remembering veterans on campus - The Ontarion

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24
RE: “Meatless Mondays”
Common myths about
agriculture – even
at the University of
Guelph
Rudi Spruit
About four weeks ago, I read an article
in The Ontarion about Meatless
Monday. As an agriculture student at
the University of Guelph, I take a keen
interest in anything agriculture-related,
especially if it is published in
the University of Guelph’s independent
student newspaper. I can
see some reasoning behind Meatless
Monday, including some health
benefits. I don’t know this for a fact,
but with the obesity rate where it is
in the United States, I can see how
eating less protein and more veggies
might help the North American diet.
The concern I have is in some of the
wording used.
The one problem that set me off
with this article was the writer’s
lack of understanding about farming
in Ontario, evidenced when she
mentions, “Others are concerned
with animal cruelty; by opting for
a vegetarian diet, individuals show
they no longer support the conditions
many factory farm animals are
raised in.”
Nothing could be further from
the truth, and the Meatless Monday
campaign does nothing to help
animal welfare. The concern with
animal cruelty is great to everyone,
especially farmers. Farmers choose
to work with animals because they
enjoy it. Caring for animals properly
is a matter of doing the right thing.
Contented animals are also more
productive animals and lead to higher
quality food products. Like any
animal owners, farmers must also
follow laws for humane treatment,
and neglect and abuse of animals of
any kind (pets or livestock) is against
the law.
In Canada, 98 per cent of all farms
are still family owned and operated.
It is true that farms are bigger
than they used to be, but they’ve had
to accommodate a growing world
population and a declining farm population.
Fifty years ago, one in three
Canadians farmed. Today, it’s one
in 47, yet Canadians still want affordable,
local food, so we need to
produce more – and more efficiently
– if we’re going to feed our growing
population.
Let me tell you about my family’s
dairy farm. We’re the proud caretakers
of 370 cows who live in the barn
throughout most of the year. There
is a reason for that - and that reason
will hit us all in about two months:
winter. Cows don’t like it. We keep
them in the barn for the same reason
your pets live in the house: for
comfort, fresh feed, fresh water,
and safety. In the summer, cows
are often too hot and a lot of them, if
outside, could risk facing heat stress
and death. So our barn is designed to
cool those animals down. Even when
they are given a choice of going outside,
they pick the barn 98 per cent
of the time.
Larger farms came about because
approximately 100 years ago, half of
the population farmed, whilst now
only two per cent do. That means
two per cent of the population feeds
the remaining 98 per cent. To do that,
farms have to get more efficient at
producing quality product in large
quantities with minimal labor input.
My grandfather milked 60 cows with
the help of his family of nine, which
created enough income for one family.
Today, my dad milks 200 cows
with my mom and no other help
except for the occasional weekend
assistance by me, which creates
enough income for all of us.
Today, there are tens of thousands
of Canadian farmers like my dad,
providing the same amount of care,
with the same amount of detail and
the same amount of animal welfare.
Most farmers care greatly for their
animals and take the utmost pride
opinion
courtesy
There is some debate in the meat-producing community over
whether or not animals should be raised indoors, but some farmers
argue the animals prefer it to outside.
and care in their animals.
If you have any questions about
the modern food system and animal
agriculture do not hesitate to contact
Farm & Food Care Ontario. It’s
an organization created to answer
the public’s questions about their
food and farming supplies. Also, if
you want to enter a modern farm facility
without leaving your desk, just
visit Farm & Food Care’s website at
www.virtualfarmtours.ca to tour a
number of Ontario farms, including
dairy farms like mine.
Why care about the USA election
Carleigh Cathcart
As about half of America and
most (it seems) of Canada heave
a collective sigh of relief at the reelection
of Barack Obama, there
are a few questions posed regarding
the politics of our neighbours
to the south. Through Facebook
posts and conversations overheard
around campus, some
people have wondered, “I am
Canadian, so why should I give
a (you-know-what) about the
American election” Other points
raised included, “It doesn’t matter
who wins, they’re all the same
and do an equally bad job,” as
well as, “We have more important
things to worry about.” Without
delving into the actual campaign
platforms and the stance
of both candidates (Obama and
Mitt Romney) on certain issues,
I’d like to address each of these
statements on a level of personal
opinion.
I am Canadian, why should I
give a hoot about the American
election You should give a hoot
because it has a much larger impact
on Canada than it may seem.
Being our only neighbour, the
United States works in a partnership
with us on everything
from trading and border security
to environmental polices and
defense matters. The person in
charge of the country below us
holds a great influence over a
many Canadian operations. Who
the Americans elect can affect
our trade agreements, Canada-
USA passport requirements, what
and how much of our natural resources
are sold, and the level of
Canadian military assistance requested.
One may think that “out
of sight, out of mind” applies to
the politics of other countries,
but that simply isn’t the truth.
It doesn’t matter who wins,
they’re all equally bad. In a sense,
this could be true; it depends on
how each candidate is viewed.
Every voter has their own unique
list of priorities, impression of
each contender, and level of faith
in the promises made. However,
in the case of the USA election,
say, the two candidates cannot
be and are not exactly the same.
They may raise the same level
of dissatisfaction in their constituents,
but if they were the
same politician, they would not
be running against each other.
In a country with hundreds of
millions of people, it is definitely
puzzling that only two choices
are given to the electorate. But
the choice IS given, and even if it
is a matter of “choosing the lesser
evil,” it is important to know
where one’s values lie. Though of
course we Canadians don’t have
a say in this particular election, I
do believe we should care about
the outcome, because there is no
denying that in one way or another,
it certainly will affect out
lives.
We have more important things
to worry about right now. Yes,
we have many important things
to worry about right now, but
sometimes I think we view
these concerns as disconnected.
The senseless killings in Syria,
the debt crisis in Europe, the
catastrophic damage to our environment
– all are inarguably
pressing issues. But as one of the
most powerful countries/militaries/economies
in the world,
the United States have a tremendous
influence on global matters.
Their leader must be recognized
as someone who can improve or
exacerbate these problems with
the power of their position. And
as Canadians, these issues apply
to us as well. So yes, there are
very important things to worry
about right now, but included
within those events is the US
election.
The apathy of our youth towards
politics is not a secret,
even within our own nation.
And between our own leaders,
schoolwork, jobs, families, and
personal problems, there is no
wonder as to why it is hard to
find time for such things. But to
those who make it an accentuation
to at least follow along, I
commend you. Each concerned
citizen, regardless of voting ability,
is a voice for the future.