NEBRASKANS FOR PEACE
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        • Oct Nov Dec 2022 Civil War II Continued
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        • Feb March 2022 Peace and Disarmament
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        • May/June 2021 Amid Widespread Disease, Death and Poverty, Major World Powers Increased Their Military Spending in 2020
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        • Oct Nov Dec 2022 Malcolm X : Celebrate with Action
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        • July/August 2021 The Critical Race Theory Controversy
        • May/June 2021 The Scourge of White Privilege
        • Mar/April 2021 LAND BACK: A Movement, A Spirit, A Practice
        • Jan/Feb 2021 Conversations on Racism and Anti-Racism
      • Articles: Environment, Food Security, ​Conflict Prevention >
        • Oct Nov Dec 2022 Degrowth: Connecting the Dots
        • July Aug Sept 2022 Degrowth: Adjusting Economy to Life (RATHER THAN VICE VERSA)
        • Apr June 2022 AltEn Nightmare Continues
        • Feb March 2022 Poison in Nebraska
        • Nov Dec 2021 Build Back Better Statement
        • July/August 2021 Change. It's What's for Dinner.
        • May/June 2021 Solve Climate by 2030
        • Mar/April 2021 The Future of Food
        • Jan/Feb 2021 Sen. Tom Brandt Introduces “Farm to School Program Act”
      • Articles: What's HOT in Global Warming >
        • Oct Nov Dec 2022 Climatic Gut Punches
        • July Aug Sept 2022 Where Was the Supreme Court When the Earth Burned?
        • Apr June 2022 War, Nationalism and Climate Change
        • Feb/March 2022 We are Asphyxiating the Ocean
        • Nov/Dec 2021 Is Global Warming Inevitable?
        • July/August 2021 Hitting The Spot
        • May/June 2021 Energy and Environment: Some Tough Questions
        • Mar/April 2021 Where Was Our Warming? It Was AWOL in the Arctic
      • Articles: HARD TRUTH >
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        • July Aug Sept 2022 Top Five Big Lies from the Right
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        • Feb March 2022 Thich Nhat and Hope
        • Nov Dec 2021 A Tribute to Tim Rinne
        • June/July 2021 A Methadone Testimonial
        • May/June 2021 Building Resilience in Post-Pandemic Rural Nebraska
        • Mar/April 2021 Nebraska is having a Flint, Michigan moment
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There is no Peace without Justice
NFP Helps Children and Adults in Gaza

It is a pleasure to report about Nebraskans for Peace—Palestinian Rights Task Force’s recent Potluck Fundraiser for Gaza!  The weather was cold and windy the evening of November 10th in Omaha. The fellowship hall at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church at 510 N. 93rd Street was warmed, not just by its heating system, but by the genuine, caring concern on the part of the people in attendance. They came there that night sharing the desire for justice for Palestinians in all areas, especially health care.
 
Members and guests filled the room numbering around eighty. Attendees’ hearts were inspired to give as they sat at tables together, sharing marvelous food choices from the long potluck buffet table. Many of the dishes were homemade Palestinian cuisine from local Palestinian cooks. Conversations were joyful among people appreciating being together again in person for a fundraising event.  It was our task force’s first such gathering since the beginning of Covid-19.

It was wonderful to have our founder, Anne Else, return to assist with the event details, even though she is retired. She taught me a lot.  It was a group production. Thanks to all who worked before, during, and after the event. Everyone joined in the cleanup!

We were blessed to meet Pastor Kathy Gerking several years ago when St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church hosted Mr. Daoud Nassar, whose family owns the Tent of Nations on a hill above Bethlehem.  Her church was a perfect location for this event.  St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church became our host and first sponsor.  Three other sponsors followed:  the Social Justice and Peacemaking Committee of the Missouri River Valley Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Holy Land Task Force of the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Omaha Friends (Quaker) Meeting.

The evening’s announcement of the total donations was proof of the generosity of those who attended. Before the event, donations of over $5,750 had already come in by U.S. Mail and Internet giving.  After the evening’s cash, checks, and raffle funds were added, the amount had grown to $12,000. On November 17th, when the checks were dispersed to the two organizations, the total had grown to $13,375.
Augusta Victoria Hospital was sent $6.435. The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund was sent $6,940. Each donor indicated how their donations were to be split between the two organizations or given to one or the other alone.

We carefully selected those funds, Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem and the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. Both are highly needed medical providers for the people of Gaza. We were fortunate to have speakers from each group who were part of the organizations.

They inspired us that evening. Our Palestinian American emcee for the evening, Batoul, was ready to go with PCRF on its next mission after hearing Dr. Angela Hanna speak to us in person!  Reverend Mark Brown’s description of the dedication of the medical staff at Augusta Victoria Hospital’s separate hotel for Palestinian patients certainly touched my heart and others via his Zoom presentation.

Following the prayer at the start of our dinner offered by Rev. Keith Nelson, Raghda, another Palestinian American member of our group, spoke to us about her appreciation for Americans who travel to Palestine, and then dedicate themselves to working for Palestinian human rights.  She also spoke of the frustration many Palestinians have about not being able to go back to their homeland even though they have house keys in
their possession.  She then shared her desire to help children in her job as a School Principal at the mosque.

As people first entered St. Timothy’s, they filled out their nametags and were offered the option to purchase raffle tickets. The raffle prize sat on the table at the entrance. The raffle prize was a hand-woven basket from Palestine filled with six bottles of Zatoun Olive Oil and three packages of Zatoun Za’atar from the hills of Palestine (thyme, roasted sesame seeds, and sea salt.) These items are fair-trade products coming from Palestine farmers. They were a gift to us to use as the raffle prize from the Palestinian Canadian owner of Zatoun, Robert Massoud. The youngest child at the dinner got to draw the raffle ticket out of the box with a big smile, and the lucky winner, Karima, went home delighted!
​
Our task force has Zatoun olive oil available for fair-trade sales in the Omaha area all year round. Just call 402-578-5729. The bottles with 750 ml are $25. The herbs are $6 in 5.3 oz bags. They make great holiday gifts, and the funds go directly back to Palestinian farmers — we make no profit.
If you want to learn more or join one of our meetings, send an email to Sandie Hanna at hanna7@cox.net.
 
Sincerely yours,
Sandie Hanna
Leadership Team Chairperson, NFP Palestinian Rights Task Force (https://www.facebook.com/groups/NFPPalestinianRightsTaskForce/)

​2022 ANNUAL PEACE CONFERENCE LINKS AVAILABLE 
We would like to start out by giving a BIG THANK YOU to our Keynote Speakers, Medea Benjamin and Danaka Katovich from CodePink, and to our worshop presenters Jim Rine, Luisa Paloma-Hare and Michael Kelly!

We would also like to extend our heartfelt congratualtions to the winners of the Frank LaMere Peacemaker of the year awards, Ken Winston, Kathleen Rutledge and Paul Olson.

And of course, to our moderator Mike Semrad, THANK YOU for working with us to bring it all come together and make it flow so seamlessly!

For those of you that were not able to watch it live, you are still ble to watch the conference at your convenience! The links to watch are:

On Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/118178884240/videos/411592257767047
On YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gslyZLcpYqc
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NFP's Billboard in Grand Island, NE
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Help Us Spread the Message
Visit our billboard near Hwy 281 and Hwy 34 in Grand Island and snap a photo to post to your social media. Please tag Nebraskans for Peace and use one or more of the following hashtags: #NebraskansforPeace #NFP #Cutthemilitarybudget #endhunger
The United States spends more on the military budget than the next 9 countries COMBINED. Nebraskans for Peace has and will remain steadfast against this unsustainable budget. This summer Representatives Barbara Lee and Mark Pocan introduced the People Over the Pentagon Act which proposed cutting $100 billion from the proposed $801 billion military budget. The legislation was twofold: to cut funding from excessive spending on war and weapons and to support programs that are underfunded or not funded at all here at home. 
Imagine how we could use $100 billion here to support renewable energy infrastructure to combat climate change, supply Americans with equitable healthcare or keep our kids safe in schools. Unfortunately, The People Over the Pentagon Act failed but we can keep the message alive. Nebraskans for Peace displayed the billboard above in downtown Omaha during May and June and was viewed by thousands who attended The College World Series. We also held a press conference and were featured on several news outlets. Since that was a successful campaign, we decided to keep our message going. 
Right now, in Grand Island, you will find another NFP billboard pointing out the bloated military budget that can be viewed through the end of October. But we need your help to spread the message far and wide. Here are some ways you can help:
  • Write to your US and State Representatives letting them know the importance of cutting the US military budget to fund much needed programs at home. 
  • Write letters to the editor pointing out that the US spends more on the military than the next 9 countries combined and how if we cut some of that funding, we could support programs at home.
  • Visit our billboard near Hwy 281 and Hwy 34 in Grand Island and snap a photo to post to your social media. Please tag Nebraskans for Peace and use one or more of the following hashtags: #NebraskansforPeace #NFP #Cutthemilitarybudget #endhunger #climatechange #healthcareforall #endgunviolence.
  • You can also visit nebraskansforpeace.org/join to donate in order support initiatives like this and the day-to-day work of Nebraskans for Peace.


Dear members of Nebraskans for Peace and peacemakers in general,

 
Please consider donating to one or more of the organizations listed below, known to be responsible organizations and recommended by Global Citizen. The Ukrainian need is dire. 
 
How Can I Help?
While many of us might feel helpless when confronted with geopolitical machinations of this scale, we’ve rounded up some ways you can help the people of Ukraine right now. 
DONATE
Organizations on the ground and globally are actively supporting people within Ukraine and refugees seeking safety elsewhere with medical and humanitarian aid.
These organizations include:

1. People in Need is providing humanitarian aid to over 200,000 people on the ground. For those most in need, they provide food packages, emergency shelter, safe access to drinking water, hygiene items, and coal for heating. Donate here: https://www.peopleinneed.net/donate/once?amount=1000&accountId=7

2. The Ukrainian Red Cross does loads of humanitarian work, from aiding refugees to training doctors. Donate here: https://redcross.org.ua/en/donate/

3. The International Medical Corps is on the front lines and prepared to help citizens with emergency health care services, as well as mental health and psychosocial support. The agency is also keeping the pandemic top of mind throughout the crisis by prioritizing COVID-19 awareness and prevention services, to help keep displaced citizens safe from the pandemic. Donate here: https://give.internationalmedicalcorps.org/page/99837/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=DP~UA22~DPHHU2202

4. CARE International is responding to the crisis by providing Ukrainians in need with food, hygiene kits, psychosocial support services, access to water, and access to cash. Donate here:    
https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?df_id=31071&mfc_pref=T&31071.donation=form1&s_src=172220UCFM00&s_subsrc=FY22UkraineCrisisFundMO
 
5. Nova Ukraine is a nonprofit that delivers aid packages to Ukraine with everything from baby food and hygiene products, to clothes and household supplies. Donate here: https://novaukraine.org/

6. UNICEF is repairing schools damaged by the bombings and providing an emergency response to children affected by the conflict. Donate here:
https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/amid-stress-and-sorrow-support-families-fleeing-ukraine/

7. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has stepped up its operations and is working with governments in neighboring countries "calling on them to keep borders open to those seeking safety and protection.” You can help support the UNHCR's work supporting refugees by sending a tweet urging governments and businesses to support the United Nations' urgent appeal for $1.7 billion to deliver life-saving humantarian support.  Donate here: https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/general#_ga=2.33590689.1083292833.1645717134-590708463.1645444824
 
8. OutRight Action is helping support LGBTQ+ groups and organizations on the ground, setting up shelters and providing safety for citizens. All donations made to OutRight will go directly to the cause. You can donate here:
https://outrightinternational.org/ukraine?form=Ukraine

9. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is deploying emergency operations in Ukraine and surrounding countries to provide food assistance to those fleeing the conflict. Donate here:
https://secure.wfpusa.org/donate/save-lives-giving-food-today-donate-now-7?ms=2000_UNR_wfp_redirect_EX&redirected=US.

10. Save the Children is working with partners to respond to meet the urgent needs of affected children and their families. It's ready to provide life-saving assistance, such as food, water, cash transfers, and safe places for children as people flee amid freezing temperatures and brutal conditions, and to scale up oprtions to ensure children impacted by the crisis have the support they need. Find out more and donate here: https://support.savethechildren.org/site/Donation2?df_id=5751&mfc_pref=T&5751.donation=form1

11. Mercy Corps is mobilizing a team to the region to assess where help is most needed, and is anticipating providing emergency cash assistance, as well as supporting local organizations that know their community needs best. Between 2015 and 2017, Mercy Corps provided humanitarian assistance in eastern Ukraine, reaching more than 200,000 people with emergency cash, food, water, and sanitation supplies, small business development grants, restoring war-damaged homes and more. Find out more and donate here: https://www.mercycorps.org/donate/crisis-ukraine-give-now
​

12. Medical Teams International is fundraising to send medical supplies to the region, with all procees going towards sending medicines and/or medical supplies. Learn more and donate here: https://give.medicalteams.org/ukraine.htm 


Nebraskans for Peace statement on the beginning of the war in Ukraine:
Nebraskans for Peace believes that the Russian invasion into eastern Ukraine and escalation of hostilities in the whole Ukraine area is a matter of the greatest concern. Nebraskans for Peace’s central commitment is carried in a statement on its website, “Nebraskans for Peace is committed to the creative, nonviolent resolution of conflict and views war as a practical failure at peacemaking. Confronting violence with violence, we believe, will never create the conditions for peace.”  In that light, Nebraskans for Peace believes that the escalation of hostilities in the whole Ukraine area is dangerous as the United States and Russia are the two largest nuclear powers in the world. Credible analysts have asserted that once a hot war gets started in Ukraine, it will be very difficult to prevent its escalation to nuclear exchanges. The board of Nebraskans for Peace calls on our leaders to attempt the following actions:
  • Renew negotiations to end the longstanding conflict in the Donbas region and the recent one in Ukraine as a whole and keep negotiations going despite their difficulty in the present circumstances. The U.S. needs to call for an immediate cease fire in the Donbas and Ukraine.
  • Negotiate to allow Ukraine to be militarily neutral without joining NATO or any Russian military alliance while encouraging stability within the country and economic development. In the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, the U.S., the U.K., and Russia agreed to guarantee Ukraine’s security if it gave up its nuclear weapons. Russia is in clear violation of this agreement.
  • Negotiate -- with Russia, NATO, the European Union, and other concerned actors -- the creation of a stable European security architecture that reduces nukes, ballistic missiles, and border tensions in Eastern Europe and Ukraine. On the agenda in such negotiations should be the possibility of the dissolution of NATO, given that the Russian/Soviet/Eastern Europe similar security pact, the Warsaw Pact, dissolved over thirty years ago. 
  • Develop talks with Russia and the European Union on matters of common interest, including climate change, the Covid pandemic, extremism, and the immigrant crisis that affects almost all northern hemisphere nations.
  • Commit ourselves and the European Union to allow the neutrality and self-determination to such nations as Ukraine; nations placed in a buffer position should not be asked to threaten anyone else.
  • Encourage the media and sources of information to give a full background on Ukraine and Russia, their historic interactions, and American dealings in Ukraine in recent years.
  • Avoid the tendency to extend the reach of American arms to the whole world; avoid the creation of a Pax Americana.  We should ask other nations-- including Russia-- who are arming other parts of the world to pull back from armament sales that create military tensions at the same time as we ask the European nations to pay their own way in the business of defending themselves.
We congratulate the Russian Peace movement on its courage and resistance to an entirely unnecessary war.

MISSION STATEMENT
Nebraskans for Peace is a statewide grassroots advocacy organization working nonviolently for Peace with Justice​ through community building, education and political action.


​2021 Priorities

Anti-War & International Law
Civil Rights & Economic Justice
Environment & Conflict Prevention
Read More >>>

"Nothing changes unless someone is made to feel uncomfortable.

Nothing changes unless we make ourselves uncomfortable."


-- Frank LaMere, Native American Activist

Since 1970

Four themes have defined Nebraskans for Peace virtually from its inception: the search for peace through negotiation and especially through the reduction of nuclear armaments; the pursuit of nonviolence; an opposition to globalization that gives untrammeled power to multinational corporations; and an assertion that we will not stand by while the rights of persons of color and other marginalized populations in our society are trampled. ​
READ MORE >>>
Get Involved

​​If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, we are always looking for people to help in any way that they can.
  • Start a chapter in your community
  • Write a letter to your local newspaper
  • Hand out literature before events
  • Attend our peace rallies throughout the year
  • Become a member
Or if you are a person who has unique talents to offer the work of peace and justice, get in touch with us and we'll see where we need you most.

Contact
Email: nfpstate@nebraskansforpeace.org
Lincoln Office: P.O. Box 83466 Lincoln, NE 68501
Phone: 402.475.4620 ​


Contact Us
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Nebraskans for Peace
P.O. Box 83466
Lincoln, NE 68501
402-475-4620
​nfpstate@nebraskansforpeace.org
  • Home
  • PRIORITIES
    • Anti-War & International Law
    • Social Justice
    • Environment, Food Security, Conflict Prevention
  • EVENTS
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • JOIN
  • Nebraska Report
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Featured Articles >
      • Articles: Anti-War & International Law >
        • Oct Nov Dec 2022 Civil War II Continued
        • July Aug Sept 2022 An Underground Civil War and Control of Nebraska
        • Apr June 2022 Sauce for Both Goose and Gander
        • Feb March 2022 Peace and Disarmament
        • Nov/Dec 2021 Bloated Pentagon Budget
        • July/August 2021 Nebraska a Nuclear Sponge?
        • May/June 2021 Amid Widespread Disease, Death and Poverty, Major World Powers Increased Their Military Spending in 2020
        • Mar/Apr 2021 Assessing the Environmental Risk of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent
        • Jan/Feb 2021 United Nations Outlaws Nuclear Weapons
      • Articles: Social Justice >
        • Oct Nov Dec 2022 Malcolm X : Celebrate with Action
        • July Aug Sept 2022 Omaha Together One Community Leads Statewide Effort
        • Apr June 2022 Niskithe Prayer Camp: Our Next Steps
        • Feb March 2022 Land Back: Everything Back
        • July/August 2021 The Critical Race Theory Controversy
        • May/June 2021 The Scourge of White Privilege
        • Mar/April 2021 LAND BACK: A Movement, A Spirit, A Practice
        • Jan/Feb 2021 Conversations on Racism and Anti-Racism
      • Articles: Environment, Food Security, ​Conflict Prevention >
        • Oct Nov Dec 2022 Degrowth: Connecting the Dots
        • July Aug Sept 2022 Degrowth: Adjusting Economy to Life (RATHER THAN VICE VERSA)
        • Apr June 2022 AltEn Nightmare Continues
        • Feb March 2022 Poison in Nebraska
        • Nov Dec 2021 Build Back Better Statement
        • July/August 2021 Change. It's What's for Dinner.
        • May/June 2021 Solve Climate by 2030
        • Mar/April 2021 The Future of Food
        • Jan/Feb 2021 Sen. Tom Brandt Introduces “Farm to School Program Act”
      • Articles: What's HOT in Global Warming >
        • Oct Nov Dec 2022 Climatic Gut Punches
        • July Aug Sept 2022 Where Was the Supreme Court When the Earth Burned?
        • Apr June 2022 War, Nationalism and Climate Change
        • Feb/March 2022 We are Asphyxiating the Ocean
        • Nov/Dec 2021 Is Global Warming Inevitable?
        • July/August 2021 Hitting The Spot
        • May/June 2021 Energy and Environment: Some Tough Questions
        • Mar/April 2021 Where Was Our Warming? It Was AWOL in the Arctic
      • Articles: HARD TRUTH >
        • Oct Nov Dec 2022 Science of Evil
        • July Aug Sept 2022 Top Five Big Lies from the Right
        • Apr June 2022 Building Beloved Communities
        • Feb March 2022 Thich Nhat and Hope
        • Nov Dec 2021 A Tribute to Tim Rinne
        • June/July 2021 A Methadone Testimonial
        • May/June 2021 Building Resilience in Post-Pandemic Rural Nebraska
        • Mar/April 2021 Nebraska is having a Flint, Michigan moment
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