Quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The time has come for America to hear the truth about this tragic war. In international conflicts, the truth is hard to come by because most nations are deceived about themselves. Rationalizations and the incessant search for scapegoats are the psychological cataracts that blind us to our sins. But the day has passed for superficial patriotism. He who lives with untruth lives in spiritual slavery." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), US civil rights leader.

How to occupy the DNC and the NC Democratic Party

First off, I am not really advocating that you follow this line of action.  After all, I have long heard that the Democratic Party is where “social movements go to die” and it seems to be true.  Besides, you will have to sit though meetings and conventions where they sing the praises of our President.  I would find that really hard to take.

But, I would love to see Occupiers INSIDE the DNC Convention in Charlotte in September.  And this short post will tell you the steps to take to (hopefully) make it possible to become a delegate to the DNC.  It is the last step – getting elected as a delegate at the NC Democratic Party State Convention.  No one in NC can be a delegate without taking these steps.

First step:  register to vote as a Democrat at the Board of Elections.  Find out your precinct number and polling location and Democratic precinct chair (you will need that for the precinct meeting).  Do this ASAP.  Shortly after this, it is likely the national and local Democratic Party will call you for donations.  Please tell them that your money is going to OCCUPY.

Next step:  Attend your precinct meeting.  It is generally held at your polling place, and the date of the precinct meeting is 3-6-12 at 6 PM, with a back up date of 3-10-12 at 10 AM.  Call the precinct chair and confirm the time, date and place.  At the precinct meeting, sign up to be a delegate at the Buncombe County Democratic Party annual meeting.  If you really want to get involved, run for office in your precinct.  If you can find some neighbors in your precinct who are Democrats and who will vote for you, you will likely win.  (Yes, we could take over the party if we had the numbers.)

Next step:  Attend the Buncombe Country Democratic Party meeting on 4-14-12 at 10 AM at the Buncombe County Courthouse.  At this meeting, sign up to be a delegate for the Democratic Party District Convention and the NC Democratic Party State Convention.  And if you want to get more involved in running the Democratic Party on the state level, run for a position on the State Executive Committee.  That requires that you attend quarterly meetings, usually held in the middle part of the state. 

Next step:  Attend the Democratic Party District Convention.  That is held in May and is held inside your congressional district.   Right now, Buncombe County is split between District 10 and District 11, so make sure you go to the right one!

Final step:  Attend the NC Democratic Party State Convention, which will likely be in June and will likely be held in Raleigh or Greensboro or other city in the middle of the state.  This is where you have to be elected to become a delegate to the DNC in Charlotte, and the competition is pretty keen.  They do balance the genders among the delegates and they also make an effort to send delegates who are racially diverse.

Then, if you are a delegate, you can go to the DNC and hold up OCCUPY EVERYTHING signs.  I will be cheering you when I get back home and see it on you tube.  While the DNC is running, I will be outside protesting.

A Love Poem to Israel

Emily lost her eye to Israeli violence and has made a response to Israel in this video.  This young women has wit.

It is the American people who don't know.....

They are no longer collecting signatures on the petition for WikiLeaks at the website listed there.

"Hands" by Jewel

Song: Hands
Author: Jewel

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear

My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken

Poverty stole your golden shoes
It didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after
We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
I am never broken
In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters

I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
We are never broken

We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's hands

Water

This picture was sent to me via an email from Asheville PARC (People Advocating Real Conservancy).  It is a picture of the source of my drinking water.  I love my drinking water here in Asheville, even with the fluoride and chlorine in the water.  I think it tastes pretty good, and I know it is from the rain that falls locally, and there is no industrial plants near the source of our water, and there are no other cities using our water first.  After we are done with our water, it gets treated and then put into the French Broad river.  Newport and Knoxville are two cities who re-use our water via the French Broad river.  It is not as good for them as it is for us.

And today, Asheville's water is under threat.  A local Representative is threatening to privatize our water system, and rumor has it that the water is needed in the eastern part of the state for fracking.  I will fight this.

Here is the email message I got about this:

Control of Asheville's water is under threat!

A legislative committee in Raleigh is considering forcing the City of Asheville to transfer control of its water supply to an outside agency.

While the Asheville system serves customers throughout Buncombe County, the majority of customers live in Asheville.

Still, we may find ourselves at the mercy of people who did not pay for the system, we cannot vote for or against, or hire or fire.

At the same time, in a separate committee, a majority of these same legislators are working on a process that could lead to privatization of water utilities all over the state.

We are told the two are unrelated...

The first meeting of the committee eyeing Asheville's water is in Raleigh on Monday, Jan. 23rd.

The second will be in Asheville sometime in late February.

There will be a third and a fourth, and then the committee may put forward legislation that takes away control of our water and gives it to someone else.

This is wrong, and it must not be allowed.

Visit www.ashevillewater.blogspot.com for more information and ways to get involved.

You can listen to the first meeting on Jan. 23rd starting at 2 pm, by going to the City of Asheville website, www.ashevillenc.gov, and clicking on the "NCLEG.NET" button.

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

Occupy Asheville camp, January 29, 2012

UPCOMING EVENTS

01/30/12 DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAMPAIGN/JOB FAIR
If you would like to work or volunteer for a campaign in 2012, come out to the Bar of Soap on Merrimon Ave. near UNC Asheville between 7 and 9 PM. This event will focus on state and local races in 2012.  There will be District maps, lists of races (with declared candidates), and lots of room to discuss how to help folks find the work they want in the various campaigns this season. All of our local candidates are invited to attend as well and will hopefully be there to talk with you.  

 
02/01/12 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
River Canoeing Adventures and a brief update from Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson, about the new French Broad River paddling camps.  Social is at 7 PM and program starts at 7:15 PM.  Location is Unitarian Church at 1 Edwin Place in Asheville.

02/02/12 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
Time is 6:30 PM and location is VFP HQ at the Phil Mechanic Studios: 109 Roberts Street (the corner of Haywood and Roberts), Asheville. VFP CHAPTER 099: http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/

02/04/12 MARTIN LUTHER KING BREAKFAST - BLACK MOUNTAIN
The Rev. Aubra Love is the keynote speaker for the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast in Black Mountain, NC on Saturday, February 4, 2012, at Camp Dorothy Walls, AME Conference Center. All are invited and encouraged to attend.  For more information, please contact Tom Cannon, MLK Breakfast Committee (828)778-7166.

02/04/12 NO WAR ON IRAN DAY
A Call for a National Day of Actions Nationwide to say: NO WAR, NO SANCTIONS, NO INTERVENTION, NO ASSASSINATIONS! Plan a street protest in your location.  

02/04/12 GREEN PARTY MEETING
The Buncombe County GREEN Party's business meeting is free & open to the public. It will be held from 10AM to noon, upstairs in the Fortune Building, 729 Haywood Rd., West Asheville. Contact Ronald @ 828-LUCK180 or Larry @ 828-225-4347 for more information.

02/04/12 PEACE CONCERT
Cecilia St. King is a Peace Troubadour (www.ceciliastking.com).  Her concert will last an hour and a half -- Saturday, February 4, 6:30 PM at Bo Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College in Hendersonville.  She is sponsored by the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence -- is very interfaith and is being sponsored by the United Religions Initiative of Henderson County in celebration of Global Interfaith Harmony Week sponsored by the United Nations.  Do Come!

02/05/12 BUSKERS FOR CHANGE
A benefit for the buskers of downtown Asheville as well as the Asheville Homeless Network.  Performers are Matt Getman, Sparrow, Fox Black, Nathan Robicheau & Kayvon Kazemini, Drayton and more.  This event is not during your normal business hours for Rosetta's Kitchen.  Rosetta will be providing a cauldron of delicious soup.  Time is from 6 to 9 PM.

02/10/12 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH MOVIE NIGHT
The movie “A Sense of Wonder - the Rachel Carson Story” will be shown at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville at the corner of Edwin and Charlotte Street.  Time will be 7 PM.  Donations accepted.  Contact David Williams for more information at devwilliams@juno.com.

02/17/12 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL EVENT
Marjory Wentworth, who is the co-author of Taking a Stand, The Evolution of Human Rights, will be speaking about a book that she co-wrote with former Amnesty Prisoner of Conscience, Juan Mendez.  Méndez is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and boasts a long and fearless legal career as a human rights defender. Marjory Wentworth is a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet whose books of poetry include Noticing Eden, Despite Gravity and The Endless Repetition of an Ordinary Miracle. Her award winning book Shackles, is a children's story. She is the Poet Laureate of South Carolina.  It's open to the public and free!  Starts at 7 pm.  Location is Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe in downtown Asheville.

02/17/12 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING
Bring a brown bag lunch around noon. The meeting will officially start at 12:30 and end about 2:00.  Physicians, health personnel and, yes, everyone; all are welcomed at our monthly meetings!  DIRECTIONS:  (Location is in vicinity of Veterans Hospital) Proceed east on Tunnel Rd./US 70 (away from downtown Asheville) to about one short block prior to the Blue Ridge Pky overpass. Turn right (south) on Pleasant Ridge Dr., then turn right on the second street, Wagon Rd., then immediate left on Birchwood Lane to #18 on the left side of the street. For more information contact Dr. Terry Clark, Chair, 633-0892 or Dr. Lew Patrie, 299-1242.

02/18/12 SKILL SHARING SCHOOL
On Saturday, February 18th, Transition Asheville's Skill Sharing Action Group is co-hosting an all day free skill share at UNCA's Highsmith Union. Please follow this link for more information and to fill out a brief questionnaire about a skill you have to offer on the 18th, other skills you have, other places you might be interested in sharing your skills, and skills you have an interest in learning more about.  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/embeddedform?formkey=dEZLM29tZjBpa3BldG9oaGFHQmNZeGc6MQ    We thank our partners for distributing this survey through their networks: Transition Asheville, Freeskool Asheville, the True Nature Country Fair, ASHE (Active Students for a Healthy Environment), the UNCA Student Environmental Center, and Wild Abundance (the organizers of the Firefly Gathering).  The School is from 9:30 to 5:30 PM and location is UNCA Highsmith Union.  For more information:  http://transitionasheville.org/event/skill-share-school  

02/23/12 MOVE TO AMEND MEETING
Time and place TBD.

02/27/12 to 03/11/12 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL DAYS OF ACTION AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE USA

03/07/12 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
The Executive Director of Riverlink will discuss current initiatives, including the use of oil eating bacteria to help clean some of the French Broad riverfront soil.  Social is at 7 PM and program starts at 7:15 PM.  Location is the Unitarian Church at 1 Edwin Street in Asheville NC.

03/13/12 - 03/15/12 CARING FOR CREATION WEEKEND AT CAMP JUNALUSKA
Dr. Bill McKibben, environmental author and founder of 350.org, will be a featured presenter at Caring for Creation 2012 March 13-15, 2012, at Lake Junaluska. Caring for Creation, a faith based eco justice event, will explore ways individuals and churches can become more environmentally conscious and good stewards of God's Earth.  Named for the safe level of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere, 350 parts per million, 350.org is an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilize a global climate movement. For over 20 years, McKibben has been environmentally active, releasing over a dozen books and various articles examining climate change.  More information at this link:  http://www.lakejunaluska.com/caring-for-creation/  

03/17/12 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Bring a brown bag lunch around noon. The meeting will officially start at 12:30 and end about 2:00. Physicians, health personnel and, yes, everyone; all are welcomed at our monthly meetings! For more information contact Dr. Terry Clark, Chair, 633-0892 or Dr. Lew Patrie, 299-1242.

05/01/12 OCCUPY CHICAGO
Adbusters has issued a Call to Action to Occupy Chicago for the G8/NATO summit this coming May:  “Hey you redeemers, rebels and radicals out there, Against the backdrop of a global uprising that is simmering in dozens of countries and thousands of cities and towns, the G8 and NATO will hold a rare simultaneous summit in Chicago this May. The world’s military and political elites, heads of state, 7,500 officials from 80 nations, and more than 2,500 journalists will be there.  And so will we.  On May 1, 50,000 people from all over the world will flock to Chicago, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and #OCCUPYCHICAGO for a month. With a bit of luck, we’ll pull off the biggest multinational occupation of a summit meeting the world has ever seen.”

05/11/12 to 05/12/12 ALEC SPRING MEETING
Spring Task Force Summit Meeting in Charlotte NC.  “ALEC, ALEC, YOU CAN’T HIDE, WE WILL FIND YOU NATION-WIDE!”

05/18/12 to 05/21/12 NATO and G-8 SUMMIT IN CHICAGO
“Won’t you please come to Chicago, for the help that we can bring?  We can change the world, rearrange the world, it is dying - to get better.”

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ONGOING EVENTS
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SUNDAY
Episcopal Peace Fellowship holds a weekly vigil from 4:30 to 5 PM at All Soul's Cathedral.

TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 4:30 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument

WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood Country Courthouse in Waynesville.
Asheville Cop Watch meeting at 5 PM at Firestorm Cafe.

THURSDAY
Asheville Homeless Network meeting at 2 PM at Firestorm Cafe.

FRIDAY
Women in Black have a vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square (Asheville) on the first Friday of the month.
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the Old Courthouse in Hendersonville

SATURDAY
Transylvanians for Peace and WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility have a weekly vigil at noon in front of the courthouse in Brevard.

OCCUPY WALL STREET ASHEVILLE
Go to www.occupyasheville.org for more information, or call 888-378-0788. Information on Occupy Asheville late breaking events:  http://occupyasheville.org/calendar/.  General Assembly will be held at 6 PM on Tuesday and Thursday and at 3 PM on Saturday.  Location TBD.

PROTEST THE DNC!
Already, organizations and Occupy movements across the country are making plans to mobilize to be in the streets of Charlotte during the DNC. For more information on the Coalition to Protest at the DNC and to find out how your organization can join, please visit http://protestdnc.org.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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Take action:  Sign a petition to stop SOPA and the money the vote on SOPA brings to US Congress members.

Our nation's laws can't be bought. Tell Congress to give back the MPAA’s dirty SOPA money:   

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Take action:  No immunity for mortgage banksters:

The Obama Administration has been working on a sweetheart mortgage fraud settlement with the big banks, but attorneys general in several states are pushing back.

Encourage leading attorneys general to stand strong.

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Take action:  Sign the statement letting Schneiderman know that if hejails Wall Street lawbreakers, the American people have his back.

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Take action:  The Town of Chapel Hill: End theunconstitutional limits on the use of public places in Chapel Hill

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TRANSITION ASHEVILLE DISCUSSION GROUPS FORMING NOW

Coming soon to your neighborhood!  Learn why the transition movement is sweeping the world.  Discussion groups are forming now for the Transition Handbook and Transition Companion! The Transition Handbook is the vision for the future:  Hope instead of fear - learn how we can create the kind of future we want to see.  The Transition Companion is the latest book by Rob Hopkins, reporting on all the wonderful activities that have and are taking place in all the Transition Initiatives around the world - chock full of great ideas!

CONTACT INFO:  To join the Transition Handbook discussion Group: Contact Stan Corwin colnstash@att.net or 254-3515.

To join a Transition Companion discussion group, find the one nearest to you:

Discussion group West - contact Chas Jansen cjansen@mtsu.edu 768-1449

Discussion group North - contact Maureen Linneman reenielin@gmail.com 254-9115

Discussion Group East - contact Stan Corwin colnstash@att.net 254-3515

(Handbooks and Companion books can be purchased from Stan Corwin)

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First we take Manhatten

First We Take Manhattan
REM

Leonard Cohen

They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom

For trying to change the system from within

I'm coming now I'm coming to reward them

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'm guided by a signal in the heavens

I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin

I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

[Lyrics from www.EasyLyrics.org]

I'd really like to live beside you, baby

I love your body and your spirit and your clothes

But you see that line there moving through the station

I told you I told you I told you I was one of those

You loved me as a loser but now your worried that I just might win

You know the way to stop me but you don't have the discipline

How many nights I prayed for this: to let my work begin

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I don't like your fashion business, mister

I don't like these drugs that keep you thin

I don't like what happened to your sister

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin (chorus)

And I thank you for those items that you sent me

The monkey and the plywood violin

I practiced every night and now I'm ready

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

Remember me, I used to live for music

Remember me, I brought your groceries in

It's Father's Day and everybody's wounded

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

[Lyrics from www.EasyLyrics.org]

I don't like what happened to your sister

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin (chorus)

And I thank you for those items that you sent me

The monkey and the plywood violin

I practiced every night and now I'm ready

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

Remember me, I used to live for music

Remember me, I brought your groceries in

It's Father's Day and everybody's wounded

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

Energy and resources

How we get our energy to function in this modern age shows a real lack of respect for the environment.  So does our quest to get materials for our consumer products.  It also shows how we are destroying our planet - and thereby committing mass suicide.

Coal ash spill in TN in 2008

 Cooper mine in Utah
Open pit copper mine run by London-based mining conglomerate Rio Tinto/Kennecott in Bingham Canyon, Utah.  It is the world's largest open-pit mine and has created the world's largest mining-related water pollution problem. (Photo: arbyreed)

Fracking in Washington County, PA

 

Gas explosion

A massive fire is roars through a mostly residential neighborhood in San Bruno, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010. Firefighters from San Bruno and surrounding cities are battling the blaze that started on a hillside and is now consuming homes in a residential neighborhood. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Coal pollution in China

Mountain top removal in West Virginia

Polluted water

Coal pollution in the USA

Fracking

Just a week after Halliburton had refused to release information on its hydraulic fracturing fluids to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the company promised to disclose the chemicals generally associated with fracking—and it announced the creation of a new, safer fluid.

Nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl

Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Cumulative BP oil slick footprint as of July 16, 2010 (graphic: SkyTruth.org via Flickr)

Oil spill

Red Tide: 
Fertilizers in the gulf of Mexico