Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 2011)
SOCIAL, ENIVRO SPEAKERS ON UO CAMPUS Renowned women in the fields of journalism and philosophy will be rounding out UO’s academic year with guest lectures on campus about ethics, social justice and the environment. Kathleen Dean Moore, OSU philosophy and environmental ethics professor, essayist and author, will present “Ethics and Climate Change: Sheryl WuDunn What Do We Owe the Future?” 7:30 pm Monday, May 9, in 282 Lillis Hall. Moore is the final speaker in the Oregon Humanities Center’s 2010-11 “Sustenance” series. Moore “came to the UO in 2003 to speak, and was one of the most profound and wonderful speakers we ever had. It seemed appropriate to round out our series with someone local, someone from Oregon,” said Julia Heydon, associate director for the Oregon Humanities Center. Moore is well known for her writings on cultural and spiritual connections to nature including the books, The Pine Island Paradox, Holdfast, and Riverwalking: Reflections on Moving Water. Her recent work, a volume of essays co-edited with Michael P. Nelson, Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril, is a collection of essays from more than 80 visionary leaders presenting a case for moral responsibility to the planet surrounding climate change and environmental degradation. A book sale and signing will follow her talk. Later in the week, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and best-selling author Sheryl WuDunn will present her lecture, “Half the Sky: The Greatest Unexploited Resource in the World Today Isn’t Oil or Gold or Wind. It’s Women,” 7 pm Wednesday, May 11, in the EMU Ballroom. WuDunn is co-author of three best-selling books, the most recent, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide with Nicholas D. Kristof. The book inspired Women’s Opportunity Worldwide, which facilitates networking, collaborative fundraising, outreach and education to nonprofit organizations and individuals in the Willamette Valley, www. womensopportunityworldwide.org WuDunn’s talk is funded by the Lorwin Lectureship on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties series; presented by UO’s Center for the Study of Women in Society, the events focus on women’s rights and hope to inspire activism. “There are many nonprofits in the area interested in the issues that WuDunn will present, and we think this is a great way to start the conversation on women’s liberation,” said CSWS director Carol Stabile. Both events are free and open to the public. — Heather Cyrus IT’S ABOUT TIME BY DAVID WAGNER T he geese that crouched over their nests in April have abandoned their vigil. At first I RED HENBIT feared that their nests had been subject to a predator’s marauding, the eggs destroyed. Happily, I was wrong. I had just missed the beginning of the setting and by the last week of April there were two goose families bobbing around the ponds, one family with six goslings and one with seven. It is such a pleasure to watch these fuzzy little bundles of cuteness through binoculars. It is time again to remind readers that we should never feed the goslings bread. It causes their bones to grow too fast, out of sync with their feathers. The result is warped wing tips that prevent them from ever flying, an incurable, permanent disability called angel wing that usually leads to early death. I have come to appreciate knee pads when working in the garden. With maturity comes a back that doesn’t like bending and knees that hate squatting. With knee pads on, I spend much more time kneeling and crawling than I ever used to. It has brought me closer to the little plants I dance with all the time, the weeds. Now, when I grab an over ripe Cardamine (rhymes with goddaminny) the seeds it flings around bounce off my glasses. Can’t get ahead of them if I wait too long. On the other hand, I have become more fond of the red henbit, the prettiest of the humble flowering plants we call weeds. David Wagner is botanist who lives and works in Eugene. He teaches moss classes and leads nature walks. He may be reached at fernzenmosses@me.com 8 MAY 5, 2011 EUGENE WEEKLY IT’S ROPE NOT DOPE RECONSIDER RIVERFRONT Connecting Eugene is “cautiously optimistic” about UO President Richard Lariviere’s May 2 announcement that the school will look into an alternative location for the proposed Oregon Research Institute (ORI) and Educational Policy Improvement Center (EPIC) building, according to Paul Cziko, a member of the student and community based group. Connecting Eugene has long advocated the site at 1700 Millrace Drive, among others, as an alternative location for the ORI/EPIC project that would allow the riverfront to remain free of the planned parking lot and office building. The site is “an appropriate place for this building,” Cziko said. Under Lariviere’s recommendation, the parties involved in the development would continue planning for the controversial existing riverfront site while simultaneously examining the feasibility of the Millrace location, according to the UO’s press release, which said developer Trammell Crow Company has been asked to examine the second parcel. Connecting Eugene has also advocated for a more up-to-date master plan for the UO, one that is more ecologically, public and people oriented, said Cziko. The current master plan for development that called for the ORI/EPIC riverfront construction is over 20 years old. This is something that was also addressed in the school’s press release, which included this quote from Rich Linton, vice president for research and graduate studies: “Beyond this project, the university will launch a master planning process to help address future facilities needs for UO’s expanding role in catalyzing innovation and its ties to economic development.” The new direction from Lariviere may have come from “concern voiced by community members, students and faculty,” Cziko said. Both student and faculty senates have voted in support of Connecting Eugene’s efforts to update the master plan and rethink the proposed building and parking lot on the riverfront. Though encouraged by Lariviere’s statement, Cziko says the UO has not withdrawn its permits for the riverfront site, nor has Connecting Eugene backed down on its case before the Land Use Board of Appeals. — Camilla Mortensen LIGHTEN UP Celebrate Hemp History Week with an all day, family-friendly celebration from 11 am to 11 pm Friday, May 6, at Cozmic Pizza. But leave those pipes at home, because this is an educational event, sponsored by Vote Hemp and the Hemp Industry Association, geared towards those who are unaware of the benefits of industrial hemp. “Whe n people hear the word ‘hemp,’ they immediately think marijuana,” said Michael Moore, aka Papa Hemp, organizer of the event. Most people, he said, don’t know the difference. The celebration is parsed into three stages: the history of hemp, current issues regarding industrial hemp and the future of hemp, and how hemp can help save the planet. Currently, the U.S. is the only industrialized country in which the growth and production of hemp is still illegal, though hemp growth and production was legalized in Oregon by the state Legislature in 2009. But in order to gain a profit, farmers need to gain DEA approval and obtain a tax stamp. “People and farmers have applied for a tax stamp many times over the years, but their applications never get filed. The DEA never responds,” said Moore. Moore says the federal prohibition is ridiculous because this biodegradable and renewable resource has been put to many positive uses. And it’s not even a good high. “You’d have to roll a joint the size of a telephone poll to get high on industrial hemp,” Moore says. Among the event’s speakers is David Seber, who initially brought the industrial hemp bill to the state Legislature. In addition, there will be cooking demonstrations and video presentations, all highlighting the agricultural, industrial and commercial benefits of hemp. Throughout the day there will be displays of agricultural and industrial hemp products, as well as free samples of hemp products for event goers and participants. Samples will include hemp ice cream, milk, butter, shelled hemp seeds, lip balm, lotion, shampoo, shirts, bags and more. Cozmic Pizza will serve hemp beer and pizza. At 5 pm, organizers will hold a hemp fashion show with support from Greater Goods and Sweet Potato Pie, showcasing various hemp fashions for adults and children. To round out this educational event, musical acts including Michael Reed and Friends, a psychedelic jam band, and Maca Ray will start playing at 9 pm. For information check out hemphistoryweek.com or contact Cozmic Pizza at 338-9333; free before 5 pm, then a $5 suggested donation. –– Chelsea Fryhoff I don’t need to see President Obama’s birth certificate to believe he’s a U.S. citizen. But I would like to see his voter registration card. Sometimes I’m not sure he’s a Democrat. — Rafael Aldave, Eugene WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
