From Cat to Crap | By Sarah K. Burkhalter, Sarah van Schagen | Grist | The Grist List

From Cat to Crap

11 Jul 2008

SOL catz

Oh hai. Did you noes global warming hates teh kittehs?

Doll of the wild

When the late Croc Hunter's daughter took on his cause, it was cute. When she developed her own clothing line, it was less cute. But a Bindi Irwin doll that says "Crikey! Let's go help wildlife"? We can only hope her 15 minutes are nearing extinction.

Photo: AP/Seth Wenig

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ADVERTISING POLICY

Photo: Terracycle

Here comes the Capri Sun

The fertile minds at TerraCycle are partnering with Kraft to turn junk-food wrappers into fashion-forward bags, umbrellas, and shower curtains. Next up: Worm-poop Uggs? You know we'd wear 'em, Tom.

Running out of time

Attention sneak freaks: Puma has teamed up with a renowned wildlife photog to create a collection of shoes representing endangered species. Be quick to get a pair, though, because they're disappearing fast.

Photo: atmos

Photo: The Brown Corp.

Haven't you turd?

We'll take this crap: a portable cardboard poop-box, complete with degradable doo bags and cute li'l turd pic. And if we're getting paid to pee, all the wetter.

Seen something weird, wacky, or wonderful in the environmental world? Think it deserves a place on The List? Send it our way.

Grist does not testify to the quality of consumer goods, guarantee the pop-cultural significance of trends, or vouchsafe the accuracy of news stories featured in this column. For all you know, we just made it up. Use it at your own risk.

Sarah K. Burkhalter is Grist's news producer.

Sarah van Schagen is Grist's assistant editor.

Comments: (2 comments)

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Bindi Irwin doll

You know, I can understand all of the concern about Bindi's being so much in the spotlight since the passing of her dad, but I have to disagree with the comment above about wanting her 15 minutes to be up.

If we have any hope of really transforming this planet into a place with a long future, we need kids like Bindi to inspire other kids. I know the talking doll is a little over the top, but if it does help kids to really look outside their windows and learn, get involved, etc, I can't see how this is a bad thing.

I am a little disappointed that the columnists' think that Bindi's stepping into the shoes of her conservationist father is "cute". Would you rather his work came to a screeching halt? Think what you want about the Irwins, but they not only talk to talk but fully walk the walk - it's not just words but solid action. We need more of that! And we have a better chance of achieving that on a larger scale if kids get into the game earlier than later.

Just MHO, of course.

by whalegeek at 12:51 PM on 11 Jul 2008

catz; bindi; sneaks

The shots of kittens, etc., are presumably posed, but very cute nonetheless. I particularly like the small cat lying next to the fuzzy little dog on a street in, maybe, Cuzco. The plight of homeless cats and dogs around the world, especially in undeveloped countries, is a serious ethical issue.

Unfortunately for our attention span, and our heart, we happen to be living in an age when we are aware of countless serious ethical issues, and we risk growing desperate, or callous. Let us be strong, and devote ourselves to the one or two causes that most move us personally. In the case of homeless cats and dogs, IFAW is a good place to start researching.

On Bindi: Well, the commercial tactic does indeed look classless. Hopefully we shall continue to remember her father for more than "Crikey!" And we might even be confident that WhaleGeek is right, and that the doll might encourage some girls to consider dedicating themselves to wildlife conservation, which they might not have considered before.

On the Puma "endangered animal" line: Far too subtle. This is part of what is becoming a classic problem: We do not make ourselves more green, including more wildlife-loving, by buying stuff.

Style-wise, they might work at, say, the opening of a show at a gallery.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 12:54 AM on 13 Jul 2008

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