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
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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