Earth Day 2015 is officially Wednesday, April 22, but don’t miss these celebrations in Omaha and Lincoln this Saturday:
Lincoln Earth Day:
Earth Day Omaha:
Thank you to everyone who responded with offers of support during the controversy over Steve’s NRD Subdistrict 5 Director’s seat. Tim Johnson wrote the following LJS letter:
“I have known Steve Larrick and consider him a friend. I know he cares deeply about our environment and has done great work on behalf of the NRD board. Some of his ideas are ahead of their time. Is it too late to suggest Skype participation for board meetings while Steve is in China?”
Thanks to Paul Olson, Cecil Steward, and others who volunteered to be witnesses at Steve’s March 18, 2015, hearing. The public was not invited to speak. The proceedings were set up just like a trial. Only called witnesses could speak, and they had to be present to do so in person. Steve would be allowed his own attorney, and could speak via Skype at the “hearing,” but we were advised it is “against the law” to attend meetings via video conferencing.
Meanwhile, Steve received the following news outlining a new million dollar plan to study and take action on reducing the threat of flooding along Salt Creek. This new initiative has long been a top priority for Steve. The project was launched on Wednesday, the same day as Steve’s hearing. Steve is very pleased with news that NRD will move forward with Salt Creek protection. As a result, he advised the board he would not distract from the March 18 project launch. He has resigned his seat and hopes the board will make wise decisions in the future. Meanwhile, Steve can move on to being fully present in China for the duration of his commitment teaching English there.
–MJ Berry
Three episodes of Showtime’s Years of Living Dangerously will be shown in Lincoln at Meadowlark Coffee and Espresso, 1624 South Street. The showings are sponsored by the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Interfaith Power and Light, and the Nebraska Wildlife Federation. Come down and watch this engaging documentary about climate change with your fellow citizens:
About the series, from Showtime:
“This groundbreaking documentary event series explores the human impact of climate change. From the damage wrought by Hurricane Sandy to the upheaval caused by drought in the Middle East, Years of Living Dangerously combines the blockbuster storytelling styles of top Hollywood movie makers with the reporting expertise of Hollywood’s brightest stars and today’s most respected journalists.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the next world-famous Green Drinks get-together in Omaha:
From Frances Mendenhall via Progressive Omaha:
Hello everybody. I’m trying to grow our climate organization, get our message out, and sell some of these great T-shirts. We are Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and our goal is to get a carbon tax that is refunded to households. We call it Tax Carbon, Pay People. Our chapter meets next on Saturday, December 6, at 11:45. Learn more about the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
And check out these shirts! They help us spread our message, they help us raise a few bucks, and they are cool. Plus, they will be delivered on December 17, exactly one week from some holiday, I forgot which one. This shirt spreads our message, and its price supports our work. Buy a t-shirt to support Grandmothers and Others Fight Climate Change.
From the Nebraska Farmers Union:
The 2014 Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference, “Turning Challenges into Nebraska Opportunities,” will be October 29 and 30 at the La Vista Conference Center. A Solar Tour of OPPD, Creighton University, and Metropolitan Community College Solar Facilities ahead of the Conference will be October 28. Sign up for the tour.
Registration for the conference is $125 until October 28 and $150 for walk-in registrations the day of the conference. For conference and tour registrations and to view the program, check out www.NebraskaWindandSolarConference.com.
For hotel reservations, contact the Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista/Hotel & Conference Center, 12520 Westport Pkwy, La Vista, NE 68128, 402-331-7400.
From LES:
The local, community solar project, LES SunShares, is an affordable opportunity for all LES customers to be involved in the development of solar-generated energy. Each SunShare is just $1 per month; three-share ($3) minimum required. The level of LES SunShares participation will influence project size with the highest-value project selected to continue diversifying the LES resource portfolio, while decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. Construction of the community solar farm will start in early 2015.
Help bring more solar energy to the Lincoln area! The more people participate, the larger the solar farm will be.
From the Green Party of the United States:
The Green Party has endorsed the NYC Climate Convergence being hosted this weekend in conjunction with the People’s Climate March in New York City. Join us in New York City and show the world that the Green Party is part of this historic event!
The NYC Climate Convergence schedule is available here. Jill Stein, Cheri Honkala, Howie Hawkins, Brian Jones, Margaret Flowers, and others will be speaking on global climate justice.
If you are participating in the People’s Climate March on Sunday, please join the Green Party contingent. The Howie Hawkins/Brian Jones for New York campaign and New York Green Party will be gathering at 79th Street and Central Park West, inside the gathering area for the march.
You must enter the area from the west at either 77th or 81st Streets, then walk to 79th Street to meet hundreds of other Greens. It is strongly advised to be within the march area by 10:30am to avoid being shut out if the march reaches capacity. Be safe, represent the Green Party peacefully, and let’s fight for climate justice!
Get involved and help set the future direction of the Nebraska Green Party at the statewide council meeting in Lincoln Saturday, August 16. The meeting will start at 2 p.m. at Meadowlark Coffee and Espresso, 1624 South Street. There will be a report from the recent Five State Strategy Conference in Kansas City, Transforming Politics on the Prairie: Building the Green Party in the Midwest, and discussion of how Nebraska Greens will go forward from this point.
From BOLD Nebraska:
This Saturday, July 19, a determined group of concerned citizens in the midst of a 3,000-mile cross-country march to raise awareness about climate change will set off from an historic church in Marquette, Nebraska. They will walk 10 miles through picturesque farmland to the renewable energy-powered barn near the town of Bradshaw, which BOLD Nebraska built last summer on land in the path of the Keystone XL pipeline. You can join the marchers for a 10-mile or 1-mile walk.