Eugene Weekly

The Social Justice Real Justice conference at the UO Feb. 14-17 and the culminating rally against fossil fuels on the last day of the gathering opened the doors to people who may not have thought in the past that they had a seat at the table, says Caleen Sisk, chief of the Winnemum Wintu and a speaker at the SJRJ conference.  The conference brought local activists and those new to activism together with internationally recognized thinkers and activists such as Cornell West and Winona LaDuke as well as well known voices of the alternative media.  Continue reading →

Glassbar Island, situated along the Willamette River and known best for its reputation as a nudist beach, might undergo some major changes, much to the chagrin of a group of community members who treasure it. To Alice Stroud, Glassbar Island represents a peaceful retreat, and in the summer, she visits the area every day. She loves the sense of community she’s built with other visitors over the years. Continue reading →

More than a month before Eugene’s stiffer penalties for rowdy parties begins, the Eugene Police Department has an itchy party-busting finger. EPD busted a benefit for gays and lesbians at the Campbell Club and arrested 14 people when they responded to a noise complaint the night of Feb. 15. Residents of the student housing cooperative, home to many student activists, say EPD’s response was excessive and that news reports have characterized the party as louder and wilder than it was. Continue reading →

The Trapper Timber Sale in the Willamette National Forest just won’t go away, Josh Laughlin of Cascadia Wildlands says. “This is a like a low-grade horror movie where the zombie keeps coming back from the grave.”  The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is taking comments on the old-growth logging proposal’s latest iteration, which reduces the cutting from 149 acres to 44 acres and the proposed acres to be burned from 92 to 36, according to a press release from McKenzie River Ranger District.  Continue reading →

The McKenzie River, the source of Eugene’s drinking water, would be protected from destructive suction-dredge mining and other threats if a bill introduced to the Oregon Legislature this week is passed. The bill, which adds rivers and tributaries to Oregon’s Scenic Waterways System, would also protect rivers such as the Chetco, Rogue and Illinois, among others. Continue reading →

A majority of South Eugene High School teachers sent a letter to the 4J School Board Feb. 19 asking the board to reconsider implementing the 3×5 schedule at all high schools next year. Several teachers were expected to raise these concerns at the Feb. 20 board meeting. At least one teacher from International High School (IHS) also planned to speak at the meeting after a dozen IHS teachers signed a letter to the board outlining concerns about the schedule. Continue reading →

Arun Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, is no stranger to Oregon. In fact, he once taught a six-week summer course at Portland State University. Gandhi returns to Oregon on Feb. 21, when he will give a talk called, “Lessons from My Grandfather.” See details below. When Gandhi was 12, he moved in with his grandfather and lived with him for about 18 months. During that time, he directly witnessed the famous life principles of nonviolence that his grandfather demonstrated in day to day life, and the experience deeply impacted his own life choices. Continue reading →