LAST DAY TO FILE AS CANDIDATE . . . Monday, March 3, is the last day non-incumbents may file as candidates in 2008 elections. Details such as which offices are up for election, and who has already filed, may be found at County Election Commission websites.

BUSINESS WITH CITY DISPUTE . . . A City Council public hearing will be held Monday, March 3, around 3:00pm at the County City Building, 555 South 10th Street, to address a charter revision that would ban contracts between elected officials and the city. Greens may want to express opinions on this issue.

JOIN LINCOLN GREENS FOR COFFEE . . . The Lincoln chapter of the Nebraska Green Party will meet Tuesday, March 4, 2008, 7:00pm at Jones Coffee, 727 S. 11th Street. Meet U.S. Senate candidate Steve Larrick and discuss plans for Earth Day on April 20, 2008.

SAM MILLSAP SPEAKS AT UN-L COLLEGE OF LAW . . .  Tuesday, March 4th, 2008, 3:00pm, former Texas prosecutor Sam Millsap will speak about his firsthand experiences with capital prosecution.  He successfully prosecuted Ruben Cantu, a juvenile when convicted.  Cantu was executed by lethal injection in 1992.  In 2005, investigative reporting revealed that Cantu was most likely innocent of the crime. Millsap has assumed personal responsibility for Cantu¹s execution and is now a passionate abolitionist.  This event is free and open to the public.  The UNL College of Law is on the East Campus Loop, McCollum Hall.

IMMIGRATION SEMINAR AT UN-O . . . A public immigration seminar featuring a panel of speakers will be Tuesday, March 4, 5:00 to 7:00pm at the W.H. Thompson Alumni Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Immigration experts and advocates will discuss issues including current status of the immigration system; impact of immigration on local economies; state level legislation; public understandings of human migration and the role of globalization; and the politics of immigration reform and border enforcement. The goal is to discuss immigration policies within the context of the 2008 elections. This a free event for the public. More information: http://ppc.nebraska.edu/.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WEEK AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY IN OMAHA . . . Sunday March 2, through Saturday March 8, 2008. On Friday, March 7th, www.MikeFarrell.org, well known for his role in the TV series M*A*S*H, will speak in solidarity with Nebraska abolitionists at Westside Community Center, 3534 S 108th Street, 7:00pm. Joining him will be Miriam Kelle, sharing the story of how she became one of Nebraska’s leading voices for abolition after the murder of her brother.

Schedule of Amnesty International Omaha abolition activities:

Sunday, March 2nd: WHAT DOES OUR FAITH TELL US? 7:00pm – First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass Street. (East of Crossroads mall), Omaha

Monday, March 3rd: HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE? 7:00pm – Benson Grind, 6107 Maple Street, Omaha

Tuesday, March 4th: WHERE DO OMAHA SENATORS STAND ON THE DEATH PENALTY? 7:00pm Council Room, University of Nebraska Omaha, Milo Bail Student Center, 3rd Floor

Wednesday, March 5th: WHAT ABOUT VICTIM’S FAMILIES? 7:00pm – www.McFosters.org Natural Kind Cafe, 302 South 38th Street, Omaha

Thursday, March 6th: COULD THEY BE INNOCENT? Film screening of www.TheExonerated.com 7:00pm – Film Streams, 1340 Webster Street, Omaha

Saturday, March 8th: HOW DO WE GET THE WORD OUT? Rock out to your favorite Omaha artists, featuring Domestica, the LEPERS, The Stay Awake & Perry H. Matthews. Doors open at 8:00pm. Must be 21 and over. $5 cover to benefit local abolition groups. O’leavers Pub, 1322 S Saddle Creek Road, Omaha.
More details: www.amnestyusa.org/Death_Penalty/Nebraska_Events/page.do?id=1121027&n1=3&n2=28.

THE FOLLY OF ATTACKING IRAN: TIME FOR REAL DIPLOMACY . . .
A panel discussion in Omaha, Monday February 18, 2008, features Stephen Kinzer, an award-winning foreign correspondent who has covered more than 50 countries on 5 continents, and Dr. Trita Parsi, President, National Iranian-American Council. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Andy Jameton, Omaha Chapter, Physicians for Social Responsibility. WHERE: Gallery Room, 3rd Floor, Milo Bail Student Center, UNO, near 62nd & Dodge WHEN: Monday, February 18, 2008, 7:00pm Parking: Please come early and carpool if you can. Here is a link to the campus map http://www.unomaha.edu/pages/map.html. The tour schedule and speakers’ bios are at http://FollyofAttackingIran.org/.

LEARN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS . . .
Tuesday February 19, 6:00-7:30pm, at Planned Parenthood’s Pizza & Action, 2246 O Street, Lincoln, and 4610 Dodge in Omaha. Shelley Kiel, former state senator, congressional candidate and chair of Planned Parenthood Voters of Nebraska will speak with grassroots advocates at the monthly gathering held every third Tuesday in both cities simultaneously. Participants can see and talk with each other via new video conferencing equipment. As an elected official, a professional and a volunteer, Kiel has championed health care, social justice, reproductive rights, women’s and LGBT issues. This is an informal opportunity to ask questions of an opinion leader, learn and discuss strategy, and improve your ability to communicate with policymakers. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppncb/

RICHARD LOUV AT THE LIED . . .
Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Dis-order” will speak on Tuesday, February 19th, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, http://www.liedcenter.org/ 301 North 12th Street, Lincoln. Louv has received national attention for his work to re-connect youth to nature through examining the relationship between children and nature and the scientific evidence of the importance of this contact to the development of the healthy child. He offers practical suggestions for parents, government agencies, conservationists, urban planners, and educators. The event is FREE, but advanced tickets are required. To obtain your tickets, call the Lied Center at 402-472-4747. The event is sponsored by the Healthy Families Play Outside network. www.healthyfamiliesplayoutside.org.

SISTER HELEN PREJEAN’S www.prejean.org/ “DEAD MAN WALKING” will be performed as an opera by the UNL School of Music at Kimball Recital Hall on the Lincoln campus, Thursday through Sunday, February 21-24, 2008. Tickets are $20 for the general public, $10 for students and seniors. For ticket information, contact the UNL School of Music, 402.472.2503.

DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION MEETINGS are held every Saturday in Lincoln, 11:30am, at First Presbyterian Church, 18th & F Streets. Enter east side doors and follow the signs. The 86 page opinion by the Nebraska Supreme Court abolishing electrocutions is at http://court.nol.org/opinions/2008/february/feb8/s05-1268.pdf. The Legislature will soon debate ending capital punishment in Nebraska. Contact Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty at info@nadp.net for specific ways to get involved with the statewide abolition campaign.

GREEN YOUR CLEANING . . .
In Omaha, learn how to make environmentally safe cleaning supplies Saturday, February 23, 2008, 10:00am to noon, at Word Made Flesh, 1013 Leavenworth Street. To guarantee adequate supplies, RSVP at livesimply93 [at] gmail dot com.

GREEN NOTES week of February 10, 2008

GREENS SPEARHEAD Coalition for the Environment and Earth Day 2008 . . . The next planning meeting will be Monday, February 11, 2008, 7:00pm, at ME Group offices, 2820 North 48th Street, Lincoln (the old Uni Place Library building).

GREENS SUPPORT INITIATIVE 300, Nebraska’s landmark anti-corporate farming constitutional amendment, struck down by a federal court in late 2006. I-300 stood as an expression of the people’s will for twenty-five years, strongly embracing family farming, ranching and public policy designed to support rural communities. The Nebraska legislature will soon consider LB1174, to address the federal court’s concerns. LB 1174 will put I-300’s family farm and ranch protections that stood for 25 years – and were approved by a majority of Nebraska voters, back into law. The legislative hearing on LB 1174 is Tuesday, February 12, 1:30pm, State Capitol, Room 1510. Ask your senator to support LB 1174. For contact information go to www.unicam.state.ne.us. More information: Dan Owens, Center for Rural Affairs, dano[at]cfra dot org; www.cfra.org/I300. A big turnout for this hearing will show supporting the goals and preserving the benefits of Initiative 300 remains the will of the people.

GREENS VIGIL WITH NEBRASKA COALITION FOR PEACE every Wednesday, 5-6:00pm at the Federal Building, 15th & O Street in Lincoln. The Coalition meets every Saturday, 2:30pm at Crescent Moon Coffee, 816 P Street.

AMORY LOVINS AT THE LIED . . .Tuesday, February 12, 2008, 7:00pm, physicist Amory Lovins, co-founder, chairman and chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute, will deliver the Lewis E. Harris Lecture on Public Policy, “Winning the Oil Endgame” at The Lied Center for Performing Arts, 12th & R Streets. The Rocky Mountain Institute www.rmi.org is an independent “think-and-do-tank” that helps individuals and organizations use energy and resources efficiently while being better stewards of the environment. Published in 29 books and hundreds of papers, Lovins’ work has been recognized by a MacArthur Fellowship and a Time magazine Hero for the Planet award. W. Cecil Steward, dean emeritus of the UNL College of Architecture and president and CEO of the Joslyn Castle Institute for Sustainable Communities, will deliver a lecture pre-talk at 6:30 in the Steinhart Room. Forum lectures are free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Limited tickets are still available at The Lied office. Call 402.472.4747 or 800.432.3231. More information and links to articles are at http://enthompson.unl.edu.

THE GREEN LIGHTS SOCIETY . . . will meet Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at Southminster United Methodist Church, 2915 South 16th Street, Lincoln, NE, (16th and Otoe). Phone number of the church for further information: 402.423.8586.

VAGINA MONOLOGUES BENEFIT FOR FRIENDSHIP HOME . . . Saturday, February 16, 2008, 8:00pm, The Vagina Monologues http://www.randomhouse.com/features/ensler/vm/ will be performed as a benefit for the Friendship Home at The Rococo Theatre, 13th and P Streets in downtown Lincoln. Doors open at 7:30pm. The box office is open Monday and Friday 12:00pm – 5:00pm to purchase tickets in advance. Price: $20 Public; $15 Student.

6000 CHILDREN a DAY Become ORPHANS from HIV AIDS . . . This is a staggering statistic folks in the Grand Island area will discuss Saturday and Sunday, February 16 and 17, 2008 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 5th and Elm, downtown Grand Island. JOURNEY OF THE HEART: HIV AIDS Awareness Weekend features special guests Retired Bishop Fritz Mutti and Etta Mae Mutti, Chairs of the new Global AIDS Fund for the UMC. They have lost two sons to HIV AIDS and will share their personal experiences about HIV AIDS as a worldwide pandemic that requires a faith response. For more information, call the church phone, 308.382.1952, or contact Maureen Vetter Mvetter[at]charter dot net.

THE GREEN SANCTUARY COMMITTEE of First Unitarian Church of Omaha is sponsoring a series of interfaith forums on earth stewardship and community. The first forum: “Reconnecting With and Changing Our Rural Landscapes Through Our Food Purchases,” will be presented on Sunday, February 17th at, 1 pm at First Unitarian Church, 3114 Harney Street, Omaha. Organic farming is the fastest-growing sector of agriculture in America today. Nebraska has the 10th largest acreage of organic crops in the U.S. The Forum will provide an opportunity for city dwellers to learn more about sustainable farms in Nebraska, and to find out how to buy fresh foods directly from local farms.

STEVE LARRICK FOR SENATE campaign priorities . . . (1) END THE IRAQ OCCUPATION NOW! – build peace through diplomacy; (2) RESTORE SOCIAL JUSTICE – single-payer health care and living wages for all; (3) FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING – weatherize homes to conserve energy and develop renewable wind, solar, and switchgrass energy; (4) RESTORE TRUE DEMOCRACY – through public campaign financing and instant run-off voting. http://www.instantrunoff.com/

GREENS INVITED TO COMMENT . . . Lincoln Electric System is seeking a 5.5% retail rate increase (half a percent of the total budget) to assist residential and business customers in becoming more energy efficient. Renewable energy will also be part of the program. There is support for this step, but a Lincoln business group opposes it. Electric rates for residential customers are two to three times higher than for commercial and industrial users. Rates are not inverted as water rates are, to encourage conservation. The City Council must approve, and may make changes. They need to know there is strong support for making electricity more efficient—the cheapest and fastest way to curb global warming pollution. The Council public hearing is Monday, February 4, 1:30 pm, County-City Building, 9th and K Streets. Rate schedules at http://www.les.com.

GREENS SPEARHEAD Coalition for the Environment and Earth Day 2008 . . . The next planning meeting will be Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 7:00pm, at ME Group offices, 2820 North 48th Street, Lincoln.

GREENS VIGIL WITH NEBRASKA COALITION FOR PEACE every Wednesday, 5-6:00pm at the Federal Building, 15th & O Street in Lincoln. The Coalition meets every Saturday, 2:30pm at Crescent Moon Coffee, 816 P Street.

WACHISKA AUDUBON 4th ANNUAL WINTERFEST . . . Sunday, February 10, 2008, 3:00pm, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 3825 Wildbriar Lane in Lincoln (one block north of the intersection of South 40th Street and Old Cheney Rd.) This year’s event features novelist Jonis Agee (UNL English Dept), nature writer John Janovy Jr. (UNL biologist), and photographer Chris Helzer (program director for The Nature Conservancy’s Eastern NE Project Office). Admission: $5/person. Refreshments will be served. Books will be available for sale and signing.

STEVE LARRICK FOR SENATE campaign priorities . . . (1) END THE IRAQ OCCUPATION NOW! – build peace through diplomacy; (2) RESTORE SOCIAL JUSTICE – single-payer health care and living wages for all; (3) FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING – weatherize homes to conserve energy and develop renewable wind, solar, and switchgrass energy; (4) RESTORE TRUE DEMOCRACY – through public campaign financing and instant run-off voting.

GREENS SPEARHEAD COALITION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT …The first meeting of a new Coalition for the Environment is Wednesday, January 23, 7:00pm, Southminster United Methodist Church, 2915 South 16th Street, Lincoln, in the lower level meeting room. The Coalition’s first collaborative project will be creating an Earth Day Celebration, Sunday, April 20, 2008, noon to 4:00pm at Lincoln’s Antelope Park. Environmental organizations, private businesses, visual and performing artists, and “green” advocacy groups are invited to join the Coalition. For more information contact barbvandenberg@hotmail.com.

Ann Bleed, Director of Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, will present “Formulating Policies for Future Water Use on the Great Plains,” Wednesday, January 23, 3:30-5:00pm, at the Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q Street, Lincoln. The UN-L Paul A. Olson Seminar in Great Plains Studies and a 3:00pm reception are free and open to the public.

WILL TIME WARNER REPAY CUSTOMERS? . . . The Cable TV Advisory Board will hold its annual meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, January 24, 2008 in Room 113 of the County-City Building, 555 S. 10th Street. On the agenda is city negotiations with the cable company over the months-long service disruption last year known as the Navigator fiasco.

GREENS PROMOTE “MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE.” The play “My Name is Rachel Corrie” will be performed by the production company Countdown to Zero, with Julie Rada, Thursday, January 24, 2008, 7:30pm, First Mennonite Church, 7300 Holdrege Street, Lincoln. The arts inform people of important issues of the day. Sponsored and/or supported by the Nebraska Coalition for Peace, Nebraskans for Peace, First Mennonite Church of Lincoln, Friends of Palestine, The Angels Company, Nebraska Green Party, and many concerned individuals in the arts and peace community.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WEEK AT UN-L begins with a 2:00pm Chancellor’s Program at the Nebraska Union City Campus Auditorium, 1400 R Street, Lincoln, Monday January 21, 2008. “Martin Luther King Jr’s Expansive Dream” will be presented by Reverend Irene Monroe, religion columnist, public theologian, and motivational speaker. The week ends with the 13th Annual MLK Banquet, 6:30pm, Saturday January 26. Other events are listed at http://mlkweek.unl.edu/

GREENS ADVOCATE DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION…

In LINCOLN: Abolition Action Group Meetings are every Saturday, 11:30am, First Presbyterian Church, 18th & F Streets, to organize events, actions, and abolition awareness. Enter east doors. Follow the signs.

In OMAHA: Sunday, January 27, 1:00pm abolisionists meet at the Blue Line Cafe, 4924 Underwood Avenue. Contact Josh Cramer at 402-310-1096 for more details.

In GRAND ISLAND: Presentation of Living the Questions DVD featuring Sister Helen Prejean’s life journey and work for abolition. Sunday, January 20 and January 27, 2008, 5:00pm, Trinity United Methodist Church, 5th & Elm, lower level room 4. Enter East doors.

Sunday Forum January 20, 2008, 9:30am: ONE FAMILY CHOOSING FORGIVENESS, Trinity United Methodist Church Gollaher Chapel, 5th & Elm. Featured speaker: Kurt Mesner, murder victim family member from Central City.

MEET YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS at the Lincoln Neighborhood Alliance TOWN HALL meeting, Saturday January 26, 1:00-4:00pm, 1st United Methodist Church, 2723 North 50th Street.

A TOWN HALL Meeting focused on the future of State Fair Park, hosted by eight Lancaster County senators, will be Tuesday, January 29, 7:30-8:45am, Lincoln Public Schools District Office, 5901 O Street. Doors open at 7:00am. Admission is free. A light breakfast is available for $2.

GREENS INVITED TO COMMENT . . . Lincoln Electric System is seeking a 5.5% rate increase. Electric rates for residential customers are two to three times higher than for commercial and industrial users. Rates are not inverted as water rates are to encourage conservation. City Council must approve and may make changes. The Council public hearing is expected to be Monday, February 4, 1:30 pm, at County-City Building, 9th and K Streets. Rate schedules at http://www.les.com.

© Nebraska Green Party

GREEN PARTY CO-CHAIR PRODUCES FILM… Steve Larrick and Janine Copple have produced “A Walk in Epworth Park” featuring a tour through Epworth Lake Park by Jim McKee. Historic Epworth is now known as Wilderness Park. Join Greens and Friends of Wilderness Park on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, 7:15pm, at Meadowlark Coffee Shop, 1624 South Street in Lincoln for a showing.

GREENS SPEARHEAD COALITION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT… The Nebraska Green Party is organizing a new Coalition for the Environment. The first collaborative project will be creating an Earth Day Celebration for the City of Lincoln on April 20, 2008 at Antelope Park, noon to 4:00pm. Environmental organizations, private businesses, visual and performing artists, and “green” advocacy groups are invited to join the Coalition. Contact barbvandenberg@hotmail.com for details about the first organizational meeting mid-January.

GREENS ADVOCATE DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION…
In LINCOLN: Tuesday, January 15, 2008, 7:00pm, Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, Death Penalty Forum presented by the League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County. J. Kirk Brown, Nebraska Solicitor General advocating retention V. Alan Peterson, Lincoln Attorney, advocating abolition. Q&A will follow. On Thursday, January 17, Nancy Field and Sister Elaine Herrold present on the death penalty at Lincoln chapter of NAACP, 6:00pm, the Malone Center, 2032 U Street.
Abolition Action Group Meetings are every Saturday, 11:30am, First Presbyterian Church, 18th & F Streets, Lincoln, to organize events, actions, and abolition awareness. Enter east side doors. Follow the signs. Contact information: (402)570-7951; jacksonmeg@hotmail.com.
In GRAND ISLAND: Presentation of Living the Questions DVD featuring Sister Helen Prejean’s life journey and work for abolition. Sunday, January 20 and January 27, 2008, 5:00pm, Trinity United Methodist Church, 5th & Elm, lower level room 4. Enter East doors.
Sunday Forum January 20, 2008, 9:30am: ONE FAMILY CHOOSING FORGIVENESS, Trinity United Methodist Church Gollaher Chapel, 5th & Elm. Featured speaker: Kurt Mesner, murder victim family member from Central City.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WEEK AT UN-L begins with a 2:00pm Chancellor’s Program at the Nebraska Union City Campus Auditorium, 1400 R Street, Lincoln, Monday January 21, 2008. “Martin Luther King Jr’s Expansive Dream” will be presented by Reverend Irene Monroe, religion columnist, public theologian, and motivational speaker. The week ends with the 13th Annual MLK Banquet, 6:30pm, Saturday January 26. Other events are listed at http://mlkweek.unl.edu/

GREENS PROMOTE “MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE.” The play “My Name is Rachel Corrie” will be performed by the production company Countdown to Zero, with Julie Rada, Thursday, January 24, 2008, 7:30pm, First Mennonite Church, 7300 Holdrege Street, Lincoln. The arts inform people of important issues of the day. Sponsored and/or supported by the Nebraska Coalition for Peace, Nebraskans for Peace, First Mennonite Church of Lincoln, Friends of Palestine, The Angels Company, Nebraska Green Party, and many concerned individuals in the arts and peace community.

© Nebraska Green Party

LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS Wednesday, January 9, 2008.

GREENS ADVOCATE Death Penalty Abolition in 2008 . . .

• In Lincoln: Monday, January 7, 10am Nebraska State Capitol, New Voices from Mainstream Nebraska. State senators and media will hear Mimi Kelle, a murder victim family member and Lincoln Police Captain James Davidsaver call for abolition. The event will conclude by 11am. Friends of Abolition and Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty are invited to attend and show support for repeal in 2008.
• In Lincoln: Tuesday, January 15, 7:00pm, Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, Death Penalty Forum presented by the League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County. J. Kirk Brown, Nebraska Solicitor General advocating retention V. Alan Peterson, Lincoln Attorney, advocating abolition. Q&A will follow.
• In Lincoln: Abolition Action Group Meetings, every Saturday, 11:30am, First Presbyterian Church, 18th & F Streets. Enter east side doors. Follow the signs.

LINCOLN ELECTRIC SYSTEM PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED RATE HIKE . . .

Tuesday, January 8, 7:00pm, Walt Canney Service Center, 2620 Fairfield, Lincoln Electric System public hearing on the proposed 5.5% rate hike. And, LES customers may still advance the Green Agenda by filling out a survey of preferences for a proposed $1M Sustainable Energy Program. Under “other suggestions,” consider adding a moratorium on building coal-fired plants. Click the following links for the On-line survey. Mail-in survey. Background paper. News release.

GREENS VIGIL FOR PEACE . . .

Weekly Peace Vigils continue every Wednesday, 5:00 to 6:00pm at the Federal Building, 15th & O Streets, Lincoln. Weekly Nebraska Coalition for Peace meetings are Saturdays, 2:30pm, Crescent Moon Coffee House, 816 P Street. All are welcome.

DARFUR NOW, a documentary of hope in the midst of one of humanity’s darkest hours–a call to action for people everywhere to end the catastrophe unfolding in Darfur, Sudan–opens at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center Friday, January 4. It runs through Thursday, January 17. Show times are available at www.TheRoss.org.

Wachiska Audubon to Focus on Sandhill Cranes. Greens are invited to hear Nebraska photographer Brad Mellema discuss conservation on the Platte River with focus on sandhill cranes, Thursday, January 10, 7:00pm at the Dick Administration Building, Union College. For more information call 486.4846.

LARRICK QUOTE . . .

“…we must work diplomatically to end all wars and threats of war. Only then, can we redirect our nation’s energies toward meeting the environmental challenges of global warming and degradation. Only then can we become the peacemakers and environmental stewards upon which future generations are depending.””

© Nebraska Green Party

NEW YEAR’S DAY CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR PEACE . . .

Join Greens and Peace activists for a New Year’s Vigil, Tuesday, January 1, 2008, 5-6:00 pm at Woods Park, 33rd and O Streets in Lincoln. Carol Finn, whose son is serving in Iraq, Rev. Rebecca Brown, pastor of East Lincoln Christian Church, Megan Jackson of the Coalition for Peace, and Paul Olson of Nebraskans for Peace will share their hopes for peace in the world. Hot drinks will be provided by Crescent Moon Coffee House.

CONSUMERS INVITED TO COMMENT . . .

Tuesday, January 8, 7:00pm, Walt Canney Service Center, 2620 Fairfield, Lincoln Electric System public hearing on the proposed 5.5% rate hike. And, LES customers may still advance the Green Agenda by filling out a survey of preferences for a proposed $1M Sustainable Energy Program. Under “other suggestions,” consider adding a moratorium on building coal-fired plants. Click the following links for the On-line survey. Mail-in survey. Background paper. News release.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS Wednesday, January 9, 2008.

GREENS ADVOCATE Death Penalty Abolition in 2008 . . .

In North Platte: Saturday January 5, 9:00am to noon, North Platte Holiday Inn Express — A Town Hall meeting organized by state Senator Tom Hansen.
In Hastings: Sunday, January 6, 9:45am, First Presbyterian Church adult education discussion led by Dick Hargesheimer.
In Lincoln: Monday, January 7, 10am Nebraska State Capitol, New Voices from Mainstream Nebraska. State senators and media will hear Mimi Kelle, a murder victim family member and Lincoln Police Captain James Davidsaver call for abolition. The event will conclude by 11am. Friends of Abolition and Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty are invited to attend and show support for repeal in 2008.
In Lincoln: Tuesday, January 15, 7:00pm, Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, Death Penalty Forum presented by the League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County. J. Kirk Brown, Nebraska Solicitor General advocating retention V. Alan Peterson, Lincoln Attorney, advocating abolition. Q&A will follow.

DARFUR NOW, a documentary of hope in the midst of one of humanity’s darkest hours–a call to action for people everywhere to end the catastrophe unfolding in Darfur, Sudan–opens at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center Friday, January 4. It runs through Thursday, January 17. Show times are available at www.TheRoss.org.

Wachiska Audubon to Focus on Sandhill Cranes. Greens are invited to hear Nebraska photographer Brad Mellema discuss conservation on the Platte River with focus on sandhill cranes, Thursday, January 10, 7:00pm at the Dick Administration Building, Union College. For more information call 486.4846.

LARRICK QUOTE OF THE WEEK . . .

“…we must work diplomatically to end all wars and threats of war. Only then, can we redirect our nation’s energies toward meeting the environmental challenges of global warming and degradation. Only then can we become the peacemakers and environmental stewards upon which future generations are depending.”

© Nebraska Green Party

LARRICK QUOTE OF THE WEEK . . .

“Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. To honor Christ’s message of peace and love, we must work diplomatically to end all wars and threats of war. Only then, can we redirect our nation’s energies toward meeting the environmental challenges of global warming and degradation. Only then can we become the peacemakers and environmental stewards upon which future generations are depending.”

CYNTHIA MCKINNEY ANNOUNCES GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN . . .

Watch McKinney’s 7.23 minute video invitation to join her in “coming home” to the Green Party here. The announcement of her candidacy and links to campaign news are here .

NEW YEAR’S DAY CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR PEACE . . .

Plan to join Greens and other Coalition for Peace members for a New Year’s Vigil, Tuesday, January 1, 2008, 5-6:00 pm at Woods Park, 33rd and O Streets in Lincoln. Rev. Rebecca Brown, pastor of East Lincoln Christian Church, Megan Jackson of the Coalition for Peace, and a representative of Nebraskans for Peace will share their hopes for peace in the world. Hot drinks will be provided by Crescent Moon Coffee House.

JOIN WEXLER’S CALL FOR CHENEY HEARINGS . . .

Sign up to support Impeachment hearings and send a message that we want change to Congress at www.wexlerwantshearings.com. There were 30,000 signers in 24 hours. More than 128,000 have signed. The current number is posted at the website.

THE FOURTH ANNUAL TALLGRASS PRAIRIE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR . . .

The Fourth Annual Tallgrass Prairie Management Seminar is Tuesday, January 8, 2008, 9:30am to 4:00pm in Beatrice, Nebraska at the Southeast Community College Jackson Hall Conference Room. The seminar is free and open to the public. Lunch is free with pre-registration before December 25. Walk-ins are welcome. To rsvp or request more information, contact Jarren Kuipers, jarren.kuipers@ngpc.ne.gov, Tallgrass Prairie Partnership Office, Beatrice. Phone: 402.228.0278.

NEBRASKA SENATOR TOM HANSEN WILL CONDUCT A TOWN HALL MEETING . . .

Nebraska Senator Tom Hansen will conduct a Town Hall meeting Saturday, January 5th from 9:00am to noon in North Platte at the Holiday Inn Express located at 300 Holiday Frontage Road. The primary focus includes discussion of the death penalty — a major topic to be debated in the upcoming legislative session.

GREENS MAY WANT TO COMMENT . . .

Lincoln Electric System will hold one public hearing on its proposed 5.5% rate hike before it goes to the City Council. The hearing will be at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, January 8, at Walt Canney Service Center, 2620 Fairfield. LES customers may still advance the Green Agenda by filling out a survey of preferences for a proposed $1M Sustainable Energy Program. Under “other suggestions,” consider adding a moratorium on building coal-fired plants. Click the following links for the On-line survey. Mail-in survey. Background paper. News release.

GREENS INVITED TO NEBRASKA LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS . . .

GREENS INVITED TO NEBRASKA LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS Common Agenda Meeting. Believing that “we can achieve more together than individually,” the NLCV will meet on January 9, 2008, 10:00am to 4:00pm in the 5th floor conference room at 215 Centennial Mall South in Lincoln. To participate in the January 9 meeting, PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BY JANUARY 4. E-mail Mary Harding at info@nlcv.org.

© Nebraska Green Party