Front Street Weekly; 815

[Music and sound effects] [Music] Tonight on Front Street weekly. Where have all the peaceniks gone. Reporter Jim Swenson looks at the peace movement as it moves into the 90s. Then it's down to Salem for a look at one of the many people behind the scenes at the state capital. You may not know their names, but they have a big impact on your life. And finally a profile of Frank Boyden. An Oregon artist with a national reputation. [Officer] Police department I now here by command you all to disperse. Those that do not disperse will be considered under arrest [Crowd yelling and screaming] [Crowd yelling and screaming]

[Crowd yelling and screaming] Good evening, welcome to this edition of Front Street Weekly. The snow on the ground in the park blocks here at Portland State University covers blood stains that have long since faded from an incident that I covered almost 20 years ago here. It was a protest that culminated in a brutal confrontation between the Portland Police task squad and PSU students. The students were on strike protesting U.S. military action in Southeast Asia. Here and across the country, a new generation was making its voice heard protesting war promoting peace. We've come a long ways since those noisy times, and the peaceniks have moved from the streets outside the system to the boardrooms and the high rises within. [Susan Hammer] I started college in 1967 and you may recall what those days were like. And I was involved in the peace movement back then. [Swenson] Susan Hammer is a partner in the huge Portland law firm of Stoel Rives, Bully, Jones and

Grey. Her office is 27 stories above the streets, which is where most of the action occurred when she was involved in the peace movement 20 years ago. [Hammer] My recollection of that time, my view of that time, that it was pretty noisy and a lot of the activity was going on publicly in the streets. [Music] "?Will Bitton's?" documentary captured those times of rage in the Bay Area, Berkeley Oakland, San Francisco. There had been demonstrations worldwide against the bomb for 20 years, but in the 60s, the American peace movement focused on the Vietnam War and the tactics of protest, rallies, sit ins, student strikes, marches, guerrilla warfare were widespread. Also widespread was the public support for peace that was developing among a broad based younger generation. In Portland the incident in the park blocks involving a couple hundred PSU students. The next day brought thousands of Portland residents down on city hall.

{Crowd singing] But where have all the peaceniks gone? What has happened to the peace movement since then? Where is that broad base of peace supporters today? Well they're out there, but they're not so noisy now. [Hammer] My current view of this of the peace movement is that it's much more quiet. It's much more based on educating ourselves about what we're spending and how much we're spending on arms and whether or not we're really buying ourselves security. It's based more on the notion of process and dialogue than just plain result. And I think that it's much more of a middle class movement than it was back then. The people that I see who are very interested in being involved in the peace movement now are people with small children or kids that are growing up and they're concerned about the kind of the world that their kids are going to inherit. They see this as the ultimate

issue and it's something that they want to be involved in. [Swenson] Susan Hammer's peace activities today include chairing the board of the Oregon Peace Institute. One of the new breed of peace organizations that use sophisticated marketing and communications techniques. With the gift shop in Portland's trendy Galleria, the Peace Institute aims at education through schools, through video, and through retailing. Institute director Elizabeth Furse a veteran and peace activist. Says the [Reporter] New tactics are working. [Guest] In this little store last year 15,000 people came through our doors. Now that's because we board peace information to them. We've got to stop thinking in the peace movement that we have the secret and then we're going to wait for somebody to find it. It's everybody's involved, everybody wants to know so I can only encourage the peace movement to get into the 90s. We can't organize like the 60s, we're in the 90s now.

[Swenson] In addition to a 400 percent increase in sales during the past year, a further sign of the peace Institute's viability is the receipt of major foundation grants from Fred Meyer trust and others. Funds are used to develop peace curriculum for schools and to fund the Peace Channel. [New Speaker] You are watching the Peace Channel. A nonprofit effort to sign to inform Americans on the imperatives of peace and nonviolence. [New Speaker] But there is one Most important dream yet unfulfilled. The dream of peace on earth. [Guest] That same ingenuity that gave us. [Swenson] The Peace Channel is an operation of the Peace Institute which distributes videotapes of peace oriented programming to cable TV operations around the country. Their programming currently has the potential of reaching five million people. Although there are no actual audience figures available. Instrumental in getting the peace channel started were Jerry and Marilyn Wilson. Owners of the very successful ?Solaflex? of Hillsboro, which manufactures and sells body building

hardware. A major marketing focus for solar plexus is local cable TV channels which they reach through satellite and video tape distribution. [Jerry Wilson] Well the peace channel is just a pipeline you know down through a bunch of community access stations to start playing some of these films films that are sitting around there, and try to change attitudes and opinions. Just to try to., you know to inform the democracy. [Swenson] Jerry Wilson is not what you call a veteran peacenik. In fact, he comes from a career military family. But he is an example of a corporate leader who has taken up peace, as a cause, not only for humanitarian reasons but for the economics as well. [Wilson] When you travel in Japan, you see public works projects going on all the time. Aqueducts, Airports, new rail systems, bridges and huge capital projects they just did. Well see all of that backs up paper in the end. That creates new wealth and it lowers their cost of doing business. Puts more value into everything that they produce. So it's almost like every day they get inherently more and more productive and they can deliver honest value. They also don't carry unnecessary expenses that they make their customers pay for. [Swenson] By

unnecessary expenses, Wilson means the huge US defense budget. Much of which he believes should be more productively employed as public capital. Building and repairing highways, bridges, dams, power systems, sewers, schools, and other infrastructure. [Wilson] Until we get on speaking terms with ourselves and decide that we're going to take the most over educated, under-utilized, misdirected workforce that has ever existed in the history of the world, the largest one and build a capital with it, we're screwed. [John Bentley] I think that the peace organizations are very excited about the fact that the business community is getting on board with this thing and it could be used to go back to the peace organizations and say "look, there is a viable body of business people that are expanding and Rotary is one of the major areas of..." [Swenson] The economic implications of peace are beginning to draw the attention of the business community and such traditional business groups as Rotary International. What the world wide

convention of Rotarians do here in 1990, the Portland chapter is developing plans to sponsor informational forums on peace issues. [Bentley] In Portland Oregon, we're going to have something there for that international convention. We're going to have something that will knock them off their feet. [Swenson] Portland businessman Al Jubitz, vice chairman of Jubitz truck stops and president of Dial a Truck, has been active in Rotary on this issue and has seen the change in attitude. [Jubitz] I'm very excited about the heads I've seen turned on the peace issue within my own club and [Jubitz] within this city of ours. [Swenson] How was that? There's been a change of attitude? [Jubitz] Oh yeah . Pretty hard to get a peace oriented program on the agenda. My Rotary Club down town, four years ago was quite easy now and you see Rotarians coming up after those programs saying "Gee, that was interesting. Let's do more of those". and you get encouraged. And you see people's attitudes changing and there's still lot of what's next. What do we do now? I mean how do we make this thing happen?

There's a lot of dialogue going on there but that's healthy. [Guest] That's what it's all about. And the peace movements accomplished that. [Reporter]Jubitz just returned from a trip to the Soviet Union. Part of another new thrust of the peace movement, citizen diplomacy. Another recent peace group, Beyond War, has been promoting such exchanges to improve understanding and reduce fear. [Hammer] They wanted very very much for us to have a positive impression of their country. [Swenson] Susan Hammer was another recent citizen diplomat to Russia, on a business trip with her husband, Harry Lonsdale, president of Bend research. They found the Russians intensely curious about whether Americans were really as mean as the Rambo films make us out to be. [Hammer] They learn about us through movies. They learn about us through Rambo 1, 2 and 3, and they learn about us in other ways, and they are fortunately curious enough to find out what the real thing is opposed to what they might be kidding on the movies.

[Swenson] While new marketing techniques, like these Ben and Jerry's ice cream peace pops, carry the messages of peace to a new audience. Grassroots efforts continue as well. [Music] An example is the recent citizen's train to Washington D.C. to lobby Congress to reduce military spending in favor of a more peace oriented budget. [Music] And the efforts of all of these peace groups are having an impact. In over 130 communities around the US, nuclear free zones have been declared by local governments, stating opposition to war related industries within their jurisdiction. The 60s generation is coming of age. The peaceniks have grown up. They are assuming political and business power and are making their mark. And they are more hopeful now than ever about the future. [Jubitz] On the political spectrum you see world leaders emerging, you see peace

breaking out all over. I mean something is going on. [Furse] Those who want more weapons, those who want to spend more money on weapons, are themselves outside the mainstream. We, who are saying, let's stabilize our economy, let's stabilize our planet. We are the mainstream. We are the majority. And you're seeing that all over. So I think we're going to see more of it. And um I, I think it can make a big difference in the way we live. [Shaffer] Our next story focuses on some crucial work that goes on behind the scenes here at the state capitol. During each legislative session, most of the attention focuses on our elected officials. But before any laws passed, it has to go through a long process. most of us aren't aware of. And that process depends on a group of people called the legislative staff. They don't usually make headlines, but they do make the whole

process work smoothly. And tonight we're going to focus on one of those key people. [Melanie Zermer] Vicky in yet this morning? Yea this is Melanie Zermer. [Shaffer] It's early on a Monday morning, and Melanie Zermer is already working the phones, setting up her schedule for the day. [Zermer] Hi Barry, this is Melanie. [Zermer] Hi, how are you? [Shaffer] Melanie is Committee administrator for the house Human Resources Committee. Most people outside the capitol aren't even aware that her job exists. But without Melanie, and others like her, the whole legislative process would be in trouble. They're the glue that holds the system together. These days the Capitol is crowded with politicians, lobbyists and public interest groups. Dozens of new laws are being drafted and debated. Melanie and her committee assistant, Pamela Burger, have to make sure that the procedures and the personalities are all on the same track. [Zermer] Like 10 or 15 bills in a day. And we'll have to contact all those people? [Burger] It's a possibility

[Guest 1] three times a week. [Guest 2] It's a possibility. [Guest 1] OK. Alright [Reporter] Most people don't realize how much work it takes to get a new bill through the legislative process, and much of that work is done by the legislative staff. There are about three dozen committee administrators like Melanie. [Zermer] The majority of work on bills takes place in the committee. It's really rare for any amending to be done on the floor, so the committee process in Oregon is really a pretty important one. I also play a role in getting people to come together and make some decisions about bills. Like if we have a bill that two people are involved with but they're opposing it or they're not willing to work together, they don't like the bill. I may try to get to bring the people to the table and say "why don't you work on this bill so that it can be a good bill because the committee really wants to go with it?" Melanie Zermer. OK, can you just talk some about the question that you have? Just mentioned them to me right now, because I mean we need to get going on it now and I'm going to

meet with Rick at lunch today and I want to be able to just tell him what your concerns are. [Shaffer] Throughout the morning, Melanie will be on the phone over and over again, gathering opinions and other information about the bills that are being considered by the Human Resources Committee. [Zermer] Thanks. Bye-Bye. [Shaffer] At lunch time most of us can take a break and relax. But this job demands constant attention. Melanie often uses her lunch break to meet with her committee chairman. Representative Rick Kotulski. [Kotulski] I would say that probably in the course of the day, Melanie and I probably talk briefly maybe 3, 4 maybe more times. You know. Do we have the background on that bill yet? Do we have this bill drafted? That sort of thing. I rely on committee administrator, Melanie, to know what the bills are talking about long before I've seen them. so that I have a general idea of what the bill is dealing with. Who are the people who are for it, who are the people who are against it. So she has to make the initial investigation or research on the bill.

[Shaffer] After lunch, Melanie heads for a news conference where a health care bill is being discussed. These briefings often provide background information that she can use later. Then it's time for the Human Resources Committee to hold its regular Monday afternoon meeting and discuss a number of new bills. These meetings have to be carefully planned so the lawmakers aren't caught by any surprises. [Kotulski] It's essential that when you have a public hearing that you have a pretty good idea of which people are going to be there trashing the bill, which people are going to be in support of a bill, and you've got to present for the committee members themselves a rather balanced view point if it's a controversial bill. You just can't have 100 people against a bill coming in there and one person that's in favor of it because you'll have the committee making decisions without having a full picture of the problem problem. [Shaffer] Melanie is the one who makes sure that her committee gets the full picture at each meeting. And while this one was fairly routine there are always new questions she has to deal with.

[Zermer] We have public hearing and possible work session. How do you do that? Do you take one, all the bills and then go back in the work session? [Kotulski] Yeah. [Zermer] OK, so we're going to hear all the bills first. [Kotulski] Right. [Zermer] OK. During the meeting, I'll hear a bunch of different things that need to happen to a bill. Like maybe we decide to amend the bill. I'll be responsible for getting the language drafted to amend the bill the way the committee wants it. I work for all the committee members. So that's also different than other legislatures that might have partisan staff. So any member of the committee can expect me to help him or her With the committee related work. [Shaffer] The house Human Resources Committee meets three times each week. And for Melanie, that means dealing with a constant stream of people who need to be scheduled into the process. [Zermer] On Wednesday, we have a full agenda on Wednesday rather than wait until next week sometime and I'll call you hmm sometime after tomorrow afternoon. To let you know what day next week.

[Kotulski] It's important for the committee administrator keep track of every piece of legislation as it goes through the process and to be able to relay to the chairman any comments made by different legislators on that piece of legislation. So that I'm always thinking in the back of my mind when that bill goes to the floor. "Do I have 31 votes?" Because that's what I need to pass it. [Shaffer] Around 5:30, when most of us are heading home from work, Melanie still has plenty to do, and she's not getting paid lots of overtime either. Her salary is about $30,000 a year and that includes staying at the office until everything gets done. No matter how long it takes. [Zermer] Since it's early time in session I've only been staying until about 7:30 or 8:00. But that will give me time to kind of get ready for the next day and do some more reading and the kind of work it takes [Zermer] that takes concentration. [Kotulski] What I want is a worker. What I have in Melanie is somebody that knows legislative process and is willing to work hard at it no matter how many hours it takes takes, and that's essential. And not every Committee chairman is

[Guest 1] lucky to have that kind of person. [Guest 2] I have to remain real diplomatic and patient. Sometimes it's really hard to be patient when you're under a lot of stress and Phones are ringing and a whole bunch of people want different things from you at the same time so it takes serenity. And I don't have it. But I'm working at it. I think that that's what being an artist is about taking all of these you know everything that comes in and you realize what those things mean this is a very tiny place this little valley [Guest] It just happens to be a real spectacular sort of a place. [Reporter] For artist Frank Boyden the importance of his environment is his passion and that passion is translated [Reporter] into all of his art. [Guest] in a sense all these things are out here they're all part of um

I mean they're all like fossils we're all like fossils we're all trapped in this environment which we live in, and if we don't understand it or find ways in and out of it, and see how we're trapped in what we're doing ourself why then that's....you know maybe the contribution that I make is is is beautiful enough or optimistic enough or energetic enough to know to help people to see you know [Guest] where they are a little bit better. [Reporter] Although Boydins contribution is accomplished in a variety of art forms from sculpture to drawing his [Reporter] favorite medium is Clay. [Guest] Clay is a very. It's very sensuous stuff, it's very responsive and you know Clay has more uses. Practical uses for me as an artist than any other other medium it's a very instant thing like you, you you throw it and you work it and there it is and you can manipulate it all around it and that and I like that a lot. And even though that allows me to make a whole lot of mistakes and have to throw a lot of stuff away

because I'm not satisfied or if it collapses or because I pushed it too far or I haven't pushed it enough or whatever. But there's there's a real immediacy about this material which I [Guest] like. [Reporter] in the hills above Willamyna, Boyden fellow artist Tom Coburn built this anagama kiln. Modeled after an 8th century Korean kiln. The ? is the only one of its kind in the country. This kiln requires real teamwork from the volunteers who help Boyden operate it no electricity for this kiln just a wood fire so hot that the ash actually melts to become a glaze. The kiln is 26 feet long and eight feet wide and is built in steps. If you think of the kiln as a river, you know as a water, and you're setting up rocks in there those that that water has to run around You then you then have, have a situation where you can plan. How how the flow of gas and flame and ash is

Go through that stack of pots As Frank orchestrates ? firing his sense of humor and playful impish behavior. help make the hard work easier. Boyden convinced me to put on the wood fire helmet. It turned out to be an awful old hairdryer he keeps on hand to fool rubes like me. [Guest]I like to laugh and I like to fool people and I find that kind of thing solves a lot of problems and you know gives people a lot of pleasure and sometimes I screw up and piss people off and stuff like that too but I try not to do that. [Guest 1] Yes right there. God you don't see those very often. [Guest 2] [Laughing] We got.[laughing] I'm sorry this is part of my rubber animal collection collection. I just had to bring it along.[Laughing] Here Gwyneth, you can hold that, yea you can hold it. I also brought my rubber squid [Guest] But.. unintelligible [Host] That's really rare, what do you call this?

Well. it's, it's a genus, it's an unknown species yea yea it's a small one. [Host] Once he was through teasing me it was time to get back to work. At the unloading of the ? kiln there's an air of anticipation as the pottery is revealed piece by piece [Over lapping Back ground talking] [Guest] You don't want this... you don't want this kind of torture that we go through right Lillian [Over lapping Back ground talking] some amazing colors this time [Over lapping Back ground talking] I think this is the finest part of it That I've ever done in this kiln. [Host] Well see, see, it gets better and better. Boyden is a very successful ceramicist whose work is in many major collections. His art has taken him all over the world. So what's next for this artist whose's life style and life work reflect his passion for place and people. [Guest] Yeah, I don't know.

That's one of the nice things I don't know what's next and I try to speak to the things which should mean something to me you know I mean these animals mean something to me this environment means something to me. You the idea that I, I exist in the environment I try to you know do something with the environment in a nondestructive way. I think the thing that pisses me off the very most is having a political situation witch refuses to acknowledge the fact that um human beings. Must somehow coexist with their environment. [Program Host] Next time on Front Street Weekly: Developers want to make Mount Hood a year round quality recreation experience. But others say the mountain is fragile and must be protected. We'll also look at the effects of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts on smaller local theaters. How positive is it?

And finally we'll take time out to experience the alternative lifestyle of living on a sailboat.