UPCOMING EVENTS
07/28/14 EXHIBIT AT YMI CULTURAL CENTER
“Cash Crop” is an emotionally moving and historical glimpse of the bondage endured by more than 15 million slaves during the trans-Atlantic slave trade by sculptor Stephen Hayes. The exhibition, which features 15 life-size sculptures of human beings in shackles, invites viewers to enter an emotional, physical, and psychic space to confront the past, present, and future. Admission is $6 for adults, free for students through 12th grade. This will run until August 27, 2014. Location is Ray Auditorium at the YMI Cultural Center at 39 South Market Street in Asheville. For more information please contact Sharon at info@ymiculturalcenter.org.
07/29/14 SWAIN COUNTY COALITION AGAINST FRACKING
The Swain County Coalition against Fracking and the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River (WATR) are sponsoring a series of videos on Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking). We invite everyone to view this extraordinary documentary depicting what can happen to our environment and how our property values will be affected if fracking is forced on us. Come stand with us in the fight against fracking. “Triple Divide” will be shown at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City at 7 PM and it will be shown at Mad Batter in Sylva at 6:30 PM. Both are free.
07/29/14 FUNDRAISER FOR PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES
Enjoy delicious and locally sourced varieties of craft hard apple cider. Sample 3 Urban Orchard Ciders paired with an offering of dips, cheeses and meats from local purveyors. Gain a deeper understanding of the delicate process of this historic beverage during a private tour of the Cidery led by industry professionals. Time is 5 to 7 PM and location is Urban Orchard Cider Company at 210 Haywood Road in Asheville. Suggested donation of $15 per person at the door. RSVP to Betsy by calling 828-210-3444 or emailing betsy@pisgahlegal.org.
07/29/14 THE ROAD TO CLEAN-UP IN SOUTH ASHEVILLE
A CTS of Asheville Community Meeting, sponsored by POWER Action Group, will take place at the Roberson High school Auditorium in south Asheville on Tuesday, July 29 from 6 to 7:30 PM. The theme is "Focus on the Future" and will emphasize movement toward cleanup efforts at the Superfund Site. Due to roadside construction, the high school auditorium should be accessed from Springside Road. This was on Facebook under “The Road to Clean-Up”.
07/30/14 DOCUMENTARY IN SYLVA
An investigation of impacts from fracking in Pennsylvania, “Triple Divide” has been called “a bombshell that could reverberate across the state.” It will tour across the country June thru November thanks to a grant from the Investigative News Network with support from the Knight Foundation. The team will cover over 10,000 miles in a Tesla Motors Model S, a long-range, all-electric sedan, and use the company’s nationwide Supercharger system where the electric cars can be quickly recharged for free. The directors aim to cross the U.S. using zero gasoline and emitting zero greenhouse gas pollution. It screens July 30 at 7 PM at Mad Batter in Sylva. Hosted by Clean Water for North Carolina and Western North Carolina Alliance.
07/31/14 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN THE USA OVERVIEW AT ARBORETUM
May 2014 saw the release of the third National Climate Assessment (nca2014.globalchange.gov), the most authoritative and comprehensive report to date on climate change and its impacts in the United States. On Thursday, July 31, the Arboretum will host Laura Stevens, a research scientist with the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites, North Carolina, based at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville. She will address the National Climate Assessment, including how the it came about, its goals and outcomes, and the process involved in creating the report. Her presentation will include a look at past trends in U.S. temperature and precipitation, as well as future climate projections, with a focus on the Southeastern United States. The presentation is free and open to the public, however normal parking fees apply. Location is NC Arboretum at Education Center Auditorium. Members always park free. Time is 6 PM. For more information please call Beth Ross Johnson at (828) 665-2492.
07/31/14 WATER FORUM IN ASHEVILLE
The Water Sustainability Initiative and Lenoir-Rhyne University are planning a water forum for the general public to address local water concerns. We are planning to address the heavy rains this year and last year, the Asheville water system, the CTS site, the Hominy Creek spill, and the coal ash ponds. It is planned to be a positive, answer-oriented event with demonstrations and solutions from the Water Sustainability Initiative. The Water Sustainability Initiative promotes the use of plants, earthworks, tanks, and community engagement to address water issues with improved rain water management and a whole-system approach. Time is 6 PM to 9 PM and location is Lenoir-Rhyne Board Room at 36 Montford Avenue in Asheville.
07/31/14 DOCUMENTARY AT FINE ARTS THEATER IN ASHEVILLE
Asheville Fine Arts Theatre will show "Triple Divide" screening with Q&A with the filmmakers. Co-sponsored by Clean Water for NC and WNC Alliance. Regular admission charges apply. Time is 7 PM. See film description under 07/30/14.
07/31/14 VISIT TO SENATOR HAGAN’S OFFICE IN ASHEVILLE
This visit is to discuss Israel and Palestine issues, particularly the brutal assault on Gaza recently. This is a pro-Palestinian meeting. (If you are on the other side of the issue, I want to encourage you to set up a separate visit with Senator Hagan’s staff.) Please contact Susan atdancewater2@gmail.com if you wish to come on this visit.
08/02/14 POSTER CREATION PARTY FOR SNACK, DON’T FRACK
Time to motivate and create posters for the August fracking events. If you’d like to join us and create, build or just provide support, join us! Feel free to bring your beautiful mind, art supplies, your unicorn, sign-making materials, a few favorite fracking protest sayings, a sense of humor and your favorite libation! Time is 5 to 7 PM and location is Ty’s place. This was posted on Facebook under “Protest Poster Creation Party”.
08/03/14 ASHEVILLE NOW MEETING
Meeting will be held at the YWCA on South French Broad Avenue in Asheville. These meetings will be on the first Sunday of the month, and will start at 2 PM. At this meeting, Asheville Chapter of the National Organization of Women will discuss how you can use your voice, how they are responding to national events, and how the ERA campaign is coming along. For more information contact ashevillenow@live.com
08/04/14 MORAL MONDAYS IN THE MOUNTAINS
Join folks from across the region and state for another energizing and inspiring Mountain Moral Monday - “Moral March to the Polls Rally” on August 4, from 5-6:30 PM at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. The Mountain People’s Assembly, a coalition of WNC organizations, and regional WNC NAACP Branches, will host the return of Mountain Moral Monday, a non-partisan program that will highlight the destructive policies enacted by the N.C. statehouse over the past year while strongly focusing on the voter empowerment campaign, “Moral March to the Polls.” The event will feature Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President of the NC NAACP and other guest speakers, as well as musical entertainment. Westsound and blues and jazz great Kat Williams will headline the musical part of the rally. In addition, there will be opportunities for participants to get involved in voter registration, education and Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) efforts during the current mid-term election cycle. ‘Moral Freedom Summer’ Organizers and volunteers will be available to help register voters. To sign on as a supporter or for more information, email info@mountainmoralmonday.
08/05/14 ASHEVILLE TRANSIT COMMITTEE MEETING
This will be on the first floor conference room at Asheville City Hall. Time is 3:30 PM to 5 PM.
08/06/14 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Sierra Club will present "Birds around the World" with Simon Thompson, world renowned birding expert, on Wed, August 6 at 7 PM. Free, open to the public. Location is the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 1 Edwin Place and Charlotte Street in Asheville. Contact Judy at judymattox@sbcglobal.net or 828-683-2176 for more information.
08/07/14 MOVE TO AMEND VIDEO SERIES
MABCO and the Unitarian Universalist Church Swannanoa Valley are co-sponsoring a free documentary series and the final showing will be of “The Story of Citizens United v. FEC”. 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 when Congress could regulate money in politics. Sponsored by Move to Amend Buncombe County, and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley Social Action. Two videos: Citizens United vs. FEC and Citizens United in North Carolina.The films will be shown at the church, located at 500 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the showing starts at 7 PM. Free of charge. This was posted on Facebook under “Move to Amend Video Series”.
08/09/14 BONFIRES FOR PEACE IN ASHEVILLE
The Traveling Bonfires presents Bonfire for Peace at Prichard Park in Asheville. This is a free concert event for the family and the community, featuring Peace Jones, Pipapelli, Lyric, and Riyen Roots. Time is 4 PM to 9 PM. The Traveling Bonfires roam the country, ushering arts and music events and bringing people together in celebration of peace and multicultural connectedness. For more info, call Marta at 828-280-2309 or emailpasckie@yahoo.com.
08/09/14 FRACK FREE UNIVERSITY WORKSHOP
Hello friends, this is a special invite to Authentic Sustainability: Pitfalls, Pathways and Paradox in Conversation for a Better World:) Time is 2 to 5 PM and location is in downtown Asheville. WNC Frack Free University proudly brings you a special workshop for core-organizers only. This is a collaborative event between WNC Frack Free and the Creative Facilitators. There are only 30 spots so RSVP now. Contact Ty for more information, including how to register, at ty@trustedsharing.com
08/11/14 MOVE TO AMEND BUNCOMBE COUNTY MEETING
Time is 7 PM and location is North Asheville Library. Call Ruth at 232-2883 or email ruthachristie@gmail.com for more information.
08/11/14 SWAIN COUNTY COALITION AGAINST FRACKING MOVIE
The movie “Gasland 2” will be shown by the SCCAF – Swain County Coalition Against Fracking. They are presenting a series of educational movies on the dangers of hydraulic fracturing. The Coalition urges everyone to come view this extraordinary documentary depicting what happens to our environment and property values if fracking is forced on upon good citizens like us. Community awareness and involvement is much needed. Free. This will be held at the Nantahala Brewery on Depot Street in Bryson City at 7 PM.
09/04/14 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF OUR VOICE
We cordially invite you to join us for Our VOICE’s 40th Anniversary Celebration, 40 Years of Starting Conversations featuring keynote speaker Anita Hill, Brandeis University Professor of Law. Ms. Hill started a national conversation by disclosing her experience of workplace sexual harassment which focused the country’s attention on a difficult topic often met with avoidance and silence. Welcome Reception starts at 6:00 PM / Program starts at 7:00 PM. Location is Diana Wortham Theatre in Asheville. You can purchase tickets online or at Our VOICE, Malaprops and aSHEville Museum. For more information regarding our event, please contact us at rvoice@ourvoicenc.org.
09/08/14 MOVE TO AMEND BUNCOMBE COUNTY MEETING
Time is 7 PM and location is North Asheville Library. Call Ruth at 232-2883 or email ruthachristie@gmail.com 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 1 PM at A-Hope on North Ann Street in Asheville.
Youth Outright Poetry Night at United Church of Christ in Asheville at 5 PM
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 at 5 PM.
SUNDAY
Youth OUTright meeting from 4 to 6 PM at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 20 Oak Street in Asheville. Ages 14 - 23 only.
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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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Subject: Peace & Justice Ministry We need You
St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church is forming a Peace and Justice Ministry. This will be open to the entire community from Old Fort thru the Swannanoa Valley to Asheville, and to any person of faith, not only Roman Catholics. First, the advisors will be from many faiths; the members and mailing list subscribers may be from any faith; activity Group Organizers will be Advisors or St.MM members. We strongly believe that an ecumenical group will be more effective than a Roman Catholic only group. Your input of a small amount of time will greatly benefit the entire community.
We would like you to engage with us in any capacity that you wish. Please reply by typing in:
Name:
Faith:
Interests:
Advisor:
Member:
Activity Leader:
Event Participant:
Mailing List Subscriber only:
You may phone me at 828 280 8194 any time.
Phil Bisesi
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FROM LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB:
Status of the Coal Ash Bill
Different versions of the coal ash bill - S 729 “Coal Ash Management Act of 2014” have passed both the House and the Senate, but Senator Apodaca (R - Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania), who is taking the lead on the coal ash bill in the Senate, has said that the Senate will vote not to concur on the bill because changes are needed. Specifically, he noted that he would like changes to:
1) the variance procedure added by the House that would allow the Secretary of DENR to grant an extension to deadlines in the bill; and
2) the agency location and makeup of the Coal Ash Management Commission.
Procedurally, after the Senate votes to not concur - the coal ash bill will go to conference - which means that House and Senate leaders will appoint legislator conferees who will meet in private to iron out differences and come up with a final bill.
A major environmental concern remaining in regards to the coal ash bill is the lack of clear standards to ensure that all closure methods are protective of groundwater near coal ash sites. All 33 coal ash ponds at 14 coal plants in North Carolina are leaking toxic heavy metals into the groundwater. Without clear guidelines, this bill could allow coal ash at 10 of these plant sites to stay in place, continuing to pollute our groundwater, lakes, and rivers.
Please contact your legislator asking them to add clear standards to the coal ash bill to ensure that any closure method allowed is protective of groundwater near coal ash sites.
Please contact State Legislators:
Buncombe County: Tim.Moffitt@ncleg.net -- 919-715-3012
Nathan.Ramsey@ncleg.net -- 919-733-5746
Haywood, Madison, Yancey Counties:
Michelle.Presnell@ncleg.net -- 919-733-5732
Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon Counties:
Roger.West@ncleg.net -- 919-733-5859
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