Banning on Shark Fin

[Casa_Nova]

Can't remember if there's a thread on this already.

Pending the outcome of the city council meeting later on this month, Toronto might be on it way to issuing a ban on the selling of Shark Fin. I'm sure this doesn't concern most people, however being Chinese, I'm not sure how I feel about this.

Shark Fin soup while being not only a delicacy in asian cuisine, is also a traditional dish served in most if not all wedding banquets. I know there are animal rights implications here, but I also feel that my rights to enjoy something that is strongly tied to my culture is also being violated. Of course this ban will be for Toronto, and I believe Mississauga and Brampton has also have some kind of a ban on this - making restaurants in Markham/Richmond Hill area probably still safe from this ban for now. However, the pricing on this dish is already not cheap. I can see the pricing skyrocketing even more...

Thoughts?

 

[dj1470]

Yes ban it.
Insecure moronic fucks who think it'll make their dicks bigger can go swallow a viagra.
Now on to new business.........

 

[EntertainmentMan2000]

It's disgusting the way sharks have their fin cut off and then are chucked out sea. They should ban it and instead of making the proposed fine from $5,000 to $100,000 they should just make it $1,000,000. Unfortunately, there's probably tons of more people in Asia that eat shark fin that is fuelling the global demand so what we do won't even make a dent.

 

[basketcase]

...

Shark Fin soup while being not only a delicacy in asian cuisine, is also a traditional dish served in most if not all wedding banquets. I know there are animal rights implications here, but I also feel that my rights to enjoy something that is strongly tied to my culture is also being violated. ...

Would you feel the same about dog, sea turtle, panda, or seal being slaughtered because people's ancestors ate them or elephants killed because some culture values ivory?

I believe that California has enacted a ban as has Mississauga. I would bet many more places will join in.

 

[happyending]

let's see the world's ecosystem vs. some misguided sense of culture....hmmmm. Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism were also once traditions.

 

[LKD]

surely most of you haven't tried shark fin soup... mmmmmhhh delicious

 

[elassowipo1]

I don't believe people should eat shark fin, however I don't like the idea of government legislating what is considered ethical or unethical to eat, far too "nanny-state" for me. That decision should be left to private individuals and businesses to decide for themselves.

I just don't want far-left wackos and enviro extremists to use this as precedent to ban things like non-organic beef or genetically modified crops, etc.

 

[red]

ban it.

 

[ricepower88]

Ban it! Shark fin soup is overated anyways.
To original poster watch this documentary - Shark water http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0856008/
You might change your mind after.

 

[gudnite]

Can't remember if there's a thread on this already.

Pending the outcome of the city council meeting later on this month, Toronto might be on it way to issuing a ban on the selling of Shark Fin. I'm sure this doesn't concern most people, however being Chinese, I'm not sure how I feel about this.

Shark Fin soup while being not only a delicacy in asian cuisine, is also a traditional dish served in most if not all wedding banquets. I know there are animal rights implications here, but I also feel that my rights to enjoy something that is strongly tied to my culture is also being violated. Of course this ban will be for Toronto, and I believe Mississauga and Brampton has also have some kind of a ban on this - making restaurants in Markham/Richmond Hill area probably still safe from this ban for now. However, the pricing on this dish is already not cheap. I can see the pricing skyrocketing even more...

Thoughts?

Ban it COMPETELY: I guess you dick weeds will have to eat dick soup after all the sharks are gone.......

 

[Mervyn]

I would say not only because on the Municipal level this would have no real effect. It should be done on the Provincial or Federal level.

 

[CUTTERBUCK]

Banning on Shark Fin

The proposed ban doesn’t surprise me at all. After all, the “Great Lakes Shark” is an endangered species :wink:

 

[superstar_88]

she certainly looks like she wants to play with those knockers

 

[Casa_Nova]

This was simply meant to get some thoughts on the topic. However it amazes me how some people are so quick to jump into name calling and generalizations when they have no clue about other people's cultures, traditions and backgrounds.

I appreciate the link ricepower88

Anyhow, the same argument can be made for any meat eater. I remember there was a similar documentary on the whole butchery process on meat as a whole that turned a couple of my friends to vegetarians.

Again, I'm not saying that there are no animal rights implications here. I know there are. But I think it is very easy for a lot of people to cast judgement quickly when it doesn't concern or affect them.

 

[Insidious Von]

surely most of you haven't tried shark fin soup... mmmmmhhh delicious

I have, it's bland and has no nutritional value. Ban the fuckin shit.

 

[babyfinsta]

ban fois gras while they are at it.

 

[Prof. Plum]

Anyhow, the same argument can be made for any meat eater. I remember there was a similar documentary on the whole butchery process on meat as a whole that turned a couple of my friends to vegetarians.

No it can't. Apples and oranges. Cows (for example) are slaughtered and processed. Many different cuts are taken from the animal and ground beef is made. The rest is turned into hotdogs. Sharks are caught, their fins are removed on the deck (while alive) and the body is slid back into the water where the shark drowns. How anybody can think that's ok is beyond me. If they wanted to catch the sharks, kill them and process them similar to cows (while using as much of the body as possible) I wouldn't have a problem with that.

 

[dirkd101]

Ban it!

 

[Captain Fantastic]

This was simply meant to get some thoughts on the topic. However it amazes me how some people are so quick to jump into name calling and generalizations when they have no clue about other people's cultures, traditions and backgrounds.

I appreciate the link ricepower88

Anyhow, the same argument can be made for any meat eater. I remember there was a similar documentary on the whole butchery process on meat as a whole that turned a couple of my friends to vegetarians.

Again, I'm not saying that there are no animal rights implications here. I know there are. But I think it is very easy for a lot of people to cast judgement quickly when it doesn't concern or affect them.

So the plight of the oceans doesn't affect us? I guess you don't see the irony of speaking about generalizations and casting judgment...

There is a big difference between eating meat in the traditional sense and the ways and means the fins for shark fin soup are harvested. Butchering an animal while still alive and then throwing its still-living carcass back into the ocean to slowly drown goes beyond what almost any civilized human being would call a "cultural difference" - it is barbarous.

Further, this dish is generally only for wealthy Chinese people - or those putting on airs/celebrating. This is not some staple of the Chinese diet, so it's not a question of taking away a staple food source. Sadly, as more Chinese become affluent while still holding onto old traditions (mostly for appearance sake) this issue will continue to grow.

Those of us who actually value biodiversity and understand ecosystems also comprehend the shark's role in it. While not as warm, fuzzy and intelligent as whales or dolphins, sharks play an equally vital role.

While I'm not going to call anyone names, I will pass judgment and call this practice gruesome, barbaric and unnecessary. I'm not going to look up your posting history or disparage you, but I hope you've never posted in any thread about Muslims, fundamentalist fanatics or anything else that goes against society's norms and mores, because as far as I'm concerned, this is very much the same - it is a cultural difference that impinges on non-believers rights (to vibrant oceans) and freedoms (to protect our oceans by protesting and doing everything in our power to stop a gratuitous and savage practice when it opposes our values and threatens our well-being.)

 

[Captain Fantastic]

No it can't. Apples and oranges. Cows (for example) are slaughtered and processed. Many different cuts are taken from the animal and ground beef is made. The rest is turned into hotdogs. Sharks are caught, their fins are removed on the deck (while alive) and the body is slid back into the water where the shark drowns. How anybody can think that's ok is beyond me. If they wanted to catch the sharks, kill them and process them similar to cows (while using as much of the body as possible) I wouldn't have a problem with that.

There would still be problems with processing the whole shark carcass - the shark population is not allowed to regenerate. Sharks are not "farmed" as other traditional livestock are. To hunt them at the current levels is simply unsustainable. If they want to farm their own sharks without destroying everyone elses' oceans, that's another story, I suppose. (But if they use the same killing and processing technique, it's still barbaric.)

If someone wants to use a real parallel example of the same type of ignorance was the decimation of the bison/buffalo on the Plains in the late 1800s. Or big cats around the world, etc.