Hi Keith,
I apologize for hyperbole in using terms like "the least of the
problems," but to be more accurate, my point is still that I have
met biofuels folks who have made enthusiastic friendships with
factory farmers as though waste and fuel were the only issues, not
the horrific treatment of living beings.
Did you read my whole reply to you? Including the last paragraph?
One reason that I posted this here is that we keep having these
band-aid allegedly new-tech industrial "solutions" offered (eg with
turkey wastes) that will turn the wastes into energy, hey,
"solving" the whole problem so we can all ride off into the sunset
and everyone lives happily ever after (except the turkeys). Then
some list member enthuses over its being wondrously environmental,
and some of them have been completely baffled when I've said
there's more to it than that. You see the problem.
There's more to it than "the horrific treatment of living beings" too
- or at least the living beings being factory farmed aren't
necessarily the only ones being horrifically treated.
It hurts to see that, much like it would if we were involved in this
field during the ninetheenth century and formed affectionate
relationships with slaveholders who were a good source of cottonseed
oil. The people may indeed be nice individuals, but they are
involved in a significant social evil that we must not turn a blind
eye to.
Indeed not, but it's hardly the only significant social evil involved
in fuels and biofuels issues, or in food and fuel issues.
That was all I was trying to get across. I love and respect animals
for the same exact reasons I want to use and support biofuels. How
can the two be separated?
Would you use biodiesel or WVO containing lard or tallow or chickenfat?
Actually I don't see abusing animals as much different to abusing
anything else, whether it's plants and trees, soil, air, water, other
humans, or any other part of the biosphere - hubris in general, and
indeed very much to do with supporting biofuels.
Best wishes
Keith
Bo
From: Keith Addison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [Biofuel] Cleaning Up Factory Farms
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 14:51:56 +0900
Hello Bo
Please friends, let's realize the problem with factory farms is
factory farming -- not the discharge of wastes.
Nope - both are problems, and they're not the only ones. Of course
without the factory farms the waste problem wouldn't exist, but the
waste problem is nonetheless a useful approach, for raising
awareness and for bringing pressure to bear.
There is no stretch of the imagination that can condone the
torture, cruelty and insanity of raising "food" in that way.
I fully agree.
Ever been inside one?
Yup.
Please don't even respond to this e-mail unless you have, or at
least have seen truthful film footage of how animals are raised
and treated. I'd like to think that anyone interested in biofuels
would be absolutely opposed to factory farming.
Absolutely - and if not why not.
The wastes are the least of the problems, in my view.
The wastes are a severe problem in their own right. It's all a
problem. There's nothing good about any aspect of it.
You will, I believe, find previous posts on many or most of the
other problems associated with factory farming in the list
archives. That includes for instance how the feed is produced, a
whole other nightmare, the effects of which are global, with some
horrendous results.
One reason that I posted this here is that we keep having these
band-aid allegedly new-tech industrial "solutions" offered (eg with
turkey wastes) that will turn the wastes into energy, hey,
"solving" the whole problem so we can all ride off into the sunset
and everyone lives happily ever after (except the turkeys). Then
some list member enthuses over its being wondrously environmental,
and some of them have been completely baffled when I've said
there's more to it than that. You see the problem.
Best wishes
Keith
Bo Lozoff
From: Keith Addison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Biofuel] Cleaning Up Factory Farms
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 05:24:15 +0900
http://www.alternet.org/story/21391
Cleaning Up Factory Farms
<snip>
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