Live coverage of Shark Truth’s inaugural fundraiser at Wild Rice Restaurant
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Karen Hamilton
November 19, 2009
Are you here between 8-10pm on Thursday, November 19, 2009? If so, keep coming back over the next few hours as we bring you commentary and photos as they happen at Shark Truth’s first fundraiser to “Stop the Soup.”
8pm: the fun begins
It’s just after 8pm and I’ve already been buzzing about Wild Rice Restaurant for half an hour taking pictures and making observations of the first wave of guests. The Shark Truth team is set up by the entrance to welcome the eager crowds, who seem to have arrived as early as 7pm. Good call for them – the line-up is currently out the door as a miraculous number of attendees have forsaken Vancouverite event protocol and have come on time.
Appetizers are already milling about: a tray of chicken satays are frustratingly out of reach from my seat at the bar. I’m consoling myself with the lovely chat I’m having with chef/owner Andrew Wong, who pointed out that a) sales from the event’s drink specials will partially go to Shark Truth coffers and b) he remembered to list a non-alcoholic option for the alcohol-foresworn like myself.
Here’s the drink list:
Sharktini – $8
Tangerine liqueur, vodka and passionfruit liqueur with a dash of spriteBloody Harry – $8
Strawberry and raspberry liqueur, vodka topped with sodaSharktail Mocktail – $4
Lychee, ginger ale and fresh lime
Photos and more colour your way as soon as Flickr works its magic! Stay tuned.
8:40pm – raffle update
Johnny, the evening’s emcee, is on the mic to tell us about the schedule for the night and provides the scoop on the raffle that will begin at 9:30pm.
Raffle tickets are:
- 1 for $2
- 3 for $5
- 10 for $10
Your investment in the raffle will benefit Shark Truth and can win you one or more of the following:
- Intro Diving Class for 1 care of Diving Locker ($75 value)
- Vancouver Whale Watch Zodiac Tour for 2 ($150 value)
- $25 dining certificate for Wild Rice – an Ocean Wise member
- $25 dining certificate for The Reef – an Ocean Wise member
- $25 dining certificate for The Naam
- $25 dining certificate for Nuba Cafe
- 2 $50 dining certificates for The Whip Gallery & Restaurant – an Ocean Wise member
- $50 dining certificate for The Cascade Room – an Ocean Wise member
- $50 dining certificate for Habit Lounge – an Ocean Wise member
- $50 dining certificate for The Refinery – an Ocean Wise member
- $50 dining certificate for C Restaurant – an Ocean Wise member
- Travellers Deck Vancouver Eating & Shopping Guides
- A haircut for you at Markus J Salon
- Handmade and cruelty-free bath & body gift baskets ($50, $100 value)
- Solitaire game, donated by the International Year of the Tiger Foundation
9pm – Nick Dulvy takes the stage (well, the stairs)
Shark specialist Dr. Nick Dulvy is now situated on the staircase with mic in hand to talk to the crowd as compelling visuals and stats are projected high along the front wall of Wild Rice restaurant.
Speech highlights
If we were to stop finning sharks tomorrow, it would take ~20 years for stocks to recover. Compare this to the equivalent recovery period in tuna populations, which would jump back in under 10 years.
Global shark extinction risk map of the world’s oceans is almost entirely covered in “crisis” red – the only spots not critical are around the Antarctic.
9:15pm: Shark Truth introduced
Founders Claudia Li and Vivian Kwong are now up to explain how they came to take an interest in the shark fin trade and what they plan to do about it.
Speech highlights
Vancouver and Toronto alone make up 75% of the Chinese community in Canada, with Vancouver being the largest urban community in the nation. (So it makes sense to start spreading change here!)
Shark Truth’s 3-pronged approach: intrigue, educate, and empower.
Shark Truth’s 2010 campaign: to use a video competition, word of mouth, and mail efforts to convince 40 couples to not serve or find alternatives for serving shark fin soup at their banquet. As they say, “We are going to stop the soup, one bowl at a time.”
How to help Shark Truth:
- Meet Harry and educate yourself on shark truths
- Join their campaign to Stop the Soup
- Sponsor the cause
- Spread the word and share ideas via their website, throughout Facebook, and across Twitter
- Getting married? Pledge to stop the soup at your wedding!
Photo gallery
Categories: Blogging for Social Change, Events, Food
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