HELP NEBRASKA GREENS WITH GOODSEARCH . . . 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. THANK YOU for supporting Nebraska Greens.
Lincoln area: Congressional District 1
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. EVENTS . . . Martin Luther King Jr. events at UN-L begin Monday, January 18, 2010 with a Youth Rally at 9:00am followed by a march from City campus Student Union through downtown Lincoln that begins at 10:00am, concluding at the Warner Chamber of the Nebraska Legislature in the State Capitol Building with a Call to Action program honoring the mission and vision of Rev. Dr. King. Click here for a calendar of other King Week activities at UN-L.
GREEN TEAM ROUNDTABLE . . . The WasteCap Nebraska Lincoln GTR is Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 11:30am-1:00pm. Hofeling Enterprises is hosting at their Lincoln facility, 2200 South Folsom Court. There will be time for networking, a short educational segment on “What it Means to be Green: Operating a Sustainable Business using the Easy and Profitable Techniques of Pollution Prevention,” followed by a presentation and facility tour. Hofeling specializes in residential tree service, land clearing and wood waste recycling using new, innovative markets for wood waste products. Lunch is provided. Please RSVP by calling WasteCap, 402.436.2383, or e-mail rbeckman [at] wastecapne [dot] org by noon, Monday, January 18, 2010.
CELEBRATE PRAIRIE PLAINS RESOURCE INSTITUTE . . . Reserve tickets by Tuesday, January 19, for the first Prairie Plains Resource Institute Fundraising Banquet. The event will be at UN-L East Campus Union beginning at 5:00pm, Saturday, January 23, 2010, celebrating the Institute’s 30 year anniversary. The meal will feature all Nebraska foods from The Grain Place, there will be a slide presentation by National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, and an auction. Tickets can be purchased by e-mailing contactppri [at] hamilton [dot] net or by calling 402.694.5535.
EYES ON THE PRIZE . . . The Peace and Justice Team of First-Plymouth Church, 2000 D Street, is showing the Eyes on the Prize video Series every Wednesday through February 10, 2010, 6:15 to 7:30pm, in Courtyard Lounge at the church. Moderated by Elliott School Counselor Jeanne Johnson, this series documents the history of the civil rights movement. The January 20, 2009 segment is “Ain’t Scared of Your Jails 60-61.” For more information, phone 436.1136.
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.
LUNCH AND LEARN SUSTAINABILITY . . . Thursday, January 21, 2010, Milo Mumgaard, Senior Policy Aide to the Mayor, will speak on “Sustainability Lincoln: Insuring a Growing, Dynamic City, Today and Tomorrow” at the noon League of Women Voters monthly Lunch and Learn. The luncheon is on the 20th Floor of the US Bank Building, 13th & M Streets, in Lincoln. Make reservations by phone at 475.1411, or e-mail lwv-ne [at] inebraska [dot] com.
LOCAL SCIENCE CAFE . . . Thursday, January 21, 2010, 6:30 to 7:30pm, UN-L Political Science professor John Hibbing will lead a Science Cafe addressing the question “Are Liberals and Conservatives Physiologically Different?” at red9, 9th and M Streets in Lincoln. Click here for a 4:55 minute video of Hibbing and Meadowlark Coffee’s Adam Hintz on the Daily Show. Click here for more information on Science Cafes.
MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURE NIGHT . . . The Lincoln High School Middle Eastern Club will host a Culture Night on Saturday, January 23, 2010, 6:00pm, in the LHS Cafeteria, 2229 J Street. Learn cultural awareness, support local students, enjoy great food, music, and fun at this event. Tickets are $10 at the door. Free admission for kids under 5.
PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN LECTURE SERIES . . . Sunday, January 24, 2010, 7:00pm, Professor Jack Shroder, Assistant Dean of International Studies at UN-O, will discuss how limited natural resources of the region contribute to the cultural conflicts that in part characterize both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The lecture will be at the Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, in Lincoln. For more information, e-mail Unitarian [at] inebraska [dot] com or phone 483.2213.
LINCOLN BIKE CORRAL NEEDS USERS . . . Lincoln’s bike corral on the main floor of the 12th Street side of Center Park Garage at 12th & N is not being used much by commuters–even in good weather. The fully enclosed corral gives people an alternative to lugging bicycles into office buildings, and it keeps bikes out of bad weather. For information about monthly permits call 402.441.6472 or visit the parking office at 850 Q Street.
Omaha area: Congressional District 2
OMAHA MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. EVENT . . . Monday, January 18, 2010, 7:00pm, the City of Omaha will present the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration (pdf) at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas Street. Author/Educator/Historian Mary Frances Berry will be the keynote speaker, and there will be performances by the Northwest High School Concert Choir, Chad Stoner Group, Girls Inc. Step Dance Team, and the Franklin Thompson Family. The free Celebration is open to the public.
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 COMMUNITY FORUM . . . Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 6:00-7:30pm, there will be a Lead Safe Omaha Coalition Forum at Omaha Public Schools Teachers Administrative Center (TAC Bldg), 3215 Cuming Street, Room 5062. Learn how the local community can become part of the solution to reducing the lead blood levels in children, and how community organizations and neighborhood associations can work together educating about the effects of lead poisoning, in dialog with representatives of the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Housing and Urban Development, New Community Development Corporation, the City of Omaha Planning Department, and the Omaha Human Rights/Contract-Compliance Department. Employment and job opportunities in the remediation of lead contamination at the Omaha Lead Site will also be discussed. E-mail cjwestsuccess [at] aol [dot] com or phone Toni at 402.451.3730 with questions and to rsvp.
OMAHA PUBLIC MEETING ON RESOURCE CONSERVATION . . . Wednesday, January 20, 2010, there will be a public meeting on conservation at the Scott Conference Center, 6450 Pine Street, beginning at 6:30pm. The meeting will be hosted by Environment Omaha, a new policy development initiative creating an Environmental Element for the city’s master plan addressing the natural environment, urban form and transportation, building construction, resource conservation and community health. The guest speaker will be Amy Malick, Midwest Regional Director for ICLEI-Local Government for Sustainability.
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 Kansas vs. Darwin. View the trailer here. 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.
POLITICAL AWARENESS WORKSHOP . . . A training workshop on “Finding Our Voices as Progressives” will take place at 4924 Chicago in Omaha on Saturday, January 23, 2010, 1:00pm to 3:00pm. From the initial announcement: “If you are tired of standing by while conservatives relentlessly pound their message; if you would like to take direct action to promote a positive vision; or if you are looking for non-violent ways to address the madness that affects some of our relatives, our neighbors and our co-workers, this workshop may be for you.” Participants will practice framing an issue using the method of George Lakoff, author of Don’t Think of an Elephant. Refreshments will be provided.
Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3
CENTRAL NEBRASKA PEACE WORKERS . . . The next meeting of Central Nebraska Peace Workers, a Chapter of Nebraskans For Peace, is Sunday, January 24, 2010, 3:00pm, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 511 North Elm Street, Grand Island. (Use the east basement door.) Topics for discussion include the Supreme Court decision allowing expanded political donations by corporations; Afghanistan; Climate change; Health reform; and Haiti. Everyone is welcome.
BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL . . . . Local markets are over for the year, but farmers, gardeners, and craftspeople still meet 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 products and prices from North Star Neighbors, a Cooperative member that doesn’t therapeutically medicate or unduly confine animals. 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 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