Organized 1885 Official Organ of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific Volume LXXIII No. 3 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Friday, March 19, 2010 Maritime labor and agricultural interests united in support of sustained funding for food aid n March 19, an ad hoc dumping of excess commodi- that does a great disservice to coalition, including the ties. Indeed, the United States those we all strive to help. O now purchases commodities for Sailors Union, submit- The need for American food ted testimony to House donation on the open market. In aid today is stronger than ever. Appropriations Sub-Committee todays political and economic Hunger is a powerful and desta- on Agriculture, Rural Develop- climate, the need to provide so- bilizing force, and America ment, Food and Drug Adminis- cietal stability, avoid failed faces a convergence of terrorist tration and Related Agencies on states, prevent terrorist breeding and other security threats from the importance of sustained Con- grounds, and bolster Americas failed and unstable states that gressional funding for food aid. image abroad has never been feed on ill will toward our na- The Chair of the Subcommittee more important. tion. The United Nations WFP is Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecti- In recent years, debate in the tells us that in recent years the he Sailors Union of the Pacific this month observed the cut) and the Ranking Member foreign assistance community food insecure have been hit by 125th anniversary of its founding, March 6, 1885, on the is Jack Kingston (R-Georgia). has at times questioned the role a perfect storm of increases T The other members of the Sub- of food aid, sometimes called in food prices coupled with ex- old Folsom Street Wharf in San Francisco. Recognition, respect and improved wages and conditions did not come easy, but committee are Rodney in-kind food aid. Led by Eu- port restrictions imposed by tra- with a militant and tenacious Alexander (R-Louisiana), ropean Union trade negotiators ditional regional and local food membership determined to gain Sanford Bishop (D-Georgia), who have complained about exporters. Here at home, the American food aid as a through democratic collective Lincoln Davis (D-Tennessee), ranks of long term unemployed smokescreen to shield their own have soared, with 15 million action what could not be accom- JoAnn Emerson (R-Missouri), protectionist agriculture poli- Americans unable to find work plished individually began a Sam Farr (R-California), cies, some have bemoaned the and 6.3 million Americans out record of achievement that con- Maurice Hinchey (D-New potential distorting effects that of work for six months or more. tinues to set the standard for York), Jesse Jackson (D-Illi- food donations might have on U.S. food aid programs not only American sailors and continues nois), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) local agriculture where U.S. further our humanitarian and to serve as an inspiration for and Tom Latham (R-Iowa). The food is disbursed. Other oppo- food security goals by allowing full testimony follows: mariners around the world. nents of food aid have suggested Americans to contribute to the March also marks the birthdays Madam Chairman, Members that perhaps we would be better needy in a tangible way, but the of two of the Unions legendary of the Subcommittee, this state- off if we did not donate Ameri- programs also provide stable leaders: Andrew Furuseth ment is respectfully submitted can food, but instead relied jobs for Americans. These pro- Andrew Furuseth (March 12, 1854) and Harry on behalf of the ad hoc coali- solely on agricultural develop- grams help us get more from our Lundeberg (March 25, 1901) and tion composed of the organiza- ment programs and local pur- aid dollars both here and abroad. the 95th anniversary of The Seamens Act (March 4, 1915) which tions listed below. The coalition chases from foreign suppliers. Food Aid versus Cash freed seamen from indentured servitude. supports sustained funding for Like others in the aid commu- Donations for Local Drawing on its sound heritage as the oldest Union of seafarers our nations food aid programs, nity, we look forward to the day in the world in continuous existence, the SUP continues to meet including Titles I and II of P.L. when food aid is no longer and Regional Purchases the challenges ahead to protect 480, and therefore strongly op- needed, but we are nowhere Food for Peace, which pro- the interest of the membership poses all proposals to divert near that goal today. Our in-kind vides farm products grown in the and advance the brotherhood of funding away from these impor- food aid programs are needed United States to millions over- the sea. tant programs. now more than at any time in seas in bags marked as gifts Food Aids Unique Role their history. From the American People, is a clear and tangible sign of Donating American commodi- The donation of American Americas concern and gener- ties is the most reliable means commodities as food aid has osity to its recipients. This same of introducing food to needy been the cornerstone of U.S. and in-kind composition generates communities in order to combat global foreign assistance pro- important economic benefits to hunger and save lives. This is grams since their inception. our nationvital jobs in many not to say that other, creative However, food aid has evolved industries, farm income, mar- means available under the For- in important ways over the years. kets for agriculture processors, eign Assistance Act or elsewhere Food aid began as an outgrowth and revenue for American trans- have no role. To the contrary, of American farm policy that portation providers and ports. It these are an important part of the generated sizeable surpluses and also generates Federal, state, aid tool kit, which can and American foreign policy charac- and local tax revenues, as well should be employed to further terized by the Cold War compe- as secondary economic effects, tition for the hearts and minds developmental goals, including Periodicals postage paid at San Francisco, CA (USPS 675-180) Harry Lundeberg such as farm equipment pur- of impoverished populations food self-sufficiency among food chases and farm family spend- across the globe. Since then, aid recipients and to address un- ing in our broader economy. For A Special Edition of the West American farm policy has foreseeable breaks in the food these reasons, a strong domes- Coast Sailors will be published evolved away from surpluses, aid pipeline. But those that paint this month to commemorate the and, therefore, food can no food aid as unnecessary and even continued on page 3 125th Anniversary. longer be mischaracterized as harmful exhibit shortsightedness ESU News: Pages 6 & 7 Page 2 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, March 19, 2010 SUP Honor Roll Ransom payments to pirates Voluntary contributions from the membership to the following funds: allowed by British court The United Kingdom High Court of Justice, Queens Bench division ruled on Organization/ West Coast February 18, that it is wrong to categorize the payment of ransom to Somali pirates for return of a hijacked vessel, its crew and its cargo as contrary to public policy. General Fund Sailors Coming amid rumors that the U.S. government is planning legislation to outlaw Abe Acosta ..................... 20.00 Abe Acosta ..................... 20.00 ransom payments, and an increasingly tough stance from the British government, advising against making payments, the clear judgment has reassured industry ex- Brenden Bohanon ............. 50.00 Gerald Allen ................... 25.00 perts of their ability to continue negotiations with pirates holding crew hostage. George Boyeas ................. 25.00 Marc Calaire .................. 100.00 While there is currently no legal restriction to prevent shipowners paying ransoms, Art Garrett ..................... 50.00 Hugh Crandall................. 25.00 the American and British governments have publicly urged the shipping industry Robert Greene ................. 75.00 Cal Cunningham .............. 25.00 against making payments, arguing that concessions to pirates will only encourage Mark Hargus ................. 100.00 Herman Hallman ............. 25.00 future hijacks. Michael Henderson ........... 50.00 Michael Henderson ........... 25.00 In the High Court ruling, however, Justice David Steel stated that, If the crews Philip Howell in lieu of Lester Hofstad ................. 25.00 of the vessels are to be taken out of harms way, the only option is to pay the ransom. dues increase ................ 100.00 Joseph McShane .............. 50.00 Diplomatic or military intervention cannot usually be relied upon, and failure to pay may be in jeopardy to other crews. JanPeter Johnsson ............ 20.00 Rudy Menchaca ............... 25.00 The legal opinion arose out of a case associated with the hijacking of the MISC Gunnar Lundeberg ........... 50.00 Lloyd Rust ...................... 40.00 chemical tanker Bunga Melati Dua in August 2008. While the case was brought as John McAuliffe ................ 50.00 Bruce Thompson in memory of a result of a cargo dispute, the details of the case prompted a timely consideration of Joseph McShane ............. 100.00 Jimmy Dimatratos and the legality of ransom payment. The case has also offered a look behind the me- Edwin Pastolero ............... 20.00 Johnny Yee ................... 25.00 chanics of ransom negotiations and shed light on the limited options that are open to George Shaffer ................ 40.00 Robert Torano ................. 25.00 shipowners in negotiations with pirates. Douglas Taylor ................ 59.00 Richard Walsh................. 45.00 The Bunga Melati Dua was released in September 2008 after MISC paid a $2 Peter Winter .................. 100.00 million ransom. However, the cargo owners, Masefield, later claimed an indemnity Dues-Paying under its cargo policy for the actual or constructive total loss of the vessels cargo. During the ensuing lawsuit, Masefield argued that the Court could not take into Political Fund Pensioners account the prospect of recovering the vessel and cargo by reason of the payment of Abe Acosta ....................