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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2009)
letters TO THE EDITOR STOP FACTORY FARMING I wasn't surprised to hear a report on FOX News Channel that the recent swine fl u outbreak may be tied to factory farming. On factory farms, animals are crammed by the thousands into fi lthy sheds, which are a breeding ground for new strains of bacteria and viruses. Hans-Gerhard Wagner, a senior offi cer with the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, called the intensive industrial farming of livestock an "opportunity for emerging disease." While going vegetarian is the best action that any individual can take to prevent animal-borne diseases, there is much more that our representatives can do to fi ght potential pandemics. Please help fi ght the spread of swine fl u and the emergence of new animal-borne diseases by calling on Congress to end to factory farming in the U.S. Curtis Taylor Eugene WEAPON WORRIES “All they that live by the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) Too bad our Christian dominated society doesn’t live by its own scriptures. Every weapon ever made eventually gets used. Often with disastrous results. In Texas, students are pushing for concealed carry rights at school. There’s a similar push for armed citizens in our national parks. Why is it such a big deal when people are spotted with handguns in public places — as happened with some UO athletes at Alton Baker Park? Why do our public schools immediately lock down if someone is seen approaching with a weapon? Could it be because intentions, rational or otherwise, are simply not visible? Does it have anything to do with so many unthinkable tragedies that have already happened and with increasing frequency? Or with the huge percent of our population taking prescribed brain-tweaking drugs? In most gun tragedies, the victims are related to — and often dearly loved by — the shooters. How does this fact equate to "protection?" Do you feel ever safer as the weapons count rises? And why does the NRA limit its own logic? If handguns and even assault rifl es are valid means of personal protection, why stop there? Perhaps each (responsible!) citizen should carry a very small nuke — you know, in case of riot or invasion? It will get really interesting when Tasers go viral. Vip Short Eugene University of Oregon International Studies Program Summer Session 2009 Pre-Session GLASS-STEGALL ACT I would like to quote directly from Congressman Peter DeFazio's newsletter dated April 2009. "I opposed the repeal of the Roosevelt era Glass-Steagall Act, which kept Wall Street investment companies from intermingling with banking institutions." As a retired economics instructor, I have been waiting for someone to address this issue ever since the Wall Street house of cards fell. This bill was repealed in 1999 largely through the efforts of former Sen. Phil Gramm, an economist, who believed that reducing regulation of Wall Street would regulate itself. The results of the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act have been very apparent in terms of the economic problems facing us today. This is the same Phil Gramm who was Sen. John McCain's chief economic advisor during his campaign for the offi ce of president. However, as important as it was for DeFazio to point out the signifi cance of the repeal of this law, I did not see in his newsletter any mention that he or anyone else in Congress plans to introduce legislation designed to reintroduce the "fi rewall" that existed under the Glass- Steagall Act. I think this needs to be done and I am hopeful Congress will do so. G. Dennis Shine Springfi eld (zero week, 6/15 to 6/19) INTL 199 Global Environmental Problems INTL 199 Introduction to International Issues INTL 407/507 Bollywood’s Lens on Indian Society International Weekends Sat 9-4, Sun 9-12 INTL 399 Humanitarian Aid INTL 399 Nation Building/Nation Wrecking INTL 399 Global Human Rights INTL 399 Development as Racism Session I: Weeks 1-4, June 22 to July 17 INTL 250 Value Systems in Cross-Cultural Perspective INTL 399 Smuggling in Global Perspective INTL 399 Global Sports and Politics INTL 420/520 International Community Development Buy Local Eat Organic Think Sustainable Sustainability Slow & Local Foods Cooking by Season Heritage & Heirloom Products A Minimized Carbon Footprint Session II: Weeks 4-8, July 20 to August 14 INTL 240 Perspectives on International Development INTL 260 Culture, Capitalism, and Globalization INTL 407/507 Global Travel Issues INTL 421/521 Gender and International Development INTL 431/531 Cross Cultural Communication Session III: Weeks 8-12, August 17 to September 13 INTL 407/507 Darfur Crisis: War & Governance Summer Session registration info: online at http://uosummer.uoregon.edu by phone UO Summer Session Offi ce: 541-346-3475 or 1-800-524-2404 Café Maroc 28 E. Broadway 434-5862 Adam’s Sustainable Table ´ 30 E. Broadway 344-6948 PLUMB CRAZY I've noticed a couple of local plumbing businesses and was intrigued by the graphics on their trucks. E. E. Plumbing has very nice lettering, but shouldn't it be in all lower case? The La-Z-Drain truck shows a mischievous youngster dropping a rubber duck down a toilet. Is that the owner's way of telling us he's from Corvallis? I wonder what Plumbing companies are DOWN in THE town of DRAIN? Glenn Leonard Eugene LETTERS POLICY: We welcome letters on all topics and will print as many as space allows, with priority given to timely local issues. Please limit length to 200 words, keep submissions to once a month, and include your address and phone number for our fi les. E-mail to letters@eugeneweekly.com fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401. FRIENDS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE We greatly appreciate the following who took a stand against domestic violence in our community and contributed $5004 to the Domestic Violence Clinic at Lane County Legal Aid & Advocacy Center. David Abel & Kristin Lindberg Abel Frank & Amy Gibson Elisabeth Mason, Attorney at Law Chris Stephenson Sharon L. Giles Jan Aho R.M. Gray, PhD. Hugh Massengill SkinnerLopata Harris, LLC Noni Allerdice Rev. Leslie D. Hall & David W. Allison Linda & Jim McCarthy Cass Skinner Lopata Kathy McGrew Andy SkinnerLopata John & Justine Halliwill Karrie K. McIntyre Lawrence Arlo Jet Harris Nancy Hamilton Jude McKay Richard & Charlotte Barnhart Gina Marie Stewart Nancy L. Hammer Jackie Melvin Erik C. Swallow Rabbi Maurice Harris Shelly Miller Sophia & Elijah Don & Becky Haskins Stewart Swallow Emily Heilbrun David & Christine Nordenson Chris & Anne Hohenemser Erika Nordhaus Lena Houston Arden Olson Charlie, Stuart, & MaryAnn Hyatt Bill & Cheryl O’Neill Margie James Tom & Cari Orr Mike Carpenter & Sido Surkis Mary James & Rick Keegan Keli M. Osborn Pat Vallerand & Cheryl Roffe Maureen Jenne Jack & Rachel Jordan Barbara Ann Perry & Robert L. Weiss John VanLandingham Melisa Ceron ML Church Chip Kiger Tessa O’Ryan Pierce Linda Cipriano & Maggy Rose Paula King Melissa Pistono Gay Kramer-Dodd Andrew Polette Adrian Knorr Barbara C. Pope Sue Laks Laura Rains Brett Landis Laura Romeyn LaRosa David Roth Steve Lee Ralph Saltus Susan Levine-Friedman Norma Sax Barbara Longo Chico Schwall d. maria & Joy Hainsworth Cindy Smith Applied Scientifi c Instrumentation Edward Bengtson Beyond Bookkeeping Ken Blood Pat & Bob Bray Sara Brownmiller & Milo Mecham C&C Court Reporting & Videoconferencing E.W. & Sandra Clarke Chuck & LaVonne Crone Dennis Dahlem Linda de Caccia Rafael Eaton Nancie Peacocke Fadeley Caroline Forell John & Kathy Gartland Craig Opperman Edwin Strother Marion Sweeeny Kate & Cama Laue Sue Thompson Robin & David Tiedeman Jenny Ulum & Tim Gleason Walsh Family Chris Ward Rob Ward Eric Watkins Merle Weiner Peggy & Hannah Whalen WHIMSEY DESIGN Pam Whyte & Ron Saylor Nadine Wiles Jan Wilson Shelley Zavat Also thanks to Board of Directors, Staff & Volunteers, Womenspace, SASS, & Siuslaw Outreach Services Thank you to the Eugene Weekly and to SkinnerLopata Harris, LLC for supporting our campaign WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENE WEEKLY MAY 7, 2009 7
