Oct31
Sharkwater
Posted at 12:13 PM | Permalink
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Comments (18)
Show me any animal, and I’ll show you someone who’s found a way to systematically torture and abuse them. For sharks, it’s the finning industry, which kills an estimated 100 million sharks a year, usually by simply hacking off the fins and tossing the animals back into the water to die. And sharks have an additional strike against them in the form of a widespread myth that they’re evil, man-eating monsters, which makes it exceptionally difficult to get anyone to pay attention to their plight. Which is why Sharkwater—a new documentary opening this Friday which debunks the negative myths about these amazing animals and exposes the cruel industry that’s threatening their existence—is such an important film.
Of course, that’s not the only reason I’m psyched about this movie. Anyone who’s watched as many shark-themed TV shows on the Discovery Channel as I have will know that these animals are, to use a technical term, totally effing rad. Here’s a little teaser for the film, and you can check Sharkwater’s site for showtimes.
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shark fin soup
Comments
Thanks for posting this Jack - I look forward to this movie. It's unfortunate that many people (and even some animal protection groups) don't worry about the abuse of sea animals, even though they suffer just like dogs and cats. Ever since I saw PETA's FishingHurts.com site I gave up eating fish flesh.
Posted by: Chris | October 31, 2007 12:25 PM
What a shame to see animals wasted. In the US it is illegal to wast usable parts of game animals harvested, as it should be. Commercial hunters and fishers do not follow the same ethics and I have never claimed to side with them. I have no recourse though, as I don't use shark fins for anything that I know of. In the past when I have caught sharks, I have admired them and set them free as they are usually not considered great table fair. Then I go change my underwear.
Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | October 31, 2007 12:27 PM
Everything is for "money" the bad people in this world don't care about any animal, they just want the money, and other inocents have to pay with their lives to satisfy all these monsters human.
Posted by: liliana | October 31, 2007 12:50 PM
cocky: i admire at least that you give the sharks their freedom but admit it: you were so frightened that it happened ....pssss..... and then you changed your underwear!
Posted by: pablito | October 31, 2007 01:06 PM
I watch Animal Planet probably the only channel I watch on T.V. besides (Court T.V.) and doing so have learned alot about the shark. Most of the hipe surrounding sharks in general, especially the Great White is their tendency to attack people going for a surf on the ocean and not exactly the one swimming around the shore lines. It's the shark looking up at the person on the surfboard as a potential meal and at their point of view looks like a tasty seal. Thats why you don't hear about alot of deaths from shark attacks (unless it's from blood loss) cause normally they'll bit and let go when they realize it's not their usual prey. Thats also why it's called a shark attack they don't want to be around us as much as we don't want to be around them. I'm glad for the film so people will understand that the shark is no more of a threat to us as the hippo. It's the sea lifes ocean not ours, we don't have gills! So Live and let Live!! Shark fin soup is not the only soup to eat in this world!
Posted by: Carla | October 31, 2007 01:37 PM
This is sinful. And it's sinful that all the important documentaries play in limited release!
Posted by: Shawn | October 31, 2007 03:28 PM
Fruit and vegetables are harvested; non-human animals are killed. Non-human animals are sentient.
I have seen various scenes of "Sharkwater" during a special that described the life of sharks. Truly a worthwhile movie to go and see! Good post, Jack!
Posted by: Ana | October 31, 2007 03:34 PM
A must see film! This came out in Canada last year and it really opened my eyes. I was actually quite miffed later at NG's Shark Week - as you realize how incorrectly this animal is represented.
For those who have a hard time with graphic material, it's moderate - be prepared to turn away when they pull the sea turtle on board.
Posted by: Brianna Wettlaufer | October 31, 2007 03:35 PM
A must see film! This came out in Canada last year and it really opened my eyes. I was actually quite miffed later at NG's Shark Week - as you realize how incorrectly this animal is represented.
For those who have a hard time with graphic material, it's moderate - be prepared to turn away when they pull the sea turtle on board.
Posted by: Brianna Wettlaufer | October 31, 2007 03:39 PM
Tsk Tsk on you Asia.
Posted by: Caboose | October 31, 2007 03:55 PM
I saw this movie in Canada a few months ago and can't rave enough about it!! It is a definite must see! Trust me....even people who never think twice about how we treat animals will be blown away. It's a beautiful film.
Posted by: Halv | October 31, 2007 04:23 PM
I saw this when it came out in Canada a few months ago and cannot recommend it enough. It was fantastic!
Posted by: Canaduck | October 31, 2007 05:09 PM
I agree with the person talking in the video. People are scared of sharks but they are beautiful. I used to not like snakes that much but when I was playing golf i saw one and just let it get on with it's business.
Posted by: Andrew | October 31, 2007 11:16 PM
Somewhere related, what are Peta.Org., doing about the Barbaric Slaughter of approx. 22000 Dolphins during the next six months Hunting Season : by the Japanese. It seems shocking that in this day & age this can be considered Cultural in Japan. Perhaps we can start by not purchasing Motor Vehicles of Japanese Manufacture.
Posted by: keith | November 1, 2007 10:19 AM
The young Aussie director, Rob Stewart has made an extremely important and enlightening film. The scenes with Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd are better than many action film. Shark finning is going on all over the world so I hope he wins an Academy Award maybe then this cruel slaughter will be fully exposed.
Posted by: Maureen | November 1, 2007 11:27 AM
pablito,
I think your post was funny : ) but the situation had to be TRUE!
Ana,
Yes, I guess they like to say "harvest" animals because that's a "nice" avoidance, which detracts from the admitting the truth: KILLING animals.
And for any of them to mention the word "ethics," is also far removed from describing the truth of KILLING animals/sealife in any manner.
Posted by: Ariel | November 1, 2007 12:53 PM
Hi Ariel:
Yes, I agree. Hunters/killers/slaughterers "harvest", "cull", "process" sentient beings. Just a pathetic effort to hide the grim reality of taking away life and the violent, gruesome method in which these poor animals lose their lives in the hands of the "users". These fools should all end up in a colony of cannibals; I wonder if these words will work for them then. Evil acts are softened by more polite words that don't quite describe the actual cruel events----NOT! That way the disconnect can continue and the screams of these wretched, tortured animals can go unnoticed and ignored. But not by us; and we will continue to bring the "inconvenient" message of their misery and oppression to the public. PEACE!
Posted by: Ana | November 2, 2007 12:36 PM
Is it legal to serve Shark Fin soup in the US? I just received a banquet menu from a local resturant where 6 out of the 6 per person options included Shark Fin soup. If this is illegal, how can I report it?
Posted by: Sara | December 29, 2007 12:59 PM