Letters to the Editor for March 12, 2010

We deserve to know food origins

Thank you for Ed Merriman’s report on the recent U.S. District Court decision to uphold country-of-origin labeling (COOL) laws for imported cattle. I personally believe that consumers should have a right to know what country their food is coming from. Whether readers share that belief or not, I hope they will agree that U.S. food labeling requirements are something that should be decided by the American people through our own legislatures and court systems.

As Mr. Merriman’s article indicates, COOL laws are now being attacked through the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO process completely circumvents the U.S. judicial system, and can effectively overturn U.S. laws, regulations and even court decisions. That is a serious attack on both our state and national sovereignty. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) now chairs the Senate Subcommittee on International Trade and could become an important voice for changing the foreign investment and dispute mechanism provisions of trade agreements.

There is a bill in Congress called the TRADE Act that is already co-sponsored by the state’s junior Senator, Jeff Merkley, among many others. The TRADE Act establishes a process for reviewing and renegotiating our existing trade deals and sets commonsense requirements for any future trade agreements. Among many other things, it explicitly protects America’s right to establish its own food labeling requirements. Senator Wyden should use the TRADE Act as a starting point for discussions with the Obama administration on trade, and work to ensure its passage.

Arthur Stamoulis

Director, Oregon Fair Trade

Campaign

Portland

Church’s children’s memorial damaged

Back in October 2009, we installed a Children’s Memorial in front of St. Francis De Sales Cathedral. Its purpose is to remember all children, those killed by accidents, those murdered by abortion, as well as all healthy, living children. Hence the inscription “Remembering our Precious Children — born and unborn.” Many in our community, not just parishioners of the Catholic church, have paused to say a prayer, bow their head in remembrance, or simply admire a simple yet meaningful memorial.

Unfortunately between last Friday and Saturday, someone vandalized this memorial, stealing the large angel from the middle, and decapitating a smaller angel, while another similar angel was also dislodged from its place. I consider this as a sacrilegious act which is to be condemned, but as we prepare to replace the missing angel and repair the broken head of the little cherub, we pray for those who caused this negligent act.

As I told my people this weekend, I forgave whoever stole the angel and hope they will repent. I understand that the memorial is in a public accessible place, but this act should not have happened. Just as citizens should not go around damaging or destroying property that is not theirs, so should we expect everyone to respect church property, everywhere in town.

As we respect other religious or civil memorials in cemeteries or in other public places, please remember that this Children’s Memorial was blessed and therefore we consider it as a sacred place for people to visit and pray. Just as we have to show hope, trust and affirmation in our children as our future’s leaders, let us affirm their goodness and treasure their potential, but also let us remember those taken too soon from us, though choice or through tragedy.    

Father Julian Cassar

St. Francis De Sales Cathedral

Baker City

In cars, weight means safety

Last week, Jayson Jacoby wrote a column about the black eye Toyota has gotten from the recent recalls. When people think about Toyotas, quality and good gas mileage are what come to mind. But no one thinks about relative safety. As it turns out, Toyotas are among the least safe vehicles being manufactured today. This is not because they are Toyotas; it is because most Toyotas are small cars, and small vehicles are inherently less safe than larger ones.

It’s simple physics. In a collision, the occupants of a small vehicle have less metal around them to protect them. Another factor is that when two vehicles collide, the smaller one will bounce off of the larger one. This sudden change in direction is hard on the human body. But what’s worse, small cars are more likely to be involved in a collision. Their light weight and short wheelbase mean that even careful drivers more easily lose control on slick roads.

A recent study by the National Highway Commission concluded that each year, approximately 2,000 people are killed in collisions who would otherwise have survived had they been in a larger vehicle. You don’t hear this study mentioned much, as federal officials don’t like to admit that a major policy of theirs — getting more people in smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles — has resulted in people losing their lives.

The bottom line is that if you drive or ride in a Toyota or any other small vehicle, whether car or pickup, domestic or imported, you are volunteering to become a potential casualty in the war on global warming.   

Pete Sundin

Baker City