View Full Version : Do you love the sea?
fabiencousteau
THE MOST IMPORTANT 3 MINUTES YOU WILL SPEND TODAY Please watch my friend Bob Talbot's short film:
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oacH5b87_L8)
dive granny
16-06-09, 16:41
I clicked on thinking it was going to be something nice:angry:
We only get one shot at life. Some people are just greedy and have no thought of the consequences.:mad:
Good film, but I think you're wasting you're time posting it here. One response in thirty visits is probably more than I'd have expected. (Even though I think DG's comment is true.)
No doubt loads of folk will get all sanctimonious and uptight about it...........but it won't change anything 'cos nobody will do anything different. It's always someone else's problem.
(Light blue touch paper.................stand well back..............................)
Good film, but I think you're wasting you're time posting it here. One response in thirty visits is probably more than I'd have expected. (Even though I think DG's comment is true.)
No doubt loads of folk will get all sanctimonious and uptight about it...........but it won't change anything 'cos nobody will do anything different. It's always someone else's problem.
(Light blue touch paper.................stand well back..............................)
I don't think it's true at all that people will not do anything different, but thse moaning about it need to look at their own lifestyle too.
Every little change can make a difference. For example, what fish do you eat - do you eat fish that are overfished? I've had some strange looks in supermarkets when I've asked what type of tuna is on the fish counter - 'eh, it comes in a box marked tuna'. I pointed out that I would like to know what type of tuna it was and didn't buy any, adding that they might like to tell their manager.
Over time, the message will get through. Just last week, pret a manger removed tuna from their menu until they can find a sustainable source for it.
It's the same story with cod, swordfish and other fish sold regularly. When looking for a restaurant for my department dinner last christmas, I dismissed one with swordfish on the menu.
If everyone can make one small change in their lifestyle and tell others about it, maybe the message will start to get across.
It's all very well saying that some people are just greedy and don't think of the consequences but if people were not willing to buy and eat unsustainable fish then there would be no market for them and there would be no point in the fishermen catching them. This especially applies to shark fin soup.
I simply stopped buying tuna, swordfish, and shark and started to look at some information from the Marine Conservation Society about sustainable fishing- http://www.fishonline.org/buying_eating/purchasing_guide.php
I have taken scallops on dives, but have developed personal misgivings about taking lobster and edible crab but its probably because I enjoy having a full complement of ten fingers:o
Moving! I can't say as I've ever bought shark and if offered I would gladly stab the person who offered it. Swordfish I have eaten, on Holiday in Morroco, tuna I've never tried and after seeing the mass hunting techniques and tuna wrangling I would never even think about it!
I only eat prawns and maybe I should look for sustainable from now on, any other sea dwelling or water dwelling creatures will be placed in a bag by me for my family to consume or passed on to us freshly caught, that is my policy!
And I'm very quick to add I'm not so ethical with land based creatures!
The bigger picture really is that it is very easy for us all to sit here on our moral high ground, with NHS and decent salaries, the trappings of our western lives, and our consumer life styles and I admit I am just as guilty as the next man, however there are people around the world who are far less fortunate than us who can work all month for £3 or less.
People buy the exotic and unusual because we are programmed to do so...advertising... T.V chefs... films... TV, Media, the list goes on and on.
How often have you been in work to hear some pillock reguritating the meal they cooked last night with ingredients that sound more exotic than a night with Angelina Jollie on a beach in Goa drinking a Himilayan spirit distilled from the milk of the Yeti!... food has become a fashion just like Nike trainers & just like nike trainers, some body or something suffers to provide the consumer with the fulfillment of their desires.
There is no easy answer, and us Divers are but a drop in the ocean of human kind on the face of this planet, compared to those who's struggle to feed their family is a constant daily battle, 7 days a week etc etc.
I don't like to go abroad anymore and the reason is that when I do I never actually have my holiday goggles with me, I see what is going on... the 10 yr old boys selling fish for food, fish that are sold at pets at home for your fish tank for 100 times the price. I detest the general opinion that these exotic places that people exhist in "well they should be kept that way" and what about the people? should they be "kept that way" with no prospects no way to create a better life for their kids.
I don't know the answers, and I have lost the main thrust of my own post generally because there are more questions than answers.... I guess we are all to blame in some way, business, consumers, advertising. The only way this can change is with a major political shift globally....but can we see that happening soon.......There's about as much chance as 25m viz & gin clear waters in loch Long.
Good film, but I think you're wasting you're time posting it here. One response in thirty visits is probably more than I'd have expected. (Even though I think DG's comment is true.)
No doubt loads of folk will get all sanctimonious and uptight about it...........but it won't change anything 'cos nobody will do anything different. It's always someone else's problem.
(Light blue touch paper.................stand well back..............................)
I personally have to slightly disagree with this post whos to say that the people who have watched this video haven't already tried to do their part by either choosing what they buy or giving money every month to charities.
Just because their hasn't been a puiblic outcry on a thread doesnt mean people dont think, care or act for that matter.
I'm currently reading "End of the Line" by Charles Clover as a result of MCS publicity (http://www.mcsuk.org/mcsaction/scotland/latest+news) about the film premier last week. I could not get to see the film, so got the book instead.
I wish that I had heard of it and read it much sooner.
The youtube film came to my attention from a Twitter link, and gives an easily viewed summary on the industrialised fishing scene. Much quicker than reading the book. However, since it's upload in January, it's only had 577 views as I post this.
If each person viewing it, could pass the link to just another 2 people and onwards after that, it would only take few iterations to reach a much wider audience.
You may want to have a look at what Clay Shirky is saying about the power of the internet (http://www.ted.com/talks/clay_shirky_how_cellphones_twitter_facebook_can_ma ke_history.html) and how individuals CAN make a difference.
Hi,
I posted my earlier comments to, deliberately, provoke a response. Apologies of anyone was offended in anyway, but I feel quite strongly about the way 'the world' treats the seas/oceans.
I'm not a tree-hugging, sandal wearing, cheese muncher (and if that's your thing great, enjoy it as your right) I just think there are things 'we' are doing to this planet of ours that 'we' will suffer for never mind our children.....
I like eating fish and other stuff from the sea, but made a conscious decision some time ago to only eat the stuff that is listed as coming from sustainable sources. I love scallops, but will only eat what I take. I won't buy from shops who charge ridiculous prices for tiny, dredged ones.
Lot's of valid points have been made in the responses. For me the answer lies with the politicians, as someone else pointed out. They are our representatives so should represent us. My concern is their lack of will to do anything substantial. Who in their right minds thinks it sensible to make fisherman ditch their catches after they've been caught? Not the fisherman. There's a world out there that needs feeding for goodness sake.
As a country, when we can't even get agreement to protecting the waters around our own shores I can only conclude that there are people making millions out of it all. Makes me sick. But as someone once pointed out we get the politicians we deserve.
Passing on the link to everyone in your address books might be a bit like 'spam', but imagine if it worked? Feel free to do it, or not, as your conscience decides.
Does anyone want to do something? On-line petition? Provide details of existing on-line petitions that can be supported? I don't know what else is possible, but at least if we did 'something' it would be better than nothing. Wouldn't it?
Just did a google search for End of the Line - they have a campaign website (http://endoftheline.com/campaign/), and opportunity to donate further funds so that the film can be distributed to schools etc. Also Bite-Back (http://www.bite-back.com/index.htm) have a series of campaigns you can help with, including emailing Rick Stein to take the endangered species off his menus.