January 30, 2025
Bird flu has already proved the catastrophe for both humans and animals. And it may deteriorate.
Three days after Donald Trump gave up on the US from the World Health OrganizationFarm Long -Ailendo started euthanging 100,000 ducks from the bird flu outbreak. This noted the last spread of the virus that also has Died over 100 million Chickens and turkeys across the country. Although less than 70 Americans have concluded the disease So far, scientists warn that this strain may be just “One mutation“From reaching the potential for quick transfer.
No matter what these forecasts go by chicken small, bird flu has already proved the disaster for both humans and animals. By infected pets by Egg prices are increasing 37 percent Americans have many reasons for concern and complaints. Against the background of pathogenic unpredictability, another fact remains clear: the main guilty here is factory agriculture.
Pressing the animals indoors so crowded that they often Can’t even sit downIndustrial agriculture has collected the perfect laboratory for new viruses. That is why the cessation of bird flu in its footsteps and the prevention of invalid future pandemic depends on the regulation of factory farming now.
Over the past couple of decades, corporate agriculture has finally begun to carefully treat its hard and unusual animal treatment. In the idealistic start of the Obama era documentaries such as Food, Inc.and books like Jonathan Safran Foer Nutrition of animals A lot did to expose the indignation that is now committed by the famous conglomerates Monsanto and Tyson Foods. Chic bred to grow so fast They can’t walk, pigs Blocked in boxes too little to turn, dairy cows which Never go outside Either graze – these are the conditions of everyday life 1.7 billion animals Currently, it is trapped on American factory farms.
Journalist Eric Shloser, one of Food, Inc.Main respondents, also reported to the human amount of this industry. Thank Deregulation of the Reagan eraMeat -packing plants eliminated trade union positions and replaced them with unregistered immigrants, which carry out half of the salary, despite the fact that their work endures the risk of toxic falsehood, antibiotics resistant to antibiotics and limb loss. Because these are largely insurance workers of the farm Stopping Person and even Deportation To find medical care they little stimulate on their own to report Diseases such as bird flucontributing to the ideal conditions for the spread of the virus is unnoticed.
But there seems to be no scandal of the factory grown at 6 percent Since 2017. Explanation is typical for Washington: lobbyists. Big Agriculture donated nearly 200 million dollars During the 2024 campaign, mainly for Republicans. Agribusiness also spent More than half a billion dollars influence the bill on a farm that derives profitable subsidies in the industry. In his first term Trump killed New USDA rules Burning the standards of animal well -being, including for chickens that are now destroyed by bird flu. Although Joe Biden resumed these rulesIt slowly sounded new restrictions persist About further “assessment”.
Current Issue
However, a few brave politicians lead a pretty lonely crusade against factory agriculture, and perhaps Earl BlomenauerDemocrat from Oregon. The progressive ecologist spent 28 years in Congress, advocating the welfare of animals and family farms. As the start of the animal protection cape he gathered two -party support For legislation that was harassed by animal fighting, wildlife trading and hard horses workouts as puffing. But his spare project was Law on Nutrition and FarmWhich would enter the financing of the factory farms. Naturally, this Never left the committee.
There are some signs, albeit with significant nuances that Trump administration may come across progress on the matter. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy -Youth can be the strongest critic of great food who entered the office for half a century. He has ambitiously promising “A return 80-year-old agricultural politician”, although most of the decision-making belongs to the secretary of agriculture. Still he could Use its powers Above the FDA to increase agricultural inspections, investigate Drinking water pollution by manure and stop dangerous excessive use of antibiotics on factory farms. But Kennedy repeatedly approval raw milk, one of Main vectors of bird fluIt does not inspire confidence.
For this reason – and some others– Whether it will be confirmed, the question remains.
Then the mantle for the raise of the alarm falls so that the advisor Trump perceives the most secure: headlines. But now the resonance of corporate media has been muted at best. During the 2024 presidential debate, the moderators did not ask only question About the previous pandemic or this initial. While The New York Times Posted accelerating articles about bird flu, calling on the connection between industrial agriculture and our current emergency in the health care situation were mostly sent Letters to the editor and several grandmother n-an ED. Unlike non -profit outlets like Suitable and Civil Eat They devoted all their editorial boards that cover industrial agriculture. If the cable news and record documents follow their presenter, the chief’s attention or exacerbation can be caused.
It can also inspire some Dejo Wu. In October 2020, Trump complain: “You turn on CNN, that’s all they cover.” Covid, Covid, Pandemy, Covid, Covid “.”
If Trump decides to wait and look at the factory agriculture, it is likely that such a chant will return – and once again his hopes for a stunning heritage will be for birds.
More than Nation
Despite other foreign policy disagreements, there is a consensus among the Republicans: the United States must take ultra-liner to Latin America.
More than 23 years after the September 11 attacks, we are in the same place when we were endless years – pausing.
There are no bigger threats now than the climatic crisis and the global pandemic.
If it were almost in any country than Israel, which made such a genocide, Washington would cut off hand supplies a month ago.
