U.S. government is hypocritical
Sean Walston generalizes about “peace activists‚” including calling them hypocrites (“Peace activists are hypocrites,” ODE, 10/22). I don’t categorize myself as a peace activist, but I’m against our government’s action in Afghanistan. I agree there’s no justification for committing terrorist acts. But hypocrisy arises when government leaders say they’re waging war on terrorism. They should look in the mirror.
Our government has been responsible for more terrorist acts since WWII than any other government. Freedom and democracy aren’t principles our leaders uphold. Our government has helped destroy popularly elected governments in Third World countries and supports Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.
I don’t blame people for being unaware of U.S.-sponsored terrorism. It receives no coverage in the U.S. media. People don’t hear about things like the 1986 World Court indictment for unlawful aggression against Nicaragua (which our leaders ignored). They see no hypocrisy when our leaders condemn others’ aggression.
Many people who had nothing to do with oppression perpetrated by our government died Sept. 11. They were innocents who didn’t deserve this fate. It’s also true for the people of Afghanistan. The majority don’t like the Taliban and aren’t terrorists. They’re seeing their country bombed. They’ve done nothing to warrant it.
The attacks were committed by a group of individuals, not an entire country. It’s hypocritical to claim to target a covert international group by bombing a country, especially when, according to the CIA, most of Osama bin Laden’s operatives reside in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Mason Gummer

junior

sociology

Energy conservation

will send message
Did everyone forget about the shady energy fee that taxed students $30 per term for energy use in instructional areas? Well, I didn’t. I was reminded of the surcharge when I visited Portland State University and discovered that students were not taxed an energy surcharge.
I was shocked because PSU’s energy cost increased by 52 percent, but students were not taxed. How so, you ask? PSU administration involved students in an energy conservation plan aimed to alter the University’s behavior when they anticipated rising energy costs.
It is now the time for University of Oregon students to show our administration that we can collectively save energy, thus saving $1.5 million for students. We need to make the administration aware of our power and that we value our money. By conserving energy, we will demonstrate that involving students in the process in the first place would have been the best decision.

Joy Nair

ASUO vice president
 

Government should invest

in energy conservation
The energy problems in the Northwest and in California were caused by the coming together of several forces last winter. The solutions presented by the Bush administration are unacceptable. In a time when the country should be moving toward renewable energy sources, the Bush administration is moving toward unreliable, dirty, limited, unsustainable sources of energy.
More than 96 percent of U.S. energy comes from harmful sources. Only 2 percent comes from clean, renewable sources. Air pollution causes smog, acid rain and is linked to millions of people afflicted with asthma. The 10 energy companies that control 42 percent of the energy production in our country reap big profits by limiting supply. In the 2000 election campaign, oil and gas companies gave more than $32 million, and coal companies gave more than three million to campaigns. Of all federal energy subsidies, 80 percent go to oil, coal and nuclear energy. We, as individuals, need to take control of our energy future.
Our government should be investing in energy conservation and clean, renewable energy. Conservation is the quickest and cheapest way to reduce demand and save money. Each of us should be looking to conserve on campus and in our homes to lessen our environmental footprint. It’s estimated that by 2020, one third of our energy could come from renewable sources. We should support this cause by signing up for programs such as EWEB windpower and voting for representatives who take this course. E-mail me or write your representative or senator.

Jacob Meyer

senior

biology