It Stinks!

Pig With Boots--Ethan Bloch

Could you seriously condemn this pig to a life of torture? It's even wearing tiny green rain boots.

After reading more of Jonathan Safran Foer’s book Eating Animals, I’ve got more bad news. Say goodbye to any more peace of mind when it comes to eating bacon, pork chops, ham sandwiches, and pulled pork because this next revelation reveals the nastiness of pigs raised in factory farms.

Smithfield is the largest pork processor in the nation. Each year it kills 31 million oinkers for food. To put that in context, imagine adding up all the humans in LA, NYC, Chicago, Phoenix, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Antonio, San Jose, Dallas, Jacksonville, Detroit, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Fort Worth, Austin, Memphis, and Columbus. That’s how many people it takes to have 31 million people. I think you get the point, Smithfield kills a whole lotta pigs.

So what is life like for Wilbur and his ilk? Terrible, in one word. In two words, really terrible.

Foer writes that pregnant sows have to live in gestation crates. These small confines do not allow for the sow to turn around. They end up leading to a decrease in bone density. They prompt the development of sores on the body of the pigs. The pigs live in their waste. They sometimes go insane and drink their urine, incessantly drink water, or munch of the bars of their torture chambers, I mean, crates.

While these gestation crates are being outlawed in places like California, Florida, and Arizona, sows live just as poorly once they give birth.

The pregnant sows are put in farrowing crates which are similar to the gestation crates and are some time held down against the floor of the crates so that they won’t crush the piglets. The piglets themselves are deformed and 9-15% die by the time they start being fed solid food (but hey, 100% of them die sooner or later. Maybe these are the luck ones). The runts of the litter are picked out and have their heads smashed against the floor in a process called “thumping.” Can’t waste food and antibiotics on small pigs is the logic there. By the time the pigs get ready for the big dance (slaughter, that is) 30%-70% have respiratory infections due to their own toxic waste, the large number of pigs with compromised health and immune systems, and the poor factory environment. This of course prompts disease and pandemics amongst pig and possibly human populations.

Now lets talk about how pig farms harm humans. The waste that comes from the floors of the factory farms is held in large retaining ponds. To get rid of the waste, the factories make feces fountains (it does have a ring to it) and shoot it into the air so that it can escape to nearby neighborhoods. Foer shares that this can cause “severe neurological damage” not to mention nosebleeds, chronic diarrhea, burning lungs, and ear aches. There is also suspicion between MRSA (a flesh eating bacteria) and folks who have the misfortune of living near pig farms.

Then there is the environment. Smithfield was on the receiving end of 7,000 violations of the Clean Water Act in 1997 which cost the company $12.6 million. Now Smithfield rakes in $12.6 million dollars just about twice a day (really every ten hours).

Consider this the next time you purchase factory farmed flesh.

Shockley

Natalie Portman Inspired by "Eating Animals"

Face it.  We all know and love the young, beautiful and talented Natalie Portman.  Along with being the most attractive individual on the planet, she also is a devoted vegetarian.  But the question rises... Why?  Why would someone like Natalie Portman make the switch to vegetarianism?  Well, the answer has been found in a single book.  This book happens to be "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer- the very book that our group was assigned to read.

Now, I will admit.  I have slacked off some, and found myself lacking the motivation to read this long, long novel.  But I have found inspiration while not even searching for any.  If someone such as Natalie Portman could be affected by this book, then maybe I will be too.  

Read the article here!

Portman says, "... this book reminded me that some things are just wrong. Perhaps others disagree with me that animals have personalities, but the highly documented torture of animals is unacceptable, and the human cost Foer describes in his book, of which I was previously unaware, is universally compelling." 

I have always loved and admired Natalie, and here is just another reason why she remains my favorite.  


- Payton Collier

Japanese Tsunami Animal Rescue Efforts

 
As the Japanese people are recovering after the 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami that wrecked the country last Fri-e-day, much of the world's concern has been directed towards the relief of those people whose lives were directly affected. However, certain organizations (ex. PETA, American Humane Association) are focusing on the forgotten citizens of Japan, the animals. Donations are being accepted almost everywhere (see below), and would be greatly appreciated.


Donations: American Humane Society

-Zach

Other Links Available Here: Lend a Helping Paw to the Tsunami Animal Rescue Efforts

Springer Mountain Farms Chicken

Off season for wrestlers means its time get big. Making up for the 5 months of harsh, restrictive dieting by lifting weights and training 6 days a week to rebuild what was lost during the grueling season. to stay fueled up and full I eat tons of chicken, and before we started this unit for class i didnt give the quality of the meat much thought at all. But recently I started seeing adds for Springer Mountain Farms Chicken. Springer Moutnain is the most humanely operated chicken farm in the U.S., if not the universe. As their website states: "We are the only poultry company in the world to be American Humane Certified by the American Humane Association." I thought this was awesome so I decided to give their chicken a try. I've already finished a pack of their chicken breasts this week, and I have to say thats some damn good chicken. Hers the link to their website if you want to check it out. http://www.springermountainfarms.com/

Factory Farms vs. Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary Chickens
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lksinnj/5456909079/sizes/s/in/photostream/

  

Ever wanted know all the dirty facts about a factory farmed animal in comparison to one that is cared for at the Farm Sanctuary? This website gives you a virtual tour of the behind-the-scenes footage of factory farmed animals and ones at Farm Sanctuary. Learn about the lives of animals such as Echo and Faye, who were once factory farmed animals, but have since been saved by the humane people of Farm Sanctuary and their faithful supporters.

This tour does take a while (I haven't even finished it yet), but I highly encourage you to look through it, even if it's only for 10 minutes. It provides some great information about Farm Sanctuary and how well-treated the animals are there. This website also offers some quality information on the issues of factory farming and how to get involved. Check it out!

-Jennifer Rochefort

R. Thomas Deluxe Grill: An Organic Atlanta Trademark

Trying to eat healthy?  Looking for organic food that doesn't take similar to cardboard?  Well take a gander at this all organic restaurant.   R. Thomas Deluxe Grill was founded in 1985 by Mr. Richard Thomas, and opened the restaurant as a way to promote organic food options.  Passionate about gardening, Thomas primarily fed his garden harmful pesticides to ensure maximum growth and minimum pests, but he then began to realize the harmful effects of the artificial substances.

Thomas believes that food should be medicine, and that many people just view food as a sort of entertainment.  Along with this believe, he treats both carnivores and vegetarians with equal respect.  He is very passionate about using only the finest and healthiest of ingredients, thinking that food should be beneficial to your body.  He runs the store himself, tends the garden, and always makes sure to provide customers with a happy environment at his grill.  

"We decided to expand our horizons and offer a broad variety. "We treat carnivores and vegetarians with equal respect" says R, but it is more than just that. High quality ingredients:cold pressed organic oils for cooking and dressings, fresh produce, homegrown herbs from our garden, organic grains, ocean vegetables, free range chicken, natural range beef &organic salmon, powerful super foods like kefir and raw cultured vegetables are the corner stones of a menu that honors everyones food choices."

- R. Thomas

Want to learn more about R. Thomas Deluxe Grill?  Check out the website!  The grill is located on Peach Street in the heart of Atlanta.  It is a genuine place run by genuine people.  

- Payton Collier

Animal Welfare Institute

Known as the AWI, the Animal Welfare Institute was founded in 1951 to decrease the cruelty of animals by people. At first, the AWI mainly focused their attention on animals used for experimentation. Today, however, the AWI has widened its boundaries and deals with other aspects of animal welfare, such as factory farming, the pollution of oceans, and the cutting down of forests.

To learn more about all the aspects of the AWI (even their blog), visit this website.

-Jennifer Rochefort