Student Advocacy: Voices for Change
Factory farms ignored as source of abuse
Tricia Carr
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: News
At the farm, Henderson visits with the animals while keeping the farm running smoothly.
"Chickens are the most human-like animals in the way that they are curious about everything," Henderson said of her experiences on the farm. "They can like affection or not like affection. They are also very protective of their children."
Henderson said she was really touched by one rooster named Brandy. He was a "byproduct of the egg industry," she said. Since roosters do not produce eggs, many are thrown into large dumpsters. Brandy was picked out of a trash can and brought to the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, where he was nursed back to health. "He became a really social animal," Henderson said. "He would respond to his name when you called him."
Inspiring stories like Henderson's make the thought of eating meat hard to swallow, which is why people often become vegetarians or vegans. The difference is that vegetarians don't eat animals and vegans don't eat any animal products, like milk and eggs, abstain from wearing any clothing made from animal skin or fur, and do not use products tested on animals.
Nicole Dalsimer, a college sophomore, has been a vegetarian and animal rights activist since she was ten-years-old. She said she became a vegetarian after a "combination of reading Holocaust books and associating the smell of cooking meat with burning flesh and being at horseback riding camp, caring for the animals."
Henderson became a vegan after reading pamphlets and learning about the way animals are treated. "I think factory farming is overall a regression in farming," she said. "The way we do it now harms everything including people, quality of food, animals, and the earth."
"It takes 16 pounds of grains to produce one pound of meat. If we just eat the grains the leave the animals alone, we would feed the entire world and stop starvation," said Russell Simmons, a hip-hop artist and fashion designer, to GoVeg.com. Many celebrities like Simmons publicize the fact that they are vegetarians to help create awareness of the issue.
"Chickens are the most human-like animals in the way that they are curious about everything," Henderson said of her experiences on the farm. "They can like affection or not like affection. They are also very protective of their children."
Henderson said she was really touched by one rooster named Brandy. He was a "byproduct of the egg industry," she said. Since roosters do not produce eggs, many are thrown into large dumpsters. Brandy was picked out of a trash can and brought to the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, where he was nursed back to health. "He became a really social animal," Henderson said. "He would respond to his name when you called him."
Inspiring stories like Henderson's make the thought of eating meat hard to swallow, which is why people often become vegetarians or vegans. The difference is that vegetarians don't eat animals and vegans don't eat any animal products, like milk and eggs, abstain from wearing any clothing made from animal skin or fur, and do not use products tested on animals.
Nicole Dalsimer, a college sophomore, has been a vegetarian and animal rights activist since she was ten-years-old. She said she became a vegetarian after a "combination of reading Holocaust books and associating the smell of cooking meat with burning flesh and being at horseback riding camp, caring for the animals."
Henderson became a vegan after reading pamphlets and learning about the way animals are treated. "I think factory farming is overall a regression in farming," she said. "The way we do it now harms everything including people, quality of food, animals, and the earth."
"It takes 16 pounds of grains to produce one pound of meat. If we just eat the grains the leave the animals alone, we would feed the entire world and stop starvation," said Russell Simmons, a hip-hop artist and fashion designer, to GoVeg.com. Many celebrities like Simmons publicize the fact that they are vegetarians to help create awareness of the issue.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
daniela
posted 3/24/07 @ 6:10 PM EST
Dear Tricia Carr,
I am 12 years old and i live in Bristow,VA.I have noticed that you really appreciate these animals and want to help.When i grow up i want to do the same thing like you. (Continued…)
fr8bench
Tim
posted 3/25/07 @ 7:20 AM EST
Thank you for that very eye opening article. This is one area where each of us can really make a positive difference in this otherwise seemingly unaffected world. (Continued…)
Robin
posted 3/25/07 @ 3:51 PM EST
AWESOME JOB TRICIA, WAY TO TELL IT HOW IT IS!
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