If you care about the environment, and the animals around you, then you’ll want to know about Measure J. Measure J was proposed to end factory farming, and if you’re unsure about what it is, keep reading so you’re ready to vote November 5th.

Factory farming was invented during the industrial era in the 1920s, and has been refined over the years under Capitalism to maximize profits as well as efficiency. In doing so, it also greatly maximized the harm of animals and the environment.

In an excerpt taken from ‘Why Measure J?’

“Measure J will prohibit Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs),” CAFOs are toxic to animal wellbeing as, while maximizing profits, big factory farms cut down on as many resources, and as much space as they can; this, of course, means that animals are forced into cramped pens, fed by machines and unable to roam free and live healthy lives.

Factory farms also waste many resources, polluting the environment in the process. The dairy and meat industries emit tons of greenhouse gasses and waste tons of water, as well as land space. A disturbing aspect to this environmental harm is that some animals, especially pigs, are killed via CO2 gas emissions.

While many have been minimizing harm as much as possible by cutting animal products out of their diets, voting yes on Measure J would greatly minimize that harm. The reason why Measure J is so important for California, is because many farms located in Sonoma County, farms from which we get our dairy, eggs and meat, are sneakily utilizing these dystopic and abusive factory farms to cut costs and ‘save resources’; however, these practices end up wasting resources and further polluting the environment in the process.

Some ways in which these farms, many of which are only a couple hours away from us, are both abusive and negligent of the environment and the animals involved. Factory farms are known to “often give animals antibiotics to promote growth, or to compensate for [animal] illness resulting from crowded conditions,” ‘11 Facts about Factory Farms and the Environment’ (dosomething.org) explained on their website. They also mention how these hormones are then put out into the environment when animals produce waste.

Do Something also explains that the US Department of Agriculture reported that more than 450 million tons of manure are produced annually, which then pollutes the groundwater and further minimizes the amount of water that can be used by Americans, and as such, this affects Californians.

I visited Sonoma recently, and was bombarded with signs in front of farms that firmly disapprove of Measure J. They claim it affects family farms, but due to factory farms being deeply rooted within Capitalism, it is more likely to crack down on large-scale farms. Its use to farmers, while convenient, is doing horrific irreversible damage to our environment and to our sweet animal friends.

The pollutants and animal abuse are not worth ‘Big Agriculture’ lining their pockets, so I will be voting YES on Measure J this November.

Educate yourself and critically review every source you read before you vote. It’s important to consider the farmers’ perspectives when doing research, but don’t forget to get the full story on all the effects of factory farming on California’s environment, and around the world. YES on Measure J would hugely reform California’s agriculture, and it would better the health of our state, and animals. Remember to also take a step back and look at how you spend; by choosing small, local farms over factories, you vote with your dollar and help further the movement.