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vantid — Elegy
Published: 2009-02-26 01:54:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 5214; Favourites: 336; Downloads: 150
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Description
she will not come back, she will not come backthough the stars hang their tears in the trees
And tireless Orion lies spent in his tracks
she will not come back
she will not come back to me
~Dave Carter
In 2006 the Baiji, or Yangtze River Dolphin, was declared functionally extinct. This means that if there are baiji still alive, the population is too small to sustain a healthy genetic pool for continued survival. There is still a chance these fine creatures will pull through but the odds are slim.
In Chinese mythology the baiji is the reincarnation of a princess who was drowned for not marrying a man she did not love. The River took pity on the poor girl and brought her back as the Goddess of the River. The baiji is a symbol of peace and prosperity.
It's too late for baiji. Hundreds of people tried to save them, bless them, but they couldn't. Efforts are now in motion to save the other endangered cetacean in the Yangtze River, the finless porpoise.
I pledge all print proceeds will go to the Baiji Foundation which works to conserve the fauna and flora of the Chinese waterways.
Painted for the Endangered Ark project.
[link]
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Comments: 33
China sets a poor example for developing countries who want to be seen as "progressive" by allowing rampant and irresponsible economic development. The "people-first" attitude of many First World proponents of economic development in poorer countries is wrong on many levels. Developing countries need to put the environment FIRST before allowing development to proceed.
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What a tragedy. Such beautiful and unique creatures.
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Utterly heartbreaking. Thank you so much for making this...
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I feature this wonderful work in my journal. [link]
Hope that is okay with you. If you don't want it there, please inform me and I will remove it immediately.
Bye Sunny
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It's so depressing that they are extinct 
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Beautiful. I was gutted when I learned they are extinct. I remember looking at pictures of them as a small child and thinking them weird yet amazing.
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It makes me sad. It really does. *sigh* The poem is beautiful, as many sad poems are. Life's strange that way. The most beautiful stories and poems are often the saddest. Wow... now I've made myself depressed.
Faved.
*cries*
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You have been featured in this news article [link]
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A truly stunning piece created in teh name of a truly worthy cause. Kudos to you!!
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So beautiful... the colors, the mood, and especially the animal.
It's frightening and heart-breaking how many endangered species there are today.
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This painting has such a sad feel to it. I was so sad (and angry!) when I heard about the baiji being extinct, though I heard recently they actually found a couple...not that it does any good. But it's not surprising, considering the Yangtze river is so full of garbage you can't even tell there's water under it...
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When I heard about the effective extinction of the river dolphin some years ago, I was so sad. I am just as heartbroken now at the loss of such a beautiful, unique species. Your painting is beautiful, and your efforts to help those species that might still be saved admirable. I've already signed up to buy a pack of cards.
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the water shine is so beautiful...the emotion of the pic is a bit sad, too.
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how sad, and such a beautiful myth behind it. your work is incredible.
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Amazing piece. Love the light breaking through the water.
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Beautiful work...stupid Chinese and their total lack of environmental laws.
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Yeah, have you seen pictures of the Yangtze River? It looks like a dump, you can't even tell there's water under all that trash....makes me want to puke.
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Hadn't seen that but wouldn't be the least bit surprised. What I really don't like is that dam on the Yangtze River, its wreaking hell on the environment and the humans that live near it. I am a strange sort of environmentalist, I love absolutely animals but I also see how things like letting your river turn into a trash dump will ruin life for humans too. How else do you get money crazed, totalitarian governments to give a damn about the environment? Example, air quality in Beijing and how it became a joke before and during the Olympics.
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Well, yeah, chances are if an evironment/area is crap habitat for animals, it's crap for people too....though, getting people to care about people can be difficult also. People, animals, resources, all they are to those people in charge is numbers and figures and statistics that can be used to make money...
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Very true but that is why you have to create a message that is less emotionally driven and more keyed to people in power with things like statistics and ways to make money. One example of this is all the conservation efforts in South Africa bring in lots of tourists which gives the government an incentive to support those programs even more. Also you have to show those same people how a bad environment is loosing them money, like the air quality issues in Beijing. Obviously the idea of having athletes not going to the Olympics because they are worried about the quality of the air they are breathing isn't good for PR. Most environmentalist arguments are based on emotional appeal, which is great with the masses but the people at the top tend to be very calculating and thus the arguments you use to persuade them have to be too.
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When I first heard that this beautiful creature went extinct, I was crying, I was so mad...
But, this picture really lets its beauty live on. Gorgeous, gorgeous work.
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I still have hopes that we'll see these guys make a come back, no matter how small the population, there's still the chance.
Absolutely lovely, I think this is by far my favorite art I've seen for this deck yet.
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How sad. I hope deeply that they do find a way to preserve them even if it's in a zoo. Gorgeous art though Vantid.
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Incredible! I love your attention for detail, especially with the light and reflection of the water on the dolphin!
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This is beautiful, it looks so real and the background and lighting is stunning!
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That's awesome - and it's a beautiful painting! I love that water!!
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What a sad plight, we are losing so many species in that area! It's a beautiful painting, I hope your proceed drive goes well!
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