Activist Alert 11-14-2013

John Nichols and Bob McChesney will speak on “Dollarocracy: The Money and Media Complex that is Destroying America” at 7 pm Thursday, Nov. 14, at the UO Knight Law Center, Room 175. The event is sponsored by the Wayne Morse Center on campus. Their new book The Death and Life of American Journalism investigates the role of money and the control of news media. 

• The Eugene Toxics Board meets at 3:30 pm Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Eugene Emergency Services Center Fire Conference Room, 1705 W. 2nd Ave. Contact is joann.c.eppli@ci.eugene.or.us

• The Eugene Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee meets at 5:30 pm Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Atrium Building Sloat Conference Room, 99 W. 10th Ave. Call 682-5471 or email lee.shoemaker@ci.eugene.or.us.

• The Eugene Police Commission meets at 5:30 pm Thursday, Nov. 14, at EPD headquarters, 300 Country Club Road. Call 682-5852 or email carter.r.hawley@ci.eugene.or.us.

• Kathy Jones, co-owner and board member of the Seneca Companies, and Doug Robertson, Douglas County commissioner and president of the Association of O&C Counties, will speak at City Club of Eugene at noon Friday, Nov. 15, at the Hilton 12th floor ballroom. $5 for non-members. Topic is “Managing O&C Timberlands: An Industry and County Perspective.” 

• CALC will be hosting its 28th annual Cornucopia Multicultural Celebration from 5 to 8 pm Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1685 W. 13th Ave. Music by Beth Miriam Rose, dancing by Eugene Bhangra Dancers and Alma de Mexico. Admission by sliding scale, call 485-1755 or email calcoffice@gmail.com.

• New research in measuring air quality and lung function is being examined by OSU Environmental Health Sciences Center and Beyond Toxics. The organizations are hosting two focus groups and OSU will soon be conducting research in West Eugene. Participants ages 18 or over may get more information and sign up at one of the free events. The first is from 6:30 to 8:15 pm Monday, Nov. 18, at Fairfield Elementary School. Next is Tuesday, Nov 19, 6:30-8:00 pm (Spanish/English) Echo Hollow Pool Community Room 1655 Echo Hollow Rd, Eugene. RSVP to 541-465-8860.

Gender Diversity Awareness Week and the Transgender Day of Remembrance are coming up Nov. 19-23 to “celebrate the diversity of gender identity and increase awareness around the contributions and challenges of transgender and gender variant members of our community.” All events are free. A panel discussion on “Exploring the Spectrum of Gender Identity” will be at 7 pm Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 990 Oak St. in Eugene. A workshop on “Trans-partnering With Compassion” will be at 6:30 pm Thursday, Nov. 21, also at 990 Oak St. The Transgender Day of Remembrance will be observed at 6 pm Friday, Nov. 22, at the Atrium Building, 99 W. 10th Ave. A social gathering for trans and gender non-conforming people will be from 6:30 to 8:30 pm Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Eugene Coffee Company, 240 E. 17th Ave. Contact CALC at 485-1755.

• Activists in Eugene, Springfield and Corvallis have been trained to participate in civil disobedience as part of the national 350.org campaign. The final training will be from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm Saturday, Nov. 16, at First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive St. Actions are being planned in case President Obama takes steps toward approving the Keystone XL Pipeline. Contact Deb McGee and Patty Hine at stopkeystonexlnow@gmail.com or learn more at 350.org.

• Three proposed changes to city bike and skateboard laws will be discussed at a public open house from 5:30 to 7 pm Monday, Nov. 18, at the Eugene Public Library Bascom-Tykeson Room. The session will include a staff presentation followed by questions and comments from the public. Input will be used to help determine what changes to the code will be recommended to the City Council at a work session in 2014. Email Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator Lee Shoemaker at lee.shoemaker@ci.eugene.or.us or call 682-5471.

• Written comments about the Seneca Air Permit Modification can be submitted to the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (lrapa.org) by Friday, Nov. 22. Seneca Sustainable Energy Biomass is asking to increase its emission of PM 2.5, which is associated with asthma, stunted lung growth, heart disease and stroke. For more information, see beyondtoxics.org.