Sunday, April 28, 2013

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week





Tim DeChristopher – photo came from EcoWatch website.





UPCOMING EVENTS

04/30/13 UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION – WNC CHAPTER
There will be a public meeting to explore the UN’s involvement in women’s issues with Dr. Lyndi Hewitt. “The UN, Civil Society, and Violence Against Women and Girls: Where are we now?  Dr. Hewitt is a professor at UNCA. She will present her findings and observations at 6:30 PM at the Mountain View Room at the Sherrill Center at UNCA. Admission is free. For more information, contact info@una-wnc.org.

05/01/13 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Time is 7 PM (program starts at 7:15) at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville (corner of Charlotte & Edwin). Sierra Club will present a program on how the land that became DuPont State Forest was protected from private development. The Blue Ghost Fireflies, one of the wonders of DuPont State Forest, will be also featured. Contact: judymattox@sbcglobal.net, or 828-683-2176 for more information.

05/01/13 MAHEC LUNCH AND LEARN
This will be held at the MAHEC Education Building at 121 Hendersonville Road from 11:30 AM to 1 PM. Watch and discuss "Place Matters," an episode of the PBS series "Unnatural Causes: Inequality Making Us Sick?"  BYO lunch.

05/01/13 INTERNATIONAL WORKER’S DAY
Employees from around the Asheville-Buncombe area will honor International Workers’ Day on May 1 here in Asheville with a rally, speeches and moving picket to City Hall. The rally begins at 4 p.m. at the Vance Monument, downtown Asheville. The moving picket will end at the Pack Memorial Library where organizers will facilitate a collaborative conversation on labor and workers rights within our community.
4 PM - Rally at Vance Monument
4:45 PM - Moving Picket
6 PM - Asheville Fair Wages Meeting at the Pack Memorial Library
For more information, please feel free to contact John at 828-230-6902 or Dana at doglesby.f12@warren-wilson.edu.  

05/02/13 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/

05/02/13 JUBILEE FILM NIGHT
There will be a screening of "The Help" at Jubilee Community Church from 7 PM to 9 PM. Jubilee Community Church is at 46 Wall Street in Asheville. They will watch film excerpts and then engage in a conversation highlighting and proving issues raised in the story of The Help. For more information, contact Meta Commerse at 828-407-336.

05/02 YWCA BLACK & WHITE GALA
Wrap up party for the Stand Against Racism campaign. Tickets and information at www.ywcaofasheville.org. Attire is fun, festive, creative, black and white. Time is 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM. Tickets cost $50 per person.

05/03/13 NATIONAL WAR TAX RESISTANCE GATHERING IN ASHEVILLE
The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC) will hold its National Gathering, at the Flood Fine Arts Center in the Phil Mechanics Building at 109 Roberts Street May 3rd through the 5th featuring workshops about War Tax Resistance, panels and keynote addresses by Cindy Sheehan and author David Swanson. A complete schedule of events and registration form with dates and times can be viewed at: http://www.nwtrcc.org/gatheringMay2013.php. David Swanson will present the keynote address on Friday May 3rd, 8pm at the Flood Fine Arts Center, in the River Arts District, 109 Roberts St. His presentation titled, “Lessons from an Overlooked Anti-War Movement” will center around thoughts from his various publications including “War is a Lie.” There will be a community potluck at 7 PM on Friday also. Cindy Sheehan's keynote address on Saturday May 4th, 8pm at the Flood Fine Arts Center, will detail examples of why “War Tax Resistance IS Courage” using material from her popular podcast titled “Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox.” How to go about refusing to pay taxes for war will be part of the program allowing for the audience to begin to think about alternative methods for resisting taxes going to the military. THERE IS A NEED FOR HOSTS TO PROVIDE HOUSING - PLEASE CONTACT LOCAL ORGANIZERS AT NEWSOUTHNETWORK@GMAIL.COM OR CALL 828-301-6683.

05/04/13 OCCUPY ASHEVILLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
This will be held at 2 PM at Pritchard Park. Please come and help decide the future of Occupy Asheville.

05/06/13 GREEN PARTY MEETING
The Buncombe County GREEN Party's business meeting is open to the public. It is held on the first Monday of the month. Time is 6 PM and location is the Fortune Building (upstairs), at 729 Haywood Rd., West Asheville. Parking in back and on the street. Contact Ronald @ 828-LUCK-180 or Larry @ 828-225-4347 for more information.

05/07/13 CLEAN WATER FOR NC ANTI-FRACKING MEETING
You're invited to join Clean Water for NC and the Asheville fracking ambassadors for our second monthly meeting and potluck! Time is 6 PM and location is Asheville Friends Meeting at 227 Edgewood Road in Asheville. We'll enjoy some food and conversation, then have a brief update/presentation and discuss more simple ways YOU can take action to prevent fracking's impacts in NC. For more information, contact Katie at katie@cwfnc.org or (828) 251-1291.

05/09/13 ASHEVILLE RISING MEETING
Time will be 7 PM, location to be determined. More information to come.

05/10/13 CHILD WATCH TOUR – HOUSING MATTERS FOR KIDS
There's still time to register for the 2013 Child Watch Tour - Housing Matters for Kids. Friday, May 10th, 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM (lunch-only option from 11:30 - 1:00 is available). The tour, cosponsored by Children First/CIS and the Junior League of Asheville, offers a "field trip for adults" that educates and inspires leadership around important children and youth issues in our community. This year we'll explore how safe, affordable housing is a cornerstone for children's health and education. How can we make smart investments and policy decisions around housing? Join us on May 10th to find out. Registration is open to all! http://statevoices.salsalabs.com/o/512/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=430

05/10/13 SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM NIGHT AT UU CHURCH
“The Last Mountain: A Fight For Our Future” will be shown at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at 7 PM. Discussion to follow. This is a film about Coal Mountain and the power of ordinary Americans who fight for what they believe in. It is a fight to stop mountaintop removal. Donations accepted.

05/11/13 HARD TO RECYCLE EVENT
Time is 10 AM to 2 PM. North Buncombe Hard-to-Recycle Collection at Roses, 165 Weaver Blvd, Weaverville. Asheville GreenWorks has a webpage for H2R information. Questions – call 254-1776 or email info@ashevillegreenworks.org.

05/13/13 MOVE TO AMEND BUNCOMBE COUNTY
Time is 7 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at Charlotte and Edwin Streets in the lower level meeting room. It shall be the mission of Move to Amend Buncombe County to create public demand for passage by the US Congress and ratification by the North Carolina Legislature, and those of other states, of a Constitutional Amendment reserving access to First Amendment protections to natural human beings and the press, defining speech as actual communication and authorizing Congress to regulate the raising and spending of political funds. Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us for more information.

05/16/13 MAHA COMES TO THE MOUNTAINS
Please join Medical Advocates for Healthy Air & the Western North Carolina Alliance for a dinner discussion and update on our state’s air quality. This is for MAHA staff and members, medical and health professionals, and others interested in the connections between air quality and human health. RSVP: Let Rebecca know at rebecca@cleanaircarolina.org if you will attend dinner at 6:30. Non-diners are welcome to attend the presentation at 7 PM. Location TBD.

05/17/13 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. Please go to www.wncpsr.org  for more information, which includes how to get there and other details.

05/18/13 GREEN GRANNIES ‘SING FOR THE CLIMATE’
Join the Green Grannies to "SING FOR THE CLIMATE". This is every third Saturday at 5 PM, Vance Monument.  See the video, singfortheclimate.com.

05/18/13 HARD TO RECYCLE EVENT
Time is 9 AM to 4 PM. Black Mountain Garden Show & Sale at Monte Vista Hotel, 308 W. State Street, Black Mountain. Also Rainbow Recycling’s Plastic Flower Pot (& Tray) Collection - Drop off unwanted pots, pick up ones you can use! Asheville GreenWorks has a webpage for H2R information. Questions – call 254-1776 or email info@ashevillegreenworks.org.

05/25/13 MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO
On May 25, activists around the world will unite to March Against Monsanto. Why do we march? Research studies have shown that Monsanto’s genetically-modified foods can lead to serious health conditions such as the development of cancer tumors, infertility and birth defects. Taking to the streets to show the world and Monsanto that we won't take these injustices quietly. Time is 2 PM and location is Pack Square Park in Asheville.

06/01/13 RALLY FOR BRADLEY MANNING AT FORT MEADE

06/05/13 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
“Our Mountain Treasures: Planning for the Future of our national forests” - a presentation by Jill Gottesman. Time is 7 PM (program starts at 7:15)at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville (corner of Charlotte & Edwin). Contact: judymattox@sbcglobal.net, or 828-683-2176 for more information.

06/15/13 WALK FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN
A walk to keep fossil fuels in the ground. The walk will start near Camp David and over seven days proceeds 63 miles, arriving at the White House on June 22. Contact Steve at earthsun2@gmail.com or Richard at firepeople@main.nc.us for more information.

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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 County Courthouse in Waynesville.

THURSDAY
Asheville Homeless Network meeting at 2 PM at Firestorm Cafe.
Police Brutality Council (discussion) at 11 AM at Firestorm Cafe.

FRIDAY
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.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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Stand up for Native Forests, Stop GE Trees
Resist the Tree Biotechnology 2013 Conference
May 26 - June 1
Asheville, NC

Join Katuah Earth First!, Global Justice Ecology Project and the STOP GE
Trees Campaign for a week of resistance to genetically engineered trees.
At the end of May the International Tree Biotechnology 2013 Conference is
taking place in Asheville, NC. This conference is a gathering of many of
the major players in the genetically engineered tree business and we
intend to greet them with spirited protest.

Timber and utility corporations want to plant millions of acres
genetically engineered trees throughout the South to burn for electricity,
as well as to continue supplying the unsustainable lumber and paper
industries. These trees would be engineered to produce their own
pesticides, grow straighter and faster, tolerate manufactured pesticides,
produce sterile seeds, and reduce lignin content (this is what makes the
wood in a tree strong enough to stand up). If these traits escaped into
native tree populations, the effects would be devastating and
irreversible.

The USDA is already considering approving an industry request to sell
billions of genetically engineered freeze tolerant eucalyptus trees.
These non-native, invasive and flammable trees pose an unprecedented
threat to the forests and communities of the Southern US.

We stand to lose tens of thousands of acres of our diverse and resilient
native forests to sterile monoculture tree plantations that support few if
any native species. These protests will send a critical message to the
USDA as they are poised to approve the first ever commercial planting of
genetically engineered eucalyptus trees in several southern states.

Join activists from around the country for an action packed week of
resistance to GE trees.  We are kicking off the week with a teach-in on
May 27 followed by a mass march to the conference center on May 28th. We
are organizing and encouraging affinity group actions throughout the week
to ensure the GE tree industry does not get a moment’s rest during their
stay in Asheville.

Please join us! You can help us fight GE trees right now by passing along
this call to action and by donating to:

See you in the streets!

Or contact: katuahearthfirst@riseup.net
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