BY TONY LIPKA
Protesters dressed in penguin onesies marched the streets of midtown on Wednesday, Oct 18th. The march was held to spread awareness of the effects of climate change in Antarctica. It followed the March to End Fossil Fuels held a month ago. Together they displayed a recent uptick in grassroots climate activism. And while the penguin protesters were small in numbers, they shared similar goals.
Organized by climate nonprofit Only One, and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, Wednesday’s protest occurred because of an upcoming meeting in Hobart, Australia, where officials will consider proposals for new marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean. These protected areas would cover more than one and a half million square miles of ocean. According to Only One’s website, it would “be the largest act of ocean protection in history.”
The marchers were diverse and seemed more than enthusiastic to be part of the movement: men and women, young and old, families, and photographers. Most wore zip-up penguin costumes supplied free of charge, though some opted to ditch the suit for slightly more subtle penguin hats. Regardless of garb, all participants repeated a unified, “Waddle waddle you waiting for? Climate action can wait no more!”
Only One co-founder and New York native Aaron Kinnari marched alongside. “While Antarctica is quite remote, what happens there will impact all of us across the world,” he said. “We need to take action to try to protect Antarctica for all of us and for future generations, but we are missing the grassroots mobilization and public support to drive action.”
Starting off on 3rd Ave. and 45th St., participants met with organizers at The Perfect Pint bar to discuss the route, goals, and plan of action. They would march to the United Nation’s headquarters and back; along the way, snapping pictures and filming videos to spread the word on social media.
When the march was halted mid-route, with NYPD officers citing a public event at the UN for the stoppage, the penguins changed course, took a detour, and continued to get their message across, drawing crowds, attention, and awareness.
Climate rallies held in September reiterated a national concern for the climate. But a march in support of Antarctica sought to demonstrate that, while some solutions are local, action may be needed in places widely ignored by the media, and in everyday discussion.
And, who doesn’t like penguins?