VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . During winter months, every Monday from noon to 1:00pm, supporters of abolition in Nebraska vigil inside the State Capitol Building by the information desk on the ground floor, Lincoln. Join them for a few minutes, or the hour. For more information, contact Fran Kaye, fkaye1949 [at] yahoo [dot] com, or Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, 402.477.7787.
EARTH DAY PLANNING . . . 2009 is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Coalition for the Environment and Earth Day (CEED) will host “A Time for Action,” Lincoln’s Earth Day Celebration, on Sunday, April 19, 2009. The next planning meeting is Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 5:30-7:00pm, at the Lincoln Community Foundation Building, 215 Centennial Mall South, 5th floor conference room. Join one of the Committees listed in meeting notes here, and get involved. For more information, e-mail Eva Sohl, esohl [at] nlcv [dot] org or phone 402.326.1375.
EARTH DAY CONTEST . . . Nebraska artists are invited to submit three entries in each of two Earth Day competitions: Earth Day Writing and Earth Day Art & Photography. All entries must be based on this year’s contest theme, “Every Day is Earth Day.” Written submissions must be previously unpublished original short stories or poems. Art and photography must be original within the past two years. The entry deadline is April 3, 2009. There will be an art and photography exhibition April 6-10 & April 13-17, 2009, at Central Community College-Hastings. For more information, phone 402.461.2492, or click here for history, details on prizes, and to download entry forms.
SPRING 2009 WATER SEMINAR SERIES . . . Ken Williams, US Geological Survey, will present “Adaptive Management of Water and Related Resources,” the Williams Memorial Lecture, Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 3:30 to 4:30pm, UN-L east campus Hardin Hall first floor auditorium, on the northeast corner of 33rd & Holdrege, Lincoln. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, click here, or phone 402.472.3305.
NOTES FROM AFGHANISTAN . . . Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 7:00pm, the EN Thompson Forum on World Issues Lecture will be presented by Sarah Chayes at The Lied Center, 12th and R Streets, Lincoln. Chayes reported for National Public Radio in the Balkans, North Africa, Kosovo, the Middle East. She has been living and working in Kandahar, Afghanistan since 2001, helping rebuild the shattered country. Her book is “The Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afghanistan After the Taliban.” There will be a pre-talk session in the Steinhart Room at 6:30pm.
LINCOLN 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 e-mail mark [at] weddleton [dot] com for more information.
OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday evening, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. This event is always free and open to the public. Food and drink is available. A lively discussion follows each showing. For more information, click here. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.
A POWERFUL NOISE . . . In celebration of International Women’s Day, SouthPointe Theater will host the documentary “A Powerful Noise LIVE,” an in-theater event to united people fighting injustices against women around the world. More than 450 theaters will participate in the event nationwide. The film will be followed by a live simulcast town-hall meeting of celebrity activists and experts from New York City, including Natalie Portman. You may buy tickets on the website. Phone SouthPointe at 402.323.6740 for more information.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER . . . A free celebration marking World Day of Prayer will be held on Friday, March 6, 2009, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 12th & M Street, in Lincoln. Six prayer method stations will be open to the public from 9:am–1:00pm and 3:00pm–7:00pm. Light meals will be served for a free-will donation from 11:30am–1:00pm and 6:00pm–7:00pm. There will be a free first Friday organ concert at 12:10pm. At 7:00pm, Stephen C. Griffith will speak on Prayer: The Song of the Soul. For more information, contact Victoria Hatterman, 402. 477.6951 or vhatterman [at] saintpaulumc [dot] org.
DAY HIKE AT BRANCHED OAK . . . Saturday, March 7, 2009, 9:00am to 2:00pm, there will be a day hike at Branched Oak State Recreation Area. For “Driving Directions” click the link on the right side of the page. For carpool information and to RSVP with first and last name, phone number, and e-ddress so you can be contacted in case of cancellation, phone John Calandra, 402.991.8314, or e-mail johndcal [at] cox [dot] net.
CRANEFEST . . . Cranefest, an annual event in Minden, Nebraska featuring art displays, weekly contests, and crane dancing will be from Saturday, March 7th, through Sunday, March 29th this year. A “Feathered Friends Finale” will be 4:00-7:00pm, Sunday, March 29, at Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn. At a new website, NebraskaFlyway.com, you can sign up for e-mail alerts when the cranes start arriving. There are also maps of key birding areas along the Platte River and the Rainwater Basin; information about how to sign up for blinds and guided tours; a calendar of wildlife-related events; a gallery where you can share crane photos; information on lodging and attractions; plus a link to “Crane Cam,” where you can watch cranes from your own computer.
RIVERTON WILDLIFE AREA FIELD TRIP . . . Sunday, March 8, 2009, Nebraska birding expert John Carlini will lead a field trip to the 2,721 acre expanse of marsh, open water, and fields at one of Iowa’s finest birding spots located just east of Waubonsie State Park. The trip will coincide with peak spring migration for thousands of waterfowl, many bald eagles and rusty blackbirds. Meet at noon in the Wachiska Audubon office parking lot, 4547 Calvert Street, Lincoln, to carpool. For more information, phone Carlini at 402.475.7275.
LEARN MORE: CUBA AND LINCOLN . . . This year’s Lincoln Unitarian Church Winter Lecture Series focused on “Cuba from Slavery to Sanction and Beyond.” Sunday, March 8,2009, the Series will end with dinner and a discussion beginning at 6:00pm. The church is located at 6300 A Street. This event requires advanced sign-up. For more information and to rsvp, phone Dick or Karen Dienstbier, 402.489.7545 or e-mail rdien [at] neb [dot] rr [dot] com.
We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente