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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2012)
letters TO THE EDITOR of Spencer’s Butte only to fi nd it covered in litter. Soda and beer cans, water bottles, snack wrappers and of course cigarette butts were everywhere I looked. It blows my mind that people are somehow able to carry these items up the trail, but are too lazy and disrespectful to take them back down. Treat your own property however you want, but don’t bask in the glory of public nature only to trash it when you’re done. I have a feeling some of this recent litter was left on Earth Day, which makes me even more angry. Brooke Lusk Eugene NOT A WARM GUN In last week’s EW (5/10), Andy Valentine expressed his joy at shooting guns in the woods of Oregon, in his article “Happiness is a Warm Gun?” He came from England, where most guns are banned, and was amazed at how you “can literally drive out beyond city limits with a borrowed gun and start fi ring.” He states, “The sound of a pop echoing through the valley is something that every American should hear once in his life,” after shooting an assault rifl e. I don’t share his new fascination. I grew up in rural Arkansas, where the year-round “pop” of gunfi re was a constant reminder of how gun-happy our country is. I’m no stranger to guns, having shot quite a few as a teen. Shooting is a rite of passage in that region. But my enthusiasm was a bit tainted when I sometimes heard my neighbor’s bullets slashing through trees over my head, or when my 14-year-old friend committed suicide with his father’s weapon, or when, at 18, I was six feet away when one boy fatally shot another in the head. Perhaps Mr. Valentine hasn’t been in the states long enough to understand that 110,000 shootings a year can make guns a little less “happy?” Baldr Odinson Eugene OCCUPIERS, TAKE HEED Interesting story (5/3) about the two moms who were pepper sprayed. Occupy protesters need to be aware that it is a The Shedd Institute different world they are protesting in now, as compared to last fall. The government has been busy crafting new laws to deal with dissidents in the US. Protesters should familiarize themselves with the following. For background information: Civilian Inmate Labor Program, Emergency Centers Establishment Act. And since last fall: In December, Kellogg Brown Root called for FEMA Camp Service Activation Bids; the National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law by Obama on Dec. 31, 2011; and the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act, signed into law by Obama in February. Taken together, the government now has far greater power to deal with protesters, so act accordingly. Jim Showker Eugene Hugh Laurie May 31 (sold out) Led Kaapana Siri Vik Where Or When Mike & Nancy Oft Rose The Life & Lyrics of Lorenz Hart Fri, May 18 Sun, May 20 DENY THE REQUEST We applaud the recent denial of a large speculative application for water rights on the McKenzie River. The application from the Willamette Water Co. did not identify committed customers for the water or show how the withdrawal would comply with land use laws. The company also has challenged some recommended protection for fi sh. The administrative law judge’s conclusions that the application did not meet legal requirements and that granting the permit could be detrimental to the public interest might be expected to end the matter. However, the Oregon Water Resources Commission is not required to heed the judge’s decision and the Water Resources Department had earlier recommended that the permit be granted. The League of Women Voters of Lane County is requesting the governor and our local legislators to encourage the department and commission to deny the Willamette Water Co. request. We hope others who share our interest in responsible management will do the same. Our water is our most precious public resource and granting rights for its use June 2 Dan Hicks June 8 & The Hot Licks PARTNERING NERING FOR THE PLA NERI PLANET MAY 5-19 $10 will go to the McKenzie River Trust or Corvallis Environmental Center for every pair of Patagonia footwear purchased from May 5-19. W FOLLOW IS THE TIME FOR FEET NEW TO SHOES YOUR COMFORT Downtown Eugene &#SPBEXBZt 'BDFCPPLDPNGPPUXJTFFVHFOF .PO4BU4VO Downtown Corvallis 48.BEJTPOt 'BDFCPPLDPNGPPUXJTFDPSWBMMJT .PO4BU4VO At the Eugene Water & Electric Board, we’re empowering citizens with resources to save money and energy in their homes and businesses — like James and Jennie Cupp. James helps his mom change out incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, and Jennie recycles old CFLs instead of throwing them away. To find out about EWEB’s energy-saving programs for your own home, visit eweb.org/saveenergy or call 541-685-7000. Maybe yours will be the next powerful tale we tell. WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENE WEEKLY MAY 17, 2012 5
