Mel Thompson
Mel is part of the Learning Team within Te Papa Tongarewa. She has a background in science, education & communication and has worked with researchers and curators to create these courses for you.
Location Aotearoa New Zealand
Activity
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
Well said!
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
Capitalism always seems to mean we take beyond sustainability for the sake of short-term greed. Fairly typically too, those who took the exploitation to truly harmful levels were those from far away from the place where the harm is done.
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
oh no! Even if you open it in youtube? If so it might be your computers audio settings.
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
There was a spiritual respect and rich legends for every food source that Māori used in their world. There wasn't necessarily a disconnect between hunting something and having a deep spiritual reverence for it. Is a different perspective to the western one, for sure!
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
As we've seen, securing a beached whale brought a lot of mana to an iwi because they provided so many high-value resources. So much that its death was considered a gift for the people. Seeking them out in this new way may not have necessarily been seen as in conflict with their supernatural significance (particularly as there was no species-wide danger to the...
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Yes so much diversity! From the everyday to the deeply spiritually significant.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
Yes some of these men were definitely community leaders in this early colonial/pioneering period
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
Yes, AoNZ was colonised fairly late in the game as far as English colonization goes. By the time they made it to Aotearoa there had been a period of pushback in England about their historical treatment of indigenous people.
In truth this meant that there was a lot of doublespeak going on where false promises of fair dealing were made but abuses were still...
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Mel Thompson replied to Judi Boutle
I totally understand your hesitance!
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I am not sure of the exact significance to Ngāti Ruanui iwi of returning the eye to the ocean.
It's even more impressive in that a lot of this tribal knowledge surrounding cultural harvesting was all but lost when Māori culture was being actively suppressed in Aotearoa.
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Mel Thompson replied to Hamish Morrison
@JudiBoutle Very true Judi!
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Kia ora and welcome José! Glad to have you here with us.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
In those very early days, whaling in AoNZ was relatively sustainable. It was small-scale; small ships, small numbers taken, manual processing that used every part of the animal.
Unfortunately, it scaled up so dramatically with new technology, new players, and foreign expansion into Antarctic waters that it became a massacre or 'war on whales'. I don't...
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
Yes definitely not overnight! Those who were *slightly* better suited to water hunting (like nostrils just a smidge higher than the norm) would have had a slight biological advantage in making it to breeding age and being successful at passing on those particular gene variations to their offspring, slowly inching along all those population-wide changes that...
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@MarekWojcik There is a sizeable overlap between modern health requirements and ancient practices around tapu to protect the people. More on that in our 'culture and clashes' course.
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
For a little country I'd say we do have quite a lot of expertise but probably not a lot of resourcing compared to others.
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Mel Thompson replied to Susan Scothern
I love that Susan, that's awesome! Every bit counts!
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
Absolutely, there are a lot of common threads and shared heritage across Pacific cultures.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
Yes! All about connection, very much so.
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Yes, there is a lot of mana associated with these items.
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It's certainly possible!
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
@MarekWojcik Good observation. Definitely a possibility, and fits alongside their other advanced navigational techniques.
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
In a culture that developed without written records, this kind of integrated storytelling/meaning-making is so important for imparting cultural knowledge and values.
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
You're definitely not wrong!
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue C
Dolphins have their dark side too; I think I'd vote for sperm whales as our watery overlords if I had to choose!
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
You're not wrong, there is a huge amount of information at the start. There was just so many fascinating bits I couldn't bring myself to leave any of it out! Hopefully you have time to revisit those bits at the end if you'd like to.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
@LeeScott lol
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
And to think, we have no idea what other hybrids may be out there in the wild! I found it fascinating that the narluga figured out a way to survive with its unique teeth that was completely different to the way either of its parents hunted. Incredible survival story.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
@MarekWojcik Makes me think of dinosaurs too -- the real giants were the plant-eaters!
(We had one of the biggest of all time at our Dinos exhibition last summer so it's top-of-mind
https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/about/press-and-media/press-releases/2023-media-releases/dinosaurs-patagonia-star-te-papa-summer) -
Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
Whale Rider is indeed a book (by Witi Ihimaera) and also a very popular film.
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
@LeeScott You're not alone. Nocs's story, while fascinating, is not a happy one.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
I agree!
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
I hope we are able to gain more insights some day. I am sure there are layers we have no idea about.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
Smart girl! It seems that even where it is outlawed there is still some shady trading that goes on with other countries operating within loopholes (so called ‘whale laundering’). There are defenses made by some organisations that some rescued animals are unreleasable and so it is ok to keep them in shows and the like, but outside animal experts disagree with...
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Mel Thompson replied to Helen Segebarth
I'm glad you found it interesting Helen, do definitely take your time. I'm happy to add more time to the course if people need it :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Helen Segebarth
Yes it's so challenging, and the likelihood of the exhausted and disoriented animals re-beaching even after a successfulrefloat is unfortunately quite high. Many of the coasts of Aotearoa New Zealand are also very isolated and geographically challenging.
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
With lots of passionate volunteers and solid plans like the one shown so that everyone knows their role and what to expect. But it's HARD work, especially when strandings might happen in some of Aotearoa's wildest and most isolated corners, or in poor conditions.
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Mel Thompson replied to Mary R
So important in what seems to be an increasingly divided/divisive world these days.
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Mel Thompson replied to Yvonne Williams
Awww thank you both I really appreciate that <3
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Mel Thompson replied to Suzi Phillips
It's hard not to empathise with the seal but it is a very impressive display of cooperation and technique!
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
@MarekWojcik I like Catch-a-lot (cachalot), but perhaps more specifically for blue whales and their blue-whale sized appetites!
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Mel Thompson replied to Hamish Morrison
@MaryR The article said after the mother was killed the calf was euthanized. The kindest choice, but still sad.
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Mel Thompson replied to Mary R
@MaryR I have been trying to take a different approach to gifting, esp when travelling etc. I will no longer seek out gifts for a list of people, but only buy gifts if i happen to come across something that truly makes me think of a person. So not everyone will get a gift, but those that do will be getting something that is actually meaningful.
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Mel Thompson replied to Suzi Phillips
Tenā koe Suzi, awesome to have you here. I'll be interested to hear any connections that pop up for you to with your knowledge of waka and ocean voyaging!
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
Their ancestors were actually carnivores too, mostly eating fish. I think we just assume they must have been herbivores because no carnivorous hoofed animals exist anymore so its not what we think of when we see that kind of animal. Pigs (omnivores) are probably the closest today.
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Mel Thompson replied to Tegan Lawrence
@RyotaroOishi I'm so glad you found the course effective Ryotaro!
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Mel Thompson replied to Ryotaro Oishi
We actually just launched a new course about the whales of New Zealand!
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Mel Thompson replied to Ryotaro Oishi
Haha yep at last count there were around 4.6 sheep for each person in Aotearoa New Zealand
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Mel Thompson replied to Ryotaro Oishi
Perfect!
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Mel Thompson replied to Ryotaro Oishi
That's a good idea!
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The tongue out gesture is called a 'pūkana'. To quote from 100% New Zealand,
"Pūkana (facial expressions) are an important facet of Kapa haka. A pūkana helps to emphasise a point in a song or haka and demonstrate the performer’s ferocity or passion.
For women, pūkana involves opening their eyes wide and jutting out their chin. For men, it means widening...
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Mel Thompson replied to Nigel Smith
Kia ora and welcome to the course Nigel! Where in the world are you based?
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Mel Thompson replied to Mary R
Yes, the connection between playing it for his child, as the mother whale sang to her calf is quite a powerful notion.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
If you haven't already I encourage you to follow the link embedded in the 'culture of whales' step about Noc the beluga. It's an interesting one.
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Mel Thompson replied to Mary R
@MaryR London may be an outlier within the UK (you'd know better than me) but yep unfortunately the basics in NZ are less affordable than the UK (and Aus and Ireland) according to new research. We have very problematic supermarket duoply situation that reduces competition to the detriment of consumer...
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Mel Thompson replied to Mary R
@YvonneWilliams Thank you, I've swapped it out. So annoying when things disappear, I appreciate when learners bring them to my attention or I'd never know!
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
Yes there has been some pretty intensive study. Project CETI has done a lot in the space, I believe.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
Squid-suckers? lol, maybe not...
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
A little bit off topic, but some of our Te Papa researchers recently investigated a deep sea trench off the coast of Aotearoa and did discover over 100 brand new species! Not cetaceans, but several other mysterious...
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@YvonneWilliams Thanks for that, I'll replace the link now :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Helen Segebarth
I love this video!
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
The fact that they can travel a vast ocean full of strong currents and few landmarks, yet maintain their course within 1° blows my mind.
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This page is probably a mix of the two. The trolling lure and the hoe (paddle) are likely ceremonial, but you can see the marks of heavy use on the tā whakairo (carving mallet).
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
It's an active subject of scientific speculation, with some theorizing that there was an intermediary phase of suction feeding in between the evolutionary stage of teeth and that of filter feeding with baleen.
https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evo-news/whales-lose-teeth-gain-baleen/
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
Bring it on!
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
@MarekWojcik Right you are, thanks for pointing that out. Have now fixed!
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Mel Thompson replied to Hamish Morrison
What a horrifying moment, wow. Glad the rescuer made it to safety, but sad about the wee calf.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marek Wojcik
Kia ora Marek, great to see familiar names pop up, and I love that you have good memories of our courses - means we're doing something right!
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Mel Thompson replied to Judi Boutle
I'm grateful to be in a time where so many of these important taonga long held in private collections or institutions around the world are finally making their way home to their tribal descendants.
Many of these repatriations, both of significant taonga (treasures) and of ancestral human remains, are facilitated through a special Te Papa team. There is...
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Mel Thompson replied to Judi Boutle
@JudiBoutle Yes that article struck me too. Nation States as trustees of humanity is so sensibly put.
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
@MargueriteScarratt Thanks for hanging in there!
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Absolutely, lots of inspiration from the natural world in common motifs. You can learn a little more here:
https://www.mountainjade.co.nz/blogs/news/traditional-maori-symbols-and-meanings-carving-ta-moko
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Mel Thompson replied to Judi Boutle
Great question! As mentioned throughout our courses, a key value in te ao Māori is kaitiakitanga, or guardianship. In a worldview where one is so deeply and intricately connected to the land, the responsibility to mitigate climate change is one deeply felt. See...
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Mel Thompson replied to Judi Boutle
I think the closest approximation to kauri trees for comparison might be mighty Redwoods in the USA. Though redwoods are much taller, kauri are similarly imposing by dint of their enormous girth. They're also still some of the oldest and tallest trees in the world, so generate a similar feeling of awe and reverence.
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Mel Thompson replied to Mary R
@MaryR Alas, EVERYTHING is expensive here, even our locally produced major exports.
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Mel Thompson replied to MIchele Root
Yes there is. Whales are placental mammals, like us.
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Mel Thompson replied to Marguerite Scarratt
Oh I'm so glad you felt that way, it is wondrous to see, I agree.
FutureLearn makes the videos quite small but if you ever want to see them fullscreen, just click on the 'watch on youtube' text at the bottom left before it starts playing. That will take you to youtube where you can watch it big.
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Mel Thompson replied to Susan Scothern
Hear hear!
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Mel Thompson replied to Helen Segebarth
Bless you Helen, thank you for sharing that.
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Mel Thompson replied to Helen Segebarth
You're right, 'the sun' is 'Te Rā' (or Tamanuiterā, when he is personified)! No, no known plausible connection to Egyptian (but some persistent conspiracy theories). Rā is however a commonly shared word amongst Pacific peoples for the sun.
Here are some interesting legends surrounding the sun and other celestial bodies in te ao Māori (the Māori...
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Mel Thompson replied to Lee Scott
Lee! Kia ora, its so good to see you here with us again, welcome :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
@JillHind It's so devastating when you realise that our amazing native birds, already in such a precarious position, evolved to depend on these tree species that only exist here.
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Mel Thompson replied to Mary R
@YvonneWilliams I saw it mentioned once that once you realise that under capitalism a forest only has 'value' once it's cut down, you'll never see it the same.
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@YvonneWilliams political frustration seems to be a global trend lately. Though perhaps it has always been so and we're just better connected now.
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Mel Thompson replied to MIchele Root
I'm glad you found it all interesting -- it was a lot of information!
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I've thought about this a lot since you first shared it with me.
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
@JillHind The arrival of dolphins close to the coast of their tribal lands would likely have been considered a gift to the people from Tangaroa, the atua (god) of the sea.
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
Great starting point! Lots to learn :p
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Mel Thompson replied to Mary R
It's hard to really imagine how much their world, and worldviews, were disrupted by the arrival of (and even the surprise EXISTENCE of) such different cultural ideals and values as these newly arrived whalers. As Hamish notes, these young Māori men were often said to be pursuing excitement, and presumably, the mana that came with securing such prized resources...
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Mel Thompson replied to Susan Scothern
High praise Susan, thank you! Kia ora and welcome to the course, I hope you enjoy this one too :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Maxine Bennett
Yes, common language made things much more complicated in this case!
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Mel Thompson replied to Mary R
They are incredible forest giants. Awe inspiring.
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Mel Thompson replied to Hamish Morrison
It's a really special culture with a lot of lessons to learn from as far as our relationship with the planet. We cover more in our other courses too, so jump over to those after this course if you want to learn more!
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Mel Thompson replied to MIchele Root
The ocean and its inhabitants may as well be an alien world to us, we have so SO much to learn. Hopefully before it's too late for some of these species.
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Mel Thompson replied to Maxine Bennett
Kia ora and welcome Maxine! Ko Mel toku ingoa. I'm so glad you found this course - I think you'll find our other courses on AoNZ history and culture interesting too.
Ka rawē that you've worked with Project Jonah, it's such important mahi, and very physically and emotionally challenging, I imagine.
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Mel Thompson replied to Judi Boutle
I'm so glad you found it interesting!
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
Yes this week is a lot of content! The other weeks are less so, so you can revisit this week later to refresh your memory if you need to :)
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Welcome back!
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
And because their wellbeing, and tangible acknowledgement of their capabilities, stand in the way of human 'progress'.
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Mel Thompson replied to MIchele Root
@MIcheleRoot Some species don't seem to cross the equator, so Arctic populations of those would likely have evolved there from distant common ancestors. Some species do cross it though, so hard to say.