Eugene weekly., May 08, 2008, Page 4, Image 4

viewpoint/opinion
BY SEN. BARACK OBAMA
More Than a Plan
Standing up for our environment together
T
o help us reach my goal of making America 50 percent more en-
ergy effi cient by 2030, we’ll ensure that our federal and local gov-
ernments are working together on energy effi ciency. We’ll also cre-
ate a special fund to get technologies from laboratories to the marketplace
and help make energy-effi cient households and businesses the rule, not the
exception.
But it’s going to take more than just a plan to address the environmental
challenges we face. We’ll have to put partisanship aside, bring Democrats
and Republicans together and tell the oil companies and their armies of
lobbyists that their brand of special-interest politics is no longer welcome
in our nation’s Capitol. We’ll have to be honest with the American people
— and call on them to make the sacrifi ces that are required to protect
our planet for our children. And we’ll have to lead a global effort to stop
climate change once and for all. That’s the future Earth Day calls on us to
work towards. And that’s the vision I will fi ght to make real as president.
4 MAY 8, 2008
EUGENE WEEKLY
TODD COOPER
T
he 38th annual celebration
of Earth Day was an urgent
reminder that our planet
is in peril. We’re seeing record
drought, famine and forest fi res —
and rising sea levels that could one
day submerge cities around the
world. For decades, politicians have
promised Americans that they will
tackle these problems. And yet, real
reform has been blocked by the big
oil and energy companies. It’s time
to do what’s right for our nation and
our planet, not what serves a corpo-
rate bottom line.
The people of Oregon
understand this. You should be
proud of your strong record on
the environment, and you’ll have a
partner in the White House when
I’m president. On the issue of county payments, I support enactment of
a long-term solution to the payment program. I also applaud your state’s
leadership in Congress to fi nd a meaningful, long-term solution that will
provide Oregon with the resources you need to invest in a strong education
system and create a sustainable economy.
Recently, there has also been a lot of discussion about the issue of
liquid natural gas pipelines in this state. I have always believed that we
need to give governors and local communities a say before siting natural
gas facilities like pipelines in our communities. That’s why I voted for this
measure years ago and why I am also a co-sponsor of Senator Wyden’s
current bill to protect local interests in these important issues.
America needs to show the same kind of leadership as Oregon, and
that’s what we’ll do when I’m president. I’ve been fi ghting to put the
interests of our environment ahead of the special interests throughout
my career. I fought to invest in renewable energy and improve energy
effi ciency. I opposed the Bush administration’s pro-industry policies even
though some were popular in my home state. And I went to Detroit and
told a group of automakers that when I’m president, we will help their
industry retool its plants, but they must raise fuel-economy standards.
My bipartisan plan to raise fuel standards won support from people who’d
never supported the idea before.
That’s the kind of leadership I will offer as president. I was the fi rst
candidate in this race to propose reducing our oil consumption by a third
in the coming decades. My plan to address global warming will set a hard
cap on carbon emissions at a level that scientists say is necessary to
curb adverse impacts to our environment — an 80 percent reduction by
2050. Under the cap-and-trade proposal I’ve outlined, no business will be
allowed to emit any greenhouses gases for free — something I was also the
fi rst candidate to propose. And we’ll also invest $150 billion over 10 years
to strengthen our green energy sector so we can build solar panels and
windmills, and create up to fi ve million new jobs — and those are jobs that
pay well, and can’t be outsourced.
letters
TO THE EDITOR
HERBICIDE UPDATE
The
Lane
County
Board
of
Commissioners in their capacity as the
Board of Health recently took comments
regarding the Department of Public Works’
request to use herbicides along county
roadsides. The offi cial comment period
ended March 10, and by our tally as listed
on the website, there were 42 comments
generally in favor of the herbicide use plan
and 96 opposed. In addition, 213 petition
signatures were submitted opposing
herbicide use.
Individual
responses
supporting
herbicides were often favoring very
limited applications such as spraying
the most invasive weeds. Government
agencies also submitted support, including
the BLM, Army Corp., several eastern
Oregon counties, Oregon Department of
Agriculture and employees and the Oregon
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife as well as
employees of OSU and timber companies
or their representatives.
Those opposed to herbicide use were
mainly individuals. Groups listed on the
website as opposed to the Public Works plan
were Lane County Public Health Advisory
Committee, Oregon Toxics Alliance,
Cascadia Ecosystems Alliance and the
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to
Pesticides (NCAP). NCAP thought
the 2008 plan was premature, without
specifi city about details such as alternatives
to herbicides tried. Petition signatures were
gathered from individuals and meetings
including Health Care for All, Lane County
Beekeepers Association, the local chapter of
the North American Butterfl y Association
and the Grower’s Market.
The Public Works roadside manager
announced at the April advisory committee
meeting that he would discontinue plans to
use herbicides this year. The commissioners
have not yet made a decision whether or
not to approve the use of herbicides in the
future. The herbicides requested would
include Aquamaster (same active ingredient
as Roundup) from Monsanto, Habitat from
BASF, Garlon 3A from DOW, Milestone
from DOW and Oust Extra from DuPont.
These products are typically mixed with
other chemical ingredients which are not
reported. If new information regarding any
of these herbicides shows harmful effects
listed in the “Last Resort Ordinance,” it
may be excluded from consideration.
While the offi cial comment period has
ended, citizens are always encouraged to
contact elected offi cials, county staff and
VMAC regarding their concerns.
Michael Koivola & Jan Nelson
Lane County Vegetative
Management Advisory Committee
(VMAC)
ANGRY, MYOPIC BOYS
I was saddened to see the way the Weekly
portrayed Eugene’s new city manager on the
cover of the April 24 issue. I am also now
convinced that the Weekly is run by angry
teenage boys. Clearly you were trying to
imply he is an emperor and are hoping to
sway the public against Ruiz before he even
has a chance to start.
I know you want to advocate for change
in many circumstances, yet you seem
unwilling to see any person, position or
topic in a new light.
Typically in communities where I’ve
lived, I wanted my out-of-town visitors to
have a copy of our local lefty weekly paper
so they could fi nd out about local interests,
music, dining, etc. While I do pick up
the Weekly for those reasons, I am too
embarrassed to let any visitor take a peek at
your short-sighted world view.
Please grow up. You have adults reading
your paper. Some movement in that
direction would be nice.
Kristine Nelson
Eugene
WHO ARE YOU?
I was shocked … SHOCKED to read that
new Eugene City Manager Jon Ruiz refused to
give reporter Alan Pittman his business card
during an interview (4/24), instead offering up
a PR fl ack for future enhanced interrogations.
So much for openness and accessibility —
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