1 thing leads to another…

A wonderful piece of write up by my comrade Mr. Kirk from www.facebook.com/SharkFinCrisis. When I asked for his permission to repost this, he just answered : "sure, go ahead, use it to save more sharks...." This has proven to me once again that my hard work have been paid off =)

On the 8 of January 2011, is the big day for my brother in law, it is his wedding. They had decided to have a small wedding gathering of 70 family n close friends. It is a western buffet without SFS… 

brother in law wedding 8/1/2011

I got my wife to approach her brother to display a Wedding Table Card for SFS Awareness, both my brother in law n his wife agreed to have the card display, we got the card prepared n with the help from Alicia from My Wedding Saved Sharks.      http://SaveShark.blogspot.com/

Thanks to my wife Jenny and Alicia Tan for supports n making this possible…

During the banquet, I managed to chat with someone who also pledged not to consume Shark Fin Soup due to Shark Fin Crisis n the best thing is one of my brother in law’s good friend is having his wedding banquet the following week on 15 January 2011 with 500 guests in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. I asked him if they were serving SFS? He replied “No”, then I said “Great” it is time to work n dig further… hehehe… He agreed to have the card up too…

On the same day 15 January 2011, my cousin also had his wedding banquet with 650 guests... At first it was hard to convince him as both he and his wife were not really into Shark’s Conservation but after some sharing they both agreed not to serve Shark Fin Soup at their wedding reception, great news. Later I ask them if they would like to have a Wedding Banquet Table card for awareness purposes n educating people about SFS. I had my first design, touching up on the wording, picture n size of the card… a few amendments but later I found out that both did not agree with the wording n text… I guess I m not being sensitive toward the couple, so being a cousin n not wanting to be pushy, I gave up on the SFS table card… (Sad n disappointment with myself for not succeeding in getting the card out…)

A day before my cousin’s wedding almost midnight as Chinese tradition family member would visit the groom’s place for family gathering; I took my last chance n approach him again. Less than 24hours notice, I ask him again telling him that I promise myself to do my part n do my best, not giving up n at the same time I do not want to be pushy n create uneasiness between myself n my cousin over this issue… I explained myself, he agreed to ask his future wife again in the morning… (I have little hope but when I got home I stay up late and worked on some final touches to the table card so should they give me the green light tomorrow I’m ready…)

In the morning of 15 January 2011, I texted my cousin hoping that he is not busy with the preparation for the wedding n he said “Ok, you can proceed with the printing n bring it over”. YES! it was almost noon, I was working full day but this is important, I got my wife to run the errand, great that she is so supportive of the cause, Love My wife…

The following day, I received a message from a member of Save Our Sharks From A Bowl Of Soup, asking me if I would design a simple wedding banquet card for his buddy’s coming wedding on 22 Jan 2011, wow this is great, 4 weddings without SFS n Wedding Table Cards for education purposes… just great!

Here ... how one thing leads to another… lesson learnt is “Never give up on the things you truly believe in…”

If you have relatives, friends, or your friend's friends getting married, please refer to us we have a few selection of cards available customize for newly wed banquet dinner.

Shark Bless…

Kirk Lee

Save Our Sharks From A Bowl Of Soup

http://www.facebook.com/SharkFinCrisis

I would not had done it without Alicia Tan from :

My Wedding Saves Sharks

http://saveshark.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Wedding-Saves-Sharks/139873332710304

The seeds started growing..

Since my wedding banquet card displayed, I get many good feedbacks and supports from friends and family. Girl friends of my age are also getting married one after another, most of them requested me to do a similar card for them too, and some I approach them myself to offer the service. I'm so thankful by far my success rate is maintaining above 80%.

My first "client", Christy's wedding. She held twice the dinner, one for the bride's family and friends and another for the groom's family and friends. She only manage to convince one side of the family to change menu and was objected strongly by another family. Hence, we won half the battle for 30 tables, 300 bowl of soup saved.

Christy & Johnson 22 June 2010.
A new design of 3 fold card that wrap a wine bottle around nicely.

My second client, Joe held a huge wedding banquet that he invited 990 guests at Sheraton Subang Hotel. Joe has decided earlier to not server sharks fin soup due to most of his guests had pledge not to consume sharks fin soup. He was later informed by his friend about my little project, and he immediately agreed to place a card there to spread the awareness. This was an easy battle, and won big 990 bowls of soup !

Notice the little triangular card in the middle of the table ? = ( too small... can't see from far ... but you can imagine the number of sharks we saved here ! ^_^ v

On the same day as Joe, Linus & Audrey's wedding banquet right next door Saujana Subang Hotel is displaying on the projector, a message of why no sharks fin soup was serve. 300 bowls saved.

And my booking list goes on and on until next year ... =)

1) 26 Feb,2010 - 370 bowls. My own wedding banquet at Super Tanker Kota Damansara.

2) 22 June,2010 - 300 bowls. Christy Tiong & Johnson's wedding banquet at Holiday Villa Subang.

3) 18 September, 2010 - 990 bowls. Joe & Yun's wedding at Sheraton Subang Hotel

4) 18 September, 2010 - 300 bowls. Linus & Audrey's wedding at Saujana Subang Hotel.

5) 25 September, 2010 - 500 bowls. Ken & Audrey in Ipoh.

6) 11 December,2010- 300 bowls. Foong Peng's wedding , no card display, but definitely no sharks fin serve.

7) 18 December, 2010- 500 bowls. Patrick and Rachel's wedding at Equatorial Cameron Highland.

8) 1st Jan, 2011 - 200 bowls. Indra's cousin bro's wedding

9) 2 January,2011 - 300 bowls. Karen Wong & Chin's wedding at Ritz Carlton KL

10) 8 January, 2011- Kirk's Bro in law wedding.

11) 15 January, 2011 - Soon Thoe & Remember

12) 16 January, 2011 - 600 bowls. Tracy & Daniel Wedding.

13) 23 January, 2011 - 300 bowls. Lim Yeong Chi & Ong Ming Yan.

14) 26 February, 2011 - 380 bowls. Kee Yau & Chin Yi's wedding.

15) 26 February, 2011 - 300 bowls. Adelene & Brian's wedding in Melaka.

16) 5 & 25 March, 2011 - 400 bowls. Annie Tan's wedding in Singapore and JB.

17) 19 March, 2011 - Mr. Augustine Lai & Ms.Phoebe Tan.

18) 30 April, 2011 - Lim Teck Yang & Tan Chia Chia.

19) 7 May, 2011 - Lee Soon Yean's wedding.

20) 19 June, 2011 - Ooi Kok & Harn Yun.
21) 24th June, 2011 - Eddie Tay & Menn Chin.

22) 10 September, 2011 - 300 bowls. Zoey & WT Ching at Tropicana Golf Club.

23) 18 December,2011 - 400 bowls. Adrianne chang & Teoh Kah Hoe at Jaya33, Oriental Pavillion.

..... And still counting....

Story of : My Wedding Without Fins

My wedding was held last February at a Chinese restaurant in Bukit Utama. We had a total of 355 Chinese guests, and I did not serve shark fin soup. Instead of trying to get through the whole function without the guests noticing the absence of the soup and potentially starting gossip, I created a special thank you card to explain why I chose not to serve shark fin soup.

Believe me, it wasn't an easy task; I faced obstacles that felt like hell to get that card on the tables. Some of the elderly guests disagreed with my shark fin education initiative, finding it offensive.

I felt heartbroken, with my emotions shaken from the inside out. It was the first time I had received such harsh criticism, leaving me devastated. However, I refused to give up. I firmly believe in the power of change, whether it comes now or later, it's better than never. So, in the end, I successfully placed the card on the tables during "MY WEDDING" dinner.

This experience made me realize the pressure and fear that may hold back some people who are aware of important issues but can't openly show their support. It isn't easy, I assure you, but it was a significant breakthrough for me. Finally, they accepted and understood me for who I truly am, not who I pretended to be.

To all the new couples getting married out there, I encourage you to educate your guests in the most creative ways possible. And to all the shark lovers, don't hesitate to inspire your friends, including those who are about to get married, to join the "Proactive group." 

Good Luck! Your efforts can make a difference!"

Modeling career of turtles in Redang Island

I was kind of upset by an online fren of mine. He jus came back from Redang Trip for snorkeling. Before his trip i hav actually lecture him abit of the conservation and awareness. Now he came back showing me a photo of this.

I was told that the beach boy or snorkel guides actually catch turtles to show the snorkelers. I really feel helpless and sad for the turtle at my first glance at this photo. Not long ago, another fren of mine, a scuba diving instructor also came to tell me about this scenario happening in Redang. It seem likes this is a norm for the snorkel guides to capture turtle to impress tourists. =(

Toking about harassment, label me as a drama queen or wat-so-ever i dun care..catching turtles or touching them without their permission or againts their will is consider harassment. Just like sex harassment. Put urself into this turtle's shoe, she's being harassted ! jus like u got ur butt touch n sqeeze by some strangersSS in the LRT ! Well, IF this baby turtle know Aikido, these bunch of snorkelers is gonna get their ass kick already

Was there any regulation to protect the turtles from being harass ? were the beach boys being educate about the conservation ? if you say, "oh well, wat can u do ... they hav to secure their few hundred ringgit job by impressing the customers mah.. " then u're totally wrong... this unwise act eventually will cost them their job and their future as well as DEMOLISHING Redang Tourism in the NEAR future. Yes, i'm serious !

Remember this place in Malaysia call Rantau Abang ?? Remember this ancient marine reptile and the largest turtle in the world name Giant Leatherback turtles ?? Unless we wants to see Redang turn out to become Rantau Abang today ..else.. keep ur hand , feet , sunblock lotion , oily food waste, plastic bags away from this vulnerable ancient creatures !!!

Well, funny part is that excuse given to me for letting his frens commit this crime is " Can't blame them la, they jus wan to take a picture with the turtle... " ironic ....... Wat say u ?

I'm sad , not bcos of my fren's frens wrong doing nor blaming it on them. i'm yelling not bcos i'm mad at the beach boys... i'm actually hating myself for not being able to make a change even i've put in efforts to warn my fren. ..

I really feel so .... helpless whenever i recall this.. sigh...