In Reply to: thanks for replying Rex but don't you posted by aqua on Friday, 2. February 2007 at 10:25 Bali Time:
but I'm a pragmatist. What I, as just one person, choose to do about already dead seashells, whether I find them [naturally] dead on the beach, or buy them from someone, has absolutely no bearing on the big picture. Unless, that is, I choose to either start, or join an existing organisation which is campaigning for seashell rights. And if I bought some shells from a poor man who was using the animals as food for his family anyway, then I'd be doing some good for at least a few people.
I readily accept that your heart is in the right place and I also accept that some kind of international agreement on at least some shell species is probably well overdue. Perhaps you are already an effective activist in this respect, is so congratulations and I wish you success.
You have no idea whatsoever about my background, but I have been actively involved in a variety of public and/or political campaigns on issues as varied as the environment, human rights, anti-nuclear, retention of heritage buildings, opposing inappropriate developments, and the banning in Western Australia of tobacco advertising.
I agree with you, "Morality is a personal thing, you know".