All posts by Shane Pekny

Jill Stein: Update from the Campaign Trail

News,

From jill2016.com:

Season’s greetings from the campaign trail!  After the whirlwind of the last 2 months, including 7 states and 2 international gatherings, it’s clearer than ever that the peaceful rebellion is gathering steam.

I’ve never seen so many people ready to break free of the corrupt two-party system, and work together to build an independent political movement for people, planet, and peace over profit.

As urgently as we need this movement – it’s also clear that it will only happen if people like you and me make it happen together. We are now on the verge of qualifying for federal matching funds, which will massively increase our campaign’s ability to reach the millions of Americans who are looking for a new political home!

To clarify the historic opportunities ahead, let me share some excitement from the campaign trail.

Read the full state-by-state update at jill2016.com.

Lincoln activists head to Paris

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From the Lincoln Journal Star:

Two Lincoln climate activists, Kyria Spooner and Matthew Gregory, are part of a wave of humanity that has inundated Paris to show solidarity in calling for diplomats from across the world to reach a meaningful agreement to address climate change.

Negotiations for what could be the globe’s most significant environmental accord are being sponsored by the United Nations. Originally expected to conclude Friday, the Paris talks have been extended to Saturday.

Spooner, a trainer with a software company, and Gregory, the office manager for the Nebraska Farmers Union, shared news of their work by video from Paris with supporters who gathered Thursday afternoon at the Single Barrel in downtown Lincoln.

Read the full story.

McKibben: Paris climate pact is a new tool for activists

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From The New York Times:

… That we have any agreement at all, of course, is testament to the mighty movement that activists around the world have built over the last five years. At Copenhagen, world leaders could go home with nothing and pay no price.

That’s no longer true.

But what this means is that we need to build the movement even bigger in the coming years, so that the Paris agreement turns into a floor and not a ceiling for action. We’ll be blocking pipelines, fighting new coal mines, urging divestment from fossil fuels — trying, in short, to keep weakening the mighty industry that still stands in the way of real progress. With every major world leader now on the record saying they at least theoretically support bold action to make the transition to renewable energy, we’ve got a new tool to work with.

And we’ll try to keep hoping that it adds up fast enough to matter.

Read the full op-ed.

People’s Film Festival Dec. 15: ‘Consumerism & the Limits to Imagination’

Events,

The People’s Film Festival (now monthly) will be held next Tuesday, Dec. 15th at 7 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 3114 Harney St., Omaha. This month’s film is described below, and as always, there will be an opportunity for discussion after the showing.

The December film will be Consumerism & the Limits to Imagination.

Consumer capitalism dominates our economy, our politics, and our culture, even though a growing body of research suggests it may be well past its sell-by date. In this illustrated presentation based on his latest critically acclaimed book, media scholar Justin Lewis makes a compelling case that consumer capitalism can no longer deliver on its promise of enhancing quality of life, and argues that changing direction will require changing our media system and our cultural environment. After showing how consumer capitalism has become economically and environmentally unsustainable, Lewis explores how our cultural and information industries make it difficult to envision other forms of human progress by limiting critical thinking and keeping us locked in a cycle of consumption. And he argues that change will only be possible if we take culture seriously and transform the very way we organize our media and communications systems.

Petition: Oppose hike of OPPD fixed charge

Action Alerts, ,

From BOLD Nebraska:

OPPD (Omaha Public Power District) has proposed an increase in the “fixed” fee all customer-owners of the publicly-owned utility must pay each month, from the current $10.25 to as high as $35 per month by 2019. The OPPD Board will vote on this proposed increase at its meeting on Dec. 17, 2015.

Customers who use less energy should pay less, and customers who use more energy should pay for the increased costs of generation and distribution. It’s about fairness and keeping the “public” in public power. Sign the petition and learn more about the proposed hike.

Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence Dec. 11, State Capitol

Events

From Nebraskans for Peace:

Join a Vigil to Honor All Victims of Gun Violence on Friday, December 11, at 5 p.m. The event will begin at the Nebraska State Capitol Building and then proceed to First Christian Church.

Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska and Nebraskans Against Gun Violence will sponsor a vigil to honor all victims of gun violence. The vigil will begin on the west side of the Capitol Building and will then move across the street to First Christian Church for a prayer service, where the featured speaker will be the Rev. Karla Cooper, pastor of Quinn Chapel AME. This vigil is part of a nationwide observance of the 30,000+ lives lost to gun violence each year on the cusp of the three-year anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.

Nebraskans Against Gun Violence will also be organizing a shoe drive as part of a public art display. The shoes will be donated to Heart Ministry Center in Omaha.

Attend the 2015 Nebraska Conservation Summit

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From the Nebraska League of Conservation Voters:

Held on the afternoon and evening of Dec. 7 in Omaha, this year’s Summit is centered on the theme of Water. We will explore how the global water crisis impacts Nebraska and how we can act to ensure water sustainability for future generations.

By attending the Summit, you will learn about some of the greatest threats to Nebraska’s water supply and what Nebraskans across the state are doing to address them. You will discover how different industries depend upon and manage water and how water is governed in our state. The goal of the Summit is to inform you about the issues facing water and to help you get involved in finding the solutions.

Why You Won’t Want to Miss The 2015 Nebraska Conservation Summit:

  • The event features eleven of Nebraska’s top water experts, providing you with the chance to learn, ask questions, and discuss solutions.
  • Our Keynote Presenter is Dr. Peter Gleick, known world-wide as a leading expert, innovator, and communicator on water and climate issues. He has literally written the book on water (multiple, actually), and he travels across the globe to discuss the most pressing water issues in any given locale.
  • Networking opportunities and a cocktail hour have been incorporated into the event, providing you with the opportunity to meet with other Nebraskans who care about water sustainability.
  • You will discover action steps that you can take as an individual to help ensure water sustainability now and in the future.

Read more and get tickets.

Refugees are victims of the same people we are frightened of

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From the Lincoln Journal Star:

There is little rest these days for refugee resettlement workers at Lutheran Family Services.

Between working with people whose loved ones are scheduled to arrive in the U.S. next month, counseling recent arrivals who fear for their safety, and answering calls from strangers angered that Nebraska might someday receive refugees from Syria, Vanja Pejanovic and her staff are keeping busy.

That’s especially the case since deadly terror attacks Nov. 13 in Paris led Gov. Pete Ricketts to join governors in most other states to seek a temporary halt to Syrian refugee resettlement in the U.S., said Pejanovic, who coordinates resettlement activity in the Lincoln area.

“I think our governor should go sit at Lutheran Family Services, with the people who work there day after day right now with the terrified Muslim people in our community,” said Mary Pipher, a retired clinical psychologist from Lincoln and author of a widely read book about refugee resettlement.

Read the full story.

Global Climate March in Omaha Nov. 29

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Think globally, act locally: Join the Global Climate Match Sunday, November 29, at the Crossroads Mall in Omaha, 72nd and Dodge streets.

Bill McKibben of 350.org explains why showing worldwide support this year is more important than ever:

“Things happen in the world, and a big terrible one happened last week in Paris. Along with the rest of you, we’ve spent the past week or so grappling with the aftermath of November 13th’s horrible attacks. It’s been a week of terrible sadness — and of renewed resolve.

“After the attacks, French authorities banned big public gatherings for a time in the city. Although activists in Paris are working hard to figure out alternatives, there won’t be a French repeat of last year’s mammoth New York procession.
But that makes it all the more important that our voices get heard outside of Paris. The problem is global warming, we have a global movement, and now we need to show it.

“Next weekend, when we would have been marching in Paris, we need everyone who is not there marching everywhere else. It’s going to be a test of our nimbleness. Already there are more than 2,000 rallies scheduled around the world.

“It doesn’t need to be huge — it just needs to be inspired by the hope that our leaders might actually do something in Paris, and by the certain knowledge that they won’t if we don’t push them.

“If you have wondered what you could do for the people of Paris — well, there are 400,000 or so of them who wanted to march for climate action next weekend. You can march on their behalf, and in the process help build some kind of hope. The world needs that now more than ever.

“This October was the hottest month the world has ever measured, and 2015 is now certain to be the hottest year in earth’s recorded history. It’s time for us to turn up the heat too — from every corner of our shared planet.“

Gov. Ricketts tells nonprofits to stop taking Syrian refugees

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From the Governor’s press release:

LINCOLN – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts sent a letter to refugee resettlement agencies in Nebraska to urge them not to pursue resettlement of Syrian refugees.

“Nebraska is a welcoming place for families seeking a home to live, work, and raise a family. While I understand the danger and persecution many are facing in the Middle East, it is important that our state and our nation consider the safety and security of Nebraskans and Americans first in any refugee resettlement efforts. The terrorist attacks that occurred over the weekend in Paris are a solemn reminder of the reach and strength of ISIS and their agents.

“Today, I am requesting that all refugee resettlement agencies in our state decline to participate in potential Syrian refugee resettlement efforts.”

Learn more about the Syrian refugee issue and the role played by state governments: