People would like to believe that in this part of Mexico farmers still use the old methods. When I was researching moving here, I read many statements by people that food here is organic and free range. The assumption often was that farmers in this area are too poor to afford pesticides and fertilizers and antibiotics that end up being eaten and then slowly killing untold numbers of people in the form of cancers and other diseases.
But, obviously, some of the "advanced" farming methods from the United States have made it to southern Mexico. (I had read about massive factory hog farms in northern Mexico.) Many of the advances in this form of "farming" were made at North Carolina State.
This situation is not only sad because it results in people dying before their time in unspeakable pain. It is also sad because of the unforgivable treatment these animals must endure from birth to death. Slaughtering them is likely the greatest kindness their human keepers perform. And what happens to people who treat animals this way? What happens to a country that permits this kind of reckless disrespect of life? What happens to a people that value profit over nature and quality of life? We have seen the results in the United States. Are there many people left who regard the United States as a "happy" country. From here, the US looks like a country trapped in a state of fear, anger, depression and violence. With a people who need all the drugs that the cartels and pharmaceutical companies can offer to provide some relief from this reality.
What will happen to poor Mexico? And what about what is happening to millions of these poor animals?
The Wikipedia entry for "Intensive pig farming" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intensive_pig_farming
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