Earthlings

"The Stages of Truth:

1. Ridicule

2. Violent Opposition

3. Acceptance"

-Earthlings

That is how the documentary "Earthlings" begins, a film that looks at the ways animals are expolited by human beings and is directed by Joaquin Pheonix.

This film was released in 2007 and although I had heard alot about it, I had never seen it. Here's the thing, I knew it would be filled with some graphic images and I feel that I don't have to see them. I don't eat meat or animal products, wear leather, buy products tested on animals, wear silk, wool, don't donate to charities that test on animals, visit zoos or aquariums, or support any other establishment that expolits animals. Do I sound holier than thou? Yes. But that means that I don't have to watch undercover video of a slaughterhouse. In my opinion I've earned it.

But I went to see it nonetheless, and if you want to hate humankind this is the film for you. I'm still losing sleep over the footage of a dog being thrown in a trashcompactor as it looks on helplessly and will never forget how the screams of a cow or pig sound like a human.

The sad part is that the people that need to see this film won't. The theatre was filled with tree-hugging hippies like me. Except one person came in with a cheese pizza, I'm guessing they felt bad about their choices real quick.

I only stayed half way through, my friend and I were so shaken that we had to leave. I think the most disturbing aspect of the entire experience was that it wasn't footage from a faraway country or another century. All of it had to do with very common industries and very very common products.

Most friends that I've told about the film have said that they couldn't handle it and wouldn't be able to see it. I can't handle it either, how long are we going to pretend that inconvenient truths don't exhist? Or even accept the reality of where our food and clothing comes from?

An Idealist

I've been called an idealist a couple of times this past month and although both times it was claimed to be a compliment, I've decided that it's actually insulting.

Idealists have a couple of definitions:

1. a person who cherishes or pursues high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc.
2. a visionary or impractical person.
3. a person who represents things as they might or should be rather than as they are.
4. a writer or artist who treats subjects imaginatively.
5. a person who accepts the doctrines of idealism (the tendency to represent things in their ideal forms, rather than as they are)

I believe that by dismissing me as an idealist, one can easily dismiss whatever I say as impractical or unreasonable. I know from a lifetime of experience that the majority of people I encounter believe in many of the ideals that I do but don't practice those beliefs with their everyday decisions. Any vegan will tell you that people regularly say "good for you, but I could never give up meat"- again this immediately dismisses themselves of any responsibility because they've claimed it's impossible. End of story.

I also don't think I'm an idealist because I'm able to practice my ideals and beliefs daily. I would be an idealists if I preached the benefits of church and daily sermons but never got out of bed in time for mass.

Call me arrogant, self righteous, or even misguided but I am not an idealist.

A Ghost Agreement

Great link sent to me by a friend about the latest environmental accomplishment that doesn't exist.

No Such Thing as a Vegan

A friend of mine sent me this link. He even said 'Don't mean to be a jerk, just grossed me out'. I've listed my thoughts:

1. This is gross, in the sense that we are so disconnected with the food we eat and the products we use. Who knew that tennis raquets weren't vegan?
2. The person who created this image is trying to make a point that there is no such thing as a vegan. I get responses like that all the time, like the guy at work who eats beef every night for dinner and drives an SUV gives me a hard time when I eat something local but don't know if it's 100% organic. The thought process is that if you can find a minor misstep in my actions then it discredits my convinctions. Like a tiny thing that I do justifies your apathtic decisions? I don't know where this philosophy comes from, but it's strange.
3. Should it be this hard to abolish animal products from our lives? Some would argue it's great that the entire cow gets used but it shouldn't be that difficult to remove any one thing from your life. I fear when any one thing is impossible to get ride of, dependence is not a strength. (Plastic anyone?)

Monsanto's Suicide Gene

A while back I wrote a brief introduction to GE Foods and Monsanto (although far from being the only bio-tech corporation who specializes in Agriculture, it is likely the most notorious), when Canada was deciding whether to label GE Foods or not. Sadly, the bill was rejected.

When it comes to GE Foods, the primary concern for Canadian consumers is usually health. Because foods with tampered genes haven't been around for very long, we don't know the long term effects.

For many others, the consequences of GE Foods can mean life or death. Something that many feared when Monsanto introduced the 'suicide gene' in 1988. This 'terminator gene' or 'Gene Use Restriction Technology', is a seed that has been altered so that the its seeds are sterile for the next season. Farmers have been growing crops and saving the seeds for the next year for generations and a terminator seeds makes this impossible.

As mentioned in my previous blog, it's practically impossible to keep GE seeds separate from untampered ones so even if a farmer doesn't use the seeds there's no guarantee it won't end up in their harvest.

Canada may have come dangerously close to having these seeds in their harvests but less wealthy nations with farmers with little education haven't been so lucky.

Many have blamed Monsanto for playing a part in the high suicide rate of farmers in India. SourceWatch estimates that 125,000 farmers have committed suicide since 1997 after promises of rich harvest from Monsanto have meant they've had to purchase new seeds every year. And since you can't promise the conditions will be optimal, many farmers don't have the funds to purchase new seeds after each year and therefore have no way to make a living.

India has become a testing ground for GE seeds and now Monsanto is even seeing business opportunities in the wake of disaster.

I hate to be the environmentalist that dumps on the big corporation because it's never that simple or black and white. Technology has the power to do good or damage, but Monsanto makes themselves such an easy target. Do they ever get any good press?

Social Media Isn't Enough

I've written at least one post about online activism and how it can be more detrimental than productive. However as any activist will tell you, social media cannot be ignored and it is an invaluable tool for gathering support and raising awareness.

Many people fill out templates for letters to be sent to officials, corporations, or even individuals and then feel good about themselves and continue with their day. Myself included.

However many times it isn't enough and it can't re-create the passion, urgency, or the united front needed for drastic change.

Here is a great article discussing the disconnect social media can create, the undue credit it has gotten in the past but it's also a reminder as to how it can be an effective tool to bring together people demanding change.

(Thanks to Shark Truth for passing along the link)

Go Green or Else?

Thoughts?

Here's one review here.