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