Are we a nation?

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

UPCOMING EVENTS

10/31/11 OCCUPY ASHEVILLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Gather at 5 PM at Pritchard Park with Halloween costumes, and at 5:30 there will a costume picket from the park.  At 7 PM there will be a General Assembly at Pritchard Park.

11/01/11 OCCUPY ASHEVILLE BENEFIT AT DIANA WORTHAM THEATER
Lee Camp, Emma’s Revolution, A Ride Till The End, and other local groups will be performing to benefit OCCUPY ASHEVILLE.  Admission is by donation.  This starts at 7:30 PM.

11/01/11 MUSLIM AWARENESS PROJECT AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
“The Arab Spring:   Islamic movements and current uprisings in the Arab world.” Visiting Guest:  Dr. Afaf Omer, professor of Sociology, UNC-A, just back from two years in Beirut, Lebanon where she worked with as a Chief for the Centre for Women at the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia.  5:45 p.m. Mierke Dining room/ Gladfelter. For questions, email:  spirituallife@warren-wilson.edu

11/01/11 ASHEVILLE TRANSIT MEETING
The Asheville Transit Commission meets the first Tuesday of each month at 4pm on the first floor of City Hall. Open to the public with comment periods at the beginning and the end. This is when we have a voice about that bus please come and let them know that we will not sell our town out for any price. Open to all.

11/01/11 BUNCOMBE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION
Buncombe County Parks, Greenways & Recreation Services will hold an informational meeting on Nov. 1 about starting a community garden at the Buncombe County Sports Park.  Time:  6pm - 7pm. Place: SandHill-Venable Elementary School Cafeteria.

11/02/11 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Bill “Skywalker” will talk about his hike on world trails at this meeting.  Social is at 7 PM and program is at 7:30 PM.  Location is the Unitarian Church at 1 Edwin Place in Asheville.

11/02/11 OCCUPY WALL STREET ASHEVILLE
Vigil at dusk at Vance Monument.  This is in solidarity with the general strike called by Occupy Oakland, which is a response to the police brutality towards occupiers in Oakland California.

11/03/11 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
This meeting will be held on Thursday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m.  We will meet at Phil Mechanic Studios at 109 Roberts Street in Asheville.  We will have Cynthia Potter who has given us the space we occupy at Phil Mechanic building as a guest to speak to us about her expectations and other matters. VFP CHAPTER 099: http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/

11/04/11 - 11/06/11  AMNESTY’S HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE IN CHARLOTTE
During our 50th anniversary year, deepen your engagement with Amnesty and learn more about the human rights movement at our 2011 Southern Regional Conference, a high-energy gathering of youth leaders, new activists, policy experts, and battle-tested organizers that takes place November 4-6 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  At this year's conference we'll be talking about Troy Davis and the growing movement to abolish the death penalty, immigration rights in the American South, the LGBTQ movement, the Arab Uprising, and the campaigns at the heart of Amnesty International's work.  More information at: http://www.amnestyusa.org/events/regional-conferences/southern-regional-conference?msource=W1109EERC2&tr=y&auid=9556633 Anyone interested in carpooling to this event on Saturday only, please contact Susan at dancewater2@gmail.com

11/5/11 HIV/AIDS AWARENESS WALK IN ASHEVILLE
Join up at the Grove House at 11 Grove Street at 11 AM for a walk though downtown to Pack Square.  There will be drummers, music and speakers.  Bring friends but not pets.

11/05/11 OCCUPY WALL STREET ASHEVILLE DAY OF ACTION
Bank transfer day event from 1 to 3 PM at Pritchard Park.  Standing Picket and Street actions at Banks by Pritchard Park and around Asheville, remember…to close your bank account and transfer your funds into a credit union on OR BEFORE the fifth of November! Go to occupyasheville.org for more information, or call 888-378-0788.

11/06/11 TAR SANDS ACTION IN DC
On Sunday November 6 we will return to Washington. Exactly one year before the election, we want to encircle the whole White House in an act of solemn protest. We need to remind President Obama of the power of the movement that he rode to the White House in 2008. This issue is much bigger than any individual person, President or not, and that we will carry on, with or without him. http://www.tarsandsaction.org/sign-up

11/08/11 ELECTION DAY

11/08/11 MUSLIM AWARENESS PROJECT AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
“Religious Diversity and Tolerance within the Islamic State: Reflections on a Fulbright study in Morocco and Tunisia, summer 2011”.  Visiting Guest:  Dr. Rodger Payne, Chair, Department of Religious Studies for UNCA.  5:45 p.m. Mierke Dining room/Gladfelter. For questions, email: spirituallife@warren-wilson.edu

11/09/11 KEYSTONE PIPELINE & OCCUPY WALL STREET UPDATE
Updates from the Front Line will be held on Wednesday, November 9, from 6-8 pm, at Jubilee! Community Center, Wall St, Downtown Ashville.  Facilitators: Kendall Hale & Bob Hanna, and sponsorship: Jubilee! Gandhi Team.  Come hear the stories of activists arrested for protesting the Keystone XL Pipeline and those who have spent time at Liberty Square with Occupy Wall Street.  These grassroots movements are the latest collective efforts to confront the corporate and financial greed and injustice in our democracy.  The growing Occupy movement throughout the world is a call to action for the people to begin the transformational process of creating a sustainable and just society.  Our evening together will also include a brief history of corporate influences in our nation and the evolution of democracy in action.  Audience members will have an opportunity to express their concerns and explore solutions to the complex problems our nation now faces.  We hope you can join us for this inspirational and informative event!

11/11/11 MOVIE NIGHT AT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
“The Economics of Happiness” will be the next film for the Social Justice Committee Film Nite on Friday , Nov 11th from 7 - 8:30 pm. This film offers a unique global perspective on a movement that is often reduced as being too small. Not so. The film tells the story of a grassroots movement for localization that is bubbling up from the cracks of a faltering global economy, in every corner of the world. These are the real 'green shoots' to be hopeful about.  Donations appreciated!  Contact David Williams for more information at devwilliams@juno.com.

11/13/11 NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN ASHEVILLE MEETING
We will have our last Asheville NOW meeting for the 2011 calendar year at the Roof Garden of the Battery Park Apts in Asheville. Put in code 0810 at the front door and you will be buzzed into the building. Take the elevator to the top floor. We are asking that you bring a light snack to share. We will provide Tea for the beverage.   Time is 3 to 5 PM.

Occupy DC protests from October 6, 2011

Occupy Raleigh

I first drove by Occupy Raleigh on Thursday, October 27, 2011.  I was in town for a convention.  There were about a dozen people there early that morning, and they had their sleeping bags with them.  I did not have my camera available to take a picture.  Later in the day, I went to the area where they are protesting (in front of the state capitol) and joined them for a while.  There were about three dozen people there.  There were police there, and media was present.  I heard that 8 people were arrested later on.  I left (to go back to the convention) before any arrests.

The pictures above are what I saw early this morning.  NO people, just some signs laying around.  But I went back by later in the afternoon, and snapped the picture below.  I yelled WE ARE THE 99% out the window to them as I drove by.  They cheered.

Good to see some of them back there!

Fight the good fight!

Hypocrite!

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton walks past a General Motors 'Spark' while touring the GM Powertrain plant in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Sunday Oct. 23, 2011. 

(AP Photo/Kevin Lamarque, Pool)

I can't wait until the day where the US government tells us that we have to go to war with Uzbekistan because "they kill their own people"...... which is true - they are killing their own people.  A few years back, the dictator of Uzbekistan, a friend of people like Clinton, was boiling people alive in oil.  While they were doing that, and today while they still kill and torture, the US government calls them "friends".

"Hate is never satisfied"

Liar

"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." Barack Obama - October 27, 2007

Here is a video of him saying that, and a few more lies:

It is beginning to look that Bush's agreement with Iraq will be honored, except for the thousands of mercenaries left behind.  But that does not change the fact that Obama did not keep his promises.  And the real reason the Bush pact with Iraq will be honored is because the Iraqis insisted on it.  The information that came from WikiLeaks definitely helped the people to pressure the Iraqi politicians to kick the US military out.  Here's hoping they kick out the mercenaries soon!!

Protest in Oakland CA

Democracy Watchdog Action Network - posted this photo on Facebook.

Protesters in Oakland jump the barricades and join the Veteran for Peace.

No No Keshagesh

"Keshagesh" means "greedy guts".

The aftereffects of the war in Libya

Photo:  AP

Barely a building remains undamaged in Sirte.

The price of liberation is plain to see on every street in the late dictator's home town of Sirte. The place intended be the showplace of a continent is destroyed. 

……..

Residents returning to, or who stoically remained in, Sirte accuse Libyan interim government fighters of demolishing and looting homes, shops and public buildings in Gaddafi's home town to take revenge for its support of the fugitive leader. A Sirte woman who did not want to be named told Reuters last week: "We didn't resist in this neighbourhood, so why did they destroy our homes?"  Inspecting the damage to her house, she said that Sirte would never go back to how it used to be. "There is no security here any more," she said. Doors were broken, clothes strewn across the floor and furniture had been knocked over. The smoke lingering over the city from the continued fighting could be seen through a hole in the wall. 

The rest of the article is here.

+++++++++++++++++++++

The saddest thing about this destruction, in my opinion, is that this place will remain poisonous for generations.  All those weapons and bombs with chemicals and depleted uranium in them will harm future generations for thousands of years.  If this were my town, I think I would just move somewhere else, if I had that option.

I am sickened by how the US and other western countries participated in this civil war in Libya.  They will not see peace or real democracy for decades.  “Violence begets violence” as Martin Luther King Jr. said, and I am sure we will see that here in Libya.  The Libyan revolution, unlike Tunisia and Egypt, turned violent early on, and the after effects of that will be felt for years.  And of course, the US did not get involved for any silly humanitarian reasons.  That was just an excuse.  They want to control that oil. 

Sickening, just sickening.  This photo reminds me of what Fallujah looked like when the US military was done there.

The Revolution Starts Now by Steve Earle

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

UPCOMING EVENTS

EARLY VOTING FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IS NOW ONGOING

10/24/11 OCCUPY WALL STREET ASHEVILLE
David Rovics will be performing at Pritchard Park at noon. General Assembly meeting at PM at Pritchard Park. For more information, call 828-348-7989 or visit Facebook page OccupyWallStreet Asheville

10/25/11 MUSLIM AWARENESS PROJECT AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
"State of Palestine: A Goal too Far?" Visiting Guest: Ahmad Amara, born in Jaffa, educated in Ramallah, Palestine. 5:45 Mierke Dining Room/ Gladfelter. For questions, email:  spirituallife@warren-wilson.edu

10/25/11 TAKING A STAND AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AT WCU
"Breaking out of the Box: Taking a Stand Against Gender-Based Violence" will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 7:00pm in the Grand Room on the 3rd floor of the University Center. This event is sponsored by the Intercultural Affairs, Student  Community Ethics, Greek Life, Residential Living, First Year Experience, and Alpha Phi
Alpha, Inc. This event is free and open to the campus and community.  For more information, please contact Sarah Carter at sacarter@wcu.edu or 828.227.2617.

10/25/11 PUBLIC HEARING FOR DUKE ENERGY RATE HIKE
This is a Public Hearing for Duke Energy's proposed residential rate hike of 17.4%.  This will be in Marion, NC, at McDowell County Courthouse. Time is 7 PM. Carpool from Asheville to let the NC Utilities Commission know how you feel. Contact Laura at lsredoak@gmail.com for carpool. They are carpooling from EarthFare parking lot at 5:15pm (near the new TCBY). Additional hearings throughout the state. See www.canarycoalition.org for more info.

10/25/11 OCCUPY WALL STREET ASHEVILLE
Meet at Pack Square at 4 PM for planning for city council meeting.  Rally at 8 PM and following that, the General Assembly on the steps of City Hall.

10/26/11 PUBLIC HEARING FOR DUKE ENERGY RATE HIKE
Hearing will be in Franklin, NC at 7 PM at Macon County Courthouse.  Public hearing concerning proposed 17.4% rate hike by Duke Power. No carpool information. See www.canarycoalition.org for more information.

10/26/11 OCCUPY WALL STREET ASHEVILLE
General Assembly meeting at 7 PM at base camp on Lexington under the I-240 bridge.

10/29/11 NC PEACE ACTION CONFERENCE
Reordering Priorities - Connecting Issues “A Planning Conference for Long-Term Change” will be hosted by NC Peace Action in Raleigh. Join us for this networking and planning conference emphasizing concrete action. Hear about and plan for a Cost of War campaign, building local coalitions around the message to Move the Money from military spending to meeting human needs, and other strategies for Long Term Change.  Time will be from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Location is the Highland United Methodist Church at 1901 Ridge Road in Raleigh NC. Cost is $15 which includes lunch. Please register online or send your name and phone number to director@ncpeaceaction.org. You may pay online on our donation page (after registering) or at the door. Go here to register or for more information: http://www.ncpeaceaction.org/index.html

11/01/11 OCCUPY ASHEVILLE BENEFIT AT DIANA WORTHAM THEATER
Lee Camp (comedian), Emma’s Revolution (music), A Ride Till The End (music), and other local groups will be performing to benefit OCCUPY ASHEVILLE. Admission is by donation. This starts at 7:30 PM.

11/01/11 MUSLIM AWARENESS PROJECT AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
The Arab Spring: Islamic movements and current uprisings in the Arab world. Visiting Guest: Dr. Afaf Omer, professor of Sociology, UNC-A, just back from two years in Beirut, Lebanon where she worked with as a Chief for the Centre for Women at the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia. 5:45 p.m. Mierke Dining room/ Gladfelter. For questions, email: spirituallife@warren-wilson.edu

11/03/11 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/

11/04/11 - 11/06/11 AMNESTY’S HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE
During our 50th anniversary year, deepen your engagement with Amnesty and learn more about the human rights movement at our 2011 Southern Regional Conference, a high-energy gathering of youth leaders, new activists, policy experts, and battle-tested organizers that takes place November 4-6 in Charlotte, North Carolina. At this year's conference we'll be talking about Troy Davis and the growing movement to abolish the death penalty, immigration rights in the American South, the LGBTQ movement, the Arab Uprising, and the campaigns at the heart of Amnesty International's work. More information at:  http://www.amnestyusa.org/events/regional-conferences/southern-regional-conference?msource=W1109EERC2&tr=y&auid=9556633

11/06/11 TAR SANDS ACTION IN DC
On Sunday November 6 we will return to Washington. Exactly one year before the election, we want to encircle the whole White House in anact of solemn protest. We need to remind President Obama of the power of the movement that he rode to the White House in 2008. This issue is much bigger than any individual person, President or not, and that we will carry on, with or without him.  http://www.tarsandsaction.org/sign-up

11/08/11 ELECTION DAY

11/08/11 MUSLIM AWARENESS PROJECT AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
"Religious Diversity and Tolerance within the Islamic State:  Reflections on a Fulbright study in Morocco and Tunisia, summer 2011".  Visiting Guest: Dr. Rodger Payne, Chair, Department of Religious Studies for UNCA. 5:45 p.m. Mierke Dining room/Gladfelter. For questions, email: spirituallife@warren-wilson.edu
 

The Ghost of Tom Joad by Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine

The Ghost Of Tom Joad : Lyrics

Men walkin' 'long the railroad tracks
Goin' someplace there's no goin' back
Highway patrol choppers comin' up over the bridge
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Shelter line stretchin' 'round the corner
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin' in their cars in the Southwest
No home no job no peace no rest
The highway is alive tonight
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Searchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad

He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
Waitin' for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
In a cardboard box 'neath the underpass
Got a one-way ticket to the promised land
You got a hole in your belly and gun in your hand
Sleepin' on a pillow of solid rock
Bathin' in the city aqueduct

The highway is alive tonight
Where it's headed everybody knows
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Waitin' on the ghost of Tom Joad

Now Tom said "Mom, wherever there's a cop beatin' a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there's a fight against the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me mom I'll be there
Wherever there's somebody fightin' for a place to stand
Or a decent job or a helpin' hand
Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free
Look in their eyes Mom you'll see me."

Well the highway is alive tonight
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad

Graphic design by David Lynch

Elizabeth Warren speaks some economic truths

This was filmed in September 2011.

Profits of the financial sector

This says it all:

Profits took a dip in 2008, then came roaring back.

George Galloway speaks at anti-war rally 10-08-11

Words

“The words of the late John F. Kennedy come back to haunt us....[H]e said, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” Increasingly, by choice or by accident, this is the role our nation has taken, the role of those who make peaceful revolution impossible by refusing to give up the privileges and the pleasures that come from the immense profits of overseas investments.”  - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Study of Fallujah birth defects

Background

Recent reports have drawn attention to increases in congenital birth anomalies and cancer in Fallujah Iraq blamed on teratogenic, genetic and genomic stress thought to result from depleted Uranium contamination following the battles in the town in 2004. Contamination of the parents of the children and of the environment by Uranium and other elements was investigated using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Hair samples from 25 fathers and mothers of children diagnosed with congenital anomalies were analysed for Uranium and 51 other elements. Mean ages of the parents was: fathers 29.6 (SD 6.2); mothers: 27.3 (SD 6.8). For a sub-group of 6 women, long locks of hair were analysed for Uranium along the length of the hair to obtain information about historic exposures. Samples of soil and water were also analysed and Uranium isotope ratios determined.

Results

Levels of Ca, Mg, Co, Fe, Mn, V, Zn, Sr, Al, Ba, Bi, Ga, Pb, Hg, Pd and U (for mothers only) were significantly higher than published mean levels in an uncontaminated population in Sweden. In high excess were Ca, Mg, Sr, Al, Bi and Hg. Of these only Hg can be considered as a possible cause of congenital anomaly. Mean levels for Uranium were 0.16 ppm (SD: 0.11) range 0.02 to 0.4, higher in mothers (0.18 ppm SD 0.09) than fathers (0.11 ppm; SD 0.13). The highly unusual non-normal Fallujah distribution mean was significantly higher than literature results for a control population Southern Israel (0.062 ppm) and a non-parametric test (Mann Whitney-Wilcoxon) gave p = 0.016 for this comparison of the distribution. Mean levels in Fallujah were also much higher than the mean of measurements reported from Japan, Brazil, Sweden and Slovenia (0.04 ppm SD 0.02). Soil samples show low concentrations with a mean of 0.76 ppm (SD 0.42) and range 0.1-1.5 ppm; (N = 18). However it may be consistent with levels in drinking water (2.28 μgL^-1) which had similar levels to water from wells (2.72 μgL^-1) and the river Euphrates (2.24 μgL^-1). In a separate study of a sub group of mothers with long hair to investigate historic Uranium excretion the results suggested that levels were much higher in the past. Uranium traces detected in the soil samples and the hair showed slightly enriched isotopic signatures for hair U238/U235 = (135.16 SD 1.45) compared with the natural ratio of 137.88. Soil sample Uranium isotope ratios were determined after extraction and concentration of the Uranium by ion exchange. Results showed statistically significant presence of enriched Uranium with a mean of 129 with SD5.9 (for this determination, the natural Uranium 95% CI was 132.1 < Ratio < 144.1).

Conclusions

Whilst caution must be exercised about ruling out other possibilities, because none of the elements found in excess are reported to cause congenital diseases and cancer except Uranium, these findings suggest the enriched Uranium exposure is either a primary cause or related to the cause of the congenital anomaly and cancer increases. Questions are thus raised about the characteristics and composition of weapons now being deployed in modern battlefields

+++++++++++++++

What the USA has done to Fallujah is simply horrible, and very evil.  And this is continuing in our six other wars - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and now DR Congo (although we have not yet dropped bombs there).  In every US bombing, the seeds of future cancers and birth defects are planted, and will not go away for hundreds of years.  They will be passed down from generation to generation, until all are impacted.  

Today, the President visited my town.  Since I had a dentist appointment, I decided not to try and protest him.  However, on the way to the dentist's office, I was stopped in traffic on I-26.  As I was sitting there, the Presidential motorcade and buses went by, going in the other direction.  I held up my sign WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER as they went by.  So, it turns out that I did protest the President as he visited the town, and did it along side the route he was traveling and did it without any police even speaking to me.  Also did it without any inconvenience.  I guess it was meant to happen.  A picture of my sign is above.

Sure wish the current and past President would actually listen to my message and abandon their evil ways.

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

Photo by Brenda Sandberg in NYC on 10-15-11.

UPCOMING EVENTS

10/17/11 OCCUPY WALL STREET ASHEVILLE
General Assembly meeting at 7 PM at Pritchard Park from Monday to Thursday.  For more information, call 828-348-7989 or visit the Facebook page “OccupyWallStreetAsheville”

10/17/11 ASHEVILLECONNECTS
AshevilleConnects - For all members of the community: Make the best use of existing community resources by getting and giving ideas, contacts, and information to further whatever you're working on. Tap into the deep well of what we know. Join us at the Self Help Building, 34 Wall St. in 3rd floor conference room from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. To RSVP: http://ashevilleconnects.wufoo.com/forms/z7x4a3/  or call Kathleen at 231-5565.

10/18/11 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM
Candidate forum from 7 to 9 PM at Reuters Center at UNCA.  This is for candidates for Asheville City Council.

10/19/11 BEING SALT AND LIGHT
"Being Salt and Light:  Friends Living the kingdom of God in a broken world" is a presentation by two individuals on Quakers and their role in the world.  This will be at Asheville Friends Meetinghouse at 227 Edgewood Road.  Potluck at 6 PM and talk begins at 7 PM.  Presenters: 1) Valerie Joy is the Executive Secretary of FWCC's Asia-West Pacific Section. Her international experience of Quakers worldwide has shaped her service to God. Valerie will share some of the special aspects of the lives, projects, difficulties and triumphs, in the context of 'Being Salt and Light," of Friends in Asia and the West Pacific. 2)Abel Sibonio  is a Friends pastor originally from Burundi, will talk about the “broken world” of life in refugee camps in Tanzania. He will share why he and his family migrated to Australia and how his Quaker experience has carried him through the difficulties of becoming established in a new country.  For more info, contact Michael at: galovic@indylink.org or 828-989-5571.

10/20/11 EARLY VOTING STARTS FOR GENERAL ELECTION

10/21/11 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING
The next WNC PSR monthly meeting will be 10/21/11 at the home of Steve and Beth Gilman. Brown Bag lunch at noon with meeting from 12:30 to 2 PM.  Directions to the Gilman's home:  ***Take Highway 70 - Tunnel Road east from downtown Asheville. (From Interstate 240 going east, take Exit 7 and turn left at end of ramp.) Go several miles and see VA Hospital on left. Just before Blue Ridge Parkway overpass, turn right at stoplight onto Pleasant Ridge Road. Take 2nd right turn onto Wagon Road. Then turn left onto Birchwood to #18 on left.  ***From Interstate 40, take Exit 55, turning toward Highway 70. At stoplight turn left. Just after passing under Blue Ridge Parkway overpass, turn left at stoplight onto Pleasant Ridge Road. Take 2nd right turn onto Wagon Road. Then turn left onto Birchwood, and follow to #18 on left. Park in driveway or on street.

Our war in Yemen

A woman took care of a wounded relative on Saturday inside a mosque being used as a hospital by demonstrators against the government in the Yemeni capital. – The New York Times

Airstrikes, believed to have been carried out by American drones, killed at least nine people in southern Yemen, including a senior official of the regional branch of Al Qaeda and an American, the 17-year-old son of a Qaeda official killed by the United States last month, according to the government and local reports on Saturday.

……

The American drone strike last month that killed the Qaeda official, Anwar al-Awlaki, has been particularly controversial in the United States. Despite being an American citizen, Mr. Awlaki, a Qaeda propagandist, was killed without a trial. The United States has argued that he had taken on an operational role in the organization, plotting attacks against Americans, which made him a legitimate target.

The killing of his son in a drone attack on Friday night, if confirmed, would be the third time an American was killed by such a United States attack in Yemen, although it was not clear if the son was an intended target. A second American, Samir Khan, the editor of Al Qaeda’s online magazine, was killed in the attack on Mr. Awlaki, which was launched from a new secret C.I.A. base on the Arabian Peninsula. 

Link here.

I have no words for this atrocity.  It is hard for me to even believe that the Obama administration has now killed three American citizens without an arrest, evidence, trial, judge or jury.  Just execution.

Video from the October 2011 movement

We need JOBS for our youth!

Not JOBS-KILLING DEFENSE SPENDING!

JOBS NOT JAILS

and I might add, NOT WARS EITHER.  This is a photo from an ANSWER email about a protest in Washington DC that will happen today.  Hope they have a good turnout and get their point across.

UPDATE:  Protests around the world today - over 80 countries!  Many were massive, and the majority was peaceful.  I heard there was some property destruction in  Rome, and agent provocateurs were present.  There was an arrest in my town - Asheville - for jay walking.  That is ridiculous, they never give tickets for jay walking.

Assange: Journalists are war criminals

I agree that the corporate media that promoted war are war criminals and responsible for the deaths of hundred of thousands of innocent people and the destruction of the lives of millions.  They should have been fired from their jobs.  The American public should ridicule them.

And for the Americans who believed these lies - even for one minute - should be very disturbed and very, very, very ashamed for being so ignorant and gullible.

Look at our future

This video clip was taken on October 6, 2011.  I am afraid that this will be a common event as the OCCUPY EVERYWHERE takes hold around the country.  This is NYC.  The guy in the suit is a total asshole.

Message from Anonymous to the 99%

Photo of the camp out at Freedom Plaza, DC, as part of the October2011 movement.  Taken on October 8, 2011.

++++++++++++++

Welcome to the #OWS 99% Movement “We Will NOT Be Co-Opted” Working Group

This is not an official statement from the #OWS 99% Movement. As a decentralized leaderless movement, in our opinion, there is no one group, organization, website or individual who can speak for the movement as a whole.

We, a working group of people currently occupying Liberty Park and many other locations throughout the US, are growing increasingly concerned about divide and conquer attempts being made to co-opt the movement. In the following message, we are issuing our first proposed statement. If you agree with the statement, please post it to your website and/or spread it throughout your social networks, both online and offline at occupations throughout the country. If you would like to read this statement at your local GA meetings and vote or edit it, feel free. If you disagree with the statement, please air your disagreements – this is what democracy looks like.

We appreciate, respect and encourage endorsements from individuals and organizations. We invite them. However, just because an individual or organization endorses our movement, does not mean that they in any way have a leadership role in deciding the future direction of this movement. We will not be co-opted by hierarchical organizations. No matter how wonderful their cause may be.

There are many people, organizations and media outlets within both the Democratic and Republican parties who are trying to label us as the Democrat’s version of the Tea Party. In this working groups opinion, not only is this incorrect, but in labeling us this way, you are, whether you realize it or not, undermining the very essence of this movement with your obsolete divide and conquer groupthink propaganda. Just as the mainstream media and both political parties aided and abetted the co-option of the Tea Party by the Republican Party, there is an attempt being made to do the same to us within the Democratic Party.

We the People, We the 99%, are not the pawns of either wing of the two-party oligarchy.

We emphatically reject the attempted leadership of any political party, organization or individual. If there are elected officials or organizations who endorse our movement, we welcome them.

However, they must do so knowing this: Your voice will be just as loud as any other voice. We are led by no one. You cannot co-opt We The People.

Respect Us.

A music group at the October2011 event .  Photo was taken on October 7, 2011.  The sign says "We are the 99%".

I AM NOT MOVING - SUPPORT OUR YOUTH!!

SUPPORT OCCUPY WALL STREET!!  OCCUPY EVERYWHERE!!!

Email from Senator Burr

Senator Burr included this in his email:

"Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made official what we have expected for some time now, that trichloroethylene (TCE), a chemical that was present in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune for decades, is a known human carcinogen and represents a grave health risk to those exposed to it."

If the US DOD do not give a shit about poisoning Marines and their families, then you can be certain they do not give a shit about "protecting" civilians or promoting women's rights or any other nonsense that the US government proposes when they want to use up their military hardware!

I do think it is a good thing that Senator Burr is trying to address this horrible situation.  But there is a bigger reality here than the simple fact that lots of American children who lived at Camp Lejeune got cancer.  The entire and ONLY purpose of the US military is to kill people and break their shit.... and it should ONLY be done in defense of our country after ALL other efforts have failed.  Instead, they have been used to pursue empire building and the agenda of multi-national corporations..... and have poisoned the earth around the world.


Including Camp Lejeune. 

A message from Anonymous to the 99%

More photos from October 2011 - day three

 March down E Street, and this is the second march down the street.   They were chanting that we are the 99%.

 More photos from the same march.  This occurred between 4 and 5 PM, and they might have been part of Occupy DC instead of the October2011 event.... but then, the two events overlapped.

 Ralph Nader speaks in the morning.

 The beginnings of the second march down E Street.  I don't have photos of the first march.

Another photo of the second march down E Street.  The first group ended up at the Air & Space Museum, and got pepper-sprayed.  Not sure where these folks were going.

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

UPCOMING EVENTS

ONGOING:  OCCUPY WALL STREET ASHEVILLE --for more information, call 828-348-7989 or visit Facebook page “OccupyWallStreet Asheville”

10/11/11 RALLY FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE
This is a historic and epic time in American History. It doesn't matter what your political views or opinions are, anyone who respects our Constitution is asked to stand up now to demand government uphold the First Amendment right to assemble. It is precisely what protects our democracy. 4-7 PM Pack Square Rally to Protect the First Amendment Right to Assemble, Tuesday, October 11, 2011.  This is promoted by Occupy Wall Street Asheville.

10/11/11 PRIMARY ELECTION DAY

10/11/11 MUSLIM AWARENESS PROJECT AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
“The Faces of Islam:  Challenges and Opportunities for Muslims in America”   Visiting Guests:  The Muslim Students Association of UNC-A in dialogue with Dr. Jeanne Sommer, professor of Religious Studies and Chaplain of the College (5:45-6:45 p.m. Mierke Dining Room /Gladfelter)  For questions, email:  spirituallife@warren-wilson.edu

10/12/11 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS
Tracy Kunkler, an Asheville-based non-profit consultant, was at the Occupy Wall Street site in lower Manhattan from Friday, Sept. 30th to Monday, Oct. 3rd. She will share her first-hand impressions &
experience, including • The grassroots democratic process by which the camp there operates • Her perceptions of why people are there & the articulation of goals & strategy • What happened those three days, including her experience peacefully marching on the Brooklyn Bridge and NOT getting arrested • Why this movement is important, what this moment in history means, & how everyone in Asheville might interact with the movement, even if it seems challenging to do so.  Program starts at 5:30 PM and this is held at the Posana Cafe at 1 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville.

10/14/11 MOVIE NIGHT AT U.U. CHURCH IN ASHEVILLE
This month’s movie will be “Gasland” which is about fracking in the USA.  A representative from NC Clean Water will share NC legislation updates and NC actions.  Time is 7 PM, and U.U. Church is located at Edwin & Charlotte Street.  Donations accepted.

10/14/11 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATER
"John Muir Among the Animals", Oct, 14, 7:00 pm at Asheville Community Theatre, actor Lee Stetson, sponsored by Sierra Club of WNC and WNC Alliance.

10/14/11 “WE DO” CAMPAIGN IN ASHEVILLE
Stand with us on the final day of the WE DO Campaign on Friday, October 14, 2011.
FULL SCHEDULE (join us for any part of the afternoon)
2 PM: Public, interfaith blessing of all LGBT families. Roger McGuire Green, downtown
3 – 5 PM: Public action calling for full equality for LGBT people. 35 Woodfin Street
After the action: Coffee and updates from our legal team Location: First Congregational Church (Friendship Hall), 20 Oak Street.

10/16/11 ETHICAL SOCIETY OF ASHEVILLE
“From Fundamentalist to Humanist in 5 Ordinary Words” will be presented by Terra Maney Weaver at the Sunday, October 16th meeting of the Ethical Society of Asheville, 2:00-3:30 PM, held at the YMI Cultural Center, 39 South Market Street in the Drug Store section of the YMI building.   Weaver is co-founder of Zeal to Heal, Inc., an Asheville-based company specializing in community-building through media production, curriculum development, consulting, and special events.  She speaks about her personal journey of spiritual awakening in a way that informs and inspires our collective journey. She conjectures that despite individual differences, most people access personal growth through the shared doors of curiosity, courage, creativity, and compassion but these are not among the five ordinary words.  The path leading to new paradigms of philanthropy and human connection may be “the road less traveled,” but experiencing and sharing the journey benefit us immensely--individually and collectively.  There will be a discussion period following the presentation.  Following the meeting, there will be time for informal conversation.  All are welcome!

10/17/11 ASHEVILLECONNECTS
AshevilleConnects - For all members of the community: Make the best use of existing community resources by getting and giving ideas, contacts, and information to further whatever you're working on. Tap into the deep well of what we know. Join us at the Self Help Building, 34 Wall St. in 3rd floor conference room from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. To RSVP: http://ashevilleconnects.wufoo.com/forms/z7x4a3/  or call Kathleen at 231-5565.

10/18/11 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM
Candidate forum from 7 to 9 PM at Reuters Center at UNCA.  This is for candidates for Asheville City Council.

10/20/11 EARLY VOTING STARTS FOR GENERAL ELECTION

10/21/11 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING
The next WNC PSR monthly meeting will be 10/21/11 at the home of Steve and Beth Gilman. Brown Bag lunch at noon with meeting from 12:30 to 2 PM.  Directions to the Gilman's home:  ***Take Highway 70 - Tunnel Road east from downtown Asheville. (From Interstate 240 going east, take Exit 7 and turn left at end of ramp.) Go several miles and see VA Hospital on left. Just before Blue Ridge Parkway overpass, turn right at stoplight onto Pleasant Ridge Road. Take 2nd right turn onto Wagon Road. Then turn left onto Birchwood to #18 on left.  ***From Interstate 40, take Exit 55, turning toward Highway 70. At stoplight turn left. Just after passing under Blue Ridge Parkway overpass, turn left at stoplight onto Pleasant Ridge Road. Take 2nd right turn onto Wagon Road. Then turn left onto Birchwood, and follow to #18 on left. Park in driveway or on street.

10/25/11 MUSLIM AWARENESS PROJECT AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
“State of Palestine:  A Goal too Far?”   Visiting Guest:  Ahmad Amara, born in Jaffa, educated in Ramallah, Palestine.   (5:45-6:45 p.m. Mierke Dining Room /Gladfelter)  For questions, email: spirituallife@warren-wilson.edu


*******************************************

ONGOING EVENTS
*******************************************
SUNDAY
Episcopal Peace Fellowship holds a weekly vigil from 5:30 to 6 PM at All Soul's Cathedral.

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.

FRIDAY
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square (Ash.) 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.

Message of support for Occupy Wall Street

Women and sign from the October 2011 event.  She has a Masters of Education and cannot find a job.  Below is a message of support for the Occupy Wall Street protesters and other protesters from around the world.  There is a petition to sign if you agree with the statement.

“We stand with you in this struggle for real democracy. Together we can end the capture and corruption of our governments by corporate and wealthy elites, and hold our politicians accountable to serve the public interest. We are united - the time for change has come!”

 Go here for the petition.

More photos from October 2011 - day two

 Lee Camp performed on the second night of the protest.

 Some photos of the camp outs.

Emma's revolution performed again on the second day of the protest.  They are really good!

Photo from October 2011 in DC

is

This photo came from a Code Pink email.  I am actually in the very bottom of the first "9".  I kept telling people to move back away from the nine figure, so that the picture would be clear.  People milling around just did not "get" what was going on.... which is why they are so close, I guess.  Although you would think standing around and watching people sit on the ground would be kinda boring. 

We got a late start today.  We are staying outside of the DC area, and the commute is very long.  It took us two hours to get back to the hotel yesterday and an hour and half to get into town today.  The group I am traveling with are delightful women, but they are NOT speedy at all.

The www.October2011.org event has really become one with OccupyDC.  Many slept out last night, many plan to keep on doing that.  I plan on commuting back to the hotel!

October 6th movement - Occupy DC

 Above is a photo of the march returning to Freedom Plaza.

 Above is David Rovics singing at the rally.  He sang a song about Bradley Manning and several others.

 The World Can't Wait group protesting in front of the White House.

 Some folks held up signs in front of the Chamber of Commerce.

 The crowd in front of the Chamber of Commerce.

The marchers returning to Freedom Square.

Southern Lights- these are so beautiful!

They may have to wait a while before returning home, but in the meantime the astronauts aboard the International Space Station must be having a ball. Check out this video shot from the ISS of the Aurora Australis.

Many aurora appear green, such as the accompanying image. But the colors also depend on which atoms cause the light that's being generated by a particular aurora. In this Sept. 26, 2011 image, for instance, lower-energy oxygen collisions as well as collisions with nitrogen atoms produce red photons -- resulting in an aurora with a red band.

Author: CBSNews (Hidden Byline)

Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

A view of the Aurora from the International Space Station it crossed over the southern Indian Ocean on September 17, 2011

Author: CBSNews (Hidden Byline)

Credit: NASA

A view of the aurora australis (Southern lights) as taken by the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) spacecraft on Sept. 11 in ultraviolet light.

Author: CBSNews (Hidden Byline)

Credit: NASA

Also beautiful - Northern Lights!

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Another view of the aurora from Moosehorn Dist. MB Canada on Sept. 12

Author: CBSNews (Hidden Byline)

Credit: Chris Gray/NASA

+++++++++

And these lights are easier to see, especially if you live in the north. 

ACTION FOR PEACE

On October 6, Let's Make a National Clamor for Peace

On October 7, 2011, the United States will have been at war for ten years.

Let's mark the occasion by making a national clamor for peace so loud that Congress, the President, and big media will have to pay attention.

…….. 

So let's mark the occasion on Thursday, October 6. Let's have a national, "ecumenical" day of action for peace: to end the wars and cut the military budget.  By "ecumenical," I mean this: everybody will "worship" in their own way.  People who are willing to call Congress, will call Congress. People are willing to go to demonstrations, will go to demonstrations. People who get active online will get active online. But everybody who wants peace will do something for peace on October 6.

……

*Call Congress*  - - - If you do nothing else for peace on October 6, call at least one of your representatives in Congress -- particularly if they are on the supercommittee -- and tell them to end the wars and cut the military budget. The Congressional switchboard is 202-225-3121.  

On Friday, October 7, don't let big media say that Americans aren't acting to press for peace.

Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org

FREEDOM PLAZA IN WASHINGTON DC

This photo came from the protests on 9-24-11 in NYC.  There is something striking about the arm around the leg that is kneeling on him, while another cop is trying to put handcuffs on him.  The flag is a nice touch too.  I hope the NYPD wakes up soon.

Pledge
"I pledge that if any U.S. troops, contractors, or mercenaries remain in Afghanistan on Thursday, October 6, 2011, as that occupation goes into its 11th year, I will commit to being in Freedom Plaza in
Washington, D.C., with others on that day or the days immediately following, for as long as I can, with the intention of making it our Tahrir Square, Cairo, our Madison, Wisconsin, where we will NONVIOLENTLY resist the corporate machine by occupying Freedom Plaza to demand that America's resources be invested in human needs and environmental protection instead of war and exploitation. We can do this together. We will be the beginning."



Fifteen Core Issues The Country Must Face

These are the core issues identified by the October2011 Movement steering committee. Soon each issue will be linked to a page which will explain more about the problem, the solutions and resources.  This is meant to get a conversation started. We hope that you will join discussions on each issue on the Discussion board and give us your feedback.
Committees are forming for each of the 15 issues. Please contact info@october2011.org if you would like to volunteer on a committee.  This will ultimately represent a vision of where we want to go in creating a peaceful, just and sustainable world. The October action is a beginning on the path to this new world.  For more information, you can read about where the majority of people in America stand on the issues.

1. Corporatism– firmly establish that money is not speech, corporations are not people, only people have Constitutional rights, end corporate influence over the political process, protect people and the environment from damage by corporations.
2. Wars and Militarism – end wars and occupations, end private for-profit military contractors, reduce the national security state and end the weapons export industry. War crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace must be addressed and those responsible held accountable under international law.
3. Human Rights – end exploitation of people in the US and abroad, end discrimination in all forms, equal civil rights and due process for all people.
4. Worker Rights and jobs – all working-age people have the right to safe, just, non-discriminatory and dignified working conditions, a sustainable living wage, paid leave and economic protection.
5. Government – all processes of the three branches of government should be accountable to international law, transparent and follow the rule of law, people have the right to participate in decisions which affect them.
6. Elections – all citizens 18 and older have the right to vote without barriers, all candidates have the right to be heard and to run and all votes should be counted.
7. Criminal justice and prisons –end private for-profit prisons, adopt evidence-based drug policy, prisoners have the right to humane and just conditions with a focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into society, abolish the death penalty.
8. Healthcare – create a national, universal and publicly financed comprehensive health system.
9. Education – all people have the right to a high quality, publicly-funded and broad education from pre-school through vocational training or university.
10. Housing – all people have the right to affordable and safe housing.
11. Environment – adopt policies which effectively create a carbon-free and radio-active free energy economy.
12. Finance and the economy – end policies which foster a wealth divide and move to a localized and democratic financial system, reform taxes so that they are progressive and provide goods, monetary gain and services for the people.
13. Media – airwaves and the internet are public goods, require that media be honest, accurate and accountable to the people.
14. Food and water – create systems that protect the land and water, create local and sustainable food networks and practices.
15. Transportation – provide affordable, clean and convenient public transportation and safe spaces for pedestrian and non-automobile travel.