Page 4 Portland Observer, December 31,1981
Affordable energy
EDITORIAL/OPINION
by Congressman Ron Wyden
Light your candle
On Christmas Eve, all over the United States,
cand>es burned in the windows to demonstate
solidarity w ith the people o f Poland who are
now suffering under economic hardships and
military rule.
This symbol was announced by President
Reagaft along with an economic boycott that
will only add to the deprivation. The move by
Reagan, possibly to lure the vast Polish-Am
erican community into his political corner, was
readily accepted by the American people. First,
it is easy for most Americans to identify with
Poland’ s northern European heritage; and,
second, the Polish problem is interpreted as the
failure o f Soviet-style socialism.
The food shortage in Poland— and it has
reached the dimensions o f true hunger and star
vation—has several roots: the enormous loan
payments and interest due western banks which
take money that should be put into food and in
dustrial production; industrial dislocation
caused by repeated strikes and work stoppages;
bureaucratization and unresponsiveness o f the
government. These and other factors have com
bined to bring economic disaster and loss o f civil
rights to the Polish people—at least temporarily.
While candles burn for Poland, Americans
should stop to consider those around the world
who suffer torture, imprisonment and death at
the hands o f their own governments—often gov
ernments supported financially and militarily by
U.S. tax dollars.
In El Salvador, when thousands o f people
have been killed by the government in the last
two years, the murders are aided by American
advisors, U.S. supplied helicopters, arms and
communication equipment. Daily, men, women
and children are found decapitated, or their
throats cut, for no reason except they were in the
wrong place at the wrong time. The nation’ s
young men are being systematically murdered—
reminiscent o f the days o f King Herod?
Guatemala, Honduras, Columbia and other
Latin American nations—all with U.S. support
—are engaging in terror against their citizens. In
Chile, which will soon receive renewed U.S. mil
itary aid, the destruction o f human life is so vast
that it has become the world’s pariah. Starving
Haitians are leaving their country in greater
numbers than ever before— only to be captured
in the high seas by the U.S. Coast Guard to be
returned to sure imprisonment or death.
In South Africa shanty huts o f thousands o f
Blacks who have nowhere to live were destroyed
by the South African government right before
the very eyes o f U.S. Congressmen visiting that
country. Killing and imprisonment o f those who
desire the simplest o f human rights continues.
While South African troops march into Angola,
leaving death and destruction behind, U.S. o ffi
cials meet w ith the leaders o f U N IT A — U.S.
supported opposition to the legal government o f
Angola.
Elsewhere in Africa, millions starve as they at
tempt to escape war and famine in the horn o f
Africa. The U.S. response is to enhance military
aid to the area—expanding bases or providing
m ilitary equipment to Egypt, N orth Yemen,
Oman, Saudi Arabia, etc.
The poorest o f nations—where starvation is
routine—are located in Asia where the U.S. mil
itary might destroyed vast areas o f the country
as well as the social and political structure, and
in Africa, long the basis o f U.S. and European
wealth. W hat did President Reagan offer at the
recent Cancún Conference— a conference called
to discuss ways the developed nations, which
had enriched the ir economies in large part
through theft o f the natural resources o f the un
derdeveloped third world nations, can now assist
the economies o f those nations? He promised
only “ self-help” through “ free enterprise” and
the U.S. based multi-national corporations.
So when you light your candles for Poland,
also remember the people o f South America,
A frica and Asia, who suffer and starve. And
then count your tax dollars that go to perpetuate
that suffering and starvation.
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No civil rights violation?
The U .S . D epartm ent o f Justice has
determined that throwing o f dead possums in
fro n t o f a Black-ow ned restaurant by on-
duty police officers was not a violation o f the
c iv il rights o f the restaurant owners. This
incident - passed o f f by the police officers
involved as a jo ke to relieve tension w ithin
their group — was clearly an intim idation o f
the owners and their customers.
What evidence does the government need to
determine a violation o f civil rights. Is not the
incident-itself enough proof? W hat possible
motive could uniformed police officers have to
k ill animals and leave their carcasses in front
o f a business except to intimidate?
The C ity’ s claim that the act was not racially
m otivated d id much to defuse the
investigation. C learly racial in context and
meaning, a statement to tha t effect by the
appropriate public officials would have done
much to establish the intensions and the results
o f the act.
M eanw hile, the FB I and other agents o f
government continue to harass and intimidate
Blacks, Indians and other groups who seek
their civil and human rights. FBI violations o f
constitutional rights and o f the nation’ s laws
are well documented -- and they continue.
We must wonder when and if the powers o f
the nation w ill be used to protect its citizens.
W ith temperatures dropping a l
most daily, it seems appropriate to
take time to discuss one o f the great
est needs o f O regon’ s (and A m eri
ca’s) elderly— affordable energy.
Energy costs, in general, have
shot up out o f sight. Between 1973
and 1981, household fuel costs in
creased by 279 per cent— compared
to a 183 per cent rise in the cost o f
other consumer items.
Not surprisingly, low-income and
elderly people are the hardest hit by
these escalating costs.
L o w -in co m e ind ivicu als spend
some 25-30 per cent o f their income
to cover energy costs— compared to
only 5 per cent o f income for the av
erage household.
And the elderly— many o f whom
live on fixed incomes— are especial
ly vulnerable. Even cost-o f-livin g
adjustments in programs such as So
cial Security and Supplemental Se
curity Income (S S I) have not kept
pace with the rise in energy costs.
Between 1979 and 1981, the cost o f
Libya is a young country with an
ancient past. From the days o f Her
odotus through the early 20th cen
tury “ L yb ia” was the term applied
to most o f North A frica. The Lybia
o f to d ay— the Socialist P eo p le’ s
Libyan A rab Jam ah iriyah — occu
pies a strategic location on the M ed
iterranean coast, the fourth largest
nation in A frica. Its long M ed iter
ranean coast line and its strategic lo
cation have made it a national gate
way to central Africa.
Early residents included the Lebu,
Tehno and Mishwash tribes referred
to in 3,000 B .C . as the “ Old King
dom o f Egypt. They were joined by
migrating Arabs, sea-faring Phoeni
cians, the Romans, the Greeks and
later the T u rk s . Islam arrived in
Lybia in 642 A .D .
Libya was an Italian possession
from 1911 to 1942 and h a lf o f the
population died in the struggle for
liberation. The United Nations gave
Lybia independence in 1951, m ak
ing it a federal m onarchy under
King Idris with a constitutional stip
ulation that succession pass to his
heirs.
In 1969 a group o f army officers
led by Colonel M uam m ar Q addafi,
in a bloodless coup, overthrew the '
monarchy and established the Re
public. The new government moved
quickly to redirect the country’s po
litic a l, economic and socio-econ
omic resources to meet the aspira
tions o f the people and the rising
tide o f Arab nationalism.
The “ J am a h iriy a,” or People’ s
A u th o rity , is based on Q a d a f fi’ s
“ T h ird U niversal T h e o ry ” as de
scribed in the “ Green B o o k ." The
Green Book rejects both capitalism
and communism and returns politi
cal and econom ic power to the
people. The governm ent is com
prised o f a series o f People’s Com
mittees at the zone and m unicipal
levels that deal with administrative
affairs, so that every citizen has ac
cess to the political process and gov
erning mechanism.
The declaration o f March 2, 1977,
establishes the Q u ran as the basic
law o f society and creates direct de
mocracy with the auth o rity o f the
people exercised through the peo
ple’s congresses, the People’s Com
m ittee, and the Professional
Unions. All citizens register with the
People’s Congress o f their area and
choose a People’s Committee to ad
m inister services. P rofessional
Unions take care o f professional
rights. The n a tio n a l governing
body, the General Peoples’ Council,
is composed o f delegates from the
People’s Congresses, People’s Com
mittees and Professional Unions.
The G P C selects a Secretary General
and Secretaries to adm in ister the
government.
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Oregon
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member
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U n ab le to stretch th e ir meager
do llars to cover these increased
costs, m any elderly people w ill be
left w ith a cruel choice— either to
heat their homes or buy food to eat.
That is a situation we should not—
and must not— tolerate.
There is no easy solution to the
problem. But we must begin by re
ordering our priorities— by taking
our budget cutting bites out o f some
o f the sacred cow programs that up
until now have been untouched. In
stead o f out o f worthwhile and cost-
effective programs such as energy
assistance. Some o f those sacred
cow programs we should cut include
military cost-overruns, tobacco sub
sidies and billion dollar handouts to
oil companies for synthetic fuels.
But we must do more. T o address
our long-range energy needs, we
must emphasize developm ent o f
conservation and renewable energy
programs. By doing this, we can as
sure a safe and a ffo rd a b le energy
future for the elderly— and for the
entire Pacific Northwest.
People who need energy assist
ance should call T ri C ounty C o m
munity Council (222-5555) and ask
for the energy assistance num ber
serving their n eighborhood. A p
pointments are made on a first come
first serve basis. I f you have other
questions, feel free to call my office
at 231-2300.
Libya today.
The flovarnmant
lm£pin£to that they clothed and all their
see to ft that are viarm and , needs are MORE
the poor are and secure,! Sheltered taKen care
PRISONS
careo for...
of...
home heating oil outdistanced cost-
o f-liv in g adjustm ents in the tw o
programs by some 500 per cent.
This year, things promise to be
even grim m er. Unem ploym ent has
soared. W elfare assistr.ee has been
cut back. C om m unity support pro
grams have been trim m e d — or in
some cases— closed down. And a l
though energy costs generally have
continued to rise, low -incom e en
ergy assistance funds have not. State
officials predict an average drop this
winter o f $42 (from $192 to $150) in
energy assistance for the needy.
Association - Found*/ IB M
The judicial system is divided into
four levels with the Supreme Court
at the highest level. Islamic law is
official state law.
Libya is a member o f the League
o f A rab States, the United Nations
and its affiliates, the Organization
o f A fric a n U n ity , O P E C , and the
O rganization o f N on-A ligned N a
tions.
The people
Ninety per cent o f the Libyans are
A ra b , the others being Berbers,
Blacks, and small numbers o f
G reeks, M altese and A rm enians.
The o ffical language is Arabic and
the p opulation is overw helm ingly
Sunni M uslim . In 1975 over half o f
the citizens were under 15 years o f
age.
Economy
When LibyS became independent
in 1951 it was considered perhaps
the poorest n atio n in the w o rld .
Tw o per cent o f the land was culti
vable; there was a severe water
shortage; the vast dessert was con
sidered a wasteland. There were no
known m ineral resources and no
trained, skilled, or technical labor
force. Ninety per cent o f the popula
tion was illiterate; only 14 Libyans
had received a college education.
In 1958 oil was discovered. Large
subterranean water reserves were
discovered. Together these trans
form ed L ib ya in to one o f the
world’s richest nations.
Rapid economic development is
aimed at building a stable economy
a fte r o il reserves are gone. This
meant providing new com munica
tion and tran sp ortation projects,
raising standards o f housing, divid
ing income more equitably, and em
phasizing development o f industrial
and agricultural resources.
A griculture employs 50 per cent
o f the work force and remains the
first priority. In the mid-1970s Ita l
ian owned land was n atio n alized
and distributed to Libyan farmers.
Large scale irrigation and land re
clamation projects, fertilizer, seed
and equipm ent are p ro vided .
M o d ern pro d u ctio n methods are
taught, farm land reorganized, and
banks provide interest-free loans,
grants and technical assistance.
Agricultural production is evenly
djvided between livestock and pro
duce as the nation strives to bernme
self-sufficient in meal, poultry and
dairy products. M a jo r crops arc
barley, olives, citrus, vegetables,
wheat and dates.
Libyan oil is light crude with little
sulfur content. By 1977 all oil pro
ducing facilities were nationalized,
w ith p rivate companies receiving
compensation for their properties.
Foreign companies still operate in
the petroleum industry. One o f the
world's largest iron ore deposits has
been discovered. Other minerals are
salt and sulfur.
The Five Year Plan for 1976-1980
included an annual increase o f 11
per cent G N P and 5.6 per cent per
capita income. A long w ith indus
trial development, priorities include
agriculture, electricity, housing and
urban development. A primary goal
is to increase econom ic indepen
dence and m odernization through
income redistribution.
Health, welfare
Education is mandatory through
the sixth grade, and education is
available through the university
level. Because o f the education dis
parity between the young and their
parents, literary projects for adults
are underway. Breaking down the
tradition against women receiving
university training is a current goal.
A ll health services are free. Today
there is a doctor for every 769 per
sons and 5 hospital beds fo r every
1,000 persons. Attention is given to
prenatal care, health care in schools,
and hygiene. Preventive medicine
and compulsory vaccination have
eradicated many communicable dis
eases. Libya is now malaria free.
In addition to free health care all
citizens are entitled to extensive fi
nancial, national and social services.
These include craft training centers,
rehabilitation centers for sick and
injured, special facilities for the dis
abled.
The W om ens’ G en eral U n io n
works in the fields o f hygiene, nutri
tion and adult education and a t
tempts to bridge the social gap
created by rapid change.
Every family has the right to own
a home. M ost Libyans w ho were
p rim a rily tenants have become
owners; landlords were com pan-
sated for their property, which was
sold to tenants at low , subsidized
prices.
New Year Greetings
from the
Portland Observer
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