Jill Stein for President!

From United National Antiwar Coalition

A response by the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) to the attack on the antiwar movement from Terry Burke published in "In These Times" 

In the past 15 years, the US military machine has attacked 17 countries. The many peace and justice organizations and individuals attacked in Terry Burke’s article(1) have a long history of opposition to ALL US wars, interventions, invasions, drone attacks,  military coups, blockades, and sanctions on numerous countries around the world. The military aggression of the United States, the expansion of NATO, the efforts at encirclement of Russia and China with weapons shields, CIA destabilizations in Latin America and the massively destructive US wars in Central Asia, West Asia, Middle East and North Africa, along with the massive arms deals with US allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia, have created terrible destruction and millions of deaths and refugees. 

UNAC, a peace and justice coalition with organizations and individuals from different perspectives, seeks to counter the corporate media propaganda and politicians’ justifications for each of these wars and for expanding US militarism. 

These wars collectively, and each of them individually, are for US economic and geopolitical domination. None of these wars have resulted in increased security or stability for the countries targeted or for the people of the US. 

It is from this perspective that we oppose the US war in Syria. We oppose the US bombing that has ruined so much of the vital infrastructure, and we oppose the US-coordinated arming and financing of numerous armed groups and the devastating sanctions that the US has imposed on the people of Syria.

Terry Burke cites her past work in the Nicaragua Solidarity Committee as the basis of her position on Syria. However, this distorted reasoning would have led Terry and the antiwar movement to support the US backed Contra forces in Nicaragua as “democratic and progressive forces.”

The US role in Central America was to covertly arm contra forces to impose regime change in Nicaragua while funding and arming Salvadoran and Guatemalan death squads. This destructive policy created millions of refugees from Central America in the 1980s, just as US policies of regime change in the past 12 years of war in Iraq, Libya, Syria and elsewhere has created even more refugees.

The US is coordinating Saudi, Israeli, Qatar, Turkish and EU efforts of bombing and of arming opposition groups.   The stated goal from the beginning has been regime change in Syria. Regime change, as in Iraq and Libya, means the complete destruction of every secular state institution, including the very structures that provided full access to free education, free health care, electrification, potable water, modern infrastructure, irrigation and communication. 

Years of US sanctions against Iraq, Iran, Syria and Libya did not succeed in carrying out regime change, although they created great hardships and dislocations in each economy. Up to 1.5 million people died due to US sanctions in Iraq alone.

Today, as we watch two candidates running for president who threaten increased and terrible interventions in Syria, we are seeing a big increase in US propaganda.  Take, for example, the August 11th article by Fair and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) on the breakdown of the recent ceasefire:  http://fair.org/home/how-media-distorted-syrian-ceasefires-breakdown/.  FAIR, a media watchdog group, exposed the fact that it was groups supported by the US fighting alongside the al Nusra Front, the al Qaida group in Syria, that actually broke the ceasefire, yet the media blamed the Syrian government and the Russians for the breakdown.  Much of what we see in the US media related to the situation in Syria is the same kind of propaganda with the goal of building greater support for war. 

Terry Burke claims we are “US-centric” for opposing our government’s attacks on Syria and attempts at regime change in that country.  She claims that we have “ignored anti-Assad progressive Syrian voices.”  But who has ignored what?  Where in the US corporate media are the voices of Syrians (both pro and anti-Assad) who want an end to the ISIS/Al-Qaida/US/NATO intervention in their country and have rallied to the side of their government to end it? The US corporate media and some so-called progressives in the US have focused on vilifying Assad rather than the US-led war on Syria, which only leads to strengthening the forces who seek regime change and war.   Should we add our voices to that chorus? Is that the best way to end US intervention in Syria, which the overwhelming majority of Syrians oppose?  We think not.

Syrians in Lebanon line up to vote in Syrian election 2014

The March 13 UNAC protest, “A Day of Peace and Solidarity,” is the basis of Burke’s claims that “a dictator accused of monstrous war crimes is being given tacit support by major organizations in the peace movement.”  Why? Because the “anti-war protest in New York City included people carrying the flag of the brutal Assad regime…”  It is true that Syrians came to that demonstration and carried the flag of their country.  Do Syrians not have the right to carry their flag?  Is it the place of the US anti-war movement to tell people from any country that is under attack by the US that they do not have the right to carry their country’s flag?  That is not the role of our movement; we oppose our government’s illegal and immoral aggression against all countries and do not lecture the people of that country on whom they should support or not support.

Syrians protest in DC to end US intervention in their country

If antiwar activists and organizations in the US condemn US bombings and aggression in Syria as our primary concern, rather than denouncing “Assad’s crimes,” we are branded “pro-Assad.”  Burke attacks us for having signs like “US Hands Off Syria” and “No US War on Syria.”  These she says are “US-centric.”  Were similar slogans used during the Vietnam War, Afghan War, and Iraq War also US-centric?  The US is the most militarily aggressive country in the world.  It has around 20 times the number of foreign military bases as all other countries in the world combined.  We in the US have an obligation to humanity to demand that our government stop the aggression and bring the troops home from Syria and all of the more than 130 countries where there are US troops.

Burke accuses the antiwar movement of ignoring progressive Syrian voices but she is highly selective in identifying the “Syrian perspective” as those who are anti-Assad.  We must ask her why she ignores the Syrian voices that seek to end the US/NATO/ISIS/Al-Qaida attacks on their country.

Burke believes that the primary feature of the Syrian conflict is fighting between two camps of Syrians.  However, this is not the case.  Syria has been invaded by extremists such as ISIS and al Nusra.  Tens of thousands of mercenaries have poured into this small country to overthrow the government, a goal which the US and NATO share.  They have been supported by bombings, logistics and harsh sanctions against Syria from the US and NATO.  Though the US has claimed it is there to attack the extremists, there had not been much damage to them until Russia entered the fighting-- and then, in a matter of weeks, the tide turned. The oil that ISIS takes from Syria and uses to help fund their operations has been left untouched by the U.S and its allies until Russia started bombing their oil operations.

The antiwar movement can agree on non-intervention and self-determination.  Aligning with those anti-Assad Syrians who support US intervention in Syria can only divide and weaken our movement, which needs to be united today, perhaps more than ever.

We urge the antiwar movement to reject the ideas that Terry Burke presents in her article and demand that the US and NATO stop the bombing, stop the sanctions, stop the flow of weapons and stop the funding.  This will stop the extremist groups.  Then the people of Syria can alone decide their fate.

(1)    Organizations and people attacked by Terry Burke in her article in “In These Times” include United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), US Peace Council, Syrian American Forum, Veterans for Peace, Manhattan Green Party, WarIsACrime.org, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Syrian American Will Association, ANSWER Coalition, Anti-War Committee Chicago, Minnesota Anti-War Committee, Women Against Military Madness, Workers World Party, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Mint Press News, AntiWar.com, Consortium News, Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity including members William Binney, Coleen Rowley and Ray McGovern; dedicated activists like David Swanson and Kathy Kelly,  as well as journalists Seymour Hersh, Robert Fisk, Patrick Cockburn, Robert Kennedy Jr., Gareth Porter and Robert Parry.

The Administrative Committee of the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)

Marilyn Levin - UNAC co-coordinator

Joe Lombardo  - UNAC co-coordinator

Margaret Kimberley - Senior columnist, Black Agenda Report

Joe Iosbaker - Chicago Anti-war Committee

Sara Flounders - Co-director, International Action Center

Bernadette Ellorin - Chairperson, BAYAN, USA

Judy Bello - Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars

Abayomi Azikiwe - Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice

Phil Wilayto - Editor, The Virginia Defender

Jeff Mackler - Northern California UNAC

Upcoming events for the week of August 28, 2016

Words from Maya Angelou.

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

08/29/16 ASHEVILLE TOWN HALL

N.C. Senator Terry Van Duyn will host a town hall along with N.C. Representative Susan Fisher. This is part of Sen. Van Duyn’s town hall series. At this town hall Sen. Van Duyn and Rep. Fisher are planning on talking about the North Carolina General Assembly’s short session and how their constituents will be impacted as well as listening to any concerns constituents might have. The event is free and open to the public. Time is 6 to 7:30 PM and location is the Center for Craft, Creativity & Design at 67 Broadway in Asheville. Call Anna at 828-768-3321 for more information. 

08/30/16 STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome! Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

08/30/16 WNC 4 PEACE MEETING

This will be at 6 PM and the location is the Earthfare Cafe in Westgate Regional Shopping Center in Asheville. Contact wnc4peace@gmail.com if you have questions.

08/31/16 WHAT’S UP WITH WHITENESS MEETING

What's Up with Whiteness Wednesdays is an ongoing SURJ series endeavoring to dismantle white supremacy. SURJ's first offering is the “Title Track” for the series and will repeat monthly. What's Up with Whiteness functions to explore what "white" means, and how it was created as a racial group to implement a white supremacy culture in the United States. This group is for anyone who is willing and able to explore their whiteness or whiteness as a race with a racial justice lens. We aim to dismantle white supremacy's power by exploring it from the inside. We will educate ourselves and each other about the political and social origins of “whiteness”; educate ourselves and each other on white supremacy culture functions; hold our personal experiences and benefits from whiteness accountable and responsible for change; build skills to address internalized dominance and make change;and build relationships with others to further imbue these lessons and build accountability. 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.

08/31/16 THE NEW JIM CROW BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

This monthly discussion group of Michelle Alexander's book “The New Jim Crow” will discuss a chapter a month. In August we will cover chapter one. This group will meet August 31, September 28, October 26, November 23, December 28, and January 25, 2017. Anyone is welcome to jump in anytime. Time is 6:30 to 8:30 PM and location is AVL Cowering at 726 Haywood Road in west Asheville. This is a Facebook event.

09/01/16 PLAY AT THE BE BE THEATRE - RASHEEDA SPEAKING

Upon returning from a few sick days, Jaclyn notices some disturbing changes in the doctor’s office where she works. Meetings are happening without her. The doctor is acting even more awkward than usual. And Ileen, her co-­receptionist, is now her boss. She’s not stupid, though. Instead of letting them force her out, she flips the script — with some good, old-­fashioned psychological warfare. “Rasheeda Speaking” is a darkly funny, satirical depiction of workplace dynamics in “post-­racial” America. Or is it a tightrope­-walking thriller? (It depends on who you root for.) Rasheeda Speaking features: Steph Hickling Beckman, CJ Breland, Kristi DeVille, and Eamon Martin. Presentation by Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective. “Rasheeda Speaking” is by Joel Drake Johnson and directed by Scott Keel. This will run until September 17th, on Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM.  Location is the The Be Be Theatre at 20 Commerce Street in Asheville. Tickets are $18.00 in advance and $21.00 for general admission at the door. 

09/04/16 PEACE VIGIL RETURNS TO ALL SOULS

The Vigil Returns - Beginning Sunday, August 21, at 5 PM, the Vigil for Peace on the All Souls Cathedral grounds in Biltmore Village, will resume and continue weekly until the Nov 8 election. Sponsored by the Episcopal Peace Fellowship of WNC, it is a way of asking people to make special intercessions in their prayer and life for peace and justice in our American culture.  The tone of the current political campaign makes it obvious that we are neglecting our Baptismal vows to respect the dignity of every human being. This is a call to pray with actions as well as words.  We invite you to join us each Sunday for our thirty minute Vigil.

9/06/16 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB

Join host Bruce Roth for a lively discussion on topics of current interest including war and peace, the economy, the environment, and other hot political topics. The September pick is “Code Red: Computerized Election Theft and the New American Century” by Jonathan D. Simon. Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprops in downtown Asheville. Call Malaprops for more information.

09/06/16 STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome! Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

09/07/16 WHAT’S UP WITH WHITENESS MEETING

What's Up with Whiteness Wednesdays is an ongoing SURJ series endeavoring to dismantle white supremacy. SURJ's first offering is the “Title Track” for the series and will repeat monthly. What's Up with Whiteness functions to explore what "white" means, and how it was created as a racial group to implement a white supremacy culture in the United States. This group is for anyone who is willing and able to explore their whiteness or whiteness as a race with a racial justice lens. We aim to dismantle white supremacy's power by exploring it from the inside. We will educate ourselves and each other about the political and social origins of “whiteness”; educate ourselves and each other on white supremacy culture functions; hold our personal experiences and benefits from whiteness accountable and responsible for change; build skills to address internalized dominance and make change;and build relationships with others to further imbue these lessons and build accountability. Time is 6:30 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

09/07/16 SIERRA CLUB MEETING/GREEN DRINKS

Discussion at this meeting will be around how we can prevent a third gas powered plant by Duke here in Asheville. Brownie Newman, Buncombe County Commissioner, Julie Mayfield, Asheville City Council, Amber Weaver of Asheville’s Office of Sustainability and Jason Walls of Duke Energy will provide an update on the work the Energy Innovation Task Force. This event is free and open to the public. Time is 7 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 1 Edwin Place (corner of Charlotte and Edwin) in Asheville. For more information, contact Judy at judymattox@sbcglobal.net or call 828-683-2176.

09/08/16 COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION TRAINING SERIES

What makes it so hard to let go of anger? Can forgiveness lead us to authentic, empowered and effective action? This question is so timely now, as streets from Asheville to St. Paul  to Dallas, Baton Rouge to Istanbul, Baghdad and Nice, flow with blood and tears. Turning the fire of anger into forgiveness and meaningful action is a four week series in Nonviolent Communication on Thursday evenings in Asheville. Dates are September 8, 15, 22,  and 29, and time is 6:30-8:30 PM. Facilitator is Roberta Wall. In Nonviolent Communication, we say that anger has a surprising purpose, and that its energy can be harnessed and transformed into self-understanding, authentic action, and forgiveness. Location is  the Asheville Jewish Community Center at 236 Charlotte Street in north Asheville. Cost is $100. Please consider adding an extra amount for scholarships for those with more limited resources. To register or for more information, call or email Polly at (828) 775-6333 or polly.medlicott@gmail.com. (Please speak to Polly about scholarships.)

09/08/16 PLAY AT NC STAGE - THE LOWER FREQUENCIES

This is a harrowing play about the experience of being Black in America, a play focused on the rise and unintended consequences of drone warfare, and two 1940's radio adaptations of classic American stories. “What do artists do when confronted by pain? They create art,” asserts Immediate Theatre Project co-founder Willie Repoley. “It's not just a way of creating a buffer from the pain; it's a way of living in it, and processing it in a way that may offer some hope for change, a way that may open people's hearts and minds to a new experience of our shared humanity.” Bryce Monroe responded to the killings of Black men in Ferguson and around the country by creating a solo performance piece inspired by Ralph Ellison's book called “Invisible Man.” This play experience includes a talk-back following the performance in which the audience is able to discuss the work with the artist and explore different ways we can continue to engage communities in insightful and tolerant conversation. The performances will take place at North Carolina Stage Company for one weekend only, September 8th - 10th. More information and tickets can be obtained at 828.239.0263 and the NC Stage Box Office.

09/09/16 GREEN ENERGY ASHEVILLE EVENT

Localize and Strategize: Green Energy Asheville. With so much attention focusing on the oil pipelines being put in the ground at Standing Rock Reservation and across the Nation, how can we become part of the solution and contribute less to the problems? How can we use our dollars locally to rely less on big corporations and take back our sovereignty as free peoples? In what ways can we support renewable energy sources becoming a part of what makes Asheville shine? Participants will discuss ways in which we can lessen our footprint by taking action in our own lives, within our community and help this movement to ripple globally. Calling all earth enthusiasts, movers and shakers, peace activists and beyond to join for this discussion and take the first steps necessary into reclaiming our right to nature, health and happiness. 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.

09/10/16 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.

09/10/16 INVASIVES REMOVAL AT RICHMOND HILL

Richmond Hill Park invasive plant removal work days. Sponsored by MountainTrue. Richmond Hill Park is at 280 Richmond Hill Drive in Asheville. Time is 9 AM to 1 PM. Contact Susan at susan@mountaintrue.org for more information.

09/10/16 SAVING SEEDS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Join us at the Seed Legacy Farm for a fun filled day of seed saving and storytelling. This event is for all ages and will cover the ins and outs of saving your own seed for home production. Throughout the day hear stories about some of the rare and endangered seed varieties of Appalachia, tour the Seed Legacy Farm, and maybe even take home some magic beans Instructor is Dr. Jim Veteto. He is a recognized world expert on agricultural biodiversity and seed saving and a foremost expert on Appalachian heirloom vegetables and fruits. He directs both the Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies and Southern Seed Legacy and is assistant professor of environmental anthropology at Western Carolina University. Sliding scale $15 to $30. Time is 10 AM to 2 PM. Location is the Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies at 120 Prairie Sky Lane in Burnsville. This is a Facebook event. 

09/10/16 BIG SWEEP RIVER CLEANUP

Join in on WNC's largest river, creek and roadside cleanup followed up with a riverside after-party. Boats, tools and gear will be provided, but supplies are limited. Time is 9 AM to 1 PM for the cleanup and 1 to 3 PM for the after party. At 9 AM, volunteers check in at 144 Riverside Drive in Asheville. Asheville GreenWorks, River Link and our partners will provide dozen's of boats, If you have your own boat, please consider bringing it along for the cleanup.  We will be taking on 25 + miles of river in teams, then meeting back up at River Link's Performance Plaza for riverside after party. Shuttles will be provided to move you around to the cleanup areas. Wear swimsuits with shorts, river sandals, old tennis shoes (no flip flops) Bring a hat, sunscreen, water bottle and a change of clothes for the after party. If you have a truck, please consider helping out with the Road Crew. Must be over 18 to volunteer unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please contact Kate Nelson, Asheville GreenWorks, with any questions and to register at 828-232-7144 or volunteer@ashevillegreenworks.org.

09/12/16 BUILDING A CHILDREN’S OPPORTUNITY AGENDA

Join us for a community meeting to discuss creating opportunity for children! The future of North Carolina is as strong as its people. That’s why we’re at our best when all children to grow up in financially secure families and communities where they have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Unfortunately, many children and families face systemic barriers to prosperity that have a wide-ranging impact on children’s current well-being and future success. As part of our overall effort to build a stronger, more organized voice for children, NC Child is convening a series of community discussions aimed at building opportunity for children across North Carolina. Time is 5 to 8 PM and location is MAHEC at 119 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. Co-sponsors are Children First / Communities in Schools Buncombe County, The Success Equation, Asheville Children's Economic Opportunity Forum, NC Child, Children First / CIS Buncombe County, and The Success Equation. Both the event and dinner are free. Dinner will be provided by NC Child beginning at 5 PM. Please contact Adam Sotak at adam@ncchild.org for more information, including how to register.

09/13/16 BUILDING BRIDGES FALL SESSION

Registration for the 2016 fall session of Building Bridges is now open! This seminar is an introduction to the dynamics of racism and is an opportunity to explore how race has impacted our relationships, communities and institutions. Past participants are welcome. The program will be held at Rainbow Community School in West Asheville on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 PM starting on September 13th and running through November 8th. Please go to buildingbridges-ashevillenc dot org to get to the registration page and for more information. Help us spread the word by telling your friends and colleagues. We anticipate filling fast, so be sure to register early to reserve your spot. Hope to see you there! Cost is $35. Go to their webpage to see payment instructions. A celebratory pot luck supper will be held for all participants at the ninth meeting. Families are welcome to attend the potluck. You may call (828) 777-4585 for more information. 

09/14/16 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING

This meeting will be at 9:30 AM at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at 117 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.

09/15/16 AUTHORS FOR ACTION READING & SIGNING WITH NANCY LOVE

Nancy Love’s book “Trendy Fascism: White Power Music and the Future of Democracy” explores the unsettling implications of white power music’s effect on violence and culture. It presents chilling case studies of white power music and, according to Professor Neil Roberts, argues that “we must confront the realities of . . . the often-disavowed transnational white supremacist communities and networks in our political present” to shift the future. Nancy is a Professor of Political Science and a Humanities Council Coordinator at Appalachian State University who is the author of Musical Democracy and the co-author of Doing Democracy: Activist Art and Cultural Politics, both published by SUNY Press. Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprops in downtown Asheville. Call Malaprops for more information.

09/06/16 WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL LECTURE

Dr. Steve Solnick, President of Warren Wilson College, and a Fulbright Scholar of Russia, will open the series with a review of the latest moves and initiatives of President Putin and his current leadership in Russia -- including an emphasis on the internal politics and pressures within the country. This is at 7:30 PM and location is room 102, Manheimer Room, at the Reuter Center at UNCA. Lectures are free to WAC members and students, all others $10 at the door. For more details about programs, consult the World Affairs Council website.

09/17/16 HARD 2 RECYCLE EVENT

This will be at Madden Ace Hardware Parking Lot at 2319 U.S. 70 in Swannanoa. Time is 10 AM to 2 PM. Founded in 2011 by Rainbow Recycling, Hard 2 Recycle events are free to the public. Collections are geared to bring awareness to other modes of recycling to our area. There are 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  - i.e styrofoam, electronics, books, batteries, cooking oil and much more. Volunteers are needed to help run this event. Contact Asheville Green Works. 

09/18/16 WNC 4 PEACE EVENT 

“Authors Speak Peace” at The Block off Biltmore at the corner of Eagle and Market Streets in downtown Asheville. Featuring authors DeWayne Barton, Cecil Bothwell, Clare Hanrahan and Jeff Messer. Time is 2 PM. Contact wnc4peace@gmail.com or call 828-378-0125 if you have questions.

09/19/16 to 09/23/16 PEACE DISPLAY AT UNCA

“A Peace of My Mind” displays in Highsmith Union, Student Recreation Center, and Brown Hall  on these dates. Contact Rachel at rbrelsfo@unca.edu for more information.

09/21/16 DOCUMENTARY AT UNCA

The “Inside Peace” documentary follows a group of inmates doing hard time in a Texas prison as they embark on a journey of personal discovery while struggling with society’s roadblocks and dangers as they prepare to re-enter a world that has labeled them as permanent problems despite having served their sentences. Time is 8 PM and location is the Grotto in Highsmith Student Union at UNCA.

09/21/16 PLAY AT NC STAGE - GROUNDED

When a hotshot air-force pilot throws up on the tarmac after a flight, she realizes that she’s pregnant. After her daughter is born, she returns to the military but is told that she is no longer needed on her fighter jet. Instead, she will report to duty at Creech Air Force Base in the Nevada desert. She will be at the forefront of the latest advances in aerial combat as the operator of an Unmanned Ariel Vehicle, A Reaper, a Drone. She will smite the enemy by day and return to her family at night. And she will be challenged and changed in ways she never dreamed possible while looking out into the endless blue. The play is called “Grounded” and is written by George Brant. This play runs until October 9, 2016. More information and tickets can be obtained at 828.239.0263 and the NC Stage Box Office.

09/24/16 CENTER ART SPIRIT EVENTS FOR PEACE 

Spirit Collage will be in the fellowship hall, with Jane and Noel facilitating. You can create peace flags – peace collages – peace rocks - materials provided; donations welcome to help cover the costs. Veterans for Peace Chapter 99 office open House on the Mimosa Street level. Peace Village display, possibly a labyrinth walk will be in the sanctuary. At 2 PM, there will be a WNC4Peace awards ceremony for Peace Makers of the Year award presentation. This will be for a poem, video, essay, and artwork on peace for area students. At 3 M, there will be Dances of Universal Peace demo and teaching by Tarana & Shem. This starts at 10 AM. For more information, contact centerartspirit@gmail.com. 

09/25/16 ACLU BANNED BOOKS READING

The ACLU has historically championed free speech and academic freedom. The issue of book-banning crops up regularly all over the country, and this year the Western North Carolina chapter of the ACLU of NC will bring attention to it by hosting an afternoon at Malaprop’s, where area writers, artists,  musicians and booksellers  will read passages from banned books both notable and lesser-known. Please join us as we discuss the issue of freedom of speech and the freedom to read. Time is 3 PM. Call Malaprops for more information.

09/26/16 AUTHORS FOR ACTION COLORING EVENT with MAKEDA LEWIS!

Atlanta artist Makeda Lewis joins us for this unique event, when our Authors for Action series meets the adult coloring book. Makeda’s powerful new release “Avie’s Dreams: An Afro-Feminist Coloring Book” is part coloring book and part surrealist poem about protagonist Avie’s self-discovery and embrace of her identity as a young black girl. Filled with striking illustrations, it touches on themes of “feminism, death and rebirth, Afrocentricity, gender issues and power dynamics.” Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprops in downtown Asheville. Call Malaprops for more information.

09/30/16 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING

This meeting will be at 3:15 PM at Brooks-Howell Home on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Meet in the media room. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.

10/01/16 PRIDE FESTIVAL

Local LGBTQ activists will host the annual LGBTQ Blue Ridge Pride Festival from 11 AM to 7 PM at Pack Square in downtown Asheville. “Color Our World With Pride And Love” is this year’s theme.  

10/04/16 WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL LECTURE

Dr. Donald Mayer, Professor of Business Ethics at Denver University Daniel's School of Business and St. Mary's College in California, will consider the implications and the responses to the release earlier this year of the 'Panama Papers'; and the challenges to the status quo in international finance they present. This is at 7:30 PM and location is room 102, Manheimer Room, at the Reuter Center at UNCA. Lectures are free to WAC members and students, all others $10 at the door. For more details about programs, consult the World Affairs Council website.

10/05/16 SIERRA CLUB MEETING/GREEN DRINKS

This meeting will present an Environmental Legislative Update, the good the bad and the ugly by Cassie Gavin. It will cover coal ash, water quality, waste management, clean energy and recycling.  This event is free and open to the public. Time is 7 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 1 Edwin Place (corner of Charlotte and Edwin) in Asheville. For more information, contact Judy at judymattox@sbcglobal.net or call 828-683-2176.

10/05/16 PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES POVERTY FORUM PRESENTATION

“Ending Child Poverty Now” with Marian Wright Edelman, the President and Founder of the Children's Defense Fund, will be the topic of this Poverty Forum. Each year, Pisgah Legal Services hosts a forum to draw attention to the plight of people living in poverty in Western North Carolina. This year, our focus is on child poverty. The United States has the second highest rate of child poverty among 35 industrialized countries, despite having the largest economy in the world. A child in the United States has a 1 in 5 chance of being poor. In Pisgah Legal’s six-county WNC service region, approximately 25 percent of children live in poverty. On October 5th, we host the Forum’s keynote speaker Marian Wright Edelman, a legendary fighter for social justice in America. She is the founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, a passionate advocate for the rights of children, a lawyer, an author and a civil rights leader. This will be at the Diana Wortham Theatre in downtown Asheville. Time is 5:30 PM for cocktail reception, with forum starting at 7 PM. Tickets are $15 to $50 and can be obtained from Pisgah Legal. For questions, contact Betsy Ellis at 828-210-3444 or betsy@pisgahlegal.org.

10/10/16 to 10/13/16 DISGRACE: SEEKING GOD’S GRACE AMID THE DISGRACE OF RACISM CONFERENCE

The DISGRACE conference will be a faithful response to the embedded and structural racism in church and culture. Grounded in worship, truth-telling, confession, and collaboration, we move from disgrace toward solidarity. Together we tackle the hidden histories, unaddressed discomforts, divisions between people and communities, with a diverse community committed to journeying through these difficult but necessary and potentially life-giving conversations. When this conference ends, our true response to systemic racism begins. This will be at Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, NC. Commuter rate is $178 per person, with a daily rate of $70 per person/per day. Registration is on the Montreat Conference CenterIf you have any questions about the registration process, please email the registrar at SusanA@montreat.org or call 828.419.9829.

10/24/16 THIRD MOUNTAIN MORAL MONDAY IN ASHEVILLE

Keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. William Barber, President NC-NAACP. If you would like to volunteer for this inspiring event, contact Melissa Murphy at mcoxmurphy@gmail.com. Location is Pack Square Park, Roger McGuire Green. Time is 4 to 6 PM. This is organized by Democracy NC and Asheville-Buncombe NAACP.

11/10/16 INTERFAITH PEACE CONFERENCE AT LAKE JUNALUSKA

Affirming the community of Abrahamic faiths, the Peace Conference seeks to work in partnership with Christians, Jews, Muslims, and members of other religious traditions to advance the work of reconciliation and peace. The theme for this year's conference is “The Climate Crisis and Peace” and Dr. Norman Wirzba, Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Agrarian Studies at Duke Divinity School will be among the speakers. This runs from November 10 to November 13, 2016. For program questions contact Tammy McDowell at 828.454.6681 or tmcdowell@lakejunaluska.com. For registration contact 800.222.4930 or reservations@lakejunaluska.com. Early registration (before September 1) is $120.

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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. 

THURSDAY

Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 6 PM on first Thursday of the month. Materials provided.

FRIDAY

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

SATURDAY

Transylvanians for Peace and WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility have a weekly vigil at noon in front of the courthouse in Brevard. Call 884-3435 to confirm. 

French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org. 

SUNDAY

Peace Vigil at All Souls Cathedral in Biltmore Village. This is from 5 to 5:30 PM. This vigil will last until election day 2016.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS

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I have been deeply concerned about the refugee crisis going on, most of it due to US government policies, so I am taking some action!

I have been working with Peace & Earth Committee of Asheville Friends Meeting to raise funds to help refugees via the Mennonite Central Committee, specifically Iraqi and Syrian refugees. We are also putting together hygiene and school supplies kits, but we are mostly focusing on raising funds since the Mennonite Central Committee can buy things in bulk and thereby getting a cheaper price. Here is a link to the information about the kits:

http://mcc.org/get-involved/kits

I will be taking the items up to Hinton,Virginia in September.

In an effort to raise more funds, I have made multiple jars of pickles (bread & butter, dill and spicy) and some sweet pickle relish and giving them to people for donations. I also have some hand woven coasters (called "mug rugs") that I am giving for donations. You can pick the amount. Let me know if you want to help out.

Thanks, Susan Oehler

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Contact: Rachael Bliss

WNC 4 Peace: A Partnership of Peace Makers

8283780125

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Students in WNC invited to be creative about peace

ASHEVILLE WNC

4 Peace, a Partnership of Peace Makers in Western

North Carolina, announces a contest in which students across Buncombe County,

NC, can enter via their school’s creative works that promote the importance of

peacemaking. There will be four "Winners" for Best Poem, Best Video, Best

Artwork, and Best Essay on Peace .

Students’s creations will be featured on our website, wnc4peace.com.

Additionally the winning video and a video of the winning poem and essay

being read plus winning artwork will be shown on International Peace Day at key

websites throughout the world .

The School from which winning students submit their poem, video, artwork or

essay will be given $100 checks from WNC 4 Peace. The $100 prizes will be

presented to schools (or homeschooling associations) to encourage students there

to enter, as well as helping schools provide resources for them to teach peace

related skills.

WNC 4 Peace and our peacemaker partner groups will raise funds to support

this important youth project.

We will invite Mountain Xpress and other local media to announce the

competition and to also print the names of winning entries and their schools.

We are naming awards in honor of recently deceased local peace heroes:

● Isaac Coleman, who died recently, and was founder of Read to Succeed and

former Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s;

● Judith Hallock, cofounder

of the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance

and leader of previous local International Days of Peace;

● Tony Bing, former leader of the Palestinian/Jewish Egalitarian Team (formerly

called Western Carolinians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East), and

● Ron Harayda, former chairman of Veterans of Peace Chapter 099 and host of

their weekly WPVM radio program for years.

Deadline for submissions will be September 7, 2016. All entries should be sent to

WNC 4 Peace wnc4peace@gmail.com . In the case of videos, send an email to the

address above and give the name of the video, which has been uploaded to

YouTube by the entrant. Artwork should be uploaded as a. PDF attachment and

sent in an email to WNC 4 Peace. All students from elementary through high school

are eligible to participate. Be sure all entries include entrant's name, school, grade

level, and contact information.

Winners will be announced in September for International Day of Peace. Details

about the date and place to honor all entrants and winners will be announced at a

later date. For more information, contact WNC 4 Peace wnc4peace@gmail.com, or call

8283780125.

Another beautiful child killed by US wars of aggression

This came from the Afghan Peace Volunteers:

[The full prose poem written just after the July 22 bombing in Kabul during the large demonstration calling for fair electrical service to the established for areas where Hazara people live. - by Hakim]

Insecurity, exploding like this senseless massacre in Kabul,

stacks up with the lack of work and hope,

and drove Ibrahim, his family and about 146,000 Afghans from

their places of birth, traditions,  tea and weddings,

to find shelter in Europe,

as the second largest group of asylum seekers after Syrians.

The ‘powers’ are tearing Syria apart,

in the same way they have successfully shredded Afghanistan.

You were too young, like many others,

but family meant: you fled as a family,

and after you no longer turned up at the Centre,

one day,

word came through your grandma in Kabul,

who was distraught and shaking like paper burnt to grey ash,

“crying without pause for days and nights,” she said.

“Dear Ibrahim, such a good boy, is gone,

gone, how is that possible?

Drowned.”

She sighed, wiping off the stream from under her eye bags.

“How am I supposed to stop this pain?”

Ibrahim’s grandma was broken. Lost.

Ibrahim, I knew what to wish for you,

but you never saw any sea before,

and the money-makers from these wars

would never visit your grave,

and certainly not without blaming you and your mother,

or, if you had survived, they would have considered you a nuisance,

a dispensable number.

My wish was: “I hope you have a school you can enjoy going to.”

but that’s impossible now,

and when another bomb went off this bloody afternoon,

killing at least 80, in a sea-less land,

I was reminded that your family was willing to risk all,

to journey from possible death to possible death,

and I felt incredibly angry at what we are doing to fellow human beings,

to the children of the world.