Monday, September 24, 2012

Upcoming events for this week in the Asheville area



UPCOMING EVENTS

09/24/12 CANDIDATE FORUM
Monday, Sept. 24 from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at Ferguson Auditorium, AB Tech, Asheville.  Meet & Greet for countywide offices and Forum for Chair, Buncombe County Commission.  This is coordinated by the League of Women Voters, and is open to all.  For more information about the League of Women Voters and its fall forums, visit the League website at ablwv.org or call 828-258-8223.

09/24/12 COORDINATING COUNCIL OF OCCUPY ASHEVILLE
Since the First Congregational Church is not available, the Coordinating Council will meet at 6:30 at Pritchard Park.

09/25/12 PROTEST OPPORTUNITY IN BREVARD
John Bolton, former ambassador to the UN, will lead a presentation on “Threats to American Security:  A Closer Look at the World’s Trouble Spots” in the Porter Center at Brevard College.  Bring very large mirrors so Bolton can clearly see that HE is a major threat to American security.  Time is 7 PM, admission is $20.  If you attend, be sure to bring a bucket for when you throw up.  Info at 884-3151.

09/26/12 MOVE TO AMEND BUNCOMBE COUNTY FILM SHOWING - CANCELLED
Special film that MABCO is showing:  “The United States of Alec”.  This is scheduled for 7 PM, Wednesday, Sept. 26 in our usual meeting space, Religious Education Commons, lower level in Asheville Unitarian Universalist Church on Charlotte Street. Come and learn about one of the most influential corporate-funded political organizations and what they are planning.

09/27/12 BENEFIT FOR BUILDING BRIDGES:  “Hair Spray”
A musical about stereotypes, race, dreams and disappointments set in the 1960's in Baltimore, MD. A moving and entertaining performance featuring Asheville's best. BB Reception is at 6:30 pm (in the Stargazer's Garden). Show time is 7:30 pm.  Asheville Community Theater at 35 East Walnut Street, Asheville. FMI: http://www.ashevilletheatre.org/. Ticket Cost: $25 includes reception. Proceeds benefit Building Bridges of Asheville

09/28/12 ASHEVILLE CHAPTER OF 350.ORG EVENT
What are the facts about how our climate is changing?  Do recent weather extremes here and around the world foreshadow changes to come? 350 Asheville, the Asheville chapter of 350.org, invites you to hear Jake Crouch of the National Climatic Data Center speak Friday, September 28 at 7 pm at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave. Jake will be happy to take your questions in the discussion period to follow.

09/28/12 GROWING UP IN THE NUCLEAR SHADOW OF ROCKY FLATS
“Full Body Burden” is a haunting work of narrative nonfiction about a young woman, Kristen Iversen, growing up in a small Colorado town close to Rocky Flats, a secret nuclear weapons plant once designated “the most contaminated site in America.” It’s the story of a childhood and adolescence in the shadow of the Cold War, in a landscape at once startlingly beautiful and—unknown to those who lived there—tainted with invisible yet deadly particles of plutonium.  For more information about Rocky Flats, see Kristen’s blog or visit: www.falloutreport.com.  Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprops.

09/30/12 TRUE STORIES ABOUT HEALTH CARE
Come and get answers to questions about health care.  Time is 3 to 5 PM and location is the chapel of the First Baptist Church at 5 Oak Street in Asheville.  Free, and open to the public.  This is organized by WNC Health Advocates.  FMI http://www.wnchealthadvocates.org/

09/30/12 EPIC TEMPAH REUBEN CHALLENGE BENEFIT
Local food company and chefs come together to support local efforts to end hunger on Sunday, September 30, from 2 to 6 PM at Asheville Music Hall.  Tickets are $12 in advance, and $15 at the door. The event will bring together local chefs to create their versions of the sandwich with the only constant ingredient being Smiling Hara Tempeh.  But there is more to the CHALLENGE than establishing bragging rights. This event will also work against food insecurity by raising food and funds for MANNA FoodBank. Tickets:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/269400 More info:  http://mannafoodbank.org/most-epic-tempeh-reuben-challenge

10/1/12 CANDIDATE FORUM
Monday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Pack Library, 67 Haywood St, Asheville.  Buncombe County Commission Dist. 1, NC House District 114.  This is coordinated by the League of Women Voters, and is open to all.  For more information about the League of Women Voters and its fall forums, visit the League website at ablwv.org or call 828-258-8223.

10/01/12 FAITH COMMUNITY AND ELECTION PROCESS
What is the role of faith community in the election process?  What can clergy do to encourage their congregations to participate in the political process?  Please encourage broad participation in the event at the Grant Southside Community Center (Depot and Livingston Streets in Asheville) on October 1, 2012 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM.   FMI, contact James at 828-777-3777 or Carol at 828-505-0528.

10/02/12 ‘WORTH IT’ FORUM BY TOGETHER NC
If you want to better understand the impact of state budget cuts to our community and what can be done to restore investments in education, health, safety, and environment then join Children First/CIS and Together NC at the NC's Worth It forum on October 2nd at 6:30 PM.  Location is Valley Springs Middle School on Long Shoals Road in Arden. The NC’s Worth It forum is an opportunity to connect the dots between the decisions that legislators make in Raleigh and the consequences for real people across the state. The Buncombe County forum will feature presentations from members of Together NC and local organizations, and will focus on the impact of budget decisions both statewide and in our local community. We’ll also be discussing the upcoming debate over the state’s revenue system and changes that are likely to be considered by next year’s General Assembly. Registration is via Facebook.

10/03/12 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Travis Hargett & Ken Brame will discuss Fracking:  Dirty, Dangerous, and Run Amok.  NC Legislative updates included.  Time of meeting is 7:15 and location is Unitarian Church at the corner of Charlotte Street & Edwin Place.  For more information, contact Judy at judymattox@sbcglobal.net.

10/4/12 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
Time is 6:30 PM and location is VFP HQ at the Phil Mechanic Studios: 109 Roberts Street in Asheville. FMI:  http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/

10/6/12 BUNCOMBE COUNTY GREEN PARTY MEETING
The Buncombe County GREEN Party's business meeting is open to the public. It will be held from 10 AM to noon, upstairs in the Fortune Building, 729 Haywood Rd., West Asheville. Contact Ronald @ 828-LUCK-180 or Larry @ 828-225-4347 for more information.

10/06/12 KEEP SPACE FOR PEACE WEEK
Oct 6 -13 International Week of Protest to Stop Militarization of Space

10/07/12 PROTEST THE WAR ON AFGHANISTAN
Protest the Afghanistan War in NYC, San Francisco, Chicago, LA.  This war has been going on for 11 years.  http://october7actions.net/

10/07/12   Veterans Peace Team (VPT) Protest the Afghanistan War  in New York City, NY. Some local Veterans for Peace will be attending.

10/8/12 CANDIDATE FORUM
Monday, Oct. 8 from 6:30-8:30p.m. at Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty Street, Black Mountain.  Buncombe County Commission Dist. 2, NC House District 115.  This is coordinated by the League of Women Voters, and is open to all.  For more information about the League of Women Voters and its fall forums, visit the League website at ablwv.org or call 828-258-8223.

10/15/12 CANDIDATE FORUM
Monday, Oct. 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Skyland Volunteer Fire Dept., 9 Miller Road, Arden.  Buncombe County Commission Dist. 3, NC House District 116.  This is coordinated by the League of Women Voters, and is open to all.  For more information about the League of Women Voters and its fall forums, visit the League website at ablwv.org or call 828-258-8223.

10/15/12 FREE CLASS ON TRANSFORMING BELIEFS
Time is 7 to 9 PM.  Free class, "Challenging & transforming self-limiting language & beliefs," with Cathy Holt. Center for Holistic Medicine, 779 Haywood Rd., West Asheville. Pre-register: cathyfholt@gmail.com or 545-9681. More info: www.centerholistic.com. First in series, "Tools for Self-Healing."

10/21/12 ETHICAL CULTURAL SOCIETY
Joe Haun’s book, “Unbelievable! Faith, Reason, & the Search for Truth” is the topic for our October platform meeting, October 21st.  Time is 2 PM and the location is Asheville Friends Meeting.

10/24/12 ‘SO RICH, SO POOR’ FORUM
Pisgah Legal Services’ 2nd Annual Poverty Forum featuring anti-poverty advocate Peter Edelman. Peter Edelman's most recent book, So Rich, So Poor: Why It's So Hard to End Poverty in America, examines the disturbing trends of deepening poverty and inequality in the United States. Please join us as we learn from Mr. Edelman's vast experience and knowledge about the causes of poverty and explore the public and civil actions needed to help the poor in Western North Carolina.  Location is Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville. Reception is 5:30 PM and Forum is 7 PM. Tickets are $50 for reception and forum, $15 for forum only. Purchase tickets at www.pisgahlegal.org. Contact Betsy at betsy@pisgahlegal.org for more information.

11/08/12 THE GENERAL’S SON: JOURNEY OF AN ISRAELI IN PALESTINE
In 1997, a tragedy struck the family of Israeli-American Miko Peled: His beloved niece Smadar was killed by a suicide bomber in Jerusalem. That tragedy propelled Peled onto a journey of discovery. It pushed him to re-examine many of the beliefs he had grown up with, as the son and grandson of leading figures in Israel's political-military elite, and transformed him into a courageous and visionary activist in the struggle for human rights and a hopeful, lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.  Miko Peled will discuss his book at the Friends Meeting House in Black Mountain at 5 PM.  This is sponsored by Western Carolinians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East.  Open to the public.

11/08/12 - 11/11/12 LAKE JUNALUSKA PEACE CONFERENCE
The fifth annual Lake Junaluska Peace Conference, "Love in Action: the Transformative Power of Nonviolence," will draw upon the lessons of nonviolent campaigns and their leaders who discovered a force that can change the world. Participants will explore the principles and learn the applications of nonviolence as taught by Gandhi, King, and many spiritual leaders who offered this alternative paradigm for resolving conflict, achieving justice, and building peace.  For more information:  www.lakejunaluska.com/peace.

Nov 11 - Armistice Day:  Ring Bells For Peace @ 11am

11/16/12 PROTEST THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS AT FORT BENNING

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ONGOING EVENTS
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TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 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.
Anti-racism Group Discussion at 5:30 PM on the third Thursday of the month 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 City Hall 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 Asheville General Assembly on the first Saturday of the month.  4 PM at Pritchard Park.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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From Earthjustice:

If New York takes a tough stance on fracking, it will send a strong message that the tides are turning against dirty energy. Join the movement today!

People living near mountaintop removal mining are at increased risk of cancer, major diseases and birth defects. A new bill in Congress aims to protect the people of Appalachia from this ruinous mining practice.

New legislation would prohibit the EPA from ever setting federal protections against coal ash. This toxic pollution will continue to flow into our waters, and a problem that already threatens our health and environment will only get worse.

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*Action: JFP/NIAC: Tell Meet the Press: Real Journalism Requires Challenging False Information on Iran

On Sunday, Meet the Press allowed Netanyahu to give his stump speech for war on the Iran nuclear issue, without challenging his scaremongering with reference to known facts. Just Foreign Policy and the National Iranian American Council are teaming up to challenge pro-war distortions in the mainstream media with our "Iran Fact Check" campaign. Our first target: Meet the Press. Tell Meet the Press: real journalism requires challenging politicians when they spew false information on Iran.
http://www.iranfact.org/tell-mtp-challenge-false-information-on-iran/

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*Action: FCNL: Ask Your Senator to Speak Out Against Drumbeat for War
Call your Senator and ask that he or she speak out on the Senate floor against the drumbeat for war, and in support of the bipartisan Iran Project report from national security experts on the tremendous costs and dubious benefits of a war with Iran. FCNL has set up a toll-free number for you to call your Senator: 1-855-68-NO WAR

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Subject: No Banker Is Too Big To Jail

Eric Schneiderman, the lawyer assigned to investigate the Wall Street fraud that crashed our economy, said when he was appointed in January that we wouldn’t have to wait six months to start seeing results. It’s now *eight* months later, and there has barely been a peep from Schneiderman or his Financial Crisis Task Force.
But it gets worse: the statue of limitations is about to run out on most of the financial fraud that led to the Great Recession – meaning that if Schneiderman doesn’t take action right now, the chance to prosecute the big banks will be gone forever.
ENOUGH.

Join me in telling Attorney General Schneiderman the time to indict Big Banks is *before* it’s too late:
http://other98.com/eric-schneiderman-indict-wall-street-or-step-down-in-protest

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VFP Action Alerts

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