LINCOLN CANDIDATES DEBATES . . . The League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County will host four debates for candidates on the ballot in the May 5 general election from 4:15 to 8:00pm, Monday April 20, 2009, in the Bevins Family Life Center of St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 M Street, Lincoln. Click here for a schedule of the debates. Click here for bios and Q&A with candidates.
VOTE EARLY . . . Early/absentee voting for the May 5 Lincoln City General Election begins Monday, April 20, 2009. An early/absentee ballot request form is available here. To vote early by mail, fill out the form and return it to the Lancaster County Election Commissioner’s Office, 601 North 46 Street, Lincoln, NE 68503. Or call the election office before 4:00pm April 29, 441.7311, and have an early/absentee ballot request form mailed or faxed. Voters also can vote early in person at 601 North 46th, Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.
RENEWABLE ENERGY & NEBRASKA’S FUTURE . . . Monday, April 20, 2009, a new documentary produced by students of the UN-L College of Journalism & Mass Communications, “Renewable Energy & Nebraska’s Future,” will premiere at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, 313 North 13th Street, Lincoln. There will be a 6:30pm pre-screening discussion with students behind the project. The film will be followed by an 8:00pm conversation about renewable energy with Congressman Jeff Fortenberry.
HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS . . . Elena Dodd, Vermont playwright/actress, continues her Nebraska tour presenting a one-woman show “Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” on Monday, April 20, 7:00pm at Doane College, Sheldon Hall, CRETE; Thursday, April 23, 1:30-2:30pm at the Nebraska Supreme Court, 2nd floor of the state capitol building, LINCOLN (public performance); and Saturday, April 25, 10:00am, at the Holiday Inn, 9th & O Streets, LINCOLN, followed by a noon lunch. For lunch reservations, phone Bob Haller, 402.488.4258, or e-mail mshortt [at] inebraska [dot] com.
SOLAR ENERGY OUTREACH . . . International solar energy expert Richard Komp, Executive Director, Skyheat Associates, continues to bring solar energy education to Nebraska at the following OMAHA events: TUESDAY, April 21, Noon and 1:00pm – Two, one-hour “edutainment” lectures at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center, hosted by UNO’s Maverick Productions.TUESDAY, April 21, 7:00-9:00pm – Public lecture at El Museo Latino, 4701 South 25 Street. WEDNESDAY, April 22, 7:00-9:00pm – Progressive Omaha Film Group, McFoster’s Natural Kind Café, 38th and Harney. THURSDAY, April 23, 6-9:30pm – Public lecture at King Science Center, 3720 Florence Blvd., with the Omaha Astronomy Club. Viewing on football field after lecture. FRIDAY, April 24, 6:30-9:00pm – Public lecture, Lewis & Clark Jr. High School, 6901 Burt. SATURDAY, April 25, 9:00am-4:30pm – Energy education seminar and public outreach at Beveridge Magnet Center, 1616 South 120 Street.
LINCOLN CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES FORUM . . . Wachiska Audubon, the Bluestem Group of Sierra Club, Friends of Wilderness Park, and the Nebraska League of Conservation Voters will co-sponsor a forum for City Council candidates in the May election on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 7:00pm, at the Lincoln Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street. The public is invited to participate and to submit questions at the forum, or in advance to Mike Carlin, mcarlin [at] neb [dot] rr [dot] com.
POISONED WATERS . . . FRONTLINE examines the rising hazards to human health and the ecosystem in a new documentary, “Poisoned Waters,” Tuesday, April 21, 2009, from 8:00 to 10:00pm Central Time, on PBS. View a trailer here.
ENERGY STIMULUS PROGRAMS . . . Informational sessions on Nebraska energy assistance programs will be held from Tuesday, April 21 through Thursday, April 23, 2009 in Scottsbluff, Kearney and Ashland, Nebraska. Click here for times and location details.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION AT WESLEYAN . . . Greens will host a table at the Nebraska Wesleyan University Earth Day celebration Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 10:00am to 1:00pm. The Celebration will be located between the Story Student Center and the Smith Curtis Administration Building at NWU. Contact Environmental Action’s Heather Bearnes by phone at 402.360.1482, or e-mail hbearnes [at] nebrwesleyan [dot] edu for more information.
LINCOLN GREEN DRINKS . . . Green Drinks, the international social network of environmentally interested activists and friends, will meet in Lincoln Wednesday, April 22, 2009, from 5:30pm to close, at Lazlo’s Brewery and Grill, 210 North 7th Street, in the Haymarket. Green Drinks is now active in 488 cities worldwide.
THE ELEVENTH HOUR . . . Leonardo DiCaprio’s “The 11th Hour” is a documentary concerning Our environmental crises. The 11th Hour is the last moment when change is possible. The film will be shown in Lincoln on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 7:30 and 9:30pm, at the former State Theater, now Bourbon Theater, 1415 O Street. View the trailer 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 event will feature solar energy expert Richard Komp. 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.
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.
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. 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.
“BORDERLANDS PROTECTION” . . . For over ten years, the United States government has implemented a border policy that is resulting in destruction of unique habitat along the US/Mexican border. Omaha Sierra Club will meet Thursday, April 23, 2009, 7:00pm, at First United Methodist Church, 69th & Cass Streets, to view the short film Wild vs. Wall. Following the film, questions and concerns will be discussed with Omaha native Sean Sullivan, Chair of the Sierra Club Borderlands Team. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, phone Mary Green at 556.1830, or e-mail mary [dot] green [at] nebraska [dot] sierraclub [dot] org.
EARTH DAY AT UN-L . . . The UNL annual Earth Day Festival will be Friday, April 24, 2009, 10:00am to 5:00pm on the green space north of the City Campus Union. In case of rain, space has been reserved inside the Union. The goal of the Festival is to educate about environmental issues and celebrate The Earth. Stop by the Nebraska Green Party table and introduce yourself!
NETWORK WITH NONPROFIT LEADERS . . . The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands presents “Connect. Promote. Strengthen. A Nonprofits Guide to Building Capacity,” from 9:00 to 11:00am, Friday, April 24, 2009 at the Lincoln Community Foundation, 215 Centennial Mall South, #100, Lincoln. For details, click here.
RETURNED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS MEET IN LINCOLN . . . Friday, April 24, 2009, returned Peace Corps volunteers will meet at 7:30pm for dinner at The Bread and Cup, on the corner of 8th & S Streets in Lincoln’s Haymarket, 440 North 8th, Suite 150. The dinner is open to all for discussion of current events and Green politics. For more information, or to carpool from Omaha, e-mail bobbygoetschkes [at] hotmail [dot] com, or phone 402.326.1775.
OMAHA EARTH DAY . . . The Omaha Earth Day Festival in Elmwood Park, 808 South 60th Street, will be Saturday, April 25, 2009, noon to 8:00pm. The event was rescheduled because of weather. The free Festival will feature family-friendly booths, exhibitions, displays, music and food.
AWAKENING THE DREAMER SYMPOSIUM . . . Click here to watch a four minute video about this “Symposium designed to accelerate the Great Turning to a just and sustainable world.” Participants are invited to “reconnect with their deep concern for Our world, and are empowered to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on Earth,” Saturday, April 25, 2009, 9:00am to 1:00pm, at Unity Church of Omaha, 3424 North 90th Street. For more information, click here.
ACLU ANNUAL . . . The 2009 ACLU Nebraska Annual Dinner will be Saturday, April 25, 6:00pm, at the Holiday Inn Downtown, 141 North Ninth Street, Lincoln. Keynote Speaker will be Lucas Guttentag, founding national director of the Immigrants’ Rights Project. Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest will receive the Roger Baldwin Civil Libertarian of the Year Award, Christy Abraham will receive the Robert M. Spire Founders Service Award, and Nelson Potter will receive the Defender of the Bill of Rights Award. For reservations, phone 402.476.8091, or e-mail mmoslander [at] aclunebraska [dot] org by Friday, April 24th.
CENTRAL NEBRASKA PEACE WORKERS MONTHLY MEETING . . . This month’s regular CNPW meeting is Sunday, April 26, 2009, 3:00pm, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 511 North Elm Street, GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska. Greens and all peace workers welcome. For more information, contact Mena Sprague, mine71 [at] hughes [dot] net.
INTERNATIONAL SEED DAY . . . The Green Party endorses International Seeds Day, (pdf) Sunday, April 26, 2009, calling for the repeal of Order 81 making Iraqi farmers dependent on US firms. ISD, organized by the Institute of Near Eastern & African Studies, will educate the public and media about the importance of biodiversity and seed saving; the dangers of genetically modified food and patent seeds; the ruinous effect of Order 81 on Iraqi agriculture; and the growing resistance to the power of giant agribusinesses over seed resources. The Green Party supports the right of farmers to save their own seeds and preserve the heritage that farmers have developed over thousands of years to sustain human populations. Greens support protection for small farms, farmers’ markets, and organically and locally grown produce in the US and around the world. The Green Party opposes genetic modification of organisms used for food and supports legislation to protect the public from threats to biodiversity from seed stocks created by corporations. • “The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?” Click here for video and text.
PALESTINE FOCUS . . . A noon potluck benefit to help support Christian Peacemaker Team member Jessica Frederick will be Sunday, April 26, 2009, at the Mennonite church, 7300 Holdrege Street, Lincoln. At 10:45am, Dr. Gordon Brubacher will speak on Occupied Palestine from his academic and personal experiences in the area. Following the noon meal, Jessica will update her work with CPT. Lincoln Palestinians Sam and Fay Ismail will also be part of the discussion. Click here for details.
SPRING ON THE PRAIRIE . . . Sunday, April 26, 2009, 1:00 to 5:00pm, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center will host an Open House and walks through the prairie’s trails. Light refreshments will be served in the Center.
LEDGES STATE PARK DAY HIKE . . . Sunday, April 26, 2009, there will be an organized day hike at Ledges State Park near the Des Moines River. The hike will cover a mix of prairie and woodlands, starting near Inspiration Point. Carpools can be arranged. E-mail Bob Goetschkes, bobbygoetschkes [at] hotmail [dot] com, or phone 402.614.4788 for more information and to rsvp.
We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente