HELP FOR AUSTRALIAN
ANIMAL ORPHANS
The wildfires in Australia
have had a devastating effect
on wildlife. An estimated
one billion animals have died.
Out of this tragedy, a cottage
industry is growing to protect
the young survivors and
homeless animals.
The Animal Rescue Craft
Guild of Australia put out a
call for volunteers to make
cloth pouches which are
essential for marsupials like
kangaroos, wallabies, possums
and wombats and also to
make mittens for koalas for
their burnt paws.
The Facebook appeal
has had an overwhelming
response. The post comes
with careful instructions
for the right way to choose
materials and make pouches
for the different animals.
"Interested potential donors
should follow instructions
rigorously as some materials
and patterns are not
appropriate for small animals.
The group has also received
a sufficient number of koala
mittens and is now seeking
bat and kangaroo pouches."
WHAT IS A
FATBERG?
This amazing image shows a "fatberg"
that blocked a drain in Australia. Similar
fatbergs have blocked drains in America
and the United Kingdom. One recent
headline in Bloomberg News reads "In
Fatberg Fight, NYC Goes to War Against
Flushable Wipes."
Bloomberg describes how $1.1 billion
is being spent to deal with this sewage
problem around the world. Wet wipes are
described on the packaging as "flushable."
THEY ARE NOT. These fatbergs are
created by wet wipes, disinfectant and
other similar towelettes being flushed
down the toilet. Unlike toilet paper which
does break down when in contact with
water, these wet wipes often combine with
cooking fat and do not dissolve but instead
form huge blockages in the sewers.
In London, one such blockage was
removed and is now exhibited in the
Museum of London. It was estimated to be
820 feet long.
Methods to break down fatbergs are in
development and lawsuits are attempting
to get the word "flushable" removed from
packaging. But for now, the job of drainage
and water quality is much harder because
of these items.
YOU can play your part in helping make
our environment cleaner by NOT flushing
wet wipes, diapers, make-up remover pads
and anything you might suspect will not
dissolve in water and instead, throw in into
your garbage.
Source:
The
Guardian
Photo
from
Animal
Rescue
Craft
Guild
Facebook
page
showing
a
wombat.
Of f icialKidsMag.com • FEBRUARY 2020 • 43
