Response to Fresh
Dixon Shapiro
I thought that the most important idea in the movie was that mono-culture doesn't occur naturally in nature. Mono-culture would be a great thing to focus on for a review for this movie. This is because it not only talks about how modern farming practices is not very good, it describes how doing what nature does is the best way to get the best food for a great price. In the movie, Michael Pollan said, “Monocultures are very dangerous things… Nature doesn’t have
monocultures. When you grow too much of the same thing, you end up with too many of the
pests of those things. The only reason you can grow vast amounts of species of animal in close
confinement is because you can use antibiotics to keep them alive." Going along with what Mr. Pollan said about using antibiotics, about 25 million pounds of antibiotics are used each year.
The question I have decided to research about was whether or not pigs actually sweat. I originally believed that pigs were not able to sweat, and that was why they roll around in mud and water to cool themselves down on hot days. However, after some research, I have found that pigs do have sweat glands, but are not enough to effectively cool down their bodies. They roll around in mud in water because it has the same effect as sweating when it starts to evaporate. I have also found that the reason why pigs never developed better sweat glands is because their species have always like to wallow in water.
Here are my resources:
http://www.freshthemovie.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/FRESH_study_guide_final.pdf
http://io9.com/5797423/pigs-loved-the-mud-too-much-to-bother-evolving-sweat-glands
The question I have decided to research about was whether or not pigs actually sweat. I originally believed that pigs were not able to sweat, and that was why they roll around in mud and water to cool themselves down on hot days. However, after some research, I have found that pigs do have sweat glands, but are not enough to effectively cool down their bodies. They roll around in mud in water because it has the same effect as sweating when it starts to evaporate. I have also found that the reason why pigs never developed better sweat glands is because their species have always like to wallow in water.
Here are my resources:
http://www.freshthemovie.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/FRESH_study_guide_final.pdf
http://io9.com/5797423/pigs-loved-the-mud-too-much-to-bother-evolving-sweat-glands
Isn't that interesting about the pigs! I also thought that it was a very important statement in the movie when they said mono-culture doesn't occur naturally in nature. They talk about that idea a lot so I agree it would be a good research topic.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the fact that monoculture doesn't exist in nature, naturally, is very important. Large farms that monoculture are not benefitting themselves, the crops, or the land. I think this practice should be stopped. Mixed crop growing is the best way to do it in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really cool about the pigs and also a little known fact. Also I agree with your main point and mono culture. I don't think these farmers are realizing what they are doing when they do this and it's very sad actually.
ReplyDeleteI never would have guessed that pigs in fact can physically sweat but that it is biologically inefficient for them and they end up overheating anyway.
ReplyDeleteI never knew that the pig species adapted to wading in water often, like hippos. Pigs kind of look like hippos, too, and now I wonder whether there are recent common ancestors between the two animals.
ReplyDelete