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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 2005)
TO THE EDITOR FREE RESPONDS After reading Lance Jacobs’letter to the ed- itor (6/16), I feel compelled to respond. Mr. Jacobs contends that I am a violent individual who attempted to burn an entire lot of SUVs. I have stated many times that the nature of the fire was largely symbolic, and that every precaution was taken to minimalize the risk to life that a fire can represent. As for the ac- cusation that a much greater fire was in- tended, I can only say no intelligent person would believe they could burn an entire lot of vehicles with less than two gallons of gas. Jacobs is correct that the action did not stop the use of SUVs. I was never under the impression that it would. The goal of the arson was to draw public attention to climate change and foster debate on the issue. Here we are, five years later and I would say the action was proven successful. Finally, Jacobs is correct. Property de- struction is a form of violence. It involves the smashing, burning or destroying of valued property. If that is violence, then we certainly must open the definition to include corporate destruction of forests, oceans, rivers and other ecosystems, for those certainly are not acts of love. I continue to stand by my actions without apology. You may judge me or my actions. But, what makes an individual act of sabo- tage more serious than crimes committed by governments and transnational corporations? Why is the destruction of an SUV more note- worthy than climate change and the acceler- ated rate of extinction worldwide? Let’s put moral outrage in its proper per- spective. Jeffrey “Free” Luers State Prison, Salem CORVALLIS NOT IDEAL I agree with Paul Nicholson’s Viewpoint (6/16) that subsidizing Whole Foods will just add to the list of fruitless projects that started with the Eugene Downtown Pedestrian Mall. However, he is wrong to suggest that the grass is greener in downtown Corvallis. Thirty years ago, most Corvallis residents could walk downtown and find multiple de- partment stores, supermarkets, hardware stores, lumberyards, car dealers and other busi- nesses selling the practical necessities of mod- ern life. Today, downtown Corvallis mostly consists of non-chain restaurants and specialty boutique stores. Even though I enjoy patroniz- ing many of these businesses, Corvallis resi- dents are being forced to drive out of town for common products that used to be available within walking or biking distance. The Corvallis no-growth activists have succeeded in stopping all shopping mall de- velopments and so far they have stalled out the proposed Lowes’ and Home Depot big box stores. Modern retail stores are only being built outside of Corvallis. The net result is additional environmental damage from more people driving out of town for necessities. Even though the popula- tion has not grown significantly over the last 30 years, increased traffic has caused bumper PIE Power to the Peaceful! We’ve got the PIE you really want to buy! Stickers, Incense & Dead Bears, Oh My! Locally Made Clothing by Sweet Potato Pie! E Hoodies, Goodies & Glass That Kicks Ass E Used Clothing At Prices Just Too Good To Pass. E Hemp, Organic & Earth Friendly Too, Something For Everyone! Something For You! E E Mon-Sat 10-8 / Sun 12-6 ❤ 11th & Willamette ❤ Voted Eugene’s BEST local clothing store ❣ 6 JULY 7, 2005 to bumper congestion on Highway 20 and the widening of Highway 34. The Corvallis First Alternative food co-op has planned for future competition from Whole Foods by opening a second store within walking distance of customers. I just wish more businesses would think this way. Thomas Kraemer Corvallis drought conditions far better than they would’ve without the restoration plan. We need many more such restoration projects in our other watersheds. We could do far worse than to study the Deadwood Creek plan and try to replicate it elsewhere. Paul Prensky Springfield CRUSHING CARS REPLICATE DEADWOOD Imagine that there’s a good way through our current drought and the longer-term crises brought on by our changing of the planetary climate. In my imagination, those who identify themselves as conservatives re- turn to the principles of conservation, a la Teddy Roosvelt, and join with us environ- mentalists on behalf of the land air and water. It’s not such a far-fetched notion. We have, in Lane County, an incomparable example of just such an alliance. The Deadwood Creek watershed restoration project has been in place since the ’80s. Hard work over many years by John Sundstrom, then the West Lane Water- and-Soil Conservation District Commissioner, and many others, led to a compact among all the contending parties: Forest Service, BLM, timber companies, small woodlot owners and environmentalists. The watershed restoration plan has al- ready stabilized and extended riparian areas while allowing for reasonable harvest of pri- vate lands. Despite being chronically under- funded, it has improved conditions for all concerned, including the salmon and steel- head. The streams and the riparian areas which surround them will weather current -HI#J+66#'51K+ week. It would not only add to the heart of down- town, it could be the brains of downtown. George Rhoads Eugene David Hazen’s letter (6/16) was right on target regarding the gas/oil industry’s and the car companies’ grip on our lives. He is right when he notes that EVs (electric vehicles) are efficient and inexpensive. They exist and have been made by Ford, Toyota, and GM to comply with California environmental laws. They have sold some, but leased out the ma- jority. They’re great cars; I’ve actually driven one of them. It was sweet and quiet and fast and didn’t rely on oil or gas (which, in my opinion, provides the funding for both Mideast extremism as well as corporate ecoterrorism against our planet). However, gas and car company lobbyists have succeeded in getting that law changed. Now, crazy as it seems, the car companies are taking all of their leased cars back, not allow- ing them to be resold (even at a much higher price), and having them crushed. Yep, crushed. I’ve been learning about this some through the website http://dontcrush.com — the Campaign to Save Electric Cars. Check it out on your wireless laptop the next time you’re stuck in gridlock traffic, your children in the back seat nauseous from gas fumes. Kaz Sussman Junction City !"#$%&' ($"( )"*# (& +, -, !"!#$%#&'(#)*+ ,-+'.++/#012#3#4+1567# 89:;<9=& >?@@)A0$BCD)EF$ % C0G
