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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 30, 2005)
in six years. In 1994 the voters of Oregon enacted campaign finance reform by a 72 percent vote. But in 1997 the Oregon Supreme Court struck down the law, and since then spending on campaigns has increased 10-fold. One ini- tiative being worked on by the Fair Elections campaign is a constitutional amendment to overturn the Oregon Supreme Court’s deci- sion and allow campaign finance reform laws to be enacted by Oregon voters through the initiative process or an act of the Legislature. The other is a statute that would put limits on how much can be donated to campaigns by individuals, corporations, unions and com- mittees, and put in place more stringent re- porting and disclosure rules of donors to cam- paigns. For information contact Robertshaw at brooke@demaction.com or call 684.4408. Or visit www.fairelections.com changes already affecting the Pacific Northwest due to greenhouse gas emissions. Year-round temperatures are rising and forests are drying out in late summer, increas- ing the risk of bug infestations and wildfires. More summer heat also means more energy demand for air conditioning at a time when less water will be available in reservoirs for hydropower. Infectious diseases like West Nile virus are moving northward, and precip- itation patterns are more erratic, the report states. And it will only get worse. “We’ll have large-scale weather variations; more summer droughts back-to-back with increased flood- ing,” says Doppelt, who is also the director of the UO Institute for a Sustainable Environment. “Droughts will affect fishing and summer recreation. A rising sea level will impact coastal infrastructure and cause losses CUTTING CARBON Portland has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 13.2 percent, achieving the Kyoto Protocol goal of below-1990 levels, The Oregonian reports (6/9). Eugene might be on track with similar reductions, accord- ing to a May 5 climate change assessment by a team of UO students. Under the guidance of professor Bob Doppelt, UO graduate students in a global warming course analyzed emissions from the city of Eugene’s government operations (in- cluding EWEB, city buildings, public trans- portation fleets and the metropolitan waste- water management). They found that the city’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 9 percent over the past decade. Local actions that contributed to the greenhouse gas reductions include energy ef- ficiency programs, carbon dioxide sequestra- tion, solid waste reduction and recycling. The city’s use of hydroelectric power also reduces its carbon dioxide emissions. The assessment examines the climate of beach sand, with impacts on recreation and tourism.” But there is hope. Eugene is a leader is en- ergy conservation, which saves consumers money while reducing greenhouse gas emis- sions. Investments in energy-efficient tech- nology and architecture generally pay off within one to three years, Doppelt says, and wind power is becoming more competitive as fossil fuel costs rise. “We need to unleash the creative energy of business leaders and citi- zens in general, and we will find solutions,” Doppelt says. Eugene’s initiatives alone won’t slow global warming — but it’s a start. “Eugene’s actions have to be coordinated with those in other communities,” Doppelt says. “Without the participation of every community, state and nation, we will not solve the problem.” — Kera Abraham BY PAUL NEEVEL JEFF LANZA A love of trees and out- door life drew Jeff Lanza from Lake Forest, Ill., to architecture school at the UO in 1981. After two years, nature drew him out of the classroom and into his own landscape design and construction business. When he returned to school a decade later in landscape architecture, Lanza drew up an open-space master plan for the city of Coburg as a fifth-year project. “One thing that makes Coburg historic is street trees, especially big-leaf maple,” he notes. “It got me involved in community tree issues.” Since 1998, Lanza has worked for Stangeland Landscape Architecture and volunteered with the Eugene Tree Foundation, cur- rently as chairman of its tree-planting committee. “I look on trees as critical public infrastructure,” he says. “I keep a journal and scout for locations. We’ve planted more than 1,000 street trees since 1999.” Tree-planting work parties are scheduled for Saturday mornings in the winter and early spring. The city’s NeighborWoods Program provides trees and tools. “Jeff is tireless in getting things organized,” says former ETF President Jon Kline. “He’s very knowledge- able about trees and their habitat.” SALLY LAUDED IN TEXAS Eugene Weekly humor columnist Sally Sheklow has taken both first and second place awards in the Best Magazine Column category in the 2005 Houston Press Club Lone Star Awards. The awards were an- nounced at the University of Houston Hilton June 18. Sheklow’s columns on same-sex marriage were submitted by Tim Brookover, editor of Houston’s OutSmart magazine. The columns competed with magazines from all over the state. “As always, Sally’s columns match wit with provocative content,” says Brookover. “In 2004, Sally was particularly on fire with her terrific columns about same-sex marriage.” Sheklow’s “Living Out” column began at EW in 1999 and is now carried in newspapers and magazines across the country. HOLIDAY DEADLINES Eugene Weekly offices will be closed Monday, July 4. Editorial deadlines for our July 7 issue will not change, but advertising will have early dead- lines. To reserve space for dis- play ads, please call by Thursday noon, June 30. For classified ads, please call by 5 pm Friday, July 1. Questions? Call 484-0519. CORRECTIONS/ CLARIFICATIONS An editor’s error occurred in the second paragraph of Mona Linstromberg’s Viewpoint last week. The sentence ending with “proposed cuts of April 2005” should have ended with “proposed cuts of ’04-05.” SLOW FOOD FAST Bowls, Burritos, & Beyond Fresh, homemade whole foods with lots of veggie and vegan options ... mixed together with goofy artwork, fun tunes & an oxygen-based atmosphere. Tasty, Quick & Convenient... call 868-0668 for FAST take-out 760 Blair Blvd at 8th, Blair & Monroe Open Mon-Sat 11 ’til 10 pm; Sun 11-9 pm JUNE 30, 2005 9
