Jason
October 26, 2011 / 12:41

I neither agree nor disagree with the City's decision on shark fin soup but I do find your comments interesting on this subject after your review of the meat lasagna.

If you ask some people, raising cattle for the purpose of consumption is considered an inhumane or abusive practice. Should we, as the progressive and civilized society, put the end to the cultivation of meat or do our best to understand and accept cultural differences, even if the concept is repulsive to us?

Again, I have no opinion on the decision and personally agree that finning isn’t a good thing. Based on your argument though I’m not sure we’re right to condone or interject with another culture’s practices, just like we wouldn’t want someone to do it to ours.

Mississauga Phil
October 26, 2011 / 13:28

I agree with Mike. If there were "shark farms" where sharks were being bred for the express purpose of being used for food and other uses that would be a different story, but going into the wild, capturing them, cutting off their fins (essntially crippling them) then throwing them back into the water is cruel. I'm all about cultural diversity, but not at the expense of a species survival.

elvis
October 26, 2011 / 13:28

You're like the vegetarian who eats fish.

Curmudgeon
October 26, 2011 / 14:42

Elvis and Jason are right Mike. You eat meat, therefore you shouldn't be outraged by the horrific manner in which they kill sharks for their tasteless fins. You're just like those terrible fish-eating vegetarians who only kill 1 kind of animal instead of 50. It only counts if you try to help save ALL the animals at once.

Jason
October 26, 2011 / 15:30

Actually, the point wasn't about the fact that sharks or cows are being killed for food. Throw them both on the barbeque and I’ll eat them. It was more so that it’s not right to judge what’s acceptable in other cultures or to enforce our beliefs over theirs. It’s our right to disagree with the practice but it’s not our responsibility to tell others that their beliefs are wrong. Who died and made us king?

Curmudgeon
October 26, 2011 / 15:40

When other cultures are endangering species that are vital to a healthy ocean, and we humans rely on that healthy ocean for survival of our own species, I believe it's important to step in. "Beliefs" don't come into the equation at all.

Teena
October 26, 2011 / 16:05

I'm glad we've banned it. Such a barbaric custom :(

dale
October 26, 2011 / 17:58

Agree with the ban. What about the clubbing of baby seals & Polar bears for their skins.

Much the same for a different purpose. Cruelty for sure.

Cheryl
October 26, 2011 / 19:43

I never heard of shark fin soup until now. I don't care one way or the other.

J9
October 26, 2011 / 20:09

Way to go TO! Killing an animal to harvest only one part of it (shark fin, bear paw, etc) is wrong.

If the fishermen were using the whole shark, and not just harvesting the fins, then I would have no problem with shark fin soup. As it stands, shark-finning is a standard practice and should be abolished.

David
October 26, 2011 / 22:09

I'm with J9 on this one. I love meat, so I won't be a hypocrite. My issue is with using only a part of an animal or fish, then tossing it back into its wild to survive.

The shark fin practise is cruel and a waste.

Dan
October 26, 2011 / 23:27

The issue with this ban is that it now forces a part of an animal that is killed for meat to be needlessly wasted.

Finning is bad - there is no doubt about that. But now (to make an extreme case), the same shark that has been killed for its meat will now have its fins thrown out because they are banned in a number of places. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense now, does it?

If the City is going to make a statement, they should make a statement against shark finning. In most places - China included - finning is definitely not the rule.

Il Duce
October 27, 2011 / 12:56

Sorry to throw you under the bus here Mike but Jason, Elvis, they have points. And why are you picking on Rob Ford? Does he not have the right to vote? Just because his vote wasn't what you liked, that doesn't make him wrong, in humane or uncivilized.

How would you like it if the crew from This Hour has 22 minutes showed up to your house? While you were in your car with your kids while they asked, 'why would you eat lasagna from Tim Horton's?'

Jason Patterson
October 27, 2011 / 17:21

What kind of sick freaks eat shark fin soup!!! I totally endorse this ban!!!

Some sharks are endangered!!! I don't know of any endangered cows!!!

I don't eat red meat by the way!!!

I mean, what kind of sick freaks eat red meat??? (I kid).

Also all that stuff like the chili and lasagne at Tim Hortons is frozen in a package and then heated up and served to you!!!

What kind of SICK FREAKS eat that shit???

Dave Williams
October 31, 2011 / 09:41

I will agree that the idea of butchering an animal for one body part is barbaric. I do not feel that the city should be involved in mandating decisions of this manner because of what we Canadians see as a moral injustice.
These same poeple that want big brother to prevent us from consuming shark fins likely have no issue comsuming farm products from the southern US and third world countries in central and South America that use modern day slave labour to harvest the crops so that we can consume these products a dirt cheap prices.
These same people also do not complain that most of their home consumable products from Televisions to clothing, is made with slave like labour in China and other Asian countries.
Mike I ask what is more barbaric, forcing people to work for near no wages seven days a week, with the constant threat of being fired or finning a shark then tossing its still alive body back into the ocean.
They are both barabaric in there own way. Lets not signal out Rob Ford for having an opinion. So far, he has followed his election platform and has saved every one of us where it counts, in our pocketbooks.