VIEWPOINTS
Saturday, May 25, 2019
East Oregonian
A5
In the skies above Eastern Oregon
F
rom a very early age, I have been
interested in — or perhaps more
correctly stated, enthralled by
— airplanes. My grade school draw-
ing-doodles were frequently rudimen-
tary depictions of the “dogfight” scenes
(much of which was actual archival foot-
age) I had seen on the two-season run of
the TV program “Black Sheep Squad-
ron,” which was must-see viewing for an
impressionable second- or third-grader
who was “lucky” enough to occasionally
hear a sonic boom growing up in 1970s
Eastern Oregon.
I can recall our next-door neigh-
bor in Echo, a then-nonagenarian born
well before the turn of the 20th century,
regaling us with a story about the histor-
ical significance of the first “aero-plane”
sighting over the town when she was a
young lass. I mowed her lawn as a kid
and used some of the earnings to buy
a model of a bubble-top canopy P-51D
Mustang, which my dad and I assembled
and painted at our kitchen table. That
model still hangs in the basement of our
house, 40 years later, in the bedroom
formerly occupied by son Willie.
Apparently, the apple really doesn’t
fall far from the tree; numerous models
constructed by him hang near the Mus-
tang, including a highly detailed B-17
bomber. I bought him a ride on a B-17
for his ninth birthday — the first time he
flew in anything other than our friend’s
crop-dusting helicopter.
When our family attended my cous-
in’s wedding in Homer, Alaska, some
years ago, Willie and I were late to
the reception (although we did witness
the exchange of vows) because we had
booked a sightseeing flight on a 1929
model float plane owned and operated
by a 1932 model pilot with more than
10,000 hours of flying time in The Last
Frontier.
Willie was also fortunate enough to
serve as the unofficial aerial photogra-
pher at the Helix Rodeo a few years back
when he was a passenger in the celebrity
fly-over taildragger. His job also entailed
opening and closing the hot-wire gate
that kept livestock off of Runway One at
Gerking Flat International. I, too, have
enjoyed a flying tour from the same
facility, albeit with a new generation of
pilot and craft.
Recently, I was privileged to be
invited by a neighbor to go flying on
a perfect May day (please forgive my
careless word choice). We flew over
much of the eastern and northern areas
of Umatilla County and this time I was
the photographer, capturing images of
my uncle’s mountain ranch, a favorite
neighbor’s farmstead, and a certain fel-
low airplane aficionado’s Caterpillar
tractor and antique chisel plow hard at
work only a few short miles from where
the U.S. Navy “dropped in” on a farm-
ing project I was involved in a few years
ago.
The EA-6B Prowler they were flying
toward the Boardman Bombing Range
experienced a catastrophic mechani-
cal failure and ironically almost crashed
into the only airplane hangar in North
Juniper Canyon. Fortunately, all four
Wolves and Oregon’s
wildlife commission
O
regon’s wolves are in serious trou-
sistence. As a lifelong outdoorsman, I am
ble. The Oregon Department
baffled as to why any hunters practice any-
thing other than “eat what you kill.”
of Fish and Wildlife recently
announced their support for a misguided
Those who seek to kill wolves give
and reckless proposal by the U.S.
a black eye to all ethical hunt-
ers who do not engage in trophy
Fish and Wildlife Service to end
hunting. It paints us all with the
federal Endangered Species Act
same brush as Walter Palmer (the
protections for all gray wolves
dentist who killed famous Cecil
across the Lower 48 states.
This proposal is premature and
the lion), Blake Fischer (the Idaho
would jeopardize a nascent, but
Fish and Game commissioner
fragile recovery of these iconic
who resigned after amid pub-
lic controversy over his killing a
canines. It flouts sound science and
R ene
family of baboons), and other tro-
the values of the American pub-
T aTRo
phy hunters who shunned a basic
lic, including Oregonians. It fur-
COMMENT
ther opens the door for trophy hunt-
tenet of hunting: respect and rev-
erence for the natural world and
ing and trapping more of America’s
to use what you kill for more than a photo
wolves — including, possibly, the 137 liv-
ing in Oregon.
op.
This announcement comes on the heels
Three of Gov. Brown’s five recent
of ODFW’s release of the latest draft Wolf
nominations to the very commission that
Conservation and Management Plan. The
will consider the Wolf Plan have signifi-
cant conflicts of interest and are directly
draft Wolf Plan contains numerous ill-ad-
vised provisions that portend a dark path
involved with the industries they would be
toward wolf trophy hunting and trapping in
charged with regulating. Thankfully one
Oregon. Oregonians should urge the Fish
of these three, James Nash, a trophy hunter
and Wildlife Commission to reject the Wolf
who has posted countless photos on social
Plan at its June 7 meeting.
media standing over dead hippos, sharks,
As a lifelong hunter and Oregonian,
zebras, and other exotic wildlife, and who
I am deeply distressed by the plight of
is a vocal opponent of wolves, was pulled
wolves in Oregon and across the country.
from the list of nominees at a Senate Rules
Hunters have long recognized their import-
Committee hearing on May 8.
ant role as good stewards of the wildlife
Rather than assuring the commission
resources that we all share — hunters and
will be a scientific, diverse body, Gov.
non-hunters alike. As good stewards, we
Brown nominated candidates who have
appreciate the vital importance of apex
pushed policies that do not reflect the con-
servation values of most Oregonians or
native carnivores, like wolves, in keeping
even most hunters. This is the slate of folks
ecosystems abundant, healthy, and diverse.
Most hunters I know follow a general
will soon be making decisions about Ore-
set of principles connected to the modern
gon’s wolves and wildlife. Now more than
era of wildlife management and the broad
ever, Oregon needs a diverse, scientific, and
acceptance of the North American Wild-
unbiased commission.
life Management Model. Those standards
———
are inconsistent with trophy hunting, where
Rene Tatro is a resident of Lake Oswego
the primary motivation for the hunt is for
and an Oregon hunter and outdoor
bragging rights or a trophy but not for sub-
sportsman.
crew members parachuted to safety in
the sagebrush-covered hills. It was in all
the papers.
My friend’s plane is a 1958 model
and is in beautiful condition. It has been
very well-maintained and he even has a
new-fangled Garmin navigation device
that he has retrofitted to the controls.
This reminded me of how much naviga-
tion has changed in the last 100 years for
pilots in our area and brought to mind a
family story.
In the mid-1920s, when my grand-
father was about 10 years old, he was
employed in the aviation industry, in a
manner of speaking.
The farm where he was raised just
south of the confluence of the Columbia
and Snake rivers was smack dab in the
middle of the air mail route from Pasco
to Salt Lake (likely with a stop in Boise).
A light beacon was affixed to a tower in
one of their fields to help guide planes
safely. Being it such that the power
line was still more than 20 years in the
future for that neighborhood, a gaso-
line-powered generator was installed to
make power. My old grandad, then an
eager young entrepreneur, was hired to
keep the light plant full of gas for the
princely sum of $10 a month.
A large concrete pad was poured in
the field near the beacon and painted
with giant orange and yellow markings
to aid in daytime navigation. When the
tower was torn down, my frugal Great
Depression-trained grandad skidded the
concrete chunks a quarter of a mile and
reassembled the puzzle-like pieces into
M att W ood
FROM THE TRACTOR
a relatively level shop floor in his repair
building, which remained in use when
I moved to the place in 1993. Recycling
ain’t nothin’ new.
———
Matt Wood is his son’s hired man
and his daughter’s biggest fan. He lives
on a farm near Helix, where he collects
antiques and friends.
Editorial misses the mark
on Brown’s nominations
n today’s world, we don’t need an
public trust, suffering a financial crisis,
awful lot of help fostering misunder-
and Oregon’s standing as a conservation
standing and polarization. That’s why
leader continuing to erode.
a recent editorial defending Gov. Kate
The Wildlife Commission has a trou-
bling lack of diversity. Non-con-
Brown’s nominations to the
sumptive appreciators of Oregon’s
ODFW Commission was so
wildlife are barely represented
disappointing.
and are often treated with outright
The editorial vilified the
hostility despite making up the
conservation organization for
majority of the state.
which I work in a rush to offer
The Fish & Wildlife Commis-
unqualified support for the gov-
ernor. It ignored that our objec-
sion is supposed to serve the pub-
tions were based on legitimate
lic and ensure our fish, wildlife,
R ob
concerns that deserve to be
and their habitats are conserved
K lavins
as a legacy for future generations.
heard.
COMMENT
My organization has supported
The media focused primarily
ranchers, hunters, and others with
on one nominee due to now-re-
dacted photos of him posing with a zebra, diverse backgrounds from across the state.
For months, the conservation community
hippo, and other exotic trophies. Even in
has made it a top priority to see a com-
Idaho, Gov. Butch Otter demanded the
mission made up of diverse, thoughtful,
resignation of a commissioner for similar
science-minded individuals who represent
photos. But that glosses over the elephant
21st century Oregon values. Brown’s rec-
in the room and the primary reasons for
ommendations to the commission under-
our objection.
Like several other nominees — and the mined that vision.
The governor’s staff essentially admit-
Commissioner he was set to replace —
ted their slate was unvetted and that they
he had a tremendous conflict of interest.
had simply rubber stamped the wishes of
He was asking to serve on a commission
that his father frequently lobbies on behalf lobby groups the commission is supposed
to regulate.
of the livestock industry. There he has
Knowing all that and more, it took a
pushed for weaker protections for wolves,
lot of audacity for the editors to say it was
elk, and other native wildlife. The nom-
inee publicly stated he would not recuse
we who spun a “false narrative.” It’s one
himself from votes that would benefit his
thing to take exception to how another
father or his organization.
outlet (or its fans on social media) cover
Other candidates had similar conflicts
an issue. However, creating straw men
with one even initiating a $1.4 billion law- and attacking them doesn’t foster any-
suit against the state of Oregon on behalf
thing but more polarization and demoni-
zation on both sides.
of the timber industry.
Our communities deserve better. So do
It’s the continuation of a pattern. The
Oregon’s fish and wildlife.
commission has long been dominated by
———
profit-driven and consumptive interests —
Rob Klavins is the Northeast Oregon
often the very industries they are meant
Field Coordinator for Oregon Wild. He
to oversee. Those interests disproportion-
ately influence policy, and that dynamic is also helps run his family’s working farm
and bed & breakfast near Enterprise.
largely responsible for the agency losing
I
Standing up to China’s Belt and Road Initiative
H
ow should the U.S. regard China’s
multitrillion-dollar Belt and Road Ini-
tiative (BRI) to build infrastructure
all over the world? It has huge benefits for its
own contractors, as well as enormous poten-
tial for China in future trade and influence.
Should we merely be critical and dismis-
sive? Should we be primarily fearful of the
security implications of its expanding global
outreach? Are there opportunities to promote
U.S. aid programs, businesses, inventiveness
and wise counsel on standards and risk tak-
ing? Can we double down on bolstering our
own competitiveness? So far the USG has
tended publicly to adopt the first two positions
— with warnings of a “clash of civilizations”
and a new “Cold War” with China — and been
weak on the third and fourth approaches.
What is BRI? The Chinese launched it in
2013, its title conjuring up the ancient Silk
Road from Asia to Europe. They call it “the
project of the century” in building global
infrastructure. “Belt” is intended to connect
China overland with the Middle East, Africa
and Europe by railroads, highways, pipelines
and fiber optic cables. It’s investing in ports,
dams, power plants, electric grids and much
more. “Road” refers mostly to a sea route link-
ing China to far-flung countries and energy
reserves from the Arctic to the Indian, Pacific
and Atlantic oceans.
It’s popular: As of the second BRI Forum
held in April in Beijing, China, had project
agreements with 126 countries and 29 inter-
national organizations. There is no founding huge inland rail hub at Khorgos, Kazakh-
charter or a blueprint and the project agree- stan, where a container can now go from
ments are opaque. BRI is nonetheless evolving China to Europe in 14 days, faster than sea,
from a loose network of countries coordinat- cheaper than air. China is building economic
ing with China on projects to a more structured corridors through Laos/Thailand, Myanmar
one with a new ministerial “Leading
and Pakistan to the sea. In the Mid-
dle East, China is constructing the
Group” in Beijing to liaise with other
central business district of Egypt’s
country’s foreign ministers.
planned new capital east of Cairo.
Its origin: Until a decade ago, a
In Africa, there are now 10,000 Chi-
developing China was content to let
nese businesses to support BRI proj-
the U.S. prevail in the international
ects and one million Chinese are liv-
order. The Chinese ventured abroad
ing there. It is making inroads into
mainly for resources to feed its
Latin America.
extraordinarily fast economic devel-
H aRRieT
opment and pretended to be just any
In Europe, BRI’s first project was
i som
third world developing country. Two
in Serbia where China built, under
COMMENT
events brought this change to a more
cost and on time, a new bridge over
aggressive foreign policy. One was
the Danube. Greece has given China
the economic debacle on Wall Street in 2008- a major stake in its main port of Piraeus. And
09 when China decided to lessen its depen- Italy has just signed up for improvement of the
dence on the U.S.-led international economic port of Trieste. Europe is engaging with China
order. Another was the rise of President Xi Jin- because EU countries trade over $500 billion a
ping, who harps on China’s humiliation by the year more with Asian countries than with the
West in past centuries and calls for China to U.S.
herald its own model worldwide.
Debt: The U.S. press has heavily empha-
Cost: China has capital to spare and surplus sized a few countries that have run into loan
industrial capacity. But it’s not giving money repayment problems with the BRI projects,
in grants but rather in loans and investments. leading to a USG charge against China for
Chinese banks have provided at least $200 bil- “debt diplomacy.” Sri Lanka, Kenya and Paki-
lion in loans since 2013. Its loans are free of stan are among them. But it appears that a
Western strings about governance or human majority of countries, so eager for infrastruc-
rights — and it will even take on a bad credit ture development, are not being warned off.
U.S. companies: It’s a point to consider that
risk country, such as neighboring Pakistan.
Examples: Project highlights include the countries benefiting from BRI infrastructure
improvements will be the next wave of global
growth, offering new markets for more coun-
tries than just China. And governments will
get smarter about the exploitative contracts
with China and the builders they choose.
Citigroup has just published an analy-
sis of how BRI is graduating from Sino-cen-
tric to a more multi-directional and inclusive
pattern of business. Honeywell International,
Hewlett-Packard, General Electric, Caterpil-
lar and Citibank are U.S. companies already
taking advantage of new trade and contract
opportunities.
Stay Involved: We can’t just carp about
BRI from the sidelines. If we do, we give
China a free ride for its global ambitions.
An old cliché still pertains that countries that
trade together are less likely to go to war. And
there’s still room for economic development
and trade for everybody. We need to be out
in the world with our own know-how, inven-
tiveness, aid programs and diplomacy, thereby
demonstrating our own spectacular competi-
tiveness. Remember we did this when the Rus-
sians shocked us in 1957 by launching Sput-
nik, the first artificial satellite.
Ambassador Harriet Isom grew up in
Pendleton and has retired to the family ranch.
She was a career diplomat serving in Asia and
Africa from 1961 to 1996.
———
Harriet Isom is a former U.S. ambassa-
dor who lives on the family ranch outside
Pendleton.