In China, victory for wildlife conservation as citizens persuaded to give up shark fin soup

[Judi Lynn]

In China, victory for wildlife conservation as citizens persuaded to give up shark fin soup
By Simon Denyer, Updated: Saturday, October 19, 4:27 PM E-mail the writer

BEIJING — Once a rare delicacy served to honored guests, shark fin soup had become so popular among China’s fast-growing elite in recent years that it was pushing some shark species close to extinction.

Now, there is fresh hope for sharks around the world. The demand for shark fins has plunged, providing a rare victory for conservationists that could have wider implications for other endangered wildlife.

Thanks to a former NBA star, a coalition of Chinese business leaders, celebrities and students, and some unlikely investigative journalism, eating shark fin soup is no longer fashionable here. But what really tipped the balance was a government campaign against extravagance that has seen the soup banned from official banquets.

“People said it was impossible to change China, but the evidence we are now getting says consumption of shark fin soup in China is down by 50 to 70 percent in the last two years,” said Peter Knights, executive director of WildAid, a San Francisco-based group that has promoted awareness about the shark trade. The drop is also reflected in government and industry statistics.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-china-victory-for-wildlife-conservation-as-citizens-persuaded-to-give-up-shark-fin-soup/2013/10/19/e8181326-3646-11e3-89db-8002ba99b894_story.html

[alp227]

1. single page version:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-china-victory-for-wildlife-conservation-as-citizens-persuaded-to-give-up-shark-fin-soup/2013/10/19/e8181326-3646-11e3-89db-8002ba99b894_singlePage.html

[Enthusiast]

2. China still has a very long way to go.

Stop with the rhino horns and elephant tusks!

[ellenrr]

3. and the bear gall bladder and every other animal part ...

good news about the shark fins.
Perhaps even the Chinese can be persuaded to give up very little bit of an animal that is supposed to impart virility.

There is a great book:
"The Devouring Dragon: How China's Rise Threatens Our Natural World"

about despoilation of the environment, elimination of species due to rich Chinese need for animal parts...

I started it, couldn't finish it, it made me ill.

[Enthusiast]

4. Thanks.

How primitive to believe that powdered rhino horn can enhance virility. Now that Viagra is available maybe they will abandon that little piece of folklore.

The Chinese government could help, if only they would. They could do a public service announcement.

They could say, "Citizens of China, we implore you, abandon the use of these superstitious folk medicines. We have discovered lower priced modern medicines that have proven to be effective."

[stuntcat]

5. k for SHARKS

But it makes me so F'ing mad that they've endangered sharks, killing so many of them so brutally. So over-the-top mad that I will never forgive it.

If public worldwide shaming can make them stop mass-slaughtering sharks then maybe they could also be pressured to stop stalking and HACKING elephants to DEATH for their tusks.

(And no I'm not just being anti-China, I feel the exact same rage for my super-fecund blonde neighbors over the Earth-raping meat they won't stop eating. Humans just suck, and I am having it proven to me over and over why I should not have hope. And maybe I should have more hope for China that I do for my fellow Americans.)