ACTION ALERT ON TAR SANDS IN NEBRASKA . . . As oil flooding into the Gulf of Mexico destroys habitat and livelihoods, the extraction of oil from Canadian tar sands deposits is having a similar impact on fragile ecosystems and communities deep in the North American interior. Learn about “the most destructive project on Earth,” threatening Nebraska’s Ogallala Aquifer, here. “This proposed route through Nebraska is guaranteed to decimate and destroy a huge amount of fragile rare habitat that is vulnerable,” warns Buffalo Bruce, Platte Valley Group Conservation Chair. Click here for the pipeline map through Nebraska, and the Sierra Club statement in opposition to this project. The most recent Lincoln Journal-Star letter to the editor, “Danger to water supply,” is here. Learn about this proposed project, and make online comments of concern to the Department of State here. The comment deadline has been extended to Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Meanwhile, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. Read “Help Save the Earth, Time to Subsitute Hemp for Oil” here.
Lincoln area: Congressional District 1
VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, from noon to 1:00pm, Nebraskans for abolition of the death penalty meet in front of the governor’s mansion, 1425 H Street, Lincoln. The lunch-hour presence reminds 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 information about Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, click here.
LINCOLN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE . . . The city-county Planning Department will spend the next 12 to 18 months updating the Comprehensive and long-range transportation plans. Community outreach has begun with a survey posted through June, here. The first public meeting will be Tuesday, June 8, 2010, 2:30 to 4:30pm, in council chambers, County-City Building, 555 South 10th Street. Click here for more information, or phone the Planning Department at 402.441.7491.
WORLD OCEANS DAY . . . Tuesday, June 8, 2010, World Oceans Day, HuffingtonPostGreen invites readers and friends to brainstorm and discuss helping with the Gulf coast oil blowout on Tuesday, 8:00pm, at Sur Tango, 1228 P Street, Lincoln. Click here for details of the HuffPost Meetups Everywhere.
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.
TOUR DE FARM NEBRASKA 2010 . . . This year’s Tour De Farm Nebraska day-trip will be Saturday, June 12th. The intermediate level biking tour from Lincoln to Raymond and back to Lincoln starts at Indigo Bridge Books, 701 P Street, 9:00am, stopping at Common Good Farm for lunch and a walking tour, then on to Branched Oak Farm for an afternoon treat, and supper at Pepe’s Veggie Mex Bistro. For more information click here, or contact Ruth, 402.783.9005, or farmers [at] commongoodfarm [dot] com. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
GARDEN TOURS . . . The Garden Club of Lincoln will host free public tours of six gardens on Saturday, June 12, 2010, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Breakfast in Bethany Park, from 7:30 to 9:00am, at the shelter house, 65th and Vine Streets, will start the day. Click here to find addresses for the six gardens under “If you go.”
WATERFEST . . . Saturday, June 12, 2010, Lincoln will host the third annual Waterfest at Holmes Lake Park. The free celebration, from 5:00 to 8:00pm, will feature fishing, canoeing, a raptor release, educational exhibits, refreshments and prizes, plus a performance by PANgea. Click here to learn more about the event.
FWP POTLUCK PICNIC . . . Friends of Wilderness Park will host a summer potluck picnic Sunday, June 13, 2010, starting at noon in the Day Camp Area north of First and Calvert Streets, Lincoln. Bring food to share and your own dishes. Everyone is welcome.
LINCOLN FARMERS MARKETS . . . Locally grown produce and baked goods are now available at Lincoln Farmers Markets five of the seven week days.
Saturdays through October 9th, the Haymarket Farmers Market will be open from 8:00am to noon. The Old Cheney Road Garden Market at 55th Street and Old Cheney Road (behind the Lincoln Racquet Club) is open from 10:00am to 2:00pm every Sunday through November 7th. Other Lincoln Markets include
— Havelock Farmers Market, behind the businesses at 62nd and 63rd Streets and Havelock Avenue, Wednesdays 3:00 to 6:30pm, May 5 to October 27th.
— Piedmont Farmers Market, 1265 South Cotner Blvd. Saturdays 8:00am to noon, May 15 to September 18. Vendor spots available. Call Randy Nelsen at 467-2777.
— The Mid-Week Haymarket Farmers Market, 12th and R streets. Tuesdays in June from 5:00 to 7:00pm, in conjunction with Jazz in June.
— Centennial Mall Garden Market, 14th and M streets, east side of the Nebraska State Office building. Wednesdays noon to 4:00pm, July 7 to August 25th.
— Community Crops Farmers Market, Pentzer Park, 27th and Potter (2 blocks north of 27th and Holdrege), Thursdays, 4:30-7:30pm, June 3 through September 30, 2010.
— Backyard Farmer’s Market and Exchange, Tuesdays, 4:30 to 7:30pm, in the St. Paul United Church of Christ parking lot at 1302 “F” Street, June 1st through September 28, 2010.
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 “Tapped,” a documentary that examines the role of the bottled water industry and its effects on our health, climate change, pollution, and our reliance on oil. Watch the trailer here. Food and drink is available. A lively discussion follows each showing. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.
PROGRESSIVE OMAHA . . . The next Progressive Omaha meeting will be Saturday, June 12, 2010, 6:00 to 9:00pm, at 4924 Chicago in Dundee. The speaker will be social justice advocate Wendy Bechtel. There will be a potluck from 6:00 to 7:00, followed by the speaker until 8:00pm, and business meeting/social time until 9:00pm. Progressive Omaha provides information, education and support to people and groups through a website, speakers bureau, film festival, calendar of events, and monthly meetings. All progressives are welcome. For more information, e-mail kabrams123 [at] cox [dot] net
BENSON SUMMERFEST . . . Saturday, June 12, 2010, the Benson Business Association will sponsor the 2010 Benson SummerFest on Maple Street between 59th and 63rd Streets. The all-day event will start with a Pancake Feed, 8:00 to 10:30am, and a Farmer’s Market from 8:00 to noon. An Outdoor Concert featuring various bands will be from noon to 8:30pm, an Art and Crafts Show will run from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and there will be Music After Dark featuring 18 bands at eight venues from 9:00pm to midnight. Click here for schedule, map, vendors and bands.
OMAHA FARMERS MARKETS . . .Global research confirms food choices contribute the highest percentage to our carbon footprint; even more than transportation. The advantages of shopping locally go far beyond environmental impact. Farmers markets are the best way to choose local. Click here for a list of Omaha area Farmers Markets including Benson, Bellevue, Papillion, Auburn, Beemer, Bennington, Falls City, Plattsmouth, and Wayne, Nebraska; Glenwood, Council Bluffs, and Griswold, Iowa.
Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3
BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL . . . . Farmers Markets have begun again, 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 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