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 Steve Irwin:
Animal Planet
Steve Irwin:
Born: February 22, 1962 Essendon, Victoria, Australia. Died: September 4, 2006 Batt Reef, Queensland, Australia Occupation: Naturalist, Zoologist, Conservationist, Television Personality Spouse: Terri Irwin Children: Bindi Sue and Robert (Bob) Clarence Website: CrocodileHunter.com.au
Born to Lyn and Bob Irwin in Essendon, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Irwin moved with his parents as a child to Queensland in 1970. When Steve was young he used to catch crocodiles with his dad.Irwin described his father as a wildlife expert interested in herpetology whilst his mother Lyn was a wildlife rehabilitator. After moving to Queensland, Bob and Lyn Irwin started the small Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, where Steve grew up around crocodiles and other reptiles. Irwin became involved with the park in a number of ways, including taking part in daily animal feeding, as well as care and maintenance activities. On his sixth birthday he was given a 12-foot scrub python. He began handling crocodiles at the age of nine after his father had educated him on reptiles from an early age.[1] Also at age nine he wrestled his first crocodile, again under his father's supervision.[2] He graduated from Caloundra State High School in 1979. He soon moved to Northern Queensland, where he became a crocodile trapper, removing crocodiles from populated areas where they were considered a danger. He performed the service for free with the quid pro quo that he be allowed to keep them for the park. Crocodiles that he caught were sent down to the family zoo. He stayed in North Queensland for around five years. Irwin followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a volunteer for the Queensland Government's East Coast Crocodile Management program.
 
The Crocodile Hunter
Steve Irwin's Australian Zoo
 
The Crocodile Hunter
The latest News from your ABC News
  
Death of the crocodile hunter
Live Video Footage of Steve Irwin
Mike dolan remembers TV naturalist Steve Irwin, killed by a stingray today Crikey, welcome to Crocodile country," was the sort of phrase that made Steve Irwin famous. That and the fact that he could wrestle a 12ft crocodile with great bravado in front of a camera. Today, however, the khaki-clad Australian died after a stingray's barb pierced his chest while filming in Queensland. The creature is not usually considered a killer; Irwin, 44, is only the third Australian known to have died this way. For decades, he had taken calculated risks with all sorts of wildlife, relying on his knowledge of animal behaviour and personal experience to beat the odds. But the man who became known as 'The Crocodile Hunter' – after his US TV show of the same name– was more than a showman. He was a passionate conservationist and wildlife advocate. It all began in Queensland where he was brought up. While his father Bob was officially a plumber, and his mother Lynn a maternity nurse, the family's consuming passion was rescuing local wildlife. In 1970 the hobby became a full-time job when the Irwins opened a reptile park. Young Steve came to share his parents' obsession with wild creatures, and soon displayed an uncanny rapport with them, able to sense their moods and preferences. Although he eventually claimed the title 'The Crocodile Hunter', Irwin's methods differed drastically to those of earlier hunters. Rather than ending up as handbags, the crocs bagged by Irwin were later released in a new home deeper in the wild, or at the Irwins' reptile park. In 2001, Irwin appeared in a cameo role in the Eddie Murphy film Dr Dolittle 2. This led to a featurefilm, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, and a string of documentaries, including The Crocodile Hunter Diaries. Within a few years, he was one of the most famous faces on US TV. Irwin was the type of man who would walk out of a Chinese restaurant if he spotted shark fin soup on the menu. He hated the idea of a threatened species being brought to the edge of extinction because it made a tasty appetiser. He recently agreed to appear on the Australian children's TV show The Wiggles, knowing that children's attitudes towards wildlife were essential to its future survival. "My husband has a unique ability to jump through the TV screen and into your lounge," his American wife, Terri, said recently. "He grabs you and drags you into the wild so you share his wonder and excitement.
" FIRST POSTED SEPTEMBER 4, 2006 Steve Irwin robbed nature of its wildness
Irwin robbed nature of its wildness Crocodile Hunter’s TV shows reduced creatures to their crudest elements, says pete clark While we mourn the untimely passing of Steve Irwin, crocodile hunter and daredevil, we should remember also the untold damage he did to the fine art of the nature documentary. A long tradition of exquisite craftsmanship, patient fieldwork and painstaking editing has been threatened by the emergence of the 'nature nasty', a genre pioneered by Irwin and gleefully exploited by his disciples. A glance at the TV schedules will reveal that the short attention span theory of television has now invaded the final wilderness. Animals are only interesting insofar as they have the ability to bite, sting, gouge or devour. There is a pernicious vogue for the deadliest, the most venomous, the scariest. Living creatures are reduced to their crudest elements, exhibiting extreme behaviour which is often only a reflex. Acting as agent provocateur, Irwin forced wild animals to show their party tricks under artificial circumstances Steve Irwin was in large part responsible for this state of affairs. Although undoubtedly an animal-lover and keen preservationist, he figured out early in his career that the audience is susceptible to a cheap frisson. Show them a crocodile with its mouth agape in conjunction with a man whose mouth never closes, and the stage is set for vicarious thrills. Never mind the human has the intelligence and a wealth of empirical knowledge, while the croc is a creature of slow brain and utterly predictable habit - there is just a chance that something might go wrong, and that slight element of perceived risk provides the required, cut-price catharsis. Irwin was indulging in the lowest form of anthropomorphism: the animal as bad guy. Acting as agent provocateur, Irwin would force wild animals to show their dangerous party tricks under the most artificial circumstances. Unlike Attenborough and his ilk, who seek to bring us the natural world in all its dimensions, Irwin demonised wildlife and ultimately defanged it. FIRST POSTED SEPTEMBER 5, 2006
 Daddy Steve was my 'hero'
  
   
   
By VINCE SOODIN September 20, 2006
TRAGIC Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin was hailed as a “hero” by his young daughter as stars, politicians, friends and fans attended his memorial service today. Around 5,000 mourners celebrated the Australian’s life in a service that veered from poignant tributes to belly laughs. Steve’s father Bob asked people to end their grieving and fans were invited to laugh at his television antics one more time. Steve’s daughter Bindi Irwin told the crowd she had the “best daddy in the world.” The eight-year-old said: “My Daddy was my hero. He was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things. But most of all he was fun. “I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did. “I don’t want Daddy’s passion to ever end.”
Australian Prime Minister John Howard also spoke at the “Crocoseum,” the small stadium built inside Irwin’s wildlife park where he regularly performed crocodile feeding shows. He said: “Steve Irwin touched the hearts of Australians and touched the hearts of millions around the world in a very special way.” “He did that because he had that quality of being genuine, of being authentic, of being unconditional and having a great zest for life.” Russell Crowe, in a recorded video message from New York, said: “It was way too soon for all of us. We have lost a friend, a champion. It will take some time to adjust to that.” Irwin, 44, died on September 4 when a stingray's barb pierced his chest while he was filming for a TV show on the Great Barrier Reef. His family held a private funeral service for him on at the family-owned park, Australia Zoo. His death prompted an outpouring of grief in Australia and among the estimated 200 million viewers of his television shows. As expected, there was one empty seat at the stadium – the one set aside for the late conservationist himself. On the stage sat Irwin’s widow, American-born Terri, and their two children, Bindi, and Bob, aged two. All dressed in Irwin’s favourite khaki wear, it was their first public appearance since Irwin’s death.
We asked you to pay your tributes to Steve Irwin. Here's what you had to say. I’m devastated about Steve Irwin. I search ebay trying to find as many original autographs, photos etc. I cannot believe it. Our thought and prayers are with you Steve.
Annie Lunnon xx
What more can I say that has not already been said. I loved his programmes and him with great passion. I feel so sad for Terri and the children who will grow up without their lovely dad. Keep your chin up Terri, you know Steve will be looking down on you and the kids.
Best wishes Trisha Innes
God bless you Steve. You were a true hero in many people’s eyes and you will always be remembered.
God bless your family. Bobby xx
Steve was a man who truly loved animals not only the cute and cuddly but the big and ballsy. You had to admire Steve’s courage when working with these animals. Wherever he is now God bless you Steve, the world has lost a true friend.
Dervan Blakey
What a shame, he really was a great guy and watching him was edge of your seat stuff. He was the first person to go up close and personal with the animals. You thought you were there with him. I feel so sorry for his wife and children, to lose someone who was so larger than life from your life must be awful. I think all the people who killed stingrays should stop, that’s not what Steve would have wanted. If you care for Steve, let them be. Steve you will be sadly missed, you were a great guy RIP.
Linda x
You the man Steve! You will be greatly missed! My thoughts go out to your family and friends!!!
Stephanie Reece
  
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Madonna's new manIt seems one little motherless Malawian's got to get Into The Hollywood Groove pretty quickly: Madonna and Guy Richie are to be his new Mother and Father. The adoption's Causing A Commotion - plenty of people are Hung Up on the idea that one-year-old David Banda will be Little Boy Lost when he swaps his dilapidated orphanage for Madonna's mansion. But Malawian court officials say they'll be checking to see if the change proves to be Paradise or if Intervention is needed. "Madonna was granted an interim order to adopt the child, which means that there's going to be a subsequent hearing by the same court to either allow her to adopt the child or not. This also means that she has been put on observer status to see how she will relate to the child, and people from social welfare will have to observe that."
Mummy MadonnaThere's new reports Madonna's adopting a baby boy from Malawi, with the father of a one-year-child saying she's officially adopted his son. "I am the father of David, who has been adopted. I am very very happy because as you can see there is poverty in this village and I know he will be very well looked after in America." Madge's reps had been dismissing the adoption speculation to justify the singer's visits to Malawi, but the latest talk has her spokeswoman saying a statement will be made in the next 48 hours. THE MOST WANTED MAN, OSMA BEN LADEN--- THE MAN BEHIND ISLAMIC TERRORISM AFFECTING INDIA, SOUTH ASIA AND THE WORLD.
By Lieutenant Colonel Thakur Kuldip S Ludra (Retd)
On 11 September, 2001, in four separate but apparently well coordinated cases of hijacking and the subsequent crashing of these aircraft into a major military target--Pentagon and world's largest commercial centre, the World Trade Centre, the terrorists, allegedly believed to be Islamic Terrorists, struck a blow against the United States of America. The alleged brain behind the outrage was Osma Ben Laden, today World's most hated man and wanted by the Global Cop for this crime against humanity. It was only two years earlier, on 16 September 1999 that Osma Ben Laden the Saudi Arabian multi millionaire, in hiding in Farmhidda, eight kilometres South of Jalalabad, had issued his threat to India, classifying India along with the United States of America and Russia, as the principal enemies of Islam and as such the targets of his ire. That his threat was no surprise to the Indian authorities was obvious, as Osma Ben Laden has been striding across the Indian Radar screen for the previous five years. Today he is supposedly on the hit list of the American Central Intelligence Agency as much as the United States of America is on his. Russia has been unstinted in its criticism of Osma Ben Laden and more importantly, his patron the Inter Services Intelligence Directorate. It is apparently incongruous for a single individual to be taking on the world's most powerful country and the self-proclaimed world cop. Yet he is the man the western world loves to hate most. Who is this powerful individual capable of snooking his nose at the rest of the world? That he is of Saudi Arabian origin is well known. His father, Mohamed-ibn-Awad-ibn-Laden, was a civil engineer who had built the mosque in Mecca, which houses the Qabbah and the mosque in Medina .He was responsible for the restoration of the mosque called the Dome of the Rock Mosque. It was these royal tasks that made Osma-Ben-Laden's father, Mohammed ibn-Awad-ibn-Laden a billionaire. At the time of his death in air crash in 1968 he was supposedly worth $5 Billion. Usmah-ibn-Mohammed-Awad-ibn-Laden or Osma-Ben Laden as he is popularly known is one of the 25 strong progeny of his father. He is the seventeenth and the youngest son. His share of his father's fortune was anything between $250 Million to $300 Million. Osma-Ben-Laden was barely ten years when his father died and continued his studies till he was twenty one and graduated from the King Abdul-Aziz University also popularly called the Jeddah University, when he got carried away by the call for Jihad to oust the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. He joined the Mujahideen in 1979 after getting his degree in economics, as stated by him in his interview on 10 June 1999, somewhere in Afghanistan, to Jamal Ismail and presented by Salal Najm. (Vernon Leob however, in his article A Global, Pan Islamic Network, states that he completed his degree in Civil Engineering). According to all reports and they include the resources mentioned above, as well as Manoj Joshi in his article or what he calls a special report, or Muzamil Jaleel, in his article, Osma Ben Laden went to Afghanistan in 1979 soon after the Mujahideen declared a Jihad. This was also the time when the Central Intelligence Agency along with the Inter Services Intelligence Directorate had taken charge of the Jihad and the Mujahideen operations against Soviet Russia. At that time Osma Ben Laden was barely 21 years of age and had just come out, after his studies. Vernon Leob also mentions that while as an undergraduate, he was a roistering, free spending youth who liked his wine and women. It was only in 1975 that he was forced out of Beirut, as result of the Lebanon's Civil War. Therefore to expect that Osma ben laden had created a massive fortune which he further increased even while directly involved in the Afghanistan Operations would be very far fetched indeed. Thereafter, he continued in Afghanistan till 1989, when the Soviet Russians were more or less out of Afghanistan, when he returned to Saudi Arabia where he ostensibly got involved in anti Royal Family activities for which he was exiled and his fortune was frozen. Again a far-fetched account for Saudi Arabian Royal Family is extremely jealous of its privileges and prerogatives and is known to have used the executioner's axe for any seditious activity especially when the Saudi Arabian Society never accepted Osma Ben Laden and his family. In fact, they according to the same report considered Ladens as upstarts, as claimed by his biographers. All this gives rise to the suspicions that the entire exercise was a monstrous deception plan to give the impression that Osma ben Laden was being driven out of Saudi Arabia in disgrace and after being rejected by both the Saudi Arabian Government, as well as the Government of United States of America and the Central Intelligence Agency. Before leaving Afghanistan he is supposed to have created Al-Qaida or the Islamic Salvation Front to extend his reach around the world. The organisation survived the war in Afghanistan, a place notorious for its ever-changing loyalties. However, its far-reaching capabilities are doubtful. More so when the organisation was barely a couple of years old. With his supposedly eviction and exile Osma Ben Laden went to Sudan where he was reported to be operating to further the programme of the Fundamentalist Islam. He joined the National Islamic Front. The same reports also talk of his investment in business and starting companies of his own, using profits to support his political and military infrastructure. But from where did he get his capital, considering that the Saudi Government had frozen all his fortune? He is reported to have constructed a 750-mile highway from Khartoum to Port Sudan and a new airport at Port Sudan. He had also started an export-import firm, Wadi al Aqiq Company Limited and an investment concern Tab Investment Company Ltd, which secured a near monopoly over Sudan's major agricultural exports of gum, corn, sunflower and sesame products in co-operation with the leaders of National Islamic Front of Sudan. Again, do these enterprises provide the scope to make Osma Ben Laden a billionaire that he is purported to be? (To be continued next week) Please Let us know what you think of thisarticle November 02, 2004
Bin Laden says his goal is to bankrupt the U.S. A couple of days ago I posted part of an email I'd sent that said, among other things, that "the current Bush administration and its intellectual substructure (the New American Century people) are prepared to enforce 'American' dominance in the world with our superior military force, but they've fallen into the same hole that broke the Soviet economy: enforcing dominance via military engagement has significant costs, and there are other forces in the world (such as the Al Qaeda network) that are more agile, and that will not stop fighting." Al-Jazeera has just released a transcript of the Osama bin Laden's recent video; CNN notes that he says "his group's goal is to force America into bankruptcy." He also says "We, alongside the mujahedeen, bled Russia for 10 years until it went bankrupt and was forced to withdraw in defeat." [Link to CNN article about Osama tape] | [Link to Newsweek article suggesting the U.S. may be losing the war in Iraq.] Posted by Jon Lebkowsky at November 2, 2004 05:14 AM | Email to a friend Trackback Pings TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.weblogsky.com/mt/mt-guaco.cgi/260 Comments It is soooooo politically incorrect to acknowledge, but Bin Laden is the fucking brilliant evil genius that every superhero movie wishes it could create. Nobody can deny that with an investment of half a million bucks and 20 suicide volunteers, he has exacted a disproportionately huge financial toll on the US's economy, along with incalculable damage to its body politic and image in the world. You gotta cop: bringing down the WTC was the most spectacular evil deed since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was even more spectacular for being broadcast in realtime around the world. Bin Laden's single act will torment us well into the future whether we eliminate him or not. And he is right: we do need to change our foreign policy in the Middle East. Any president who resists making those adjustments just to spite him is playing Russian Roulette with our security. Posted by: Cliff at November 2, 2004 11:58 AM I definitely agree with what you are suggesting. I do not know whether Osma Bin laden is a Genius or not. For all I know, it may have been one or more of Bin Laden's Cohorts who hatched the plan to use our own Commercial airplanes against us. Regardless of who thought up the plan,... it can't be denied,... Osma got alot of "Bang" for the buck, and will continue to do so, for along time. However, in the large scheme of things, three thousand people dying in this Country is not alot in comparison to the people that die from conditions caused by our own American citizens, such as in the Medical Industry. Don't misunderstand me, one American dying at the hands of a terrorist is "One Too Many", but considering that almost 200,000 people die from malpractice and hospital staff incompetance every year,... the number of people that died in the Twin towers shrinks by comparison, and those 200,00 people are only the situations that are voluntarily reported by Hospitals. Knowing that human nature is to first try to cover up ones own mistakes, I suspect that the number of deaths is much higher In this example and others,... I often wonder if we are not our own worst enemy. Comments: editor3@usaweeklynews.com Bin Laden's brother denies his brother Osma having kidney Failure Saudi ArabiaOsama bin Laden's brother ( from his mother's side ) has denied news that his brother (Osama) to be in a deteriorated health condition or that he is suffering of any disease in his kidney that required having kidney cleansing operations. Sheikh Ahmad told the US CNN network on Monday that his mother learnt in a telephone call -- he did not disclose its source -- that his brother is in a good health condition. Sheikh Ahmad added that his brother (Osama) had denied during their meeting in January 2001 the news saying that he is in need of kidney cleansing operations. Sheikh Ahmad also ruled out his brother Osama to have been involved in the attacks against key centers in the US that were hit on September 11, 2001. |
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 What the Sun said on Steve Irwin
Latest news from Reuters on Steve Irwin
Bindi steps up By Elaine Ford.
Posted: Thursday, October 12 2006 .
Bindi Irwin left her cherished Australia Zoo for a spell to honour a promise her dad Steve made to present the top award at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards in Sydney. The Crocodile Hunter's eight-year-old daughter and her mum, Terri, stuck close together in their first night out since her tribute at her dad's memorial service two weeks ago. Bindi got to present the "Fave Aussie" award to singer Guy Sebastian. "I am the smallest presenter, but I get to give the biggest award." A smiling Terri says it was good to have a focus on the special night and that Bindi's appearance would've made her dad proud. "Bindi's been looking forward to this for a long time, so we're really glad to be here." 
Irwin's death will never air, says wife
Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:49 PM BST
By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK (Reuters) - Footage of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin's death will never be shown on television, his wife said in her first interview since the exuberant naturalist was killed by the serrated barb of a stingray's tail. Asked in an interview with the ABC News program "20/20" whether the footage of Irwin's September 4 death would ever be aired on television, Terri Irwin was blunt and emphatic. "It won't be. No. No. What purpose would that serve,' she said, adding that she had not looked at the footage of her husband's death. That footage shows Irwin swimming above a stingray, while filming a documentary off Australia's northeast coast, when it lashed out and speared him in the heart with its barbed tail, according to Irwin's manager, John Stainton, who said Irwin pulled the barb from his chest before losing consciousness. U.S.-born Terri Irwin said her 44-year-old husband knew he would not live a long life. "He'd talk about it often. But it wasn't because of any danger from wildlife. That was never a consideration. He just felt life could be dangerous," she said in the interview, to be broadcast in the United States on Wednesday evening. Irwin's family and friends held a private funeral at his beloved Australia Zoo -- where he was also buried. A public televised memorial service was held at the zoo's "Crocoseum" last Wednesday. His 46 "Crocodile Hunter" documentaries were watched by 200 million people around the world and his death prompted an international outpouring of grief.
Stars and ordinary Australians farewell Irwin
Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:46
BEERWAH, Australia (Reuters) - A khaki-clad choir, Hollywood stars and thousands of ordinary Australians bid farewell to "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin at a memorial service for the TV naturalist at his "Crocoseum" on Wednesday. The service, broadcast live around Australia as well as across Asia and the United States, brought the nation to a standstill 16 days after Irwin was killed when the serrated barb from a stingray's tail pierced his heart. "Please don't grieve for Steve. He's at peace now, but I'd like you to grieve for the animals, for the animals have lost the best friend they ever had, and so have I," Irwin's father Bob told the service. A koala slumbered in a gum tree next to the stage and Irwin's tearful U.S.-born wife Terri held their young son Robert in her lap as Irwin's family said their public goodbye. "My daddy was my hero, he was always there for me when I needed him," Irwin's eight-year-old daughter said after walking onto the "Crocoseum" stage to a standing ovation. "We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did," she said, her finger running over the words as she read her farewell. A crowd of about 5,000 people at the "Crocoseum" in Irwin's beloved Australia Zoo in tropical Queensland state were entertained by popular Australian children's group The Wiggles in a largely upbeat service. Australian folk singer John Williamson led fans and a khaki-clad choir of Australia Zoo workers in a rousing rendition some of Irwin's favourite songs, including "True Blue" and "Give Me a Home Beneath the Gum Trees". Taped video tributes were played from Irwin's Oscar-winning actor friend Russell Crowe, Hollywood stars Kevin Costner and Cameron Diaz, talk show host Larry King and U.S. singer Justin Timberlake. Prime Minister John Howard said Irwin touched the hearts of millions around the world, while Crowe said in a taped message from New York that Irwin's death "was completely unfair". "We've all lost a friend, we've lost a champion," Crowe said. In a final tribute, Australia Zoo staff spelled out Irwin's catchphrase "Crikey" in yellow flowers as Irwin's truck was driven from the "Crocoseum" for the last time to end the service.
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