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Green Notes Week of October 21, 2012

October 21, 2012Green Notesgreenone

GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE . . . October 18, 2012, Jill Stein reported “Our arrest went viral in the U.S. We’re trending in Egypt on Twitter. The world is watching. Interview requests are pouring in from around the globe.
On election day, winning 1% of the vote puts us squarely back on the political map. We’ll make history with a win of 3%. And we’re dealing with a total game changer at 5% by unleashing $20 million in public funds for the Green Party’s 2016 presidential bid. Please contribute today. Every dollar will increase our outreach. Thank you for your support. I’m so proud to be part of a campaign owned and operated by supporters like you.”
Amy Goodman wrote “Binders Full of Women, and Two Women Bound,” for Truthdig, October 19th. It begins “You may have noticed that the Green Party presidential candidate, Dr. Jill Stein, was absent from the “town hall” presidential debate at Hofstra University the other night. That’s because she was shackled to a chair in a nearby New York police facility, along with her running mate, Green Party vice president nominee Cheri Honkala. Their crime: attempting to get to the debate so Stein could participate in it. While Mitt Romney uttered the now-famous line that he was given “whole binders full of women” while seeking staff as newly-elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002, the real binders were handcuffs used to shackle these two women, who are mothers, activists and the Green Party’s presidential ticket for 2012.”
Democracy Now! coverage of the arrests, “Green Party Candidates Arrested, Shackled to Chairs For 8 Hours After Trying to Enter Hofstra Debate,” October 17th, quotes Stein’s condemnation of “this mock debate, this mockery of democracy.” Just hours after being released, Stein was in the Democracy Now! studio.
Exclusive: Expanding the Debate with Third-Party Candidates Jill Stein, Virgil Goode, Rocky Anderson, on Democracy Now! October 17th gave Dr. Stein, Goode and Anderson the same amount of time to answer the same questions posed to the corporate candidates. Amy Goodman introduces the expanded debate: “President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney sparred last night in their second of three debates. Today, in a two-hour special, we expand the debate by including the voices of three presidential candidates shut out of the official debate. We are joined by Jill Stein of the Green Party, Constitution Party nominee Virgil Goode, and Justice Party candidate Rocky Anderson. We re-air parts of last night’s presidential debate, pausing the videotape to give third-party candidates a chance to respond to the same questions put to the major-party candidates.”
Another DN! video, “Secret Debate Contract Reveals Obama and Romney Campaigns Exclude Third Parties, Control Questions,” October 16th, reveals “As President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney prepare for their second debate tonight at Hofstra University on Long Island, we speak with George Farah, author of “No Debate: How the Republican and Democratic Parties Secretly Control the Presidential Debates.” The debate will feature questions from the audience that have been pre-selected by moderator Candy Crowley of CNN — a detail revealed when Time magazine published the contract secretly negotiated by the Obama and Romney campaigns and the Commission on Presidential Debates.”
Also from the October 16th Democracy Now!, “Presidential Debates Highlight “Faux Objectivity” of Mainstream Journalists: “The issue is not what separates Romney and Obama, but how much they agree. This hidden consensus has to be exposed,” writes Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald about the presidential debates as he criticizes the recent performances of the debate moderators. Greenwald also criticizes the exclusion of third-party candidates. “Only by excluding those candidates and having the two parties focus on the tiny differences that they have … can this mythology be maintained that we have massive and real choice in this country,” Greenwald says. We also speak to George Farah, author of “No Debate: How the Republican and Democratic Parties Secretly Control the Presidential Debates.”
SEE MEDIA COVERAGE FROM THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN at http://www.jillstein.org/media_coverage.
This coming Monday and Tuesday evening, October 22 and 23, Jill Stein will take part in two real debates. All of the national ballot-qualified presidential candidates have been invited. Larry King, Amy Goodman, Thom Hartmann, and others will moderate. In the real debates, Jill Stein will be talking about the issues neglected in the CPD debates -climate change, civil liberties, drone warfare, drug policy, and the student loan debt, for example.
Monday Oct. 22, Democracy Now!’s expanded online presidential debate: Jill Stein will respond in real time to the same questions as Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Click here for more details.
Tuesday Oct. 23, Broadcast live on Al Jazeera and on the web: Free & Equal’s live online debate with Jill Stein and presidential candidates Gary Johnson (LP), Rocky Anderson (JP), and Virgil Goode (CP), with host Larry King accepting debate questions in advance on Reddit. Click here for more details.
“We need a serious debate focused on energy: Phasing out coal plants, ending mountaintop removal, banning fracking, and halting the Keystone XL pipeline.” –Jill Stein
From “Imagine All the Voters Treating the Green Party like another realistic option,” by Carrie Peyton Dahlberg, North Coast Journal, September 27, 2012, quoting Jill Stein, “To go into the voting booth and vote for either Wall-Street-backed candidate, that is the definition of throwing away your vote.” WRITE-IN JILL STEIN AND CHERI HONKALA IN NEBRASKA. Another U.S. is Possible — Another Party is Necessary.

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1

UNITED NATIONS DAY BANQUET . . . Sunday, October 21, 2012, 6:00pm, the Nebraska Chapter of UNA-USA will present “Global Water, Food Security, and the United Nations,” at the Nebraska Wesleyan University Student Center, 50th and St. Paul, in Lincoln. Keynote Speaker will be Roberto Lenton, Founding Director of the Daugherty Water for Food Program at UN-L. For more information, and to make a reservation, e-mail unanebraska [at] gmail [dot] com.

VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, 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. When weather is bad, 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. “It’s barbaric. It’s outlawed in all but a few extremely repressive countries like Iran, China, and not many others. It’s shameful that it continues to be performed. It’s well established that mistakes are made–yet half of our states practice pre-meditated state-sponsored murder. It’s also known that it’s not effective. So why is it done? Revenge & retribution? That’s not what our justice system is supposed to be about. It’s not an effective deterrent.” –Jill Stein, GP Presidential Nominee.

L.E.S. NEEDS YOUR INPUT . . . Lincoln Electric System is developing an Integrated Resources Plan that will serve as a road map for how LES will provide electricity to Lincoln residents in the future. 85% of Lincoln’s electricity now comes from coal-fired power plants. Do you want more wind? More solar? More energy efficiency? Learn about the LES draft plan, ask questions, and make your voice heard Tuesday, October 23, 7:00pm, on the LES proposed 2013 budget and rate adjustment, at the LES Walter Canney Service Center, 2620 Fairfield, Lincoln.

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.

TAR SANDS AWARENESS AT BOURBON . . . Saturday, October 27, 2012, 5:30 to 6:30pm, “Raising the Red Flag on Tarsands, Be a New Energy Voter” will be presented at the Bourbon Theatre/Bar, 1415 O Street, Lincoln. There will be Movie Talk featuring Pipe Dreams, with Moms from Michigan and Nebraskans featured in the film speaking to the devastation to our land, water and air, caused from toxic tar sands, as documented in the film. All ages are welcome. FB event link: http://www.facebook.com/events/322040707887684/.

SUNDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . The Old Cheney Road Farmers Market offers local produce, baked goods and natural meats every Sunday, 10:00am to 2:00pm, at 55th Street and Old Cheney Road, through October 28th.

NEBRASKA WIND CONFERENCE . . . The 5th annual Nebraska Wind Conference, will be Monday and Tuesday, October 22 and 23, 2012, at the Cornhusker Hotel, 333 South 13th Street, in Lincoln. Register, view the program, and learn more about Nebraska’s largest conference on renewable energy at http://nebraskawindconference.com/

OCCUPY LINCOLN . . . There is a calendar of Occupy Lincoln events here. The Facebook page is here. The Twitter feed is @OccupyLincoln. For more information, e-mail occupylincoln [at] gmail [dot] com or phone 402.585.5865. Corporate Greed is Revolution’s Seed!

Omaha area: Congressional District 2

OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. Wednesday, October 24, 2012, the film will be “Matewan,” John Sayles’ period feature about a volatile 1920s labor dispute in the town of Matewan, West Virginia, a coal town where local miners’ lives are controlled by the powerful Stone Mountain Coal Company. A discussion will follow the film. EveryOne is welcome. For more information, click here. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.

OMAHA PEACE VIGILS . . . Every Saturday, 1:00-2:00pm, there is a Peace Vigil at the northwest corner of 72nd and Dodge Streets in Omaha. Park next to 72nd Street, in the pet store lot. Contact Steve Horn, 402.426.9068, for more information about Saturday vigils.

ATM LEAFLETTING IN OMAHA . . . An Alternatives To the Military supporter who lives in Omaha would like to put together and participate in a local leafletting group there. She wants to start small–maybe leafletting at just one or two schools. If you have an interest in joining a Omaha ATM group, please contact Kevin Haake, atmlincoln@gmail.com. The FB link is http://www.facebook.com/atmlincoln. Twitter is http://www.twitter.com/ATMLincolnNE.

ENGAGE OMAHA . . . One of the nation’s first city-wide, virtual town hall websites, EngageOmaha, is now online. Omaha residents may weigh in on issues for the city to consider. Pick a topic, and join the mix at http://www.engageomaha.com/.

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3

GREEN TEAM IN HASTINGS . . . Central Community College Hastings Campus will host a Green Team Roundtable meeting on Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 11:30am to 1:00pm, in the Walnut Room of the Platte Building on CCC Campus, 550 South Technical Blvd., three miles east of Hastings on U.S. Highway 6. CCC’s efforts to reduce its environmental impacts will be discussed, and a newly organized Hastings Green Team will be present to give a report on its progress to-date. For more information on upcoming Roundtable locations and topics go to www.wastecapne.org/greenteams or contact Julie Diegel, 402.434.7376; or email jdiegel [at] wastecapne [dot] org.

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . “Public addresses commissioners about pipeline issues,” from the York News Times, October 18, 2012, begins “A number of people addressed the York County Commissioners this week, as the board readdresses its haul route agreement with TransCanada for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.” The article is Part II of a series on landowners’ concerns along the route.
The Tar Sands Blockade sent out a big expression of gratitude to those who have joined the Blockade. Following a weekend of direct action training, 50 blockaders attempted to break through police lines and some succeeded in reaching the people sitting in trees to restock their food and water supplies. More engaged in other types of actions to stop the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Occupier Dave Warren was moved by his experience at the training to write a poem. This week Chris Hedges interviewed Tom Weis of Climate Crisis Solutions. Tom is riding his rocket trike throughout Colorado delivering letters to campaign headquarters asking both candidates to withdraw support for the pipeline. You can learn more about his travels on this week’s edition of Clearing the FOG Radio Show. And if you are still not convinced that this campaign is not only winnable, but necessary for our future survival, watch the newest Planetary Service Announcement, and please share this video widely!
Reader Supported News reported on the temporary shut down of Keystone I on October 19th “after tests showed possible safety issues.”
From “Keystone XL Pipeline Brings Out the Protest in Locals,” by Molly Hennessy-Fiske, LA Times, also in RSN October 20th: “Texas landowners are joining outside activists in the fight against the massive tar sands pipeline going in across their properties. Some, including one great-grandmother, have been hauled to jail.”
“Why I’m Standing Up To the Keystone Pipeline,” by Daryl Hannah, was published in RSN, October 17th. “Seems there’s showdown in Texas, but, in fact, it’s a battle being waged all over the United States.” From the article, “Make no mistake, we are going through fire. If we just stand there doing nothing, we are going to get burned. But if we accept our ethical responsibility to stand up for each other, and for our life support systems, and if we focus on and work tirelessly for a better future, then that just may be within our reach.”
From Page 1 of 2, “Join the Blockade of the Keystone Pipeline,” by Chris Hedges, Truthdig, October 15th: “The next great battle of the Occupy movement may not take place in city parks and plazas, where the security and surveillance state is blocking protesters from setting up urban encampments. Instead it could arise in the nation’s heartland, where some ranchers, farmers and enraged citizens, often after seeing their land seized by eminent domain and their water supplies placed under mortal threat, have united with Occupiers and activists to oppose the building of the Keystone XL tar sand pipeline. They have formed an unusual coalition called Tar Sands Blockade (TSB). Centers of resistance being set up in Texas and Oklahoma and on tribal lands along the proposed route of this six-state, 1,700-mile proposed pipeline are fast becoming flashpoints in the war of attrition we have begun against the corporate state. Join them.”
Video of “Texas Landowners Join Environmentalists for Historic Blockade of Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline,” was on Democracy Now! October 15th: “A standoff is underway in Texas over construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, which would run oil from the Canadian tar sands fields to U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast. In a protest now entering its fourth week, dozens of environmental activists working with local Texas landowners have blocked the pipeline’s path with tree sits and other nonviolent protests. We speak to Susan Scott, who owns land where the pipeline will run; actress Daryl Hannah, who was arrested there last week and has long been active in protests against the pipeline; and Tar Sands Blockade coalition spokesperson Ron Seifert.”
“Fresh Recruits, More Arrests Begin Week Four in Texas Tar Sands Blockade,” by Candice Bernd, Truthout, October 15th reported “As the Texas tar sands tree-sit enters its fourth week, activists re-enter the tree village to supply and defend members of the Tar Sands Blockade. The arrests continue.”
From “Keystone XL Contractor and SUNY Buffalo Shale Institute Conduct LA County’s Fracking Study,” by Steve Horn, DeSmogBlog, also in Truthout, October 16th, “A huge report was published on Oct. 10 by Los Angeles County that’ll likely open the floodgates for hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) for unconventional oil and gas in the Monterey Shale basin. The report, as it turns out, was done by LA County in name only. …In the opening paragraphs of his article, Ruben Vives of the Times wrote, “A long-awaited study released Wednesday says the controversial oil extraction method known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, would not harm the environment if used at the Inglewood Oil Field in the Baldwin Hills area.” …It’s not until the middle of the story that Vives says the study wasn’t done by LA County itself, but rather what he describes as a “consulting firm that conducted the study” by the name of Cardno Entrix. Cardno Entrix isn’t any ordinary “consulting firm.” It’s the third party contractor that conducted the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), ran the public hearings and made the website all on behalf of the Obama State Department’s review process for the controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Cardno Entrix, in turn, was hired by TransCanada to do the EIS, a conflict-of-interest blatant enough that it’s yielded an ongoing Office of the Inspector General investigation of State’s entire review process.”
“With pipeline, Texas landowners take a rare stand against Big Oil,” by AP, was published in Lincoln Journal-Star October 18th. The article quotes Julia Trigg Crawford, and other Texas landowners, about their opposition to construction of TransCanada’s 1,179-mile-long tar sands XL pipeline.
LJS also published “PSC official now agrees about secondary pipeline role” October 16th, reviewing how confused elected officials are on the role of the Public Service Commission vs Department of Environmental Quality when it comes to the pipeline issue.
“Why Scientists Are in Alarm Mode Over the Keystone XL Pipeline,” by Laray Polk, was published by Alternet October 18th. “Environmental science gets politicized because it has economic implications,” says a leading scientist. …it is time to consider environment and economy as mutually dependent: “We’re at a stage we can’t afford to lose any more forests in the world. The building up of carbon, year after the year, is the problem. We’re pulling climate out from under all life including civilization, and the consequences of that are devastating.”
From “Alberta Tar Sands Illegal Under Treaty 8, First Nations Charge,” by Kristin Moe, The First Perspective, October 19th: “In 1899, First Nations in northern Alberta signed a treaty with Queen Victoria that enshrined their right to practice traditional lifeways. Today, it’s the basis for a legal challenge to Shell Oil’s mining of tar sands.”
October 15th, “Nebraska Pipeline Debate Dies Down Despite Unresolved Problems with Keystone XL Route,” Lisa Song reported for InsideClimate News: “The decision to detour the Keystone XL around land owned by its noisiest opponents, plus the distraction of the fall election, has lowered the volume of protests against the proposed pipeline. In the reroute TransCanada released in early September, 55 miles of the pipeline still run through Holt County, an area that sits above the aquifer and is especially vulnerable to oil spills due to its permeable soils and high water table. Despite a few small adjustments, the route through the county is nearly identical to the route TransCanada, the pipeline operator, proposed in April.”
SAVE THE DATES: Saturday, October 27, 2012, and Saturday, December 1, 2012. “Raising the Red Flag on Tar Sands,” will be Saturday, October 27th, 5:30-6:30pm, at the Bourbon Theatrer, 1415 O Street, Lincoln. This will be a Movie Talk featuring Pipe Dreams. Moms from Michigan have been invited to speak on the devastating tar sands spill in their state that is documented in the movie, and the ongoing threat of the TransCanada Keystone XL to our land, water and air. Nebraskans featured in the movie will also be present. All ages are welcome. Facebook event link: http://www.facebook.com/events/322040707887684/.
And tickets are now on sale for the “Do the Math” tour with Bill McKibben in Omaha on December 1st, at the Joslyn Museum, 2200 Dodge Street, 6:00 to 9:00pm. McKibben will be on a nationwide tour talking about climate, oil subsidies, and the pipeline. Purchase tickets online here.
An e-mail from ForestEthics covers a new report, “Tar Sands Refineries: Communities at Risk,” that exposes the appalling health problems that tar sands refineries dump onto U.S. communities. The Environmental Protection Agency says short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide is associated with a host of respiratory problems, including decreased lung function, respiratory illness, and deterioration of the lung’s defense system. Despite the EPA’s knowledge that health problems from refinery pollution are greater for disadvantaged groups than for others, it has failed to address the problem of tar sands refinery impacts on community health. Big Oil wants to dramatically increase US refinery use of tar sands, further harming some of the most vulnerable populations in our society. Take a few minutes to read this report and share it with your contacts. It is crucial that everyone know the severe health consequences of allowing more tar sands refining in our communities.
Sign a Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert telling Congress to reject all attempts to force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by attaching it to any unrelated legislation. The Keystone XL will deliver billions in profits to Big Oil while the people get stuck with poisoned water, contaminated land and an overheated planet.
“The Keystone pipeline will spew a massive amount of carbon pollution into our fragile atmosphere. It should be stopped. ” –Jill Stein, 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee.

STOP FRACKING NOW . . . At the First-Ever National Mobilization Against Fracking, celebrities, community groups, and more than 100 organizations joined forces for “Stop the Frack Attack” in Washington, DC, where they made three demands of Congress: 1. Stop dangerous fracking; 2. Close 7 legal loopholes that exempt the oil and gas industry from parts of the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Air, and Clean Water Acts; and 3. Implement a pathway towards 100% clean renewable energy. Learn more about the event here. Petition Congress: “We, the undersigned, call on Congress to pass the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act this year. It’s time to hold the oil and gas production industry to the same standards as any other industry to ensure the safe protection of America’s drinking water.”

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 asks you to name your cause 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!

Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Substitute Hemp for oil.“

Green Notes Week of October 14, 2012

October 14, 2012Green Notesgreenone

GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE . . . Media outlets from Democracy Now! to USA Today have reported on Dr. Jill Stein’s unfair exclusion from the presidential debates, bringing her message to millions of Americans.
Democracy Now! Expanding the debate with Jill Stein and Rocky Anderson: Democracy Now! aired the Obama/Romney debate and paused after questions to include responses from two presidential contenders who were shut out of the official debate: Jill Stein of the Green Party, and Rocky Anderson of the Justice Party.
Black Agenda Report: Why this black man is watching the debates, and voting Green: “I still believe my voice and my vote mean something. Kwame Toure used to say the thing to do is find an organization you’re in substantial agreement with and join it, or if it does not exist, start one and recruit your neighbors.”
Free Speech Radio News: In Denver, Green Party ticket, Occupy activists protest exclusion of third party candidates from debates: “Last night in Denver, activists and members of the Occupy Movement gathered to protest Governor Romney and President Obama… Green Presidential candidate Jill Stein and Vice Presidential candidate Cheri Honkala joined them at a rally.”
USA Today: Jill Stein’s response to the presidential debate: “My mandate, if elected, will be to end mass unemployment once and for all. I will do this in my first term through a Green New Deal — the centerpiece of my campaign — which will create 25 million jobs through direct public works programs and support for cooperatives and community businesses.”
NPR: The third-party candidate debate: and Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson joined moderator Guy Raz of All Things Considered for a debate focusing on domestic issues: the economy, health care and the role of government.
SEE MEDIA COVERAGE FROM THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN at http://www.jillstein.org/media_coverage
“We need a serious debate focused on energy: Phasing out coal plants, ending mountaintop removal, banning fracking, and halting the Keystone XL pipeline.” –Jill Stein
From Imagine All the Voters Treating the Green Party like another realistic option,” by Carrie Peyton Dahlberg, North Coast Journal, September 27, 2012, quoting Jill Stein, “To go into the voting booth and vote for either Wall-Street-backed candidate, that is the definition of throwing away your vote.” WRITE-IN JILL STEIN AND CHERI HONKALA IN NEBRASKA. Another U.S. is Possible — Another Party is Necessary.

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1

PSC HEARING ON PIPELINE RULES . . . Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 1:00 to 3:00pm, there will be a public PSC Hearing on Pipeline Siting Rules at The Atrium, 1200 N Street, Room 300, in Lincoln. Learn more about the PSC process, and read the proposed rules here. The Facebook event link is http://www.facebook.com/events/138168712993779/.

ATM LEAFLETTING . . . Alternatives To the Military fall leafletting opportunities at Lincoln High Schools continue this week on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, at Lincoln Northeast HS, 2635 North 63rd (meet at 7:15am near 63rd and Madison Avenue). This fall’s leaflet can be found here. [pdf] An LPS opt-out form will also be enclosed. EveryOne is welcome to help inform high school students routinely recruited by the military that they have other options. If you’d like to get involved with ATM in this way, or have questions about this effort, please e-mail atmlincoln [at] gmail [dot] com. The FB link is http://www.facebook.com/atmlincoln. Twitter is http://www.twitter.com/ATMLincolnNE.

SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND FOOD SYSTEMS . . . “Sustainable Farming and Food Systems in the Great Plains” will be presented by Chuck Francis, professor of agronomy at UN-L, Wednesday, October 17, 2012, 3:30pm, in the Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q Street, Hewit Place, first floor (across the street south from the Lied Center in downtown Lincoln). There will be a reception preceding the talk. This presentation is free and open to the public.

MARY PIPHER TEDTALK . . . Lincoln author and KXL pipeline opposition leader Mary Pipher will speak at Lincoln’s TEDTalk, Thursday, October 18, 2012. The theme of the local version of TEDTalks will be “Wide Horizons and Open Minds.” The broadcast will live-stream on NET, starting at 10:00am.

GLOBAL WARMING IS HERE NOW . . . What to do? Mark Reynolds and the Citizens Climate Lobby have a plan. Hear Reynolds speak on Friday, October 19, 2012, 7:00 to 9:00pm, at the Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, Lincoln.

SUNDAY WITH A SCIENTIST . . . The Ogallala Aquifer will be the topic of discussion at Sunday With A Scientist, October 21, 2012, 1:30 to 4:30pm, at Morrill Hall on the UN-L campus, just south of 14th and Vine Streets, in Lincoln. Learn more at http://museum.unl.edu/sundaywithascientist/oct2012.html.

NEBRASKA WIND CONFERENCE . . . Registration is now open for the 5th annual Nebraska Wind Conference, Monday and Tuesday, October 22 and 23, 2012, at the Cornhusker Hotel, 333 South 13th Street,in Lincoln. Register, view the program, and learn more about Nebraska’s largest conference on renewable energy at http://nebraskawindconference.com/.

Omaha area: Congressional District 2

OCCUWORD . . . Monday, October 15, 2012, 7:00 TO 10:00pm, The PS Collective, 6056 Maple Street, Omaha, will host OCCUWORD, a Celebration of Spoken Word, Poetry, and Comedy, helping to defray legal costs for victims of police brutality. Presenters will include local activists and Omaha personalities, including the Nebraska Green Party’s Doug Paterson, at 7:15pm. The suggested donation is $5.

OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. Wednesday, October 17, 2012, the film will be “If a Tree Falls: Earth Liberation Front,” a behind-the-curtain look at the Earth Liberation Front, the radical environmental group that the FBI calls America’s ‘number one domestic terrorist threat.’ A 2:10 minute trailer is here. A discussion will follow the film. EveryOne is welcome. For more information, go to http://www.progressiveomaha.com/films.htm. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.

CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE FORUM . . . A Climate Change Science Forum on Energy Basics will be Saturday, October 20, 2012, 9:00am to 12:00 noon, at First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass Street, Omaha. Speakers will focus on the science of climate change, and implications for urban areas like Omaha. National Wildlife Federation executive director Duane Hovorka will be talking about alternatives for a clean energy future.

FOOD DAY . . . Food Day Omaha will be Sunday, October 21, 2012, 9:00am to 1:00pm, at Aksarben Farmers Market, 67th Avenue and Mercy Road, in solidarity with National Food Day, Wednesday, October 24th–a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable, sustainable food. For more information, e-mail Danelle Myer, dmyer [at] centerfornutrition [dot] org or phone 402.559.5513.

GLOBAL WARMING IS HERE NOW . . . What to do? Citizens Climate Lobby has a plan. Mark Reynolds, Executive Director of CCL, will speak in Omaha on Sunday, October 21, 2012. 2:00pm, at First Unitarian Church 3114 Harney Street.

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3

NFP PEACE CONFERENCE . . . The Nebraskans for Peace Annual Peace Conference is Saturday, October 20, 2012, 9:00am to 4:00pm, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 5th and Elm Streets, Grand Island. This year the conference will feature Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens Climate Lobby, a group working to end the United State’s reliance on carbon-based fuels. A mail-in registration form is at http://nebraskansforpeace.org/uploaded/pdfs/APC2012brochure.pdf. Early registration ends October 17th.

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . Quoting “Disaster in the Making: Grave Warnings Issued That Keystone Pipeline Is Structurally Flawed,” by Andrew Nikiforuk, The Tyee, AlterNet, October 9, 2012, “TransCanada is trying to get its Keystone XL pipeline approved, but a whistleblower is raising the alarm.” Read page 1 of 3, the first of a two-part series, at http://www.alternet.org/environment/disaster-making-grave-warnings-issued-keystone-pipeline-structurally-flawed?page=0%2C0. Read part-2 here.
From “TransCanada Transforms Tar Sands Blockade Area Into Police State,” by Kevin Gosztola, FireDogLake, Reader Supported News, October 12th: “Enlisted off-duty police officers are intimidating, harassing and arresting just about anyone they think is trespassing, even if those people happen to be on property they own. And, officers who are acting as armed henchmen for TransCanada have arrested three journalists in the past twenty-four hours for simply being there to report on resistance to the pipeline construction.”
Another Reader Supported News report from East Texas, “Protesters Challenge Bulldozers at Keystone Pipeline Site,” by Dan Frosch, sourced from the New York Times October 13th begins “Deep within the oak and pine forests that blanket this stretch of East Texas, the chug of machinery drones on late into the day, broken only by the sounds of a band of activists who have vowed to stop it.” Read more about the dangerous situation and determined Texas landowners at http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/312-16/13956-protesters-challenge-bulldozers-at-keystone-pipeline-site.
Meanwhile, “Oil in New Gulf Slick Matches That of 2012 Spill, by Steven Mufson and Joel Achenbach, Washington Post, to Reader Supported News, October 12th reported “Ian MacDonald, a professor of oceanography at Florida State University and a spill expert, cautioned said that the origin of the new oil remains uncertain. ‘The jury is out here,’ he said, adding that it was too early ‘to rule out that this is oil freshly released from the reservoir.'”
Truthout published “BP Amnesia: Life and Death After the Spill,” by Mike Ludwig, also on October 12th. “As weathered oil and dead marine life continue to wash up on Gulf shores, environmentalists worry that America has failed to heed the lessons of the summer of 2010, when an ocean of oil gushed from a broken pipe, and mesmerized a nation.” Read at http://truth-out.org/news/item/12084-bp-oil-spill-amnesia-life-and-death-after-the-spill-cam?tmpl=component.
Reader Supported News also published a Common Dreams article “New England Tar Sands Pipeline Plotted Behind Closed Doors,” October 11th. “A new analysis released today by national and regional environmental groups shows that US oil giant Exxon Mobile and Canada’s Suncor hold a majority stake in a pipeline system that local residents along its route fear could soon be used to transport tar sands from western Canada to the New England coast.”
An InsideClimate News article by Dave Hasemyer, October 10th, “EPA Worried Dilbit Still a Threat to Kalamazoo River, More Than 2 Years After Spill,” reported “Enbridge needs to dredge accumulating oil from 100 acres of the river’s bottom, EPA says. The work could take up to a year and cost tens of millions more. The hidden, long-term effects of the 2010 pipeline accident that spilled more than a million gallons of heavy Canadian crude oil into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River became public last week when the EPA revealed that large amounts of oil are still accumulating in three areas of the river. The problem is so serious that the EPA is asking Enbridge Inc., the Canadian pipeline operator, to dredge approximately 100 acres of the river. The additional work could take up to a year and add tens of millions of dollars to a cleanup that has already cost Enbridge $809 million.” Read page 1 of 3 at http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20121011/epa-dilbit-enbridge-6b-pipeline-kalamazoo-river-cleanup-tar-sands-oil-sands-keystone-xl-landowners-environment.
“As Texas Pipeline Blockade Continues, Activists Challenge First U.S. Tar Sands Strip Mine in Utah,” on the October 9th Democracy Now! takes a look at possible tar sands mining in the US. “As a direct action blockade of the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline continues in Texas, we look at what could be the first actual tar sands and oil shale strip-mining operation in the United States. Not far from Moab, Utah, the state has already leased land to a Canadian energy development company that recently changed its name to U.S. Oil Sands. The company plans to mine nearly 6,000 acres in an area of unspoiled wilderness that is also the watershed of the Colorado River, which provides water to more than 30 million people. The mine itself would be water-intensive in what is already the second-driest state in the country, and activists say chemicals used in the mine could pollute the water that is left. We’re joined by two activists working to block the project: John Weisheit, longtime conservation director of Living Rivers & Colorado Riverkeeper; and Ashley Anderson, founder and director of Before It Starts, which is leading the fight to stop tar sands drilling in Utah.” Watch the video at http://www.democracynow.org/2012/10/9/as_texas_pipeline_blockade_continues_activists.
Indian Country Today published “Oil sands lawsuit part of ‘tooth and nail’ fight against pollution,” by David P. Ball, October 5th. “A First Nation whose land sits in the heart of the Alberta oil sands has ramped up its legal battle against the vast industrial development, which has generated controversy because of its massive carbon footprint, untreated tailings ponds and at least three proposed pipelines.”
“TransCanada reproached by NEB over pipeline compliance,” by CBC News, October 12th, reports “A complaint by a former TransCanada Pipelines employee has prompted the National Energy Board to warn the company that its pipeline inspection practices aren’t up to snuff.”
SAVE THE DATES: Saturday, October 27, 2012, and Saturday, December 1, 2012. “Raising the Red Flag on Tar Sands,” will be Saturday, October 27th, 5:30-6:30pm, at the Bourbon Theatrer, 1415 O Street, Lincoln. This will be a Movie Talk featuring Pipe Dreams. Moms from Michigan have been invited to speak on the devastating tar sands spill in their state that is documented in the movie, and the ongoing threat of the TransCanada Keystone XL to our land, water and air. Nebraskans featured in the movie will also be present. All ages are welcome. Facebook event link: http://www.facebook.com/events/322040707887684/.
And tickets are now on sale for the “Do the Math” tour with Bill McKibben in Omaha on December 1st, at the Joslyn Musuem, 2200 Dodge Street, 6:00 to 9:00pm. McKibben will be on a nationwide tour talking about climate, oil subsidies, and the pipeline. Purchase tickets online here.
A Keystone XL “Open Letter” to President Obama and Governor Romney was released to the media September 27, 2012, and the “Defend America, Stop Keystone Tour” started the following day. Click here to add your name to the Letter calling on President Obama and Governor Romney to withdraw their support for Keystone XL on economic, public health and national security grounds. There’s no top down strategy here, just grassroots democratic activism. Everyone has a critical role to play, so please do what you can to help spread the word. Post the letter on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RideforRenewables.
An e-mail from ForestEthics covers a new report, “Tar Sands Refineries: Communities at Risk,” that exposes the appalling health problems that tar sands refineries dump onto U.S. communities. The Environmental Protection Agency says short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide is associated with a host of respiratory problems, including decreased lung function, respiratory illness, and deterioration of the lung’s defense system. Despite the EPA’s knowledge that health problems from refinery pollution are greater for disadvantaged groups than for others, it has failed to address the problem of tar sands refinery impacts on community health. Big Oil wants to dramatically increase US refinery use of tar sands, further harming some of the most vulnerable populations in our society. Take a few minutes to read this report and share it with your contacts. It is crucial that everyone know the severe health consequences of allowing more tar sands refining in our communities.
Sign a Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert telling Congress to reject all attempts to force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by attaching it to any unrelated legislation. The Keystone XL will deliver billions in profits to Big Oil while the people get stuck with poisoned water, contaminated land and an overheated planet.
“The Keystone pipeline will spew a massive amount of carbon pollution into our fragile atmosphere. It should be stopped. ” –Jill Stein, 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee.

Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Substitute Hemp for oil.”

Green Notes Week of October 7, 2012

October 7, 2012Green Notesgreenone

GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE . . . On Wednesday, Jill Stein participated in Democracy NOW’s “Expand the Debate,” broadcast in over 25 million households. From the campaign, “We need a serious debate focused on energy: Phasing out coal plants, ending mountaintop removal, banning fracking, and halting the Keystone XL pipeline.”
WRITE-IN JILL STEIN AND CHERI HONKALA IN NEBRASKA. Another U.S. is Possible — Another Party is Necessary.

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1

OCCUPY EDUCATION . . . Sunday, October 7, 2012, 7:00 to 8:00pm, Justin Orem will present “Winterizing Your Home” at the last weekly Occupy Education class of this Series, Meadowlark Coffee, 1624 South Street, Lincoln.

VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, 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. When weather is bad, 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. See below for Note about NADP’s Annual Reception and Silent Auction, Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00 to 8:30pm. “It’s barbaric. It’s outlawed in all but a few extremely repressive countries like Iran, China, and not many others. It’s shameful that it continues to be performed. It’s well established that mistakes are made–yet half of our states practice pre-meditated state-sponsored murder. It’s also known that it’s not effective. So why is it done? Revenge & retribution? That’s not what our justice system is supposed to be about. It’s not an effective deterrent.” –Jill Stein, GP Presidential Nominee.

TUESDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 4:30-7:30pm, will be the last Farmers Market of the season at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 13th & F Streets, Lincoln.

WASTECAP NEBRASKA SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT . . . The WasteCap Nebraska Sustainability Summit, will be Tuesday and Wednesday, October 9 and 10, 2012 in Lincoln and Omaha. Learn how to “Get Green done!” The Summit features a speech in Omaha, October 9, by Auden Schendler (Aspen Skiing Company’s Vice President of Sustainability), a conference in Lincoln, October 10, with presentations on sustainable business practices, and a free public policy panel discussion with Schendler and public officials the evening of October 10, in Lincoln. See the details at http://www.wastecapne.org/sustainability-summit/2012-2/.

ATM LEAFLETTING . . . Alternatives To the Military fall leafletting opportunities at Lincoln High Schools continue this week: Thursday, October 11th, Lincoln High School, 2229 J Street (meet at 7:15am at the street circle where J ends, northeast of the football field (approximately 22nd and J); and Wednesday, October 17th, Lincoln Northeast HS, 2635 North 63rd (meet at 7:15am near 63rd and Madison Avenue). This fall’s leaflet can be found here.
An LPS opt-out form will also be enclosed. EveryOne is welcome to help inform high school students routinely recruited by the military that they have other options. If you’d like to get involved with ATM in this way, or have questions about this effort, please e-mail atmlincoln@gmail.com. The FB link is http://www.facebook.com/atmlincoln. Twitter is http://www.twitter.com/ATMLincolnNE.

NADP ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT . . . The annual Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty Reception & Silent Auction will be Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00 to 8:30pm, at Beacon Hills at Country Inn & Suites, 5353 North 27th Street, Lincoln. (There is plenty of onsite parking, and its near the 27th Street interstate exit.) State Senator Danielle Conrad will be honored for her continued work to end the death penalty, and the featured speaker will be Victoria Coward, the mother of a murdered son. Her testimony played an integral role in the recent repeal of the death penalty in Connecticut. Register online at www.nadp.net.

SUSTAINABLE CHURCHES AUDUBON TOPIC . . . The Wachiska Audubon October general meeting, Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00pm, will feature Rev. Kim Morrow Hinrichs, Associate Minister at First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln. The free presentation, “Sustainable Churches: Re-Imagining Christianity for a Warming World,” will be at the Dick Administration Building Auditorium, 3800 South 48th on the Union College Campus. Refreshments will follow the program. All are welcome.

SATURDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . The last Haymarket Farmers Market of the season, on 8th Street in Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket District, will be Saturday, October 13, 2012, 8:00am to noon. More than 100 vendors bring farm-fresh produce, flowers, baked goods and handmade items to the local gathering place that also features a “Performance Showcase” for Nebraska folk, jazz, blues, classical, and dance talent, plus educational demonstrations and informational booths. Buy Fresh. Shop Local.

NEBRASKA WIND CONFERENCE . . . Registration is now open for the 5th annual Nebraska Wind Conference, October 22 and 23, 2012, at the Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S 13th Street,in Lincoln. Register, view the program, and learn more about Nebraska’s largest conference on renewable energy at http://nebraskawindconference.com/.

Omaha area: Congressional District 2

OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. Wednesday, October 10, 2012, the film will be “The Line,” documenting the stories of people across the country living at or below the poverty line. A discussion will follow the film. EveryOne is welcome. For more information, go to http://www.progressiveomaha.com/films.htm. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.

R.E.A.S.O.N. EVENT . . . Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00pm, R.E.A.S.O.N. (Rationalists, Empiricists, And Skeptics Of Nebraska) will host “The Decline of Ethics in Science and Medicine: Why Have We Plummeted?” presented by Roger Brumback, M.D., Professor of Pathology, Psychiatry and Neurology at Creighton University of Medicine, at the UNMC Durham Research Center auditorium, Room 1002. The Tower is at 45th and Emile Streets, and free parking is available in the garage southeast of Farnam and Saddle Creek. The talk is free and open to the public.

NEBRASKANS FOR JUSTICE HOST RAMSEY CLARK . . . Ed Poindexter and Mondo we Langa (a.k.a., David Rice) have now spent over 40 years in prison for a crime they did not commit. For 22 years, Amnesty International has called for a new trial for Ed and Mondo based on evidence of prosecutorial misconduct. saturday, October 13, 2012, 3:00pm, former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark will be the featured speaker at a “Still Seeking Justice” event, at the Malcolm X Center, 3463 Evans Street, Omaha. The event is open to the public. For more information, contact mrydickin [at] gmail [dot] com.

OMAHA GREEN HOME TOUR . . . The Omaha Green Home Tour will be Sunday, October 14, 2012, 1:00 to 5:00pm. The fifth annual Tour features six local new and existing homes that showcase green living techniques. See green practices at work, talk to on-site experts and pick up tips on how to green your own living environment. Tour homes are in mid-town, and near Elkhorn. More information is at http://www.greenomahacoalition.org/councils/design-and-construction/2012/08/28/green-home-tour-2012/.

ATM LEAFLETTING IN OMAHA . . . An Alternatives To the Military supporter who lives in Omaha would like to put together and participate in a local leafletting group there. She wants to start small–maybe leafletting at just one or two schools. If you have an interest in joining a Omaha ATM group, please contact Kevin Haake, atmlincoln [at] gmail [dot] com. The FB link is http://www.facebook.com/atmlincoln. Twitter is http://www.twitter.com/ATMLincolnNE.

OMAHA FARMERS MARKETS . . . Click here for an Omaha Market schedule.

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3

NFP PEACE CONFERENCE . . . The Nebraskans for Peace Annual Peace Conference http://nebraskansforpeace.org/ is Saturday, October 20, 2012, 9:00am to 4:00pm, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 5th and Elm Streets, Grand Island. This year the conference will feature Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens Climate Lobby, a group working to end the United State’s reliance on carbon-based fuels. A mail-in registration form is at http://nebraskansforpeace.org/uploaded/pdfs/APC2012brochure.pdf. Early registration ends October 17th.

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . “Daryl Hannah and East Texas Great-Grandmother Arrested Protesting Keystone XL Pipeline,” by EcoWatch, was sourced to Reader Supported News October 5, 2012: “Anything can happen when a multi-national corporation comes in and expropriates your farm for their profit.”
Bold Nebraska reported that When TransCanada arrived on Eleanor Fairchild’s Texas farm without prior warning to remove trees and clear land, she decided to take action to halt their progress. Fairchild, who has been bullied by the foreign pipeline company attempting to build the “southern leg” of the Keystone XL pipeline, was arrested on her own farm when she stood in front of their heavy machinery. Daryl Hannah, actress and activist, stood alongside Fairchild in taking a peaceful stand to block TransCanada’s clearing of trees, the very trees TransCanada told Eleanor they will not replant.
Photos of Eleanor and Daryl’s attempt to stand up to TransCanada’s bullying tactics are at http://tarsandsblockade.org/darylandeleanor/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsblockade/sets/72157631695560081/. Video of the action is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKqs7Fc45XM&feature=player_embedded and Video of Eleanor describing recent abuses by TransCanada is at http://tarsandsblockade.org/eleanor/. Background Videos of Eleanor from last year is here and here.
“TransCanada Pipeline protestor cements self to easement,” by Melanie Torre, KLTV News, Wood County, TX, October 1st: “Protestors continue to do all they can to delay the Transcanada Pipeline Project in East Texas. In Wood County on Monday, one of those protestors physically attached himself to the easement where construction was scheduled to take place. The protestor was using at least his arm and concrete to stay locked in place. A tarp, put up by officials, kept other protestors and media from seeing what exactly was going on.” Continued, with two minute video, at http://www.kltv.com/story/19689227/transcanda-pipeline-protestor-cements-self-to-easement.
Also reporting from Texas, Candice Bernd wrote for Truthout, October 6th, “Why Susan Scott Buried TransCanada’s Money on Her Family Farm.” “…Susan Scott worked for years and saved every penny she earned to buy her dream farm in Winnsboro, Texas. Well, it was her dream farm, but that was before the Keystone XL pipeline was slated for construction right over top of it. …Scott says she was intimidated into signing a contractual agreement with TransCanada for her land. “I said, ‘I ain’t signing that,’ and [a TransCanada representative] said to me, ‘Let me tell you why you ought to, because they are going file charges, take you to court and they’re going to sue you. You’re going to have to pay lawyer fees, you’re going to have to pay court costs,’ and God only knows what else they’re going to come up with, and I’m going like, ‘I am a farmer. I don’t have that kind of money. I’m a farmer for heaven’s sakes!”
“Planet Earth Needs You in Texas,” by Carl Gibson, Reader Supported News, September 30th: “…The battle happening in Texas right now is one we must win if we’re to have a planet on which to raise the next generation. A company motivated by nothing other than naked greed, like TransCanada, must not be victorious in their goal to harm our planet and brutalize our people all to make more money. On October 12th and 13th, www.tarsandsblockade.org is hosting a direct action training camp. If you need a ride, they can even help you get there. Get to Texas, ASAP. Your planet needs you.” Read at http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/271-38/13732-focus-planet-earth-needs-you-in-texas.
A Keystone XL “Open Letter” to President Obama and Governor Romney was released to the media Thursday, September 27, 2012, and the “Defend America, Stop Keystone Tour” started the following day. Click here to add your name to the Open Letter calling on President Obama and Governor Romney to withdraw their support for Keystone XL on economic, public health and national security grounds. THEN PRINT OUT A COPY WITH YOUR NAME ON IT AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO JOIN YOU IN DELIVERING IT TO THE ROMNEY & OBAMA CAMPAIGN OFFICES NEAREST YOU (send it to your local newspaper, television and radio reporters, or better yet, invite them to join you). Video the delivery and post it on YouTube. Post the letter on your website, with a call for more signers. Send out a tweet asking your Twitter followers to join you in signing it. Post the letter on Facebook.
There’s no top down strategy here, just grassroots democratic activism. Everyone has a critical role to play, so please do what you can to help spread the word.
InsideClimate News reported “Michigan landowners quietly rack up court victories in pipeline fight with Enbridge,” a David Hasemyer article recounting that “a 66-year-old Detroit Edison retiree is among a handful of Michigan residents who have won court victories in the last few weeks against Canada’s biggest pipeline company over attempts to condemn their land for an oil pipeline, called Line 6B.”
From Globe and Mail, “British Columbia could withhold electricity from proposed pipelines, Premier suggests,” by Carrie Tait, Nathan VanderKlippe, and Justine Hunter, October 2nd: British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has issued a veiled threat to withhold electricity needed to operate controversial oil sands pipelines if the projects do not meet her demands.”
And from “Ambitious plans for Canada oil sands would create lakes from waste,” by Nathan Vanderklippe, October 3rd: “It could one day be Alberta’s very own Lake District, a recreational haven complete with campgrounds, boating, fishing – even swimming. Or it could turn into a landscape of ponds sullied by toxic chemicals and oil, a malingering presence left by an industrial experiment gone wrong.”
An e-mail from ForestEthics covers a new report, “Tar Sands Refineries: Communities at Risk,” that exposes the appalling health problems that tar sands refineries dump onto U.S. communities. The Environmental Protection Agency says short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide is associated with a host of respiratory problems, including decreased lung function, respiratory illness, and deterioration of the lung’s defense system. Despite the EPA’s knowledge that health problems from refinery pollution are greater for disadvantaged groups than for others, it has failed to address the problem of tar sands refinery impacts on community health. Big Oil wants to dramatically increase US refinery use of tar sands, further harming some of the most vulnerable populations in our society. Take a few minutes to read this report and share it with your contacts. It is crucial that everyone know the severe health consequences of allowing more tar sands refining in our communities.
Sign a Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert telling Congress to reject all attempts to force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by attaching it to any unrelated legislation. The Keystone XL will deliver billions in profits to Big Oil while the people get stuck with poisoned water, contaminated land and an overheated planet.
SAVE THE DATE: PSC Hearing on Pipeline Siting Rules, Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 1:00 to 3:00pm, at The Atrium, 1200 N Street, Hearing Rm 300, Lincoln.
“The Keystone pipeline will spew a massive amount of carbon pollution into our fragile atmosphere. It should be stopped. ” –Jill Stein, 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee.

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 asks you to name your cause here. http://www.goodsearch.com/default.aspx 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!

Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Substitute Hemp for oil.“

Green Notes Week of September 30, 2012

September 30, 2012Green Notesgreenone

GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE . . . Jill Stein, Green Party Presidential Candidate, and Bill McKibben, Climate Change Expert and founder of 350.org, will participate in a LIVE STREAM Climate Change Town Hall, Sunday, September 30, 2012, 6:00pm CST. The Digital Town Hall will be moderated by “No Impact Man” Colin Beavan, Green Party NY Congressional Candidate. Ask questions and text at the Live Chat http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus online.
The first presidential debate will be held in Denver next Wednesday, October 3, 2012. Jill Stein has been locked out by the Commission on Presidential Debates. She and running mate Cheri Honkala will be in Denver to Occupy the Debates and march on the Commission from McWilliams Park. The march will begin at 5:30pm, East Yale Ave and South Steele Street. Democracy Now!’s Live Debate Talkback with Jill Stein, Rocky Anderson, Gary Johnson, and Amy Goodman will be at 7:00pm, Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman Street. The live program will begin at 6:30, and Jill will join the show at 7:00pm. Occupy the Debates! AFTERRALLY with Jill Stein, Cheri Honkala and musical entertainment will begin at 9:30pm, at the Mercury Cafe, 2199 California Street. Ben Manski will host a post-debate rally with live music and rousing speeches from the candidates.
Watch a 23:54 minute video of Stein and Cheri Honkala on Moyers & Company at http://billmoyers.com/segment/jill-stein-and-cheri-honkala-on-third-party-politics/.
Another U.S. is Possible — Another Party is Necessary.

KERREY/FISCHER DEBATES . . . KETV will rebroadcast the Second Kerrey/Fischer Debate at 6:00pm, Sunday, September 30. 2012. The Third US Senate Candidates’Debate will air Monday, October 1, 2012, 7:00pm, live from NET TV.

FARMERS MARKETS . . . There are more than 90 local Farmers Markets in Nebraska this year. For a partial schedule of current Buy Fresh Buy Local Markets, click here.

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1

OCCUPY EDUCATION . . . Each week, a different member of the Lincoln community will host a short class on a topic of their choice, Sundays, 7:00 to 8:00pm, September 9 through October 7, 2012. Sunday, September 30, 2012, Nick Svoboda will present Basic Bicycle Maintenance at the weekly Occupy Education class. **This teach-in will meet at the Antelope Park bandshell – bring your bicycles.**

VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, 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. When weather is bad, 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. Mark your calendar now for NADP’s Annual Reception and Silent Auction, Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00 to 8:30pm. “It’s barbaric. It’s outlawed in all but a few extremely repressive countries like Iran, China, and not many others. It’s shameful that it continues to be performed. It’s well established that mistakes are made–yet half of our states practice pre-meditated state-sponsored murder. It’s also known that it’s not effective. So why is it done? Revenge & retribution? That’s not what our justice system is supposed to be about. It’s not an effective deterrent.” –Jill Stein, GP Presidential Nominee.

TUESDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . Tuesdays, 4:30-7:30pm, there is a Farmers Market at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 13th & F Streets, in Lincoln, through October 9th.

LES NEEDS YOUR INPUT . . . Lincoln Electric System is developing an Integrated Resources Plan that will serve as a road map for how LES will provide electricity to Lincoln residents in the future. 85% of Lincoln’s electricity now comes from coal-fired power plants. Do you want more wind? More solar? More energy efficiency? Learn about the LES draft plan, ask questions, and make your voice heard at two important opportunities:
Tuesday, October 2, 2012, open house, Nebraska ETV, 1800 North 33rd Street, 6:00 to 6:45pm: presentation, questions and answers; 6:45 to 8:00pm: open house and public input.
Tuesday, October 23, 7:00pm, information and public input on the LES proposed 2013 budget and rate adjustment, LES Walter Canney Service Center, 2620 Fairfield, Lincoln. If customers are unable to attend, an online open house and additional information will be available October 8th on the LES website.

WEDNESDAY FARMERS MARKETS . . . The Downtown Garden Market, M Street between 16th & Centennial, continues every Wednesday, 12:00 noon to 4:00pm. The University Place Community Market, 48th Street & Madison Avenue, is every Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:00pm.

ATM LEAFLETTING . . . Alternatives To the Military fall leafletting opportunities at Lincoln High Schools continue this week and next: Thursday, October 4th, Lincoln East HS, 1000 South 70th (meet at 7:15am at the north end of the large student parking lot, south of the school; Thursday, October 11th, Lincoln High School, 2229 J Street (meet at 7:15am at the street circle where J ends, northeast of the football field (approximately 22nd and J); and Wednesday, October 17th, Lincoln Northeast HS, 2635 North 63rd (meet at 7:15am near 63rd and Madison Ave.–we will spread out from there). This fall’s leaflet can be found at http://s3.amazonaws.com/ATMLincoln/facebook/SimpleLeaflet_09_D_2012.pdf. An LPS opt-out form will also be enclosed. EveryOne is welcome to help inform high school students routinely recruited by the military that they have other options. If you’d like to get involved with ATM in this way, or have questions about this effort, please e-mail atmlincoln@gmail.com. The FB link is http://www.facebook.com/atmlincoln. Twitter is http://www.twitter.com/ATMLincolnNE.

Thursday, October 4, 2012, 7:00pm, internationally known science and religion scholar Karl Gilberson, will present “From Big Bang to Big Brain: A Creation Story for the 21st Century” at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Olin B Lecture Hall, 50th and St. Paul Streets, Lincoln. A reception will follow the free presentation by Gilberson. On Friday, October 5th, he will lead an open, public discussion at First Lutheran Church, 1551 South 70th Street.

SATURDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . The Haymarket Farmers Market, on 8th Street in Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket District, is open every Saturday, 8:00am to noon, through October 13, 2012. More than 100 vendors bring farm-fresh produce, flowers, baked goods and handmade items to the local gathering place that also features a “Performance Showcase” for Nebraska folk, jazz, blues, classical, and dance talent, plus educational demonstrations and informational booths. Buy Fresh. Shop Local.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND NEBRASKA . . . What Does Our Future Hold? That is the topic of a teach-in/forum to be held On Saturday, October 6, 2012, 9:00am to 12:00 noon at the Hardin Hall Auditorium on the University of Nebraska Lincoln East Campus, 33rd and Holdrege. Speakers will focus on the science of climate change, including impacts on Nebraska agriculture. Free and open to the public.

VEGFEST VII . . . VegFest VII – Celebrating Farmers and Communities, will be Saturday, October 6, 2012, 2:00 to 5:30pm, at Holmes Lake Park, Lincoln. There will be a Farmers’ Market featuring fresh local produce, prepared foods and desserts, local organizations with information booths on everything from growing your own vegetables to tree planting to rain barrels, cooking and gardening demonstrations, live music with Jim King,lots of kids activities and free fun for the whole family. Ride your bike and enjoy a beautiful afternoon in the park. Stop by the Nebraska Green Party table and learn about the write-in campaign for Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala. For more information on the event, phone 402.474.9802.

OCCUPY EDUCATION . . . Everyone is a teacher! Sunday, October 7, 2012, Justin Orem will present Winterizing Your Home at the weekly Occupy Education class, Meadowlark Coffee, 1624 South Street, Lincoln.

Omaha area: Congressional District 2

COAL’S THREAT TO HEALTH . . . On Tuesday, October 2, 2012, 7:30pm, Alan H. Lockwood, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Neurology SUNY at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biological Sciences and Board Member, Physicians for Social Responsibility will present “The Silent Epidemic: Coal and the Hidden Threat to Health” at First United Methodist Church, Room 112, 7020 Cass Street, Omaha. Free and Open to the Public.

COMMUNITY RADIO OMAHA . . . Wednesday, October 3, 2011, 12:00 noon to 1:00pm, The Hungry Club [pdf] will meet at Big Mama’s Kitchen, 3223 North 45th Street, Omaha. Carlos Carr will speak about the new Omaha Community Radio project to bring low power FM to the North Omaha/Benson area. The mission is to bring social change in the community by changing what is heard in the media, and to become the most diverse communication company by providing broadcast content to Benson and North Omaha through shared resources, music, talk radio and news/informational programming. Nebraska Green Party’s Mark Zimmermann and Doug Paterson are working with CRO to build community support for both the Low Power FM station and the internet radio station.

OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. Wednesday, October 3, 2012, the film will be “Little Town of Bethlehem,” the “gripping story of three men, born into violence, willing to risk everything to bring an end to violence in their lifetime. A Christian, a Muslim, and a Jew-shaped by events of their Palestinian and Israeli upbringing-find inspiration in the words and actions of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.” View a 2:33 minute trailer at http://littletownofbethlehem.org/. For more information, go to http://www.progressiveomaha.com/films.htm. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004. EveryOne is welcome.

CODE PINK OMAHA . . . Who is ready to start an Omaha Chapter of Code Pink? Thursday, October 4, 2012, there will be a ‘Code Pink says No Drones’ potluck and video of Medea Benjamin speaking about the group’s opposition to drones at 3715 Hailton, Omaha. Dinner is at 6:00, and the video will start at 7:00pm. EveryOne is welcome. For more information, phone Frances at 402.208.3717 and leave a message. Your call will be returned asap.

KEEP SPACE FOR PEACE WEEK . . . There will be a Code Pink supported Vigil on Saturday, October 6, 2012, 10:00am to noon, in Bellevue at the corner of Cornhusker & Fort Crook Road. Look for the pink banner “Stop the Killing, Ground the Drones” and a pink parasol. Questions? Phone Frances at 402.208.3717 and leave a message. Your call will be returned asap.

ATM LEAFLETTING IN OMAHA . . . An Alternatives To the Military supporter who lives in Omaha would like to put together a local leafletting group there. She wants to start small–maybe leafletting at just one or two schools. If you have an interest in joining a Omaha ATM group, please contact Kevin Haake, atmlincoln@gmail.com. The FB link is http://www.facebook.com/atmlincoln. Twitter is http://www.twitter.com/ATMLincolnNE. Leafletting in Omaha.

OMAHA FARMERS MARKETS . . . Click here for an Omaha Market schedule.

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3

GATHERING FOR PEACE . . . The Central Nebraska Peace Workers monthly Gathering for Peace will be Wednesday, October 3, 2012, from 5:00 to 6:00pm, at State Street and Webb Road in Grand Island. There is ample parking a block west on State Street. Bring signs if you wish. There are always extras. CNPW issues are broad: environment, climate change, war, social support, health care, and more. All are welcome.

NFP PEACE CONFERENCE . . . The Nebraskans for Peace Annual Peace Conference will be Saturday, October 20, 2012, 9:00am to 4:00pm, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 5th and Elm Streets, Grand Island. This year the conference will feature Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens Climate Lobby, a group working to end the United State’s reliance on carbon-based fuels. A mail-in registration form is here. Early registration ends October 17th.

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . Most of the KXL news is from Texas this past week. September 27, 2012, Reader Supported News sourced “Tar Sands Blockaders Arrested, Police Accused of Torture,” from Environment News Service. An excerpt: “Police handcuffed the protesters’ free hands to the heavy machinery in stress positions and proceeded to use sustained chokeholds, violent arm-twisting, pepper spray, and repeated tasering to coerce the two to abandon their protest, …while TransCanada personnel stood by and watched.”
Tortured Law in Texas, by William Boardman, OpEdNews, September 29th: CANADIAN PIPELINE FACES OFF AGAINST ANGRY TEXANS, LAW, POLITICS, is an OpEd on the legal aspects of eminent domain and the “tree-house encampment in the path of TransCanada’s earth-stripping equipment.”
“Eight People Climb Trees to Stop Keystone XL Pipeline,” by Mel Fabrikant, The Paramus Post, also sourced to Reader Supported News September 25th begins “Eight people climbed 80 feet into trees in the path of Keystone XL construction, and pledged not to come down until the pipeline is stopped for good. Construction cannot proceed until tree-sitters descend and TransCanada clear-cuts through hundreds of trees to make way for the toxic tar sands pipeline.”
A Truthout article on the tree-sitters, “Texas Tar Sands Tree-Sit Launches to Halt Keystone XL Indefinitely,” by Candice Bernd, was published September 26th. “The tree-sit continues for a third day, despite an unprecedented escalation in police and industry violence toward peaceful blockaders. Some of the activists say TransCanada supervisors encouraged deputies with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department to use pain compliance tactics that included sustained chokeholds, violent arm-twisting, pepper spray and multiple hits with Tasers, all while blockaders were in handcuffs.”
From the Southeast Texas Record, “Judge grants foreign company eminent domain powers for pipeline construction,” by David Yates, September 24th: “A Beaumont judge on Monday granted a foreign company’s petition to condemn land for the construction of a crude oil pipeline. Last June, TransCanada Keystone Pipeline filed the petition for condemnation against Texas Rice Land Partners, James and David Holland and Mike and Walter Latta. TransCanada filed the petition seeking to build a pipeline to carry crude from Alberta to the Gulf Coast. On Sept. 24 Judge Tom Rugg, Jefferson County Court at Law No. 1, ruled that the company has the right to sieze land in Jefferson County for the pipeline.”
From InsideClimate News, “Keystone XL: Neb. Landowners Sue Governor, but Case May Not Get Heard,” by Lisa Song, was published September 27th: “Landowners say pipeline siting law violates the Constitution. State says suit should be thrown out because landowners have no right to make the challenge.” Read page 1 of 3 here. (Thanks to Randy Thompson, Susan Luebbe, Susan Dunavan and the Domina Law Group.)
An e-mail from ForestEthics covers a new report, “Tar Sands Refineries: Communities at Risk,” that exposes the appalling health problems that tar sands refineries dump onto U.S. communities. The Environmental Protection Agency says short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide is associated with a host of respiratory problems, including decreased lung function, respiratory illness, and deterioration of the lung’s defense system. Despite the EPA’s knowledge that health problems from refinery pollution are greater for disadvantaged groups than for others, it has failed to address the problem of tar sands refinery impacts on community health. Big Oil wants to dramatically increase US refinery use of tar sands, further harming some of the most vulnerable populations in our society. Take a few minutes to read this report and share it with your contacts. It is crucial that everyone know the severe health consequences of allowing more tar sands refining in our communities.
Tell the Obama Administration: Reject Keystone XL. Again. The following message accompanies a new petition from Credo Action: In the same week that record June heat blanketed the southeast, Minnesota tried to recover from record flooding, and the biggest fire in Colorado’s history continued to burn out of control — President Obama doubled down in his support for the energy that is causing this deepening climate change spiral approving the first portion of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, giving away 720 million tons of publicly owned coal to a coal company for virtually nothing, and promising to lease more arctic offshore areas for oil drilling. Now, the Canada to Oklahoma portion of the Keystone XL pipeline – which would turn up the spigot on deadly, “game over for the climate” tar sands production – is back before the State Department after being rejected by President Obama earlier this year when Republicans tried to force his decision.
Without the pressures of the election, President Obama could conceivably cave when a decision is made in 2013 – if he is re-elected. This public comment period is our opportunity to go on the record, before the election, with our fierce opposition. Please urge President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline. (Note: Credo Action petitions do generate e-mail from other petitions.)
Sign a Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert telling Congress to reject all attempts to force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by attaching it to any unrelated legislation. The Keystone XL will deliver billions in profits to Big Oil while the people get stuck with poisoned water, contaminated land and an overheated planet.
“The Keystone pipeline will spew a massive amount of carbon pollution into our fragile atmosphere. It should be stopped. ” –Jill Stein, 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee.

STOP FRACKING NOW . . . At the First-Ever National Mobilization Against Fracking on July 28th, celebrities, community groups, and more than 100 organizations joined forces for “Stop the Frack Attack” in Washington, DC, where they made three demands of Congress: 1. Stop dangerous fracking; 2. Close 7 legal loopholes that exempt the oil and gas industry from parts of the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Air, and Clean Water Acts; and 3. Implement a pathway towards 100% clean renewable energy. Learn more about the event here. Petition Congress: “We, the undersigned, call on Congress to pass the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act this year. It’s time to hold the oil and gas production industry to the same standards as any other industry to ensure the safe protection of America’s drinking water.”

Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Substitute Hemp for oil.“

Green Notes Week of September 23, 2012

September 23, 2012Green Notesgreenone

GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE . . . The Secretary of State has notified Nebraska Green Party that we did not submit enough valid registered voters’ signatures to qualify Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala for non-partisan ballot status in November.
Quoting a September 17th letter to Lincoln Journal Star from Richard Felsing, “In reality, both sides have failed miserably over the past 20 years and have no one to blame but themselves. If there was ever a time for a third party in politics, it surely is now.” That is exactly what a few local Greens thought when we started collecting signatures last year for a 2012 NGP ballot line. There were too few of us to gather the required 4,880, plus cushion, and the deadline passed. The Stein/Honkala campaign sent a team of paid circulators to help collect 2,500+ signatures so the candidates could be on Nebraska’s ballot as non-partisan (Greens). We had more than 1,500 extra signatures, but too many of them were not valid. Now that deadline has also passed. Our only option now is a Write-In campaign. We will file the necessary papers so that any write-in votes will be counted.
Watch a 23:54 minute video of Stein and Honkala on Moyers & Company at http://billmoyers.com/segment/jill-stein-and-cheri-honkala-on-third-party-politics/.
Petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill to participate in all of the presidential debates this year. “The Republican and Democratic Parties control the presidential debates and exclude third party candidates. This is anti-thetical to democracy. We petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill Stein to participate in all of the presidential debates.”
Major polling organizations are also ignoring independent party candidates. Gallup Organization is the only official advisor on polling to the CPD. Tell Gallup to take 3 important actions: 1) Include Jill Stein in ALL Gallup polling. 2) Encourage other polling organizations to include Jill Stein. 3) Advise the CPD to only consider polls that have included all legitimate candidates. (The Stein campaign made history and secured Federal matching funds! Doesn’t that demonstrate significant public support?)
Write an old-fashioned letter or postcard and mail to: The Gallup Organization, 502 Carnegie Center, Suite 300, Princeton , NJ 08450
Contact: Alyssa Brown at 1.202.715.3104, alyssa_brown [at] gallup [dot] com
Contact: Zach Bikus at 1.202.715.3100, zach_bikus [at] gallup [dot] com
Post on their Facebook wall: https://www.facebook.com/gallup
Tweet: Hey @gallupnews! Don’t be so biased! Include @JillStein2012 in your #Election2012 polling!
Another U.S. is Possible — Another Party is Necessary.

FARMERS MARKETS . . . There are more than 90 local Farmers Markets in Nebraska this year. For a partial schedule of current Buy Fresh Buy Local Markets, click here.

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1

OCCUPY EDUCATION . . . Each week, a different member of the Lincoln community will host a short class on a topic of their choosing, Sundays, 7:00 to 8:00pm, September 9 through October 7, 2012, at Meadowlark Café, 1624 South Street. September 23, 2012, 7:00 to 8:00pm, Barb Van den Berg will present Mending Clothes II/Crowd-sourced Project from September 9th, at the weekly Occupy Education class.

VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, 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. When weather is bad, 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. Mark your calendar now for NADP’s Annual Reception and Silent Auction, Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00 to 8:30pm. “It’s barbaric. It’s outlawed in all but a few extremely repressive countries like Iran, China, and not many others. It’s shameful that it continues to be performed. It’s well established that mistakes are made–yet half of our states practice pre-meditated state-sponsored murder. It’s also known that it’s not effective. So why is it done? Revenge & retribution? That’s not what our justice system is supposed to be about. It’s not an effective deterrent.” –Jill Stein, GP Presidential Nominee.

NEBRASKA ENERGY DEVELOPMENT . . . State Senator Ken Haar will host a presentation on energy, public power and how we can move our state forward Monday, September 24, 2012, from 3:00 to 5:00pm, at the Hardin Hall Auditorium, 33rd and Holdrege Streets, on the University of Nebraska Lincoln East Campus. The meeting on Energy Choices for the 21st Century is free, open to the public, and will feature a question and answer period following the presentation by nationally known energy expert Ron Binz, a 30-year veteran of utility and energy policy. To share a ride from Omaha, call Mark Welsch at 402-453-0776. The Carpool would need to leave around 1:45pm on Monday.

TUESDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . Tuesdays, 4:30-7:30pm, there is a Farmers Market at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 13th & F Streets, in Lincoln, through October 9th.

ATM LEAFLETTING . . . Alternatives To the Military has scheduled this fall’s first two leafletting opportunities at Lincoln High Schools: Thursday, September 27, 2012, Lincoln Southeast High School, 2930 South 37th. Meet at 38th and Van Dorn, 7:15am; and Friday, September 28th, Lincoln North Star High School, 5801 North 33rd. Meet at 7:15am in the area in front of the main doors on the east side of the school, northwest of the big (student) parking lot. This fall’s leaflet can be found here. [pdf]
An LPS opt-out form will also be enclosed. EveryOne is welcome to join ATM’s efforts to inform high school students routinely recruited by the military that they have other options. If you’d like to get involved with ATM in this way, or have questions about this work, please e-mail atmlincoln [at] gmail [dot] com. The FB link is http://www.facebook.com/atmlincoln. Twitter is http://www.twitter.com/ATMLincolnNE.

BEER, BRATS & BIRDS . . . Friday, September 28, 2012, support environmental education and birds of the Pioneers Park Nature Center located at the intersections of South Coddington and West Van Dorn Streets, Lincoln. The benefit will begin at 6:30pm with a Social Time and Music, at 7:00pm there will be Brats and More Provided by Hy-Vee, 7:30pm there will be a Bird and Raptors Presentation, and at 8:00pm at Moonlit Stroll Through the Nature Center. Tickets are available at the Nature Center. Phone 402.441.7895 for more information.

OCCUPY EDUCATION . . . Everyone is a teacher! Sunday, September 30, 2012, 7:00 to 8:00pm, Nick Svoboda will present Basic Bicycle Maintenance at the weekly Occupy Education class. **This teach-in will meet the Bike Kitchen, 1720 South 15th Street, Lincoln.**

Omaha area: Congressional District 2

OMAHA GREEN DRINKS . . . Omaha Green Drinks will meet Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 5:30 to 8:30pm, at Whole Foods Market, 10020 Regency Circle, in the education room by restaurant seating, across from coffee bar. Walk, cycle, bus, or carpool. EveryOne interested in environmental issues is welcome. Green Drinks Chapters are now active in 679 cities around the world.

OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. Wednesday, September 26, 2012, join the People’s Film Festival for its first-ever Occupy Omaha Night, spotlighting the ever-evolving major opus of historian Howard Zinn, A People’s History of the United States. For more information, go to http://www.progressiveomaha.com/films.htm. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004. EveryOne is welcome.

RELIGION AND THE ENVIRONMENT LECTURE . . . Thursday, September 27, 2012, 6:30pm, “Serving the Crucified People: Duties to Promote Environmental Justice” will be presented by Professor Kristin Shrader-Frechette, the O’Neill Family Endowed Professor at Notre Dame, at the Creighton University Harper Center Ballroom. Shrader-Frechette is a very distinguished scientists and philosopher–a forceful, no nonsense activist for the poor and children. This will be the third annual Religion & the Environment Lecture.

SIERRA CLUB SEPTEMBER . . . “Urban Redevelopment” is the theme of this month’s Sierra Club, Thursday, September 27, 2012, 7:00pm, at First United Methodist Church, 69th & Cass Streets, Omaha. (Room 112—enter north “Education Wing” door). Jerry Reimer, Urban Village Development, and Todd Swirczek, Omaha Planning Department, will speak about how to help Omaha grow in ways that avoid urban sprawl, and develop walkable urban centers. Learn about what’s happening to revitalize the midtown core, preserve neighborhoods, and make them attractive places to live, work and play. Sierra programs are always free and open to the public.

COMMUNITY GARDENING MOVEMENT . . . Thursday, September 27, 2012, 7:30pm, there will be a discussion with Katherine Brown, Founder of City Sprouts, on “The National Community Gardening Movement: Achievements and Challenges,” at the Maurer College of Public Health Building, Room 3001, University of Nebraska Medical Center. A reception before the presentation will begin at 6:45pm. All are invited; attendance is free. For more information, e-mail ajameton [at] unmc [dot] edu. “Food is the most commanding connector of our time. People who are growing food understand that connection; the connection to each other, and to the land. [As community gardeners] we have been entrusted to create safe spaces where people can feed their families but also feed the part of them that craves connection.” – Katherine Brown

SECOND KERREY/FISCHER DEBATE . . . The Second Kerrey/Fischer Debate will be Friday, September 28, 2012, 11:00am, at the Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass Street. KETV will rebroadcast at 6:00pm, Sunday, September 30th. The Third US Senate Candidates’Debate will air Monday, October 1, 2012, 7:00pm, live from NET TV.

OMAHA FARMERS MARKETS . . . Click here for an Omaha Market schedule.

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3

ENERGY POLICY IN NEBRASKA . . . The Platte Institute for Economic Research is hosting a conference to engage Nebraska’s lawmakers, citizens, and energy stakeholders in an open dialogue to address the future of energy policy in the state.
Conference participants include experts in fields such as renewable energy, ethanol production, natural gas, and public utilities. The Platte Institute’s goal is to initiate the discussion of how Nebraska can best utilize its energy resources.
When: Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 9:00am to 3:30pm. (Registration opens at 8:00am.) Where: Holiday Inn Convention Center, 110 South 2nd Avenue, Kearney. (Bold Nebraska will cover the registration cost if money is a problem for AnyOne who wants to participate.) If you have questions, please contact Kimberly Stephenson, kims [at] platteinstitute [dot] org, or phone 402.452.3737.

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . “Keystone XL pipeline raises tribal concerns,” by Steven Mufson, was published September 17, 2012 in the Washington Post: “In energy circles, the town of Cushing is well known as the hub used by New York oil traders to set the benchmark price for all U.S. crude oil. Row after row of giant oil storage tanks are lined up around a
moribund downtown and a shopping strip. At the edge of town stands a sign made of white pipes declaring: “Pipeline Crossroads of the World.” This is also where TransCanada’s existing Keystone pipeline ends and the southern leg of its new Keystone XL pipeline will begin. Less well known is the fact that Cushing sits in the Sac and Fox Nation, part of a patchwork of land belonging to Oklahoma’s 38 tribes, each with sovereignty over its own affairs and land.” The article focused on tribal land was also published in the Lincoln Journal Star.
An e-mail from ForestEthics begins “Last month we told you about our hard-hitting report exposing the appalling health problems that tar sands refineries dump onto U.S. communities. Now we have published the report, Tar Sands Refineries: Communities at Risk. Here are some facts from the report that make it a must-read:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide is associated with a host of respiratory problems, including decreased lung function, respiratory illness, and deterioration of the lung’s defense system.
Despite the EPA’s knowledge that health problems from refinery pollution are greater for disadvantaged groups than for others, it has failed to address the problem of tar sands refinery impacts on community health.
Big Oil wants to dramatically increase US refinery use of tar sands, further harming some of the most vulnerable populations in our society.
Take a few minutes to read this report and share it with your contacts. It is crucial that everyone know the severe health consequences of allowing more tar sands refining in our communities.
Bold Nebraska has launched a new ad featuring landowners and citizens asking Deb Fischer and Bob Kerrey whose side they are on. Same tweet/FB link: New Pipeline Ad asking @kerreybob and @DebFischer2012 whose side they are on Nebraskans or a foreign oil company #nokxl. Landowners can see if the new route crosses their land with this map. (Click on purple box to see detailed map.)
“TransCanada – The Neighbor from Hell for Many Landowners,” by Tony Iallonardo, Wildlife Promise, National Wildlife Federation, September 20th: “The company that’s been bullying landowners across the U.S. to put the dangerous Keystone XL tar sands pipeline under their private land wants you to feel okay about it. So they’ve hatched a handy slogan the boys from Mad Men would be proud of. They’ve been running a series of syrupy ads like this one to soothe our concerns and forget their past transgressions.
Here’s the thing, saying you are a good neighbor to landowners, and repeating it over and over in TV ads does not make it so. So it saddened me when the Washington Post recently quoted a TransCanada official repeating their slogan. In referring to their consultations with Native Americans he said, “There is no legal obligation to work with the tribes. We do it because we have a policy. We believe it’s a good, neighborly thing to do.” Actually they do have a legal obligation, but that’s another blog post. Continued at http://blog.nwf.org/2012/09/transcanada-the-neighbor-from-hell-for-many-landowners/.
“Few Oil Pipeline Spills Detected by Much-Touted Technology,” by Lisa Song, InsideClimate News, September 19th, is an analysis of a decade of federal data showing the general public detected far more spills than leak detection technology. Between 2002 and July 2012, remote sensors detected only 5 percent of the nation’s pipeline spills, according to data from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
From “Keystone XL Re-Route Does Little to Change Direction of Debate,” by Meg Handley, published by US News “….But all the promises of minimal environmental impact and safer operations are giving some critics a sense of déjà vu. “They said the same thing [about the pipeline’s safety] the first time around,” says Anthony Swift, an attorney with the National Resource Defense Council, adding that the original Keystone pipeline was temporarily shut down after a string of more than a dozen oil spills in its first year of operation. According to Swift, many of the “special safety conditions” TransCanada has pledged to adopt in its new plan simply restate and repackage measures they proposed before.”
“TransCanada Attempts to Reroute Keystone XL Pipeline, But Tar Sands Blockade Activists Halt Construction,” by Candice Bernd, Trouthout, AlterNet, also on September 11: “The Tar Sands Blockade is coordinating a series of rolling protests along the proposed southern route through Texas and Oklahoma. …Does TransCanada really think that 1,200 people were arrested in front of the White House – and another 12,000 encircled it – just to protest the pipeline route? “I’ve realized that the traditional means to effect change, while still useful, can only go so far, and not far enough,” says Occupy Dallas member Gary Stuard who locked down Wednesday. “It is completely clear to me now that massive nonviolent direct action is really the only way to protect the rights of citizens, to protect our land, water, air – and to prevent ecological catastrophe from happening.”
Tell the Obama Administration: Reject Keystone XL. Again. The following message accompanies a new petition from Credo Action: In the same week that record June heat blanketed the southeast, Minnesota tried to recover from record flooding, and the biggest fire in Colorado’s history continued to burn out of control — President Obama doubled down in his support for the energy that is causing this deepening climate change spiral approving the first portion of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, giving away 720 million tons of publicly owned coal to a coal company for virtually nothing, and promising to lease more arctic offshore areas for oil drilling. Now, the Canada to Oklahoma portion of the Keystone XL pipeline – which would turn up the spigot on deadly, “game over for the climate” tar sands production – is back before the State Department after being rejected by President Obama earlier this year when Republicans tried to force his decision.
Without the pressures of the election, President Obama could conceivably cave when a decision is made in 2013 – if he is re-elected. This public comment period is our opportunity to go on the record, before the election, with our fierce opposition. Please urge President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline. (Note: Credo Action petitions do generate e-mail from other petitions.)
Sign a Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert telling Congress to reject all attempts to force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by attaching it to any unrelated legislation. The Keystone XL will deliver billions in profits to Big Oil while the people get stuck with poisoned water, contaminated land and an overheated planet.
“The Keystone pipeline will spew a massive amount of carbon pollution into our fragile atmosphere. It should be stopped. ” –Jill Stein, 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee.

PETITION THE EPA BY MONDAY . . . The deadline is Monday, September 24, 2012, to tell the EPA: Stop stalling. Save the Bees! Submit a public comment urging the EPA to stop stalling, and take action to protect bees from the harmful pesticide clothianidin. Now is a crucial moment to make our voices heard for the bees. Submit a public comment to the EPA now.
Astonishingly, clothianidin was approved by the EPA based on virtually no scientific study. Yet the EPA continues to allow its use. Now, a group of senators have joined the call, writing a letter urging the EPA that waiting until 2018 to again review clothianidin and other neonicotinoids will be too late. Please submit a comment right now, urging the EPA to immediately suspend approval of clothianidin to protect honey bees and our food system.

Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Substitute Hemp for oil.“

Green Notes Week of September 16, 2012

September 16, 2012Green Notesgreenone

GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE . . . Check Green Notes next week for an update on Nebraska ballot access results.
Watch a 23:54 minute video of Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala on Moyers & Company at http://billmoyers.com/segment/jill-stein-and-cheri-honkala-on-third-party-politics/.
Petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill to participate in all of the presidential debates this year. “The Republican and Democratic Parties control the presidential debates and exclude third party candidates. This is anti-thetical to democracy. We petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill Stein to participate in all of the presidential debates this year.”
Major polling organizations are also ignoring independent party candidates. Gallup Organization is the only official advisor on polling to the CPD. Tell Gallup to take 3 important actions: 1) Include Jill Stein in ALL Gallup polling. 2) Encourage other polling organizations to include Jill Stein. 3) Advise the CPD to only consider polls that have included all legitimate candidates. (The Stein campaign made history and secured Federal matching funds! Doesn’t that demonstrate significant public support?)
Write an old-fashioned letter or postcard and mail to: The Gallup Organization, 502 Carnegie Center, Suite 300, Princeton , NJ 08450
Contact: Alyssa Brown at 1.202.715.3104, alyssa_brown [at] gallup [dot] com
Contact: Zach Bikus at 1.202.715.3100, zach_bikus [at] gallup [dot] com
Post on their Facebook wall: https://www.facebook.com/gallup.
Tweet: Hey @gallupnews! Don’t be so biased! Include @JillStein2012 in your #Election2012 polling!
Another U.S. is Possible — Another Party is Necessary.

FARMERS MARKETS . . . There are more than 90 local Farmers Markets in Nebraska this year. For a partial schedule of current Buy Fresh Buy Local Markets, click here.

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1

OCCUPY EDUCATION . . . Each week, a different member of the Lincoln community will host a short class on a topic of their choosing, Sundays, 7:00 to 8:00pm, September 9 through October 7, 2012, at Meadowlark Café, 1624 South Street. September 16, 2012, 7:00 to 8:00pm, Justin Orem will present “Repairing Small Appliances.

VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, 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. When weather is bad, 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. Mark your calendar now for NADP’s Annual Reception and Silent Auction, Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00 to 8:30pm. “It’s barbaric. It’s outlawed in all but a few extremely repressive countries like Iran, China, and not many others. It’s shameful that it continues to be performed. It’s well established that mistakes are made–yet half of our states practice pre-meditated state-sponsored murder. It’s also known that it’s not effective. So why is it done? Revenge & retribution? That’s not what our justice system is supposed to be about. It’s not an effective deterrent.” –Jill Stein, GP Presidential Nominee.

TUESDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . Tuesdays, 4:30-7:30pm, there is a Farmers Market at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 13th & F Streets, in Lincoln, through October 9th.

FALLBROOK FRAMERS’ MARKET . . . The Farmers’ Market in Fallbrook Town Square Park, 570 Fallbrook Blvd., Lincoln, is every Thursday evening, 3:30 to 7:00pm, through September 20th. Phone 402.473.4300 for more information.

WACHISKA ANNUAL PICNIC . . . Thursday, September 20, 2012, the Wachiska Audubon Annual Potluck Picnic will begin at 6:00pm, Pioneers Park Nature Center’s Bird Garden at the Ager Building, 3201 South Coddington Avenue, at the far west end of Pioneers Park’s driving loop. All are welcome to bring a favorite dish and table service to this free event. No reservations are necessary. Call the PPNC at 402.441.7895 during office hours for more information.

LINCOLN ARTS FESTIVAL . . . Saturday, September 22, 2012, from 10:00am to 6:00pm, and Sunday, September 23rd from 10:00am to 5:00pm, the 12th Annual Lincoln Arts Festival will be at SouthPointe Pavilions, 2910 Pine Lake Road, featuring over 100 artists from around the country, live music, and a family friendly atmosphere with children’s activities, food, and raffle prizes. See a list of participating artists at http://www.artscene.org/lincoln-arts-festival.

TASTES IN THE TALLGRASS . . Sunday, September 23, 2012, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center will host its annual fund-raising dinner beginning at 4:00pm. Enjoy the autumn landscape and help support the prairie with live music, wine, and a delicious meal served on one long table overlooking the prairie. Art, nature giveways, and other items will be available for raffle and auction. Call 402.797.2301 for more information, or make a reservation at http://springcreekprairie.audubon.org/tastes-tallgrass.

OCCUPY EDUCATION . . . Everyone is a teacher! Sunday, September 23, 2012, 7:00 to 8:00pm, Barb Van den Berg will present Mending Clothes II/Crowd-sourced Project from September 9th, at the weekly Occupy Education class, Meadowlark Café, 1624 South Street, Lincoln.

Omaha area: Congressional District 2

OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. Wednesday, September 19, 2012, there will be a Special 60 Minute Presentation by supporters to Elect State Senator (Emeritus) Ernie Chambers to his former seat in the Nebraska Unicameral. A question and answer session will follow. Video highlights from Senator Chambers’ efforts on behalf of his constituents as far back as the 1960s will also be presented, if time allows. For an outline of the presentation, go to http://www.progressiveomaha.com/films.htm. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.

OMAHA FARMERS MARKETS . . . Click here for an Omaha Market schedule.

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3

ENERGY POLICY IN NEBRASKA . . . The Platte Institute for Economic Research is hosting a conference to engage Nebraska’s lawmakers, citizens, and energy stakeholders in an open dialogue to address the future of energy policy in the state. Conference participants include experts in fields such as renewable energy, ethanol production, natural gas, and public utilities. The Platte Institute’s goal is to initiate the discussion of how Nebraska can best utilize its energy resources. When: Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 9:00am to 3:30pm. (Registration opens at 8:00am.) Where: Holiday Inn Convention Center, 110 South 2nd Avenue, Kearney. (Bold Nebraska will cover the registration cost if money is a problem for AnyOne who wants to participate.) If you have questions, please contact Kimberly Stephenson, kims [at] platteinstitute [dot] org, or phone 402.452.3737.

CNPW MEETING . . . The Central Nebraska Peace Workers, chapter of Nebraskans For Peace, will meet Sunday, September 23, 2012, 3:00 to 5:00pm, at Trinity Uunited Methodist Church, 5th and Elm Streets, in Grand Island. EveryOne is welcome.

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . “State, landowners clash over pipeline siting law,” by Art Hovey, Lincoln Journal Star, was published September 15, 2012 following the court hearing for Thompson v. Heineman, a lawsuit challenging the constitutional basis of LB 1161, Nebraska’s current pipeline siting/route law. “Attorneys for landowners along the proposed route of the Keystone XL pipeline squared off with the Nebraska Attorney General’s office Friday on the constitutionality of a new pipeline law. The state is seeking dismissal of a lawsuit filed in May against Gov. Dave Heineman, State Treasurer Don Stenberg and Mike Linder, director of the Department of Environmental Quality.
Lancaster County District Judge Stephanie Stacy listened to a sparring session between Assistant Attorney General Katie Spohn and Omaha attorney David Domina for about 45 minutes before announcing that she would rule at a later date.” The LJS article is continued at http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/statehouse/state-landowners-clash-over-pipeline-siting-law/article_700c1387-a042-56e7-842f-322d8651263b.html.
“Citizen Lawsuit Challenging Nebraska Unconstitutional Pipeline Process,” Jane Kleeb’s blog on Thompson v. Heineman, reports “The landowners, represented by David Domina, are standing up for citizens across the state who deserve laws that protect Nebraska’s land and water and that honor the state’s constitution.” The site includes links, photos, and background at http://boldnebraska.org/lawsuit.
Also on September 14th, LJS editorialized “New Keystone XL route is a slight improvement.” “…We can say it’s a vast improvement from the original, which plowed straight through the Sandhills, but not much different from the corridor it proposed in April. We and the rest of the interested world now await review by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the governor, who will forward Nebraska’s recommendation to the U.S. Department of State to be considered in its decision on the presidential permit for the project.” Read the editorial at http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-new-keystone-xl-route-is-a-slight-improvement/article_de9057e4-ba89-5aa1-a8ca-8f09d1ba56f7.html.
“New route unacceptable,” by Karen Wagoner, a LJS letter to the editor, was published September 11. “TransCanada’s new route is basically the same as the previous one and is not what is best for Nebraska. We (the state of Nebraska) should create our own easement area through the state for such things. All the toxins and disturbance to our land from construction, leaks and spills should be confined to the same general area where we already have pipelines running through Nebraska.
Nebraska’s Public Service Commission and Department of Environmental Quality should work together to predetermine the least damaging routes, completely unrelated to the cost, profits and desires of multimillion-dollar or foreign companies.
We are paying our government employees to make choices based not on politics or quick money, but on what is best for us, our land and our drinking water for our families now and in the future.” Read the letter at http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letter-new-route-unacceptable/article_7d0cca77-5c83-502d-ac0d-793333ad58a5.html.
“Keystone XL Re-Route Does Little to Change Direction of Debate,” by Meg Handley, was published by US News, September 11. “….But all the promises of minimal environmental impact and safer operations are giving some critics a sense of déjà vu. “They said the same thing [about the pipeline’s safety] the first time around,” says Anthony Swift, an attorney with the National Resource Defense Council, adding that the original Keystone pipeline was temporarily shut down after a string of more than a dozen oil spills in its first year of operation. According to Swift, many of the “special safety conditions” TransCanada has pledged to adopt in its new plan simply restate and repackage measures they proposed before.”
“TransCanada Attempts to Reroute Keystone XL Pipeline, But Tar Sands Blockade Activists Halt Construction,” by Candice Bernd, Trouthout, AlterNet, also on September 11: “The Tar Sands Blockade is coordinating a series of rolling protests along the proposed southern route through Texas and Oklahoma. …Does TransCanada really think that 1,200 people were arrested in front of the White House – and another 12,000 encircled it – just to protest the pipeline route? “I’ve realized that the traditional means to effect change, while still useful, can only go so far, and not far enough,” says Occupy Dallas member Gary Stuard who locked down Wednesday. “It is completely clear to me now that massive nonviolent direct action is really the only way to protect the rights of citizens, to protect our land, water, air – and to prevent ecological catastrophe from happening.”
InsideClimate News published “Angry Michigan residents fight uneven battle against pipeline project,” by David Hasemyer, September 12th. “A 2010 oil pipeline spill contaminated Michigan’s Kalamazoo River. Now the line is being replaced, raising the ire of landowners along the route.” Enbridge is the topic of this 6 page article.
Tell the Obama Administration: Reject Keystone XL. Again. The following message accompanies a new petition from Credo Action: In the same week that record June heat blanketed the southeast, Minnesota tried to recover from record flooding, and the biggest fire in Colorado’s history continued to burn out of control — President Obama doubled down in his support for the energy that is causing this deepening climate change spiral approving the first portion of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, giving away 720 million tons of publicly owned coal to a coal company for virtually nothing, and promising to lease more arctic offshore areas for oil drilling. Now, the Canada to Oklahoma portion of the Keystone XL pipeline – which would turn up the spigot on deadly, “game over for the climate” tar sands production – is back before the State Department after being rejected by President Obama earlier this year when Republicans tried to force his decision.
Without the pressures of the election, President Obama could conceivably cave when a decision is made in 2013 – if he is re-elected. This public comment period is our opportunity to go on the record, before the election, with our fierce opposition. Please urge President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline. (Note: Credo Action petitions do generate e-mail from other petitions.)
Sign a Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert telling Congress to reject all attempts to force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by attaching it to any unrelated legislation. The Keystone XL will deliver billions in profits to Big Oil while the people get stuck with poisoned water, contaminated land and an overheated planet.
“The Keystone pipeline will spew a massive amount of carbon pollution into our fragile atmosphere. It should be stopped. ” –Jill Stein, 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee.

PETITION THE EPA . . . Tell the EPA: Stop stalling. Save the Bees! Submit a public comment urging the EPA to stop stalling, and take action to protect bees from the harmful pesticide clothianidin.
Last month, for the second time, the EPA refused to intervene to stop the use of the pesticide clothianidin, which scientists believe is at least partially to blame for the alarming rise in bee colony collapse — the sudden bee die-off which has claimed about 30% of the U.S. honey bee population each year since 2006. If we don’t convince the EPA to reconsider, it will not review clothianidin again until 2018. By then it could be too late for the bees, and the one third of our food crops that bees play a crucial role in pollinating.
The EPA is currently accepting public comments on its latest decision not to declare bee die-offs an emergency situation and suspend the use of clothianidin. Now is a crucial moment to make our voices heard for the bees. Submit a public comment to the EPA now.
Astonishingly, clothianidin was approved by the EPA based on virtually no scientific study. Yet the EPA continues to allow its use. Now, a group of senators have joined the call, writing a letter urging the EPA that waiting until 2018 to again review clothianidin and other neonicotinoids will be too late. There is no time to waste. Please submit a comment now urging the EPA to immediately suspend approval of clothianidin to protect honey bees and our food system.

Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Substitute Hemp for oil.“

Green Notes Week of September 9, 2012

September 9, 2012Green Notesgreenone

GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE . . . Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala spoke with Bill Moyers about the impact of independent thought on politics and democracy, Saturday, September 7, 2012 on Moyers & Company. Watch the 23:54 minute video at http://billmoyers.com/segment/jill-stein-and-cheri-honkala-on-third-party-politics/.
Join Jill on Reddit for “Ask Me Anything,” an online, real time conversation, Wednesday, September 12, 2012, 12:00pm, PST; 2:00pm CST . You can sign-up for an account to ask Jill questions, or simply visit the site, read what others are posting, and read her responses. Thirty-three states now have a ballot line for Stein and Honkala, and the Green Party candidates will appear as write-ins in three states. Nebraska Greens submitted notarized registered voters’ signatures on petitions formally requesting that Stein and Honkala be placed on the November 6, 2012 general election ballot. The Secretary of State must validate Nebraska signatures by September 14th.
Petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill to participate in all of the presidential debates this year. “The Republican and Democratic Parties control the presidential debates and exclude third party candidates. This is anti-thetical to democracy. We petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill Stein to participate in all of the presidential debates this year.”
Major polling organizations are also ignoring independent party candidates. The CPD requires 15% support among five public opinion polls in order for a candidate to be included in the debates. But, they don’t name which polls or even when they’ll gather such evidence.
Gallup Organization is the only official advisor on polling to the CPD. Tell Gallup to take 3 important actions: 1) Include Jill Stein in ALL Gallup polling. 2) Encourage other polling organizations to include Jill Stein. 3) Advise the CPD to only consider polls that have included all legitimate candidates. (The Stein campaign made history and secured Federal matching funds! Doesn’t that demonstrate significant public support?)
Write an old-fashioned letter or postcard and mail to: The Gallup Organization, 502 Carnegie Center, Suite 300, Princeton , NJ 08450
Contact: Alyssa Brown at 1.202.715.3104, alyssa_brown [at] gallup [dot] com
Contact: Zach Bikus at 1.202.715.3100, zach_bikus [at] gallup [dot] com
Post on their Facebook wall: https://www.facebook.com/gallup.
Tweet: Hey @gallupnews! Don’t be so biased! Include @JillStein2012 in your #Election2012 polling!

FARMERS MARKETS . . . There are more than 90 local Farmers Markets in Nebraska this year. For a partial schedule of current Buy Fresh Buy Local Markets, click here.

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1

PLAY IN THE STREETS . . . Sunday, September 9, 2012, 12:30 to 5:30pm, people of all ages are encouraged to Play in the Streets at the second annual Streets Alive! health and wellness festival, a free afternoon of fun and activities along a 3.3 mile route from Trago Park near 21st and & Streets, southeast along the Antelope Valley Trail and east to Woods Park at 33rd and O, in Lincoln. The route will be closed to vehicle traffic. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/StreetsAliveLincoln.

LINCOLN AIDS WALK . . . Sunday, September 9, 2012, 2:00pm, join the Lincoln AIDS Walk to raise awareness about HIV in our local community. The two mile solidarity march will be pass in front of the State Capitol, go through downtown Lincoln, and up O street. Individuals can walk independently or with a team. Registration will begin at 1:30pm, at the Panic, 200 South 18th Street.

OCCUPY EDUCATION . . . Each week, a different member of the Lincoln community will host a short class on a topic of their choosing, Sundays, 7:00 to 8:00pm, September 9 through October 7, 2012, at Meadowlark Café, 1624 South Street. September 9th, Barb van den Berg will feature “Introduction to the Repair Café/Mending Clothes/Planning Session for September 23rd.

VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, 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. When weather is bad, 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. Mark your calendar now for NADP’s Annual Reception and Silent Auction, Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00 to 8:30pm. “It’s barbaric. It’s outlawed in all but a few extremely repressive countries like Iran, China, and not many others. It’s shameful that it continues to be performed. It’s well established that mistakes are made–yet half of our states practice pre-meditated state-sponsored murder. It’s also known that it’s not effective. So why is it done? Revenge & retribution? That’s not what our justice system is supposed to be about. It’s not an effective deterrent.” –Jill Stein, GP Presidential Nominee.

TUESDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . Tuesdays, 4:30-7:30pm, there is a Farmers Market at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 13th & F Streets, in Lincoln, through October 9th.

COURT HEARING ON CITIZEN CHALLENGE . . . Friday, September 14, 2012, 11:00am to noon, there will be a Court Hearing on the Citizen Challenge to LB 1161, at Lancaster District Court, 575 South 10th street, 3rd Floor, Lincoln (Judge Stacey presiding). The lawsuit challenging LB 1161 gets the first hearing on September 14th in Lancaster County court. If that lawsuit is successful, TransCanada could have to go through the process that all other oil pipelines must follow–the Major Oil Pipeline Siting law and rules established by Nebraska’s Public Service Commission. In response, the State is asking the court to dismiss the case. Please be there to support this ongoing, very critical, legal challenge. TransCanada is exempt from legal rules because of LB 1161. Face Book event link is http://www.facebook.com/events/130572780421400/.

2012 FARM WALK . . . Friday, September 14, 2012, 5:00 to 7:30pm, Community CROPS & Sunset Community Farm, Southwest 40th and West F Streets, present the 2012 Farm Walk: an evening on a sustainable vegetable farm with beginning farmers, sampling produce, enjoying activities for kids and delicious food provided by local chefs. All-you-can-eat soup for $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Free admission to tour the farm and enjoy the activities. For more information, visit http://www.communitycrops.org or call 402.474.9802.

TWILIGHT ON THE TALLGRASS . . . Saturday, September 15, 2012, 5:00 to 10:00pm, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center will host its annual Twilight on the Tallgrass Festival Walk along prairie discovery trails and interact with authors, biologists, photographers, writers, artists, and other professionals who gain insight and energy from the prairie. Catch tadpoles and grasshoppers, learn to identify wildflowers and grasses, see all the stars in the night sky, and just enjoy a beautiful autumn evening. Learn about SCP at http://springcreekprairie.audubon.org/invitation-explore. A downloadable trails map is at http://springcreekprairie.audubon.org/sites/default/files/documents/scpac_trail_map_0.pdf.

OCCUPY EDUCATION . . . Everyone is a teacher! Sunday, September 16, 2012, 7:00 to 8:00pm, Justin Orem will present “Repairing Small Appliances” at the weekly Occupy Education class, Meadowlark Café, 1624 South Street.

Omaha area: Congressional District 2

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON HEALTH CARE EXCHANGES . . . The Nebraska Department of Insurance is holding a series of informal public meetings throughout Nebraska to get input on the creation of the new health insurance exchange. The remaining meetings are Monday, September 10, 2012, at Omaha Ramada Plaza, 3321 S 72nd Street, 6:00 to 9:00pm, and Wednesday, September 12th, in South Sioux City at the Marina Inn Conference Center, 385 East 4th Street, 6:00 to 9:00pm.

FORT CALHOUN STATUS MEETING . . . The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will meet with Omaha Public Power District officials on Tuesday, September 11, 2012, 6:00 to 9:00pm, at the former Dana College’s Gardner-Hawks Center, 2848 College Drive, Blair, Nebraska, to discuss the status of the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant’s performance improvement activities. Fort Calhoun is shut down and remains in a safe mode following flooding along the Missouri River in 2011. OPPD operates the plant which is near the Missouri River, 19 miles north of Omaha.

OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. Wednesday, September 12, 2012, the film will be “Lifting the Fog: The Scientific Method Applied to the World Trade Center Disaster.” “The fact that the EPA allowed politics to eclipse science in their issuance of false assurances that “the air is safe to breathe”, say conference presenters, is a sobering example of the fallacy of trusting official conclusions regarding highly charged political events being used to justify wars.” For more information, go to http://www.progressiveomaha.com/films.htm. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.

GREEN TEAM ROUNDTABLE . . . There will be an Omaha Green Team Roundtable Meeting Wednesday, September 12, 2012, featuring “Green Event Planning,” Wellnist’s Sustainability Program at their headquarters, 13801 FNB Parkway, Suite 101. A zero waste lunch is included with pre-registration. Green Team Roundtables are peer-to-peer networking meetings facilitated by WasteCap Nebraska staff and open to business owners, managers, green team members and individuals. For information on hosting opportunities, upcoming Roundtable locations and topics go to call Julie Diegel at 402.434.7376.

RENEWABLE ENERGY IN NEBRASKA . . . John Atkeison, Energy Policy Director at the Nebraska Wildlife Federation, will present “Renewable Energy in Nebraska” at a Green Neighborhood Council Roundtable Discussion, Thursday, September 13, 2012, 7:00 to 8:30pm, at the Neighborhood Center, 115 South 49th Avenue, Omaha. Atkeison is a campaigner, publicist, and lobbyist in the energy policy arena working to organize Clean Energy Nebraska, a coalition of statewide environmental and social organizations, renewable energy advocates, and professionals in Nebraska’s emerging renewable energy industry. The potential for producing electricity from the power of wind and the energy of the sun is better in Nebraska than in 80% of the rest of America. The costs of producing that electricity from both sources have come down dramatically in recent years. For more information, contact Green Neighborhood Co-Chairs Ken or Helen Deffenbacher, kdeffenbacher [at] greenomahacoalition [dot] org or hdeffenbacher [at] greenomahacoalition[dot] org.

OMAHA FARMERS MARKETS . . . Click here for an Omaha Market schedule.

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . COURT HEARING ON CITIZEN CHALLENGE of LB 1161 . . . Save the Date: Friday, September 14, 2012, 11:00am to noon, there will be a Court Hearing on the Citizen Challenge to LB 1161, at Lancaster District Court, 575 South 10th street, 3rd Floor, Lincoln (Judge Stacey presiding). In response to the lawsuit, the State is asking the court to dismiss the case. Please be there to support this ongoing, very critical, legal challenge. TransCanada is exempt from legal rules because of LB 1161. Face Book event link is http://www.facebook.com/events/130572780421400/.
In response to the Texas ruling that TransCanada can seize pasture for Keystone XL, the Tar Sands Blockade continues in Livingston, Texas. In a 15-word ruling sent from his iPhone, a Judge upheld TransCanada’s condemnation of a 50-foot strip of land across Julia Trigg Crawford’s pasture.”
From “Landowner plans to appeal eminent-doman ruling on Keystone XL pipeline,” by Kate Galbreith, Texas Tribune, September 6th, “The case of Julia Trigg Crawford vs. the Keystone XL oil pipeline will soon return to the headlines. Crawford, a Northeast Texas farmer, is fighting to keep TransCanada, the pipeline owner, from invoking the right of eminent domain to cross her property. A judge in Lamar County ruled against her last month, but Crawford says she plans to appeal soon — probably to the state’s 6th Court of Appeals in Texarkana.”
September 5th, EcoWatch reported “3 Blockaders Locked to Equipment Stop Work at Keystone XL Site.” Quoting the article, “As promised, Tar Sands Blockade’s rolling campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience pushes forward.” A 3:20 minute video from the site is at http://ecowatch.org/2012/blockaders-stop-work-at-keystone-xl/. Check the LiveBlog for updates, with video, throughout the day.
See curent photos of KXL construction happening now in Texas courtesy of Kathy and Steve DaSilva.
TransCanada issued a press release September 5th, stating they have submitted a new route to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. The route still crosses vulnerable sandy soil and the Ogallala Aquifer. A same day response from Bold Nebraska Executive Director Jane Kleeb is at http://boldnebraska.org/newroute_stillrisky.
From York News Times, “Priest making plans to walk pipeline route,” by Rachael Ruybalid, August 30th: “Shodo Spring, a Buddhist priest, has been an environmentalist for a long time. It started seven years ago for her after her third grandchild had been born when she went to hear a speaker talk about peak oil. “I had known there were issues with fossil fuels and I had some knowledge of issues about climate change,” she said. “I had been hoping it was wrong but there I thought to myself, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s 10 times worse than I thought.’” Read entire article at http://www.yorknewstimes.com/news/priest-making-plans-to-walk-pipeline-route/article_33879b3c-f328-11e1-9ecf-0019bb2963f4.html.
In response to the Greg Awtry York News Times Editorial, “Put safety of citizens and natural resources above all else,” published August 21, 2012, here are three things everyone can ask any candidate in this election cycle.
1) “Repeal the Fischer Loophole” that allows oil pipelines to take Nebraskans land. We must put property rights, a fundamental American value, first. Pipelines should have to prove they are a “common carrier” and they should have to prove the oil is 100% for America.
2) Pass “Right to Know Laws” so citizens, first responders and health officials know what exactly is in a pipeline that crosses their community, if they are in an evacuation zone when a spill happens and what the chain of command for clean-up is on the ground.
3) “Reroute Pipelines” away from the Sandhills and the Ogallala Aquifer. We should have Energy Corridors in our state that companies who want to cross our land and water know they can suggest a pipeline be built. This way, citizens, landowners, first responders and health officials can be prepared.” Quoting Awtry, “…I urge our political leaders to put the safety of our citizens and the preservation of our natural resources above all else and join them in their fight. I urge our readers to let the politicians know how you feel, pro, con or otherwise. This is a lasting decision which will have major consequences to all Nebraskans as well as set precedent for the future. Let your voices be heard. It is the Nebraska way.”
Tell the Obama Administration: Reject Keystone XL. Again. The following message accompanies a new petition from Credo Action: In the same week that record June heat blanketed the southeast, Minnesota tried to recover from record flooding, and the biggest fire in Colorado’s history continued to burn out of control — President Obama doubled down in his support for the energy that is causing this deepening climate change spiral approving the first portion of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, giving away 720 million tons of publicly owned coal to a coal company for virtually nothing, and promising to lease more arctic offshore areas for oil drilling. Now, the Canada to Oklahoma portion of the Keystone XL pipeline – which would turn up the spigot on deadly, “game over for the climate” tar sands production – is back before the State Department after being rejected by President Obama earlier this year when Republicans tried to force his decision.
Without the pressures of the election, President Obama could conceivably cave when a decision is made in 2013 – if he is re-elected. This public comment period is our opportunity to go on the record, before the election, with our fierce opposition. Please urge President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline. (Note: Credo Action petitions do generate e-mail from other petitions.)
Sign a Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert telling Congress to reject all attempts to force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by attaching it to any unrelated legislation. The Keystone XL will deliver billions in profits to Big Oil while the people get stuck with poisoned water, contaminated land and an overheated planet.
“The Keystone pipeline will spew a massive amount of carbon pollution into our fragile atmosphere. It should be stopped. ” –Jill Stein, 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee.

STOP FRACKING NOW . . . At the First-Ever National Mobilization Against Fracking on July 28th, celebrities, community groups, and more than 100 organizations joined forces for “Stop the Frack Attack” in Washington, DC, where they made three demands of Congress: 1. Stop dangerous fracking; 2. Close 7 legal loopholes that exempt the oil and gas industry from parts of the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Air, and Clean Water Acts; and 3. Implement a pathway towards 100% clean renewable energy. Learn more about the event here. http://www.stopthefrackattack.org/ Petition Congress: “We, the undersigned, call on Congress to pass the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act this year. It’s time to hold the oil and gas production industry to the same standards as any other industry to ensure the safe protection of America’s drinking water.”

Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Substitute Hemp for oil.”

Green Notes Week of September 2, 2012

September 2, 2012Green Notesgreenone

GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE . . . Thirty-three states now have a ballot line for Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala, and they will appear as write-ins in three other states. In Nebraska, we are collecting signatures for ballot access with a non-partisan line in November. Next week’s Green Notes will announce the results of our Nebraska campaign. For more information on ballot access, see http://www.jillstein.org/ballot.
Petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill to participate in all of the presidential debates this year. “The Republican and Democratic Parties control the presidential debates and exclude third party candidates. This is anti-thetical to democracy. We petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill Stein to participate in all of the presidential debates this year.”
Major polling organizations are also ignoring independent party candidates. The CPD requires 15% support among five public opinion polls in order for a candidate to be included in the debates. But, they don’t name which polls or even when they’ll gather such evidence.
Gallup Organization is the only official advisor on polling to the CPD. So, let’s make some noise and tell Gallup to take 3 important actions: 1) Include Jill Stein in ALL Gallup polling. 2) Encourage other polling organizations to include Jill Stein. 3) Advise the CPD to only consider polls that have included all legitimate candidates. (The Stein campaign made history and secured Federal matching funds! Doesn’t that demonstrate significant public support?)
Write an old-fashioned letter or postcard and mail to: The Gallup Organization, 502 Carnegie Center, Suite 300, Princeton , NJ 08450
Contact: Alyssa Brown at 1.202.715.3104, alyssa_brown [at] gallup [dot] com
Contact: Zach Bikus at 1.202.715.3100, zach_bikus [at] gallup [dot] com
Post on their Facebook wall: https://www.facebook.com/gallup
Tweet: Hey @gallupnews! Don’t be so biased! Include @JillStein2012 in your #Election2012 polling!
Thanks for helping fight the media blackout! Another U.S. is Possible — Another Party is Necessary.

NEBRASKA RAINBOW GATHERING . . . Nebraska’s 2012 Labor Day Weekend Rainbow Gathering started Wednesday, August 29th and continues through Wednesday, September 5th. No money. No alcohol. No aggression. No amplified music. Camping and Celebration of Nature. Find Common Unity to Build Community. Hike and camp along a wide sandy river channel on public land near Genoa, Nebraska. For directions, and more information, phone William at 402.304.2751.

FARMERS MARKETS . . . There are more than 90 local Farmers Markets in Nebraska this year. For a partial schedule of current Buy Fresh Buy Local Markets, click here.

“Say no to the politics of fear!” -Jill Stein

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1

VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, 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. When weather is bad, 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. Mark your calendar now for NADP’s Annual Reception and Silent Auction, Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00 to 8:30pm. “It’s barbaric. It’s outlawed in all but a few extremely repressive countries like Iran, China, and not many others. It’s shameful that it continues to be performed. It’s well established that mistakes are made–yet half of our states practice pre-meditated state-sponsored murder. It’s also known that it’s not effective. So why is it done? Revenge & retribution? That’s not what our justice system is supposed to be about. It’s not an effective deterrent.” –Jill Stein, GP Presidential Nominee.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON HEALTH CARE EXCHANGES . . . There will be two Public Hearings on Health Care Exchanges at Lincoln’s Downtown Holiday Inn, 141 North 9th Street: Tuesday, September 4th, 9:00am, for consumer advocacy groups, and Tuesday, September 4th, 1:00pm, for providers. Thursday, September 6th, 1:00pm, the open public hearing will be for insurers. Other meetings will be held around the state.
In addition, the Department of Insurance will hold a series of informal public meetings throughout Nebraska to get input on the creation of the new health insurance exchange. The remaining meetings are Monday, September 10th, Omaha Ramada Plaza, 3321 S 72nd Street, 6:00 to 9:00pm, and Wednesday, September 12th, in South Sioux City at the Marina Inn Conference Center, 385 East 4th Street, 6:00 to 9:00pm.

TUESDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . Tuesdays, 4:30-7:30pm, there is a Farmers Market at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 13th & F Streets, in Lincoln.

RAIN GARDEN WORKSHOP . . . Register by Wednesday, for Saturday’s September 8, 2012 hands-on Rain Garden Workshop, 9:00 to 11:00am, at the Prairie Building in Pioneers Park Nature Center, 3201 South Coddington. The workshop is free, by pre-registration is required. Call Ellen Wright, 402.441.7075, or e-mail ewright [at] lincoln [dot] ne [dot] gov.

CLEAN OUT YOUR GARAGE DAY . . . Saturday, September 8, 2012, is National Clean Out Your Garage Day. Find tips for how to start at http://journalstar.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/give-you-car-a-break-clean-out-your-garage/article_234b2e86-1371-518f-a917-767a9b6edcf0.html.

SUNDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . The Old Cheney Road Farmers Market offers local produce, baked goods and natural meats every Sunday, 10:00am to 2:00pm, at 55th Street and Old Cheney Road.

OCCUPY EDUCATION . . . Everyone is a teacher! Each week, a different member of the Lincoln community will host a short class on a topic of their choosing, Sundays, 7:00 – 8:00pm, September 9 through October 7, 2012, at Meadowlark Café, 1624 South Street. September 9th, Barb van den Berg will feature “Introduction to the Repair Café/Mending Clothes/Planning Session for September 23rd.

Omaha area: Congressional District 2

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. Wednesday, September 5, 2012, the film will be “Can We Do Better than Capitalism?,” a look at Capitalism and how it really works. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.

GREEN TEAM ROUNDTABLE . . . Pre-registration and payment are required by Friday, September 7th, for the Omaha Green Team Roundtable Meeting Wednesday, September 12, 2012, featuring “Green Event Planning,” Wellnist’s Sustainability Program at their headquarters, 13801 FNB Parkway, Suite 101. A zero waste lunch is included. Green Team Roundtables are peer-to-peer networking meetings facilitated by WasteCap Nebraska staff and open to business owners, managers, green team members and individuals. For information on hosting opportunities, upcoming Roundtable locations and topics go to call Julie Diegel at 402.434.7376. Pre-register for September 12th at http://www.wastecapne.org/calendar/event-registration/?regevent_action=register&event_id=79&name_of_event=SeptemberOmahaGreenTeamRountable.

OMAHA FARMERS MARKETS . . . Click here for an Omaha Market schedule.

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . Another pipeline spill has leaked hundreds of thousands of chemicals in central Alberta. Watch a 2:10 minute video from aptn news on August 28, 2012, “Alberta pipeline leaks 300,000 litres of tar sands-tainted water,” by Noemi LoPinto at http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2012/08/28/alberta-pipeline-leaks-300000-litres-of-tar-sands-tainted-water/.
“Why We’re Putting Ourselves on the (Pipe)Line With the Tea Party,” by Will Wooten, Candice Bernd, Ron Seifert, YES! Magazine, sourced to Reader Supported News, August 28th begins “Occupiers, Tea Partiers, landowners, and environmentalists are challenging construction of the Keystone XL pipeline’s Gulf Coast segment – together.”
From “7 arrested in Polk Co. pipeline protest,” by Alexis Spears, ktre news, August 28th: “Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested two women and five men who illegally trespassed on private property in protest of the Keystone XL pipeline Tuesday morning. …Thousands of acres of private land are being taken by this corporation,” Seifert said. “I mean, these are people’s homes that are being taken, that are being expropriated, that are being stolen from them.” View 2:11 minute news coverage at http://www.ktre.com/story/19400667/7-arrested-in-polk-co-pipeline-protest.
Visit http://www.nacstop.org/BlockadeEdition.html for a series of photos from the Blockade in action at Livingston, Texas on August 28, 2012, courtesy of Steve Da Silva. The message: Stay tuned….this is only the beginning.
From York News Times, “Priest making plans to walk pipeline route,” by Rachael Ruybalid, August 30th: “Shodo Spring, a Buddhist priest, has been an environmentalist for a long time. It started seven years ago for her after her third grandchild had been born when she went to hear a speaker talk about peak oil. “I had known there were issues with fossil fuels and I had some knowledge of issues about climate change,” she said. “I had been hoping it was wrong but there I thought to myself, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s 10 times worse than I thought.’”
…Last summer, Spring went to Washington D.C. to protest the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline. She sat in front of the White House and was arrested on the protest’s religious day while wearing her Buddhist robes.
…She has been traveling around the route in Nebraska this summer, talking to landowners along the route about her walk and also the different reasons they’re opposed to the pipeline.
“…The purpose is to change consciousness or to activate people who are environmentalists who are saying ‘we can’t do anything about this,’” Spring said.
…When Spring does walk the route next summer, when she comes through Nebraska and York County, the York News-Times hopes to bring the readers a regular update on her progress.” Read entire article at http://www.yorknewstimes.com/news/priest-making-plans-to-walk-pipeline-route/article_33879b3c-f328-11e1-9ecf-0019bb2963f4.html.
Last week’s Greg Awtry YNT Editorial, “Put safety of citizens and natural resources above all else,” is an Open letter to Nebraska Gov. Heineman and Nebraska’s Washington delegation Representatives Smith, Fortenberry and Terry, Senators Nelson and Johanns, Senate candidates Fisher and Kerrey, and Speaker Flood. Quoting, “…I urge our political leaders to put the safety of our citizens and the preservation of our natural resources above all else and join them in their fight. I urge our readers to let the politicians know how you feel, pro, con or otherwise. This is a lasting decision which will have major consequences to all Nebraskans as well as set precedent for the future. Let your voices be heard. It is the Nebraska way.”
In response to the Awtry Editorial, here are three things everyone can ask any candidate in this election cycle,
1) “Repeal the Fischer Loophole” that allows oil pipelines to take Nebraskans land. We must put property rights, a fundamental American value, first. Pipelines should have to prove they are a “common carrier” and they should have to prove the oil is 100% for America.
2) Pass “Right to Know Laws” so citizens, first responders and health officials know what exactly is in a pipeline that crosses their community, if they are in an evacuation zone when a spill happens and what the chain of command for clean-up is on the ground.
3) “Reroute Pipelines” away from the Sandhills and the Ogallala Aquifer. We should have Energy Corridors in our state that companies who want to cross our land and water know they can suggest a pipeline be built. This way, citizens, landowners, first responders and health officials can be prepared. At Bold, we think Nebraska should tarsands free, for that matter we think America should be tarsands free and rely on our home-grown, American-made energy sources.
“Texas judge rules TransCanada can seize pasture for Keystone XL,” by Saul Elbein, was published in the New York Times, August 23rd: “The Canadian energy company TransCanada can take over land owned by a Texas farmer to build its Keystone XL pipeline, says a county judge. In a 15-word ruling sent from his iPhone, Judge Bill Harris upheld TransCanada’s condemnation of a 50-foot strip of land across Julia Trigg Crawford’s pasture here.”
See current photos of KXL construction happening now courtesy of Kathy and Steve DaSilva.
Tell the Obama Administration: Reject Keystone XL. Again. The following message accompanies a new petition from Credo Action: In the same week that record June heat blanketed the southeast, Minnesota tried to recover from record flooding, and the biggest fire in Colorado’s history continued to burn out of control — President Obama doubled down in his support for the energy that is causing this deepening climate change spiral approving the first portion of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, giving away 720 million tons of publicly owned coal to a coal company for virtually nothing, and promising to lease more arctic offshore areas for oil drilling. Now, the Canada to Oklahoma portion of the Keystone XL pipeline – which would turn up the spigot on deadly, “game over for the climate” tar sands production – is back before the State Department after being rejected by President Obama earlier this year when Republicans tried to force his decision.
Without the pressures of the election, President Obama could conceivably cave when a decision is made in 2013 – if he is re-elected. This public comment period is our opportunity to go on the record, before the election, with our fierce opposition. Please urge President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline. (Note: Credo Action petitions do generate e-mail from other petitions.)
Sign a Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert telling Congress to reject all attempts to force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by attaching it to any unrelated legislation. The Keystone XL will deliver billions in profits to Big Oil while the people get stuck with poisoned water, contaminated land and an overheated planet.
“The Keystone pipeline will spew a massive amount of carbon pollution into our fragile atmosphere. It should be stopped. ” –Jill Stein, 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee.

Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Substitute Hemp for oil.“

Green Notes Week of August 26, 2012

August 26, 2012Green Notesgreenone

GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE . . . For the latest information on ballot access, see http://www.jillstein.org/ballot. Thirty-three states now have a ballot line for Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala. In Nebraska, we are collecting signatures for Jill’s ballot access with a non-partisan line on the November ballot. Watch for a surprise announcement in next week’s Green Notes.
Petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill Stein to participate in all of the presidential debates this year. “The Republican and Democratic Parties control the presidential debates and exclude third party candidates. This is anti-thetical to democracy. We petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill Stein to participate in all of the presidential debates this year.”
Major polling organizations are also ignoring independent party candidates. The CPD requires 15% support among five public opinion polls in order for a candidate to be included in the debates. But, they don’t name which polls or even when they’ll gather such evidence.
The Gallup Organization is the only official advisor on polling to the CPD. So, let’s make some noise and tell Gallup to take 3 important actions: 1) Include Jill Stein in ALL Gallup polling. 2) Encourage other polling organizations to include Jill Stein. 3) Advise the CPD to only consider polls that have included all legitimate candidates. (The Stein campaign made history and secured Federal matching funds! Doesn’t that demonstrate significant public support?)
Write a good, old-fashioned letter or postcard and mail to: The Gallup Organization, 502 Carnegie Center, Suite 300, Princeton , NJ 08450
Contact: Alyssa Brown at 1.202.715.3104, alyssa_brown [at] gallup [dot] com
Contact: Zach Bikus at 1.202.715.3100, zach_bikus [at] gallup [dot] com
Post on their Facebook wall: https://www.facebook.com/gallup
Tweet: Hey @gallupnews! Don’t be so biased! Include @JillStein2012 in your #Election2012 polling! Thanks for helping fight the media blackout! Another U.S. is Possible — Another Party is Necessary.

NEBRASKA RAINBOW GATHERING . . . Nebraska’s 2012 Labor Day Weekend Rainbow Gathering will be from Wednesday, August 29th to Wednesday, September 5th. No money. No alcohol. No aggression. No amplified music. Camping and Celebration of Nature. Find Common Unity to Build Community. Hike and camp along a wide sandy river channel on public land near Genoa, Nebraska. For directions, and more information, phone William at 402.304.2751.

FARMERS MARKETS . . . There are more than 90 local Farmers Markets in Nebraska this year. For a partial schedule of current Buy Fresh Buy Local Markets, click here.

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1

VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, 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. When weather is bad, 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 more information about NADP, click here. “It’s barbaric. It’s outlawed in all but a few extremely repressive countries like Iran, China, and not many others. It’s shameful that it continues to be performed. It’s well established that mistakes are made–yet half of our states practice pre-meditated state-sponsored murder. It’s also known that it’s not effective. So why is it done? Revenge & retribution? That’s not what our justice system is supposed to be about. It’s not an effective deterrent.” –Jill Stein, GP Presidential Nominee.

TUESDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . Tuesdays, 4:30-7:30pm, there is a Farmers Market at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 13th & F Streets, in Lincoln.

SUNDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . The Old Cheney Road Farmers Market offers local produce, baked goods and natural meats every Sunday, 10:00am to 2:00pm, at 55th Street and Old Cheney Road.

Omaha area: Congressional District 2

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. Wednesday, August 30, 2012, the film will be “Outrage,” an “indictment of closeted politicians who lobby for anti-gay legislation in the U.S.” View the trailer at http://outragethemovie.com/. For more information, go to http://www.progressiveomaha.com/films.htm. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.

OMAHA PEACE VIGILS . . . Every Saturday, 1:00-2:00pm, there is a Peace Vigil at the northwest corner of 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 about Saturday vigils.

OMAHA FARMERS MARKETS . . . Click here for an Omaha Market schedule.

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . “Put safety of citizens and natural resources above all else,” by Greg Awtry, Publisher, York News Times, August 21, 2012, is an Open letter to Nebraska Gov. Heineman and Nebraska’s Washington delegation Representatives Smith, Fortenberry and Terry, Senators Nelson and Johanns, Senate candidates Fisher and Kerrey, and Speaker Flood. Quoting, “…I urge our political leaders to put the safety of our citizens and the preservation of our natural resources above all else and join them in their fight. I urge our readers to let the politicians know how you feel, pro, con or otherwise. This is a lasting decision which will have major consequences to all Nebraskans as well as set precedent for the future. Let your voices be heard. It is the Nebraska way.” Read the letter at http://m.yorknewstimes.com/mobile/editorial/put-safety-of-citizens-and-natural-resources-above-all-else/article_0a6b1110-eb4a-11e1-9f5e-0019bb2963f4.html.
In response to the Awtry Editorial, Jane Kleeb offered 3 things everyone can ask any candidate as action steps:
Ask every candidate you know if they will work to make these three action steps a reality.
1) Let’s “Repeal the Fischer Loophole” that allows oil pipelines to take Nebraskans land. We must put property rights, a fundamental American value, first. Pipelines should have to prove they are a “common carrier” and they should have to prove the oil is 100% for America.
2) Let’s pass “Right to Know Laws” so citizens, first responders and health officials know what exactly is in a pipeline that crosses their community, if they are in an evacuation zone when a spill happens and what the chain of command for clean-up is on the ground.
3) Let’s “Reroute Pipelines” away from the Sandhills and the Ogallala Aquifer. We should have Energy Corridors in our state that companies who want to cross our land and water know they can suggest a pipeline be built. This way, citizens, landowners, first responders and health officials can be prepared. At Bold, we think Nebraska should tarsands free, for that matter we think America should be tarsands free and rely on our home-grown, American-made energy sources.
“Texas judge rules TransCanada can seize pasture for Keystone XL,” by Saul Elbein, was published in the New York Times, August 23rd: “The Canadian energy company TransCanada can take over land owned by a Texas farmer to build its Keystone XL pipeline, says a county judge. In a 15-word ruling sent from his iPhone, Judge Bill Harris upheld TransCanada’s condemnation of a 50-foot strip of land across Julia Trigg Crawford’s pasture here.”
See curent photos of KXL construction happening now courtesy of Kathy and Steve DaSilva.
From “Crude, Dirty and Dangerous,” by David Sassoon, Publisher InsideClimate News, a New York Times Op-Ed, August 20th: “…Last month, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a report that was harshly critical of the federal government’s regulation and oversight of pipeline safety following a spill of more than one million gallons of dilbit into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan in 2010. The accident underscored not only how different dilbit is from conventional oil, but how unprepared we are for the impending flood of imports. After the dilbit gushed into the river, it began separating into its constituent parts. The heavy bitumen sank to the river bottom, leaving a mess that is still being cleaned up. Meanwhile, the chemical additives evaporated, creating a foul smell that lingered for days. People reported headaches, dizziness and nausea. No one could say with certainty what they should do. Federal officials at the scene didn’t know until weeks later that the pipeline was carrying dilbit, because federal law doesn’t require pipeline operators to reveal that information.
…This close call hasn’t deterred the energy industry from announcing plans to build or repurpose more than 10,000 miles of pipelines to carry dilbit to the United States and global markets. That includes the controversial Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL pipeline, which would pass through the Ogallala aquifer, the nation’s largest drinking water aquifer. It supplies drinking water for eight states and about 30 percent of the groundwater used for irrigation. The nation’s pipeline network was designed to handle conventional crude oil and is governed by laws and regulations that were written long before the unique risks and hazards associated with dilbit began to emerge. In fact, dilbit is exempt from an excise tax that pays for oil spill cleanups, because the 1980 law that created the tax did not consider bitumen from the “tar sands” to be crude oil.
…Now that the industry is aiming to fill almost a quarter of America’s domestic oil needs from western Canadian sources, we need a transparent and informed discussion about dilbit’s risks and benefits, up-to-date laws and regulations, and improved leak detection. The N.T.S.B. chairwoman likened Enbridge employees to Keystone Kops in their handling of the Michigan dilbit disaster. It is a label that could come to apply to the rest of us if we don’t guard against future catastrophe.”
A Lincoln Journal Star article announced “Kinder Morgan selling trailblazer oil pipeline” (and all of their gas pipelines in our state). From Jane Kleeb: “This is a RED FLAG to share with all landowners: these pipeline companies get sold all the time. Contracts must be signed and easements have to be re-negotiated if sold to a different company.”
The Canadian National Energy Board issued a Letter and Order SO-T241-002-2012 to TransCanada PipeLines Limited (TransCanada) on behalf of TransCanada Keystone Pipeline GP Limited (Keystone). From Ken Winston: “TransCanada isn’t meeting part of the safety requirements for Keystone in Canada. They asked for permission to stay out of compliance, and were denied.”
From the Edmonton Journal, “Pipeline pitch: Registry reveals Enbridge’s heavy presence in halls of power,” by Dene Moore, August 23rd: “A search of the federal registry of lobbyists shows company officials and consultants for Enbridge have had dozens of meetings with ministers, deputy ministers, policy directors and MPs as plans for the Northern Gateway pipeline moved from the proposal stage to public hearings.”
“Keystone XL: As Long As You Don’t Drink Water Or Walk On Land, You’ll Be Fine,” by Mansur Gidfar, August 20th: “If you literally have to break the planet to create jobs, maybe those jobs aren’t worth creating.” The link includes Naomi Klein’s new animated 2:32 minute Thought Bubble, Ethical Oil?
From “This just in… it’s not even oil!” by Greg Awtry, York News Times Editorial, August 14th: “…So Congressman Adrian Smith, whose Third District is about to be sliced open so all this poison can run right over and through our water, why didn’t you tell us about tar sand not being “oil” and not subject to the tax to clean up spills? We have asked you about the Keystone XL numerous times, and not once did you bring this up. It all comes from the House of Representatives, your body, and this pipe is going to spill on your Third District. Why aren’t you screaming at the top of your lungs to force Keystone XL to pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund?
Since this pipe is coming within three miles of York, Neb., the York News-Times would like to know. But if you are one of those who still think this will create 200,000 jobs, end our dependence on unfriendly oil and will never spill, then I submit it’s actually you who might have been sniffing too many pipeline fumes.” The op-ed was re-printed in the Omaha World-Herald August 17th.
Protect the aquifer, by Nina Nelson, a Lincoln Journal Star letter published August 19th, states “…Do people know that the bitumen or tar sands crude oil TransCanada plans to transport through this huge pipeline will be full of dangerous chemicals that can poison both humans and animals? We have no say in what will pass through that pipeline. TransCanada thus far has refused to disclose what dangerous chemical mix will be part of the tar sands crude oil transported. The only way to ensure its safety is to never build the pipeline anywhere near the aquifer. I urge people to contact their House and Senate representatives today.”
From another LJS letter, “No to TransCanada,” by Kathy L. Burnham, published August 22nd: “No amount of money will convince our family that we should allow the Keystone XL pipeline to cross our property on the Niobrara River. TransCanada will have to take us to court and take our land through eminent domain. That’s right, “take” our land.
Yes, we’ll be given money as determined by the court, but it will be against our will. It’s one thing to declare eminent domain for a road or power line that will benefit the landowner directly. It’s another thing entirely to take the land and give it to a foreign company.”
Tell the Obama Administration: Reject Keystone XL. Again. The following message accompanies a new petition from Credo Action: In the same week that record June heat blanketed the southeast, Minnesota tried to recover from record flooding, and the biggest fire in Colorado’s history continued to burn out of control — President Obama doubled down in his support for the energy that is causing this deepening climate change spiral approving the first portion of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, giving away 720 million tons of publicly owned coal to a coal company for virtually nothing, and promising to lease more arctic offshore areas for oil drilling. Now, the Canada to Oklahoma portion of the Keystone XL pipeline – which would turn up the spigot on deadly, “game over for the climate” tar sands production – is back before the State Department after being rejected by President Obama earlier this year when Republicans tried to force his decision.
Without the pressures of the election, President Obama could conceivably cave when a decision is made in 2013 – if he is re-elected. This public comment period is our opportunity to go on the record, before the election, with our fierce opposition. Please urge President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline. (Note: Credo Action petitions do generate e-mail from other petitions.)
Sign a Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert telling Congress to reject all attempts to force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by attaching it to any unrelated legislation. The Keystone XL will deliver billions in profits to Big Oil while the people get stuck with poisoned water, contaminated land and an overheated planet.
“The Keystone pipeline will spew a massive amount of carbon pollution into our fragile atmosphere. It should be stopped. ” –Jill Stein, 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee.

STOP FRACKING NOW . . . At the First-Ever National Mobilization Against Fracking on July 28th, celebrities, community groups, and more than 100 organizations joined forces for “Stop the Frack Attack” in Washington, DC, where they made three demands of Congress: 1. Stop dangerous fracking; 2. Close 7 legal loopholes that exempt the oil and gas industry from parts of the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Air, and Clean Water Acts; and 3. Implement a pathway towards 100% clean renewable energy. Learn more about the event here. http://www.stopthefrackattack.org/ Petition Congress: “We, the undersigned, call on Congress to pass the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act this year. It’s time to hold the oil and gas production industry to the same standards as any other industry to ensure the safe protection of America’s drinking water.”

Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Substitute Hemp for oil.”

Green Notes Week of August 19, 2012

August 19, 2012Green Notesgreenone

WOMEN’S MARCH TO END GENOCIDE IN WHITECLAY, NEBRASKA . . . Sunday, August 26, 2012, 12:00 noon, at the Billy Mills Hall, Pine Ridge, South Dakota, there will be a Women’s March to End Genocide in Whiteclay. For more information, contact Olowan Martinez, Lead Organizer, at 605.407.1773 or truelyn8tive [at] yahoo [dot] com

MOVE TO AMEND/END CORPORATE PERSONHOOD . . . Local Move to Amend groups presented signatures on petitions to End Corporate Personhood by a Resolution of the Lincoln City Council on Monday, August 13, 2012. 2004 Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb started a Midwest Barnstorming Tour with Nebraska appearances in Lincoln and Omaha last weekend. Watch a 2:10 minute video of David Barnstorming MTA at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr-Eax3f1rg&feature=youtu.be. To get involved with the local campaign, e-mail Carol Smith, smithcarol [dot] 49 [at] gmail [dot] com

FARMERS MARKETS . . . There are more than 90 local Farmers Markets in Nebraska this year. For a partial schedule of current Buy Fresh Buy Local Markets, click here.

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1

VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, 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. When weather is bad, 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 more information about NADP, click here. “It’s barbaric. It’s outlawed in all but a few extremely repressive countries like Iran, China, and not many others. It’s shameful that it continues to be performed. It’s well established that mistakes are made–yet half of our states practice pre-meditated state-sponsored murder. It’s also known that it’s not effective. So why is it done? Revenge & retribution? That’s not what our justice system is supposed to be about. It’s not an effective deterrent.” –Jill Stein, GP Presidential Nominee.

TUESDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . Tuesdays, 4:30-7:30pm, there is a Farmers Market at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 13th & F Streets, in Lincoln.

RALLY FOR WHITECLAY . . . A Rally to Raise Awareness in The Battle for Whiteclay will be Thursday, August 23, 2012, on the North side of the State Capitol, Lincoln, in solidarity with the Women’s March to End Genocide on Sunday, August 26, 2012 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Featured speakers in Lincoln will include Native American Activist Frank LaMere, Documentary Filmmaker Mark Vasina, and Philosopher/Writer Char Knoflicek. Thursday evening, 7:00pm, there will be a special screening of the documentary film The Battle for Whiteclay at the Common Root Mutual Aid Center, 1315 South 24th Street.

FEAST ON THE FARM . . . Saturday, August 25, 2012, at 5:00pm, the annual Sunset Community Feast on the Farm, SW 40th and West F Streets, will feature food, live music, dancing, and a silent auction. For more information, including a list of silent auction items, go to http://www.communitycrops.org/farmdinner.

SUNDAY FARMERS MARKET . . . The Old Cheney Road Farmers Market offers local produce, baked goods and natural meats every Sunday, 10:00am to 2:00pm, at 55th Street and Old Cheney Road.

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 about Saturday vigils.

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. For information about this Wednesday’s film, check http://www.progressiveomaha.com/films.htm later in the week. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.

OMAHA FARMERS MARKETS . . . Click here for an Omaha Market schedule.

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . From “Keystone XL pipeline crosses political boundaries in Nebraska and beyond,” by Steven Mufson, Washington Post, August 17, 2012: “When TransCanada said its $7 billion Keystone XL oil pipeline from Alberta to Texas would pass about two miles from Spalding in central Nebraska, political boundaries crumbled as the pipeline proposal united Nebraskans across party lines and divided them within.” Read page 1 of 4, and view photo blog, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/keystone-xl-pipeline-crosses-political-boundaries-in-nebraska-and-beyond/2012/08/17/2be72f84-d5c6-11e1-b2d5-2419d227d8b0_story.html (This article reveals how misinformed Bob Kerrey is about where this tar sands toxin is going after it splits our land open and pollutes our entire environment. His Senate opponent is for the pipeline.)
“XL Pipeline Construction Begins With Protests in Texas,” by Candice Bernd, sourced from Occupy.com to Reader Supported News, August 17th, begins “Blockaders braved a wall of bulldozers early Thursday morning and unfurled banners that warned TransCanada to expect resistance the size of Texas if the company proceeds with construction of a pipeline to carry Canadian tar sands through the region as part of Keystone XL’s hastily rebranded “Gulf Coast Project.” Read at http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/312-16/12977-xl-pipeline-construction-begins-with-protests-in-texas.
“Keystone XL pipeline construction begins amid protests,” by Kim Murphy, was published in LA Times, August 16th: “The Canadian pipeline company TransCanada has quietly begun construction of the southern leg of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, installing segments near Livingston, Texas, company officials confirmed Thursday.” Read at http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-keystone-xl-pipeline-20120816,0,6693892.story.
“Tar Sands Blockade is Taking A Stand in Texas,” Published by Ethan Nuss, August 13th: “Remember a year ago when 1,253 people got arrested in front of the White House? We came in waves day after day, for weeks, vowing that we would lay our bodies on the line to halt the permitting of the dreaded Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Well, in case you haven’t heard since then, Big Oil has been up to its old tricks and recently secured all the necessary permits to build the southern section of Keystone XL to the Gulf. The Canadian oil corporation, TransCanada, is planning to break ground “within weeks.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on letting them build anything that could spell “game over” for the global climate.
Fortunately, I’m not alone. I’m proud to be part of Tar Sands Blockade, a growing movement of Texas landowners and activists ready to use nonviolent direct action to stand up to Big Oil and say; “Don’t Mess with Texas.”
We need your help! Together we can halt this dirty pipeline in its tracks and build the healthy, clean energy future we know is possible. We’re an open grassroots organization so sign up on our website to learn more about how to get involved. 5:03 minute video at http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2012/08/13/video-tar-sands-blockade-is-taking-a-stand-in-texas/. LIKE on Facebook and SHARE the video on Twitter to support this critical campaign.
“Don’t Mess with Texas’ Tar Sands Blockade Takes Action as Keystone Pipeline Construction Begins,” by Will Wooten, Waging Nonviolence, AlterNet, August 17th: “…Activists will respond by holding the blockade for as long as possible, through the summer and likely into the fall. This could be an important moment for the entire climate movement, setting the stage for future actions and alliances — not to mention giving new meaning to the words “Don’t mess with Texas.” Read and view 5:03 minute video at http://www.alternet.org/hot-news-views/dont-mess-texas-tar-sands-blockade-takes-action-keystone-pipeline-construction-begins?akid=9231.138312.-OGqek&rd=1&src=newsletter694901&t=10.
Jane Kleeb reported from the Texas hearing on Julia Trigg Crawford’s eminent domain case that the judge could rule at any time. Stand with Julia in her fight against Big Oil by donating to her legal fund at https://sumofus.org/campaigns/stand-with-Julia/?akid=683.2507.9N7c3x&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=3.
“Blockade Aims to Stop Southern Keystone XL Pipeline,” by Christine Leclerc, rabble.ca, was at Reader Supported News August 11th: “With a nonviolent direct action camp that started July 27, 2012 in East Texas, grassroots opponents are working on a construction project of their own: Tar Sands Blockade, a coalition of landowners, community members, students, and others dedicated to stopping the pipeline through direct action.” Read at http://www.readersupportednews.org/opinion2/271-38/12883-blockade-aims-to-stop-southern-keystone-xl-pipeline.
From All Things Considered, When this oil spills, it’s ‘a whole new monster.’ “New pipelines are spreading out around the United States as the nation gears up to get much more of its oil from Canada’s deposits of tar sands in Alberta. This is not conventional crude, and getting straight answers about what these pipeline will carry, and what happens when it spills has been difficult for property owners near the pipelines.” Eleven minute audio of All Things Considered at http://www.npr.org/2012/08/16/158025375/when-this-oil-spills-its-a-whole-new-monster.
“Doctors demand access to all health data on oilsands,” by Sharon Kirkey, Postmedia News, August 15th: “The Canadian Medical Association is calling for public and timely access to all government and industry data on the potential human health effects of the oilsands and other natural resource development projects.” Continued at http://www.canada.com/business/Doctors+demand+access+health+data+oilsands/7095892/story.html.
From “This just in… it’s not even oil!” by Greg Awtry, York News Times Editorial, August 14th: “If you transport petroleum products through a pipeline in the U.S.A. you have to pay 8-cent per barrel excise tax to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. If the Keystone XL goes through and they transport about 700,000 barrels a day, TransCanada would have to pay about $56,000 into the fund every day. That would be about $20 million a year.
But here’s some breaking news. The Internal Revenue Service, the agency who has to collect these taxes, has ruled that TransCanada’s Keystone XL won’t have to pay the tax. What? These high pressure tar sand pipelines are spilling all over the place and they don’t have to pay into the Oil Spill Trust Fund? Yes, you read it right. That is correct.
Why? The IRS has ruled the tar sand or diluted bitumen as it’s called after they dilute it with poisonous chemicals, is not oil! The IRS says it is not even a petroleum product! If I was reading this like you are, I would say, “Greg, you have been sniffing too many pipeline fumes! You must have your information wrong!”
…TransCanada calls it oil when they want to sell us on their dangerous idea. They call it an oil pipeline when they overstate the number of jobs this will create. They call it an oil pipeline when they exaggerate the amount of property taxes they will actually pay. The Senators and Representatives who have bought into this lunacy call it oil. But now, when they realize it will be taxed, suddenly it’s not oil any longer!
So (pardon me) what the hell is it? Well, I am going to tell you for two reasons. One, TransCanada won’t, and two I think you need to know exactly what will be going right through our drinking water.
It is dilbit, diluted bitumen. We don’t worry too much about the bitumen. It is a mixture of clay and sand and petroleum product and has the consistency of peanut butter. You can’t pump that through a 36-inch pipe, so they have to dilute it. That’s the part to worry about. About 40 to 70 percent of what’s in the pipe is bitumen. That leaves 30 to 60 percent of something else. Those are the diluents, and they can kill you!
A dilbit safety data sheet says: Smells like rotten eggs because of the hydrogen sulfide; contains benzene which causes cancer in humans along with serous blood disorders including leukemia, and can damage nervous systems including fingers feet and arms. Dilbit contains PNA’s, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, which if it comes into contact with skin can cause skin cancers. Inhalation of PNA’s can cause lung cancer.
The safety data sheet goes on to say about dilbit: Don’t inhale the vapors as the hydrogen sulfide may cause irritation, breathing failure, coma and death without any warning odor being sensed. If spilled on land, the safety sheet says, “Keep public away. Vapors or dust may be harmful or fatal.” If spilled in water, “Product will submerge after a few days of weathering.”
Folks, that means it sinks in water. TransCanada says it floats. We know that is not true as Enbridge is still cleaning the bottom of the Kalamazoo River after a million gallons spilled in 2010.
…So Congressman Adrian Smith, whose Third District is about to be sliced open so all this poison can run right over and through our water, why didn’t you tell us about tar sand not being “oil” and not subject to the tax to clean up spills? We have asked you about the Keystone XL numerous times, and not once did you bring this up. It all comes from the House of Representatives, your body, and this pipe is going to spill on your Third District. Why aren’t you screaming at the top of your lungs to force Keystone XL to pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund?
Since this pipe is coming within three miles of York, Neb., the York News-Times would like to know. But if you are one of those who still think this will create 200,000 jobs, end our dependence on unfriendly oil and will never spill, then I submit it’s actually you who might have been sniffing too many pipeline fumes.” The op-ed was re-printed in the Omaha World-Herald August 17th.
“Keystone tax value tops $500 million, by Art Hovey, Lincoln Journal Star, August 14th: “Ten Nebraska counties will benefit from the $538.5 million assessed valuation of the Keystone pipeline when local property taxes are paid next year.” Continued at http://journalstar.com/news/local/keystone-tax-value-tops-million/article_45eb30cd-2a29-59d6-8044-4480709815aa.html?comment_form=true.
Jane Kleeb’s response to Omaha World-Herald coverage:  “Any funds local counties get from TransCanada could be wiped out in a minute if a major spill takes place. Since our state senators and Gov. Heineman have allowed TransCanada lobbyists to control any laws that deal with pipelines, counties are still at risk for costs related to clean-up, health risks, road damages and concerns around water supply.”
“Any tax revenue from TransCanada is short-term. Worse, if the state decides to play around with funding formulas, some counties might even lose state aid with this new tax revenue coming in from TransCanada. At the end of the day, this pipeline remains a huge risk to our land, water and property rights. Tax revenue over a few years will not remove the risk.”
“It’s great to see TransCanada paying some taxes since they continue to stiff the federal Oil Spill Liability Fund because tarsands is not classified as oil according to the IRS. No doubt tarsands lobbyists got that tax loophole and free ride to TransCanada into law. So who will pay for clean-up if TransCanada does not even pay into the fund used when a major spill happens?”
“We have no guarantees, nothing in writing, no money in a bond to ensure our land and water–not to mention medical bills– will be 100% cleaned-up at the expense of TransCanada when a spill happens. We have their word. I remain unconvinced their word is worth the value of our land and water.”
The Omaha World-Herald also published “Be responsibe, safe with XL pipeline,” by Jim Hall, August 16th: “…The harsh reality is that our economy lacks jobs and our lifestyles depend on oil. But it’s important that we provide these jobs and transport oil in a safe, responsible manner. Before a project of this magnitude is approved, both the government and TransCanada need to prove that they are putting safety first.”
Protect the aquifer, by Nina Nelson, a Lincoln Journal Star letter published August 19th, states “…Do people know that the bitumen or tar sands crude oil TransCanada plans to transport through this huge pipeline will be full of dangerous chemicals that can poison both humans and animals? We have no say in what will pass through that pipeline. TransCanada thus far has refused to disclose what dangerous chemical mix will be part of the tar sands crude oil transported. The only way to ensure its safety is to never build the pipeline anywhere near the aquifer. I urge people to contact their House and Senate representatives today.”
“Bad marketing,” by Amy Schaffer, is another LJS letter published August 16th: “…In its attempt to develop a marketing schematic around what is near and dear to Nebraskans’ hearts, TransCanada has failed miserably. What marketing research did not tell executives is that you cannot buy out generations of hard work from a Nebraskan. You cannot threaten to steal our livelihood and expect to get away with it. …Perhaps TransCanada’s marketing dollars would have been better spent on devising an alternate energy source or using common sense and finding a route that does not cross one of the world’s largest aquifers. Wake up, TransCanada. No amount of money will buy out “The Good Life” in God’s Country, so the company best find a new marketing director.”
Tell the Obama Administration: Reject Keystone XL. Again. The following message accompanies a new petition from Credo Action: In the same week that record June heat blanketed the southeast, Minnesota tried to recover from record flooding, and the biggest fire in Colorado’s history continued to burn out of control — President Obama doubled down in his support for the energy that is causing this deepening climate change spiral approving the first portion of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, giving away 720 million tons of publicly owned coal to a coal company for virtually nothing, and promising to lease more arctic offshore areas for oil drilling. Now, the Canada to Oklahoma portion of the Keystone XL pipeline – which would turn up the spigot on deadly, “game over for the climate” tar sands production – is back before the State Department after being rejected by President Obama earlier this year when Republicans tried to force his decision.
Without the pressures of the election, President Obama could conceivably cave when a decision is made in 2013 – if he is re-elected. This public comment period is our opportunity to go on the record, before the election, with our fierce opposition. Please urge President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline.  (Note: Credo Action petitions do generate e-mail from other petitions.)
Sign a Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert telling Congress to reject all attempts to force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by attaching it to any unrelated legislation. The Keystone XL will deliver billions in profits to Big Oil while the people get stuck with poisoned water, contaminated land and an overheated planet.
           “The Keystone pipeline will spew a massive amount of carbon pollution into our fragile atmosphere. It should be stopped. ” –Jill Stein, 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee.

STOP FRACKING NOW . . . At the First-Ever National Mobilization Against Fracking on July 28th, celebrities, community groups, and more than 100 organizations joined forces for “Stop the Frack Attack” in Washington, DC, where they made three demands of Congress: 1. Stop dangerous fracking; 2. Close 7 legal loopholes that exempt the oil and gas industry from parts of the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Air, and Clean Water Acts; and 3. Implement a pathway towards 100% clean renewable energy. Learn more about the event here. http://www.stopthefrackattack.org/ Petition Congress: “We, the undersigned, call on Congress to pass the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act this year. It’s time to hold the oil and gas production industry to the same standards as any other industry to ensure the safe protection of America’s drinking water.”

Remember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “Help Save the Earth, Time to Substitute Hemp for oil.“