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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2021)
4A | SATURDAY EDITION | JUNE 5, 2021 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 CHANTELLE MEYER , EDITOR | 541-902-3520 | CMEYER @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion The First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibit- ing the free exercise thereof; or abridg- ing the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peace- ably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” — Thomas Jefferson (1800) USPS# 497-660 LETTERS Dying Planet? Oh, Please. A recent headline I read stated, “Our planet is dying.” That is nonsense. I know it, you know it, and so do the folks who continue to spout such non- sense. The planet is no more dying than that rock in your backyard, or the dirt under your feet. People die, animals die, insects die, plants die, trees die. Rocks do not. Dirt does not either. Continents move, they do not die, they just change shape. The only way this plan- et will “die” is if a meteor or something excessively big slams into it and shatters it into a billion pieces. I doubt even setting off the entire glob- al supply of nuclear weapons would kill the planet. It would kill people, animals, probably most living things, and change the shape of the planet. But no chance in a million it “kills” the planet. Parents, do not let your children learn such nonsense. It isn’t factual by any stretch of the imagination. Teach them basic sense and how to learn for them- selves. Teach them how to discern right from wrong. Almost any subject of learning has so-called experts. Pick a subject and you could find at least a thousand experts, probably a million experts across the planet. If 1,000 experts say something is true, you could find another 1,000 ex- perts that say the opposite. We are merely subjected to whatever the media wants us to believe. Headlines like “Our Dying Planet” certainly gets someone’s attention. I dare any person, expert or not, to prove to me that this planet is dying. Not only dying but I want a date when that will occur. Is it next week, next year, when? If it is soon, I want to know so I can cash in my retirement, sell my house and all belongings, and go to the highest mountain and meditate. — Dana Rodet, Westlake Climate disruption is affecting even paradise We do not speak for Mike Allen but would like to weigh in on the May 29 Guest Viewpoint (GVP), “Time To De- velop A Plan To Benefit All, Not Just Placate A Relative Few” by Sam Spayd, in response to his May 22 GVP, “Is Florence Essential in the Fight to Curb Climate Change?” The newspaper published our related letter, “Read the Data, Let It Sink In,” on May 26. The May 29 GVP contains two major points: 1) volcanoes produce more green- house gases than the human race ever has and 2) city hall should focus only on im- mediate problems including overbearing state government, housing, jobs, infra- structure, and quality of life in Florence. Regarding #1. The argument about volcanoes was advanced by an Australian geologist with conspicuous conflicts of interest as a director of numerous mining companies and as a shareholder in sever- al. He is not a climatologist. The Australian Associated Press fact- checked his claims and found them to be inaccurate; one source, NASA, reported that global surface temperatures have in- creased around 1.5 degrees F since 1980, not decreased by a similar amount as the geologist claimed (https://factcheck. aap.com.au/social-media-claims/ice- land-philippines-volcanic-eruptions-did- nt-produce-more-co2-than-humans). According to the U.S. Geological Survey and the American Geophysical Union, man-made CO2 emissions are 130-135 times greater than volcanic CO2 emissions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Ian_Plimer). Volcanic ash dramatically dims skies, but it settles out in days or weeks and is not CO2. Also, the volcano argument collapses under the National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration’s graph showing the exponential increase in greenhouse gases since industrialization began 250 years ago. Then, atmospheric CO2 was 280 ppm (parts per million), about as high as during the previous 800,000 years (https://ccimgs-2020.s3.amazonaws. com/2020CO2Peak/2020CO2Peak_ Longterm_en_title_lg.jpg.) Today, it’s 420 ppm — a 50% increase in the last two centuries over the highest levels in 8,000 centuries. Look at the graph. Regarding #2. Addressing climate dis- ruption and local problems doesn’t have to be either/or. Climate disruption is cat- egorically different from local problems. No one but us can fix local problems. Climate disruption is a global problem everyone is obligated to fix. Focusing only on immediate local problems is short-sighted. Here on the Oregon coast, we may feel untouched by climate disruption, but we’re fooling ourselves that it will never hit home. Oceans are acidifying, threat- ening shellfish and related economies, and the central Oregon coast is becoming more dry, even here in paradise. — Rollin Olson & Madelyne Barnett Florence The Chamber is a contractor for the City I would like to clarify, for those who would be misguided by Joel Mark’s bud- get Letter to the Editor (“Budget Should be a Concern,” June 2), that the City of Florence does not privately fund the Flor- ence Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is actually a contractor for the City and is paid for services ren- dered. The funds paid to the Chamber come from Transient Room Tax, which are re- stricted funds only available for tourism development (these funds are based on tax collected from guests using lodging facilities inside the City). The Chamber performs tourism de- velopment, which is a primary support of our economic stability in the Florence area. Part of the contract is providing Visitors Services, along with other events and regional marketing. The Chamber owns the Florence Visitors Center pri- vately, and it is not owned by the City Tourism supports our economy to the tune of $146 million per year and creates 1,900 jobs. The Chamber’s marketing performance has exceeded expectations and continues to help support a sustain- able economic environment for our com- munity. I hope this information helps to clarify the budget expenditure. — Bettina Hannigan President/CEO of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Council can focus on multiple issues at once Sam Spayd wrote a Guest Viewpoint for the Siuslaw News which asserts that we should ignore emissions from cars, trucks and planes because there are al- ready so many volcanoes in the world. Mr. Spayd also claims that the Florence City Council cannot walk and chew gum at the same time; that the council can EITHER solve climate change OR solve housing issues, but not both. I disagree with Mr. Spayd. First, anthropogenic climate change is causing massive changes in how our economy works. Fossil fuel companies are being forced by judges and board members to slash emissions. What will this mean for the use of fuel in airplanes? Will they need to switch to hydrogen or electric? If we take Mr. Spayd’s view that we can only narrowly focus on immediate issues, and not longer-term issues, the Florence Municipal Airport may suddenly find itself out of business due to lack of plan- ning. I urge the Airport Advisory Commit- tee to adopt the view that we humans can address all of the issues and that ignoring how the world economy is changing due to the effects of climate change is not a recipe for success. — Mark Baker Florence The result of human action? I appreciate a recent Facebook post of side-by-side arguments made in a recent Opinion section of the Siuslaw News by Florence climate champion Mike Allen and “climate denier” — in quotes be- cause this is my humble and perhaps not fully-informed opinion — Sam Spayd, whose name is vaguely familiar in con- nection with championing Florence restaurant owners who went rogue local- ly over Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s mask and shutdown COVID safety restrictions. Both opinion writers are as fine and artic- ulate advocates of their positions as one might hope to find. As I read both opinions, it seems to me their arguments come down to this: is cli- mate crisis, as we witness and experience it today, the result of human action or not? Do we, individually and collectively, have responsibility and agency to affect a change in how this story of climate on Earth goes? I don’t believe Mr. Spayd forwarded any argument to challenge the fact that climate change is real. Rather, he argues that it’s “esoteric” to say we collectively and individually have a responsibility to act and do so more wisely than we have been. Let’s simplify this argument. Let’s say a certain Mr. Spayd plants tomatoes in his garden and then refuses to water them — nature will take care of it because it rains fairly regularly. He won’t feed them to help them grow, because it’s tough luck if they aren’t strong enough to do that on their own. When he complains to his neighbor about how poorly his tomatoes are do- ing, the neighbor responds with a bunch of “esoteric” BS about horticulture and studies of what works and doesn’t work to produce a crop of fine, ripe and deli- cious tomatoes. Mr. Spayd could then be possibly jealous of the healthy plants his neighbor consistently produces, which provides yet another reason to disregard and make light of his neighbor’s “esoter- ic” BS. Mr. Spayd, with respect and an earnest hope to help you be more successful in growing tomatoes, I intend no ill your way as I say your garden most certainly requires more lovingly care and attention than you are presently giving it. — Darlene Norwood Florence Prevent elder abuse by knowing more Report Abuse.” S&DS wants to ensure glected, their maltreatment impacts all that our community dedicates June to of us. As a community, we can dedicate “Know More, Report Abuse” by offering our time and energy to help prevent el- der abuse, address the social issues, and these free trainings to the public. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit our find sustainable solutions. Social isolation among older adults community, we saw an increase in Adult June is Elder Abuse Awareness Protection Service (APS) calls at S&DS. has continued to increase during Month. This is the time where the com- From 2019 to 2020, there was a 32 per- COVID-19, which means this increases munity comes together to learn about cent increase of abuse allegations inves- the likelihood of abuse and neglect. We can design stronger com- abuse prevention, how to report munity supports to keep connec- abuse, and what the community tivity alive and protected those can do to help protect our elders. By Emily Ann Farrell, JD who are the most vulnerable in Communities all over the globe sponsor events that feature the Director, Senior and Disability Services our community from abuses. Older adults who are socially issues and solutions regarding el- Lane Council of Governments connected and protected from der abuse and prevention. Senior harm are less likely to be hospitalized, & Disability Services (S&DS), a divi- tigated. As Americans, we believe in jus- less likely to require nursing homes, sion of Lane Council of Governments, is proud to host four trainings open tice for all, yet we fall short to live up and more likely to live independently in to the public entitled called “Let’s Talk to this belief when we allow seniors in their community. As a community, we About Abuse” Tuesdays. Four Tuesdays our society to be abused or neglected. must “Know More” and “Report Abuse.” We must stay dedicated to elder in June, S&DS is hosting a free train- We fall short when abuses of seniors are ing to the public. The slogan this year witnessed and they do not get reported. abuse prevention for all older adults in that S&DS has chosen is “Know More, When older adults are abused or ne- Lane County. (Editor’s Note: Viewpoint submis- sions on this and other topics are always welcome as part of our goal to encourage community discussion and exchange of perspectives.) Guest Viewpoint Copyright 2021 © Siuslaw News Siuslaw News Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. 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As with all letters and advertising content, the newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publisher, general manager and editor, reserves the right to reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above cri- teria. Email letters to: cmeyer@thesiuslawnews.com WHERE TO WRITE President Joseph Biden The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 TTY/TDD: 202-456-6213 www.whitehouse.gov 900 Court St. NE - S-417 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 Email: Sen.DickAnderson@ oregonlegislature.gov Oregon Gov. Kate Brown State Rep. Boomer Wright (Dist. 9) State Sen. Dick Anderson (Dist. 5) 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. 900 Court St. NE Salem, Ore. 97301-4047 Salem, OR 97301 Message Line: 503-986-1409 503-378-4582 Email: Rep.BoomerWright@ www.oregon.gov/gov oregonlegislature.gov U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 | 541-431-0229 www.wyden.senate.gov U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley Lane County Dist. 1 Commissioner Jay Bozievich 125 E. Eighth St. Eugene, OR 97401 541-682-4203 Email: Jay.Bozievich@ co.lane.or.us 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753 | 541-465-6750 Florence City Council www.merkley.senate.gov & Mayor Joe Henry Florence City Hall, 250 U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio Highway 101, Florence, 97439 (4th Dist.) 541-997-3437 2134 Rayburn HOB ci.florence.or.us Washington, DC 20515 Email comments to Florence 202-225-6416 City Recorder Kelli Weese at 541-269-2609 | 541-465-6732 kelli.weese@ci.florence.or.us www.defazio.house.gov