Good news in the Chesapeake!

I was out of town and missed this, but the dredge survey for the health of the crab population came out over a month ago and it looks good! They are even saying that they might be able to raise some of the limits that have tightly bound harvesters for many years. More crabs to eat is a very good thing!

Good news in energy!

A biofuels plant in Hawaii has been certified sustainable. That's great news! So much of biofuels' "success" has turned out to be false when examined closely, but the promise is real. I hope that more plants can think so carefully about their feedstocks and create energy with such a small footprint!

Modern Slavery in Food Processing

Workers in chicken processing plants here in the US (perhaps on the Eastern Shore, where hundreds of millions of birds are raised each year?) have to wear diapers since they aren't allowed to use the bathroom during shifts; in Thailand, workers are chained up or locked in shrimp processing plants. A few years ago an investigation found problems with the programs bringing in workers to pick crab here in Maryland as well. That program is back in the news after Senator Mikulski pushed for continued exceptions to labor laws on its behalf.

In an international food marketplace the race to offer the best products at the lowest prices inevitably puts workers at risk, making policing of labor conditions so important. Thanks to the journalists and investigators who are bringing these to light!