dancewater: Upcoming events for the week of July 15, 2018

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

Please note: This email calendar will be discontinued as of August, 2018. I will not be able to do this for the foreseeable future. No one has volunteer to take over at this point.

07/16/18 CITIZEN CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING

CCL June Monthly Chapter Meeting (every 3rd Monday each month) is on June 16 from 6:30-8:30PM. Location is Habitat Brewing Tavern & Commons at 174 Broadway Street in Asheville. Come hear about our meetings with Congress during Lobby Day and how you can help with better outreach for this year. All political parties are welcome to join in this effort - conservative, liberal , progressive, libertarian, etc. Come have a beer or just plain good conversation with positive actionable items to help move us forward on the most important topic of our time. Contact asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org for more information.

07/16/18 DEMOCRACY NC ASHEVILLE COALITION MEETING

Wondering what you can do now to get more folks to the polls in November? We can help! Join us for our upcoming Democracy Asheville Coalition meeting to learn ways you can plug in to phone banks, voter registration drives, and more! We'll also update you on the latest voting rights news for our state. The next Democracy Asheville Coalition Meeting is on Monday, July 16, at 6 p.m., at the Wesley Grant Center at 285 Livingston Street in Asheville. Questions? Feel free to contact Darlene at 828-216-3430 or darlene@democracync.org.

07/17/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

Every Tuesday, Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 holds a vigil at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Time is 4:30 PM. This has been happening since 2002. No matter the weather, no matter if it falls on a holiday, they are out there standing for peace.

07/17/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING

On the third 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 5:45 PM and location is the Block Off Biltmore at Eagle and Market Streets in downtown Asheville. For more information, contact Gerry at gwerhan@gmail.com.

07/17/18 UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION MEETING

United Nations Association meeting. UNCA - Zageir Hall 243 at 6:30 for fellowship and refreshments, 7:00 PM for meeting Rachel Dunn will report on the UNA Leadership Conference in DC which she attended. Help us support the United Nations. Contact Dot Sulock at dsulock@unca.edu for more information.

07/17/18 BOARD OF ELECTIONS MEETING FOR BUNCOMBE COUNTY

Come out in support of a strong Early Voting plan for Buncombe County for the 2018 General Election. Please attend the upcoming Buncombe County Board of Elections (BOE) meeting at Buncombe County Board of Elections (77 McDowell St. Asheville, N.C. 28801)on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at noon. Buncombe BOE will discuss hours and options for the county's Early Voting plan for the 2018 General Election. The Board will discuss which satellite locations to open in light of the new scheduling mandates passed by the NCGA, whether those satellite voting locations will be accessible to underrepresented voters, including the three popular library sites and The Wesley Grant Center, and whether to adopt strong weekend hours during the Early Voting period. Don't forget to call ahead to confirm the meeting time and location (828-250-4207) and, if public comment is allowed, sign up to speak at the meeting in favor of your desired times and locations. This came from Democracy NC.

07/17/18 PRISON STRIKE ORGANIZING MEETING AT FIRESTORM

This is from 5:00 – 7:30 pm at Firestorm Books at 610 Haywood Street in west Asheville. 2018 National Prison Strike - Face to face on organizing locally to support the prison strike August. Blue Ridge Anarchist Black Cross is hoping to have an in-person interest meeting with local folks to help support prisoners striking August 21 to Sept 9, especially locally, as well as to do outside organizing around the topics of ending prison slavery and answering the demands for dignity of incarcerated people. Contact Firestorm for more information.

07/18/18 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS

Informal networking focused on the science of sustainability. Free. Held at The Block off biltmore at 39 South Market Street in downtown Asheville. Time is 6 PM. Contact The Block for more information.

07/19/18 NOTORIOUS HBC* (*HISTORY BOOK CLUB)

Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. We’re creating a book club that tackles the challenging subjects, hence the Notorious in the name. This month’s pick is “Bitter Fruit: The Story of the American Coup in Guatemala” by Stephen Schlesinger and Stephen Kinzer. Malaprop’s Bookstore & Café at 55 Haywood Street in Asheville. Time is 7 PM. Contact Malaprops at 828-254-6734 for more information.

07/19/18 PEACE EDUCATION PROGRAM

This is a multimedia facilitated class series based on talks about personal peace by Prem Rawat. Free. Time is 6:30 to 7:30 PM and this will be held at the Montford Community Center at 34 Pearson Drive in Asheville. This started on 06/21/18 and goes until 08/23/18. Contact jtfbuilder@gmail.com.

07/19/18 WE THE PEOPLE SCREENING IN ASHEVILLE

Interested in Community Rights and why Big Corporations have more rights than we do? This film showcases the work of CELDF and the Community Rights movement across the US. “We the People 2.0”f is about the loss of democracy in the United States. The story unfolds through the eyes of rural people and sacrifice zones in urban communities who have faced decades of toxic dumps, drilling and mines in their communities. These people come to understand that the reason they can’t stop the destruction is that the US has become an oligarchy, run by the corporate few who ignore the rights and will of the people. These people are frontally challenging our corporate state; thereby saving nature and themselves. Thomas Linzey, a nonprofit attorney’s inspiring words shows how, we, the people, can turn this around and lay claim to our democracy. This movement is building as you read this, not just in this country but around the world; this film shows how and where it all began. Hosted by Community Roots and The Block off biltmore. Time is 6 PM and location is The Block off biltmore in downtown Asheville. Contact them for more information.

07/20/18 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, 285-2599.

07/21/18 SIERRA CLUB PICNIC

Sierra Club July 21: 9th Annual Summer Picnic. Come one, come all to the 9th Annual Sierra Club Summer Picnic on Saturday, July 21. The picnic is scheduled from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Blue Ridge Parkway sheltered picnic grounds located on Bull Mt. Road near the VA Hospital on Riceville Road. This event is free and will be held rain or shine. Please bring a pot luck dish to share and your own place settings. Drinks will be provided. Badminton, horseshoes and music will add to the festivities. Directions: Exit 7 on I-240; go east on Tunnel Rd for 2 miles; turn north on Riceville Road Pass the VA Hospital and turn left on Bull Mt. Road. The fenced-in, sheltered picnic area is on the left about ½ mile up the road. Contact Judy Mattox, judymattox@sbcglobal.net, or 828-683-2176 for more information.

07/21/18 JACKSON COUNTY NAACP BRANCH MEETING

The July Monthly Membership Meeting of the Jackson Branch of the NC NAACP will start at 10:00 am on Saturday, the 21st at Liberty Baptist Church, Sylva NC. (Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties). At 11 am the public is invited to the program, Organizing to Protect the Mission of the NAACP “to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination”...between now and November. Contact Lucy Christopher (828)743-9747 for more information.

07/22/18 SUPPORT YOUR NAACP AND BREVARD MUSIC CENTER

The Brevard Music Center has graciously donated tickets to a wonderful concert as a Transylvania NAACP fundraiser. We’ll say this to you--our members and friends—that funds are urgently needed since our treasury is in the double digits right now! Here’s the deal: We have a variety of tickets for the July 22 performance of “Pines of Rome” by Respighi with featured solo violinist Annelle Gregory, a woman of color who was the first place winner in the 2017 Sphinx Organization’s annual competition honoring excellence and diversity in the arts. Here’s how you can get in the game: We are auctioning 60 tickets at all levels. All proceeds go to us (thanks, Brevard Music Center!), so you win by getting to see a great concert and we win by increasing our ability to continue our work for justice in our community, our state and our nation. We all win by getting to spend some fun time together for a Thank You picnic for winners only before the 3 p.m. performance. We have: 10 $54 tickets (great orchestra seats); 10 $44 tickets (excellent seats); 10 $38 tickets (sides, still good!); 10 $28 seats (inside back, can still see and hear wonderfully) and 20 $20 lawn seats (outside and really fun because you can sit and sip your beverages of choice). We’d love it if you’d at least pay the ticket price and more if you’re wiling. How to get in the game: Send us your bid by e-mail no later than July 9, 2018. Send bid to transnaacpauction@gmail.com and let us know what level seats you want, how many and how much you are willing to donate. It’s as simple as that. We will notify the winner on Wednesday, July 11 and arrange to get your tickets to you. You can buy as many tickets as you want and the sky’s the limit. You can give us $1,000 for a $20 lawn seat, if you like, and we will thank you heartily. Please feel free to share this with your friends. From facebook.

07/22/18 FILM SCREENING BY DEMOCRACY NC

Join Democracy NC for a film screening of “Capture the Flag” on Sunday, July 22 at 5 pm in Hendersonville. Come watch a free screening of Capture the Flag -- a voting rights documentary about North Carolina. We will then have a group talk-back where we will discuss updates on new voter suppression tactics in NC, including a new string of six ‘For/Against’ amendments that will be on the ballot for NC voters this fall. We'll talk about ways to get involved and how we will get the word out in Henderson county. Please RSVP to let us know you'll be there. Location is Sanctuary Brewing at 147 1st Avenue East in Hendersonville. Contact Darlene Azarmi at 828-216-3430 or darlene@democracy-nc.org to find out how to RSVP or for more information.

07/24/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

07/26/18 PEACE EDUCATION PROGRAM

07/26/18 INDIVISIBLE MEETING

WNC Votes - Indivisible AVL General Meeting on July 26 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. If you want to learn how to make a difference in the elections this November, this is the event for you. Indivisible Asheville/WNC will host Indivisible Flip NC, a group based in Durham dedicated to restoring balance in the NC General Assembly, for a hands-on demonstration and voter engagement training. The event will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 26, at the Pack Memorial Library Auditorium in downtown Asheville. WNC Votes will feature the two co-founders of Indivisible Flip NC, Amy Cox and Briana Brough. Cox will give an overview of recent shifts in the NCGA, showing the importance of voter engagement at the state level, with a special focus on Western North Carolin. Brough, a statewide organizer with Progress NC and America Votes, will lead attendees in a hands-on demonstration of the Relational Voter Program (RVP), a non-partisan voter engagement tool developed by America Votes that has proven to increase voter turnout by helping individuals reach their own personal networks. Email info@indivisibleavl.org for more information.

07/27/18 BENEFIT FOR PISGAH LEGAL

Amplify Pisgah is back this summer on July 27 at 6:30 pm, featuring The Mavericks at Pisgah Brewing Company's outdoor stage in Black Mountain. Proceeds from the concert benefit Pisgah Legal Services. Don't miss your chance to purchase discounted early bird tickets for $29.50. Thank you to Amplify My Community and Pisgah Brewing Company for their continued partnership and support! To learn more about sponsoring the event or for more information including how to get tickets, contact Michelle Spiegel at 828-210-3773 for details.

07/31/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

07/31/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PROGRAM

Election Security in Today’s Political Climate will be on Tuesday, July 31 from 6:00 – 7:30pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Is your vote protected? Election Security in Today’s Political Climate. This is a free program in the League’s Hot Topic’s series. In 2016, American elections were allegedly targeted by a foreign nation-state intent on infiltrating and manipulating our electoral process. Voters are concerned about what is being done to protect their vote. The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County is hosting a panel discussion that will help clarify the issues and actions by state and county officials for vote security. Dr. Ashley Moraguez, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina Asheville will give an overview of election security and how if affects the electoral process. Senator Terry Van Duyn, 49th Senatorial District, NC will address how these issues are being handled by our state. Trena Velez, Director of Elections, Buncombe County will speak about what precautions are being taken on the county level and Jennifer Sparks, Election Specialist, Buncombe County, will provide information on technical aspects of voter security. Trena Velez, Director of Elections, Buncombe County will speak about what precautions are being taken on the county level and Jennifer Sparks, Election Specialist, Buncombe County, will provide information on technical aspects of voter security. After brief presentations, there will be time for questions. Light refreshments will be provided. For additional information contact: Nancy Detweiler or Alex Nuesse.For more information, contact communications.lwvab@gmail.com.

08/02/18 PEACE EDUCATION PROGRAM

08/02/18 GREEN DRINKS

Eco-presentations, discussions and community connection. Free. Held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at Edwin Place and Charlotte Street in north Asheville. Also, this is the Sierra Club Meeting. See listing for more information.

08/02/18 SIERRA CLUB MEETING

Sierra Club August 2: The Effects of Climate Change on WNC. On August 2, the Sierra Club presents Professor Dee Edgers, UNC Asheville Environmental Studies, who will discuss the effects of climate change on western North Carolina. Time is 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at 1 Edwin Place in north Asheville. Even the most optimistic scenarios of carbon emission reduction will create a variety of challenges and opportunities for WNC. WNC is uniquely situated to become a model of climate change adaptation and demonstrate ways to become carbon negative or “climate positive.” Dr. Eggers will address updated estimates of climate impacts on WNC, ways we can increase regional resilience, and opportunities to go beyond carbon neutral. Dr. Dee Eggers is an Associate Professor in UNCA’s Environmental Studies Department. Dr. Eggers served on the NC Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change from 2005-2010. She teaches a variety of courses including environmental policy, natural resources management, the greening of institutions, and the humanities senior capstone, Cultivating Global Citizenship. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Judy Mattox, judymattox@sbcglobal.net or (828) 683-2176.

08/02/18 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE MEETING

Creation Care Gathering-our regular CCA meeting is on Thursday, August 2 from 6-7:30 PM. Location is Piney Mountain United Methodist Church at 14 Piney Mountain Church Road in Candler. Coming together to share compassion and ideas. We will learn about the creation care work of our host congregation through a conversation and tour, hear about CCA and community events and work, as well as hear ideas. If you are connected to a faith community, a green team or creation care team member, clergy, or are interested in learning more about LED Light Bulb Outreach or the Creation Care Alliance this meeting is for you.

08/03/18 TROUBLE SCREENING AT FIRESTORM

This will be on Friday, Aug 3, from 6:30 to 8:00pm at Firestorm Books at 6110 Haywood Street in west Asheville. “Trouble” screening is a monthly showing of the 30 minute documentary Trouble by sub.Media followed by a directed conversation. This month's film is “Defend the Block: Fighting Back Against Gentrification.” Gentrification, like all facets of capitalism, is often presented to its victims as a natural process. Shrouded in the logic of progress and polished up with euphemisms like ‘neighbourhood revitalization’ or ‘urban renewal’ the violent displacement that it brings in its wake is carefully hidden behind a cover of market forces, zoning changes, public consultations and glitzy marketing campaigns. But those who have felt the force of the ‘invisible hand’ plucking them from their communities and pushing them out of their homes are not so easily fooled. The illusion that gentrification is natural, or even inevitable fact of life, is shattered when people decide to take a stand and fight back. Attacks targeting the front-line agents of gentrification force people to take sides. Often, the resulting sense of clarity can cut through the smokescreen of inclusivity and social peace that states and capitalists use to lull us into believing our communities are nothing more than potential sites of investment. They remind us that our neighborhoods have a pulse, and that they are physical territories whose futures can be contested, and ultimately shaped, by the people who live in them. In this month's episode of Trouble, the second of a two-part series on gentrification, sub.Media talks to comrades in Montreal, the Bay Area and Berlin to see how people in these cities are fighting back on attacks on their communities by developers, real estate speculators and the tech industry. Contact Firestorm for more information.

08/04/18 RACIAL HEALING WORKSHOP

Story Medicine for Racial Healing, an introductory workshop with Meta Commerse, artist, teacher, healer: Come, join our learning community and discover the power of two vital concepts: an ancient Indigenous modality and racial healing. This two-hour workshop uses holistic education principles and reinforces the need to heal a deep and old wound we all share. Workshop is also an opportunity to register for the seven-week class. Workshop will be held Saturday, August 4, 2018, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., $25.00. Location is The Chapel, 18 Beverly Road West, Asheville, NC 28806. Story Medicine for Racial Healing, a seven-week class with Meta Commerse, artist, teacher, healer: Learning tools and materials offer a heightened awakening and opportunity for healing in a seven-week, collaborative experience. Work in ritual space. Share and hear stories of oppression in our sacred container. Use the materials to imagine a vision for wholeness for yourself and your learning community. Class schedule: Wednesdays, August 22, through October 3, 2018, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. To register, attend workshop on 08/04/18 OR call 828-407-3367 for details. Space is limited.

08/07/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

08/09/18 PEACE EDUCATION PROGRAM

08/09/18 PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Let's Protect Voting Rights in North Carolina - 2018 action is more important than ever. Hosts are Kathi Ballard, John Cram & Matt Chambers, Libby & Michael de Caetani, Betsy Levitas, Kim McGuire & Jim Samsel, LeNoir Medlock and Charlton Bradsher. Date is Thursday, August 9, 2018. At 7pm there will be a brief screening of acclaimed documentary “Capturing the Flag” (about voter protection in NC) at the Fine Arts Theatre. This will be followed by reception with drinks and light fare at Blue Spiral. Meet Executive Director Tomas Lopez and hear our strategy for fighting the anti-voting and democracy amendments and increasing participation at the ballot box. Location is 36-38 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville. Sponsor Levels are Leadership Circle $2,500/yr for 3 yrs; Beacon $5,000; Champion $2,500; Guardian $1,000; Protector $500; Ally $250; Partner $175 (each sponsorship comes with two tickets). Individual ticket is $50. To become a sponsor or to RSVP, contact development@democracync.org.

08/13/18 TRANSYLVANIA NAACP MEETING

NAACP General Membership and Executive Committee meeting: 6:15 p.m., Bethel A Baptist Church, 290 Oakdale Street in Brevard. Our meetings are always on the second Monday of the month. All are welcome!

08/14/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

08/16/18 PEACE EDUCATION PROGRAM

08/19/18 ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY OF ASHEVILLE EVENT

Sunday, August 19th at 2 PM “Wilma Dykeman: The Mountain South's Great Humanist of the 20th Century” by Jim Stokely. Wilma Dykeman was a best-selling novelist, teacher, and pioneer in environmental thinking, civil rights, and feminism. As a humanist, Wilma was a deep thinker who was less interested in our place in some great chain of being, but more interested in our current task: Now that we're here, what should we do? The talk will begin with a 20-minute video of Wilma Dykeman’s life, followed by her perspective on becoming the best we can be as individuals and as a society through her writings, lectures and personal story as told by her son Jim Stokely. Jim is President of the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and lectures and produces events to sustain and foster the core values of Wilma Dykeman. Time is 2:00 PM. Location is Asheville Friends Meeting House at 227 Edgewood Road in north Asheville. Contact the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville at EHSAsheville@gmail.com for more information.

08/21/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

08/23/18 PEACE EDUCATION PROGRAM

08/28/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

09/06/18 FALL CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY STARTS

They are accepting applications as of July 2018. Those who want more insight into local enforcement may apply for the fall semester of the APD’s Citizens Police Academy, a free 12 week course that provides classroom instruction, presentations and demonstrations of topics such as criminal investigations, constitutional and criminal law, use of force, departmental structure and defensive tactics. Classes meet weekly begining September 6 at 5:30 PM at the Municipal Building at 100 Court Plaza in Asheville. Dinner will be provided. Call Officer Ryan Justus at 828-259-5834 or email rjustus@ashevillenc.gov for more information.

09/16/18 ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY OF ASHEVILLE EVENT

Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville will hold event on Sunday, September 16th, 2 PM “Home is the Key” by Andy Barnett. Andy Barnett will discuss housing challenges facing our community. Where we live has an impact on our quality of life, health, wealth and access to opportunity. Asheville faces many housing issues including growth pressures, displacement of traditional residents, the housing needs of an aging population and the environmental challenges of poor quality housing stock. There are no easy answers, but we can envision several initiatives and learn from examples both here and in other communities. Andy Barnett is the Executive Director of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity and is a leader in the field of housing issues and solutions. Time is 2:00 PM. Location is Asheville Friends Meeting House at 227 Edgewood Road in north Asheville. Contact the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville at EHSAsheville@gmail.com for more information.

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ONGOING EVENTS

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MONDAY

Asheville SURJ weekly meeting at 6:30 pm at UU Congregation in Asheville, downstairs - suspended for summer 2018

Citizens’ Climate Lobby meeting on the third Monday at 6:30 at Habitat Tavern & Commons.

TUESDAY

Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 4:30 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument

Rally at historic Courthouse in Hendersonville at 5 PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Organized by the Progressive Organized Women.

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 Drinks meets at 6 PM at The Block Off Biltmore on the second Wednesday of the month.

Indivisible Asheville does political letter writing at 5:30 to 7 PM on the first and third Wednesdays at The Block Off Biltmore.

THURSDAY

Welcome Home Tour by Homeward Bound on the third Thursday of the month at 11 AM. Call 258-1695 for more information.

Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville.

Sierra Club meets at 7 PM at Unitarian Universalist in Asheville on the first Thursday of the month.

FRIDAY

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

Progressive Women of Hendersonville hold a letter/postcard writing to government representatives from 4 to 7 PM at Sanctuary Brewing Company at 147 First Avenue in Hendersonville.

SATURDAY

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

Mountain True holds urban forest workdays on the second Saturday of the month at Richmond Hill Park from 9 AM to 1 PM. Call 258-8737 for more information.

Food Not Bombs serves free vegan/vegetarian food Saturday at noon at Pritchard Park.

Dances of Universal Peace on the third Saturdays at 7:30 at 1 School Road in Asheville.

SUNDAY

Asheville National Organization for Women meeting at 2:30 PM at YWCA of Asheville on second Sunday of the month.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS

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From Johnson's Russia list (a regular email of articles about Russia), I picked an article that I think is REALLY important. This has to do with Trump's upcoming talk with Putin. This has to do with the START treaty and the continuation of that treaty. This has to do with the ongoing upgrade of our nuclear weapons and Russia. We do not want to continue down this road. This is VERY important in my opinion, because a nuclear exchange would be DEVASTATING for the entire earth.

Trump responds well to praise. He also believes that if you have nuclear weapons, then you should use them (which would be absolutely horrible), and if you are not going to use them, then why pay a gigantic amount of money to have and maintain them (which makes total sense).

I would like to encourage you all to send postcards or letters to Trump, and make calls to the White House, if Trump and Putin come out of this meeting and say they are going to extend the START treaty, or if there are any other promises towards nuclear disarmament. There is nothing more important going on in the world right now, because nothing is more important than stopping a nuclear exchange or nuclear war. NO ONE WILL EVER WIN THAT ONE.

RFE/RL

July 14, 2018

Big Weapons, Big Meeting: Could Trump, Putin Agree On New Arms Control Deal?

By Mike Eckel

[Text with links https://www.rferl.org/a/big-weapons-big-meeting-could-trump-putin-agree-on-new-arms-control-deal-/29365115.html]

WASHINGTON -- Just before departing Washington to travel to the NATO summit in Brussels, a meeting with Britain's prime minister in England, and an upcoming meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, U.S. President Donald Trump made clear which one he was looking forward to more.

"Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of them all," Trump told reporters on July 10. "Who would think?"

While many Russia and national security experts in the United States are anticipating the July 16 Helsinki meeting with trepidation, arms control experts and close observers of the Trump White House said there was a reasonable chance that Putin and Trump could agree on new measures concerning their nuclear arsenals -- the world's two largest.

"The prospect of a private Trump-Putin meeting should give anyone paying attention great pause," Jon Wolfsthal, a top White House arms control and proliferation adviser under President Barack Obama, said in an op-ed published by the U.S. magazine Foreign Policy on June 10.

"But those risks must be weighed against the possible benefits of avoiding one of the greatest risks facing the United States today, that of nuclear conflict," he wrote.

Russian-U.S. relations have been battered in recent years, with confrontations and crises over the war in Syria, the conflict in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, U.S. accusations of Russian election meddling, and tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats.

Arms control is no exception, and Exhibit A is the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, a landmark 1987 agreement that many experts consider a cornerstone of nuclear stability. The United States says Moscow has deployed a type of ground-launched cruise missile that violates the treaty, known as the INF.

Russia vehemently denies the allegation, although last year, after nearly four years of denials, it acknowledged the existence of the missile in question -- something called the 9M729 -- opening the door a tiny crack toward resolving the dispute.

In December, the Foreign Ministry published a statement on the agreement's 30th anniversary, saying it was prepared to discuss problems with the INF Treaty.

When arms control enters the Putin and Trump discussions, as Trump on July 12 confirmed it would at the conclusion of the NATO summit in Brussels, a review of New START would be the most likely place to start. The 2010 treaty, negotiated by Obama and a follow-up up to START I, agreed to in 1991, put sharp cuts on the number of nuclear warheads and so-called delivery vehicles.

In February, even with bilateral tensions spiraling, each country announced they had complied with the treaty's stipulation that they possess no more than 1,550 warheads. (See related graphic)

The treaty is set to expire in 2021, and each side has issued conflicting signals about whether they intend to seek a five-year extension, something the treaty allows for.

Trump himself has given mixed signals about New START and arms control more broadly.

During the 2016 election campaign, he repeatedly denounced New START, insisting without explanation that Moscow had deceived the United States in its compliance. Recently appointed national-security adviser John Bolton is a well-known critic of most arms-control treaties: shortly after the signing of New START, he argued that the accord's focus on Russian arms levels was "myopic" and could constrain U.S. nuclear flexibility. Some Republicans in Congress are deeply skeptical of New START.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Hunstman said that both New START and the INF Treaty would be up for discussion.

"I am guessing that this whole category of strategic stability, which is kind of a fancy bundling of various arms control features, will be prominent on the agenda," he told reporters on July 5.

The White House did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Putin has signaled he is open to extending the treaty. But complicating things is the fact that the two countries are upgrading their arsenals.

The Russian leader caught the world's attention in March with a speech and high-tech presentation that showcased advanced new weapons systems in development. That included an underwater drone and a low-flying, "unlimited range" cruise missile.

For his part, Trump has pledged to continue an ongoing modernization of the U.S. arsenal, whose size he's bragged about. And in the U.S. Nuclear Posture Review released the month before Putin's speech, Trump called for developing a nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile, as well as a low-yield warhead for submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

Neither the new Russian nor U.S. weapons would fall under New START's limits. But even so, the weaponry -- along with new, broader guidance for when Washington would consider using its nuclear weapons -- added to fears of a new arms race. That, experts say, is something that neither country can afford.

"Without a positive decision to extend New START, and if the INF Treaty comes to an end, there would be no legally-binding limits on the world's two largest nuclear superpowers for the first time since 1972, and the risk of unconstrained U.S.-Russian nuclear competition would grow," Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, said in a statement.

Lynn Rusten, who served as a senior arms control adviser for the National Security Council between 2011-2014 and helped negotiate the 1991 START treaty, said "strategic stability" -- minimizing uncertainty that results in the potential use of either countries' arsenals -- was in each state's interest.

In other words, despite the bluster, neither side wants to use the weapons, and each side can benefit from knowing some of what the other side is doing with its declared weaponry.

"While I would love to see a concrete pronouncement come out on something like extension of New START, I think that's less likely," she said. "I think what's more likely is to begin a process and possibly set up a future summit early next year."

"It would be a glass three-quarters full if coming out of the meeting was an indication from both presidents that they recognize nuclear risk and those risks must be addressed, even when we have so many other differences and issues in our relationship," Rusten said.

The importance of New START, she said, isn't just about how broad a range of warheads and delivery systems -- intercontinental ballistic missiles, bombers, submarines -- it encompasses, but the verification system it sets up, reducing the potential of misunderstanding.

"We have Americans who literally go into Russia onto submarine bases and ICBM bases and bomber bases and get up close and personal to weapons systems, literally counting bumps on the top of a missile to ensure that the number of warheads declared is right. I mean, that's incredible," she said.

"If you lose that access over time, we'll have less and less understanding about what the Russians are doing in this area and that will lead to more and more worst-case planning and arms competition," she said.

Trump said in Brussels on July 12 that he planned to discuss with Putin both the possibility of extending New START and violations of the INF Treaty.

When asked, he also revealed what, in his opinion, the best result of his meeting with Putin would be.

"No more nuclear weapons anywhere in the world, no more wars, no more problems, no more conflicts," he told reporters. "That would be my ultimate."

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Dr. King, Reparations and You – A Challenge

This year marks 50 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke forcefully about the need for reparations. King saw reparations as an avenue for the repayment of some of what our nation and other entities unfairly denied or stole from African-Americans. Coming To The Table agrees with that assessment, and also believes that reparations can offer a way to breach our nation’s enormous racial divide by fully acknowledging and atoning for the harms of slavery and its aftermath. We believe our nation cannot be healed until that is done.

In honor of Dr. King, we have published the CTTT Reparations Guide, and ask organizations and individuals to commit to carrying out at least one or more of the reparative actions on the list. The Guide is divided into personal, and community/societal reparations. The personal section addresses what you can do on your own in your daily life that doesn’t require organizing or coordinating with others, so you can start today.

The Reparations Guide was developed from input offered by the CTTT membership over three years to the Reparations Working Group. It was conceived by the African-American members of the group with input from the European-American members as well as from others outside of CTTT.

Our hope is that the list will help spur action and discussion about the meaning and possibility of reparations. We invite you to accept the Reparations Guide Challenge and let us know about it!

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Coming to the Table is an affiliate organization of the Center for Justice & Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University

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dancewater

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Upcoming events for the week of July 15, 2018

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