The CAFO Reader: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories

7-19-2010 @7:05PM D said... I am an advocate of locally farmed and raised livestock products. And I am also an advocate of animal rights, even though I like meat too. As a grandchild and child of ranchers and farmers, I know all too well about the workings of the industry, at least from the persective back in the 60s and 70s. What I feel we all have gotten away from is family meals and cooking only what we really need. However, due to high demands of fast food and restaurants alike, slaughter houses across America and abroad have steadily been trying to keep up. In doing so, many have had to resort to groath hormones, antibiotics, chemically enhanced feeds, etc. And sadly, much animal products on refridgerated shelfs now go to waste more often.

I know this may sound crazy, but have you ever thanked god for the meal you were about to eat, when so many around the world have so little. I'm not trying to preach to you, but just think about it for a moment. Additionally, have you ever thought about saying a little thanks to the animal you were about to eat, just say this and with sincerety, you tasted good and I want you to know that the part of you I got to enjoy was great. Your life was not in vain. And I promise to make an effort to eat a little less meat so that fewer of your kind will not be slaughtered. This goes for all animals too.

Have you ever saw a happy free-range cow or chicken? They're so much more livelier and generally more healthier too.

Anyway, I wrote this for another article below earlier, but I believe it will work here too.

If you want to make a difference, buy locally grown and raised food. Additionally, do not buy farm raised fish. These fish are genereally more prone to disease and infection. Additionally, most farm raised shrimp from Malaysia and Asia are farmed raised, and there's little to no regulations on the quality of those foods.

And of course, thanks to BPs brilliant environmental disaster, and lack of foresight, we'll need to all pitch in and help to clean up their mess. Thier mistake is no different than that of Enron, or any other major corporation that causes financial, as well and environmental, hardship to so many people; those that depend upon making a living fishing the Gulf. BP needs to really step up their act. It is not OK that they did not have a back up plan for such a disaster. This was always and possibility, and it finally happened to BP.

Make sure to buy only from suppliers that you can trust. Not sure who, learn what to ask for, then ask them. And most importantly, make sure to only buy foods that are free from Growth Hormones. Believe it or not, genetically modified foods are very common in grocery stores, and many of these are vegetables that are locally grown. Demand that there are no GMOs in your foods.

But the danger does not end there. You also need to be concerned about canned and bottled food products that contain Bisphenol A (BPA). While the verdict is not completely in, it is believed that these are a leading cause of many disabilities and certain cancers. Better safe than sorry, it is probably best to demand the removal of BPAs until we know for sure.

Bottom line, be more conscientious about what you buy, buy only what you really need, demand quality, and attempt to buy locally grown foods, except for foods that are not naturally native to our country, that is, at least from the last century or two such as bananas. The only exception of course would be to buy fresh Pineapples, Cane Sugar, and Papayas that come from Hawaii.

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9-08-2010 @8:27PM lin said... we have the safest most productive food system in the world. peta and hsus (only one of its many names) have one goal and that is the end of all animal agriculture, the end to the consumption of all animal products. they will use ANY means necessary to accomplish their vegan goal. these people do not care about animals-only their vegan agenda.
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