A Boycott of Disney?

[shorty1219]

Shark fin lands Hong Kong's Disneyland in the soup
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050524/bs ... isneyshark


Disney has found itself in hot water over plans to serve shark's fin soup at its new Hong Kong theme park, with conservationists accusing the company of failing in its corporate responsibilities.

Consumption of shark's fin, usually in a soup, has been blamed for falling shark numbers and environmentalists have called on the US giant to set an example and pull it from their menus when Disneyland opens in September.

Activists have threatened to mount a global boycott of the brand if Disney insists on serving the dish -- something the company says is standard practice among Chinese restaurants and five-star hotels in Hong Kong.

But the dish's popularity in the Chinese territory and its secure place in the gastronomic tradition of southern China means environmentalists are having a tough job convincing people to change their tastes.

A clear, glutinous broth that often takes hours to simmer, although the shark's fin itself is almost tasteless, the soup is a prestigious luxury for the privileged in southern China, where it costs on average 740 US dollars per kilogramme. On menus, the soup can cost up to 400 dollars a bowl.

Clarus Chu, marine conservation officer of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Hong Kong accused the company of hiding behind cultural barriers in its decision to serve the controversial dish.

"In the past, if you could afford shark's fins, you would be highly respected but people do not think about it that way anymore," Chu told AFP.

Disney, he said, "is pushing the burden on our cultural system."

"People eat it because they don't realise the consumption will threaten the animals," said Chu. "Disney has the corporate social responsibility to help the public learn more about the threat.

"They should be a role model as an international corporation."

Chu urged Disney to take shark's fin off its menu and use alternatives such as vegetable spaghetti, a type of squash that has been used by some restaurants as a shark's fin substitute.

Shark's fin, abalone and sea cucumbers are considered delicacies by the Chinese and Disney says it will serve all three to guests who buy plush Chinese wedding banquets when the theme park opens.

Hong Kong is the world's largest trader in shark fin and the soup has been eaten in China for more than 2,000 years.

But because the cuisine is mass-produced, environmentalist Brian Darvell says millions of sharks are being slaughtered each month.

"It's horrifying the rate at which they are killed," said the Hong Kong University professor at the vanguard of a worldwide campaign to end the harvest. "It is among the most over-exploited species on earth."

Shark's fin is routinely served at special occasions such as weddings, banquets and business dinners contributing to steep declines in shark populations.

In 2004, more than 250 shark species were listed on the World Conservation Union's Red List of threatened creatures. Since 1986, nearly all recorded shark species have declined by more than 50 percent.

The fins are usually hacked off while the fish is still alive and the rest of it is tossed back into the sea to die.

Hong Kong Disneyland, the only Disney theme park in the world that will boast a Chinese menu for its wedding banquets, says it is merely following local demand and being sensitive to the culture by making the soup available.

"We spent lots of time deliberating whether or not to offer shark's fin soup. We discussed it internally. We take very seriously animal conservation but we also give consideration to local sensitivities. It was a question of balance," Hong Kong Disneyland spokeswoman Esther Wong told AFP.

"If you go to any wedding or banquet, especially where there are elderly people, there has to be shark's fin. It's that pervasive. If you ask the Hong Kong public, shark's fin is almost a must," she said.

But environmentalists and conservationists have warned that the company could be made a pariah if it does not back a campaign to end the practice.

"I would be delighted it if we can add your change of heart to that page," Darvell said in a message to Disney boss Michael Eisner.

"Otherwise, we can only encourage everyone to boycott Disney globally, pointing out crass and cynical profiteering."

But research by conservationists WildAid and EarthCare suggests it will take a huge effort to change consumers' tastes.

It found nearly 40 percent of 1,006 respondents to a survey in Hong Kong said they eat the soup regularly, with 208 citing "social habit" as a reason for doing so.

Although more than 60 percent of people believe that sharks are important for the balance of marine life, about two-thirds felt it was justified to kill the animal solely for its fins.

But as expensive and prestigious as shark's fin soup is, it doesn't suit everyone's palate.

"It doesn't taste very nice. It's got no flavour. People who eat some just want to show off their status," said Dorothy Si, a 31-year-old clerk.



So this is how Eisner is gonna kill the 50th...?

[MEng85]

no offense....but i dnt see the problem....in san francisco almost every chinese or asian restaurant serves shark fin soup....and i dont think a boycott will really harm disney considering how many asians there are in the world that actually think sharkfin is a must....i think its a cultural thing...plus it doesnt taste half bad...IMHO...

[BirdMom]

This person obviously doesn't understand free-enterprise. The only responsibility that Disney or any other business has is to do whatever they can to increase profits while staying in their legal limits. It's not Disney's responsibility to educate the public on any agenda besides their own.

I don't eat sea food because you just don't know what it's been swimming in, but of all the critters to give a rat about, is a shark up there on the cute and cuddly to be saved list? I don't believe that sharks think twice before taking a bite out of surfers, so under the heading of an eye for an eye, I'll file this one under "who cares?"

[LiveWire]

Its true shark fin soup is endangering the shark, not to mention what they do is just cruel. But to boycott Disney when they are just providing people a dish that is pervasive in their culture? Thats insulting. That's saying that we don't have a mind of our own and that disney dictates our every move. We're a lot smarter than that. Well most of us are anyway. Blame the people who eat the stuff and who kill the shark.

[MEng85]

Its true shark fin soup is endangering the shark, not to mention what they do is just cruel. But to boycott Disney when they are just providing people a dish that is pervasive in their culture? Thats insulting. That's saying that we don't have a mind of our own and that disney dictates our every move. We're a lot smarter than that. Well most of us are anyway. Blame the people who eat the stuff and who kill the shark.

ummmm....i dnt think many large sharks are endangered...and i think its a bit over exagerated what they do to the shark, many in asia and even europe eat the rest of the shark as well...IMO i dnt think eating shark or shark fin is that horrible...I do every blue moon... :D: .... JMO though

[daspriest]

So a right wing christian coalition group ends their boycott and a left wing shark hugging group threatens to boycott.....Man, is the world getting flipped on its side or what?

[MEng85]

So a right wing christian coalition group ends their boycott and a left wing shark hugging group threatens to boycott.....Man, is the world getting flipped on its side or what?

lol its already upside down

[coldfire409]

I've never had shark meat, but if they are not endangered and I don't think that sharks are an endangered species, then there is no good reason that they cannot serve it. And as MEng said if it tastes good then why not eat it.

[daspriest]

I've had shark, and its mighty tasty.......if you think about it, if they kill the shark for its meat, whats the harm in using the rest of the shark for other purposes(like shark fin soup).....:sigh: activists

[LiveWire]

I've had shark, and its mighty tasty.......if you think about it, if they kill the shark for its meat, whats the harm in using the rest of the shark for other purposes(like shark fin soup).....:sigh: activists

Actually that is the problem, some people do just kill the shark for it's fin. I actually love shark meat...theres a seafood resturaunt near my house that makes it deliciously. But it's like when people used to kill the rhino just for it's horn. There are always going to be jerks who just want a quick dollar. Im sure people aren't upset over ligit shark fins (where the rest of the shark has been used as well).

But still thats not reason to boycott disney who probably goes through reputable sources anyway!