Assemblymember Paul Fong Talks About the Shark's Fin Ban

• The Seventy-six percent of all California voters, and 70 percent of all Chinese American voters in the state result was out a survey of 600 voters. In California, we have over 20 millions californians and over 10 millions voters. 600 voters to determined this bill have been supported is a joke. From the opposite side of the bill that they collected 10,000 voters opposed to this bill and their percentage is 100%.

• Hello Paul: Like Wildfire, the Hong Kong public is starting to really take notice. A global ban can only happen with paramount effort from many like minded individuals and you are one of the heros leading the way. I believe that currently, the ultimate market is mainland China. Unless the listener is a devout buddhist, words about cruelty almost always fall upon deaf ears when one is talking about (in their minds) food. Traditional Chinese still believe the saying: ' Anything with it's back facing the sky is meant for food'. Therefore, unsustainability is a better point to raise while fins being a health risk is probably the best. Let's all continue to make waves to save our sharks, our oceans, our planet, and ourselves.

• "The thinking man must oppose all cruel customs no matter how deeply rooted in tradition and surrounded by halo. When we have a choice, we must avoid bringing torment and injury into the life of another, even the lowliest creature; not to do so is to renounce our manhood and shoulder a guilt which nothing justifies." -- Albert Schweitzer

• Assemblymember Fong is right on about the huge support amongst Chinese Americans in California. Our culture is heavily influenced by the philosophy of Confucius, who's teachings implore us to seek moral perfection, and to live a virtuous life. The shark fin ban is a fine example of that. Thank you Assemblymember Fong and Huffman.

• Heartfelt thanks, Mr. Fong.  You've been an inspiration, and are currently my Assemblymember of the Year. Once the sharks are safe, I'm hoping that you and coo-author Jared Huffman might take on the live animal food markets, where the problems are much the same.  California annually imports two MILLION American bullfrogs (commercially raised in Taiwan), plus an estimated 300,000-400,000 freshwater turtles, for human consumption PROBLEMS IN THE MARKETS:  (1) horrendous animal cruelty, with animals kept in unsanitary conditions, many of them butchered while fully conscious; (2) an unsustainable "harvest," with all of the market turtles being taken from the wild in states east of the Rockies, depleting local populations; (3) environmental degradation, when non-native species (frogs/turtles) are bought and released into local waters, where they prey upon and displace our native species; and (4) the serious risks to the health of those who consume these animals--all are diseased and parasitized.  Some 25 necropsies in recent years have documented E. coli, salmonella, pasturella (all potentially fatal in humans), giardia, blood parasites, even one case of malaria.  Worse, a 2009 study published in BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION showed that, of the market frogs necropsied, 62% testified positive for the dreaded chytrid fungus, which has caused the extinctions of some 200 amphibian species worldwide in recent years. Hope you can help.  Some misguided few, as with the shark fin issue, will see this as an attack upon the Asian-American community.  It's not.   As with the sharks, it's a matter of animal welfare and environmental protection, plus protection of the public health. Again, thank you for your efforts.  They are much appreciated. Anyone wishing to work on this issue can email me at afa@mcn.org Sincerely, Eric Mills, coordinator ACTION FOR ANIMALS Oakland  

• Kudos to Assemblymember Fong. What an important step toward ending shark cruelty. It's not about soup, it's about cutting limbs off of still living creatures and tossing them back into the ocean to die a slow, painful death.

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