March 3rd 2010
It used to be just words, in Hong Kong: the rising controversy about shark fin soup. Now shark conservationists have taken the next step: direct action.
Photo: © Michel Robles 2006: Two small sharks, their fins cut off.
Last August activist Ran Elfassy of Shark Rescue protested playfully, in shark costume, in front of shark selling shops, much to the chagrin of shop owners (www.alexhoffordphotography.com/node/2221). And some days ago the Hong Kong Shark Foundation (www.hksharkfoundation.org) announced the next splash. Everyone can “vote for the Sharks”, prior to the upcoming CITES Conference on international trade in endangered species, March 13 to 25 in Qatar.
Conservationists want eight more shark species on the endangered species list. Fishing for those, from now on, should be subject to official scrutiny and permits, as is already the case with the Great white shark (Jaws), the Whale shark and the Basking shark.
Voting can be done through Google’s Show Your Vote platform, at http://show-your-vote-cites.appspot.com/. “It’s the first time ever an NGO uses this platform for rallying support on an environmental issue”, says Doug Woodring, a Hong Kong based entrepreneur, surfer, ocean lover and green ‘mover’.
Last year, with some Californian friends, Woodring staged the first truly scientific expedition www.projectkaisei.org to the Pacific Garbage Patch, to try out cleaning-up methods for plastic debris in our oceans. Awaiting the final results, he is now lending his weight to the sharks.
Shark fin soup once was the Chinese rich man’s kaviar. But since fuel prices have fallen, the once exclusive delicacy has become a popular fad. Each year some 100 million sharks are caught, 73 million just for their fins. Half of the shark fin trade goes through Hong Kong.
Martial Art
Once they were bullets, pistols or grenades. Now under the deft hands of Mozambique’s possibly most famous sculptor Goncalo Mabunda they have been transformed into Art.
Recycling AK-47's and other arms from the one-time civil war has become the trade mark of Mabunda and a couple of his fellow artists. I saw some of the results in a small B&B in Antwerp. But even the British Museum and the Bill Clinton Foundation acquired pieces from the 'Arms into Art' programme. Read more…
Photo: © Michel Robles
High on FSC
Ten years ago the Netherlands were an admired environmental pioneer nation. Nowadays, due to a shortsighted neoliberal policy we are almost tail-end Charley within the European Union. Belgium, on the other hand, is a real runner-up. Last December (2010) the Flemish Leukenheide distillery presented Dennenknopje (Pine Bud). Dennenknopje is the world’s very first jenever (traditionally a truly Dutch strong drink), made from a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) labeled wood product. The gin-like softbooze is distilled from pine cones from the Pinus silvestris. The pines grow in Flanders’ vastest, FSC certified forest region Bosland. A local high from an okay forest. Innovation can be anywhere.…
Questioning Plastiki pride
The newly designed cradle-to-cradle catamaran Plastiki has recently arrived is Sidney after a publicity voyage from California across the Pacific Ocean. The designers claim extreme recyclability. But, contrary to earlier announcements, the ship will not be up-cycled now that it has reached its destination. The builders say they've become too attached to their newborn baby. Of course, the vessel can be a showcase for years to come. But, hey, isn't this kind of attachment of people to their achievements precisely the reason why our earth is becoming such a cluttered place? www.theplastiki.com
Sweet C2C
Cradle-to-cradle handmade beauty: go haunt the town's antique and recycle shops and flea markets for a bunch of elegant (or maybe you prefer funny or modern design) plates, saucers and wine glasses. Wash them well, sand the glasses' brims lightly and glue things together with strong porcelain glue. Any shape, size and design you fancy, will do.
Lo and behold: you have now created your own home grown bonbonnière! For sweets, cookies, fruit - or sandwiches if you like. Ladies love'em! Dozens were sold in a fashion shop in my home town. Enjoy more...
Photos: © Michel Robles
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