The Center for Biological Diversity will promote protecting animals — and humans — by giving away 100,000 endangered species condoms on Earth Day. The condom packages are a collaborative effort of both the Center and artist Roger Peet.
Each package will depict one of six species particularly affected by human overpopulation, including the western snowy plover, a small bird common to the shores of Santa Barbara. The Fish and Wildlife Service considers Santa Barbara’s waterfront to be a critical habitat for the migratory shore bird, which appeared on the federal endangered species list in 1993.
Roger Peet
Endangered species-themed condom campaign
The packages will also feature the Florida panther, the dwarf seahorse, the hellbender salamander, the leatherback turtle, and of course, the infamously imperiled polar bear.
Amy Harwood, the Center’s Human Overpopulation organizer, said that the condoms would serve as outreach tools for people to raise awareness of humans’ impact on plants and animals.
“The more people we crowd onto our planet, the fewer resources there are for already-endangered species like panthers, sea turtles and snowy plovers,” wrote Harwood in a statement. “If we’re going to deal with why plants and animals are going extinct at a staggering rate, we have to make human overpopulation part of the conversation.”
Roger Peet
Endangered species-themed condom campaign
Harwood believes that these condoms will be the “conversation-starters,” as they are “incredibly effective in making the connection between overpopulation and animal extinction.”
Volunteers will be handing out the condoms in all 50 states at Earth Day events on April 22. The mass distribution of the contraceptives is part of the Center for Biological Diversity’s “7 Billion and Counting” campaign, which identifies human overpopulation as the main cause of environmental ruin.
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Comments
Distributing single use bags at Earth Day?
Scooter (anonymous profile)
April 10, 2012 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You're welcome to clean it out and re-use.
SBLoc (anonymous profile)
April 10, 2012 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No Johnny Apple seed this year.
Ken_Volok (anonymous profile)
April 10, 2012 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Environmental change does not equate with "environmental ruin." Environmental changes have been occuring way before mankind was here ... and will continue changing if and when mankind is no longer here.
tomm_b (anonymous profile)
April 11, 2012 at 5:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's ALL about starting the conversation and these certainly will do that. Love the humor used here to get the message across.
MediaPro (anonymous profile)
April 11, 2012 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Itsa small audience that wants to break for a conversation about the environment while sheathing up. Love the cause, fun way to promote, let's not get our hopes up- the guy with the condom has enough on his plate!
Ken_Volok (anonymous profile)
April 11, 2012 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is awesome. I remember getting some of these at the Green Festival a few yrs ago. Though I don't really need them as I have had a vasectomy. I highly recommend it. It is so awesome never having to worry about pregnancy or having birth control. Sex feels so much better both physically and mentally. Of course if you are whoring it up you'd still need STI protection, but if you are w/ a safe partner, sex is AWESOME after vasectomy. And it was only $800 at Planned Parenthood and only took 20 minutes and a few days of taking it easy to recover.
VeganDave (anonymous profile)
April 16, 2012 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)