GREEN PARTY OF THE US 2008 CONVENTION. . . The 2008 Green Party of the United States National Convention in Chicago will highlight Illinois Greens’ triumph over ballot access obstruction. The convention, at which Greens will nominate a presidential ticket, will take place Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13, 2008.  “We’ve learned since 1968 that US wars — Vietnam, Iraq and possibly others — are the product of bipartisan collusion, not just the party in the White House. We’ve learned that protest isn’t enough, that we must replace those in public office with people dedicated to global peace and justice. That’s why the Green Party is so important in the 21st century, to change our country’s political landscape. “In 1968, antiwar protesters were outside the Democratic Convention, rallying in the streets. In 2008, Americans against the war will be inside the Green Party Convention, some of them running for the White House and Congress.” —Sheldon Schafer, Green candidate for Illinois’ 18th Congressional District (Peoria).  GREEN PARTY presidential candidates’ websites are linked here.

MEETINGS ON PIPELINE SCHEDULED. . . A Canadian company plans to build a crude oil pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf Coast. Part of the pipeline will go through Nebraska. The corporation will hold meetings in Southeast Nebraska to “solicit feedback and provide information.” If you live in or around Fullerton, York, and Fairbury, attend an Open House hosted by TransCanada on the following days to find out what their project means for your land and natural resources:  Tuesday, July 8: Fullerton, Broken Arrow Wilderness,1025 North 4th Street (1/8 Mile North Fullerton on HWY 14); Wednesday, July 9: York, Main Auditorium York Community Center, 211 East 7th Street; Thursday, July 10: Fairbury, Community Building at City Park, 601 City Park Road.  In Nebraska, the Keystone Pipeline intends to cut through Cedar, Wayne, Stanton, Colfax, Butler, Seward, Saline, and Jefferson counties. Open Houses will be held from 3:30pm-7:30pm with formal presentations scheduled for 4:00pm and 6:00pm. For a map of the proposed pipeline route and other information, click here.

LINCOLN CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT FOR ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN . . . Should seated City Council members be allowed to continue making money for themselves by contracting with the City? With 4,712 valid signatures of Lincoln residents, this question can be added to the November 4, 2008 ballot. Help gather signatures by circulating petitions available from organizers Patte Newman, former City Councilperson, and Vic Covalt. Signatures are needed by Wednesday, July 16, 2008. Petitions are available at Covalt’s office at 1045 Lincoln Mall, Suite 200 (free parking in the back), and a notary is available there when forms are returned. For more information, contact Covalt by phone at 402.436.3030, or e-mail vcovalt at ballewcovalt dot com.

FELLING OF LINCOLN HIGH TREES A DISGRACE . . . The Lincoln Journal Star Local View linked here provides background information about the destruction of numerous mature trees at Lincoln High School, some of which were planted as memorials to former principals, to honor Vietnam POWs and those missing in action, and to commemorate Lincoln High’s Centennial. In addition to sentimental, visual, and aesthetic value of the trees, there are other issues: the cost to maintain new vegetation, the ecological impact of removing trees that provided oxygen and shade, the fact that they also provided a noise barrier between traffic on Capitol Parkway and the school, the fact that removal of the trees west of the building will now expose it to afternoon sun requiring more of the cooling system, and the cost of uprooting these trees, buying new ones, and planting them. ACTION: Communicate opposition to a variety of people in an effort to persuade the Board of Education to discontinue this tree removal plan in favor of a more reasonable compromise. Write letters to the editor of the Lincoln Journal Star: oped at journalstar dot com. Call or write: Michael Wortman, Principal of Lincoln High School, 402.436.1301 or e-mail mwortman at lps dot org; Susan Gourley, Superintendent of Schools, 402.4361000, sgourley at lps dot org, and e-mail your School Board representative at http://www.lps.org/about/board/#members.

WEDNESDAY PEACE VIGILS . . . Join weekly peace vigils at the Federal Building, 15th and O streets in Lincoln, every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00pm. Contact Mark at 402-499-6672 or mark at weddleton dot com for more information.

SUNLIGHT PICNIC; MOONLIGHT STARGAZING . . . Wachiska Audubon has invited the public to a Thursday, July 10, 2008, potluck picnic at Holmes Lake, 6:30pm. (Meet at the south end of Hyde Observatory. Look for signs.) City Parks and Rec Director Lynn Johnson will lead a walk around the lake, Ernie Rousek will talk about Wachiska’s prairie project, and around 9:00pm, Jack Dunn, director of the UN-L planetarium, will present a program on stars and space at the observatory. Bring a dish to share, table service, and insect repellent. For more information phone 402.486.4846.

FARM TOUR SUMMER SEMINAR . . . How your food is produced does matter. Saturday, July 12, 2008 at the Grain Place, Marquette, Nebraska, 8:00am to 4:00pm, join a Farm Walking Tour and Plant Walking Tour, with afternoon presentations by Chuck Francis, Liz Sarno and others, including discussion about organic farming and dry land vegetable production. Reservations for a Noon meal of locally and organically grown foods by Creative Cuisine should be made by Tuesday, July 8, 2008. Call 402.854.3195 or e-mail info at grainplacefoods dot com.

NEBRASKA GREEN SCENE . . . The purpose of Nebraska Green Scene is to create more options for natural living in Nebraska. Check out this new network organizing website at http://nebraskagreenscene.com/.

NEBRASKA GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES . . . Green Party candidates for 2008 in Partisan elections are Steven R. Larrick, U.S. Senate; and for Douglas County Board, District 1: Scott Hoffman; District 3: Derek Glaser; District 5: Susan Koneck. Laverne Thraen has filed for the Non-Partisan OPPD Board of Directors Metro District, and Doug Paterson is a candidate for Public Service Commission District 2 in Omaha.