P age
T he P ortland O bserver • A pril 19, 1995
A5
HEALTH
Drug Company Promises Prove
“Worthless,” Says Consumer Group
Consumers w ho depend on the
20 most frequently-purchased pre
that prices fo r each o f the 20 to p
drug price problem fo r consumers.
selling prescription drugs went up
They said they w ould do it by h o ld
ing overall drug price increases to
scrip tio n drugs, such as Premarin,
faster than in fla tio n last year, co n
Procardia, Zantac, and M evacor, still
the rate o f in fla tio n o r below.
see the prices o f th e ir m edications
tin u in g past trends.
“ A n e lderly w id o w liv in g on
going up faster than in fla tio n , de
Social Security pays more and more
es, the prices o f A m e ric a ’ s 20 to p
spite drug company promises to rein
fo r her m edicine when she goes to the
selling prescription drugs went up
in prices, according to a study re
pharmacy. Since the prices o f her
drugs go up faster than her Social
more than one-and-a-half tim es fast
“ When the big drug companies
Security, she may have to skip p ills
to the report. From 1993 to 1994, the
prom ised to hold dow n prices, they
or skip meals to make ends meet.
Either way, she could w in d up in the
prices o fth e top 20 drugs went up 4.3
hospital,” P ollack said.
B ig drug companies have re
tio n rate was 2.7 percent.
C o n su m e rs w h o buy the m ost
Ron Pollack, executive d ire cto r o f
peatedly insisted that market com pe
p o p u la r p re s c r ip tio n d ru g s have
Fam ilies U S A , the national health
titio n and voluntary measures w ill
had a s te a d ily in c re a s in g co st
consumer group.
hold down skyrocketing drug prices
b u rd e n . F o rm 1989 to 1994, the
leased today.
were crossing th e ir fingers behind
th e ir backs. For many Am ericans,
th e ir promises were w orthless,” said
Despite drug company p ro m is
er than in fla tio n last year, according
percent, on average, w h ile the in fla
"What We Eat In America!"
Residents o f the greater P ort
entire U.S. population, said n u tri
tio n ist A lanna M oshfegh. She heads
their know ledge o f diet and health
land area are among the estimated
6,000 A m ericans—from young c h il
the survey group, w hich is part o f
dren to the e ld e rly -w h o w ill be
interviewed at home this year about
U S D A ’ s A g ric u ltu ra l Research Ser
vice.
tio n to ensure that we get an accu
rate picture o f what foods A m e ri
the foods they eats pan o f the U.S.
Area counties selected fo r the
Department o f A g ricu ltu re 's con
survey include Clackam as, M u lt
nomah and W ashington Participants
re la tio n s h ip o f d ie t to h e a lth ,”
tinuing survey, "W h a t We Eat In
A m erica.”
w ill be asked to report a ll the foods
Both the geographical areas and
in d ivid u a l households were statisti
T hroughout 1995, in te rvie w
ers w ill be c a llin g on 11,500 house
holds in 62 geographical areas
across the country to fin d those
6,000 in d ivid u a ls who represent the
"W e need everyone’ s coopera
cans are eating and how much as
w e ll as w hat they know about the
M oshfegh said
they ate on tw o separate days, said
Moshfegh. Each query takes about
ca lly selected fo r a representative
30 minutes. A few weeks later, a
selected num ber o f these respondents
ers can call only on designated ad
over age 20 w ill be called toascertain
dresses.
sampling, she noted, so in te rvie w
April Is Child Abuse Prevention Month
In W ashington, D .C ., Fam ilies
in the U nited States. In 1993, 17
c u m u la tiv e p ric e s o f to p - s e llin g
N a tio n a lly and in Oregon, A p ril
But real w o rk is being done to
U S A released a study called "W o rth
m ajor drug companies, representing
b rand name dru g s w e n t up m ore
has been proclaim ed C h ild Abuse
strengthen our fam ilies and help keep
children and fam ilies is w o rkin g to
reduce ch ild abuse and has co m m it
less Promises: D rugCom panies Keep
tw o -th ird s o f the U.S. prescription
than tw ic e as fa s t as in fla tio n ,
B oosting Prices.” The report finds
drug market, prom ised to solve the
a c c o rd in g to the stu d y.
Prevention M onth. It's a chance to
promote public awareness o f ch ild
abuse and to keep our children safe
T o o many Oregon children are
in danger.
children safe, according to the Ore
gon Com m ission on C hildren and
ted up to 35 percent o f its budget to
keep children safe.
Families.
Oregonians continue to support
F o r e x a m p le , th e y s u p p o rt
classes fo r p a re n ts to le a rn ho w
to ra ise th e ir c h ild re n w e ll and to
manage b e h a v io r p ro b le m s . C h il
AIDS Awareness Planned For Teens
g e t a b re a k w ith s p e cia l day care.
A group o f Portland area teens
“ Facing A ID S , w ill in clu d e
graduate o f Lake O sw ego H ig h
A ccording to the C h ild re n ’s Ser
The counties each w ork in their
has organized a p u b lic conference
w o rksh o p s on to p ic s in c lu d in g
School, Jako became H IV positive in
own ways to help local fam ilies and
d ren le a rn th ro u g h s p e c ia l p ro
to prom ote A ID S awareness among
“ Smart Sex,” Responsible D ecision
1991 and seeks opportunities to-talk
vices D ivisio n , 33 Oregon children
died by abuse o r neglect in 1994, a
there are great programs throughout
g ra m s h o w to h e lp p ro te c t th e m
peers.
“ Facing A ID S ,” an all day con
M aking,” “ Stress,” “ H IV + ” and “ D i
w ith peers about the importance o f
new record. The vast m a jo rity o f
those ch ild victim s were under five
years old.
the state.
selves fro m sexual abuse. P a r
A d d itio n a lly , a statewide non
p ro fit o rg a n iza tio n co m m itte d to
funding ch ild abuse and neglect pre
ents c a rin g fo r a d is a b le d c h ild
tions throughout Oregon.
vention programs is the C h ild re n ’ s
cates are another resource. These
versity.”
safe sex.
ference fo r teens w ill be held Satur
Speakers represented include
Teens and Co. com bines edu
day, from 9:30 a m. to 8 p.m. at
Planned Parenthood, Cascade A ID S
cation and entertainm ent in a fast-
A t the same time, Oregon re
ceived atotal o f2 6 ,4 0 0 abuse reports
in 1994.
Portland State U n iv e rs ity ’ s Sm ith
P ro je ct, C am p O dyssey, M a in
paced show fo r teens that presents
Center.
The conference is sponsored
by the Portland Area C o u n c il o f
stream Y outh Programs, Portland
W omen sC risis Line, Phoenix Ris
positive role models and encourag
es responsible decision making. The
ing. The conference also w ill include
group is sponsored by Planned Par
Camp F ire ’ s Teens in A c tio n group
a presentation on the A ID S m e m o ri
and E quity Foundation. Local teens
citizen volunteers advocate in court
1985, the trust has channeled over $2
m illio n to more than 50 organiza-
cases fo r the one element m issing in
enthood, M ultnom ah C ounty, and
innovative programs to prevent child
Theatre W orkshop, a C ity A rts Pro
T h a t’s enough children to f ill 410
abuse and to help parents and fa m ily
“ I t ’ s essential that the citizens o f
gram o f the Portland Bureau o f Parks
typical Oregon classrooms. For ev
members when ch ild abuse occurs in
our state become in vo lve d in com
ery 1,000 children liv in g in Oregon,
10 were victim ize d .
order to break the cycle.
Every county com m ission on
and neglect,” K itzhaber said.
are invited and encouraged to regis
ter by c a llin g Cam p Fire at 224-
7800. The registration fee is $7.50.
A ID S awareness advocate Jen
n ife r Jako is the keynote speaker. A
and Recreation.
Earth Day
Activities At
Dishman
clude a perform ance by the Bureau
o f E nvironm ental Services to help
rem ind everyone how to take care o f
ners w ill receive scholarships to at
tend The W o rld Forestry C enter's
w eek-long summer day camp at the
the environm ent, hands-on w ild -life
Magness M e m o ria l Tree Farm in
W ils o n v ille . A w ards w ill be d is trib
home lik e the “ Clean Rivers Puzzle
T rust Fund o f Oregon. Created in
A ccording to CSD, there were
10,700 confirmed cases o fch i Id abuse
w ith alm ost 8,000 c h ild victim s.
al Q u ilt, performances by Secrets
and Teens and Co., and a party ja m .
programs and even goodies to take
C ourt A ppointed Special A d v o
Free Rides
all abused and neglected ch ild re n ’ s
lives, a safe and permanent home.
m unity e fforts to reduce c h ild abuse
Q u e s tio n s a b o u t
A ll rides on T ri-M e t buses
day, celebrating the 25th A n n i
RECYCLING?
versary o f Earth Day.
T ri-M e t's Party fo r the Planet
W e have
and M A X trains are free Satur
uted at 10:00am.
Be cool to your school! The
runs 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Friday and
W o rld Forestry Center w ill be g iv in g
10 a.m. -4 p.m . Saturday at P io
neer Courthouse Square.
The rides and celebrations
C a llin g all kids! Show M o th e r
B o o k ” and plenty o f fun door prizes.
The Earth Day C elebration w ill
Earth how m uch you care at Portland
also recognize the winners o f The
away a $100 g ift certificate fo r edu
Parks and R ecreation’ s Earth Day
W o rld Forestry C enter’ s essay con
cational supplies to the school w ho is
celebration. Surround y o u rs e lf w ith
test on “ W h y we should take care o f
represented by the most students at
birds, bees, anim als and trees at
our forests” . The 50 young winners
the Earth Day Celebration.
Dishm an C o m m u n ity Center, 77 N E
w ill be awarded their certificates by
For more info rm a tio n ca ll the
ership and help keep the air clean
K nott, on Saturday A p ril 22 from
D ire cto r o f Parks Charles Jordan.
Portland Parks & Recreation H o tlin e
and co m m u n ity livable. Since the
10:00am to N oon. A c tiv itie s w ill in
A lo n g w ith the certificates the w in -
at 823-2223.
firs t Earth day in 1970, T ri-M e t
ANSWERS.
(and free refrigerator m agne ts!)
are aimed at attracting new cus
tom ers to T ri-M e t to increase rid
€
M ETRO
M etro Recycling Information
234-3000
ridership has more than doubled.
A Spiritual Approach To Day
T o m ark the 25th anniversary o f
Earth D ay, a group o f Portland area
organizations invites the p u b lic to
look beyond the nuts and bolts o f
tuality. These include w e ll know n
author, academic and N ative A m e ri
activities, and inform ational displays
can spokesperson Paula Gunn A lle n .
Lakota m edicine man M a rtin H igh
tions.
“ Earth Day 9 5 :N a tive C o sm o l-
Bear, and D e lilo villa g e elder W arner
ogy andthe Em erging C u ltu re " isco-
by local businesses and organiza
"reduce, reuse, recycle.”
“ Earth Day 95: N ative Cos
m ology and the E m erging culture is
Jim.
T his Earth Day gathering w ill
C ouncil, L iv in g E nrichm ent Center,
a day-long conference that w ill ex
begin at 7 :00 PM on Friday evening.
C om m unity Connexions, and Beyond
plore the spiritual roots o f e n v iro n
m entalism by exam ining traditional
A p ril 21st w ith an opening celebra
tion h ig hlighted by a keynote ad
W ords Publishing Inc. the even w ill
native A m erican spiritual traditions
dress by M atthew Fox. A p ril 21st
ter (L E C ) in W ils o n v ille . Set on 95
and contem porary C hristian thought.
“ Earth day 95: N ative C o sm o l
w ith an opening celebration h ig h
rural acres, L E C has indoor fa c ilitie s
fo r thousands o f participants, as w ell
sponsored by The Earth and S p irit
take place at L i ving Enrichm ent Cen
ogy and the E m erging C u ltu re " w ill
lighted by a keynote address by M a t
thew Fox. On Saturday, A p ril 22nd
include presentations by tw o noted
from 10 A M to 6 PM . Fox and the
Theologians and authors. Creation
S p iritu a lity Theologian M atthew Fox
other presenters w ill o ffe r workshops
areas.
Tickets fo r Saturday's Earth Day
and discussion groups based on the
events are $ 10 for adults, $ 5 fo r c h il
and Jesus scholar Marcus Borg. A
host o f N ative A m erican leaders and
traditional N ative Am erican "ta lk in g
c irc le ." There w ill also be music,
dren
sp iritu a l elders w ill present their
nature walks. Native American d ru m
m ing and dancing, numerous fa m ily
view s on native cosm ology a n d sp iri-
as a host o f trails, ponds and wooded
Day draw s near, plans fo r celebra
tions to m ark the occasion are being
fin a lize d throughout the country and
environm ental progress." Said G ina
C o llin s. D ire cto r o f the Earth Day
here in Portland.
Portland activists are w o rk in g
to make sure that this year's Earth
1995: Free the Planet Cam paign
“ Earth Day can’ t ju s t be about
As the 25th A nniversary o f Earth
’ 50sim pleT hings'anym ore; it'sgreal
opening cerem onies and keynote
address by M atthew Fox are $25.
For more in fo rm a tio n call 452-4483.
C O U N C IL
present
Earthday z95
"Native Cosmology & the Emerging Culture"
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Earth Day,
the Earth & Spirit Council and the Living Enrichment Center
are co-sponsoring two days of ceremonies, lectures,
workshops, music, dance, talking circles,
at the Living Enrichment Center in Witepnville, Oregon.
Featuring Matthew Fox
Author and Theologian
Warner Jim
Celilo Village Elder
Martin High Bear
Lakota Medicine Man
ronmental protection, not a shred
ding ofth e environm ental safety net."
she continued
Petitions w ill be gathered here
Johnny Moses
Native American Storyteller
Paula Gunn Allen
American Book Award
~org
illy Known
biblical Scholar
in Portland and in cities and towns
across the country.
In W ashington. D C., p e titio n
that more people than ever are recy
clin g and w o rk in g to reduce their
ing environm ental problems.
" I t is discouraging that on the
impact on the planet, but we must
organize and let our elected o ffic ia ls
of
25th A nniversary o f Earth Day, when
know how serious the problem s are."
said L iz Fow ler. Earth Day 1995
national and local e nvironm ental
Free the Planet organizer in P ort
rally.
all Am ericans should be celebrating
our im proved relationship w ith the
S P IR IT
land. "The public wants more e n vi
action to solve our n a tio n 's worsen
Day focuses on the need fo r p o litic a l
&
T ickets for the Friday night
Earth Day Call For Political Action
planet, Congress is considering turn
ing back the clo c k on 25 years o f
EARTH
ers w ill be accompanied by the music
Kenny
L o g g in s ,
B ra n fo r d
M arsalis, and N atalie Merchant and
speakers at the national Earth Day
F riday E vening , A pril 21; 7-10 pm $25.00
E arthday /S aturday april 22; 10 am - 6 pm $10.00
M attew F ox S aturday W orkshop #35.00
Tickets available at Ticketmaster 503-224 4400
For more information call 503-682-5683