World Changing Post #5

Alyssa Olson

World Changing Response #5

Eating Better Meat & Fish

This section about eating better meat and fish begins by discussing the current meat and fish practices in our country. Majority of our meat, unless otherwise stated, comes from large ranches that slaughter thousands and thousands of cows. They live in overcrowded conditions, which helps in the spread of disease and filth. Fish are usually raised in large fish farms that are very similar to the conditions of cattle ranches, although instead of destroying the land they are destroying the ocean. These oversized ways of producing our meat lead to air and water pollution, the over-use of fossil fuels and the removal of our forests.

Fortunately many places are striving to change this and to produce healthier animals, which make for better and healthier meat. They also are trying to have more humane and sanitary living conditions on the farms. Some farms are adopting a new form of fuel that comes from the feces of cows. The farmers collect the manure and put it into a machine, which breaks down the solids into acids, which eventually turn into biogas. When this gas is burned it produces fuel that can be used to run farming equipment and other machines which helps lower the use of fossil fuels. This also produces a manure-like substance that is actually better for the land than regular manure.

When it comes to the fishing industry we are making large strides to regulate the farming of fish, which will result in better quality fish and the slow decline in the destruction of our oceans. New standards regulate the amount of fish that can be caught and also help make sure that other forms of ocean life are not harmed in the process of catching fish. Currently a large number of species of fish are borderline endangered so if we don’t regulate this quickly we made make them go extinct.

This article ties in a lot with the discussions we have been having in lecture about food production and consumption. The current ways of farming fish and cattle is very destructive to our environment and if we continue on this path we may wipe our entire species of fish. I personally don’t eat much meat but when I do I am very cautious about where the meat comes from. At my job all the meat we use is farm raised and usually organic so I know exactly where the animal was raised and in what conditions. I also try to eat mostly grass-fed beef, which I find to have a better taste and I also feel more comfortable knowing that the cow was able to live a relatively normal life in pasture, grazing, and having room to roam.