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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2007)
BY BRIAN BOGART A Human Race Against time O n average in any particular year these days, some 60 wars are under way. Increasing in frequency decade by decade, U.S. forces have served in 155 conflicts abroad since World War II. Today U.S. forces occupy 735 bases abroad with 6,000 minor and major bases domestically, and the U.S. military has more than 750,000 troops abroad. For the last several years, the total U.S. defense budget has ex- ceeded $1 trillion annually. The second largest federal expenditure is education, which received $56 billion in 2005, and less than $50 billion in 2006. Consider these statistics showing the growth of DOD research grants to universi- ties between fiscal years 2000 and 2006. In 2000: $4.5 billion. 2001: $6 billion. 2002: $6.7 billion. 2003: $7.6 billion. 2004: $8.2 billion. 2005: $10 billion. 2006: $12.4 billion. The number of Pentagon contracts to our schools during this period rose from 5,000 in 2000 to 25,000 in 2006. The question of how best to foster a timely shift toward a peaceful human com- munity in an age of common crisis requires an investigation of institutional barriers to such a shift and the means for rapidly transcending these barriers. Obviously, if even a single barrier as vast as America’s lucrative defense industry remains so lucrative, the crisis of global warming is likely to worsen. The likelihood is equally strong that the second superpower of global public opinion will be the only pressure powerful enough to command a policy shift from the industry of conflict and conflict preparation as America’s primary economic engine to the industry of defending the essential diversity that Earth requires. The scope of the expanding challenge posed by economic reliance on military ac- tivities conveys just how dangerously inadequate small efforts will be in finding and applying solutions to orchestrate the necessary systemic metamorphosis from such reliance to the enlightened partnership of universal life support. A ll life in concert is Earth’s natural caretaker. Humans are no more impor- tant than any other species for sustaining life on Earth. In fact, we will re- main Earth’s most destructive life form — and increasingly in a state of cri- sis — until we join other species in surrendering to the importance of total natural di- versity. As our oceans rise and our climate changes, achieving this priceless diver- sity requires a united effort to maximize a balanced, peaceful coexistence by mak- ing closed minds the true minority and abolishing the lucrative nature of conflict. Nature’s attempt to evolve this state of one synergistic caretaker is a quest too often ignored by humans. Because our so-called “superior intelligence” has long overlooked this necessary mutuality, nature’s evolutionary quest has become a human race against time as we reach thresholds threatening existence: Because we have for so long systematically disregarded other species, their race against time is also a human one. A great opportunity for international accord and fellowship has arisen, gener- ated by the common threat of global warming, the need for a common understand- ing of total diversity in the human mindset and the essentiality of global popular de- mand for a shift from U.S. economic dependence on conflict to human responsibility as a natural and necessary part of Earth’s support system. Whether for the sake of Mother Nature, God’s creation or survival, this opportunity will ultimately appeal to anyone of spirituality and everyone in general. Among students and in religious and non-religious circles alike, global warming is a far more popular unifying cause than war. Yet, to adapt — for the power of popular demand and universal inclusion to successfully navigate this silver lining of global warming — the situation must be highly publicized through mainstream works of film, literature and personal interaction portraying the positive possibilities of unity that reveal clear choices whether to perish pursuing the profits of conflict or flour- ish pursuing the wisdom of peace. WHO YOU GONNA BLAME? Brian Bogart is a diversity scholar and the first MA candidate in Peace Studies at UO. He will be holding a lecture and discussion on these topics at 7 pm Wednesday, May 23 in 128 Chiles on campus. EDITORIAL Editor Ted Taylor News Editor Alan Pittman Reporter Camilla Mortensen Arts & Music Editor Molly Templeton Performing & Visual Arts/Copy Editor Suzi Steffen Calendar Editor Chuck Adams Contributing Editor Anita Johnson Contributing Writers Bryan Andersen, Jason Blair, Jes Burns, Martha Calhoon, Brett Campbell, Rachael Carnes, Michael Cockram, David Constantin, John Dooley, Rachel Foster, James Johnston, Sarah Mazze, Sharleen Nelson, Mary O’Brien, Aaron Ragan-Fore, Vanessa Salvia, Steven Sawada, Sally Sheklow, Lance Sparks, Eva Sylwester, Adrienne van der Valk Interns Amanda Burhop, Erin Rokita, Deanna Uutela ART DEPARTMENT Art Director/Production Manager Kevin Dougherty Graphic Artist/Webmaster James Bateman Graphic Artists Shannon Browning, Todd Cooper, Barbara Cooper Intern Carly Kratzer Baby Samara Cooper Contributing Photographers Kurt Jensen, Paul Neevel ADVERTISING National Sales Manager Mark Frisbee Display Marketing Consultant Jennifer Donohue, Nate Krusi, Rob Weiss Advertising Traffic Coordinator Drew “Rockstar” Harrison Classified Manager Jennifer Donohue Classified Marketing Consultant Janus Brezsny, Aspen Rosen BUSINESS Director of Sales and Marketing Bill Shreve Circulation Manager Danica Stiles Baby Persaeus Eilah Zapata Stiles Controller Paula Hoemann Distributors Bob Becker, Matt Bryson, Margaret Garrison, Tobin Herrera, Susan and David Lawson, Tim Risch, Quick Draw, Pedalers Express Printing Signature Graphics HOW TO REACH US BY E-MAIL: (letters): editor@eugeneweekly.com (advertising): ads@eugeneweekly.com (classifieds): classy@eugeneweekly.com (personals): personals@eugeneweekly.com (calendar): cal@eugeneweekly.com (music/clubs/special shows): music@eugeneweekly.com (art/openings/galleries): visualarts@eugeneweekly.com (performance/theater): performance@eugeneweekly.com (literary arts/readings): books@eugeneweekly.com (movies/film screenings): movies@eugeneweekly.com (circulation): distribution@eugeneweekly.com Eugene Weekly • 1251 Lincoln Street • Eugene, OR 97401 • 541.484.0519 • fax 541-484-4044 4 MAY 17, 2007 TO THE EDITOR FATE OF OUR TREES After reading the two recent letters regard- ing tree issues (David Caruso, 4/25, and N.L. Bell, 5/3), I feel like it’s time to reach out to the community even more and remind folks that the situation of the trees in Eugene is not just about removals. Ten years ago this summer, a group of “concerned citizens” decided to create a change and launched Eugene Tree Foundation. The idea was to do something positive following the sad fate of some of the old trees in our town and “strive to act always in a constructive and respectful manner when advocating for trees” (Whitey Lueck, ETF Newsletter, spring 2007). While most of us are upset by the removal of mature city trees, an even larger number is unaware of the annual effort put into the replanting of new trees! Since 1997, more than 1,300 new city trees have been planted by ETF, with the help of the City of Eugene NeighborWoods Program (launched in 1992). Concrete has been cut and removed to make room for new trees in old neighborhoods where nothing had been growing for more than 40 years! The city of Eugene plants hun- dreds of trees annually independently from ETF and always considers replanting after re- movals, even looking for empty spaces in the right-of-way where a tree could shade the street, houses and cars. The removal of city trees is always pre- ceded by a thorough inspection, and the results of the inspection are available to the public, as David Caruso mentioned. Sometimes, trees have been on a “watch” for years when re- moval is delayed; the tree might look fine from the outside but have a very large cavity inside. Hazard abatement is happening until the tree is considered extremely hazardous for public safety and needs to be removed (e.g. large bigleaf maple removed three years ago at the corner of High St. and 7th Ave.). The situation with EWEB is different but somewhat similar: Although I can’t comment on the pine trees on Knoop Lane since I haven’t seen them, EWEB’s situation is not easy. They inherit trees that could reach 80 feet that were planted right under the power lines. Their only goal is primarily to keep the power going and they have but little choice when the branches are ready to touch the lines, risking a short-circuit. I know the pruning style could be more harmonious, but they are bound to safety rules, leaving little room for artful cuts. I really appreciate the comments of David Caruso and N.L. Bell because it shows their level of interest in our wonderful trees. However, a hazardous tree can be deadly, and it looks like no one has ever cried over the death of a tree when it flattens a car, like the one that fell on a Volvo in February 2002, the day after its removal was postponed. The per- son whose house was shaded by the tree (and owned the car) had screamed and spat in the face of the city urban forester in protest against the removal. Ironic, isn’t it? I figured a while ago that despite my love for trees, I couldn’t save them all either, especially in an urban environment. My daily job sometimes requires the recom- mendation for tree removal as much as tree care. Needless to say, I like the latter better; that’s why I joined Eugene Tree Foundation seven years ago. You want to see things change? You’re welcome to join us! Thank you for reading. Alby Thoumsin Certified Arborist Eugene Tree Foundation president BOISE OR SILVER SPRING? When thinking about the future of Eugene’s downtown, it’s worth considering the example of other cities. Recently I’ve had the chance to visit two, each roughly similar in size to Eugene, each with very different down- towns. The first is Boise, slightly larger than Eugene and more of a regional hub. Boise’s downtown is among the most vibrant I’ve ex- perienced. The city core is intimately and carefully crammed with healthy, independ-
