LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Ehren Watada is a role model

Citing five international legal precedents, the International Military Tribunal that tried Nazi war criminals declared that a war of aggression "is not merely illegal, but is criminal," that, "Crimes against International law are committed by men, not by abstract entities," that, "Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience imposed by the individual states" and that, "Orders from a superior do not exonerate the agent of a manifest crime from responsibility."

In everyday language, the tribunal required that all individuals must be "conscientious objectors" if the need arises and that they have "moral obligations" to themselves and to humanity that transcend those to a nation.

On the foregoing arguments (and a host of others), the tribunal convicted 19 Nazis; 11 were hung.

As a former United States Marine during World War II, I have read the book "War Is a Racket" by Marine Corps Gen. Smedley Butler (two Congressional Medals of Honor and the Army's and Navy's Distinguished Service Awards). I am aware that the "racket" in World War II was immensely more profitable than Butler's World War I, with traitorous U.S. bankers and some of our elite families actually funding the Nazis while my buddies were being killed. Thus, I feel Lt. Ehren Watada is a role model for our young men and women in or out of the military.

Obey your conscience by judging the nature of your war and your own actions. We helped hang Nazis who didn't.

CARL J. NELSON

Eugene

New ATV laws are unnecessary

Because of the number of deaths and injuries of children caused by irresponsible or ignorant adults, Senate Bill 49 has been proposed in the Oregon Senate. It would ban all-terrain vehicle riding by any children younger than 12 and limit riders younger than 16 from riding with an engine larger than 90 cubic centimeters.

Oregon law already requires children younger than 18 riding an ATV on premises open to the public to wear an approved helmet and to have a valid driver's license, or be accompanied by someone at least 18 years old with a driver's license or ATV operator's permit.

However, between 1999 and 2004, 18 kids younger than 18 died in Oregon as a result of ATV accidents. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, only two of those kids were wearing helmets. Many of them were riding unsupervised by an adult.

These deaths weren't caused by an ATV. They were caused by the negligence or ignorance of adults.

The solution is not to ban or legally limit ATVs for children. The solution is to require active supervision by an adult, proper safety gear and education. Enforce the existing helmet and supervision laws better and expand them to include private property.

SB 49 is bad legislation that doesn't address the actual problem. It will take away a safe, enjoyable family activity that many responsible families enjoy safely in Oregon.

Ask your senator to oppose SB 49.

FRANK LeCLAIR

SHELLEY LeCLAIR

Springfield

Wood offers renewable energy 

In the Willamette Valley, air gets trapped at times and air quality can be an obvious concern. If being able to see our pollution or having to live with its effects drives our efforts to keep air clean, maybe that is good.

I believe wood is part of our renewable resource energy package. This year we've used mostly branches. One big armload of wood is enough for one morning fire and one evening fire. Thankfully, this warms the house, usually cooks the food and heats some of our water. Conserving wood, our 0.33-acre home lot supplies our needs.

The nonprofit Aprovecho Institute, based in Creswell, has been working on greater levels of heat extraction and cleaner burning. Equal time is given to advancement of stoves with multiple-use designs. The Environmental Protection Agency and Aprovecho offer free plans for great stoves at www.aprovecho.org under Design Principles for Wood Burning Cook Stoves. Hot water for heat and bathing is another option.

We do have to watch our air quality and stay warm, eat cooked food and bathe. Importing clean energy may seem attractive, but it also has costs. Ocean wave energy would alter ocean habitat. Minimizing the complete cost is the goal.

By keeping it local, we shorten the feedback loop, making connections to harvest and use apparent. Planting trees and harvesting wood with respect by everyone on even the smallest lot offers an important part of our renewable energy future.

KEVIN JONES 

Eugene

OSU a vital food bank partner

FOOD for Lane County distributes food for emergency need as the core of our work. We have learned that sharing opportunities and skills that increase the ability of people to provide a healthful diet for their families is important for long-term stability. Oregon State University Extension Service is our constant partner in working to increase food security for Lane County residents living on limited budgets.

OSU Master Gardeners helped create Grassroots Garden. They lead workshops on composting and food preservation and provide volunteer support and expertise. Their work is vital to the educational opportunities at the gardens, which provided 85,000 pounds of nutritious food last year.

Nutrition educators have partnered with us to teach nutrition and cooking classes to groups of income-eligible families during the past eight years. Master Food Preservers volunteer at 22 food pantries countywide to demonstrate nutritious ways to use foods. Extension creates a seasonal cookbook, now being distributed statewide through Oregon Food Bank. An OSU nutrition educator is on site to answer questions and to provide educational materials when needed.

The expertise and resources that OSU brings to the partnership are crucial to our vision. Extension has been pivotal in co-creating a food bank, the food security programs of which are a model in the statewide food bank system.

It's now time to show our appreciation and support for the amazing work Extension does in Lane County.

LINDA KELLEY

Agency Relations

FOOD for Lane County

Eugene

Deny Delta land use exemption

Under Measure 37, local governments may be ordered to compensate property owners when the value of their property decreases because of changes in land use laws that add new restrictions.

The primary supporters of Measure 37 are businesses that own property. Frequently, however, businesses purchase property, then seek exemptions from existing laws so they can use the property in ways that were not previously allowed. Ironically, when land use rules are changed to remove restrictions, there are no provisions for compensation even if the new uses of the land lower the value of surrounding properties.

Delta Sand and Gravel is seeking exemptions from existing land use restrictions so that it will be able to excavate and operate a gravel pit in a residential neighborhood in Santa Clara. Local homeowners will have to deal with industrial traffic, noise, dust and other forms of air pollution and the possibility of illness caused by pollution. As a result, property values likely will decrease. Neither Delta Sand and Gravel nor Lane County will be required to compensate these homeowners for their losses.

Lane County residents should urge their county commissioners to deny Delta's request. An uncompensated decrease in neighborhood livability and property values is simply not fair - and your neighborhood could be next.

MIKE SOBOL

Eugene

Neglect of veterans is deliberate

The recent exposure of the cruel and inhuman treatment of the Bush war veterans at Walter Reed Army hospital should come as no surprise to anyone who is aware of our government's actions regarding veterans over the last century.

Whether or not returning Vietnam vets were ever spat upon by war protesters, it must have been a relatively rare occurrence, given the lack of documented evidence. However, the "virtual spitting" upon them by the U.S. government started before they got home and has continued until the present day. One out of three people forced to beg on the streets is a Vietnam vet.

The real crime for our current crop of vets is not the shabby conditions in which they were housed, nor is it the incredible load of bureaucratic garbage they're forced to contend with. Rather, it is that these conditions are not neglectful; they're deliberate. Any of those vets could have gotten out of those inhuman conditions at any time, had they only consented to sign a paper relinquishing their rights to future medical care and other lifetime veterans benefits.

Brain-damaged vets are being coerced into waiving their rights to further treatment in order to escape virtual imprisonment in unhealthy slums. Meanwhile, so-called patriots shout "support the troops" and, instead, support the criminals who sent them off to a pointless war and maltreat them when they return.

Unless perhaps they haven't been injured enough and need to be sent back for another try.

WAYNE FORD

Eugene

Turn on headlights for safety

While driving to Portland from Eugene recently in cloudy, rainy weather, I noticed many folks driving without their headlights on and how difficult it was to see their cars in my rearview mirror.

In the dull light, the cars blended right into the color of the highway. This is true on any evening, on any road, no matter the weather, as the light dims and dark-colored vehicles are poorly visible, especially through tinted glass.

I was appreciative of all who were driving with their headlights on and would encourage all to do so, for safety's sake.

NANCY McKECHNIE

Eugene