Tag Archives: Grassroots Democracy

Liquor Commission denies licenses for Whiteclay beer sellers

News, , , , , ,

From the Omaha World-Herald:

Frank LaMere finally got the decision he’s been waiting for.

For two decades, he’s called for an end to alcohol sales in Whiteclay, Nebraska, due to the dreadful consequences.

On Wednesday, a state liquor board voted 3-0 to end the long-controversial beer sales in Whiteclay, an unincorporated village known as the “Skid Row of the Plains” that sells millions of cans of beer each year to residents of the officially dry Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

“I think today that the Oglala Lakota people won. I think Nebraskans won. We’ll be better for it in this state,” said LaMere, a Native American activist from South Sioux City.

Read the full story.

Upcoming marches: Support science and climate action, demand Trump’s tax returns

Action Alerts, , , , , , , , ,

Tax March: Demanding the release of President Trump’s tax returns.

Lincoln Tax March

  • Saturday, April 15, 2017, 12 p.m.
  • Nebraska State Capitol Building
  • 1445 K Street
  • Lincoln, NE  68508

Omaha Tax March

  • Saturday, April 15, 2017, 1 p. m.
  • Turner Park
  • 3101 Dodge Street
  • Omaha, NE 68131

March for Science: Supporting the scientific method and evidence-based policies.

March for Science – Lincoln

  • Saturday, April 22, 2017, 3 – 4 p.m.
  • Nebraska Union, 1400 R Street
  • Marching from the Union through Centennial Mall to the Nebraska State Capitol

March for Science – Omaha

  • Saturday, April 22, 2017, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Marching from Elmwood Park to Stinson Park

March for Science, Climate, and Social Justice – Hastings

  • Saturday, April 22, 2017, 12:30 – 2 p.m.
  • Hastings, NE

People’s Climate March: Standing up for the climate, for jobs, and for justice.

People’s Climate March, Lincoln

  • Saturday, April 29, 2017, 10:30am
  • Nebraska State Capitol Building
  • 1445 K Street
  • Lincoln, NE

People’s Climate March, Omaha

2016 Green Party Vice Presidential Candidate Ajamu Baraka has accepted our invitation to speak at the Omaha event, starting at noon. The march will start at 2 p.m.

  • Saturday, April 29, 2017, 12:00pm
  • Gene Leahy Mall
  • 1302 Farnam
  • Omaha, NE

Tell the Nebraska Public Service Commission: Consider climate in KXL decision

Action Alerts, , , , , ,

From 350.org:

In Nebraska, there is still no permitted route for Keystone. Eighty-five landowners are refusing to give up their land to make way for the pipeline, and thousands more people are rallying to deny TransCanada their Nebraska permit for Keystone XL. They’re asking pipeline fighters from across the United States to support these efforts by submitting comments to Nebraska’s Public Service Commission urging them to include climate in their assessment and oppose the permit.

If built, this pipeline would poison our climate, air, water, land and communities, and violate Indigenous rights. Take action now to urge the Nebraska Public Service Commission to consider climate in their assessment of whether Keystone XL is in the public interest and to deny the permit for the project.

Send a message to the Commission via 350.org

Nebraska voter ID proposal harms democracy, solves nothing

News, ,

From the Lincoln Journal Star Editorial Board:

There is a common phrase employed in legislative debates: This is a solution looking for a problem.

Cliches become clichés precisely because there’s a kernel of truth at their center. In this case, a voter ID measure — LR1CA offered by Sen. John Murante of Gretna, requiring a photo ID to participate in Nebraska elections — is a solution looking for a problem.

Secretary of State John Gale has stated plainly that there’s been no evidence of voter fraud being a problem in Nebraska. An earlier Local View from Kristie Pfabe noted that impersonation, the type of fraud an ID plan aims to stop, is the least efficient way possible to sway a race. It comes with a high cost criminally, and that high potential cost yields but one vote.

Murante argues that the bill is necessary to restore Americans’ confidence in the voting process.

But the plan creates more problems than it solves and does more harm to our democracy than it helps.

Read the full editorial.

Environmental groups file lawsuit seeking to stop KXL

News, , , , , ,

From the Columbus Telegram:

National environmental groups and the company seeking to build the Keystone XL pipeline fired separate legal volleys Thursday over the contentious project.

Environmental groups — including one that got its start in Nebraska — made good on a promise to file a lawsuit seeking to reverse President Donald Trump’s green-lighting of the Keystone XL project.

Meanwhile, TransCanada filed a motion with the Nebraska Public Service Commission urging it to reject 56 people and groups seeking intervener status in the review of the Keystone XL route through the Cornhusker state, including the Nebraska Ponca and Yankton Sioux tribes and environmental and public-health advocacy groups.

More than 100 people and organizations, including more than 90 landowners and three labor unions, have petitioned to intervene, which would allow them to file legal briefs, cross-examine witnesses and present formal arguments to the PSC alongside TransCanada’s attorneys.

Read the full story.

Nebraskans pledge to fight after Trump approves KXL

News, , , ,

From the Lincoln Journal Star:

Nebraska corn farmer Art Tanderup was just about to head to his workshop Friday morning to overhaul his 30-year-old field sprayer in preparation for spring planting when his phone rang.

President Donald Trump had granted a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, the voice on the line said.

Pipeline manufacturer TransCanada wants to plant a half-mile of the crude-oil pipe across a field where Tanderup and wife Helen have planted red, blue, white and speckled corn sacred to the Ponca Tribe, part of their ongoing protest of the project.

While Tanderup knew it was coming, Trump’s official reversal of former President Barack Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL struck a sour note.

“We’re quite disappointed,” Tanderup said. “Now we’re looking what we can do to stop it, and obviously that is through the Nebraska Public Service Commission.”

Read the full story.

Free showing of ‘1984’ in Lincoln April 4

Events, , , , ,

From The Ross:

Free Screening of 1984: On April 4, 2017, almost 140 art house movie theatres — including The Ross — across the country in 124 cities and in 41 states, plus four locations in Canada, will be participating collectively in a NATIONAL EVENT DAY screening of the 80s movie 1984 in support of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This date was chosen because it’s the day George Orwell’s protagonist Winston Smith begins rebelling against his oppressive government by keeping a forbidden diary. Participants in this event strongly believe in supporting the NEA and the NEH and see any attempt to scuttle these programs as an attack on free speech and creative expression through entertainment. This event provides a chance for communities around the country to show their unity and have their voices heard.

1984 is showing admission free at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center on Tuesday, April 4, at 5:30 p.m. (313 North 13th Street, Lincoln). The screening will be followed by a panel discussion about the importance of the NEA and NEH. Panelists include Suzanne Wise, Executive Director of the Nebraska Arts Council; Chris Sommerich, Executive Director of Humanities Nebraska; and Doug Zyblut, Executive Director of Nebraskans for the Arts.

Read more abut the event at The Ross.

Read more about the national event.

Omaha Green Drinks March 22

Events, , , , , , , , ,

From Omaha Green Drinks:

Let’s shake off winter and embrace the upcoming Spring weather at this week’s meeting!

This is a friendly reminder that Omaha Green Drinks will be taking place this upcoming Wednesday, March 22, at 5:30 p.m. at Whole Foods Market (10020 Regency Parkway, Omaha).

Carpool, cycle, walk, or ride the bus! This is a great way to network, inspire, share ideas, and catch up with other “Green” people. Looking forward to seeing you!

Please RSVP on Facebook.

Lincoln City Council Candidate Forum March 16

Events, , , , , , , , ,

From Nebraska League of Conservation Voters:

Please join us Thursday, March 16, for the Lincoln City Council Candidate forum – all of the candidates have committed to attending.

  • When: Thursday, March 16th, 7:00 PM
  • Where: The AULD, 1650 Memorial Drive, Lincoln, NE 68508

The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Please RSVP to attend.

This candidate forum provides an opportunity for voters to get to know the candidates and their positions, as well as highlight the differences in their proposed policies. All candidates have committed to attending. Candidates running for Lincoln City Council include:

  • Leirion Gaylor Baird (Incumbent)
  • Roy Christensen (Incumbent)
  • Bennie Shobe
  • Brayden McLaughlin
  • Lou Braatz
  • Tom Nesbitt
  • Maggie Squires
  • Deb Andrews

The questions asked during the forum will encompass a wide range of issues in order to provide the most informative experience possible for those in attendance. Candidates may be asked questions about energy and the environment, as well as sustainable growth, fiscal responsibility, government transparency, transportation, infrastructure, neighborhoods and housing, public safety, and education.

The forum is hosted by the Nebraska League of Conservation Voters (NLCV), NeighborWorks Lincoln, Witherbee Neighborhood Association, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Friends of Wilderness Park, and several other Neighborhood Associations.

NGP statement in support of Nebraska’s LB34

News, , , ,

The Nebraska Green Party’s statement in support of LB34, under consideration by the Nebraska Unicameral:

The Nebraska Green Party would like to express its support of LB 34 and thank Sen Ebke for introducing it. The strength of a democracy lies in its ability to accommodate a diversity of voices, and any improvements in that regard will have our support. Third parties already face steep obstacles to entry in the political arena, and this at a time when, at least nationally, voters seem to have very low regard for the leadership of the established parties and are left wanting by the high barriers to entry of our current system. We urge you to pass LB 34. The bill would not take anything away from the current ballot access situation, but provides an additional path to ballot retention.