The way we grow and produce our food has changed dramatically over the last century. Some of these changes, especially those related to meat production, are seen as inhumane. There is a lot of video evidence showing animals in abusive and horrific conditions. These changes are a detriment to the lives of animals, to the health of the environment, and to ourselves.
Artist Mishka Henner became fascinated with these massive but largely unknown changes to food production. She began collecting satellite images of one of the key facets of the factory farm system that is the foundation of much of our food industry: feedlots.
Feedlots are massive feeding pens used for holding animals as they are prepared for slaughter.
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Some of these feedlots are unimaginably large, sometimes containing thousands of animals.
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With so many animals so close together, all the waste produced must be drained into a waste reservoir nearby.
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The chemicals contaminating this waste (which give it vibrant colors) not only render the waste useless as fertilizer, but they also contaminate groundwater and surrounding land.
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Even people from the towns nearby feedlots report health issues resulting from the emissions from these massive feeding pens and their waste reservoirs.
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(via: filmsforaction.org)
These photos from Mishka Henner are shocking, and bring much needed attention to this issue that concerns all of us. You can see more of her work here.
