| Shark fin banned from Olympic menus | |
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| Mar 17, 2007 11:57 | #11   |
 | The condition of the shark population is completely unrelated to carpetbagging, chetwynd. There is no question the seas are over fished to feed the world. There is no question that not eating what you kill violates my personal ethics as a hunter; and that the methods used to harvest shark fins appears shameful even to me. But I've eaten lots of shark and don't consider it worth eating so I understand why the carcass is not harvested. Fortunately - absolutely nothing goes to waste in nature. You accuse the Chinese of poaching. Presuming you are correct that the Chinese fishing fleets are poaching, you have every right to criticise that poaching. There are international laws that can be applied applied. So it appears to me, chetwynd, that your argument is entirely with your government. The ineffectiveness of your government is no reason to play the part of a carpetbagger meddling in the politics of China. As for me, this thread has made me crave shark fin soup! :) LANGUAGE NOTE: The term "carpetbagger' may be uniquely American? That was a northerner who went south after the civil war to become active in southern politics and profiteer. The intended meaning in my usage here is, "an outsider who presumptuously seeks to meddle in the politics of China where they have no right to be involved." |
| Mar 17, 2007 11:58 | #12 |
| The condition of the shark population is completely unrelated to carpetbagging, chetwynd. There is no question the seas are over fished to feed the world. There is no question that not eating what you kill violates my personal ethics as a hunter; and that the methods used to harvest shark fins appears shameful even to me. But I've eaten lots of shark and don't consider it worth eating so I understand why the carcass is not harvested. Fortunately - absolutely nothing goes to waste in nature. You accuse the Chinese of poaching. Presuming you are correct that the Chinese fishing fleets are poaching, you have every right to criticise that poaching. There are international laws that can be applied applied. So it appears to me, chetwynd, that your argument is entirely with your government. The ineffectiveness of your government is no reason to play the part of a carpetbagger meddling in the politics of China. As for me, this thread has made me crave shark fin soup! :) LANGUAGE NOTE: The term "carpetbagger' may be uniquely American? That was a northerner who went south after the civil war to become active in southern politics and profiteer. The intended meaning in my usage here is, "an outsider who presumptuously seeks to meddle in the politics of China where they have no right to be involved." |
| Mar 18, 2007 02:56 | #13 |
| Griz, I think we do have a right to criticise China on this issue because it's an environmental issue that crosses national boundaries. That's all. The rest, as you have said, we agree on. |
| Mar 18, 2007 04:17 | #14 |
| Hi Griz, I dont wish to carry this discussion on to infinity. In fact I am not a total outsider. I am married to a Chinese woman. I have two chinese children (my wife's by her first marriage) and I spend as much time in China every year as I do elsewhere. Furthermore, as Chris has pointed out these kind of issues cross national boundaries. I consider myself to be a citizen of the world first. It was carpetbaggers like me who stopped the trade in Ivory (fuelled largely by Chinese carvers and jewellery makers). It was carpetbaggers like me who helped to stop the decimation of the worlds whales. It was carpetbaggers like me who fought in the streets and got bloodied to change the Apartheid system in South Africa. It was carpetbaggers like me who helped to stop the French Nuclear testing in the Pacific. Maybe you would consider being a carpetbagger yourself? Next time your'e in Chengdu check out the bear rescue centre where brown bears are rescued from bear bile farms. In fact, you can take a shortcut and look at the website www.animalsasia.org and have a look at what is being done to bears in China right now. I think it would be a great place to start for a nouveau carpetbagger! :) Sit on your hands and change nothing. Become a carpetbagger amd make this a better world for all who share this planet. No hard feelings. Hope you have a nice day. Steve |
| Mar 18, 2007 13:50 | #15 |
| Sorry Griz, but I have to shout you down too. Around Aus we have reefs completely depopulated of sharks because of this. I know it's a traditional foodstuff in China but the way of catching them is no longer traditional, nor is it acceptable to cut off the fins and throw the still alive sharks back in the sea to die of starvation. |
| Mar 18, 2007 14:33 | #16 |
| I guess I find carpetbagging utterly detestable. None of your examples moved me in the least, Steve. Perhaps it is because the destruction brought by carpetbaggers on the American west. I'm looking forward to a bowl of shark fin soup when I land in Guangzhou! |
| Mar 19, 2007 05:53 | #17 |
| Its OK mate. Just keep sitting on your hands. While youre doing that we will carry on trying to make this a better planet for all living things. From your comments I doubt you will ever notice. |
| Mar 19, 2007 09:57 | #18 |
| You are both Ok. Me child on it. Learn many thing from this post. |
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