Sustainable Prisons? (From Liza Bean)

Thanks Liz for showing me this:

You probably don’t use the words “sustainability” and “prison” in the same sentence very often. The housing and feeding of inmates requires huge amounts of water and energy, though, and generates tons of waste. The Sustainable Prisons Project, a partnership between the Washington State Department of Corrections and the Evergreen State College, works to make prisons more efficient… and perhaps even reduce recidivism rates by providing “green collar” training to inmates.

Started in 2004 as a simple project to use dwindling water resources at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center more efficiently, the project now involves food production, recycling, composting, and even beekeeping. Plans for the project include not only building on progress at Cedar Creek, but also expanding the program to three other facilities. The program is even working with national organizations like the Nature Conservancy to protect and restore endangered prairie perennials.

DOC officials see the project as a true win-win: not only can the system save money, but also address mental health challenges and recidivism among inmates by providing them with meaningful work that engages them in issues which extend beyond the prison walls.

Is it time to start using “sustainability” and “prison” in the same sentence more often? Is this a sensible investment in both resource efficiency and prisoner rehabilitation? Let us know what you think…

For the original post and photos see http://www.sundancechannel.com/sunfiltered/2009/08/prison-life-sustainable-prisons-project/.

Go Chi-Town, GO!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2009
10:28 AM

CONTACT: Farm Sanctuary
Tricia Barry, 607-583-2225 ext. 233, tricia@farmsanctuary.org
Farm Sanctuary Applauds City of Chicago for Passing Nation’s First Ever Green Food Resolution
America’s “Second City” Beats New York to the Punch to Become First City to Pass Healthy Food and Climate Legislation
Historic Passage Marks First Victory in Leading Farm Animal Protection Organization’s Campaign to Introduce Ecologically Sustainable Food Resolutions in Cities Nationwide

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - July 23 - Farm Sanctuary, the nation's leading farm animal protection organization, today thanked the City of Chicago for passing the nation's first ever Green Food Resolution, urging that sustainable plant-based food be made readily available to all the city's residents, and signaling a milestone first victory in Farm Sanctuary's campaign to introduce Green Food Resolutions in cities across the U.S.

The precedent-setting vote took place Tuesday after Alderman Margaret Laurino of the 39th Ward, presented the groundbreaking resolution before the City Council's Committee on Energy, Environmental Protection and Public Utilities. After testimony in favor of the proposal from Liz Mills, the Executive Director of Irving Park Carlson Ministries, a local ministries group that provides food for low-income residents, the committee unanimously voted to pass the resolution.

"We applaud Alderman Laurino and the City of Chicago for being the first city in the nation to address head on the impact our food choices have on the numerous health and environmental problems plaguing our nation," said Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. "By promoting access to healthy, plant-based food, Chicago has proven they are second to none in protecting the health of their citizens, the environment and the billions of animals raised for food in deplorable conditions on factory farms each year."

In light of increased public interest in eating more local and sustainable plant-based foods, Farm Sanctuary has launched a campaign to introduce similar Green Food Resolutions in cities throughout the U.S. Through Farm Sanctuary's Advocacy Campaign Team (ACT), advocates are reaching out to their local city governments to introduce resolutions similar to the one passed in Chicago, and seeking wide support for the expansion of farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, community gardens and other venues that provide healthful plant-based foods.

On June 30, New York City Council Member Bill de Blasio introduced a similar groundbreaking resolution for New York City calling for a citywide FoodprintNYC initiative to reduce the city's climate foodprint, which is a more significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions than all transportation systems combined, and create greater access to local, fresh, healthy plant-based food, especially in low-income communities, as well as city-run institutions. So far, 11 City Council members have signed on as co-sponsors.

Earlier this year, President Obama showed support of local gardens to promote healthy food by announcing the establishment of an edible garden on the South Lawn of the White House. In addition, the new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced his intention to create community gardens at every USDA facility around the world, starting with the "People's Garden," located on the grounds of the USDA.


Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming.