VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . The 2009 Nebraska Legislature has given first round approval to LB 36, a bill to establish lethal injection as the method of execution by the State, rejecting abolition. Click here to find out how your senator voted. Thank your senator, or express disappointment, accordingly. Click here (pdf) for senators’ contact information, listed alphabetically, and by district. Vigil with Nebraskans against the death penalty every Monday, noon to 1:00pm, in front of the governor’s mansion, 1425 H Street, Lincoln. Join vigilers for a few minutes, or the hour. In case of bad weather, meet inside the State Capitol Building at the ground floor information desk. To contact Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, phone 402.477.7787.

EMPTY BOWLS LUNCHEON . . . The 7th Lincoln Food Bank Empty Bowls Luncheon will be Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Embassy Suites, 1014 P Street. Lincoln’s finest restaurants are participating in this annual fundraiser. As always, ticket price includes an original hand-crafted bowl from Down Under Pottery.  For more information, and to reserve tickets, phone Cheri Lawrence at the Food Bank, 466.8170, extension 106, or click here.

CENTRAL NEBRASKA PEACE WORKERS VIGIL . . . The regular monthly CNPW Vigil for Peace is Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 5:30PM, at State Street and Webb Road in Grand Island. Join Greens and Peace Workers for a few minutes, or for the hour, from 5:00 to 6:00pm.

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. 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 GREEN DRINKS . . . Omaha Green Drinks will meet from 5:30pm to close, Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at Whole Foods Market, 10020 Regency Circle, in the education room by restaurant seating–across from the coffee bar. Green Drinks is an international social network of environmentalists, now active in 509 cities worldwide.

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 End of America.  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 BIKETACULAR . . . Saturday, May 30, 2009, 9:00am to 5:00pm, the City of Lincoln, and Near South and Everett Neighborhood Associations will host the first Biketacular south of the State Capitol Building. The free event will include food, a bike rodeo, mechanical checks and licensing, races and a 12:15pm kids bike parade. For more information, or to volunteer help making children’s bike decorations for the parade, phone Jon Carlson at 402.441.7224.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION . . . An Omaha Community Conversation discussing comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation will be Saturday, May 30, 2009, 2:00pm, at the W. Dale Clark Downtown Library, 215 South 15th Street. For more information, call or e-mail Justin Huck, 402.779.6120, justin [dot] huck [at] climateprotect [dot] org.

CENTRAL NEBRASKA PEACE WORKERS MONTHLY MEETING . . . This month’s regular CNPW meeting is Sunday, May 31, 2009, 3:00pm, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 511 North Elm Street, GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska (east basement door). The DVD “Life in Occupied Palestine, eye witness stories & photos”  by Anna Baltzer will be viewed. Greens and all peace workers are welcome. For more information, e-mail Mena Sprague, mine71 [at] hughes [dot] net, or phone 308.754.4901.

UNION FREEDOM RIDE . . . Unions across Nebraska are hosting a Union Freedom Ride to raise awareness in support of the Employee Free Choice Act on Sunday, May 31, 2009, 9:00am to 5:00pm, starting with registration at the UFCW Hall, 2308 South Locus in Grand Island. Motorcycle riders and cars in caravan will leave Grand Island at 10:00am for a press event in Lincoln at Senator Nelson’s office, 11:45am, then head north to lunch at the UFCW Hall in Fremont, 2410 North Colorado Street, and on to Omaha for a rally at 9900 Nicholas Street, 3:15 to 3:45pm. From 4:00 to 6:00pm there will be a Ride Celebration at Clancy’s West, 777 North 114 Street, Omaha. Riders and non-riders are welcome. To register online, click here.

BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL. . . . Farmer’s Markets are back. Click here for a complete list of Lincoln’s eight regular Markets. Join the local food revolution by shopping farmer’s markets in your own community. And join 43 million Americans who will grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs, and berries in home gardens this year.

We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente