The Climatic Consequences of Coal: Nebraska's Role
Why coal? Why here? Why now?
Read morePosted In: What's HOT in Global Warming
Senators Refuse to Study Capital Punishment Costs
On March 25 we saw 22 Nebraska Senators stand up for the average Nebraskan in support of a bill to identify the financial cost of our state’s death penalty system. While there were not enough votes to pass LB 1105, the debate around this issue has shown us that we are making progress in our efforts to end capital punishment—and that work must continue.
As many of you know, the long and complicated death penalty process has already cost taxpayers millions of dollars. More than a dozen states have found that the death penalty is up to ten times more expensive than sentences of life without parole. In our neighboring state of Kansas, the median cost of a death penalty case is $1.26 million, or a staggering 70 percent more than comparable non-death penalty cases.
Read morePosted In: Turn Off the Violence
"The Good Life"... for Everyone?
At a recent state soccer championship match, a group of students from the overwhelmingly white and affluent Lincoln East High School made dozens of homemade “green cards” which were then thrown in the air on the field after their team defeated the majority-Hispanic Omaha South team to win the title. The incident was reminiscent of the days when watermelons and black cats were thrown on the field to belittle and denigrate African American athletes. It underscores the highly charged atmosphere surrounding undocumented Hispanic immigration to this country, the anxiety among many regarding the growing presence of Latinos in the U.S., and the easy potential for these attitudes to turn mean-spirited and racist.
Nebraskans for Peace commends those students, parents, administrators and teachers from both Lincoln East and Omaha South who have sought to turn an ugly incident into a transformative teaching moment. The recent meeting in Omaha between students from both schools, as well as the creation of the Student Coalition Against Racism at Lincoln East, are important first steps. However, given the broader national context of rising anti-immigrant sentiment, we must all oppose the nativist impulse and those who seek to divide us along lines of difference.
Read morePosted In: Civil Rights & Economic Justice
Don't Let Congress Fund More War
Like the Bush/Cheney Administration before it, the Obama White House is playing budget games to pay for its ‘War on Terrorism.’
Read morePosted In: Anti-War & International Law
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Hurts Nation's Security
From the time we start to school we Americans are taught to stand and "pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America." That pledge ends with the affirmation "with liberty and justice for all" — a noble ideal, a key value for which we strive. That said, it occurs to me that we as a noble people face some critical work to assure liberty and justice for all.
This work has to do with a segment of American citizens who are denied this liberty and justice.
Read morePosted In: Civil Rights & Economic Justice
