Thanks Tom, Whitney and Izzy for having the courage to bring these critical
issues to mind.



On Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 10:24 AM Thomas M Leschine <tml at uw.edu> wrote:


> Dear Tweets,

> Recent events and a few related related Tweeters posts remind me that we

> do not pursue our passion for birding in isolation from other, broader

> forces that shape society. On Memorial Day, New York City birder Chris

> Cooper had his infamous Central Park encounter, the same day that George

> Floyd was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis. Many of us in the

> birding community found ourselves confronting more directly than ever the

> question, what does it mean to be a birder-;white vs. person of color or

> other difference that may influence how some others view us. Should any of

> these distinctions even matter? Yet clearly, they do.

>

> I don't know whether or not Tweeters is the right forum for discussion of

> such questions; like you, I bet, I come to Tweeters mostly because I want

> to know where the birds are. I'm just asking, as was asked in one of those

> earlier posts, where such discussion *should* take place.

>

> I don't believe we as a community can afford to say, "Not our business",

> if ever we could. We should care both about birds and the environmental

> quality that supports them. Conservation efforts and "environmental

> justice" are increasingly viewed as needing to go down the road together if

> either is ultimately to succeed. Weakened environmental rules likely

> affect communities of color disproportionately, even as more land and water

> become less hospitable to wildlife.

>

> Discourse on Tweeters is remarkably well mannered, something all "Tweets"

> can be proud of (and thank the listserv monitors for). Occasionally the

> topic turns to lost birding opportunity-;that new road closure or that "No

> Trespassing" sign that didn't used to be there. Conceptually at least,

> it's not that big a leap to the topic of birding opportunity that is more

> available to some than to others by reason of skin color or other personal

> traits. As I said above, I'm not advocating that Tweeters specifically

> open up this way, but I am asking, as others have, where such a

> conversation should occur, as I believe it must.

>

> If you have a response, please send it to me directly rather than to the

> full Tweeters list.

>

> Tom Leschine

> Seattle

> _______________________________________________

> Tweeters mailing list

> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

>



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