Today, nearing the end of March in the year 2016 we head towards new records in almost every industry and sector of the economy. Considering our earths ever-growing population, we must allow our production to grow with it, to account for all our consumers. With the population now at an astounding seven billion, we must ensure that our business’ can meet the demand of all these individuals. This means bigger factories, quicker production, and optimized efficiency. Though this business plan sounds smart and effective for mass production, what does it really mean? Sure we can create and manufacture products at record speeds, but can we ensure the integrity and reliability of our product and means of production a hundred percent of the time? And if not, what does that mean for our farming industry?  In this post we will take look into factory farming and its effects on animal welfare, as well as the environmental harms that come along with it. Read more »

Over the past few weeks we here at Idealize LA have taken a deeper look into the ethical duty and moral obligation we as humans feel we have to the earth and its well-being. We have heard theories and pondered concepts that have been on the minds of environmentalist since the beginning of time. Recently a few of us have been reading “A Sand County Almanac” and “Into the Wild,” and contemplating the perspectives on an age-old dilemma – the frustrations of modern society, and the draw to the natural beauty found in the wild. Aldo Leopold (A Sand County Almanac) tells an endearing story and gives detailed accounts of natures simplicity along with all its overlooked complexities. The enthusiasm and devotion to nature bleeds through Leopold’s writing and gives his audience a new perspective on something we have been over-looking for far too long.  Krakauer’s Into the Wild is comparably moving but in a different light. His description of McCandless, the main character, leaves readers inspired to take a leap of faith into the unknown, but also reprehensive of what dangers may lurk outside our comfortable city dwellings. Both stories share themes of the wonderful essence of nature and its stimulation to the human complex.

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