SOMETHING NEW . . . Now, each time you search the Internet (or shop online at a participating store), a donation can be made to Nebraska Green Party at no cost to you! To help NGP in this way, enter Nebraska Green Party where it says WHO DO YOU GOODSEARCH FOR? here. Every time you use GoodSearch, one penny will be donated to Nebraska Greens. Download the GoodSearch Toolbar here. To make GoodSearch your homepage, click here. THANK YOU for supporting Nebraska Greens.
Lincoln area: Congressional District 1
IF YOU OPPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Nebraska does not need a new method of killing people. The last opportunity for the public to comment on proposed regulations for lethal injection will be Monday, November 16, 2009. Anyone may attend and comment on the Department of Corrections’ announced rules to continue state killings at this hearing, beginning at 9:00am, State Office Building, 501 South 14th Street, Lincoln (lower level conference room F). Read the proposed regulations here. Read an analysis of the proposed regulations here. (pdf) For more information, click here.
HELP HAITIAN ORPHANS . . . Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 6:30pm, there will be a One Cause Lincoln benefit to help a new orphanage for 250 children in Gonaives, Haiti. “The Stars of the Night” will be at The Lodge at Wilderness Ridge, 1800 Wilderness Woods Place. For more information, and to make reservations, phone 540.0073, or e-mail ONEcauselincoln [at] yahoo [dot] com.
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.
LWV LUNCH AND LEARN . . . The Lincoln-Lancaster County League of Women Voters will present Jim Otto, president of Nebraska Retail Federation, at the Thursday, November 19, 2009 12:00 noon Lunch and Learn event. The monthly luncheon series, followed by questions and answers, is at the 20th floor of US Bank, 13th & M Streets in Lincoln. For more information, and to rsvp, e-mail lwv-ne [at] inebraska.com or phone 475.1411.
CHANGING POLICY . . . Drug policy shift advocates, doctors, lawyers, activists, treatment providers, law enforcement, students, educators and formerly incarcerated people converged on Albuquerque November 12 through 14, 2009, for the biennial International Drug Policy Reform Conference to discuss change from a policy of criminalization to a public health model. More people than ever now understand the need for this shift. Following Pharmacy Board public hearings, the Iowa Senate will vote on Pro-cannabis bills that would make it the 15th state allowing some use of marijuana for medical purposes–joining California, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Maine, Nevada, Colorado, Hawaii, Vermont, Montana, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Maryland and Michigan. Cannabis Kingdom will meet Thursday, November 19, 2009, 4:20pm, at Kinetic Brew, a coffeehouse inside the Bourbon Theater, 1415 O Street, Lincoln. Other groups working locally include SAFERCHOICE.org, askLEAP.org, makepotlegal555.org, and NormlNebraska. “Reefer Madness! The Musical” is playing at the Lincoln Community Playhouse, 2500 South 56 Street, Thursday, through Saturday, November 19-21, 7:30pm; and at 2:00pm Sunday, November 22, 2009. For more information about decriminalization activism in the area, phone Pam at 402.742.5551.
STEM CELL RESEARCH DECISION . . . The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will meet Friday, November 20, 2009, 10:00am, at Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege, Lincoln. Regents are expected to decide whether NU scientists can pursue expanded embryonic stem cell research at the open meeting that will include time for public comments. Click here for a Lincoln Journal Star article indicating four pro-life regents have co-authored a resolution that would limit embryonic stem cell research at the NU Medical Center. Click here for a LJS Local View by Sanford Goodman, president of the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, “Stem cell research ban would hurt university,” published November 15, 2009.
ECOSTORES RESOURCE CONSERVATION WORKSHOP . . . EcoStores Nebraska is offering a cutting-edge workshop on making buildings more economical and ecological. Auditing Buildings for Energy Efficiency will be Friday, November 20, 2009, 1:00pm – 4:00pm. It is designed to begin training a pool of neighborhood-based energy auditors to identify resource conservation measures that provide the greatest economic and environmental benefits. Seating is limited. Print and return the registration form here (pdf) to EcoStores Nebraska, 530 West P Street, Lincoln, NE 68528 or email ecostoresne@windstream.net. The workshop will be held at Lancaster County Cooperative Extension, 444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln.
Omaha area: Congressional District 2
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 The Future of Food, 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.
BRIDGING COMMUNITIES & CORRECTIONS VI . . . There will be a discussion on the barriers facing citizens returning to the community at Metropolitan Community College, 30th & Fort, Building 10, Room 136, Thursday, November 19, 2009, 6:00pm to 8:30pm. Employment, housing and other issues, will be the focus of a panel including Mike Friend, Director, Office of Violence Prevention. This free event, open to the public, is sponsored by Black Men United Families & Friends of Inmates. For more information, and to rsvp, e-mail Willie Hamilton, willzzway2 [at] yahoo [dot] com or phone 402.707.3115.
SIERRA ANNUAL BANQUET AND AUCTION . . . State Senator Ken Haar will be keynote speaker for the Nebraska Chapter of the Sierra Club Annual Banquet, Saturday, November 21, 2009, at Spaghetti Works Restaurant, 84th Street & Park Drive, Omaha. Social Hour and Silent Auction begin at 6:00pm. Dinner, awards, and program begin at 7:00pm. For more information and reservations, phone Clyde Anderson, 932.7225, or e-mail clydelanderson [at] cox [dot] net.
Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3
BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL . . . . Local markets are over for the year, but farmers, gardeners, and craftspeople still come together through The Nebraska Food Cooperative, an on-line, year-round farmers’ market and local food distribution service offering the best in local freshness. For ordering and pickup schedules, refer to the calendar here. Click here for Tomato Tomäto, Omaha’s year-round indoor Farmer’s Market at 156th & West Center. Shop for fresh foods grown in or very near your own community at Open Harvest, Lincoln’s member-owned natural foods retail cooperative in newly expanded space at 1618 South Street. Buying local grows family farming, grows the local economy, and is thousands of miles fresher.
We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente