This PP looks at the issue of shark finning and looks at different traditions that were changed in different societies for the better.

1. When is it right to force traditional practices to change?

2. Throughout Time People &
Traditions Evolve.
If, as a species we Canada 1917
discover that our United Kingdom (Then
including Ireland)1918
past beliefs and and 1928
traditions were United States1920
wrong or cause Taiwan1947
more harm than
good, should we
still hold onto
those practices in
the name of
tradition? Why?
It wasn’t until the beginning of the last century that
women were even thought to be people! As well as able
to vote in most countries. Luckily this belief changed too!

3. Another Tradition That Has Changed for the Good
of Women
Foot Binding  It was finally outlawed in
 This tradition started off in the
early Song dynasty (960–1279). the 1911 Revolution of Sun
 Foot-binding resulted in lifelong Yat-Sen.
disabilities for most.
 Why bind feet?
 A woman with bound feet was
limited in her mobility. This
caused an inability to take part
in politics, social life, and the Is this a
world at large. good
example
 Bound feet made women
of
dependent on their families,
changing
mainly their men, and,
traditions?
therefore, became a symbol of
Why or
male ownership.
why not?

4. Shark Fin Soup is a Tradition Too!
Shark fin soup is a
Up to 100 million
popular soup of
sharks are killed
Chinese cuisine .
each year for soup
Shark fin soup dates or medicine.
back to China's
Ming Dynasty. The
popularity of shark fin
soup rose in the late 18th
and early 19th centuries
as standards of living
began to improve.
Even though fins have no
flavor people eat them to How does this
show they have money. tradition make the
Is this a good reason for Chinese culture
a tradition? Why or why better?
not?

5. Is this a tradition to be kept or
changed?
Shark Finning Facts:
-Shark finning refers to
the removal and
retention of shark fins
and the discard at sea
of the carcasses.
-The shark is most often
still alive when it is
thrown back into the
water.
-Unable to swim, and
bleeding to death, the
shark suffers a slow
death. Isn’t it a part of Taiwanese traditional cuisine to use all of
-Ninety-five percent of the animal? Doesn’t finning go against this tradition?
the animal is wasted. Which is the better tradition?
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUe9GPuka-c

6. Why Should Tradition Change?
Sharks are critical to
protecting
phytoplankton and algae
stocks, which means
they are critical to
protecting our oxygen.
The ocean produces 70%
of Earth’s O2
(air/oxygen) and controls
over 80% of CO2.
This O2 is made by ocean
plants called algae and
phytoplankton.
They breathe CO2 and
then breathe out O2 .
This is a cycle. It is
called the carbon cycle.
All life on Earth needs What is more important: tradition or air?
O2 to live.

7. Shark Fin Soup is High in
Mercury
Even if you don’t care  Shark meat is considered
how sharks are killed or dangerous for consumption by
our oxygen levels, do women of child-bearing age,and
you care about children.
poisoning yourself?  Many health organizations warn
Because sharks are the pregnant women not to eat shark
top predator of the while pregnant, or if they plan to
oceans, they consume a become pregnant.
lot of fish. Over time  A study in New York City found
they collect very high that 1 in 4 Asian-born women had
levels of mercury and dangerously high levels of
other poisons . mercury.
Mercury results in  Dried shark fin has the highest
damage to the human levels of mercury.
central nervous system
and causes birth defects
in infants.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsAjFPJcvGk

8. Taiwan is Ranked the 4th Largest Shark
Killer in the World
Is Change coming? Will this new ban be enough?
 Taiwanese environmentalists say  This announcement is a sign
shark fin consumption from that Taiwan is on the right track
wedding banquets on the island’s when it comes to protecting
70-odd high-class hotels annually sharks. However, it falls short of
causes the killing of at least what is really needed. With up to
900,000 sharks. By one estimate, 73 million sharks killed every
4 million sharks are killed for year, many by Taiwan's fleet, a
Taiwanese shark fin soup alone. finning-ban does not address the
 The Taiwan Fisheries Agency says larger overfishing problem that
it will impose a ban next year on is driving these animals toward
shark finning. extinction.

9. Think About it!
How does this  Why isn’t the government warning
information make people about the toxic levels of
you feel? Why?
mercury? Why or why not?
What information
was new to you? Are  If Taiwan becomes the first Asian
you surprised about country to enforce this shark fin ban,
any of it? how could this effect how the world
Should restaurants sees Taiwan?
be allowed to serve
 What can you do to help? Are you too
food that is
dangerous to young to help change the world?
people’s health? Why
or why not?