Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

A photo of a recent Women in Black vigil. Sorry, but I don't know who took the photo.

UPCOMING EVENTS

05/20/13 FAITH LEADERS FOR A JUST SOCIETY SPEAK OUT IN ASHEVILLE

Faith Leaders for a Just Society speak out this Monday, May 20, at 12 noon. A group of faith leaders from Asheville will hold a press conference in front of the courthouse downtown to voice concerns about the passage of so many bills by our state legislature that are harmful to the poor and vulnerable of our community. They will lift up a common vision between all of our faith traditions of caring for the least of these. We anticipate between 20-30 faith leaders participating. In case of rain, the event will take place at First Congregational UCC at 20 Oak Street. Please join us.

05/22/13 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS

On Wednesday May 22nd, Thomas Clever Llewellyn will share a powerpoint presentation about the threat of genetically engineered trees and the work of the Campaign to Stop Genetically Engineered (GE) Trees to protect native ecosystems. This event is happening less than one week before the Tree Biotechnology 2013 Conference begins in Asheville, an international conference with a focus on furthering the industry of genetically engineered trees. There are proposals for millions of acres of GE trees to be installed throughout the South with the purpose of supplying wood to bioenergy plants to burn for electricity, as well as to the unsustainable paper and lumber industries. These trees would be engineered to produce their own pesticides, grow straighter and faster, tolerate manufactured pesticides, produce sterile seeds, and reduce lignin content (this is what makes the wood in a tree strong enough to stand up). If these traits escaped into native tree populations, the effects would be devastating and irreversible.

05/22/13 DUKE RATE HIKE HEARINGS IN WNC

Duke Rate Public Hearing in Marion, NC (about 30 minutes from Asheville) at 7:00 PM. Location is McDowell County Court House at 21 South Main Street, Marion, NC

05/23/13 SELF-PROTECTION FOR THE EMPOWERED WOMEN

An introduction to personal protection and woman’s self-defense, this two-hour workshop is open to all interested women who desire to increase their abilities in empowering themselves against violent, criminal assault.  This workshop will focus exclusively on verbal de-escalation, predatory/prey dynamics, and recognizing the signs and symptoms of a pending criminal attack. By the time a perpetrator decides to attack, he has a 95 % chance of success. He has already taken the time and steps needed to create a situation that insures his success—often right in front of the victim's eyes. That's why it's vital to learn how to recognize the signals of impending danger. By utilizing this knowledge you can prevent the perpetrator from getting into attack position—in effect stopping the attack before it starts. This two-hour workshop is an introduction to a four-part series on women’s empowerment and self-defense.  There is no cost for attendance (donations of 5 to 10 dollars will be accepted but not required); pre-registration is necessary, however, due to space constraints. To register, please e-mail Bryan at brdieterich@yahoo.com. Location is Firestorm Café & Books, and time is 7 PM.

05/25/13 MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO

On May 25, activists around the world will unite to March Against Monsanto. Why do we march? Research studies have shown that Monsanto’s genetically-modified foods can lead to serious health conditions such as the development of cancer tumors, infertility and birth defects. Taking to the streets to show the world and Monsanto that we won't take these injustices quietly. Time is 2 PM and location is Pack Square Park in Asheville.

05/25/13 REALLY, REALLY FREE MARKET

From 10 AM to 5 PM in Aston Park in Asheville.

05/26/13 COMMUNITY HEALING: NO MORE BASHING FROM WITHIN

The LGBTQIA community is one of vast identities and sexualities. We are one large group who have some things in common but also feel tensions among us due to different political backgrounds, gender identities, patriarchy, degrees of involvement in the community, and personal insecurities that are sometimes inflicted upon us from society. How do we as a community lessen internal conflict so the community can grow closer, and we can move into interdependency? What is Interdependency? What is humility and how do you identify love? We want to install values that revolve around non-judgement and forgiveness as central ways to breakthrough old thought patterns. Just Us For All wants to discuss internal violence within the LGBTQIA community, what it looks like, and how to remedy it so we can move forward as a group and create a true social movement. Time is 5 PM. Location is Toy Boat Toy Boat Toy Boat Community Arts Space.

05/27/13 CAMPAIGN TO STOP GENETICALLY ENGINEERED TREES

NO GE TREES TEACH-IN: MAY 27

DAY OF MASS ACTION AND PROTEST: MAY 28 Action on Tues 28May at 4PM in Pritchard Park to keep genetically engineered trees out of US. USDA considers allowing Arborgen to plant millions of acres of plantations across the southern U.S. Texas to South Carolina, could destroy forest diversity, kill wildlife, exacerbate droughts, and feed fire storms. Last week of May, Asheville will be hosting the International 2013 Tree Biotechnology Conference. www.treebiotech2013.org

05/27/13 EARTH SABBATH CELEBRATION

Asheville Earth Sabbath Celebrations are interfaith, contemplative and experiential services which utilize community building exercises, readings from many faith traditions, music, video, ritual, movement, chant, guided meditation and other modalities to reach deep into the grief and love we feel for our Earth and help both salve and energize our spirits so we can continue the work of restoration and repair on behalf of all creation. Asheville’s Earth Sabbath Celebration occurs on the 4th Monday of every month. This is held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Charlotte Street in Asheville. Time is 7 PM.

05/30/13 BOOK RELEASE FOR CHILDREN FIRST/COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS

Bill Jamieson, Board Member and Past President of Children First/ Communities In Schools, has written a book -- The Idea of America: Are the Principles Eroding or Enduring? Please join us for a book release event to celebrate this achievement. The book will be available for a suggested donation, the proceeds of which will benefit Children First/CIS. Time is 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Servanthood House at 156 E. Chestnut Street, Asheville, NC 28801. For more information please contact Adrienne at adriennea@childrenfirstbc.org or 828-259-9717.

06/01/13 RALLY FOR BRADLEY MANNING AT FORT MEADE

There are some folks from Asheville going to this. http://www.bradleymanning.org/support_events/rally-for-bradley-at-fort-meade

06/03/13 GREEN PARTY MEETING

The Buncombe County GREEN Party's business meeting is open to the public. It is held on the first Monday of the month. Time is 6 PM and location is the Fortune Building (upstairs), at 729 Haywood Rd., West Asheville. Parking in back and on the street. Contact Ronald @ 828-LUCK-180 or Larry @ 828-225-4347 for more information.

06/05/13 SIERRA CLUB MEETING

“Our Mountain Treasures: Planning for the Future of our national forests” - a presentation by Jill Gottesman. Time is 7 PM (program starts at 7:15) at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville (corner of Charlotte & Edwin). Contact: judymattox@sbcglobal.net, or 828-683-2176 for more information.

06/06/13 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING

Time is 6:30 PM and location is to be determined. Date may change also. VFP Chapter 099: http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/.

06/06/13 FREE CLASS IN HEARTSPEAK

Thursday, June 6, from 7-9 PM at Jubilee (101 Patton entrance): FREE class in HeartSpeak: Listening and Speaking from the Heart, with Cathy Holt. Want more connection, less conflict? Learn to communicate empathically from a heart-centered space. First in a series. Space is limited, please pre-register: 828-545-9681 or cathyfholt@gmail.com. More information: www.heartspeakpeace.com.

06/10/13 MOVE TO AMEND BUNCOMBE COUNTY MEETING

Time and place to be determined.

06/14/13 KHALED HOSSEINI AT THE DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE

The bestselling author of The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini, will discuss his humanitarian work and will read from his new novel “And the Mountains Echoed”. The book follows its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe - from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinos. Mr. Hosseini is a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations and founder of the Khaled Hosseini Foundation which provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. Tickets are $15, and come with a coupon for $10 off And the Mountains Echoed. Tickets may be purchased at Malaprop's Bookstore, 828-254-6734. Time is 7 PM.

06/15/13 OCCUPY ASHEVILLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

This general assembly will be under the big tree in Pritchard Park. Time is 2 PM. All are welcome.

06/20/13 ACLU OF NC FORUM ON TRANSGENDER RIGHTS

Chris Brook and Holning Lau from the ACLU of North Carolina will discuss the ACLU’s work on advancing transgender rights. They will provide an overview of gender identity- focused ACLU initiatives around the country as well as projects specific to North Carolina. Legal issues that will be discussed include access to proper identification documents, access to health care, transgender voting rights, and antidiscrimination protections. This forum will be at 7:30 PM. Location is the Haywood Street Congregation, located at 297 Haywood Street in Asheville. For more information, contact cbrook@acluofnc.org.

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ONGOING EVENTS

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TUESDAY

Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument

WEDNESDAY

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

THURSDAY

Asheville Homeless Network meeting at 2 PM at Firestorm Cafe.

Police Brutality Council (discussion) at 11 AM at Firestorm Cafe.

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.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS

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Thanks for speaking out about the Justice Department’s attack on press freedom. We need to raise the alarm and demand that this administration protect journalists' fundamental rights. Members of the press shouldn't have to worry about operating under government surveillance.

Please share this action with your friends and family today: http://act.freepress.net/sign/Journ_DoJ_AP_press_freedom/?source=conf

Thanks, Josh Stearns

Free Press

Free Press is a nonpartisan organization building a nationwide movement for media that serve the public interest. Learn more at www.freepress.net.

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Hello friends of Appalachia,

Mountain Justice Summer Is almost here! Come for a week or come for a day! Special programming for Memorial Day weekend. We're down to the last two weeks before the 9th annual Mountain Justice Summer Camp, and we've got some fresh details about the schedule.

*Register Today <http://mountainjustice.org> *

Camp starts Sunday, May 19th, with a panel of Appalachian women discussing their perspectives on the struggle for a better tomorrow in the mountains. Monday through Friday will feature a full set of workshops designed to stock your activist toolbox through participatory trainings, sharing across generations of experience, and planning to put those skills to use. We're also excited to include a full Training 4 Trainers track this year, including Non-Violent Direct Action, Popular Education and Know Your Rights! Each evening will include panel discussions on local, regional and national issues ranging from the real impacts of mountaintop removal and the long history of Appalachian grassroots resistance to the current status of nukes in Southern Appalachia and the state of the Fracking movement in Northern Appalachia. Throughout the week we'll be working with local community groups to build trails, plant gardens and put elbow grease into local initiatives.

Come for Memorial Day Weekend!

For those who can't make a full week, this year will include a stand alone weekend of workshops, discussions, trainings and speakers, with a mini music festival on Saturday. Come for the trainings and discussions, stay to hear great regional bands

on Saturday at the first Mountain Justice Summer Mini-Fest.

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Interview on Depleted Uranium 2013

Aaron Neville - I Shall Be Released

Lyrics:
They say everything can be replaced
Yet every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here

I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Anyday now, anyday now
I shall be released

They say every man needs protection
They say every man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Someplace so high above this wall

I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Anyday now, anyday now
I shall be released

Now yonder stands a man who in this lonely crowd
He's a man who swears he's not to blame
All day long I hear him shout so loud
Crying out that he was framed

I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Anyday now, anyday now
I shall be released

"To Keep You Silent" by Ryan Harvey

Song for Bradley Manning, and to promote the upcoming action to support Bradley Manning at Ft. Mead on June 1, 2013

A Statement by the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)

U.S./Israel Hands Off Syria!

The May 2-3 and 4-5 nighttime bombings of Syria's International Airport, military installations in a Damascus suburb and a military supply depot, reportedly killed 300 people. The bombings were initially denied but then confirmed by Israel and soon after given the stamp of approval by the Obama Administration. The previous week President Obama and Secretary of Defense Charles Hagel threatened to escalate U.S. intervention in Syria based on the unsubstantiated charge that Syria had employed weapons of mass destruction, in this case the deadly sarin gas.

What is incontrovertible is that U.S. allies in the region - Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia - have supplied hundreds of millions of dollars in lethal military aid to destabilize the Syrian regime. The U.S. itself claims to have supplied some $400 million in "non-lethal aid."  The U.S., which funds Israel's multi-billion dollar "Iron Dome" missile program, is the chief
military force in the region.  No serious observers believe that Israel, the largest recipient of U.S. aid in the world, to the tune of $4 billion annually, acts without U.S. approval - the same is undeniable with regard to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. NATO ally, Turkey. In the case of Qatar, a nation without an army, the U.S.-established and privatized Blackwater military installation is used daily as an operational base for the U.S. war in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. The U.S. Machiavellian strategy in Syria is first and foremost to advance its economic, military and regional "interests." The latter includes deepening the isolation of Iran, whose oil wealth the U.S. corporate elite seeks to regain.

 We recognize no rights among imperial nations to determine the future of any oppressed nation on earth, not to mention the modern day neo-colonial interveners. With regard to Syria, that right belongs to the Syrian people only.

 The U.S. government is presently restrained by the mass antiwar sentiment expressed in repeated polls over the past two years. The most recent Pew Research poll indicates that 62 percent are opposed to any U.S. intervention in Syria. We must add to this the fact the U.S. bloody wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the decades long U.S. support to the Egyptian Mubarak
dictatorship as well as the constant drone attacks on Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia have earned it the deep hatred of the peoples of the Middle East and beyond.

 The Iraq "weapons of mass destruction" justification for this still-raging war, that has taken the lives of 1.5 million Iraqis so far, and the ongoing war in Afghanistan, wherein the U.S. puppet Hamid Karzai regime is discredited around the world, has convinced social justice activists everywhere that the U.S. imperial rulers fight for oil and military-geographic advantage and not for peace and justice.More than ever the U.S. and the worldwide antiwar and social justice movement must demand:

.       U.S./Israel Hands Off Syria!

.       Bring All U.S. Troops and Mercenaries Home Now!

.       Self-determination for the Syrian People!

.       No to U.S. Sanctions Anywhere!

.       End All U.S. Aid to Israel!

.       U.S. Out of the Middle East Now!

Largest massacre in Afghanistan under NATO

This came from an article by Chris Hedges called “The Death of Truth”. It sounds to me that 181 civilians and Afghan combatants were killed, and probably most of the dead were civilians. And no one in the US corporate media cares, which was why it was never reported. 

“There were 90,000 records in the Afghan War Logs,” Assange said. “We had to look at different angles in the material to add up the number of civilians who have been killed. We studied the records. We ranked events different ways. I wondered if we could find out the largest number of civilians killed in a single event. It turned out that this occurred during Operation Medusa, led by Canadian forces in September 2006. The U.S.-backed local government was quite corrupt. The Taliban was, in effect, the political opposition and had a lot of support. The locals rose up against the government. Most of the young men in the area, from a political perspective, were Taliban. There was a government crackdown that encountered strong resistance. ISAF [the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force] carried out a big sweep. It went house to house. Then an American soldier was killed. They called in an AC-130 gunship. This is a C-130 cargo plane refitted with cannons on the side. It circled overhead and rained down shells. The War Logs say 181 ‘enemy’ were killed. The logs also say there were no wounded or captured. It was a significant massacre. This event, the day when the largest number of people were killed in Afghanistan, has never been properly investigated by the old media.” Operation Medusa, which occurred 20 miles west of Kandahar, took the lives of four Canadian soldiers and involved some 2,000 NATO and Afghan troops. It was one of the largest military operations by the ISAF in the Kandahar region.

Jail sentence for Y12 protesters

Photo of Mike Walli, Sr. Megan Rice & Gregg Boetje-Obed, & wife Michelle, taken by Clare Hanrahan. The three individuals on the left side of the photo (first row) are now in jail and awaiting sentencing for their protest at the Y12 nuclear plant in Oak Ridge, TN.

READ ABOUT THE PROTEST AND TRAIL AT THIS LINK.

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

Recent photo of Women in Black in Asheville. This is the first time they held a vigil in a few months.

UPCOMING EVENTS

05/12/13 to 05/18/13 STRIVE NOT TO DRIVE WEEK

Strive Not to Drive (SNTD) began 22 years ago as Bike to Work Day with the goal of encouraging bicycle commuting in Buncombe County. Over the years as concerns about air quality, physical inactivity and related health concerns, and traffic congestion have grown; the event has broadened to encourage any form of transportation other than driving alone in your car. We hope you will join us in this year's event as we increase awareness about how transportation choices affect our health, air quality and quality of life in Buncombe County.

05/13/13 MOVE TO AMEND BUNCOMBE COUNTY

Time is 7 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at Charlotte and Edwin Streets in the lower level meeting room. It shall be the mission of Move to Amend Buncombe County to create public demand for passage by the US Congress and ratification by the North Carolina Legislature, and those of other states, of a Constitutional Amendment reserving access to First Amendment protections to natural human beings and the press, defining speech as actual communication and authorizing Congress to regulate the raising and spending of political funds. Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us for more information.

05/13/13 FILM AT FIRESTORM CAFÉ AND BOOKS

We’ll be showing “A Silent Forest”, narrated by renowned activist and scientist David Suzuki. A Silent Forest is an excellent documentary exploring the dangers that GE trees pose to humans and the environment. Come on out, it’s free! Time is 6 PM. FMI, contact katuahearthfirst@riseup.net. Call Firestorm to confirm.

05/15/13 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS

Asheville Beyond Coal “Get Active” Happy Hour at The Bywater (796 Riverside Drive, Asheville). A special edition Asheville Green Drink Wednesday May 15th at 6 PM (come early to enjoy the river, green drinks, and community networking!)

05/16/13 MAHA COMES TO THE MOUNTAINS

Please join Medical Advocates for Healthy Air & the Western North Carolina Alliance for a happy hour discussion and update on our state’s air quality. This is for MAHA staff and members, medical and health professionals and others interested in the connections between air quality and human health. Location is MG Road, 19 Wall Street, Asheville. RSVP: Let Rebecca know at rebecca@cleanaircarolina.org if you will attend by May 14th.

05/16/13 FILM AT FIRESTORM CAFÉ AND BOOKS

“Carbon Nation” will be shown by Transition Asheville, the UNCA Student Environmental Group and the Earth Team of First Congregational United Church of Christ show really scary movies, because they are real! Time is 7 PM. Call Firestorm to confirm.

05/16/13 FUNDRAISER FOR 2013 WALK FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN

Please join us for a fundraiser for 2013 Walk for Our Grandchildren. We are part of a local group that is planning a walk from Harper’s Ferry to the White House during Summer Heat, July 19 – 29th. We started planning the WALK about a month ago, and during this time have been in consultation with 350.org, Sierra Club, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), and Rainforest Action Network. What we originally thought was going to be an isolated event has now become part of a nationwide series of actions in 5-10 locations across the United States protesting our dependence on fossil fuels. Time is 7 PM.  Join us at Jubilee (Wall Street, downtown Asheville) for: Screening 20 minute segment of “Do the Math” film, an Indigenous Women speaking about Keystone XL at Forward on Climate, music by Daniel Barber, the Green Grannies and Geri Littlejohn, readings by concerned children, and refreshments generously donated by Rosetta’s Kitchen. Contact Steve at earthsun2@gmail.com or Richard at firepeople@main.nc.us for more information.

05/17/13 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING

The next WNC PSR monthly meeting will be at a private home near the VA Hospital. Brown Bag lunch at noon with meeting from 12:30 to 2 PM. Everyone is welcome. Please go to www.wncpsr.org  for more information, which includes how to get there and other details.

05/17/13 WNC PEACE & JUSTICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST MEETING

Meeting will be on May 17, Friday, from 3:15 to 5 pm at Brooks-Howell House, 266 Merrimon, across from Claxton School. Esther, who lives in this retirement community, will meet us at the main door. Park in spaces to your right, facing Emergency Entrance, or if those are filled, park on left side of the road entering from Merrimon Avenue. We are experimenting with meeting at Brooks-Howell where we can watch and discuss DVDs. We will begin by looking at a segment from the Chicago Hearings on the Occupation that can inform our sharing with others how U.S. military spending supports the Occupation.  Esther will provide the DVD and set-up the equipment. Beth will bring recent material on this topic circulated by If Americans Only Knew.  For more information, contact Ed at esacco189@gmail.com.

05/18/13 GREEN GRANNIES ‘SING FOR THE CLIMATE’

Join the Green Grannies to "SING FOR THE CLIMATE". This is every third Saturday at 5 PM, Vance Monument.  See the video, singfortheclimate.com.

05/18/13 HARD TO RECYCLE EVENT

Time is 9 AM to 4 PM. Black Mountain Garden Show & Sale at Monte Vista Hotel, 308 W. State Street, Black Mountain. Also Rainbow Recycling’s Plastic Flower Pot (& Tray) Collection - Drop off unwanted pots, pick up ones you can use! Asheville GreenWorks has a webpage for H2R information. Questions – call 254-1776 or email info@ashevillegreenworks.org.

05/18/13 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ANNUAL LUNCHEON

The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County will hold an annual luncheon, which will feature ACLU-NC Legal Director Christopher Brook as the speaker. He will discuss the status of voting rights in North Carolina. The luncheon will be held at Magnolia's Raw Bar and Grille at 26 E. Walnut Street downtown. The buffet opens at 11:45 AM and program begins at noon. Cost is $18 for LWV members, $20 for non-members. Reservations are due no later than May 10 and should be made by email to treasurer@ablwv.org, or by phone at 275-7052. Seating will be available on a first-come basis for guests who wish to hear the speaker without having lunch. For more information, contact Karen Oelschlaeger, President at 828-989-8517 or president@ablwv.org.

05/19/13 WNC GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

WNC Green Building Council invites you to a Green Open House at 60 Pinkerton Corner in Fairview, NC. Time is 1 to 4 PM and this is free and open to the public. FMI, go to www.wncgbc.org or call 828-254-1995.

05/19/13 ACLU ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING - WESTERN CHAPTER

Program includes honoring Jim Cavener and state Representative Susan Fisher on panel discussing civil liberties impact of Republicans taking over state government. Free and all are welcome. Time is 3 PM and location is Battery Park Apartments at 1 Battle Square in Asheville. For more information contact Curry at 450-1118.

05/19/13 MARCH AGAINST LGBTQIA BULLYING AND VIOLENCE

We're Not Bashful, the march that started Just Us For All's formation, is the organization's annual march to combat and raise awareness around violence in the community. Started several years ago in response to a frightening trend of gay bashings in the downtown and Monford area, We're Not Bashful is a family friendly event where anyone can come to speak out against gay bashings, hate crimes, bullying, or other abuses and violence in the local area. Time is 1 PM and march starts at Tod’s Tasties and goes to Vance Monument. For more information go to Facebook and look under “Just Us For All”.

05/22/13 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS

On Wednesday May 22nd, Thomas Clever Llewellyn will share a powerpoint presentation about the threat of genetically engineered trees and the work of the Campaign to Stop Genetically Engineered (GE) Trees to protect native ecosystems. This event is happening less than one week before the Tree Biotechnology 2013 Conference begins in Asheville, an international conference with a focus on furthering the industry of genetically engineered trees. There are proposals for millions of acres of GE trees to be installed throughout the South with the purpose of supplying wood to bioenergy plants to burn for electricity, as well as to the unsustainable paper and lumber industries. These trees would be engineered to produce their own pesticides, grow straighter and faster, tolerate manufactured pesticides, produce sterile seeds, and reduce lignin content (this is what makes the wood in a tree strong enough to stand up). If these traits escaped into native tree populations, the effects would be devastating and irreversible.

05/25/13 MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO

On May 25, activists around the world will unite to March Against Monsanto. Why do we march? Research studies have shown that Monsanto’s genetically-modified foods can lead to serious health conditions such as the development of cancer tumors, infertility and birth defects. Taking to the streets to show the world and Monsanto that we won't take these injustices quietly. Time is 2 PM and location is Pack Square Park in Asheville.

05/25/13 REALLY, REALLY FREE MARKET

From 10 AM to 5 PM in Aston Park in Asheville.

05/27/13 CAMPAIGN TO STOP GENETICALLY ENGINEERED TREES

NO GE TREES TEACH-IN: MAY 27

DAY OF MASS ACTION AND PROTEST: MAY 28

www.treebiotech2013.org

05/30/13 BOOK RELEASE FOR CHILDREN FIRST/COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS

Bill Jamieson, Board Member and Past President of Children First/ Communities In Schools, has written a book -- The Idea of America: Are the Principles Eroding or Enduring? Please join us for a book release event to celebrate this achievement. The book will be available for a suggested donation, the proceeds of which will benefit Children First/CIS. Time is 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Servanthood House at 156 E. Chestnut Street, Asheville, NC 28801. For more information please contact Adrienne at adriennea@childrenfirstbc.org or 828-259-9717.

06/01/13 RALLY FOR BRADLEY MANNING AT FORT MEADE

http://www.bradleymanning.org/support_events/rally-for-bradley-at-fort-meade

06/05/13 SIERRA CLUB MEETING

“Our Mountain Treasures: Planning for the Future of our national forests” - a presentation by Jill Gottesman. Time is 7 PM (program starts at 7:15)at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville (corner of Charlotte & Edwin). Contact: judymattox@sbcglobal.net, or 828-683-2176 for more information.

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ONGOING EVENTS

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TUESDAY

Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument

WEDNESDAY

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

THURSDAY

Asheville Homeless Network meeting at 2 PM at Firestorm Cafe.

Police Brutality Council (discussion) at 11 AM at Firestorm Cafe.

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.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS

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VETERANS FOR PEACE INFORMATION

VFP CHAPTER 099: http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/

NEW PUBLICATION OF WAR CRIMES TIMES:http://www.WarCrimesTimes.org/

A publication of Veterans For Peace -- exposing the true costs of war.

Visit VFP HQ at the Phil Mechanic Studios: 109 Roberts Street (the corner of Haywood and Roberts), Asheville, 28801. (828-258-1800). Hours: Tue-Sat 11 to 3 pm

Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation - 1870

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

Free Bradley Manning!

OCCUPY THE NRA!

Really, it is beyond ridiculous that the NRA (and the politicians that they bought) can stop sensible laws about guns. Guns need to be registered, owners licensed and insured, and no one given a license without a tough background check and demonstrated proficiency in handling and caring for a gun. This is what 90% of the adult population of the USA wants, and the NRA needs to stop 

And the American people need to get over the stupid fantasy that guns will keep you safe. Never have, never will.

House of Commons Speech - Tuesday 21st January 2003

House of Commons Speech - Tuesday 21st January 2003

One of the more nauseating images of the year 2002 is that of our Prime Minister kneeling in the church on Christmas Day praying for peace on earth and good will towards all men while simultaneously preparing to assist in the murder of thousands of totally innocent people in Iraq.

I've been taken to task recently by the American Ambassador to Britain for calling the US Administration a blood thirsty wild animal. All I can say is: take a look at Donald Rumsfeld's face and the case is made.

I believe that not only is this contemplated act criminal, malevolent and barbaric, it also contains within itself a palpable joy in destruction. Power, as has often been remarked, is the great aphrodisiac, and so, it would seem, is the death of others. The Americans have the ostensible support of the 'international community' through various sure-fire modes of intimidation; bullying, bribery, blackmail and bullshit. The 'international community' becomes a degraded entity bludgeoned into the service of a brutal military force out of control. The most despicable position is that of course of this country which pretends to stand shoulder to shoulder with its great ally while in fact being more of a whipped dog than anyone else. We are demeaned, undermined and dishonoured by our government's contemptible subservience to the United States.

The planned war can only bring about the collapse of what remains of the Iraqi infrastructure, widespread death, mutilation and disease, an estimated one million refugees and escalation of violence throughout the world, but it will still masquerade as a 'moral crusade', a 'just war', a war waged by 'freedom loving democracies', to bring 'democracy' to Iraq.

The stink of the hypocrisy is suffocating.

This is in reality a simple tale of invasion of sovereign territory, military occupation and control of oil.

We have a clear obligation, which is to resist.

~ Harold Pinter

God Bless America

Here they go again,
The Yanks in their armoured parade
Chanting their ballads of joy
As they gallop across the big world
Praising America's God.

The gutters are clogged with the dead
The ones who couldn't join in
The others refusing to sing
The ones who are losing their voice
The ones who've forgotten the tune.

The riders have whips which cut.
Your head rolls onto the sand
Your head is a pool in the dirt
Your head is a stain in the dust
Your eyes have gone out and your nose
Sniffs only the pong of the dead
And all the dead air is alive
With the smell of America's God.

~ Harold Pinter January 2003

I took this photo last year on International Day of Peace. I also brought this sign (not filled in yet) to the event in Asheville and Adrian and family filled it in. Thank you Adrian!

“The ends cannot justify the means, for the simple and obvious reason that the means employed determine the nature of the ends produced.” ~ Aldous Huxley.

Phil Vassar - "This is God"

Upcoming events in the Asheville area this week

CCR asks 'who will stop the rain?' but they are really singing about war, not rain.

UPCOMING EVENTS

05/06/13 GREEN PARTY MEETING

The Buncombe County GREEN Party's business meeting is open to the public. It is held on the first Monday of the month. Time is 6 PM and location is the Fortune Building (upstairs), at 729 Haywood Rd., West Asheville. Parking in back and on the street. Contact Ronald @ 828-LUCK-180 or Larry @ 828-225-4347 for more information.

05/06/13 VAN GOING TO TRIAL IN KNOXVILLE

Sister Megan Gillespie Rice, age 83, will be on trial on 5-7-13 for going into the Oak Ridge nuclear weapons facility. This van is go to this trial and support Sister Megan and two others facing charges for their activism. They will leave Asheville at 5 PM on Monday and return at 7 PM on Tuesday. Cost is $11. Call for more information call Jim at seven-seven-seven 4433. There is more information on these three activists via an excellent article on the Washington Post at http://wapo.st/prophets and http://www.washingtonpost.com/video/thefold/the-nun-who-broke-into-a-us-nuclear-weapons-facility/2013/04/29/725ebe60-b12a-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_video.html.    

05/07/13 CLEAN WATER FOR NC ANTI-FRACKING MEETING

You're invited to join Clean Water for NC and the Asheville fracking ambassadors for our second monthly meeting of anti-fracking and pro-snacking! Time is 6 PM and location is Asheville Friends Meeting at 227 Edgewood Road in Asheville. We'll enjoy some food and conversation, then have a brief update/presentation and discuss more simple ways YOU can take action to prevent fracking's impacts in NC. For more information, contact Katie at katie@cwfnc.org or (828) 251-1291.

05/07/13 THE DARK SIDE OF CHOCOLATE

Ten Thousand Villages in Montreat will host a screening of The Dark Side of Chocolate. This film explores child labor and trafficking in the cocoa industry. Location is Black Mountain Library at 105 N Dougherty Street. A discussion will follow. Free. Info at www.montreat.tenthousandvillages.com.    

05/07/13 ASHEVILLE TRANSIT COMMISSION MEETING

The meeting starts at 3:30 in the 1st Floor Conference Room at City Hall. For more information, email I Ride at Iride@ashevillenc.gov.

05/07/13 WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF WNC

"What's Next for Zimbabwe?" Recent events in Zimbabwe -- a constitutional referendum and a national election this spring -- underscore the development, growth, and vulnerability of emerging democracies. Susan Zelle, a retired Foreign Service Officer, spent much of her career in Africa promoting democracy, building civil society and encouraging observance of human rights. Time is 7:30 PM and location is the Manheimer Room at the Reuter Center at UNCA. This is free to subscribing members of the World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina, joint WACWNC-OLLI members, and full time UNCA students. Admission is $8.00 for all others. For further information call George Peery at (828) 242-6380 or email: gpeery@mhc.edu.

05/08/13 DEMOCRATIZING THE ECONOMY THROUGH COOPERATIVES

The third program for Co-creating the New Economy in WNC will be held on Wednesday, May 8th, at 7 PM in the community room of Earthfare (Westgate). The topic will be: Democratizing the Economy through Cooperatives. A very effective way to create more stable, equitable, and prosperous economies is through the development of cooperatives. These private enterprises are owned collectively by its members who are rooted in the local communities. They not only ensure that all of their members receive ample compensation for their investment of work and resources but are also interested in the sustainable development of the localities where they are situated. There are very successful examples of cooperatives and networks of cooperatives throughout the world, such as in the Basque area of Spain and the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, which play a significant role in their area's production, banking, distribution, and consumption.

05/09/13 ASHEVILLE RISING MEETING

Time will be 7 PM, and location is YWCA in Asheville. This group has a Facebook page if you want further information or have questions. Go to Asheville Rising!

05/10/13 CHILD WATCH TOUR – HOUSING MATTERS FOR KIDS

There's still time to register for the 2013 Child Watch Tour - Housing Matters for Kids. Friday, May 10th, 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM (lunch-only option from 11:30 - 1:00 is available). The tour, cosponsored by Children First/CIS and the Junior League of Asheville, offers a "field trip for adults" that educates and inspires leadership around important children and youth issues in our community. This year we'll explore how safe, affordable housing is a cornerstone for children's health and education. How can we make smart investments and policy decisions around housing? Join us on May 10th to find out. Registration is open to all! http://statevoices.salsalabs.com/o/512/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=430

05/10/13 SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM NIGHT AT UU CHURCH

“The Last Mountain: A Fight For Our Future” will be shown at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at 7 PM. Discussion to follow. This is a film about Coal Mountain and the power of ordinary Americans who fight for what they believe in. It is a fight to stop mountaintop removal. Donations accepted.

05/10/13 TRIAL FOR PROTESTERS AT TD BANK        

In April, four local activists went into TD Bank in Asheville and read statements. They refused to leave until they spoke to the CEO of TD Bank about the bank’s funding of the Tarsands XL Pipeline. They were arrested, and will be going to court at 10 AM in Buncombe County Courtroom #3 on May 10, 2013.

05/11/13 HARD TO RECYCLE EVENT

Time is 10 AM to 2 PM. North Buncombe Hard-to-Recycle Collection at Roses, 165 Weaver Blvd, Weaverville. Asheville GreenWorks has a webpage for H2R information. Questions – call 254-1776 or email info@ashevillegreenworks.org.

05/13/13 MOVE TO AMEND BUNCOMBE COUNTY

Time is 7 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at Charlotte and Edwin Streets in the lower level meeting room. It shall be the mission of Move to Amend Buncombe County to create public demand for passage by the US Congress and ratification by the North Carolina Legislature, and those of other states, of a Constitutional Amendment reserving access to First Amendment protections to natural human beings and the press, defining speech as actual communication and authorizing Congress to regulate the raising and spending of political funds. Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us for more information.

05/13/13 FILM AT FIRESTORM CAFÉ AND BOOKS

“Carbon Nation” will be shown by Transition Asheville, the UNCA Student Environmental Group and the Earth Team of First Congregational United Church of Christ show really scary movies, because they are real! Time is 7 PM.

05/15/13 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS

Asheville Beyond Coal “Get Active” Happy Hour at The Bywater (796 Riverside Drive, Asheville)– A special edition Asheville Green Drink Wednesday May 15th at 6 PM (come early to enjoy the river, green drinks, and community networking!)

05/16/13 MAHA COMES TO THE MOUNTAINS

Please join Medical Advocates for Healthy Air & the Western North Carolina Alliance for a happy hour discussion and update on our state’s air quality. This is for MAHA staff and members, medical and health professionals, and others interested in the connections between air quality and human health. Location is MG Road, 19 Wall Street, Asheville. RSVP: Let Rebecca know at rebecca@cleanaircarolina.org if you will attend by May 14th.

05/16/13 FUNDRAISER FOR WALK FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN

There will be a screening (20 minute segment) of Do the Math – 350.org’s DVD on Keystone XL, along with  Indigenous Women speaking about Keystone XL at Forward on Climate, and music by Daniel Barber, the Green Grannies and Geri Littlejohn, and readings by concerned children. Refreshments generously donated by Rosetta’s Kitchen. Time is 7 PM. Location is Jubilee! in downtown Asheville. More information at www.2013walkforourgrandchildren.org.

05/17/13 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING

The next WNC PSR monthly meeting will be at a private home near the VA Hospital. Brown Bag lunch at noon with meeting from 12:30 to 2 PM. Everyone is welcome. Please go to www.wncpsr.org  for more information, which includes how to get there and other details.

05/18/13 GREEN GRANNIES ‘SING FOR THE CLIMATE’

Join the Green Grannies to "SING FOR THE CLIMATE". This is every third Saturday at 5 PM, Vance Monument.  See the video, singfortheclimate.com.

05/18/13 HARD TO RECYCLE EVENT

Time is 9 AM to 4 PM. Black Mountain Garden Show & Sale at Monte Vista Hotel, 308 W. State Street, Black Mountain. Also Rainbow Recycling’s Plastic Flower Pot (& Tray) Collection - Drop off unwanted pots, pick up ones you can use! Asheville GreenWorks has a webpage for H2R information. Questions – call 254-1776 or email info@ashevillegreenworks.org.

05/25/13 MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO

On May 25, activists around the world will unite to March Against Monsanto. Why do we march? Research studies have shown that Monsanto’s genetically-modified foods can lead to serious health conditions such as the development of cancer tumors, infertility and birth defects. Taking to the streets to show the world and Monsanto that we won't take these injustices quietly. Time is 2 PM and location is Pack Square Park in Asheville.

06/01/13 RALLY FOR BRADLEY MANNING AT FORT MEADE

http://www.bradleymanning.org/support_events/rally-for-bradley-at-fort-meade

06/05/13 SIERRA CLUB MEETING

“Our Mountain Treasures: Planning for the Future of our national forests” - a presentation by Jill Gottesman. Time is 7 PM (program starts at 7:15)at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville (corner of Charlotte & Edwin). Contact: judymattox@sbcglobal.net, or 828-683-2176 for more information.

06/15/13 WALK FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN - RESCHEDULED   

A walk to keep fossil fuels in the ground. The walk will start near Camp David and over seven days proceeds 63 miles, arriving at the White House on June 22. Contact Steve at earthsun2@gmail.com or Richard at firepeople@main.nc.us for more information. THIS HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR LATE JULY.

06/15/13 OCCUPY ASHEVILLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

This general assembly will be under the big tree in Pritchard Park. Time is 2 PM. All are welcome.

07/13/13 HARD TO RECYCLE EVENT

Time is 10 AM to 2PM. Site TBA, but will be in the eastern part of Buncombe County. Asheville GreenWorks has a webpage for H2R information. Questions – call 254-1776 or email info@ashevillegreenworks.org.

10/12/13 HARD TO RECYCLE EVENT

Time is 10 AM to 2 PM. Site TBA, but will be in the southern part of Buncombe County. Asheville GreenWorks has a webpage for H2R information. Questions – call 254-1776 or email info@ashevillegreenworks.org.

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ONGOING EVENTS

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TUESDAY

Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument

WEDNESDAY

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

THURSDAY

Asheville Homeless Network meeting at 2 PM at Firestorm Cafe.

Police Brutality Council (discussion) at 11 AM at Firestorm Cafe.

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.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS

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Stand up for Native Forests, Stop GE Trees

Resist the Tree Biotechnology 2013 Conference

May 26 - June 1

Asheville, NC

Join Katuah Earth First!, Global Justice Ecology Project and the STOP GE Trees Campaign for a week of resistance to genetically engineered trees. At the end of May the International Tree Biotechnology 2013 Conference is taking place in Asheville, NC. This conference is a gathering of many of the major players in the genetically engineered tree business and we intend to greet them with spirited protest. Timber and utility corporations want to plant millions of acres genetically engineered trees throughout the South to burn for electricity, as well as to continue supplying the unsustainable lumber and paper industries. These trees would be engineered to produce their own pesticides, grow straighter and faster, tolerate manufactured pesticides, produce sterile seeds, and reduce lignin content (this is what makes the wood in a tree strong enough to stand up). If these traits escaped into native tree populations, the effects would be devastating and irreversible.

The USDA is already considering approving an industry request to sell billions of genetically engineered freeze tolerant eucalyptus trees. These non-native, invasive and flammable trees pose an unprecedented threat to the forests and communities of the Southern US. We stand to lose tens of thousands of acres of our diverse and resilient native forests to sterile monoculture tree plantations that support few if any native species. These protests will send a critical message to the

USDA as they are poised to approve the first ever commercial planting of genetically engineered eucalyptus trees in several southern states.

Join activists from around the country for an action packed week of resistance to GE trees.  We are kicking off the week with a teach-in on May 27 followed by a mass march to the conference center on May 28th. We are organizing and encouraging affinity group actions throughout the week to ensure the GE tree industry does not get a moment’s rest during their stay in Asheville.Please join us! You can help us fight GE trees right now by passing along this call to action and by donating to: https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1004723

See you in the streets!

Please visit: www.treebiotech2013.org

Or contact: katuahearthfirst@riseup.net

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VETERANS FOR PEACE INFORMATION

VFP CHAPTER 099:  http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/

NEW PUBLICATION OF WAR CRIMES TIMES  :http://www.WarCrimesTimes.org/

A publication of Veterans For Peace -- exposing the true costs of war.

Visit VFP HQ at the Phil Mechanic Studios: 109 Roberts Street (the corner of Haywood and Roberts), Asheville, 28801. (828-258-1800). Hours: Tue-Sat 11 to 3 pm

Have you ever seen the rain?

Someone told me long ago
There's a calm before the storm,
I know; It's been comin' for some time.
When it's over, so they say,
It'll rain a sunny day,
I know; Shinin' down like water.

I want to know,
Have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know,
Have you ever seen the rain
Comin' down on a sunny day?

Yesterday, and days before,
Sun is cold and rain is hard,
I know; Been that way for all my time.
'Til forever, on it goes
Through the circle, fast and slow,
I know; It can't stop, I wonder.

Four dead in Ohio

Letters to the editors - not published

This was submitted in March of this year, at the tenth anniversary of the war of aggression on Iraq.

This month marks the tenth anniversary of the evil and illegal and immoral war of aggression on Iraq.  Back then, I was called a “Saddam lover” because I said that no WMDs would be found and that the US invasion and occupation of Iraq would destroy Iraq for decades to come. I was, sadly, proven correct.

I did protest the upcoming war, along with tens of millions of good people around the planet. We were successful in the sense that we clearly pointed out the falsehoods and illegality, we were unsuccessful in stopping the war. Today, Iraq suffers greatly. Millions are widow and orphans and refugees. They still do not have clean water or regular electricity or real security.

For those Americans who supported that war back in 2003, I want you to know that I feel no respect for you. At best, you are a gullible fool, but more likely, you are an accomplice to mass murder with the blood of hundred of thousand of innocent people on your hands. I believe that the war supporters (back in 2003) deserve to have done to them what they did to Iraqis. 

And here is the second one, which was submitted in early February 2013:

February 15, 2003 was THE DAY THE WORLD MARCHED. On every continent, in about 800 cities and towns, millions of people marched against the upcoming US war on Iraq. It was the largest protest in human history. Here in Asheville, we held a rally at Pritchard Park.  We had the same goals and the same feelings as all good people around the planet. We did not want to see Iraq invaded and bombed based on a pack of lies about WMDs. We did not want to see a war of aggression against people who never harmed or threatened us. We did not want to see innocent people killed or their lives destroyed by US military aggression under the orders of the US government.

We did not stop the massively evil war on Iraq (that actually started in 1991 with bombing and sanctions that killed hundreds of thousands), but we do have the satisfaction of knowing that we were the moral ones and the ones who figured out we were being fed a pack of lies. (That lying continued through out the illegal occupation.) We have the satisfaction of knowing that we stood up, spoke the truth, rallied and marched for peace and justice. We have the very sad satisfaction of being correct about what was going to happen to Iraq.

In my eyes, the people who supported this war of aggression on Iraq are accessories to mass murder. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis were killed, millions of orphans and widows were created, millions became refugees, and tens of millions of people were injured and traumatized or had their lives destroyed. Parts of Iraq were forever poisoned by toxic waste from our bombs. And it was all based on lies that were easily disproved.

The effects of our evil drone bombings

Mr. al-Muslimi spoke last week to a US Senate Committee about the effect of a drone bombing by the CIA in his little village in Yemen. He first came to my attention by an article he wrote about this bombing, published on 4-21-13. He has seen been on NPR, Democracy Now, and I believe a few others. The above quote was posted on Facebook. Below is his comments to a US Senate Committee.

A Prayer for the Living

Photo came from this website.

What the dead might ask of us: a prayer for the living

“No more hurting people. Peace.” ~ Martin Richard, 8, killed at the Boston Marathon bombings

The blast sends shock waves
Waves of fear, of anger, of confusion
Waves of caring, of love, of tenderness
Images of the explosions and of the bleeding cut to the heart
Who could do such a thing?

The day after the bombings, CNN runs ads for home security systems
“Don’t wait for someone to rob you, call now to make your house safe.”
 Why waste the opportunity to make money?
Let’s peddle the illusion that security can be bought
A “security expert” talks about how Al Qaeda used the same kind of bombs
The implication is clear: “terrorists are Muslim.”

A young Saudi man, a victim of the bombing
Is “tackled” while running from the blast
“He looked suspicious”
Is “guarded” at his bedside in the hospital
His apartment is searched in a “startling show of force”
His roommate questioned for five hours

“Exhausted runners… kept running to the nearest hospital to give blood.
If you want to know who we are, what America is, how we respond to evil—that’s it.
Selflessly. Compassionately. Unafraid,” says Obama.

True that.  Except…  Holding our breath

As afraid of the aftershocks as we are of the initial blast
Wondering what retribution might come
What horrors this bombing might justify

Instead, can we breathe?

What might Martin Richard ask of us?
Pray for Boston, for Newtown, for Yemen, for Pakistan
Pray with our feet for healing

Maybe the dead are longing
For the living to use our hands
To stop the next blast now
To give our blood for love
To put our bodies on the line
To end this cycle

To have faith there is a finish line in the marathon for peace

Poem is by Lucy Duncan, American Friends Service Committee

Over 100 on hunger strike at Guantanamo

Above photo came from Witness Against Torture. There have been several arrests in NYC around this issue recently. For more information on what is happening in Guantanamo, I recommend listening to Democracy Now! news program.

“Where is the world to save us from torture? Where is the world to save us from the fire and sadness? Where is the world to save the hunger strikers?”

~ Adnan Latif, Yemeni Guantanamo prisoner held for ten years without ever having been charged with a crime and cleared for release on four separate occasions, found dead in his cell on September 8, 2012.