TO THE EDITOR
tions about the numerous cover-ups about the
feigned energy crisis, Congressmen Foley
and Tom DeLay, Katrina victims, torture, war
profiteering, NSA spying on anti-war
Americans and so many other incredible of-
fenses against the Constitution.
It would seem that all Republicans who
feel betrayed by this administration and all of
their dishonesty would contact their legisla-
tors and demand that they stop supporting the
damage this administration is causing to our
country. The 9/11 incident, the worst attack
against America on our soil, happened on
their watch. The Iraq Occupation is their cre-
ation, and it is not anyone else’s responsibil-
ity to clean up after them. Since the
Democratic majority is so slim, only forcing
Republican legislators to vote against this ad-
ministration will change our course.
Rita Babauta Kiley
Junction City
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS!
I learned a few years ago about a program
in Orange County, Calif., in which the entire
school district turned out the lights in class-
rooms when empty. It saved $1 million in the
first year. Simply turning out the lights. What
if we in Lane County used as many ways as
possible to conserve energy in all our govern-
ment buildings? Think of the money that
would be saved to assist financially the pro-
grams that are currently underfunded. We
could invest a percentage of the money saved
into purchasing solar panels, solar hot water
heaters and other alternative energy sources,
and the reamining funds could go to Lane
County programs needing funding. There are
enormous amounts of energy wasted in our
government buildings in Lane County.
We could hold a contest among the
schools, businesses and homes to see which
group could save more energy! It would be
fun and educational and also help light a fire
to get active on these problems.
As a member of the publicly owned utility
EPUD, I think we have an obligation to do
what we can to help conserve energy to help
slow climate change and prepare for it as
well. We have an obligation to deal with this
monumental problem that is literally chang-
ing the face of our beautiful planet! Please
consider this, for future generations of all
species.
Pamela Driscoll
Dexter
THAT SECRET HOLE
I applaud Thomas William Baxter’s con-
servationist opinions (5/24) concerning the
natural Oregon wonders featured in the May
3 issue of EW. Unfortunately, I also feel that
he possesses a bit of an alarmist perspective
on certain things, specifically his recommen-
dations that certain roads to these areas be
blocked off and/or completely removed to
prevent access to certain remote natural
(think fragile) areas.
You won’t find the legendary Hell Hole
on any map printed since the 1930s. In fact, I
had to make several calls to connections at
the USGS just to find someone who actually
did know where it was. Only after a lengthy
discussion in which we agreed on the condi-
tion that I tell no one how to get there did he
provide specific directions.
I count myself among the lucky few who
now know of this secret place, and when I
make my trip this next month, I will more
than likely feel slightly disappointed that
more people cannot be trusted enough to
enjoy such purity in nature. It’s easy to quote
“one rotten apple,” but if we are to fully un-
derstand certain aspects of nature we must
allow those with specific goals to bring back
knowledge and observations.
The Hell Hole has never been scientifi-
cally surveyed, and I intend to take thousands
of pictures of the location to be later studied
by my associates, some of whom have tried
many times and failed to find the place. My
intentions are good; my plan is solid. No
harm will come to that Oregon wonder — I
promise you that.
Jordon Eaton
Corvallis
MINIMIZING ‘TERROR’
I have been following the case against
these defendants since the first were arrested
in December 2005 because I believe it has
important and far-reaching implications for
how our gov-
ernment han-
dles the treat-
ment of people
who act in op-
position to it.
When I talk
to people about
this case, I
often start by
asking them to
give me their
own definition
of terrorism. Inevitably, they refer to the at-
tacks of 9/11 and the visceral, panicky,
deeply fearful reaction many of us had to
those gruesome, deadly attacks. Here in New
York, searchers continue to find remains of
some of the thousands who were killed.
Thus, though I have been following this
case closely for a year and a half, it still came
as a shock that Judge Aiken deemed the acts
of these 10 activists to be “terrorism.” I was
stunned. These men and women burned
buildings, not people — they never hurt any-
one, and that is because they purposefully
8 JUNE 21, 2007