There are nearly 9 million pigs in North Carolina… and 10 million humans. There are a dozen counties in in the state where pigs actually outnumber humans, but most of these animals live their short lives in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). They are rarely if ever seen by the general public.
However, to our neighbors in eastern North Carolina, the reality of factory farming is anything but hidden — the smell, the flies, the foul brown water all seep through the land they call home.
This isn’t just an animal rights issue, it’s a human rights issue, too. It’s social injustice, plain and simple. And it’s daily life for residents who are most impacted — rural poor communities of color. One could argue that North Carolina is a microcosm of the ills of factory farming; what’s bad for the animals is bad for public health and for the environment.
Our neighbors (humans and other animals) deserve freedom from harm. Reducing demand for meat is a small but truly significant and compassionate action we can take to ensure that justice rules.
The good news is that community activists are beginning to motivate their neighbors to take action. Will you join them?