Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

UPCOMING EVENTS

01/09/12 OCCUPY PICKET AND SOAP-BOXING AT CITY HALL ENCAMPMENT
Meet up at noon at the physical occupation in front of City Hall.  Come earlier if you want to make signs.  Citizens United is the Supreme Court case that gave corporations unlimited campaign financing rights.  End Corporate Personhood!

01/12/12 TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF GUANTANAMO BAY PRISON
Amnesty International will be holding a protest in DC to mark this horrible anniversary. 

01/13/12 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE POTLUCK & POTLATCH
Interested in sharing resources in order to live?  Come join us! Bring a potluck dish to share, your own dishes and utensils, and an item to give away that you no longer need. This could be a book, an article of clothing, a tool, artwork-- whatever still has life and could be passed on to another user. And, you might win a door prize!  A potlatch is a gift-giving festival and primary economic system practiced by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and United States. Extending the First Peoples’ tradition, potlatches now represent an alternative economic system based on redistribution and reciprocity of wealth (versus consumerism). It can also be thought of as a sharing solution that supports community.  After the potluck/potlatch, new book discussion groups will form for those wanting to explore the ideas of the Transition Town movement through Rob Hopkins’ Transition Handbook or his brand new Transition Companion.  Time is 6 PM and the location is First Congregational Church.  For more info, visit www.transitionasheville.org

01/14/12 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BREAKFAST
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County announced that Dr. Boyce Watkins will give the keynote address at the 31st annual Prayer Breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The breakfast will be the highlight of a series of events from Wednesday, Jan. 11 through Monday, Jan. 16, 2012.  The Prayer Breakfast, which will take place at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, January 14, at the Grove Park Inn, is among the largest public celebrations in Western North Carolina, attracting more than 1,000 citizens and distinguished guests to the historic inn each year.  The Prayer Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. and includes music by the Asheville Unity & Fellowship Choir, directed by Alaysia Black Hackett. Tickets to the breakfast are $25 for adults ($30 after Dec. 31), $15 for youth under 18, and $35 for patrons. Tickets and additional information are available by phone at 828-335-6896 or by email at editor@myowneditor.com.

01/15/12 ASHEVILLE ETHICAL SOCIETY MEETING
Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday “Peace and Violence, Two Perspectives into Action – MLK, Jr. and Johann Galtung” will be presented by John Spitzberg at the Sunday, January 15th meeting of the Ethical Society of Asheville, 2:00-3:30 PM, held at the YMI Cultural Center, 39 South Market Street in the Ray Auditorium. Spitzberg is a retired special education teacher, social worker, paramedic and currently is a service provider and volunteer with the homeless population in Asheville, president of the local chapter of Veterans for Peace and a member and former Ethical Action Chair of the Ethical Society of Asheville. Tying in his work and belief system to that of MLK, Jr. Spitzberg will introduce Johann Galtung, a Norwegian man in his 80s who is also known for his work for peace and non-violence.  There will be a discussion period following the presentation. Following the meeting, there will be time for informal conversation. All are welcome!

01/15/12 WORLDWIDE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR UNITY
This event will be held at Vance Monument at 7 PM.  Please bring your own light.  On his birthday and in the spirit of Dr. King's vision for racial and economic equality, peace, and non-violence, we are holding candlelight vigils to unite our world in a global movement for systemic change.  Wherever we may be, whether in our homes, in city squares, online, Occupies, or at work, we lift a beautiful message high above the political dialogue. We light the dream of a more equitable world in our hearts. We can overcome!  More information at http://j15global.com/

01/16/12 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR MARCH
This starts at 11 AM with a singing and speeches event and a short rally for the MLK Peace Walk that starts at Noon.  The location is St. James AME Church at 44 Heldebrand Street in Asheville.  This is an annual event.

01/16/12 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION

A community potluck will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 PM and then there will be a screening of the documentary “Freedom Riders”.  The event will be hosted by Marvin Chambers, a Kenilworth resident and civil rights activist.  This will be held at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church in Asheville.  Please call 828-252-8872 for more information. 

01/17/12 OCCUPY THE US CONGRESS DAY

01/19/12 PUBLIC MEETING ON LICENSING A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN SC
Car pools now being formed to attend and speak at Public Meeting that will focus on the licensing of two new units at a new site near Gaffney, SC on the Broad River. This would be 60 miles from Asheville. We are too concerned about the health of our community to allow this. Contact Laura Sorensen at 545-4443 or Lsredoak@gmail.com for more info.  This meeting will be held at Restoration Church International, 1905 North Limestone St., Gaffney, SC.  Time is 7 PM.

01/19/12 MOVE TO AMEND RESOLUTION MEETING
Please be reminded that our next meeting is to take place at 6:30 PM on Jan. 19 in classroom #4 which is on the basement level of Asheville's Unitarian Universalist Church, northwest corner on Charlotte St. and Edwin Place.  Parking is available on the north side of the building. The easiest way to enter is through the recessed door at the lower level on the northwest corner of the building & that will be unlocked.  We will consider progress re proposed AVL City Council resolution.  Please  incorporate Hal Hogstrom's accurate correction of the resolution to be more correctly worded: "Therefore be it resolved that the City Council of Asheville, NC, on behalf of the citizens of our municipality, calls on our elected representatives in the United States Congress to "initiate the process to amend the Constitution", rather than "enact an amendment to the Constitution", as the former would offer a constitutionally valid course of action.

01/20/12 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The next WNC PSR monthly meeting will be 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 past the 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.  Physicians, health personnel and, yes, everyone; all are welcomed at the monthly meetings!  Please go to www.wncpsr.org  for more information, which includes how to get there and other details.

01/20/12 OCCUPY FEDERAL COURTHOUSES
A local “Move to Amend” group is considering an action on this date at the Federal Courthouse at 100 Otis Street in Asheville.  Time TBD.  Also, the local Occupy Asheville group is planning on occupying the Federal Courthouse in Asheville all day.  Here is their statement:  This is a national event to draw attention to the US Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in favor of Citizen’s United.  The Wikipedia page is here.  Justice John Paul Stevens, in a dissenting opinion, wrote:  “At bottom, the Court’s opinion is thus a rejection of the common sense of the American people, who have recognized a need to prevent corporations from undermining self government since the founding, and who have fought against the distinctive corrupting potential of corporate electioneering since the days of Theodore Roosevelt. It is a strange time to repudiate that common sense. While American democracy is imperfect, few outside the majority of this Court would have thought its flaws included a dearth of corporate money in politics.”  If you’re against corporate money controlling our elections, please help occupy our Federal Courthouse!

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.   More information:  Envision by 2020 an Asheville where race is just a part of our "flava" and not the means by which we allocate goods, services and access; where concepts like educational disparities and structural racism in health care delivery are a distant memory to our community.  Envision a Western North Carolina where employment opportunities are plentiful to anyone who is skilled or qualified for a position.  Envision a community burgeoning with commissions and councils, entities and enterprises, collectives and corporations joining to collaboratively help with unlearning racism, yet creating awareness of unearned privilege...thereby cultivating harmony among all of our neighbors.  We, at Building Bridges, believe that it is not only possible, but likely that we will restore and reconcile the family, community and global society with dialogue, awareness, justice-making action and mutual accountability.

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.

02/05/12 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 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.

*******************************************
ONGOING EVENTS
*******************************************
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 only.
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.  Check website for location.