TO THE EDITOR:
Many thanks to The Daily Tar Heel for last Friday’s brilliant editorial cartoon, “Pork: the fine print,” which calls attention to the horrific treatment of animals on factory farms. As terrible as these places are for animals, the simple truth is that factory farming endangers us all.
We need influential institutions like the DTH to help raise awareness about these threats, and to encourage improvement.
The cartoon spotlights the awful practices of Smithfield Foods. This is fitting because Smithfield — the world’s largest producer of pork — has a massive presence in North Carolina. Here and elsewhere, Smithfield is doing tremendous harm to pigs, to people, and to our environment. And while we bear these costs, Smithfield is reporting record profits.
These topics are zestfully addressed in the summer reading selection, “Eating Animals,” as well as in the new documentary film “Pig Business” and the Oscar-nominated “Food Inc.”
Each member of the University community can join the growing number of us who are facing up to the facts and saying, “Enough!”
Each of us can contribute to the creation of food systems that are more just, humane, and environmentally sustainable. Thanks for doing what you can to help.
Loren Hart
Class of ’00
