----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 1:20
PM
Subject: The stupidity of Agribusiness
decisions
I have been researching all of this, because of the scary nature
of mad cow disease being detected in the US and what I was finding out about
prions. The most hair raising thing for me was the comparison between the
World Health Organizations recommendations for medical personnel
regarding attempts to sterilize surgical equipment used on patients with
variants of mad cow disease.... and the absolutely cavalier attitude of
slaughterhouses and "rendering" plants about mixing the various animals'
"stuff" or using the same equipment for two or more species... Even if the
laws about not feeding cow by-products to cows were adequate (which they
are not) and even if the laws were being followed to the letter (which
they are not), it's not going to protect anybody if the same equipment is used
for cows and then used for pigs or sheep, etc. In the rendering plants (talk
about a euphemism!), where they are making feed for these animals out of the
same animals, they are cross-contaminating everything such that the laws are
completely beside the point. It's merely a public relations gesture, as is the
"Humane Slaughter Act" that we have had in place for decades. My head is
swimming from what I have been finding.
My next area of research was to find out who these multinational
companies are that are responsible. One of the main ones is Cargill. This is a
monster of a company that has, over the past 75 years, closed the cycle by
acquiring companies in each part of the cycle between growing crops and
animals, slaughterhouses, rendering plants, and supplying feed for animals.
It's a closed loop. They are also funding a lot of research into genetic
modification and giving grants to agricultural schools (over 10 million
dollars in one grant, according to an article I found on their
website...) and these are being tested in many, many countries. This company
has net earnings in the billions of dollars, gross earnings in the 12 figures!
They say they employ almost 100,000 people in 61 different countries. They own
Purina, for God's sakes! They are a huge presence in Canada and I would not be
surprised if the source in Canada of Mad Cow disease is through this company,
from one arm to another, or via feed made at one of their rendering plants.
They are building "bio-refineries". They are working on things like
"bio-products development". This company has more presence around the world
and more "GNP" than most of the countries it has presence in. I don't know
about you, but that kind of information scares the bejeezus out of
ME.
Other companies owning processing plants: Archer Daniels Midland,
ConAgra, Tyson/IBP, Smithfield Foods. I haven't researched those yet to see
what kinds of partnerships are involved, but take a look at Cargill and get a
feel for some of the scope of this company. Then start buying all your food at
local, certified organic outlets. Even if you find organically grown meats
somewhere on the internet, check to see where they have their animals
slaughtered. Some send them to slaughterhouses, which defeats the purpose. I
am looking into Kosher meats, to find out about their practices. Preliminary
results are that the slaughter of these animals is much more hygienic but
there is no specifics on how they are raised, so the feed issue is a big
concern. Purina animal chows are used everywhere. I have fed all my dogs Dog
Chow, all my life. That's about to change.
Thank heaven for the internet, that's all I can
say!
Judith