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Singapore is attempting to join the list of countries trying to shake off an outdated culinary tradition that's fast becoming socially unacceptable among young Chinese. |
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新加坡打算加入若干國家的行列，擺脫一項過時的美食傳統，這項傳統在年輕華人中正迅速成為一種不受社會認可的行為。 |
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Several groups are launching campaigns in the city-state to eliminate the local shark fin trade. |
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Among these, the Singapore branch of global non-profit group Shark Savers has teamed up with some well-known local personalities to launch "I'm FINished," a campaign aimed at changing mindsets, as well as the legal landscape, concerning the fin business in Singapore. |
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有幾個團體正在這個城邦發起運動，要消除當地的魚翅買賣。在這些團體當中，全球非營利組織「鯊魚拯救者」的新加坡分會已和當地若干知名人物合作，發起「我不翅」運動，目標在於就新加坡的魚翅產業改變民眾的心態以及法律環境。 |
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According to Singapore media, last year the city imported about 3,500 tons of shark fin, 40 percent more than the previous year. |
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The fins are commonly used in soup, often served at Chinese wedding banquets. |
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根據新加坡媒體報導，去年這座城市進口了約三千五百噸的魚翅，比前一年還多了百分之四十。魚翅通常用在湯料理中，而且通常是華人婚宴上的菜餚。 |
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But given that the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) awards Singapore the dubious distinction of being the second-largest shark fin trading center after Hong Kong, it's not going to be easy to convince local restaurants to remove the controversial soup from their menus. |
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不過，鑑於新加坡被世界自然基金會冠上僅次於香港的第二大魚翅交易中心這項不光彩的殊榮，要說服當地的餐廳從菜單上拿掉這道備受爭議的湯品可不容易。 |
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Instead, the grassroots campaign aims to reverse the culture of consuming shark fin soup, and garner support for a banqueting and trade ban, says John Lu, director of Shark Savers Singapore. |
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因此，當前的民間運動把目標放在扭轉吃魚翅湯的文化，並且爭取大眾支持禁止餐宴使用魚翅以及買賣魚翅，鯊魚拯救者新加坡分會會長呂約翰表示。 |
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"I have met Singaporean shark lovers who shared their experiences and frustrated attempts to drive the message many years ago," he says. "Singaporeans are now far more receptive and I feel that the time is ripe for positive change to occur." |
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「我聽過新加坡的鯊魚愛好者分享自己的經驗，以及他們在許多年前推廣這種訊息所遭遇的挫折，」他說：「現在新加坡人已經遠比以前更能接受這項訊息，我認為促成正面改變的時機已經成熟。」 |
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He says these days the challenge isn't to educate Singaporeans on the impact shark finning has on marine ecosystems, given they are generally savvy regarding the issue. |
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The problem is that Asian notions of respect and "giving face" to hosts and elders find misguided application in this context. |
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他說，目前的挑戰不在於教導新加坡人明白捕鯊取鰭對海洋生態環境造成的衝擊，因為民眾對於這項議題大致上都已有認知。問題是亞洲人對於餐宴主人與長輩的尊重，以及「給人面子」的心態，在這方面遭到了誤用。 |
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"Those who have a personal conviction about shark fin soup generally do not dare to share this opinion with others," he says. |
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"This cultural conditioning to be passive and quietly gracious creates a somewhat odd situation -- guests do not really want shark fin soup, while hosts continue to think that guests expect it, with both perhaps sharing the same misgivings about ordering and consuming the dish." |
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「對於魚翅湯懷有個人理念的人，通常不敢和別人分享這種想法，」他說：「這種被動而默認的文化制約，造成了一種奇特的狀況──賓客其實不想吃魚翅湯，主人卻一直認為賓客期待吃到魚翅湯，同時賓主雙方對於點購與食用這道菜餚又可能都懷有一樣的疑慮。」 |
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