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