In the cloak of increased production and profits we have turned to intensive farming. But intensive farming has come with a high price to our health. Today the health of all Americans are at more risk than ever before because of the chemicals that we ingest into our bodies through the food we eat. Cancer, Alzheimer’s and other major illnesses are on the rise and said to be linked to the chemicals absorbed into our bodies. Will we ever be able to go back to farming the natural way?
The use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides is rampant in intensive farming. Animal farms with over populated conditions and pollution lead to animal sickness and diseases. Intensive farming is carried out in the majority of these working farms leading to more chances of us consuming unwanted chemicals in our diet.
The disadvantages of intensive farming are manifold. The environment is altered with the creation of large open field to facilitate efficiency and profits. But this upsets the natural habitat of the animals that live there. Improper handling of vast, open spaces lead to soil erosion. The use of pesticides may give us a ‘healthy looking’ crop but in effect we are ingesting the residual chemicals left in the plant. Massive amount of nitrogen based fertilizers contaminate the rivers and lakes which will eventually destroy our environment.
Animal rights activists have been up in arms against the intensive farming of poultry for a very long time. Overcrowded, inhumane conditions have lead to the prevalence of diseases among the birds. The incidence of ‘bird flu’ cannot be over emphasized here. Even the eggs produced by such birds remains a threat to our health. The overuse of antibiotics on the birds have affected our health too.
We have listed the disadvantages of intensive farming. So it looks like the only advantage to the consumer in intensive farming is the lower priced food which
we are actually paying for with our health. If only Americans were to pay a little more for their products, they would actually be paying less for their medical bills. A good example will be our regular ‘Michigan grown’ apple. One is the product of intensive farming whereby the apple is covered with an invisible pesticide residue layer that does not wash off. The other is the organic apple, free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals. It is grown by your hardworking, hometown organic farmers who are experiencing a very hard time competing with the chemical giants. This may sound dramatic but it is not. Supporting your local farmers support your health. The choice is in yours. Make the right one today.
Global warming is a threat that will affect generations to come. The atmosphere surrounding us that supports life is a God-given gift. It must be protected. We should be leaders in efforts to curb global warming, not resistant followers. Erin Hunt is an avid writer and activist. She discovered that many are still unaware of the dangers of global warming and thus created a website to educate others on how they can play a role in the fight against global warming. Find out more about the effects and cause of global warming and how you can make a difference at http://www.fightagainstglobalwarming.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erin_Hunt
Friday, July 13, 2007
Why Recycling Paper is Good
Paper recycling is the process of converting waste paper into new useable paper. Recycling paper takes half the energy needed to produce new paper.
Most trash consists of paper in one form or another. Every 100 pounds of trash contains 35 pounds of paper.
Paper is usually made from trees but cloth and grass can be used to make paper as well. Many paper companies plant trees solely for the purpose of making paper. Once a tree is cut down to be processed into paper, another tree is planted in its place. The entire tree is used in one way or another. The bulk of the tree is chopped into small chips that are eventually turned into paper. Once these chips are processed into paper, bleach is added to make higher quality white paper. The bark and roots of the tree are used for energy in the paper mill.
Recycling takes waste paper and mixes it with fresh wood pulp to create new paper. Unlike aluminum cans, which can be recycled over and over again, paper can only be recycled 5 to 6 times. The fibers of the paper become too weak over time to reuse. Mixing in fresh wood pulp strengthens the recycled paper, making it more durable.
The benefits of recycling paper are less waste in landfills, less pollution in the environment from the manufacturing processes and less disruption of nature. The disruption of nature, however, is not always considered to be a strong reason to recycle because many trees are planted and replanted solely for the purpose of making paper. The benefit of less paper in the landfills is due to the biodegradable nature of paper. When paper rots in the landfill, it creates methane, which contributes to global warming. Recycling services are usually cheaper than traditional trash pickup. Also, less energy is used in recycling, although the energy savings are not as large as they are in recycling other types of materials such as aluminum or steel.
The most commonly recycled types of paper that are recycled are plain white paper, newspaper, cardboard, construction paper, and magazines. Some types of paper are not ideal for recycling. Gift wrap is one type. Paper coated with materials such as aluminum foil or plastic is also not ideal. The processing of these types of paper is too expensive to warrant recycling. It is also necessary to separate different types of paper prior to recycling. High paper grades are separated from low grades. Cardboard, newspaper, and magazines are examples of low grade paper. White and colored office paper are considered to be high grade.
In some areas a curbside pickup can be scheduled for recycling paper. It is important to keep the paper dry, therefore placing outside on rainy days is discouraged. There may be local drop off areas as well. Many offices have recycling bins readily available as paper is largely used in offices. Supermarkets and civic centers may also have paper recycling bins readily available. It may also be useful to cut down on paper usage in general by using computers or email to electronically handle communication and documentation.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Recycling
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Most trash consists of paper in one form or another. Every 100 pounds of trash contains 35 pounds of paper.
Paper is usually made from trees but cloth and grass can be used to make paper as well. Many paper companies plant trees solely for the purpose of making paper. Once a tree is cut down to be processed into paper, another tree is planted in its place. The entire tree is used in one way or another. The bulk of the tree is chopped into small chips that are eventually turned into paper. Once these chips are processed into paper, bleach is added to make higher quality white paper. The bark and roots of the tree are used for energy in the paper mill.
Recycling takes waste paper and mixes it with fresh wood pulp to create new paper. Unlike aluminum cans, which can be recycled over and over again, paper can only be recycled 5 to 6 times. The fibers of the paper become too weak over time to reuse. Mixing in fresh wood pulp strengthens the recycled paper, making it more durable.
The benefits of recycling paper are less waste in landfills, less pollution in the environment from the manufacturing processes and less disruption of nature. The disruption of nature, however, is not always considered to be a strong reason to recycle because many trees are planted and replanted solely for the purpose of making paper. The benefit of less paper in the landfills is due to the biodegradable nature of paper. When paper rots in the landfill, it creates methane, which contributes to global warming. Recycling services are usually cheaper than traditional trash pickup. Also, less energy is used in recycling, although the energy savings are not as large as they are in recycling other types of materials such as aluminum or steel.
The most commonly recycled types of paper that are recycled are plain white paper, newspaper, cardboard, construction paper, and magazines. Some types of paper are not ideal for recycling. Gift wrap is one type. Paper coated with materials such as aluminum foil or plastic is also not ideal. The processing of these types of paper is too expensive to warrant recycling. It is also necessary to separate different types of paper prior to recycling. High paper grades are separated from low grades. Cardboard, newspaper, and magazines are examples of low grade paper. White and colored office paper are considered to be high grade.
In some areas a curbside pickup can be scheduled for recycling paper. It is important to keep the paper dry, therefore placing outside on rainy days is discouraged. There may be local drop off areas as well. Many offices have recycling bins readily available as paper is largely used in offices. Supermarkets and civic centers may also have paper recycling bins readily available. It may also be useful to cut down on paper usage in general by using computers or email to electronically handle communication and documentation.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Recycling
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
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