Lessons from the Penguins: Environmental Responsibility
When I posted my first “Lessons from the Penguins” post, I felt like the episodes "The Red Squirrel" and "Our Man in Gurfurjiclestan" were very relevant. Given the current sociopolitical climate in the US, discussions surrounding scapegoating and a distrust for differences are still very important. Recently, the pervasive nature of AI usage and the messaging around AI made me start thinking of the episode "Operation: Big Blue Marble."
As a Skipper fan through and through, "Operation: Big Blue Marble" was an episode I used to dismiss. 😉 But the longer I’ve reflected on the episode the more I’ve come to like it. It not only reveals a lot about Skipper’s character and growth as a character but also has a good and VERY important message about environmental responsibility.
So if you haven’t seen the episode (I recommend 😉 lol) or if you don’t remember it too well, here’s a basic synopsis: Kowalski creates a machine that makes fish-flavored churros, lovingly called “furros.” All of the Penguins are completely obsessed with them, especially Skipper. However, the Penguins soon learn that the "furro" machine is posing a threat to the earth. While the other Penguins all agree to stop using the machine and fix the problem, Skipper acts stubbornly and is in denial of the issue. Eventually, when the Penguins are in trouble, Skipper comes to their rescue and admits that he was wrong. In the end, the Penguins and lemurs save the day.
Usually in the Penguins episodes, the Penguins are all working cohesively to solve a problem and all are on the same page. But in this episode, Skipper’s initial resistance to change is really crucial to the main message. It shows that this new technology is something that Skipper, and the other Penguins, really enjoy and are hesitant to just give up. However, Skipper ultimately shows the audience that it is okay to change your mind, especially when you are introduced to new information. While Skipper’s pride and stubbornness are integral to his character, this episode shows a lot of character growth for him, as he models that it is okay to admit when you are wrong so you can rectify your actions. Skipper’s storyline in this episode also shows us that even though we may really like what a new technology can offer us, we must consider how our actions impact the environment and world around us.
This episode is so relevant given the current rise of AI. Seemingly everywhere nowadays (i.e. social media, TV, news outlets, advertisements) we are being inundated with generative AI images and videos. Companies, influencers, celebrities, and maybe people in our personal lives all seem to be pushing AI usage.
But as many of you probably know, there’s a catch. Every time AI is used, it is generated from data centers. These data centers take up A LOT of energy. These data centers not only use a lot of electricity but require a lot of water to cool down the equipment after each use. Thus, these data centers are taking in a lot of water and outputting heavily polluted back out into the environment. This polluted water is naturally ending up in waterways. People are losing their clean drinking water.
Residents in rural Georgia say the data centre next door has disrupted their water supply.
In addition to polluting water in the surrounding communities, these data centers are believed to be causing persistent sound pollution. The cooling systems, using the water to cool down the centers, emit a constant humming noise, disrupting people and wildlife.
Data centers emit sounds from the humming of cooling systems, rumbling of diesel generators, and whirring of fans, which can be heard for hu
Nashville Zoo leaders say a proposed data center next door threatens endangered animals and local resources.
With the implementation of more and more data centers, electricity use is naturally increasing with them. As people who interact with my page, I assume you also care about penguins. Penguin species are considered indicator species, meaning the status of their populations (i.e. growth, decreases, migration patterns) indicate larger patterns or potential concerns within the overall climate. We are already seeing the impacts of climate change on penguin populations. In fact, Emperor Penguins were just added to the Endangered Species List in 2026.
By the laws of supply and demand, the more people use AI, specifically generative AI, the more of a demand there is for these data centers. Can AI make tasks faster? Yes. Can AI make certain tasks faster? Maybe so. But like the Penguins in the episode "Operation: Big Blue Marble," we have a moral obligation to look after our shared home and reflect upon how are actions are affecting it.
Like I said, the longer I’ve reflected on this episode throughout the years, the more I see how this episode highlights one of my favorite things about Skipper. Yes, he is wrong in his determination to keep the harmful "furro" technology for his own selfish reasons. And he wouldn’t be Skipper if he did not dig his heels in and express some stubbornness. But at the end of the day, Skipper trusts Kowalski (the expert), realizes how his actions are negatively impacting the planet (or as he calls it “Mama Earth”), and ultimately decides to change his ways.
All this to say, if you still decide to use AI, I ask that you please be mindful about your usage and the impacts it may be having on the world around us.
