I also think talking about the benefits of replacements is v. important. E.g. in the fishfingers example – a ‘nicer than cod, cheaper and better for the environment too’ message might work. Currently it relies on people being well read (not really associated with bulk of the fishfinger buying demographic).

I think a big species going extinct is actually quite an interesting one. I am not sure it would have any effect at all. Lots of animals are currently near extinction but few people have batted an eyelid. After all, polar bears will exist forever on the tellybox won’t they – and the concept of a real polar bear living in the wild is so far from most peoples imaginations.

Also, my focus is very uk based as it is much easier to influence – but how much (if we are to believe what we read) do some asian cultures care about species going extinct?

But it raises an interesting question: what might it take to have people be more aware of species impact?

Would it be the actual or imminent disappearance of a high profile species such as the polar bear?

Andrew

An example: I totally expect people to choose not to eat fish that is caught from unsustainable sources. It has been known for many years that cod stocks are dwindling. Yet, it is still socially acceptable (not in my house or in my company I have to add) to eat cod – almost every restaurant I have been to in the last 2 years now has put cod on their menu! It isn’t just a high end restaurant thing either – it is v. difficult to buy non-cod fish fingers, even though cod is expensive and fish fingers could be made out of any other sort of white, flakey fish

It seems that the general public are a bit slow to change their behaviour when it comes to giving up food that they like, in order to save the planet / protect species / ecosystems.

Becky makes a really interesting point here, and it made me reflect on the original post. I think the distinction is whether you’re thinking about the welfare of the animals or the welfare of the ecosystems they create. I imagine it is possible to have a humane beef industry which doesn’t destroy its local ecosystem (I’m sure they’d say they have such a think in Wales, for example) but it wouldn’t be possible for such a system to meet current or anticipated levels of demand for beef without significant ecological side-effects.