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
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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
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