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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2004)
the conference who were interested in third party nonviolent intervention and they began to lay the groundwork for the NVPF. The NVPF is now an international organi- zation with offices and chapters throughout the world, including one in Eugene. Its pilot project is in Sri Lanka, where NVPF mem- bers are working with local groups to achieve an end to that country’s longstanding con- flict. “The recognition that there are people there with no sides other than their interest in seeing the conflict end can be a powerful re- assurance and morale boost,” says Mele, a former career Foreign Service Officer who served with the U.S. Information Agency and Department of State from 1975 to 1999. Peaceworkers work with the local groups to help them achieve their own goals toward peace. Mele says it’s important for people to edu- cate themselves on the history of nonviolent action and to get some training in techniques. That training can be put to use not just in inter- national settings, but at home, in any setting. In the U.S., where there is “no general ac- ceptance that nonviolent action is effective,” he says, there is no type of civil peace service, whereas many European countries have them. There had been an office in the Pentagon charged with planning such an en- tity, but that office “was closed down by the Bush administration as a cost-saving mea- sure,” says Mele. Mele will speak from 7 to 9 pm on Thursday, April 29 at the EWEB Community Room. His visit is sponsored by the Eugene chapter of the NVPF. The talk is free. For more information, call Leslie at 342-5325. — Aria Seligmann • The Lane County Democrat endorsement gig was last week. We hear the big topic of the night was the need for party cohesiveness vs. supporting the “real” Democrats. Similar debates hap- pen among Republicans and Greens. In this case, some D’s running for local office tend to vote with R’s on important environmental and land use issues. To endorse or not to endorse? The group decided to tackle the issue race by race. Mayor candidate Nancy Nathanson (one of those D’s who behaves like an R), said endorsing in the mayoral race would be too divisive. We suspect she feared an embarrassing outcome, but we’ll never know the outcome because Kitty Piercy, perhaps too kind-heartedly, agreed with Nancy and no vote was taken. Bonny Bettman got a strong vote of endorsement, but an attempt to endorse her young opponent, UO student Adam Walsh, failed for lack of votes. No one made a motion to endorse incumbent Scott Meisner (ouch) but his challenger Andrea Ortiz got a strong stand of support. Looks like Andrea is now consid- ered a “real Democrat.” Welcome to the club. Do these partisan endorsements mean anything in EUGENEANS TO JOIN MARCH ON WASHINGTON When Eugene resident Emily Gilbert and her 9-year-old daughter Hannah discuss their upcoming attendance at the April 25 March for Women’s Lives in Washington, D.C., Gilbert explains that “the present govern- ment really wants to take away women’s right to decide what to do with their bodies.” Gilbert’s daughter responds, “That is none of the government’s business, Mommy.” Hannah is no stranger to women’s issues, often accompanying her mother to work in Eugene Planned Parenthood’s finance and administration department. She has been ex- posed to the protesters that sometimes gather outside the office on Saturdays. Her major concern about the march in Washington is the presence of such people. Gilbert assured her that there will be police present and that it is their constitutional right to march. Gilbert, her husband, Rich, and Hannah will join more than 50 Eugeneans and hun- dreds of thousands of others in marching for women’s reproductive rights. Sarah Vokes, chair of Lane County Action Team of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, will be marching with the Oregon delegation, which includes NARAL, Oregon Planned Parenthood Federation, the Oregon chapter of the National Organization of Women, and Oregon ACLU. Last week, 17 women from UO Students for Choice hit the road to D.C. “I would hope to send the message that there are more people who care about women than there are people who don’t care,” Gilbert says. Vokes wants to make sure that “choice is on the radar screen” this election year. “Bush has been hands-down the worst pres- ident on reproductive rights,” Vokes said. — KS non-partisan races? Maybe a little money and emotional support. The non-endorsements carry more significance. Walsh, who appears to favor sprawl, cannot go door-to-door telling voters his candidacy is backed by the Democratic Party. Meisner’s lack of endorsement might help him swing more conservative and independent votes. • Mayoral candidate Kitty Piercy outlined her economic development plan this week, a tidy mix of incentives, bureaucratic streamlining and attitude adjustment. Support and promote Eugene’s quality of life, and business and industry will follow. The plan is broad, but sound, logical and for- ward-thinking. Opponent Nancy Nathanson says she won’t have a plan until Torrey’s ad hoc eco- nomic development committee makes its report this summer. What kind of leadership is that? Particularly since the mayor’s race could easily be decided May 18. SLANT includes short opinion pieces, observations and rumor-chasing notes compiled by the EW staff. Heard any good rumors lately? Contact Ted Taylor at 484-0519, COUNT ON M itzi C O L B AT H c pa House Representative - District 8 Promoting A Healthy, Safe, and Livable Oregon www.colbath.com P AID FOR BY C OLBATH FOR E LECTED O FFICE , 2230 C HURCHILL S T ., E UGENE , 97405 ELECT Andrea Ortiz Eugene City Council Ward 7 G reater g oods 515 High Eugene Open Daily 541-485-4224 www.greatergoodsonline.com Connected to the Community In order to maintain Eugene’s livability, we must do all we can to protect the environment. Organizational Endorsements: EARTHDAYeveryday! ...make an energy saving commitment practice a sustainable lifestyle support locally owned businesses & vote with your dollars: Y OUR CHOICES CAN MAKE A W ORLD OF D IFFERENCE • AFSCME Local 1724 • Oregon League of Conservation Voters • Oregon Natural Resources Council Action PAC • Educación y Justicia Para La Raza • Democratic Party of Lane County • Oregon Bus Project–Lane Andrea is committed to: • Environmental Protection • Diversity in Government • Living Wage Jobs and a Strong Economy • Excellent Schools for All • Strong Neighborhoods • Increased Citizen Involvement “Andrea is going to listen and be responsive. She will represent us well on the City Council” David Piercy Retired Deputy Superintendent of 4J Schools for more information: voteandrea.com Paid for by Andrea Ortiz for City Council APRIL 22, 2004 9
