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Vancouver Off-Topic / Current EventsThe off-topic forum for Vancouver, funnies, non-auto centered discussions, WORK SAFE. While the rules are more relaxed here, there are still rules. Please refer to sticky thread in this forum.
A worker carries the frozen carcass of a shark on his shoulder at a slaughterhouse in the town of Puq, in Zhejiang province, on July 25, 2011. (Reuters)
But the ban won’t happen overnight. Chinese officials estimate that a complete halt to the serving of shark fin soup at official events may take up to three years: Shark fin ban on the menu - Globaltimes.cn
Although it remains unclear how the Chinese will implement the ban, environmentalists working in both the United States and China hailed the news, saying it signaled a major shift in how people around the world view the ocean’s top predator.
“Finally we are seeing important steps being taken by China, the world’s largest consumer of shark fins, to help protect sharks from this massive and mostly unsustainable trade,” said Crawford Allan, director of TRAFFIC North America, a regional office of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Along with Hong Kong and Taiwan, China is a principal contributor to the rapid decline of the worldwide shark population. Those states account for more than 95 percent of the annual shark harvest, according to the Global Times, an English-language newspaper based in China.
Consumption of shark fin soup dates back to the Sung Dynasty, between 960 and 1279, when members of the elites began eating noodles made from the needles in sharks’ fins. The dish grew popular during the Ming Dynasty in the 15th century, when it became a staple menu item at formal banquets. While shark fin soup was frowned upon after the Chinese Communist Party came to power in 1949, it has rebounded in the past two decades as a show of respect for wedding guests and business associates.
Several studies have shown that sharks generate more revenue in dive and snorkel tourism than they do when killed for their fins. Australian researchers determined that a reef shark off the Pacific island country of Palau is worth $1.9 million to the national economy over its lifetime, and shark tourism brings Palau $18 million annually.
“The move in China definitely shows there’s a global trend of people recognizing sharks are worth more in the ocean than in a bowl of soup,” said Beth Lowell, campaign director for the advocacy group Oceana.
Scientists estimate that between 26 million and 73 million sharks are killed each year as part of the shark fin trade, while millions more are killed accidentally by vessels fishing for tuna, swordfish and other species. Additionally, one-third of all shark species face some threat of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
While the United States represents just a fraction of the global shark fin trade, several U.S. states have instituted bans on the sale, trade, possession and distribution of shark fins. On Sunday, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) signed such a ban into law, saying, “By limiting the market for shark fins, we can help sustain and grow shark populations around the world.”
Four other states — Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii — have imposed similar bans. But Christopher Chin, who serves as executive director of the San Francisco-based Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education and helped write the Illinois bill, said the law was significant because it “reflects the importance of our ocean’s fragile resources to everyone, including those thousands of miles from the shore.”
It's a pretty good turn of events that the largest region of shark fin consumers are taking this big step in finally turning these finning shenanigans around
I had some girl come into the busser station the other day trying to make out with every staff member and then pull down her pants and asked for someone to stick a dick in her (at least she shaved).
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Originally Posted by 1exotic
Vtec doesn't kick in on Reverse.
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Originally Posted by Ulic Qel-Droma
its like.. oh yeah oh yeah.. ohhhh yeah... OOoooOohh... why's it suddenly feel a bit better... ohhhh yeahh... ohhh...oh..fuck... it probably ripped.
Gordon Ramsey made a really good documentary on it (linked below), this issue has been bothering me for so many years but finally China took the right step and banned it. Sharks are the most valuable sea creatures we cannot afford to lose them. Everyone that says "oh they're just sharks they will reproduce blah blah blah" I linked them this video and they finally understood.
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Originally Posted by Ch28
About fucking time
I never understood people that enjoyed it. There's no taste whatsoever. Chinese people and their stupid "all about face/status" mentality.
Yes, I'm Chinese and I much prefer the crab and fish maw soup over shark fin soup.
Agreed, I share the same sentiment. After the old generation is gone, the new informed generation will not care as much for having it, especially at their weddings.
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so is this ban going to be enforced or is it the same as freedom of speech in the chinese constitution
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Article 35. Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.
If there's one thing China has plenty of, it's laws. But none of them ever get enforced. Unless it's a law that directly opposes the government, it's pretty much "do whatever the fuck you want" there
this just bans sharkfin at official banquets. You'd probably still be able to get it at restaurants. At least the government is trying to set an example, good for them
If we are not able to ask skeptical questions, to interrogate those who tell us that something is true; to be skeptical of those in authority, then we're up for grabs..
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