POL 300 Day 6: Feb 2

Were you aware of the controversy surrounding the marketing of infant formula to developing countries? Do you think that the invention of the internet has increased public awareness of such issues? Why or why not?

As a male, I have generally not concerned myself with infant formula period (hopefully won't have to for another 8 years I hope.... fingers crossed). The internet has given people the opportunity to learn just about whatever they want. Effectively, it is a living encyclopedia of information that can be accessed by anyone so yes, public awareness has certainly been helped by the internet. Not to mention using as a tool to organize. Arab Spring anyone??

After learning about the epidemic of mad cow disease, Oprah Winfrey said “… It has just stopped me cold from eating another burger! I’m stopped.” Do you think that even the most horrendous facts about the meat industry could do it real harm? If the information was not false, is it a violation of the First Amendment to scare the media through veggie-libel laws?

I think harm could come to those in the beef industry who are mistreating their animals and not following safety regulations while processing the beef. The fact that Oprah made this statement would harm places like McDonald's, Burger King, or the Cattlemens Association, not Henry the butcher who gets his beef from Al the farmer up the road. The reason being is that those people buying from Henry are most likely aware that ol' Bessie came from Al. It is most definitely a violation of First Amendment rights to scare the media from reporting negatively on the food industry when the allegations are true, especially since it is the best means of communicating to the public what is wrong. By effectively shutting out the government, solutions cannot be working out. I do have hope though, given the popularity of social media and YouTube that people will see more of what is the issues and, hopefully, it pisses enough people off to do something about it. Vegans and vegetarians saying, "Stop the violence" *Guy on the bridge voice* just isn't going to cut it.