Gordon Ramsay Shark Bait

[zeban]

After watching this tonight I feel incredibly sad and emotional.

Did anyone else watch this? I'd recommend it if not.

Here's a link to some info on the Channel 4 website about Shark finning if anyone is interested: http://www.channel4.com/4food/on-tv/fish-fight-extras/shark-finning

[PeckhamRose]

Hi - I read about this in Radio Times, and I simply could not bring myself to watch the programme.

It's dreadful, like those who torture rhinos and tigers for their biles or whatever the sake of Chinese herbal medicines.

[zeban]

PR- whilst already knowing what an awful trade it is I think it is still worth watching. To actually see how awful it is has made me more educated and more importantly look further into what I can do to help.

Unfortunately whilst it is the Chinese market that eats Shark Finn soup there are other countries, including our own, that take part in selling the products to consumers. This I learnt from the programme.

A few tips on what you can do to help from the Shark Trust:

http://www.sharktrust.org/content.asp?did=34481

[Alec John Moore]

This also relates

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,601479,603021#msg-603021

Half of all fish caught in the North Sea are thrown back.

['bout now]

It was a horrific programme to watch. However the true horror was diluted by having to watch the narcissistic, egomaniac Gordon Ramsay with his pitch perfect whine. Any sympathy I had was negated by my wanting to punch his craggy little lights out.

Maybe he could do a show on Foie Gras production, oh wait a minute.........

[*Bob*]

Yeah, most of the time I couldn't see the fish for the cock.

Next week on C4: Rose West presents a shocking expos? detailing infringements of human rights in the British penal system.

[louisiana]

'bout now Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It was a horrific programme to watch. However the

> true horror was diluted by having to watch the

> narcissistic, egomaniac Gordon Ramsay with his

> pitch perfect whine. Any sympathy I had was

> negated by my wanting to punch his craggy little

> lights out.

Well you might be able to, as he does live locally :-/

[Jeremy]

It may well have been an interesting show, but surely he's preaching to the wrong people? The people who need persuading are the Chinese/HK consumers who insist on eating this stuff. As long as there's a market for it, sharks will continue to be killed for their fins.

Unfortunately displays of wealth and affluence have become ingrained into the culture, so it's going to be pretty difficult.

[Huguenot]

I don't think that's entirely fair.

HK and Chinese consumers have been fed a diet of manipulative political bullshit (whether British or Communist Party) from the mainstream media since monotype was invented.

As a result the rejection of 'authority' is a cultural foundation.

Unfortunately this rejection of authority applies to any kind of authority - political or scientific or any other.

The consumption of foods that attract disapproval (regardless of whether it's political or social disapproval) is a demonstration of individuality. The expense of the consumption is a public demonstration of empowered individuality, and the lengths that people are willing to go to cock a snook at the system.

Campaigns to address this issue should reflect the UK's success with making drink driving socially unacceptable - they're driven by public debate rather than finger wagging.

Gordon Ramsay would make the ideal chap to pursue this campaign.

[Jeremy]

Huguenot Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The consumption of foods that attract disapproval

> (regardless of whether it's political or social

> disapproval) is a demonstration of individuality.

> The expense of the consumption is a public

> demonstration of empowered individuality, and the

> lengths that people are willing to go to cock a

> snook at the system.

I'm not sure about that. Hong Kong (also 'new' China, Singapore, and Japan to some extent) has become a deeply materialistic society, gratuitous displays of wealth are by no means limited to food. It's more about keeping up with the joneses than sticking your fingers up at authority.

[Keef]

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yeah, most of the time I couldn't see the fish for

> the cock.

>

> Next week on C4: Rose West presents a shocking

> expos? detailing infringements of human rights in

> the British penal system.

Heh

[Huguenot]

I didn't mean it in quite that sense.

Singaporeans are different to HKers, and very much more deferential to authority. Shark's fin is not a popular dish here.

What I'm saying is that the Chinese aren't eating shark's fin soup because they don't care if it goes extinct, they're doing it because they don't believe it's going extinct, and that it's just the authorities lying to them again.

[cherrybear]

>> What I'm saying is that the Chinese aren't eating shark's fin soup because they don't care if it goes extinct, they're doing it because they don't believe it's going extinct, and that it's just the authorities lying to them again.

I would like to point out Hong Kong people are well aware of the extinction. Shark fin is not something you cook at home or get a takeaway from the shop round the corner. You usually get that in a banquet, esp weddings. So it is up to the host of the banquet to decide. Most of the time, the host (esp older generation) would choose to serve shark fin soup because it shows that you can afford it. If you are not serviing it in a banquet, you are considered as mean so you will lose face.

I must say things are changing now. There are alternatives to shark fin soup in most of the restaurants in Hong Kong. I have been to a few banquets that have no shark fins soup served. Guests are equally happy. Not sure if the same change is happening in mainland China tho.

[Brendan]

I wonder how British society would react to an arrogant Chinese arsehole doing a 4 episode populist expose on the backwards, antisocial idiocy of Britons tearing foxes apart with packs of hounds (or some other tradition that his audience would find contrary to their sensibilities I suppose)

[Jeremy]

Given that most brits are anti fox hunting, we probably wouldn't mind too much.

Besides, I don't think foxes are in danger of extinction any time soon.

[Brendan]

Foxes aren't the point.

[Brendan]

Or sharks for that matter. My point was about sanctimonious cunts on moral crusades brimming with justification which stems from one of the more distasteful aspects of their national character.