12/9/02

LC021209

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> A STARTLING LOOK AT WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PARTICULARLY HEALTHY FOOD. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT FARM-RAISED SALMON AND ALL THE THINGS YOU MIGHT NEVER HAVE SUSPECTED WERE GOING INTO IT.

ALEXANDRA MORTON>> WHEN YOU HAVE SPENT EIGHTEEN YEARS LOOKING DOWN INTO THE WATER, THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THIS INDUSTRY IS UNMISTAKABLE. THIS ARCHIPELAGO IS FLASHING NEON WARNING SIGNS TO ANYONE THAT’S LOOKING.

VAL>> WE’LL ALSO FIND OUT WHY FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE MAY HELP KIDS DO BETTER IN SCHOOL. THAT’S WHAT TEACHERS ARE DISCOVERING IN ORANGE COUNTY WHERE ONE NEW SCHOOL IS SAVING ENERGY AND PRODUCING BETTER GRADES. THE QUESTION IS, CAN OTHER SCHOOLS DO THE SAME?

JESS>> AND THEN WE’LL HEAR THE STORIES BEHIND SOME OF L.A.’S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS. YOU’LL RECOGNIZE THE LOCATIONS AND TONIGHT YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT A NEW PROJECT TO PRESERVE THEIR LEGACIES.

VAL>> IT’S ALL COMING UP NEXT ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. TONIGHT A STORY THAT MAY CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT A SO-CALLED HEALTHY FOOD. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT FARM-RAISED SALMON. YOU MAY BUY IT BECAUSE YOU THINK IT’S GOOD FOR YOU AND GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, NEITHER MAY BE TRUE.

VAL>> FOR EXAMPLE, THAT BRIGHT PINK COLOR THAT WE LOOK FOR IN FARM-RAISED SALMON? IT DOESN’T COME FROM NATURE, BUT FROM A SYNTHETIC PIGMENT THAT IS FED TO THOUSANDS OF FISH CRAMMED INTO VERY SMALL SPACES. AND THAT’S JUST PART OF WHAT WE’RE LEARNING FROM AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION BY LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTER, KEN WEISS. IN ADDITION TO THE STORY THAT APPEARS IN TODAY’S NEWSPAPER, KEN HAS A VIDEO ACCOUNT OF SOME OF THE THINGS HE DISCOVERED AND, AS YOU’RE ABOUT TO SEE, IT MAY CAUSE YOU TO THINK TWICE THE NEXT TIME YOU’RE AT THE FISH COUNTER.

KEN WEISS>> AMERICA’S APPETITE FOR SEAFOOD HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER. TONS OF SEAFOOD ARE DISTRIBUTED EVERY DAY TO SUPERMARKETS AND RESTAURANTS AROUND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. IF IT’S SALMON, CHANCES ARE IT WAS BORN IN A PLASTIC TRAY, SPENT THREE YEARS LIKE A MARINE COUCH POTATO SWIMMING LAZILY IN PENS, FATTENING UP ON SALMON CHOW. IT WAS ALSO VACCINATED AND LIKELY DOSED WITH ANTIBIOTICS, PESTICIDES AND, FOR THAT RICH PINK HUE, IT WAS GIVEN A STEADY DIET OF SYNTHETIC PIGMENT.

SCIENTISTS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER ANY OF THESE FARMING PRACTICES POSE A SERIOUS RISK TO HUMAN HEALTH. THEY ARE FAR MORE CERTAIN OF THE THREATS TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT. THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, HAS MORE THAN NINETY-ONE SALMON FARMS DOTTING ITS COASTLINE. EACH FARM IS A CLUSTER OF PENS OFTEN INTERCONNECTED BY A METAL WALKWAY AND TETHERED OFFSHORE BY A LATTICE OF STEEL CABLES, FLOATS AND WEIGHTS.

TYPICAL IS THIS ONE OPERATED BY NORWAY-BASED STOLT-NIELSEN, ONE OF A HALF DOZEN INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES THAT CONTROL A MAJORITY OF GLOBAL SALMON PRODUCTION. HATCHED IN PLASTIC TRAYS, THE SALMON FRY SPEND THEIR FIRST YEAR IN FRESHWATER TANKS. WATER QUALITY, TEMPERATURE AND THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT ARE ALL CAREFULLY CONTROLLED TO HELP THE FISH GROW TO THE SMOLTING STAGE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. AFTER A YEAR, THEY WILL BE MOVED TO SALTWATER PENS WHERE THE INTERACTIONS WITH THE SURROUNDING WATERS CAN BE PROFOUND.

DESPITE THE IDYLLIC SETTING, THE SIGNS OF STRAIN ON THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT ARE BUBBLING TO THE SURFACE JUST AS THEY HAVE IN THE FJORDS OF NORWAY AND THE LOCHS OF SCOTLAND. ALEXANDRA MORTON CAME TO THE BROUGHTON ARCHIPELAGO EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO TO STUDY KILLER WHALES. THAT WAS WHEN SALMON FARMING WAS IN ITS INFANCY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. NOW HER RESEARCH IS ON THE IMPACT OF AQUACULTURE.

ALEXANDRA MORTON>> WHEN YOU HAVE SPENT EIGHTEEN YEARS LOOKING DOWN INTO THE WATER, THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THIS INDUSTRY IS UNMISTAKABLE. THIS ARCHIPELAGO IS FLASHING NEON WARNING SIGNS TO ANYONE THAT’S LOOKING.

KEN WEISS>> COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN IN CANADA WERE STUNNED THIS PAST AUGUST WHEN, ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE PINK SALMON SEASON, THEIR NETS CAME UP EMPTY. MORTON SAYS THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN. BLOOD-SUCKING SEA LICE WHICH LOOK LIKE WHITE SESAME SEEDS LOVE THE DENSELY-PACKED PENS OF SALMON FARMS AND, WHEN THEY ARE LOCATED IN MIGRATION ROUTES, WILD SMOLTS ARE LIKELY TO PICK UP BEARDS OF LICE ON THEIR WAY TO THE OCEAN AND THEY ARE NOT LIKELY TO COME BACK.

ALEXANDRA MORTON>> WHEN YOU PACK AN ANIMAL THAT DENSELY, NATURE STEPS IN TO TAKE THEM OUT AND SHE'S ALWAYS GOT SOMETHING, A PARASITE, A BACTERIA OR A VIRUS, TO KEEP POPULATIONS DOWN, TO KEEP ANIMALS FROM DESTROYING THE ECOSYSTEM.

KEN WEISS>> INDUSTRY OFFICIALS SAY SEA LICE IS A PROBLEM, BUT NOT AN EPIDEMIC. FURTHERMORE, FARMERS SAY WHEN LICE INFECT SALMON IN PENS, THEY PROMPTLY TREAT THEM BY PUTTING THE PESTICIDE EMAMECTIN BENZOATE IN THEIR FEED. WHILE LINGERING PESTICIDE RESIDUES HAVE NOT BEEN FLAGGED AS A HEALTH CONCERN, PCB'S AND DIOXIN IN FATTY TISSUE OF SALMON HAVE. THE CULPRIT APPEARS TO BE THE SALMON FEED WHICH CONTAINS HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF FISH OIL THAN WILD SALMON WOULD NORMALLY CONSUME. EXTRACTED FROM SARDINES, ANCHOVIES AND OTHER GROUND UP FISH, THE OIL MAGNIFIES THE AMOUNT OF PCB'S AND DIOXIN THAT ACCUMULATE IN FAT. JEANINE SIEMENS, A MANAGER AT STOLT SEA FARM, USES CAMERAS AND COMPUTERS TO MONITOR HOW THE FISH EAT.

JEANINE SIEMENS>> BECAUSE THERE'S A REAL FINE LINE, LIKE YOU DON'T WANT TO OVERFEED THE FISH. YOU'RE WASTING THE FEED AND THE PELLETS ARE GOING TO THE BOTTOM, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO UNDERFEED YOUR FISH EITHER.

KEN WEISS>> WHAT'S THE RISK IF YOU UNDERFEED?

JEANINE SIEMENS>> IF YOU UNDERFEED, YOUR COSTS GO UP AS WELL.

KEN WEISS>> WHAT HAPPENS?

JEANINE SIEMENS>> BECAUSE THE FISH AREN'T GROWING.

KEN WEISS>> ANOTHER CONCERN IS THAT IT TAKES NEARLY TWO AND A HALF POUNDS OF WILD FISH TO PRODUCE ONE POUND OF FARMED SALMON. THAT'S THE LATEST CALCULATIONS OF STANFORD ECONOMIST, ROSAMOND NAYLOR. NAYLOR CALLS THIS THE AQUACULTURE PARADOX. WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO SUPPLEMENT THE OCEAN'S BOUNTY TURNS OUT TO BE A NET DRAIN.

ROSAMOND NAYLOR>> AND I SEE SALMON REALLY AS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG TO THIS WHOLE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY HERE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AND HERE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, THE REAL WORRY OF THE PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE PROTESTING, THAT ARE TRYING TO WORK REALLY HARD TO GET STRICTER ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, DO HAVE A VERY STRONG CASE WHEN THEY LOOK AT NORWAY AND SCOTLAND. THESE ECOSYSTEMS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY ISSUES OF SEA LICE, DISEASE AND NUTRIENT WASTE, ALL SORTS OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL ENVIRONMENTAL EXTERNALITIES, THINGS THAT PRODUCERS DON'T PAY AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE DOES PAY.

KEN WEISS>> JENNIFER LASH OF THE NONPROFIT LIVING OCEANS CAMPAIGN SAYS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. HERS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HAVE RECENTLY LAUNCHED A "FARMED AND DANGEROUS" CAMPAIGN.

JENNIFER LASH>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL IS THAT, IF WE CAN GET SOME INFORMATION TO PEOPLE THAT WHEN THEY GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, THEY'LL START TO THINK TWICE BEFORE THEY BUY FARMED SALMON. THEY'RE ACTUALLY BUYING FARMED SALMON THINKING THAT IT'S TAKING THE PRESSURE OFF THE WILD STOCKS. UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS THAT EATING FARMED SALMON CAN ACTUALLY PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE WILD STOCK AND IT CAN ACTUALLY BE A REAL PROBLEM FOR WILD SALMON AND OTHER MARINE CREATURES.

KEN WEISS>> INDUSTRY OFFICIALS, MEANWHILE, ARE BEGINNING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE OCEAN'S LIMITS AND, WITH THE COST OF FEED REPRESENTING OVER HALF OF THEIR PRODUCTION COSTS, THERE'S A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE AS WELL. FRESH SALMON FILLETS USED TO BE AN EXPENSIVE SEASONAL TREAT, BUT TODAY'S FEED LOT VARIETY IS AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND AND IT'S AS CHEAP AS CHICKEN. ABOUT EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE SALMON GROWN ON FARMS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA MAKE THEIR WAY TO CONSUMERS FROM L.A. TO SEATTLE.

THERE'S A HUGE MARKET FOR THIS FISH CREATED IN PART BY PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY'RE DOING WHAT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY CORRECT. MOST PEOPLE THINK AQUACULTURE TAKES THE PRESSURE OFF WILD ECOSYSTEMS. THEY ALSO THINK AQUACULTURE WILL HELP RESTORE OCEAN FISHERIES CLOSE TO COLLAPSE, BUT ON THE FARMS OFF THE COAST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, FEW THINGS ARE AS CLEAR AS THE BLUE-GREEN WATERS SURROUNDING THE CLUSTERS OF NET PENS.

ON SEPTEMBER 11, A SEVEN-YEAR MORATORIUM ON NEW FARMS WAS LIFTED. IT'S EXPECTED TO UNLEASH A FIVE-FOLD INCREASE IN SALMON PRODUCTION IN THE NEXT DECADE. THE DECISION CAME OVER THE OBJECTIONS OF ALASKAN OFFICIALS, THE NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH. THEY WORRY THE FARMS WILL CREEP UP THE COAST AND THREATEN ALASKA'S HEALTHY STOCKS OF WILD SALMON WITH PARASITES, DISEASE AND OUTRIGHT COMPETITION FROM ESCAPEES. BILL VERNON, CO-OWNER OF CREATIVE SALMON, HAS BEEN FARMING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA SINCE 1984. NOW HIS COMPANY IS ONE OF THE LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS AND ONE OF A FEW THAT PURSUE A MORE NATURAL OR ORGANIC APPROACH.

BILL VERNON>> CREATIVE SALMON HAS ALWAYS GROWN ONLY CHINOOK SALMON. THIS IS PREDOMINANTLY BECAUSE THE MARKET THAT WE HAVE WANTS CHINOOK SALMON. IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY TO DEVELOP THE FISH. THEY ARE A MORE DIFFICULT FISH TO WORK WITH, MORE EXPENSIVE TO GROW THAN ATLANTIC SALMON.

KEN WEISS>> BUT HE'S NOT IMMUNE FROM SOME OF THE PRACTICES THAT DRAW THE ATTENTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS. IN THE WILD, SALMON GET THEIR REDDISH HUE BY ABSORBING CAROTENOIDS FROM EATING KRILL. ON THE FARM, THEY ARE FED A SYNTHETIC VERSION. THE "SALMOFAN" LOOKS LIKE THE PAINT STORE SWATCHES PEOPLE USE WHEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT COLOR TO PAINT THEIR LIVING ROOM.

BILL VERNON>> WELL, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM AS RED AS WE CAN, SO PART OF THAT WE'RE DOING THROUGH SELECTIVE BREEDING AND PART OF IT WE DO THROUGH DIET, SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE OUR FISH LOOK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE LIKE A WILD FISH. WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO EMULATE A WILD FISH. WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH, YOU KNOW, HIGHER FAT FISH BECAUSE THE FISH JUST DON'T GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF EXERCISE AS A WILD SALMON.

KEN WEISS>> THE INDUSTRY HAS LONG INSISTED THAT THE ADDITIVE IS SAFE. EUROPEANS BANNED ITS USE AS A TANNING AGENT FOR PEOPLE AFTER DOCTORS LINKED IT TO RETINAL DAMAGE. CAGED SALMON CIRCLING IN SALTWATER PENS ARE AN IRRESISTIBLE LURE TO SEALS AND SEA LIONS. BY CANADIAN LAW, FARMERS CAN SHOOT THE PREDATORS AS LONG AS THEY BURY THE DEAD IN LANDFILLS. THERE IS A LOOPHOLE. THE CARCASSES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RETRIEVED FROM THE WATER AND MANY OF THE LARGER OPERATORS SIMPLY CLAIM THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. SO WHEN VERNON SHOT AND BURIED A NUMBER OF SEA LIONS, IT CREATED A STORM OF PROTEST AND LED TO DEATH THREATS AGAINST HIM AND HIS FAMILY.

STORMS OF ANOTHER KIND, VIOLENT WINTER STORMS, HAVE RIPPED APART NETS AND ALLOWED MILLIONS OF FISH TO ESCAPE OVER THE YEARS. WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE FISH IS A SUBJECT OF DEBATE.

JOHN VOLPE>> WITH ATLANTIC SALMON IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN, WE'RE DEALING WITH A HUGE BLACK BOX AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF INTERACTIONS OR EMERGENT PROPERTIES MIGHT COME FROM A WIDE-SCALE COLONIZATION.

KEN WEISS>> JOHN VOLPE, A FISHERIES ECOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, HAS BEEN SWIMMING RIVERS TO SEE FOR HIMSELF.

JOHN VOLPE>> ATLANTIC SALMON, WHEN THEY ARE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO FIGHT OR HAVE TO COMPETE IMMEDIATELY UPON INTRODUCTION, HAVE TERRIBLE SUCCESS RATES IN TERMS OF COLONIZATION. WHEN THEY'RE IN A SITUATION WHEN THEY CAN HAVE AS LITTLE AS THREE DAYS ACCESS TO THE HABITAT WITHOUT BEING ATTACKED, THAT SAME FISH BECOMES SUPERIOR IN TERMS OF COMPETITION AND THEN THAT HABITAT THAT THE ATLANTIC SALMON TAKES UP THEN BECOMES UNAVAILABLE TO OTHER NATIVE SALMON DOWN THE ROAD.

ALEXANDRA MORTON>> THERE'S A LOT OF ATLANTIC SALMON OUT HERE IN THESE WATERS.

KEN WEISS>> ALEXANDRA MORTON, THE BIOLOGIST WHO'S BEEN DOCUMENTING THE SPREAD OF SEA LICE AROUND SALMON FARMS, SAYS GOVERNMENT REGULATORS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO BACK OFF CLAIMS THAT THE ESCAPEES COULDN'T SURVIVE.

ALEXANDRA MORTON>> FIRST, THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T GET OUT OF THEIR PENS. THEN THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FEED. THEN THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T GET IN THE STREAMS. THEN THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COLONIZE. WELL, THEY DO FEED. I FOUND SALMON, HERRING, STICKLEBACK, AND THEY ARE GETTING IN THE STREAMS. THEY ARE SPAWNING. JOHN VOLPE HAS FOUND THEIR OFFSPRING. AND COLONIZATION? WELL, I'D SAY IT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY.

KEN WEISS>> DEMAND FOR SEAFOOD IS RISING AND WILL DOUBLE IN THE NEXT FORTY YEARS, ACCORDING TO UN EXPERTS. MANY WILD FISHERIES ARE DEPLETED, SO MUCH OF THE SUPPLY WILL LIKELY COME FROM AQUACULTURE. THERE ARE SUCCESS STORIES. CATFISH IN FRESHWATER, OYSTERS IN THE OCEAN. THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE INDUSTRY FIGURE OUT HOW TO RAISE SALMON IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY THAT DOES NOT CAUSE SERIOUS ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE?

JESS>> KEN WEISS COVERS THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. HE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THE STORY YOU JUST SAW. OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT PROMPTED YOU TO BEGIN THE INVESTIGATION, BUT WERE YOU SURPRISED AT WHAT YOU FOUND?

KEN WEISS>> YES, I WAS, AND I THINK MOST AMERICANS ARE. THERE WAS A VERY INTERESTING POLL DONE A SHORT WHILE AGO BY A GROUP NAMED SEA WEB THAT SHOWED THAT MOST AMERICANS ARE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE OVER-FISHING THE OCEANS. BUT THEY PICKED FARMED SALMON SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT THEY'RE GIVING THE WILD FISH A BREAK. AS IT TURNS OUT, SCIENTISTS SAY THEY'RE WRONG ABOUT THIS POINT.

VAL>> NOW THE FARMED SALMON, YOU'VE GOT ANTIBIOTICS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF IN THERE, IS IT SAFE TO EAT?

KEN WEISS>> YES. HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT THE LEVELS FOUND IN THE FARMED SALMON REALLY SHOULDN'T POSE ANY SIGNIFICANT RISK TO HUMAN HEALTH.

JESS>> SO WHAT DO WE DO? SHOULD WE GIVE UP SALMON?

KEN WEISS>> NO. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LOTS OF OPTIONS, I THINK, STILL. ONE OF THE INTERESTING ONES IS ALASKAN WILD SALMON. THERE'S A GROUP THAT WAS SET UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BY SEAFOOD WHOLESALERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND THEY HAVE SET UP THIS SORT OF ECO-FRIENDLY LABEL. WILD ALASKAN SALMON IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW THAT THEY HAVE CERTIFIED AS --

JESS>> -- MORE EXPENSIVE?

KEN WEISS>> IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE AND YOU CAN ONLY GET IT USUALLY IN SEASON WHEN YOU WANT IT FRESH. IT IS AVAILABLE FROZEN.

VAL>> SO YOU LOOK FOR THIS LABEL? IS THAT HOW YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FARMED SALMON AND WILD SALMON?

KEN WEISS>> NO. IT'S OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

JESS>> IS THERE ANY REQUIREMENT THAT IT BE LABELED "FARM-RAISED"?

KEN WEISS>> THAT'S A POINT OF DEBATE. THERE ARE SOME LABELING REQUIREMENTS, BUT IT'S NOT OFTEN FOLLOWED. IN SUPERMARKETS, VERY OFTEN YOU'LL FIND NO LABELING AT ALL IN THE SEAFOOD CASE AND, IN RESTAURANTS, VERY OFTEN THE WAITERS DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND SOMETIMES THE CHEFS DON'T KNOW. THEY RELY ON A SEAFOOD WHOLESALER TO BRING THEM THE FISH. GENERALLY, IF IT'S MARKED "FRESH ATLANTIC SALMON", YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH BET THAT IT COMES FROM A FARM EITHER IN --

VAL>> -- "FRESH ATLANTIC" MOST LIKELY FROM A FARM?

KEN WEISS>> FROM A FARM EITHER IN BRITISH COLUMBIA OR CHILE. BOTH OF THOSE ARE THE BIG SUPPLIERS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

JESS>> AND THE CANADIANS? WHAT DO THEY THINK OF THIS?

KEN WEISS>> WELL, INITIALLY THE CANADIANS WELCOMED THE SALMON FARMS. THIS IS A RURAL AREA THAT RELIES ON TIMBER AND FISHING AND TOURISM FOR JOBS AND THIS BROUGHT IN SOME NEW JOBS. BUT NOW THEY'RE QUITE WORRIED BECAUSE IT'S VERY MUCH A SALMON CULTURE UP THERE AND THEY WORRY ABOUT THE DISEASE AND PARASITES AND OTHER THINGS AFFECTING THE WILD FISH.

VAL>> KEN WEISS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BOTH YOUR WORK IN PRINT AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE VIDEO. NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.

KEN WEISS>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, WE WILL BEGIN OUR OWN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE HEALTHCARE CRISIS FACING CALIFORNIA'S FARM WORKERS. WE COUNT ON THEM WHEN THEY'RE HEALTHY, BUT WE MAY BE IGNORING THEM WHEN THEY GET SICK.

>> THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THE FOOD ON YOUR TABLE, BUT THEN THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SOMETIMES DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT THEMSELVES. IT'S NOT RIGHT. IT'S NOT HUMAN. IT'S NOT THE WAY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TREAT EACH OTHER.

JESS>> WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS FACING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT SCORES OF CHILDREN ARE NOT LEARNING WELL, BUT IN ORANGE COUNTY ONE SCHOOL HAS COME UP WITH A SIMPLE SOLUTION THAT APPARENTLY WORKS. JUST GIVE THE KIDS MORE FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE.

VAL>> AND THAT'S HAPPENING AT AN UNCONVENTIONAL SCHOOL THAT WAS DESIGNED TO SAVE ENERGY. BUT AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, EVEN IF IT WORKS, SOME COMMUNITIES MAY BE HARD-PRESSED TO DUPLICATE THIS UNIQUE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

>> SO YOU ARE DRAWING THE TOTAL TIME ON YOUR PAPER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WELCOME TO A NEW OLD WORLD, NEWPORT COAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT HAS PLENTY OF WINDOWS AND THEY ALL OPEN.

>> IT'S CHEERFUL, AND CHEERFUL MAKES FOR HAPPY KIDS. IT'S NOT DARK AND DINGY. IT'S OPEN AND YOU CAN GET FRESH AIR.

>> WE HAVE MORE LIGHT, SO WE CAN WORK EASILY, MORE EASIER, BECAUSE AT MY OLD SCHOOL, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY WINDOWS. THE SUN COULDN'T COME IN.

>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY COOL THAT YOU HAVE SO MANY WINDOWS AND YOU HAVE LIKE LIGHT HERE BECAUSE, IN MY OLD CLASSROOMS, IT USED TO BE KIND OF DARK.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NEWPORT COAST IS ONE OF THE PIONEERS IN BRINGING BACK FRESH AIR AND DAYLIGHT TO THE CLASSROOMS. THE SCHOOL OPENED JUST A YEAR AGO. ITS DESIGNERS HAVE TWO BIG HOPES. ONE, THAT THE CHILDREN WILL LEARN BETTER, AND THE OTHER THAT THERE WILL BE BIG DOLLAR SAVINGS IN ENERGY COSTS FOR THE DISTRICT. NEWPORT COAST REPRESENTS A BREAK WITH RECENT SCHOOL DESIGN.

GAYLAIRD CHRISTOPHER>> I THINK IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE DESIGN. MANY OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE DESIGNED BACK IN THE 70'S -- I SORT OF CALL THEM THE BOMB SHELTER DESIGNS -- ELIMINATE ANY WINDOWS OR HAVE VERY FEW WINDOWS IN THE SCHOOL. THE APPROACH WAS THAT THEY SEAL THE BUILDING UP AND IT BECOMES ENERGY-EFFICIENT BY BEING SEALED AND NOT LETTING ANY HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ARCHITECT GAYLAIRD CHRISTOPHER HAS BEEN DESIGNING SCHOOLS FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT HAS AN OCEAN VIEW.

GAYLAIRD CHRISTOPHER>> THIS SCHOOL OPENS ITSELF UP TO THE ENVIRONMENT. IT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF, YOU KNOW, THE NATURAL BREEZES COMING OFF THE OCEAN. IT ALSO TAKES ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL LIGHT AND THE QUALITY OF LIGHT IN THE CLASSROOMS IS SOME OF THE BEST THAT I'VE EVER SEEN IN ANY SCHOOLS THAT WE'VE DESIGNED.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE CLASSROOM LIGHTING GETS A LITTLE HELP FROM NATURE. IT'S CALLED SUNLIGHT HARVESTING. A METAL OVERHANG WITH A SPECIAL COATING REFLECTS THROUGH THE WINDOW AND THERE'S A WHITE FABRIC SCREEN ON THE INSIDE ALSO REFLECTING LIGHT ONTO A SLOPED CEILING. FROM THERE, THE LIGHT BEAMS DOWN ON THE STUDENTS' DESKS. THE FRESH AIR AND DAYLIGHT ARE MAJOR PLUSES, BUT THE DISTRICT ALSO CHOSE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND BUILDING MATERIAL. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PRINCIPAL MONIQUE VANZEEBROECK APPRECIATES. SHE ONCE WORKED IN A SCHOOL WITH BAD AIR QUALITY.

MONIQUE VANZEEBROECK>> THE ACTUAL WALLS AND MATERIALS USED TO BUILD THE CLASSROOM GAVE WHAT THEY CALL AN OFF-GASSING, ALMOST LIKE A FORMALDEHYDE KIND OF AN ODOR, AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY WANTING THEIR CHILDREN IN THAT KIND OF A PLACE. THIS SCHOOL WAS BUILT WITH THAT IN MIND IN TERMS OF EARTH-FRIENDLY MATERIAL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NEWPORT COAST DESIGNERS WANT THE CHILDREN TO THINK ABOUT ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. INSTEAD OF HIDING THE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TECHNOLOGY IS IN PLAIN VIEW.

MIKE FINE>> THE REASON WE HAVE IT RIGHT OUT HERE PROMINENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COURTYARD FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE, NOT ONLY THE PANELS BUT THE TANKS, IS SO THAT WE CAN TEACH THE KIDS ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, MIKE FINE, SAYS THE EXTRA COST OF MAKING THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND WILL BE MORE THAN OFFSET BY THE SAVINGS IN ENERGY COST OVER THE YEARS. THE HOPE IS THAT, ONCE EVERYONE HERE GETS USED TO KEEPING THE LIGHTS DOWN AND THE WINDOWS OPEN, THERE WILL BE A THIRTY PERCENT SAVINGS IN ENERGY BILLS. AND FOR PRINCIPAL VANZEEBROECK, THERE'S A HOPE OF IMPROVED STUDENT LEARNING. A RECENT STUDY SUGGESTED THAT LEARNING IMPROVES A GOOD TWENTY PERCENT IN DAY-LIT CLASSROOMS. AND TO THOSE WHO WORRY THAT STUDENTS WILL BECOME DISTRACTED BY LOOKING OUT THE WINDOWS, VANZEEBROECK SAYS RELAX.

MONIQUE VANZEEBROECK>> I THINK THE ADVANTAGES FAR OUTWEIGH ANY DISTRACTIBILITY THERE MIGHT BE. IF THERE ARE CHILDREN WALKING BY THOSE WINDOWS, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, THEIR HEAD TURN OR THEIR ATTENTION COME OFF THE LESSON. THE CHILDREN SEEM TO ADAPT TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT. YOU KNOW, ON A BEAUTIFUL CLEAR DAY LIKE TODAY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SUCH A BAD THING TO GAZE OUT THE WINDOW A MOMENT OR TWO AND LOOK AT CATALINA ISLAND.

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JESS>> MANY PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER BEEN TO LOS ANGELES STILL HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT THE CITY LOOKS LIKE, THANKS TO MANY FAMOUS LANDMARKS. SINCE WE'RE SURROUNDED BY THEM EVERY DAY, IT'S EASY TO TAKE SOME OF THIS FOR GRANTED, BUT L.A.'S CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HAS LAUNCHED A NEW PROJECT TO MAKE CERTAIN THESE SPECIAL PLACES ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN.

VAL>> AND THE RESULT IS A BEAUTIFUL NEW BOOK CALLED "LANDMARK L.A.". IT CHRONICLES MORE THAN SEVEN HUNDRED HISTORIC AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS AROUND LOS ANGELES. SEVEN HUNDRED, WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD THAT MANY (LAUGHTER). JOINING US NOW IS THE BOOK'S EDITOR, JEFFREY HERR. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

JEFFREY HERR>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> WERE PEOPLE SURPRISED AT SOME OF THESE? MANY OF THEM WE'VE NOT HEARD OF.

JEFFREY HERR>> WELL, I THINK PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED THAT LOS ANGELES HAS HISTORIC CULTURAL MONUMENTS TO BEGIN WITH (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) LET ALONE SEVEN HUNDRED.

JEFFREY HERR>> EXACTLY. WE ACTUALLY HAVE MORE THAN SEVEN HUNDRED NOW, BUT WHEN THE BOOK WAS PRINTED, WE HAD TO STOP AT SEVEN HUNDRED.

VAL>> YOU MENTIONED THAT WE ALWAYS DO THINK OF L.A. JUST BULLDOZING OVER HISTORY, WE HAVE NO RESPECT FOR ANYTHING, AND YET WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES IN 1962 TO PASS, WHAT WAS IT, A PRESERVATION ACT OF SOME KIND?

JEFFREY HERR>> IT WAS LIKE A LANDMARK ORDINANCE AND WE CREATED THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION WHO THEN STARTED LANDMARKING BUILDINGS, MONUMENTS, STRUCTURES.

JESS>> NOW THESE ARE THE FAMILIAR ONES THAT WE'RE USED TO SEEING.

JEFFREY HERR>> OH, YES.

VAL>> SO THESE ARE OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS LANDMARKS?

JEFFREY HERR>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND --

JESS>> -- WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE DESIGNATED AS A LANDMARK?

VAL>> YEAH, JESS IS INTERESTED (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> CHICK HEARN IS GONE NOW, UNFORTUNATELY (LAUGHTER).

JEFFREY HERR>> IT TAKES AN APPLICATION TO BEGIN WITH, BUT IT HAS TO HAVE SOME SORT OF SIGNIFICANCE. WHETHER IT'S THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE BUILDING, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THERE, A FAMOUS PERSON WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

VAL>> OR THE ARCHITECTURE ITSELF.

JEFFREY HERR>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> NOW, OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THE FAMOUS ONES THAT WE JUST SAW. WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THIS BOOK HAS SOME REALLY UNUSUAL ONES. WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PICTURES NOW. THE FIRST ONE IS OF, HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT?

JEFFREY HERR>> OH, THIS IS THE LEONES ADOBE. YOU'LL NOTICE IT DOESN'T LOOK MUCH LIKE ADOBE. THAT'S BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE THAT WAS BUILT IN ABOUT 1840 WAS REMODELED BY MIGUEL LEONES IN 1850 AND AGAIN IN 1860.

VAL>> WHERE IS IT?

JEFFREY HERR>> THIS IS IN CALABASAS. YOU HAVE A REALLY NICE MONTEREY STYLE MANSION HERE REALLY, BUT IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE. HERE, OH, THE INTERIOR OF THE FINE ARTS BUILDING DOWNTOWN.

JESS>> WHERE? (LAUGHTER)

JEFFREY HERR>> (LAUGHTER) SEVENTH STREET, 1925, AND YOU'VE GOT A WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC ERNEST BATCHELDER TILE INTERIOR HERE AS WELL AS THE FAÇADE TOO.

VAL>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IS IT AN OFFICE BUILDING?

JEFFREY HERR>> IT IS AN OFFICE BUILDING. IT WAS, I THINK, THE STANDARD OIL BUILDING TO BEGIN LIFE.

JESS>> WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT INTO LOFT APARTMENTS?

JEFFREY HERR>> I DON'T KNOW. HERE YOU'VE GOT DRUM BARRACKS. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT'S NOT ONLY 1862 ITALIAN-MADE ARCHITECTURE, IT WAS THE OFFICERS' QUARTERS FOR CAMP DRUM AND IT WAS A CIVIL WAR ARMY GARRISON.

JESS>> CIVIL WAR?

VAL>> CIVIL WAR?

JEFFREY HERR>> CIVIL WAR IN LOS ANGELES (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> THAT'S VERY HISTORIC. THE NEXT ONE IS CALLED THE DARKROOM. WHAT IS THIS?

JEFFREY HERR>> OH, I LOVE THIS. IT'S A STORE, A CAMERA STORE, ARCHITECTURE FROM 1928, EXCELLENT EXAMPLE. IT'S A REPLICA OF AN ARGUS 35MM CAMERA. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT THE LENS WAS USED TO PROJECT NEWSREELS SO THAT PASSERSBY COULD WATCH THEM AS THEY WENT. NOW THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT WILSHIRE BOULEVARD WAS NOT A PEDESTRIAN STREET (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> SO THIS STILL EXISTS?

JEFFREY HERR>> IT DOES.

VAL>> WHERE?

JEFFREY HERR>> ON WILSHIRE BOULEVARD ON THE MIRACLE MILE.

JESS>> MORE PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE DONUT.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT.

JEFFREY HERR>> YES, THAT'S THERE. AND HERE WE HAVE JENSEN'S ENTERTAINMENT CENTER. THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT HAS ON TOP OF IT A PRE-NEON ELECTRIC SIGN, PROBABLY THE OLDEST ONE SURVIVING IN LOS ANGELES. IT'S BEEN RESTORED AND IT WORKS AND YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE BOWLER EVERY NIGHT THROW HIS BALL AND KNOCK THE TENPINS DOWN. THAT'S IN ECHO PARK.

VAL>> THAT'S WONDERFUL. FINALLY WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED OAKRIDGE, IS THAT RIGHT? I'M NOT SURE -- WHAT IS OAKRIDGE?

JEFFREY HERR>> OAKRIDGE IS AN ENGLISH MANOR HOUSE BUILT BY ARCHITECT PAUL WILLIAMS FOR BARBARA STANWYCK WHO VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER SOLD IT TO ACTOR JACK OKEY WHO LIVED THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

JESS>> AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE'RE WORKING IN A LANDMARK HERE TOO.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. KCET.

JEFFREY HERR>> ONE OF YOUR BUILDINGS IS LANDMARKED FROM 1922.

VAL>> WELL, THIS BOOK IS A TREASURE ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED HERE AND HAVE NOT DISCOVERED ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT L.A. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER FOR US.

JEFFREY HERR>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

JESS>> AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED "LANDMARK L.A.". PROCEEDS WILL HELP THE CITY GIVE YEAR-ROUND INTERNSHIPS TO COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE STUDYING HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

VAL>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEFFREY HERR. NOW REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUT TRANSCRIPTS OR LISTEN TO RECENT SHOWS ON OUR WEBSITE. JUST GO TO KCET.ORG.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT.

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