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1_...1 IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG 43 ` "n A.. ki .,,,,
<br /> Dues agreements are fair yard barbecuing, think about 13 tons of plunder the world's resources. Monitoring
<br /> toxic waste settling down around you every this so- called free trade is the World Trade
<br /> I must disagree with Michael Harrison's year — but for your peace of mind, they Organization, run by faceless men elected
<br /> assessment (letters, March 27) of union are not manufacturers! by no one. If a country's laws on environ
<br /> dues collection. Union fair share agree- DICK WALKER mental protection, workers' rights, the
<br /> ments are negotiated with an employer, Eugene rights of people to their ancestral lands,
<br /> usually after many concessions by the human rights, or civil rights get in the way
<br /> workers, to ensure an adequate base of of making a profit, they're overturned.
<br /> funding for the basic services of a labor Four stadiums too many Eugeneans passed their toxics law to
<br /> union. Without fair share agreements, some create a small island of sanity that is
<br /> workers will choose not to pay dues, know- Do residents know the full scope of the friendly to people and other living things.
<br /> ing they will still be afforded the same city's and the Eugene School District's plan Our standard of living has become a stan-
<br /> union wages, benefits, services and protec- to construct four multiuse stadiums? The dard of dying because so many of our con -
<br /> tions as dues - paying members. total cost is approximately $8 million, each veniences involve noxious substances that
<br /> There are many nonunion companies would have a capacity of 1,000 with a are destroying the planet's capacity to sus-
<br /> and many companies without fair share planned increase to 2,000, and each would tain itself while polluting water and air; '
<br /> agreements. Health care industry workers include lighting and a sound system. increasing cancer rates, respiratory diseas-
<br /> in some "right-to-work-for-less" states are Sheldon High School's proposed location is
<br /> es and birth defects of all species; and dis-
<br /> unable to secure even basic health care 150 feet from my lot line! "Multiuse" is the rupting endocrine function. It's true that
<br /> services for themselves and their families. key phrase here; the intention is to use we shouldn't have to monitor toxics; we
<br /> "Shut up or get out" has become something these not just for sports activities but for a shouldn't even be using them.
<br /> of a familiar theme. multitude of other events. Many industries are getting this mes-
<br /> I prefer to stay and speak out in a col- I believe that the number of children sage and finding it economical. Interface,
<br /> laborative atmosphere. Collective bargain- who will benefit from four multiuse stadi the worlds largest commercial carpet com
<br /> ing helped to bring this country out of the ums does not justify their construction. Not pany, using The Natural Step program,
<br /> Great Depression by creating a work force all children are interested or talented in aimed at zero emissions. In four years it
<br /> that was able to afford the goods and ser- sports. The school district owns two parcels reduced waste 45 percent and saved $77
<br /> vices they were making and providing. Col- in the regions of two high schools, North million. Locally, Prestige Cleaners has
<br /> lective bargaining agreements provide pro- Eugene and Sheldon. If the district and the
<br /> switched from using highly toxic perchloro-
<br /> tection for workers and a way for workers' city combined their efforts to construct the ethylene dry cleaning to wet cleaning" (see
<br /> voices to be heard amidst the powerful in- stadiums on these properties, the district "Wetter is Better," Eugene Weekly, March
<br /> dustry lobbies. Well- compensated workers, sports program, as well as Kidsports, would 25).
<br /> who are not fearful of their employers, are be well served. Additionally, the city could We need more laws like the Eugene tox
<br /> good for consumers and good for the econo- use a portion of its allocated funds required ics law.
<br /> my. I am proud to be a member of the to construct four fields to increase pro- WANDA S. BALLENTINE
<br /> Oregon Nurses Association and the Ameri- grams and facilities at our several commu- Eugene
<br /> can Nurses Association. nity centers and provide activities for the
<br /> NETA COURCEY, RN many children who don't participate in or- And there was light
<br /> ganized sports.
<br /> Eugene I support providing activities and facili-
<br /> ties for our children. I also support my The latest quote from Al Gore, self
<br /> right to be able to hear myself think in my proclaimed inventor of the Internet: "In the
<br /> City mistreated Bass living room or to hear conversations of my beginning I created the heavens and the
<br /> I have certainly been dismayed to follow
<br /> guests without competing with 1,000 roar- earth...."
<br /> the abusive treatment of Bill Bass by the ing sports fans and a sound system report- DALE R. DICKSON
<br /> city of Eugene. I am not privy to, nor do I ing every move on an athletic field. Eugene
<br /> care for, the razor -sharp political agenda Please become aware of the impact on
<br /> that has driven his ouster. your neighborhood's livability if one of Ca a cars, not cats
<br /> Bass has been a wonderful visionary for these stadiums is located at your high g
<br /> Eugene and has a long list of accomplish- school. Encourage the city and school dis In her March 24 guest column, Cathe
<br /> ments, especially over the last nine years. trict to create a plan that will serve more rine Palmer says cats are "no match for the
<br /> With Lane Rural Fire Rescue being so for- children. The Cal Young Neighborhood man threats that await them outdoors"
<br /> tunate to hire Bass, you are sure to see that group will discuss this issue at 7 p.m., and then goes on to say that such threats
<br /> organization go through an era of positive April 1, in the Sheldon Community Center. are cars, poisons, traps and, finally, other
<br /> transformation. SYLVIA GILLINGS /1/19 animals. The implication is that such
<br /> Shame on the entities in Eugene, with Eugene threats are naturally occurring, waiting to
<br /> their own spiteful agendas, that blatantly kill our precious cat friends, when in fact
<br /> rejected Bass' caring and internalized style. the majority of them are man -made and
<br /> What they want to bring to our community Clint endangers world therefore are not naturally occurring.
<br /> — unionized, separatist backbiting — is the For brevity's sake, let's take the first
<br /> antithesis of what brought me here. William Jefferson Clinton is doing his "threat" listed, which Palmer has as cars.
<br /> I welcome Bass and hope Lane Rural very best to destroy the United States of Cars weigh a lot and put out a lot of pollu-
<br /> Fire Rescue provides him the grounding he America. The Clinton administration has tion. Palmer is right about their being a
<br /> needs to help build a program of exception- ruined our national defenses while at the threat — they're a threat to all kinds of
<br /> al, cost - effective community services. Bass same time selling our strategic ballistic habitats, including our own. But they're
<br /> is a part of what I want to be. I hope I can missile technology to foreign communists certainly not a threat that is unique to cats,
<br /> help. for illegal political campaign contributions. simply "await(ing) them outdoors." On
<br /> CURTIS BROWN On July 7, 1997, 24 of our top military their own, they're parked. It takes a human
<br /> generals retired early in protest over the being to consciously get into a car, start it
<br /> Cheshire conditions in the military caused by the up, and transport the driver, and the car,
<br /> Clinton administration's policies. Twenty- down the road.
<br /> UO, exempt hospital four generals all quit on the same day, for Palmer says the "No. 1 cause of species
<br /> P p the same reasons — what does that tell extinction is habitat destruction," and trail -
<br /> On,,,.nr„i „a F„annC tnvi ri all t -tn- you? ing that is the "introduction of exotic spe-
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