Pacific Party optimistic about growing popularity
While still receiving only
a small percentage of the
votes, support for the
'green 'party is rising
By David Ryan
Oregon Daily Emerald
Members of Oregon’s Pacific
Party say it has been a good elec
tion year. They were outspent,
outvoted and did not make use of
a single opinion poll consultant.
They lost every race their candi
dates ran. And the closest race
saw the Pacific Party receiving
only 19 percent of the vote.
But across the state, more vot
ers are registering with the Pacific
Party. It’s a political party with an
environmental focus, what is
commonly referred to as a “green
party.” Across the nation, there
are now 28 states with Green par
ties, from the Pacific Party of Ore
gon to the Delta Greens of
Louisiana.
In the 1996 Presidential elec
tion, Pacific Party candidates at
tracted a little over one percent of
the vote in the U.S. Senate elec
tion in Lane county. In the most
recent election, the U.S. Senate
candidate earned a little over
three percent.
“We tripled," said Brian Set
zler, spokesman for the Pacific
Party. “We drew, obviously, from
the Democrats or whatever.”
In one Portland legislative dis
trict, Pacific Party state house
candidate Stan Kahn won 19 per
cent of the vote. Kahn didn’t beat
the Democratic candidate, but he
did beat the Republican candi
date by seven percent of the vote.
In the gubernatorial election,
Blair Bobier received two percent
of the vote statewide. Karyn
Moskowitz, U.S. Senate candi
date, received three percent of the
vote statewide.
Many ot the party’s candidates
had never run for political office
before, Setzler said.
"We learned a lot this time,” he
said. "I mean, we don’t have any
paid consultants come in and tell
us about opinion polls. Polling
would help, but that’s not our big
thing.”
The Pacific Party's big things,
according to Setzler, are core
principles and grassroots volun
teers.
“We’ve gone from 20 to 30 ac
tivists to 150 around the state,”
Setzler said. “At the U of O, the
[Pacific Party) web page is up.”
Michael Olson, ASUO Student
Senate president, created the web
site on behalf of the University
Green Party volunteers.
“We collectively decided to put
this out because in the main
stream media, it’s virtually im
possible to find news about the
Green Party,” Olson said.
The University Greens have an
active membership of 20 people,
he said. The University Greens be
gan operating in the 1996 Presiden
tial campaign to support Ralph
Nader, a consumer advocate run
ning on the Pacific Party’s presi
dential ticket, Olson said.
Setzler said Olson is one exam
ple of the kind of volunteers the Pa
cific Party is receiving help from.
“It’s just one person catching
the wave of personal responsibili
ty,” Setzler said. "When people
are self-starters and take the ini
tiative, we just grow. I just see the
movement continuing to grow
and grow.”
Oregon and Lane County are
not alone in their Green Party’s
growth. The Delta Greens, based
in New Orleans, are seeing better
days for their party.
“The big thing here is that we
have a huge environmental jus
tice movement.,” said John Clark,
spokesman for the Delta Greens.
“There's a potential alliance be
tween the Green Party and the
people that have gotten involved
in environmental groups.”
The Delta Greens have started
four student groups. One is at Tu
lane University, one is at Layola
University, one is at a junior col
lege in Louisiana and another is at
a high school in New Orleans.
Although the Delta Greens are
located in the deep South, Clark
remains optimistic about the par
ty’s chances of winning campaign
races.
“I’d say there is more of a
chance [for Green Party candi
dates] here than in some Western
states,” Clark said. “You would
never get a Green candidate elect
ed in Utah.”
David Ryan covers the Eugene City
Council, community groups and
politics for the Emerald.
Lecture analyzes US policies on overpopulation, contraception
Changes in federal
policies can change
overpopulation and
consumption behaviors
By Jeremy Lang
lor the Emerald
Dr. Norman Myers put a
unique political and economic
spin on two of the world’s major
environmental problems: over
population and overconsump
tion.“Politicians don’t realize that
what’s good for the economy is
good for the environment as
well,” he said to some 80 students
and community members Friday
night in 150 Columbia.
Myers, British ecologist and biol
ogist, has written 15 books and has
been a consultant and policy advi
sor to the White House, NASA and
the United Nations. His visit to the
campus was sponsored by the Insti
tute for a Sustainable Environment.
In a lecture entitled, “Environ
mental Prospects: Breakdown or
Breakthrough,” Myers empha
sized that small policy changes can
have positive effects on the global
economy and the ecosystem.
Myers cited Kenya as an exam
ple of how contraception affects
overpopulation in developing na
tions. In Kenya, the availability of
contraception increased three
fold after 1980, and the fertility
rate dropped from 8.3 to 5.4 chil
dren per woman.
"Contraception is an effective, in
expensive and very simple solution
to this major problem,” he said.
But in 1995, the U.S. Congress
slashed foreign aid — which en
abled Kenya to provide contra
ception — by 35 percent. As a re
sult, the availability of birth
control in Kenya decreased and
unwanted pregnancies and abor
tions increased.
“When we stop and look at it,
35 percent comes out to roughly
$191 million dollars," Myers said.
“That’s a single dollar per taxpay
er to help solve overpopulation in
a major way.”
Beyond helping developing na
tions. Myers said industrialized
nations can do plenty to improve
their own domestic situations.
Myers said he believes major
changes in consumption behav
ior, such as less automobile us
age, will make the biggest differ
ence in saving the environment.
“I do believe that we will see
some of these changes in your
lifetime,” he said.
In the meantime, there are
small things that people can do to
consume less. The average person
can use household items such as
fluorescent light bulbs instead of
incandescent bulbs or install so
lar power panels on their house.
Myers is optimistic about the
future of the environment, as long
as the government is made aware
of its economic oversights and the
population works to consume
less. He recommended the “sim
ple solution” approach, suggest
ing that audience members write
to Congress with their concerns
regarding environmental issues.
“If your Congressman was to
get 1,000 letters on his desk to
morrow, he would realize what’s
going on.”
FRANK
MIKE WATT
Nov. 11 WOW Hall
OREGON DANCE PROJECT
Nov. 12 Hult Center
MUDHONEY
Nov. 12-14 WOW Hall
GUYS & DOLLS
Nov. 12-14 Robinson Theater
TO GILLIAN ON HER
37TH BIRTHDAY
Nov. 13-15/19-21 LCC Theater
TRINITY IRISH DANCERS
Nov. 15 Hult Center
LATYRX / BLACKALICIOUS
Nov. 15 Wild Duck
WYMPROV
Nov. 15 & 22
Lord Leebrick Theater
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11/13
Ice Hockey @ Lane County Ice
Fairgrounds 9:00 pm vs. Stanford
11/14
Ice Hockey @ Lane County Ice
Fairgrounds 9:30 pm vs. Stanford
Men’s Rugby @ Southbank Field
12:00-5:00 pm
Women’s Rugby @ Southbank Field
8:00-12:00 pm
11/15
Women’s Ultimate @ Southbank
Field 9:00 am -6:00 pm
Recent advanced
studies have proven
“Ice Cream” contains natural
relaxants that significantly
reduce stress!!
Midterms got you stressed?
Come see us, we can help!!
The Dreyers Ice Cream Cart
Located next to the Fir Rooms near
the Ticket Office inside the EMU
It’s the Natural thing to do!!
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eveD*55V’jfli
Sea Kayaking Safety Clinic
NOV. 1 0 One of the popular aspects of sea kayaking is
the ease with which novices can get in and paddle away to
great adventures without having to learn many technical skills.
That allure can be deadly. The seamanship and safety skills
needed to handle dramatically changing paddling conditions
take many ongoing hours of practice. This introductory clinic
will touch decision making. Specific examples such as kayaking
tragedies and near misses will be discussed. Free.
Tuesday, 7:30 pm: EMU Outdoor Program
&
Exploring the Sea of Cortez
NOV. 1 2 The vivid blue and rich marine life of the Sea of
Cortez stand out against the rugged Baja desert and the Sierra
de la Giganta mountain range, characterizing one of the most
mysterious and dramatic wild places on earth. The isolated
islands along the coast, often called the “Mexican Galapagos,”
are protected as wildlife sanctuaries, teeming with sea birds,
desert animals, and bizarre plants. Dan Geiger, photographer,
sea kayaker and O.P. staffer, will share some Baja magic that
will leave you eager to pack and head south for a truly amazing
winter adventure. Along with inspirational imagery, Dan will
touch on resources, logistics, and Baja travel tips. Free!
Tuesday, 7:30 pm: 100 Willamette Hall