The Daily Tar Heel
URL: http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2011/03/animal_cruelty_on_factory_farms_an_important_issue
Current Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 03:33:06 -0400
Animal cruelty on factory farms an important issue
| 
Tools
Possibly Related
- Everything in moderation: Have a better outlook this swimsuit season MAY 22
- The things that counted MAY 22
- A lack of transparency: Administrative silence sends a loud, negative message. MAY 21
- A man without a party: To compete in the fall, Democrats must force David Parker out MAY 16
- Repeal Amendment One: An amendment that violates equality for all cannot stand MAY 16
TO THE EDITOR:
Many thanks to The Daily Tar Heel for last Friday’s brilliant editorial cartoon, “Pork: the fine print,” which calls attention to the horrific treatment of animals on factory farms. As terrible as these places are for animals, the simple truth is that factory farming endangers us all.
We need influential institutions like the DTH to help raise awareness about these threats, and to encourage improvement.
The cartoon spotlights the awful practices of Smithfield Foods. This is fitting because Smithfield — the world’s largest producer of pork — has a massive presence in North Carolina. Here and elsewhere, Smithfield is doing tremendous harm to pigs, to people, and to our environment. And while we bear these costs, Smithfield is reporting record profits.
These topics are zestfully addressed in the summer reading selection, “Eating Animals,” as well as in the new documentary film “Pig Business” and the Oscar-nominated “Food Inc.”
Each member of the University community can join the growing number of us who are facing up to the facts and saying, “Enough!”
Each of us can contribute to the creation of food systems that are more just, humane, and environmentally sustainable. Thanks for doing what you can to help.
Loren Hart
Class of ’00
Online Poll:
Do you think fracking can be done safely?
9 comments
Thanks to the DTH for publishing my letter! And thanks to Jamie Berger for creating the awesome cartoon! “Pork: The Fine Print” can be seen using this link .
For anyone who is interested, Jonathan Safran Foer discusses “Eating Animals” in this talk, part of the “Authors@Google” series. Here is the link .
A summary of Smithfield’s record profits can be viewed using this “link”: http://www.feedstuffs.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=F4D1A9DFCD974EAD8CD5205E15C1CB42&nm=Daily News&type=news&mod=News&mid=A3D60400B4204079A76C4B1B129CB433&tier=3&nid=530B025A1D294B1CB480F86EDA0C4283.
Woops! For the summary of Smithfield’s record profits, try this link .
The documentary film Pig Business exposes the many hidden costs associated with Smithfield’s pork production. The whole film can be viewed at this link . Pig Business had its U.S. premier recently on Capitol Hill. This screening included a discussion featuring the film’s director Tracy Worcester, U.S. Congressperson Dennis Kucinich (D – OH), Robert Kennedy, Jr. from the Waterkeeper Alliance, and Dr. Michael Greger from the Humane Society of the United States. You can see the video of this informative and inspiring discussion using this link .
Earlier this year, the Humane Society of the United States released video from an undercover investigation at a Smithfield farm in Virginia showing the inhumane treatment and systemic abuse of pigs. New York Times food writer Mark Bittman reported on this investigation and called for a boycott of Smithfield. You can see the Bittman article using this link .
The Oscar-nominated documentary film Food Inc.. shows how Smithfield abuses workers at it’s enormous North Carolina slaughter facility, and why industrial animal agriculture, in general, must be stopped. You can watch the whole film using this link .
Instead of yelling “Enough,” I think I’ll just ask if you could please pass the bacon.
This is awesome! Thanks to the DTH the cartoon and for Loren’s letter. I am delighted to see that the university is taking factory farming seriously and passing on the information to the students. I’m excited for the change in our society!
Thanks Loren and DTH – I couldn’t agree more. I think as a community we really should start reducing the amount of meat we eat, educate ourselves about where our meat really comes from, and start being more concerned with our long term health (not to mention the health of the planet).
Anyone care to write an article on which farms/factories ARE ok to buy from?
I understand that many farms or food processing plants are unjust and inhumane, but I choose not to educate myself on which ones to avoid. The main reason for this: I’d rather not subject myself to graphic images/descriptions that will be forever burned into my memory.
Sometimes those “save the animal” entities ruin a good opportunity to educate because they go overboard with the graphic images. People like me will change the channel rather than stay tuned.
To “Alternatives?”
I’m the editorial cartoonist who did last Friday’s bacon cartoon. I would LOVE to write an article on which farms/stores we should buy from, and will definitely look into that!
I understand that a lot of people are turned off by graphic and disturbing images of animals on factory farms, which is why I chose not to portray those (directly) in my cartoon. However, although you may think ignorance is bliss, the truth is that if we could visit the inside of factory farms and see the abuses that occur, very few of us would be okay with eating meat from those places afterwards.
But there’s a really good side to all of this. We are lucky in that there are SO many family-owned, smaller, sustainable farms that produce humanely-raised meat in this area. Once you start asking the all-important question “where does my food come from?” you’ll realize that it’s much easier to eat locally, humanely, and sustainably than you thought. A great place to start is at your local farmers’ market.
I’ll get on writing that editorial/letter to the editor with more information ASAP!
Thanks Loren and everyone else for helping to raise awareness about factory farming. It is a huge issue, especially in NC, and certainly affects us all.
Alright, consider the choir sufficiently preached to.
Join the discussion
You Should Know
The Daily Tar Heel reserves the right to remove any comment deemed racially derogatory, inflammatory, or spammatory. Repeat offenders may have their IP address banned from posting future comments. Please be nice.
If this is the first time you've commented, your comment won't appear until you've verified your email address.
Formatting Options:
- Links: "my link":http://my.url.com
- Bold: *something!*
- Italic: _OMG!_
Serving UNC students and the community since 1893
© 2012 DTH Publishing Corp. All rights reserved.
Flag this comment