Zoophobia: 2011

PLANET ON A PLATE
Q15: Is it possible to meet present global demand for animal products humanely and sustainably? If so, how? If not, what should we do?

0-5min: NEWS
-- Vegetarian Debate

First, each team will take turns summarizing their paper in 5 minutes. Next, there will be 20 minutes of open debate. Finally, you will have 20 minutes to record and analyze the results of the debate. The last 20 minutes of class we will all reflect on the debate and animal unit.

You are not arguing for or against vegetarianism per say, so much as arguing *as* the author of your paper. Don't make arguments that s/he wouldn't. Each team is required to make an outline of their reading (i.e. a one-sentence thesis and a paragraph summary). Your guilds will be assessed on a) your knowledge of and loyalty to the readings, b) the clarity and conciseness of your presentation, c) the strengths of your defenses, and d) the generosity and thoughtfulness of your responses.

5-15min: INTRODUCTION
--power point
SOCIAL COSTS

Over the last 50 years, the method of producing food animals in the United States has changed…[and] has come at a cost to the environment and a negative impact on public health, rural communities, and the health and well-being of the animals themselves.
--Pew Commission (2008)

CAFOs (i.e. “factory farms”)

Replaces small, sustainable farms
Contracted into massive debt
Lung disease & Nausea from smell
Toxic contamination of ground water
Decreased property values

Slaughterhouses

Human rights violations
Exploitation of migrant laborers
Among the most dangerous jobs in USA
High turn over rates
Destruction of community
Increased violence within communities

Other Health Concerns

Livestock compete with world’s hungry over staple grains
Increased bacterial food contamination
Breeds “superbugs” (resistant to antibiotics)
Source of heart disease and cancer

ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS

“The Livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every scale from local to global
--UN’s FAO 2006

WATER / OCEANS

Severely depletes groundwater / aquifers
Contributes to the eutrophication of rivers and dead zones in the Gulf Of Mexico

WATER / OCEANS

Potential collapse of world fisheries by 2048
90% of large predatory fish pop. Depleted and most fisheries fully or over-exploited
Large numbers of unwanted fish killed as by-catch (Only ½ of fish caught in nets are eaten)
Deep water trawling destroy ancient marine habitats (like clear-cutting a rainforest)
Shrimp farming destroy coastal forests

Conversion Ratios (protein output : input)
Over 95% animals in the USA are from CAFOs

1:2 chicken
1:5 pig
1:10 cows

Over half of fish now come from fish farms

1:3 salmon
1:5 cod
1: 20 tuna

EARTH / LAND

Occupies 33% of arable land, 70% ag land
Responsible for 55% of land erosion in USA
US diet uses 20x more land than vegan diet

HABITAT / BIODIVERSITY

Responsible for 70% of Amazon deforestation
Eradication of wildlife (i.e. wolves and bison)

AIR / CLIMATE

Livestock sector contribute 18% of global anthropogenic GHGs
US diet : vegan diet // SUV : compact car
Ammonia emissions major cause of acid rain

15-40min: MOVIE
--Animal Factories in Michigan (see below)

40-60min: WORKSHEETS
Discuss the questions for the readings in small groups (10min each)
--write your names at the top!

Q1: What would the following ethicists' positions be on producing and consuming animals in the context of today's readings on animal agribusiness' impact on animal welfare, social welfare, and the environment? (Please give an explanation of only one sentence):

Immanuel Kant (Deontologist)
Peter Singer (Utilitarian)
Upton Sinclair (Socialist)
Greta Gaard (Anti-colonialist Feminist)

Q2: After reading the articles and discussing the ethical positions above, what ought to be done to produce and consume animals sustainably on a global scale?(Consider the questions below. You MUST justify your answers with today's readings)

Are people eating too many animals and animal products? If so, how much is too much?
Are there certain animals we ought not to eat? Which ones? Why?
Should certain people eat less or more animals? If so, which ones? Why?
If you had the power, what agricultural policies would you write for the USA?
As individuals in the USA, what actions ought we take in regards to eating animals?

60-80min: DISCUSSION
--Discuss the questions above with regards to today's readings.

PBS FRONTLINE: Polluted Waters (Chesapeake Bay Chicken Farms)

SIERRA CLUB: Living a Nightmare: Animal Factories in Michigan