the first step would be to shut down animal agriculture, as a huge part of plant farming and it’s inherent exploitation is in growing food to feed to the animals before they get to the slaughterhouse; we grow more than enough food to feed the planet as it is, but we waste so much of it trying to sustain animal ag, which is a failing enterprise and a massive driver of climate change
As someone who has been to these places, yeah, it is usually a bunch of migrant workers or children of migrant workers who already work there. I don’t think I have ever seen a white kid, much less adult, fulfilling those roles. They really do give the worst jobs to the people nobody gives a shit about. So yeah, these people are definitely poor as shit.
so, you’re assuming that because of their race and economic status (which you are also assuming, btw), that makes them forced labor. how is that not classist?
Meat packing, farming & agriculture in North America is run entirely off the backs of immigrants, poor people and people of colour. People don’t choose these jobs, they take them out of necessity. This is just a fact, and a weird hill to die on.
If you want to rebut the argument that this is unique to meat, look no further than fruit picking in the US. It’s less risk of maiming and disgusting, but still dangerous and exploitative.
The workers, most often immigrants and resettled refugees, slaughter and process hundreds of animals an hour, forced to work at high speeds in cold conditions, doing thousands of the same repetitions over and over, with few breaks.
I never said I didn’t see child labor as a problem as well, but the industry shouldn’t exist in the first place.
you’re conflating two issues here to soapbox about meat with a strawman argument-- and you still haven’t said you disapprove of child labor. child labor won’t magically disappear if people stop eating meat.
I don’t think it’s mere coincidence that an industry devoid of compassion for animals is also devoid of compassion for humans. The issues are certainly distinct, but not entirely unrelated.
Meat is a choice and it’s a bad one.
how can you look at this and not see child labor as the obvious problem?
no one should be forced to work in these conditions
The same is true of migrant workers picking vegetables in increasingly inhospitable tempertures but you draw your line wherever you like.
the first step would be to shut down animal agriculture, as a huge part of plant farming and it’s inherent exploitation is in growing food to feed to the animals before they get to the slaughterhouse; we grow more than enough food to feed the planet as it is, but we waste so much of it trying to sustain animal ag, which is a failing enterprise and a massive driver of climate change
is anyone being “forced”? i agree, nobody should be forced, especially not children.
Classist as fuck. These people are poor as shit. They are most certainly not white kids from the suburbs doing it.
As someone who has been to these places, yeah, it is usually a bunch of migrant workers or children of migrant workers who already work there. I don’t think I have ever seen a white kid, much less adult, fulfilling those roles. They really do give the worst jobs to the people nobody gives a shit about. So yeah, these people are definitely poor as shit.
so, you’re assuming that because of their race and economic status (which you are also assuming, btw), that makes them forced labor. how is that not classist?
Please read this and educate yourself: https://www.npr.org/2023/05/04/1173697113/immigrant-child-labor-crisis
lots of people are being forced, often immigrants and refugees. would you like to slash throats all day in the dismemberment factory?
you’re assuming a lot here about the workers in that plant
wow, you haven’t looked into this, like, at all
and you have? what, with all the evidence you have to back up your claim?
Meat packing, farming & agriculture in North America is run entirely off the backs of immigrants, poor people and people of colour. People don’t choose these jobs, they take them out of necessity. This is just a fact, and a weird hill to die on.
If you want to rebut the argument that this is unique to meat, look no further than fruit picking in the US. It’s less risk of maiming and disgusting, but still dangerous and exploitative.
literally the first article that came up searching for slaughterhouses https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/08/11/489468205/working-the-chain-slaughterhouse-workers-face-lifelong-injuries
not that I expect evidence to change your mind
I never said I didn’t see child labor as a problem as well, but the industry shouldn’t exist in the first place.
We’re all going to die unless people stop eating meat.
Make better choices and the problem goes away all on its own. Like removing streets to clear up traffic.
you’re conflating two issues here to soapbox about meat with a strawman argument-- and you still haven’t said you disapprove of child labor. child labor won’t magically disappear if people stop eating meat.
I don’t think it’s mere coincidence that an industry devoid of compassion for animals is also devoid of compassion for humans. The issues are certainly distinct, but not entirely unrelated.
It foolish to see things as so black and white when the reality is a bombastic rainbow.
Like… I see where you’re coming from, and I understand why you think that… but it’s just not that simple.
Tyson Foods, the company mentioned in the article, also has plant-based brands under its wing.
So no, it won’t make a difference in this case.