Monday, November 05, 2012

Upcoming events in the Asheville area



Sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway in October 2012.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS

11/05/12 HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL AT UNCA
The film starts at 7 PM and is sponsored by Amnesty International UNCA.  Location is Highsmith University Union, Room 143 (Grotto). “The Invisible War” brings to light the sexual abuse within the US military.  People who were raped by fellow service-men present their personal stories alongside an investigation into why rape occurs at such a high incidence within the military, and how it is handled.  There are scenes of violence in this movie.

11/06/12 ELECTION DAY
Do not sit out an election - no one gains a voice or more power by not participating.  Some recommendations for non-partisan races at the end of this email.

11/07/12 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Chris Mathis will discuss “Why Building Matter:  Sustainability Challenges”.   Instruction on improving efficiency, ventilation and air quality will be available. Program starts at 7:15 PM and location is Unitarian Church at Edwin Place and Charlotte Street.  For more information contact judymattox@sbcglobal.net.

11/07/12 CONCERT TO HONOR BREAD AND ROSES STRIKE
Charlie King and Karen Brandow will present extraordinary songs of ordinary people and a second-set performance marking the 100th anniversary of the history-making Bread and Roses textile strike, on November 7 at 7:30 at UNC Asheville’s Highsmith Student Union.  Tickets are free for UNC Asheville students, faculty and staff and $10 for the general public. This is co-sponsored by the UNC Asheville Foreign Languages and Political Science departments and HOLA. FMI, contact hras@humanrightsaction.net or call 314-374-7446.

11/07/12 HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL AT UNCA
The film starts at 7 PM and is sponsored by Amnesty International UNCA.  Location is Highsmith University Union, Room 143 (Grotto). “Bidder 70” will be shown.  At a federal auction for land parcels in Utah, young Tim DeChristopher bids for land that he can-not afford, in an attempt to halt and draw attention to the process. In spite of a nullified sale, his act of civil disobedience was harshly pursued by the judicial system.

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.

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. Peled's title for his talk is "Moving Beyond Zionism: a New Paradigm for Israel and Palestine."  Location is Simpson Hall at A-B Tech.  Time is 7 PM.  This is sponsored by Western Carolinians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East.  Open to the public.  For more information, email Tony at bingtony@yahoo.com.

11/08/12 COMMUNITY EVENT AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
“PRIVATE VIOLENCE” is a collaborative community event to raise awareness about domestic and sexual violence in our region. A portion of the proceeds will go to support domestic and sexual violence programs in our community.  This will be at the Fine Arts Theater.  No further information at this time.

11/08/12 HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL AT UNCA
The film starts at 7 PM and is sponsored by Amnesty International UNCA.  Location is Highsmith University Union, Room 143 (Grotto). “Taking Root: the Vision of Wangari Maathai” will be shown.  This film tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy—a movement for which this charismatic woman became an iconic inspiration.

11/08/12 CHEMTRONICS SUPERFUND SITE
A community advisory group will meet at the East Asheville Recreation Center on Tunnel Road at 3:30 PM.  There will be a discussion of what will become of the Chemtronics Superfund site, now owned by Halliburtion Company. Info at http://avl.mx/ly.

11/09/12 SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVIE NIGHT AT UU CHURCH
Social Justice Film night will feature “Peaceable Kingdom” a film about the awakening conscience of several farmer who came to question the killing of animals. Time is 7 PM and will be shown at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Charlotte and Edwin Place.  Donations accepted.  Info from devwilliams@juno.com.

11/09/12 HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL AT UNCA
The film starts at 7 PM and is sponsored by Amnesty International UNCA.  Location is Highsmith University Union, Room 143 (Grotto).  “Brother Number One” will be shown.  After traveler Kerry Hamill’s ship is blown off course into Cambodian waters, he and his friend are captured by the Khmer Rouge, tortured as enemies of the Cambodian people, and put to death. Decades later, his brother travels to the first trial of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, a special U.N. sponsored judicial body created to try former operatives in the Khmer Rouge, where a former warden of prison camp S-21 tries to deflect his responsibility for the murders he committed.

11/10/12 BUNCOMBE FRUIT AND NUTS CLUB
The Buncombe Fruit and Nuts club announces the Carnival of Nuts!  You’ve known it all along: Asheville is nuttier than a fruitcake! So come enjoy some true nuttiness at the West End Bakery on November 10 from 5:30-9pm, and bring the kids for family fun. All funds raised go to the Buncombe Fruit Nuts, a group of nut and fruit enthusiasts who are happy to plant and nurture shrubs and trees in the parks all over town.  There’ll be awesome door prizes (win your own nut tree), games like the Acorn-Squirrel toss for kids, nut-cracking demonstrations featuring the Nutcracker himself, acorn magic, special viewings of the nut-blimp, the nuttiest poem, and more.

11/10/12 THE GENERAL’S SON: JOURNEY OF AN ISRAELI IN PALESTINE
This event is in Charlotte NC.  Time is 6 PM and location is Muslim American Society
4301 Shamrock Drive.  Donations accepted.  FMI at cpwj.contact@gmail.com.

11/10/12 STUDIES IN NONVIOLENCE
Studies in Nonviolence: Ethics & Applications, An Activists’ Dialogue.  This will be at the Lake Junaluska Peace Conference and the time will be 3 to 4:30 PM.  There is no charge for this presentation.  See below for more information and carpooling.

11/11/12 RING BELLS FOR ARMISTICE DAY
Armistice Day:  Ring Bells For Peace @ 11am.   Asheville Friends Meeting will ring a bell 11 times at 11 AM (close of worship) to mark this occasion.

11/11/12 ALL DAY (24 HOUR) VIGIL BY LOCAL VETERANS FOR PEACE
This is to mark Armistice Day. Contact Tom at tpeacenik@gmail.com for more information.

11/11/12 EAT AT MIKE’S
Location is First Congregational UCC in Asheville on Oak Street downtown.  Time is 5 PM to 8 PM.  This is the WNC health Advocates' annual dinner and auction. Tickets are a minimum donation of $20 and will be on sale at The Downtown Market, or call 828-243-6712 or e-mail leslie@wnchealthadvocates.org.

11/11/12 REMEMBER FALLUJAH WEEK

11/12/12 HONOR CARDS (HOLIDAY CARDS) KICK-OFF
Come hear artist William Mangum tell the story behind his holiday cards, and hear the inside story told by the actual men depicted who reside at the Veteran’s Restoration Quarters.  Time is 7 PM and location is Veterans’ Restoration Quarters on Tunnel Road.  Proceeds from the sale of the cards support Steadfast House and Veterans Restoration Quarters.

11/13/12 BUILDING AN ABUSE FREE COMMUNITY
This is a four-part series focusing on the reality of abuse in our society.  The goal is to empower the community by enabling and energizing a broader base of advocates to take action in preventing abuse and supporting victims in their recovery. Time is 7 PM and location is the Fellowship Hall at Grace Presbyterian Church on Merrimon.  For more information, contact jimrwallis@aol.com. Part Three:  How can one be abused on the internet?  Why should one be more aware while on Facebook?

11/15/12 VETERANS FOR PEACE ISSUES MEETING
This will be at 6:30 PM at the Phil Mechanic Building on Roberts Street in Asheville.  NOT CLEARED YET WITH LANDLORD.

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

11/17/12 MOVIE SHOWING BY WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
They will be showing the blockbuster expose' film “9/11: EXPLOSIVE EVIDENCE--THE EXPERTS SPEAK OUT” at the Transylvania County Library at 2 PM on Saturday, November 17. The film blows the "Official Conspiracy Theory" of the Bush administration apart by focusing on the 3 WTC buildings. The film is FREE but we'll accept small donations to offset the cost imposed by the library.  Also sponsored by Transylvanians For Peace.  Contact Don at gaia@comporium.net for more information.

11/1712 BLUE RIDGE LIBERTY PROTEST AT VANCE MONUMENT
Chase Rachaels and Justin Stow representing blueridgelibertyproject.com and announced a protest/rally AT 2 PM as an introductory event for the organization and an effort to align people with their purposes: antiwar action, avoiding initiation of force, proactive parenting.

11/18/12 ETHICAL SOCIETY OF ASHEVILLE MEETING
“Criminalization of the Homeless” will be presented by John Spitzberg at the Sunday, November 18th meeting of the Ethical Society of Asheville, 2:00-3:30 PM, held at the Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Road in North Asheville (off Merrimon Avenue near UNCA). Spitzberg, an author and retired educator, is current Asheville Homeless Network president and out-going president the local Veterans for Peace group, as well as a member of the Ethical Society of Asheville and the Asheville Baha’i Community. The topic will cover a growing trend in our country and provide information regarding steps that can be and have been taken to deal with this population. There will be a discussion period following the presentation. Following the meeting, there will be time for informal conversation. All are welcome! For more information contact: asheville@aeu.org, www.aeu.org, ethicalsocietyasheville@gmail.com or 828 687-7759.

11/27/12 BUILDING AN ABUSE FREE COMMUNITY
This is a four-part series focusing on the reality of abuse in our society.  The goal is to empower the community by enabling and energizing a broader base of advocates to take action in preventing abuse and supporting victims in their recovery. Time is 7 PM and location is the Fellowship Hall at Grace Presbyterian Church on Merrimon.  For more information, contact jimrwallis@aol.com. Part Four: How does one stop the cycle?  Where can a person turn?

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ONGOING EVENTS
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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.

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 Roots Action:
Even the New York Times wants out of Afghanistan.  Who's left supporting 2 (or 12?) more years in Afghanistan? Oh yeah, those 4 guys. Obama, Biden, Romney, Ryan.

Sign a letter to let them know what you think:  http://bit.ly/SZqg6k

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Studies in Nonviolence: Ethics & Applications - An Activists’ Dialogue
Saturday, Nov. 10 from 3-4:30 p.m, in conjunction with the Lake Junaluska Peace Conference

Pacifism, Nonviolence, Diversity of Tactics; How can we engage these concepts in ways that build toward a broader, deeper justice movement?  Join Peace Conference speaker Michael Nagler, NC Peace Action, Veterans For Peace, the New South Network of War Resisters & Occupy Asheville's Nonviolent Direct Action Trainers Group in an interactive dialogue on effective strategies and tactics of resistance to racism, militarism, sexism, poverty and ecological destruction.

For directions, go to conference website:  Lake Junaluska Peace Conference

Attendance at the Activists' Dialogue is open to all without charge.  You are also welcome to stay (at no charge) for the Saturday evening program with Nobel prize winner and
Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee.  For information in Asheville and possible carpooling, call 828-242-5610 or 828-301-6683.  If you are going and have room in your vehicle, please let us know at newsouthnetwork@gmail.com.

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NON-PARTISAN RACES

NC Supreme Court:  Sam Ervin IV

NC Court of Appeals Judge: Linda McGee
NC Court of Appeals Judge: Wanda Bryant
NC Court of Appeals Judge: Cressie Thigpen
Soil & Water Conservation Dt. Supervisor:  Jim Coman
County Board of Education At-Large:  Paul (Dusty) Pless, Jr.
County Board of Education (North Buncombe):  Ann B. Franklin
County Board of Education (Owen District):  Ben Craig
County Board of Education (Roberson District):  Steven Weir Sizemore

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