NORTH COAST TIMES E A G L E, SUMMER/FALL 2000
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DOES ADVANCING
UPRIVER ECONOMIC
INTERESTS EQUATE
TO ENHANCED
OR SUSTAINABLE
DOWNRIVER LIFE?
BY RICHARD JOHNSON
ANGIE DIXON, 'SALMON'(1981)
this might be ill advised and why one day we would regret doing such. Yes there has been great
benefit to the undertaking, but at what cost to life? When our main concerns are economy, we
will always justify our actions no matter how inappropriate or ill conceived
And now we are poised to take the next huge and maybe very fatal step to further
deepen the river, and what cost to life? Just because we do not notice in any immediate and
obvious way the terrible destructive impact this may have to 'life', does this make it any less
invasive? Any less abhorrent to a compassionate people supposedly committed to the
preservation of life?
And what about five or ten short years from now vtfien the next generation of mega-
freighter is here and in need of three or four more feet of river depth to make the short journey
east? Where does it all end? When do we see that 'life' must take precedent over economy if
in fact we are to survive in a healthy environment?
Small and seemingly inconsequential creatures and micro-organisms may not hold
weight in our collective 'economy oriented minds' in relation to moving larger than life vessels
up a nver.But if we stop and evaluate further what we are considering here, and what is truly
important to life, then wisdom, common sense, some history review, and some heart, will show
us our long-term well being and healthy economy are only likely when we value life when we
make living a higher priority than more $$$.
We live in a democracy — or so we think. Shouldn't matters of this magnitude, some
thing that affects so many millions of people and so many ecosystems for such a huge area
of the earth and such a tremendous resource which we all own by rights, be brought before us
in some kind of referendum vote so that "the people" decide their fate, not a select very small
powerful group whose only real concerns are economic, their economy? Do we matter, really?
Does Life?
What is the dominating concern in our culture today?
Most folks would probably say the economy and their personal finances. This may well be the
highest interest in most of our lives. Certainly it dominates important decisions — indeed, what
we do Historically, the positive economics of a few often has very negative consequences for
the majority, for life generally.
The passion and intensity with which we embrace matters of our economy is tremen
dous And the value and benefit from this to the collective us is unprecedented in recorded
history We don't need to look very hard to see the rewards, the ease of life things as refriger
ators, good cars and roads, great shopping, etc., give us. Understandingly, we place a high
premium on such things.
The problem with all this wonder and apparent enrichment for the collective us is in the
process of creating it We have failed to recognize and instill into our collective 'active' thought
process the importance of life, all life. And so we are. often destroying 'life' by the minute at an
unprecedented rate, in our lust for an expanding economy and our enrichment.
Most of us know to some significant degree of the environmental destruction and
degradation vtfiich has gone on in the past at the behest of certain economic interests. Albeit,
much of this is and has been identified, and much is being done to correct the error of our ways
(at a colossal financial cost to us) we still persist in embracing activities which are harmful to life,
even in the face of solid science that clearly shows’, us thé.ÎQW.of thesfe wqys, We are still willing
to trade the appearance of economic gain for life — that is the loss of life.
How much toxicity exists in the three to four feet of Columbia River bottom that is to be
dredged up and relocated? What will be the impact of this toxic dislocation, the long-term effects
of activating millions of tons of highly toxic sludge into the river system? Is there not serious
danger in unearthing hundreds of square miles of ternble contaminates into our water? Do we
really know the consequences, the unmeasurable subtle ramifications here?
Years ago when the great Columbia River was to be dammed up for the 'economy',
many protested and provided some pretty good science and common sense view as to why
Richard Johnson lives in Warrenton, Oregon.
CLUELESS
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
Dear President Bill Clinton:
BY JESSI DUNKIN
Men are stupid. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty
of male cousins and uncles that I love, but guys who are
trying to get girls can be really annoying I've decided to write
this letter to the entire male population and clue them in.
First of all you know how you follow girls that you
like? How you're always right there, watching them? Butting
into their conversations with other girls? Cut it out. Stop it now
It is incredibly annoying and will cause the girl to extremely
dislike you and ignore you What are you thinking? It absolutely
will not work unless you have solid proof that the girt has it bad
for you And even then, be careful with it. It's enough to make
the girt want to strangle you. I speak from experience
Second: never tell a girt that you're trying not to fall in
love with her, especially if she has just told you she has feel
ings for you It will cause a whole lot of problems for you, the
girt, and her friends
Third: belching, scratching, spitting, and cracking
knuckles in front of girts is enough to make them puke Don’t
do it.
Fourth Never say "I love you" to a girt unless you
mean it. She will find out and it will break her heart, not to
mention ruin your reputation You will be treated like scum
for the rest of your dating career
These are just four really stupid things that guys do.
but there are billions more. Be careful Just don't do any of
these things and you will have a much better chance with
women Men are dense I've clued you in. now stop being
such.... men
VAN DUSEN BEVERAGES
ASTORIA, OREGON
325-2362
I'm 11 years old. and have a question for you. I just read
a book about Hiroshima. It was extremely depressing and it
made me wonder what are you doing with my parents' taxes?
Are you giving them to military funds? If so, how do you sleep at
night, knowing that ..there (are) factories making bombs that
could literally destroy intelligent life? Are you just trying to make
wonry, violence and anger? I must admit that I am all three of
those right now. Please reassure me
PS. I want you to know that I am wondering what in the
heck was in your mind when you agreed to make fear in my and
my friends lives by agreeing to have all that wasted on BOMBS
AND GUNS!
-NATALIE GENIEVEVE ORR
Downtown
D ebbie T homsen
2
8 am - 4 pm
(503)325-4950
M on -F ri
3 3 2 1 O th • A storia , O regon 9 7103
Natalie Orr sent this letter to President Bill Clinton upon
learning that 'Star Wars' threatens to provoke a new nuclear
arms race. She plans to be a future President of the USA. She
disputed a boy's sexism recently by saying that the 21st Century
will do away with unjust and undeserved male supremacy, and
she was going to be the woman to do it. She is a new 6th grader
at Broadway Middle School in Seaside and a member of the
cast of the summer 2000 season of Shanghaied in Astoria
VINCE MORRISON
■
Jessi Dunkin is a freshman at Astona High School
She plays 'Virginia Sweet' in the Summer 2000 season of
Shanghaied in Astoria
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