Beware The Friendly Stranger

mohandasgandhi:

mynamekyle:

mohandasgandhi:

climateadaptation:

Gordan Ramsay eats shark fin soup for the first time and nearly collapses in disbelief at how utterly flavorless it tastes. Then he travels with shark fin fishermen. Warning: This is an absolute horror show. It is not for the weak stomached. Even I had to stop watching and just went straight to the petition. In the end, Ramsey convinces some restaurants to begin to quit selling shark fin soup.

Click here and sign the petition.

You know, as a lifelong animal rights activist and longtime vegetarian, I thought I’d been desensitized to everything. I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen a countless number of graphic pictures and videos documenting the horrors sharks endure so we can devour their fins (many of which I post) but for some reason, I found this video to be especially difficult to watch. Good on Gordon Ramsey for taking up the issue and trying to do something about it. You want to see one of the darkest aspects of the human race? Here you are. Now help do something.

I was worried that this would be hard to watch because if Keisha could hardly watch it, it must be bad. However, it wasn’t as bad as I thought and I think I’ve been desensitized heavily after watching that video of the camel or whatever animal being slaughtered that went around Tumblr a month or so ago.

Anyways, this was a load of bullshit. I found myself angry at the video and not because of the abuse the sharks endured but because the only reason he seemed interested in stopping the production of shark fin soup was because it had no taste. Had it tasted wonderful it seems he wouldn’t have cared and would’ve been in support of it being on the menu, with maybe some mild concern over how the sharks are killed.

I feel like I should also mention that he used my least favorite phrase relating to the meat industry which is “humane killing” (Something along the lines of “And it’s not the quick humane death I’m used to seeing back home”) which is a complete fucking oxymoron. “Humane” refers to acting compassionately and with sympathy and, as evident by the root word, in regards to how you would treat other humans. There is no such thing as “humane killing” when the killing of another human is considered one of the worst things a human could do.

Yeah, it’s great that hopefully what he’s doing will result in less sharks being murdered but will it continue? Yes. And does it make up for the fact that there are dozens of other animals being killed in similar manners because they taste good? No.

The only reason I was initially apprehensive to reblog this was because of Gordon Ramsey, who I have significant problems with. Compared to the meat industry in the United States, what Ramsey has done in England, which to us is still cruel, is significantly more humane.

I agree with you completely regarding what he said about it tasting good. However, it’s really difficult to say how different activism would be if it were the case that fins weren’t flavorless.

Most people don’t think the way you or I do (and I’m not including those who have health problems or are poor). The meat industry coupled with our culture has created such a disconnect between the life of the animal and what ends up on your plate. With regard to shark fin soup, more importance is placed on cultural tradition than on the welfare of the animal itself. We’re driving sharks to extinction altogether and very, very quickly.

While I personally do not like Gordon Ramsey, I can’t bring myself to fault him for making an effort. He appeared to be genuinely horrified by what he experienced and he is in a position to raise mass awareness of this brutal practice. There will never be a humane way of killing an animal but the guy has made an effort to promote relatively more humane practices and he’s denounced factory farming. While it may not seem like much, it’s a step in the right direction.

P.S. The reason I found this video so disturbing is due to the rate at which sharks are being killed. It’s horrifying seeing people consume animals with little disregard over their welfare, potential extinction, or the vital role they play in the animal kingdom. Was this video as graphic as, say, crush videos or those of downed cows being thrown into meat grinders alive? No. But those practices aren’t widely considered moral or humane.