EARTH CIRCLE . . . On the first day of each month, people around the world stop for five minutes to visualize peace and focus on new levels of kindness, understanding, and compassion necessary for collectively facing the challenges of the 21st century. NewDimensions invites peacemakers everywhere to join at 4:00pm Greenwich Mean Time, 10:00am in Lincoln and Omaha, 9:00am in District 3 where Mountain Time begins, Thursday, April 1, 2010, with the intention of deep healing for the Planet and all its people. Click here for more information about Earth Circle. Shared intention is a powerful force.
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, April 3, 2010, 10:00am, at Bess Dodson Walt Branch City Library, 6701 South 14th Street. Opponents object to the proposed location for 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.
The proposed site is highly contaminated with toxic railyard waste. The City of Lincoln will be assuming liability for cleaning up ground contaminated with 130 years of toxins. The railroads will have no clean-up responsibility after this proposed deal. It is very unlikely that $7.5 million allotted for cleanup will be adequate, to mention nothing of $20 million per year in interest the City will owe on the bond for 30 years. This raises the cost to $755 million with interest, without added contamination clean-up costs.
Speakers on both sides of the issue will answer questions Thursday, April 1, on 1400AM radio, between 4:30 and 6:00pm. No2Arena spokespeople will be on 1240AM at 11:00am, Friday, April 2, 2010. Click here for the most recent Lincoln Journal Star article, “Grass-roots group opposes downtown Lincoln arena.” There is no Plan B. Cindy Lange-Kubick’s column addressed to the Mayor, “What’s your Plan B?” is here. Click here for Deena Winter’s coverage of “Who’s who in the downtown Lincoln arena plan.” Readers are invited to send questions about the arena to citydesk [at] journalstar [dot] com. Click here, phone Kathy at 402.202.8153, or e-mail KathyKBD [at] aol [dot] com to learn more and volunteer help. No2Arena yard signs and bumper stickers are now available, at Saturday morning meetings, or by phoning 488.8519. Click here to become a “Vote NO to Lincoln’s Haymarket Arena” Facebook fan. SAVE THE HAYMARKET.
VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, noon to 1:00pm, Nebraskans for abolition of the death penalty meet in front of the governor’s mansion, 1425 H Street, Lincoln, from noon to 1:00pm. The lunch-hour presence reminds senators and the governor 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 more information about Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, click here.
PUBLIC MEETING ON 14TH & SUPERIOR PLANS . . . Lincoln residents are invited to a public meeting on the proposed design of the North 14th and Superior Street intersection, Monday, March 29, 2010, from 5:30-7:30pm, at Lincoln North Star High School, 5801 North 33rd Street. A presentation will begin at 6:00pm. Two design options exist — expand the intersection by adding lanes in all directions, or construct a multi-lane roundabout. Comments, questions and opinions from the public will be addressed at the meeting, and also may be shared here. If you have questions but are unable to attend, contact John Olsson at 402.458.5614.
EARTH DAY 2010 . . . Lincoln 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, 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.
THE SACRED PLANET . . . Internationally recognized professor Joseph Runzo, will visit UN-L Wednesday, March 31, through Friday, April 2, 2010, for a series of talks on human rights. The North American premiere showing of his documentary “The Sacred Planet,” will be at The Ross, 313 North 13th Street, Wednesday, 7:00pm, followed by a discussion. Other Lincoln speaking appearances include a Wednesday discussion, 4:00pm, at the Nebraska Union, 1400 R Street; and a Friday, 12:10pm, presentation on his global project “Revising Just War Theory for the 21st Century,” at the College of Law Room 111, Ross McCollum Hall, East Campus Loop and Fair Street. All appearances, including the film screening, are open to the public free of charge.
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.
NPR’S ROB GIFFORD AT LIED . . . “China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power” is the title of the final E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues by National Public Radio correspondent Rob Gifford, Thursday, April 1, 2010, 7:00pm, at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 North 12th Street, Lincoln. In his recently published book, “China Road,” he records a two-month journey along Route 312, the Chinese equivalent of Route 66. The 3,000 mile highway witnesses every part of China’s social and economic revolution. The book is based upon a seven-part radio series Gifford filed. Tickets are free, but guarantee a reserved seat. Call 402.472.4747 or 800.432.3231 to reserve a seat, pick up tickets in person, or order here.
THINK SPRING GARDENING WORKSHOP . . . Hawley Area Association in the Malone Neighborhood presents a spring gardening workshop “From Mowing to Growing: Starting a Garden at Home” with Amy Brt, Community Garden Program Manager, Saturday, April 3, 2010, 10:00am to noon, at the Malone Community Center, 2032 U Street, in Lincoln. There will be a Free Rain Barrel Give-away to the first 50 Hawley/Malone Neighborhood homeowners, plus a “Building your own rain barrel workshop.” Cake and coffee will be served. For more information, contact Tim Rinne, 730.6675, or walterinne [at] gmail [dot] com.
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.
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 “Hidden in Plain Sight: Prostitution in Nebraska.” A timely documentary produced locally, Hidden in Plain Sight offers insight into an invisible community. 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.
TAPPED . . . Friday, April 2, 2010, The Environmental Club of UNO (EC UNO) and Repower Nebraska are hosting a free public screening of the film TAPPED, a documentary examining the big business of bottled water. From the producers of Who Killed the Electric Car and I.O.U.S.A., this timely film is a behind-the-scenes look into the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that ought never become a commodity: our water. The screening is at UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) Auditorium, Room 101, 6:30pm. TAPPED’s Producer Sarah Olson, and Director Stephanie Soechtig, will collect pledges to reduce bottled water use and trade empty plastic water bottles for reusable stainless steel Klean Kanteens. The bottle exchange will begin at 5:00pm. For more information, contact Eric Williams, Repower Nebraska, eric.williams [at] climateprotect [dot] org, 415.7933; or Patrick Wheeler, GreenUNO Task Force, pwheeler [at] unomaha [dot] edu, 554.3921.
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. Click here for “Taking Flight,” a Sunday, March 28, 2010 Lincoln Journal Star feature story on Nebraska’s Sandhill Cranes.
LOCAL FARMING DISCUSSION . . . Over the last several years, there has been a major change in the demand for local foods. Tuesday, March 30, 2010, beginning at 6:00pm, central and western Nebraskans are invited to The Wolbach Community Center in Wolbach to learn about and discuss ways small farmers can fill this new demand. Roy Guisinger will describe how the Nebraska Food Coop works, Lori Fisher will show a Mobile Meat Harvester Unit, Kevin Fulton and Jim Knopik will introduce an internship program being developed, and there will be time for discussion and networking. EveryOne interested in alternatives to factory farming and industrialized food is welcome. For more information, phone Jim Knopik, 308.536.2023, or Kevin Fulton, 308.446.2520.
QUESTION SENATOR JOHANNS . . . Senator Mike Johanns will be hold public meetings and open events across the state according to the following schedule. Tuesday, March 30, 2010: 7:30am MDT, Emporium Coffee House and Cafe, 1818 1st Avenue, Scottsbluff; 10:00am MDT, Alliance Knight Museum, 908 Yellowstone Avenue, Alliance; 2:30pm MDT, Buffalo Point Restaurant, 638 Cabela Drive, Sidney; 4:45pm MDT, Chappell Fire Hall , East Highway 30, Chappell; 7:00 pm MDT, Valentino’s, 55 River Road, Ogallala. Wednesday, March 31, 2010: 8:00am MDT, Bunkhouse Bar and Grill, 306 Fir Street, Arthur; 10:00am MDT, Hyannis High School, 203 Grant Avenue, Hyannis; 12:00pm MDT, Red’s Cafe, 404 NW First Street, Mullen; 6:00pm CDT, Tumbleweed Cafe, 850 East South East Street, Broken Bow. Thursday, April 1, 2010: 8:00am CDT, Business Roundtable at Xpanxion Office, 652 N Street, Loup City; 11:00am CDT, The Sweet Shoppe, 605 Howard Avenue, St. Paul; 12:30pm CDT, Fullerton High School, 606 4th Street, Fullerton; 2:30 pm CDT, Dusters Restaurant, 2804 13th Street, Columbus.
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 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 the GoodSearch toolbar, 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