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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2005)
EUGENE WEEKLY , JULY 15, 2004 “the complaint can be neither proved nor dis- proved.” It does not mean that the officer was proven right. Lehner’s long op-ed also describes Roger Magaña and Juan Lara, the two officers con- victed last year of rape and/or abuse against more than a dozen women, as “rogues,” im- plying that they are little more than an anom- aly within the EPD. Lehner’s statement comes before EPD has completed a promised year-long investigation into whether Magaña and Lara were in fact anomalous rogues, or whether other officers were also engaged or complicit in abuse. Lehner lamented the lack of media atten- tion for letters from former drug addicted people commending a particular police offi- cer for turning their lives around. “These are the cases that bring tears to your eyes,” the chief wrote. Magaña brought tears to the eyes of his victims with one such letter that was covered by the media. A former drug addict raped and assaulted by Magaña testified that the EPD officer forced her into writing him a letter of commendation. “He was going to hurt me, kill me, hurt my daughter, take my daughter away,” the woman said. Police supervisors were easily fooled by the coerced letter. Police Captain Becky Hanson wrote a note at the bottom: “Roger, this is a tremendous testimonial to your work and efforts with this young woman …. You are a credit to all police officers.” — Alan Pittman COPS INPUT A consultant hired by the city of Eugene to recommend ways to improve the Eugene Police Department in the wake of officer sex abuse scandals has set up a toll-free number for community input. Dial (866) 292-4860 by the end of January to leave a recorded mes- sage with your “values, expectations and rec- ommendations for improving police-commu- nity relations.” — Alan Pittman JENNISON BACKS TRTK Local air pollution regulators support a proposal to expand Eugene’s Toxics Right to Know reporting program to include emis- sions from smaller businesses such as dry cleaners, auto painting shops and gas sta- tions. Right now, the city only requires larger manufacturers to report their toxics use to the public right-to-know database. The city is considering expanding the program to reduce fees for small companies now under the pro- gram. In the past, fees were based on number of employees, but the Legislature passed a law capping fees, resulting in big savings for the Hynix Corporation, but much higher fees for smaller companies. Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority (LRAPA) Director Brian Jennison wrote to the council this month that “LRAPA could make good use of the data” from smaller sources. “Individually some of these sources are small, but together they add up and repre- sent a significant part of the volatile organic solvent usage inventory in Eugene.” Data from TRTK on small sources would enable LRAPA to provide accurate numbers to the EPA on such emissions rather than the current estimates. “This would be a real im- provement in the program,” according to Jennison. Using city TRTK data rather than requiring duplicate reporting could “reduce the regulatory reporting burden on small business.” Jennison also notes, “one of the principal benefits of reporting is that it requires a busi- ness to take a closer look at its practices, often resulting in a shift to the use of less hazardous materials. One sure way to avoid having to report something is to stop using it.” Jennison’s position on TRTK could anger the Eugene Chamber of Commerce which has for years attacked the reporting program as a waste. After writing the email, Jennison was fired by the LRAPA board. But it’s un- clear if the firing and e-mail are related since Jennison’s problems with the agency report- edly relate to personnel clashes predating the email. The Eugene City Council plans a Feb. 14 hearing on expanding the TRTK program. — Alan Pittman STRATEGY TO KEEP COOL The Bush administration continues to scoff at greenhouse gas reduction measures while the rest of the world is taking action. Russia has pledged to join the 132 nations that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, a move that will put the plan into effect by Feb. 16. Only four industrialized nations continue to snub the treaty: the U.S., Australia, Liechtenstein and Monaco (the latter two countries have a combined population of about 67,000). But even if the feds won’t do anything about global warming, Oregon will. Gov. Ted Kulongoski convened the Governor’s Advisory Group on Global Warming to out- line Oregon’s part in cutting back on green- house gases. On Dec. 17, the group recom- mended a spectrum of actions, from improv- ing energy efficiency to reducing vehicle emissions to exploring renewable energy sources. “They have proposed a set of pretty aggressive actions,” says Chris Hagerbaumer, program director for the Oregon Environmental Council. “If all of these were implemented, it would get us on a trajectory of lowering our emissions.” The recommendations come as part of the West Coast Governors’ Initiative on Global Warming. In November 2004, the governors of Oregon, Washington and California agreed R. Lewis perform “Mapa Corpo: to a series of joint greenhouse gas-reducing Oppositional Rites for a Borderless Society”. initiatives such as collaborating on hybrid ve- Gómez-Peña, an internationally recognized hicle purchases, setting up electric “fueling” performance artist and author, is the artistic di- stations at truck stops along the I-5 and rector and co-founder of the “trans-discipli- adopting energy efficiency standards for nary art organization” La Pocha Nostra. products not regulated by the federal govern- Described as a network of rebel artists, ment. These actions could make a big differ- rather than an art troupe, La Pocha Nostra’s ence. If the West Coast were a country, its goal is to realign artists with other social roles greenhouse gas emissions would rank sev- such as political critic, inter-cultural diplo- enth-highest in the world. mat, information architect, media pirate and The West Coast initiative is part of a na- experimental linguist. Escaping destructive tional trend — seemingly in defiance of the labels and definitions set to limit artists from federal government — to reduce greenhouse examining issues of race, sexuality, politics gas emissions to levels permitted by the and gender from a truly borderless perspec- Kyoto Protocol, which requires participating tive, La Pocha Nostra challenges cultural developed countries to stabilize six major stereotypes in both the minds of the artist and greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2005. The the audience. New England governors and Eastern “Mapa Corpo” is a two-part performance Canadian premiers crafted a regional climate piece. It explores both issues of neo-coloniza- change action plan in 2001, and Connecticut tion and decolonization though a symbolic released its own strategy in reenactment of the current 2004. “These states recog- occupation of Iraq by the nize the imperative of ad- U.S. and coalition forces. dressing global warming The visually jarring per- because it’s going to affect formance begins with them, and because changes Lewis’ American flag- can be made on a local and draped body lying on a hos- regional level,” pital gurney. Next, an Hagerbaumer says. acupuncturist inserts 40 nee- According to Foreign dles into her nude body, rep- Direct Investment online resenting the 40 coalition na- magazine, some U.S. com- tions occupying Iraq. Guillermo Gómez-Peña Gómez-Peña, dressed in his panies — including General Motors, DuPont, Xerox and Dow Chemical “techno-shaman-in-drag-persona,” then in- — have also adopted strategies to meet the vites the audience to decolonize Lewis’ body. Kyoto Protocol’s targets. The reason is not “The audience will remove the needles ecological, but economical. If they fail to re- under the supervision of the acupuncturist,” duce greenhouse gas emissions to levels per- explains Steve Morozumi, ASUO mitted by the treaty, they may lose their abil- Multicultural Center director. ity to operate facilities or sell products in par- The second part of the performance re- ticipating nations. quires all willing audience members to par- Some Oregon residents have assumed take in a “performance karaoke” game. their part in reducing greenhouse gas emis- Along with supplied costumes, make-up and sions even closer to home. The Douglas the assistance of Gómez-Peña and Lewis, au- County Global Warming Coalition formed in dience members turned performance artists early 2003 to offer Umpqua-area residents will engage in cultural role-play through a ways to reduce their fossil fuel consumption. constantly evolving, living diorama. The coalition has sponsored educational fo- — Steven Sawada rums and a hybrid car rally, installed solar panels and water heaters, and surveyed local industries to highlight green-minded busi- nesses. “We want positive solutions to the • Attorney Paul Hoffman will give a pub- problem of global warming to become a part lic lecture on “Pirates and Dictators: The of the mainstream way of thinking,” says Alien Tort Claims Act and its Impact on Stuart Liebowitz, one of the coalition’s International Law” at 7:30 pm Thursday, Jan. founding members. 20 at Room 175, Knight Law Center, 1515 Liebowitz hopes that the Douglas County Agate St. In the spring of 2004, Hoffman ar- coalition inspires other counties to take local gued the case of U.S. v. Alvarez-Machain, the action against global warming. “I think that it first Alien Tort Claims Act case to be heard is critical that this type of issue be brought before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Alien down to a practical, hands-on level,” he says. Tort Claims Act allows a non-citizen to bring “Only by combining individual actions can a tort suit in the courts of the U.S. if the tort we begin to make a difference.” was committed in violation of international — Kera Abraham law or a treaty of the U.S. • Author and law professor Hilary Charlesworth will talk on “The Missing Voice: Women and the War in Iraq” in a free public lecture at 7:30 pm Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Room 175, Knight Law Center, UO. “Issues of sex and gender are rarely con- With the presidential inauguration lurking sidered relevant to invasions, conflict, or around the corner like a bad, laboratory-con- state-building,” says Charlesworth. “In fact, cocted flu strain, little recourse remains for the roles of women and the values assigned to the disenfranchised. What is left is our art and these roles shape our understanding of vio- our bodies. lence at the international level. The war in On Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Eugene’s Morse Iraq and its aftermath illustrate this point Center on the Northwest Christian College well.” Campus, Guillermo Gómez-Peña and Emiko HOT TOPICS ART WITHOUT BORDERS JANUARY 20, 2005 9
