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 […]

US OLIGARCHY ANTHOLOGY #1 January 20, 2025

 in Dick's Newsletter 2025

Compiled by Dick Bennett for a Culture of Peace, Justice, and Equality January 20, 2025 https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2025/01/omni-us-oligarchy-anthology-1.html What’s at Stake:  This is the first OMNI anthology to be entitled “oligarchy,” but the reality of inordinate power of a few unelected individuals and corporations ruling the US government is familiar under a variety of labels.  See my anthologies, including on Capitalism, Climate Crisis, Cold War, Citizens United, Control of Information, Culture of War, Democracy, Economic Inequality, Fascism, Gaza, Gerrymandering, Imperialism, Israel, Military-Industrial-Congressional-Presidential Complex, NATO, Neocon, Right Wing, Ukraine War, Unions, Wars.   Resistance is also already familiar, to name a few topics: Common […]

Women’s March in Bentonville Saturday

 in Current Events

Saturday Jan 18 – 11:00 am – 2:00 pm *Sponsored by LOUDwomen & The People’s March. Contact: annadean13@gmail.com if you would like to help organize! Benton County Courthouse, 106 Southeast A Street, Bentonville Our purpose is to protest the proposed agenda of the incoming administration. We will have guest speakers, march, and RESIST.  Let’s make it count in Arkansas! Contact: annadean13@gmail.com if you would like to help organize! https://map.peoplesmarch.com/events/women-s-march-bentonville-arkansas

Climate Moment

 in Current Events

Carbon emissions of richest 1% increase hunger, poverty, deaths  Research by Oxfam found that the world’s 50 richest billionaires produce on average more carbon emissions in under three hours than the average British person does in their entire lifetime. Their analysis also shows that the past three decades of consumption emissions of this wealthy group have caused global economic output to fall by $2.9tn and crop losses equivalent to the caloric needs of 14.5 million people a year. The wealthiest 1% – who tend to live climate-insulated, air-conditioned lives, mostly in the Global North – produce as much carbon pollution […]

Housing Task Force Meets

 in Current Events

Weds January 23 – 5:30 pm – City Hall Room 326 First meeting after the new mayor comes onboard. What new thinking might be in store that’s different than before? If you’ve never attended these meetings, start the new year strong by observing citizen participation in action. The Task Force members are starting to get their feet solidly on the ground after several months of research. Now is the time they most need public input, especially about low-income housing and homelessness. What would you ask them to prioritize? A good Housing and Homelessness Coordinator to bring some expertise to this […]

Arkansas Renters United Meets

 in Current Events

Saturday Jan 18 – 1:00 pm – Omni Center, 3274 N. Lee Ave. Renters in Northwest Arkansas are meeting tomorrow – Saturday January 18 – to talk about their concerns – which are many. Any Omni folks who are renting will find the discussions very relevant to their experience. Discussions are ALWAYS lively learning experiences. If you don’t rent but support rights and well-being for renters of course you’ll find it interesting too.

January 12 update on the Tiffany property

 in Current Events

Gladys Tiffany, Director Omni Center for Peace Justice & Ecology It’s been an intense week of trying to work out schedules and details for all the people of the white house. 30 days was really not a charitable amount of time to ask low income people to make abrupt changes like this.  The while house is empty and the people have moved, thanks to you help. Of the eight, one found a normal apartment without help from you and me. It’s a studio that he’s paying not much more than he was paying before. He had the advantage of being a veteran. He didn’t […]

OMNI WAR WATCH WEDNESDAYS, #212, JANUARY 15, 2025

 in WAR WATCH WEDNESDAYS

Compiled by Dick Bennett    https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2025/01/omni-war-watch-wednesdays-212-january.html Claude Julien. America’s Empire.  Pantheon/Random House, 1971.  Vintage, 1973.   Not in Mullins Library. Wikipedia’s description 1971.Reacting against a common preconception, he publishes the stand out book L’Empire Américain (America’s Empire) in 1968, which received the French literary award of the Prix Aujourd’hui.[7] The book argues that, despite the USA not possessing colonies, they do, regardless, constitute an “Empire without borders”.[8] “It is nowadays the most powerful that history has ever known, by its manufacturing capacity (with 6% of the world’s population, the USA account for 43% of the non-communist world’s production), by its military power, by its catching dynamism and […]

OMNI CLIMATE MEMO MONDAYS #213, JANUARY 13, 2025

 in Climate Memo Mondays

Compiled by Dick Bennett https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2025/01/omni-climate-memo-mondays-213-january.html RESISTING CLIMATE DOUBLESPEAK The Language of Climate Politics: Fossil-Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It by Genevieve Guenther. See all formats and editionsPublisher’s description:  A groundbreaking investigation into the propaganda justifying the fossil-fuel economy, The Language of Climate Politics offers readers powerful new ways to talk about the climate crisis that will help create transformative change. “If you want to understand the climate crisis and you only have time to read one book, this should be it.” – Kieran Setiya, author of Life is Hard. “A revelatory study…It’s a breath of fresh air.” Publishers’ Weekly Starred Review In an illuminating […]