Features
When the Farmer Makes The Rules
Forty years ago, two roads diverged in the chicken industry. Sick of being squeezed by processors, Canadian poultry farmers asked their local governments to construct a system that provided them with bargaining power. In the U.S., efforts to create similar systems failed. And that has made all the difference. By Brian LevyThe Culture Thief
Cultural protection laws allow many countries to encourage local creations–such as films–that might otherwise disappear in the face of Hollywood’s hunger for global markets. Even with the laws, most countries’ own films only account for a small percentage of the entertainment dollar. Still, the U.S. distributors call the laws a barrier to trade. By Simona Fuma ShapiroPreempt This! Michigan Cities Fight Back
What does it take to get a group of polite Midwesterners riled up enough to propose an amendment to their state constitution? Michigan legislators can tell you it’s not too difficult: just pass a series of laws that weaken local authority. By Daniel KrakerSetting a Slow Table
If you’ve always wanted to be an activist but stayed away because of the bad food and long hours, there’s good news. A group called Slow Food has taken up the cause of local cuisine and is defending it against everything from hyper-hygienic policies to the homogenizing influence of mass distribution. Their organizing strategy: sit down and enjoy a delicious, leisurely meal. By Stacy Mitchell
place rules
California governor vetoes internet tax. Connecticut beach excludes nonresidents. ATM surcharges scrapped in England. New York imposes fees on sale of pollution credits.
