UPCOMING EVENTS
3/14/16 COMPASSION EXPERIENCE
This is an interactive tour of life in the developing world. This will be held at Biltmore Baptist Church, Arden Campus, at 35 Clayton Road in Arden. Free and family friendly. March 14 from 11 AM to 6 PM. What is The Compassion Experience? This free event features an interactive journey through the true stories of children living in developing countries like the Philippines, Kenya, Uganda and the Dominican Republic. In over 2,000 square feet of interactive exhibit space, visitors will step inside homes, markets and schools — without getting on a plane. Each child's story starts in poverty but ends in hope.
03/14/16 UNITED TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY MEETING
United to Restore Democracy (Asheville) is a local non-partisan citizens group that has organized to overturn the destructive Citizens United decision and reclaim the liberties and privileges guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution for real, living, breathing people. United to Restore Democracy (the local group formerly known as MABCO) will be hosting a must see guest speaker, Paul Cienfuegos, at our general meeting this month. Paul Cienfuegos is a national leader in the Community Rights Movement, a growing national movement to empower communities to assert their rights to local self-governance, and protect themselves from corporate rule. Our meeting will be on Monday, March 14th at the North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Avenue, from 7:00-8:30 PM. (We are meeting on the 2nd Monday of this month, rather than the 3rd, in order to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to have a dynamic and engaging guest speaker) Please come Join us, to learn how you can get involved. As Paul Cienfuegos says "we are the people we have been waiting for". United to Restore Democracy (Asheville) is a local non-partisan citizens group that has organized to overturn the destructive Citizens United decision and reclaim the liberties and privileges guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution for real, living, breathing people. Our group is part of a larger State and National movement to educate, empower, and bring awareness to the issues related to corporate personhood, the corruptive influence of money in politics and the impacts that has on local, state and national communities. As always if you have any question or comment please feel free to contact Diana Kruk, via email at dianakruk@gmaill.com, or 828-275-0680 (call or text).
03/14/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE MEETING
“EarthSmart Cleaning and Grounds Maintenance” is your one-stop source for complete or “a la carte” cleaning and grounds maintenance for your home! With more than 25 years of experience in the total home care business, owner and cleaning expert, Wes Heath, knows what it takes to exceed your highest expectations. He will be presenting at Transition Asheville meeting at 6:30 PM at the Parish Hall at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Charlotte Street in Asheville. For more information, contact transitionasheville@gmail.com.
03/14/16 ART AT WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
“From Apartheid to Democracy” exhibit is from the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, South Africa. This will be held in Hunter Library, 2nd floor gallery. This runs until May 20, 2016.
03/15/16 PRIMARY ELECTION IN NORTH CAROLINA
Be sure to go and vote for all offices except the US Congressional seats. We will have a second primary in June for those seats, because a number of our elected officials in Raleigh like to play games and waste time and money.
03/15/16 SOCIAL JUSTICE TALK AT UNCA
A talk by Social Justice Activist TJ Jourian will be on “Queer Middle Eastern Armenian Trans*man.” Time is noon to 1 PM and location is Karpen Hall 139 at UNCA. This social justice activist, learner and educator will give a talk and answer questions. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Lori Horvitz at lhorvitz@unca.edu or 828.251.6590. This is present by UNCA Multicultural Program.
03/15/16 WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH EVENT AT UNCA
This will be a Lunch-N-Learn on Wage Disparities for Women. Nationally, women earn 74 cents for every dollar that men make. This wage disparity widens when you add other factors such as a race and ethnicity. Facilitated by Dr. Gwendolyn Whitfield, Assistant Chair & Associate Professor of Management, we will explore the wage disparity that exists for women, and how that impacts our society. Time is noon to 1 PM. Location is Highsmith Union, Intercultural Center, Room 114. This is present by UNCA Multicultural Program.
03/15/16 BUILDING A LOCAL ECONOMY FOR EVERYONE
The second annual “Bringing It Home: Building a Local Economy for Everyone” conference sponsored by Self-Help Credit Union and community partners will be held 9 AM to 2 PM at the YMI Cultural Center, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, and The Block off Biltmore in downtown Asheville.. The keynote speaker is Jessica Gordon Nembhard, author of “Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice.” Nembhard is a professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development in the Africana Studies Department of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York. There will be several sessions running at one time on financial literacy, cooperative business models, and community building. The conference is free to the public. At 2:30 PM, the Hood Huggers International will hold tours of traditional African-American neighborhoods. There is a fee of $20 for these tours, and space is limited. For information on Hood Tours, contact blove@hoodhuggers.com. For information on the conference, contact the YMI Center..
03/15/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE MEETING
The Asheville SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) chapter invites the community to gather to explore ways to get involved with the cause of racial justice here in Asheville. This meeting is an excellent opportunity for newcomers and previously-involved folks to find out about this network and the projects our Asheville chapter is working on. This will be held at the Kairos West Community center at 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. There is parking in the rear if you drive down the driveway just to the left of the building. ASURJ will be hosting these monthly sessions at Kairos on the 3rd Tuesdays of the month in order to further build connections and coalitions for doing anti-racism work in the Asheville area. We will sometimes have guest speakers from other groups to aid us in building stronger coalitions for doing justice in Asheville and beyond. Time is 7 PM. Contact David at davidgreenson@gmail.com for more information.
03/16/16 GREEN DRINKS
Networks is an inclusive business model that allows Interface to buy old fishing nets from impoverished communities in ecological hotspots and turn them into carpet yarn. This program provides a triple win by leveraging business demand for a damaging waste product, and creates a secondary income for the communities, allowing them to diversity away from subsistence fishing. Lastly, the net sale proceeds create a local micro banking institution that can fund community reinvestment and development. Time is 5:30 PM to gather and eat. Program begins at 6:30 PM. Location is The Spot at 76 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville. Call The Spot for more information at 828-575-2729. Green Drinks are now meeting bi-monthly, with the first Wednesday of the month being a joint meeting with the Sierra Club at UU Congregation in Asheville, and the other meeting is the third Wednesday of the month which will be at The Spot.
03/16/16 LETTER WRITING PARTY IN WAYNESVILLE
Letter writing party - Join us on Wednesday, March 16th at 6 PM for a letter writing party at the Pigeon Center in Waynesville. We will be writing letters to the editor to bring attention to the Central Elementary School closure across Western NC, and letters to Michelle Presnell letting her know this is an issue that is important to her constituents and we will be voting accordingly. We hope to see you there. This is organized by Just Us United. For more information, email Kelsey at kelsey.tavares@justusunited.org.
03/16/16 AUTHOR EVENT AT MALAPROPS
We are excited to host an event with Melissa Burch, whose memoir, “My Journey Through War and Peace”, tells the tremendous story of her experiences as a documentary filmmaker in Afghanistan and the former Soviet Union during times of extreme sociocultural shifts. The book details not only the story of these places, but also of Melissa’s own growth and self-discovery (she was only 20 when she went to Afghanistan to film the Mujahideen) as she began the path of a personal and spiritual revolution. Kirkus Reviews raves that she writes “with sensitivity and vivid clarity about her evolving self” in this “absorbing, well-written memoir by a brave adventurer who discovered her own life.” Melissa has worked as a filmmaker, writer, editor, producer, and journalist for the BBC, CNN, and other news networks. Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprop’s in downtown Asheville.
03/16/16 ASHEVILLE INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST MEETING AT UNCA
The Asheville branch of the International Socialist Organization (ISO) will meet this Wednesday March 16 from 6:30 to 8 PM in Highsmith Student Union room 235 on UNCA campus. As always, our meetings are open to the public so please feel welcome to attend and participate. More information from asheville.socialist@gmail.com.
03/17/16 WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH AT UNCA
Women's History Month will present “I, Too, Am Feminism: Conversation on Intersectionality in Feminist Movements.” Past critiques of feminist movements have cited that the experiences of women of color are not always included in the conversation. In this student panel, we will discuss this critique and discuss the intersectionality that exists within feminism. We will explore the way women of color have defined their own feminism, and how feminist thinkers can be more inclusive in their fight for equality for all women. Time is 6 to 7:30 PM and location is Highsmith Union, Room 221 at UNCA. This is present by UNCA Multicultural Program.
03/17/16 GET YOUR GREEN ON
Get your “green” on with MountainTrue, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and the Hemlock Restoration Initiative this St. Patrick’s Day for a workday in Sandy Mush to tackle trash & debris and promote hemlock health. We need hard workers who can tote tires up slope and out of the way of Sandy Mush Creek and help treat hemlocks in the area! We’ll be out on Thursday, March 17th from 10 AM - 2 PM. Contact amanda@mountaintrue.org for details and to RSVP.
03/18/16 to 03/20/16 LGBT IN THE SOUTH CONFERENCE
The annual LGBT in the South conference is a project of the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE), based in Asheville, NC, and is planned in partnership with a conference Advisory Committee representative of the diverse Southern LGBT community. The fight for full LGBT equality in the South is far from over, but together we can get there. The registration fee ranges from $20 to $250 depending on whether you're a student, non-profit professional, organizer or an attorney. Through workshops, grassroots caucuses and other coordinated events, the annual LGBT in the South conference offers an opportunity for dialogue, analysis and strategy sharing about emerging LGBT issues in the South; as well as direct training, networking opportunities and support to LGBT Southern grassroots leaders and to practitioners across disciplines who serve the LGBT community, and Continuing Legal Education sessions for attorneys on topics of LGBT law. This conference will be held at AB Tech campus in Asheville. For more information, including how to register, or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@southernequality.org or by phone at 828.242.1559.
03/18/16 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING
Physicians, health personnel and everyone; all are welcomed at our monthly meetings held on the third Friday of each month. Bring a brown bag lunch around noon. This will be held at The First Congregational United Church of Christ, Room E205, at 20 Oak Street (just off College St. in downtown Asheville). Time is noon to 2 PM. Meeting starts at 12:30. Parking is available behind the church. Enter the church or ring doorbell at the glass doors on Oak Street. For more information contact Dr. Terry Clark, Chair, 633-0892 or Dr. Lew Patrie, 299-1242.
03/19/16 HOW DO WE FIX OUR BROKEN WORLD?
We need hope, we need change, we need justice - and we have help. In this divided world Maitreya, the world teacher, is stepping forward. His mission has begun. Mastery and his group of enlightened teachers, are here to help us reverse the damage we have done to our planet and inspired us to create a new civilization based on sharing the world’s resources and justice - the way to lasting peace. Free presentations at 2 PM at Asheville Friends Meeting at 227 Edgewood Road in Asheville NC. Please call McNair at 828-398-0609 for more information. Sponsored by Share International Southeast.
03/19/16 BENEFIT FOR OUR VOICE
The Asheville Harry Potter Alliance, a chapter of a nonprofit organization that turns fans into heroes, is hosting a Charity Ball in the Sol Bar at New Mountain at 38 North French Broad Avenue in Asheville. Time is 7 to 9 PM. Doors will open at 6:45 and the show starts at 7:00. We will have three wizard rock bands performing for us - Jarrod Perkins from Gred and Forge, Grace Kendall from Snidget, and Hawthorn and Holly. Tickets are $10 per person, and all proceeds will go to Our VOICE, a local non-profit crisis intervention and prevention agency which serves victims of sexual violence. This is a facebook event, please contact New Mountain Asheville for more information.
03/19/16 GREEN GRANNIES SING FOR THE CLIMATE
Green Grannies Sing for the Climate at Pritchard Park at 5 PM. Google "Singfortheclimate" and come out and sing with us! This happens on the third Saturday of every month.
03/19/16 EARTH HOUR
On 19 March 2016, 8:30 PM local time, as Earth Hour sweeps across the globe, the world will unite once again to shine a light on climate action. Join us and be a part of the incredible future we know we can create for our planet – this is our time to #ChangeClimateChange!
03/19/16 OM SANCTUARY RESTORATION
Join MountainTrue and the OM Sanctuary to help remove invasive plant species from their conservation easement. The OM Sanctuary’s conservation easement is very close to Richmond Hill Park and removing invasive plant species from the area is good news for native plants, birds, and other wildlife! The first restoration workday will be on Saturday, March 19th from 10 AM - 2 PM. Please contact amanda@mountaintrue.org for details.
03/20/16 ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY OF ASHEVILLE
“Sustainability through Mindfulness" will be presented by Sonia Marcus at the Sunday, March 20th meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:00-3:30 PM, at Asheville Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC. All are welcome to attend. Join Sonia Marcus for an interactive session exploring sustainability concepts through mindfulness. Many faculty, staff and students are using mindfulness-based approaches both inside and outside the classroom to further strengthen the campus's sustainability culture and practice. Sonia will discuss UNCA's efforts and successes improving the ecological sustainability of the institution and how contemplative practice plays a part. Informal discussion and refreshments will follow the presentation. For more information: call 828 687-7759, email EHSAsheville@gmail.com.
03/20/16 AUTHOR EVENT AT FIRESTORM
“The Thirteenth Juror” illustrates the pitfalls of the grand jury system by inviting readers to take a seat with the 12 people selected as grand jurors in the Michael Brown case, and to share the evidence and process they went through. Details that were not openly or adequately questioned are highlighted, and the impact of the posture and attitude of the prosecuting attorneys is explored. Disparities are uncovered in the narrative of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, who was responsible for Brown’s death, and the process of informing – or misinforming – jury members regarding the law(s) governing their deliberations is given critical attention. Ultimately, throughout the 24 days of testimony, the deeply human side of this tragedy is shared. And measured against the history of the grand jury process itself, this is a case study illustrating the need for examination and reform. Nelda Holder has been a journalism and communications professional since the 1970s, beginning as a feature writer and columnist for The Tampa Times in Florida. She then worked in public access television in Middlebury, Vermont, and taught communications at Antioch New England in Keene, New Hampshire. After returning to her native state of North Carolina, she became associate editor (now retired) of the Mountain Xpress in Asheville. She has specialized in investigative and government writing, and currently produces a legislative column for Asheville’s multicultural monthly, The Urban News. She manages the nonpartisan website, Politically Purple NC, reporting on North Carolina government, history, and culture. Time is 5 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
03/20/16 HEARTSPEAK: IMPROVING MEETINGS & RELATIONSHIPS
HeartSpeak: Improving meetings & relationships through more effective communication. Free and open to the public. Learn deeper listening - hearing and reflecting back what's most alive in people. More information from Cathy at 828-545-9681 or cathyfholt@gmail.com. Sponsored by French Broad Food Coop. Time is 2 to 4 PM and location is the upstairs Community Room at French Broad Food Coop.
03/21/16 INTRODUCTION TO FORMAL CONSENSUS WORKSHOP
How can democratic organizations ensure that their meetings and work spaces are places of empowerment? What circumstances promote the greatest engagement and creative input of participants, including individuals with divergent or dissenting views? These are questions that we will explore through a participatory workshop on formal consensus process. Libertie Valance and Julie Schneyer will draw from their years of experience as grassroots activists and worker-owners in a cooperative, consensus-driven workplace to help participants build their capacity for collaboration. According to the UK-based Rhizome Collective, “Consensus is a decision-making process that, when used with a co-operative state of mind, allows groups to come together and take inspired and creative decisions. It supports individuals to pool their power and work together as equals to produce results far better than they could produce alone. It's a process that can deepen the connection of a group. It can help a group to challenge and transform oppressive behaviour. It values those on the margins of a group as much as (or even more than at times) those in the mainstream of the group.” Sliding scale cost: $5-20. Includes coffee, tea and light refreshments. Time is 6 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
03/21/16 UNITED TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY MEETING
Location is the North Asheville Library at 1030 Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Time is 7 PM. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Diana at dianakruk@gmail.com or 828-275-0680.
03/21/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE COMMON TABLE
The Common Table is a group of Transition AshevilLe members who meet twice a month to guide our organization in achieving our vision.We invite you to join in our ongoing conversation and soul searching at Common Table meetings on the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 5:30 PM at First Congregational Church, 20 Oak Street in Asheville. Contact ron.martinadkins@gmail.com for more information.
03/21/16 to 03/25/16 EXHIBIT ON THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT AT UNCA
The March exhibit is “The Tragedy of War: The Japanese American Internment” and will be on display until March 25, 2016 at Karpen Lobby at UNCA. During World War II 120,000 ethnic Japanese on the west coast, two-thirds of them American citizens, were forced into a series of camps to live under armed guard. Japanese-American confinement was authorized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and supported by Congress and the Supreme Court. Authorities feared that Japanese residents were disloyal and might aid in a Japanese invasion of the United States. Japanese Americans contested these charges throughout the war and later sought formal redress. “I was born here, and I had the Bill of Rights that should have backed me up. . . . How can they do that to an American citizen?”- Robert Kashigawa. Come see the exhibit and reflect on a shameful part of American history.
03/22/16 BENEFIT FOR PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES
Please join us for our annual celebration. There will be a cocktail reception, live music, and awards honoring Anne Kimmel, Roy W. Davis, Jr., George Ward Hendon. Time is 5:30 PM. Contact betsy@pisgahlegal.org for more information, including how to get tickets.
03/22/16 WNC 4 PEACE MEETING
Next meeting is the fourth Tuesday of March (22nd) , at Atlanta Bread Company on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Time is 6 PM. Contact Craig at herbzone@gmail.com for more information.
03/23/16 EARTH LIBERATION NOT MASS INCARCERATION TALK
Panagiotis Tsolkas will talk about his work with Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons, challenging a proposed federal prison on top of a former mountaintop removal coal mine in Eastern Kentucky. His presentation uses several short films and a slideshow to give an overview of the “Prison Ecology” in the context of the rural prison-building boom that occurred over the past two decades, highlighting several toxic prison facilities and the efforts to challenge them. The talk is also aimed at building momentum for the upcoming Convergence in Support of Eco-prisoners and Against Toxic Prisons in Washington, DC June 11-13. The convergence will bring together the eco-defense movement and the prison abolition to strategize and take direct action against the prison industrial complex in the spirit of the June 11 movement. Time is 8 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
03/24/16 VOICE OF THE TUNISIAN REVOLUTION AT UNCA
Firebrand Tunisian singer, songwriter, and composer Emel Mathlouthi stands with the great divas of the Arab World. She gained attention when her song “Kelmti Horra (My Word is Free)” was adopted by the Arab Spring revolutionaries and soon became an anthem throughout the region. Her gorgeous, intricate sound moves between rock, trip-hop, and electronica, with a strong Arabic and north African connections. Tickets are $6 - $20. Time is 7 PM and location is Lipinsky Auditorium.
03/24/16 PALESTINIAN SPEAKER AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
Iyad Burnat will be speaking at Warren Wilson College, in the Canon Lounge of Gladfelter Hall, from 6 to 7:30 PM. His visit is co-sponsored by Just Peace for Israel/Palestine, and the Department of Religious Studies and Peace & Justice Studies at WWC. Iyad Burnat is the coordinator for the popular committee in Bil’in, Palestine, a small farming village 7 miles west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, a village known as the setting for the award winning film 5 Broken Cameras. For eleven years Iyad and the Popular Committee have organized the people to Bil’in to participate in weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the confiscation of their land, destruction of their olive trees, and Israel’s illegal Separation Wall and settlements. In the summer of 2014, Iyad's then 15-year-old teenage son, Majd was shot in the leg by the Israeli military while attending a nonviolent protest in Bi'in during Israel's 2014 assault on Gaza. The gunshot severed a nerve in Majd's leg, causing him to permanently lose all feeling in his foot. Recently Iyad released a book describing his village’s ongoing struggle for justice and freedom, and what inspires them to continue non-violent resistance. For more information, contact Ken at jonesk@maine.edu.
03/24/16 AUTHOR EVENT AT FIRESTORM
Iyad Burnat, Palestinian activist and author, will be hosting a discussion at 3 PM at Firestorm Café and Books in West Asheville. This is free and open to the public. Burnat is the coordinator for the Popular Committee in Bil’in, Palestine, a small farming village seven miles west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. For eleven years he and the Popular Committee have organized the people in Bil’in to participate in weekly nonviolent demonstrations protesting the confiscation of their land, destruction of their olive trees and Israel’s illegal Separation Wall and settlements. The story of this resistance is the subject of the award-winning film “5 Broken Cameras”. Mr. Burnat was the 2015 recipient of the prestigious James Lawson Award for Achievement in the Practice of Nonviolent Conflict given by Tufts University. He recently released the book Bil’in and the Nonviolent Resistance describing his village’s ongoing struggle for justice and freedom and what inspires them to continue non-violent resistance.His visit is sponsored by Just Peace for Israel/Palestine.Time is 3 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. For more information, contact Ken at jonesk@maine.edu.
03/24/16 WAR IS A RACKET PLAY
This one-person performance is based on the book “War is a Racket” by Gneral Butler, a highly decorated Marine who retired and then spent the last years of his life opposed to the USA’s entry into WW II. This is presented by Namaya, throughs stories, dramatization and multimedia. Donations appreciated. Presented in cooperation with Veterans for Peace. Time is 7 to 9 PM and location is Asheville Friends Meeting at 227 Edgewood Road in Asheville. For more information, contact info@b4peace.net.
03/25/16 AUTHOR TALK ON “WAR IS A LIE” BOOK
RootsAction campaign coordinator David Swanson will speak about the latest developments in the telling and the debunking of lies about wars. He'll answer questions and sign copies of his new book, “War Is A Lie: Second Edition”. This will be held at Battery Park Apartments at 1 Battle Square in downtown Asheville. Time is noon to 2 PM. David Swanson is an author and activist who has dedicated himself to challenging the repetitive falsehoods generated by those in power to justify armed conflict. War Is A Lie is a handbook of sorts, an engaging, always informative manual that can be used to debunk future lies before new wars have any chance to begin. For this edition of the book, the original 2010 version has been updated and expanded with material on lessons from the United States' most recent wars, more pointers on what can be done to end warmaking, and an epilogue that analyzes new trends in war lying and in resistance to it. No one to whom you give this book can claim they haven't been warned!
03/25/16 FREE SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVIE NIGHTS
Fridays at Kairos West there will be a four part film series and potluck. The potluck gathering will begin at 6:30 and last until 7:30. Bring something tasty to share if you can. We'll have some food and coffee/tea available also. On March 25th, the third installment in the series is “No.” And on April 8th, the last film in the series will be “We Are Many” (tentative provided we receive a copy in time). Free and open to the public. Time is 6:30 PM for the potluck and 7:30 PM for the movie. Location is Kairos West Community Center at 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Children are welcome at this event! We will use the front room of the community center as a kid friendly space during the movie. If you'd like to coordinate with us and other caregivers on supervised childcare options, please let us know in advance! This is a facebook event, so go there for more information.
03/25/16 SYNTHETIC FOREST PRESENTATION
People across the so-called US are hosting screenings of Synthetic Forests the week of March 20th as part of a 'raising awareness' campaign that hopes to stop the spread of genetically engineered trees before they are grown in the open. “Synthetic Forests features interviews with leading scientists and activists who share their insights and experience on the negative effects genetically engineered trees can have to communities, ecosystems and indigenous peoples. Corporations in the US and Brazil have requested government authorization to release hundreds of millions of genetically engineered eucalyptus trees for fuel and pulp. We have recently learned that the GE Loblolly Pine and Arctic Apple have been approved by the USDA, so the time to act is now!” Time is 7 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
3/26/16 RETURNING GUANTANAMO PRESENTATION
In December 2014, President Obama announced his initiative to re-establish relations with Cuba. Many Americans support Cuba and are working to have the US government lift the blockade, stop torture at the detention facility on the US naval base in Guantanamo, close the base, and return the property to the Cuban people. In November 2015, Asheville’s Cindy Heil was a member of the “Code Pink: Women for Peace” delegation to the 4th International Seminar for Peace and Abolition of Foreign Military Bases in Guantanamo City, Cuba. Please join us at The Block off Biltmore at 39 S. Market Street in Asheville from 3 to 5 PM on Saturday, March 26, 2016, to learn about Cindy’s experience. While you enjoy a drink from the extensive beverage menu, you will learn about the global reach of the US military through a slide-show presentation and, if you choose, you can also make this a Code Pink fundraiser with a donation! Call 828-254-9277 for more information.
03/28/16 CONNECTION PRACTICE
The Connection Practice: Communicating with Empathy & Insight. First of 5 week series with Cathy Holt. Time is 7 to 9 PM. Location not provided. For more information, call Cathy at 828-545-9681 or email her at cathyfholt@gmail.com.
03/30/16 NC WARN PRESENTATION
NC WARN will be making a presentation about working for clean energy solutions. Co-sponsored by FCUCC Earth Team, Transition Asheville, Sierra Club, Mountain True. Location is the First Congregational UCC Social Hall at 20 Oak Street in Asheville. Time is 6:30 PM. No contact information.
03/30/16 DUKE ENERGY AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS PRESENTATION
Warren-Wilson College Environmental and Social Justice Crew, Alliance for Energy Democracy, NC WARN, Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic and the Climate Times present “Duke Energy and the Climate Crisis”. A free, public event on the economic and climate impacts of Duke Energy's massive expansion of natural gas use, including 560 new Megawatts of generating capacity at the Arden facility. Speakers include engineer Bill Powers, Rev.Rodney Sadler, Jr., of the NC NAACP, Connie Leeper of NC Warn, solar developer Dave Hollister and former educator and activist Steve Norris. This will take place in the Canon Lounge at Warren Wilson College. Time is 7 PM. Free and open to the public. More info at 919-416-5077.
03/31/16 HOOD TALK MEETING
Next session will be on Thursday, March 31st, from 6 - 8 PM at the YWCA on South French Broad Street in Asheville. No further information at this time.
04/05/16 TEACHING THE HOLOCAUST
This will be held at the Hinds University center Ballroom at Western Carolina University from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Through the N. C. Council on the Holocaust and the UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education, a professional development day-long workshop for 5th - 12th grade teachers (with a special focus on history and literature) will be offered in the spring in WNC. The workshop will include a lecture by Dr. Eric Roubinek in the morning and a witness testimony by Dr. Walter Ziffer in the afternoon along with excellent resources from experienced Holocaust educators. The Center for Diversity Education has additional free resources for teaching about the Holocaust as does the N. C. Council on the Holocaust. For more information, contact dmiles@unca.edu and register here
04/05/16 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE HOSTS CLIMATE SCIENTIST
This keynote address by Climate Scientist Katharine Hayhoe is open to the public. Named to Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World list for 2014, Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist who studies climate change, one of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. But Katharine may be best-known to many people because of how she’s bridging the broad, deep gap between scientists and Christians - work she does in part because she’s a Christian herself. Together with her husband Andrew Farley, a professor of applied linguistics, pastor of Church without Religion, and best-selling author, Katharine wrote A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions, a book that untangles the complex science and tackles many long-held misconceptions about global warming. Her work as a climate change evangelist has been featured on the Emmy award-winning documentary series “Years of Living Dangerously” and “The Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers”. Time is 7 PM and location is First Baptist Church at 5 Oak Street. All are welcome. Free. Email Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina at creationcare@mountaintrue.org for more information and instructions on how to register.
04/05/16 COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITIES RECEPTION
Collaborative Communities Reception with Climate Scientist Katharine Hayhoe (see above for more information on her) will be hosted by Creation Care Alliance of WNC. Time is 5 to 6:30 PM and location is Lenoir Rhyne Graduate Studies Center at 36 Montford Avenue (Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce). Space is limited. All are welcome. Free. Email Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina at creationcare@mountaintrue.org for more information and instructions on how to register.
04/06/16 SIERRA CLUB MEETING AND GREEN DRINKS
Jason Walls and Amy Musser will talk about Duke’s Power Plant and Home Energy Efficiency. Time is 7 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 1 Edwin Place (Charlotte Street and Edwin Place) in Asheville. Contact judymattox@sbcglobal.net or 828-683-2176 for more information. Free and open to the public.
04/08/16 FREE SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVIE NIGHTS
Fridays at Kairos West there will be a four part film series and potluck. The potluck gathering will begin at 6:30 and last until 7:30. Bring something tasty to share if you can. We'll have some food and coffee/tea available also. And on April 8th, the last film in the series will be “We Are Many” (tentative provided we receive a copy in time). Free and open to the public. Time is 6:30 PM for the potluck and 7:30 PM for the movie. Location is Kairos West Community Center at 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Children are welcome at this event! We will use the front room of the community center as a kid friendly space during the movie. If you'd like to coordinate with us and other caregivers on supervised childcare options, please let us know in advance! This is a facebook event, so go there for more information.
04/08/16 TINY HOME AND LIVING TOUR FROM MOUNTAIN TRUE
Sign up for MountainTrue’s Tiny Home and Living Tour. Join us for a tour and presentation with Wishbone Tiny Homes, located in West Asheville. Featured on Tiny House Nation (FYI Network), Wishbone Tiny Homes is a family owned and operated NC General Contracting company and RV manufacturer focused on meeting the diverse needs of the next generation tiny home buyer. Our tour and presentation will take a look at green building, sustainability, and we will get to take a look at a model tiny home. Time is 1:30 to 3:30 PM. Location is Wishbone Tiny Homes at 355 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Registration deadline is Wednesday, April 6th at 5:00 PM. Call Ella at 258-8737, ext 216 or email her at ella@mountaintrue.org for more information including how to register.
04/09/16 RICHMOND HILL INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL WORK DAY
Richmond Hill Park invasive plant removal work day will run from 9 AM to 1 PM. Free. Join us and help restore native plant communities by controlling non-native invasive plants at Richmond Hill Park in Asheville. This is the City of Asheville’s only forested park and is home to many special native plant and animal species. We’ll provide all gloves, equipment and instruction needed. Please bring snacks, water, rain jacket and wear long pants, long sleeve shirt and closed toe shoes (no open shoes or sandals allowed for safety). This event will be held during the second Saturday of every month. (Rain Date: Second Sunday) Email Amanda at amanda@mountaintrue.org for more information.
04/09/16 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING
Citizens Climate Lobby meets the second Saturday of each month at Kairos West Community Center, 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. We are advocating for a Carbon Fee & Dividend, which would impose a fee on fossil fuels at point entry; this fee will be refunded to individuals and families. There is bipartisan support in Congress as this will create jobs and help grow the economy, boosting renewables. Time is 12:30 to 3 PM. For more information, contact asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org.
04/11/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL
Topic will be “Gardening Tips” with Samantha Beharrysingh. Location is St. Mary's Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street in north Asheville. Time is 6 to 8 PM. If you have questions, comments, concerns, or want to know how to get involved in cultivating a more resilient Asheville, please let us know by sending an email to TransitionAsheville@gmail.com.
04/12/16 LUNCH N LEARN AT UNCA
Unpacking “Whitesplain” - Becoming Better Allies for People of Color. Facilitator will be Preston Keith, Assistant Director of the Intercultural Center and Multicultural Student Programs. Time is noon to 1 PM and location is Intercultural Center at Highsmith Union 114 at UNCA.
04/14/16 HENDERSONVILLE GREEN DRINKS
Hendersonville Green Drinks will focus on the work of the Southern Environmental Law Center. Patrick Hunter, staff attorney in the Asheville office of the Southern Environmental Law Center will speak on SELC’s work, including his focus projects of protecting our southern forests and the local coal ash clean-up. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Time is 5:30 to 8 PM and location is Black Bear Coffee Company at 318 North Main Street in Hendersonville. For more information, contact Black Bear at 828-MY-COFFEE.
04/15/16 GLOBAL DAY AGAINST MILITARY SPENDING
04/16/16 HOW DO WE FIX OUR BROKEN WORLD?
We need hope, we need change, we need justice - and we have help. In this divided world Maitreya, the world teacher, is stepping forward. His mission has begun. Mastery and his group of enlightened teachers, are here to help us reverse the damage we have done to our planet and inspired us to create a new civilization based on sharing the world’s resources and justice - the way to lasting peace. Free presentations at 2 PM at Asheville Friends Meeting at 227 Edgewood Road in Asheville NC. Please call McNair at 828-398-0609 for more information. Sponsored by Share International Southeast.
04/18/16 UNITED TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY MEETING
04/20/16 GREEN DRINKS
Time is 5:30 PM to gather and eat. Program begins at 6:30 PM. Location is The Spot at 76 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville. Green Drinks is now under MeetUp. Call The Spot for more information at 828-575-2729.
04/22/16 EARTH DAY
04/22/16 OUR VOICE ZINE READING
This event is co-hosted by UNC Asheville’s Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program and OurVOICE, and is free and open to the public. This event will include material, sometimes graphic, and discussion about rape and abuse; audience discretion is advised. Our Voice: Survivors Speak will include a reading of selected zine submissions and an open mic session for those interested in speaking or adding their creative voice to the topic of sexual violence and its effects on the community. The event is the culmination of a semester-long collaboration between UNC Asheville and OurVOICE, a nonprofit organization that serves all individuals in Buncombe County affected by sexual assault and abuse. Location is Malaprops in downtown Asheville and time is 7 PM. Contact Malaprops for more information.
04/23/16 HARD TO RECYCLE COLLECTION
Free to the public, recycling event, accepting items of all sorts. Now with two locations. Founded in 2011 by Rainbow Recycling, Hard 2 Recycle events are free to the public collections geared to bring awareness to other modes of recycling to our area. Four quarterly held collections to cover the four corners of the County and one central event in Downtown Asheville. Our goal is to educate, collect and divert items that would normally end up in the landfill: styrofoam, electronics, books, batteries, cooking oil and much more. Not accepting the following items: paints, stains, sealers, CFL or fluorescent or incandescent bulbs; chip & snack bags; petroleum products; hard plastics; vinyl / PVC / VHS / cassette tapes; plate glass, foam; wooden items or cement. Main collection from 8 AM to 1 PM at City Market Tailgate at 161 Charlotte Street in downtown Asheville and satellite collection from 8 AM to noon at First Baptist Church at 5 Oak Street in downtown Asheville.
04/24/16 EARTH DAY VIGIL
The Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina invites you to join us for a vigil celebrating God's creation and calling on people of faith to care for it. We will gather in the grass of All Souls Episcopal Cathedral, in Biltmore Village at 9 Swan Street in Asheville for an afternoon of song, reflection, and to hear messages of inspiration and action from local faith and community leaders. All are welcome! Time is 5:30 to 6:30 PM.
04/25/16 KEN ILGUNAS READING & SIGNING
Ken Ilgunas’ amazing adventure, detailed in Trespassing Across America, took him along the length of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline on foot, a journey that gave him firsthand insight into the people and places that would be most affected by the pipeline. Combining travel narrative, science, statistics, and cultural commentary, the book synthesizes multiple genres to make a profound statement about our world’s shifting landscapes. Author Candace Savage praises it as “an exhilarating adventure” that will leave you “emboldened and filled with hope.” Ken is the author of Walden on Wheels and has hitchhiked 10,000 miles across North America and paddled 1,000 miles across Ontario in a birch-bark canoe. Location is Malaprops in downtown Asheville and time is 7 PM. Contact Malaprops for more information.
04/26/16 NELDA HOLDER READING & SIGNING
In her book The Thirteenth Juror: Investigating the Grand Jury Transcripts, Nelda Holder transports us into the ranks of the 12 members of the grand jury in the Michael Brown Case. She reports on the details of the case in depth and argues for an overhaul of the grand jury process in this country while also highlighting the tragic events in Ferguson, MO, and their aftermath. Nelda is a seasoned journalist who worked as the associate editor of the Mountain Xpress and now manages Politically Purple NC. Location is Malaprops in downtown Asheville and time is 7 PM. Contact Malaprops for more information.
04/29/16 TRACEY RIZZO READING & SIGNING
Tracey Rizzo’s new work, Intimate Empires: Body, Race, and Gender in the Modern World, co-authored with Steven Gerontakis, is an examination of identity in the age of empires and colonization. Designed to be accessible for undergraduates, scholars, and interested readers alike, this text is invaluable for its insights into the shifting categories of race and gender in a period of intense change. Julia Clancy-Smith (U of AZ) says that the book “offers a fascinating interpretive overview of recent thinking on gender, race, and empire through deep analysis of images as evidence…It is unique in a crowded field.” Tracey is the Chair of UNCA’s History Department. Location is Malaprops in downtown Asheville and time is 7 PM. Contact Malaprops for more information.
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ONGOING EVENTS
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TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 4:30 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument
Showing Up for Racial Justice is from noon to 2 PM at Firestorm Cafe and Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Educating and organizing white people for racial justice. Free.
Orientation session for Asheville Timebank. 4 PM at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Email help@ashevilletimebank.org for information and to register.
WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
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. Call 884-3435 to confirm.
Third Saturdays – Asheville’s Green Grannies invites the public to “sing for the climate” at Pritchard Park at 5 PM.
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
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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Alert: Clean up Cliffside Coal Ash
Please write public comments or attend meetings on March 14
Email: rogerscomments@ncdenr.gov
Mail: Debra Watts, N.C. Division of Water Resources, Groundwater Protection Section, N.C. Department of Environmental Quality,
Attn: Debra Watts, 1636 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1611.
Date: comments received by April 18, 2016 will be considered in determining final impoundment classifications.
Two Hearings:
*Rutherford County hearing is at Isothermal Community College Auditorium at 286 ICC Loop Road in Spindale.
*Cleveland County hearing is at Boiling Springs Town Hall at 114 East College Avenue in Boiling Springs.
North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has finally released the long-awaited draft priority classifications for state’s 14 coal ash dumpsites. Sadly, DEQ has not recommended the coal ash dumps at Cliffside in Rutherford and Cleveland Counties for complete cleanup, leaving the surrounding communities and all those downstream at risk from toxic pollution.
Despite the fact that Cliffside’s coal ash has been polluting groundwater and the Broad River with unsafe amounts of toxic heavy metals for years, DEQ recommends two of the three for low priority classification--meaning they could be left in place on the banks of the Broad River to pollute our waters in perpetuity.
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