by Arielle Young
America's former "almost" president, U.S. Senator John Kerry, has a soft spot for the cuddly and sharp-toothed killing machines of the marine world. This past Monday, Kerry announced his new partnership with the Discovery Channel (ranked #1 in non-fiction media companies across the world) to put an end to the illegal practice of shark finning, as well as to advocate the general protection of the shark population. Yes, I am talking mainly of the chef's delicacy, shark fin soup... which, in all honesty, isn't that tasty to begin with.
Shark fin soup affects the delicate balance of the oceanic ecosystem? Yes, it most certainly does. The decapitation of the shark's dorsal fin is hugely detrimental: this inhumane act has led to a whopping 75% decrease in the world's shark population over the last fifteen years alone. This year, Kerry introduced the Shark Preservation Act of 2009, which nips shark fin transportation in the bud and ensures that sharks that are being transported are whole... teeth, gills, fin and all.
- “Huge demands on the foreign fin trade have fueled massive population declines and a serious disruption of our waters,” said Kerry. “We need much stronger solutions to finally end this illicit trade, and current protections haven’t gotten the job done. We need to get serious, and I’m thrilled to see Discovery Channel’s willingness to roll up its sleeves and help get the job done.”
The famous and frightening "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel begins its 22nd consecutive year on the air this Sunday, August 2nd. Throughout the special, the network will run public service announcements and advocate the need to reach out to the country's senators, via an online campaign. Way to get the job done, TDC!
The sharks keep their fins, poachers get shut down, we get to watch "Shark Week", and everybody wins. Except for, perhaps, all the surfers here at SocialVibe. Happy surfing, guys.
I knew you were good.
