Mark Twain said if you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed and if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed. “Climate Laws” (EW, 4/4) by current and former mayors Lucy Vinis and Kitty Piercy was misinformation.
They claimed addressing climate change will boost economic growth. In reality, investing in solar panels might mitigate the downslope. Endless growth required ever increasing consumption of finite resources.
Eugene’s climate law mandates buying “carbon credits,” not major shifts in polluting behaviors. Giving public funds to private consultants does not reduce dependence on concentrated energy, re-localize food production or create more cooperation.
Good Company, a consultancy that helped create Eugene’s climate plan, is now promoting plastic incineration for the American Chemistry Council. Perhaps they can market “cancer credits” to offset the health impacts.
In 2006, Mayor Piercy introduced a lecture by Richard Heinberg of Post Carbon Institute, one of the few voices who integrates climate concerns with the physical reality of fossil fuel depletion. Shortly afterward, her policy response was to recommend another parking garage for downtown Eugene.
At least Piercy made City Hall carbon neutral — by demolishing it.
“Climate Laws” claims we have “11 years” to solve the problem. In 1990, the U.N. Environment Program warned the 1990s would be the decade of decision.
In Salem, Gov. Kate Brown and the Democrats let solar energy tax credits expire, with little objection from climate activists. I’m more interested in the laws of thermodynamics, which are not changed by political rhetoric and greenwashing.
Mark Robinowitz
Eugene
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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