Red is auspicious. Red signifies prosperity, affluence, fortune and good omen. Even on special occasions, red is worn. Red is a symbol of good luck.

Red is not only just that.

It is the colour of the blood that runs from the shark when it is mutilated for its fins just so that you can have your prosperity drive to impress your business clients or your in-laws. It is the colour of the blood, days after the body of the shark is thrown back into the sea to be left to die a slow and painful death. The luck of this shark is certainly not good considering how much red it has bled.

Affluence can buy sharks’ fins and fortune can dictate your how much longer you can be affluent but calling for the mass mutilation and cruel killing of these sharks may never bring you that good omen that you need to remain affluent and influential. The more you eat sharks’ fins, the more red people perceive of you.

Is red auspicious then?