Image from Wikipedia.

The Shark fin Controversy

Serving shark fin soup is a status symbol and it is unthinkable not  to serve them for the traditional Chinese family as it is a norm in their culture. However, it does not mean that everyone should sit idly by and stay silent while watching the sharks rapidly disappear right before our very eyes. Here are two main reasons for the shark fin controversy that we cannot ignore any longer.

1. All species of sharks killed for its fin are under the threat of extinction. 70 million sharks are caught every year and certain species have been reduced by 90% worldwide. The biggest problem is that the rarer the shark is, the more valuable the shark fin is. It is like serving caviar for the wealthy in the west. People are demanding and paying big money for it.
2. Shark fining is seen to be a very cruel act. When the shark is caught, the fins are cut off immediately while it is still alive. The disabled shark is then thrown back into the sea. Of course, the shark being unable to swim without its fins would sink to the bottom of the sea to die an agonizing death.

Public Education

No matter how dire and hopeless the situation looks, educating and spreading the message must never cease. One way that you can help is by educating people around you politely about the species of sharks that is under the threat of extinction. Provide facts to debunk the claims that shark fin can treat osteoarthritis and have anti cancer properties. Tell them that both these claims have no scientific proofs to back them. Tell them that shark cartilage do not even contain Vitamin A and it is tasteless without the other ingredients added into the soup. The only good thing about the shark fin is its ability to absorb the flavors from the ingredients added to it. Consuming too much shark fin however can cause sterility in men while the high mercury content is harmful for pregnant women and children.

It Is Never Too Late

Old habits die hard. Centuries old tradition cannot be changed within a year or two. That is why education is a very long and tedious process.  The more knowledge people get about the hard truths regarding the shark fin soup, the easier it is to make them change their habits and ways. With their understanding and sympathy, hopefully it would change their mindsets and shall lead to the drop in the demand for shark fins around the world. It is too late to spread the message once the entire shark species had become extinct.

Read more articles by Sharif Ishnin below:

Avoid Consuming Seafood Under The Threat of Extinction

Ten Major Rivers of The World That Are In Grave Danger

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Scientists have shown that humans have been causing climate change for years—and that Mother Nature has always dealt with us when we got out of hand.  They have shown that, not surprisingly, levels of CO2 go up very quickly as humans farm more and more forests out of existence.  They have also shown that when the CO2 buildup reaches catastrophic levels wars, famines and plagues follow.  These reduce population levels (and hence the amount of land under cultivation), allow the forests to grow back and then the whole cycle starts up again.

It doesn’t seem to matter what society you look at: East, West, North America, or Africa—the pattern holds.  Examples of societal cataclysms caused by global warming include the Black Death (in Ancient Rome as well as in Europe), the Thirty Years War, the Mongol invasion, and the fall of the Ming dynasty. 

And today we are once again at a catastrophic point.  Dr. Pongratz (one of the researchers) points out that today about a quarter of the net primary production on the Earth’s land surface is used by humans in some way, mostly through agriculture.  She hopes that the new knowledge we have gained will allow us to make better decisions.  After all, she opines although in the past we have had a substantial impact on global climate and the carbon cycle, it was all unintentional.  Now that we do know what is likely to happen we will do better. 

I admire Dr. Pongratz’s optimism and wish I could share it.  But I also remember the failure to reach any sort of meaningful agreement on climate change in Copenhagen.  It seems to me that even when we know what will happen if we don’t change our ways, we keep repeating our mistakes.

Over and over again.

Their research concentrated on historical events to which a large number of human deaths are attributed to, like the pest epidemic in Europe in the 14th century, the fall of the Ming dynasty in 17th century China, and the storm of the Mongols under Temüjin (translates to The Smith) Genghis Khan at the beginning of the 13th century.

The pest epidemic efficiently culled up to 60 percent of the population of any given area, the epidemics were never general enough to ravage all of Europe at the same time. They left survivors in any given area who could continue life on the basis of prior achievements; these survivors would be able to take over the farming lands and life stocks left behind. Due to these factors, the impact on nature was too small to measure.

Image source

The fall of the Ming dynasty resulted in a large number of deaths over a short period but the period of trouble leading to the Manchu Emperors of the Qing dynasty was too short to have a lasting effect. Though there were widespread famines, these did not mean that fields and cattle went totally untended and the impact on nature was therefore negligible.

Image source

Temüjin unified the Mongols ruthlessly. He went on to conquer the world ruthlessly, too. Cities that refused to surrender to him were taken and the population put to the sword. Running roughshod over anybody standing in his way, he depopulated whole regions. Unlike the pest, he didn’t leave survivors. Unlike the Chinese troubles, Mongol ascendancy persisted for 150 years. Both factors combined allowed large areas of arable land to turn fallow and revert to woodland.

Image source

The study estimates the death toll of the Mongol expansion at 40 million people; I don’t know where they got the figure from and I did not check it; to me it seems a bit dubious. The Mongol empire covered almost a quarter of the earth’s land masses compared to which Europe is but a dot on the map. The sheer scale of land involved would account for a significant drop in carbon dioxide through reforestation.

The researchers guess that 700 million tons of carbon dioxide were absorbed from the atmosphere during the Mongol reign. That is the same amount set free every year by use of petrol today. It makes the Mongol government of the Khans the only one to leave a negative carbon footprint. It also gives new meaning to terms like eco-warrior and war on global warming.

The study and its result seem particularly weak; this has to do with the fact that they didn’t dare to mention the other taboos of green propaganda: the rise in carbon dioxide is not the reason for global warming but the result of it (while contributing to the overall heating effect), and the more important factor of methane produced by cattle.

The United States and the United Kingdom showed and show that culling people doesn’t really work anymore as there are always some do-gooders who interfere in their little wars; governments might find it easier to cull cattle instead.

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The New Monte Rosa Hut

Off the Californian coast, carved round stones with a hole in the middle have been found on the ocean floor. Stone anchors are an ancient idea, the Greeks, Romans and Egyptian also used donut shaped or grooves stone anchors. Underwater archaeologists believe the ones in Californian waters are traditional Chinese anchors used for centuries, before they were replaced by metal once worked metal was available and affordable. The change was roughly 600 years ago, about 100 years before Columbus. Metal anchors off the west coast are European and date, from the earliest, to 1542.

One academic thinks that the round stone anchors are from the 19th century and were used by poor Chinese immigrants living in California. This may very well be true for the smaller artefacts close to the shoreline; but what about those weighing 1000s of pounds and under 60 foot of Pacific. Some of those raised from the deep have weighed in at about 300 pounds but one was over a tonne. Chinese sea-going vessels were, by the 1300s, five times that of Columbus’ ship, the Santa Maria, and would have required an anchor of substantial heaviness.

Zheng He’s ship and the Santa Maria, China Court at the Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai: Image via Wikipedia

Dr. Sui-Leung Lee has a potential explanation for the mysterious anchors. He believes that the 15th century Chinese admiral and explorer, Zheng He, and his massive fleet made it to North America. Sent by the Emperor, Zheng He sailed from China to India, the Middle East and East Africa – that much is certain from detailed records. There are those, including Dr. Lee, who have surmised that Zheng voyaged round the African Cape and into the Atlantic until he landed … on the east coast of the US. Dr. Lee will go so far as to state that Zheng meant to circumnavigate the planet, that he went to what is now the Carolinas, where the admiral met with local tribes, and then south around the South American Cape and west, home to China.

Admiral Zheng He, Malaysia: Image via Wikipedia

Dr. Lee feels he has evidence to support his theory of Zheng’s circumnavigating the globe. Lee notes the existence of a European 16th century map that he says was partly based on sailing charts created by Zheng and has some details on Native Americans. Lee notes that Europe had no concept of the Pacific at this time. He also has a brass medallion that he says was excavated in North Carolina. The date and the origin of the object are unknown; it has an inscription in its centre, “Great Ming Xuande” – the emperor who sent Zheng out on his seventh and final trip (he died on the return) to explore and make contact with foreigners in the “Western Ocean” (Indian Ocean) in 1433. Lee mentions, as well, a possible influence on Native culture on the East Coast in dress, hairstyle, language and technology.

1763 Chinese map said to be reproduction of 1418 map based on Zheng’s voyages: Image via Wikipedia

Dr. Jenny Purtle has another opinion. She says that the Chinese, at this time, rarely went into open water, instead they hugged the coastline as they sailed. Their reason for staying near shore was that, although they had the astrolabe for navigation and the knowledge of longitude and latitude (all from the Persians) but they were unfamiliar with ocean currents and wind patterns. She says there are no chronicles (text or images) of any trip by Zheng that far, which was unlikely for this nation of bureaucrats. Zheng’s travels were recorded in Zheng He to the Western Ocean, from 1405 to1433. However, the last two accounts of Zheng’s were destroyed by a later Ming Emperor.

Others do believe that the Chinese navy made it to North America. Another researcher has been searching for the wreck of a humungous ship on the beaches of Oregon and Washington State.  Gavin Menzies wrote, 1421: The Year China Discovered the World and 1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance, about his hypothesis that the Chinese discovered North America. Even odder, off San Diego is a stone anchor that has magnesium nodules dated to 2000 BC. Explain that one!

We have traversed more than 100,000 li (50,000 kilometers or 30,000 miles) of immense water spaces and have beheld in the ocean huge waves like mountains rising in the sky, and we have set eyes on barbarian regions far away hidden in a blue transparency of light vapors, while our sails, loftily unfurled like clouds day and night, continued their course [as rapidly] as a star, traversing those savage waves as if we were treading a public thoroughfare…
— Tablet erected by Zheng He, Changle, Fujian, 1432

For further information: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Zheng_He

See also: http://socyberty.com/military/the-betsy-ross-thirteen-stars-n-stripes/

http://socyberty.com/history/abraham-lincoln-friend-of-slaves/

According to a university professor of Zhejiang Province, the workers who built the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty about 600 years ago, the solution is prepared for bonding blocks of boiled rice and lime – a standard component mixes. Use of rice porridge was at that time very progressive and innovative step.

“The secret of the solution for the construction of the Great Wall of China is a special combination of organic and inorganic substances, united in the mixture. Amylopectin of rice and calcium carbonate of lime, when combined, give a substance which has high mechanical strength, “- said the scientist. On sections of the soil, where fall drops of this solution still can not grow grass.

Image via Wikipedia

Liu Xiaobo

Are the Chinese people who have been brainwashed and genetically modified into mechanical robots under the harsh regimented Chinese Closet Dictatorship scared of Wen Jiabao or Liu Xiaobo? Undergoing an eleven year imprisonment for showing dissent against the Chinese government, Liu is a symbol of the rising Tiananmen spirit in China. “Congratulations for standing up against a brute regime, you deserve the Nobel Peace Prize”. His Holiness, Dalai Lama was an earlier Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1989. China did not like it either because Tibet swallowed by China, came into the limelight. Again the winner was dissent.

Chinese Closet Dictatorship:

Ever since The Long March and The Great Leap, under Mao Tse Tung (called Mao Zedong after Peking became Beiijing), the Chinese have made significant allround progress in Science and Technology, Nuclear Engineering, Agriculture, Electronics and other industries. China is now considered a top Super Power with the largest  arsenal of arms and  Military Manpower in the world. However, the regimented communists are afraid of the world, as it is/was. Of course, all soveriegn states and societies have a number of Rules, Customs, Conventions etc., but not as horrible and scary like the Chinese government’s propagated diktats. True, there is a sea-change in the present China we see and the China depicted by Pearl S. Buck in her The Good Earth and other China-based novels. Opium smoking Chinese and famine stricken China, ravaged by floods of the Hwang Ho, malnourished peasants and villagers trampled by feudal Warlords are things of the past. In spite of giant strides made by successive totalitarian Communist regimes, there is no real freedom. Chinese people’s minds and thoughts are controlled by Big Brother standing guard with assault rifles and tanks. No dissidence please. Only strict slavish mentality will be rewarded. After the Tiananmen Square bloodspill, the millions of happy and smiling Chinese we see are actually machine orchestrated robots underneath.

Chinese Fear Psychosis:

What are the Chinese really afraid of?–better values and lifestyles of other free and democratic nations? better culture? Free Thoughts? freedom to do what one likes? Remember, the Chinese Civilisation is one of the oldest and richest, on par with the Egyptian, Indian, Mayan and Greek Civilisations. If China could withstand centuries of changes and still survive, why this fear of outside influence for the last fifty years? Communism did not survive in it’s founding land–Russia. So sooner or later the Chinese Fear Psychosis should give way to pragmatic Democracy where dissent has to be tolerated and addressed. Chinese Food and Chinese Cuisine are popular and famous all over the world–USA, UK, Europe, India, Malaysia, Australia and several other countries because of the Free Enterprise of millions of enterprising Chinese people. Chinese in Taiwan are having a better quality of life because Chiang Kai Shek distanced himself from Mao & Co., many decades ago. None of these sane Chinese spread all over the world would ever want to go back to mainland China, not even for half a Kingdom of the original Ming Dynasty.  This, incidentally, is the Age of Reason, Dissidence, Truth and WikiLeaks, mind you. It is only a matter of time, when Xiaobo will have a level playing field with Jiabao, no? “Blocking CNN and BBC-TV Channels will not a Truth hide”. 

Crowned as the Emperor Hongwu in 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the post of prime minister to strengthen his autocratic powers.  He developed a strong central administration before leading his forces to invade Mongolia and bring Yunnan under Ming rule. Within 10 years, the Chinese court was receiving tribute from Okinawa, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, Java, and the Indian coast, and had set up trade contacts with those countries as well as Japan and the Middle East.  Prior his death in 1398, Zhu had united most of central China and forced Korea to pay tribute.

During the reign of Yongle (1403-24), the Great Wall of China was extensively rebuilt.  Yongle did not only preserve China’s military might, but even expanded the empire’s supremacy to include a powerful navy. Between 1405 and 1433, Admiral Zheng He, a eunuch of Muslim birth, led seven voyages that reached as far as Persia, Arabia, and eastern Africa. With an armada of 62 ships and as numerous as 27,000 men, they were a feared group throughout the China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Their captains displayed navigational skills unequalled until the arrival of the Portuguese in early 16th century.

150 years of peace were spoiled only by short-lived Mongol invasions, and the raids of Chinese and Japanese pirates.  After complete control was established, arts and culture once again flourished, financially backed by income from far-flung Chinese traders. The celebrated Ming porcelains were developed during this era. The appointment of provincial governors improved administration; and the undertaking of major public works – such as Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City – reflected the Ming desire to strengthen Chinese culture.  Science and technology had few developments, but philosophy and literature experienced a revival.

European merchants and missionaries began to appear on the coast from 1517 onwards. The Portuguese were allowed to settle in Macao and Jesuits were permitted into Beijing.  Even though the Ming emperors successfully resisted a Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 and prevented an incursion into China, these encounters weakened the country.  In the 17th century the Manchus attacked Beijing, plundering in the provinces became widespread and the government’s bureaucracy fell into chaos.  An ever-increasing population strained the agricultural resources of the country; and starvation and disgruntlement spread as a result, leading to a climate ripe for rebellion.  Li Zicheng, a minor Ming official, led an uprising starting in a Shaanxi Province, that would eventually cost around a million lives. In 1644, the final Ming emperor hanged himself. Li occupied Beijing and established the Manchu Qing dynasty (1644 – 1912).

More Chinese history articles:

• China’s Eternal Army of Qin Shihuangdi
• The Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
• The Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
• The Tang Dynasty (618-906)  
• The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

The majority of the residents in Xi’an are the Han Chinese. What is unique about Xi’an is that it has a large Muslim Chinese community. There are approximately 50,000 Muslim Hui people living in Xi’an. Islam was introduced to the northwest Chinese when Arab travellers and merchants settled down and married the local women in the 7th century. The Great Mosque in Xi’an was built for the community’s needs and also to honour the efforts of the Muslims in uniting China during the Ming and Yuan Dynasties.

The Great Mosque is a must see. It is one of the biggest, oldest and best preserved mosques in China. Its architecture combines both Muslim and Chinese styles. It is the only mosque in China that is open for visitation but non-Muslims are not allowed into the main prayer hall or during prayer times which is 5 times a day.

However, you’ve got to see the main attraction of Xi’an which are the Terracotta warriors and horses. 7,000 life-size soldies, horses, weapons and chariots were made out of pottery and placed to guard China’s first Emperor, Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Each soldier was made with detailed facial features that the Terracotta army never fails to amaze any visitor to Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum.

Xi’an was a military town during the Ming Dynasty. Come and be tantalised by the strong military towers that were built to defend Xi’an. The City Wall remains the most complete surviving city wall in China and is touted to have one of the best military defensive systems in the world. The Bell Tower, used to house the famous Jingyun Bell which has mysteriously turned silent during the Ming Dynasty. Meanwhile, the Drum Tower was built without a single nail and has 24 drums which served as a weather calendar by the ancient Chinese. Today at the Drum Tower, you can find the China’s biggest drum there and enjoy musical performances that reflect the Chinese culture.

Once you get tired of the towers, make the pagodas your next destination. There is the Green Dragon temple, Big Wild Goose pagoda and the Small Wild Goose pagoda. Each has its own special features and tales. Time your visit in May and June to view the spectacular and beautiful cherry blossoms at the Green Dragon temple. Northwest to the Big Wild Goose pagoda is the Shaanxi History Museum which has 3 exhibition halls marked by time order.

Image via Wikipedia

Hungry from all the tours, head over to the Moslem Street also known as Huimin Jie. Most of the shops here sell food items while the others offer souvenirs and local products of Shaanxi. The most popular snack here is the steamed stuffed bun. Filled with beef or mutton cooked in soup, they are bound to make you hungry for more! Also popular are the fried rice with pickled cabbage, roast beef, lamb or mutton and the yummy persimmon pies. The persimmons are mashed, filled into the dough and fried until fragrant and crispy. Don’t forget to try the various noodles, preserved meat and casserole too.

Arrive in Xi’an at the Xi’an Xianyang International Airport Xi’an. Then, get around Xi’an either by taxi, subway, bus or train. You will notice too that electric bikes are very popular among the students. You may also want to use the Xi-Han Expressway which connects Han Zhongand Xi’an through the Qinling Mountains. The reason for this is to have the bragging rights to having driven through the ZhongNan Shan tunnel which is the longest tunnel in Asia at 15 km long.

The majority of the residents in Xi’an are the Han Chinese. What is unique about Xi’an is that it has a large Muslim Chinese community. There are approximately 50,000 Muslim Hui people living in Xi’an. Islam was introduced to the northwest Chinese when Arab travellers and merchants settled down and married the local women in the 7th century. The Great Mosque in Xi’an was built for the community’s needs and also to honour the efforts of the Muslims in uniting China during the Ming and Yuan Dynasties.

The Great Mosque is a must see. It is one of the biggest, oldest and best preserved mosques in China. Its architecture combines both Muslim and Chinese styles. It is the only mosque in China that is open for visitation but non-Muslims are not allowed into the main prayer hall or during prayer times which is 5 times a day.

Image via Wikipedia

However, you’ve got to see the main attraction of Xi’an which are the Terracotta warriors and horses. 7,000 life-size soldies, horses, weapons and chariots were made out of pottery and placed to guard China’s first Emperor, Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Each soldier was made with detailed facial features that the Terracotta army never fails to amaze any visitor to Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum.

Xi’an was a military town during the Ming Dynasty. Come and be tantalised by the strong military towers that were built to defend Xi’an. The City Wall remains the most complete surviving city wall in China and is touted to have one of the best military defensive systems in the world. The Bell Tower, used to house the famous Jingyun Bell which has mysteriously turned silent during the Ming Dynasty. Meanwhile, the Drum Tower was built without a single nail and has 24 drums which served as a weather calendar by the ancient Chinese. Today at the Drum Tower, you can find the China’s biggest drum there and enjoy musical performances that reflect the Chinese culture.

Once you get tired of the towers, make the pagodas your next destination. There is the Green Dragon temple, Big Wild Goose pagoda and the Small Wild Goose pagoda. Each has its own special features and tales. Time your visit in May and June to view the spectacular and beautiful cherry blossoms at the Green Dragon temple. Northwest to the Big Wild Goose pagoda is the Shaanxi History Museum which has 3 exhibition halls marked by time order.

Hungry from all the tours, head over to the Moslem Street also known as Huimin Jie. Most of the shops here sell food items while the others offer souvenirs and local products of Shaanxi. The most popular snack here is the steamed stuffed bun. Filled with beef or mutton cooked in soup, they are bound to make you hungry for more! Also popular are the fried rice with pickled cabbage, roast beef, lamb or mutton and the yummy persimmon pies. The persimmons are mashed, filled into the dough and fried until fragrant and crispy. Don’t forget to try the various noodles, preserved meat and casserole too.

Arrive in Xi’an at the Xi’an Xianyang International Airport Xi’an. Then, get around Xi’an either by taxi, subway, bus or train. You will notice too that electric bikes are very popular among the students. You may also want to use the Xi-Han Expressway which connects Han Zhongand Xi’an through the Qinling Mountains. The reason for this is to have the bragging rights to having driven through the ZhongNan Shan tunnel which is the longest tunnel in Asia at 15 km long.

In 221 BC, an emperor named Qin Shi Huang was able to conquether  opposing states of china and he was able to unified them.To impose centralized rules, the emperor orders to destruct the wall sections that divide along the borders of some state.This walls were made mostly with stamping earth and gravel between board frames.He ordered to build a new wall that will connect the remaining fortification along the northern frontier bacause of the intrusions of the Xiongnu people from the north.

Image via Wikipedia

Upon the construction, the transportation required to transport the materials needed was very much difficult. Because of this, construction workers are always tried to used local resources. Materials such as stones from the mountains were used along the mountain ranges and rammed earth were used for the construction in the plain areas.

Most part of the wall (Qin Dynasty Wall) have eroded away over the centuries. There are only few of the original sections that remains today.( There are no exact historical records that survives indicating how long this wall was.)

Image via Wikipedia

Still to defend against northern invaders the following dynasty, the Han, Sui, Northern and Jin dynasty all repaired, rebuilt and or expanded some sections of the wall at great cost.

During the Ming Dynasty, the concept of the Great Wall was again revive following with the defeat of the army of the Ming Dynasty against the Oirats during 1449 in the battle of Tumu.

After sucessive battles The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty failed to defend against the Manchurian as well as the Mongolian tribes.

They adopted a new strategy wherein they construct walls along their northern boarders in order to keep the nomadic tribes out.

The Ming Dynasty wall was stronger and more elaborated compared to that of Qin fortifications. They use bricks and stone instead of using rammed earth. The Ming dynasty repair and reinforce the wall devotedly, with considerable resources because of the continues attacks by the Mongols.Towards end of the Ming, the wall serves as great helped as they depend the empire against the Manchu invasion,

Yuan Chonghuan, a commander of the military command was able to held off the Manchus at the Shanhaiguan pass and prevented them from entering china.

Yuan Chonghuan

Image via Wikipedia

In the year 1644, the gates at Shanhaigun was opened by a general who dislikes the ruler of the Shun dynasty. In result, the Manchus were finally able to cross across the great wall.They quickly seized Beijing and was able to defeat the remaining Ming resistance and the newly found Shun Dynasty. They then established the Qing Dynasty.An additional 290 kilometers or 180 miles of the wall built in the Ming Dynasty were discovered.

It range from the Hushan mountains in the northern Liaoning province to Jiayuguan in western Gansu province. Sandstorms submerged these portions of the newly discovered sections.