5 thoughts on “Problem Memo: Devastating Effects of Improper Waste Management in U.S. Factory Farming Industry on Environment and Public Health”
Great piece, Xena!
Framing your memo around the “global demand for meat and animal products” immediately conveys the urgency of the issue. I think this is a strong phrase because it emphasizes the widespread effect of the problem at hand. Your use of “demand” situates the problem in context of markets, which could possibly attract investors and those who have the power—that is, money—to modify the issue.
Next I’d like to hone in on the following quote: “The National Institute of Health reported in 1998 that 19 people died due to hydrogen sulfide emissions from manure pits.” I think its great information but maybe you could think about employing a more recent statistic. Data that is recent and robust is hard to argue against, and I think you’re on to some really smart research.
Your comments about the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan is effective. You strike a formal yet concerned tone while emphasizing the importance of your request. Well done!
Also I like how you highlight the Illinois hog farm and its manure spill. The specificity gives your memo a practical element, which is helpful for convincing readers. Perhaps using more research like this could bolster your argument. For instance, include Tyson’s questionable business practices or something along those lines.
Good luck!
Hi Xena,
I really appreciate all the problems you raised in your memo. You provided excellent supporting facts and the memo as a whole is very informative. Reading this memo reminded me of a documentary I watch on Netflix relating to how Tyson and Purdue raise their chickens. It was really harsh depiction of the reality of how these animals are treated and the uncleanliness of the meats we consume. You memo was thoughtful and well developed.
Waste management is a very important issue for Environmental Protection Agency. Your memo had a great structure. It shows how waste from industries are effecting us and who are effecting by this issue. This memo shows that why EPA should take emergency step regarding this issue. This memo really reminded me about the waste management issue in Bangladesh where industry will throw their waste at any place. I think as a developed country, US should set a precedent for developing countries. The stated problem and facts in your memo would concern EPA more about this issue.
The writing here is succinct and powerful. It does a wonderful job of pointing out an issue that many Americans, and people around the world, are only just realizing. The effects of methane emissions due to industrialized agriculture have only been recently touched on by popular media.
The text employs examples that illustrate the problems at hand well. This allows the statistics to be well understood quickly, and I think that this lends to the compelling argument that the memo makes.
Xena – memo does an excellent job explaining the adverse effects of storing large amounts of livestock waste in open-air pools. This said, the tone of the paper implies that the real problem here isn’t just the pools but agri-industry itself. The pools are definitely an issue but it’s unclear what options exist that will solve these problems. Requiring these businesses to create treatment plants was an option we discussed in class but my sense is that this will only mitigate the harm rather than prevent it outright. So long as our livestock is being raised and slaughtered in such high concentrations, I suspect we will not be able to free ourselves from the adverse side effects that result from having to deal with such massive amounts of waste. From a policy perspective, I think we need to explore whether tighter monitoring of businesses to ensure compliance with existing regs is a feasible path to improved results or whether new regulations need to be implemented.
Great piece, Xena!
Framing your memo around the “global demand for meat and animal products” immediately conveys the urgency of the issue. I think this is a strong phrase because it emphasizes the widespread effect of the problem at hand. Your use of “demand” situates the problem in context of markets, which could possibly attract investors and those who have the power—that is, money—to modify the issue.
Next I’d like to hone in on the following quote: “The National Institute of Health reported in 1998 that 19 people died due to hydrogen sulfide emissions from manure pits.” I think its great information but maybe you could think about employing a more recent statistic. Data that is recent and robust is hard to argue against, and I think you’re on to some really smart research.
Your comments about the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan is effective. You strike a formal yet concerned tone while emphasizing the importance of your request. Well done!
Also I like how you highlight the Illinois hog farm and its manure spill. The specificity gives your memo a practical element, which is helpful for convincing readers. Perhaps using more research like this could bolster your argument. For instance, include Tyson’s questionable business practices or something along those lines.
Good luck!
Hi Xena,
I really appreciate all the problems you raised in your memo. You provided excellent supporting facts and the memo as a whole is very informative. Reading this memo reminded me of a documentary I watch on Netflix relating to how Tyson and Purdue raise their chickens. It was really harsh depiction of the reality of how these animals are treated and the uncleanliness of the meats we consume. You memo was thoughtful and well developed.
Waste management is a very important issue for Environmental Protection Agency. Your memo had a great structure. It shows how waste from industries are effecting us and who are effecting by this issue. This memo shows that why EPA should take emergency step regarding this issue. This memo really reminded me about the waste management issue in Bangladesh where industry will throw their waste at any place. I think as a developed country, US should set a precedent for developing countries. The stated problem and facts in your memo would concern EPA more about this issue.
The writing here is succinct and powerful. It does a wonderful job of pointing out an issue that many Americans, and people around the world, are only just realizing. The effects of methane emissions due to industrialized agriculture have only been recently touched on by popular media.
The text employs examples that illustrate the problems at hand well. This allows the statistics to be well understood quickly, and I think that this lends to the compelling argument that the memo makes.
Xena – memo does an excellent job explaining the adverse effects of storing large amounts of livestock waste in open-air pools. This said, the tone of the paper implies that the real problem here isn’t just the pools but agri-industry itself. The pools are definitely an issue but it’s unclear what options exist that will solve these problems. Requiring these businesses to create treatment plants was an option we discussed in class but my sense is that this will only mitigate the harm rather than prevent it outright. So long as our livestock is being raised and slaughtered in such high concentrations, I suspect we will not be able to free ourselves from the adverse side effects that result from having to deal with such massive amounts of waste. From a policy perspective, I think we need to explore whether tighter monitoring of businesses to ensure compliance with existing regs is a feasible path to improved results or whether new regulations need to be implemented.