Lately, I’ve been struggling with the idea of making proper food choices. As a woman that suffers from severe eczema and a sensitivity to aspartame products, I understand the importance of paying attention to my daily eating habits.
Our world is continually growing and ever changing into this fast-paced, technological atmosphere that is overwhelming at times. Purchasing fast food often feeds into the busy lifestyles that cause us to eat on-the-go. Therefore I had to ask myself, “What am I really eating?”
IFC Films has released a new documentary, EATING ANIMALS, which is a film by Christopher Quinn (God Grew Tired of Us, 21 Up America) and produced and narrated by Natalie Portman. This film breaks down the economic, environmental, and health impacts of factory farming and its effects on small farmers, consumers, and animals.
To say I was thoroughly intrigued by this subject matter is an understatement. As a Southern girl that understands the role of farming and raising cattle, I was completely shocked to learn that 99% of the market today consists of factory farms. 1% of the market is represented by farmers that choose to work in the traditional method or the farming lifestyle that existed before technology took over our lives. This statistic is mind-blowing.
Natalie Portman delivers a sound voice description as she explains the numerous stories of farmers making the decision to either follow the factory trend or staying rooted on a traditional foundation.
The history of Colonel Harland Sanders and Don Tyson is explored to gain a deeper insight into how far we’ve gotten away from the traditional methods that guided our agriculture. Dale Jamieson, a professor of Environmental Studies & Philosophy, gave a great analogy to explain the meaning of /anthropecene in our world today. Jamieson used a familiar Bible story and stated, “We are Goliath and nature is David.” This had me thinking, How do we defeat the giants in our lives, when the shadow of the haunting figure belongs to us?
The comparison and contrast of farmers Craig Watts and Frank Reese Jr. spoke volumes about the significance of being able to share their story despite the backlash. Whether we agree or disagree with how these farmers conduct business, it’s imperative to see the human beings that are affected by corporations that choose to deny their right to make a successful earnest living.
Although I don’t see myself becoming a vegetarian in the near future, watching this film helped me realize the severity of the process involved in creating the meat I desire.
I encourage everyone to view the film EATING ANIMALS so that you can gain a greater perspective of the farming lifestyle. You will definitely learn something new and groundbreaking.
