Anyone want to do some research? Or have some information to help put together·some research? We've seen enough sticking out from under the rug of food franchises recently to feel that a good solid investigation of them would be really useful for local communities concerned about their own biological and economic health. Some pieces of the puzzle-: • _ -:-we'ye mentioned several times the Institute for Local Self-Reliance study• which showed that a MacDonald's Hamburger franchise resulted in removal of up to 60 percent of its cash flow from the local community through franchise costs, profits and requirements !iUCh as purchases of food. and equipment from the corporation rather than locally (Rainbook, p. 46). A check on the other end of the line would probably show that the actual food producers are as strongly squeezed by _ the economic power of franchise chains, with most of the profit being siphoned • off in the middle. Any info on.that? • Two visitors to the Rainhouse within one week passed qn personal experiences working in the food service business. One told about a chemical sprayed on salads to keep them "crisp" November 1978 RAIN Page 3 • • • • • • • • • ••• (BALL &JCHAIN STORES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • when unrefrigerated. With it you could • Yesterday morning someone told keep a lettuce salad "fresh" for three us about Carmel, California, where days, but if you sprayed on too much, they've long had a ban on franchise everything would instantly turn brown food stores and even on serving of preand curl up. The other mentioned a pared "formula," foods. Anyo11e know disinfectant now being used widely more about'that? How it's worked and instead of soap and hot water to clean its effect on the community? glasses and dishes in bars and restau- · rants. It left a coating on the glasses which, according to the report, was far from-healthful. • Our review of Michael Jacobson's Eater's Digest (Aug-Sept 1978, p. 22) described some of the fearf'-111 deceptions sold as hot dogs. Other reports indicate that the stabili"zers, extenders, texturizers, flavors and preservatives that actually make up our pre-pared foods are about as far from footl as you can get. And we recently saw in a report of a Truth in Menu bill about a food chain being sued by a city for (among other things) selling '·'orange drink" as "fresh sgueezed orange juice." If people knew what they are re"ally getting, a lot more would opt for bans on such foodstuffs. •.Finally, what about case studies of some good and individualistic eateries that still exist in nooks and crannies and can serve as good examples of creative alternatives to standardized fast food joints? We've seen·crop up recently in Portl;md a number of good and inexpensive fast food places-one serving,quiches, one with souvlakis, one with good pizza, several with their own creative sandwich combinations-all delightful and welcome alternatives! And .then there's my favorite-the Hot _ Wok Chinese fast lunch joint. Someone want to dig out the details and put together the picture on why and how to change from fake to fantastic fooderies? -TB ENVIRONMENT 1 Maryland Environmen'tal Directory, Maryland Con~ervation Cquncil and The Maryland Environmental Trust, 1978, 100 pp., $4.00 from: ' / William G. Wilson, Editor 2574 Riva Rd., lSA Annapolis, MD 21401 The directory was compiled from questionnaires returned by 125 organizations concerned with the environment. The sections on organizational .purpose and publications will be of particular value to present or would-be citizen activists. -PC f\ftetfhe coal seams havce been removed, the op• ~ratbi' ts te.qUtfed, t(1_ put the s.po:i! material b~)(k in p~qe artd grade tht area to its approximate orlg!n.il ¢-qr~t()ur, with all highwalls. spot! pile;'.! , and depras. stbbi enm!nated [Sec,. 714.14 l RAIN's·office is at 2270 N.W. Irving, Portland, OR ·?7210. Ph: (503) 227-5110. RAIN STAFF: Phil Conti Steven Ames Linda Sawaya Lane deMoll Lee Johnson Tom Bender Copyright© 1978 RAIN U~brella Inc. Repri_n_t by permission only Typesetting: Irish Setter Printfog: 'Times Litho The Strip Mine Handbook, 1978, 108 pp., $2.30 (includes 1st class postage) • or $2.11 (book rate) from: Center for Law & Social Policy Environmental Policy Institute 317 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. Washington, DC 2000.3 Strip Mining has finally come under federal regulation in 1977, and apparent~ ly there is a strong need for citizen partidpation in enforcement of this law. This handbook very clearly shows how citizens can participate by explaining: the law, monitoring, initiating inspections, and formal proceedings. Citizen rights and employee protection for workers who are intimately aware of violations and wish to see en(orcement are explained. A valuable citizens' tool. -LS
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