OMNI Blog

Changes in a Good Direction

 in Current Events

Changes in a Good DirectionIntroducing Alex and Rachel Alex Tripodi has been a member of Omni Board of Directors for over two years now. Maybe you remember the story of how his workplace closed down when covid started and he founded MayDay Community Kitchen for his own sanity and to feed others who were struggling. At the time, Alex told us “Peace will look different in the world my generation is facing. We need to think about how we do our work differently because if my generation is going to be part of this, they’ll want to see practical results.” […]

Birthing Omni 20 Years Ago – some of the people who did it

 in Current Events

The story’s been told before about how Dick Bennett and his friend Dana Copp retired in 1999 and wondered what they should do next with their passion for peace.  Around somebody’s kitchen table they pondered the idea of a peace center like the old Peace Center on Dickson Street that organized protests about the Vietnam War and subsequent social issues. Dick started an email newsletter and scheduled public talks and Dana went to visit the United Campus Ministries chaplain on Maple street and convinced him to allow them office space in their big basement. He also scrounged office furniture and an already-ancient […]

UKRAINE WAR PROVOKED ANTHOLOGY #1

 in Current Events

Compiled by Dick Bennett for a Culture of Peace, Justice, and Ecology https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2024/11/omni-ukraine-war-provoked-anthology-1.html What’s at Stake:  “He who hears one side and judges is no judge.”  Mounir Farah, Professor, Scholar, Neighbor CONTENTS John Pilger.  “In Ukraine, the US is dragging us towards war with Russia.”  2014. Robert Parry.  “Who’s Telling the ‘Big Lie’ on Ukraine?”  2014. John Mearsheimer.  Video: “Why is Ukraine the West’s Fault?  2015. Oliver Stone.  Video.   Ukraine on Fire.     2016Gilbert Doctorow.  “A Look at Ukraine’s Dark Side.”  2016. Anna Matrango.  “Pope Francis Says the War Provoked or Not Prevented.” John Mearsheimer.  “Blames US for the Crisis.”   […]

OMNI CLIMATE MEMO MONDAYS #205, NOVEMBER 18, 2024

 in Climate Memo Mondays

Compiled by Dick Bennett. https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2024/11/omni-climate-memo-mondays-205-november.html 3 Upbeat Fighting Back Articles from Inside Climate News Inside Climate News:  Election 2024Georgina Gustin.  “Climate Advocacy Groups Say They’re Ready for Trump 2.0.” Disheartened, worried, even scared, activists and strategists are nevertheless better prepared this time around and bracing for a long fight.   Donald Trump has promised to demolish the country’s domestic and international climate policies at a crucial moment, when climate scientists say the window is closing on the world’s ability to avoid the most dangerous impacts of global warming.    Read the full story Wyatt Myskow, et al.  “Despite Likely Setback for Climate Action […]

OMNI WAR WATCH WEDNESDAYS, #203, NOVEMBER 13, 2024

 in WAR WATCH WEDNESDAYS

Compiled by Dick Bennett   https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2024/11/omni-war-watch-wednesdays-203-november.html Dr. Yousaf on genocide in Gaza, UAF Bell Aud. 2282, Thursday Nov. 14, 5:30.Dick on Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (Nov.-Dec. 2024).    Dr. Ahmad Yousaf, AR pediatrician, tomorrow Thurs., 5:30You are invited to attend a testimonial event where Dr. Ahmad Yousaf, an Arkansas pediatrician and the director of an intensive care unit in Little Rock, will share his experiences providing emergency medical care during the genocide in Gaza at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah earlier this year.    The event will take place this Thursday, November 14th, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the […]

OMNI CLIMATE MEMO MONDAYS #204, NOVEMBER 11, 2024

 in Climate Memo Mondays

Compiled by Dick Bennett   https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2024/11/omni-climate-memo-mondays-204-november.html ANDREAS MALM, CONVERGENCE: DON’T FORGET PANDEMICS A decade ago, I named my blog War and Warming, but I have added more crises:   and pandemics, population growth, fascism.   Andreas Malm in Corona, Climate, Chronic Emergency: War Communism in the Twenty-First Century (2020) reminds us that pandemics arise from the increasing human activities throughout the planet.   Best known, of course, is the rising temperature from humans burning fossil fuels.    Less known is the increasing spillover of climate-related pathogens from human growth and development (not Chinese labs).   Excellent book.    -D Dick’s Summary of Naomi Klein’s Foreword to Aronoff […]

ARMISTICE DAY NOVEMBER 11, 2024

 in Dick's Newsletter 2024

Compiled by Dick Bennett for a Culture of Peace, Justice, and Ecology https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2024/11/omni-armistice-day-november-11-2024.html “In the US, Make it Armistice Day Again.”   Consortium News (11-11-24).  Declare an armistice in Gaza and Lebanon and make Veteran’s Day Armistice Day once more in the U.S., says Gerry Condon. Read here… A horrific war has been waged for over a year in the third-largest country in Africa: Sudan. Tens of thousands of people have already been killed. Many women are committing suicide to avoid rape. Sudan does not manufacture any of the weapons doing most of the killing. The bulk of the weapons are coming from the […]

Democracy Is Us

 in Current Events

Courageous Conversations Mondays at 5:30 pm  central time, by zoom In a time when our world often feels divided, the way we communicate has never been more crucial. We invite you to join us for Courageous Conversations: Communication with Heart—a transformative series designed to help us reconnect with one another, not just as citizens, but as fellow human beings. This is where changing the culture of democracy begins. More information and the zoom link here https://democracyisus.org/so/a1PAAn5hP?languageTag=en&cid=57e780bc-90dd-41a4-8e28-80ffbbd29725

Next Steps for Gettin’ Through

 in Current Events

What have we wrought on ourselves and all creation? Dang this is almost the worst case situation we could’ve imagined. But here we are. Even though we’re still in states of shock this is the time to take a deep breath and center on the values that make us champions for a future that works for everyone. Tonight good ‘ol Indivisible is holding a webinar on “Bracing for Impact” that seems very relevant today. I have no idea what they’re going to say, but you may feel like listening in along with me. Here’s an introduction with a link to […]

OMNI WAR WATCH WEDNESDAYS, #202, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

 in WAR WATCH WEDNESDAYS

Compiled by Dick Bennett   https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2024/11/omni-war-watch-wednesdays-202-november.html Sidney Lens.  The Forging of the American Empire.  Crowell, 1971.  2nd ed. Haymarket and Pluto, 2003.  Foreword by Howard Zinn. https://www.haymarketbooks.org › books › 1080-the-for…     1st ed. Mullins Main E183.7 .L45. [At least since 1971 schools have had a text book of US aggressions abroad and its coverup doublespeak.  Is this history—of course brought up to date!– being taught in the public schools and colleges in 2024?  –D] Publisher’s description:This is the story of a nation—the United States—that has conducted more than 160 wars and other military ventures while insisting it loves peace.  In the process, the […]