The Deadliest Soup

On Sunday night, Gordon Ramsey revealed the grizzly truth behind the insatiable appetite for shark fin soup, in a distressing Channel 4 documentary. The expensive dish, hugely popular amongst Chinese communities throughout the world, is readily available, even in UK restaurants.

The concern is over the brutal and prolific slaughter of the endangered fish, which involves catching anything from bus-sized Great Whites to goggle eyed Hammerheads, slicing off their eight or so fins, and then throwing their worthless and, often live, torsos back into the ocean, to endure a slow death on the bottom of the sea bed.

Gordon starts his investigations in Taiwain, where he finds shop after shop of dried fins. Those selling the fins have little knowledge, or regard for that matter, of where the fins have come from. It's the high prices they fetch that they're interested in.

Despite their disregard for the bearers of the fins, the shark finning industry is a very hush hush business. Doors are slammed and cameras ushered away from London to Tokokyo; by the end of the show we've become accustomed to barking dogs and casual threats. Loose restrictions apply at ports, often including a requirement to land both toros and fins together, but there is zero policing and many seem to prefer closing their eyes to the obvious malpractice. Why waste space on a small boat with the worthless body of a two metre-long shark, when their fins are the only valuable product.

After trying the £100 a bowl soup, Gordon discovers that the fin itself is utterly tasteless, likening it to glass noodles. A man on a mission, he brings harrowing footage of the sickening practice back to the UK and holds an open-discussion with some of London's top Chinese restaurateurs.

The end result is that four of the establishments are said to have agreed to take the soup of their menus and are seen placing posters advertising the fact in their restaurant windows. However, learning from Gordon's introduction to the documentary, which showed consumers buying 'under-the-counter' (quite literally!)fins, we could be forgiven for questioning how stringently the new policy is being applied.

Out of his kitchen comfort zone, Gordon gave a watered-down performance of his characteristic palm-slapping, F-ing and blinding routine, showing genuine shock and sorrow, and about as much restraint as we could expect from the outspoken celebrity.

Although the uncontrollable industry is no doubt still enjoying rich profits right now, the program concluded with a feeling that it had been a step in the right direction. Love him or hate him, you can't argue with Ramsey for his attempt at opening the eyes of British viewers eyes to the shocking practice, which could well be in full swing at the Chinese Takeaway round the corner.

Gordon Ramsey is now a patron of The Shark Trust
You can watch the documentary again here, at 4OD

Other articles by Lucy Grewcock about shark finning:
Shark Fin Soup on Environmental Graffiti
Tiger Penis and Shark Fin Soup on Responsible Travel News

Photo taken from Indy Media

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com

Ths blog was also posted on Responsible Travel News

Brighton and Hove - Climate Change Connections

Since the 9th of January, residents of Brighton and Hove have had a new reason to stop and ponder their place on the planet.

A collection of free-standing, six-foot poster boards have been tastefully erected in the square, featuring the photos and stories of individuals from the Carteret Islands to the people of Brighton.

Detailing the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather, rising sea-levels in small island states and excessive flooding of river deltas, the exhibition draws connections between Brighton's local people and far flung destinations, by detailing the local actions being taken in the city, to reduce climate change and raise awareness of the poverty and destruction felt in other nations.

Rather than taking the doom and gloom approach of many climate change activists, or pointing the finger at our industrialised societies, Climate Connections paints an optimistic look at the issue, reinforcing both our global interdependence as well as the opportunities and successes brought about by global citizenship.

The Climate Connections project is a partnership project with Brighton Peace and Environment Centre (BPEC), Brighton & Hove City Council and Oxfam. All parties uphold the belief that we should take greater responsibility for our lifestyles and consumption of resources. They take the positive, forward thinking outlook that 'Our actions can have a positive impact here, and everywhere, on this planet'.


The exhibition can be seen in Churchill Square until Saturday 6th February.
To find out more, visit their interactive website www.climateconnections.org.uk/

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com

Ths blog was also posted on Responsible Travel News

Arctic with Bruce Parry: Greenland

The second in the series of 'Arctic with Bruce Parry', saw the adventurer living with Inuit communities in Greenland, experiencing spring in the Arctic and confronting the shocking clash between Inuit and Western conservation values.

Living on a diet of raw narwhal fin, seal stomach skin and seal eye jelly, Bruce joins a group of hunters, looking for walrus to feed their families. Government restrictions limit the amount a hunter is allowed to shoot and we learn that it's virtually impossible to become wealthy through following a traditional Inuit lifestyle. But hunting is about much more than wealth, hence the decision by many to continue the work of their ancestors. The unbreakable bond between man and nature is undeniable with these people, who hold a deep respect for their landscape, and can be seen developing in Bruce throughout the program.

Bruce gives a fascinating insight into the economy and traditional values of a rapidly changing landscape and people. In this remote, frozen ecosystem where nothing grows, locals pay the equivalent of £2 for a shrivelled green pepper in a supermarket, and around £30 for imported lamb chops. Despite a desire to stay close to their traditional heritage, many Inuit have turned to mining, amongst other jobs, to fund their increasingly expensive lifestyles.

Although climate change is a serious issue for Greenland's people, they held the forward-thinking attitude that they would simply have to adapt to their changing landscape. The strongest argument to emerge from the program was the tension between conservationists and the Inuit people. Bruce battled to make a decision whether or not the traditionally sustainable practice of polar-bear hunting should be condemned, with local people arguing that their survival not only depends on hunting these and other Arctic species, but also that the causes of their population decline were due to the actions of industrialised nations, not theirs.

You can watch the episode again here on BBC iplayer

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com

Ths blog was also posted on Responsible Travel News

Free Extreme Arctic Talks in Newcastle

The British Schools Exploring Society (BSES), based at the Royal Geographical Society London, takes young people aged 16-23 to extreme locations to learn essential survival skills and carry out research projects in some of the most sensitive areas of the world.

BSES will be visiting Newcastle at the end of January, to speak at schools and youth groups across the North East about expedition opportunities in the Arctic, Himalayas, Amazon and Desert.

The week will kick off on 23rd January at 17:00-18:00, at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle, where wannabe explorers will have the opportunity to try out Arctic equipment, such as ice-axes and crampons, and find out how they could join a BSES expedition this year.

Young people in the North East can also apply for a £2500 bursary towards expedition costs for an Extreme Arctic gap-year trip, or for a £1000 bursary towards a 3 or 5 week summer expedition - find out how by coming along to the Sunday afternoon talk.

The talk is free and open to all, but it's recommended that you book a seat by emailing lucy@bses.org.uk.

Schools or youth groups that would like to find out more or book at talk should contact lucy@bses.org.uk

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com

Free Extreme Arctic Talk in Newcastle

The British Schools Exploring Society (BSES), based at the Royal Geographical Society London, takes young people aged 16-23 to extreme locations to learn essential survival skills and carry out research projects in some of the most sensitive areas of the world.

BSES will be visiting Newcastle at the end of January, to speak at schools and youth groups across the North East about expedition opportunities in the Arctic, Himalayas, Amazon and Desert.

The week will kick off on 23rd January at 17:00-18:00, at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle, where wannabe explorers will have the opportunity to try out Arctic equipment, such as ice-axes and crampons, and find out how they could join a BSES expedition this year.

Young people in the North East can also apply for a £2500 bursary towards expedition costs for an Extreme Arctic gap-year trip, or for a £1000 bursary towards a 3 or 5 week summer expedition - find out how by coming along to the Sunday afternoon talk.

The talk is free and open to all, but it's recommended that you book a seat by emailing lucy@bses.org.uk.

Schools or youth groups that would like to find out more or book at talk should contact lucy@bses.org.uk

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com

Outdoors Show 2011

Next weekend , the Outdoors show will be returning for its sixth consecutive year.

Held at ExCel London from Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 January 2011, some of the highlights will include mountain boarding taster sessions, ice climbing instruction and the British bouldering championships.

Responsible Travel's News writer and BSES Expedition Leader, Lucy Grewcockwill be speaking at the Careers Café at 10:30 on Saturday morning, and speakers at the Outdoor Heros Stage include Sir Ranulf Fiennes, Ray Meres and Ben Fogle.

For tickets and further details, visit theoutdoorsshow.co.uk

Himalayan Viagra Destroys Peace

The isolated and breathtaking Annapurna region in the Himalayan mountains is a magnet for tourists, travelling their to climb the 5,000m snowy passes. Located between Nepal and Tibet, the area is home to centuries old Buddhist communities who, despite their long legacy as a peaceful people, have turned to crime, conflict and corruption.

The source of tension? The fungus-embalmed body of the Himalayan bat moth caterpillar, known as Yarsagumba. Famed as an aphrodisiac and immunity booster in ancient Chinese medicine, the natural substance is comparable to Viagra.

Collecting Yarsagumba is against Buddhist tradition, and trading in it is seen as a sin, so the resource has been unexploited, until recently. Now, it's reported that a new youth generation, less mindful of ancient tradition, have seized the opportunity to make money from this valuable resource. Sold illegally at around $10,000 per kilogram, many Tibetan traders have found a quick route to wealth.

With hundreds flocking to the hillsides from March each year, when the picking season commences, the district government have begun to enforce a permit system, to control the collection of Yarsagumba; greater rights are given to local mountain villagers and outsiders are banned from picking it.

But the high value of the drug has lead to crime and punishment. Local mobs, guarding their picking territory, murdered seven men in June 2009, an incident which spurred a large-scale police investigation and resulted in the arrest of thirty-six villagers. Although many have since been released on bail, it’s thought that over half still remain in a makeshift mountain prison, despite their protests of innocence.

Until the case comes to trial in March, their wives and families will continue to feel the brunt of both emotional and economic loss, with their men behind bars and unable to work.

The turmoil being caused by the fight for economic gain seems only to reinforce the reasoning behind the traditional Buddhist beliefs of leaving Yarsagumba well alone.

This summary was also featured on Responsible Travel News

Read the full article by Joanna Jolly on BBC News

For travel and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com

Arctic with Bruce Parry

From riding reindeer and sucking their antlers, to bring cleansed with horse hair, 'Arctic with Bruce Parry', broadcast this Sunday evening, saw Bruce Parry embark on the first of five Arctic adventures.

In the new series, Arctic with Bruce Parry will see the former marine immerse himself in the cultures and environments of indigenous peoples living within the Arctic Circle. The BBC2 series examines man’s relationship with the natural world but Bruce admits that he is also on a personal quest to further explore his fascination with spiritualists, or ‘shamans’.

In Sunday's adventure, Bruce journeyed to Arctic Siberia, forming a close bond with the Shaman who hosted him, experiencing Siberia’s moving summer solstice, alongside a set of spiritual practices which allowed Bruce to have his aura cleansed with a horse hair brush and be spiritually charged by the vibrations of the traditional mouth harp – a music instrument previously banned during Soviet rule in the Arctic.

Bruce then travelled further north to live with the Sakha horse people. Here, he not only revealed how the collapse of the Soviet Union has allowed economic ventures such as horse breeding to flourish and liberate indigenous populations but also how education and deep respect for family forms an integral part of everyday life here.

Moving deeper into the Arctic Circle to live with Eveny reindeer herders in the Verkhoyansk Mountains, the most northerly populated region of the Arctic, Bruce sensitively uncovers the challenges and opportunities presented to semi-nomadic people in post-Soviet Arctic. His slow-blossoming friendship with the father of a family of herders is deeply moving, growing from a guarded demeanour and sharp denial of a belief in ancient beliefs, to deep friendship and a sharing of spiritual teachings of the ghosts of the ancestral heartland, as well as an honest account of personal failings and resolutions.

Portraying what appears to be a candid view of everyday life, Bruce looks close to retching when instructed to suck the broken antler of a reindeer and cringes as his World War II tank bulldozes through the sacred landscape, obliterating saplings and grasses in his path – a sharp juxtaposition to the careful respect paid to other natural features they pass on their journey.

But what emerges from Bruce’s time in one of the planet’s great wildernesses, and the underlying message in teh programme, is an equilibrium between people, nature and economy, a trinity bound by spirituality, understanding and respect.

The next episode, in which Bruce visits Innuit hunters in Greenland, can be viewed on BBC2 next Sunday at 21:00 or click here, to view on BBC iPlayer. If you missed part one, watch back on BBC iPlayer.

Image taken from arcticwithbruceparry.com

This article was also published by Responsible Travel News

For travel and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com