“A Four-Century Retrospective of Marine Fauna and Fisheries Around New York City” provided a lot of data on the consumption trends and the diversity of species in the waters surrounding New York, from the harbor to the tips of Long Island. It still amazes me that there are dolphins that migrate offshore through the harbor between feeding and breeding grounds. It was strange to also learn that what is now a rich man’s food — i.e. oyster and lobster was once a poor man’s diet.
“The Ainu: Beyond the Politics of Cultural Coexistence” covered the historical background of the Ainu people and the struggle that they have faced as Japan has modernized. The takeaway from this article is to understand the marriage between ‘reconciliation’ and ‘coexistence’. The Ainu want their culture to be understood, to be appreciated alongside with the popular culture of Japan, but they do not want to to be boiled down as people of primitive culture.
The WCS information sheet provided an introduction to the projects they are currently working on in addition to the communities they serve. There are a lot of data points to work with. My greatest appreciation for the WCS is their dedication to teaching the youth about conservation and the opportunities they offer for free access to locations such as the Bronx Zoo.