Environment

Silvershark · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 10268 Location: Angus, Scotland

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Anti-shark's fin activists set sights on hotel menus
Caroline Li
July 13, 2005

Shark's fin soup will become extinct before the sharks that its consumption threatens - if environmentalists' dreams are realized.

After the success of the campaign against Hong Kong Disneyland to take the dish off its menu, environmentalist groups are now pressuring major Hong Kong hotels to do the same.

``We are trying to engage their attention and get them involved,'' said the activists' leader, marine conservationist Brian Darvell.

Hong Kong Environment Secretary Sarah Liao has also been urged to join in the campaign to have shark's fin soup disappear as a menu item.

``It will be a difficult discussion, and we will deal with it one step at a time,'' said Darvell.

Disney backed down from its plans to offer the soup on its wedding-banquet menus at its Hong Kong resort after the launch of the global protest in May.

Activists now hope that high-end hotels will follow suit and set an example for other establishments.

``Because the item is popular all over Hong Kong, all hotels are going to look at it in a longer-term solution,'' said a spokesman from the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. ``I don't think any decision will be made right now to take it off the menu.''

Darvell says one of the main reasons why discussions with the hotels will be difficult is the issue of profit. Although shark populations are declining, the soup remains extremely popular in Asia.

``There is an awful lot of ignorance about the interconnection of species in ecosystems,'' Darvell said

Both parties agree that it will take several discussions and step-by-step planning to deal with the conflict.

``I would only think that, from the customer demand - not just in hotels, but also restaurants - it doesn't make sense for them to take it off their menus,'' the Ritz-Carlton spokesman added.

Shark's fin soup, which accounts for about 85 percent of world shark-fin sales, has caused shark populations to dro

p dramatically worldwide, according to activists.

The harvesting technique, called ``finning'' - in which hunters cut off the fins and throw the rest of the fish back into the water to die - is what environmentalists are concerned about.

Marine biologists estimate that this technique kills millions of sharks each month and blames it for putting 250 of the more than 400 species on the World Conservation Union's Red List of threatened creatures.

According to Darvell, 100 million sharks are killed a year to serve shark fin soup.

``We have a global duty to try to do something constructive,'' he said.

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x Kat x

Wolfi3 · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 285 Location: Stoke, UK

It's good that something's worked at least! But we've gotta keep on going until its banned!

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Silvershark · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 10268 Location: Angus, Scotland

I know, Hong Kong is the real nut to crack, they are the major importer/exporter of shark fins and if it is stopped there the whole infrastructure of the finning industry will be broken up!

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x Kat x

Wolfi3 · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 285 Location: Stoke, UK

We've just gotta keep chipping away at the industry me thinks until we finally get there

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Silvershark · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 10268 Location: Angus, Scotland

Disney have came up with an alternative...

Ireland Online

Lobster soup and seafood bouillon is to replace the controversial shark fin soup at Hong Kong Disneyland wedding banquets.

Last month, Disney decided to scrap shark fin soup, a symbol of prestige in Chinese banquets, after environmentalists protested and threatened to stage boycotts of the park when it opens on September 12. The activists say that the shark fin industry is decimating the shark population.

The dish will be replaced by lobster soup and a dish with sea whelk, a bouillon with bamboo fungus and crab

roe, Disney spokeswoman Irene Chan said today.

“We are confident the change will not affect the attractiveness of our weddings,” Chan said.

“The dishes are specially designed and these menu alternatives can reflect respect for Chinese culture.”

Guests waiting in line to have their weddings celebrated at the theme park’s hotel when it opens have been notified of the changes and most had responded favourably, she said.

Source: Shark Trust

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x Kat x

Wolfi3 · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 285 Location: Stoke, UK

Awww thats good :)

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Silvershark · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 10268 Location: Angus, Scotland

Apparently Disney Hong Kong has now been infested with WOODWORM that is damaging all the furniture Laughing

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x Kat x

Wolfi3 · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 285 Location: Stoke, UK

lmao

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Rufus · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 3722 Location: UK

Thats awesome. to be honest when I signed the petition for disney I didnt think it would stop there, its such a big issue because itsa dish that their great celebrations in life are centred around. Tradition is a very hard habit to crack.
But Disney does have a pretty high profile in the world, so maybe them serving alternatives and not having it on the menu will set some examples for other big infulences in the world.

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"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

Silvershark · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 10268 Location: Angus, Scotland

Yeah, e-mail campaigns and petitions really seemed to work wonders in this case! It's definately an example of a great campaign! :D

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x Kat x

Wolfi3 · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 285 Location: Stoke, UK

It shows tha people like us can make a difference! Go us! lol

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tigger_rocks · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Canada

I still can't believe that all those sharks have to die for shark fin soup. As far as I'm concerned there are people in this world who just don't care and in this forum it seems that we're the only ones who do care and want to make a difference. And what I want to know is what gives them the right to use shark fins for soup? That's something I just can't understand.