Darren Boon

“It’s time for Singaporeans not to just focus on economic growth but for moral progress as well.” 

This is the message Mr Louis Ng, Founder and Executive Director for Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), hopes to bring across at the first-ever gathering of animal lovers at Speakers Corner on Saturday.

Ng, the speaker for the day, declared 18 April as the day Singapore “will show the world that sharks should not and should never have been exploited” and to start the lead for change.

Calling the consumption of sharks fin and sharks meat a “destructive practice”, Ng exhorted Singaporeans to take it one step further, other than just rejecting sharks fin, and to be “advocates for the sharks”.  Ng urged the crowd to share their reasons for not eating sharks fin with people around them. 

Ng painted a grim reality of 3,800 sharks being caught every 20 minutes for human consumption. 

“Let us stop whispering our concerns and let us start making our voices heard by speaking out.  Let us take a stand, joining hands to start this movement and urge people to join us in making this important impact,” Ng said.   

Chng Chye Tuan is one who has taken up Ng’s call.  Chng, an avid diver and conservationist, sees the need to protect the shark species.  As such he has left sharks fin soup out from the menu of his upcoming wedding dinner.  He also urges his friends not to consume sharks fin and hopes restaurants can offer a menu free of the dish to customers. 

Chye was one of the many attendees who showed up on Saturday in support of ACRES’ cause.  Ms Jessintha Sasayiah, a teacher, came to lend support to the campaign though she admitted that the campaign wouldn’t change the number of people eating sharks fin immediately.  The speech Ng delivered and the alarming facts and figures left a deep impression on her. 

For many others gathered today such as Mr Ng Weiren, Ms Bianca Polak and Ms Jnaneepriya K, the jenga blocks and their subsequent collapse proved to be the highlight of the event. 

The jenga blocks signify the ocean’s eco-system.  Blocks with pictures of the sharks were placed at the bottom of the tower and were followed by the various species of fishes and other marine life that comprises the ocean’s eco-system.  The final block with the words ‘When Sharks Die, The Oceans Die’, was placed at the top as a reminder to those present of the importance of sharks to the ecosystem. 

Ng explained that the sharks that are in the lowest block help to maintain stability at the top.   “If you take the higher blocks out, it will not collapse so soon…but what we’re actually doing is taking out the bottom pieces…it’s just a matter of time before the whole eco-system collapses,” Ng said.

The block with the sharks was removed and the jenga tower came crashing down.  

“The toppling of the tower is symbolic of how much impact sharks have on the eco-system.  Yet most people don’t know this impact,” Jnaneepriya said.  “The killing of sharks is barbaric!”

The consumption of sharks fin is a cruel ancient tradition, she said.  As with cruel practices of yesteryears that have been abolished, she sees no difference in abolishing the brutal practice of consuming sharks fin. 

Speaking to The Online Citizen after the event, Ng flags Saturday’s event as a “good start” and hopes to generate a knock-on effect whereby Singaporeans will do more in spreading the message against the consumption of sharks fin and the reasons so, such as the destruction of the eco-system. 

Meanwhile he hopes to bring the road-show around Singapore and into schools if possible.  Ng is also working with restaurants around Singapore to remove sharks fin from their menus. He is optimistic that consumption figures will drop. 

“It’s time for Singapore not to just to focus on economic growth but for moral progress as well,” Ng said. 

 ——–

An alternative recipe to sharks fin soup:

 


Slideshow of the event / By Boris Chan:

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

社论:85岁明仁天皇将退位 新加坡仍有年长者无法退休

在昨日的新年献词中,日本明仁天皇表达世界和平的祈愿,这位85岁的天皇也定于今年4月30日正是退休。他的儿子,今年59岁的皇太子德仁将于5月1日继位。 他在2016年,就曾向民众表达自己由于体力衰弱,年事已高而希望提前退位。他曾动过两次手术,由于年龄增长其健康水平也开始下降,他表示虽然高龄80,所幸身体仍健康,但也开始思考皇室如何继续履行对国家职责。 他向民众寻求支持以提早退休,而日本国会在去年表决通过了一份特别法案,允许天皇在特殊情况下退位。 加速老龄化的日本社会 当然,日本天皇不用担心退休后收入停止,因为皇室是受国家津贴的。但不仅是天皇,在越发老龄化的日本社会,该国政府仍重视年长者福利。 为了确保年长者有较舒适的晚年生活,日本政府十分注重乐龄群体福利。2000年,日本通过了强制长期护理保险,让年长者可以负担在居家、日股中心和社区护理中心的费用。这意味着日本乐龄人士无须为三餐和医疗费苦恼,而被迫继续工作。 当地年长者也可选择在公寓、有生活辅助的设施、收费私宅、年长者护理中心、老少看护中心或养老院等地接受看护。 当地的商场和餐厅也注重为乐龄人士服务的设施,例如方便年长者的走道、乐龄用品商店、康复中心和储蓄投资银行等。商场还提供免费的瑜伽、健身操和太极拳课程。 然而,在我国仍有许多年长者,随着年岁增长和身体衰老,恐怕没有日本天皇和日本子民们的福气。 在我国,仍有年长者无法退休 有别于其他先进国,我国政府不落实养老金制度。许多年龄60-70岁的乐龄人士即使年老体衰,还要在各大职场继续工作,这种现象就连外国游客都感到震惊。 虽然有公共组屋屋契回购计划,但对一些年长国人来说,应对生活负担仍杯水车薪。举例来说年届65岁的夫妇,如果他们拥有一座市值45万元、屋契还剩65年的四方式组屋,他们若参与屋契回购,他们每人从公积金中每月提取大约400多元。…

48th National Day Celebration 2013 – “Singapore for Singaporeans” at Hong Lim Park

(Video recorded by cadiumpureland) Gilbert Goh of Transitioning.org organized a Singapore National…

Power, change and leadership succession

PAP’s succession mechanism is not necessarily Singapore’s succession mechanism. Ho Rui An

Netizens raise concerns on announcement of 10,000 tech-related jobs to be created by new government office

With the formation of a new government office announced by the Minister…