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https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/29/world/australia/whale-personhood-polynesia-maori.html>
"For many Indigenous groups across Polynesia, whales hold an ancient sacredness
and spirit that connects all life. Whales — or tohorā, as Māori call them —
guided their ancestors across the Pacific Ocean. Today, those groups consider
themselves to be guardians for the largest animals under the sea.
But as of Wednesday, whales are not simply animals in this region.
Indigenous leaders of New Zealand, Tahiti and the Cook Islands signed a
historic treaty that recognizes whales as legal persons in a move
conservationists believe will apply pressure to national governments to offer
greater protections for the large mammals.
“It’s fitting that the traditional guardians are initiating this,” said Mere
Takoko, a Māori conservationist who leads Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative, the
group that spearheaded the treaty. “For us, by restoring those world
populations we also restore our communities.”"
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
