compiled by Sharlynn Cobaugh

WA Supreme Court Strikes Down Prison Labor Program

In 1899 the Washington Supreme Court declared that prison labor may only be used for the benefit of the state, so that it not displace free-world labor, and so that businesses making use of inexpensive convict labor would not be favored over others. Recently, the Washington Supreme Court ruled in favor of free world workers who complained that such practices were in fact in existence and being used in Washington State by the Department of Corrections (DOC). Washington DOC Secretary, Joe Lehman stated that the decision was "very disappointing" and said that the state would lose $600,000 a year in rent payments. This is money that is garnished from the convict laborer's wages, not from the companies. The companies occupy a multimillion dollar facility the DOC built, using taxpayer dollars. The facility is an industrial work space offered to participating businesses rent free. Companies which operated within the DOC program were also given reduced utilities costs, were exempt from paying for health care, and other employment costs; and had good potential to receive bid-preference for state jobs. But in its peak, the program never employed more than 300 Washington prisoners in full time work.

Be on the lookout for legislative action to try to enact a constitutional amendment which would change this ruling. The Supreme Court of the state of California made this same decision in 1971 in Pitts v. Reagan, and the legislature changed the law to make it legal to "let-out" prisoners once again.

This ruling has created a dilemma about the monies that were seized by the DOC. The law authorizes the collection of 35% of a prisoners wages or monies received from family members for rent, but now that this money has been declared illegally obtained, it is unclear whether the DOC will pay back the funds to the prisoners.

(Prison Legal News, December 2004)

Militarization of Port of Olympia: Update

Members of the Green Party of Olympia have thought of a way to bring the issue of the militarization of their port into the upcoming Port commissioners race. The Party would have liked to run a candidate for the commissioners seat, but the right person did not appear, so they have another plan. They have petitioned the Port of Olympia Commissioners to change the name of the Port to the "Peace Port of Thurston County". Through the name change, they hope to make the militarization of the Port an issue in the upcoming election, forcing candidates to address the use of Olympia's port and the role of citizen input into its management and decision making processes. Through these measures, they plan to secure a referendum on military use of public property on the General Election Ballot, which voters could consider while contemplating which candidates to elect for the commissioners office.

(Works in Progress, April 2005)

Farming the Seas

A recent Habitat Media Production presented by KQED examined the impacts of salmon aquaculture or "fish farms" on Pacific Northwest communities. Many fisherman are currently concerned that their work to restore freshwater streams, the spawning habitat for wild Pacific salmon, is in jeopardy from the growth of the aquaculture industry. Most salmon farms on the Pacific West coast are in British Columbia, but there are a few off the coast of Washington State. Fisherman have found Atlantic salmon, the fish bred at these farms, as far away as Alaska and California. It is estimated that over one million farmed fish have escaped their net cages over the last ten years in the Pacific Northwest. This is a concern as farmed fish are less healthy than wild fish, and outbreaks of disease and parasites are not uncommon, which presents risks to wild populations.

Farmed fish are also not as desirable to eat as they have been proven to contain dangerous levels of mercury. A recent study published in Science Magazine in 2004 found them to have at least 10 times the amount of PCBs and dioxins that wild salmon have. This is due in a large part to the food pellets they eat comprised of fish oil and fish meal. This compounding effect of toxin accumulation from concentrated fish products are especially bad in larger fish such as albacore and blue fin tuna as they are fed greater volumes of smaller fish. The Monterey Bay Aquarium recently published a National Seafood Guide which warns women of childbearing age to limit their consumption of albacore tuna, swordfish, and shark due to FDA & EPA mercury advisories issued for these fish.

Genetically engineered farmed fish are already a reality. Aqua Bounty Technologies has engineered a salmon that grows to market size in half the time of Atlantic salmon. It has not been sanctioned for use in US waters yet, but it is predicted that these fish will be farmed in Chile and Canada this year. And as the fisherman have reported, these fish do escape, they will migrate, and they do not understand or respect the borders humans have drawn on maps. To date, there have been no long term studies done on the effects of eating GM salmon, or the effects these fish will have on their wild neighbors. They are engineered to be 99% sterile, but what of that other 1%?

(Habitat Media, April 2005)

Monsanto buys Seminis

Seminis is a seed company that controls 40% of the US vegetable market. Specifically, that is 55% of the lettuce in supermarkets, 75% of tomatoes, 85% of peppers, as well as large percentages of beans, cucumbers, squash, melons, broccoli, cabbage, spinach and peas. Here in the Northwest, Seminis is a major supplier for our regional organic market and garden seeds, supplying both Johnny's and Territorial (which recently purchased Abundant Life Seeds).

Monsanto recently released news of an agreement to purchase Seminis. Analysis of the motives for this move suspect that it is for the application of biotechnology. Rob Johnson of Johnny's speculates that "Their Roundup herbicide patent is expiring, so their future profits are in the biotech traits... I think they're going to push and see if consumers will accept it."

Several online groups have formed to discuss the ramifications of this acquisition, and professionals agree with the issues raised in such forums. Many are concerned that there will be a decrease in varietal selection, and that biotech applications will increase in the vegetable market. According to plant breeder Frank Morton, "There is a direct threat to our food system when we have a preponderance of genetic resources controlled by institutions whose only goal is profit".

On a positive note, there are already several people working towards saving genetic diversity in seeds. In 2003, 70 university breeders and representatives from farmer based non-governmental organizations met at the "Summit for Seeds and Breeds for the 21st Century." There they called on each other to reinvigorate public breeding of seeds to better meet the needs of organic and sustainable agriculture. Locally, the Organic Seed Alliance, based in Port Townsend, Washington is working to educate and train farmers in seed production and crop improvement. It is also working with the seed trade and farmers to develop Participatory Plant Breeding for organic systems.

(Vigilance, Independent Press for the Olympic Peninsula, March 2005)

For a detailed history of the US seed trade, and more depth on the above subject, get your own copy of the March issue by contacting v@olympicvigilance.org.

Homeland Food Security in Montana

Recent studies done by the Missoula County Community Food Assessment found that agriculture in Missoula County, Montana is struggling. Consumers and ranchers alike are wondering why, despite the abundance of ranches in the area, they are unable to get locally grown and processed meat. From Albertsons, to Safeway, to the local mom and pop store, beef is just as likely to be from Florida as it is from Montana. Other problems identified include new tax laws that exclude small acreage plots from agricultural tax exemptions even if they have been active as farms for decades.

The identification of these and other problems facing the county has inspired the formation of an organization called the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition to address the problems. The organization will represent a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, ranchers, anti-hunger advocates, land-use planners, grocery store representatives, realtors, nutritionists and anyone else who wants to have an impact on local food systems, including low income residents. The organization has received approval from Missoula's City Council and the County Commissioners.

Co-founder Neva Hassenein, a University of Montana professor, says the coalition has a logical place in local government. "We've got the Air Quality Advisory Council, a Planning Board, a Transportation Commission, but we don't have anything for food and agriculture. It's time we put a comprehensive approach to food and farming on the local government agenda."

(Missoula Independent March/April 2005)