UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER
11/07/16 CLIMATE ACTIVIST SPEECH AT UNCA
“Public Lands, Private Profit” is the title of a speech by Tim DeChristopher with Bryan Cahall. Climate activist Tim DeChristopher will discuss the role of public lands and national parks as battlegrounds between private profit and public good, sharing stories of some of his own fight with the fossil fuel industry over the fate of western lands near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. DeChristopher spent twenty one months in prison in 2008 after interrupting a Bush era oil and drilling auction with a spontaneous act of courage and civil disobedience. He used his prosecution as an opportunity to organize the climate justice organization Peaceful Uprising in Salt Lake City, and most recently founded the Climate Disobedience Center. DeChristopher will be joined by singer/songwriter Bryan Cahall with songs inspired by struggles for justice. Sponsors are NEH professorship, Office of Sustainability, and Student Environmental Center. Time is 7 PM and location is Highsmith Student Union Grotto at UNCA.
11/07/16 HEART OF COMMUNITY
Music, drumming, and reflection of what creates unity in a polarized world. Time is 6 PM and location is Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. It is a gathering of citizens of differing political and civic convictions committed to working together after the election for our common life in Asheville and beyond. Sponsored by Congregation Beth Israel, Christians United for Community, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Jubilee Community, Kairos West, Mother Grove Goddess Temple, Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, The Cathedral of All Souls, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, and Varick Chapel AME Zion Church.
11/07/16 DISABILITY IS DIVERSITY EVENT AT UNCA
This year the Office of Academic Accessibility hosts Matt Glowacki, whose talk is titled “Able-Bodied Like Me.” Matt is a highly sought after diversity speaker and entrepreneur. He will talk about 'intersectionality' and 'passing' within a framework of disability and social justice. Matt will encourage you to break down any barriers that may exist between the able-bodied and those who have a disability and explain why it is important to have high expectations for everyone. Free and open to the public. If you need an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact the Office of Academic Accessibility at academicaccess@unca.edu or call 828-232-5050. Contact them for more information also. Time is 7 to 9 PM and location is Highsmith Student Union 159, Alumni Hall, at UNCA.
11/08/16 ELECTION DAY
Last chance to vote in this horrid election. Please go to your precinct to vote.
11/08/16 EXHIBITION AT RAMSEY LIBRARY AT UNCA
“All My Relations” exhibit by Shan Goshorn will be at Ramsey Library, Blowers Gallery from November 8 to December 16. There will be an opening reception on November 15 - see listing below for more information. This exhibit includes forty black and white photographs of contemporary Cherokee people. They were taken over a 25 year period by Eastern Band artist Shan Goshorn. Goshorn is perhaps better known for her painted photographs (many of which address stereotypes and racism) which she weaves into baskets that now reside in many prestigious collections around the world.
11/08/16 OCCUPY WNC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
This will be at 7 PM at the Sneak E Squirrel Community Room at 1315 West Main Street in Sylva. It is on the left side of Main Street past Watson Park. Contact Lucy at (828)743-9747 or lucy.christopher42@gmail.com for more information.
11/08/16 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
On the second Tuesday of each month, Western North Carolina Veterans for Peace meets to coordinate group activities and programs.Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars. Time is 6:30 PM and location is the Center for Art and Spirit at Saint George, address is One School Road in west Asheville. For more information, contact Gerry at gwerhan@gmail.com.
11/09/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 6:30-8:30pm: "Title Track" led by Lia Kaz; meeting at Unitarian Universalist congregation of Asheville (downstairs in main building, corner of Edwin Place and Charlotte). What does “white” mean and how was it created as a racial group to implement a white supremacy culture in the U.S.? This group is for anyone who is willing and able to explore their whiteness or whiteness with a racial justice lens. We aim to dismantle white supremacy's power by exploring it from the inside. "Title Track" is part of Asheville SURJ's "What's Up with Whiteness Wednesday (WUWW)" series. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.
11/09/16 JUST PEACE 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
11/10/16 HENDERSONVILLE GREEN DRINKS
This Hendersonville Green Drinks will be with the French Broad Riverkeeper. The French Broad Riverkeeper will talk about our biggest pollution source, sediment, and Muddy Water Watch, a training program to find and report sediment pollution problems. Sediment pollution smothers aquatic life, clogs fish gills, and destroys aquatic habitat. Luckily MountainTrue has streamlined the process to report sediment problems. Come learn about what you can do stop sediment pollution and keep our rivers and aquatic ecosystems healthy. Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue and the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. 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. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available. Time is 5:30 to 7 PM and location is Black Bear Coffee at 318 North Main Street in Hendersonville. For more information, contact Gray at 828-692-0385 or gray@mountaintrue.org.
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.
11/10/16 PUBLIC HEARING ON CLIFFSIDE COAL ASH WATER PERMIT IN SHELBY
Please attend a public hearing on Tuesday, November 10th at 6 PM to tell the NC Department of Environmental Quality that our families deserve clean water, not a permit that allows Duke Energy to turn our streams into coal ash pollution ditches. Under the proposed permit, Duke Energy could dump unlimited arsenic, mercury and lead into our waterways from the leaking, unlined coal ash pits at its Cliffside power plant. Our state should protect people, not polluters. Time is 5 to 8 PM. Location is Boiling Springs Town Hall at 114 East College Avenue in Shelby. Contact Anna at 828-258-8737 or anna@mountaintrue.org.
11/10/16 FUNDRAISER FOR MOUNTAIN CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
The Mountain Top Jamboree, hosted by the Asheville Affiliates, will benefit the Mountain Child Advocacy Center (MCAC). The Mountain Child Advocacy Center provides services for abused children through crisis intervention therapy, advocacy, and community education in Western North Carolina.The mountain top theme is to recognize the triumph of the children that make that hard climb to recover from abuse. Food and beverages are included in the ticket price of $25 per person in advance and $30 at the door. Local musicians will provide great entertainment throughout the night. Beverages will be donated by Catawba Valley Brewing Company our official beer sponsor, and Skyland Distributing. Food including hors d'oeuvres, appetizers and desserts will be provided by local Asheville eateries. The event will also feature a silent auction and raffle with 100% proceeds going directly to MCAC. Time is 6 to 9 PM and location is Bunn House at 15 Clayton Street in Asheville. This was on Facebook under “Mountain Jamboree”.
11/10/16 PROTECT OUR MOTHER EARTH
An evening of poetry and music in support of the water protectors at Standing Rock. Featuring Tracey Schmidt, with Bob Hinkle, Michael Ivey, Denton Gragg, Phil Ludwig, plus Dakota Brown will speak about her experience at Standing Rock. Tickets are $10. Location is White Horse Black Mountain, time is 7:30 PM. Call 828-669-0816 for more information.
11/11/16 NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH EVENT AND STANDING ROCK PROTEST UPDATE AT UNCA
Dr. Trey Adcock, a Cherokee Nation citizen, Assistant Professor of Education and Director of American Indian Outreach will speak on Indian politics in the United States as part of the Humanities 414 lecture series. Together with Juan Sánchez Martinez, assistant professor of Spanish and Gilliam Jackson, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and UNC Asheville adjunct lecturer who teaches Cherokee language, Dr. Adcock traveled to the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota to deliver supplies for the Sacred Stone Camp at the junction of the Cannonball and Missouri Rivers. Come to hear about their first-hand experience of the ongoing Standing Rock Sioux protest of construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and its impact on sacred land and the water supply. Time is 11 AM to 12:15 PM and location is Humanities Lecture Hall at UNCA. This is presented by Multicultural Student Programs. Contact dhylton@unca.edu for more information.
11/12/16 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING
Citizens Climate Lobby meets the second Saturday of each month at Kairos West Community Center (behind Firestorm) at 610 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.
11/12/16 GREENWORKS TIRE AMNESTY DAYS
(Free Tire Collection) Volunteers sought to help us heave SUPER dirty tires into semi-trailers. This is hard work, but so helpful for our environment. We collected 2,455 tires at the last event, we're expecting to receive even MORE this time around. Think crossfit+spartan run but without the trophies. This will be from 9 AM to 5 PM on 11/12/16 and 11/13/16. Location is Sears Asheville Mall parking lot on South Tunnel Road. Call Greenworks for more information. If you're interested in volunteering, please email: volunteer@ashevillegreenworks.org or call 232-7144.
11/12/16 RICHMOND HILL PARK INVASIVE REMOVAL WORK DAY
Join us and help restore native plant communities by controlling non-native invasive plants at Richmond Hill Park. This is the City of Asheville’s only forested park and is home to many special native plant and animal species! Volunteers help to stop the spread of harmful non-native invasive species and return native species to the unique park. We’ll provide all gloves, equipment and necessary instructions. Please bring snacks, water and a rain jacket and wear long pants, long sleeve shirt and closed toe shoes (no open shoes or sandals allowed for safety). Time is 9 AM to 1 PM. Contact Susan at 828.258.8737 x 216 or susan@mountaintrue.org for more information.
11/12/16 MARXISM DAY SCHOOL
We are now registering people for the Marxism Day School that is coming up on Saturday, November 12. Branches from all around the region will meet for discussion of socialist theory and history so that we can take that knowledge and apply it to the struggle for liberation in our time. We will have two sessions followed by an evening plenary. The first session will be on race, class, and capitalism which will be followed by a session on party-building. The evening plenary, What's next for the left?” will focus on perspectives for continuing the resistance to capitalism and winning support for the alternative, socialism. No one will be turned away for lack of funds but we encourage donations of $5-$15 to help us pay travel and lodging costs for speakers and attendants. Join the International Socialist Organization at our southeast regional day school to join the discussion in sessions on racism and capitalism and on the need for building a revolutionary party as well as an evening plenary on prospects for the left after the election. Another world is possible if we fight for it! This starts at 10 AM and location is UNCA campus. Please RSVP at the FB event page- (https://www.facebook.com/events/1781139188835771/).
11/13/16 CONCERT FOR MOUNTAINTRUE
MountainTrue is proud to welcome Mavis Staples to Asheville for a concert to benefit the French Broad River on November 13 at The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville. Tickets are on sale now at The Orange Peels box office and on their website. Proceeds from the concert support the work of the French Broad Riverkeeper, a program of MountainTrue and the primary protector and defender of the French Broad River watershed. Asheville-based artist Lyric will perform with her band as the opening act and will also perform a special acoustic set at a VIP event at PULP (The Orange Peel’s lower level private club) before the show. The concert is presented by MountainTrue, 98.1 The River and Mountain Xpress and is generously sponsored by The Matt & Molly Team, Movement Mortgage and Prestige Subaru. Cost is $35. Contact Anna at 828-258-8737 or anna@mountaintrue.org for more information.
11/13/16 INTERFAITH IMMIGRATION BRIEFING
“Raids, Detentions and Deportations - An Interfaith Immigration Briefing with Azadeh Shahshahani” will be held at 6:30 PM at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street in Asheville. Azadeh Shahshahani is a legal and advocacy director of Project South and she is chair of Georgia Detention Watch. Azadeh Shahshahani has worked in North Carolina and Georgia to protect the human rights of immigrants. She has served as the National Security/Immigrants’ rights Project Director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and president of the National Lawyers Guild. She is the chair of Georgia Detention Watch, co-chair of the US Human Rights Network working Group on National Security, and member of the Advisory Council of the American Association of Jurists. She the author of “Prisons of Profits: Immigrants and Detention in Georgia.” She received her JD and a Masters in Modern Middle Eastern and North African Studies from the University of Michigan. Co-sponsors are CIMA- Compañeros Inmigrantes de las Montañas en Accion, Circle of Mercy Congregation, Just Peace for Israel/Palestine, Nuestro Centro, and St. Eugene’s Catholic Church. For more information call or email: 828-319-7652 or billramsey3@gmail.com.
11/13/16 DOCUMENTARY AT THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE
It's still alive and we all need The Equal Rights Amendment! Come see a documentary by Kamala Lopez that will inspire you into collective action. As the NAACP/Rev. Barber say "forward together, not one step back!" Suggested donation $10. Time is 4:30 PM and location is The Block Off Biltmore at Eagle and South Market Street in downtown Asheville.
11/14/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL
Topic is “Communication Skills for Resilient Communities”. A resilient community must be sustainable for the long haul—but, what can get in the way? Often it is not the absence of technical know-how, but the presence of interpersonal conflicts. At the root of many a conflict is misunderstanding caused by lack of communication. Learn how the nonjudgmental language of feelings and needs can help dissolve disputes, and how empathy can bring people together. Cathy Holt is certified as a teacher of the Connection Practice, and is also a certified HeartMath® coach. She has been learning and teaching nonviolent communication skills for over twenty years. A long-term environmental activist, she is currently involved with Citizens Climate Lobby, working for a carbon fee and dividend. Time is 6:30 PM and location is St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street in north Asheville. Contact Rebecca at palmtree747@gmail.com for more information.
11/14/16 HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM AT UNCA
There will be a campus and community human rights forum at UNCA on “Child Detention in Palestine” with Azadeh Shahshahani, the legal and advocacy director of Project South. Shahshahani has worked in NC and Georgia to protect the human rights of immigrants and Muslim, Middle Eastern and South Asian communities. She has served as a National Security/Immigrants’ Rights Project Director with the ACLU of Georgia and president of the National Lawyers Guild. She has also participated in a delegation investigating the plight of political prisoners in Palestine in April of 2016. Time is noon to 1PM and location is Mountain View Room at the Sherrill Center at UNCA. Cosponsors are Belk Distinguished Professor in the Humanities at UNCA and Just Peace for Israel/Palestine of WNC. For more information, contact jpip@wnc@gmail.com or call 828-319-7652.
11/15/16 OPENING RECEPTION FOR EXHIBITION AT UNCA
“All My Relations” exhibit by Shan Goshorn will be at Ramsey Library, Blowers Gallery from November 8 to December 16. There will be an opening reception on November 15 from 5 to 7 PM, with opening remarks by Barbra Duncan and Trey Adcock. This exhibit includes forty black and white photographs of contemporary Cherokee people. They were taken over a 25 year period by Eastern Band artist Shan Goshorn. Goshorn is perhaps better known for her painted photographs (many of which address stereotypes and racism) which she weaves into baskets that now reside in many prestigious collections around the world.
11/15/16 CARAVAN TO STANDING ROCK FROM WNC
The Canary Coalition is organizing a caravan from western North Carolina to Standing Rock, North Dakota. Leaving Tuesday, November 15. We will be delivering medical and other supplies and video-documenting the activities we witness while there. If you are interested in participating or contributing toward this effort please contact 828-631-3447 or email info@canarycoalition.org.
11/16/16 REBUILDING AFFRILACHIA - PEARSON PLAN WORKSHOP
DeWayne Barton will be offering a Pearson Plan Workshop on November 16 from 5 to 6 pm at the Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton Street, in Asheville. Learn more about this plan for Rebuilding Affrilachia and how you can be a part of it. There is no charge for the workshop, though contributions to support the Pearson Plan will be accepted. If you'd like to be part of this, please join him; there is no pre-registration necessary. Questions? Email info@hoodhuggers.com.
11/16/16 GREEN DRINKS
Sustainability and social justice meet-up at The Block off Biltmore at 39 S. Market Street in downtown Asheville. This starts at 5:30 PM with socializing and the presentation starts at 6 PM. Contact Asheville Green Drinks for more information. This happens on the third Wednesday of the month.
11/16/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 6:30 to 8:30 PM. “Calling People In” led by David Greenson; meeting at Firestorm Books & Cafe. Many of us either stay silent or get into arguments when we hear racist comments, neither of which will begin the essential process of educating and "calling in" of white people to become part of multi-racial coalitions for racial justice. Role play conversations to be better prepared when opportunities arise. “Calling People In” is part of Asheville SURJ's “What's Up with Whiteness Wednesday (WUWW)” series. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.
11/17/16 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE GENERAL MEETING
Join the Creation Care Alliance of WNC for a general meeting as we inspire one another to good work and discuss our work empowering care for creation. We will connect with one another and explore ways to care for creation. Everyone is welcome. The meeting will be held in the First Baptist Church of Asheville in Room MB306, which is upstairs. Address is 5 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Time is 5:30 to 7 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at scott@creationcarealliance.org.
11/18/16 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.
11/19/16 HARD TO RECYCLE COLLECTION IN ARDEN
This will be from 10 AM to 2 PM at 2310 Hendersonville Road in Arden. And a word from Greenworks: never put hard-to-recycle items or any kind of plastic bag or plastic film in with your curbside recyclables (other than blue recycling bags). The blue bags are emptied and removed early in the sorting process at the recycling facility as plastic bags and film clog recycling equipment forcing operations to shut down for workers to cut that material off by hand with boxcutters! Note: Be sure to pull out the plastic liner bags out of your cereal boxes before you throw them into your recycling bin. Check that no chip and snack bags or regular and resealable (zipper) bags, snuck into your bin, too!
11/23/16 THE NEW JIM CROW BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
This is a monthly discussion group of Michelle Alexander's book “The New Jim Crow.” This is on Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at Firestorm Bookstore & Cafe at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. This monthly discussion group of Michelle Alexander's book the "The New Jim Crow" will discuss a chapter a month. In September we will cover Chapter One. This group will meet September 28, October 26, November 23, December 28, and January 25, 2017 and maybe one more in February. Anyone is welcome to jump in anytime. Led by Eryka Lynn Peskin. Contact Firestorm for more information.
11/25/16 PROTEST HEWLETT PACKARD AT BEST BUY
Just Peace Israel/Palestine will be on South Tunnel Road in front of Best Buy from noon to 1:30 PM to hand out flyers about Hewlett Packard. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net 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 during most of the year, but after DST kicks in, they meet at 4:30 PM.
Showing Up for Racial Justice at Firestorm Cafe and Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10 AM. 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.
Green Grannies Book Club meets at noon at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.
“What’s Up With Whiteness” discussion group at 6 PM at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.
THURSDAY
Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 6 PM on fourth 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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Without telling the public, the U.S. started and ended a new bombing campaign in Libya
U.S. conducted 367 airstrikes in Libya over three months, then quietly stopped, holding no briefings or hearings
The United States was bombing Libya again, although you might not have known it. And you wouldn’t be the only one — the U.S. government launched the war in August without telling the public.
Then, on Oct. 31, the U.S. quietly ended the bombing campaign, once again without notifying its own citizens. The only reason we know this is because anonymous U.S. defense officials told Fox News that the war had wrapped up.
Micah Zenko, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted that there was not a single White House, Pentagon or State Department briefing on the three-month bombing campaign, nor was there a congressional hearing.
From Aug. 1 until the end of October, the U.S. military conducted 367 airstrikes in Libya. Its goal was to beat back militants from the Islamic State, who seized control of the city Sirte, establishing their largest so-called caliphate outside of Iraq and Syria.
ISIS has exploited the chaos wrought by the U.S.-backed 2011 war in Libya. NATO carried out a regime change operation to topple longtime strongman Muammar Qadhafi, effectively destroying Libya’s central government in the process, plunging the oil-rich North African country into chaos and a civil war from which it is still reeling.
Zenko said it is appropriate that this bombing campaign “will end as a began, by leaks from anonymous DOD officials.”
“War by press release, leaks, and selective video clips,” he quipped.
When U.S. officials told journalists about the new, unilateral bombing campaign in Libya in August — which got little, and inadequate, attention in the media — the Department of Defense said it would take just a few weeks. President Obama twice approved to extend the bombing campaign by an additional month.
Obama himself had personally authorized the open-ended war, using the George W. Bush administration’s 9/11-era legislation the Authorization of the Use of Military Force, or AUMF. (Today, some lawmakers are calling for the AUMF to be repealed, describing it as a “blank check for endless war”.)
Citing U.S. defense officials, Fox News reported that some airstrikes in Libya were conducted using Marine Harrier jets and Cobra attack helicopters, but the majority were done with drones.
A senior Pentagon official told Fox News that the U.S. military has not ruled out more bombing in the future, and will “continue to provide military support to the GNA,” the Government of National Accord, Libya’s internationally recognized but dysfunctional, even ineffectual, putative government.
U.S. special forces have also been on the ground in Libya for months. They, too, were deployed without notifying the public.
Before the 2011 regime change operation, Libyans had one of the highest standards of living in all of Africa. Today, three different governments claim authority in Libya, and small militant groups, many of which are extremist in orientation, are battling for control of swaths of the country.
A report by the British Parliament, released in September, showed that the 2011 NATO war in Libya was based on an array of lies.
The Libyan people have suffered the most in the aftermath. Thousands have been killed, and millions have been displaced. By 2014, 1.8 million Libyans — nearly one-third of the country’s entire population — had fled to Tunisia. Many more have sought refuge in Europe. The destruction of Libya has further fueled the worst refugee crisis since World War II.
Libya was the seventh Muslim-majority country the Obama administration was bombing. In 2015, the U.S. dropped 23,144 bombs on the other six countries.
In several of these countries, such as Somalia and Pakistan, the U.S. has not even officially declared war. The U.S. is also bombing ISIS in Iraq and Syria, while backing a Saudi-led coalition’s brutally destructive war in Yemen, and continuing covert drone bombing there. In Afghanistan, the U.S. war just entered its 16th year, while civilians continue to suffer.
In post-9/11 America, war has become a non-issue — commonplace, quotidian, not even discussed in the presidential election. The U.S. government quietly begins, conducts and ends wars, without input from the public.
Ben Norton is a politics reporter and staff writer at Salon. You can find him on Twitter at @BenjaminNorton.
http://www.salon.com/2016/11/04/without-telling-the-public-the-u-s-started-and-ended-a-new-bombing-campaign-in-libya/
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FROM MOUNTAINTRUE:
It seems like the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) just can’t get it right when it comes to getting Duke Energy to fix their polluting coal ash dumps. Time and time again, we see the agency fall short when it comes to protecting our waterways and communities. The new draft wastewater discharge permit for the Rogers Energy Complex (a.k.a. Cliffside power plant) in Rutherford and Cleveland counties is no different.
There are more than 30 illegal seeps at the site that are polluting groundwater and the Broad River with toxic heavy metals. Instead of cleaning them up, DEQ's draft permit would allow these seeps to continue polluting unaltered. DEQ's permit goes as far as allowing Duke to turn natural streams and wetlands around the Cliffside coal ash dumps into waste channels, and continue to pollute the river and streams where our children paddle and play.
This should be a no-brainer, but DEQ continues to ignore the publics' pleas to stop Duke's toxic pollution once and for all. Send your letter today and ask DEQ to withdraw and rewrite this permit to protect water quality and our communities. More information and submit your comments bit.ly/cliffsideH20
Then have your say in person; come to the public hearing in Boiling Springs on November 10:
Thursday, November 10, 5-8pm
Boiling Springs Town Hall
114 East College Ave.
Shelby, NC
Please attend a public hearing on Tuesday, November 10th at 6pm to tell the NC Department of Environmental Quality that our families deserve clean water, not a permit that allows Duke Energy to turn our streams into coal ash pollution ditches. Under the proposed permit, Duke Energy could dump unlimited arsenic, mercury and lead into our waterways from the leaking, unlined coal ash pits at its Cliffside power plant. Our state should protect people, not polluters!
More information, go to http://mountaintrue.org/tell-deq-to-stop-dukes-water-pollution-at-cliffside/.
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