land

When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.

-Aldo Leopold 

Land Ethic

Aldo Leopold's "The Land Ethic" has been extremely influential in my way of thinking about and studying the environment. Leopold's radical ideas of humans taking responsibility for the land and giving the land respect just the same as we would members of a community is, what I think, a pivotal thought in environmental thinking. Leopold thought that we must no longer use the environment and our ecosystems simply as a resource that has economic value, but instead view the environment with the same respect we would give an individual, "a member of a community of interdependent parts." I think that "The Land Ethic" gives a crucial account on how humans should treat the land. I think that respect, cooperation, and mutual benefits are the only way the humans will learn how and why conservation is so important. Conservation must be a priority and humans will see this if they commit to a land ethic of some sort.

Meaning of Obligations

After the many readings we've done in our class about whether animals have rights or moral standing or value I have come to the conclusion that animals to have inherent value. I think that because animals have inherent value and could have a good life or a bad life depending on how they are treated, humans have an obligation to giving animals the best life possible. What does it mean to have obligations to animals? I think that it means that if we are going to continue eating animals and testing on animals there needs to be a certain level of dignity upheld in these types of situations. For example, keeping animals in CAFOs is not treating them with the correct level of dignity. Keeping chickens on a farm in a coop and letting them have enough space to run around and establish pecking orders and not putting them through unnecessary pain in their life is giving them the dignity they should have. I don't think that we need to stop eating meat or stop testing on animals but I think that there needs to be a systematic change in the way we treat the animals that are going to end up on our plates or testing the products that we use.

UVM Veterinarian

Yesterday we got to hear Dr. Blauwiekel speak in class. She is the university veterinarian for the University of Vermont. I really enjoyed her presentation because she seemed to give a very realistic and applied view on the subject of animal testing. It really helped my understanding on the matter to learn about the history of animal testing and to see how laws have progressed to where they are today and to see why these laws are what they are. I thought she gave a great perspective on the necessity of having animal testing but also the importance of maintaining a good living environment and human treatment of the animals. I think that it is crucial to take care of the animals being used and even to give them a higher standard of living than they would otherwise have.

Animal Testing

I guess I've never really thought about what my views and beliefs are when it comes to animal testing. I know where I stand on eating animals, I'm pretty sure I know where I stand on hunting animals but, until this week, I never really had a stance on animal testing. After reading Singer's view, Cohen's view, and a little of Regan's view on animal testing I think that I am coming down on the side of Cohen. I don't think that animals should have rights because rights are a human construct. I do believe, on the other hand, that humans have obligations to animals because humans are moral agents and can decide whether or not the mis-treat other living beings. I also think that this includes us having moral obligations to other humans, which means that if medical testing on rats means that we are able to produce a vaccine for polio or a cure for cancer, we should do it. This does not mean that unnecessary animal testing should be conducted or that any type of animal testing that could also be thought of as torture is permissable. We must do our testing on animals as humanely and little as possble. Only when necessary for human health.

Your Dollar is Your Voice

People shop and eat where it is convenient and where they can afford. There is nothing particularly wrong with people doing this but I would argue that by not thinking about where your food is coming from or even how it is prepared, you are committing a dis-service to yourself. Food is not just what you eat when you're hungry, it is your body's fuel and life-blood. When you but food you are making a choice that is not only healthy or not but is also political and economic. As seen in the movie Food inc., today's food industry is controlled by very few corporate powers, including Perdue, Tyson, Monsanto, etc. Buying a $5 pack of chicken breast from Perdue means that there is $5 more that will contribute to the factory farming industry. It is the individuals responsibility to look into the company they are buying their food from and deciding that they agree with the practices done by that company before purchasing any of their products.

Growing Up Knowing About the Food

Growing up in a household of very food conscious parents I was always educated on which foods to eat and why. Conversations often veered towards discussing the pros of organic, local, and fresh vegetables, or where the fish on the table came from; Alaska or Canada? Farm raised or wild caught? Going out to eat with my parents would be more of a process than anything else, with my dad questioning the waiter to no end about the origin of the food and if butter is used or salt. I am fortunate that I had the opportunity to live in such an environment where food has never been simply a necessity but more of a lifestyle choice. My parents have been pescatarians for as long as I can remember and in high school I made a moral decision to join them in their diet. This lasted throughout high school and into college. Once in college I had a difficult time limiting my diet in the cafeteria and began eating poultry as well as fish. Since college began I have flip-floped in my diet many times from vegetarian to omnivore and back again. Currently I am eating meat but I attempt to make my food choices thoughtful. It will be interesting to see how the Rights of Animals and Ecosystems course will shape and change my thoughts and views on my own diet and lifestyle.