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Shark Water Materialism Essay

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The Dangers of Materialism Taking Precedence Above All Else Mark Twain is famously quoted saying, “Any so-called material thing that you want is merely a symbol: you want it not for itself, but because it will content your spirit for the moment”. Modern day materialism is used to rationalize the bloodshed of innocent wildlife. The annihilation of nature is a pressing matter in our daily lives, which humans are able to justify through false ideological perspectives. Sitting at the top of the biological hierarchy, mankind believes themselves to be held to a higher social commitment. However, people are placing our world’s biodiversity at risk in order to achieve capital gain. This essay will be outlining how humans are held to a higher social …show more content…

Unbeknownst today, most business decisions are based on cost rather than the effect on the environment, causing a vast dichotomy in our world; altering the view of materialism in contrast to our personal ethical commitments and stances. The poaching industry mainly exists for one reason; it is profitable. According to the film, “Shark Water”(Stewart), the shark finning industry generates billions of dollars in revenue annually. A single great white shark fin can be sold for up to two-hundred and fifty dollars on the black market, and such possessions are considered a sign of wealth in certain cultures. Humans are luring sharks, catching them by long line fishing, and later slicing off their fins. Once the sharks are caught and finned they are then tossed back into the ocean, left barely alive. The sharks sink to the bottom of the sea motionless, like an anchor being dropped from a boat. In spite of the illegalities associated with poaching, people in developing countries perceive it as “found money”, without considering the impact it has on the aquatic ecosystem. If sharks were to become extinct,

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