Without a doubt, the worst thing about this summer has been the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. If you haven’t heard about the BP oil disaster, then I’m guessing you’ve recently scuttled out from beneath a rock. For the rest of us out there who are well aware of the oil spill and cringe every time we think about it, here’s something even worse for you to consider: between April 30th and June 25th, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recovered 555 sea turtles from within the oil spill affected area. Of those 555 turtles, 417 were dead.
Man. And that’s just the beginning. Turtles are certainly not the only aquatic life being affected by this nightmare, but of the seven species of sea turtles in the world, five of them inhabit the Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore, the most endangered species of sea-turtle, the Kemp’s Ridley turtle, also lives in the Gulf.
All of this is extremely frustrating and distressing news. But what can the average person do? Well, Tantrix Tattoo, a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada based tattoo shop is doing their best to answer that question. Shop owners Leanne and Mike Thompson-Hill have devised a one day campaign on July 4th, during which time turtle tattoos will be done for $50 each. All the proceeds from these tattoos will then go to Florida based The Turtle Hospital, an organization which works to rescue sea turtles from the oil saturated Gulf of Mexico. In addition to offering tattoos on July 4th, Mike Thompson-Hill will continue to do turtle tattoos for $50 for the remainder of the year, with all the proceeds going to The Turtle Hospital.
“The tattoo shop is already nearly booked solid for the event, but shop owner Leanne Thompson-Hill says it’s as much about motivating others to make a difference as it is getting the art.
“We’re all a part of it. We all use oil; we all use gas; this is all our problem,” she said.”
This is just awesome. I really applaud the Thompson-Hill’s for getting involved in a unique way and doing their part to incorporate their tattoo shop into the ongoing effort to help out with one of the worst manmade disasters in decades. I’d also like to encourage other tattoo shop owners or artists out there to consider doing something similar. What a great way to really emphasize the kindness and sense of community that is so prevalent amongst tattooists and their art. If we could get something like this going at even one tattoo shop in every state or province that have tattoo shops, a really big difference could be made.
Come on folks! Let’s make it happen.