Note 11/8/12: While FARM helped fund this study and is intrigued by the results, we do not believe that this is the final word on graphic vs. non-graphic imagery. We hope this study and this post contribute meaningfully to the dialogue about this topic.
FARM’s Sabina Fund recently helped fund a study, conducted by Chris Monteiro,* to determine whether images of farmed animals that are low, moderate or high in graphic detail (gore produced by violence) was most effective at improving attitudes toward animal rights. The images used, from low graphic detail to high, were: a dead pig on a muddy slaughterhouse floor, a dead pig on a bloody slaughterhouse floor, and a dead pig with their throat slit on a bloody slaughterhouse floor. The images’ effects on attitudes towards animal rights were measured using the Wuensch animal rights scale, a high score on which indicates positive attitudes towards animal rights, and a low score indicates negative attitudes towards animal rights (Wuensch, Jenkins, & Poteat, 2002). There were multiple interactions between personality characteristics and the effects of the different images, and the two most relevant to activists are discussed here.
Follow FARM on Twitter
Make Everyday Food Day
In case you missed it, yesterday was Food Day. All across the country folks gathered to get back to basics and focus on eating healthier and celebrating what it means to eat “real” food. This day was created to help farmers and consumers organize locally and regionally to bring fresh foods closer to home.
According to the Food Day website, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs are popping up everywhere, farm to school programs are found in more than 12,000 schools, and the U.S. organic food market continues to outpace conventional food sales; which means, we are headed in the right direction, BUT we must continue to educate the public on healthier choices and push policymakers to ensure the integrity of our food system remains intact (and is continuously improved).
Continue reading »