EW Letter(s) of the Week

This one I enjoyed for the complete Eugene-conspiracy-linking subjects that just shouldn't be linked goodness.

ALL PART OF THE PLAN

It is no accident that the war against Iraq has turned into a disaster of biblical proportions. That was the plan.

It is no accident that Hurricane Katrina was manipulated into a massive ethnic cleansing operation that continues to this day. That was the plan. That's what FEMA does.

It is no accident that an Iraq War contractor has been chosen to lead the development of downtown Eugene. The same grand larceny will be committed here as has been committed in Iraq. The Pentagon has deep pockets. Do we? Do you think the rich will pay the bill? Are you kidding?

The Eugene School District failed to meet payroll this month. They are trying to cut benefits for school staff (secretaries, custodians, librarians) while simultaneously increasing benefits for administrators (principals, vice principals, superintendent.) Not meeting payroll will be blamed on the greedy custodians and secretaries, but the only pay increase in sight is going to the highest paid employees. This is no accident, either. That was the plan.

Stealing from the poor is a crime against nature. Destroying a country in order to gain wealth and power is a crime against nature. It is also a crime for which the penalty in law is life in prison. Ethnic cleansing is a crime against nature and also a crime for which the penalty in law is life in prison.

Will the victims of the school district's power grab stand up for their rights or allow themselves to be robbed and impoverished? Will the citizens of Eugene stand up against the selling of our downtown to a Wall Street war profiteer or allow our city and parks to be destroyed for the profit of a few?

Ann Tattersall, Eugene

This one has that citizen creating a wholly-out-of-touch-with-the-world plan plan and proposing it earnestly. I actually quite enjoy this about Eugene.

CONNECT THE DOTS

Pete Sorenson framed the problem before Lane County — regarding looming cuts in federal funding for counties with federal acreage vs. increased timber cutting — well in his recent R-G op-ed piece. On one hand, egregious, unacceptable cuts in county services; on the other, increased logging. If logging were increased to provide timber receipts that we did historically, it would be totally unsustainable, plus it would also probably include cutting old growth. Which way do we go? Neither way!

We need to think outside the box, connect the dots and create a new paradigm. The nurturing, growth and protection of living trees has considerable value in these times of global warming — trees are one of the most effective atmosphere scrubbers that exist. According to a recent study by the UN Committee on Climate Change, one acre of old growth can sequester 1,000 tons of carbon emissions per month, compared to 100 tons by second growth plantation forests. All plant life absorbs carbon dioxide, but trees are the champs.

I propose the Carbon Reduction Investment Initiative, stating that the Congress and president must be persuaded, educated and convinced that there is more value in a live, breathing tree than in a dead one.

I further propose that the federal government invest revenues to counties with federal lands within their borders at a comparative rate to past payments at their maximum for the perpetual stewardship of this great resource as a form of carbon credits rather than by timber receipts for cutting, and that counties who receive these investment funds be charged with applying them to historical uses, i.e. schools, public safety and roads and bridges. Additional funds must be secured to train workers and carry out this important work.

Where might the money come from? The Forest Service and BLM built all the roads and other infrastructures for large timber companies at taxpayer expense over the last half century so that they could make a profit. Redirect the funds from road building to restoring the forests.

Our Oregon delegation, with support from our local officials, could craft a proposal that they could sell to the nation and on Capitol Hill. We and future generations need the trees!

Denny Guehler, Eugene

This one is more of your run-of-the-mill they're-raping-our-forests letter, but I thought that name had what we're looking for here, so I threw it up.

HIDDEN SCARS

Last week (8/30) you had an incredible article by James Johnston on the coastal range logging situation. I do not see any response in the current issue (9/6) and am surprised. Perhaps it is too soon.

My home is in Yachats, and I drive often to Eugene through the coastal range and pass the visible clearcut landscape. I have also flown over in a small plane and witnessed the hidden scarred landscape. It is devastating, and we must take steps to protect what is left.

I hope the lack of response was only due to timing and that people will read that article and write letters, make phone calls and send emails. It is more important than most people realize.

Thank you for doing such a fine job of reporting.

Rheychol Paris, Yachats