|
|
Post by Terrordar on Mar 23, 2009 8:56:13 GMT
Well, it has to be said, humanity is pushing this planet's current ecosystem to the brink. Species are being lost at a rate which copies the loss during the era of the dinosaurs.
The fact that we're wiping out an entire type of animal, which used to number in the billions and since has lost 70% of its population, over fins, should tell us all something sobering.
Sharks are being pushed closer and closer to the brink. And no one will stop this. It seems maddening, the loss of Sharks will cause a total breakdown of the ocean's foodchain, which will take 1000's of years to recover, if not tens of thousands. If not hundreds of thousands or perhaps even millions!
The real problem is the coral reefs need sharks as well, and will collapse without them, in terms of the foodchain.
And its all for people like this-
People so [Censored]ing stupid that they think "Shark fin is nummy!" that they don't stop and think that if they don't stop eating shark fins, there will be no more sharks. Period.
I hate people.
|
|
|
|
Post by Flix on Mar 23, 2009 9:20:00 GMT
I was watching a nature program about tigers with my grandmother last week, and I was saying what remarkable creatures they are, but all she said was she would be so happy if they were all wiped out, the same goes for sharks, and basically any predator that poses a threat to humans. She's a sweet little old woman, but it's this kind of thinking, limited to the immediate present and the anthro-centric worldview (sharks could kill us, thus if there were no sharks in the world there would be no danger) that is largely responsible.
At the dawn of humanity there were hundreds of examples of megafauna, and it's no coincidence that that number has dropped dramatically as humans have flourished. It's not just natural forces, it's us -- we've actively hunted down and destroyed dozens of larger species, both predatory and herbivorous.
|
|
|
|
Post by Terrordar on Mar 23, 2009 9:28:44 GMT
Unfortunately, we've trimmed the tree so much that its starting to whither as a whole, not just miss a few branches Flix.
|
|
|
|
Post by Elliot Kane on Mar 23, 2009 9:49:13 GMT
The greatest and most lethal predator of all is us...  |
|
|
|
Post by Galadriel on Mar 28, 2009 8:59:38 GMT
Can I say what a brat this woman is?? Man, she must be used to using this kind of childish behavior to get what she wants.
As for me, I don't eat shark fin soup, like I don't eat any kind of meat where an animal has been killed for just that one body part. For the same reason I don't want ivory, ashtrays made of gorilla hands, shark teeth for necklaces, dried up sea horses, claws from a lion etc.
It's already hard enough that we eat meat, let along use animals for decoration
|
|
|
|
Post by Terrordar on Mar 29, 2009 16:15:12 GMT
Just to let you know Galadriel, most Shark Teeth aren't pulled from corpses, but are picked up off the sand based seabed floor by locals (depending on the area).
|
|
|
|
Post by Galadriel on Mar 29, 2009 17:12:27 GMT
Just to let you know Galadriel, most Shark Teeth aren't pulled from corpses, but are picked up off the sand based seabed floor by locals (depending on the area). |
|
|
|
Post by Elliot Kane on Mar 29, 2009 17:14:14 GMT
I think I remember reading that Sharks keep getting their teeth replaced, over and over, for their whole lives. They just keep growing new sets. I guess that's why a load fall out...?
|
|
|
|
Post by Galadriel on Mar 29, 2009 17:18:43 GMT
I think I remember reading that Sharks keep getting their teeth replaced, over and over, for their whole lives. They just keep growing new sets. I guess that's why a load fall out...? |
|
|
|
Post by Elliot Kane on Mar 29, 2009 17:28:52 GMT
OK, Gal. I'll wait for the next Blonde comment, instead! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by The Sonar Chicken on Mar 29, 2009 19:10:45 GMT
I think there's little chance of people stopping to eat that, though. Asian culture thrives on obedience and conformity and lots of people are still blabbering about "preserving culture", prestige and stuff. Me? I try to stay away from that dish unless I get suckered into one of those dinners(which I hate anyway because they serve too much food and people rarely finish much of it.). I try to turn them down but some? My family just manages to persuade me into them.  I think the only time when humans will stop, is well.. when the sh*t hits the fan. They'll deserve it when their countries start sinking and they've got nothing to eat except for sand and grass. |
|
|
|
Post by Terrordar on Mar 30, 2009 6:58:50 GMT
The only problem is SC, is that the sharks will all be dead by then. And that the ecosystem for EVERYONE, not just the Chinese/Orientals, will be seriously [Censored]ED. When you take out the very top of the foodchain, the bottom usually goes with it, and then the middle dwindles, dies, or gets out of control and destroys much of the edible foods.
|
|
|
|
Post by Galadriel on Mar 30, 2009 10:34:51 GMT
The only problem is SC, is that the sharks will all be dead by then. And that the ecosystem for EVERYONE, not just the Chinese/Orientals, will be seriously [Censored]ED. When you take out the very top of the foodchain, the bottom usually goes with it, and then the middle dwindles, dies, or gets out of control and destroys much of the edible foods. |
|
|
|
Post by The Sonar Chicken on Mar 30, 2009 10:57:01 GMT
What people need is some ecological education but I don't think many countries would bother to implement that proper. And a lot of people don't bother to learn about ecology, either, since they're too busy with other things. Asia has plenty of problems and that reflects in the society, culture and attitudes of the people.
|
|
|
|
Post by Terrordar on Mar 30, 2009 19:04:00 GMT
Yes, but Asia's problems are going to start pouring into the resources and lifestyles of the rest of the world, because they are among the least caring for anything remotely resembling an environment.
|
|
|
|
Post by Galadriel on Mar 30, 2009 19:29:10 GMT
Yes, but Asia's problems are going to start pouring into the resources and lifestyles of the rest of the world, because they are among the least caring for anything remotely resembling an environment. |
|
|
|
Post by Terrordar on Mar 30, 2009 19:43:28 GMT
The western world isn't exactly without blame either, but the industrialized nations are becoming less responsible for things like this over time, if only because Asia is starting to burn through resources. Like.Mad.
For instance, in the previous century, the main consumers of ivory were Great Britain, and America.
Now, its America, and China. And guess what? China's demands are bigger than the states. So Elephants are going to be wiped out in the name of Chinese-American Ivory. Lovely thought, isn't it?
Sharks are being wiped out in the name of soup. In the name of [Censored]ing soup. Shark Fin Soups used to be for rich people only, you know why? Because Sharks take [Censored]ing 15 years in many cases to sexually mature, and don't breed like rabbits either. You wanna see something die out, kill 40,000,000 of a low reproducing species per year, and kill them in the most terrible way possible. Yea, that'll get you some results.
Tigers, wiped out almost entirely for Asian aphrodisiacs. Viagra? no no good sir, I have Tiger essence.
Bears hunted down in my country, by poachers, to send their parts back to China, to become "medacine".
Its disgusting. And I'm not exactly the most pro-enviromentalist guy, but anyone can see the writing on the wall. To defend the position of Asia and its 'delicacy' hunts, is absurd, disgusting, and stifles solving Asia's REAL problems, which are future energy sources and finding a SUSTAINABLE FOOD SOURCE.
I'm not critizing them for their regular fishing at the moment, even though that deserves it as well, because I recognize Asia has billions of people that need to be fed. That needs to be changed too however, or we.won't.have.any.food. from.the.ocean.
This short term gains [Censored]has gotta stop. I love meat, but we need to half the amount of meat being produced globally in my opinion, and push up farm production.
Killing all the sharks? Screws over our food supply.
Killing all the Whales? Screws over the food supply (And they may be sentient, which is even mroe criminal of us)
Killing all the Elephants? Literally, no purpose in doing this than ivory to feed America-Chinese demand, disgusting. And also these animals show signs of base-tribalism.
Killing all the Tigers? Once again, the point behind this is for outdated, delusional medical myths. Disgusting.
Killing the bears? Same as before. Disgusting.
And there are dozens of other cases for these "mixtures" and "delicacies". They are unmaintable. If these things were maintainable, that'd be awesome. I wouldn't care if they could kill 40,000,000 Sharks a year and it was maintainable. Its NOT. Its RETARDED> Short sighed, and I'm going to yes, blame the majority of the industry, business, people, and leaders of oriental nations, and in particular China, due to their hostile stance in many cases towards anything resembling change, and their outright affront to preserving themselves and the planet.
It makes me sick.
|
|
|
|
Post by Galadriel on Mar 30, 2009 19:59:42 GMT
You're not the only one. This is a topic where I totally agree with you.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Sonar Chicken on Mar 30, 2009 20:12:38 GMT
Oops: wrote this post much earlier, before the above 2 posts were made.
I believe that many won't give a damn. Fear of society's pressures(conform or be crushed, deserted and be treated as though you don't exist), fear of losing prestige, inability to find a job(caste systems, ethnicity, gender, race, etc.) etc. are just some of the many factors that contribute to this. I think a lot would only bother IF cutting back on shark fin/etc. becomes "trendy", "popular" or if it's enforced by the government/some important figure. But will the governments do this? I've no idea. Some might but many might not, due to various reasons.
Hmm... it's not just about being "smart", though. In some places, if you want to even survive, then you just do as the devil asks even if it means abandoning everything that makes you human.
But I think apart from culture, another major issue is the errr... "deep-trawling" techniques those giant ships use: you know, those big nets that stretch for miles(kilometres)? They simply just toss the nets in and from what I read, everytime it literally kills off many kinds of species since the animals get caught up in the hooks, nets, and other equipment the ships use. And by the time they're found, they're either dead or barely alive.
I understand that it isn't just the Japanese/Chinese(China)/etc. fishing industries that're responsible for using such "nets". Possibly Norwayen too, I think. And almost every firm/company that uses such techniques to farm for fish, shrimp and so on. Which to me, puts a lot of the international fishing industry at blame.
Sure, but many wanted cheap and highly affordable stuff from Asia, right? I think that might've fueled part of the mentalities for delivering "highly expensive" items like "shark's fin soup" and other exotic dishes, to those who really shouldn't be buying it. And that boom might've made a lot of people richer, thus placing such pricey menu items into their reach.
I might be off though on my thoughts.
|
|
|
|
Post by Terrordar on Mar 30, 2009 21:06:14 GMT
Is something like this also acceptable? Yes, I know your post is late. But I don't think it really think it highlights many of the points I was trying to make.
|
|
