CITES... The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, after a 2.5 year interval since their last meeting, has recently rejected bans on trade of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and Polar Bears, as well as rejecting protection against these species of highly-endangered sharks - Hammerheads, Spiny Dogfish and Oceanic Whitetips - all of which are ferociously hunted by greedy, superstitious shark's fin traders and fishermen.
I thought CITES was supposed to regulate the ocean's health? How is that possible that they can allow the ocean's magnificent creatures be fished to DEATH?!! It is an utter disgrace to the environment and an insult to the true hearts of worldwide ambassadors to the ocean!
It is all about the money... It always has been. For example, Mitsubishi Corp in Japan are sending out more fishing fleets everyday, trying to fish the Bluefin Tuna to its death. Why? The underlying agenda is to keep these magnificent fish in cold storage till the day when there are NO MORE Bluefin Tuna in the ocean. Then everyone in the world will covet even a kilo of Bluefin Tuna meat at ridiculously insane prices. It will only benefit the corporation and the rich; the average person who will no longer be able to afford the expensive meat will only be left the choice to drool through a posh restaurant window. This mad cycle of vicious money is absolutely disgusting, yet is unstoppable due to the constant power struggle.
How can we actually help if our governments don't help us? How can we voice out and expect multi-national companies not to dismiss us by asking, "Who are you to speak?" Forget CITES. A greater movement is required, an awareness beyond the ordinary and a fierce mind to make sure words are spoken and heard. It is our choice at the end of the day to support or break.
If you are reading this, now is the time to think and ACT. Don't just sit in a nice fancy Chinese seafood restaurant or Japanese sushi parlour and eat IGNORANTLY. If you think your food choices won't affect anything, you are wrong. It is your moral integrity that makes a difference to saving or destroying the ocean and its magnificence.
Join in this campaign now:
On Monday, the 29th of March 2010, we will be sending emails to CITES at info@cites.org, to tell them how disappointed we are that they as a governing body, have failed to react to these horrendous acts of fishing destruction, yielding to the pressure of Japanese and Chinese measures of stepping up their powerful fishing industries. Who will speak for us if our governments don't help us? Now is the time to voice out, people. Please help us and help the sharks, join in this movement! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Save them and we save ourselves.
