SHERATON CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY…WITH SHARK FIN STILL ON THE MENU
SinoScuba calls on Starwood hotel chain to end participation in global shark slaughter
BEIJING (September 25, 2012) – As Sheraton begins its 75
th anniversary celebrations, shark lovers globally are calling upon the hotel chain to get with the times and end an outdated and cruel practice – the serving of shark fin as a “luxury” product.
Despite governments including the government of the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China on Taiwan, the European Union’s 27 Member States, U.S. states including California, along with other leading hotel chains, including Fairmont Hotels, Peninsula Hotels, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and Swissotel Hotels and Resorts, retailers like Alibaba.com Group, and Cathay Pacific Airlines, taking the lead and banning the sale of shark fin products, neither Sheraton nor its parent company, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, has undertaken any coordinated or definitive action to end the slaughter of millions of sharks every year primarily for shark fin soup, a tasteless dish with no scientifically-proven health benefits.
Most often, the sharks are caught on lines or nets, hauled aboard the fishing vessel and then, while still alive, have their fins and tail cut off, and are thrown back into the ocean to drown, unable to swim without their limbs. As many as 73 million sharks are killed each year only for their fins. Yet this is still promoted as a “privilege” product at Sheraton’s hotel in the Guangdong province city of Shunde:
http://privilege.starwoodhotels.com/recipes_lobster_sharks_fin.aspx
“It’s sad that Sheraton and the otherwise socially-responsible Starwood hotels are lagging behind their Asian competitors in removing shark fin from its locations. With the shark-fin ban being phased in over three years in the People’s Republic of China, and a ban in place on Taiwan, there’s no excuse for this product of cruelty to continue being served. I hope that when Sheraton celebrates its 76
th anniversary, shark fin won’t be on the menu,” said Steven Schwankert, Beijing-based shark advocate and founder of SinoScuba, Beijing’s first professional dive operator. Each year, SinoScuba hosts “SinoScuba Shark Weekend”, an opportunity to give residents of the Chinese capital face to face a safe, interactive experience with six different species of shark.
About SinoScuba
Founded in 2003, SinoScuba is Beijing’s first professional dive operator. SinoScuba has instructed divers in Chinese and English, from ages 10 to 65, from Discover Scuba Diving up to and including Assistant Instructor, and fun dives, including dives with six different species of shark at the Blue Zoo Aquarium. Our Beijing-based, native English-speaking instructors offer flexible schedules for courses in both English and Mandarin. SinoScuba offers a full range of scuba equipment for rental and sale, and arranges dive trips around Asia for major holidays.
For more information, please contact:
Steven Schwankert, Founder, SinoScuba
Tel: +86 1861 113 3629
e-mail:
steven@sinoscuba.com
SinoScuba
