<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for A frustrated resident speaks out]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by vikker http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/ Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:24:04 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/1 Ron Paul

Wait, according to Ron Paul this woman shouldn't be having these problems!!!

]]> Ron Paul

Wait, according to Ron Paul this woman shouldn't be having these problems!!!

]]> Comment #2 by amc89 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/ Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:14:41 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/2 Pretty infuriating

Thanks for sharing. I hope everybody who is still eating factory farmed animal products would stop and think about what it would be like to be in this person's situation. This letter, and the recent NY Times article on slaughterhouse workers at a Smithfield plant in North Carolina (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/us/12smithfield.html ), illustrate perfectly how factory farming is both a human rights issue as well as an animal and environmental protection issue.

]]> Pretty infuriating

Thanks for sharing. I hope everybody who is still eating factory farmed animal products would stop and think about what it would be like to be in this person's situation. This letter, and the recent NY Times article on slaughterhouse workers at a Smithfield plant in North Carolina (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/us/12smithfield.html ), illustrate perfectly how factory farming is both a human rights issue as well as an animal and environmental protection issue.

]]> Comment #3 by mrLee http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/ Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:13:28 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/3 Disturbing

I really feel bad for this person, I also feel better about going vegetarian........

]]> Disturbing

I really feel bad for this person, I also feel better about going vegetarian........

]]> Comment #4 by mtvyfan http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/ Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:36:10 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/4 Not surprising

I have been involved in the organic and sustainable agriculture movement for over 12 years now and this is not a big surprise. What is a surprise is that so many people don't have the information about factory farming/ranching or have their head so buried in the sand about what they can't do to fix it, that it has become the American mantra.

Currently, I work as a bookkeeper for the only organically certified supermarket in Montana. I vote with my dollar on these issues. People often complain about the expense of organically-certified meat, vegetables, etc., but that is the only way to fight this type of abuse to these animals.

Unfortuately, the USDA has screwed up with the organic certification program as I knew they would once they started it. They are now involved in a class-action lawsuit along with Aurora Dairy because they have allegedly been fraudently using the USDA organic label for factory farmed milk products, which goes against the organic certification policy. Check out The Cornicopia Institute's website at http://www.cornucopia.org for more details about this important lawsuit. This may be the first step in removing factory farming from agriculture.

]]> Not surprising

I have been involved in the organic and sustainable agriculture movement for over 12 years now and this is not a big surprise. What is a surprise is that so many people don't have the information about factory farming/ranching or have their head so buried in the sand about what they can't do to fix it, that it has become the American mantra.

Currently, I work as a bookkeeper for the only organically certified supermarket in Montana. I vote with my dollar on these issues. People often complain about the expense of organically-certified meat, vegetables, etc., but that is the only way to fight this type of abuse to these animals.

Unfortuately, the USDA has screwed up with the organic certification program as I knew they would once they started it. They are now involved in a class-action lawsuit along with Aurora Dairy because they have allegedly been fraudently using the USDA organic label for factory farmed milk products, which goes against the organic certification policy. Check out The Cornicopia Institute's website at http://www.cornucopia.org for more details about this important lawsuit. This may be the first step in removing factory farming from agriculture.

]]> Comment #5 by CottonTop http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/ Thu, 18 Oct 2007 07:28:52 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/5 what you can do

One thing folks can do about this problem is to join Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, the only organization in Iowa that is willing to confront Big  Ag head on and demand accountability from our legislators that are allowing our formerly heavenly rural landscapes to be used as a dumping ground for thousands upon thousands of gallons of hog manure, such that our air sickens us, our water is some of the dirtiest in the nation and the antibiotics that are a staple in the animals' diets are fostering the development of super-germs that threaten us all. Go to http://www.iowacci.org and sign up. We need you.

]]> what you can do

One thing folks can do about this problem is to join Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, the only organization in Iowa that is willing to confront Big  Ag head on and demand accountability from our legislators that are allowing our formerly heavenly rural landscapes to be used as a dumping ground for thousands upon thousands of gallons of hog manure, such that our air sickens us, our water is some of the dirtiest in the nation and the antibiotics that are a staple in the animals' diets are fostering the development of super-germs that threaten us all. Go to http://www.iowacci.org and sign up. We need you.

]]> Comment #6 by eriqa http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/ Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:05:07 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/6 It's primary season

the one time Iowans have more power than anyone else.  Is there any way to talk about this during the candidate debates/meet'n'greets/straw polls and so forth, or is it seen as too "small" an issue?

]]> It's primary season

the one time Iowans have more power than anyone else.  Is there any way to talk about this during the candidate debates/meet'n'greets/straw polls and so forth, or is it seen as too "small" an issue?

]]> Comment #7 by mtaddy http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/ Sat, 20 Oct 2007 06:32:07 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/7 Second Class Citizens in Iowa

My sympathy to the people trying to fight any CAFO.  I'm from WI and I know that I am a second class citizen if I am not a cow.  HOLY COW really does exist and is doing quite well at our expense.  We are losing our clean well water and clean air.  We are also losing the choice of being able to buy any food that is not GM product.  Most of the meat in a regular market comes from a CAFO.  The health and welfare of our children and grandchildren is at risk.  Never give up trying to change this picture.  A group formed in our area did stop a CAFO.  It did cost countless hours, two years, and thousands of dollars; but we did it.  I thank God every day when I can look ourside and not see/smell thousands of cattle living in an inhumane environment.  The task to stop CAFOS is becoming harder every day, but more and more people are  becoming aware of the dangers ahead.  We need to join together to become first class citiznes once again.
                                  Mary Ann Taddy


]]> Second Class Citizens in Iowa

My sympathy to the people trying to fight any CAFO.  I'm from WI and I know that I am a second class citizen if I am not a cow.  HOLY COW really does exist and is doing quite well at our expense.  We are losing our clean well water and clean air.  We are also losing the choice of being able to buy any food that is not GM product.  Most of the meat in a regular market comes from a CAFO.  The health and welfare of our children and grandchildren is at risk.  Never give up trying to change this picture.  A group formed in our area did stop a CAFO.  It did cost countless hours, two years, and thousands of dollars; but we did it.  I thank God every day when I can look ourside and not see/smell thousands of cattle living in an inhumane environment.  The task to stop CAFOS is becoming harder every day, but more and more people are  becoming aware of the dangers ahead.  We need to join together to become first class citiznes once again.
                                  Mary Ann Taddy


]]> Comment #8 by danielbell http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/ Wed, 24 Oct 2007 07:02:07 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/8 The Iowa Climate Caucus

I grew up in Iowa, and would like to invite any Iowans here to the Iowa Climate Caucus in Iowa City on November 3rd at 3:30 on the Old Capitol building.  Part of the Step It Up national day of climate action.
We have to change our agricultural practices in response to climate change. In doing so we will respect other's property, people's right to health, and children's right to normal development.
Sadly, we have no political leadership on this issue. Yet, the theme of Step It Up is:  Who's A Leader?

]]> The Iowa Climate Caucus

I grew up in Iowa, and would like to invite any Iowans here to the Iowa Climate Caucus in Iowa City on November 3rd at 3:30 on the Old Capitol building.  Part of the Step It Up national day of climate action.
We have to change our agricultural practices in response to climate change. In doing so we will respect other's property, people's right to health, and children's right to normal development.
Sadly, we have no political leadership on this issue. Yet, the theme of Step It Up is:  Who's A Leader?

]]> Comment #9 by misskei http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/ Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:05:44 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/9 CAFOs aren't the only problem

Being a vegetarian isn't quite the answer to all that ails us. There's all that conventional agriculture fouling up the environment, too, as this article makes abundantly clear: http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/10/16/mississippi/index ...

]]> CAFOs aren't the only problem

Being a vegetarian isn't quite the answer to all that ails us. There's all that conventional agriculture fouling up the environment, too, as this article makes abundantly clear: http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/10/16/mississippi/index ...

]]> Comment #10 by RuralIllinois http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/ Fri, 26 Oct 2007 06:20:23 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/CAFO_letter/10 CAFO's, CAFO's everywhere.

I sympathize with anyone who lives near a CAFO. My husband and I live in rural Illinois in a home we built in 2002. In 2006, a mega-farm hog confinement (17,000 animals) was built a little over 1/2 mile from our home. Since, we have seen large piles of dead, bloated sows lying in the July sun that were heaped outside the confinement. We smell it 40 to 50% of the time - sometimes so bad we've put towels under the doors to keep it out of the house. Most people in this country have no idea this is going on, where their meat comes from, how it's raised and fed and the huge amount of antibiotics it's given.

As far as being a second class citizen - I don't even feel that important. More like a throw-away citizen. Our property doesn't matter, our lives don't matter, our health doesn't matter - nothing does except big business. The thought of eating pork  - well, I just don't anymore. Everytime I smell pork cooking it smells like the confinement and is nauseating. I refuse to buy anything that comes from factory farming. I will not put any of my money in their pockets.

I won't give up fighting them, though. I realize how rough it is and how frustrating it is and that sometimes it gets so stressful you have to take a step back. But, if enough people get involved and continue to stay involved - something will change. If we don't, they will just continue to build more in more states and ruin more lives, environment, health and property.

Central Illinois

]]> CAFO's, CAFO's everywhere.

I sympathize with anyone who lives near a CAFO. My husband and I live in rural Illinois in a home we built in 2002. In 2006, a mega-farm hog confinement (17,000 animals) was built a little over 1/2 mile from our home. Since, we have seen large piles of dead, bloated sows lying in the July sun that were heaped outside the confinement. We smell it 40 to 50% of the time - sometimes so bad we've put towels under the doors to keep it out of the house. Most people in this country have no idea this is going on, where their meat comes from, how it's raised and fed and the huge amount of antibiotics it's given.

As far as being a second class citizen - I don't even feel that important. More like a throw-away citizen. Our property doesn't matter, our lives don't matter, our health doesn't matter - nothing does except big business. The thought of eating pork  - well, I just don't anymore. Everytime I smell pork cooking it smells like the confinement and is nauseating. I refuse to buy anything that comes from factory farming. I will not put any of my money in their pockets.

I won't give up fighting them, though. I realize how rough it is and how frustrating it is and that sometimes it gets so stressful you have to take a step back. But, if enough people get involved and continue to stay involved - something will change. If we don't, they will just continue to build more in more states and ruin more lives, environment, health and property.

Central Illinois

]]>