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, on Thursday, July 1, 2010, with the intention of deep healing for the Planet and all its people. Click here for more information about Earth Circle.
TAR SANDS COMMENTS DEADLINE FRIDAY . . . As oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico destroys habitat and livelihoods, the extraction of oil from Canadian tar sands is having a similar impact on fragile ecosystems and communities deep in the North American interior, but another environmental disaster can still be averted if enough people speak up. Learn about “the most destructive project on Earth” threatening our region’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,” says Buffalo Bruce, Platte Valley Group Conservation Chair. Click here for a map of the pipeline through Nebraska, and Sierra’s statement in opposition to “An Oil Disaster We Can Still Stop.” Click here for a 1:33 minute video and action alert to “Stop the Tar Sands.”
Letters and editorials published this week include “Share your concerns;” “TransCanada pipeline plan threatens the Sand Hills;” and “Pipeline promotes possible tragedy.” A Sunday, June 27, 2010 Omaha World Herald article indicates two members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation are raising concerns. 50 Members of Congress Warn State Department Against Rubberstamping 2,000-Mile Oil Sands Pipeline. “Tar Sands Poised to Become the Next Fossil Fuels Disaster” reports on how the project would impact other states as well as Nebraska, and includes a photo of the impact a Syncrude operation has had on the Canadian landscape. Click here for June 25th coverage of Syncrude’s conviction of provincial and federal charges in the deaths of 1,600 ducks that got sucked into the slime of the company’s tar sands tailing pond in 2008.
Make online comments to the Department of State here. E-mail comments to xlpipelineproject@state.gov Contact Nebraska Congressional Representatives: Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, 1517 Longworth House Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515, 202.225.4806, 402.438.1598 (Lincoln); Rep. Lee Terry, 1524 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515, 202.225.4155, 402.397.9944 (Omaha); Rep. Adrian Smith, 503 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515, 202.225.6435, 888.ADRIAN7 (Toll Free); and Governor Dave Heineman, PO Box 94848, State Capitol Bldg., Lincoln, NE 68509, 402.471.2244.
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 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 FARMERS MARKETS . . . Locally grown produce and baked goods are 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
LGBT RIGHTS PROGRAM . . . Tuesday, June 29, 2010, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail will host UN-L’s Pat Tetreault, Assistant Director of Student Involvement for LGBTQA Programs & Services, discussing defining moments in the history of human rights at the Carl T. Curtis National Park Service Building, 601 Riverfront Drive, Omaha, 7:00pm. The free program will feature a film highlighting gay and lesbian rights, and a panel of speakers who will share what it’s like to be a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered person in Nebraska.
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.
COLLECTIVE ACTION NEEDED . . . There will be a discussion about how to unite against the Keystone XL Pipeline and preserve Nebraska’s fragile eco-system on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 6:30 to 8:00pm at W. Dale Clark Library, 215 South 15th Street, Omaha. Without collective action, the Keystone Pipeline will be extended to carry oil from tar sands in Canada directly across Nebraska. For a map of the Ogallala Aquifer, and contact information for further details, click here.
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 “Medieval Lives (The Monks, The philosopher).” This Terry Jones adventure series is focused on the medieval world. For more information, click here. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.
GOglbt NETWORK MEETING . . . The mission of Greater Omaha GLBT Professionals Network is to advance growth and equality for its members, businesses and allies by providing educational, networking, and community-building activities. The GOglbt Backyard Summer Social will be Thursday, July 1, 2010, 5:30pm, at 319 South 53rd Street, hosted by Gary and Shelley Kiel. Click here for more information.
OMAHA PRIDE PARADE . . . “One candle in the darkness ignited hope—25 Years of Nebraska Pride,” is the theme of this year’s Omaha Pride Parade from approximately 10:00am to noon on Saturday, July 3, 2010, starting at 10th & Pacific Streets. Email tyler [at[ tylerrichard [dot] com if you’d like to march with the Pro-Choice Coalition.
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
CENTRAL NEBRASKA PEACEWORKERS VIGIL . . . The CNPW June Peace Vigil at State Street and Webb Road in Grand Island, is Wednesday, June 30, 2010, from 5:00 to 6:00pm. Stop by for the hour, or as long as you wish. Signs are provided, or you may bring your own.
PRE-REGISTER BY FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2010 . . . The third annual Blossoms, Butterflies & Birds Tour will be Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at the Northeast Nebraska Resource Conservation & Development Council Office, 702 East Park Avenue, Plainview, Nebraska, from 8:15am to 2:00pm. The tour includes speakers, transportation, a fried chicken picnic lunch with the Amish, seldom traveled back roads, and exclusive butterfly destinations. Pre-register by July 2nd at 402.582.4866 or northeastrcd [at] plvwtelco [dot] net
BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL . . . . Farmers, gardeners, and craftspeople 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