General Description of the Community Essay Example for Free

General Description of the Community Essay Target area being assessed by the author is hospice service in Sioux Falls and surrounding areas provided by Avera Mckennan. Hospice care is end-of-life care provided by health professionals and volunteers Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual resources for people who are in the last stages of terminal illness. Although most hospice patients are cancer patients, hospice accepts anyone regardless of age and type of disease. The goal of hospice treatment is to keep patient comfortable and improve quality of life. Hospice care tries to manage symptoms so that patients last days may be spent with dignity, surrounded by his/her loved ones. Hospice care is family-centered: the patient and family are both included in the care plan and emotional, spiritual and practical support is provided depending on the patients wishes and families needs. Hospice is not so much a place, as it is a philosophy of care with a family-centered approach that considers the patient and family to be the unit of care (Lattanzi-Licht et al. , 1998). Avera Mckennan Hospice Services are the main focus of author. Avera McKennans Home Hospice and Palliative Care program office is located in the Dougherty Hospice House. Through this program, they provide hospice services in a variety environments: hospice care in the home setting, hospice care in an assisted living facility, hospice care in a skilled nursing facility and also, in Dougherty Hospice House. The Dougherty Hospice House is a unique sixteen bed hospice facility located on the Prince of Peace campus. This place provides a home like setting with specious rooms for patient and sleeping accommodations for family members. It also has a meditation room, wireless internet, beautiful meditative garden, large dining and family room for families to gather, and library. Dougherty Hospice House and its surrounding property are tobacco free environments. About 80% of all hospice care is provided in private homes, nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities (Caffrey, C. et al. , 2011). If hospice care provided in patients home, a family member will look after their loved one much of the time. Someone form hospice team will usually visit patient once or twice a week assessing a patient and addressing current health issues. Avera McKennan Hospice team consist of 25 people including nurses, social workers, spiritual advisors/chaplains, nursing assistants, trained volunteers, pharmacist and medical director. In case of emergency home hospice patient can call the 24-hour hospice number for advice. A nurse usually can come to patients house at any time of the day or night or give an advise over the phone. Based on the patients circumstances and stage of care, a hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT) may provide variety of services. Registered nurses assist patient with management of discomfort, pain and side effects of previous treatment ( nausea from chemotherapy). Also nurses help educate both patient and family about what is happening. The nurse is a link connecting patient, family and physician. Home health aids provide extra support for personal care such as bathing, shaving, dressing and eating. Trained hospice volunteers offer assistance with everyday tasks such as shopping, babysitting, and carpooling. They are being available to listen to the patients and families and offer compassionate support. Primary doctor approves plan of care for hospice patient and works with hospice team. A hospice medical director who has expertise in symptom management and end-of-life care is available to the attending physician, patient and family, and hospice team as a great resource and consultant. Chaplains, priests, or other spiritual counselors help patient and family explore the meaning of the death, and perform religious ceremony specific to the patient. Respite care can be provided by inpatient hospice to give family a break from stress of care giving in up to 5-day periods. This service recognizes the need for caregivers to have time away from caretaking roles (Ingleton, Payne, Nolan, Carey, 2003;Lattanzi-Licht e. l. , 1998). Terms such as caregiver burden (Chwalisz Kisler, 1995), caretaker role fatigue, spousal burnout, and role engulfment refer to an imbalance between the physical and mental resources needed to give care and those available within the family unit (Reese Sontag, 2001). Regularly scheduled family conferences most often led by the hospice nurse or social worker allow patient and family members share feelings, talk about what to expect, what is needed, and learn about process of dying. The interdisciplinary team coordinates Avera McKennan Hospice services and supervises al care 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The team is making sure that current information is shared among all the services involved in patients care. Official Community Government (form of government). For-profit and nonprofit hospices have the same regulations. They must comply with State low and Code of Federal Regulations governing hospice care. For-profit hospices grow more than six times faster than nonprofit hospices. Profit sometimes risks compromising the quality of care patients receive. Nonprofit hospices provide hospice services to anyone including persons who do not have health insurance coverage and cannot afford to pay for care. In this case, nonprofit hospice can provide services to person free of charge as part of its charitable mission because nonprofit status of the hospice requires it to offer charitable services and they are dedicated to the mission of caring those in need. Main purpose of for-profit hospices is to make money and pay dividends to their stockholders. They have no obligation to provide services to anyone who does not have Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance coverage. However, both type of hospices are trying to make money, but when they compete for patients, they must provide better care. Averas Home hospice services are covered 100% under Medicare and some Medicaid plans, but inpatient care at the Dougherty Hospice House involve some financial expense. Social workers offer patients and their families help with payment options and never turn away a patient for inability to pay for the service. Medicare is the primary payer for hospice services covering 77% of all hospice expenses. The rest is paid for by Medicaid (4%), private insurance (12%) or other sources (7%). Compare to hospital and skilled nursing facilities, hospice is considered a cost-effective service. Hospice charges per day are much lower than hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Hospice care is covered in full by most insurance. Medicare and Medicaid provide a special Hospice Benefit. This benefit provides 100% coverage for visit by staff, medications related to the hospice illness, durable medical equipment in the home, and supplies for skin care, incontinence management, dressings, etc. Hospice care covered under Medicare includes both inpatient care when needed, and home care services. The focus of hospice is on care, emphasizing help the person to make the most of each day by providing comfort and pain relief. Most private insurance companies include hospice care as a benefit. Patient and family can hire hospice providers and pay for their services out of pocket. If patient has a limited financial resources, non-profit hospices provide services without charge as part of charitable mission. Any patient who enters hospice must be evaluated at the time of admission to the hospice program. Hospice dietitians assist the patient in reaching the best nutritional goals, depending on the current state of the patient’s condition. Common problems for hospice patients are nausea and vomiting. These can be controlled with anti-emetics in some cases, while for some patient s change of diet is sufficient. Educating patient and family about the changes occurring in the patient’s body is imperative. During the course of illness, patient experience changes to some extend in their food intake. It is common for the hospital patient to reduce oral intake of food and fluids as the disease progresses. In general, there is metabolism alterations occur in patient’s body with a terminal illness. Furthermore, there comes a time when the body begins to break cells down instead of building them up. At this point, the body is no longer takes nutrients in. Sometimes patients are forced to take food by family members; in this case the body may refuse through vomiting or diarrhea. A hospice dietitian will explain when this point is reached. However, addressing to stop oral intake before this point is reached is not appropriate. Ongoing assessment of hospice patient nutritional needs will help to determine if there is any appetite change or ability to take the food in and keep it. Based on a study of the non-hospice end-of-life experience of 3,357 seriously ill patients who died reported 40% were in severe pain prior to their death, and 25% experienced moderate to great anxiety of depression before they died (Lynn, 1997). However, hospice is a compassionate way to deliver health care and supportive services. Despite the low South Dakota’s death rate compare the national death rate, the two leading causes of death are heart disease and cancer, accounted for half of South Dakota deaths. Healthy lifestyle changes are critical in reducing deaths due to cancer and heart disease. These modifications can be accomplished by reducing tobacco use, increasing physical activity, and developing healthy eating habits. Minorities in South Dakota include African American, Asian, and Hispanic populations. In general, language barriers, transportation, finances, and lack of insurance were found to be the issues encountered by minorities in seeking adequate health care. Furthermore, end of life care is not reach minority population and remains as a national issue. The majority of hospice patient care is provided in the place patient calls â€Å"home†. In addition to private residences, this includes nursing homes and assisted living facilities. As the health care becomes better, the population lives longer. Nursing home patients benefit from hospice services as much as people living in their homes. According to studies, nursing home residents enrolled in hospice were less likely to be hospitalized in the final 30 days of their life (24% vs. 44%) (Miller, 2001). They were more likely to be assessed for pain, were twice as likely to receive pain management within clinical guidelines (Miller, 2004). Large percentage of elderly people receives home hospice service. Many homes need some modifications for the hospice services to be provided. For example, a bedroom may need to be relocated to a main level of the house for those who have difficulties claiming stairs. There is widening of the hallways may be required to accommodate a wheelchair access. Because of the growing number of people who wish to stay and receive care at home, general contractors are available to assess remodeling needs. A number of programs and sources provide reduced rates, loans, or free services with home modifications.

Dewar’s leader in U.S. Scotch whisky industry Essay -- Business and Ma

Dewar’s leader in U.S. Scotch whisky industry 1. Situational Analysis 1.1 SWOT Analysis Strengths - Dewar’s leader in U.S. Scotch whisky industry, with a market share of 15%. - Past success with the advertising campaigns in maintaining a positive image for Dewar’s among Scotch drinkers. - Strong research and development. - Backup from United Distillers, which is an International leader in the Scotch whisky and Gin markets, and one of the most profitable spirit’s Company in the world. - Dewar’s is positioned as a premium and prestigious blend of Scotch whisky. - Schieffelin & Somerst, distributor of Dewar’s within U.S, is the product of a Joint Venture with Moet Hmessy Louis Vuitton, allowing cost reduction. Weaknesses - Lack of promotional strategies to attract new customers. - Targeting a segment market that is not growing. - Slow reactions. Opportunities - US, the largest liquor market in the world (13% market share) with high profit margins. - Young adults’ good attitude towards the consumption of withe spirits. - Social acceptance of mixed drinks. Threats - Sales in Industry of liquor and withe spirits with a negative growth. - Scotch whisky in the declining stage of product cycle. - Mature target market consuming less Scotch whisky. - Growing social resistance and regulations of liquor consumption in the U.S. - Shift of consumer preference towards lighter alcohol beverages, such as wine and beer. - Risk of becoming over analytical and moving to slowly when implementing the repositioning strategy. 1.2 US Scotch whisky Industry Analysis. Both the industry of liquor and the industry of distilled spirits had suffered a reduction in consumption since 1978. This represents 15 years of constant negative growth. Some of the factors that had caused this phenomenon are the growing of social, regulatory and legal restrictions over drinking. Also, drinking preferences have shifted towards lighter alcohol beverages, such as wine and beer. The Scotch industry has suffered an even greater decline due to the fact that its target market is drinking much less. It has become the distilled spirit with lower consumption per-capita. Mature customers are not loyal to a brand, they are lower priced oriented. If all these factors remain the same, ... ...f the campaigns. 3. Analysis and evaluation of options Three strategies have been developed in order to help managers to take the last decisions in the release of the campaign. Strategy 1 Implementation just of the maintenance campaign directed to mature adults. Strategy 2 Implementing truths and maintenance campaigns at the same time. Strategy 3 Line extension 4. Recommended course of action The most realistic, and practical option that I can recommend to the manager is the second one. She already had researched and developed a big campaign that in just two moths is supposed to be released. We just hope that no changes in the perception of the mature audience will be produced due the expose to both campaigns. Also in terms of lees cost and almost immediate effect in profits, the best choice is the second one. But let's say if there is no budget or time constrains the best option for me is the third one. Keeping each segment with different products it makes it easier to target the audiences. When this young adults reach certain age they will immediate cross the bridge to Dewar’s classic bottle, giving a more serious and respectful image.

Economics Practice Exam Questions

1. Â  A trade quota:is an explicit limit on the amount of exports of a good from a country.is an explicit limit on the amount of imports of a good into a country.is a tax only on exports.is a tax only on imports.2. Â  An import tariff:is an explicit limit on the amount of exports of a good from a country.is an explicit limit on the amount of imports of a good into a country.is a tax only on exports.is a tax only on imports.3. Â  While an import tariff on a good will both raise the domestic price of that good and its domestic production levels, a quota:will not raise the domestic price but will increase the amount of the good produced domestically.will raise the domestic price but will not increase the amount of the good produced domestically.will both raise the domestic price and increase the amount of the good produced domestically.will neither raise the domestic price nor increase the amount of the good produced domestically.4. Â  If the dollar price of the German mark increase s, then:the German Mark has appreciated while the U.S. dollar has depreciated.the German Mark has depreciated while the U.S. dollar has appreciated.both the German Mark and the U.S. dollar have depreciated.both the German Mark and the U.S. dollar have appreciated.5. Â  An exchange rate measures:the price at which one can exchange one good for another good.the price at which one can exchange one resource for another resource.the discounted price one received when returning defective goods for exchange.the price at which one can exchange one currency for another currency.6. Â  Consider the following two statements:The U.S. dollar will depreciate when U.S. Demand for foreign goods increases.The U.S. dollar will depreciate in the present if the public believes that the U.S. dollar will depreciate in the future.both statements are true.both statements are false.I is true while II is false.I is false while II is true.

Social Inequality And Stereotyping Cultures From Political...

EDUC1708 Research Essay Due: 25 August 2014 By: Kody Williamson (s4350274) Tutor: Dr Joy Kennedy Youdell (2012) argues that the singular and one-off multicultural events reproduce majority/minority, Same/Other relations in their display of minoritises cultures for the appreciation of or consumption by the majority. (p 153) This essay will look into the argument of how the one off multicultural events can be seen as racist, fostering social-inequality and stereotyping cultures from political power. It will also outline how educators with the right strategies and planning can foster valuable cultural experiences and cultivate socio-equality with their students and their school communities. Multicultural education is the term†¦show more content†¦(Reynolds, 2012) The schools that are hosting these singular multicultural days do have intent to inform students of diverse cultures, yet instead are accentuating the already existing social and cultural hierarchies. (Gorski, 2008) The way and how to teach multiculturalism in the classroom is a sensitive topic between the many parties involved. Since multicultural education is primarily a set of beliefs and philosophies (Neito, 1994), it is a very powerful issue especially from socio-political perspectives. Wright (2007) argues that multiculturalism has no pre-given destiny nationally or globally, but is continually being renewed and re-contested by political policy actors from their dominating point of view. The power of the corporate elite demonstrates their need for social in-equality through globalization, for the cheap labor from the poorest countries that accelerate their economic growth. This cycle is what Chosudovsky (2003) calls the Globalisation of Poverty. The educational policies in place illustrate this globalisation of poverty when we look at the legislations and those who write them. In the US, the educational policy is firmly under the thumbs of these corporate elites in the form of the Business Roundtable, the public education system itself is becoming a vehicle for socialising citizens into good compliance and complicity. (Chomsky, 2003; Gabbard, 2003)

It s A Digital World Essay - 2309 Words

It s a digital world. Today, technology might not replace a teacher but a teacher who make good use of technology will probably replace one s who don t. Using technology and computer science to facilitate learning as well as its role within education is important to understand as technology plays a dominant role in daily life. The availability, affordability, and efficiency of technological devices and tools have benefitted both students and educators alike. A child’s mind is said to be small simply by habit. It is perhaps the sharpest tool that can retain anything provided to it. Shaping such a mind requires quality of the information provided to it. Statistical survey data collected in the last year clearly proves this statement. According to an info graphic published by Everyday Family, 54% of 21st century kids start using mobile devices when they are 5 to 8 years old; 30% of the apps downloaded on parents mobile devices are specially for their child’s usage. 77% of the parents accept that usage of tablet PC s increases a child’s learning capacity, imagination creative skills. 72% of iTunes top selling apps are designed for preschoolers and elementary students. Thus technology acts as an effective teaching aid. Additionally, usage of this versatile tool has tremendously helped students with learning disabilities by supporting their needs, as well as providing the teachers with assistive devices to directly identi fy the students needs. Educators find the useShow MoreRelatedThe Digital World Is Affecting Today s Youth1414 Words   |  6 PagesSandra Boyd analyzes how nearly ubiquitous access to the digital world is affecting today’s youth in It s Complicated. 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We make use of the power of search engine optimization to ensure the news or information received from our clients reaches a global audience (CueDigitalMedia, 2016). We also offer other webRead MoreWhat Are Digital Circuits?1479 Words   |  6 PagesWhat are digital circuits? Those circuits wherever the signal should be one in every of 2 distinct levels is referred to as digital circuit. Every level is taken into account jointly of 2 completely different states. Example- on/off, 0/1, true/false etc. In comparison to analog circuits, digital circuits are less susceptible to noise or degradation in quality, additionally the errors are detected and corrected simply with the assistance of digital signals. EDA- ELECTRONIC style AUTOMATION tools (aRead MoreDigital Immigrants, Digital Natives: Myth or Reality? Essay1040 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Firstly recorded in the report of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) survey in 1995, (Servon, 2002), the term Digital Divide presents an interesting quandary of information and communication technologies (ICT) disparities among countries in the world, especially between developed and developing countries. Many reports even showed that access to ICT in these information â€Å"have† and â€Å"have-nots† countries was unequally even (Bridges.org, 2001; Fuchs Read MoreUsing Digital Data Or Digital Information1262 Words   |  6 Pages In today’s world, people tend to run the majority of their daily errands through the internet. It is easy, convenient, and it saves a lot of time. In one hour someone can make a deposit into his personal bank account, order a medical prescription, pay bills, apply for a loan, get some shopping, and more. All it takes for a customer to be able to do this is having an account with each of this company’s websites. Creating an account is usually a very simple process where the person provides some informationRead MoreDigital Marketing And Its Impact On The Business World1572 Words   |  7 PagesIf you have bought a product throughout a web page, where you have observed the characteristics, have read the comments about your product. Thus, you have experienced Digital Marketing. Nowadays, it is possible to have a direct a personalized interaction with the product that you desire to obtain thanks to this tool. Digital Marketing is the result of the human necessity of being u nderstood combined with the changes in electronic media that allows faster communications. Internet has permitted toRead MoreKodak and the Digital Revolution789 Words   |  4 PagesKodak and the Digital Revolution Table of Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Problem Statement 3. Key Issues 4. Alternatives 5. Summary 1. Introduction: The official history of the company, headquartered in Rochester, New York, Kodak invented in the 1880 dry-plate formula and a machine for preparing large numbers of plate. Through the advent of color film, expansion to China and the introduction of new products, Kodak reached $1 billion sales in 1962 and controlled 90 %

Essay on Public Policy on Child Labor in the Cocoa Industry

Ecuador is the biggest fine or flavor cocoa exporter of the world. Since chocolate is a billion dollar industry, one would think cocoa farmers would be benefit fairly. However, when the production chain is analyzed, one can find large differences between the working conditions of cocoa farmers and the chocolate factory employees. Still in the 21stcentury there exists a large amount of child labor in cocoa producing countries. Meanwhile in the chocolate factories (which are mainly located in developed countries), the transnational corporations boast about their compromise with ethics, particularly human rights and environmental protection. This reality is a reflection of the income distribution inequality in the production and marketing of†¦show more content†¦However, they continue to benefit from child labor. Ecuador and other countries have worked towards several bill projects requiring these cocoa-purchasing companies to be certified ensuring their products are free of child labor. However, transnational corporations have defended their economic interests on this subject by influencing local politics. They have even created different lobby tools to pressure state governments, as well as supranational organizations like the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the European Union itself. In order to tackle all these issues in the cocoa sector, we should establish and run different codependent strategies simultaneously. I propose that in order to establish a better distribution of income, the governments of cocoa producing countries should establish a minimum sale price for cocoa. Additionally, they should establish penalties for corporations who buy cocoa that has been involved in child labor. To achieve this, it is essential to encourage and reward the formation of cocoa cooperatives, so farmers can increase their negotiation power as suppliers of raw material. This will help them sell their product at a better price and keep them from resorting to child labor in order to produce competitive cocoa. Lastly, an independent monitoring system must be created and managed by localShow MoreRelatedCadbury an Ethical Company Struggles to Insure the Integrity of Its Supply Chain9818 Words   |  40 Pagesand 2001, revelations that the production of cocoa in the Cà ´te dâ⠂¬â„¢Ivoire involved child slave labor set chocolate companies, consumers, and governments reeling. In the United States, the House of Representatives passed legislation mandating that the FDA create standards to permit companies who could prove that their chocolate was produced without forced labor to label their chocolate â€Å"slave-labor free.† To forestall such labeling, the chocolate industry agreed to an international protocol that wouldRead MoreFood Industry: Nestle CSR Strategy Essay 976 Words   |  4 Pageslargest food industry and has many locations in the United States included other countries as well. Nestle is labeled as focusing on nutrition, health and wellness, which have been the world’s most controversial corporations. In the past decade, Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s name was expanding due to boycott, over the marketing of infant formula that they created in the poor countries, which causes infants to get sick. Recently, Nestle is one of the major targets of the global movement against water industry. Again, Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢sRead MoreCadbury an Ethical Company Struggles to Insure the Integrity of Its Supply Chain9806 Words   |  40 Pagesand 2001, revelations that the production of cocoa in the Cà ´te d’Ivoire involved child slave labor set chocolate companies, consumers, and governments reeling. 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Nestle is one of the biggest corporations and largest food product manufacturer in the world,  and their Chairman believes  corporations should own all of the water on the planet, and no one should be allowed to have accessRead MoreHuman Trafficking Supply Chain Risk1160 Words   |  5 Pagesof debt bondage, forced labor, and involuntary child labor. Human Trafficking is also a supply chain issue. Human trafficking in the supply chain may take many forms. For example; a consumer might stay at a hotel where the sheets were made from cotton harvested by migrant farmers who work with no water and no rest. Consume a chocolate they found on their pillow, made from cocoa beans picked using child labor. Order shrimp for dinner which was fished using forced labor and where the dishwashersRead MoreCritical Essay on Cadbury1890 Words   |  8 PagesCommunity† programme and their association with child labour. 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TaxesRead MoreAfrican Development And Income Inequalities3098 Words   |  13 Pagesrest either one party states or military dictatorships (Clay, Nation, Tribe and Ethnic Group in Africa, 1985). Africa’s income inequality Exploring per capita expenditures, including development projects, credit, roads, communications networks, public health facilities, and schools one can see the specific powers held by each group (Clay, Nation, Tribe and Ethnic Group in Africa, 1985). The allocation of resources and development projects between regions are often thought to be the result of

Inustrialized Food Production Free Essays

Industrialized Food Production: A Dangerous Path When visiting the grocery store, shoppers are bombarded with pleasant photos of farmers in their fields. This idyllic agricultural way of life may have existed in the past, but today’s farms are much different. In our modern era, a revolution has taken place and food production has changed dramatically. We will write a custom essay sample on Inustrialized Food Production or any similar topic only for you Order Now The industrialized method of food production has created a dangerous and unsustainable system. Choosing locally sourced foods is beneficial to the planet, health, and local economies. The 100 mile diet has brought attention to this important subject and made people aware of the impact of food choices. Humans began farming over 9000 years ago, and many technological advancements have occurred since that time (Mintz, Du Bois, 101). Most significantly in the modern era, the green revolution changed the way food was grown. The green revolution allowed for intensification of food resources, intended to alleviate world hunger (Bourlag). Lead by Norman Bourlag, hybrid variations of wheat were bred to produce higher yields and be two to three times more resistant to disease. Success was achieved, but has created more issues. From 1950 to 1999 production on the same size acreage increased 170%, producing 1. 9 billion tonnes of grain (Bourlag). However, copious amounts of fertilizers need to be added to the soil to support this production; this leads to more chemical run-off and contamination of water sources. Another major problem is that the hybrid seeds lead to development of genetically engineered seeds. These grains are patented by large corporations, causing costs to rise and taking control away from farmers. The local farmer no longer has control over how they grow crops or run their farm. Large companies like Monsanto hold all the power. The genetically modified seeds that are needed for the high yields are patented, and farmers are forced to purchase new seeds each year (Food Inc. ). For centuries, farmers have been able to save seeds from their crops for planting the following year. With the introduction of patents, farmers now face massive lawsuits if they try to reuse seeds. Even though many farmers do not want to use the modified seeds, it is nearly impossible because of cross contamination. Mark Anslow provides an example of one Canadian farmer: Percy Schmeiser. He found that sixty percent of his crop had been contaminated by Monsanto engineered seeds carried onto his land by the wind (12). Even though Schmeiser did not plant or want the seeds, he still faced intimidation and lawsuits from the giant biotechnology company (Anslow, 13). The power held by these agribusiness giants controls what farmers can do. The control held by corporations is not limited to grains and seeds, it extends into poultry and livestock. The high demand for meat created by the multitudes of fast food restaurants has completely changed the way animals are raised. Factory farming techniques produce plump animals from small areas. About 10 billion animals are raised and killed for food every year in the United States, many of these inhumanely (â€Å"Humane Eating : The Humane Society of the United States. â€Å"). Laying hens are kept in cages so small they cannot even move. In addition, animals have been bred for meat production, leading to chickens with breasts so heavy they can barely walk; chickens often die from their own weight (_Food Inc_. ). Cattle are raised in small pens with no area to graze. Instead, they are fattened up with corn (Nierenberg, 22). These feedlots are seas of manure and disease. Farmers are pressured by that large companies they hold contracts with to have the latest technologies. This means taking on massive debt that forces farmers to continue producing for that company, even if they do not agree with the practices. For example, poultry producers working for Tyson, one of the largest companies, have been forced to â€Å"upgrade† chicken houses to be large sheds with no natural light, with thousands of chickens packed inside (_Food Inc_. ). As with grain producers, livestock producers are caught in a debt cycle by powerful corporations. Major health issues are caused by industrialized food production. The close quarters and filthy conditions where the animals are raised are perfect conditions for the spread of disease. Animals raised intensively arrive at slaughterhouses covered in feces, which raises the risk of contamination during the processing (Nierenberg, 22). As well, a variety of antibiotics are used to as feed additives to prevent disease and encourage growth in livestock and poultry, which are then ingested by humans, increasing antibiotic resistance worldwide (Sayre, 78). The crowded, stressful conditions of intensive farming, combined with ammonia released from waste and lack of sunlight facilitate the spread of disease among animals and to humans. As well, the manure from these animals is contaminated with the antibiotics; if a manure lagoon bursts or seeps into the water supply, anyone using the water to drink or bathe can be infected (Sayre, 77). One way to reduce these issues is to eat less meat, reducing demand and the need for intensive factory farm operations (Pollan, 33). Another solution is to choose locally raised meat. This allows consumers to get to know the farmers and practices used to raise the livestock. In addition, it is more likely that the meat has been processed in a smaller slaughterhouse, reducing chances for cross contamination from many sources. Local food increases the amount of information available to consumers and provides food security. Factory farming not only harms the animals and the farmers, it has huge environmental impacts. The production of livestock and dairy actually contributes more greenhouse gases to the environment than vehicles (â€Å"From Field To Feedlot To Fork. â€Å"). Globally, 18% of greenhouse gas emissions are created from feedlot to dinner table. Animal production creates emissions at every stage. Fossil fuel is required to run equipment, grow crops, transport animals, and distribute products. The production of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides alone require the equivalent use of over 123 million barrels of oil (â€Å"From Field To Feedlot To Fork. â€Å"). Factory farming centralizes production areas, meaning that in order to slaughter and distribute the meat, long distance transportation is required. Aside from the fossil fuel use, greenhouse gases are created by the animals themselves. Grazing animals, like cattle, release methane. While this is natural, the huge amounts of livestock being produced are massive contributors to global warming. As well, the manure produced by these animals exceeds amounts that can be used as fertilizer for fields. The excess amounts are stored in ponds and lagoons, where more gases are released as it decomposes (Nierenberg, 23). By choosing to eat local, consumers negate the creation of much of the pollution. The most obvious reduction is in transportation emissions. On average, a meal travels 2414 km from farm to table. This is over a 25% increase from 1980 (Roosevelt, 78). Shopping at a local farmers market or farm stand reduces the distance considerably. A study in Iowa found that a regional diet consumed 17 times less oil and gas than a typical diet based on food shipped across the country and around the world (Smith, Mackinnon, 65). Another way local eating reduces environmental impacts is though more sustainable practices. Local farms are usually operated on a smaller scale; livestock can graze on grass, and the manure produced fertilizers the field. Another benefit of small farms if the diversity they provide. Agribusiness operations focus on monoculture. One crop is grown over hundreds or thousands of hectares. A small farm features more diversity, attracting and providing habitat for a range of wildlife (Pollan, 62). As well, smaller farms require far less chemical additives like pesticides and fertilizer, both produced with fossil fuels. Recently, the 100 mile diet has brought attention to choices consumers can make and why local choices are important. A couple in Vancouver undertook a year long challenge to only eat food that was grown or produced within a one hundred mile radius of their home (Smith, Mackinnon). At first, this seems like an overwhelming task, but is actually achievable. Some luxury items, like coffee and chocolate, must be given up, but most essential items are available. While it may not be possible for everyone to follow the 100 mile diet completely, choosing local products as often as possible has many benefits. As well as reducing transportation costs and emissions as mentioned earlier, purchasing food from local farmers helps the local economy. The income stays in your local area instead of being absorbed by a multinational corporation. A British study found that money spent at a local farmers market had twice the economic value for the area than money spent at a supermarket chain (Smith, Mackinnon, 112). The reduced transportation time also has health benefits. Produce is not picked until it is ripe, and often sold the same day, so the nutrients are not degraded when it reaches the dinner table. Food production has undergone many changes since the rise of agriculture thousands of years ago. The rise of factory farming practices has brought many negative changes to food. Rates of pollution and disease have risen dramatically, and conditions for animals and farmers are very poor. The recent popularity of the 100 mile diet has brought raised public awareness about food choices. By choosing locally produced food consumers get a more nutritious product, reduce environmental impacts, and support local economies. Works Cited Anslow, Mark. â€Å"Farmer warns: ‘GM will destroy organic industry’. † The Ecologist 38. 10 (2009): 12-13. General Science Index. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. Bourlag, Norman. â€Å"Biotechnology and the Green Revolution (ActionBioscience). † ActionBioscience – promoting bioscience literacy. Nov. 2002. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. http://www. actionbioscience. org/biotech/borlaug. html. Food Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Alliance, 2009. DVD. â€Å"From Field To Feedlot To Fork. † Cool Foods Campaign. 2009. Web. 04 Dec. 2009. http://coolfoodscampaign. org/your-tools/global-warming-and-your-food/from-field-to-feedlot-to-f ork/. â€Å"Humane Eating : The Humane Society of the United States. † The Humane Society of the United States. 2009. Web. 04 Dec. 2009. http://www. humanesociety. org/issues/eating/. Mintz, Sidney W. , and Christine M. Du Bois. â€Å"The Anthropology of Food and Eating. † Annual Review of Anthropology 31 (2002): 99-119. Print. Nierenberg, Danielle. The Commercialization of Farming: Producing Meat for a Hungry World. † USA Today (Periodical) 132 (2004): 22-4. Readers’ Guide Abstracts. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. Pollan, Michael. In Defense of Food. New York: Penguin Paperbacks, 2009. Print. Roosevelt, Margot â€Å"The Lure of the 100-Mile Diet. † Time 167. 24 (2006): 78. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. Sayre, Laura. â€Å"The Hidden Link Between Factory Farms and Human Illness. † The Mother Earth News Feb. /Mar. 2009: 76-83. Readers’ Guide Abstracts. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. Smith, Alisa, and J. B. Mackinnon. The 100-Mile Diet A Year of Local Eating. New York: Vintage Canada, 2007. Print. How to cite Inustrialized Food Production, Essays