Mountain Mobilization

Children kidnapped and imprisoned without charges

This is shameful:  

 Wakeel Khan, father of U.S. military prison Bagram detainee Hamidullah Khan, sits next to a portrait of Hamidullah when he was 14-year-old during an interview with Reuters at his residence in Karachi June 26, 2012. Hamidullah vanished in 2008 after his father sent him to collect the family's belongings from their village near the border. On his way home he telephoned from a bus stop, but the next thing his family knew, he was in Bagram. A Pakistani government memo says he was captured in Khost province in Afghanistan for "attacks on coalition forces" but gives no details. More than 2,500 juveniles have been detained in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay by the United States since 2001, according to a U.N. report. Most are now free, but many are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. Picture taken June 26, 2012. REUTERS/Athar Hussain 

  A portrait of U.S. military prison Bagram detainee Hamidullah Khan when he was 14-year-old hangs on a wall in his family home in Karachi June 26, 2012. Hamidullah Khan vanished in 2008 after his father sent him to collect the family's belongings from their village near the border. On his way home he telephoned from a bus stop, but the next thing his family knew, he was in Bagram. A Pakistani government memo says he was captured in Khost province in Afghanistan for "attacks on coalition forces" but gives no details. More than 2,500 juveniles have been detained in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay by the United States since 2001, according to a U.N. report. Most are now free, but many are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. Picture taken June 26, 2012.  REUTERS/Athar Hussain

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I wonder if the US government and US military will ever follow rules of normal decency again in my lifetime.

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

UPCOMING EVENTS

07/31/12 INFORMATION SESSION ON NEW IMMIGRATION POLICIES
Asheville-area undocumented youth and local organizations including Nuestro Centro, Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council, and the Migrant Education Program of Buncombe County Public Schools have come together in the interest of sharing accurate information about President’s Obama’s immigration policy shift concerning Deferred Action.  We invite all the community to attend this information session on Tuesday, July 31st 2012, from 6 pm-8 pm at Vance Elementary School auditorium.  Interpretation, childcare, and snacks will be provided at the event.  This informational meeting will discuss what deferred action is, what documents people should get in order, and how to families can be protected from scams and fraudulent information that may start to circulate in the community prior to the official release of the application process.  This event is open to the public.  For more information please contact Sarah Nuñez at 828-252-4713.

07/31/2 GREENPEACE MEETING IN ASHEVILLE

Greenpeace meeting on Tuesday July 31st, at 6:00pm at the West Asheville Library. Come meet the Airship pilot who will talk about the airship, how they use it and show some gear. Also meet Greenpeace staff and others getting the message to Duke........we want clean energy!  The Airship is sensitive to air currents so timing for the flight over Asheville is Tues &/or Wed.  (An earlier email said that the Greenpeace Blimp will be over downtown Asheville and south of Asheville between 7 and 9 AM on Monday and Tuesday.  They are bringing attention to Asheville area power produced by dirty coal and mountaintop removal and the policies of Progress Energy and Duke.  The blimp is 135 feet long, has 4 passengers, gets lift from propane and has a forward speed up to 25 mph from a 65 hp engine.  It weighs 2,000 pounds.)

08/01/12 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Brent Martin will talk about the Bartram Trail.  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.

08/02/12 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
Time is 6:30 PM and location is VFP HQ at the Phil Mechanic Studios: 109 Roberts Street in Asheville. VFP Chapter 099: http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/.

08/02/12 S.A.F.E. CAROLINAS MEETING
Safe Carolina Meeting Aug 2nd at 6:30pm at North Asheville Library.  Guest speaker is Mary Olson, Nuclear Information Resource Services.  She will speak about how we are affected by the new nuclear waste rulings and shed light on the nuclear plant nightmares related to the Duke/Progress merger.  For more information, contact Laura at lsredoak@gmail.com.

08/03/12 SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVIE AT UUCA CHURCH
Our next UUCA Social Justice film will be shared with Transition Asheville at 7 PM on Friday, August 3rd. “In Transition 2.0” is an inspirational immersion in the Transition movement, gathering stories from around the world of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. You’ll hear about communities printing their own money, growing food everywhere, localizing their economies and setting up community power stations. It’s an idea that has gone viral, a social experiment that is about responding to uncertain times with solutions and optimism. In a world that is awash with gloom, here is a story of hope, ingenuity and the power of growing vegetables in unexpected places.  Movie is 65 minutes. Location is UUCA Church at Charlotte & Edwin Streets in Asheville.

08/0312 MINDFUL OCCUPATION FIELD TRIP

You are cordially invited to join Mindful Occupation for a Super Fun Field Trip on Friday, August 3rd! At 6:30pm, we will be meeting at the Asheville Mall, outside of the Barnes and Noble entrance for an evening of hanging out at the mall, participant observation and exercises in benevolent/subtly catalytic situationist tactics.  Feel free to let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas about how this Super Fun Field Trip should be structured or what it hopes to accomplish.  Contact Faith at www.mindfuloccupation.org

08/04/12 GREEN PARTY MEETING
The Buncombe County GREEN Party's business meeting is free & 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.

08/04/12 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OCCUPY ASHEVILLE
Time is 3 PM and location is Pritchard Park.  This is an important meeting to decide where Occupy Asheville should go from here.  Please come with your ideas!

08/07/12 COORDINATING COUNCIL OF OCCUPY ASHEVILLE MEETING
Time is 6:30 PM and location is First Congregational Church in downtown Asheville.  We will have a discussion on where Occupy Asheville should go from here.  Please come!

08/08/12 - 08/12/12 VFP NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MIAMI FL

08/13/12 MOVE TO AMEND MEETING
Time will be 7 PM, Monday, August 13 at the UU Church's RE Common Space.  Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us for more information.

08/24/12 GREED! PUPPET SHOWS
It's time for puppets to rise up and help silly humans see what's really happening in the US economy!  After all, who could do it better than a puppet?  Info and tickets:  www.deepeconomics.com/greed-puppet-shows.html. Brought to you by Red Herring Puppets, Serpent Child Productions, with assistance from Occupy Asheville Street Art/Theater Group. Three shows: BeBe Theater, August 24, 7:00 and 9:00 PM; Black Horse White Mountain, August 31, 8:00 PM.

08/26/12 BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE DREAM ACT
"DREAM Act Solidarity Bus Trip" Benefit & CD Release Concert by award-winning activist songwriters – emma’s revolution.  This benefit is for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network's "DREAM Act Solidarity Bus Trip" and "Revolutions Per Minute" CD Release Concert.  Time is 7 PM and the location is UU Congregation of Asheville at the corner of Edwin & Charlotte Street.  Tickets are $15 in advance/$18 at the door.  Tickets: UU Congregation of Asheville and www.emmasrevolution.com.  Info: asstminister@uuasheville.org  and 828-254-6001.

*******************************************
ONGOING EVENTS
*******************************************
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 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 WALL STREET ASHEVILLE
Go to www.occupyasheville.org for more information, or call 888-378-0788. Information on Occupy Asheville late breaking events: http://www.occupyasheville.org/events/

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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Support for Social Justice Groups in the U.S. and Canada

Unitarian Universalist Association: Fund for a Just Society
The Fund for a Just Society, a program of the Unitarian Universalist Association, provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada that address issues of social and economic justice. The Fund supports organizations that use community organizing to bring about systemic change leading to a more just society and mobilize with those who have been disenfranchised and excluded from resources, power, and the right to self-determination. Consideration is given to projects that are less likely to receive conventional funding because of the innovative or challenging nature of the work or the economic and social status of the constituency. The maximum grant amount is $15,000; however, most grants range between $6,000 and $8,000. Requests are reviewed two times per year; the next application deadline is September 17, 2012. Visit the Unitarian Universalist Association website to review the funding guidelines.

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Undocumented young people are riding a bus from Arizona to Democratic National Convention in Charlotte with the intent of challenging repressive anti-immigrant laws through out the southeast and south. The concention starts September 3. If you can please support them.

Here is their web site: http://undocubus.org/

Ads about Isreal and their land grab

The ads are accurate.  Palestinians are losing their lands, and it is a crime. 

UNAC Statement on Syria

UNITED NATIONAL ANTIWAR COALITION (UNAC)

STATEMENT ON SYRIA

Hands off Syria and Iran!    End the Drone Wars!

We Need Jobs, Education and Healthcare, Not Endless War!

The ominous signs of impending war with Syria escalate.  NATO holds a special meeting to respond to the downing of a Turkish fighter plane and issues threats of future action.  The U.S. government is supplying arms and logistical support to Syrian militias.  The media bombards us with arguments that support foreign intervention.

These are the facts that impel us to oppose any military, economic, diplomatic, or covert intervention aimed at controlling the internal affairs of Syria or any other country:

·        Sanctions harm the people of Syria causing food shortages, power outages, and block the distribution of goods.

·        The U.S. is directly involved in arming and training Syrian militias. Supplying arms to opposition militias in Syria contributes to the escalation of violence, the possibility of civil war and/or direct foreign military intervention, and total destabilization.  The people who always suffer the most are the people not engaged in the armed struggle.

·        We see the results of ‘humanitarian’ U.S. wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan today, where the people, especially women and children, are worse off than before, with millions dead, injured, and/or displaced, an infrastructure and economy in shambles, and there is no peace.  A country that has a river of Iraqi and Afghan blood on its hands has no right to tell other countries what to do.

·        The U.S. government’s goals in Syria are to gain dominance in a part of the world that holds the vast majority of the known oil reserves and to gain strategic advantage as it seeks to isolate and contain competitors like Russia and China.  The U.S. has no interest in democracy or the humanitarian well-being of a country’s peoples anywhere in the world, especially in areas where the U.S. has economic or strategic interests.

While activists may hold different views of Syria’s internal political system, we must all agree that the U.S. government has no right to impose its will on other countries, especially those formerly colonized and exploited by the West.  In all cases, we must support the right of nations to self-determination – that is to be able to decide on and resolve internal conflicts free from any foreign intervention.

The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) demands:

No U.S. or NATO intervention in the internal affairs of Syria!

No War!  No Sanctions!  No Intervention!

Self-determination for the Syrian people!

www.UNACpeace.org

Members of Congress speak out against war

On July 18th, 15 members of Congress spoke for 90 minutes on the FY 2013 Defense Appropriations Act in pursuit of one goal:

End the war in Afghanistan. Bring our troops home.

The bipartisan effort, led by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Walter Jones (R-NC), included statements by 4 Republicans and 11 Democrats:

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC)
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY)
Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA)



I sure wish there were more of them!

UNAC on Amnesty International

UNITED NATIONAL ANTIWAR COALITION (UNAC)

Statement Condemning Amnesty International USA's Campaigns in Support of U.S./NATO Wars

 

UNAC urges antiwar and community activists across the U.S. to condemn a sharp change in the direction and character of the campaigns of Amnesty International USA, especially since the hiring in January, 2012 of Suzanne Nossel as Executive Director.  Nossel is a former State Department official and aide to former UN Ambassador Richard Holbrook. She coined the term “Smart Power,” which embraces the United States’ use of military power as well as other forms of “soft power,” an approach which Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced at her confirmation as the new basis of State Department policy.

Amnesty International has been well-known for its and its support for human rights and its campaigns to free political prisoners around the world.  However, Amnesty International USA’s top two campaigns at the moment openly support U.S. foreign policy and U.S. military propaganda.

For example:

During the NATO summit and at the same time as the international rally and march to protest NATO, Amnesty International launched a campaign at a public meeting, headed by former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, for Human Rights for Women and Girls in Afghanistan with the slogan “NATO: Keep the Progress Going”.  Following an avalanche of negative feedback, they dropped the slogan as a “mistake”, but their pro-war campaign continues. Madeline Albright is a war criminal, notorious for her televised response that the death of half a million children in Iraq from sanctions was “worth it”.

UNAC stands with the courageous Afghan women like former Parliamentarian Malalai Joya who said, “We have many problems in Afghanistan — fundamentalism, warlords, the Taliban. But we will have a better chance to solve them if we have our self-determination, our freedom, our independence. NATO's bombs will never deliver democracy and justice to Afghanistan or any other country”.

Amnesty’s latest campaign, is Russia: No more excuses.  Stand up against the bloodshed in Syria which asks people to “urge Russia to end its shameful silence”.  This is a campaign to support military intervention at the very time that the U.S. is openly feeding the violence in Syria by providing weapons, foot soldiers and logistical support.  Russia has angered U.S. officials, not by silence, but by rejecting foreign intervention. 

In opposition to these two Amnesty International USA campaigns:

* UNAC expresses our sincere disappointment to see Amnesty International USA campaigns become a propaganda extension of U.S. goals for global hegemony.

* UNAC condemns the Amnesty International “NATO Keep the Progress Going” campaign and the dishonest formulation of their campaign for Human Rights for Women and Girls in Afghanistan.  In fact, conditions of women in Afghanistan have deteriorated, not improved, since the Occupation which the U.S. intends to maintain.

* UNAC expresses our strongest criticism towards Amnesty International’s decision to directly provide support and encouragement to a racist NATO campaign under the leadership of the war criminal Madeline Albright.

* UNAC decries any “human rights” campaign that assumes that a military occupying force is a necessary prerequisite for peace and justice to any member of society.

Further, UNAC demands that Amnesty International USA’s Board of Directors reaffirm its human rights mission and publicly disassociate from the policies and campaigns which support U.S./NATO war crimes, crimes against peace and crimes against humanity.  UNAC demands that AI USA revoke the employment of Suzanne Nossel and other officials and Board Members who support the current pro-war policy. 

Link to article by Ann Wright and Coleen Rowley.

UNAC on NATO claim of "progress" in Afghanistan

UNITED NATIONAL ANTIWAR COALITION (UNAC)

statement on NATO claim of “progress”

for women and girls in Afghanistan

The United National Anti-War Coalition (UNAC) calls on people and organizations everywhere to immediately and energetically refute the absurd claim that Afghan women have made “progress” during ten years of NATO military occupation.  In fact, the conditions of women in Afghanistan have deteriorated under occupation and the Obama administration has made it clear, the U.S./NATO intends to stay there, at least through 2024, if not indefinitely. 

UNAC asserts as false this statement signed by several heads of state of NATO at their summit in Chicago in May, 2012: In the ten years of our partnership the lives of Afghan men, women and children, have improved significantly in terms of security, education, health care, economic opportunity and the assurance of rights and freedoms. There is more to be done, but we are resolved to work together to preserve the substantial progress we have made during the past decade.

Recent facts to the contrary include:

ñ   Afghan women have an average life expectancy of 51 years. According to UNICEF, 68% of children under five suffer from either stunting or wasting due to malnutrition. Afghanistan ranks last in both maternal mortality and infant mortality as compared with other nations of the world.

ñ   Immediately after the fall of the Taliban there was short term improvement in the area of women's inclusion in government and of education for girls. However, especially since President Obama ordered the surge of troops in Afghanistan in 2006, security for women has deteriorated.

ñ   Current abuses against women by the regime include jailing women for adultery who are victims of rape, as well as Parliament passing and President Karzai signing legislation giving husbands the power to coerce sex and withhold food from their wives at their discretion. Women's groups in Afghanistan cite the root cause as the presence of warlords who abuse women being seated in the national and provincial governments.

ñ   Women’s organizations working to reduce poverty and empower women and girls say they receive little or no funding from their government. For example, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) stated position is that “There has been no improvement in lives of this, the most miserable and ill-fated portion of Afghan society, since the establishment of transitional government.” Samira Sayed-Rahman of Afghans for Peace said, “They claim they’re sending little girls to school.” There are buildings with “no teachers, no books, no supplies.”

ñ   In a statement to the NATO protestors May 20 in Chicago, Malalai Joya, the former Parliamentarian who faced assassination attempts for denouncing the occupation and warlords, wrote, “We have many problems in Afghanistan — fundamentalism, warlords, the Taliban. But we will have a better chance to solve them if we have our self-determination, our freedom, our independence. NATO's bombs will never deliver democracy and justice to Afghanistan or any other country”.

We call for the immediate withdrawal of NATO troops and bases from Afghanistan and for the redirection of all funding to those Afghan organizations actually providing food, healthcare, infrastructure repair, and education.

Baseball in the time of cholera

The UN has plenty of $$$$ for "peacekeeping" in Haiti - which has not seen a war in my lifetime - but not enough money to take care of the cholera problem WHICH THEY CAUSED.  The UN is really run by the UN, and this is despicable. 



Visit http://www.undeny.org to share this film on Facebook and sign the petition! Together we can end this crisis!

Baseball in The Time of Cholera is a powerful insight into the tragedy and scandal of Haiti's Cholera epidemic through the eyes of a young baseball player. Share it with your network!

Upcoming events for the week of July 22, 2012

UPCOMING EVENTS

07/23/12 ASHEVILLE EARTH SABBATH CELEBRATIONS
This is hosted by NC Interfaith Power and Light.  Time is 7 PM and the location is St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Charlotte Street in Asheville.  Earth Sabbath Celebrations are interfaith, contemplative and experiential services which utilize community building exercises, readings from many faith traditions, music, video, ritual, movement, chant, guided meditation and other modalities to reach deep into the grief and love we feel for our Earth and help both salve and energize our spirits so we can continue the work of restoration and repair on behalf of all creation.  http://www.ncipl.org/content/what_we_do/

07/23/12 SPECIAL VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
The membership voted to hold a special meeting on July 23rd, Monday night  at 6:30 PM.  The meeting will be at the Phil Mechanic studio in the River Arts District.   The purpose of the meeting is to consider Barbara Scott's motions concerning the Israeli, Palestinian conflict.  This meeting will only take up the motions concerning this topic. Only members of VFP099 (Regular and Associate) will be eligible to vote on the motions, but all people are welcomed to the meeting. Dr. Tony Bing will begin the meeting with his presentation to help the members make their decision about the motions.  Fifteen to twenty minutes of discussion will follow on his presentation and then we will vote on the motions.  There will be no other business brought to this meeting.  We must be out of the building by 8:00 pm.

07/26/12 MINDFUL OCCUPATION MEETING - CANCELLED FOR B.I.D. FORUM, WILL BE RESCHEDULED

07/26/12 ASHEVILLE B.I.D. PUBLIC FORUM
Time is 5:30 to 7:30 PM and location is Cinjades at 22 N. Market Street, Asheville NC.  This forum is for you, if: - You are concerned that a downtown BID could funnel resources away from other neighborhoods that need services and funds  - You are reluctant to hand $800,000/year in public funds over to an unelected Board comprised mainly of property owners  - You are worried about how a 17% increase in downtown property taxes would drive gentrification & affect you or your business  - You want to work with your neighbors to create a community-based vision for improving downtown that would NOT privatize public space and drive gentrification!  At this forum, we will take the first steps toward developing a community-based vision for downtown improvement that can serve as an alternative to the proposed BID. We will take a collaborative, transparent, and creative approach to identify the needs of our various, diverse communities, and then start to imagine alternatives to the BID that benefit everyone who uses downtown, and which make downtown a more accessible and welcoming environment for all!

08/01/12 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Brent Martin will talk about the Bartram Trail.  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.

08/02/12 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
Time is 6:30 PM and location is VFP HQ at the Phil Mechanic Studios: 109 Roberts Street in Asheville. VFP Chapter 099: http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/.

08/03/12 SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVIE AT UUCA CHURCH
Our next UUCA Social Justice film will be shared with Transition Asheville at 7 PM on Friday, August 3rd. “In Transition 2.0” is an inspirational immersion in the Transition movement, gathering stories from around the world of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. You’ll hear about communities printing their own money, growing food everywhere, localizing their economies and setting up community power stations. It’s an idea that has gone viral, a social experiment that is about responding to uncertain times with solutions and optimism. In a world that is awash with gloom, here is a story of hope, ingenuity and the power of growing vegetables in unexpected places.  Movie is 65 minutes.  Location is UUCA Church at Charlotte & Edwin Streets in Asheville.  

08/04/12 GREEN PARTY MEETING
The Buncombe County GREEN Party's business meeting is free & 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.

08/08/12 - 08/12/12 VFP NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MIAMI FL

08/24/12 GREED! PUPPET SHOWS
It's time for puppets to rise up and help silly humans see what's really happening in the US economy!  After all, who could do it better than a puppet?  Info and tickets:  www.deepeconomics.com/greed-puppet-shows.html. Brought to you by Red Herring Puppets, Serpent Child Productions, with assistance from Occupy Asheville Street Art/Theater Group. Three shows: BeBe Theater, August 24, 7:00 and 9:00 PM; Black Horse White Mountain, August 31, 8:00 PM.

08/26/12 BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE DREAM ACT
"DREAM Act Solidarity Bus Trip" Benefit & CD Release Concert by award-winning activist songwriters – emma’s revolution.  This benefit is for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network's "DREAM Act Solidarity Bus Trip" and "Revolutions Per Minute" CD Release Concert.  Time is 7 PM and the location is UU Congregation of Asheville at the corner of Edwin & Charlotte Street.  Tickets are $15 in advance/$18 at the door.  Tickets: UU Congregation of Asheville and www.emmasrevolution.com.  Info: asstminister@uuasheville.org  and 828-254-6001.

*******************************************
ONGOING EVENTS
*******************************************
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 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 WALL STREET ASHEVILLE
Go to www.occupyasheville.org for more information, or call 888-378-0788. Information on Occupy Asheville late breaking events: http://www.occupyasheville.org/events/

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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Here’s the most recent Our Southern Community program!

A new double feature, Tom Palumbo with Veterans for Peace and Mary Olson with Nuclear Information and Resource Service. First a discussion of the impacts of war on our environment and economy, then an update on the Fukishima disaster and implications for the United States. Original Air Date 7-22-12

OSC7-22-12Part1
OSC7-22-12Partt2
OSC7-22-12Part3

http://oursoutherncommunity.org/

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TAKE ACTION: The UN has plenty of $$$ for “peacekeeping” in Haiti, and hardly any money for taking care of the horrific problem they caused - CHOLERA.  Watch “Baseball in the Time of Cholera” and sign the petition to help fight cholera in Haiti.  There is UNdeniable evidence that the united nations introduced cholera into Haiti through poor sanitation control at a foreign peacekeeper base.  I support efforts to pressure the UN to take responsibility for the epidemic and help end the crisis through water and sanitation development in Haiti. We will not let the UN deny responsibility anymore...

                    
http://undeny.org/

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FROM NC PEACE ACTION:

Dear Friends at the Coalition to March on Wall Street South

We salute you for the impressive organizing that has brought the Coalition to March on Wall Street South to this point and express our admiration for the messages that are being promoted.  We are especially glad to see the prominent inclusion of a call to end the wars.

Nevertheless, NC Peace Action has decided not to endorse on this occasion due to the Charlotte Principles statement allowing for a “diversity of tactics”.  From the point of view of peacemaking, the means are the ends.  Therefore the degree to which we can achieve peaceful outcomes will depend on the degree to which we maintain a discipline of peaceful methods and pronouncements.

Your clarifying statement for the Charlotte Principles ( http://wallstsouth.org/call-to-action/clt-principles/  ) expresses the desire for unity within the coalition, but makes a special provision for disunity around the tactics.  This escape clause amounts to a contradiction for us.   If we are not united around the means we are not united at the most fundamental level.

By allowing for the possibility of unspecified tactics, The Charlotte Principles open the way for partners to be held guilty by association with tactics it knew nothing about. We cannot offer a priori acceptance of potential divergence from nonviolent norms.  

The clarifying statement to the Principles says “experience and history shows us that the only group that ever comes to political demonstrations to instigate violence is the police, infiltrators, right-wing groups, and other agents of the 1%, not the masses of people”.  If you do not expect any escalation of tactics or violence from the endorsing groups, then why not make it clear from the beginning that the only acceptable tactics will be nonviolent?   That would assure that any form of violence automatically falls outside the norms of the group, and therefore is the work of outsiders or undisciplined participants.

Although we cannot endorse this event without nonviolence as the stated means, we again offer our sincere appreciation for the skill and energy that has gone in to this coalition. We greatly value our friendship with the very talented organizers involved and we wish this effort every success.

NC Peace Action Board of Directors

July, 2012

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Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)

Melanie Safka. Lay Down. Candles In The Rain. 1970.

Lay down, lay down, lay it all down
Let your white birds smile up
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down, lay it down, lay it all down
Let your white birds smile up
At the ones who stand and frown

We were so close, there was no room
We bled inside each others wounds
We all had caught the same disease
And we all sang the songs of peace

So raise the candles high, 'cause if you don't
We could stay black against the night
Oh raise them higher again and if you do
We could stay dry against the rain

We were so close, there was no room...

Some came to sing, some came to pray
Some came to keep the dark away

So raise the candles high...black against the sky...

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oh, this song brought back memories from my high school days, when I and my friends explored sexual relationships along with interracial ones…. and when you got beat up, threatened to be kicked out of your high school and home for who you date…. well, you really do bleed inside each others wounds.

We also dealt with a death – a younger sister of one of our friends died of sickle cell. That event actually did help open the eyes of some of our parents and teachers…. made then rethink what was really important. We were just trying to survive and grow up.

My boyfriend and some of my circle of friends were also singers and musicians, and this was one of the songs they did. It was an intense time – we laid it on down ….. AND we stood our ground.

Nelson Mandela

"I was called a terrorist yesterday, but when I came out of jail, many people embraced me, including my enemies, and that is what I normally tell other people who say those who are struggling for liberation in their country are terrorists. I tell them that I was also a terrorist yesterday, but, today, I am admired by the very people who said I was one."  -  Nelson Mandela

Photo came from the San Francisco Sentinel newspaper.

Happy Birthday, Nelson Mandela.  I am glad I share a birthday with you!

Occupy Congress

This is the six month anniversary of Occupy Congress event on January 17, 2012.  I cannot embed the video, but it is worth watching.  Here is the description of the event:

These are the chronological events that took place on January 17th, 2012 by the Occupy Movement.Starting at the Capitol building, then proceeding to the Rayburn House Office Building. Marching up Constitution Ave to the Supreme Court Building then back down ending at the White House. This was filmed with a Canon 5d Markii and a Cannon 7d. Song by: Band Of Horses - The Funeral.

Here is a link to the video.  It is amazing! 

Working 9 to 5

Working 9 to 5? sounds pretty good to me.... but I still like this song.

Voice of Art Documenary , Part Three

This is from the Iraq Veterans Against the War chapter in Chicago.  This came from the NO TO NATO weekend. 

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

The above photo is of the recent edition of War Crimes Times. If you want to read it on line, go to this link.

UPCOMING EVENTS

07/16/12 MOVE TO AMEND MEETING
Springing forward from Saturday's Take Back Democracy event, our Move to Amend followup meeting will be on Monday, July 16, 7 PM in Asheville's Unitarian Universalist Church. The specific location is to be in the lower level in the Religious Education space; please enter through either of the lower level doors on the west side or the north side of the building.  Please do not enter upstairs as a large choral group will be rehearsing in the upstairs fellowship hall, so entering upstairs would be disruptive to them.

07/17/12 RUN-OFF ELECTION IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY
All precincts will be open for voting.  Democrats will vote for Commissioner of Labor, and Republicans will vote for Lieutenant Governor, Commissioner of Insurance, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction and for the 11th Congressional District candidate.  Unaffiliated voters who asked for an unaffiliated or Libertarian ballot in the primary will not be eligible to vote in this run-off election.

07/18/12 FIXING THE FUTURE:  FILM SCREENING & PANEL DISCUSSION
This movie screening and panel discussion will be held at Carmike 10 at 121 River Hills Road in Asheville and the time is 7:30 PM.  What does local economic innovation look like in action?  Which business models are connected to movements for environmental & social justice?  Join the WNC Cooperative Alliance in exploring these questions (and more!) at a special screening of Fixing the Future, a new documentary hosted by David Brancaccio.  Following the screening, audiences will enjoy an exclusive onscreen video panel with guests Bill McKibben, Majora Carter, Mike Brady and David Brancaccio.  Cost to see the movie is $9.75.

07/20/12 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING
The next WNC PSR monthly meeting will be at a private home near the VA Hospital. Brown Bag lunch at noon with meeting from 12:30 to 2 PM. Everyone is welcome. All are welcome at PSR meetings.  For more information on the meeting, go to http://www.psr.org/news-events/events/wncpsr-july-2012-meeting.html

07/23/12 ASHEVILLE EARTH SABBATH CELEBRATIONS
This event is hosted by NC Interfaith Power and Light.  Time is 7 PM and the location is St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Charlotte Street in Asheville.  Earth Sabbath Celebrations are interfaith, contemplative and experiential services which utilize community building exercises, readings from many faith traditions, music, video, ritual, movement, chant, guided meditation and other modalities to reach deep into the grief and love we feel for our Earth and help both salve and energize our spirits so we can continue the work of restoration and repair on behalf of all creation.  http://www.ncipl.org/content/what_we_do/

07/23/12 SPECIAL VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
The membership of Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 voted to hold a special meeting on July 23rd, Monday night  at 6:30 PM.  The meeting will be at the Phil Mechanic studio in the River Arts District.   The purpose of the meeting is to consider Barbara Scott's motions concerning the Israeli, Palestinian conflict.  This meeting will only take up the motions concerning this topic. Only members of VFP099 (Regular and Associate) will be eligible to vote on the motions, but all people are welcomed to the meeting. Dr. Tony Bing will begin the meeting with his presentation to help the members make their decision about the motions.  Fifteen to twenty minutes of discussion will follow on his presentation and then we will vote on the motions.  There will be no other business brought to this meeting.  We must be out of the building by 8:00 pm.

07/26/12 MINDFUL OCCUPATION MEETING
Mindful Occupation/The Icarus Project: Friends Make The Best Medicine.  The next Mindful Occupation meetings are scheduled for Thursday, July 12 and Thursday, July 26th at Wall Street Coffeehouse, 6:30pm.  If anyone has any questions, feedback, or wants to expand on any of these ideas, please feel free to do so. In the meantime, be well.  Contact Faith at faithrhyne@gmail.com.  www.mindfuloccupation.org

08/02/12 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
Time is 6:30 PM and location is VFP HQ at the Phil Mechanic Studios: 109 Roberts Street in Asheville. VFP Chapter 099: http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/.

08/03/12 SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVIE AT UUCA CHURCH
Our next UUCA Social Justice film will be shared with Transition Asheville at 7 PM on Friday, August 3rd.  “In Transition 2.0” is an inspirational immersion in the Transition movement, gathering stories from around the world of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. You’ll hear about communities printing their own money, growing food everywhere, localizing their economies and setting up community power stations. It’s an idea that has gone viral, a social experiment that is about responding to uncertain times with solutions and optimism. In a world that is awash with gloom, here is a story of hope, ingenuity and the power of growing vegetables in unexpected places.  Movie is 65 minutes.  Location is UUCA Church at Charlotte & Edwin Streets in Asheville.  

08/04/12 GREEN PARTY MEETING
The Buncombe County GREEN Party's business meeting is free & 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.

08/08/12 - 08/12/12 VFP NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MIAMI FL

09/02/12 MARCH ON WALL STREET SOUTH – CHARLOTTE

09/03/12 DNC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN CHARLOTTE
This event goes until 09/08/12.  For more information on the Coalition to Protest at the DNC and to find out how your organization can join, please visit http://protestdnc.org

09/14/12 - 09/16/12 SOUTHERN GREEN LIVING EXPO
http://southerngreenlivingexpo.com/

09/21/12 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
Join us in Asheville on Friday, September 21st, 2012, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, for the 3rd Annual International Day of Peace! Peacetown Asheville and Local 099 of Veterans for Peace, Mountain Area Interfaith Forum and other groups are sponsoring this event.  Contact Rachael at rachael_bliss@yahoo.com if your organization would like to be a sponsor.  Sponsorship is $50.

09/22/12 GLOBAL FRACKDOWN!

Following regional/international meetings in Marseille (The Alternative World Water Forum - March 2012) and in Rio (Peoples' Summit - June 2012) as well as discussions with many groups, there is a growing consensus among the anti-fracking movements around the world that we need a global anti-fracking day to mobilize locally and to build solidarity among our movements.  The local, regional and national groups in the United States have chosen a day to do a massive national 'frackdown' in the United States - 22 September 2012.

10/07/12 PROSTEST THE WAR ON AFGHANISTAN
protest the Afghanistan War, NYC, San Francisco, Chicago, LA (no website yet).  This war has been going on for 11 years.

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 visit us at www.lakejunaluska.com/peace  

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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.

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 WALL STREET ASHEVILLE
Go to www.occupyasheville.org for more information, or call 888-378-0788. Information on Occupy Asheville late breaking events: http://www.occupyasheville.org/events/

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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FROM PEACE ACTION:

I don't find myself agreeing with the Washington Post's editorial board all that often. What used to be known as a liberal newspaper has become more and more conservative, especially on war and peace issues, over the years.

But, Monday's lead editorial was a nice surprise over my morning coffee. 13 Minutes to doomsday  outlines what should be a no-brainer, the case for the U.S. and Russia to take our nuclear weapons off hair-trigger, launch-ready alert.  Of course we at Peace Action want all nuclear weapons abolished worldwide, by 5:00 this afternoon if possible! But de-alerting is one of the single most effective steps we could take to reduce the danger of nuclear war.

Tell the president he needs to do it, right away! 

The title of the editorial, 13 Minutes to Doomsday, refers to the time a president would have to make a decision to launch our nuclear missiles in response to a report that the US is under nuclear attack.  Not a lot of time to prevent doomsday.  Today, you can prevent doomsday before it's too late.  To quote the Post, "the president will soon sign off on instructions to the military to implement the posture review," referring to the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, which set overall current U.S. nuclear weapons policy.  Tell the President to take action to decrease the likelihood of an accidental or hasty decision to launch a nuclear attack. Over two decades after the end of the Cold War, this simple step of "de-alerting" nuclear weapons is long overdue.

Help me convince President Obama to take this simple step to make our country-- and the world-- safer.

Humbly for Peace,

Kevin Martin
Executive Director
Peace Action

http://bit.ly/wKyAtD

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Subject: Don't Clinch Fracking in NC with Fractured Voting Rule

I signed a petition to The North Carolina State House which says:  "No political party, by using unfair voting practices, should be allowed to push through and clinch a bill to which the majority of House members and their constituents are opposed.

Correct the vote on the override of “fracking bill” S820 and change NC’s House Rules to give members sufficient time to vote and confirm their votes before results are announced."  Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/dont-clinch-fracking?source=s.em.cp&r_by=181732

Thanks!

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The horror that Obama inflicts on innocent children

In Remembrance of Judith Hallock

It has been six months since Judith died.  I had such respect for her.

Faces of the Occupy National Gathering

Voice of Art Documentary

This is from the Iraq Veterans Against the War chapter in Chicago.

A Doorway to Persia

'A Doorway To Persia' was made to educate, inform, inspire, motivate and enlighten those who seek more knowledge about Iran and her people.

Afghans for Peace and Veterans

This interview was in May 2012 in Chicago after the NO TO NATO protest. 

Stop Citizens United

Mark Twain's rewrite of the Battle Hymn of the Republic

Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword;
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored; He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored; His lust is marching on.

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; They have builded him an altar in the Eastern dews and damps; I have read his doomful mission by the dim and flaring lamps -- His night is marching on.

I have read his bandit gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my pretensions, so with you my wrath shall deal; Let the faithless son of Freedom crush the patriot with his heel; Lo, Greed is marching on!"

We have legalized the strumpet and are guarding her retreat;* Greed is seeking out commercial souls before his judgement seat; O, be swift, ye clods, to answer him! be jubilant my feet! Our god is marching on!

In a sordid slime harmonious Greed was born in yonder ditch, With a longing in his bosom -- and for others' goods an itch.

As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich -- Our god is marching on.

Leonard Cohen

Lyrics - "Anthem"

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government --
signs for all to see.

I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

Ring the bells that still can ring ...

You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.

Steve Biko

"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed" - Steve Biko

Photo came from the Frank Talk blog.

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

"Eyes Wide Open" exhibit at All Souls Church in 2006.  There are boots lined up on the floor with the names of US troops from North Carolina who were killed in Iraq.

UPCOMING EVENTS

07/01/12 NATIONAL RAINBOW GATHERING
As per Rainbow Hawk: Just got word from concluded spring council, this year's annual U.S. National Rainbow Gathering, July 1st-7th is to be held in Cherokee National Forest. The site is East of South Holston Lake between the lake and Holston Mountain in the NE corner of TN. N 36.50175 W 82.04347.  More information:  http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/index.html

07/02/12 DINNER WITH PROGRESSIVES
Time is 6 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe and Books.

07/03/12 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE PLANNING MEETING
This will be at 6 PM at UCC church.  Event organizer is Jonah Bolt. For more information email him at jonahbolt@gmail.com.

07/07/12 MOVE TO AMEND EVENT
National MTA spokesman David Cobb is planning to visit Asheville  on July 7th.  Time is 7 to 9 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville.  This is a community forum and planning meeting. More information in the press release below.

07/07/12 GREEN PARTY MEETING
The Buncombe County GREEN Party's business meeting is free & 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.

07/09/12 STAND AGAINST RACISM COMMUNITY PICNIC
This event is for the participants in the dialogues as part of the Stand Against Racism at the YWCA.  It is a community picnic from 6 to 8 PM at Aston Park, Asheville.   Please come!  We will have food provided and games and entertainment as well as an opportunity to get to know your neighbors better.  Please see http://bordc.org/resources/astonparkflyer.pdf for a flyer which we would love for you to print and distribute.  It is also attached.

07/12/12 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
Time is 6:30 PM and location is VFP HQ at the Phil Mechanic Studios: 109 Roberts Street in Asheville. VFP Chapter 099: http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/

07/12/12 MINDFUL OCCUPATION MEETING
Mindful Occupation/The Icarus Project: Friends Make The Best Medicine.  The next Mindful Occupation meetings are scheduled for Thursday, July 12 and Thursday, July 26th at Wall Street Coffeehouse, 6:30pm.  If anyone has any questions, feedback, or wants to expand on any of these ideas, please feel free to do so. In the meantime, be well.  Contact Faith at faithrhyne@gmail.com.  www.mindfuloccupation.org

07/26/12 MINDFUL OCCUPATION MEETING
Mindful Occupation/The Icarus Project: Friends Make The Best Medicine.  The next Mindful Occupation meetings are scheduled for Thursday, July 12 and Thursday, July 26th at Wall Street Coffeehouse, 6:30pm.  If anyone has any questions, feedback, or wants to expand on any of these ideas, please feel free to do so. In the meantime, be well.  Contact Faith at faithrhyne@gmail.com.  www.mindfuloccupation.org