growth forests and fish-bearing streams in
forests from Eugene to Klamath Falls.
The DVD and film is a project by local
filmmaker Tim Lewis, Trip Jennings of
Epicocity Productions and Eugene-based
Cascadia’s Ecosystem Advocates.
The film addresses the WOPR and what the
filmmakers call the “dubious political wran-
gling behind it.” It also contains sections on
community and citizen interaction with the
BLM from vole survey teams to rural
landowners.
The film is available on a DVD that also
contains a citizen-action toolkit, showing
viewers how to get involved with forest pro-
tection issues.
It seems the BLM is a little nervous about
the film and its goal to stop the WOPR. Lewis
alleges a BLM employee heading the WOPR
team attended a preview of the film and pirated
the documentary via a cell phone camera. The
pirated clips were then shown to other BLM
employees in violation of the film’s copyright,
according to Lewis.
“Mr. Lewis spent countless hours film-
ing, editing and producing the film” said at-
torney Ralph Bloemers, “only to have Dick
Prather and Alan Hoffmeister of the BLM
pirate his work and show it without his per-
mission.”
Lewis has demanded BLM return the
pirated film clips, delete all illegal copies
from BLM’s servers and issue an apology.
The BLM has agreed to return the clips, but
has not addressed Lewis’ other concerns.
Boom, Bust and the BLM will be showing
legally and free to the public Monday, July 16,
at 6 pm at the Eugene Public Library and again
Thursday, July 19, at 7 pm at Cozmic Pizza.
Lewis and others involved in the project will
be there to speak about the film and the
WOPR. — Camilla Mortensen
POISONOUS
POP
That soda you’re drinking may be giving
you a lot more than a caffeine and sugar high; it
may be causing serious cell damage, according
to a recent study by a British scientist.
Current research revealed that the preser-
vative sodium benzoate, commonly used to
prevent the growth of bacteria, may accelerate
the process of aging and contribute to a num-
ber of diseases associated with old age.
Sodium benzoate is found in a variety of
soft drinks including Mountain Dew, Fanta,
Dr. Pepper and Sprite. It’s also frequently used
as a preservative in sauces and pickles.
Molecular biologist Peter Piper of
Sheffield University reported in May that
sodium benzoate inactivates mitochondrial
DNA, the part of cells that provide energy.
“These chemicals have the ability to cause
severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to
the point that they totally inactivate it: they
knock it out altogether,” Piper said in the
British paper The Independent. He added that
damage to the DNA can lead to cirrhosis of the
liver and neurodegenerative diseases such as
Parkinson’s.
According to Piper, the safety of sodium
benzoate needs to be reevalu-
ated, given the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration’s out of
date research on the preserva-
tive.
Controversy over sodium
benzoate erupted last year due
to its production of benzene, a
known carcinogen, when mixed with vitamin
C. Several soft drink manufacturers, including
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, faced benzene law-
suits as a result. Coca Cola settled earlier this
year, agreeing to reformulate two of its soft
drinks, Fanta Pineapple and Vault Zero.
PepsiCo still faces litigation for producing
beverages containing benzene.
Studies have shown that sodium benzoate
consumption, along with other preservatives,
presents an added risk for children who experi-
ence behavioral problems when drinking large
quantities. Many soft drinks also contain high
fructose corn syrup, which some research has
linked to increased obesity and type II diabetes
among children.
Eugene’s 4J school district is trying to pro-
BY PAUL NEEVEL
Lara Howe
Roseburg native Lara Howe recalls
her first visit to the Oregon Country Fair,
when she and the fair were 5 years old.
“My brother said the rides would make
me puke,” says Howe, who was disap-
pointed to find no rides but delighted to
get a Monster Cookie. “That’s what
turned me on to the fair.” In her teens,
she hitched rides to the fair with a neigh-
bor and hung out at the main stage for
music and dancing. At age 18, she met
her husband Kenny Howe. The following
year, they moved to Eugene with their
three-month-old son Dylan. For 14 years,
she has sold home-sewn purses and
done hair-wraps at the Saturday Market.
In 1995, Kenny volunteered for the OCF
recycling crew. “It’s the hardest work I’ve
ever done,” says Lara, who likes the
work well enough to have co-coordinat-
ed the recycling crew since 2002. “I’ve
never been so happy to be so filthy.” Howe’s pet project has been the use of washable
cutlery by all food booths. “Last year, we rented a trailer with three triple sinks,” she
says. “It took forever. This year we’ll pay to use the conveyor-belt dishwasher at Elmira
High School.”
JULY 12 2007 9