agriculture
Tackling food waste, research and global debates about agricultural sustainability and how to feed our population while still saving some for later.
The Deforestation Crisis in Brazil
Making up about 20 percent of total emissions, deforestation is one of the biggest causes of global greenhouse gas emissions. Brazil is losing much of its forests because of the need to make room for cattle and soybeans. These two factors are the biggest reasons for Brazil’s deforestation problem. The public and the government have been working to stop the spread of deforestation in vulnerable places like Brazil, but more work needs to be done to prepare for the future growth of the world.
Sam BridgePublished 6 years ago in The SwampVeganism
Let's start with the basic definition. Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. There are two main practices.
Nolan JamesPublished 6 years ago in The SwampCash Fast: From Eminent Domain to Billions in Months with This Simple Trick
My thoughts were nowhere to be found as the consistent beat from my bike chain placed my mind in a trance. I waved to my new neighbors who decided to take their small children for a walk on what seemed to be the most idyllic day of the year. As I felt the familiar metallic taste begin to fill my mouth, I decided to jump off my bike and catch my breath. The beat of the bike chain stopped and I could hear nothing but the wind blowing by my face. It was soothing. I blocked the sun from my eyes and looked at the magnificence surrounding me. Nature always had a special place in my heart. I took one last breath and just as I was about to hop back on my bike I heard a deafening boom and saw a massive inferno barreling towards my location faster than a freight train. Just before it was about to reach me, it was redirected and took a sharp left. It was then that I realized it was following the path of the newly installed Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline. The force from the blast knocked me to the ground. Once I knew it was safe, I stood up and examined the wasteland that now surrounded me. The beautiful scene that I had just been admiring moments before had been twisted into a wasteland. The only sound I heard was the distant roar of the pipeline continuing to explode. I looked around for my neighbors, but they were nowhere in sight. I knew their fate; the pipeline stops for no one. Now this story was completely made up, but for many of us who live next to or even near a pipeline, this scenario is very real and very possible. Pipeline companies often say that the chance of a pipeline exploding is slim to none, yet year after year, pipelines still continue to explode all over the country. According to PennLive, one of the more recent gas explosions happened in Allentown where a pipeline exploded, destroyed eight row homes, and killed five people. A pair of those people were a sixteen-year-old sister and a four-month old brother. Over a dozen were injured and hundreds were forced to evacuate the area. People are very concerned over the possibility of a pipeline explosion, yet that is just one of the many reasons why Lancaster County residents are fighting a David and Goliath-style battle against Williams, the creator of the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline. The pipeline, which is currently being installed, is forty-two inches in diameter in some areas, including Lancaster County. It will be used to hold and transport natural gas across the United States to be exported to various countries. This may seem like an important step for America to make the transition into a clean energy, but that is far from the truth. The Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline installation is not justified because its use of eminent domain is unconstitutional, it is not as safe as Williams claims, and it is destroying the environment.
Andrew ShelleyPublished 6 years ago in The SwampGrass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed
Humanity’s food chain is a significant contributor to our planet’s cycle of life. Consumption of animals, as well as plants, ensures that humanity can continue to grow. However, many practices come into question on the methods used to utilize animals for the benefit of humanity. Is it necessary to treat animals in specific ways if—let’s say—we used animals for food? Many of us believe it is necessary to treat them well to gain the maximum nourishment possible from animals we consume. Our society’s agricultural industry must rear and finish animals in as close to a natural environment as possible to assure society of healthier foods.
Felix MartinezPublished 6 years ago in The SwampThe Politics of Food
In the United State, the so-called free country, the citizen would think they have free thought and can do whatever they want, but is the U.S citizen being told what to eat? Although the United States government knows the food they feed their citizen is unhealthy, they have not done anything to help the people get more healthy.
Miguel FloresPublished 6 years ago in The SwampWhich Agriculture Practice is Eco-friendly?
Agriculture practice has changed a lot over the years in the evolution of plant science. Lots of different types of methods are used for agricultural production. Though these methods have helped in improving production to some extent, the use of chemicals has also risen. Today, there are hardly any agricultural products that are not grown without the use of pesticides. In fact, agricultural experts believe that it's impossible to feed the population without the use of pesticides. The use of chemicals in growing plants not only pose serious risks for humans, but the environment as well. For human longevity and protection of the environment, it's time to adapt eco-friendly agriculture practices.
Carol WilsonPublished 6 years ago in The SwampDon't Have a Cow, Ditch the Beef!
Scientists are asking the question, but what is the answer? A subject that has everybody talking—from biologists to economists, everyone has a stake in what’s going to happen to planet Earth over the coming decades. There is much debate over the expected severity of climate change, but it can be agreed humans are influencing the speed in which cyclic warming and cooling are occurring.
Emily ButterflyPublished 6 years ago in The SwampWhy Veganism Sounds Like a Bad Idea
I will always be an interested advocate for the well-being of animals. Today in this world there is an unnecessary slaughtering of animals which, upon inspection, is overwhelmingly unethical when you look into it. Farm animals such as chickens, pigs, and cows to name a few are bred for slaughter; from being beaten and tortured to injections of hormones and in a dairy cow’s case, forced pregnancy. These are only but few of my many concerns of helpless animals. Every year, over 56 billion land animals alone are subject to slaughter. This is not just an animal welfare issue, this is also an environmental and world hunger issue. California is currently in a drought, yet somehow, they find a way to feed all livestock. Kip Anderson Howard, director and producer of the movie Cowspiracy, states that “you can produce 37,000 lbs. of vegetables on 1.5 acres of land but only 375 lbs. of beef on the same [amount] of land.” The main point of his film was based on the theory that we can solve world hunger if all farmers across the world use that plot of land used for farm animals and instead apply it to producing foods that we can feed to the hungry From the environmental perspective, our precious rainforest which statistics conclude, "If we continue on this path, as much as 55 percent of the amazon rainforest could disappear by the year 2030” (Bennet).
Kenya CarpenterPublished 6 years ago in The SwampThe World's Most Expensive Food?
The Telegraph reported this week that a group of Japanese students were charged around £970 for a simple meal of steak and fish washed down with mineral water. We can only imagine their bemusement on receiving the bill, and congratulate them on having the sense to involve the police.
Jo WolforthPublished 6 years ago in The SwampBig City Problem...
I want to highlight an interesting concept for a grassroots movement that has the power to create human freedom that we have yet to see implemented in our world.
Michael ThielmannPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp- Top Story - December 2017
Canada Has a Major Bread Scandal
Canada is currently experiencing a major bread scandal. I know that may sound absurd and slightly dramatic, but hear me out; recent revelations have exposed collusion amongst the country’s supermarket giants that have cost Canadians millions. At the centre of the scandal is Canadian grocery giant Loblaw and one of its subsidiaries, George Weston, which reportedly engaged in price-fixing between 2001 and 2015 on brands such as Dempster’s, Wonder, Villagio, Weston, Stonemill, and D’Italiano. Statistics Canada, cited by CBC, noted that during this timeframe, the consumer price index on bread products in Canada rose 96 percent, compared to an 45 percent for all other foods. Loblaw says they fired all involved employees and turned themselves in to the Competition Bureau in 2015, but in being the first to come forward and cooperating with the bureau, are immune from criminal charges. This is convenient given that price-fixing can be met with punishment as severe as $25 million in fines and 14 years in prison.
Logan CarmichaelPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp A Matter of Survival
We are entering an increasingly dangerous period in the history of mankind. Our world, our oceans are so precariously close to causing unimaginable, catastrophic disaster for all life on planet Earth. Ever since the dawn of man all of humanity has survived on various sources of food. But the one source of food that has dictated the rise of all the others came from the world's oceans. Today, our oceans, our food, and man's own existence depends on the vitality of life and the sustainability of our oceans to maintain and support that vitality of life. So catastrophic the demise of the vitality of life in all the worlds oceans caused by mans selfish and aggressive instincts all life on this planet is indeed in jeopardy. The depletion of the vitality of life in our oceans has been sharply increasing every year with no apparent reversal in sight. Just within the past 50 years mankind has wrought humanities own survival into question.
Dr. WilliamsPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp