"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action - Johann Wolfgang Goethe."
The damning consequences of sheer ignorance is blinding to anyone with eyes, and willingness to see, particularly when it comes to the hundreds of millions of sharks brutally "finned" by humans each year for the production of shark fin soup. Most Chinese who covet this delicacy don't even realize they're eating shark as the name of the dish literally translates to "fish wing soup."
The demand for shark fins is what drives almost all shark deaths. Some species may have declined by as much as 97-99 percent in the last 35 years. In other words, as few as one out of 100 may be left of some species.
Sadly, the image from the movie Jaws taps into an innate human fear which allows otherwise conscious people to turn a blind eye when it comes to the barbaric practice of shark finning. Even if we aren't consuming these products, we still have a responsibility to our children and future generations, as well as to our fellow species, to click a link, sign a petition and protect our shared natural resources.
Several states and international organizations have banned the sale of shark fin or other shark products. One prominent and prestigious hotel chain, Shangri-La, was among the first to ban shark fin soup in all of its hotels and restaurants. Their decision to place their brand on the forefront of educating their guests and inciting change around such a critical cultural issue is a bold and laudable move for an Asian based corporation. We applaud their efforts and believe their mindfulness and courage will pay dividends for decades to come.
