Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2018)
LET TERS SHEDDING THE HYPOCRISY breed like fury; they’re delicious, which is perhaps why the guy who marketed the creatures called them “nutria” — the Spanish for otter — instead of using the Spanish/indigenous name “coypu.” I can vouch for the veracity of all these reasons. Because of reason two they became re- garded as invasive. Because they are a rodent, albeit a large one, the third reason hasn’t caught on in the US. But for those who don’t eat meat for ecological reasons, what’s the problem? Generally you’ll hear something like “I can’t see eating a giant rat!” Rest easy! They are not closely related to rats, but to capybaras, the largest living rodent, and like every spe- cies in that group I've had the chance to try when in South America, they are delicious. And they’re adaptable to a wide range of recipes. I’ve had ecologically inspired vegetarians say they’d never tasted any meat so tasty ever in their life when I bar- becued a young one caught on a Santa Clara organic farm, marinated overnight for a patriotic Fourth of July barbecue. Rick Valley Eugene I was slightly ambivalent about the re- cent protest at The Shedd, which was called because it had signed a letter thanking City Manager Jon Ruiz for nixing a planned homeless camp in downtown Eugene. The Shedd did sign the letter, but it was hardly the only downtown business to do so. I changed my mind when I found out The Shedd was featuring White Christmas that night. The Shedd is entitled to pressure the city government if it feels its patrons should not have to look at homeless peo- ple. It is also free to help its patrons cele- brate a holiday dedicated to the proposition that God incarnated Himself on Earth as a homeless child. But to do both at once strikes me as mind-boggling hypocrisy. Let the pickets roll. Art Bollmann Eugene OUR PUBLIC EMERGENCY There has been quite a bit of anger and frustration on all sides recently regarding our challenges of both homelessness and down- town business survival. I share these feelings and still believe the City Hall lot is the right place for a temporary day center, at the very least, and an overnight Dusk to Dawn. It will not work to continue to ask peo- ple to change their behaviors when there are no alternative choices. I also believe there was insufficient out- reach to homeless advocates, the homeless themselves and the business community. The lack of shelter and restrooms down- town is an emergency. However, the proposal was announced with so little time no one could ask ques- tions, consider options or speak to the Eu- gene City Council before our work session and vote. People do not feel heard. People are stirred up. On the good side, this gives us an opportunity and energy to connect. After all, that is our end goal — to work together to find equitable solutions for these critical issues of safe shelter for, and decriminal- ization of, our vulnerable unhoused and a safe, welcoming-to-all, thriving and suc- cessful downtown. I urge all of us to take this chance to communicate with each other, assume good intentions, leave behind boycotts H A P P H Y O L I D A Y S (they worked; let’s see what happens), be open to outreach and respond thoughtfully to suggestions. Come together, right now, and give peace a chance. It’s really the only way we will succeed. Emily Semple Eugene City Council, Ward 1 WORLD ON THE BRINK I appreciate Congressman Peter De- Fazio’s 20-year history of climate-saving accomplishments (EW Viewpoint, Nov. 29) and his involvement in the Kyoto Pro- tocol. Our current global climate crisis would be worse without his efforts. However, Kyoto, DOHA Amendment, Paris Agreement and COP 21 all fall woe- fully short of reaching global carbon re- duction goals and are inadequate. These assemblies produced non-binding pledges of fossil fuel reduction promises with no metrics to evaluate voluntary carbon emis- sion reductions. October’s release by the IPCC, Novem- ber’s Governmental Climate Assessment Report and the Stanford University Report signaled emergency action is needed to curb global warming and that the world’s 20-year bureaucratic efforts were window dressing. Looking for the perfect gift? Gift Certif icate This certif icate Someone Special 50 toward the pu rchase of drinks/me Gift Giver als. Sam T. Klaws Authority Sam T. Klaws Da te Holidays Certificate Numb to $ entitles er If you give them a gift certificate, we will give them a memory call or order a certificate online at soriah.com, even if we're not open! 384 W. 13th Ave. • Eugene, OR • 342-4410 4 December 13, 2018 • eugeneweekly.com The Green New Deal, The One Year War Plan, The Climate Mobilization Vic- tory Plan and The Solutions Project are frameworks with teeth for immediate im- plementation that would reduce global fos- sil fuel usage and GHG emissions. DeFazio should publicly oppose the Jordan Cove LNG Energy Project, enact a statewide fracking ban, legislate incen- tive programs for EVs, rooftop solar, fuel switching from gas to electric and prohibit gas infrastructure. Nationally, the list is long, and I would be willing to discuss these GHG reduction so- lutions with him — but not until legislators stop taking fossil fuel campaign contribu- tions and giving subsidies to carbon majors. Jim Neu Eugene DELICIOUS NUTRIA Camilla Mortensen’s roadkill cuisine article (Nov. 21) was great, thoroughly re- searched, except for: “Please don’t tell me to eat nutria!” which betrayed deep ethno- centrism, I am sorry to say. As noted, nu- tria are considered an invasive species in Oregon (and elsewhere). Well, the species was introduced for three reasons: they have soft fur; they Editor’s note: Camilla Mortensen is more likely to eat roadkill tofu than anything else. DEFAZIO RESPONDS Regarding “Poor Showing, Pete” pub- lished Dec. 6 in Letter to the Editor: Lee Gire states his letter never received a re- sponse. Our records indicate that Mr. Gire wrote to me on Nov. 13, 2016, regarding Trump’s proposals to roll back Obama’s ex- ecutive orders reducing carbon emissions. I strongly opposed Trump on those measures and I responded to Mr. Gire four days after receipt of his email. I take con- stituent correspondence very seriously. My office receives thousands of letters, calls and emails every week, and we respond as quickly as possible. Please continue to keep in touch with me on issues that are important to you, and be sure to check your spam filters. Peter DeFazio Congressman, Oregon’s Fourth District 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 and include your address and phone number for our files. Email to letters@eugeneweekly.com, fax to 484-4044 or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401.
