Sunday, July 21, 2013

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week







Watercolor of Bradley Manning by Deb Vanpoolen






UPCOMING EVENTS

MORAL MONDAYS IN RALEIGH: Across from the legislative building (16 W Jones St) in Raleigh. Organized by the NAACP. Contact: info@naacpnc.org. No information on a bus going to Raleigh from Asheville on 7-22, but Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville is organizing a bus for July 29. Cost is $20. Reserve tickets here: http://uuasheville.org/social-justice/

ONGOING UNTIL JULY 29, 2013:  SUMMER HEAT AND WALK FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN - http://www.2013walkforourgrandchildren.org/  

07/22/13 ASHEVILLE EARTH SABBATH CELEBRATION
The Earth Sabbath Celebrations are 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 of and with the Creator and creation. Time is 7 PM and location is St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Asheville.

07/24/13 COMMUNITY BUILDING & ECOLOGICAL REGENERATION
Join Asheville Green Drinks Wednesday July 24th for a presentation on community building and ecological regeneration! We need to take seriously ideas like, “live locally” and “it takes a village to raise a child.” As noted systems thinker Margaret Wheatley said, “Whatever the problem, community is the answer.” Living locally enhances our local economy, the quality of our food (grown locally), and it has us commute and thus pollute less. Time is 6 PM and location is The Thirsty Monk at 92 Patton Avenue in Asheville. Come early or stay late for community networking.

07/24/13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING
WNC Alliance invites volunteers to sample water in the French Broad River basin. Meet at Westfeldt Park at 280 Old Fanning Bridge Road. More info at 258-8737. This is from noon to 3 PM and will be every Wednesday until 9/25/13.

07/25/13 RE-IMAGINING QUEER & FEMINIST SPACES
Three amazing zinesters -- Sarah Mae (Giving it Up), Elvis Bakaitis (Homos in Herstory), and Dana (Introduce to Major Benefactor) -- share and read from their work, all touching on the theme of queer and feminist spaces. Location is Firestorm in Asheville and time is 7 PM.

07/26/13 OUR VOICE EVENT
Nourish the Soul – Traveling Postcards. Please join us on Friday July 26th from 1:00 – 3:00 at Homewood (19 Zilcoa Street) as we welcome Traveling Postcards founder, Caroline Lovell, and create handmade works of art and inspiration to be shared with women that have experienced sexual violence. We are so thankful to Event Coordinator and Sponsor, Lynn Karegeannes, who is helping arrange the event and share her experience working with Traveling Postcards. Attendees will have the assistance of local artists, if needed, in creating their own personalized works of art with messages of hope, healing, and empowerment. Coffee and desserts will be served. Proceeds from the event benefit Our VOICE and Traveling Postcards. For more information or to be a sponsor of “Nourish the Soul – Traveling Postcards”, please contact us at (828) 252-0562. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased through the link on this website:  http://www.ourvoicenc.org/news/nourish-the-soul-traveling-postcards/

07/27/13 SUMMER HEAT AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Protest by 350.org.

07/28/13 MORAL SUNDAY IN BLACK MOUNTAIN
We invite all concerned citizens to an informational gathering on Sunday July 28th 2013 at 2:30 PM at White Horse Black Mountain in downtown Black Mountain North Carolina. Many mountain citizens have heard something of the actions of the NC Legislature in recent months. Many are eager for more information about the issues, more information about the process by which the legislature has passed these measures, more information about what the average citizen can do to seek positive change. No admission charge. Donations will be accepted for the NAACP. Music from David LaMotte, Bob Hinkle and others.

07/29/13 CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE RELATIONS IN THE USA
Kathryn Liss and George Friday will facilitate a conversation about the George Zimmerman verdict and it's implications for race relations in the U.S. The underlying assumption of White superiority continues to be a decisive factor in American institutions as we have seen in the workings of the judicial system and the outcome of this trial. Racism has changed the way it looks externally so that Americans can feel that we are treating everyone "equally" but we have not recognized the underlying assumptions which structure our institutions so that "equality" results in unfairness. This conversation will provide an environment in which to explore the configurations of structural racism to better illuminate where action needs to be taken. Time is 6 PM and location is Firestorm.

07/31/13 GREEN DRINKS MEETING
2013 North Carolina Legislative Wrap-up: come learn about environmental issues addressed in the recent NC legislative session and what all this means to environmentalists. Time is 6 PM and location is the Thirsty Monk in Asheville.

08/02/13 BENEFIT FOR PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES
A wine tasting, silent auction, and benefit for Pisgah legal services by the Hart Law Group. Location is Appalachian Vintner at 745 Biltmore Ave, Suite 121, Asheville and time is 4:30 to 6:30 PM. Cost is $10 at the door, please RSVP to Betsy at 828-210-3444.

08/05/13 MORAL MONDAY IN ASHEVILLE
Time is 5 to 7 PM and location is Pack Square.  R. William Barber from the state NAACP will lead the rally. Join thousands of us in a Western NC version of a Moral Monday protest to let our NC Legislature know how upset we are with all of the things they are doing.

08/05/13 DINNER WITH PROGRESSIVES MEETING
Dinner with Progressives is a social outlet for thoughtful people in Asheville NC. The gathering includes time to eat together and then enjoy presentations which focus on solutions for a brighter future. Dinner 6-7 PM and speaker 7-8 PM. Location is Firestorm Café & Books in Asheville.

08/07/13 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Join us Wednesday August 7th for a presentation by Bob Wagner and Julie Mayfield, WNC Alliance’s co-directors, who will talk about various community efforts occurring around smart growth and transportation, including a deeper focus on the I-26 Connector Project. Smart Growth is a set of design principles that, among other things, encourages the development of compact, pedestrian-friendly communities, provides transportation and housing choices, encourages mixed-use development, and preserve and enhances downtowns and other urban centers. Environmental, design, and transportation advocates have long advocated smart growth, but health and aging advocates in Asheville are now picking up the baton.  Hear about their efforts and what we hope to accomplish working with them. Programming begins at 7:00 PM. Location is Unitarian Universalist Church at the corner of Charlotte and Edwin Streets in Asheville.

08/12/13 KATUAH EARCH FIRST GREEN SCREEN
KEF Green Screen -  Every second Monday of the month, Katuah Earth First shows videos on relevant environmental struggles. Time is 6 PM and location is Firestorm Café & Books.

08/13/13 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/

08/16/13 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.

08/20/13 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE PERMACULTURE POTLUCK SERIES
Each Month in 2013, YOU are invited to share food, community connection, and explore new/old ways of thinking about land and community. On the 3rd Tuesday of each month, we will gather over potluck meal, and a different local permaculture teacher will present one of David Holmgren's 12 Principles of Permaculture. The August Potluck will feature Keri Evjy of Living Roots Design, and Janell Kapoor, of Ashevillage Institute and Kleiwerks International. They will co-present the principle of "Integrate Rather than Segregate". Make sure you bring something yummy to share (local/organic if possible), dishes and silverware. Location is Community Action Opportunities at 25 Gaston Street, and time is 5:30 PM.

08/22/13 CELEBRATING THE YMI CULTURAL CENTER
“A history of the YMI Cultural Center” will be presented at the YMI Cultural Center at South Market Street in Asheville. Presentation by Dr. Darin Waters, Assistant Professor of History at UNCA. Time is 7 PM.

08/23/13 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE YMI CULTURAL CENTER
This celebration will be a block party at the corner of Eagle & Market Streets at 6 PM. There are other events planned this weekend to mark this occasion, please see www.ymicuturalcenter.org for more information.

08/29/13 MEDEA BENJAMIN READING & SIGNING
Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace co-founder presents her book, Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control. Benjamin provides an extensive analysis of who is producing the drones, where they are being used, who controls these unmanned planes, and what are the legal and moral implications of their use. In vivid, readable style, this book also looks at what activists, lawyers, and scientists across the globe are doing to ground these weapons. Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprops Bookstore in Asheville.

09/04/13 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Presentation on Stop GE Trees and Our Forests Aren’t Fuel. Social is at 7 PM and program starts at 7:15 PM.  Location is Unitarian Universalist Church at the corner of Edwin Place and Charlotte Street in Asheville.

09/06/13 MOVE TO AMEND REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Move to Amend Grassroots Regional Democracy Convergence will be held in Charlotte, NC. This conference is from September 6 to September 8. For more information go to https://movetoamend.org/.

09/08/13 LECTURE ON ‘CARING FOR CREATION AND YOUR SOUL’
Lecture by Dr. Matthew Sleeth, and is followed by conversation with Dr. Matthew Sleeth, Dr. Guy Sayles, Pastor, First Baptist Church, and Anna Jane Joyner, WNC Green Congregations. Event hosted by The Center for Faith and Life of First Baptist Church of Asheville, Blessed Earth, and The Western North Carolina Green Congregations. Time is 6 to 8 PM and location is First Baptist Church of Asheville at 5 Oak Street.

09/21/13 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF 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 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
Third Saturdays – Asheville’s Green Grannies invites the public to “sing for the climate” at Vance Monument.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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FROM THE ACLU:

In California, hundreds of prisoners have been held in solitary for more than a decade – some for infractions as trivial as reading Machiavelli's "The Prince."

Gabriel Reyes describes the pain of being isolated for at least 22 hours a day for the last 16 years: “Unless you have lived it, you cannot imagine what it feels like to be by yourself, between four cold walls, with little concept of time... It is a living tomb...I have not been allowed physical contact with any of my loved ones since 1995...I feel helpless and hopeless. In short, I am being psychologically tortured.”

That’s why over 30,000 prisoners in California began a hunger strike – the biggest the state has ever seen. They’re refusing food to protest prisoners being held for decades in solitary and to push for other changes to improve their basic conditions.

Will you join me in signing the petition asking California Corrections Secretary to end long-term solitary confinement?


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VETERANS FOR PEACE INFORMATION


NEW PUBLICATION OF WAR CRIMES TIMES:http://www.WarCrimesTimes.org/
A publication of Veterans For Peace -- exposing the true costs of war.

Visit VFP HQ at the Phil Mechanic Studios: 109 Roberts Street (the corner of Haywood and Roberts), Asheville, 28801. (828-258-1800). Hours: Tue-Sat 11 to 3 PM.

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