letters
TO THE EDITOR
MEASURING ENERGY
I am amazed that Eric Briggs (letters,
1/26) concludes that older, mechanical
meter technology actually allowed for
power to be distributed gratis “due to
its limited ability to record fractions of
a kilowatt.” Perhaps Briggs failed to
consider that any such alleged fractional
consumption would have continued to
accrue and be rolled over into the following
month’s bill.
As a Lane County homeowner whose
vintage, American-made mechanical meter
functioned perfectly well, but which was
nonetheless removed and replaced with
the so-called “smart” (made in China)
meter without cause or warning by EWEB
several years ago, I decry the move toward
less secure, less verifi able, less sustainable
and more disposable technology.
It is understood that EWEB seeks to
eliminate the valuable (costly) jobs of
meter readers, as well as enabling more
detailed and intrusive (government)
monitoring of its customers. Indeed, the
larger threat posed by these so-called smart
meters may be to our domestic workforce
and privacy. Not that increases in the
already dense EMF load are a healthy idea,
mind you.
“Terror mongers?” Really, Mr. Briggs?
Why no uproar about NW Natural’s use of
smart meters, indeed? The proven superi-
ority of mechanical meters in applications
demanding the utmost reliability has a long
track record — keeping electrical equip-
ment well removed from natural gas lines
is only common sense safety. What is your
agenda?
Klaus Pressler
Eugene
BRIBING WITH BEER
Should we really be bribing people to
give blood with alcohol? In the Jan. 12
issue of EW, an article called “Bloody
Way to Get Beer” said the Lane Blood
Bank was partnering up with Hop Valley
Brewing Company. They were giving out a
free glass and a voucher for a pint of beer
to people who donated a pint of blood. It’s
defi nitely a great way to get alcoholics to
donate blood, but should we have to bribe
them? I think they should come up with a
better advertising idea than free beer.
With the rising rates of alcoholism we
should work toward lowering that rate, not
promoting it. It’s a great idea, but I would
rather see people be given a $5 bill and
let them choose a beer or what ever else
pleases them. Donating blood shouldn’t
even be about money or beer. It should be
about helping people in need and giving
back to the community.
Caitlin Zemke
Eugene
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GIVE BEES A CHANCE
We have a dream of helping Eugene
become more sustainable. Last year we
started beekeeping. In the spring we
started attending beekeeping meetings
set up by the Lane County Beekeepers
Association (lcbaor.org). With the help
of the beekeepers we were able to keep
our bees healthy, but we learned some
very disturbing news about the bees. Not
only are parasites and diseases affecting
the bees, but herbicides, insecticides and
harmful chemicals are collecting in the
wax they build their homes in. After fi ve
years the wax becomes toxic and their
homes become uninhabitable.
With this information it is time for
all of us to change our way of thinking.
Blackberries and dandelions are an
excellent source of nectar and pollen for
honeybees. If you use weed and feed or
plant poison on your landscape you are
responsible for the decline of the honeybee.
We are starting a group or nonprofi t
with the goal of creating chemical and
insecticide spray-free zones in Eugene one
block or more at a time. We are hoping
to unite our fellow beekeepers with their
neighbors to fi nd people to host beehives
in their yards; but fi rst we need to insure
no harmful chemicals or sprays are used
within a one block radius.
Our fi rst “Save the Honeybees” event
will be from 10 am to 2 pm Saturday,
March 24, at Madison Meadow. If you
would like to make this dream come true
please contact us at healthybeeshealthy-
gardens@gmail.com.
Give bees a chance!
Jen and Doug Hornaday
Eugene
Satturday, Feb 11
Heart & Sole
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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
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EUGENE WEEKLY FEBRUARY 9, 2012
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