{"id":523,"date":"2011-06-19T06:50:01","date_gmt":"2011-06-19T06:50:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/?p=523"},"modified":"2013-05-29T06:51:12","modified_gmt":"2013-05-29T06:51:12","slug":"green-notes-week-of-june-19-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/2011\/06\/19\/green-notes-week-of-june-19-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Notes Week of June 19, 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

SCROLL DOWN FOR TRANSCANADA XL PIPELINE UPDATE. This week’s XL pipeline news is in CD 3 Green Notes below.<\/p>\n

Lincoln area: Congressional District 1<\/p>\n

VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, from noon to 1:00pm, Nebraskans for abolition of the death penalty meet in front of the governor’s mansion when weather is good, 1425 H Street, Lincoln. In winter, the vigil is inside the capitol, near the Information Desk. The lunch-hour presence reminds the governor of a constituency that does not want state killings. Weekly vigils have taken place year-round since July, 1991. All abolitionists are welcome to participate for a few minutes, or the hour. For information about Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

LES OPEN HOUSE ON POWER LINE . . . Property owners, residents and businesses who may be affected by the rebuilding of a high-voltage transmission line from 57th and Garland to 84th and Leighton are invited to an open house Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 4:00 to 7:00pm, at Mickle Middle School cafeteria, 2500 North 67th Street, Lincoln. For more information about the Leighton Area Reliability Project, click here<\/a> or call 402.467.7607.<\/p>\n

LINCOLN PEACE VIGILS . . . Lincoln peace vigils continue at the Federal Building, 15th and O streets, every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00pm. Contact Mark at 402.499.6672 or e-mail mark [at] weddleton [dot] com for more information.<\/p>\n

LINCOLN GREEN DRINKS . . . NEW TIME AND PLACE! Lincoln Green Drinks<\/a> will try something new this month. Green Drinks<\/a> social networking meet-ups are active in 814 cities worldwide. The new Lincoln meeting time and place will be 7:00am to 9:00am, Wednesday, June 22, 2011, at The Mill<\/a>, on the NE corner of 8th & P Street in the Haymarket. Simply ask at the front–meeting will be in the back. Walk, cycle, bus, or carpool if possible. Everyone interested in, work on, or studying environmental issues is welcome.<\/p>\n

POETS ORGANIZING FOR STATEWIDE FESTIVAL . . . The Keystone XL pipeline opposition coalition is planning a statewide festival of the arts in towns across Nebraska, in venues from churches to bars, during the first weekend of August. Arts include dance, theater, cooking, poetry, music, sculpture, origami, flower arrangement, film and photography. Themes will include the Sand Hills, water, and stopping the pipeline.\u00a0 AnyOne can organize an event anywhere.<\/b>\u00a0 Nebraska writer Mary Pipher<\/a> is coordinating poetry events. Phone Mary at 402.484.5548 for details about the\u00a0 first organizing meeting for poets on Thursday, June 23rd.<\/strong>\u00a0 We are hoping for 1000 events statewide!<\/p>\n

MORRILL HALL THURSDAYS . . . The UN-L State Museum, Morrill Hall, at 14th & Vine Streets in Lincoln, is offering free admission<\/a> every Thursday, 4:30 to 8:00pm, through August 25th. Visit the Morrill Hall website<\/a> for summer schedule information.<\/p>\n

THINK GREEN IT’S THURSDAY . . . TGIT is a new happy hour for planning a sustainable future at the Eco Stores<\/a> Conference Room, 530 West P Street, Lincoln. This is an informational, educational, and social weekly event, with locally grown food and beverages. (Beverage donations will be accepted.) Learn about the latest green products, businesses, policies and practices every Thursday from 5:00 to 6:00pm. For the spring schedule of TGIT speakers, click here<\/a>. \u00a0For more information, e-mail mitch [dot] paine [at] ecostoresne.org.<\/p>\n

JUNE 24TH JPA MEETING . . . The new group Watchdogs of Lincoln Government has been monitoring Joint Public Agency meetings following progress on the new Haymarket arena. Watchdog Bob Olson is quoted in “Railroad demand frustrates arena board.<\/a>” \u00a0The article begins, “A private citizen said what others in the room likely were thinking about the city’s lack of power as construction begins on the West Haymarket arena.” “JPA will pay BNSF another $3.4 million for construction delay,<\/a>” \u00a0reports details of the first additional cost demanded by BNSF. “White elephant<\/a>,” a letter to the editor by Marc Schniederjans, published June 3rd, also says what Greens and No2Arena coalition members said all along: “For those of us who easily could see that the Lincoln arena project would be a constant drain on taxes, it comes as no surprise that before the project has really begun, it’s already costing millions of extra dollars.” The next JPA meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 24, 2011, 3:30pm in room 112, City Council Chambers of the County City Building, 555 South 9th Street, Lincoln. If you wish to attend the JPA meeting, it would be a good idea to double check the time by calling 402.441.7386 to confirm it has not been changed.<\/p>\n

WEEKLY WALKABOUTS AT WILDERNESS PARK . . . Friends of Wilderness Park<\/a> is hosting weekly hikes through the Park, led by Adam Hintz, starting at 1:00pm every Saturday from now through October. Each week will focus on a different area, highlighting the diversity of life in the Park. Hikes will start in parking lots according to the following schedule: the first and second Saturday of the month, meet at the Pioneers Boulevard entrance; the third Saturday, meet at Old Cheney Road; the fourth Saturday, meet at 14th Street north of Rokeby Road; and every fifth Saturday, the hike will start at Saltillo Road east of the Jamaica Trail. For more information, contact Adam at 402.421.8464.<\/p>\n

LINCOLN FARMERS MARKETS . . . Farmers markets are now open in Lincoln. The Haymarket Farmers Market<\/a> is open every Saturday, 8:00am to noon, in the Haymarket District at 7th & P Streets. Expect to find more than 120 vendors with fresh produce, flowers, baked goods and handmade items plus a performance showcase featuring local folk, jazz, blues and classical music. The Market continues through October 15th. Every Sunday, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, the Old Cheney Road Farmers Market<\/a> at 5500 Old Cheney Road features in-season heirloom and traditional produce, artisan breads and cheeses, homemade baked goods, wild-crafted and traditional jams, jelly, honey, meats, fish, eggs, and bedding plants. The Piedmont Farmers Market is open Saturdays, 8:00am to noon, at 1265 South Cotner, through mid-September. Saturday Farmers Markets at the FARM, 11855 Yankee Hill Road, 9:00am to noon, run until October 29th. Community CROPS<\/a>, 1551 South 2nd Street, has garden pick-up 4:00 to 6:00pm Monday and Thursday, May 23 through October 20. A Thursday market from 4:00 to 8:00pm at Fallbrook Town Square Park on the corner of Fallbrook Blvd. between NW Sixth and Seventh Streets will be open through October 13th. Other markets have now started, and more will start in July. Find out what’s new this year<\/a>, check an interactive map<\/a> of Lincoln’s Farmers Markets, Farms and Community Supported Agriculture programs, and learn more about markets, CSAs, and local farms at the Buy Fresh, Buy Local Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Omaha area: Congressional District 2<\/p>\n

OMAHA PEACE VIGILS . . . Omaha peacemakers vigil every Wednesday, 4:30-5:30pm, at StratCom\/UN-O, 6801 Pine Street, east of the Scott Technology Center on the UN-O campus. Free parking is available at the NE Corner of 67th Street and Pine in a student lot. For more information, phone Jerry Ebner, 402.502.5887. Every Saturday, 1:00-2:00pm, there is a Peace Vigil at 72nd and Dodge Streets. Park next to 72nd Street, in the pet store parking lot. Contact Steve Horn at 402.426.9068 for more information about Saturday vigils.<\/p>\n

OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday evening, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe<\/a>, 38th and Harney in Omaha. The event is always free and open to the public. This week’s film is “Money Driven Medicine<\/a>,” a documentary about the economics underlying, and often undermining, our $2.6 trillion healthcare system. View a 3:11 minute trailer here<\/a>. \u00a0For more information, click here<\/a>. \u00a0The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.<\/p>\n

SAVE DEMOCRACY NOW! . . . Thanks in large part to Frances Mendenhall, current news from Democracy Now!<\/a> is aired in Omaha Monday through Friday, 9:30pm, on Cox Channel 22. Cox is now renegotiating its contract with Omaha, and it wants to eliminate local public access, which would also eliminate Democracy Now! The decision will be made by the City Council in about two months. Thursday, June 23, 2011, 7:00pm, there will be a Meeting to Save Democracy Now!<\/b>\u00a0 at 3715 Hamilton. Help plan a short campaign of support for keeping public access in Omaha. Phone Frances at 402.208.3717 if you have any questions.<\/p>\n

BICYCLE OMAHA . . . Thursday, June 23, 2011, 7:00 to 8:30pm, Omaha’s new Bicycle\/Pedestrian Coordinator Carlos Morales, and Matt Martin, Executive Director of the Community Bicycle Project will speak at the Sierra Club June meeting, First United Methodist Church, 69th & Cass. (Enter north door Education Wing.) Find more information about “Bicycling in Omaha” here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

GLBT PRIDE FESTIVAL . . . Saturday, June 25, 2011, Heartland Pride<\/a>, will host this year’s Omaha and Council Bluffs\u2019s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Cultural Festival, UNITED IN PRIDE, at 10th and Pacific Streets in Downtown Omaha. As in years past, the CommUNITY Pride Parade will also take place along 10th Street, 11:00 to noon, starting at 10th at Farnam. Vendors will be open from 12pm-8pm. There is no admission charge to the Festival Grounds until after 5:00pm. For more information, e-mail info [at] heartlandpride [dot] org.<\/p>\n

PROTEST KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE . . . Omaha protests with Guardians of the Good Life<\/a> continue. E-mail japlapoo [at] netzero [dot] net for details. STOP THE PIPELINE yard signs are available in Omaha by calling Nebraskans for Peace<\/a> Coordinator Mark Welsch, 402.453.0776, or e-mail NFPOmaha [at] nebraskansforpeace [dot] org.<\/p>\n

BENSON COMMUNITY GARDEN . . . Omaha’s newest community garden is at 60th & Lafayette, at the south side of the historic Benson neighborhood. The Benson Community Garden is looking for individuals and families interested in garden plots. For more information, phone 402.714.0290 or e-mail goetzinger2 [at] cox [dot] net. To get involved, or help support the garden, please register here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ENGAGE OMAHA . . . One of the nation’s first city-wide, virtual town hall websites, EngageOmaha<\/a>, is now online. Omaha residents may weigh in on issues for the city to consider. Pick a topic, and join the mix here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3<\/p>\n

PUBLIC HEARING ON URANIUM MINING . . . Wednesday, June 22, 2011, 7:00pm, there will be a public hearing with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality for citizen input on the Crow Butte Resources, Inc. application for an expansion of uranium mining. The hearing will be at Crawford Public High School, 908 5th Street, Crawford, Nebraska. An exemption for mining in an aquifer is requested on the basis that the underlying aquifer is already so contaminated that it cannot be remediated for drinking water. CBR does have a legal obligation to restore the aquifer to drinking water quality; the exemption is to allow Crow Butte Resources to not only walk away from that obligation, but to make water quality even worse. Click here<\/a>\u00a0[pdf] for more information from the previous public hearing. To see the full DEQ website on the exemption, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

PUBLIC HEARING ON CARBON CONCENTRATIONS . . . Thursday, June 23, 2011, 7:00pm, there will be a public hearing on reducing atmospheric carbon concentrations to 350ppm by 2100. The hearing will take place at a regular meeting of the Environmental Quality Council, Buffalo Barracks, Fort Robinson State Park, 3200 Highway 20, Crawford, Nebraska. For more information on this meeting, including the agenda, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UPDATE . . . Guardian.co.uk reported early news<\/a> that a Congressional panel approved a bill to fast-track the Keystone XL pipeline through Nebraska’s fragile Sand Hills<\/a> and Ogallala Aquifer<\/a>. \u00a0By Suzanne Goldenberg, it was published June 15, 2011. The legislation would force President Obama to make a decision on the proposed pipeline by November 1.\u00a0 “More than 100,000 people wrote to the State Department this month to express their views on the project. Nebraska state legislators and members of Congress have also written letters of concern. Meanwhile the EPA issued a letter last week criticizing the State Department for failing to fully take into account the risks of a pipeline accident, or of the increase in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the import of more fossil fuels.” The Wall Street Journal report is here<\/a>.
\nQuoting “Nebraska Water Scientists Warn of Oil Pipeline’s Risk, Call for More Study,<\/a>” by Elizabeth McGowan in SolveClimateNews, June 15, 2011:\u00a0 “A single study by the U.S. Geological Survey in Minnesota is the sole source for what scientists know about crude oil behavior in aquifers.<\/b>\u00a0…The two scientists complimented the State Department for making it clear that in Nebraska, 64 percent of the groundwater wells are within one mile of the Keystone XL route. That figure drops to just 10 percent in each of the other states\u2014Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Gates and Woldt say their research indicates that a similarly high percentage of Nebraska\u2019s wetlands are along the proposed pipeline route.” Thanks to Ken Winston of Nebraska Sierra<\/a> for his work with these scientists. Ken’s letter<\/a> on behalf of Sierra to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton points out many facts about the unique Sand Hills and Ogallala Aquifer, requesting additional time for further study and action in the 2012 legislative session.
\nBOLD Nebraska<\/a> published “Heineman Remains Silent on Pipeline<\/a>,” by Ben Gotschall, June 14, 2011. It begins “Six months ago, Gov. Dave Heineman showed his disrespect for the people of this state and a lack of leadership regarding the Keystone XL pipeline when he accused concerned citizens of \u201cmouthing off\u201d and encouraged them to \u201ctalk to [their] president,\u201d about the pipeline. Since then, a Congressional Research Service (CRS) memo requested by Nebraska Republican Congressman Lee Terry has shown that, although the State Dept. wields the power of approving or denying a permit for the pipeline to cross the US\/Canadian border, it is ultimately up to the states (i.e. Nebraska) to determine siting of the pipeline route.\u00a0 This means, that Gov. Heineman has the legal authority and duty to get the pipeline out of the Sand Hills.<\/b>\u00a0 …Sadly, Gov. Heineman still chooses to sit back and remain silent in the same invertebrate fashion he has displayed in the past. While it would be easy to write off his lack of initiative as typical partisan accommodation of big oil companies, the pipeline is a nonpartisan issue. Democrats and Republicans are concerned about the route of the pipeline, and members of the Nebraska legislature have shown that other state leaders can and will take action to protect our citizens.
\nThe highest-ranking elected official in our state has chosen to opt out and avoid responsibility. This is not leadership. This is outright neglect of duty, and we need to let Governor Heineman know that his inaction is not what Nebraska citizens expect from a leader with such an important role and with so much at stake–our land, water, economic activity and the cultural heritage that makes our state strong.\u00a0 E-mail<\/b><\/a> or call Gov. Heineman at 402.471.2244<\/b>, and tell him to get serious about his duty to protect our land and water by rerouting the pipeline now.”
\nA June 18th canada.com article<\/a> by Sheldon Alberts features BOLD Nebraska’s Jane Kleeb, Merrick County rancher Randy Thompson, and other Nebraska landowners. “Thompson’s perception of TransCanada has been sealed over three stressful years. He says the company has shown contempt for both landowners and Nebraska’s resources by refusing to alter Keystone XL’s route. “We can find another source of energy, but we have no alternative to our source of water. We are just a bunch of damn fools if we put our aquifer at risk,” he says. “We’re not just going to roll over and play dead for these guys.”
\nThe Keystone Pipeline: Triple Trouble<\/a>, by Bruce Johansen writing for Nebraskans For Peace<\/a>, June 17th begins “The proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, which would carry about 830,000 barrels a day at full capacity, has been catching a lot of grief locally because it could spill oil that might ruin our underground water supply. That much is true. But the environmental cost of the pipeline does not stop there. The oil that will be transported is refined from tar sands, mainly from Alberta, which combine all the worst attributes of fossil fuels: spill potential, the carbon footprint of coal, and the environmental damage of coal strip mining. Tar sands are, briefly stated, a triple environmental atrocity\u2014enough to send a thinking person to a bicycle. …In other words, tar sands\u2019 huge demand for water and energy, as well as its damage to the boreal forests of Canada, is beside the point\u2014-which is profit. One wonders how much damage will have to be done before people realize that our appetite for fossil fuels is condemning coming generations to a hot, miserable, barren future. ”
\nA new Sierra Action Alert<\/a> to call President Obama at 202.456.1111 outlines talking points for asking him to reject the dirty and dangerous XL tar sands pipeline. And readers can sign a letter asking Dole and Chiquita not to use toxic tar sands oil for transporting their bananas here<\/a>.
\nQuoting “Piping in some common sense<\/a>,” a LJS Local View by Lincoln’s National Geographic contributing photographer Joel Sartore<\/a>, “…For the sake of my family, myself and my state, I challenge the proposed route of the Keystone XL Pipeline. …I don’t wish to offend anyone, but the conclusion I come away with every time is this: I cannot believe this is something we’re considering for even a minute. …If you care, let your voice be heard. Write and call Gov. Dave Heineman, Congressmen Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith and Lee Terry, and Senators Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns. Let them know that trading our environmental heritage in order to cater to greed and increase the wealth of a select few will not be tolerated. Nebraska is better than this.”
\nContact information for Nebraska’s Congressional Representatives is as follows: Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, CD-1, 1517 Longworth House Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515, 202.225.4806, 402.438.1598 (Lincoln), FaceBook<\/a>; Rep. Lee Terry<\/a>, CD-2, 1524 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515, 202.225.4155, 402.397.9944 (Omaha); Rep. Adrian Smith<\/a>, CD-3, 503 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515, 202.225.6435, 888.ADRIAN7 (Toll Free); Senator Ben Nelson<\/a>, 720 Hart Senate Office Building, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510, 202.224.6551; Senator Mike Johanns<\/a>, 404 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, 202.224.4224. Contact Governor Dave Heineman<\/a>, at linked e-mail or PO Box 94848, State Capitol Bldg., Lincoln, NE 68509, 402.471.2244. Please contact them all if you oppose the environmental devastation that XL would cause Nebraska’s ecosystems.
\nPetitions still open to signatures requesting the denial of a permit to TransCanada include “Stop the TransCanada Pipeline<\/a>” to Secretary Clinton, Governor Heineman, and President Obama; “Protect Nebraska; Say NO to Tar Sands;<\/a>” “Protect Nebraska’s Economic Activity, Put the Brakes on the Pipeline;<\/a>” “Protect Your Water, Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline!<\/a>” and a Brave New Foundation petition to Clinton, “Say No to the Kochs and Yes to Protecting Americans.<\/a>”\u00a0 Please sign them all, and add personal comments of concern for our ecosystem if you wish. “Time’s Running Out to Stop the Keystone Tar Sands Pipeline — Take Action Now,<\/a>” by Tara Lohan, AlterNet, June 3, 2011 also links a new petition to Secretary Clinton.
\nAlso urging readers to contact the Nebraska delegation,”Plain foolishness<\/a>,” by Jim Elsener, says “If people think they gotta have oil, try living without water. A little horse sense will tell you it’s just plain foolishness to run the sands oil Keystone XL Pipeline through the Sand Hills and over the Ogallala Aquifer. Just this May the first Keystone Pipeline in North Dakota leaked more than 400 barrels of oil. And overall, Keystone has suffered 11 leaks in as many months. I urge people to write their representatives in Congress and let them know this is one foolish idea.” And on June 15th, Eleanor Hamersky’s letter<\/a> thanking Sartore for his Local View says “We all must educate ourselves on the hazards involved to our Ogallala Aquifer water supply by the route of the proposed Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline.”
\n“Why deadline on pipeline?<\/a>” by Fern Adams, published June 13th, begins “I do not understand Rep. Lee Terry and Sen. Mike Johanns. Why is there a need to have a decision made on the Keystone XL pipeline by November? There are many unanswered questions: How many successful cleanup jobs has TransCanada done in aquifers similar to the Ogallala? What effect would cleanup and drawdown of the water table have on irrigation wells? How much experience does TransCanada have with 36-inch pipelines carrying tar sands? How much experience does the company have with planting and maintaining pipelines through sand hills?” And a June 12th letter<\/a> by Dianne Petersen comments on TransCanada’s push polls asking misleading questions about gas prices and unemployment. “Do we need lower gas prices and more jobs? Yes, but having to mislead people to garner support proves the tactics are dishonest, so what else isn’t quite above-board in the dealings of pipeline supporters?”
\nOn Thursday, June 9th, Democracy Now!<\/a> covered a planned 92-mile natural gas pipeline in Puerto Rico<\/a> that would cut across much of the island, bringing up similar issues as are being faced in Nebraska. “Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortu\u00f1o has made the $450 million project a central goal of his administration and insists it is a safe and environmentally friendly way to lower utility bills. Called V\u00eda Verde (Green Way), the pipeline has been dubbed V\u00eda de la Muerte (Death Route) by critics who say it will expose people living near it to deadly explosions and cause irreversible damage to the island\u2019s environmental and cultural resources.”
\n“Faith Groups Call on Obama to Stop Dirty Oil Sands Pipeline,<\/a>” from the Missionary Oblates Office of Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creating, June 2, 2011, reports “The Oblate JPIC Office has joined 45 other faith-based groups in asking the Obama Administration to deny the presidential permit needed by TransCanada Corporation to construct a pipeline to carry dirty oil sands from Alberta, Canada to Houston, TX.”
\nA new 6:31 minute YouTube video “Stop the Megaloads Now!<\/a>” films this country’s scenic natural environments and contrasts the images of beauty with the “biggest, dirtiest, most ecologically destructive extraction operation on Earth” that has turned Alberta, Canada into a “raped and stinking tar pit.” Please watch to see how Exxon will treat Idaho and Montana’s scenic highways when destruction equipment starts rolling for tar sands extraction there. “Fight the Power!”
\nThe Keystone XL Pipeline Story in the United States<\/a>, is a new 40-minute documentary being produced in association with the National Wildlife Federation to explore environmental, social and political impacts of the $13 billion XL pipeline construction. From the website, “This film will uncover the realities behind building this 1,980-mile pipeline through the heartland of America. It will discuss the ramifications of the growing US reliance on Canadian oil, as well as the sacrifices on people, wildlife and the environment as a result of the transport and refinement of this very polluting tar sands oil.” Pending funding, principal photography is scheduled to begin on June 20, 2011. To learn more about this project and become a supporting financial contributor, click here<\/a>.
\nComprehensive Green Notes covering international, national and local opposition to the XL pipeline since May 30, 2010 are in archives here<\/a>. (Scroll from the bottom up for links to each week’s Notes.)
\nWhat can you do now that the legislative session has ended and the official Department of State comment period has expired? Sign all the petitions linked above.\u00a0 Keep writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Keep the issue alive in conversations at the kitchen table, in cafes, churches, and clubs around Nebraska.<\/b>\u00a0 E-mail actions [at] boldnebraska [dot] org for yard signs, bumper stickers and t-shirts. More actions EveryOne can take are listed here<\/a>.
\nBe a community educator and organizer.\u00a0 Help make Nebraska the first state to successfully oppose a pipeline project.
\nRemember, every man-made by-product of the petroleum industry could be replaced by hemp. “<\/strong>Help Save the Earth, Time to Subsitute Hemp for oil.<\/strong><\/a>“<\/strong><\/p>\n

STOP FRACKING NOW . . . “We, the undersigned, call on Congress to pass the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act this year. It’s time to hold the oil and gas production industry to the same standards as any other industry to ensure the safe protection of America’s drinking water.” Sign Petition<\/a> and view 6:20 minute Colbert Report interview with Tom Ridge.<\/p>\n

PETITION THE EPA . . . Tell the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately prohibit the use of clothianidin and conduct a full scientific review to determine its impact on honey bee populations<\/a>.\u00a0 Learn more about clothianidin and sign the petition here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TELL PRESIDENT OBAMA NOT TO CAVE TO MONSANTO AND THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY . . . The Obama administration has unbelievably chosen to approve three biotech crops, Roundup Ready genetically modified alfalfa, Roundup Ready genetically modified sugar beets and a new industrial biotech corn for ethanol production. These decisions are a devastating blow to our democracy and the basic rights of farmers to choose how they want to grow food on their land and the rights of consumers who increasingly choose organic and sustainably grown food for its positive health and environmental impacts. Please tell the President it’s time to stand up to Monsanto and reject GMO crops<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AGENCY SCIENTISTS OPPOSE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SALMON . . . The following quotes are from Fish and Wildlife Service scientists themselves: “The environmental impact of escaped GE salmon is of great concern.” – Gregory Moyer, Regional Geneticist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; “…approval of the proposal is premature, given the unknowns and uncertainties regarding the possible ecological and environmental effects of these fish.” – Jeff Adams, Branch Chief, Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and “…I do think the chance of escapement is huge” – Deborah Burger, Manager, Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ask the President to stop the GE salmon approval process<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL . . . . Farmers, gardeners, and craftspeople meet through The Nebraska Food Cooperative<\/a>, an on-line, year-round farmers’ market and local food distribution service offering the best in local freshness. For ordering and pickup schedules, refer to the calendar here<\/a>. Click here<\/a>, for products and prices from North Star Neighbors, a Cooperative member that doesn’t therapeutically medicate or unduly confine animals. Click here<\/a> for Tomato Tom\u00e4to, Omaha’s year-round indoor Farmer’s Market at 156th & West Center. Shop for fresh foods grown in or very near your own community at Open Harvest<\/a>, Lincoln’s member-owned natural foods retail cooperative at 1618 South Street. Buying local grows family farming, grows the local economy, and is thousands of miles fresher.<\/p>\n

HELP NEBRASKA GREENS WITH GOODSEARCH . . . Each time you search the Internet (or shop online at a participating store), a donation can be made to Nebraska Green Party at no cost to you! To help NGP in this way, enter Nebraska Green Party where it says WHO DO YOU GOODSEARCH FOR? here<\/a>.\u00a0 Bookmark the GoodSearch Homepage, or make it your own Home Page. Enter the url you want in the GoodSearch search box. Each time you do, one penny will be donated to Nebraska Greens. THANK YOU for your support!<\/p>\n

We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente<\/p>\n

STOP THE PIPELINE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCROLL DOWN FOR TRANSCANADA XL PIPELINE UPDATE. This week’s XL pipeline news is in CD 3 Green Notes below. Lincoln area: Congressional District 1 VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, from noon to 1:00pm, Nebraskans for abolition of the death penalty meet in front of the governor’s mansion when weather is … Continue reading Green Notes Week of June 19, 2011<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=523"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":526,"href":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523\/revisions\/526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nebraskagreens.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}