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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1994)
EDITORIAL r Vote yes on ozone but no on initiative "Good Intentions, Had Government.” This slogan, designed to help defeat Eugene’s Ballot Measure 20-03, the so-called "Ozone Initiative." couldn't bo more accurate. That's exactly what the initiative is: a bad way to go about correcting a legitimate and serious problem. The depletion of the ozone layer is. in the opinion of some of the world's leading scientific minds {including 104 Nobel Prize winners), one of the gravest environ mental threats fat ing humanity today. Continued destruc tion of this vitally important shield against ultraviolet radiation has been linked to. among other things, human health problems (increased rates of skin cancer, cataracts and even reduced immunity to disease), and serious dis ruption to the world's food chain from the bottom up. Hut as serious as these problems are. Measure 20-03 is simply NOT the way to solve them. Measure zu u.j would amend me city cnarter to bring about a ban on a variety of products containing chemi cals that are seen as harmful to the ozone layer. The city charter is Eugene's basic governing document. It can only be changed by popular vote. Ozone protection should not be handled this way. The proper way to bring about the protections promised by the Ozone Initiative would bo to let the Eugene City Council enact an ordinance, not to have the voters amend the city charter. An ordinance would still c arry the full weight of the law: the difference is. it wouldn't require a vote of the people to change each and oven' little detail of the law. It would Im> laughably naive to think that the ozone ini tiative would not need any fine-tuning. Although some cities have enacted ordinances to protect the ozone, no other city has amended its city charter to provide ozone protection. There is simply no realistic way of know ing what unforeseen problems might arise. All that Eugene would know for sure is that if a problem came up, only a vote of the people — costly, unpredictable, and subject to delays — would bo able to deal with it. No one knows exactly how much tho ozone initiative would cost the city to enforce: supporters say enforce ment costs could be covered by fines paid by violators, while opponents think that setting up a legal system to enforce the law would cost tens of thousands of dol lars. The unprecedented nature of this initiative would make a charter amendment an irresponsible gamble. If costs spin out of control, tho City Council needs to have the authority to handle it. Five members of tho currtyit City Council have endorsed Measure 20-03. That's a majority. Clearly, there are enough pro-ozone votes on the council to bring about an ordinance and stick to it. As soon as the voters reject 20-03. they should demand the council to act. if citizens are unsatisfied with the protections of the federal Clean Air Act and think a local solution is the onlv one that will work, then they should press the CiU Council to pass an ordinance. Voting yes on 20-03 may be a vote "tor tho ozone layer,” but it's a vote against Eugene. i Oregon Daily Emerald nEi*gg.'g”« Managing Editor Editortal Editor Graphics Editor Fraatanca Editor »"• c>«gon O+Ky f rrwmkl s puW»*h*d da>-y Monday through f ftd»y during the *choo y*»' and Tueaday and Thursday during the *ummt> t>> the Oregon Da-iy £m*#asd PubSdWfl Co . Pk , at !h* lM*va»a#y oI Oregon, Eugene, Oregon Th« immtmk} operates •ndepe*’*&***> m# Ur* verst, »r*h oftcea a: S^?o 300 ol the Eft Memory LM<x' arxJ «* a member o* the Aucx a'oo Press 1k« £ ~'*ri*a <s privet* proparty Th* umawtu! r*mo*-a; or use of papers ■* pro«*rutar»uri 0y urn Editor-in-Chief Jafc* Be»o Cafley An«jor*>n Sports Editor Steve M-m* D«v<J Thorn Editorial Editor Jeh Pckhardt Jeff Pasiay Photo Editor M<hae< SrvxJMr A ,%o* Baum Supplements Editor Kafy Soto Night Editor Scott Smoneon Asaociat* Editors Eflheard K»opfanst*»n Stvdam Cfchemr^entAct-v-f*** R*oecca Menrtt Community, Haathert* iSme* High* fdbcatew A.Jm.n'ftfrefxyi News Staft. Lor* Battuta* W*ieoo Oar'. Dave Chart* .. Amy CoxxnOo. >m 0*v>s Meg Dedoiph. Amy Davenport Tasha E<h*n»eh*-\ Ma a f#3i. Martin fifth** Sara?-. M*nder*on. Yth Lang Leeng Suzann* Mad a Menu* Mennd. T»•*!* Noe E safceih Reensipma. RoPNe Reeve* Kate SabOortn. l»a Saiccc ft Scoft S*mon*on, Stephan* Staeon Suianno Stahans UcNm Thompson. Amy Van Tuyt. Dane- yYesi General Manager Judy W*d Advertising Director Ma-x Walter Production Manager U<h<*e Row Advertising. Bnan Da* s. $ut» Dvtta fhcor# Herz-na-w Teresa iwbet je»t Ma cm Jeremy Mason Mkhaei M»$*fte Ke*sey Wreet* Classified Bacfcy Merchant. Victor May*. S*m Tze T*c* Difttnbution: John long. Ferenc Rafcocr-. Graham Smpuv Business Kathy Carfcona, Supervise Judy Conno»> Production Dae McCotC Production CoortAnefcv Sh*w-'a At*** Gr*g Desmond. Tara Qauftney. Brad Jow. Jenrvtar Ro<yd. Na*t Thang**j.t. Dayton Yae Newsroom - 346-6511 Display Advertising 346-3712 Buftmaas Office 346-Mi2 Ciaftftifted Advartiftmg 346-4343 WOW! RECORD COLD1. RECORD Ri'RRtCAMES! REcoRD RAWS'. REoord HEAT1. RECORD OdPOCMTi LET'S SEE WMAT SWE CAM Do lE WE REAU.V PR&Jcx£ RE*. Ij '“■***€<*i* Ltrs set 'SSTDChMB. / HAT-JBCS PO*J(fiaaouBAtoo<3AKtcl' Jira ---- ni li LETTERS Save trees On<11 again Mav is here with every thing it offers, midterms, sun anti this year Clinton's new forest plan Whether you've had the chant e to read it or not you are probably asking yourself the same question. "Is this good or bod'" Well the answer most most likely depends on if you are a tree or not Or at least it depends on if you are interested in saving our ancient forests l) you feel confused In the plan, you are not alone The main focus of the plan, ecosystem man agement. baffles even experts. Nigel Blakley. from Black Hills Audubon Forest Practices Sub committee, said, "Ecosystem management is what you want it to be." In the past it has been defined as everything from a way to stem the loss of biodiversity, an attempt to head off legislation, a way to cater to the timber industry and rural communities ano « way 10 impii'immi me National F’orest Man ijji-mon! \t' Some rightfully fear that it is the government’s wav of shedding responsibility for endangered species bv shifting the focus. One thing ecosystem manage ment is not is permanent protec tion- Presently there lies no such thing in Clinton's plan. Current ly. with less than 10 percent of our ancient forests left there is no time to lose When this land is logged, we lose species, clean water and air. soil quality and valuable medicines Please act on this issue and w rite Bill Clinton demanding (or asking if you would rather) per manent protection You may even tiring your letters to the OSPIKG office. Suite 1 EMU. and we will mail them. For more information, or to get involved in this impor tant fight, call 348-4377 Don't wait until it's too late Peggy Seltzer OSPIRG Good times 1 was saddened by the tone of David Miller's comments regard ing Cinco de Mayo celebration It is true the Cinco de Mayo celebration is a bigger holiday in the United States than in Mexi co However. Mr Miller is incor rect to imply that it is somehow a mockery or a co-opting of another culture Over a generation ago. it was the millions of Mexii un-Ameri cans themselves, in particular farmworkers, who adopted the Cinco de Mayo as as way to instill i ultural pride, sharing and self determination The Mexican people and cul ture is very broad, diverse and reaches out to manv parts of the world. It is unfair to negate the experience and reality of the many millions of Ohicanos/Lati nos in this country who see the ('.itico de Mayo as a positive opportunity to build pride in their communities Viva el ('ini ii de Mayo! Bryan Moore Spanish Instructor Famority When the outside community mts Amazon Family Housing, they often perceive these build ings to In? ugh But to many of us in Amazon these buildings are rich in history and hope. Many refer to Amazon as a Famority — this is the nontraditional stu dent s fraternity, sorority, family community Where else can y ou run to your neighbors and ask for help in physics, or with y our child's algebra. Amazon is an encyclopedia of knowledge not only for the students, but for the children as well. My i hildren, as y\ell as many others here in Amazon, speak of going to college just as it is in the homes of traditionally su< cessful families The biggest difference between myself and my children is that they apeak of a college career first and a family second. Family housing is the basis of cultural diversity Many people say "honor diversity.” but since r Eugene is not that diverse, the full effect cannot he appreciated. In Amazon we are privileged to have people of many nations, backgrounds and beliefs to expand our horizons. Lastly, I believe that welfare perpetuates welfare, but at Ama zon parents are breaking the atti tude of poverty by modeling for the children that through hard work, education anti communi ty there is a means to an end We chose poverty to insure success So next time you drive by Amazon and think the buildings are unattractive, remember inside those buildings great things are happening for a better future for all Jaimee Dawson Special Education Endorsed Peter Wotton is tlie only can didate endorsed by the Sierra Club and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. Both can didates were interviewed and completed a written question naire on issues of transportation, metro planning, parklands and natural ureas, and pollution. While our endorsement process gives heavy emphasis to envi ronmental concerns, we also look for strong leadership skills and an ability to work effectively with a broad spectrum of people Based on all of these criteriu. we ; onclude that Peter Wotton is the superior candidate by far Our community is facing a crit ical period of rapid growth and change It is crucial that we elect a city councilor with a commit ment to environmental steward ship. Peter Wotton will protett, preserve and enhance the envi ronmental assets of our commu nity Please vote for Peter Wotton on May 17. Charlie Ogle Sierra Club LETTERS POLICY The Oregon Daily Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing comments on topics of interest to the University community. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style.
