Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Food and Drink, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, China, France, United States, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, News, Consumer Activism, Luxury Travel
As a former longtime resident of Berkeley, California, I'm no stranger to the concept of eating-as-political-act. Well, there's a new food ethics issue on the block, kids, and while it may smack of the current, all-too-pervasive epidemic of food elitism, it's really more about ecology, animal welfare, and the politics of eating--especially with regard to travelers, immigrants, and adventurous eaters.California, never a state to shy away from bold ethnic cuisine, hedonistic gustatory pursuits, or activism (especially when they're combined) is currently debating the future of shark fin. Namely, should the sale and possession of said shark fin be banned, making the serving of shark fin soup--a dish with strong cultural relevance for the Chinese--illegal?
A recent post on Grist draws attention to this culinary quandary, which addresses the increasingly dicey future of sharks versus the growing demand and profit shark fin offers fishermen, importers/distributors, and restaurateurs. A bill has been introduced into the California legislature to ban shark fin, which would have certain impact upon the state's various Chinatowns, most notably San Francisco's because it's the largest as well as a profitable tourist attraction. There's concern that the ban might infringe upon the cultural heritage and economic livelihood of the Chinese community--an ethnic group that makes up a large portion of California's population. Or, as one Chinatown restaurateur in San Francisco commented, "People come to America to enjoy freedom, including what is on the plate." Well. If only it were that simple.
[Photo credit: Flickr user laurent KB]
California's proposed shark fin ban stirs up debate over global politics of culinary delicacies originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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