letters
TO THE EDITOR
SKEWED PRIORITIES
The state of Oregon, local municipalities
and Lane County allocated $2.8 million
in taxpayer dollars on security for a track
meet. Yet we have no long-term solution
for accommodating the homeless or
preventing teachers from being laid off.
Why is it that public funding is available
for sport events without question? Its a sad
commentary on the misplaced priorities
that fail to address the social needs of the
most vulnerable citizens in our community.
Pat Reilly
Eugene
JOINING THE BOYCOTT
I was pleased to read EW’s important
cover story June 28 on drone technology
promoting CodePink’s Medea Benjamin
and her new book, Drone Warfare: Killing
by Remote Control. Her presentation at
Cozmic was excellent, and for those unable
to attend it was fi lmed for later viewing
on Community TV as was Jack Dresser’s
interview with her fi lmed earlier that day.
I also admire Benjamin and CodePink
for their activism in promoting Palestinian
human rights. Benjamin served on
the steering committee and CodePink
was a key organizer for the 2009 Gaza
Freedom March where over 1,500 activists
converged in Egypt and attempted to enter
Gaza to bring relief supplies and protest
the ravages of Israel’s Operation Cast Lead
assault on its one-year anniversary.
Benjamin and CodePink have also
joined the boycott, divestment and sanctions
(BDS) campaign against Israel with energy
and imagination. A “stolen beauty” boycott
action held on the 2010 International BDS
Day led by Benjamin against AHAVA cos-
metic products made in the occupied West
Bank using stolen Palestinian resources can
be seen at http://tinyurl.com/7yp5c2a
And for the past two years CodePink has
organized conferences and demonstrations
against the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC) at their spring
conferences in Washington, D.C.
The connection? Benjamin explained
that Israel is the world’s #2 producer of
drones, used against the captive Palestin-
ians of Gaza.
Mariah Leung, co-director
Al-Nakba Awareness Project
Eugene
BELOVED SPORT
Last year, the Eugene Disc Golf Club, the
city and community members made great
progress towards installing a permanent
disc golf course within the boundaries of
Alton Baker Park. As the summer heat is
fi nally upon us, I have to wonder, where is
this much needed course?!
My family and I simply cannot wait for
this course to arrive! We feel that a central-
ized disc golf park next door to the UO
— which began the Northwest’s fi rst col-
legiate team — that is within bicycle riding
distance for so many community members
is perfect for green Eugene. Furthermore,
a disc golf course in Alton Baker would be
a wellness boon for a diverse population of
the community, especially college students
and UO staff members.
On top of the health benefi ts, disc
golfers will add to the positive presence of
individuals in Alton Baker Park. Better yet,
having a centralized course will increase
the opportunities for the UO and Eugene
disc golf clubs to fund raise and support
our community through our beloved sport.
We sincerely hope that our city leaders
recognize the great value that disc golf
courses have brought to communities
all across the globe. We implore our city
leaders to see this project through to
completion as soon as possible. I encourage
all of you to contact your city councilor and
do the same!
Mat Beecher
Eugene
COAL DECEPTIONS
The rush to export more coal is based
on two lies. First, the claim we have so
much coal we can export it even though
coal has peaked in the U.S. on an energy
basis. Richard Heinberg’s books Blackout
and The End of Growth contain some of the
details.
family > farm > fresh
Our family’s best!
The freshest milk and ice cream
We sell our family’s Lochmead milk
and ice cream at your local Dari
Mart. We milk our cows just north
of Junction City, and within 48
hours, the milk is in our stores. Stop
by and stock up on cool drinks or
70 YEARS ~ 4 GENERATIONS ~ 44 STORES
quick, healthy snacks. We’re in the
Proudly serving our family’s
Lochmead products
neighborhood. Come see us soon!
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JULY 12, 2012
EUGENE WEEKLY
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