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https://theconversation.com/pacific-islanders-have-long-drawn-wisdom-from-the-earth-the-sky-and-the-waves-research-shows-the-science-is-behind-them-225088>
"One afternoon last year, we sat in a village hall in Fiji chatting to
residents about traditional ways of forecasting tropical cyclones. One man
mentioned a black-winged storm bird known as “manumanunicagi” that glides above
the land only when a cyclone is forming out to sea. As the conversation
continued, residents named at least 11 bird species, the odd behaviour of which
signalled imminent changes in the weather.
As we were leaving later that evening, an elder took us aside. He was pleased
we had taken their beliefs seriously and said many older Pacific people won’t
talk about traditional knowledge for fear of ridicule.
This reflects the dominance of science-based understandings in adapting to
climate change and its threats to ways of life. Our new research suggests this
attitude should change.
We reviewed evidence on traditional knowledge in the Pacific for coping with
climate change, and found much of it was scientifically plausible. This
indicates such knowledge should play a significant role in sustaining Pacific
Island communities in future."
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
