Oct./Nov. 1982 RAIN Page 33 Study Looks at Portland’s Future In early August, Portland's Ad Hoc Futures Committee celebrated the release of "Critical Choices for Greater Portland," its major report examining the long range future of the Portland Metropolitan area. The report summarizes major planning efforts of the last ten years, analyzes forecast data for the next twenty and explores alternative social futures, criticizes the region's leadership and warns that Greater Portland stands to lose much more than its highly- touted livability in the coming decade of increasing uncertainty. The alternative, it says, is to actively promote wider public involvement in creating a positive direction for the city. The report specifically proposes the formation of a regional "futures project," including several major task forces to grapple with issues of overriding concern to the region, as well as scores of local futures discussion groups to carry this dialogue into local communities and neighborhoods. The idea is to create a "constituency for the future." The Futures Committee, an independent citizens study group formed last year, is now spearheading the formation of a futures project with a series of conferences to begin in November. The group is interested in networking with similar efforts elsewhere. For more information, contact me in care of RAIN. — Steven Ames New Publications The Washington State Energy Office (WSEO) published Energy Conservation Resource Directory (WAOENG- 82-06) listing 500 energy conservation contacts around the state. Copies are free while supply lasts from: Ginger Alexander, WESO, 400 E. Union, Olympia, WA 98504. WESO is also compiling information for their Current Research and Development in Washington state. Contact Kevin Ferris- Hanson, at 206/754-1369 for more information. The Solar Oregon Lobby recently published The Energy Book: A Resource Guide for Oregon, which includes articles on key energy development issues in Oregon and the Northwest as well as listing organizations and government programs in energy conservation and development. Copies are $4.00 from: Fred Heutte, 2914 SE Taylor, Portland, OR 97214. The Eugene-Springfield Solar Report was completed by Oregon Appropriate Technology. The study found that solar energy in existing housing stock within the limits of the two cities could displace the equivalent of 293 million kilowatt hours per year. More information and executive summaries (500) available from OAT, PO Box 1525, Eugene, OR 97440. Oregon Places Freeze Question on Ballot Oregon will be one of six states with a nuclear freeze initiative on the ballot this November. Freeze supporters gathered 110,000 signatures to get Initiative 5 on the ballot. If it passes, the governor would transmit the following message to the president, the secretary of defense, the secretary of state and Congress: The people of the State of Oregon, recognizing the safety and security of the United States must be paramount in the concerns of the American people; and further recognizing that our national security is reduced not increased by the growing danger of nuclear war betiveen the United States and the Soviet Union which would result in millions of deaths of people in Oregon and throughout the nation; do hereby urge that the government of the United States propose to the government of the Soviet Union that both countries agree to immediately halt the testing, production, and further deployment of all nuclear weapons, missiles, and delivery systems in a way that can be checked and verified by both sides. For more information about Initiative 5, contact Oregon Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign — Yes on 5, 526 NW 24th Ave., Portland, OR 97210 (222-6211), or Box 11558, Eugene, OR 97440 (342-6323). County Zaps Radio INdves Based on concerns that electromagnetic radiation created by radio and television broadcasts might harm human health, Multnomah County, Oregon has passed the nation's first comprehensive ordinance regulating sources of radio and TV transmissions. The ordinance, passed in August, regulates siting, location and design of broadcast towers as well as intensity of transmissions. Radio and TV waves are thought by some scientists to cause a variety of health problems. Experiments on rats and rabbits have revealed effects such as increased nervousness, lowered resistance to disease, changes in blood chemistry and cataracts. Whether broadcast transmissions have these effects on human beings is still a matter of hot scientific debate. The Environmental Protection Agency has been looking into the matter for a number of years and is reportedly about to publish a summary of 7,000 studies done on the subject. The Multnomah County ordinance will not force any changes in the way radio and TV broadcasters currently operate. But if the ordinance applied to Portland (which is in Multnomah County but is not subject to county ordinances) a cluster of towers in the city would have to come down. The intensity of transmissions there is as much as 500 microwatts per square centimeter. For much of the broadcast band, the Multnomah ordinance limits transmissions to 200 niicro- watts per square centimeter. (Since different frequencies affect the body in different degrees, the limits vary with frequency.) By comparison, the standard for exposure in the Soviet Union is five microwatts per square centimeter. The Soviets have done extensive research into microwave and other types of electromagnetic radiation, though there are some questions about research methodology and whether the five-microwatt standard is enforced. The county ordinance does have a local precedent. Several years ago, Portland did adopt a non-mandatory standard for the intensity of transmissions. The city has a relatively high level of electromagnetic radiation compared with other cities. The new ordinance has attracted interest from around the country, according to Larry Epstein with the Cont. on next page
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