When is it right to force traditional practices to change?

Throughout Time People & Traditions Evolve.

If, as a species we discover that our past beliefs and traditions were wrong or cause more harm than good, should we still hold onto those practices in the name of tradition? Why?

It wasn’t until the beginning of the last century that women were even thought to be people! As well as able to vote in most countries. Luckily this belief changed too!

Canada 1917United Kingdom (Then including Ireland)1918 and 1928 United States1920 Taiwan1947

Another Tradition That Has Changed for the Good of Women

Foot Binding This tradition started off in

the early Song dynasty (960–1279).

Foot-binding resulted in lifelong disabilities for most.

Why bind feet? A woman with bound feet was

limited in her mobility. This caused an inability to take part in politics, social life, and the world at large.

Bound feet made women dependent on their families, mainly their men, and, therefore, became a symbol of male ownership.

It was finally outlawed in the 1911 Revolution of Sun Yat-Sen.

Is this a good example of changing traditions? Why or why not?

Shark Fin Soup is a Tradition Too!Shark fin soup is a popular soup of  Chinese cuisine .Shark fin soup dates back to China's Ming Dynasty. The popularity of shark fin soup rose in the late 18th and early 19th centuries as standards of living began to improve. Even though fins have no flavor people eat them to show they have money. Is this a good reason for a tradition? Why or why not?

How does this tradition make the Chinese culture better?

Up to 100 million sharks are killed each year for soup or medicine.

Is this a tradition to be kept or changed?

Shark Finning Facts:-Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcasses. -The shark is most often still alive when it is thrown back into the water. -Unable to swim, and bleeding to death, the shark suffers a slow death. -Ninety-five percent of the animal is wasted.

.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUe9GPuka-c

Isn’t it a part of Taiwanese traditional cuisine to use all of the animal? Doesn’t finning go against this tradition?

Which is the better tradition?

Why Should Tradition Change?

Sharks are critical to protecting phytoplankton and algae stocks, which means they are critical to protecting our oxygen.The ocean produces 70% of Earth’s O2 (air/oxygen) and controls over 80% of CO2.

This O2 is made by ocean plants called algae and phytoplankton.They breathe CO2 and then breathe out O2 . This is a cycle. It is called the carbon cycle.All life on Earth needs O2 to live. What is more important: tradition or air?

Shark Fin Soup is High in MercuryEven if you don’t care how sharks are killed or our oxygen levels, do you care about poisoning yourself?Because sharks are the top predator of the oceans, they consume a lot of fish. Over time they collect very high levels of mercury and other poisons .Mercury results in damage to the human central nervous system and causes birth defects in infants.

Shark meat is considered dangerous for consumption by women of child-bearing age,and children.

 Many health organizations warn pregnant women not to eat shark while pregnant, or if they plan to become pregnant.

A study in New York City found that 1 in 4 Asian-born women had dangerously high levels of mercury.

Dried shark fin has the highest levels of mercury.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsAjFPJcvGk

Taiwan is Ranked the 4th Largest Shark Killer in the World

Is Change coming? Will this new ban be enough?

Taiwanese environmentalists say shark fin consumption from wedding banquets on the island’s 70-odd high-class hotels annually causes the killing of at least 900,000 sharks. By one estimate, 4 million sharks are killed for Taiwanese shark fin soup alone.

The Taiwan Fisheries Agency  says it will impose a ban next year on shark finning.

This announcement is a sign that Taiwan is on the right track when it comes to protecting sharks. However, it falls short of what is really needed. With up to 73 million sharks killed every year, many by Taiwan's fleet, a finning-ban does not address the larger overfishing problem that is driving these animals toward extinction.

Think About it!How does this information make you feel? Why?What information was new to you? Are you surprised about any of it?Should restaurants be allowed to serve food that is dangerous to people’s health? Why or why not?

Why isn’t the government warning people about the toxic levels of mercury? Why or why not?

If Taiwan becomes the first Asian country to enforce this shark fin ban, how could this effect how the world sees Taiwan?

What can you do to help? Are you too young to help change the world?