MP3s are consumer’s right
After reading your editorial on the “dangers” of the MP3 format, I must say that I disagree with the sentiment it puts forth. The issues surrounding MP3s are not merely about the rights of the musicians. Not only does this legal action help put more money into the pockets of producers and other hangers-on in the music industry, it also impedes our personal rights to free exchange of information.
When compact discs were first released onto the market, many consumers predicted that the price of CDs would go down once they came into heavy production, and they were right in thinking so. But despite this, the price of CDs has actually risen over the past few years.
MP3s are simply an advance that takes advantage of our bigger, better and faster technologies, and it is clearly not going away. There are already musicians, such as They Might Be Giants, who have released entire albums in MP3 format, specifically for on-line purchase. The music industry as a whole should be embracing this new format, not banning it.
The music industry needs to follow the lead of the common people and work with this new medium, not against it. We do not attempt to deny their freedom of speech by exchanging MP3s, and they should at least be civil enough to allow us the same courtesy.
Sarah L. Giffrow
CIS
Don’t bring the pictures back
I was very concerned to hear that Justice for All group is planning on bringing the Genocide Awareness Project back next year. I do believe that all people have a right to speak their minds and express their commitments to different causes, but projects like GAP silence and scare students in an unnecessary way. When I looked at the pictures this fall, I did not connect them to abortion or to justice (as the groups name would have me believe is important). My only thought was that there was a sick person behind that poster, and they were trying to force their beliefs upon me into thinking as they think. If Justice for All feels the need to make the anti-abortion stance on campus, there are gentler and calmer ways of creating a discussion.
For a group that says it respects and affirms everyone’s lives from birth to death, they show a remarkable disrespect for the ideas and positions of others.
Beth Rogers
Students for Choice member
Bettman, not bureaucrats
The state of Oregon and in particular the city of Eugene have a proud tradition of setting a progressive agenda in terms of land use, public health, the environment and other important issues. In order for this tradition to continue and expand where it has lagged, we need people with a strong commitment to the issues important to our lives. Even beyond commitment, we need people who can show results, work with others and most importantly not comprise the public good for moneyed special interests.
Please join us and many others in the campus community by supporting Bonny Bettman for City Council Ward 3. Bettman has been working on crucial local issues with a number of citizen organizations. Friends of Eugene recently awarded her “activist of the year” because of her track record on sustainable land use issues, education and the environment. We need activists such as Bettman, not the same old bureaucrats who bow down to special interests. She has been endorsed by the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oregon Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and the University Campus Green Party. Please check out www.efn.org/~bonny for more information and ways we can all use local politics to make an impact.
Jereme Grzybowski
Campus Green Party
Active Olsen is a leader
I have lived in the Eugene area for nearly 30 years. In that time, I have had the good fortune of meeting and knowing Tracy Olsen.
Olsen is a person who gets involved. He is an active member of 20/30, a volunteer organization for helping kids in our area. He has involved himself with the issue to find funding for the LTD police sub-station. Olsen has volunteered at and given innumerable hours of support to many community service and children’s events, such as the Special Olympics and the Asian Celebration.
Olsen is always positive. Olsen is a person whom people seek out for advice. Olsen has boundless energy that is exciting to be around, and he never shies away from responsibility. For people who know Olsen, he is the obvious choice for Ward 3 because everyone who knows him respects him.
In a nutshell, Olsen is a leader. He has been all his life, and he would be an excellent addition to the City Council.
Dan O’Brien
Eugene resident
Olsen treats all issues fairly
A livable city. A strong business climate. A healthy environment. Great programs for kids. Fiscal responsibility. If these are things you want, then vote for Tracy Olsen for City Council. Olsen is my candidate for City Council Ward 3. He’s not a staunch business candidate, and he’s not an activist who protests everything in sight. Olsen is a Eugene native who is excited to work hard for his hometown. As a business owner himself and a community volunteer who has worked on projects for many children’s charities, Olsen can best be defined as a moderate who has the vision, patience and common sense approach to handle opinions and agendas from all sides. The Register-Guard has endorsed Olsen, as have many citizens who are interested in bringing a fresh approach to the City Council. Olsen has the personality and professionalism to treat all people fairly — not just cave into special interest groups. A vote for Olsen is a vote for sensible government. He is ready and willing to do things the right way for Eugene! Our city has some tough decisions to make in the future, and I urge voters to put Olsen in a position to lead us down the best path. He’s the best choice!
Robb P. Passon
e-commerce and Internet specialist
Get your ballots in today
I am writing to remind all Tracy Olsen supporters to make sure they return their ballots on time!
Voters in Ward 3 have a great opportunity to elect a solid individual in Olsen to the Eugene City Council. We need his experience, his vision, and his common sense approach to lead our city.
But we will not get Olsen elected if we do not send in the ballots! If you have not already voted, take a minute and mail in your ballot before it’s too late.
Vote for Olsen for City Council. And please vote today!
Shana B. Speer
American Express Financial Advisors
Bettman, Taylor protect land
There are only two pro-environment candidates for City Council in Wards 2 and 3 with solid records to back up their campaign statements — Bonny Bettman and Betty Taylor. Both have been endorsed by the Sierra Club, Oregon League of Conservation Voters and Oregon Natural Resources Council.
And both have been endorsed by progressive, pro-environment elected officials in our community, including David Kelly, Gary Rayor, Pete Sorenson and Floyd Prozanski.
Bonny and Betty also support labor rights. They are the only candidates in their races who’ve been endorsed by local unions. They support living wage campaigns and know that a healthy local economy is one where workers earn enough to afford health insurance and a decent standard of living.
Bettman and Taylor’s major opponents are backed by the Lane Count
y Home Builders Association (HBA), t
he big developer’s lobby. What’s their angle?
They have worked locally and statewide to expand our Urban Growth Boundaries, opening up farm and forest lands to urban sprawl. And the HBA supports so-called “private property rights” legislation, which is a favorite tactic used by anti-environment forces to try and undermine the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
The choices in this election are clear. Be sure to mail in your ballot!
Greg McLauchlan
associate professor
Rebuttal to WRC rebuttal
In her letter to the editor (ODE, May 2) Human Rights Alliance member Agatha Schmeadick claimed I had made two factual errors in an earlier letter I had written. In the first claim she stated that COVERCO and other monitoring bodies do not monitor for the Worker Rights Consortium. On the contrary, the following is a quote from the WRC’s Web page (www.workersrights.org): “WRC Verification Agency — The organizations who will be reporting worker complaints, conducting worker interviews and performing investigations for the WRC are human rights and religious organizations based in apparel-producing regions. These non-governmental organizations will be central to the development of WRC’s procedures for reporting violations and performing spot investigations. One such NGO is COVERCO … “
The second claim made by Schmeadick was that the cost to the University was not $50,000 as I stated. On this I concede that I was incorrect. Joining the WRC has cost the university more than $30 million.
Dustin Preuitt
graduate student, CIS
