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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 2012)
letters TO THE EDITOR The Shedd Institute www.theshedd.org - 541-434-7000 Second, the illusion that shale gas fracking has given us a 100-year supply of natural gas and therefore we can shift from coal to gas for electricity. Fracking wells are not only toxic, they also rapidly deplete, much faster than conventional gas wells. What will the coal and gas industries do when the shale gas bubble bursts, likely during Obama’s second term? One group rallying environmentalists against the alleged threat of coal exports is Sierra Club. It was revealed earlier this year that Sierra took $26 million from Chesa- peake Energy, a leading gas “fracking” com- pany, to fund its “Beyond Coal” campaign. I’ve used solar electricity for more than two decades; it is great but it’s not going to replace our current consumption. Environmental groups that claim seamless transition is possible from coal, oil, natural gas and uranium to a renewable energy future have ignored depletion of non-renewables needed to build solar panels and wind turbines. They also urge us to support politicians who promote highway expansion, clearcuts and continued wars as long as we get token gestures that do little to protect the planet. Instead, they should teach people to grow food to reduce energy consumption. Mark Robinowitz www.oilempire.us/peak-coal.html Eugene EPUD MIS-DIRECTION In a Register-Guard article June 27 Emerald PUD Board Director Patti Chappell, whose phone address is outside the district, was quoted as saying “The world’s going to hell in a handbasket.” After observing this board for the last year and having been a board member, it appears that the majority of directors are not directing, but following the Lambe. That would be Frank Lambe, the general manager, who is driving the handbasket without adequate direction from the majority of the board. On May 24 at an Emerald PUD coffee chat, our local elected board member Bruce Pilling stated that Emerald was better off now than it had ever been before. I asked for details to support this statement. None were provided. On May 8 at the Emerald Board meeting former congressman Jim Weaver stated that he felt that there was too much secrecy and everyone should know if we are making or losing money. Also at the meeting was the annual audit. The auditors said it was a clean audit and strong year in earnings with available cash, at the end of the year, of $11,392,961. It was so good that the employees were given a 3.25 percent raise. Now I read, Emerald is projected to loss $1 million in 2012, and the Lambe solution is to raise rates again and reduce service by eliminating 10 jobs. It would make much more economic sense to change the driver of the handbasket and a couple of the mis- directors in the next election. Ron Davis Cottage Grove GREENHILL KILLS Anne Harris’ claim [letters, 6/28] that Greenhill does not kill animals with treat- able conditions is totally untrue. Greenhill kills some ringworm and some neonatal kittens. After years of denying they killed any treatable animals at all, a current Greenhill employee admitted in an open forum on Facebook they do. Greenhill claims to be No Kill. The killing of kittens and healthy senior animals, the killing of animals with treatable skin and dental conditions, and killing healthy feral cats exclude them from that honor. They are not transparent. When asked by an advocate to release copies of the fi les on fi ve animals they recently killed, their response was “We don’t have to.” Hardly the response of an open, transparent and accountable facility, is it? People with nothing to hide, hide nothing. Greenhill’s numbers from 2010-11 have a suspiciously large number of “owner requests” for euthanasia. Owner requests don’t count in the calculation of their live release rate. These deaths are not questioned by anyone, they should be. Greenhill does some good. However, they “cherry pick” the animals they let into their program. They import animals from California when there are the same number of animals locally that need help. It is past time for compassionate, honest, No Kill leadership at Greenhill. I for one will not drink the Kool-Aid and believe anything they say; neither should anyone else. No Kill is the way. Tamara Barnes No Kill Lane County Eugene PUMP THAT RIDE I recently read in the news that New Jersey has added self-serve pumps at gas stations. This leaves us as the last state that doesn’t allow it. I think it’s time we joined the rest of the U.S. I’m not asking to do away with full service, I’m just looking for an option for those of us who would take advantage of the speed and effi ciency of self serve. The arguments I hear from my fellow Oregonians don’t quite hold up in my book. Self serve will be cheaper, the elderly and handicapped will still get the service they need, employment loss will be minimal as it seems most attendants are already overworked and the “dangers” are also minimal with today’s technology. It seems the other states get by just fi ne. Besides, what kind of state would we be if we offered fi reworks for purchase roadside but not gas you could pump yourself? Glenn Leonard Eugene Sarah John Mayall Jarosz Siri Vik Where Or When Fri, May 18 Thu, July 19 Sun, May 20 Tue, July 31 al u n n 4th A fi e t n e B d l i Blues Bu r Winery feif R fe P - d, oa m 0p 25040 Jaeg Junction City 3 : 7 30 to der free : 2 Sunda - All proceeds go to: y, July 22nd 5 and Un , 1 $15 a dvance, $20 at the gate Big Monti The Vipers w/ special guest Skip Jones Gaye Lee Russell & Her Bad-Ass Band Ticket Outlets: Junction City: Habitat for Humanity offi ce 585 Greenwood, Emerald Valley Compounding Pharmacy, Pfeiffer Winery, Citizens Bank | Harrisburg: Citizens Bank | Eugene: CD World • House of Records Online: daistickets.com/bluesbuild No-host bar. (No outside alcohol) • Lawn chairs, blankets & picnic baskets welcome. Food for purchase. 541-998-0548 • visit www.jchmhabitat.org • Pfeiffer Winery at www.pfeiffervineyards.com Fame o f local fashion discoveries 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 and phone number for our files. E-mail to letters@ eugeneweekly.com fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401. 131 E. 5th Av. 687-2805 WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM The Life & Lyrics of Lorenz Hart Mike & Nancy Oft Rose BUFFALOEXCHANGE.COM EUGENE WEEKLY JULY 12, 2012 5
