Learning About Sustainability Can Be Fun

Two entertaining ways to educate yourself about sustainability issues:

TMI360
This is The Meatrix Interactive 360. It’s a fun (but scary) tour through a factory farming community. As you scroll over different areas in the scene, you can click to find additional information. Click on the little white house that is too close to the factory farm to find out why houses near factory farms are worth less money. Community, Family Farms and Mad Cow Disease are just a few more of the problems addressed here. There are some fun “Easter eggs” hidden within; scroll over the tree next to the little white house, and see what happens!

Beef Label Decoder
The title is as boring as our new “Glossary of Meat Production Methods” (we could be a little more enticing), but these two work well together. While our handout goes into the different production methods, the Beef Label Decoder, from National Geographic, explains the specifics of different certification organizations. For example, if you click on Animal Welfare Approved (AWA), the decoder explains – Feed Allowed: Grass, Grain, Corn. Access to Pasture: Required. Standards ensure that animals spend the majority of their lives on pasture. Antibiotics: Only given to sick animals. Growth Hormones: Not allowed. Animal Welfare: Very specific requirements addressing a variety of issues, including health, shelter and handling. AWA sounds great; take a look to find out the more about other certifications.