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What's worse, West Nile virus or the toxic insecticides that could be used to fight it? The city of Eugene is wrestling with that question in trying to figure out how to respond to the potentially dangerous, mosquito-borne disease. The city plans to educate the public about the risks and monitor local birds to determine when and if the disease arrives in the area.
The city is "emphasizing least toxic" ways to kill mosquitoes that could carry the disease, according to a staff memo. To control mosquitoes the city is focusing on getting rid of standing water in city parks, the sewage treatment plant and other facilities that could breed mosquitoes. But "in a city with as many water sources as Eugene, population control is not feasible technically even if it were feasible economically," according to the city memo. Using chemicals could kill off much more than just the mosquitoes, according to the city. "Many of the methods, such as using oil which must be applied every 2-3 days, will kill a wide range of species resulting in significant ecological and economic impacts. Therefore, these methods will only be used when it is absolutely necessary." But the city does plan to use some pesticides in certain locations. Surface stormwater facilities could be treated with a bacterial larvacide, (Bti). Unfortunately, the pesticide also kills mayflies and other bugs that birds and salmon depend on for food. A study by the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) found that Bti generally does less damage to the environment than chemical insecticides. But Bti can also damage tadpoles, minnows, trout and beneficial insects, NCAP found. Another pesticide that the city is considering, methoprene, can be toxic to fish, reduce diversity in wetlands and deform tadpoles, NCAP found. About 30 percent of the U.S. population rubs on DEET repellant every year to keep mosquitoes at bay. But NCAP strongly recommends against use of the powerful chemical. DEET has caused headaches, irritability, loss of consciousness and seizures in children and even some adults, according to NCAP. If used, the chemical should be used as sparingly as possible and washed off after use. Instead of DEET, NCAP recommends long sleeves and pants (light colored), bug nets, window screens, draining puddles, and staying indoors at peak hours. Herbal repellants such as citronella also often work, but not for as long as DEET. Although West Nile is all the rage on tabloid TV news, people may want to keep mosquitoes in perspective before they run out and nuke their bodies and neighborhoods with chemicals. The common cold kills about 100 times more people a year than West Nile. — Alan Pittman
Thousands of activists including a contingency from Eugene are converging on Sacramento for a five-day teach-in and protest June 20-25. The events coincide with a gathering of government ministers from 180 nations and transnational corporations to talk free trade, privatization of water, genetic engineering and factory farming. The Ministerial Conference on Food and Agriculture is a joint effort of the White House, USDA, USAID and U.S. State Department. Two websites (www.sacmobilization.organd http://portland.indymedia.org)are among several sites helping activists prepare for the demonstrations. A local ride board is posted on the office door at 454 Willamette St., room 205, or contact Cascadia Forest Defenders at 687-8977. "The Sacramento ministerial is not actually billed as a WTO meeting," says the Portland Independent Media Center, "(but) the timing of the meeting to gather support for the U.S. position on agriculture in the run-up to the WTO ministerial in Mexico is no coincidence." The first major protest is planned for 2 pm Sunday, June 22 at the Sacramento Convention Center, followed by a 10 am rally on the west steps of the Capitol building and a 1 pm march downtown.
With the state gripped in budget crisis, schools with jam-packed classrooms are closing early and the state is pushing disabled people out on the street without health insurance.
But in one area, state spending is increasing. The Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) recently doubled the money it hands out to corporations for supposed job creation. The department's budget now includes $13.2 million for corporate recruiting/retention as well as an additional $10 million to subsidize "shovel ready" sites for companies, according to a recent report in Oregon Business magazine. OECDD claims the handouts create needed jobs, but state audits have found the department frequently inflates its job creation claims. "What is the next high tech? We've got to cast a wide net," the new OECDD director Marty Brantley told the business magazine. — AP
Oregon farmworkers are once again taking to the streets to support economic, social and environmental justice. The third annual Walk for Farmworker Justice begins at 1:30 pm Sunday, June 29 at the Capitol Mall in Salem, looping through downtown for a 2:30 pm rally at the Capitol. A bus from Eugene will depart at noon from the parking lot across from First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive St. Donations will be asked, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Call the local office of the Farmworker Justice Coalition at 607-8097 to reserve a seat or for more information. "In the current anti-immigrant and anti-labor environment, it is important to show our support for economic and social justice for farmworkers in Oregon," says Megan Kemple, public education coordinator for Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (www.pesticide.org).
Speed through a neighborhood in Eugene and you may get a letter from the local neighborhood group. Neighborhood volunteers toting three city issued radar guns have tagged 562 drivers going at least 10 mph over the speed limit from last fall to this April. The program funded by a state grant involves 70 volunteers. Fourteen repeat offenders got a second letter. Under the program, three-time offenders get a letter from the police chief. The city is considering a "house call" by police for four-time offenders. But nobody gets a traffic fine.— AP
Public meetings and hearings are on-going on issues relevant to PeaceHealth's plans to build a mega-medical center in north Springfield, and McKenzie-Willamette's plans to build a new hospital in Eugene. Earlier this week, the Springfield City Council had nodal development on its agenda, along with industrial development sites, replacement of I-5 bridges, and the status of appeals of its decisions regarding the RiverBend hospital site. All of these issues are related in terms of transportation planning and growth management. Thursday, June 19, will be a pair of workshops at the Eugene Public Library on nodal development issues for both Eugene and Springfield. The first session from 3 to 5 pm will focus on questions heard from the development community; the second session from 6 to 8 pm will focus on questions heard "from the community and lessons learned from smart developments in other Oregon communities," according to an announcement. The sessions will be moderated by state transportation and planning officials, and are sponsored by local governments and development interests. Meanwhile, lawyers continue to work on the LUBA appeals of the PeaceHealth decisions, McKenzie-Willamette's antitrust lawsuit against PeaceHealth, and McKenzie-Willamette's proposal to the attorney general to partner with Triad Hospitals. AG Hardy Myer's public hearing concerning the Triad partnership will be held at 6:30 pm Tuesday, June 24, at the Willamalane Adult Activities Center, 215 W. C St. in Springfield. Public testimony will follow presentations by both McKenzie-Willamette and Triad, and the written record will be kept open for a week following the hearing. Myers is expected to make his decision on the merger by July 11. McKenzie-Willamette is already gathering public input into its future medical facilities. A series of open houses are planned the evenings of June 25, 26 and July 1 in Eugene and Springfield. For more information, call 726-4719 or visit www.mckweb.com — Ted Taylor
Twelve million women are small business owners in the country today. To address the needs of locals within this group, three businesswomen — Nancy Johnson, owner of www.ByOurShoestrings.com,Shannon Baird of Adept Computers, and Nancy Cleary of Wyatt-McKenzie Publishing — will co-host "My Woman Expo," a gathering of businesswomen, Friday and Saturday June 20-21 at The Red Lion Inn on Coburg Road. The expo is free to the public and begins with a meet-and-greet
mixer Friday evening. It continues 9:30 am to 5 pm on Saturday, with
businesswomen showcasing their My Woman Expo offers the opportunity to share ideas and to find out how these women got started in business. For more information, visit http://mywomanexpo.com/Eugene.htmor call Nancy Johnson at 998-2014.
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