Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

WV protest:  Photo came in an email from Energy Action Coalition. There is information at the end of this post on local efforts to help the people of West Virginia.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Special note: Buses are going from Asheville to Raleigh on 2-8-14 for the Moral March on Raleigh. See listing under 02/08/14.

01/27/14 BUILDING BRIDGES OF ASHEVILLE - SESSION STARTS

This session goes from 7 to 9 PM every Monday evening from January 27 to March 24. Location is MAHEC at 121 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. Join us for compelling dialogue, community building, and a call to action. The $30 registration fee includes materials, with a special discount for public school teachers. Continuing Education Units are available for health professionals, clergy, educators, and others. Register online at www.buildingbridges-ashevillenc.org. For more information call (828) 777-4585.

01/27/14 UNCA HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL

UNC Asheville’s Amnesty International Student Chapter will hold its ninth annual Human Rights Film Festival January 27-31. Monday, Jan. 27—Born This Way —with intimate access to the lives of four young gay Cameroonians, this film offers a vivid and poetic portrait of day-to-day life in the nation that leads the world in arrests for homosexuality. This film will screen in the Highsmith University Union Grotto at UNCA. For more information, contact Mark Gibney, Belk Distinguished Professor of Political Science, at mgibney@unca.edu or 828.250.3870. Films will be shown at 7 p.m. in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union. The festival is free and open to the public.

01/27/14 PUBLIC LECTURES AT UNCA

“Getting Global responsibility on the ‘Rights’ Track” will be the topic at a lecture at Karpen Hall at 3 PM. “Egypt” will be the topic of a lecture at Lipinsky Auditorium at 11:25 AM. “What Middle Ages? The Golden Age of Muslim Civilization” will be the topic at Humanities Lecture Hall at 11:25 AM.

01/28/14 UNCA HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL

UNC Asheville’s Amnesty International Student Chapter will hold its ninth annual Human Rights Film Festival January 27-31. Tuesday, Jan. 28—Camp 14: Total Control Zone—a portrait of a young man who was born in and grew up in a brutal North Korean jail as the son of political prisoners, yet still found the will to escape. This film will screen in the Highsmith University Union Grotto at UNCA. For more information, contact Mark Gibney, Belk Distinguished Professor of Political Science, at mgibney@unca.edu or 828.250.3870. Films will be shown at 7 p.m. in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union. The festival is free and open to the public.

01/28/14 SENTENCING FOR ANTI-NUCLEAR ACTIVISTS

This will be in Knoxville and there is a van going from Asheville. And if you would like to go to the Federal Court in Knoxville to witness the sentencing and support these activists (known as the Oak Ridge Three) in a van, please contact Jim Brown at Jim@p-e-a-c-e.org ASAP. The van will leave at 6:05 AM from Harris Teeter on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville, and will return on Tueday evening. Cost is $11. There is limited space on the van, so contact Jim right away.

01/28/14 THE NEW PEOPLE’S ADVOCACY ACTION TEAM

Have you ever wanted to make a difference around issues that affect you and your family? Join the last Voices For Economic Justice class from Just Economics for a new action-oriented group that meets bi-monthly to talk about our lives, learn skills, to advocate for ourselves, and take action immediately on a different issue at each gathering. The first group happens on January 28 from 6 to 8 PM. Location is 50 South French Broad Avenue in downtown Asheville at United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. A teach-in and focused action on the state of healthcare and Medicaid in NC. Facilitated by VOICES members and Peggy Weil from WNCAP. Contact Amy for more information or to RSVP at 505-7466 or amy@justeconomicswnc.org.

01/29/14 UNCA HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL

UNC Asheville’s Amnesty International Student Chapter will hold its ninth annual Human Rights Film Festival January 27-31. Wednesday, Jan. 29— Rafea: Solar Mama— overcoming her husband’s objections and traditions that bar female leadership, a woman living in one of Jordan's poorest desert villages joins 30 illiterate women from different countries at the Barefoot College in India who train to become solar engineers over the course of six months. This film will screen in Highsmith University Union, Alumni Hall, at UNCA. For more information, contact Mark Gibney, Belk Distinguished Professor of Political Science, at mgibney@unca.edu or 828.250.3870. Films will be shown at 7 p.m. in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union. The festival is free and open to the public.

01/29/14 GREEN DRINKS

Join us Wednesday January 29th at 6 PM at the Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe for an update on “Coal ash: In our back yard and beyond” presented by Joan Walker of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Anna Jane Joyner and Hartwell Carson of Western North Carolina Alliance and French Broad Riverkeeper. Coal ash, the toxic trash left when coal is burned for electricity, threatens communities and precious water resources across North Carolina and the Southeast. In the absence of federal regulations, utilities have been dumping the waste in massive lagoons next to waterways and neighborhoods for decades. This presentation will get you up to speed on the current landscape of coal ash in the southeast, the status of long-awaited federal regulations, and how citizens are using the courts to protect communities and waterways from this toxic threat—including right here in Asheville on the French Broad River. The Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe is transitioning into their winter hours. They will close to the public at 5 PM but will still offer Green Drinks attendees food service until 5:30 PM. Please plan accordingly if you would like to purchase dinner. Thank you. Presentation is at 6 PM.

01/29/14 NATIVE AMERICAN FILM – RECLAIMING SACRED GROUND

This film series discusses Native American representation in film. This will they will show “Smoke Signals”. Location is West Asheville Library and time is 6:30 PM. Free and open to the public.

01/30/14 UNCA HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL

UNC Asheville’s Amnesty International Student Chapter will hold its ninth annual Human Rights Film Festival January 27-31. Thursday, Jan. 30—In the Shadow of the Sun—filmed over six years, this film tells the story of two men with albinism in Tanzania pursuing their dreams in the face of virulent prejudice. This film will screen in the Highsmith University Union Grotto at UNCA. For more information, contact Mark Gibney, Belk Distinguished Professor of Political Science, at mgibney@unca.edu or 828.250.3870. Films will be shown at 7 p.m. in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union. The festival is free and open to the public.

01/30/14 UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION BOOK DISCUSSION

“When The Rivers Run Dry:  Water - The Defining Crisis of the 21st Century” by Fred Pearce will be discussed at Edna’s Restaurant on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville at 6 PM. “WATER IS LIFE” was the theme for our United Nations Day Program last Fall, and this discussion of Fred Pearce’s book is a follow-up on what is recognized as one of the most crucial issues facing all nations. John McGrath, Grist, says:  “The one-word review of Pearce’s books is: Terrifying.” We look forward to your joining us.  Questions?  Feel free to contact Betty at info@una-wnc.org.

01/31/14 UNCA HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL

UNC Asheville’s Amnesty International Student Chapter will hold its ninth annual Human Rights Film Festival January 27-31. Friday, Jan. 31—An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story— a documentary chronicling the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton for the brutal murder of his wife in 1986, and the team of attorneys who spent years fighting for the right to test DNA evidence found at the murder scene. This film will screen in the Highsmith University Union Grotto at UNCA. For more information, contact Mark Gibney, Belk Distinguished Professor of Political Science, at mgibney@unca.edu or 828.250.3870. Films will be shown at 7 p.m. in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union. The festival is free and open to the public.

01/31/14 ‘INEQUALITY FOR ALL’ FILM SHOWING

This movie will be screened by Land of the Sky UCC in the Fellowship Hall of Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, 123 Kenilworth Road in Asheville. The Fellowship Hall is behind the church. There is a parking lot in back. Love offering that evening will go to Pisgah Legal. Time is 6:30 PM.

02/01/14 SWANNANOA VALLEY MLK JR. PRAYER BREAKFAST

The Rev. Michael J. S. Carter will be the keynote speaker for the 24th annual Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. prayer breakfast on Saturday, February 1 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Camp Dorothy Walls in Black Mountain. His speech is entitled “Dreamer.” Everyone is cordially invited to attend this special celebration. Rev. Carter is minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley in Black Mountain. Tickets to the breakfast are $12. Patron tickets are $35, with $23 of that amount going to the scholarship fund. For tickets or more details contact Archie Pertiller at (828) 669-1281, Roberta Madden at (828) 419-0730, or any member of the board of the Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Corporation.

02/03/14 STEM LECTURE AT UNCA

The STEM Lecture Series is interdisciplinary with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This series of lectures is designed to highlight STEM concepts and connect them to issues of personal behavior and public policy. On February 3, 2014, Dr. Amy Lanou, will present “Sifting Through the Hype: Miracle Meal or Dietary Disaster?”  These lectures are held in the Reuter Center, Room 206, from 4:30-6 p.m. and are free and open to the public.   

02/04/14 GREAT DECISIONS LECTURE SERIES AT UNCA

“Economic statecraft and trade.” America's foreign policy tools are not limited to sanctions, treaties or military campaigns - they also include the sales pitch. The logic behind this pitch, or "economic statecraft," is simple: promote the benefits of democracy and the free market. In so doing, the U.S. gains valuable and stable partners, both in business and in diplomacy; with a focus on Mexico and Latin America.  Speaker is Dr. Debra Sabia, Georgia Southern University. The Great Decisions Program's goal is to discuss, debate, and learn about International Affairs, National Security, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Individual lectures are $10 each.  Full time students admitted free of charge. Time is 7:30 PM and location is the Manheimer Room of the Reuter Center at UNCA.

02/04/14 FREEDOM DAY DOCUMENTARY AT UNCA

Time is 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM - Highsmith University Union 143 – Grotto. “National Freedom Day” honors the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a joint House & Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. President Lincoln signed the Amendment outlawing slavery on February 1, 1865. Join us for a documentary and discussion commemorating this historical event.

02/04/14 BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM AT UNCA

“The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” Episode One: The Black Atlantic (1500 - 1800). Time is 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM - Highsmith University Union 114 - Intercultural Center. The Black Atlantic explores the truly global experiences that created the African-American people. Beginning a full century before the first documented “20-and-odd” slaves who arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, the episode portrays the earliest Africans, both slave and free, who arrived on these shores. But the transatlantic slave trade would soon become a vast empire connecting three continents. Through stories of individuals caught in its web, like a 10-year-old girl named Priscilla who was transported from Sierra Leone to South Carolina in the mid-18th century, we trace the emergence of plantation slavery in the American South. The late 18th century saw a global explosion of freedom movements, and The Black Atlantic examines what that Era of Revolutions - American, French and Haitian - would mean for African Americans and for slavery in America. Free and open to the public.

02/04/14 WOMEN’S GROUP AT FIRESTORM CAFÉ & BOOKS

This will be a four week series, starting at 6:30 PM on February 4 and going until February 25. Come explore the spiritual and creative gifts we have as individuals and as a group to empower ourselves and one another. Sponsored by the Asheville Lesbian Brunch & Social Club. February 4th – Nikki will lead a group on the art of scripting, the power of the written and spoken word to discover what those words create and what that can manifest for you in the coming year. February 11th – Lori will lead a discussion on the challenges and rewards of emotional intimacy in relationships, including friendship, family and partnerships. Why do lesbian relationships seem so difficult to maintain? What can we as a community do to nurture healthy partnerships? February 18th – Amy will lead a group on gender expectations, expression and identification, exploring manifestations from childhood through development of our sexuality. How does patriarchy affect lesbian/bisexual and trans identity and relationships? How can we help ourselves and one another navigate gender? February 25th – TBA

02/05/14 SIERRA CLUB MEETING AND GREEN DRINKS

Join Asheville Green Drinks and the Sierra Club Wednesday February 5th at 7 PM for a presentation on “Biofuels: a fully integrated local energy system.”  Blue Ridge Biofuels will discuss recycling used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel for vehicles and heating homes. Location is the Unitarian Congregation, Edwin Place and Charlotte Street in Asheville. Contact: Judy Mattox, 828-683-2176

02/06/14 BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT UNCA – TALK

Talk by Elizabeth Pascoe, Asst Prof of Psychology, titled “Effects of Discrimination on Health.” Time is 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM, and location is Carmichael Hall 231 - SMART Classroom. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Effects of Discrimination on Health - a talk by Elizabeth Pascoe, PhD. Free and open to the public.

02/08/14 MORAL MARCH ON RALEIGH - H K on J PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY

All Roads Lead to Raleigh for H K on J 8 on February 8, 2014. In 2014, Raleigh will host the largest people's assembly yet.  Thousands of people from across North Carolina, and across the United States, will assemble on Jones Street, to protest the immoral and unconstitutional spirit that has taken over the Peoples House. Organized by the NC NAACP. On February 8 people from across NC will gather at Shaw University on South St. between Wilmington St. and Blount St. at 9:30 AM in downtown Raleigh. The march to Jones Street will begin at 10:30 AM after which we will begin the mass people's assembly on the doorstep of the People's House, the NC General Assembly.

PURCHASE BUS TICKETS FOR THE ‘MORAL MARCH ON RALEIGH’ & PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY

The Mountain People’s Assembly is sponsoring buses from Asheville to Raleigh for the 'Moral March on Raleigh.' The cost of a bus ticket is sliding scale from $20-$50 (actual cost is $38.40 per seat). Seats must be reserved and purchased by Feb. 5 – there will be NO money collected the day of the rally.

There are two ways to purchase tickets:

1. Via the Paypal “Donate” Button at www.MountainMoralMonday.org. In the comments section, indicate the names of the person(s) for whom you are purchasing tickets. If you cannot fit all the names in the space allowed, send a message to info@mountainmoralmonday.org.

2. Mail a check – made out to Mountain Voices Alliance, PO Box 8052, Asheville, NC  28814. Include a list of how many tickets you are purchasing and the names of ticketholders.

The buses will begin loading in Asheville at 4 am (leaving promptly at 4:30 am) in front of 35 Woodfin St. (across from the YMCA) in order to arrive in Raleigh in time to gather at Shaw University (South St. between Wilmington St. and Blount St.) at 9:30 am. The march to the NC General Assembly on Jones Street begins at 10:30 am. Buses will re-load in Raleigh between 1:30-2, for an approximate return time of 6 to 7 pm.

If you need to request a scholarship, or if your organization would like to donate to help cover the cost of the buses and scholarships, contact asstminister@uuasheville.org. Scholarships will be given on a first come, first served basis.

02/10/14 ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE FOOD POLICY COUNCIL MEETING

Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council Meeting of the Whole will be held at Sherrill Center (Mountain View Suite) at UNCA. Join us in celebrating the hard work and progress made over the past year in supporting a “healthy food friendly” Asheville and Buncombe County. Learn more about our work and help us set our priorities for the next year. We want YOUR input. Time is 4 to 6:30 PM.  New member orientation at 4 PM. Email us with questions and to find out how to register at info@abfoodpolicy.com.

02/11/14 GREAT DECISIONS LECTURE SERIES AT UNCA

“Defense and the rise of new technologies.” From robotic planes to cyber-weapons to 3D printing and human enhancement, new "game-changing" technologies are moving from science fiction to battlefield reality - all during an age of fiscal austerity. But in wrestling with the new, we can actually learn a great deal from the past. What are the "killer applications" of the 21st century battlefield, and in turn, what are the issues that the U.S. must navigate in adapting to them? Speaker is Maj. Gen. Rick Devereaux, Ret. USAF, and current consultant. The Great Decisions Program's goal is to discuss, debate, and learn about International Affairs, National Security, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Individual lectures are $10 each.  Full time students admitted free of charge. Time is 7:30 PM and location is the Manheimer Room of the Reuter Center at UNCA.

02/11/14 BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM AT UNCA

“The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” Episode Two: The Age of Slavery (1800 - 1860). Time is 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM - Highsmith University Union 114 - Intercultural Center. The Age of Slavery illustrates how black lives changed dramatically in the aftermath of the American Revolution. For free black people in places like Philadelphia, these years were a time of tremendous opportunity. But for most African Americans, this era represented a new nadir. King Cotton fueled the rapid expansion of slavery into new territories, and a Second Middle Passage forcibly relocated African Americans from the Upper South into the Deep South. Yet as slavery intensified, so did resistance. From individual acts to mass rebellions, African Americans demonstrated their determination to undermine and ultimately eradicate slavery in every state in the nation. Courageous individuals, such as Harriet Tubman, Richard Allen and Frederick Douglass, played a crucial role in forcing the issue of slavery to the forefront of national politics, helping to create the momentum that would eventually bring the country to war. Free and open to the public.

02/13/14 BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM AT UNCA

“The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” Episode Three: Into the Fire (1861-1896). Time is 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM - Highsmith University Union 114 - Intercultural Center. Into the Fire examines the most tumultuous and consequential period in African-American history: the Civil War and the end of slavery, and Reconstruction’s thrilling but tragically brief “moment in the sun.” From the beginning, African Americans were agents of their own liberation - forcing the Union to confront the issue of slavery by fleeing the plantations, and taking up arms to serve with honor in the United States Colored Troops. After Emancipation, African Americans sought to realize the promise of freedom - rebuilding families shattered by slavery; demanding economic, political and civil rights; even winning elected office. Just a few years later, however, an intransigent South mounted a swift and vicious campaign of terror to restore white supremacy and roll back African-American rights. Yet the achievements of Reconstruction would remain very much alive in the collective memory of the African-American community. Free and open to the public.

02/13/14 A CALL TO ACTION AGAINST CORPORATE RULE

We will present a recording of David Cobb, National Spokesperson for the national grassroots organization, Move to Amend. He will speak on “A Call to Action Against Corporate Rule”. Sponsored by Move to Amend, Buncombe County and The Unitarian Universalist Congregation Swannanoa Valley, Social Action Committee. This will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 500 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Doors open at 6:30PM, event starts at 7 PM, questions and answers at 8 PM. Learn about the nationwide campaign to amend the Constitution to return corporations to their earlier state when they were not given the rights of citizens, when money wasn’t speech and Congress could regulate money in politics. For more information call: Geoffrey at (828) 669-0619  or Susan at (828) 669-1785. Free and open to the public.

02/14/14 UU SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM

On Friday, February 14th, we are screening the thought-provoking documentary, "Speciesism: The Movie". Modern farms are struggling to keep a secret. Most of the animals used for food in the United States are raised in giant, bizarre factories, hidden deep in remote areas of the countryside. Speciesism: The Movie director Mark Devries set out to investigate.  The documentary takes viewers on a sometimes funny, sometimes frightening adventure, crawling through the bushes that hide these factories, flying in airplanes above their toxic “manure lagoons,” and coming face-to-face with their owners. The film is at 7 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist in Asheville. No charge for the film, donations are welcome. Open to the public.

02/15/14 ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY THE WORLD SAID NO TO WAR

The February 15, 2003 anti-war protest was a coordinated day of protests across the world in which more than 10 million people in more than 600 cities expressing opposition to the imminent Iraq War.  In remembrance of this important date, we can reflect on the purpose of protest, and how we can make our voices heard in the upcoming year.

02/15/14 VAGINA MONOLOGUES AT UNCA

Time is 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and location is Carmichael Humanities Lecture Hall. Come see VDay UNC Asheville's annual performance of The Vagina Monologues! The award-winning play is based on V-Day Founder/playwright Eve Ensler's interviews with more than 200 women. With humor and grace the piece celebrates women's sexuality and strength. Through this play and the liberation of this one word, countless women throughout the world have taken control of their bodies and their lives. For more than twelve years, The Vagina Monologues has given voice to experiences and feelings not previously exposed in public. Tickets are $5 for students with ID and $7 for community members. All proceeds will benefit VDay campaigns and SPEAK Up!!! on campus.

02/18/14 GREAT DECISIONS LECTURE SERIES AT UNCA

“Food security and climate change.” Even as a sixth of the world's population suffers from chronic hunger, a changing climate threatens to wreak havoc on already insecure and vulnerable populations. As food and water become scarce and once fertile land becomes barren, the U.S. finds itself faced with new challenges in securing the globe. The U.S. is getting ready, but can it lead the way to climate reform? Speaker is Dr. Amy Knisley of Warren Wilson College. The Great Decisions Program's goal is to discuss, debate, and learn about International Affairs, National Security, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Individual lectures are $10 each.  Full time students admitted free of charge. Time is 7:30 PM and location is the Manheimer Room of the Reuter Center at UNCA.

02/18/14 BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM AT UNCA

“The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” Episode Four: Making a Way out of No Way (1897-1940). Time is 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM - Highsmith University Union 114 - Intercultural Center. Making a Way Out of No Way portrays the Jim Crow era, when African Americans struggled to build their own worlds within the harsh, narrow confines of segregation. At the turn of the 20th century, a steady stream of African Americans left the South, fleeing the threat of racial violence, and searching for better opportunities in the North and the West. Leaders like Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey organized, offering vastly different strategies to further black empowerment and equality. Yet successful black institutions and individuals were always at risk. At the same time, the ascendance of black arts and culture showed that a community with a strong identity and sense of pride was taking hold in spite of Jim Crow. “The Harlem Renaissance” would not only redefine how America saw African Americans, but how African Americans saw themselves. Free and open to the public.

02/18/14 VOTING RIGHTS UPDATE

A voting rights update will be held by the League of Women Voters in Asheville and Buncombe County from 6 PM to 8 PM. Location is Pack Memorial Library in downtown Asheville. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact jumpstartthevote@gmail.com.

02/19/14 GREEN DRINKS

Join us Wednesday February 19th at 6 PM at the Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe for a presentation by automotive engineer Dave Erb on “Powering Forward:  Four Commandments, Four Heresies, Three Comments,” a talk first delivered to the American Solar Energy Society’s 2013 annual convention. Dave’s presentation is structured to provide a framework within which to consider sustainable transportation (“Four Commandments”), to dispel some widely-held myths (“Four Heresies”), and to call environmentalists to practical, effective action (“Three Comments). The Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe is transitioning into their winter hours. They will close to the public at 5 PM but will still offer Green Drinks attendees food service until 5:30 PM. Please plan accordingly if you would like to purchase dinner. Thank you. Presentation is at 6 PM.

02/20/14 BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM AT UNCA

“Watch n Learn: Four Little Girls”. Time is 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM - Highsmith University Union 143 – Grotto. This fascinating documentary tells the story of the notorious racial terrorist bombing of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, a historic African American church in Birmingham, Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement. Directed by Spike Lee. Free and open to the public.

02/20/14 BUNCOMBE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC WOMEN EVENT

At the Buncombe County Democratic Women event, Christopher Brook (Legal Director, NC ACLU) will be speaking on the ACLU of NC’s marriage lawsuit as well as their challenge to the voter suppression bill passed by the NC legislature last year. The event goes from 6 PM-7 PM and will be held at Democratic Headquarters, located at 920 Old Fairview Road in Asheville. There is a $12 fee if folks want dinner but no charge if you just want to attend. Open to the public.

02/21/14 WESTERN SWING DANCE BENEFIT FOR PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES

Kick up your heels for a good cause! For your listening and dancing pleasure, the Western Wildcats will perform Honky Tonk & Western Swing music at the Altamont Theatre on Church Street in Asheville. Dance lessons at 6:30 pm; Music and Dancing 7-10 pm. $10/person. Y'all come! RSVP to Betsy at betsy@pisgahlegal.org or 210-3444.   

02/25/14 BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM AT UNCA

“The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” Episode Five: Rise! (1940 – 1968). Time is 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM - Highsmith University Union 114 - Intercultural Center. Rise! examines the long road to civil rights, when the deep contradictions in American society finally became unsustainable. Beginning in World War II, African Americans who helped fight fascism abroad came home to face the same old racial violence. But this time, mass media - from print to radio and TV - broadcast that injustice to the world, planting seeds of resistance. And the success of black entrepreneurs and entertainers fueled African-American hopes and dreams. In December 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama, heralding the dawn of a new movement of quiet resistance, with the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as its public face. Before long, masses of African Americans practiced this nonviolent approach at great personal risk to integrate public schools, lunch counters and more. As the civil rights movement scored one historic victory after another, non-violence was still all too often met with violence - until finally, enough was enough. By 1968, Dr. King, the apostle of non-violence, would be assassinated, unleashing a new call for “Black Power” across the country. Free and open to the public.

02/25/14 GREAT DECISIONS LECTURE SERIES AT UNCA

“China's foreign policy.” China has gone to great lengths to emphasize the ‘peaceful’ nature of its meteoric rise. Yet few dispute that China is the dominant regional power in Asia - and in recent years Beijing began to flex its muscles regionally in order to advance its strategic interests. What does the rapid rise of this new superpower mean for other countries in the region, and are there potential points of conflict with the U.S. as it "pivots" to Asia? Speaker is Dr. Jim Lenburg of Mars Hill University (emeritus) and OLLI board chair. The Great Decisions Program's goal is to discuss, debate, and learn about International Affairs, National Security, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Individual lectures are $10 each.  Full time students admitted free of charge. Time is 7:30 PM and location is the Manheimer Room of the Reuter Center at UNCA.

02/25/14 START UP PROJECT ASHEVILLE

On February 26th from 5 to 7 PM, what are you doing? In honor of collaboration we've started a new event, Startup Product Asheville. This hopes to bring together different organizations and networks in the name of building out our support for entrepreneurs, cultural creatives, geeks and the creative class in general. Thank you to Asheville Music Hall for hosting us! We have 4 wonderful speakers lined up and I'm happy to share them here as many of them have just been confirming today. We will have one hour of networking and one hour or a little more of program. Robin Cape - will present the Collider, a collaborative space that will change the entrepreneurial landscape (like an RTP in the making move); Bradley Waldrop - will talk about what an Lean Startup Circle is about; Craig McAnsh - signed on today and hopefully will in part give an update about Mojo, 3d printing and whats next for Asheville; and David Miller - will give us an update on the Story Worlding revolution and hopefully we will have some immersive technology at the event. RSVP here:  http://www.meetup.com/StartupProductAsheville/.

02/27/14 BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM AT UNCA

“The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” Episode Six: A More Perfect Union (1968 – 2013). Time is 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM - Highsmith University Union 114 - Intercultural Center. After 1968, African Americans set out to build a bright new future on the foundation of the civil rights movement’s victories, but a growing class disparity threatened to split the black community in two. As hundreds of African Americans won political office across the country and the black middle class made unprecedented progress, larger economic and political forces isolated the black urban poor in the inner cities, vulnerable to new social ills and an epidemic of incarceration. Yet African Americans of all backgrounds came together to support Illinois’ Senator Barack Obama in his historic campaign for the presidency of the United States. When he won in 2008, many hoped that America had finally transcended race and racism. By the time of his second victory, it was clear that many issues, including true racial equality, remain to be resolved. Now we ask: How will African Americans help redefine the United States in the years to come? Free and open to the public.

02/27/14 SINGER/SONGWRITER AT UNCA

Time is 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Lipinsky Hall 125 – Auditorium. Pakistani Soul Singer-Songwriter - Arooj Aftab’s dynamic voice transcends borders that imprison bodies, minds and spirits. Originally from Pakistan, she created Rebuild Pakistan to promote a vision of peace and healing. Aftab skillfully re-imagines indigenous soul with signature cool by paying homage to classical Pakistani, Sufi, neo-soul and jazz and contemporary world music. UNC Asheville students $5; Area students $7; Campus community $12, General $20 more info: aroojaftabmusic.com.

03/04/14 STEM LECTURE AT UNCA

The STEM Lecture Series is interdisciplinary with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This series of lectures is designed to highlight STEM concepts and connect them to issues of personal behavior and public policy. Dr. Kevin Moorhead will present “The Science of Gardening.”  These lectures are held in the Reuter Center, Room 206, from 4:30-6 p.m. and are free and open to the public.   

03/04/14 GREAT DECISIONS LECTURE SERIES AT UNCA

“Turkey.” A nation at a crossroads, a bridge over an ever-growing chasm between the East and West. Turkey's first Prime Minister Kemal Ataturk envisioned a modern, democratic nation-state built on the ashes of the Ottoman Empire with strong ties to Europe, not the Middle East. But as the clashes between secular and religious groups and the recent protests in Taksim Square show, the soul of Turkey is still very much up for grabs. Speaker is Dr. Samer Traboulsi of UNC-Asheville. The Great Decisions Program's goal is to discuss, debate, and learn about International Affairs, National Security, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Individual lectures are $10 each.  Full time students admitted free of charge. Time is 7:30 PM and location is the Manheimer Room of the Reuter Center at UNCA.

03/05/14 FIGHT FOR SOCIALISM

Capitalism is the exploitation of the masses, with only the top 1% benefiting. Come listen and discuss why and how socialism works. We need revolution from below and working class self-emancipation with the 99% taking control of society to serve its own interest. The economic crisis of 2008 has been weathered by the capitalist class, and profits are at record highs. This has only been possible on the backs for the working class, through austerity. Furthermore, the capitalist class relies on oppression to keep us divided, as Frederick Douglas said, "they divide each, to conquer both". Therefore we must stop the war on women, end the new Jim Crow, and fight against all oppressions. Meet on the bottom floor in the community room at Pack library.  Time is 6 to 8 PM.

03/11/14 GREAT DECISIONS LECTURE SERIES AT UNCA

"Israel." Modern Israel's struggles with the Palestinians have turned what was meant as a safe haven for Jews into the center of a decades-long conflict. The U.S. has stepped in as Israel's ally due to the two countries' shared values, providing years of unparalleled military and diplomatic support. But now those ties are being tested. The Arab Spring, Iran's nuclear ambitions, failed peace talks, and Israel's own decision to give Washington the cold shoulder have put new strains on the 65-year-old "special relationship." Speaker is Dr. Heather Hawn of Mars Hill University. The Great Decisions Program's goal is to discuss, debate, and learn about International Affairs, National Security, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Individual lectures are $10 each.  Full time students admitted free of charge. Time is 7:30 PM and location is the Manheimer Room of the Reuter Center at UNCA.

03/27/14 TO 3/30/14 LAKE JUNALUSKA PEACE CONFERENCE

More information at http://www.lakejunaluska.com/peace/. Early registration is $95. The theme and goals for this year are "Faith, Health, and Peace: Seeking the Basic Right to Good Health for All God's Children." The 2014 Peace Conference seeks to affirm the basic right to good health from the perspective of faith traditions, lift up "the leading causes of life," and explore ways faith communities can combat the causes of poor health, such as disease, violence, and poverty.

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

ONGOING EVENTS

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

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 County Courthouse in Waynesville

THURSDAY

Asheville Homeless Network meeting at 2 PM at Firestorm Cafe

FRIDAY

Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville

Women in Black have a monthly vigil at 5 PM at Vance Monument in Asheville (first Friday only)

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.

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

ACTIONS AND READINGS

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

Community Input Requested on Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan

As part of a regional effort to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters, Buncombe County and the City of Asheville are requesting public feedback on natural disaster risk and preparedness.

This feedback will assist the efforts of Buncombe and Madison Counties to combine respective local natural hazard mitigation plans into one regional plan. A mitigation plan identifies and assesses a community’s natural hazard risks, and determines how to best minimize or manage those risks. A brief survey provides the public an opportunity to share opinions and participate in the regional planning process. Responses will help the planning team to better understand the region's hazard concerns, which can lead to mitigation activities and help lessen the impact of future hazard events. By maintaining a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, local governments are eligible for FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants, which provide funds for eligible mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damages. HMA provides funding opportunities for mitigation activities both before and after a disaster, as well as long-term hazard mitigation measures after a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Residents of Buncombe and Madison Counties are invited to participate in the survey.

Please help the City of Asheville and the Office of Sustainability by completing this survey, and thank you!

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1395816/Public-Participation-Survey-for-Hazard-Mitigation-Planning-Buncombe-Madison

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

From Professor Steve Norris at Warren Wilson College:

Dear friends: As many of you know, nine counties in West Virginia have a severe water crisis brought on by a large spill of chemicals which leaked into a public water supply. More detailed information about the crisis is included below.

Next weekend, I am going to accompany some Warren Wilson students to the affected areas of West Virginia to deliver water to families and hamlets who are most affected. I have a 210 gallon water tank left over from the 2013 Walk for Our Grandchildren, which I will take with me in my truck. I will use it to deliver water from our spring here in Fairview and then donate it to one of the organizations there which are delivering water on an ongoing basis.

The students are also going to carry water in their cars. They are collecting containers and water at the college, but some of this water will be purchased.

If you would like to support and help us, and the 300,000 affected people in West Virginia, we are fundraising in coordination with other organizations. You can mail a check to me directly at 372 Sharon Rd, Fairview, NC 28730. Of if you are want to make a tax-deductible donation toward water relief efforts, please contribute online at www.ecochaplaincy.net/donate with WV Water Crisis in the memo, or in the mail at Eco-Chaplaincy Initiative, PO Box 1114, Black Mountain, NC 28711

Thanks very much. Please contact me if you have questions.   Steve

Steven Norris, 372 Sharon Rd, Fairview, NC 28730, 828-777-7816

North Carolina Support for the West Virginia Water Crisis

***It has been nearly two weeks now since (at least) 7,500 gallons of the coal-chemical Crude-MCHM stored at Freedom Industries’ plant leaked into the Elk River just above the water intake for West Virginia American Water which services all the water for nine counties, 300,000 people.

***This chemical is used in coal-processing and is also found in coal slurry and sludge impoundments throughout the coal region of Appalachia, contaminating the ground water.

***There was an immediate ban on all water use in the nine impacted counties, which has been lifted with exception for pregnant women. However, the coal-chemical odor is still present in the water, and over 97% of West Virginian’s do not trust that it is safe, and no wonder!

***The same politicians such as Senator Manchin and Governor Tomblin who have long called for an end to government regulation, an end of EPA oversight, and stopped funding for existing regulations, are the same ones saying that the water is safe.

***Existing groups such as the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Coal River Mountain Watch, RAMPS, Keepers of the Mountains, Aurora Lights, and more have been working tirelessly through the WV Clean Water Hub to deliver clean water to the communities hit hard by this national disaster.

*** The Red Cross and FEMA have ceased distributing water in many areas claiming that the water is “safe,” but it is still causing skin rashes, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and who knows what all long term effects, so water deliveries are still badly needed.