SCROLL DOWN FOR TRANSCANADA XL PIPELINE UPDATE. News items, and contact information for needed communication with specific elected officials, is below–following Green Notes by Congressional District. Note coverage of the January 5th rally to protest Keystone XL at the State Capitol Building, and the January 15, 2011 action at 72nd & Dodge in Omaha.
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 when weather is good, 1425 H Street, Lincoln. In winter, the vigil is inside the capitol, near the Information Desk. 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.
1/11/11 UNITY EVENT . . . UPDATE: Due to bad weather, the Unity Rally will now take place on WEDNESDAY, 1/19/11, at noon, on the west side of the capitol at the Lincoln statue. Nebraska Green Party joined other progressive groups signing a Unity Statement against an Arizona-style law that would drain resources, diminish public safety, and divide our communities. Tuesday, January 11th, there will be a noon 1/11/11 UNITY event at the state capitol to collectively oppose such a law in Nebraska. Read the Statement here. We are Strongest Together. For more information contact rgonzales [at] neappleseed [dot] org
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.
WACHISKA SPOTLIGHT ON RIVERS . . . Three Nebraska rivers will be the focus of a presentation by Gene Zuerlein, assistant fisheries division administrator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, at the monthly meeting of Wachiska Audubon, Thursday, January 13, 2011, 7:00pm, at the Union College Administration Building, Room 3, 3800 South 48th Street, in Lincoln. Look for Audubon signs on the doors. Zuerlein will spotlight the rich cultural and natural history of the Missouri, Platte, and Niobrara rivers. The public is invited, and refreshments will be served. For more information, call the Wachiska office at 402.486.4846.
PEACEMAKING WORKSHOP XXIV . . . How people of faith can be a strong voice for positive immigration reform, while countering a proposed Arizona-type law in Nebraska, will be the focus of a special Peacemaking Workshop “Influencing Immigration Legislation,” Sunday, January 16, 2011, at First United Methodist Church 50th Street and St. Paul Avenue, in Lincoln. Presenters, starting at 1:30pm, include Rev. Frederic McCullough, speaking on “Current Immigration Policy: a Cultural Sin;” S.A. Mora James, a Latina attorney working on immigration issues in Nebraska, and State Senator Brenda Council, speaking at 4:00pm, on her views about immigration reform and the prospects for an Arizona-style bill in Nebraska. The film “9500 Liberty” will be shown at 6:30pm. Click here for an agenda of the entire event. For more information, phone Bob Reeves, 402.464.1803, or e-mail bobreeves63 [at] yahoo [dot] com
FREE MULCH WHILE IT LASTS . . . Holiday tree recycling has ended, but tree mulch will be distributed free to Lincoln residents while it lasts, beginning Monday, January 10, 2011, 8:00am to 5:00pm weekdays, at 2200 South Folsom Court, Hofeling Enterprises, in Lincoln.
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 a Peace Vigil at 72nd and Dodge Streets. Park next to 72nd Street, in the pet store parking lot. Contact Steve Horn at 402.426.9068 for more information.
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 Devil’s Playground,” a documentary examining Rumspringa, the Amish rite of passage which begins when an Amish child reaches 16 years of age. For more information, click here. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.
PROTEST KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE . . . Guardians of the Good Life will rally to protest the XL tar sands pipeline on Saturday, January 15, 2011, noon to 1:00pm, at 72nd & Dodge, in Omaha. Walk, bike, or carpool to the rally if possible. If you drive, park on the west side of Petco’s parking lot. Help educate and raise awareness of the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline threat to fragile ecosystem of the entire region. The rally will be canceled if there is precipitation or the temperature is below 25 degrees. For more information, e-mail japlapoo [at] netzero [dot] net
END POLICE BRUTALITY . . . Nebraskans for Peace and others are forming a new group called “Victims Against Police Brutality.” Anyone who has been abused by a law enforcement agency is invited to contact Omaha Coordinator Mark Welsch, 402.453.0776 or e-mail NFPOmaha [at] nebraskansforpeace [dot] org. The next regular meeting in support of those who have been terrorized by police will be Saturday, January 15, 2011, Noon until 2:00pm, at the Washington Branch Library, 2868 Ames Avenue, in Omaha.
Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3
KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . Wednesday, January 5, 2011, the 102nd session of the Nebraska Legislature opened. At noon, a coalition of Greens and Supporters, BOLD Nebraska, and members of Nebraska Wildlife Federation, Nebraska Sierra Club, Audubon Nebraska, Guardians of the Good Life, and Nebraskans for Peace joined in solidarity at the State Capitol in Lincoln to rally against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline threatening our land and water. Media coverage of the protest includes the following links compiled by BOLD Nebraska. Facebook pictures on the Bold Nebraska page; Facebook pictures on the Nebraskans for Peace page; Youtube video of rally coverage; NPR/NET radio coverage, including quotes from citizens and state senators; “Pipeline Protest,” NTV story with video; “Lawmakers Feel Heat of Keystone XL Opponents,” Lincoln Journal Star story with pictures and quotes from various citizens, group leaders, state senators and union representatives; “More Than 100 Protest Pipeline,” Omaha World Herald story with pictures, focused on recent threats by TransCanada in addition to rally; “Keystone XL Pipeline Protest,” KNOP North Platte tv coverage with video (towards bottom of page); “Oil Pipeline Legislation,” 10/11 News tv coverage; “Rally Against Keystone XL Pipeline,” blog written by the Nebraska League of Conservation Voters; “Recap: Pipeline Rally Sends Clear Message,” blog written by Bold Nebraska and Nebraskans for Peace including links, video and quotes from the rally.
Save this date: January 29, 2011, 10:00am to 12:30pm. Watch for details about an education forum in Lincoln to keep the momentum going, to train, and get feedback on how to help stop the pipeline and lobby state laws to protect land and water. Find your senator’s web page by name and by District here. Contact information is included for each Senator.
“Risks outweigh pipeline benefits,” a January 4, 2010 letter to the LJS editor from Ellen Beck in Seward, NE, begins “The Seward County League of Women Voters has written to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking that the government deny a permit to build the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline. The Seward league believes it is important for organizations and Nebraska residents to voice opposition to this project.” Carol Smith’s letter, “Tar sands oil devastating,” warns that “While it is true that it would be a needless tragedy to have the pipeline leak into the Ogallala Aquifer, we need to recognize our own personal responsibility for why we need so much oil in the first place. We have the technology to drastically reduce our dependence on all oil, if only we can find the personal courage to do so. Let’s work together to make it happen.” “On Precaution,” by Naomi Klein for Reader Supported News, features photos of Canadian landscapes gutted by tar sands extraction. To get involved with planning XL pipeline opposition strategy, e-mail japlapoo [at] netzero [dot] net
The Natural Resources Defense Council calls tar sands “the dirtiest, most destructive oil on the face of the Earth.” The Keystone XL pipeline would threaten Nebraska’s underground source of fresh water, the 175,000-square-mile High Plains Aquifer, that provides water to 1.9 million people and irrigation for thousands of square miles of farmland throughout eight states. Nebraska’s geologically unique Sand Hills, where many bird species rest during migration, would also be threatened. Read Ken Winston’s November 4, 2010 Tar Sands Pipeline Update for Nebraska Sierra here.
Nebraska has no legislation on the books for regulating the current Keystone I pipeline, nor the proposed XL tar sands pipeline. Nebraska’s Congressional delegation and the governor need to receive letters, e-mails and phone calls from constituents demanding regulation on the existing pipeline, expressing concern about more TransCanada construction in our state. Contact information for Nebraska Congressional Representatives is as follows: Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, CD-1, 1517 Longworth House Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515, 202.225.4806, 402.438.1598 (Lincoln); Rep. Lee Terry, CD-2, 1524 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515, 202.225.4155, 402.397.9944 (Omaha); Rep. Adrian Smith, CD-3, 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. Senator Mike Johanns is at 202.224.4224, 402.476.1400 in Lincoln; and Senator Ben Nelson is at 202.224.6551, 402.441.4600 in Lincoln. Please tell them all that oil pipeline regulations need to be in place, not only to govern the existing pipeline, but also any future pipeline proposed by TransCanada or other environmental exploiters.
Stop the Keystone XL pipeline — call your senators. Unbold Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has the power to approve or reject the Keystone XL pipeline, and your senators can pressure her to stand up to Big Oil and stop it. Help put some needed peer pressure on Secretary Clinton by calling your senators today.
Click here to tell Secretary Clinton NOT to grant a permit to TransCanda, tell Gov. Heineman to put forth laws that protect our resources and economic activity and tell President Obama to live up to his promise of clean energy and energy independence. Click here for a Bold Nebraska XL Pipeline Action page with resources and background information. E-mail actions [at] boldnebraska [dot] org to get yard signs, bumper stickers and t-shirts, or stop by Bold Nebraska at 1141 H Street, 3rd Floor, Lincoln, 10:00am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday. Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Subsitute Hemp for Oil.“
AGENCY SCIENTISTS OPPOSE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SALMON . . . The following quotes are from Fish and Wildlife Service scientists themselves: “The environmental impact of escaped GE salmon is of great concern.” – Gregory Moyer, Regional Geneticist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; “…approval of the proposal is premature, given the unknowns and uncertainties regarding the possible ecological and environmental effects of these fish.” – Jeff Adams, Branch Chief, Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and “…I do think the chance of escapement is huge” – Deborah Burger, Manager, Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ask the President to stopthe GE salmon approval process.
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 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. Bookmark the GoodSearch Homepage, or make it your own Home Page. Enter the url you want in the GoodSearch search box. Each time you do, one penny will be donated to Nebraska Greens. THANK YOU for your support!
We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente