Page 30 .RAIN Nov 1975 LETTERS CONTINUED Ecologically Sound Human Settlements When I talk with people about an ecologically sound human settlement, some say_ it can't be done; others say it isn't necessary; some say it's a good idea, and the go~ernment should do something about 1t; others say, "Let's find some ~<?re people who realize how important !t IS and get on with it.'' If you ·are for It and want to know more about what we are doing, please write. • J. H. Vowles Newport Co-ops 106 Donlea Drive Toronto, Canada M4G 2M5 I forgot to tell you about a fledgling co-?p movement in-Newport. The DEQ is cracking down on packing plant wastes in Yaquina Bay and will supposedly issue no more permits or extensions after March of '76 for waste _discharges. The local water co-ordinator, a job I have yet to understand, and the local agricultural agent, who came to us from Utah, are spearheading the effort to form a c~-op among farmers to utilize the wastes ofcrab and shrimp-packing plants as fertilizer. T,he feeling is that this day will come anyway. but that if local people wait too-long, a large corporation will scoop up the opportunity. .This is in fact what happens in colonies, no? The farmers, on their part, are • talking about a larger co-op, which would entail group purchasing of farm ,feed, etc., a meat-packing plant (nearest one is the Valley), and who knows what all else? So far everything is still ii-i the talking stage; and this isn't, of course, - the first time for that, here or elsewhere, but say the spirit is alive 'and well among us on the Mid-Coast, Fall 1975. Randy Chakerian Newport, Oregon The Mariner's Catalog Peter Spectre, my co-editor on the Mariner's Catalog, has, I believe, sent along volumes one and two of the catalogs. The third volume will not be out for a couple.more weeks. Each volume is utterly different, not only in content, but in feel and sense as well. HoP,e that you enjoy them. . • That said, hazzahs for your publication! I like it and would like to continue receiving it at the above Vinalhaven address. Any subscription costs? Do take care <?f my city. I grew up there (Mt. Tabor, Grant H.S., etc.) and miss it often. Have found a·fecundi~y and depth in the east, though; a cultural apprenticeship that grinds, but then hone~. Few in the west ever get near the stone: Not enough belief in evil. Too many hi theres. Laughter that's always free, instead of doing its real work amongst the dour. Must return one day and share with you a good laugh that comes from a place that knows what one is worth. A hundred yards from here there is a colonial cellar hole. About the time Lewis & Clark were trying to get their wagons converted into rafts to float down the Columbia, the old fellow of the Cellar Hole planted lilacs. Now wild' and rampant, covering a quarter acre, I use the stock for tool handles. Here's - a chip. Above and behind the crater at Mt. Tabor there is a large Douglas fir to which I would sneak and learn cigarette smoking. Please chop it down. George J. Putz P.O. Box 543 Vinalhav~n, ME 04863 Vermont Institute of Community Involvement We would very much like to reeeive RAIN. We are engaged in an energy accounting of Vermont agriculture and an_examination of possible models of regional decentralization of foo9 production. George Burrill Co-Director 182 Main Street Burlington, VT 05401 Spokane Commu~ity Video We shot about 30 minutes of tape with . Mike Nuess at the ARK (new alchemy) he built on the expo site this past sum- •mer. We want to edit it with him when he has time., but would be glad to dub it right now.if people want to see it. It is in color-someone sending us 1/2 hr. of blank tape, or stuff we might like to see (a Schumacher talk or . . . ) will get this back. I haven't had time to look at the tape, but think it is of general interest-shows what an ark is and how·it works. . Our cable franchise has been approved-Cox Cable-and they expect to have 1/3 of the city wired by next July. We are involved with a group at Whitworth who have a humanities grant to do a city-wide education project on ways people can use cable (public access and local origination). This will go on in Nov., Dec., Jan. this year. Would like input for this project and see some neat I areas for cooperation• Another project of interest is the city of Spokane's application for fed- ,eral money under the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1974. The money is allocated to several neighborhoods whq help decide how their portion should be spent. We'll be working with the people in each neighborhood to do a 5 to 10 minute tape documenting their needs and showing their propo~ed plans to spend_their sh~re. They play these tapes to city hall types ,as a report of their work. Also, we hope to get the public TV station to feature one neighborhood each night for a week and have people from there coine, play their tapes and talk about their needs. ·This is a Northwest Regional Foundation project. They are the prime contractor with the city to prepare the HCD application. We'd be glad to hear ideas, comments, etc. from anybody into this sort of neighborhood taping. Chris Venne Don Jensen Spokane Community Video W 623 26th Spokane, WA 99202
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