Tag Archives: Personal and Global Responsibility

Seeking Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel, Feb. 28 in Omaha

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From Nebraskans for Peace:

Learn about peace work in Israel and Palestine and what you can do to help. Rabbi Joseph Berman and Bshara Nassar, a Christian from Palestine, will discuss the work they have been doing for peace and justice in the Holy Land.

  • WHO: Rabbi Joseph Berman and Bshara Nassar
  • WHEN: Sunday, February 28, 2016 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • WHERE: Urban Abbey, 1026 Jackson St., Omaha

This event is organized through the Holy Land Task Force, Peace with Justice Ministries and the Mercy & Justice Team of the Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church, in collaboration with the Palestinian Rights Task Force of Nebraskans for Peace.

Dr. Jill Stein: People’s State of the Union

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From jill2016.com:

The Precarious State of Our Union: A Bipartisan Disaster We Can Fix

From the viewpoint of everyday Americans, the State of our Union, in point of fact, is not strong. In reality, we are in a state of historic crisis – for our economy, ecology, democracy and security.

Thankfully, these crises are still eminently solvable. With a majority of Americans disapproving of both establishment parties, there is unprecedented momentum for a new way forward, based on principles of democracy, justice and peace, towards an America and a world that works for all of us.

Republicans have long been recognized as unabashed servants of the economic elite, leading the charge against the public interest. But they have not been alone.

Democratic priorities were clear when President Obama had two Democratic Houses of Congress to support him, as the party went to bat for trillions in Wall Street bailouts, tax cuts for the rich, job-killing corporate trade agreements, austerity budgets, health care reform that locked single payer out and private profits in, mass deportations of hardworking immigrants, privatization of schools, expanding wars for oil and regime change, climate-killing “all of the above” energy policies, and unprecedented assaults on privacy and press freedoms.

As a result of this bipartisan assault, we have not had a recovery by any measure.

Read the full People’s State of the Union.

TransCanada sues U.S. and files NAFTA claim for KXL rejection

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From the Lincoln Journal Star:

TransCanada has filed a lawsuit and a $15 billion NAFTA claim seeking to recover costs and damages in response to President Barack Obama’s rejection of a permit for its Keystone XL pipeline.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in federal court in Houston and says Obama’s November decision to deny a cross-border permit for the $8 billion pipeline violated his power under the Constitution.

The Calgary, Alberta-based company spent $3.1 billion trying to bring the project to fruition. The $15 billion figure takes into account what it says is the lost value of its investments and its lost economic return.

Read the full story.

Jill Stein: Update from the Campaign Trail

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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.

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:

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.

 

Climate Action in Lincoln: Tell Ricketts to Submit a Plan, Not Kick the Can

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From Progressive Omaha:

On October 14, join fellow Nebraskans in urging Gov. Pete Ricketts to take action on climate change. This is part of a national Day of Climate Action. Bold Nebraska and the Sierra Club are organizing an event outside of the governor’s mansion. We will be delivering 3,000 petition signatures asking Gov. Ricketts not to sue the EPA over the Clean Power Plan and to submit a state energy plan. The theme of the event is “Ricketts: Submit a Plan, Don’t Kick the Can.” There will be a massive game of kick the can outside of the mansion!

Meet on the north side of the Nebraska’s Governors Mansion at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 14. Bring your friends!

TransCanada abondons effort to use eminent domain

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From BOLD Nebraska:

TransCanada announced Sept. 29 that the company will pull out of the lawsuit filed by over 100 Nebraska landowners challenging their right to use eminent domain to seize land for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Facing mounting legal expenses and a likely loss in court, the company will instead go through the Public Service Commission (PSC) review process it had originally hoped to avoid.

The PSC process will take at least a year, and cannot move forward if and when President Obama rejects the federal permit for the pipeline.

“This is a major victory for Nebraska landowners who refused to back down in the face of bullying by a foreign oil company,” said Jane Kleeb, director of Bold Nebraska.

Read the full story from BOLD Nebraska.

Read related coverage in the Wall Street Journal.