Yvonne: This is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne Archer - and Finn has kindly joined mefor today's programme. Hello Finn!
Finn: Hello Yvonne – how are you?
Yvonne: Oh, I'm great thanks! Now, 2011 is the year of the Rabbit in the Chinese lunarcalendar - and Finn, your name is a brilliant clue for today's topic.
Finn: It is.
Yvonne: We're talking about a traditional dish that many people expect to find on themenu to celebrate the New Year!
Finn: Yes, so what could it be? My name is Finn and we're talking about the dish'shark’s fin soup'.
Yvonne: Excellent! Now, in Taiwan this year, shark's fin soup may be missing fromquite a few menus. But before we find out why – I've a question for you, Finn.
Are you ready?
Finn: Okay, I'm ready.
Yvonne: Good. Which type of shark is the longest fish in the world?
a) the great white sharkb) the whale shark orc) the hammerhead sharkFinn: Okay, let me see. Well, whales are very big so I think - b) the whale shark.
Yvonne: Right - and I'll tell you whether you're right or wrong later on! For some timenow, animal rights activists have been calling for a ban on shark's fin soupbecause of the way the sharks are treated. Finn, explain what 'a ban' is for usplease, because it doesn't mean the same as 'illegal' does it?
Finn: No, not quite. 'A ban' is an official order or statement saying that somethingisn't allowed anymore, rather than a law saying that something is illegal - orthat it's a crime. For example, in the UK, smoking cigarettes in offices isbanned but it's not against the law to smoke cigarettes.
Yvonne: Right. Once their fins are chopped off, many sharks are just thrown back intothe sea to die.
Finn: Yes, and sadly for the sharks, the simple reason for this is because it savesspace on the fishermen's boats.
Yvonne: Mm, it is very sad. Now the campaign against shark's fin soup is starting toshow small signs of progress. But the BBC's Cindy Sui was still able to find arestaurant window in Taiwan's capital, Taipei, where a large, dried shark's finwas on display. Here's what the restaurant's manager told Cindy:
Insert 1: Restaurant owner, TaipeiLook at our restaurant, there's hardly any business. The media coverage has affected us,but many of the fish are caught whole, not just for the fins. In Taiwan, we eat all theshark, not just the fin.
Yvonne: The restaurant owner says that the media coverage about the campaign to banshark's fin soup means he's had fewer customers. As he puts it: "there's hardlyany business". Finn, can you explain what he means by 'the media coverage'
though?
Finn: Yes, well it means things like articles in newspapers and online, as well asnews bulletins and programmes on television and radio – all the publicity, allgathered together - that's what we call 'media coverage'.
Yvonne: Great. Taiwan catches between 40,000 and 60,000 tons of shark meat each yearfor its own use, and the restaurant manager we heard from clearly doesn't agreethat there should be a ban on shark's fin. Now, you lived in Taiwan for a fewyears, didn't you Finn?
Finn: I did – yes.
Yvonne: Was this an issue there at the time?
Finn: Well, I lived there about 10 years ago and I have to say there wasn't a lot ofmedia coverage about banning shark's fin soup at the time.
Yvonne: So, let's find out who is getting involved in the campaign at this time to helpsave sharks from a cruel death, from the BBC's Cindy Sui:
Insert 2: Cindy Sui, BBC Correspondent, TaipaiIn recent years, an increasing number of young people in Taiwan are refusing to ordershark's fin or serve it at their wedding banquets, even though it has long beenconsidered a must on banquet menus. Celebrities have also spoken out against eatingshark's fin.
Yvonne: So celebrities have spoken out against eating shark's fin?
Finn: They have. They've made it clear to the public that they support a ban – they'vespoken out against it.
Yvonne: And young people are refusing to order shark's fin or to serve it at weddingfeasts, even though it's traditional. We could say they're 'boycotting' it,couldn't we Finn?
Finn: We could yes – 'boycotting'.
Yvonne: So when you were in that part of the world Finn, was it really 'a must' – anessential choice on a good menu for special occasions? And I'm scared to ask,but have you tried shark's fin soup?
Finn: You know - I have actually. And yes, it was at a special occasion - a weddingin Taiwan, and it did taste very nice. But at the same time, you feel a bit badbecause of the cruelty to the shark. And of course, it's a very prestigious dishin Chinese culture.
Yvonne: But if the whole fish is being eaten, wouldn't that make a difference?
Finn: I think yes, if you were to eat the whole fish and it wasn't wasted, then thatwould make a big difference. And I think that's really at the core of the issuehere, isn't it?
Yvonne: I think so. Now, earlier Finn, I asked: Which type of shark is the longest fish inthe world.
Finn: Mm-hmm. And I said b) the whale shark. Was I right?
Yvonne: Errr….
Finn: Was I right?
Yvonne: Yes!
Finn: Oh, fantastic!
Yvonne: Well done Finn! And the longest ever recorded was 13.5 metres.
Finn: Now that is very long, isn't it.
Yvonne: Huge – yes.
Finn: That's a big shark!
Yvonne: Now, how about a Chinese New Year greeting to say goodbye from today's "6Minute English"?
Finn: Yes, this is the beginning of the year of the rabbit, so we can say: "Happy NewYear" which is: "Xin nian kuai le". Yvonne?
Yvonne: Xin nian kuai le.
Finn: Xin nian kuai le. Happy New Year everyone!
Yvonne: Happy New Year!
Finn: Bye for nowYvonne: Goodbye! |