...Life In a Crowded Box How would you feel about living your life in a crowded box? Factory farming causes many animals to do exactly that. Why treat animals wrongly for a few extra dollars? Today’s society is way to willing to be inhumane just for the extra profit and convenience. Pete Singer, bioethicist, states in his article “Factory Farming”, that this type of business should not happen anymore because of the inhumane factors it produces (1-2). Singer persuades the reader of the horrors of factory farming by using very vivid language, an effective solution to the problem, and credible authority figures that support him. First Singer effectively forms his sub claim that factory farming is inhumane by using language that paints an extremely vivid picture. He explains how most of the animals have never been outside or seen sunlight for even an hour (Singer 1). This information makes the reader think about the depression that would form without being able to ever see the sun. This creates emotional connection to his audience. Common ground is also formed with the reader is they have a history of depression. Secondly Singer successfully creates his sub claim that genetically altering the animals to grow so fast is torturing them by supplying creditable figures that support his idea. He uses a quote from Professor John Webster of the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Science, “Broilers are the only livestock that are in chronic pain for the last 20 percent of...
Words: 491 - Pages: 2
...Freedom Lost, Factory Farming With Egg Laying Chickens Katelyn Felix Upper Iowa University Filth, confinement, disease, mutilation, and deprivation are a few things that come to mind when factory farming is mentioned. It is a rapidly growing problem in the United States. Factory farming first started in the 1930’s on a low scale. New kinds of incubators lead to chickens being able to be produced in larger quantities in large scale operations. After World War II the increased demand of eggs led to specialized breading and an increase in factory farming in the United States. Soon following suit between the 1960’s and 1970’s was the boom of fast food chains thus increasing the demand for cheap, fast products (Safe for Animals, 2012). Mass production swept the nation at the expense of the animals and our health. This movement cannot be stopped unless people can get informed with what is happening in these factory farms, and possible alternatives to better our nation’s moral standing. Factory farming of egg laying hens is when they are kept under strict guidelines with intensive methods in order to achieve mass production, in this case, of eggs. These hens are deprived of life, they are only used as means of production and might as well be categorized as machines. First let’s discuss the killing and disposal of chickens in this industry. In the egg industry obviously hens are the only useful chicken to these business owners, seeing as males cannot produce eggs, because of that...
Words: 2393 - Pages: 10
...On their website they compare different certification systems. Not only that but they provide alternatives to factory farming. They state, “As consumers become aware of the ethical issues relating to chicken farming and slaughter, more and more are choosing cruelty free alternatives…” They strive to spread the word about factory farming; they believe that is more people know about the cruelty they will choose free range which will eventually send the factory farmers out of business. Free Range Farmers Association Inc. On the Free Range Farmers Association website they have a list of six features that are essential for accreditation. Below is a photo that is found on the Free Range Farmers Association Inc. under the heading "This is what free range farming is all about." The Free Range Farmers Association have an option on there website to become a member. Farmers can become a member of the FRFA, this means they can have regular inspections and can advertise using the FRFA logo. To become a member your application must go through a committee to confirm that your farm is truly free range and meets their expectations. Australian Certified...
Words: 1104 - Pages: 5
...for consumption completely. 2. The writer effectively makes his opinions clear by using the example of Bob Comis and how even though he treats his pigs fairly, he still feels guilty when butchering them. The writer also mentions the fact that families' incomes have decreased with the fast food movement and the factory farming growing. The Omnivore's Contradiction: 1. This section focuses on the idea of a global plant-based diet for everyone, and the environmental benefits of getting rid of raising animals for consumption. It states the unhealthiness of meat and encourages individuals to know where their food comes from exactly. This section also states other problems caused by animals like greenhouse emissions, E.Coli, salmonella, and excessive water use. It does bring up the argument of the natural food cycle, and that other animals eat animals, and we as people, are just fitting into that cycle. The argument, however is dismissed when raising the question of how one can respect and slaughter an animal at the same time. 2. The writer does a mediocre job of providing examples and clarifying his point by arguing that we have a broken food system, and it is unethical to raise animals and butcher them for our own benefit. More sources of information would be nice to explain and go in depth of the diseases and problems with animals. Killing Them with Kindness: 1. This section is mainly about animal welfare and their rights as farm animals. Animals go through cruel tortures being...
Words: 1366 - Pages: 6
...Factory Farming Abstract Factory farming is the mass production of pigs, chickens, turkeys, and cows to be slaughtered and made into food. Many activists and organizations have attempted to reduce the problem of factory farming, but it is still a long way from being fixed. Factory farms are used to produce everyday products like bacon, pork, steak, chicken nuggets, milk, cheese, etc. The cost of buying a burger at a local McDonalds is around one to three dollars. If companies were forced by legislation and government officials to practice proper farming techniques, the price of your beloved McDonald’s hamburger will be sure to rise. This could cause a brief stage of net losses for food manufacturing companies. I think it is mandatory to incur these extra expenses for the sake of humanity and animal rights. A small loss in profits is far less important than the pain and suffering these animals have to deal with on a daily basis. In this research paper I will discuss the ethical dilemmas and the conditions of the factory farms, as well as solutions to the problem of animals not having the proper rights. Main Points Animals come in all different shapes and sizes. Society debates how to classify some animals. Scientist view animals as operating equipment. Businessmen see them as commodities. Religious advocates classify them as God’s gift to us. And the majority of Americans see them as food. In America we cannot keep our minds off of cheap tasty...
Words: 2756 - Pages: 12
...Children… What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you first hear the word children? Playgrounds, laughter, joy, leisure and so on. Child labor is childhood destruction; children need to be children, they will have the rest of their lives as adults to work, so why rush that? Childhood is the most innocent stage in a human life. It is that phase of life where a child is nurturing, and is free from all the tensions, and health risks. Child labor existed in throughout the American and British history, as the industrial revolution moved workers from farms and home workshops into urban areas and factory work. Children were often preferred, because factory owners viewed them as more manageable, cheaper, and less likely to strike. But how did that end up? Many children died, many more were tortured and were forced to work, basically forced into slavery. So do we want that again? There is nothing wrong with children doing chores; not all work is bad for children. A child who delivers newspapers before school might actually benefit from learning how to work, gaining responsibility, and a bit of money. But what if the child is forced to work? Not paid or is poorly paid? Forced labor is any work performed against a person’s will under the threat of punishment. According to UNICEF, and Free the Child organizations, work that exceeds the min number of hours will deprive children from school, and is also physically, socially and mentally harmful for the child. Such...
Words: 595 - Pages: 3
...Kyle Ankrum English 110 Dr. Aitken June 23, 2012 Beef…and why it should not be for dinner A vegan is defined as a person who refrains from using any animal product for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Therefore, with the human population increasing on the planet, putting more and more stress on the planet’s capacity to produce food and renew its resources, veganism is becoming more and more popular because it is considered to be a conscientious way of life. For some it is for religious and personal reasons, for others it has to do with the fair treatment of animals. In any case, those whose diet has been traditionally meat-based, the vegan lifestyle is a responsible, choice for very legitimate reasons. Think about where the animal products you consume come from? You are probably picturing grassy farmlands with cows leisurely walking around, pigs happily rolling around in the mud, and coops filled with chickens cozily laying eggs, right? Wrong. These farms rarely exist today. Instead, cows are kept pregnant to continuously produce milk, pigs are kept in windowless concrete cages, and 250,000 hens are piled in one building to lay their eggs. This is what is known as a factory farm. Factory farms are overcrowded filled with terrified, suffering animals. These conditions are unacceptable. By eating meat and dairy products, or purchasing leather or fur, you are supporting these factory farms and their poor conditions. In order to stand up to the industry, we must...
Words: 1970 - Pages: 8
...International Legal and Ethical Issues In the “Addressing Legal and Ethical Issues Simulation” a number of issues were addressed. The most complex issues were surrounding the proposed jurisdictions of the courts where legal disputes would be argued. The central issues were the time and expense involved in the resolution of potential disputes. At issue were the distance (time and expense) of litigating in US courts versus the immediacy of litigating in the courts of Candore. The enforceability of any judgment was questionable. In the opinion of the Team, non-binding arbitration subject to international law could be the best solution for this question. The recent acceptance of Candore into the WTO should encourage compliance with decisions made in non-binding arbitration and would expedite resolution in a timely and less expensive to both parties and in the event of continued disagreement the parties would have recourse in international law. The alliance between CadMex Pharma and Gentura has been a successful one and both companies have cross-licensing agreements for several other drugs and techniques. CadMex and after 5 years of doing business with Gentura is now facing a dilemma due to the change in political system in Candore a new government is now in place also the country is in the midst of an viral epidemic affecting more than 1% of the population, ViroBlax is a drug CadMex licensed Gentura to market is one of the drugs used in the treatment should CadMex allow Gentura...
Words: 2392 - Pages: 10
...Ethics and the Food Industry By: Diana Rhyne and John Hanley In early 2009, Peanut Corp. of America was discovered to have allowed Salmonella tainted peanuts to be distributed across the United States causing an outbreak that resulted illnesses in 714 people across 46 states with nine resulting in deaths ("Department of Health and Human Services; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention", 2009). In this paper, we will explore the concept of corporate social responsibility and some of the current ethical dilemmas many corporations in the food industry face today. We will further discuss the many arguments (in favor of and in opposition to) these ethical dilemmas, or why these issues pose an ethical dilemma. Finally, we will examine the consequences of unethical behavior in the food industry and how consumer demand/behavior affects corporate decision-making. In the food industry, a corporation’s actions/inactions are often far reaching. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not a new concept. The idea that a business (or business person) should behave in an ethical and socially responsible manner has roots in Biblical times with the advent of usury laws. During the 1700s, Benjamin Franklin was an early advocate for business ethics, going so far as to form a club for young businessmen, tradesmen, and merchants to come together to discuss business philosophies and further their careers (Finamore, 2005: 35-38). CSR is generally based on the idea that companies...
Words: 3780 - Pages: 16
...Table of Contents 1. What is SRI? 1 2. Origins and Growth of SRI 1 SRI scenario currently 1 3. Difference between SRI funds and non-SRI funds 2 4. SRI and its importance in modern day business 3 Change of view 3 5. Strategies used by investor to invest in a socially responsible company 4 Factors considered by the SRI funds/investors for investing into any company 4 Sources to gather the information for the decision making process 4 Different strategy used by the funds to make SRI decisions 5 6. Two examples of SRI funds: Composition and unique features 6 A. Triodos Sustainable Equity Fund 6 B. Calvert Capital Accumulation Fund Class C 6 7. A Company with SRI investment: Starbucks 7 About the company 7 Sustainability initiatives 7 Controversies 8 ESG Ratings 9 8. Conclusion 9 9. Appendices 10 10. References 10 1. What is SRI? Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is sometimes referred to as “sustainable”, “socially conscious”, “mission,” “green” or “ethical” investing. In general, socially responsible investors are looking to promote concepts and ideals that they feel strongly about. The idea is that if oneinvests in companies that cause social or environmental harm, then one is profiting from their evil. SRI is an approach under which socially and environmentally conscious investors channel their funds towards those companies which have a positive impact on the community and environment, and avoid doing harm due to their...
Words: 3952 - Pages: 16
...“The people of Iowa welcome you”. Or do they? When you drive into Iowa the road signs indicating that you crossed the state line, informs you that Iowans will welcome your visit. The welcoming attitude goes along with another endearment of Iowa; Iowa nice. It paints an idealistic picture of neighbor helping neighbor, and since Iowa is the center of the grain belt, one might expect to see rural roads lined with farmsteads, known by their wooden barns and fences; somewhere in between the miles of green and golden fields. What a visitor may not know is that Iowa is the top pork producer in the nation with “8,500 factory farms” (Genoways 4) raising “more than 18 million of its 20 million hogs” (Genoways 4) in confined animal feeding operations....
Words: 2322 - Pages: 10
...electromagnetic pollution such as radio frequency interference produced by man-made appliances. There is pollution we can control and pollution that we cannot control. Each type of pollution may have its own set of ethics which, of course, must relate back to the subject of a previous assignment relating to the ethics and culture of the civilization that one is existing in. For example, there are cultures that use incense for religious and entertainment purposes. They would not consider fumes and chemicals, from burning incense, to be atmospheric pollution. I, on the other hand, find the odor of incense to be noxious, offensive and an air pollutant. I am of the firm belief that any pollution that is not inadvertent is unethical. It is unethical for my neighbor to leave all of his outside lights on at night because they obstruct my view and neighbor’s view of the otherwise unpolluted night...
Words: 1997 - Pages: 8
...Perfetti Van Melle is a privately held Italian global manufacturer of confectionery and gum. It was formed in 2001 with the acquisition of Van Melle of the Netherlands, by the Italian group Perfetti of Italy and having its corporate headquarters in Lainate (Milan), Italy. Perfetti Van Melle bills itself as the third largest confectionery manufacturer in the world after Kraft Foods (owners of Cadbury plc) and Mars, Incorporated (owners of Wrigley). It employs 17,000 people via 30 subsidiary companies and distributes its products in over 130 countries. The company owns a major subsidiary in the United States, (Perfetti Van Melle USA), as well as several others in large markets around the world. In Bangladesh it started its journey in February 2005. VISION Perfetti Van Melle will enhance its world leadership in confectionery by creating value for consumers through innovative and gratifying high-quality products. MISSION Perfetti Van Melle : • to develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for the consumers through the efficient use of resources and in collaboration with the business partners; • to create a fulfilling workplace for the employees built on trust, mutual respect, and appreciation of their diversity; • to value the role the company plays in the communities, as a socially and environmentally committed organization; • to generate economic value through superior growth and profitability VALUES Living the Perfetti Van...
Words: 3884 - Pages: 16
...Eric Schlosser’s novel, Fast Food Nation, has shed light on how food manufacturing standards and American consumption have transformed since World War II. Schlosser illustrates this revolution by following numerous groups in association with the fast food industry: various fast food employees and lucrative executives at fast food corporations; major farming and ranching businesses; employees at meat-packing factories; potato farmers and ranchers in Colorado and its contiguous areas; and food scientists who are entrusted with developing innovative “natural” flavors for fast food products. Through the various investigative accounts that Schlosser exemplifies, Fast Food Nation brings attention to the varying unethical principles that the fast...
Words: 1587 - Pages: 7
...Confirming Pages 3 Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has gone green. Since 2005 it has worked to plan and execute a sustainability strategy that includes using renewable energy sources, reducing its waste, and selling sustainable products. A packaging scorecard helps Walmart’s 60,000 suppliers learn about Walmart’s expectations and guides the firm in making its purchasing decisions. The company has built energy-efficient stores and retrofitted others, and it offers reusable shopping bags made of recycled materials. Although Walmart doesn’t disclose financial details on the green initiative, it says the program is already saving money and resources, and it projects billions in savings over time.1 Ethics and Corporate Responsibility Hear the True Story of how today’s managers do the right thing. Listen to what Derrick and Elaine have to say. “Ethics are crucial in the property management business. We are obligated to abide by fair housing laws in our dayto-day operations. Not only do we have an obligation as a company but also a social obligation to make sure our vendors and contractors are aware of these practices.” “The very nature and mission of my project is that of social responsibility. We are trying to do our part to help out developing countries in a way that an agricultural library is best equipped to do. Good workplace ethics translates into a better product for our subscribers. The better I and my employees perform, the better...
Words: 15103 - Pages: 61
