Why You Should Take the Side of Veganism

The movie 'The Meatrix” shows the horrific reality of livestock suffering from the reckless expansion of factory farming by corporations, which suggests that not only humans but the entire community is harmed. While watching the movie 'The Meatrix”, I considered three big issues about factory farms: First, unethical and cruel breeding of livestock in factory farms. Second, poor process and sanitation of meat and animal products. Third, the effects of factory farms on humans, communities and environment and solutions to create a better environment.

I thought this was a well-made animated film that not only criticize the practice of factory farms, but also give directions to how our society should improve on this issue. In contrast to just reading newspapers and articles, it was very effective in terms of conveying the seriousness of the issue. In particular, I thought it was quite shocking that livestock were raised and slaughtered in a cruel way from birth until they ceased their lives in a confined space.

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As factory farms are still actively running, our society should need to find a way to end these atrocious deeds.

A factory farm is an industrialized farm that raises animals only for the production of meat and animal products. Factory farming is a way to drive and raise as many livestock as possible in a limited space, producing the maximum amount of meat at the minimum cost for modern mass production and consumption. Just as factories mass-produce products of the same standard, the system is used to raise livestock in a standardized way that reduces costs to a maximum extent and to provide meat at a low price.

These factory farms have become widespread due to technological advances. Gerhard Lenski, one of the famous American sociologists, views that societies and cultures have developed with technological advances. In the preindustrial society, humans procured their livelihood mainly through hunting and gathering but also with some relatively small agriculture. With the industrial revolution that began in the middle of the 18th century, however, the brilliant development of science has brought about enormous changes in the livestock industry as well. Factory farms were able to generate maximum profits while spending less labor and less time, which has spread around the world and become the most popular source of meat today. This is in line with Lenski's sociocultural theory in that technological advances are the biggest driving force to reverse society and culture.

Industrial farming, or commonly referred to as factory farming, has many disastrous consequences for the environment. For instance, “These assembly-line meat factories consume enormous amounts of energy, pollute water supplies, generate significant greenhouse gases and require ever-increasing amounts of corn, soy and other grains, a dependency that has led to the destruction of vast swaths of the world’s tropical rain forests” (Bittman, 2008). Not only have factory farms creates serious environmental concerns, but they have also poses serious threats to the well-being of human societies as well. Residents living in areas around the factory complain of severe physical and mental pain. In fact, “Studies have discovered an increase in respiratory, neurobehavioral, and mental illnesses among the residents of communities next to factory farms. In a major study, residents in the vicinity of a large pig farm were found to have ‘higher reporting of headaches, runny noses, sore throats, excessive coughing, diarrhea, and burning eyes’” ('Farm Sanctuary', n.d.). Especially, abuse of antibiotics poses a great threat to humans. Antibiotics have excellent curative effects, but they have also been welcomed by farmers as they promote growth. These overused antibiotics cause resistance bacteria, which could spread to humans, including animals, as an incurable infection, posing a threat to human health, including farm workers. For example, “Antibiotic resistant infections kill 90,000 Americans every year” ('Farm Sanctuary', n.d.).

From a humanitarian point of view, being a vegetarian is probably the best way for both animals and people. As interest in well-being has increased in modern society, the benefits of vegetarian diets have also been known. However, being vegetarian does not guarantee health unconditionally. For example, children and elderly may not benefit from a vegetarian diet because of an imbalance of nutrients. Above all, it is important to know whether you are a vegetarian or not. Not everyone is fit for a vegetarian diet. If people who are not fit for a vegetarian diet do not eat any meat, they are more likely to get the disease. We should consume meat products that have been slaughtered in a reliable way, while reducing the consumption of meat as much as possible. Measures need to be taken at the government level to improve the environment of factory farms as well. There needs to be a way to inform consumers of how their livestock is raised. Even if you're not a vegetarian, I think it's the least obligation to reduce the amount of meat you eat, to buy meat and eggs produced in a sustainable way, to give you the right to feel happiness and freedom even a little bit while you're alive by improving the way you raise livestock and the environment in a humane way.

References

1. Bittman, M. (2008). Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html?_r=0
2. Factory Farming’s Effect on Rural Communities. Retrieved from https://www.farmsanctuary.org/learn/factory-farming/factory-farmings-effect-on-rural-communities/
3. Factory Farming and Human Health. Retrieved from https://www.farmsanctuary.org/learn/factory-farming/factory-farming-and-human-health/