By Ron Patton

I read with profound interest the February/March 2008 Olympia Food Co-op newsletter, specifically, the article titled, “Anti-oppression Training at the Co-op,” by Monica Villareal. While the anti-oppression committee is in the process of developing a vitally needed training program, there presently appears to be a glaring oversight regarding their anti-oppression policy.

In 2006, several Co-op members complained about Salsa So Fresh being sold at the Co-op because a portion of the proceeds goes to the Christian charitable organization, World Vision, known for feeding refugees in war-torn countries. While on the surface, this appears to be a worthy cause, World Vision has been involved with U.S. clandestine operations, primarily in Southeast Asia and Central America. Many of the refugee camps hired members of right-wing “death” squads, trained by CIA and U.S. military special advisors. There were numerous credible reports of mass murders of these vulnerable refugees by the hit squads.

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