Experts discuss global warming Speakers at a recent conference on campus called for U.S. action to end global warming By Ben Garvey Freelance Reporter The United States is not taking an active stance to reduce green house gas emissions, several envi ronmental scientists and politi cians said during a University Solar Information Center confer ence held Monday to discuss the problem of global warming. Last week, President Clinton in troduced a proposal that would re duce greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide, to 1990 levels by the year 2012. “The policy is too little, too late,” Oregon Rep. Cynthia Wooten said. “We need to encour age the Clinton administration to have a more forthright plan. ” Greenhouse gases trap the solar heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Jason Wilkinson, a seniorat the University and co-director of the Solar Information Center, said the slightest rise in temperature could be catastrophic. "The implications [of global warming] worldwide will be the spreading of diseases, the survival of many species that depend on the environment, and the destruc tion of our own environment,” Wilkinson said. “Scientifically, it’s about the biggest issue con cerning humanity. ” The United States produces 20 percent of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, while it makes up only 4 percent of the total popula tion. The U.S. proposal to cut greenhouse gasses was compared to that of the European Union, which plans to cut its emissions to 7 percent below the 1990 levels. “We need to get out in front of the greenhouse gas reduction and become leaders,” said Rhys Roth, director of the Northwest environ mental group Atmospheric Al liance. “We need to seize the eco nomic opportunities of the global wanning process. ” Roth said the lack of U.S. action to reduce carbon dioxide could in terfere with the signing of a world wide treaty for global warming. Some environmentalists are criti cal of Clinton’s proposal because they believe America should be the leader of carbon dioxide re duction since it produces more than any other country. Although people may think the issue of global warming is out of individual control, Wooten said they can empower themselves to make a change in how the United States deals with global warming. “It is the industrial emissions and corporate life that needs to make changes," she said. “We have to rethink the way that we manufacture our goods. We need to invite the corporate companies to compromise. It can happen. It requires a will. It is not mutually exclusive. We can work together.” Wilkinson said he believes peo ple can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by living simpler lives, such as replacing a car with a bike and using solar and renewable en ergy. By reducing the use of ener gy and fossil fuels, he said people can greatly reduce the threat of global warming in the future. Lectures: Lapin to lecture at University % Continued Irom Page 1 “I’m impressed," Scott said. “I’m looking forward to looking at his ideas.” In addition to Lapin’s lectures, Gutenberg College President David Crabtree will speak on “What Has Jerusalem to Do with Athens?" McKenzie Study Center teacher Ron Julian will also pre sent “When will these things be? What Jesus teaches about the end of the world.” Oktoberfuss will take place Nov. 1 through Nov. 3 at the Willamalane Senior Adult Activity Center in Springfield. Registration begins at 1 p.m. on Nov. 1. Prices depend on the num ber of lectures attended. In conjunction with Oktober fuss, Lapin will deliver a free lec ture in 150 Columbia at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 sponsored in part by the Young Americas Foundation. His lecture, “Morality in the Market place,” will discuss the relation ship between political freedom, economic freedom and the Judeo Christian tradition. "The basic problem of human existence is our wants become our needs, and they are almost infi nite, yet the material resources available are limited,” Lapin said. “How does each person strike a balance between what we want and have? I believe the two an swers to be guns and money. 1 be lieve God prefers the latter." IKATEE — GOLF CLUB