No Peace Local
No Future Global
Newsletter of Omni Center for Peace Justice Ecology
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To fix climate change we must do something about the danged economy
What’s beyond GDP and economic growth?
(Oxfam report)
Our addiction to economic growth is the foundational problem that keeps us from solving for climate disruption. But growth is just the way things work isn't it? How can we stop that?
Oxfam makes a case that it's worth the effort.
“… there is a strong case that this outdated metric should no longer be the dominant compass guiding policy making. It fails to distinguish whether economic activity is harming or benefitting people and the planet. Government policies and budgets should be guided by a set of metrics that look at the whole picture, including closing the divide between the richest and the rest, instead of relentlessly pursuing growth for its own sake.”
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Candidate David Phillips Candidate Bob Stafford |
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To Anybody in Ward 1, I'd like to encourage you to put the NOVEMBER 14 SPECIAL ELECTION on your calendar. I’m not telling you who to vote for, but one candidate stands out since he’s the spouse of our fine Quorum Court Justice of the Peace for District 12 Evelyn Rios Stafford, and that says something good about him. He has a platform that touches strongly on things we've identified as important to us. He's not well known though, so he's going to need every vote he can get.
The other candidate is unknown to me. He doesn't mention issues we talk about much so I don't feel comfortable saying the two candidates are equivalent. Here are brief bios of both the candidates. Above all, I hope Ward 1 residents will VOTE NOVEMBER 14.
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Sept 8 - 23 - at various locations at the link
Welcoming Week NWA kicks off Friday, Sept. 8 with multiple speaker panels, volunteer drives and other family-friendly events highlighting the significance of accessibility, LGBTQ+ identity, immigration and more in making NWA a thriving and inclusive place to live and work.
WELCOMING WEEK NWA SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 8-17., Many terrific events are listed at the link.
A highlight on Sept 21 is the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese cultural training and the Ocean Wave dancers who will perform traditional dances from the Pacific Islands. Find out more and register at the link above.
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Sunday Sept 17 - 6:00-8:00 pm - Omni Center
Organized by Chip Balew
Hi all! Come join us for a delicious dinner as we reunite after the summer break. I look forward to seeing friends there, catching up and meeting more members. If you're new to the group, or haven't been in a long while come on out!!
We're hoping to start having regular meetups again, if there's enough interest. We had a good turnout/time at our Earth Day Potluck, so let's keep it going! It's SO nice to have these and connect with like minded/hearted folks.
Please bring a vegan dish enough for 8 servings. Desserts & beverages (no alcohol) welcome, too.
See you there!
Link to join/RSVP NWA Vegans Meetup:
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You are invited to a double-header concert with
Geoff and Leslie Oelsner, and Harmonia!
We will celebrate, in words and music, the release of the printed version
of Geoff's book, with photos by Leslie: Attunements for the Earth
CHANGE OF TIME!
When: Tues. Sept. 19th, 6:30-8:00 pm
(Earlier for more light. Rain date: Thurs. Sept. 21st)
Where: Mt. Sequoyah, at Vesper Point (seating provided)
Admission is free, and all proceeds from the sale of books and CDs will go to the Wild Foundation (wild.org) which focuses on
conserving and protecting wilderness around the world.
Feel free to come at 6:45, and to bring insect repellent in case of mosquitoes.
We hope to see you there! If you need more information,
please reply to this email .
*Please note: This will not be a duplicate of the previous event at the Library!
Now available in hard and softbound versions at Amazon.com, and as an ebook at Amazon's Kindle store and at geoffoelsner.com
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Attunements for the Earth now in print
Dear OMNI Friends,
Our planetary climate crisis calls for all possible creative responses. It calls us to turn and tap into the catalyzing intelligence of Nature. Leslie’s and my new book is titled Attunements for the Earth. It includes Leslie’s photographs and my writings. It’s part of our turning, part of our response, and I would greatly appreciate any support you can offer for sharing it with as many people as possible.
Attunements for the Earth is now available on Amazon as an ebook, and in soft and hard bound book form.
Above are the front and the back cover, which includes a description of its contents:
Thank you!
Geoff Oelsner
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Coralie Koonce Book Signing
Sat September 30 - 10:00-11:30 am - Fayetteville Public Library
The notorious local author Coralie Koonce invites you to join her!
I'm going to do a Book Reading with my newly published memoirs SOUP TO NUTS on Saturday, September 30 in the Zeigler Room at the Fayetteville Public Library (the new building). It'll be so fun. All are invited!
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Emerging Homeless Solutions
How do other cities manage their homeless crises? Lots of problems, seems like not many solutions. Here’s a news report from Washington D.C. that could be the story of cities all over the country.
Washington DC saw a 40% spike in homeless encampments starting with covid. That’s huge! Their story has points that sound eerily familiar for Fayatteville. There are a LOT of homeless people, they just kind of appeared during covid, and they seem too have, and are causing, a lot of similar problems.
The neighborhoods where encampments spring up face similar challenges every day, and city officials are confused and struggle to know how to really resolve them. Some neighbors feel for the homeless on their sidewalks. Others just want them and their stuff to disappear. Sounds like Fayetteville.
The Director of Health and Human Services says: “we have enough housing vouchers to pay for everyone who is unhoused. The question of whether we have the housing supply is a lot more complicated” That’s an issue for our area too.
A neighborhood business woman says “Not one department is in charge of everything. We constantly have to reach out to different people.” DC claims there is a central point of contact but that apparently isn’t well-known. Fayetteville has no central coordination, but it would sure be helpful to housed and unhoused people alike.
Another camp experiment in Austin: Ezperenza Camp. Austin is getting famous for its well-run Community First Village of permanent housing for formerly-homeless people. Austin’s trying other experiments to get people off their streets too. But Austin has a whole lot of homeless people, and these camps are just scratching the surface.
Here’s a media report from May 17, 2021 that share the strengths and weaknesses of a state-sanctioned camp that’s been in Southeast Austin for 4 years now. It’s called Esperanza Community and. KVUE's Molly Oak took us inside to see what's changed and what's working since it opened.
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Scarecrow Showdown
October 1 @ 9:00 AM – October 31 @ 7:00 pm
Botanical Gardens
Football games… carving pumpkins… hayrides… the “Scarecrow Showdown!” The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks is introducing this brand-new tradition to the Autumn season.
The Scarecrow Showdown is a temporary art installation & competition, from October 1 to October 31, showcasing handcrafted scarecrows created by the Northwest Arkansas community.
The best part is… anyone can join in! Individuals, families, artists, schools, organizations, businesses, and more can register to partake in creating scarecrows that are unique, spectacular, spooky, and everything in between!
$25 Amateur: individuals, families, schools, and non-profit organizations
$50 Professional: individual/team who wants to showcase their professional art, design, or craft work
$100 Business: for-profit businesses
Garden guests can stroll through the Garden during the month of October to vote on their favorite scarecrow in each category: Amateur, Professional, or Business. An additional prize will be awarded to the “Most Creative Scarecrow!”
Participants can encourage family and friends to visit the Garden to vote & share their creations on social media!
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The Climate Moment ....
What's happening around the world about climate? Selected moments from the collection of Reevaluation Counseling leader Russ Vernon-Jones and shared by local Omni member Dorothy Marcy
#232 South Korea a model of dealing with food waste
Food waste is a major contributor to climate change both because of the methane it emits and because the energy that went into producing and transporting the food is wasted. South Korea has developed a system that keeps 90% of food waste out of landfills and incinerators and turns it into animal feed, fertilizer and fuel for heating homes. Historically, South Korea had a high percentage of waste, but it is now a model that is being studied by other countries and cities.
"We humans are meant to be connected to each other and to the earth. When we are disconnected we create grossly unequal societies that harm humans and harm the earth." - (paraphrase of Marama Davidson, female Maori member of the New Zealand Parliament)
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Your Own Climate Victory Garden!
Dear Friend,
No matter where you live or how much space you have (even if you live in an apartment), your garden is part of the movement of thousands of individuals across the country (and world!) who are gardening for the climate.
Climate Victory Gardens are having a real impact on the planet.
Missed any of our great gardening webinars?
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