From Farm to Factories

Factory farms are responsible for a tremendous amount of environmental damages and although the concerns are significant, the controversy surrounding factory farms and activist strategies have rendered little change. While activists continue to fight for animal rights, the factory farms continue to fight for the stakeholder’s interests and the bottom line. This shows the power of persuasion and the abilities of those with the power to disseminate knowledge to the masses.

I personally wonder what the reaction of the public would be if on meat packages there were displays of the process the meat took to get there. Like on the cigarette packages, a display of negative deterring methods to prevent the purchase of factory farm meat products. When I went to apply this to my own life, I am exceptionally bad for not wanting to think of the meat I eat as a previously animal (nothing off the bone).

I found both the movies watched during Kira and Kelly’s presentation to contribute to my understanding of the factory farming process and demonstrate a way in which children and future generations can relate the environmental issues. I found the film by David Sazuki to have a dark truth to where our packaged meats come from. I never previously thought beyond the animal’s conditions to how it is also effecting the surrounding environment. I found this is also an issue that is taking over Southern Ontario with the expanding suburb and the decline of family farms. A family farm can no longer provide a sufficient income and thus will contribute to the factory farming industry in our area.

Environmental Health: Dandelions and Lawn Care

I found Susan’s presentation on the local fight against pesticides a refreshing look at a local issue. Throughout the course we have been focusing on larger global issue and this presentation brought it back home to consider how one person can truly step up, take action, and make a regional difference. While the toxins put onto things such as foods and lawns are making the ideal image, perfection in no part of the world is normal. These enhanced growths are creating a self depreciating cycle for humans; we grow them to improve ourselves, consume them either physically or visually, and suffer from the long-term effects of the toxins. This is demonstrated in the chemical bombs in Japan and the effect on the children in Susan’s neighbourhood. Anything that has such an affect on its products cannot be healthy for humans. I also loved about the presentation that Susan gave us a model for making a difference no matter the cause. I found she was not only promoting her cause but young people taking action and standing up for the issues that matter to them. The ice cream was delicious too! Im going to try some cookies.

Q: For students, do you think the idea of gardening naturally, or even buying organic foods, is an option with a student budget? What are some cheap methods that can be taken?

E-Waste: Virtual World Destruction

I found it interesting that computers made in 2005 are only suppose to last 2 years and yet at the time of purchase, sales associates attempt to make your purchase seem like a large commitment to quality that will last years. While North America and companies such as IBM and Apple are coming out with green friendly computers, other countries with competitive products do not seem as concerned. With the more aware green consumer is the average individual going to buy based on price or green awareness?
Personally when I think of electronic waste at first I thought of the waste that immediately affects me, junk mail and viruses. These are not substantial physical pieces of waste but often to the average individual are more of an “in your face” issue than dump sites; yet with 3-4 computers in each family, after 2 years they have to go somewhere. I found the movie presented by Greg and Katelyn to be a beautiful example of neutral a art piece displaying technological advancements without a bias towards a negative or positive view of these changes. The toxins that encompasses these deserted hunks of last years technology begin to pollute our world in many ways and yet this technology is so important to business that we will take the determinant if need be. We have faith in technology and we are changing everything about our world including human rights and the environment to sustain this technology. I believe if we are to implement a change with regards to the environmental progress of computers it needs to be a group effort. We need to connect the manufactures and consumer GLOBALLY to make a permanent step in the right direction.

Corperate Punishment

I found the ideas in the presentation to be an interesting change from average ways to assess cooperation and environment relations. When the general public is normally assessing the environmental significance of a company, the surface shows environment water bottles, reusable bags, and banners of support for rainforests and endangered animals. While all of these are good initiatives, when the issue is deconstructed internally we can see the motives of marketing schemes and more control of the public with less accountability; these corporations are thus seen as partners in the fight for a greener environment instead of enemies.
I also found it interesting that the 14th amendment that was suppose to give rights and freedom to the slaves was used by the cooperation to become one person with freedoms. With the main goal (by law) of the cooperation being a profitable bottom line, this “person” seems to be someone society should not easily trust. Throughout the presentation it was discussed that any chemical can be produced at little financial cost for the company, but the long term negative effects on the surrounding community are continually rising. Biochemical products produced by these companies are continually murdering people, and if these corporations are truly a person, could jail time not be an opinion and for who?

Questions: When you think of companies such as Molson Canadian, or Ford (even Laurier University) what emotions do you associate with these industries and how do these emotions effect purchasing power? Do the green images (greenwashing) of Ford and Laurier effect your choices as well?
Molson Commercial: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg
Ford Commercial: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=6i-6-s_WjO0&feature=related

I also found this 5 minute clip on the green marketing industry (http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=bquvIgzKrzY&feature=related) I found this clip really interesting with regards to the impact the green image has on the society, the people who follow it, and then how they influence others. I disgree though with the statement that companies are not in it for a quick buck. What do you think about greenwashing?