DEATH PENALTY DEBATE MONDAY . . . This legislative session’s two death penalty related bills, LB 36, to change the method of execution in Nebraska to lethal injection, and LB 306, to abolish state killing, will be debated on Monday, May 18, 2009, starting at 1:30pm, on the floor of the legislature at the state capitol building in Lincoln. Click here (pdf) for 2009 state senators contact information, listed alphabetically, and by district. Click here to e-mail your senator directly. Join Nebraskans against the death penalty, who will be dressed in white bearing silent witness in support of abolition, at the visitor’s gallery during the debate. If you can’t be there in person, watch the debate live by clicking “Main Legislative Chamber” here. To contact Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, phone 402.477.7787.
CLEAN ENERGY FOCUS . . . Be a part of the national renewable energy discussion With consultant and wind integration expert Bob Zavadil, Monday, May 18, 2009, 7:00 to 8:00pm on the UN-L East Campus at Hardin Hall, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln. This free presentation is part of Nebraska League of Conservation Voters Education Fund ‘Renewable Energy: the Devil is in the Details’ lecture series, and is open to the public.
FREECYCLE . . . At the Freecycle Network, people give and get usable items free in their communities. The site has nearly 5,000 groups, including one in Lincoln. Click here for more information. Furniture and other useful household fixtures or building materials can be taken to Ecostores Nebraska, 530 West P Street, Lincoln. Call 477.3606 first to be sure the store will accept your donation.
COMMUNITY FORUMS ON LPS BUDGET . . . Lincoln Public Schools will hold two public forums with school officials presenting the proposed 2009-2010 budget. They will take comments and questions from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at both forums, Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at Mickle Middle School, 2500 North 67th Street; and Wednesday, May 20th, at Lincoln Southeast High School, 2930 South 37th Street. For more information, call Mark Shepard at 436.1635.
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 PEACE VIGILS . . . Omaha peacemakers vigil every Wednesday, 4:30-5:30pm, at StratCom/UN-O, 6801 Pine Street, east of the Scott Technology Center on the Un-O campus. For more information, phone Jerry Ebner, 402.502-5887. Every Saturday, 1:00-2:00pm, there is an Anti-War and Peace Vigil at 72nd and Dodge Streets. Contact Steve Horn at 402.426.9068.
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. The event is always free and open to the public. This week’s film is Body of War. 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.
BEING GREEN CONFERENCE . . . Thursday, May 21, 2009, 9:30am to 12:30pm, there will be a Being “Green” For Good Conference at the UN-L Kimmel Education and Residence Center, 5985 G Road, NEBRASKA CITY. The Conference is designed to help small business owners, community leaders, and entrepreneurs learn how environmental and social responsibility impact their bottom line growing profitability through sustainability. To RSVP by May 18, phone 402.873.3166 or e-mail dheidzig5 [at] unl [dot] edu.
PARADE FOR PEACE . . . On the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, May 23, 2009, noon to 2:00pm, there will be an Omaha Parade for Peace starting at the Memorial Park Bridge, Dodge and 60th Street. The parade will Walk down Dodge to 72nd, cross the intersection together, walk back along Dodge, returning to the park where a peace sign out of people will be formed. Wear costumes, bring drums or other noise-makers, banners, flags, or signs. Or just bring yourself, and a desire for peace. Everyone is Welcome.
BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL. . . . Farmer’s Markets are back for the summer. Click here for a complete list of Lincoln’s eight regular Markets. Eating locally grows family farming, grows the local economy, and is thousands of miles fresher. Join the local food revolution by shopping farmer’s markets and eating fresh foods grown in or very near your own community.
We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente