I have to say the video is utterly disturbing and disgusting. It's revolting and will make your stomach turn. That being said, you have to watch it. Spend 15 minutes and watch it in it's entirety and tell your friends to do the same.
Next contact your government representatives (local, state/provincial, federal or otherwise) and get them to act. Tell them you demand a ban at all levels of the possession and trade of shark fins. Forget the hundreds of years of Chinese tradition. If our ancestors knew now how out of control the slaughter has gotten, the practice would have stopped years ago. In it's kindest term it can be called it nothing less than barbaric.
I think many governments are coming to the realization of the horrors of shark finning. It is being recognized and bans are coming into effect. According to this article Hawaii, Oregon, California, Saipan and Guam have all passed legislation to ban the sale of shark fins. As well a number of prominent celebrities including Edward Norton, Ian Somerhalder, Kristen Bell, Ben Stiller, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Vartan, Megan Fox, Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen, Yao Ming and Ang Lee have gotten behind the cause. Yes, Ang Lee and Yao Ming. That's great news.
My biggest concern is getting through to the people of Asia, most notably China and Hong Kong. From another website here's a bit of the history behind it -
The majority of shark fin soup is served “big bowl” style during banquets or large dinners for birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers or business celebrations. However, shark fin soup is most notably served during wedding banquets as a sign of wealth and a demonstration of “mian zi”, or face. Traditionally, at weddings where shark fin soup is served, the groom’s side of the family pays for the wedding. There is a long-established expression that says “if there is no shark fin soup at the wedding banquet, the bride is marrying into a poor family”. This folklore has been so deeply engrained in consumers that it is seen as distasteful, cheap and sometimes disrespectful to not serve one’s guests shark fin soup. Shark fin is also expresses a Chinese tradition to share one’s fortune with your friends and family.
I believe most Chinese are proud and stubborn, but attitudes have to be changed. I realize it may be too late to change the minds of our elders. But, the next generation must act. If you're Chinese and you're getting married, don't be bullied by your parents or grandparents to have shark fin soup at your banquet. It's up to you to stand for what you know is right. It's up to you to stop this madness. You can take responsibility and be the first person to stand up and say, no, to something you know, in no uncertain terms, is offensive. Be that person.
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