Lane County: a paradise of universities, rivers, gorgeous forests draped in lichens, good social programs, etc. It’s also a place being swallowed up by clearcuts so fast it is making my head spin.
Lately, the forest cover has been vanishing at an alarming rate and speed, and the clearcutting is the worst in the two decades I have been here. Someone please tell me: What is going on around here?
We are witnessing a large theft from the commons on a gargantuan scale. That this is occurring after last year’s fire season is nothing less than outlandish. The atrocities of the timber industry are on full display. The fact that no-spray petitions signed by nearly 20,000 people are held up from the ballot is a wake-up call like none other.
This is an all-hands-on-deck sort of time to stop the rampant spraying and cutting imperiling us all. We are blessed to have lynx, weasels, bald eagles and osprey populations living in and around neighborhoods and workplaces. Their populations are not compatible with the land practices allowed, and it takes our collective effort to stop them.
Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild and Community Rights Lane County are all working full tilt to mitigate what is happening. Please, in whatever ways you can, join this movement.
Kerstin Britz
Cottage Grove
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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