Cauyahoga River Research Paper

In 1969, the Cuyahoga River (in Cleveland, Ohio) caught on fire because it was “polluted from decades of industrial waste.” Furthermore, after the river set on fire for the final time, the government of Cleveland stepped in to stop the factories’ water runoff into the river. They no longer allowed the factories to have overflow into the river, Although the main problem was fixed for the present, another problem was creeping up: runoff from large industrial farms. Pollution is a serious matter, because if our world gets polluted, it will no longer be safe or healthy to live. The way people eat has a big part in pollution. If they eat locally, or at least try to, they can help cut down on out pollution. The method of Local Sustainable farming

gets its name because the word “sustainable” means to keep the land’s ability to grow food without destroying the environment. When food is “grown locally”, it means that it is grown in a nearby town a few miles away. People should eat locally because it benefits the health of the consumer and the environment.
These are some questions that people should ask themselves as they are buying food.

Was it grown locally? How was it grown? Were chemicals used? Eating locally promotes the health of the consumer. Michael Pollan and Richie Chevat, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, stated, “No fossil fuels or added fertilizer or chemicals needed” (148). Since there is nothing being added to the animals’ diet or their pastures, their meat is more nutritious because they are eating the nutrients that they need through, not a corn-fed diet and a condensed living area like a CAFO farm does. Julia Vogel, author of the book, Local Farms and Sustainable Foods, said, "It takes a lot of human-made chemicals, plus fuel energy, to keep the produce looking perfect while it's shipped" (Vogel 6). Since the food isn't grow naturally, but instead chemicals that were created and used by us, which are abundantly poor for the environment, but also the consumer. When people think about the food they eat, us as consumers need to think about what is is made of and where how it was made. If a fruit has no bruises, chances are it was created with chemicals, and if is does have a bruise, chances are that it was grown in a natural environment. One organization that would disagree with this is McDonald’s as well as a CAFO farmer. Pollan says, “These animals have evolved to eat grass. But at a CAFO, they are forced to eat corn-at considerable cst to their health, to the health of the land, and ultimately to the health

of us, their eaters” (49). Since the animals are forced to eat corn, the farmers are messing with the animals diet and they can’t get all the nutrition that they need to be healthy. Their meat will end up substandard and they have a higher chance of getting sick. As Americans, "We have few rules about what to eat, when to eat, and how to eat" (Pollan 92) There are no set national food culture that are followed, unlike other countries like France or Spain. There is also insufficient rules about the food system and how to eat, and that links to the high rates of diabetes and obesity. Between 2003-2006 the Nutrition Examination showed a survey that increased the obesity rate 17.3% (Pollan 77). In 2016, the obesity rates in children and teens is 29.5% in Wisconsin. As of 2018, the obesity rates in adults is 30.7% (the State of Obesity). “Nationally, 31.2 percent of youth in this age range are overweight or obese” (the State of Obesity).
How can people help the environment?

Whether it is growing their own garden or going to a nearby farmerś market, eating and buying locally is superior for the consumer and the environment. When food is naturally grown, it is better for the environment."Almost everything the farm uses is grown on the farm. Almost all of the energy used to make the food comes from the sun. there are no pesticides, no artificial fertilizer, no pollution, and no extra waste. Everything is recycled" (Pollan 148/150). On Joel Salatin's farm, a local farm in Swoope, Virginia, they doesn't use as many chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides as a standard industrial food systems. They mostly use natural fertilizers. For example, Joel has a rotation; every day, he moves his cows and chickens to a new pasture (Pollan 147-148). This way, the soil will be more fertile, and it will be in better, not worse, shape. "...My snack could have traveled 8,000 miles to get to my mouth... it takes a lot of energy for food to travel so far" (Vogel 6). For an Industrial food product to travel about 8,000 miles with pesticides and chemicals in it, it makes the pollution in the air worse. The more energy that we use, and the more pollution we create, the worse our future will be because trucks carrying meat and fruit from other cities and countries are worsening our environment by polluting it.Michael Pollan interviewed a few people that shop at Joel Salatin’s farm and one lady said “I drive 150 miles one way in order to

get ce3an meat for my family” (Pollan 184). An industrial farmer might throw it back into a local buyer’s face and say that you travel more miles to get fresh food when you can travel less than a mile to go to a local grocery store. CAFO farmers may feed more people, but the “...waste from CAFOs if a huge source of exceedingly toxic pollution…” (Pollan 49). If they keep pouring this waste, or also known as, manure and fertilizer, the environment will be heavily polluted.
When people eat locally, it benefits the health of the consumer and the environment. When CAFO farmer consider the benefits of growing naturally or industrially, they think about the profit and the piles of money that they are about to make, not the piles of corn that they are feeding their cows and poultry making them sick. If someone buys locally, that can be sometimes be up to 200 miles, but that is still local. Buying locally can affect the environment and the health of the consumer, positively or negatively. Think about how a community around can help. If people buy local, even just for fruits and vegetables, maybe even meat once in awhile, it can help the environment’s health improve, and it help improve their health, too!