Death of the Jailhouse Press

Censorship in the Big House

It was a melee, a riot, a simmering dispute. Despite the nomenclature, coverage of the August 9 prisoner "incident" at San Quentin prison was hardly diversified. 39 prisoners were injured in one of the largest riots since 1982 at California's oldest prison, with newspapers citing tensions between Latino and white prisoners as the root cause.

There were a few differences, though, between this riot and the last demonstrating the changing nature of America's prison system. In 1982, guards fired shotguns in the air to quell the disturbance; in 2005, tear gas was the agent of choice. In the 80s, the prisoner newspaper, the San Quentin News would've covered the riots; in 2005, this newspaper no longer exists.

One of the most dramatic changes within American prisons is the near extinction of the penal press. Award-winning prison newspapers that once reached thousands- even outside of prison walls-no longer exist, and their underground counterparts are few and far between. The situation has become so dire that, according to the author of Jailhouse Journalism James McGrath Morris, "If you talked to a prisoner today, they wouldn't even know these things existed."

The death of the prison press can't be attributed to one law or one warden; instead, it can be traced through shifting attitudes on prisons and their function in society. "There was a period in American history when we really thought we could send somebody to [prison] and make a new person out of them," Morris said. "That's gone." In a country that imprisons over 2 million people-despite a decade-long drop in crime-rehabilitation is an outmoded concept.

The prison newspaper was once seen as a practical tool for rehabilitation. It was viewed as a way for prisoners to occupy themselves on the inside, but more importantly, to gain marketable skills for use on the outside. This led to prison newspaper booms in the 30s and 50s, when over 250 prisoner-run publications flourished.

The prison press also thrived in the 70s when, according to Jim Danky, Librarian of the Wisconsin Historical Society, which is home to the nation's largest collection of prison newspapers, highly politicized prisoners brought "the ethos of the 60s inside with them" and cranked out enough radical rags to fill a library. Among these were The Iced Pig edited by Weatherman and Attica prisoner Sam Melville and the San Quentin News, known for its censored report on bird excrement in the prison cafeteria.

The most notable paper of this decade, and perhaps the entire history of the prison press, was The Angolite. Under Wilbert Rideau's editorship, the paper won a Polk award for its intensive coverage of prison rape. Unlike other papers, The Angolite skirted official censorship by obtaining the support of the warden, who hoped that the presence of an independent prison newspaper would bring prestige and stability to the Louisiana prison.

But this hands-off approach was unique to Angola. As The Angolite was publishing groundbreaking pieces, prisoner-journalists throughout the country were encountering the "Son of Sam" laws which were designed to keep them from publishing their work in outside publications. A central provision states that, "The inmate may not act as reporter or publish under a byline." Though the law did not directly affect prison newspapers, it sent a message to officials that contrarian prisoner opinions needed to be heavily censored.

H. Bruce Franklin, Rutgers professor and author of Prison Writings in 20th-Century America, believes this sudden crackdown on prison journalism was a reaction to the success of newspapers in unifying prisoners and engaging outsiders. Ultimately, the goal was (and still is) information control, according to Franklin: "The worse the conditions in prison, the more necessary it is to keep people from knowing how bad the conditions are." Franklin believes that prison officials take measures to prevent prison newspapers from covering routine abuses and, in some cases, torture. "They will do everything in their power to make sure people are unaware of this," he says.

For the most part, efforts to silence prisoners have been successful. Yet, some prisoners would rather face continuous torment than have their voices muffled. Through hand-written newsletters and freelance articles, prisoners continue to act as journalists even though their writings make them targets for harassment by prison staff.

Until his 1997 execution, Bobby West published news briefs from his death row cell in Huntsville, Texas, sometimes delaying print dates because guards destroyed his research material. Dannie Martin's article on the prison AIDS epidemic in the late 80s for the San Francisco Chronicle led to numerous legal battles and time in solitary confinement. But this retaliation against Martin only further demonstrated the relevance of his Chronicle pieces, eventually leading to the publication of his articles in the book Committing Journalism: The Prison Writings of Red Hog

Paul Wright faced numerous censorship attempts when his then-fledgling monthly Prison Legal News (PLN) spoke bluntly on labor exploitation in American prisons, among other issues, detailing the usage of low-paid prisoners to bolster the profits of private corporations like Starbucks and Victoria's Secret. Wright completed his sentence and now edits the paper from the outside, making it easier to challenge the frequent bans of PLN. With 15 years and 18 issues behind it, PLN is the longest running, independent prison newspaper in the country.

Even as prisoners find ways to report, their resources are slim and, in stark contrast to the past, they don't have a large outsider audience; the demand to know what happens inside American prisons is scarce.

This lack of communication might be welcome to some, but it creates further tension between communities that must eventually reunite in the free world. "If you deprive some people of the right to speak freely, who are the real victims of this? Who are the real losers?" Franklin asked. "Not so much the people that don't have the right to speak. The real losers are the people who could potentially hear what these people have to say."

By LEAH CALDWELL posted 25 November 05

Leah Caldwell lives in Austin, Texas.
She can be reached at: leahmcaldwell@yahoo.com

COUNTERPUNCH

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Lockdown
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Two Million Imprisoned = Too Many
On August 13, thousands of people from around the nation are expected to march in a "Journey for Justice" to our nation's capitol. Times have certainly changed since the 1963 civil rights march on Washington, but this year's march still has everything to do with what many view as institutionalized racism.

Harmful, Undeserved Punishment
US: Nearly five million American citizens are denied the right to vote - one of every 50 citizens. That includes 13 percent of all African-American men nationwide, up to almost twice that percentage in particular states and the majority of adults - black and white -- in some inner city neighborhoods.

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[PRISONACT] FOR THE MILLIONS WHO CARE!
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NEPACS' third national conference looks at the importance of family relationships to an offender and the trauma and disruption to family life caused by a prison sentence.

Association for the Prevention of Torture
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US land of the free: 2,131,180 prisoners
US: WASHINGTON -- The nation's prisons and jails held 2,131,180 inmates as of June 30, 2004, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) announced this week. Two-thirds were in federal and state prisons, and the other third were in local jails. Jail authorities were supervising an additional 70,548 men and women in the community in work release, weekend reporting, electronic monitoring and other alternative programs.

The ABOLITIONIST
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He Did Time, So He's Unfit to Do Hair
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THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK:
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US: The 8th National CURE Convention last June lobbied on Capitol Hill the Innocence Protection Act in the Senate and the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 in the House. On Sunday, October 10th, Congress passed both bills and sent them to the President to be signed.

THE LAW IS AN ASS:
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BIRTHDAY PROTEST BACKS INNOCENT MAN ON DEATH ROW:
Kids from 3 to 83 years old beat candy labeled "Justice" out of a big Texas-shaped piqata on Aug. 1 as dozens gathered in the Houston City Hall Park to celebrate the 30th birthday of Nanon Williams, an innocent person on Texas death row.

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Abu Ghraib, USA
When I first saw the photo, taken at the Abu Ghraib prison, of a hooded and robed figure strung with electrical wiring, I thought of the Sacramento, California, city jail.

On Solitary Confinement
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Appealing a Death Sentence Based on Future Danger USA-HOUSTON, June 9 - Texas juries in capital cases must make a prediction. They may impose a death sentence only if they find that the defendant will probably commit more violent acts.

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Restorative Justice Practices
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Maoist Internationalist Movement
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After 25 years of explosive growth in the U.S. prison system, is this country finally ending its love affair with incarceration? Perhaps, but as in any abusive relationship, breaking up will be hard to do.

High court keeps alive case of inmates held in solitary
NEW ORLEANS: The nation's highest court refused Monday to kill a lawsuit brought by two prisoners and an ex-inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary who spent decades in solitary confinement.

Notebook of a Prison Abolitionist
In his autobiography, Frederick Douglass recalls how as a slave he would occasionally hear of the "abolitionists." He did not know the full meaning of the word at first, but he heard it used in ways that he found appealing. He heard about it when a slave ran away or killed his master. He heard about it when a barn was set on fire or a slave committed an act his master thought wrong. For Douglass, these utterances and reports were "spoken of as the fruit of abolition." He adds, "Hearing the word in this connection very often, I set about learning what it meant."

Darwin prison riot threat alert

PRISONERS threatened to riot at Darwin jail after complaining about overcrowding and the quality of food, it was learnt yesterday.

Fifteen officers donned full riot gear including arming themselves with large gas pumps as a group of inmates sat down on the ground and refused to go to a routine muster.

The three ringleaders were whisked away to a maximum security block after a tense two-hour stand-off.

One prison source said: "There was no violence in the end but it was touch and go.

"Once a few of them get together you can have a monster.''

The prisoners are believed to have handed a letter of grievance to Darwin prison.

Trouble started at the maximum security B and C blocks on Thursday morning.

Correctional Services director Jens Tolstrup said public safety was never threatened.

"The incident was not a major disturbance,'' he said.

"All the inmates [prisoners] dispersed willingly and voluntarily and without incident.

"There was no lock-down, no violence and the rest of the prison operated as normal.

"The three inmates involved have been moved from the block into other accommodation. This is standard practice for these situations.''

The source said it was "very unusual'' for riot gear to be issued.

He said several of the prisoners had told officers they would "take the blocks out'' a euphemism for a riot.

The source said the prison was overcrowded, adding: "Everybody is hot at this time of the year and tempers fray.''

The source refused to name the ringleaders who are not serving life sentences.

He said they were well-known within the prison system but not outside.

Darwin and Alice Springs prisons each hold about 400 inmates each. Both are nearly full.

By NIGEL ADLAM 29 October 05

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England and Wales are continuing to jail offenders at a higher rate than any other major country in western Europe, it emerged today. New research indicates that the government's use of prison as its main tool of penal policy has increased by 15% since 1999.

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NSW: Sydney businessman Rodney Adler has been transferred to a higher-security prison as punishment for allegedly attempting to conduct business activities from jail even though people are sent to prison for punishment not to be punished?

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NSW: The Law Society is aware that two former long standing police officers Mr Robert Inkster, an Mr Peter Walsh, were appointed to the Parole Board as Community Members for a period of three years from 17 January 2005 until 16 January 2008.

Corrected or Corrupted
A psychiatrist from the prison Mental Health Team attached to Queensland Health made the comment that 25 per cent of inmates suffer from a diagnosed mental illness.

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Prisoners from Risdon Prison and Prison Action & Reform (PAR) in Tasmania have requested support from the Australian Prisoners Union and Justice Action following the siege in the prison ending on May 9.

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PRISON ACTION & REFORM INC: Tas Prison Complaints
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MISTREATED IN CUSTODY - NO ACCOUNTABILTY
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Ex-Prisoner Locked Out of Prison
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No Safe Place
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Tough line on crime fills jails
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FAMILIES OF PRISONERS FORUM
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Parklea Prison: No calls for six days
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Prison boom will prove a social bust
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Watchdogs slaughtered in NSW
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Gov't-Opposition Advocate Troops To Afghanistan?

AUSTRALIA: Australia's federal imperialists are again considering sending troops back to Afghanistan by early next year, allegedly to help stabilise the country and continue the war on terrorism. At least that's what we're led to believe.. [But most know that these 'pre-emptive wars' are really about 'resource wars' in the Middle East, and allegedly to 'primarily secure an oil and gas pipeline' and 'strategic bases' for NATO.]

And there is simply no Opposition to the plan by Labor, the party that is supposed to be representing people who oppose war. And if not why not?

Are they're going to leave Opposition to War up to the minor political parties who really have no say whatsoever in the two party preferred system of government in this country? Or has Labor simply acknowledged that now HoWARd has all the power in the Senate that they have no choice but to opt for the very same policy or lose any form of credibility as a federal political party in this country.

Saving face not good enough!

Other sources say this move by the government and the Opposition (working in tandem) has been well thought out and it's really all about quelling the opposition to the U.S.-backed Afghan puppet government and the enforced rule of President Hamid Karzai's failed attempt at democracy, which has branched out once again into all out war in the failed state.

But why would the Australian government want to again wage a war on the other side of the world on the failed democratic ideals? And why don't' we get the truth instead of this rhetoric about the need to help 'stabilise' and continued war on terror which simply means slaughter any opposition to the puppet government!

The Coalition of the Killing sent troops after the [false flag operation by the USA] Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in an earlier war? Then an alleged democratic government was purported to have been elected by the people...So what other good reason does the Australian Government and Opposition have now, besides another imperial invasion to quell an uprising to the alleged democracy?

I know! To finally track down Osama (where have you bin), Bin Laden, similar to the very same excuse used before and no different to the threat alleged by the other demon in Iraq 'ABRACADABRA' Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who incidentally cannot be found either. Even though there have been numerous reports of alleged close sightings, contacts with his alleged lieutenants and even his laptop computer and also some hearsay about him being wounded.

Bush's demon-aid tactic strikes again

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is the George W Bushit's mastermind demon to help bolster support to continue to wage the US-led Illegal and degrading war on Iraq. Another report that senior aide to Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (a George Bushit demon) used time and time again, as an excuse to wage war in Iraq has allegedly been captured.

All they're doing is trying to help bolster support to attack freedom fighters in Afghanistan who don't agree with Hamid Karzai's rule? People who really believe they have no say in how their country is run, other than the US shadow standing besides its choice of government - opposed to a great many of the indigenous people who live there.

The HoWARd government was considering the new troop deployment, which could be a force of between 250 and 700, along with allegedly more civil aid for Afghanistan's reconstruction? A decision would be made in July.

Pity Labor doesn't come to the rescue though? No more war in Afghanistan No?

The Federal Opposition 'the well paid losers' are now advocating sending Australian troops back to Afghanistan too along side the government.

"The opposition is prepared to engage in a discussion with the government on this matter, if the government wants to have it," (the well paid loser) Labor's leader Kim Beazley told reporters.

He says a suggestion that Australian troops may be sent back to Afghanistan is long overdue and reflects the Government's failure to devote enough resources to the area? But maybe he should move to Afghanistan and take up residence as well?

If he thinks Australia should have any a roll to play in enforcing the new failed US puppet Karzai Government. And as if there is no opposition to war in this country at all, either here, or abroad in the International Community - then who is going to argue their views if it's not the Opposition in a two party preferred system of government? In a so called democracy?

If the U.S.-backed Afghan President Hamid Karzai's failed democracy in Afghanistan is anything to go by then the US led war on Iraq may also go on indefinitely and even more troops may have to eventually be sent there?

The deployment would come at a busy time for Australia's defence forces, which have about 1,700 personnel deployed an overseas operations, including about 1,400 in and around Iraq.

The National Security Committee is said to be considering an option to send more troops and civil aid to the country, with Britain and the United States indicating they would welcome a further commitment from Australia but behind it all is the US need to quell opposition to its rule.

Australia sent special forces troops and air support to the U.S.-led war on terrorism in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, but withdrew them after the Afghan Taliban fell late that same year.

U.S.-backed Afghan President Hamid Karzai allegedly won a presidential election last October, and parliamentary elections are due to be held in the country on Sept. 18.

The United States commands an 18,300-strong international force, most of whom are American, fighting resistance and militants in Afghanistan and hunting their leaders, allegedly including al Qaeda leader (where have you bin all my life), Osama bin Laden, blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks.

More than 70 U.S. soldiers have been killed in action and more than 400 wounded in Afghanistan since 2001, while U.S. and Afghan government figures show about 150 freedom fighters have been killed this year alone.

A new analysis of the Australian community on illegal and degrading wars on sovereign nations, from the influential No War Strategic Policy Institute, has found only 14 percent of Australians supported military assistance to the war on human rights, while 58 percent disagreed.

Labor's foreign affairs spokesman, Kevin Rudd, (another well paid loser) says the Opposition has been stressing the importance of Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism for several years and it is time the Government redefined its focus.

"Afghanistan remains the centre for the war against terrorism," he said.

"Osama bin Laden is alive and well, Al Qaeda is alive and well and their base continues to be the eastern part of Afghanistan.

"If we're serious about the war against terrorism, that's still where the effort is to be concentrated."

Perhaps he too could set up residence down the street in Kabul from Mr Beazley and only then could he confirm the importance of imperialism in the quality of his life that would no doubt be sadly diminished in what would otherwise be in the midst of a bloody war.

No more war, bring the troops home and let's start the peace process! If the Opposition doesn't oppose war who does? We the People!

By No More War 16 June 05

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Returning veterans of Iraq/Afghanistan
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More than 103 times as many people have been killed in these wars and occupations than in all terrorist attacks in the world from 1993-2004. About 241 times as many people have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq than in the ghastly attacks of September 11, 2001.

Pentagon chiefs cleared over prisoner abuse?
US: The Pentagon has cleared itself of any high-level responsibility for the abuse of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay because it was the guard dogs that initiated the torture all along.

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Afghan children lose High Court battle against detention
Lawyers have lost their constitutional challenge to the detention of four children at a South Australian immigration centre. Four siblings from Afghanistan, aged between seven and 15, have been in detention since they arrived in Australia in 2001.

BOLIVIA: A week of upheaval

On Monday May 23, around 10,000 coca growers, marched into El Alto, the capital of Bolivia, ending a 200-kilometre, four-day march led by the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), and its leader Evo Morales. Far from ending the protests, however, the cocaleros' arrival kicked off more.

The marchers were demanding an increase in the royalties paid by transnational companies to the government for natural gas exploitation. This issue -- who should benefit from Bolivia's gas reserves, the second largest in Latin America -- brought down one government, and is rapidly becoming a struggle over who controls the country. It has crystallised the divide between the vast, poor majority who want Bolivian resources to benefit them, and the US-led imperial empire that has the support of the country's business elite.

After months of debate, a public referendum and threats from both mass organisations and big business, President Carlos Mesa allowed a new hydocarbon bill to be signed into effect on May 17. The bill imposed a tax of 32% on top of 18% royalties. However, this falls short of the proposal of 50% royalties put forward by MAS, and way short of the most popular option: nationalisation of the industry.

On the other side of the political spectrum, the gas transnationals, the Bolivian oligarchy and their most vocal supporters, the civic committee of Santa Cruz, have denounced the bill as too radical. The civic committee of Santa Cruz has announced its intentions to hold a referendum, with or without government support, on greater autonomy for the department (state), believing that this would enable it to control the gas reserves, which are located in the region around the wealthy, mostly white, city. The indigenous people on whose land the gas is located, however, are opposed to this.

Bolivia has a history of mass struggle and several well-defined mass groups. MAS, which grew out of the cocalero movement in the Chapare region, has a significant parliamentary presence. Morales missed out on election as president last time by 1.5%.

However, more radical are the demands of the altenos, members of the groups based on El Alto, the city that grew out of a shanty-town suburb of La Paz, and has a history of militant struggle against privatisation. The main groups in El Alto, FEJUVE (which unites around 600 neighbourhood committees), COR de El Alto (the Regional Workers Central of El Alto) and El Alto's federation of trade unions, have been calling for nationalisation of the gas supply, and Mesa's resignation, a demand supported by the Bolivian Workers Central (COB).

Green Left Weekly has abridged these reports of the week of struggle that started with the cocaleros arrival from journalists based in La Paz.

By Alison Dellit & Federico Fuentes posted 29 May 05

Green Left Weekly

Filipino forces storm prison to end revolt

Loud explosions were heard at a maximum security prison in the Philippines capital as authorities stormed the jail to end a 24-hour uprising by frustrated prisoners.

Tear gas wafted around the four-storey prison building at Camp Bagong Diwa police camp in south-eastern Manila as police special forces troops rushed into the compound with gas masks.

An exchange of small arms fire followed, with some of the 400-plus prisoners on the upper floors running for cover. Prisoners seized the second storey of the building early on Monday, killing three prison guards, to support calls for better prison conditions and a speedier trial. The government said the revolt was part of a failed escape attempt?

All of the prisoners' are members of the Human Race but who have been branded as militants and demons by the US government.

By Militants? 15 March 05

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Passive Exhausting: Local Council?

Motor vehicle Exhaust Fumes

Hypocritical Local Councils shit doesn't stick!

Smoke-free playgrounds? Liverpool council has lost its way if it doesn't ban exhaust fumes from vehicle smoke that is far more dangerous and harmful than tobacco smoke.

Liverpool City Councils allegation that it is taking the lead in a fight against exposure to environmental tobacco smoke by passing a motion to create smoke-free playgrounds is pandering to the multinationals whose exhaust fume emissions are killing us, not just the motor vehicle type emissions on land and in and around the parks like Centennial Park, but in the air from planes and on the water from boats.

Year Book Australia 2003 Transport Special Article - Environmental impacts of Australia's transport system.

Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by transport

Transport uses a large amount of energy, with some 970 petajoules (PJ) (a petajoule is 1015 joules) used in 1994-95. The key transport energy users are household passenger vehicles (525.3 PJ), air transport (162.7 PJ), commercial road transport (125.7 PJ) and water transport (62.2 PJ) (ABS 2001a). The energy used and emissions caused by the consumption of almost 25,000 million litres of fuel by motor vehicles in 2000 are considerable.

The Cancer Council NSW congratulated Liverpool City Council for taking the lead in the fight against exposure to environmental tobacco smoke by passing a motion to create smoke-free playgrounds.

"We are thrilled with Liverpool Council's progressive move and congratulate them for taking such a strong lead to protect the community against the harmful effects of second-hand smoke," said Dr Andrew Penman, CEO of The Cancer Council NSW.

We have been working closely with various local councils to encourage them to enforce a ban on smoking within 10 metres of a playground or sporting fields, and a ban on smoking at Council events, and it is very encouraging to see Liverpool Council not afraid to move forward."

But that's a contradiction within itself the fact is the community is smothered by exhaust fumes not passive cigarette smoke. What have they done to ban motor vehicle emissions 10 metres of a playground or sporting field or at Council events?

LEAD SAFETYTOOL KIT for COUNCILS

Walk through the city and you choke on smoke from vehicle emissions. You cannot ban and fine people for smoking a cigarette when they are choked out of existence on diesel and petrol. This is totally hypocritical that banning and fining people for smoking not farting in a park opposed to the motor vehicle emissions, the community puts up with ever single minute of every single day, whether you're in a park, crossing the road or walking around Sydney's foreshores.

Like it's safe to take children into a shopping mall car park as long as you don't smoke? Talk about lost the plot. These people want money? They want to fine you? Not for the worst crime of the century but for the least crime of the century. Next it'll be farting and methane?

FACTS ON FART EMISSIONS

Last month, Hawkesbury Council was the first local council in NSW to pass the motion and is in the process of constructing signage to implement the ban.

"Western Sydney has higher smoking rates than most of Sydney so the ban will have an enormous impact on the community of Liverpool. [?]

"Liverpool also has a very high youth population - many who suffer from asthma - and it is wonderful that they will be free to play in a smoke-free zone and able to escape the 4,000 different chemical substances contained in second-hand smoke," said Dr Penman.

"Children are particularly vulnerable to second-hand smoke because their lungs and body weight are small, so the dangerous substances in smoke are more harmful. And of course children are not always able to move away from other people's smoke, as adults are able to do."

[What about motor vehicle smoke then? How do they move away from that contradiction Dr?]

How many different chemical substances contained in second-hand motor vehicle emissions Dr Penman? Are children particularly vulnerable to second-hand emissions because their lungs and body weight are small?

So dangerous substances in emissions are even more harmful aren't they Dr Penman. Question is, where is the report? What is being done? What ideas do you have? What stops it? Where do we go from here? Furthermore, where are the signs banning motor vehicles?

Types of transport emissions

Most transport emissions are CO2, with small amounts of nitrous oxide and methane (table S23.4). Nitrous oxide emissions have doubled in proportion to other gases, from 2.7% of transport emissions in 1990 to 5.4% in 2000.

This has been attributed to the increase in vehicles with catalytic converters and other pollution prevention technology. Three-way catalytic converters reduce emissions, but produce 12% more methane and 154% more nitrous oxide per kilometre than cars with two-way converters or those without pollution control devices.

Catalytic converters have been fitted to new cars since 1987, and aim to reduce the contribution of car emissions to air pollution (AGO 2002). For more detail on the environmental impact of emissions, see Environment.

By High Octane 16 September 03

THE CHICKEN: The Cancer Council NSW is part of a taskforce of health organisations committed to a four-year statewide campaign to reduce the effects of environmental tobacco smoke on young children.

THE EGG: But in reality this is capitalism protecting the real killers that fail to reduce the effects of environmental vehicle emissions on young children. And money grabbing councils willing to cop the proceeds from fining the community to enhance their profits at any cost.

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