Here's extracts of some recent comments carried in the media on the issue...
from Of sharks' fins and highrollers
liang dingzi, Today Online 5 Jun 08
full article on wildsingapore news
AS someone who abhors any form of cruelty to animals, whether inflicted out of perversion or for commercial purposes, I applaud Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) for its decision to keep sharks’ fin off its menu when it opens in 2010. I hope other restaurants will soon follow suit.
I find the commitment, however, somewhat half-hearted and disconcerting when it was revealed that high rollers at the resort may continue to feast on the Chinese delicacy. This is clearly a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, negating the good that would have been otherwise achieved.
Worse, it suggests that compassion is a tradeable commodity — that wealth buys the right to be above the civilised norm that is being promoted. It does not matter that the consumption by high rollers will be confined to private rooms.
To say only a small quantity is eaten in private does not eradicate the cruelty involved to the animal and also insults logic. There is no middle ground, where the supposed balance meets.
from It’s about cruelty, not profits
Letter from Dudley Au, Today Online 9 Jun 08
full article on wildsingapore news
To say only a small quantity is eaten in private does not eradicate the cruelty involved to the animal and also insults logic.
There is no middle ground, where the supposed balance meets.
from Smaller steps to a better fin-ish?
Letter from Peter Tan, Today Online 7 Jun 08;
full article on wildsingapore news
We should celebrate that 90 per cent of sharks’ fin will not be consumed at RWS, rather than lament the10 per cent that may be.
from One man’s foie gras is another man’s poison
Letter from Teo Puay Kim, Today Online 7 Jun 08;
full article on wildsingapore news
I would like to propose the banning of the French delicacy foie gras in Singapore. We should be writing to all French restaurants to remove this distasteful dish that involves a high level of cruelty to ducks and geese.
Compassion is not a tradeable commodity :—: we should be fair to the ducks and geese as well.
from Resort's shark's fin ban 90% effective
Reply from Resorts World Sentosa, Straits Times Forum 5 Jun 08
full article on wildsingapore news
WE REFER to Mr Ace Kindred Cheong's online letter yesterday, 'Shark's fins menu: Why the double standards?', penned in response to Resorts World at Sentosa's (RWS) decision not to have shark's fin on the menu when we open in 2010.
First, we are glad to have another supporter for the shark conservation cause. RWS decided last year that we would not want to have shark's fin on the menu in order to advance our message to protect the oceans.
It is a bold decision for any casino resort to take, given that the majority of customers to global casinos are Asians, for whom delicacies such as shark's fin soup is a popular item at banquets.
RWS' final decision carries the concession that an exemption will be made only in the private gaming rooms, only upon request, and only if the customer rejects similar quality alternatives on the menu.
We recognise that this policy is a compromise, not the ideal, and open to criticism. Nevertheless, we are consoled by the fact that having the dish removed from menus effectively does away with at least 90 per cent of any shark's fin that could have been consumed on the premises.
We had to contend with a piece of business reality, but we believe that taking the first step to make a difference is better than not moving at all.
RWS' hope is that, somewhere down the road, we could report that we have not had to serve up a single bowl of shark's fin at the resort, for as long as shark finning remains unsustainable. To do that, we would need all the help from conservation supporters like Mr Cheong. You could help us convince the unconverted.
More links
- Sentosa IR says ‘no’ to shark’s fin
Original press release and media reports on wildsingapore news
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