Industrial animal farms: cruelty that kills us, too

Nicholas Kristof writes a disturbing column (part one of two, the other due Sunday) on industrial pig farming in Indiana and the way such abusive farming practices are making communities around them sick.
Just another reason why the efficiency of the market driven by consumer desire for the low price create food production systems that are bad for everyone, not to mention dishonoring the creator who asked us to 'till and keep' the land'.  Hmm.  It seems that if we want to care for animals, we have to find means to honor and reward farmers for doing so, which honors and rewards their deepest instincts to about the land and the animals they raise.   Here's a resource for congregations from a cool organization called Earth Ministry.

Comments

[Mary Hess]

This is a crucial issue here in Minnesota, and it becomes entwined with all sorts of other issues, too -- like immigration (because many of our immigrant communities survive on work they do in agricultural "factories"). I was particularly sad this year when EL3530 didnt' "make" as a course, because one of the things we do in that class is travel to southwestern Minnesota and spend two days with farmers -- both agribusiness, and small family business -- along side of the pastoral leaders who minister with and to them. I hope you'll help us find more students for that class next spring!