Communities with small hog farms have economic growth rates 55% higher than communities with mega-hog operations.
Studies show that meg-hog farms can depress the sale value of nearby homes and real estate by 10-40%.
In Alberta, about 3 million pigs are produced annually, creating waste equivalent to more than 10 million people. Most of the sewage is untreated. Livestock is a major source of air, land and water pollution, including the deadly E.Coli virus.
SPEAKER: ANDREW NIKIFORUK
*award-winning & leading Canadian journalist on environmental issues *columnist with Globe & Mail, Calgary Herald *writer of more than 300 articles for Macleans, Saturday Night, Chatelaine, Canadian Business, other leading publications *author of books on issues related to education & ecology *formerly a teacher; educated in Canada, United States & Europe *married and father of 3 sons