most pressing questions and concerns you may have. We read all mail and will respond separately to concerns not addressed by this reply.


Thank you for contacting PETA.

The death of Steve Irwin is truly sad, and we have sympathy for his family during this difficult time. But from PETA’s perspective, Irwin was not always a great friend to animals, and he often did more harm than good.

Please know that it was not our intention to be disrespectful by speaking out at this time. However, one of PETA’s primary aims is to raise awareness of how animals suffer when people use them for entertainment (http://www.PETA.org/actioncenter/entertainment.asp). Because the media is glorifying and misrepresenting the way Irwin interacted with animals, it’s vital that we set the record straight right now, while this story is still in the news. PETA found it necessary to speak frankly about how, in the name of entertainment, animals were often mistreated by Irwin during his career, so it would be disingenuous for us to say otherwise following his death.

Irwin’s television program typically involved invading animals’ natural environments to agitate, harass, harangue, upset, and disturb wildlife. He also subjected animals to the stress of public appearances and television shows, where they could not understand what was going on. It’s important to keep in mind that when wild animals appear on television shows or are used in photo ops, they are typically being forced into frightening, loud, and stressful situations for no reason other than to bring publicity to an animal trainer or handler.

Although Irwin’s verbal message of animal conservation was often on target, his actions spoke louder than his words. He undoubtedly encouraged others to keep wild animals as pets and to mishandle and harass animals in the wild. Now we're receiving word that stingrays are being killed and mutilated, apparently by distraught Irwin fans in some sort of twisted revenge, illustrating his failure to set an example of true respect for wildlife.

For more thoughts on this subject, please see http://www.HelpingAnimals.com/f-wildlifewarriors.asp and http://www.guardian.co.uk/australia/story/0,,1865124,00.html. For tips on how you can help wildlife, please visit http://www.HelpingAnimals.com/wildlife.asp.

Thanks again for writing and for sharing your thoughts with us.

Sincerely,

The PETA Staff

PETA vs The Late Steve Irwin

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) spokesman Dan Mathews said: "It comes as no shock at all that Steve Irwin should die provoking a dangerous animal," and "He made his career out of antagonising frightened wild animals, and that's a very dangerous message to send to young children."

More in this article: PETA sheds no crocodile tears for Steve Irwin

I wrote a letter to PETA letting them know what I think of their perspectives. My email follows.

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You're right, children should not try those things, yet you have lost me as a supporter and contributer. Why?

1. Your publicly released comments about Steve Irwin so near to his death are disgusting. Your organization shows no class or consideration making comments like that during the first week since his death. I am astonished at your disrespect. This shows me your desperation for media attention of any kind. What a mistake.

2. Your comments indicate your lack of appreciation for the improvements Steve Irwin brought to the animal world. Especially when he has had a hand in the opening and maintenance of animal conservation centers the world over. His research and articles are helping me right now to plan my own facility and program. No thanks to you.

3. Again I'm completely shocked, this time at your utter ignorance of animals and animal behavior. The creatures Mr. Irwin would seek out to show the camera left the scene slightly ruffled and completely unharmed. Yes, even the snapping snakes. You can't put a price on the love and awareness those encounters fostered in the minds and hearts of his audience. You don't think it was worth it? What do you think would better help raise animal conservation awareness? Out of sight out of mind? Or maybe you find our nation's under-funded zoos a more humane alternative?

4. He rescued animals. He relocated animals who would have been murdered otherwise. You have a problem with that? Apparently you do, since that was his main work. That makes you not only not one of us, but an enemy of our cause. What a shame. You are attacking a man who has brought support for similar issues as you are supposedly concerned with. You are attacking a man who has done more physical good than you have. I appreciate your political actions, but it pales in comparison to the work men like Steve Irwin have done.

In closing, I would like you to know that I will only promote your organization as the corrupt and ignorant establishment you have proven it to be recently.

You just alienated yourself to the majority of the animal loving world community. Good job. You should fire who ever made the decision to take this position on Steve Irwin.

Regretfully and sincerely,

Llana Grossman
steveirwinmemorial.blogspot.com


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Write your own to: Info@peta.org
And tell them I said hello.

Steve Irwin and the Fellowship of the Croc

As the man best known in the world for being Australian, Steve Irwin carried a burden. The action man's death on Sept. 4, after he was speared in the chest by a stingray's barb, has exposed his country's cringe—its tendency to seek foreign validation. The self-styled crocodile hunter made his mark elsewhere before anyone took notice of him in Australia; his khaki-costumed animal-adventure act and "Crikey!" cry were at first deemed over the top for local audiences.

More from this great insightful article here...

One of My Favorite Amature Video Tributes to Steve

Terri Irwin to join tribute next week

STEVE Irwin’s widow and two young children are expected to make their first public appearance since his death at a special “celebration” next week.

More here...

You didn't know him, he's dead and gone. Get over it.

Um... no. You got 1 out of 3 right, but sorry, that's a failing score my friend.

I don't know about you, but I'm a bit sick and tired of people who were NOT viewers or admirers of Steve Irwin trying to pick and prod at those of us who are so affected by his death. A rather noisey minority criticize the way he lived, the way he died, and then berate the rest of us for caring so much.

Here is the first thing they need to understand. We love Steve. We love his family. We love his work. Ok, go ahead, attack his work if you are ignorant enough to feel you need to do so. Not everyone understands the value in what Steve did. If they did, the world would be a better place. But you're human, so go ahead and rip his work to shreds. Play the family card and say he recklessly widowed his wife and left his kids without a father. Fine. Do you know what I say to that? So what! We love him. We care about him. We don't need a reason for that. We hurt because we love. We feel the loss because we'll miss him. Nothing beyond that need be explained.

To the critics I would ask, have you ever loved anyone? Someone who is human? Now, I see Steve as an incredible inspiration, made huge achievements in conservation and endangered species awareness in this world, saved the lives of who knows how many tens or hundreds of thousands of animals directly, and in his determination sent positive effects rippling out across the planet... but we'll set that aside for now. Say he wasn't, but we love him. Have you ever loved an imperfect person? Their death would still effect you. How they died wouldn't matter, be it car wreck, plane crash, stingray, or rended by a croc. You loved them. You would mourn them, as we are. I wish these people would start pulling their heads out of their asses and at least comprehend this simple fact.

Beyond that there are the achievements of the Irwin family. I admit, these feats being so misunderstood or unappreciated really bothers me. So how about this, instead of complaining, I challenge the critics, the cowards, the armchair fear merchants, the rude and disrespectful people who don't have enough class to wait until a man is burried before they start saying cruel things about him. I challenge them all. Come talk to me. I'll interview you, you interview me. I don't care which. Stop taking shots from the cheap seats and actually come down to the floor. Maybe we can go volunteer at an animal rescue organization for a weekend. Just the two of us. I'll help roll up your sleeves so you can get your hands dirty. That way the next time you talk, you might actually know something about the topic you're speaking about.

Irwin memorial revealed today

STEVE Irwin's family is expected to reveal details of his funeral and a public memorial service today.

More here...

Surfers gather for memorial to Steve Irwin

BEERWAH, Australia -- Hundreds of surfers formed a circle in the waves off Australia's eastern coast and cast sprigs of wildflowers into the Pacific Ocean on Sunday to honour "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin.

Read more here...