Photo:Jerzy Strzelecki/WikimediaLiverpool will be transformed into a polar wonderland as more than 200 brightly decorated penguins go on display across the city to raise awareness of climate changeWWF is an official partner of 'Go Penguins', a public art event commissioned by Liverpool City Council as part of Liverpool Year of the Enviornment 2009. The 3-5 foot recyclable fibreglass penguins have been decorated by celebrities, artists, schools and community groups, will form the centrepiece of Liverpool's Christmas extravaganza, and is part of a series of special penguin-themed events taking place across the city.WWF hopes the spectacle, which will remain on display until January 2010, will help to raise awareness of climate change.
"Go Penguins is a great initiative to encourage environmental awareness and remind people of the need to act to tackle climate change now," says Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK. "Between half to three-quarters of major Antarctic penguin colonies could decline or even disappear if global temperatures are allowed to climb by more than 2°C. It's just one more reason why the world's leaders need to agree to a strong, binding and fair global deal to tackle climate change when they meet in Copenhagen this December."
Almost 100 schools have participated in the project, naming and decorating the penguins before they go on display in the city. Celebrities and WWF supporters Paul O Grady and Graeme le Saux have also contributed penguin designs. Liverpudlian Paul O Grady's 'Owl Ma Penguin' aims to recreate the 'old Spirit of Liverpool'. Graeme le Saux's penguin, named 'Vincent', is based on the Van Gogh masterpiece 'Sunflowers'.
'Owl Ma' and 'Vincent' form part of 50 selected penguins to be auctioned at a special event in February 2010, with WWF receiving 25 per cent of funds raised.
The Go Penguins event coincides with the launch of WWF's new 'Adopt a Penguin' campaign, launched autumn 2009. Under the scheme, wildlife lovers can adopt 5 Adélie penguins in an area of the Antarctic. The adoption packs make a great Christmas present, with participants receiving updates throughout the year about their 'adopted' penguin, while raising vital funds for WWF.
Actor and comedian Alistair McGowan (WWF Ambassador and voice of WWF's Adopt a Penguin campaign) said, "I'm delighted to support Go Penguins which delivers the green message right into the heart of Liverpool and into the hearts of the people of Liverpool. Penguins are one of our most treasured animals, yet due to the impact of global warming their time may be running short. Go Penguins is a wonderful way to inspire us all to think about the environment and our future and the little things we can do differently that may save the lives of this beloved species."
"Penguins are iconic creatures and Adopting a Penguin with WWF is one of the best ways of giving continued support to the species at this crucial time. The scheme is also a great way for wildlife lovers - young and old - to appreciate and learn about our natural world. But we also have to all make sure that we make wholesale changes to our wasteful lifestyles in order to halt the climate change which is putting the lives of these fabulous animals (and so many like them) in mortal danger."
