Hogging our Arkansas

I love the Buffalo River better’n just about anybody, and am outraged and disappointed that the people tasked with protecting our environment have so obviously dropped the ball, unknowingly, or worse, are promoting factory farming over the well-being of what is surely Arkansas’ greatest natural asset.

My attitude, held by many, must be called what it is: NIMBY, or “notin-my-backyard.” Many unspeakable things are required to provide a certain quality of life, but nobody wants such things to happen near where they live. In this case, it’s simply NIMB, “not-in-my-Buffalo”: I don’t want a 6,500-hog confinement operation, with its toxic waste and other horrifically inhumane problems, dripping into my Buffalo River. And where exactly will these hapless hogs be slaughtered and the leftovers go?

Well, folks, ham and bacon don’t drop from the sky or grow on trees. Where should such a huge CAFO (confined animal feeding operation) be placed in our beautiful, natural state? How about no place? How about NIAB: “not-in-anybody’s-backyard”? There is no place for an animal confinement operation of this size, or even half this size, anywhere in Arkansas. I am already sickened by the look and smell of huge chicken CAFOs. Our precious Arkansas home and its stinking air. Now comes C&H to compound the problems.

Where is the courageous legislator who will introduce a bill to outlaw such atrocities? Please, put down your ham sandwich and stand up. For the Buffalo and all of Arkansas.

SUSAN COCKRELL Fayetteville