bird dreams, riding hope - chapter 23 talking to the river part 2 of 3

https://birddreams.substack.com/p/chapter-23-talking-to-the-river-part-cd9 #rivers #personhood #30x30challenge #jerseyshore #osprey #ecoliterature #environmentalfantasy #BecomingHuman #beautyandwonder another note about “personhood” - for the humans that need this to see the really real - Polynesian Indigenous Leaders Sign Treaty Granting Whales Personhood The belief that whales should be extended similar rights to humans has been long-held by many, including some indigenous groups across Polynesia. And late last month, in an effort to safeguard the cetaceans, leaders from New Zealand, Tahiti, Tonga, and the Cook Islands signed a treaty granting whales legal personhood. ​ Māori conservationist Mere Takoko, executive director of the Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative that spearheaded the treaty, explained to NPR’s Morning Edition that the marine mammals deserve “the right to freedom of movement, natural behavior, development, cultural expression — which includes language — to a healthy environment, healthy oceans, and indeed the restoration of their populations.” ​ ​Whales hold a special significance for the Māori people, who consider them their sacred ancestors. The treaty will set a precedent for Polynesian governments to enact legislation protecting the animals from threats like climate change and ship strikes. Said Ralph Chami, lead economist for the initiative: “So this whole thing is to make, in this case, the whale visible. Because things that are visible cannot be ignored.” https://linktr.ee/fredakarp