The Seabirds Cry: the lives and loves of the planets great ocean voyagers. Adam Nicholson

The Seabirds Cry: the lives and loves of the planets great ocean voyagers. Adam Nicholson

A beautiful exploration of 10 species of seabirds – and the threats they face. “a poetic, soaring exploration of 10 species of seabirds”: Fulmar, Puffin, Kittiwake, Gull, Guillemot, Gannet , Commorant, Shearwater, Great Auk, Albatross – which revels in the way they “float like beings from the otherworld”; "They are bringers of fertility, the deliverers of life from ocean to land."

Their population dropping by nearly 70% in the last sixty years, a billion fewer now than there were in 1950.

What is to be done:

1— better understanding in the state of the world seabirds

2—their breeding places need to be protected from people and predatory animals

3—tighter controls involved in all kinds of fishing vessels

4—for control the rate at which we are changing in the atmosphere in the ocean (global warming)

I like birds. I like observing them in the morning at the Wakodahatchee wetlands here in Florida. I’m concerned about our world and the depletion of BIRDS of all types. It’s a well written, interesting book particularly if you want to know more about these specific species, and if you need the slightest increased motivation to act in BIRDS and the EARTH’S defense.

I find it interesting my circle of books has been fairly narrow of late:
Institutional Racism - what we need to do
Global Warming  & Nature - what we need to do
Receiving, Identifying  & Acting Upon Promptings  - what we need to do  

Breaking out of the mold this week and reading a couple of books that my eldest granddaughter is reading so that she and I can chat about them. It will be fun  next up -The Adventures of Max Crumbly. 

+

The Book of Phoenix. Nnedi Okorafor

The Book of Phoenix Nnedi Okorafor

I heard of Okorafor upon listening to one of her short stories being reason Levar Burton Reads podcast. It was part fantasy, part "powerful, memorable, superhuman women", it was all enjoyable. I approached this book with high expectations and was not disappointed.

The Book of Phoenix is a unique work of magical futurism- combining mythology, science and fantasy. It features the rise of, what I guess is to be expected from Nnedi Okorafor, a powerful, memorable, superhuman woman. Phoenix was grown and raised among other genetic experiments in New York’s Tower 7. She is an “accelerated woman”—she comes to a realization of who she is and what she can accomplish and in so doing becomes 'the Phoenix "that rises from the ash and changes ( redesigns) the world.

I think it foreshadows, part of what may be our future if we do not address institutional racism, other legacy issues that can arise in fighting the historic and ongoing exploitation of those deemed "less".

An insightful, engaging and a contributing read in my efforts to expand my understanding and treatment of others and wrestling with institutional racism.

Redskins: Insult and Brand . C. Richard King

Redskins: Insult and Brand .   C. Richard King

examines how the ongoing struggle over the team name raises important questions about how white Americans perceive American Indians, and the market and cultural power of consumer marketing. 

The Washington Redskins franchise is still one of the  most valuable in professional sports partially  because of its recognizable, popular, and profitable brand. Despite the indisputable fact that "redskins” is a derogatory, institutional racist, historically offensive name for American Indians. It has been the foundation of their branding efforts. As a brand marketer the correlation seems readily apparent. And I can understand their desire to hold it close.

The number of campaigns to change the name has risen in recent years despite the current team owner’s assertion that the team will never do change. Franchise owners counter criticism by arguing that the team name is positive and a term of respect and honor that many American Indians embrace. The NFL, for its part, actively defends the name and supports it in court. It is difficult for me to read this, other books, and articles and not come to the conclusion that the name and logo should, must be, changed. The marketers logic does not over power the necessity to be civil.

Not a particularly well written book. Full of redundancies and weak language , yet a compulsive accumulation of data. Worth reading. Worthy more to act upon.

Binti. Nnedi Okorafor

Binti. Nnedi Okorafor

It has fantasy and math, aliens and space ships, war and love, women taking lead society defining roles, and the good guys being African centric and people. It isn't often that I read to books from the same author in such close proximity to each other but part of the variable is when the library makes them available to me through the reservation process.

This was the third book in a trilogy sequence.

I didn't feel bad about skipping the first two; I pretty sure I should not invest the time for all three. But to read One how Fun!

Go read it, enjoy the story, enjoy the power of this author to convey the power of Binti - a woman , hero, a force to be dealt with.