Monday, January 23, 2012

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week


UPCOMING EVENTS

01/23/12 BUILDING BRIDGES
“Going Beyond Racism through Understanding and Respect”  This Building Bridges session will last for nine consecutive Mondays, from 1/23/12 to 3/19/12.   It will be held at 121 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, which is the new MAHEC campus.  Time is 7 to 9 PM.  Register at www.buildingbridges-asheville.org or call 828-777-4585.

01/26/12 MOVE TO AMEND MEETING
Time and place TBD.

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.  

02/05/12 BUSKERS FOR CHANGE
A benefit for the buskers of downtown Asheville as well as the Asheville Homeless Network.  Performers :  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- Co Author of Taking a Stand, The evolution of Human Rights.  Marjory will be speaking about a book that she co-wrote with former Amnesty Prisoner of Conscience , Juan Mendez—Taking a Stand, The Evolution of Human Rights. Méndez is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and boasts a long and fearless legal career as a human rights defender. Méndez draws on both his expertise and personal experience as a political prisoner to deliver a comprehensive treatment of the core human rights concerns that the world faces today. 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.

02/18/12 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.  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).  Time is 9:30 to 5:30 PM and location is UNCA Highsmith Union.

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/  

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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. 

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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We won't wait for the bombs to drop to make our voices heard. Tell President Obama that another war isn't what this country needs!  The crisis in the Straits of Hormuz and reports the US is backing off efforts to stop a military strike by Israel represent a threat to our security greater than that posed by Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.  Recent history proves war isn't working. We expect the US to use every means at its disposal to prevent a strike on Iran by Israel and pursue a diplomatic resolution to the dispute over Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.

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I just wrote a letter against war with Iran through the Friends Committee on National Legislation's website.  I hope you'll take a look at their action alert and do the same. Take action now - use the Friends Committee on National Legislation's website.  

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Take Action:  Sign Senator Sander’s petition to overturn Citizen’s United decision.

http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=f1c2660f-54b9-4193-86a4-ec2c39342c6c

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Banning books. Erasing History. Save Ethnic Studies in Arizona.

Last week, the Tucson school board outraged the nation when they cancelled its high schools' Mexican American Studies program and forcibly banned a series of books dealing with race. The reason? Apparently teaching respect for other cultures amounts to "racial hatred" and is in violation of Arizona's statewide ban against ethnic studies - passed in conjunction with SB1070.  With Latino students in Tucson making up more than half of the student population - educators, parents, and students are fighting back. Can you sign this petition to Superintendent John Pedicone and the school board to reverse the decision to ban the books and reinstate the program?

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Take action:  Protect Egyptian protestors from U.S. weapons

Last year, Egyptian protestors stormed Tahrir square and braved violent government crackdowns. One year later, Egypt’s new military government is still attacking protesters with weapons and equipment that sometimes say "Made in the USA."  As recently as July 2011, the U.S. government authorized the sale of tear gas to the Egyptian military government - despite the fact that since February 2011, the armed forces in Egypt have repeatedly used tear gas and other weapons to forcibly disperse protesters.  Urge the U.S. State Department to stop authorizing the shipment of weapons, ammunition, and equipment that Egypt's government could use to violently suppress human rights.

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Take Action:  Write an email:

A NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT 60 MILES FROM ASHEVILLE?  ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF CORPORATE GREED OVER PUBLIC NEED!

A new nuclear power plant is proposed near Gaffney, SC just 60 miles from Asheville.  Below are instructions on how to make a public comment on this proposed nuclear plant (to be called the William States Lee Nuclear Plant or Lee Nuclear Plant) and talking points that you can use.  The deadline for written comments is March 6. 2012.  Always reference document by putting this in the subject line of email or at the top of a written letter:   “76 FR 79228, December 21, 2011”

You can email your comment to:   LEE.COLAEIS@NRC.GOV

You can mail your comment to:
Chief, Rulemaking and Directives Branch       
Office of Administration                                                                     
Mail Stop: TWB-05-B01M                                                                        
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission                                                       
Washington, DC  20555-0001                                                                

TALKING POINTS CONCERNING THE PROPOSED LEE NUCLEAR PLANT

1)  Nuclear Power Is Dangerous:  Radiation exposure damages reproductive cells, immune system—causes genetic mutations and cancer, spontaneous abortion, mental retardation, spina bifida, heart disease, leukemia and more. (National Academy of Sciences, World Health Organization).   The truth is we are all are at risk.  According to the National Academy of Science, there is no safe level of radiation. You cannot taste it, smell it or see it.  Health effects can show up 10-30 years later. The NRC chief reported to Sen. Barbara Boxer in a recent report that 26 million potassium iodide tablets have been distributed to States.  US population is 310.5 million.  The so called 10 mile and 50 mile risk area around nuclear plants doesn’t hold true to the people and children of Belarus, victims of 1986 Chernobyl fallout who are still suffering debilitating diseases as a result of contamination from 124 miles away.  In Japan, Fukushima has sent fallout to Tokyo and Asheville is 3 times closer to Gaffney’s proposed nuclear site.  The NRC quotes the research done from the Chernobyl accident where thyroid cancer in children who ate radioactive food supplies OUTSIDE the safety zones was reported.  There is also Chernobyl Heart, a genetic disorder in which children in Ukraine are born with holes in their hearts.  Is nuclear worth this kind of risk and human suffering?

2) Broad River:  Lee Nuclear Plant would use 47 million gallons of water per day with 75% loss through evaporation. Two large cooling lakes, (one is a 3 day back-up) would steam and cool 2 reactors that produce as much heat as 1200 atomic bombs. Even the NRC calls the Broad River “small” and climate changes suggest possible droughts.  Shut down could happen due to lack of water for cooling; a very dangerous occurrence.  It currently supports a hydropower station, the huge Cliffside coal plant only 16 miles upriver and Summer nuclear plant (1 reactor, 2 more proposed) downstream near Columbia, SC.   After use, water is returned to the river as “thermal pollution” (warm water) which stresses fish, other animals living in the area and negatively impacts the surrounding environment.  The SC Dept of Natural Resources lists the Carolina Fantail Darter fish that lives in the Broad River as “critically imperiled” in South Carolina & warns of “high conservation priority”.

3) Money Problems:  Price tag for the 2 nuclear reactors has grown from $11 to $14 billion.  Duke Power wants customers, 70% in NC and 30% in SC, to pay pre-construction costs through rate hikes in addition to taxpayers shouldering the entire financial risk through Federal Loan Guarantees.  Another Bail-Out in the making! Wall Street won’t invest because as the Congressional Budget Office says, default rate on loans for new reactors “very high well above 50%”. Duke and Progress said their proposed merger was the only way to build more nuclear but the Fed. Govt. has refused the request twice in opposition to such a large monopoly.  The estimated start-up date is from 2018 to 2020.

4) Uranium Mining: Uranium fuel is not a renewable or clean source of energy.  Miners have been diagnosed with lung diseases, cancer. Uranium mining releases radon from the ground into the atmosphere. Mines and mining waste can release radionuclide, including radon and other pollutants to streams, springs, and other bodies of water.

5) Nuclear Waste:  Storing radioactive waste on-site has contaminated ground water at many reactor sites. After more than 40 years of commercial radioactive waste generation, there is no long term location to keep it safe and contrary to many claims, no way to “recycle” it. Out of 104 US reactor sites, 100 have contaminated soil leading to contaminated ground water.  Why will Lee be different?  Nuclear waste remains radioactive for millions of years. This is critical to safety planning. There is Currently 145 million tons of waste at 77 US sites.

6) AP1000 Westinghouse Reactor:  Rep Ed Markey’s statement: “Instead of doing all they should to protect nuclear reactors against seismically-induced ground acceleration, these Commissioners (NRC) voted to approve the acceleration of reactor construction.  They have fast-tracked construction of a reactor whose shield building could ‘shatter like a glass cup’ if impacted by an earthquake or other natural or man-made impact”.  This is a new design, that has never been built, that is proposed for 14 new reactors in the Southeast.

More info:       NIRS.ORG /  NCWARN.ORG  /  BREDL.ORG / CLEANENERGY.ORG / MARKEY.HOUSE.GOV  /  NRC.GOV

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Stay informed to protect Asheville’s water!

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.

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