Activist Alert 6-30-2016

• More than 4 million acres of Oregon’s forests have been converted into single-species tree plantations, enviro-justice group Beyond Toxics tells EW. Those plantations are helicopter sprayed with herbicides affecting our drinking water, salmon and health. Climate change means our forests, both public and private plantations, are more at risk for fire and drought. Tree plantations lack biodiversity and younger trees don’t store as much carbon as older, bigger trees, Lisa Arkin of Beyond Toxics says, despite greenwashing attempts to say otherwise from the forest industry. Check out the Oregon Forest Voices website, sponsored by Oregon Wild and BT, for a new drone video that dives dramatically into these tree plantations at oregonforestvoices.org.

• #StopOilTrains: 350 Eugene is hosting the “Stop Oil Trains—Vigil & Procession” at 7:30 pm Wednesday, July 6, starting at Kesey Square on the corner of Broadway and Willamette, then heading to the Amtrak train depot, 433 Willamette Street, with the event concluding at 9:30 pm. “This event marks the third anniversary of the Lac-Mégantic oil train explosion in Quebec. Forty-seven people were killed and 30 buildings burned in the town’s center. About 1.6 million gallons of oil was spilled,” according to 350 Eugene. The event also recognizes the recent oil train derailment and spill of Bakken crude near the Columbia River in Mosier, Oregon. 350 Eugene says, “Indeed, oil bomb trains pass through Eugene-Springfield on a regular basis. Hundreds of residents, businesses and public institutions, including the University of Oregon, Hult Center, Sacred Heart Medical Center—Downtown Campus and selected elementary schools, are in or very near the blast zone of these trains.” Organizers say that participants are encouraged to wear red to show solidarity. For more info, email 350Eugene@gmail.com or search “Oil Train Vigil and March” on Facebook for the event page.

• The first meeting of the Vulnerable Populations Working Group is scheduled for Wednesday, July 6, from 6 to 8 pm at the Hilyard Community Center, 2580 Hilyard Street. “Recognizing the homelessness crisis and the unlikeliness that the funding and implementation required for sufficient publicly funded shelter beds will come together before the rainy, winter months,” the Council of South Eugene Neighborhoods, which is made up of Friendly Area Neighbors, Southwest Hills Neighborhood Association, Southeast Neighbors and Amazon Neighbors) set a goal for the group to find 40 safe shelter spots for people experiencing homelessness by winter within the South Eugene area boundaries. The meeting will include a training session on the legal, community supported shelters options that are available and a talk from Terry McDonald, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul. Organizers say, “Neighbors are invited to join us to work towards local, community-based solutions.”

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!

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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.

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