Shark Savers - Shark Savers reminds Alibaba that shark fins are bad business

Shark Savers reminds Alibaba that shark fins are bad business

May 9, 2008

Today, we sent the management of Alibaba this letter, together with over 500 of your signatures:

Jack Ma
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Alibaba Group, International Headquarters
Room 2403-05 Jubilee Centre
18 Fenwick Street
Wanchai, Hong Kong

Dear Mr. Ma,

Hundreds of people from all over the world have been coming to our web site to sign the petition to urge Alibaba to stop selling shark fin products. Attached are those signatures.

We hope you read the comments made by the signers, beginning on page 9. The signers are expressing concern and anger over shark finning and the sale of shark fins on Alibaba. They do not see Alibaba as a passive conduit for these fins, but a willing accomplice in something that must be stopped. Many people know about the association of Alibaba with Yahoo, and both images have been tarnished.

The over-harvesting of sharks is doing irreparable harm to the seas’ ecosystems. Sharks are vanishing from the oceans everywhere, primarily because of the shark fin trade. It has been scientifically proven that the shark fin market is several times larger than the entire reported international shark catch, indicating that the vast majority of shark fins are ‘off the books’ and the product of shark finning. This means that these products are often illegally harvested where shark finning is banned and that species that are officially endangered are being taken.

We are also attaching today’s article in Hong Kong’s The Standard on the very dangerous levels of mercury in shark fins. Indeed, they are poisonous to consumers.

We are just one of several organizations circulating petitions concerning Alibaba, Yahoo, and shark fins. We have no choice but to continue drawing attention to this important issue and your role in it.
The short-term financial gains are not worth the long-term irreparable harm that the shark fin trade causes to the environment and the harm to Alibaba’s and Yahoo’s brands for supporting the dangerous, illegal, and immoral trade in shark fins.

We strongly urge you to serve as a model for other businesses and to stop the trade of shark fins on Alibaba. Shark Savers would much rather be applauding Alibaba and Yahoo for making forward thinking and environmentally smart business decisions. We look forward to your response.

With best regards,

The Directors of Shark Savers

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Drew said:

	Thank you for putting together this letter SharkSavers.
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July 10, 2008 | url
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A.N. said:

	Nature took so long to make these beautiful creatures. It is not something that ought to be destroyed for a moment's arrogant meal. Beyond this I have nothing more to say, however, I WILL be speaking with my consumer power. Alibaba & Yahoo need to understand the role they are playing and act responsibility.
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June 16, 2008
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Heidi Krautschick said:

	I am disgusted to see the lack of respect humans give to one of god's most beautiful creatures. How can anyone or any government support the brutal killings of so many sharks. The sharks balance the water's eco system, they are magnificent creatures that deserve respect and protection. For our children's future and the future of this earth ban shark finning today.
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June 01, 2008
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Marie-Eve said:

	It's time to do something! Talking about that and encouraging people near to you to watch Sharkwater movie.
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May 29, 2008
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Doug said:

	We need to start using our wallets and get away from anything that supports this industry such as eating shark or buying shark products. I encourage people I know to watch the Discovery Channel during Shark Week and educate themselves on how many sharks are being killed for their fins or needlessly killed on longlines.
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May 29, 2008
Votes: +1

iris hammerer said:

"Only when men has caught the last fish, will he realize that he can not eat money!"
90% of sharks are now slaughtered, their fins ending up as a tasteless emulsifier in oriental soups. When the last fin is cooked, what will be taking the emulsifyers spot? By that time the chain reaction in our waters will be unstoppable. One species after the other will be gone, the waters will be empty, polluted and not supplying any oxigen. Thus we all will end up belly up without air and future just like the last shark. Money will be uselessly sitting there and life will be gone, when the planet draws on its last resources without brainless man .....

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May 29, 2008
Votes: +2

Carine Martinez said:

	Like wise, any country that supports this cruel practice of shark finning are a complete disgrace! I will not support any country or restaurant that condones this. Wake up, we're in the year 2008. It is not acceptable now or ever.
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May 29, 2008
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Sean said:

	Any country that supports this cruel practise of shark finning are a complete disgrace! I will not support any country or restaurant that condones this. Wake up, we're in the year 2008. It is not acceptable now or ever.
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May 14, 2008
Votes: +4

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