Whether carnivore or herbivore, we should all be concerned with the negative implications of our modern industrial food system. Factory farming is responsible for diverse and far spread destruction. For many people like myself, the only solution is to abstain from consuming all animal by-products; refusing to support an industry that has no remorse for its actions. Even if you are not able to sympathize with the animals involved, you should consider the effects industrial farming has on natural resources and public health.
Animals in factory farms live and die in terror. Even though laws have been passed to improve the conditions of these sentient beings, their treatment is far from from humane. A few states have recently passed laws to banish the cruel practice of keep pigs in gestation crates; confinements so small that they can not even turn around. It was also decided that battery cages will be outlawed in the European Union after 2012 and California will now follow suit in 2015 (Pacelle 2011). Chickens in these metal cages have their beaks cut off, are repeatedly starved, and do not even have enough room to stand up (Pacelle 2011). It has given me a sense of hope that people like the citizens of California are demanding that this cruel behavior be stopped. Factory farming not only neglects and tortures sentient beings, it also passes external costs and consequences onto people and the environment.
Animal waste releases toxins into our air and water including nitrates, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and dangerous gases (Natural Resources Defense Council 2005). Human health is at risk due to this constant pollution. Contaminated drinking water not only causes sedimentation, fish death and the over growth of algae, but also has effects such as blue baby syndrome (NRDC 2005). In the past disease outbreaks have also been linked to animal waste (NRDC 2005). Filthy conditions and overcrowding on farms have also made it easier for bacteria to enter the food supply. Clearly, many changes need to take place to restructure the food system.
Action groups have been struggling to successfully challenge policies regarding intensive livestock farming even though there is sufficient scientific evidence to support the threats of this practice. Unfortunately, many of the individuals in decision-making positions are past or present affiliates of the livestock industry, thus lacking the incentive to do what is right for the animals, the environment, and the people (Pacelle 2011). Strong opposition is necessary to weaken these massive operations.
The most far-reaching and effective method of undermining large-scale agricultural production is to adhere to a plant-based diet. Since not every individual will consider this as an option, it is important to make sure that we are making responsible decisions as consumers. I feel that some of the most important initiatives include: supporting legislation that will regulate the industry, holding corporations involved responsible for their actions ,and purchasing locally from responsible farmers. Spreading knowledge and creating awareness is integral since it is hard for many people to envision the actual costs and consequences of these confined operations on our society. I feel that every individual has a responsibility and the ability to minimize the future consequences of factory farming through their own personal choices.
Works cited:
“Pollution from Giant Livestock Farms Threatens Public Health.” NRDC.org. Natural Resources Defense Council, 15 July 2005. Web. Nov 4 2011.
Pacelle, Wayne. The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them. New York: HarperCollins, 2011. Print.
5 comments:
I agree that factory farming practices could be improved to put less stress on the animals. However, factory farming seems to be a necessary practice to feed the growing population of humans.
Since the world population has just reached 7 billion, I don't see how we can completly end factory farms. I believe supporting local farmers is the best option. Local farmers provide a higher quality product (depending on their practices of course.) The current economy will not help the situation. Most people do not want to spend extra money on food based on how the animal was raised.
For now factory farms are a necessary evil, much like foreign oil.
I agree that factory farming practices could be improved to put less stress on the animals. However, factory farming seems to be a necessary practice to feed the growing population of humans.
Since the world population has just reached 7 billion, I don't see how we can completly end factory farms. I believe supporting local farmers is the best option. Local farmers provide a higher quality product (depending on their practices of course.) The current economy will not help the situation. Most people do not want to spend extra money on food based on how the animal was raised.
For now factory farms are a necessary evil, much like foreign oil.
It is true, many individuals are in favor of cheap prices and convenience over keeping money in their own communities and ensuring best practices that result in humane, safe food production. When will they see the consequences?
I feel that the rise in antibiotic resistant strains and food-borne illnesses makes this issue more urgent than it appears. This is directly related to the treatment of animals since unsanitary and unhealthy conditions give rise to these hazards.
Yes, price tags may rise if we return to small-scale farming, but I feel that the action will be worth the benefits. The overall long-terms costs seem like they would be less than what is being paid now, considering the damages that industrial operations are inflicting on our health, environment, and economy. Also, food insecurity cannot improve until we start investing in community based food production.
I do believe that we can end factory farms with strong support and firm legislation. I think we need strong local businesses right now to build our local economies. We can put our food back in the hands of local, responsible farmers that are more likely to care about our safety and the welfare of their animals.
Many farmers have been destroyed by the competition, but many more are thriving on small-scale operations. More could do the same if they had the support.
Individual choices, I feel, make a big difference, especially with these kinds of issues.
I can agree that there are many issues with factory farming. I am not an extremist by any means but I do believe that we need to be sure that we are acting in an ethical manner when it comes to our farming practices. And the environmental price of not doing so is a no brainer.
Farming is a neccissary part of life in our society that we must have, and we need the most efficient ways of mass producing food. I wish we could transition back to small family farming, but in today's economic climate I don't forsee this happening. What we can do is ensure through regulation that these large farming operations are doing it in a way that is as ethical as possible and puts the least amount of strain on the environment as possible.
As for me, I choose to get my meat from local lockers that get their meat from local farmers. I think that the meat is much higher quality and it supports my local economy. Of course I also obtain meat through hunting. Hunting is as local as it gets and doesn't have any of the problems that you listed for factory farms. Rather than eating veggies only, you could try hunting. You could still eat meat, it is local, likely free of diseases once cooked, and in no way supports factory farming. Hunting has all the benifits of a vegan diet that you stated, and you can still eat meat.
Kyle,
If small farms received better support and were subsidized in lieu of large-scale “farms,” many more young people may be interested in owning agriculture. In fact, many young people in Wisconsin have been entering into family farming lately and have been successful. Community Supported Agriculture seems to be gaining popularity, at least in Wisconsin.
Yet, increasing regulation on industrial style “farms” to ensure conditions that increase humane treatment and reduce waste is likely the most plausible short-term solution. I do not see market dominance slipping in the near future.
As I mentioned, legislation has led to some improvements, even though the corporations running the operations thought they could fight restrictions. Yet, while some states have instituted stricter limits, not having federal standards means that “farms” can find another location where their practices are not in violation. Regulatory agencies do not always enforce the rules they are responsible for either. All of these current issues have made regulations less effective than they should be. With waste assimilation under increasing attack, I feel it is really important that stricter regulations are imposed and enforced as soon as possible.
I do not prefer the flavor of meat and enjoy eating only plant-based foods, but I respect your kind suggestions. Being a vegan is very empowering to me - the freedom and happiness I feel from not contributing towards factory farming or anything else that causes animals to suffer is something I would never rescind.
Yet, although I do not approve of animals being used by humans in any manner, I will not attack subsistence hunters for their actions. I understand that some people choose to eat meat and I feel that hunting for subsistence is significantly more humane than making purchases that contribute towards the abhorrence caused by factory farming.
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