Tag Archives: Ecological Wisdom

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.

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.

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.

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.“

Clogging the pipeline: Nebraska’s role in the KXL’s demise

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From the Lincoln Journal Star:

An unlikely gang of compatriots — urban environmentalists, ranchers in cowboy hats, preachers, politicians and an Omaha tribe schoolteacher — filled a small bar in Lincoln’s Railyard earlier this month for an impromptu celebration.

They hugged, exchanged handshakes and high-fives. After nearly a decade of rallies, letter writing, concerts, cookie baking and testimony, they had won.

President Barack Obama had rejected the Keystone XL pipeline.

“Nebraska is usually dismissed on the national stage as flyover country,” Rev. Kim Morrow of the Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light said that Nov. 6 night.

“But what we have found is that like the story of David and Goliath, the fight against the Keystone pipeline has shown the world (that) the people who love their land possess the five smooth stones to slay the giant.”

Obama didn’t mention Nebraska in his seven-minute explanation for denying the cross-border permit for the project, but in the nearly decade-long odyssey that led up to the announcement, events often pivoted around the Cornhusker State.

Read the full story.

Obama rejects Keystone XL

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This post will be updated as more news and and perspectives are released.

From The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — President Obama is expected on Friday to announce he has rejected the request from a Canadian company to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline, ending a seven-years-long review that had become a flash point in the debate over his climate policies.

President Obama’s denial of the proposed 1,179-mile pipeline, which would have carried 800,000 barrels a day of carbon-heavy petroleum from the Canadian oil sands to the Gulf Coast, comes as he is seeking to build an ambitious legacy on climate change.

The expected decision comes ahead of a major United Nations summit meeting on climate change to be held in Paris in December, when Mr. Obama hopes to help broker a historic agreement committing the world’s nations to enacting new policies to counter global warming. While the rejection of the pipeline would be largely symbolic, Mr. Obama has sought to telegraph to other world leaders that the United States is serious about acting on climate change.

Press release from BOLD Nebraska.

Send a thank-you to the White House via BOLD Nebraska.

President Obama’s Statement.

Article from the Omaha World-Herald.

Article from the Lincoln Journal-Star.

Vox’s Brad Plumer on what this means going forward.

More next steps at 350.org

Watch a video thanks from the Natural Resources Defense Council.

 

As TransCanada presses ‘pause’, urge Obama to hit ‘STOP’

Action Alerts,

From BOLD Nebraska:

Recognizing that President Obama’s rejection of the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is inevitable, TransCanada requested tonight that the State Department pause its review of the pipeline, citing the uncertain status of the route in Nebraska.

Given that the route in Nebraska has long been uncertain, it is obvious that this is simply a desperate attempt to run out the clock on Obama’s presidency in hopes that a Republican might take the White House in 2016.

It is important to note that neither the State Department nor President Obama is in any way obligated to grant TransCanada the pause they are requesting. President Obama has long had all the information he needs to reject the pipeline on the grounds that it would unleash reckless expansion of the dirtiest fuel source on the planet and be a disaster for the climate.

Moreover, communities along the pipeline route have spent the last six years of their lives with the threat of a tar sands pipeline running through their land hanging over their heads. It is long past time for President Obama to kill this project once and for all, and rather than put them through two more years of uncertainty, he should do so immediately.

Read the full statement from BOLD Nebraska.

Related coverage in the Lincoln Journal Star.

Looking forward after TransCanada’s latest move on KXL

News,

From Jane Keeb of BOLD Nebraska:

TransCanada’s latest Hail Mary has many people scratching their heads.

For those of us on the ground, we see through their antics. Our formal press release is below, but I want to take this opportunity to peel back some of the curtain on TransCanada.

This is a LONG read! Before you dig in, make sure to RSVP to stand with landowners on Oct. 19th when they still go to court over eminent domain and the illegal routing process used by TransCanada.

Here is the bottom line: TransCanada cannot use eminent domain for at least 2 years because of a Nebraska law that makes it clear once you invoke eminent domain (which they did months ago) and then abandon eminent domain (which they did last week), you can not use those powers again for at least 2 years.

Read the full analysis.

Wind energy company says rules may force it to nix plans

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From the Lincoln Journal Star:

An attorney representing an energy company that has plans for a wind farm in Lancaster and Gage counties said proposed wind regulations being considered by both counties may prevent the company from building in either.

Meanwhile, at least two Lancaster County commissioners said they are concerned proposed wind energy regulations they are to consider later this month won’t do enough to protect landowners from being negatively affected by wind turbines.

But David Levy, a Lincoln attorney representing Volkswind USA, said those regulations go beyond protecting the safety and welfare of residents and will make it difficult, if not impossible, to develop wind turbines in Lancaster and Gage counties.

“Essentially, what they’re going to do is make Lancaster County and Gage County effectively off-limits for wind energy development,” he said.

Read the full story.