COWSPIRACY: The Sustainablility Secret (And Why You Should Watch It)

One of the most talked about documentaries in the plant based world is "COWSPIRACY: The Sustainability Secret," and last night I finally watched it. Due to its recent unveiling on Netflix, I felt a good way to kick off its career was to review it. I was not sure what to expect from the film, based on the many people raving about it I assumed that it would be along the lines of "Earthlings," which is why I put it off for so long because I wasn't prepared to go through something so heavy again. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the film had a healthy dose of humor and centered mainly along the lines of environmentalism and how food animal production has on the planet and the imminent threat that eating animal products causes.

If you enjoyed "Vegucated," "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead," or other films that follow a specific person's journey, you will love this film. It follows the directors, Kip Anderson and Keegan Kuhn, as they travel to the different head quarters of big environmental groups like Green Peace, the Sierra Club, and the Surfrider Foundation to ask for opinions on the impact raising cows has on the planet and what can be done to reduce it. However, none of the organizations are willing to admit that agribusiness is the main issue, instead they focus on fossil fuels, palm oil, and coal.

This film is a wake up call to any and all people; environmentalists, big business, farmers, teenagers, everyone inhabiting the Earth. It is chock full of facts that are broken down in an easy, understandable, and entertaining way, as well as plenty of non-aggressive warnings about the overuse of land, the dead zones in the oceans, deforestation, and the very real threat that pollution is providing.

If you are considering switching to a plant based lifestyle but can't seem to motivate yourself to do so, watch this film. If you are already plant based and want to know more about your carbon footprint, watch this film. If you are simply looking for an educational film, watch "Cowspiracy."

I honestly cannot stress enough how important it is that this film is spread around and watched by as many people as possible. It is very well done, it is very entertaining, and its message is so damn important.

As of today, September 15, 2015, "Cowspiracy" is available on Netflix streaming. If you do not have Netflix you can buy the DVD or the download on their website. And if you absolutely don't want to spend money on the film but still want to watch it I'm sure there are websites where you can find the movie for free (although I strongly advise against it because Keegan and Kip could use all the help they can get and buying the film or watching it on Netflix are the best ways to do that).

Saintfield Cruelty

Two farmers from Northern Ireland were jailed recently for incredible animal abuse on their farm. The vet that visited had to put down 75 of the animals which inhabited the farm, mostly cows and pigs. The BBC reported that "an inspection of the farm found animals not being properly fed and watered, and not given dry areas on which to lie," and also found the "carcasses of dead animals" on the farm. The judge overseeing the trial at the Downpatrick Magistrate Court called the scenario "one of the worst cases of cruelty in Northern Ireland or anywhere in these islands."
The animals were held in an extreme state of neglect, to the point where the dead bodies of others were not even noticed or removed from the holdings. This is a despicable act that was committed and I am proud of the government for interfering on behalf of the farm animals. 59 of the inhabitants managed to be saved, but that is still 16 less than the ones that had to be euthanized by a veterinarian because of the conditions they had been kept in. It's heartbreaking that there are still people who are identified as farmers who still treat their animals this way. These beings did nothing to deserve the treatment they received, and it is because of stories like this that I am so proud to be a member of this community. This community truly cares about the planet and helps to spread the word that once we are good to others, we are good to ourselves and societies will benefit.

Photo from BBC News

To read the whole BBC article click here