Eugene weekly., June 21, 2007, Page 6, Image 6

TO THE EDITOR
(notably Iran) show us to be on the wrong
side of history, in effect if not by intent. For
our trouble we have bought the hostility of a
large majority of humankind, a dangerous
legacy for our kids and grandkids (not to
mention the fouling of our nest, Earth —
we’re responsible for one-third of all green-
house gasses — causing greater climate
change than any other factor in eco-history). I
want to believe that we have a potential for
benign influence equal to the malign influ-
ence we’ve thus far expressed. To that end,
I’ll continue to work for positive change even
if that’s more against the odds than ever. Our
only world is much too beautiful to give up
without a (nonviolent) fight.
Paul Prensky
Eugene
SPRAWL AT FAULT
GO DUCKS!
5555( 541)302-3333 5555
Us For Brea
n
i
o
J
e
k
fast
m
o
C Small Biscuits & Gravy
$1.09
Large Biscuits & Gravy
$2.09
Pizza For
f
o
e
c
i
l
S
L
A
y
1 slice for $1.29 unch
r
T
2 slices for $2.50
Pub Burge
r
u
O
r
y
Tr The Secret’s in the Sauce” s
“
$ 3.29
Pub burger
$ 3.49
&
32 oz. fountain drink
Coupon Expires 7-14-07
1201 WEST 11TH AVENUE 5 CORNER OF TYLER
6 JUNE 21, 2007
Recently I heard an interviewee proclaim
that the U.S. has become a net importer of
food. This condition probably makes sense to
the commodities markets, but from any other
standpoint it is beyond ridiculous.
The North American continent is the only
land mass on the globe which has consis-
tently been able to produce food surpluses.
Asia, Europe and Africa have all experienced
famines. China had to implement population
growth restrictions because neither they nor
we can support the increases they would
have experienced without their one-child
limit.
Since WWII, the U.S. has been paving
over farmland to make space for suburban
sprawl. Our population continues to grow,
and restricting that is unacceptable to most
people. We have no collective memory of
famine to influence behavior or policies.
As we sprawl, the food can get pushed
into less productive acreage so that even if
the same amount of land is used, it may not
produce as much. And when agriculture gets
pushed into hilly areas, there are additional
problems with erosion. Global climate
change is also going to cut into the food sup-
ply. There have already been losses from the
recent freeze in California.
As anyone who shops for groceries
knows, prices have been climbing. Much of
this can be blamed on fuel price hikes.
Florida oranges are as common in Oregon as
California oranges. We will probably be un-
able to afford food before we are unable to
find it at all. But the time will come when that
happens. Just keep sprawling.
Karen Carlson
Eugene
SUPPORT THE TASER
The June 7 viewpoint by Karen Kennedy,
so critical of the Taser stun gun, greatly exag-
gerated its risks. As a member of Amnesty
International, she obviously has an agenda to
promote the propaganda that her organization
has put together.
The long overdue decision by the Eugene
PD to finally evaluate the Taser came about
after the tragic killing of suicidal Eugene
teenager Ryan Salisbury on Nov. 14 last year.
There was no way for Ryan to possibly sur-
vive the horrific gunshot wounds that police
inflicted on him. Many readers probably do
not know that an automatic military M4 rifle
(the same weapon issued to our troops in
Iraq) was used to kill Ryan. This weapon
shoots a bullet with three times the destruc-
tive energy of bullets from police handguns.
The four high-velocity bullets that ripped
through his body were thus equivalent to him
being shot 12 times by police handguns.
On the Taser International website, you
will see numerous studies by police depart-
ments in many major cities, showing what an
effective and non-lethal tool it is when prop-
erly used.
Ms. Kennedy would better serve our com-
munity by promoting restrictions on the use
of the M4 by the EPD rather than trying to
unfairly demonize the Taser. For example:
The M4 should never again be deployed
against suicidal people.
Not another person should be allowed to
so easily commit suicide by cop in Eugene.
Please support the EPD having the Taser.
Lance Jacobs
Springfield
CALL IT TREASON
Suddenly, the same Republicans who
histrionically proclaimed Bill Clinton’s per-
jury about a personal intimacy with a con-
senting adult reprehensible are now defend-
ing Scooter Libby for perjuring himself de-
spite the seriousness of the offense. His lies,
besides exposing a covert CIA agent, may
have caused the deaths of other covert agents
who were actively working with Valerie
Plame Wilson. According to the former
President Bush, revealing the identity of a
covert agent is tantamount to treason.
It is amazing that the now proven blatant
deceptions of the American public to steer
our country into an unwarranted war that had
absolutely nothing to do with 9/11 do not
cause all these same self-proclaimed “moral”
people to be up in arms against this adminis-
tration. Nor have they reacted to the revela-
The Alpaca Marketplace and Fleece Show
June 22-24, 2007
Lane County Fairgrounds
Horse Arena
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 5:30pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm
Educational seminars
Alpaca and fiber sales
Alpaca products
Farm-related merchandise
Alpaca agility demonstrations
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
Don’t miss EVAA’s Open Ranch Day on Saturday, June 30th!
Look for more information at the Alpaca Marketplace!
Emerald Valley
Alpaca Association