. Navy Alters .course • Uncovering the Pentagon Connection \ FARM. RESEARCH ON TRIAL Science for the ~lein . · ACtion Guinea Pigs in Prison deserves to learn science, just as everyone deserves to learn to read. I Editor realize, however, that science skills Dear SftP, leslie Fraser without application are not very useful, t was with great interest that I read so I'd like to go beyond this cookbook Publisher Iyour article "Human Subjects: America's approach to: Gary Keenan Nuclear Guinea Pigs," by Lew • continue to include activities which Designer Gurman (September/October 1988). empower kids by helping them learn David Gerratt The most remarkable thing about the new science skills but which, in Production fact that prisoners were used in addition, require analysis of the dangerous, if not deadly, medical consequences of applied science. These Usa Greber experiments isn't so much the fact that activities would be suitable for children Cover Photo they occurred, but that they aroused ages five to thirteen. Ideally, they Ellen Shub little controversy both now and at that should be hands-on (lab, rather than Art& Photos time. When German scientists book-based), illustrate basic scientific James Perez/Greenpeace, Technology Review conducted similar experiments on principles, and demand analysis and U.S. Navy, Paul Valerry, John Vandermeer captive subjects, many were hanged at evaluation. Editorial Committee Nuremburg (or brought to the U.S. to •add activities, exercises, or essays for Tracey Cohen, Rich Cowan, Michael Filisky work in the fledgling Cold War teachers which would give them the l.esffe Fraser, Usa Greber, Dan Grossman industries). Yet American scientists confidence to learn new material and Jonathan Harrington, Sharon Moran, JosephRegna experiment on American prisoners and develop new and locally relevant Seth Shulman, Seth Tuler they receive government grants for activities for their classes. Magazine Planning their efforts. I guess it all depends on Any suggestions from SftP readers Joseph Alper. Jon Beckwith, Marilyn Frankenstein whose testicles are being irradiated. would be much appreciated. In David Himmelstein, Bob lange, Richard l.ewontin While there are many who will exchange for suggestions, articles, or Steffie Woolhand/er, Katherine Yih protest if this same type of experiment science activities, I offer free Editorial Advisory Board were conducted on animals, very few subscriptions to the newsletter. Write Joseph Alper, Rita Arditti. Jon Beckwith. appeared concerned when it was being to KidScience, 916 Marsh St., Philip l. Bereano, Edith Brickman. done on human prisoners. It seems that Mankato, MN 56001. Stephen Chorover, Fran Conrad, very few people are aware of how -Catherine Reed Eric Entemann, Roslyn Feldberg, Ross Feldberg, Marilyn Frankenstein, Douglas Futyama, vulnerable prisoners are to this kind of KidScience Edit01 Ted Goldfarb, Rae Goodell. exploitation. In the article, Mr. Mankato, Minnesota Stephen Jay Gqu/d, David Himmelstein, Gurman mentions how many prisoners Eric Holtzman, Ruth Hubbard, David Kahn, were led into the barbaric e"xperiments, Editorially Speaking Charles Koplik, Richard Levins, Richard Lewontin, Karen Messing, Frank Mirer, David Noble, but then were afraid to withdraw. Richard Novick, Connie Phillips, Prisoners as a class are almost totally ith the production of this issue, Alvin F. Poussaint, Stephen Risch. Richard Rosen, disenfranchised, with no voice and no W Lisa Greber joins the staff of Virginia Schaefer, Scott Schneider, Miriam Struck, power. A large percentage of the Science for the People. Lisa comes to Sue Tafler, Michael Tanzer, Scott Thacher, John Vandermeer, Gerry Waneck, prison population in this country is SftP from Massachusetts Citizens for Joseph Weizenbaum, Sandy Wiper, ,... either illiterate or mentally ill. When Safe Energy, the coalition that led an Steffie Woolhandler prison wages average $13 to $30 a unsuccessful referendum petition in the Material Requests month, it's no wonder that some November election to close the state's prisoners will volunteer for two nuclear power plants. Trained in Bany Roderick experiments of dubious safety. For physics, Lisa hopes that her tenure as Printing these reasons, all types of medical or editor will nudge SftP closer towards a Common Wealth Printing Company scientific experimentation on prisoners community base, making us more of a 47 East St., Hadley, MA 01035 should be outlawed. progressive science resource for the (413) 584-2536 -Paul Wright public. SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S. one year/six issues: SIS. Foreign rate: S21. U.S. libraries/institutions: 524. Foreign libraries: Washington State Prison After more than four years as editor, 530. Member subscriptions findudes !he magazine. our Monroe, Washington Leslie Fraser is leaving Boston and newsletter. and o!her communicationsj: S30. Foreign SUbscribers must remit in u.s. currency. with either an SftP for an editing position in International Money Order or a check drawn on a U.S. Brattleboro, Vermont. Speaking in the bank. unobjective third person, she would Kid Science SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE is available to bookstores on like to express her indebtedness to the cOflSignment from the publisher or through Carrier Pigeon readers, writers, and members who Distributors, Box 2783. Boston, MA 02208. The magazine Dear SftP, is available in microform from University Microfilms, 300 traveled SftP's trail with her. But she N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, Ml 48106. Science for the Pe6ple publish a newsletter for teachers won't stop giving editorial advice and is indexed In Alternative Press Index. Box 7229, Baltimore. I which contains science activities for contributions, and will always know a MD21218. elementary classes. Most of these home in these pages. SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE JISSN 0048-9662) is activities so far have emphasized simple Due to financial exigencies and staff published bimonthly by the SCience Resource Center. Inc., a nonprofit corporation at 897 Main St, Campridge, MA science skills for kids and basic science transitions, this issue of SftP is being 02139. telephOne 617/547-Q370. Edited and produced by information for teachers. I began this published later than we had anticipated. !he national organization of SCience for !he People. We offer a progressive view of science and technology. project because I sincerely believe that We plan to be on track again with the Articles, letters. reviews. newsnotes, phOtos. and art science skills and methods are January/February 1989 issue, a special work are welcome. Please send double-spaced, typed manuscripts, on Wordstar IBM-compatible disks if empowering ways of relating to the edition focusing on cancer and the possible. Unless o!herwise noted. all material is copyright environment, and that everyone environment. 1988 by Science tor !he People. November/December 1988 Volume 20, Number 5 CONTENTS 5 FARM RESEARCH ON TRIAL by John Saponara Last November. the Alameda County. California Superior Court handed down a landmark decision which found the University of California guilty of failing to consider how research projects would affect small family farmers. The lawsuit directly addressed questions about the social impacts of technological innovation. 6 SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE IN ACTION by Richard C. Lewontin When the attorneys for the California Agrarian Action Project constructed their case against the University of California. they enlisted the technical help of several research groups and advisors studying agricultural research and its impact on family farmers. farmworkers. rural residents. and consumers. 10 NAVY ALTERS COURSE AT BERKELEY by J.B. Neilands For 38 years. the University of California at Berkeley managed the Naval Biosciences Laboratory. For its first two decades. the mission of the NBL -although discreetly camouflaged-was biological warfare. 13 UNCOVERING THE PENTAGON CONNECTION by Rich Cowan Does your school work for the military? Here's a guide for investigating military ties to your local campus. 17 BITTERSWEET by Rif S. El-Mallakh and Daniel P. Potenza Aspartame. the artificial sweetener consumed as NutraSweet has been related to seizures. headaches. and other illnesses. But Monsanto has enjoyed its tasty profits. DEPARTMENTS 2 Newsnotes 19 Reader Response: Science Education in the Third World 23 In Brief According to Michael Colby of Food ANOTHER and Water, Inc. this accident is particularly DON'T DRINK THE ominous because the cesium-13 7 IRRADIATION containers have been called "fool proof" WATER ACCIDENT by the DOE and irradiation industry risoners at the Marion, Illinois officials. In public hearings they have federal prison may be serving an addi­ nother in a series of accidents at emphasized the reliability of the metal Ptional sentence. Crab Orchard Lake, irradiation facilities occurred in casks and dismissed those skeptical oftheir the source of the prison's water supply, A Decatur, Georgia on 6June 1988. durability as "emotionalists" and "fear has been found to contain PCBs and other Although a "no threat to the public" mongers". Food and Water, Inc. is calling toxic contaminants. Local residents conclusion was reached by federal and on the FDA to rescind its approval of food stopped drinking the lake's water two state officials, pinpoint contamination to irradiation until safety and health concerns years ago. A nearby dump site, thought workers and property did occur. The are met. They have also just begun a to be the source of the contaminants, is technology used in this facility to sterilize campaign