Everywhere you go now, everyone is talking about it! It’s something you think about on the train, at a restaurant, especially at a bar, elevators, busses, airports, airplanes; anywhere people are all together in one place. I’ve talked to more than a few people who are seriously scared of catching it, and after watching and reading the news, I would say rightfully so.
Here’s what the CDC said today:
"In response to an intensifying outbreak in the United States and internationally caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on April 29, 2009. A Phase 5 alert is a ‘strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.’”
I’m sorry, but this is some serious SH*T.
At the same exact time, here’s what the USDA and CDC said earlier this week:
Here’s what the CDC said today:
"In response to an intensifying outbreak in the United States and internationally caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on April 29, 2009. A Phase 5 alert is a ‘strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.’”
I’m sorry, but this is some serious SH*T.
At the same exact time, here’s what the USDA and CDC said earlier this week:
"Eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products is safe. I [want] to reassure the public that there is no evidence at this time showing that swine have been infected with this virus. According to scientists at USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food, so you cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products."
In the past week I have heard these two themes repeated over and over: a) the swine flu is some badass scary sh*t and, b) pork is safe to eat.
I have been taken back by people who I have talked to that do not make the following connection which I would like to point out: the swine flu has EVERYTHING to do with people eating pork! (a point that completely ignores the irony of the statement that pork is safe to eat). Lemme break it down for those of you who believe that swine flu has nothing to do with food:
Animals raised for food live in factory farms. Factory farms are hot, crowded and dirty. Viruses are born and spread. Eventually, flu virus spreads to humans.
Now, here’s what I’ve been told to do, so as not to catch the flu:
-Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
-Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
-Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
-If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Brilliant! except most of us do these things already anyway! But, I do not think this is going to keep us safe from the flu. I say it all the time, we seriously seriously need to reconsider the sources of our food.
Every mainstream idea that I have heard on how to deal with this crisis, simply ignores the obvious implication on diet. My friend studying in Europe tells me his class debated how to survive the crisis, here were the ideas: close all borders, educate people on TV / the Web, have a hand-washing campaign, kill all pigs, everyone wears a mask, ban pork products, have a flu jab (injection), or stay at home until it’s over. First of all, how would killing all the pigs be a better idea than banning pork products, or even solve the problem? Remember the avian bird flu? This sh*t is not specific to pigs! Logic tells me that this pork flu is not the first or the last of its kind.
My friend Jenny said it best: “Swine flu exists BECAUSE OF FACTORY FARMS! Pigs suffer their whole lives in crowded factories and in INTENSE CONFINEMENT. Is the pleasure of your palette really worth their suffering and this possible pandemic?! GO VEG!”
This swine flu should be a wake up call.
In the past week I have heard these two themes repeated over and over: a) the swine flu is some badass scary sh*t and, b) pork is safe to eat.
I have been taken back by people who I have talked to that do not make the following connection which I would like to point out: the swine flu has EVERYTHING to do with people eating pork! (a point that completely ignores the irony of the statement that pork is safe to eat). Lemme break it down for those of you who believe that swine flu has nothing to do with food:
Animals raised for food live in factory farms. Factory farms are hot, crowded and dirty. Viruses are born and spread. Eventually, flu virus spreads to humans.
Now, here’s what I’ve been told to do, so as not to catch the flu:
-Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
-Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
-Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
-If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Brilliant! except most of us do these things already anyway! But, I do not think this is going to keep us safe from the flu. I say it all the time, we seriously seriously need to reconsider the sources of our food.
Every mainstream idea that I have heard on how to deal with this crisis, simply ignores the obvious implication on diet. My friend studying in Europe tells me his class debated how to survive the crisis, here were the ideas: close all borders, educate people on TV / the Web, have a hand-washing campaign, kill all pigs, everyone wears a mask, ban pork products, have a flu jab (injection), or stay at home until it’s over. First of all, how would killing all the pigs be a better idea than banning pork products, or even solve the problem? Remember the avian bird flu? This sh*t is not specific to pigs! Logic tells me that this pork flu is not the first or the last of its kind.
My friend Jenny said it best: “Swine flu exists BECAUSE OF FACTORY FARMS! Pigs suffer their whole lives in crowded factories and in INTENSE CONFINEMENT. Is the pleasure of your palette really worth their suffering and this possible pandemic?! GO VEG!”
This swine flu should be a wake up call.
if you're not convinced, check out these articles:
Raj Patel
...etc.
Posts
What an awesome and necessary post! Thanks D.
ReplyDelete