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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2012)
TO THE EDITOR THE LONG WINTER I have to ask: Why do Occupy protesters insist on covering their faces? From the pigeon-toed girl on the front cover to the (gender unknown) person in the article (12/22), they are doing an excellent job of intimidating viewers. They look more like bank robbers than protesters and are not generating much sympathy. Michael Kober Cottage Grove What happened to the gentleman in the Occupy camp is unfortunate, but the consequences of the Eugene City Council’s decision to close the camp will be horrifi c. Cue the news blurbs describing the folks who die freezing to death in a January frost. We will see the county jail consume more prisoners only to puke them up into the gutters off 5th Avenue. Let us see the increased robberies and the violent acts of a hopeless class of folks who have nothing to lose. There was a man sleeping at an LTD stop by my house. On the way back from the little market on the corner, I saw EDITOR’S NOTE: The signature bandanas serve several purposes: They help protect from tear gas and pepper spray, they are warm, they defy police attempts to identify demonstrators, and they indicate solidarity with street protesters around the world who expect retaliation and even death if they are identified. CAHOOTS (bless them) helping him into the van. The man was laughing and yelling, “I’ve got to laugh. I’ve just got to laugh! They take away our beds and say we can’t sleep on the ground?” These scenes touch all but the most heartless. Occupy in general helped such people, thus blunting the violence and death of Eugene winters. If the City Council refuses to fi nd a better solution for taking care of our needy, Eugene is going to become a much harsher place — and we are getting there fast. Steve Coatsworth Eugene grown as the earth intended B uilding friendships with organic farmers has made social equity a guiding principle at Mountain Rose Herbs for 25 years. Within today’s global fair trade movement, we are hon- ored to be certified by IMO’s Fair For Life Program. Going beyond products, Fair For Life audits our working conditions, labor practices, environmental programs, social benefits, com- pany transparency, and the origins of our harvests. This allows us to re-direct a portion of every sale to agricultural communities around the world, guaranteeing that workers have rights and receive livable wages. We give thanks to the many skilled hands that work to provide our food and medicine. We cannot imagine doing anything less. ® 800.879.3337 www.mountainroseherbs.com 4 JANUARY 5, 2012 EUGENE WEEKLY Photo taken by Jennifer Gerrity in 2010 during a trip to our organic mace & nutmeg farm in India. SAVING FACE { letters PARVIN INTRUDERS It is a sick feeling watching the mountaintop removal of Parvin Butte from my dining room window. The noise of rock being torn from the walls of the butte can be heard throughout Lost Valley. Even deep in the woods the destruction can be heard. Dynamiting and rock crushing haven’t started yet, but I know it will be terrible. I can’t imagine what my house is now worth, living within 1,500 yards of a gravel quarry. If I wanted to sell it would you buy it? The quarry noise will continue for decades. I have a good water well, but after dynamiting and mountain removal, will my well be compromised? This valley and Parvin Butte were beautiful, quiet and serene. The McDougals and Demers snuck in unannounced like intruders and changed life for everyone living anywhere near Parvin Butte. The destruction can be seen as far away as the nearby town of Lowell. The quarry operators are working illegally and shunning the very laws that we must conform to. How can they continue the destruction of a historic feature without proper permits (site review)? Endangered Chinook salmon, western pond turtle and Oregon chub live in Lost Creek, which fl ows right next to the quarry. What are their chances of survival? Who speaks for them? Be informed and go to YouTube and search for Parvin Butte and then Google “Save Parvin Butte.” Help us stop this unnecessary destruction. Arlen Markus Dexter ENTHUSIASM FOR POT Activism is not always enough for improvement, but activism is always necessary for improvement. Safe and legal access to medical marijuana is simply humanity’s gift to itself, a way of life. The more folks accept medical marijuana, the more I enjoy medical marijuana. The more I enjoy medical marijuana, the more enthusiastic folks get about providing me with medical marijuana. Acceptance, enjoyment, enthusiasm. The three energy frequencies of “awakened” doing. Happy New Year, humanity. Joe Canfi eld Springfi eld LESSONS FROM THE GRINCH Another holiday season. I imagine the Grinch is chortling, and the unredeemed Scrooge (who could well represent the 1 percent) is rubbing his hands with delight. Once again the victims have been blamed and returned to the streets where they “belong.” And why such haste to abort the Occupy encampment? Perhaps because it was an experiment that was proving far too successful — especially successful for the houseless participants. There are two needs uniquely met by the encampment that I suspect have not really even been recognized. One is the need for a place for the homeless to “be,” and not just overnight WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
