REPOWER NEBRASKA KICK-OFF . . . It’s time for comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation NOW. Find out how to get involved at the kick-off meeting of Repower Nebraska, Monday, September 28, 2009, 6:00pm at The Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple Street, OMAHA. For more information, call Amy Kasselman, 402.578.9592, or e-mail amy [dot] kasselman [at] climateprotect [dot] org.

RALPH NADER IN OMAHA . . . Public advocate, presidential candidate, and bestselling author Ralph Nader will make two personal appearances in OMAHA on Tuesday, September 29, 2009, speaking about his new book “Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us,” an unprecedented genre-bending work of fiction in which Warren Buffett organizes a meeting of seventeen real life super-rich people to restructure their personal wealth and help the people of America. At 3:00pm, Nader will present “Imagining America – The Battle for Single Payer Healthcare” at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney. At 7:00pm, Nader will be at Borders, 7201 Dodge Street, to speak about and sign his new book. Both events are free and open to the public.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SERIES . . . Tuesday, September 29, 2009, “Black-White Dialogues” will continue a series of Conversations meant to increase mutual understanding and respect between Black and White members of the OMAHA community. The Dialogues are from 7:00 to 9:00pm, at First Central Congregational Church, 421 South 36th Street. This week’s speakers will be Rev. Dr. Kate Rohde, on “How the Church Has Perpetuated Racism,” and Rev. Keith Richardson, on “The Role of the Church in the Black Community.” For more information, click here.

NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY WEDNESDAY . . . No Timeline! No Exit Strategy! Stop the Funding! Congress is steps away from passing a $625.8 billion 2010 Defense Budget, which contains approximately $128.2 billion to conduct wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through September 2010. Wednesday, September 30, 2009, is a National Call-in Day for telling Senators and Congressional Representatives to vote against the Defense Appropriations bill, and urge them to co-sponsor Congressman James McGovern’s H.R. 2404 requiring President Obama to provide an “exit plan” from Afghanistan no later than December 2009. To reach the Washington Switchboard phone 202.224.3121 or 202.225.3121.

CENTRAL NEBRASKANS VIGIL FOR PEACE . . .  Central Nebraska Peace Workers will meet on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 5:00pm, to Vigil for Peace at the corner of State Street and Webb Road, GRAND ISLAND.  Signs will be available, or bring your own. Everyone is welcome.

LINCOLN PEACE VIGILS . . . Lincoln peace vigils continue at the Federal Building, 15th and O streets, 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. Free parking is available at the NE Corner of 67th Street and Pine in a student lot. 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 Unnatural Causes – Part 4. 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.

SPECIAL NADP EVENT . . . Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty will host a special event on Thursday, October 1, 2009, 6:30pm, at Trinity United Methodist Church in the Parlor, 511 North Elm Street, GRAND ISLAND. One of the Beatrice 6, Thomas Winslow, and Mirriam Thimm Kelle, whose brother was murdered by James Ryan, an inmate on death row, will be featured guests. Mirriam will speak on how the death penalty affects families of victims, and Tom will talk about innocent individuals who get caught up in the justice system.  Both speakers will present their stories on Friday, 7:00pm, at St. James Catholic Church, 3801 Avenue A, KEARNEY. The events are free and open to the public.

BANNED BOOK WEEK . . . Banned Book Week will be celebrated Thursday, October 1, 2009, at Duffy’s Tavern, 1412 O Street, Lincoln. There will be live music–banned because the words might be harmful–performed by the Academy of Rock, as well as clips from censored films, and books. Controversial art of all forms will be on display. The free public event is from 6:00 to 8:30pm.

KEEP SPACE FOR PEACE WEEK . . . Saturday, October 3, through Saturday, October 10, 2009 is the International Week of Protest Opposing Space Militarization. The Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space says it’s time to open our eyes and STOP the military’s use of space for war on Earth. Preserve space for peace. “Each minute, the last official figures say, the world gives $3 million to military expenses, for the industry of death. And each minute, fifteen children die from hunger or curable diseases. So we’ll march against it, because we believe another world is possible.” –Eduardo Galeano

OMAHA F.A.M. CONFERENCE . . . The 2009 Family Advocacy Movement Conference is at UN-O, Saturday, October 3, 2009. “Safe Haven Revisited: MENTAL HEALTH, CHILD PROTECTION, & CIVIL RIGHTS–A Call for Reform” will present a free Public Forum, 1:30 to 5:00pm. The evening Keynote Presentation by Speaker Karl Dennis, will be from 6:30 to 9:00pm. Register for the Conference online before Monday, September 28th for discounted admission here.  A follow-up event intended to continue expanding discussion on Sunday, October 4th, will be at Second Unitarian Church of Omaha. For more information, phone 402.640.7480 and leave a message for return call.

SOLAR HOME TOUR . . . Nebraska is participating in a solar home tour, part of the National Solar Home Tour sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society for the first time this year on Saturday, October 3, 2009, 10:00am to 2:00pm. Click here for details on tour sites.

VEGFEST SATURDAY . . .  “Marvelous Melons” will be celebrated at this year’s VegFest, Saturday, October 3, 2009, 2:00 to 6:00pm, Havelock Park, 63rd Street and Ballard Avenue, Lincoln.  Activities include a fruit and melon salsa contest, celebrity chefs, demonstrations, gardening booths, a rain barrell raffle and live music.  Local community radio station KZUM, 89.3fm, is hosting the event.

FULL MOON HIKE . . . Sunday October 4th, 2009, depending upon cloud cover, there will be a Full Moon Night Hike around the Great Marsh at Fontenelle Forest Wetlands Education Center, 103 Camp Gifford Road, BELLEVUE, starting at 8:30pm. This is a short ramble around some of the trails of Gifford Point. RSVP with first and last name, phone number, and email so you can be notified in case of cancellation, to Bob Goetschkes, bobbygoetschkes [at] hotmail [dot] com or phone 402.614.4788; 402-326-1775, cell.

BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL . . . . Join the local food revolution by shopping farmer’s markets and eating fresh foods grown in or very near your own community. Eating locally grows family farming, grows the local economy, and is thousands of miles fresher. Click here for Nebraska Buy Fresh. Buy Local. information. Lincoln’s current Markets are as follows:

Old Cheney Farmers Market, 55th Street and Old Cheney Road, 10:00am to 2:00pm, Sundays through November 1.
Havelock Farmers Market, north parking lot behind businesses between 62nd and 63rd streets and Havelock Avenue, 3:00 to 6:30pm, Wednesdays through October 28.
Piedmont Farmers Market, 1265 South Cotner Blvd., parking lot of Piedmont Shopping Center, 8:00am to noon, Saturdays through September/October.Click here for a map of local Community CROPS gardens.

We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente