More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the 4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Geneva, Switzerland, February 24-26, 2010. Click here for a TruthOut report. NBC Nightly News recently featured “States Weigh Staggering Cost of the Death Penalty,” a report on the high cost of capital punishment, and how that financial burden is forcing many states to consider drafting death penalty repeal legislation. Watch the video here.
Public testimony on LB1105, a Nebraska bill to compare costs of administering death penalty and non-death-penalty sentences resulting from murder in first degree convictions, will be heard by the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at the State Capitol Building, Room 1113. This bill represents another opportunity to move forward in the campaign to end the death penalty in Nebraska. Read the bill here [pdf]. Click here for a Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty Action Alert including Judiciary Committee contact information. Contact members asking them to support LB1105. Taxpayers deserve to have a clear picture of how and where their money is being spent. It is time to know the true costs of state killing. Judiciary Committee members need to hear from you on this issue.
Lincoln area: Congressional District 1
VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Nebraskans for abolition of the death penalty meet at the information desk on the lower level of the State Capitol every Monday, noon to 1:00pm. The lunch-hour presence will be especially important this Monday before Judiciary hears testimony on LB1105 Wednesday. Remind senators there is a constituency that does not want state killings. All abolitionists are welcome to participate for a few minutes, or the hour. For more information about NADP, click here.
BOARD OF EDUCATION FORUMS . . . This week’s hour-long Forums with candidates for Superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools will be held in the LPS District Offices board room, 5901 O Street, according to the following schedule. Monday: Marilyn Moore, 5:30pm; Charles Hopson, 6:45pm. Tuesday: Dennis Van Horn, 5:30pm; Norman Ridder, 6:45pm. Thursday: Steve Joel, 4:15pm; Ranelle Lang, 5:30pm; Cole Pugh, 6:45pm. Forums are open to the public for meeting and questioning candidates.
GANDHI SPEAKING AT DOANE . . . Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas Gandhi, will bring his message of nonviolence to the Doane College Heckman Auditorium in Crete on Monday, February 22, 2010, 7:00pm. Founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence in Memphis, Arun Gandhi launched the Gandhi Worldwide Education Instute in the U.S. to promote community building in economically depressed areas of the world. Open to the public, this event offers an opportunity to learn how the principles of nonviolence and social justice have continued through efforts of the Gandhi family.
EARTH DAY 2010 . . . Earth Day planning meetings are every Tuesday, 5:30 to 7:00pm, at the Community Foundation Building, 215 Centennial Mall South, in the fifth flood conference room. The 40th Anniversary of Earth Day will be celebrated in Lincoln on Saturday afrternoon, April 24, 2010, at Antelope Park, with evening activities in the Haymarket. To host a booth or exhibit, join a committee, or volunteer in any way, e-mail emilymckeone [at] yahoo [dot] com or phone 402.250.4100. OR just go to a Tuesday night meeting and get involved!
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.
LINCOLN GREEN DRINKS . . . Lincoln Green Drinks will meet Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at Lazlo’s Brewery and Grill in the Haymarket, 210 North 7th Street, starting at 5:30pm. These informal environmental networking groups now meet in 596 cities worldwide. E-mail ryoder [at] mail [dot] unomaha [dot] edu for more information.
NEW ARENA OR NO NEW ARENA? . . . Opponents of a proposed $344 million arena plan subsidized by Lincoln taxpayers will meet Saturday, February 27, 2010, 9:00am, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1434 K Street. (Use west entrance.) Click here for coverage of the first organizing meeting. Click here for blogged comments from Lincolnites. Supporters have money for an aggressive campaign before the May 11th City vote on the issue. Opponents are now starting a grassroots-style campaign against the plan. To learn more, volunteer help, and get involved, phone Lynn Darling, 438.5005.
BIRDING AT DESOTO . . . Sunday, February 28, 2010, Lincoln birder John Carlini will lead a Wachiska Audubon field trip to DeSoto Natinal Wildlife Refuge, 20 miles north of Omaha on Highway 30, several miles east of Blair, Nebraska. Migrating waterfowl have traveled this Missouri River flyway each spring and fall since the end of the last Ice Age. To carpool from Lincoln, meet in the east parking lot of Oak Lake at Charleston Street and Sun Valley Boulevard, 9:45am. Phone 475.7275 for more information.
GARDENING AS SPIRITUAL EXERCISE . . . “Gardens, no matter how small, can serve as “sacred texts.” Daniel Deffenbaugh, author of Learning the Language of the Fields, will speak at First Mennonite Church, 7300 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, Sunday, February 28, 2010, 1:30pm. His talk, hosted by Common Good Farm, is free and open to the public. Complete information is available here.
PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN LECTURE SERIES . . . Sunday, February 28, 2010, 7:00pm, the Pakistan And Afghanistan Lecture Series continues with Shahid Kamal. Dr. Kamal is a native of Pakistan who has lived and worked in 7 countries. He will discuss the history of Indian-Pakistan relationships and the Kashmir dispute. This weekly series is at the Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, Lincoln. For more information, e-mail Unitarian [at] inebraska [dot] com or phone 483.2213.
Omaha area: Congressional District 2
SAVE THE DATE . . . Earth Day Omaha 2010 will be April 17th, 12:00 noon to 8:00pm, at Elmwood Park, 802 South 60th Street. Learn more about exhibiting efforts to advocate sustainable environmental practices and lifestyles, or register to exhibit online here. Reach thousands of consumers interested in learning about ways to work toward a more sustainable planet as an Earth Day sponsor. Sponsorship information here. A volunteer application is here. Interested in performing? Online band sign-up is here. Know a person or organization making extraordinary strides in protecting the environment? Make nominations for this year’s Friend of the Environment Award here.
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.
THE HUNGRY CLUB . . . Black History Month will be celebrated at Big Mama’s Kitchen, 3223 North 45th Street, Omaha, Wednesday, February 24, 2010, noon to 1:00pm, with a presentation of Preston Love Jr.’s One Man Performance: Adam Clayton Powell. For more information, phone Love at 812.3324.
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 Academy Award-nominated ADAM CLAYTON POWELL. Narrated by Julian Bond, with rich archival footage and candid interviews, this is a tell-all documentary of Powell’s illustrious but controversial career. 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.
MAJORA CARTER IN OMAHA . . . Design Alliance OMAha, in partnership with Joslyn Art Museum and Metropolitan Community College, presents Environmental Advocate Majora Carter, Thursday, February 25, 2010, at Joslyn, 2200 Dodge Street, Omaha. A reception begins at 6:00pm. The program starts at 7:00pm. Carter has been instrumental in creating riverfront parks, building green roofs, working to remove poorly planned highways in favor of positive economic development, and successfully implementing the Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training a pioneering green-collar job training and placement program. For more details and ticket information, phone 980.9850 or click here.
OMAHA TABLE TALK . . . Omaha Table Talk will hold an Ethnic Potluck Dinner and Discussion Night on Thursday, February 25, 2010, 6:00 to 9:00pm, at West Hills Church, 3015 South 82nd Avenue. The topic for discussion following a 30 minute clip from “Hotel Rwanda” will be the genocide there. There will also be a 60 minute viewing of “As We Forgive: Stories of Reconciliation from Rwanda.” For more information about OTT, phone 402.561.7594, or click here.
OMAHA SOCIAL IMPACT FORUM . . . Challenge Yourself. Change Your World. Friday, February 26, 2010, there will be a Social Impact Forum at Creighton University Harper Center, 602 North 20th Street, Omaha. (Click here for [pdf] Map.) The forum is for leaders, doers and risk takers who are passionate about impacting their community. Sessions include Creating a Culture of Prosperity, Moving the Mind: How the Arts and Culture Change the Community, Thinking Globally, Eating Locally: Effecting Change One Bite at A Time, and Empowering Youth Organizations Leading the Charge. For more information, and to register, click here or phone 402.960.5689.
NO MORE EMPTY POTS FOOD SUMMIT . . . Saturday, February 27, 2010, 8:00am to 4:00pm, Family Housing Advisory Services will present a Food Summit at 2401 Lake Street in Omaha. For more information, and to register, e-mail nomoreemptypots [at] gmail [dot] com or phone 402.320.5349.
BIRDING AT DESOTO . . . Sunday, February 28, 2010, Lincoln birder John Carlini will lead a Wachiska Audubon field trip to DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. Omaha birders are invited to meet the Lincoln group at DeSoto Visitor Center, 11:30am, for a short winter hike.
THEATER OF THE OPPRESSED WORKSHOP . . . Theater of the Oppressed is theater with the purpose of engaging the audience and creating change in your community. For background on TO, click here and here. The next Omaha Workshop is Sunday, February 28, 2010, 1:00 to 5:00pm, in the UN-O Milo BailStudent Center,6001 Dodge street. E-mail Colleen O’Doherty, codoherty [at] unomaha [dot] edu for more information.
Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3
IRRIGATION CONFERENCE IN KEARNEY . . . The Central Plains Irrigation Conference and Expo will be February 23rd and 24th, 2010, at the Kearney Holiday Inn. Water management, irrigation systems and equipment are the featured focus. Click here for conference agenda, and to register.
MARKETPLACE CONFERENCE . . . The Fourth Annual Market Place Conference will be February 23 and 24, 2010 at the Ramada Inn, Kearney, Nebraska. Teach-ins will feature inspiring presenters and exhibits lead by staff from the Center for Rural Affairs. There will be abundant networking opportunities with people from around the state and region interested in growing the rural economy. The “Opening Doors to Success” agenda-at-a-glance is here. MarketPlace Registration Information is here.
CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN FARMING . . . “Empowerment of Women in Agriculture” is the theme of this year’s two-day Women in Agriculture Conference Febuary 25 and 26, 2010 at Kearney Holiday Inn. For more information, click here.
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.
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.
We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente