Factory Farming Persuasive Essay

“Beef. It’s what’s for dinner.” The slogan and idea of meat being a staple in all family dinners as part of a healthy diet is force fed down the throats of Americans every single day through government approved advertisement. Animal production and consumption is one of the biggest driving forces in the deterioration of the earth, yet it is a socially accepted practice worldwide. Because animal farming is the leading cause of deforestation, is the primary source of all greenhouse gas emissions, and pollutes water and soil through animal manure, people should consume less meat or choose a meat-free diet.

Factory farms have not been around for a very long time, in fact, the first factory farm appeared in the 1970s, and slowly others followed("The Rise," 2010). Throughout history, the government has passed laws that favor factory farming and large corporate businesses. Three policy changes in government supported the meat industry. First, the cost of soybeans and corn, which is

Environmental climate change, “a long-term change in the earth's climate, especially a change due toan increase in the average atmospheric temperature,” can be directly linked human causation ("Climate Change," 2017). A jaw-dropping 51 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions are a direct result of animal agriculture (Peta, 2017). The importance of global warming is not to be underestimated. Trees are blooming sooner than in the past causing their buds to die in a late winter freeze, glaciers are shrinking, and ice is breaking up on bodies of water or not forming at all. In the past scientists have predicted the loss of sea ice and more intense heat waves which are all occurring today. Scientists are certain that global temperatures will continue to increase. ("The Consequences," 2017). Subsequently, gas emissions have major effects on the planet and can be linked directly to animal