Last year our city created a limited wildlife feeding ban to curb the rat and turkey population downtown.
Did you know turkeys also eat rodents? The hoopla about turkeys and rats taking over downtown created a poorly thought-out feeding ban to help solve the rat problem. Ridiculous. Rats are a byproduct of an increase in the density of city life and an increase in transient and homeless population who leave their trash behind. I empathize with the plight of the homeless, but we do sadly have garbage left behind everywhere. Turkeys also do more for us than keep the rat and mouse population in check.
There is a well-known verse that is repeated in various holy books and metaphysical writings across the world. It says (paraphrasing) that “man was given dominion over the Earth and was given power to care for the earth and all its inhabitants.”
The reality is that animals have become victims to the horrific leadership or lack of it demonstrated on their behalf. Until we have leadership in place that values creatures (I was going to say as much as they value people — but that is a problem too, isn’t it?) we can rest assured that nature includes us — we as humans are not other than nature, we have it in our DNA.
It makes me feel a sense of joy to talk to people who are aware and sensitive to our wildlife that literally, I think, put up with us. I am a senior and always hold up hope that an unstoppable young leader will rise up, who will radically change the way our culture views animals as something other than ourselves — someone who will fight for them and pass laws to take care of them rather than create ordinances against them — and begin by caring for people, everyone!
Until then, cheers to those of you who have feeders, provide water, appreciate and care for the animals who live in our midst. All you have to do is look into their eyes or watch the birds happily fly through the sprays as you water your plants and you just know and they know, too. Ordinances are often clearly created “for us” by officials who value their own power over what is true.
Arwen Strider
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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