Want to avoid future "avian flu" scenarios ? Stop Factory Farming.

[MazeRat7]

http://www.factoryfarming.com/gallery/photos_poultry.htm

So today is Avian Flu, last quarter it was Mad Cow, next year ? What do all these have at their source ? Factory Farming. I see the outrage on how the animals in NO were treated, where is the outrage to how millions of pigs, cows, and chickens are treated everyday in this country ?

MZr7

[Spinzonner]

1. How would you explain the 1918 pandemic ?

given that it occurred before so-called Factory Farming and the use of antibiotics - given that it predates the discovery of Penecillin.

There's plenty to criticize about that kind of farming from both a humane and health point-of-view but Flu pandemics are not at this point one of them.

Almost all flu varieties originate in birds in southeast Asia, particularly rural China, where the birds are in close proximity to other farm animals, especially pigs. The viruses mutate and infect the pigs and, since there are significant genetic similarities to humans in pigs (some transplants have been considered) there is an easier jump to humans.

[MazeRat7]

4. The 1918 virus jumped in WWI camps where they raised birds for slaughter

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/newsletter/disease04.htm

MZr7

[patricia92243]

2. Interesting topic. What do you think would/could be the answer to being

able to feed the populace and NOT use Factory Farming. People have to eat and, realistically, are not going to become vegetarians.

[MazeRat7]

8. My first comment for a solution is consumer moderation.

I would never advocate that all the US "Go Vegan" overnight. However, our consumption of animal by products is much higher than needed. Look at our obesity rates, our fetish for processed foods, and certainly our lust for animal parts which we don't have to see or kill.

If every person in American would eat 9-12 vegan meals per week (assuming everyone eats 3/day), It would have a major impact. We are looking for progress not perfection.

So why can't everyone make a commitment to eat food that contains no animal by-products every other day ? We certainly put our money and effort into helping the abandoned animals of NO and quite frankly there situation was not nearly has horrid.

MZr7

[David Zephyr]

3. I think you make a very interesting observation, MazeRat7

While I am not certain that ending factory farming would stop what you call "avian flu scenarios", I do grant you that between the unrelenting human overpopulating of this already crowded planet, factory farming and destruction of the delicate eco system that sooner or later there will be a pandemic that could take out most of the human race.

[Spinzonner]

5. There's no evidence that such a pandemic would

'take out most of the human race'.

There might be catastrophic numbers of death by contemporary standards but that's a far cry from your characterization.

Even the Black Death didn't do such and that was a time with little if any significant medical care, drugs, and vaccines simply didn't exist.

The fact is that the genetically and medically vulnerable died and others survived and the human race went on.

[David Zephyr]

7. Not one to argue...

The three conditions I describe above which are all still unchecked: continued population growth at the current rate, factory farming, and the destruction of the delicate eco system point to a certain prescription for disaster..."sooner or later".

[MazeRat7]

10. We have already crossed that point, IMHO

The evidence is abundant but the acceptance of responsibility is a long way off.

MZr7

[Spinzonner]

12. A disaster does not constitute 'taking out most of the human race'

Define your terms please.

It is possible to have massive deaths without reaching that level.

And you lack a scientific model for such an assertion.

[achtung_circus]

6. The real danger

is housing poultry (and swine) in close proximity to people. It makes it easier for influenza viruses to jump the species barrier.

That's why these tend to develop in Asia.

We had H5N1 in Canada, lower Fraser Delta in BC. Eradication of the birds and the disease was much easier because it was contained in barns.

Not saying I agree with intensive livestock, just get the facts straight.

[hedgehog]

9. I'd say factory farming is just plain dangerous

It puts all your chickens in one basket, so to speak. Seriously, if one animal gets sick, now a couple hundred are exposed. Even if no animal gets sick, the manure load is far too much to be handled in the old way (spreading it on the ground)

[SoCalDem]

11. There was a documentary a while back that said

that as wetlands in asia are polluted or paved over, the birds who migrate through are stopping in at farms for water and rest...and are coming into contact with domesticated birds and animals..Farmers sell these animals in open markets, and spread the disease..