Some of my friends are wary about watching this one-and-half hour documentary because Tabrizi is accused of presenting information and interviews in the wrong context, and also misrepresenting facts and figures. For instance, you can read from this link Earth Island Institute's response to Tabrizi's "conspiracy" allegations and the role the institution plays to protect the earth's environment and its flora and fauna.
However, I found his presentation of data and statistics quite straightforward although I have to admit that Tabrizi's approach is somewhat similar to Michael Moore's tactics but Tabrizi does present information that would be shocking for an archipelago nation like Maldives where many people's life and livelihood are directly and/or indirectly dependent on fishing.
As for those who are now unhappy with the final edit of the documentary, Tabrizi made it clear that he had provided every opportunity for institutions to tell the side of their whole story and he incorporates footage of interviewees who awkwardly declined to be interviewed sometimes at the beginning and sometimes in the middle of the interview, demonstrating their discomfort with been interviewed.
My personal problem with the documentary is deciding how to comply with Tabrizi's wishes and suggested solutions towards ending my own fish consumption although I have already quit eating all sorts of reef organisms such as every type of octopus ("boava"), lobster ("ihi"), parrotfish ("landaa"), grouper ("faana") etc. I am now open to eating only open water tuna species because they have the opportunity to renew their stocks more easily and fast, with reaching maturity between 2 to 5 years. I am strictly against the use of nets because they indiscriminately catch other unsuspecting marine life such as dolphins, sharks, and turtles, etc.
One thing I noticed about "Seaspiracy" is that Tabrizi first said that humans should altogether give up eating fish but then later stated that consuming fish should be only temporarily halted until depleting fish stocks can be recovered and renewed to their previous stock levels given time for their natural breeding. Indeed, going vegan would not be an easy lifestyle to adopt for fishing communities whose diet is based mainly on fish.
Ultimately, I have mixed feelings about this documentary because I am not clear and possibly have no means to determine who is telling the truth and who isn't. So I hope this review is fair and tells both sides of the story and my private conclusion is that not only Maldivians but anybody who is concerned about our sea food and the marine environment must not miss watching this documentary because whatever the controversy, "Seaspiracy" does make an admirable attempt on enlightening people about the plight of marine life.
“ I am not clear and possibly have no means to determine who is telling the truth and who isn't.”- really? Without scrutinizing every single thing Tabrizi said think about thid. The world’s fish stocks sre about to run out. Most species of wil fish will be no more if we keep on fishing at the rate we do. So why not heed to this call?
ReplyDeleteYou are wrong. Allah's rizq (provisions) are infinite. He will surely replenish dwindling fish stocks. Hence, our fisher folk and consumers need not fear that the sea will run out of fish or other marine life. God works in mysterious ways.
Delete- “And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register.” - Allah (SWT)
- “A soul will not die until it gets all of the provision that has been apportioned for it”. - Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
I have also made the same decision. Only eating pelagic fish that can reproduce in large numbers. Fish like latti, raagondi, kalhubilamas, yellowfin tuna.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 7:34 AM:
DeleteI am really happy to know that. When each individual acts responsibly in their own small way, it will surely reach a critical mass, resulting in much needed change.
Good article. Plan to watch it based on your recommendation.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 9:57 AM:
DeleteThanks. Yeah. It's an unmissable documentary whatever criticisms are there against it.
@Anonymous 7:32 AM:
ReplyDeleteThanks. I am taking baby steps in my own way such that I am not, even in my individual capacity, acting in a way that contributes to the destruction of the environment. As I said before, my sole passion is now the environment: https://hilath.blogspot.com/2023/04/my-sole-passion-now-is-maldives.html