May 19: CAFOs 101 Citizen Training!
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| Photo credit: Jeff Vanuga, USDA/NRCS |
Michigan is experiencing a
factory farm rush due to new hog and dairy processing facilities proposed around the state. As a result, plans for at least
two new large-scale hog operations that pack thousands animals into warehouses and generate millions of gallons of waste annually have been unveiled for the
Montague and Jackson areas in just the last year. These operations, known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), join
272 large-scale
livestock facilities already in Michigan.
When these "farms" come into a new community, they typically blindside unsuspecting local residents who have little knowledge of how to fight back. These neighbors end up living in close proximity to an industry known for generating water and air pollution, lowering land values and burdening local communities with road repair and other costs. If you are concerned about this trend in our food system, join us for our citizen activist workshop in May!
When these "farms" come into a new community, they typically blindside unsuspecting local residents who have little knowledge of how to fight back. These neighbors end up living in close proximity to an industry known for generating water and air pollution, lowering land values and burdening local communities with road repair and other costs. If you are concerned about this trend in our food system, join us for our citizen activist workshop in May!
WHAT: CAFOs 101, a training to arm Michigan citizens with the knowledge to mobilize against Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and their threat to our Great Lakes, inland bodies of water and public health. You'll learn about the history of CAFOs in Michigan, the regulatory and political context they operate in and how you can help fight back if one tries to locate in your community and how to help us build a network of CAFO Busters across Michigan.
WHEN: Saturday, May 19, 10am-1pm (includes program and light lunch)
WHERE: Greater Lansing Housing Coalition, 600 W. Maple St., Lansing
WHO: Sponsored by Sierra Club Michigan, Socially Responsible Agriculture Project, Food and Water Watch, Public Justice, Great Lakes Environmental law Center, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Blue River Law
ADMISSION: Free, but $10 donations to cover lunch accepted by non-profit sponsors
RSVP Required by May 11: Click here to register. Space is limited.
Questions? Email gail.philbin@sierraclub.org.