a brief summary of humane practices and violations

When searching the internet for innovation in the area of my topic it didn’t take me long to find a story from the Huffington Post about a meat packinghouse in North Springfield Vermont. While this story is much more focused on the treatment of animals rather than workers it made many points which are relevant to both, plus I want to write about the story because it’s source is so local.

Basically, this meatpacking house is revolutionary in its transparency. It welcomes tours and its central mission is to “slaughter animals with respect and dignity.” However, since 2016 the packing plant has received several suspensions issued by the USDA on the basis of improper stunning and incidences when the humane protocol was not followed.  While the meatpacking plant has valuable intentions, the continued failure to stay true to those intentions is concerning or both the wellbeing of the animals as well as the workers.

I still believe that this Vermont meatpacking house is a sign of progress. While problems still exist in its facilities this packing house has addressed the number one obstacle preventing issues within the meat industry from being acknowledged: invisibility. Since the development of factory farms and industrial slaughterhouses, they have been crafted to remain unseen, to evade the public eye and block out questioning. These practices have allowed for a work environment that has escaped the progression of justice occurring in the outside world. While I don’t approve of everything this company does, I believe their mission is courageous and will set the trend for the factory farm facilities of the future.

Pitch:

“It’s not about selling to people who need what you have, but to people who believe what you believe.”

Why?

I believe that consumers have a right to know what they are contributing to through their purchases, yet most will not actively seek out information that might be upsetting or morally obligate them to change their behavior. Therefore,  important stories and information must be gathered, neatly packaged, and made as readily available as possible in order to move towards a better, more educated, consumer society.

How?

Interviewing experts and stakeholders around the specific topic of working conditions in factory farms to expose the truth, provide educational content and change the minds and behaviors of local consumers.

What?

A documentary.