Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Recent Comments:
California's proposed shark fin ban stirs up debate over global politics of culinary delicacies {Gadling}
Apr 12th 2011 6:52PM The California legislation, Assembly Bill 376, introduced by Assemblymembers Paul Fong (D-Cupertino, himself of Chinese descent) and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael). The bill would ban the possession and sale of shark fins. Those in doubt about the merits of this bill should take a look at the shark finning videos on YouTube.
AB 376 passed the California Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee unanimously, in a 13:0 vote. Only last week it passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee in a 10:1 vote, and is now going to the 80-member Assembly floor, where it is expected to pass easily.
LETTERS OF SUPPORT ARE NEEDED. ALL LEGISLATORS MAY BE WRITTEN C/O THE STATE CAPITOL, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814.
"Culture" and "tradition" should never trump environmental degradation or animal welfare. The commerce in shark fins is not only unspeakably brutal, it is unsustainable. Reportedly, we've already massacred 90% of the world's populations of sharks, throwing the entire ocean environment into disorder. And for what? SOUP AND SUPERSTITION, may the Goddess forgive us. There's a belief among many shark fin soup fans that the fins are a cure for cancer, and an aphrodisiac. Wrong on both counts. (And in this over-populated world, aren't aphrodisiacs the LAST thing we need more of?) Shark fins are mostly just gristle, chewy and tasteless. And horrendously expensive ($200-$600/lb). One of my Asian friends told me you'd be better off eating Jell-O. Sharks are also high in mercury, putting the public health at risk.
Simple "tradition" justifies nothing. And most cultures evolve and change for the better. This bloody business has to stop. Now. And it's gratifying to see the worldwide movement in this direction, including many Asians.
Save the sharks. And in doing so, save the oceans, maybe even ourselves.
Sincerely,
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland
email - afa@mcn.org
Michael Vick Wants to Get a New Dog {Pawnation OLD}
Dec 16th 2010 1:38PM I suppose we should be thankful that Charles Manson didn't have a good jump shot, else he'd be out of jail and playing point guard for the Lakers.
No dogs or orther animals for Michael Vick: EVER!
600 kilogram rodeo bull jumps into crowd, injures four people {Asylum.co.uk}
Nov 15th 2010 9:03PM People shouldn't be surprised by this incident. I've been working on rodeo reform for some 25 years. In that time I've seen rodeo bulls jump six and seven-foot fences. The rodeo promoters should be sued for negligence.
Only two years ago a bull jumped an 8-foot fence at the Red Bluff rodeo in California, landing in the audience, and putting six people in the hospital, three of them children. MAJOR LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED--HERE'S HOPING THE INJURED AT THE EDMONTON RODEO WILL DO LIKEWISE. Rodeo proponents may not understand animal abuse, but they DO understand lawsuits and fines.
Note that EVERY major animal welfare organization in North America condemns rodeos due to their inherent cruelty, and for the negative message that such violence towards animals sends to impressionable young children.
Most of rodeo is bogus from the get-go. REAL cowboys never routinely rode bulls, or wrestled steers, or rode bareback, or put bucking straps/ropes on the animals--It's all hype to put fannies in the seats (read: $$$). And people should do jail time for both calf roping (babies!) and single steer roping, the worst of all rodeo events. Most rodeos don't even have the decency to require on-site vets to treat injured animals.
Rodeo is a macho, 19th-century anachronism which belongs in the dustbin of history. For most of the animals, it's merely a detour en route to the slaughterhouse. They (and we) deserve better.
BOYCOTT ALL RODEOS.
Sincerely,
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland, CA
email - afa@mcn.org
