GLOBAL EMPIRE OR
GLOBAL PARLIAMENT?
Global democracy should
be more than a slogan, says
Richard Falk, a world-
renowned international law
scholar and human rights ad-
vocate who will speak about
the U.S.-led “War on Terror”
in a free lecture at 7:30 pm Thursday, Nov. 20
at the UO School of Law, room 175.
A professor of international law at
Princeton, author of numerous books, and
frequent contributor to The Nation, Falk has
been at the forefront of the debate concerning
the U.S. response to terrorism.
Falk believes Americans who oppose the
Bush administration’s international policies
must do more than complain or succumb to
the “global war machine” of the U.S.
Falk acknowledges that the “Bush admin-
istration’s enthusiasm for undermining inter-
national law and institutions is deeply dis-
turbing.” However, he says, “Unless a
counter-movement articulates an alternative
approach to global security that captures the
popular imagination, the dismal prospects are
for perpetual war in quest of global empire.”
Falk offers one such counter approach: a
citizen-elected global parliament, modeled
on the European Parliament. “What I am sug-
gesting is not a pipedream nor a grandiose
scheme for world government,” he says, “but
a new institution established initially by pro-
gressive democratic countries that would be
willing to act as pioneers.”
“Once in place,” Falk says, “a global par-
liament would over time grow in influence
and stature.”
For
more
information,
see
www.morsechair.uoregon.edu or call
346-3700.
POSITIVE RESPONSES
TO BUSH POLICIES?
Progressive Responses, an arm of
Community Alliance of Lane County, will
hold the first in a series of forums on positive
responses to post-9/11 Bush tactics at 7 pm
Tuesday, Nov. 18 at First United Methodist
Church, 1376 Olive St.
Entitled “Two Years After Sept. 11, are
We More Secure: Alternative Policies That
Can Create Security And Justice,” the presen-
tation includes participants who will “first
state the problem the U.S. has had since 9/11
as a disastrous situation under Bush and then
focus on positive alternatives,” says
Progressive Responses member and UO po-
litical science professor Dan Goldrich.
“We’re reacting and responding to a situa-
tion where there is gathering despair about
the dominant strategy but not much sustained
discussion of positive alternatives,” he says,
adding the discussion will be “beyond the
sound bites that have occurred through
Democratic so-called ‘debates.’”
The evening will be moderated by Oregon
senator and former Springfield Mayor Bill
Morrisette and will include three presenters:
UO’s Linda Kintz will summarize how the
Bush administration has taken the U.S. on a
disastrous course through its “preventive
war” policy; Goldrich will discuss how to
move out of the Iraqi quagmire and avoid fu-
ture quagmires through internationalization
of both the peacekeeping and rebuilding ef-
fort in Iraq; and Dan Carol will discuss how
the U.S. can meet security, economic devel-
opment and job needs through an alternative,
sound energy policy. — Aria Seligmann
EUGENE SOUNDS NOW
BROADCASTING ON-LINE
The Lane Independent Living Alliance
(LILA) has announced that Eugene Sounds
(ES), an Internet streamed radio service, which
the blind, seniors and others with disabilities
can hear with the latest news from EW, the R-G
and other media, is finally up and running. Log
on via www.omnimedianetworks.org/
Due to limited private funding, LILA took
longer than expected to gather the resources
and equipment needed to implement the pro-
gram, but the tiny recording studio is finally
broadcasting, although there are not enough
readers to air the news daily. The LILA web-
site, still under construction, will offer links
to the ES stream at Live365.com.
Project coordinator Mary Dole, who is
blind, is still encouraging volunteers to share
their favorite periodicals or books with ES.
AARON
DURLAND,
BRANDI CRYE
& NAT
The Lane Computer
Recycling Project, a
non-profit corpora-
tion, seeks dona-
tions of Pentium-
class computers to
be refurbished and
given away to low-
income Lane
County residents.
“We’ve given out 40 computers this year so far,” says LCRP’s Brandi Crye. “Our goal
for the year is 50.” LCRP was founded in December 2001 by Crye, who serves as sec-
retary, along with Aaron Durland, president, and resident “technomancer” Nat (who
goes by one name only, and is too camera-shy to be pictured). All three grew up in
Eugene. “We average 40 to 50 hours per week between the three of us,” Durland
notes. A techie since the early ’80s, Nat began refurbishing computers as volunteer
“lending librarian” for Oregon Public Networking. There he trained OPN volunteers
Crye and Durland. “I was terrified of computers,” Crye admits. “Now I’m studying for a
degree in computer science.” When pilferage became a problem at OPN, the trio
departed to continue the good work on their own. “I filed with the state,” Durland says.
“It was a lengthy process — we paid a $500 fee.” For information on how to donate or
receive a computer, visit LCRP online at http://lcrp.home.comcast.net
8 NOVEMBER 13, 2003
They are especially looking for someone avail-
able to read the Sunday edition of the R-G
For more information, call 607-7020, see
the EW story in the Sept. 11 archives, or stop
into LILA, located in the Atrium building at
10th and Olive. — Karman Ratliff
‘WOMEN IN PRISON’
TOPIC OF SYMPOSIUM
Those interested in reforming the criminal
justice system may want to mark their calen-
dars now for a symposium entitled “Women
in Prison” from 10:30 am to 5 pm on Friday,
Nov. 21. in Rm. 110 of the Law Center. The
event is co-sponsored by The Portia Project, a
nonprofit corporation formed to assist
women who are incarcerated in Oregon, and
the UO Women’s Law Forum.
Eight law students will discuss topics
ranging from “Childhood Sexual Abuse and
Female Criminality” to “Jail Alternatives for
Women.”
The keynote speaker will be Joan
Palmateer, newly appointed administrator of
all Oregon prisons. The program, which is
free and open to the public, will close with a
panel of three defense attorneys, who will
discuss sentencing guidelines, the treatment
of women who kill their abusers, and a vari-
ety of other topics. A reception follows.
MOTHER KALI’S
DISHING IT OUT
There are many ways to support local inde-
pendent bookstores, but here’s a new one:
Have an indie book store serve you dinner.
Board members at Mother Kali’s Books will
be dishing it out Friday, Nov. 14, at Keystone
Café. The restaurant is donating space, cooks
and food to host a benefit for the struggling
store, which has been a fixture for the feminist
community in Eugene for more than 20 years.
Mother Kali’s financial difficulties came
to the community’s eye this summer when
board members invited the public to discuss
the store’s precarious future, as well as its
value to Eugene as a feminist resource. There
was hope among the board, staff, and public
that the UO book rush would help allay some
of the monetary burdens that threaten to over-
come Mother Kali’s.
“The fall book sale did not meet our finan-
cial expectations,” says Tracy Scharn,
board/staff liaison for the store, “the store is,
very seriously, struggling financially.”
Mother Kali’s is looking into different busi-
ness plans to try and keep the store afloat —
Internet sales, sharing space with another
business, introducing a coffee shop within
the store. Of the upcoming benefit, Scharn
says, “Essentially this is for the basic ex-
penses for the store … the store really needs
people’s support right now.”
Scharn is hoping that the benefit will
bring Mother Kali’s needed attention. “We
want people to remember the store is still
here and we need the community’s support to
survive,” she says.
Seating times for the benefit at the
Keystone are at 6 and 8 pm. Those attending
can expect vegan, vegetarian, and meat op-
tions, as well as dessert donated by The
Sweet Life Patisserie. Diners are welcome to
bring their own beer and wine. Suggested do-
nations are $7 and up. For reservations, call
343-4864. — Celene Carillo
TAYLOR, NEVILLE TALK
ABOUT LETTERS
EW Editor Ted Taylor and R-G Associate
Editor Paul Neville will be sharing the spot-
light talking about letters to the editor at City
Club’s lunch meeting at 11:50 am Friday,
Nov. 14. This week City Club will meet at the
Wild Duck Music Hall, 169 W. 6th Ave. and
the program will be taped and broadcast at
6:30 pm Monday, Nov. 17 on KLCC-FM.
The two editors will be talking about how
many letters they get, which ones get printed,
and what the letters say about our community.
Then in a follow-up event, letter writers from
the past month are invited to gather with Taylor
and Neville from 5 to 6 pm Tuesday at Café
Paradiso for a “letter writers slam” organized by
Don Kahle of the Comic News. Letter writers
will have an opportunity to read their letters
aloud (with feeling) and field questions.
For
more
information,
visit
www.CityClubofEugene.org
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
GETS NEW NON-PROFIT
Having worked in Eugene’s social service
field for 10 years now, local youth activist,
advocate and educator Tonia Valadez is firing