Require Plant Based State Prison and Welfare meals & save air, water, and animals

Help create this movement for institutional meals to be more plant based!This proposed initiative requires the Washington State Department of Corrections with its 17,000 inmates, as well as the Department of Social and Health Services which runs the juvenile detention facilities (6,000) and violent sexual predator prison (3,600), as well as low income food programs (159,600+/-) to emphasize a plant based diet.

The way that this would work is by requiring these two agencies that publicly subsidize meals–to maximize reductions in food costs, CO2 emissions, water consumption, health care costs, and number of animals raised and slaughtered (including in concentrated animal feedlot operations that are major users of the bulk of antibiotics the public subsequently ingests).

This would result in a healthier plant-oriented food menu for those the public has assumed responsibility for, and major beneficial impacts to the environment.

The estimated annual savings by moving approximately 186,200 people to a plant based diet could be as much as 3.6 Million farm animals, $33M–$100 Million in public funds, 337,000 Tons of CO2 emissions, 40 Billion gallons of freshwater consumed for animal agriculture, and reduced health care costs associated with diet.

My name is Andrea Hegland and I have witnessed conditions deteriorate globally and here in my native Washington State.  My career background is in managing complex projects on Puget Sound, and I am a graduate of the University of Washington.

The first step in this process is to conduct a professional public opinion survey to assess this measure being passed if it goes all the way to a public vote.  This survey, and retention of attorney and CPA will cost $33,000.

If this passes, it could serve as a model for countless other public institutions and in the process, educate many people about these issues.  It would also give staff within agencies the traction they need to advance this concept from within.

Please help make this tremendous change in our institutional food systems!

What We Need & What You Get

The way that an Initiative to the Washington State Legislature works is that the sponsor registers with the State, then must collect 325,000 signatures to have the proposed legislation sent to the Legislature, which would be in 2016.  The Legislature can adopt it as written and then it would become law!  Or, the Legislature can reject it or propose an alternative, both actions that would lead to a public vote in November 2016.  In any event, there would be a public debate and the measure would be voted on!

Your contribution will help retain a professional public opinion survey company to prepare, conduct and evaluate the survey to determine voter support.

Most people and organizations that I have talked with believe this initiative will appeal to a wide cross section of voters because of the savings in so many areas — financial, health care, animals, greenhouse gases, and water.  The survey will clarify voter support and issue framing.

This proposed initiative will be conducted in 3 phases.  This survey is the feasibility phase.  If success appears feasible there will be a second phase to gather the 325,000 signatures required.  If that is accomplished the signatures and the proposed legislation will be submitted to the Legislature in December 2015.  If the Legislature does not pass the legislation or proposes an alternative in the 2016 session, then Phase 3 is a media and marketing campaign prior to the public vote in November 2016.

Be part of a movement whose time has come – change our public institution food systems to be human, earth, and animal friendly.

If this fundraising goal is not met, there is an option of having a public opinion survey done but with a smaller survey pool, but that is not ideal.  I hope that you will see the value in this proposal as a longer term investment that could have a profound impact.

The Impact

The potential impact is mind boggling.  If this concept spread to just each US State Prison and the US Active Military, and they moved to a plant based diet, the annual estimated savings in order of magnitude are 50 Million Farm Animals, $475 Million in reduced food costs, 4.8 Million tons of reduced CO2, and 600 Billion gallons of freshwater conserved.

Your contribution will help make it possible to start this movement in Washington State, and then advance this concept to every public institution in the nation – and beyond.

I have experience working with the Washington State Legislature and that is why I chose the initiative approach.  If the Legislature rejects or modifies this proposed law, it goes to a public vote.  Otherwise, as I am sure you can appreciate, it would likely languish in a dysfunctional, partisan, and divisive governing body that has been overtaken by wealthy special interest groups and individuals.  We don’t have time to play self-interested politics any longer.

Risks & Challenges

Humanity has more to gain than to lose in this proposal.  We are overdue for modifying our diet to reclaim some aspects of human health, our environment, and to stop cruelty towards animals.

The primary opposition is likely to come from those that will lose money by such a diet shift – the animal agriculture industry and related industries.  The campaign team includes top notch professionals familiar with messaging and anticipating issues and challenges over the course of the campaign.  It will be a fight, but with your help, we can increase the chances of success with your support.

Want to help, but not financially?

Never fear! Whether you are able to support us financially or not, you can still be a tremendous help to us by spreading the word on this campaign via Facebook and twitter.  Please share a link to this campaign and tell your friends. It really does make all the difference in the world.