March 20, 2010 is the seventh anniversary of the criminal war of aggression launched by Bush and Cheney against Iraq. One million or more Iraqis have died. Tens of thousands of U.S. troops have lost their lives or been maimed, and continue to suffer enduring related problems. People from all over the country are organizing to converge on Washington, D.C. for a National March & Rally to protest the ongoing wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Click here for coverage from TruthOut. Click here for an Endorsers List. Click here for more information. There will be coinciding mass marches on March 20 in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Details about Omaha’s Rally are below in Congressional District 2 Green Notes.
Lincoln area: Congressional District 1
NEW ARENA OR NO NEW ARENA IN PROPOSED LOCATION? . . . Opponents of a proposed $344 million arena plan subsidized by Lincoln taxpayers will meet Saturday, March 20, 2010, 10:00am, at the Charles H. Gere Branch City Library, 2400 South 56th Street. Opponents object to the proposed location for many clearly documented reasons: Lack of fiscal responsibility–The City of Lincoln will increase it’s debt burden tremendously; destruction of the historic Landmark District environment, a vibrant creative downtown mixed residential/commercial neighborhood; disregard for the designated flood plain of the Salt Creek area; lack of environmental vision for more sustainable/green urban development; and the false sense of democracy being promoted with a May 11, 2010 vote on a $25 million bond–only a small part of the $344 million project. “Arena financing 101” Q & A is here. “Where the Devaney fits into arena plans” is here. Listen to an interview with Jane Kinsey of the No2Arena campaign on KZUM, 89.3 FM, Tuesday, March 16, from 6:00 to 7:30pm. No2Arena speakers will also be on KZUM from 11:00pm to midnight on Tuesdays, March 16 and 23rd. Phone 474.5086 during those call-in shows to comment or ask questions. Click here to become a “Vote NO to Lincoln’s Haymarket Arena” Facebook fan. SAVE THE HAYMARKET.
WOMEN’S WELLNESS WORKSHOP . . . “Women’s Wellness Jumpstart: A Path to Holistic Health,” will be held at Pioneers Park Nature Center, Saturday, March 20, 2010, 8:30am to 3:30pm. Activities including yoga, nature walks, presentations on medicinal herbs and reducing stress, plus a vegetarian lunch, are designed to refresh women’s physical, emotional and spiritual well being. The registration deadline is Monday, March 15, 2010. Phone 441.7895 for more information, and to register.
LUNCH AND LEARN . . . Reservations are due by noon Monday, March 15, 2010, for this month’s League of Women Voters “Lunch and Learn” presentation by Andrew Hove, Jr., acting Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, speaking about the current “financial mess” in this country. The event, open to the public, is at the 20th floor US Bank Building, 13th and M Streets, Lincoln. Phone 475.1411 to make reservations, or e-mail lwv-e [at] inebraska [dot] com.
VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, from noon to 1:00pm, Nebraskans for abolition of the death penalty meet at the information desk on the lower level of the State Capitol. The lunch-hour presence reminds senators of a constituency that does not want state killings. Weekly vigils have taken place year-round since July, 1991. All abolitionists are welcome to participate for a few minutes, or the hour. For information about Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, click here.
EARTH DAY 2010 . . . The 40th Anniversary of Earth Day will be celebrated in Lincoln on Saturday, April 24, 2010, 2:00 to 6:00pm at Antelope Park, with evening activities in the Haymarket. 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. To host a booth or exhibit, join a committee and help plan the event, or get involved in any other 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.
SHRINE CIRCUS PROTEST . . . Wednesday, March 17, 2010, there will be a protest of the Shrine Circus. ARAN, Animal Rights Advocates of Nebraska, and other friends of animals, will meet at Pershing Center, 226 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, from 5:45 to 7:30pm. To see more details and RSVP, follow the Facebook link here.
GARDENING LECTURES . . . Best-selling writer Amy Stewart, author of four books on botany and nature, will give two public lectures Thursday, March 18, 2010, at Southeast Community College Continuing Education Center, 301 South 68th Street Place, in Lincoln. “Wicked Plants: The Deliciously Dark Side of the Plant Kingdom,” will be at 4:00pm, and “The Global Garden: Connecting the World of Horticulture to Your Own Backyard,” will be at 7:00pm. Phone 437.2700 to register. Registration is encouraged. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
REOPENING EVENT . . . The Nebraska League of Conservation Voters will host a reopening event Friday, March 19, 2010, 5:00 to 8:00pm, at Zen’s Lounge, 122 North 11 Street, Lincoln. All are welcome to meet the new Executive Director, and help support the reopened office with a suggested donation of $20, $10 for students.
SPRING CREEK PRAIRIE EVENT . . . “In Search of a Season: A Spring Treasure Hunt,” will be Saturday, March 20, 2010, 9:00am to noon, at Spring Creek Prairie, a 808-acre tallgrass nature preserve located 20 minutes southwest of Lincoln. The event is designed for teams of two to ten, outfitted with a map and clues for finding treasures hidden along the trail. Starting times for teams are every 20 minutes. Pre-register for a starting time schedule by Thursday, March 18, and learn more by calling 402.797.2301.
FRIENDS OF WILDERNESS PARK MEETING . . . “The Native Plants of Wilderness Park” will be presented by writers Kay Young and Robert Klein, “Farmer Bill” Hawkins, and Amy Brt, of Community CROPS, Sunday, March 21, 2010, 3:00pm, at the Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street in Lincoln. Leadplant Tea will be served. The presentation is free and open to the public. Contact Rosina Paolini with any questions at 402.423.1260.
THE VISION OF HOPE . . . Is excessive military force the answer, or can love play a part? “The Vision of Hope,” a thirty-four panel art exhibit, is on display in the 2nd floor hallway at First-Plymouth Church, 2000 D St Lincoln, NE. The free exhibit is open to the public and sponsored by the First-Plymouth Peace and Justice Team.
Omaha area: Congressional District 2
FINDING OUR VOICE AS PROGRESSIVES . . . An organizing meeting for those interested in helping set up venues to present “Finding Our Voice as Progressives,” workshops based on the book “Don’t Think of an Elephant” by George Lakoff, or helping develop a more general workshop for the public, will be Monday, March 15, 2010, 7:00 pm, 1214 North 34th Street, in Omaha. Click here to learn more. All are welcome.
LEAD AND HEALTHY HOMES CONFERENCE . . . Monday & Tuesday, March 15 & 16, 2010, the Omaha Lead and Healthy Homes Conference will be at the UN-O Milo Bail Student Center, 6001 Dodge Street, beginning at 8:30am both days. Topics include environmental health, resources in the community, and potential problems in the home. For more information, click here to visit the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance website.
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 Democratic Promise: Saul Alinsky & His Legacy.” Alec Baldwin narrates this documentary on the legendary community organizer and his modern-day legacy. For more information, click here. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.
MEL CHIN LECTURE AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOP . . . The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha will host internationally recognized artist Mel Chin for a lecture and community workshop this weekend. Omaha has one of the largest residential Superfund sites in the nation registered by the EPA for contamination from lead. Through his projects, Chin aims to raise awareness, collect funds, and find solutions for the environmental threat of lead-poisoning in cities throughout the United States. His Omaha lecture, “What Mattered THEN, Matters NOW: Part II Projects compelled by Crisis and Dreams Reframed,” will be Friday, March 19, 2010, at 7:00pm. The Community Workshop, “Engaging in a 300 Million Dollar Difference Operation Paydirt and the Fundred Dollar Bill, will be Saturday, March 20, 2010, at 11:00am. Both events are free, open to the public, and will take place at the Omaha Public Schools Teacher Administration Center, 3215 Cuming Street.
WITHDRAW OUR TROOPS SOLIDARITY RALLY . . . Omaha’s “Withdraw Our Overseas Troops Rally” will be from 1:00 to 2:00pm, at 72nd and Dodge Streets, Saturday, March 20, 2010. Join with people across the country rallying to Bring The Troops Home Now! Bring Signs, Drums, Kazoos, and other Methods of Mass Instruction. Click here for more information about the national rally.
Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3
SANDHILL CRANES ARRIVE ON THE PLATTE . . . Nebraska’s annual phenomenon of nature, the arrival of Sandhill Cranes in spectacular numbers, has begun. The Nebraska Nature and Visitor Center, at the Alda exit 305 on Interstate 80, is open daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm, with exhibits, art displays, and two types of guided crane viewing tours. Tour reservations may be made by phone at 308.382.1820.
BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL . . . . Local markets are over for now, 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 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