Former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova, third from right, and other celebrities join the Fin Free Thailand campaign in inner Bangkok yesterday urging consumers to avoid shark fins and restaurateurs to stop serving them. Photos by THITI WANNAMONTHA
By Terry Fredrickson
Environmental groups, celebrities, students, prominent chefs and businesses are joining in a worldwide effort to stop the killing of sharks for the popular soup.
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Fin-free Thailand
Dr Jo Appleby, a lecturer in bioarchaeology at Leicester University, points to an image of the skull of Britain's King Richard III. AFP
Shark fin soup is traditionally on the menus of the huge banquets celebrating the Chinese New Year.
Thus, it was no accident that animal rights groups chose the festive season to launch a nationwide campaign against the sale and consumption of shark fin.
Environmental groups, celebrities, students, prominent chefs and businesses are all taking part in the local campaign, part of a global initiative to encourage businesses to ban shark fin and advising consumers to refrain from eating it.
The movement draws attention to the environmental impacts and health risks.
Hotels, restaurants and supermarkets selling shark fin are also encouraged to adopt the fin-free policy.
‘‘It breaks my heart that up to 73 million sharks are brutally harvested each year just so their fins can end up in the soup bowls of the rich and wealthy,’’ said actress and avid diver Cindy Burbridge Bishop, an ambassador for the campaign. ‘‘Such a waste, such a tragic loss.’’
Shark fin soup has been identified as a serious health risk for humans, she said, citing the World Health Organisation. One bowl of shark fin soup contains dangerous levels of mercury.
Local NGOs — such as Freeland Foundation and the Love Wildlife Foundation — as well as businesses and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are backing the group.
The group also created an online petition at Change.org. More than 3,000 people have signed their names in support of the campaign since Thursday.
Adapted from a story in today’s Bangkok Post
Vocabulary
celebrity – someone who is famous, especially in the entertainment business คนมีชื่อเสียง
fin – a thin flat part that sticks out from the body of a fish, used for swimming and keeping balance ครีบ (ปลา)
campaign – a series of actions intended to produce political or social change การรณรงค์, การกระทำการหรือวางแผนเพื่อให้บรรลุตามเป้าหมาย
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
consumer – someone who buys and uses goods and services ผู้บริโภค
avoid – to stay away from; to not use หลีกเลี่ยง
restaurateur – someone who owns or manages a restaurant เจ้าของร้านอาหาร
traditionally – of a custom, a way of life or a way of doing things that has not changed for a long time ตามธรรมเนียม, ประเพณี ดั้งเดิม ตามที่ปฏิบัติกันมา
banquet – a formal meal for a large number of people, usually for a special occasion งานเลี้ยง, งานรื่นเริง
celebrate – to do something enjoyable in order to show that an occasion or event is special ฉลอง
right – something that you are morally or legally allowed to do or have สิทธิ
festive – connected with a festival or celebration รื่นเริง, เกี่ยวกับเทศกาล
launch – an event to celebrate or introduce something new การเริ่มปฏิบัติการ
nationwide – throughout a whole country ทั่วทั้งประเทศ
consumption – using, eating or drinking something การบริโภค
environmental – involving the place in which people live and work, including all the physical conditions that affect them เกี่ยวกับสภาพแวดล้อม, สิ่งแวดล้อม
prominent – important and well known สำคัญ, มีชื่อเสียง, เด่น
chef – a professional cook, especially the most senior cook in a restaurant, hotel, etc. คนครัว,หัวหน้าครัว
local – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about ท้องถิ่น
global – throughout the world ทั่วโลก
initiative – a new action or movement, often intended to solve a problem ความคิดริเริ่ม
encourage – to cause someone to want to do something กระตุ้น ให้การสนับสนุน
ban – to officially say that someone is not allowed to do something ห้ามอย่างเป็นทางการ
refrain – to stop yourself from doing something ระงับ เลิก
movement – a group of people who share the same aim and work together to achieve it การเคลื่อนไหวเพื่อวัตถุประสงค์ทางการเมือง
impact – an effect or influence ผลกระทบ
risk – the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
adopt – to accept or to start using something new นำมาใช้
policy – a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group นโยบาย
brutally – in an extremely violent or cruel way อย่างโหดร้าย
harvest – to collect something for commercial use เก็บ
wealthy – having a large amount of money, land, and other valuable things ที่มั่งคั่ง ร่ำรวย
avid – extremely eager or interested กระตือรือร้น
ambassador – someone who is considered to represent an activity, organization, company etc ตัวแทน, ผู้แทน
identify – to specify ระบุ
cite – to mention something as an example กล่าวถึง
level – the amount of something that exists in a particular situation at a particular time ระดับ
mercury – a chemical element. Mercury is a poisonous silver liquid metal, used in thermometers สารปรอท
NGO – non-governmental organization (a charity, association, etc. that is independent of government and business) เอ็นจีโอ, องค์การนอกภาครัฐ
foundation – an organisation that provides money for things such as medical research or for a charity มูลนิธิ
wildlife – animals, birds, insects, etc. that are wild and live in a natural environment สัตว์ป่า
back – to support สนับสนุน
petition – a document signed by a large number of people demanding or requesting some action from the government or another authority การร้องเรียน
