ENG103 Final Essay

ENG 103                                                                         Shahbaz E Khan

Prof.Chris Alexander

Over the past decade population of earth has been increasing. As the population

increases the consumption rate of everything increases with it. One of the most important

consumption is food and meat and poultry is the major part of it. And this is the reason

why farming system has been changed over the past decade. Farming is no longer done

by one family raising cattle’s in their rural collection of fields and barns. Farming is now

done by large industrial facilities run by large corporations and they are responsible to

handle a large of animals to be killed for food in the USA. These facilities are called

factory farms.

 In the U.S factory farming started in the 1920`s after the discovery of vitamin A

and D. These vitamins are added to feed animals so they won’t be needing sunlight and

exercise for their growth. The method proven out to be so useful that animals are raised

indoors now whole year long. The only problem faced during this large scale of meat

production was spreading of disease amongst the animals raised indoors. But which was

resolved in 1940`s when antibiotics was invented. “In 1910 41 percent of the meat

consumed by Americans was beef. By the year 2000, beef accounted for only one-third of

the total meat consumed by Americans, which includes poultry and other sources of red

meat.”(How Much Meat We Eat). The demand of meat and poultry in the market gave

the factory farming a solid platform to get industrialized. And meat and poultry started to

be produced on a large scale as products only ignoring pain and suffering by the animals.

“Animal feeding operations (AFOs) are farms or feedlots where animals are kept

and raised in confined areas for at least 45 days over a 12 month period. AFOs cluster

animals, feed, manure and urine, wastewater, dead animals, and production operations on

a small land area. Feed is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing in

pastures, fields, or on rangeland. There are approximately 450,000 AFOs in the United

States. Common types of AFOs include dairies, cattle feedlots, and poultry farms.”

(What's the Problem?) Factory farms are engaged in raising cows, sheep, goats, pigs,

poultry and also fish. The raising of animals involves for meat, eggs and milk. In these

farms animals are given antibiotics, hormones and other chemicals for quick growth and

higher productivity in less time. They are kept in small cages with metal bars,

overcrowded cages or restrictive pens or stalls, air filled with ammonia and artificial

lightning whole period of production.

There are pros and cons of everything. The benefit of the factory farming system

to society is economic satisfaction of the demand for meat at acceptable prices and it

provides a continuous inexpensive meat supply. Factory farming is good to the

environment because animals like cattle produce manure which is useful to plant growth.

If plants, trees and flowers grow well due to manure from animals we can surplus oxygen

to sustain our breathing. Factory farming is good to the environment in the sense that

animals assist in the formation of food chains and food webs.

Factory farming has negative effects on the environment and it causes pollution.Factory farming generates toxic pollution that can contaminate lakes, streams and riverswhich can contaminate water supplies. The air around factory farms is contaminated with dust particles which are linked to asthma and bronchitis. The trucks which carry animals from factory farms to shops need mention. Some of these trucks have high levels of

carbon emission hence they pollute the environment also causing global warming issues.

Factory farming also raises animal abuse issues. The industry only focuses on

profit and therefore efficiency and productivity has caused inhumane treatment and

sloppy slaughtering of farm animals. Industrial methods have changed the way in which

farmers and animals use to interact. Farmers had a lot of personal interaction with their

animals during feeding and handling and it causes more care towards each individual

animals. In traditional farming system sick or injured animals were more likely to be

noticed and cared but due to factory farming this has been totally changed. Due to factory

farming there are no pastures or grazing lands for the animals. This is ethically wrong for

animal inhabitant. In the factory farms animals are not considered as animals at all, they

are just food products. Inhumane treatments like beak searing, tail docking, ear cutting

and castration are done with the animals.

Factory farming process is needed to be summarized, as the growth of factory

farming increases so does its effects of inhumane treatment towards animals and neglect

towards earth pollution. The assembly line which was made to fulfill human needs is now

proving more harmful causing health issues. Factory farming isn’t a very useful method

indeed. An industrial system that consists of chemical use over animal and then to feed

them to human being is never a very good idea to start with. Traditional farming method

is less effective on nature and healthier. Some communities like Amish still practice old

farming system and are proven to raise cattle’s and poultries healthier. And which is good

for health also with out chemicals, doing less effect to nature also.  

Works Cited

Category, By. "History of Vitamins." Inventors. Web. 19 Dec. 2010. <http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_vitamins.htm>.

"Frontline: Modern Meat: Is Your Meat Safe?: How Much Meat We Eat | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 19 Dec. 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/safe/howmuch.html>.

"Farm Animals - Factory Farming." Web. <http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/2170/Farm-Animals-FACTORY-FARMING.html>.

"Facts: Factory Farming." In Defense of Animals. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. <http://www.idausa.org/facts/factoryfarmfacts.html>.

Definition, By. "What's the Problem? | Animal Waste | Region 9 | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/region9/animalwaste/problem.html>.

Mukichi, Masimba. "The Effect of Factory Farming on the Environment." The Effect of Factory Farming on the Environment. Web. <http://www.helium.com/items/1186236-the-effect-of-factory-farming-on-the-environment>.

           

                          

           

"FINAL ESSAY"

The farming of livestock has changed dramatically over the past century. Many people think of a farm as a rural collection of barns and fields run by one farming family. But in reality this whole concept is changed, some farms are massive industrial type facilities owned and operated by large corporations. These are called factory farms and they make up a small percentage of American farms. Each farm handle a large percentage of the animals killed for food in the United States.

            Factory farming began in the 1920`s soon after the discovery of vitamins A and D, when these vitamins are added to feed, animals no longer require exercise and sunlight for growth. This allowed large numbers of animals to be raised indoors year round. The greatest problem that was faced in raising these animals indoors was the spread of disease, which was resolved in the 1940s with the development of antibiotics. Farmers found they could increase production and reduce the operating costs by using machines and assembly line working techniques. But, this process of mass production has resulted in incredible pain and suffering for the animals.

The most visible symbol of factory farming is the animal feeding operation (AFO) or concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO).Animal feeding operations (AFOs) or (CAFO) are farms where animals are kept and raised in confined areas for at least 45 days over a 12 month period. AFOs cluster animals, feed, manure and urine, wastewater, dead animals, and production operations on a small land area. Feeding is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing in pastures, fields, or on rangeland this means, the animals are housed under one roof during a large portion of the year. The facility, depending on size, must also meet the state water quality standards and may be required to obtain a permit in order to operate. The difference between an AFO and a CAFO is based in part on how many animals are involved. Both feature highly concentrated confinement areas with no pasture or grazing land.

            The advantage of the factory farming system to society is economic satisfaction of the demand for meat at acceptable prices. Factory farming provides the United States with a continuous and relatively inexpensive meat supply. But, animal rights activists blame the factory farming system for many animal abuses. They believe that the industry's emphasis on profits, efficiency, and productivity has contributed greatly to inhumane treatment and sloppy slaughtering of farm animals. There is no doubt that industrial methods have changed the way in which farmers and animals interact. Traditionally, farmers had a lot of personal interaction with their animals during feeding and handling. While this did not change the ultimate usage of the animals, many people believe that it built a bond that led farmers to care more about the welfare of individual animals. Certainly sick or injured animals were more likely to be noticed and cared for in this system. Many small farms, particularly in communities that use traditional methods (such as Amish farms) still achieve this level of human animal contact.

 Farms are engaged in raising swine, poultry, sheep, goats, aquatic animals as fish. Animals now days raised on factory farms have had their genes manipulated and are given antibiotics, hormones and other chemicals for higher productivity. In the factory farms animals are not considered as animals at all, they are just food products. The animals are confined to small cages with metal bars, ammonia filled air and artificial lighting. They are subjected to horrible mutilations like beak searing, tail docking, ear cutting and castration.

Factory farming involves the raising of animals for meat, eggs and milk. Animals are confined into overcrowded cages or restrictive pens or stalls. Factory farming has good and bad effects on the environment. Factory farming is good to the environment because animals like cattle produce manure which is useful to plant growth. If plants, trees and flowers grow well due to manure from animals we are assured of surplus oxygen to sustain our breathing. Factory farming is good to the environment in the sense that animals assist in the formation of food chains and food webs.

But factory farming has negative effects on the environment too. Factory farming causes pollution also. A pig can produce two or more times more waste than a human. A cow can produce 23 times more. Factory farming generates toxic pollution that can contaminate lakes, streams and rivers. This can contaminate water supplies with pathogens and chemicals which are detrimental to health. Phosphorous and nitrogen compounds, arsenic, zinc and copper can be released in to rivers. Manure though useful can emit hundreds of types of gases such as hydrogen sulfide which can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. Ammonia can also cause death at high levels. The air around factory farms is contaminated with dust particles which are linked to asthma and bronchitis. Chemical spraying during rain or wind can cause pollution to the environment. Fertilizers used to promote quick growth of crops affect the environment by changing land use and harms bio diversity through habitat loss and ecosystem. The trucks which carry animals from factory farms to shops need mention. Some of these trucks have high levels of carbon emission hence they pollute the environment also causing global warming issues.

Factory farming process is needed to be summarized, as the growth of factory farming increases so does its effects of inhumane treatment towards animals and neglect towards earth pollution.  

"Farm Animals - Factory Farming." Web. <http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/2170/Farm-Animals-FACTORY-FARMING.html>.

"Facts: Factory Farming." In Defense of Animals. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. <http://www.idausa.org/facts/factoryfarmfacts.html>.

Definition, By. "What's the Problem? | Animal Waste | Region 9 | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/region9/animalwaste/problem.html>.

Mukichi, Masimba. "The Effect of Factory Farming on the Environment." The Effect of Factory Farming on the Environment. Web. <http://www.helium.com/items/1186236-the-effect-of-factory-farming-on-the-environment>.

Final essay

TOPIC: In “Cogs in the Great Machine,” Eric Schlosser reports on the shift in the meatpacking industry toward a reliance on “the new industrial migrants,” noting that as meatpacking corporations reorganized they transformed what had been a “middle-class” profession into one that pays “poverty wages” or less (160). Discuss the impact of this system on the migrants themselves by focusing on one specific aspect of the problem, and then present your own solution.

"The New Industrial Migrants” written by Eric Schlosser (book “fast food nation” pg 160) , writer states that industrial owners hire immigrants to increase the growth profit of their business. The meatpacking jobs were usually given to the middle class American but now the jobs are mostly worked by none speaking immigrants. Writer further tells us about the beef plant Greeley and their majority immigrants workers. Arden Walker, the head of labor relation uses a technique where he hire new employee all the time. He states that since insurance are very high he tries to hire new employee because the insurance are not provided to the new employees. Further the company begins to recognize the lower wage immigrants.

Thirty years ago, meatpacking was one of the highest-paid industrial jobs in the United States, with one of the lowest turnover rates. Labor unions had slowly gained power in the industry, winning their members good benefits, decent working conditions, and a voice in the workplace. Meatpacking jobs were dangerous and unpleasant, but provided enough income for a solid, middle class life. There were sometimes waiting lists for these jobs. And then, starting in the early 1960s, a company called Iowa Beef Packers (IBP) began to revolutionize the industry, opening plants in rural areas far from union strongholds, recruiting immigrant workers from Mexico, introducing a new division of labor that eliminated the need for skilled butchers, and ruthlessly battling unions. By the late 1970s, meatpacking companies that wanted to compete with IBP had to adopt its business methods or go out of business. Wages in the meatpacking industry soon fell by as much as 50 percent. Today meatpacking is one of the nation's lowest paid industrial jobs, with one of the highest turnover rates. The typical plant now hires an entirely new workforce every year or so. There are no waiting lists at these slaughterhouses today. Staff shortages have become an industry wide problem, making the work even more dangerous. In a relatively brief period of time, the meatpacking industry also became highly centralized and concentrated, giving enormous power to a few large agribusiness firms.

In 1970, the top four meatpackers controlled just 21 percent of the beef market. Today the top four IBP, ConAgra, Excel and National Beef control about 85 percent of the market. While the meatpackers have grown more powerful, the unions have grown much weaker. Only half of IBP's workers belong to a union, allowing that company to set the industry standard for low wages and harsh working conditions. Given the industry's high turnover rates, it is a challenge for a union simply to remain in a meatpacking plant, since every year it must gain the allegiance of a whole new set of workers. In some American slaughterhouses, more than three-quarters of the workers are not native English speakers; many can't read any language, and many are illegal immigrants.

 Many of the poor workers are driven from places to places to work for low amount of money. Most of the ads that are put up for jobs in the US are broadcast in Mexico because the low cost of labor workers. The immigrants are not given health insurance, or vacations instead the worker with no money were put at a homeless shelter Works that are given to the middle class Americans are now given to poor immigrants. The reason for many owners to hire immigrants is because the immigrants get paid low for many hours of work and also because they health insurance are not given to them. Many of the owners tricks immigrant’s workers and sent to homeless shelter. Many illegal immigrants are brought to US to work for a very low amount of money. This job makes immigrants not have choice but to work because of the poverty. The owner of the companies uses their techniques into paying as lower as possible to their workers. An owner like Arden walker has a time limit for each worker than he can hire new workers so he doesn’t have to pay employee insurances.

The roughly estimated number of undocumented workers in the meatpacking industry ranges from 20%-50%. The increase of immigrant workers has occurred alongside structural changes in meatpacking industry. Many of the immigrant workers are from Latin American countries, while others are from Africa too. Permanent residency status, also known as having a green card, is allocated on the basis of quotas for each country of origin. The current yearly quota for Mexico is 20,000, while an estimated 202,000 undocumented immigrants came to the US every year between 1987 and 1996.Another option could be temporary work permit programs (H2) these work permits are designated for unskilled labor when no American workers can be found. There are two types of permits:H2-A: for temporary or seasonal agricultural labor (uncapped)H2-B: for temporary, seasonal, intermittent or peak non-agricultural labor, ideally for workers in grinding season (off-field work), and capped as 66,000 per year and more than 100,000 petition for those slots. Employers may also apply for a temporary labor certification, but mostly it is applied to skilled and professional workers. It is hard for low-skilled immigrant workers (especially from Mexico) to work legally under current US law for any purpose other than agricultural labor. While several programs have been proposed, none of them have passed Congress or become effective.

In 2004 US administration started guest worker program (similar to the Bracero program of the 1940s - 1960s). Under this proposal, foreign workers, including the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants currently in the US, could have applied for a permit to work for three years, but they would never have become eligible for legal permanent status or citizenship through this program. According to history the Bracero program took place between 1942 and 1964, some 4.6 million Mexicans were admitted to US to do farm work, many Mexicans returned year after year, but 1 to 2 million gained legal U.S. work experience. The Bracero program was small during the war years. Admissions peaked at 62,000 in 1944, meaning that less than 2 percent of the 4 million U.S. hired workers were Braceros.The U.S. Department of Labor relaxed regulations on Bracero housing, wages, and food charges in the mid 1950s, more farmers hired legal Braceros; admissions peaked at 445,200 in 1956. However, Braceros admissions began to fall in the early 1960s, when President Kennedy ordered the Department of Labor to enforce Bracero regulations. The November 1960 CBS documentary “Harvest of Shame” convinced Kennedy that Braceros were “adversely affecting the wages, working conditions, and employment opportunities of our own agricultural workers.” Farmers fought to preserve the program in Congress, but lost, and the Bracero program ended December 31, 1964.

In 2005 temporary visa program for low-skilled workers H5A visa program came to act by US administration. Some undocumented immigrants could have applied for legal permanent residents, after working for 6 years and paying taxes and fines. The 2006 Comprehensive Immigrant Reform Act (Senate Bill 2611) this bill proposed a three year temporary visa program with a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently in the US. It also included aggressive border enforcement measures, because if S.B. 2611 becomes law, Americans become victims of their own lawless country. They become victims of adding 100 million people to US. So after 30 hour of period debate the bill failed to pass conference committee.

US government rather then passing bills in congress to resolve the immigrant situation to be legalized is also doing raids in meat packing companies. These raids are being done to lessen illegal immigrants especially from meat packaging plants. Majority workers in these companies are illegal and this situation is growing on a large scale. Recently(October 7^th 2010), fifteen people were arrested after Maricopa County sheriff's deputies served a search warrant at a Phoenix meat packing business with employees suspected of using stolen identities. The company owner says” I lost one third of my working staff" but this raid raises the issue of crime being done by illegal immigrants also. A lot of illegal immigrants in US are related to crime also and they can not be traced due to any documentation. Crime, poverty, drug abuse, and homelessness have lately taken root in towns due to illegal immigration also.

           

Plenty of precautionary steps are taken about these situations but nothings promising. Immigrant problem can’t be resolved in a fast pace that’s for a fact. In my review it’s a monopoly state is playing to do the “dirtiest job” through lowest paid labor. Reasoning  is simple we the USA is a first world country and there is nothing possible we cant do, so if our state government really wants no immigrants taking over jobs it is possible, why with the pending bills and policies why no success? And plus plenty of Americans wont do what the immigrants are doing, therefore If I understand this little knowledge states knows this long ago, and that could be reasoning immigrant worker not being abolished, but it is possible.

            To end illegal immigration government must act strict laws for the companies who are hiring illegal immigrants. All the factories should go through regular inspection and if any illegal immigrants are found working the owner should be responsible with high penalties and should be fined. Deport immigrants who are found not documented. Extend the Border Patrol canine program and highway checkpoint system Increase personnel in Inspections, Intelligence, Border Patrol, and Detention and Deportation. Improve vehicle fleets of the Border Patrol, Investigations, and Detention and Deportation. Introduce new, up-to-date technology in Inspections, the Border Patrol, and Investigations, so less people could cross the borders.

Schlosser, By Eric. "The Chain Never Stops | Mother Jones." Mother Jones | Smart, Fearless Journalism. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://motherjones.com/politics/2001/07/chain-never-stops>.

"Immigrants in Meatpacking | Midwest Coalition for Human Rights." Midwest Human Rights News | Midwest Coalition for Human Rights. Web. 03 Dec. 2010. <http://www.midwesthumanrights.org/immigrants-meatpacking>.

Martin, By Philip. "The Bracero Program: Was It a Failure?" History News Network. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://hnn.us/articles/27336.html>.

"Frosty Wooldridge -- Repercussions of Senate Bill 2611." NewsWithViews.com -- Where Reality Shatters Illusion. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.newswithviews.com/Wooldridge/frosty211.htm>.

"15 Arrested during Raid of Phoenix Meat-packing Business." Arizona Local News - Phoenix Arizona News - Phoenix Breaking News - Azcentral.com. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2010/10/12/20101012phoenix-sheriff-immigration-raid-abrk.html>.

"FAIR: How to Stop Illegal Immigration." FAIR: Federation for American Immigration Reform. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.fairus.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=16669&security=1601&news_iv_ctrl=1007>.

"COCA COLA VS PEPSI"

Coca-Cola and Pepsi are the two most popular and widely recognized beverage brands in the world. Within their lineup of beverages, Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola Classic are the predominant carbonated cola beverages.
TASTE:
Coca-Cola is the original cola, while there isn't a huge difference in taste, Pepsi mirrored their cola after Coke's, being just different enough in taste to not actually be the same drink.
SWEETNESS:
Coca-Cola tastes less sweet and tastes like lucozade and hutki. This is due to the addition of the artificial sweeteners to Pepsi.
CARBONATION:
Coca-Cola has more carbonation than Pepsi depending on what region you are in. It was said that depending on where each one was made the amount of carbonation in them will be different therefore proving that neither Coca-Cola nor Pepsi have more carbonation than one another.

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BRAND WAR:
Both drinks are no longer seen as a beverage but mainly as a brand. Both companies commit heavily to sponsoring outdoor music festivals and even charitable projects in third world countries. Coca-Cola also is an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup.
 MARKETING APPROACH:
Both Coca-Cola and Pepsi try to market as part of a life-style. Coca-Cola uses phrases such as "Coke side of life" in their website, while Pepsi uses phrases such as "Hot stuff" in their website, to promote the idea that Pepsi is "in sync" with the cool side of life.Pepsi tries to reach out to the younger generation by appealing to pop culture. If you visit their website you will be greeted with flashy pages containing pop music, cars, and fashion.Coca-Cola's website also has links for music and sports, two arenas in which soda-pop is often consumed; however, Coca-Cola's is less flashy and uses a classical appeal, most likely because of Coca-Cola's long history as the standard for cola beverages.
ADVERTISEMENTS REPRESENTATIVES: 
Coca-Cola had Christina Aguilera featured in their commercials, while Pepsi had Britney Spears, Keshauntae Brown, and Michael Jackson.