For too long, sharks have been portrayed and perceived as the menacing, lurking creatures in the deep. Contrary to popular belief, we are much more of a threat to them than they are to us.
Researchers have found that the ominous music that often accompanies even documentary footage of them has inspired excessive fear about sharks.
In an experiment at UC San Diego, participants watched footage of sharks. Some scenes featured uplifting music, and others had a more daunting score.
The effect was what you might expect. Viewers saw sharks as intimidating creatures when they they also heard ominous music.
But with uplifting music (or none at all), viewers had a more positive impression of sharks.
This is problematic because rarely do we see shark footage without the ominous music, and the negativeportrayals of sharks may be hindering conservation efforts.
“We know from prior research that conservation progress for sharks is sluggish compared to marine mammals and that this slow response may be due in part to the societal marginalization of sharks,” says study co-author Elizabeth Keenan.
After all, in the words of Senegalese conservationist Baba Diou, “we will conserve only what we love.”
And while they’re still not exactly a furry, cuddly rabbit, consider this: you’re more likely to be struck by lightening than fall prey to a fatal shark attack.
PNAC wanted to achieve the following policy goals:
“To make the case and rally support for American global leadership.”
“To shape a new century favorable to American principles and interests.”
“A foreign policy that boldly and purposefully promotes American principles abroad.”
“Maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.”
“To increase defense spending significantly.”
“To strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values.”
“To promote the cause of political and economic freedom abroad.”
“To accept responsibility for America’s unique role in
preserving and extending an international order friendly to our
security, our prosperity, and our principles.”
“The problem, often not discovered until late in life, is that when you
look for things in life like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they
are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. The most successful people in
life recognize, that in life they create their own love, they
manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation. For
me, I am driven by two main philosophies, know more today about the
world than I knew yesterday. And lessen the suffering of others. You’d
be surprised how far that gets you.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson
