Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 8, 1978)
Mrs Frances Schoen-Newspaper Poem University of Oregon Library Eugene, -Oregon 97403 Shipyard asbestos disease aired PORTLAND O B S E R /E R Volume 8 No. 24 Roses in History Thursday, June 8, 1978 10c per copy D r. J.A . Merriman, Portland's second Black doctor, entered this float in an early Rose Festival Parade. Riding in the front seat with D r. Merriman is Gertrude Bollen. In the back are Otherida Nichols, Jennie Grayson, Barbara Hubbard, Leah Jackson and Edna Rutherford [From Grayson Family Collection] Foreign pressure tames Jamaica’s socialism by Rirh Hayes KINGSTON, JAMAICA [PNS] - “Its bleak," said Dr. Carl Stone, head of the political science department at the Uni versity of the West Indies, in assessing Jamaica's economic future. “In the hills there's a return to subsistence farming, so at least they'll be able to eat. The rest don't realize what we re in for. Very soon they will." Beset by economic reverses and inter nal division and flinching under the whip of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government of Prime Minister Michael Manley is having to back-track on much of its program for building “democratic socialism" in Jamaica. The economic situation has inflicted a heavy political toll on both the “far left" and the "Manley left" factions within the governing Peoples' National Party (PNP). Recent months have seen the resignation of left-leaning cabinet mini sters and other officials, and newly appointed Finance Minister David Bell recently called for expulsion of all "known communists" from the PNP, a move aimed particularly at the Marxist Leni nist leadership within the party's Youth Organization. At the same time a new hard-line stance is developing against the Rasta farian influenced “I Man” culture, com posed of the throngs of poor, urban youth, who. with the rpral poor, have helped constitute Manley's grass-roots support. In February, army and police units set up the “Green Bay Massacre." an ambush in which five unarmed West Kingston youth were left dead. While denying prior knowledge of the ambush, Security Minister Dudley Thompson inflamed tensions between the government and the street people with statements regretting that “more of them weren't killed" and pledges to "destroy the mad dogs of society.” Much of the current turmoil is the result of the IMF's December 1977 decision to terminate a vital $74 million loan agreement drawn up just six months earlier. This threw the country’s de velopment program into a shambles, cutting hard into foreign exchange re serves and -- of key importance - putting a halt to aid from the other world financial agencies that look to the IMF for its "seal of approval." Many of Manley's difficulties seem to stem from an underestimation of the middle classes' hostile reaction to his leftist policies and an overestimation of the speed with which a broad base of popular unity and commitment could be built. asbestos have been announced by the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Joseph A. Califano, Jr. On April 25th an “advisory letter" on asbestos was sent to 4,000 physicians across the country. The letter suggested the potential health risk posed by asbes tos and described the steps doctors might take in diagnosing and treating patients affected by asbestos. The letter also included an explanation to the doctors of how more information on how asbestos relates to disease. This letter was the beginning of the initial phase of HEW's program directly related to asbestos generated diseases. Asbestos is used in the construction industry as a sealant. The majority of the asbestos used in the United Slates finds its way into the shipyards. Eight to eleven million workers in America have been exposed since the beginning of World War II. Beginning in 1940 approximately 20,000 Black people, as well as thousands of whites, came into the Portland/Van- Angelique Marie Blow graduated on June 3rd from St. M ary’s Academy in Inglewood, California. She was among 72 graduates. Miss Blow is the daughter of M r. and Mrs. John T. Blow, Jr. Among her honors were: CaMfornU Scholarship Federation Seal Bear, Na tional Honor Society, and Salutatorian Nominee. She w ill major in Electrical Engineering at Northrup University in Inglewood on a full scholarship. Despite repeated socialist declarations the thrust of government action has been comparatively tame. Many public enter- * prises, such as the sugar estates, banks by Joe McHenry and hotels had been running in the red before being nationalized, and such ex A busy man in a busy world would be treme measures as expropriation or the label placed on Larry Jackson. At 31 renunciation of debt had never been Jackson is a successful young business seriously entertained by the government. man with an eye to the future. Nonetheless the middle classes were dismayed at Manley's surprisingly strong Born in Portland in 1947 Jackson re-election victory in December 1976, and received his education at Skyline Grade panic set in after his angry “Not For School. Lincoln High School and Portland Sale" speech three months later, in which State University. A degree in Mathema he lambasted the IMF and appeared to tics directed his attention to numbers and burn his bridges with the West. a career in accounting followed. These people came from New York City and from across the South and although many stayed in Portland after the war ended, many others returned to their homes or elsewhere looking for employ ment. It is these people whom HEW will attempt to contact through a search of employment and social security records. Secretary Califano stated that it has been quite a time lag between the discov ery of asbestos related diseases and the time that notification was given potential victims of asbestos related diseases. However, It had earlier been noted that families of shipyard workers were sus ceptible to diseases related to asbestos inhalation. Exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of incurring lung cancer mesotheli oma (cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdominal cavities). Smoking significant ly increases the chances of contracting one of the asbestos related diseases. A non-smoker who is exposed to asbestos is four times as likely to contract one of the diseases as one not exposed. An exposed smoker is 90 times more likely to contract the diseases than a non-smoker. The symptoms of asbestosis follow: shortness of breath upon exertion. It is a chronic lung disease, incurable because it changes the composition of the lung tissue. Lung cancer can be first recognized by these simple rules: a cough or change in coughing habits; chest pains; a small amount of bleeding. Mesothelioma symptoms are first a shortness of breath, or pain in the wall of the chest which becomes aggravated by deep breathing. Second, abdominal p»'" which may vary from mild to harsh. Since from its earliest days, the City of Portland has been involved heavily with the construction of ships, anyone who has worked for a ship building firm or who is a family member of a former shipyard member should contact the Office of Workers Compensation Program, De partment of Labor Employment Stand ards Administrator, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Room S 3524, Washington D.C. 20210. Currently the government is not taking legal responsibility for asbestos disease and Califano called the program to identify persons who may contract dis ease as “not a matter of legal obligation. oui eimcai ana moral. Compensation for workers who have contracted job related asbestos disease is available through the Federal Employees Compensation Act for government employees and through state workers’ compensation for persons who worked for private shipyards. Cali fano noted that estimates of the increased risks associated with asbestos exposure are based on the experience of workers who were heavily exposed before the government began to regulate asbestos in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Current workers without previous exposure, face smaller risks. Although the relationship between as bestos exposure and disease has been known since 1960 the government has just now launched its notification pro gram. Califano explained that the risk was first brought to his attention in late 1977 by National Cancer Institute Direr L°r Arthur Upton and that he does not know why previous HEW officials did not inform exposed workers. Robert E. Branscomb was recent! named branch banking officer at the U. { Bank, Washington Square branch. Branscomb was formerly an assistai vice president and branch manager at Si Joseph Valley Bank in Elkhart, Indians He had previously served in the U.S A ir Force. Branscomb holds a basic certificat from the America Institute of Banking Larry Jackson: On the w ay to the top Despite the economic turmoil, most Jamaicans do give Manley credit for putting them on the road toward building a new society. “Manley made us know we were Jamaicans." said a young library worker. “We didn't know that before." People proudly cite Jamaica's new leadership role in world affairs, such as its chairing of the “Group of 77” develop ing nations in the United Nations. Im provements in housing, education and adult literacy are readily acknowledged. Ar.d while government and unions may quarrel over specifics of “worker partici pation” and “cooperative management," few would suggest that the old planta tions be restored. From experience gained as an auditor for Consolidated Freightways Jackson began his own business, a retail operation on Union and Church. After being forced out of business by the aquisition o f the property by the Burger Barn, Jackson are the civic services in which Jackson is returned to accounting. In 1974 he form involved. A strong commitment to Black ed Larry Jackson and Associates, an youth has lead to his involvement with accounting firm that has grown to over a the Lloyd Center Optimus Club. Jackson hundred accounts. Now Jackson and believes that the contact youth receive Associates also brokers insurance for when involved with the commercial world their clients and others. is of great benefit in character building Jackson stated that "Jackson and Asso and youth motivation. The Optimus Club ciates are growing so rapidly that we're program includes training in oratory, looking for two more accountants. This is sportsmanship and other related areas of the type of business that grows from mature growth that help in coping with referrals and personal contact and now the real world. I'm beyond my own capacity to keep up.” The fast paced schedule Larry Jackson It’s no wonder that it's hard to keep up, has set for himself keeps him constantly because Jackson also owns a transporta on the move. From office to office or tion rate service which is entirely sep office to accounts this dynamic young arate from the accounting firm. man is on the way up to the top of his Added to his business responsibilities world. Community Festival offers fun, food, art Plans are well under way for the opening of the first annual Community Festival. This unique event is scheduled for July 1 - 4 at Holiday Park. According to its organizers, the festival will consist of various arts and crafts displays, live music by local jazz and soul groups and other forms of live entertainment. The event is sponsored by several non-profit organizations working in con cert with the City of Portland Bureau of Parks and the Metropolitan Human Rela tions Commission. At least eighty exhibit booths are planned for construction to accommodate vendors, governmental agencies, and local civic and social organ izations. It is anticipated that a large variety of food and other refreshments will be provided by vendors specializing in a cross-section of ethnic cuisine. Bar-b-que ribs, chicken and other dishes will be featured along with cakes, pies and other delights. Booths are still available. Members of the festival committee are convinced that the festival will be among the high points of the NAACP National Convention, which will be held during the same week. One member of the commit tee stated, “it represents the most feasible outlet for meaningful involve ment by groups and individuals who wish to provide goods and services for persons visiting our city during the 4th of July weekend. An estimated ten thousand persons from across the nation are expected to be in Portland to attend the NAACP Con vention. The importance of the festival is that of providing a structure for the maximal generation of minority business potential during the convention. It will also serve as an arena for artistic and. creative expression. Persons wishing to participate should call Charles White at 238-2891. Assembly meets Members of the Community I* estival Committee prepare for an exciting and beneficial affair. The Oregon Assembly of Black Affairs will hold its quarterly meeting on June 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Assembly president Calvin O.L. Henry announced that the agenda will include a look at the primary election and begin preparation for the 1979 legislative ses sion. Also on the agenda were committee reports and other business matters. The meeting will be held at St. Andrews Church. N.E. 8th ar.d Alberta in Portland. James William Reid, Boise artist, displays seme of Us pencil drawings. Boise artist takes his art 'on the road’ James William Reid, of Boise, Idaho, artist with a special touch, believes that his art should be shared with the world. With his art tucked into a large portfolio bag he set out from Boise to personally spread his art in the Pacific Northwest. The eleven pencil drawings he has with him have been painstakenly reproduced and are representations of the seven years of labor for love that he put into creating these works of art. Reid's belief in spreading his art is reflected in the low cost he has placed on his reproductions. From $5 for a single print and $20 for a special double set, while one limited edition print, of which 200 numbered and signed sets were reproduced which sells for $25. Mass producing my works, says Reid, will spread my name around giving me the exposure I want. The works of Reid are painstakenly done in pencil or special non erasable paper. “Even though many artists can do pencil drawings," stated Reid, “very few have the shadings and technique to do them well." This type of art work takes a lot out of you, ar.d it takes a long time to do well. I started pencil drawing fifteen years ago and I have tried to improve my technique over the years I choose pencil because there weren’t many Black artists doing pencil and I wanted to be one of the best. From Boise to Portland, Portland to Seattle, portfolio in hand James Reid is spreading his art work. He plans to return to Portland July 2nd and may be reached by calling the Portland Observer 283 2486 or by writing to him at 1962 W. Boise Avenue #6, Boise, Idaho 83706.
