Welcome to the Heartland Blood Centers new on-line donor scheduling portal. If this is your first time to log in since November 7, 2012, you will need to create a NEW. More than 100 million farm animals are raised each year in British Columbia and more than 650 million in Canada. The BC SPCA is working to improve the lives of these. Grass- fed beef. Implications for animal welfare, the environment and human health. Free- range, grass- fed, pasture- raised, naturally- raised; these terms are frequently displayed on meat products, and although theselabel claims seem fairly similar, the farming practices may not be. So how do we as consumers choose a meat product that will benefit human health as well as improve animal welfare and environmental sustainability? The secret is reconnecting animals with nature. Since the early 1. Feedlots are typically large dirt lots sectioned into large pens. Environmental Farm Program Bc355nEach pen has a feed and water trough and maybe a small shaded/covered area, but often little else. During their time at the feedlot, cattle are often given growth enhancing hormones. Though customary, the social acceptability of feedlots and the use of growth enhancers at finishing have become increasingly undesirable to consumers due to the concerns around animal welfare, human health and the effects on the environment. Many farmers share these concerns and are turning to alternative ways of farming, such as “grass- fed” beef. Raising grass- fed beef begins with putting cattle back on pasture and eliminating feedlots from the production equation. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines “grass- fed beef” as meat obtained from cattle that have eaten only grasses and forage (hay/roughage) throughout their lifetime, with the exception of milk for calves. Grass- fed cattle must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season, and are not fed any grain or grain by- products. Grass- fed beef farms typically use a rotational grazing system, which involves a large pasture area that is divided into numerous smaller individual paddocks. Cattle are placed in the first paddock to graze a variety of grasses. Pasture growth is monitored to prevent overgrazing. Once the pasture has been sufficiently grazed, the herd is moved to the next paddock, leaving behind an evenly distributed, nutrient- rich spread of manure. Manure is a natural fertilizer that replenishes top soil, spurring new growth of pasture grasses.
With proper timing and rotation, the first paddock should be ready for re- grazing once the last paddock has been grazed through. Then the rotation is repeated. So why choose grass- fed beef over conventional grain- finished beef? Animal Welfare Benefits for Grass- Fed Cows. Fewer health problems than feedlot cattle. Grass is easily digested by cattle; a sudden change in diet to include large quantities of grain (starches) can upset a cow’s digestive system (becomes highly acidic) and can lead to more serious health concerns if left untreated. Freedom to express normal behaviours and exercise continuously, improving animal welfare. Fewer problems with pests (flies, rodents) and related health concerns. Grass- fed cattle live longer, more natural lives because they put on fat more slowly than cattle fed a grain- based diet (it takes longer to reach market weight)Benefits for the Farmer. Lower input costs (feed, labour, fertilizer)Cattle feed themselves by grazing (with heavy snow cover cattle may require additional forage on pasture, e. Grass-fed beef Implications for animal welfare, the environment and human health. Free-range, grass-fed, pasture-raised, naturally-raised; these terms are frequently. Woodstove Exchange and Outreach Program While incentives last, home owners can access a $250 rebate when replacing an old wood burning appliance with an EPA/CSA. This is because the carbon footprint of raising beef cattle comes from the growth of grains for feeding feedlot animals, which requires fossil- fuel- based fertilizers, pesticides and transportation. Rotational grazing improves soil fertility, decreases soil erosion (loss) and has the ability to protect sensitive areas (i. Environmental Justice ? This page is dedicated to a basic understanding of EJ and the Environmental Justice Movement (EJM). The Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) has recognized environmental injustices as an important phenomenon to be investigated. Increasing awareness of EJ may influence the focus on underserved communities in the future of scientific research in environmental health. What is Environmental Justice? EJ usually refers to the belief that all citizens, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic class, should equally share in the benefits of environmental amenities and the burdens of environmental health hazards. Most definitions have common . Collins 1. 99. 2). Environmental Justice (EJ) is not universally defined. EJ has different meanings to various communities and institutions; therefore, the EJ definition is based in place, time, and perspective. It is often explained using examples of environmental injustices, focusing on the distribution of environmental risks. Most definitions talk about the . Because of this new view of the environment, the Environmental Justice Movement (EJM) has caused a major shift in the idea of environmentalism (Taylor, 2. Pena, 2. 00. 5). Distributional Justice refers to spatial fairness of the physical distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. Unequal siting of landfills. Unequal siting of polluting industries. Unequal extraction of natural resources. Disparate access to recreational space. Disparate exposure to toxicants on the job. Unequal arrangement of public infrastructure, such as high ways, public transportation, garbage collection, etc. Procedural Justice refers to providing equal protection from environmental hazards regarding rulemaking and enforcement. Unequal protection in cleaning up environmental hazards. Unequal enforcement in environmental quality control. Disparate risks in safe food consumption standards. Disparate impact of cumulative assessment of environmental quality control (i. Fair treatment means that no group of people, including a racial, ethnic, or a socioeconomic group, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies. Meaningful involvement means that: potentially affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health; the public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision; the concerns of all participants involved will be considered in the decision making process; andthe decision makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected. The Principles of Environmental Justice (1. Adopted, Washington, D. C., October 1. 99. First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit. We, the People of Color, are gathered together at this First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, to begin to build a national movement of all peoples of color to fight the destruction of our lands and communities, do hereby reestablish our spiritual interdependence to the sacredness of our Mother Earth; we respect and celebrate each of our cultures, languages and beliefs about the natural world and our roles in healing ourselves; to insure environmental justice; to promote economic alternatives which would contribute to the development of environmentally safe livelihoods; and to secure our political, economic and cultural liberation that has been denied for over 5. Principles of Environmental Justice. Environmental justice affirms the sacredness of Mother Earth, ecological unity and the interdependence of all species, and the right to be free from ecological destruction. Environmental justice demands that public policy be based on mutual respect and justice for all peoples, free from any form of discrimination or bias. Environmental justice mandates the right to ethical, balanced and responsible uses of land and renewable resources in the interest of a. Suite 1. 95. 0, New York, NY 1. Environmental Justice (EJ).. Environmental justice is served when people can realize their highest potential.. Professor Bunyan Bryant, University of Michigan. Book: Environmental Justice: Issues, Policies, and Solutions. Environmental Justice emphasizes accountability, democratic practices, equitable treatment and self- determination. Environmental justice principles prioritize public good over profit, cooperation over competition, community and collective action over individualism, and precautionary approaches over unacceptable risks. Environmental Justice provides a framework for communities of color to articulate the political, economic and social assumptions underlying why environmental racism and degradation happens and how it continues to be institutionally reinforced.- Asian Pacific Environmental Network Environmental Justice, environmental equity, environmental racism. All three terms have been used to describe a belief that poor and minority communities suffer greater exposure to environmental pollution than other communities: that these communities often bear a disproportionate share of the burdens and realize few of the benefits of living near industrial facilities; and that historically, these communities have lacked the power or opportunity to participate in decisions affecting them. A company's total impact on its neighboring communities - ranging from its emissions reduction efforts to its local hiring and purchasing practices to the scope and focus of its contributions to the community - is now being examined by environmental advocates, the media and regulatory agencies.- A Plant Manager's Introduction to EJChemical Manufacturer s' Association, Inc. The environmental justice movement has basically redefined what environmentalism is all about. It basically says that the environment is everything: where we live, work, play, go to school, as well as the physical and natural world. We have to talk about making sure that the justice is integrated throughout all of the stuff that we do.- Professor Robert Bullard, Clark Atlanta University. July 1. 99. 9. Earth First! Environmental justice means that, to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law, all populations are provided the opportunity to comment before decisions are rendered on, are allowed to share in the benefits of, are not excluded from, and are not affected in a disproportionately high and adverse manner by, government programs and activities affecting human health or the environment.- U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)Dept. Regulation 5. 60. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),1. Environment means many things to many people. The Environmental Justice movement defines the environment as the place where people live, work, study, play and pray. Low- income rural, people of color, Native American, working class, and ethnic communities are disproportionately victimized by polluting industries. Many call this environmental racism. Many low- income communities experience economic extortion by accepting the presence of polluting industries in exchange for jobs and income. Workers are subject to economic extortion by accepting health and safety compromises in exchange for jobs and income. Alliances between labor and the Environmental Justice movement are natural, desirable, and crucial because workers and community residents are affected by the same toxic releases.- Public Health Institute and the Labor Institute. It could be that two paradigms of EJ are found in the Environmental Justice Movement (EJM): (1) equity and equality; and (2) autonomy. Equity and equality have been the platform of most institutions. Some activists believe that EJ will be achieved through equitable distribution of environmental benefits, protection, and hazards. Equal treatment of communities seems like an attainable goal because it is a legitimized by greater society. However, other activists believe that the equity and equality fail to truly accept the Principles of Environmental Justice, which challenges the use of substances hazardous to ecological health (Pena, 2. Furthermore, some activists believe that aspiring for equality ultimately legitimates politics from which the injustices were fabricated (Faber, 1. Equity- refers to freedom from favoritism when referring to a system of law; the fulfillment of standards regarding environmental health. Example: The EPA established standards of acceptable air quality limits. The air quality for all communities should not exceed the standards Equality- refers to the same treatment and influence of all communities regarding environmental health. Example: All communities should have the same amount of polluting industries; thus, their air quality should be equal. Autonomy- refers to the right of communities to be independent and self- govern decisions that would affect environmental health. Example: Communities should have a right to govern what type of air quality standards or how many polluting industries they want for their community. It was successful because of the center's commitment to a truly participatory process. The planning team made an effort to have equal representation from community organizations, government agencies, scientists and affected individuals. Over 2. 00 people attended this town meeting, held at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Seattle. The two- day event included workshops, discussion circles, an open microphone, and presentations from over 2. We're being studied to death. The Hosting Committee worked hard to ensure that community members were involved in planning the evening program and that they had an opportunity to dialog directly with NEJAC members. The Risk Roundtable: Evaluating Risk from a Tribal Perspective. In January of 1. 99. Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication (IRARC) held a three- day educational forum.
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