I recently visited Atlanta, Georgia where I spoke at Borders books to a standing-room-only crowd.  Many citizens heard about the horrors of factory farming for the first time.  From Atlanta, I traveled to Athens, Georgia where I spoke at the University of Georgia and at a Montessori School. 

Some agriculture students came to my presentation at the University, where I said the “natural” label was meaningless in terms of describing farmed animals’ lives, and that meat from factory farmed animals given hormones and antibiotics was being sold as “natural.”  A stunned ag student said I was wrong and that “natural” meat was not produced with drugs and hormones.  I responded that while some farmers may sell “natural” meat from animals who are not given stimulants or drugs, the “natural” label is commonly and legally used on packages of meat from chemically enhanced, abused animals.  As with other labels, the “natural” label does not comport with consumers’ expectations. 

The morning after my talk at the University of Georgia, I spoke with more than 200 children at a Montessori School.  When asked if they liked animals, the whole group enthusiastically raised their hands, and then erupted into stories.  There is such a natural connection children seem to have with animals, and they also have an innocence and sense of wonderment, which was joyfully apparent as the teaming mass of childhood gathered for our discussion. 

Click here to watch the full presentation video.
For the audio version, click here.