Upcoming Events - 07/20/08

Photo from Asheville Friends Meeting House on July 20, 2008. Sign says "Honor the Image of God: Stop Torture Now!"

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Phone calls requested to US House of Representatives on the important issues of a blockade against Iran and impeachment. See below for more information and phone numbers.

Update on Rusul, an Iraqi girl getting medical treatment in Greenville from No More Victims, go to these links:

Pre-Surgery After Surgery Video from Fox Carolina News

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EVENTS

Until 08/06/08: UNCA Diversity Education and other community members will host an exhibit on Hiroshima in the lobby of Karpen Hall, UNCA. More information on the exhibit at this link. Exhibit will be on display from 8 AM to 5 PM.

07/26/08 Democratic candidate for US Senate, Kay Hagan will be at the Library Rogow Room in Brevard from 12:30 to 2:30 PM. This is a chance to talk to her directly and hear her positions on issues.

08/01/08 TO 08/06/08 “Peace & Privilege – Linking Values and Actions” program at The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center in Highlands, NC. Cost is $525 for program, meals and lodging. More information available at this link.Or contact Shelley Jackson Denham, Program Director, at shelley.denham@mountaincenters.org. Contact Bill Towe at billtowepa@juno.com for flyers or registration forms.

08/04/08 to 08/10/08 Gathering of the Peacemakers in Banner Elk, NC. This is presented as six day of conscious instruction and six nights of conscious music. Cost is $275 for the week, and more information at www.onelovepress.com

08/05/08 Progressive Democrats of Buncombe County will hold a meeting at 7 PM at North Asheville Library. Program to be determined.

08/05/08 to 08/11/08 NIRS is pleased and proud to again be a co-sponsoring group of the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action (action camp) in Central VA -- Sophia House in Louisa County Virginia. This summer, join people of all ages and backgrounds from throughout the Southeast and beyond for the second annual Southeast Convergence for Climate Action. After the resounding success of last year’s convergence we are excited to continue the struggle for climate justice in the southeast with an engaging week of workshops, strategizing, and direct action! This year’s convergence will be hosted in Virginia where communities are fighting uranium mining, nuclear power, mountaintop removal coal mining, and new (as well as old) coal plants. Once again we will unite to fight the coal industry’s stranglehold on our region while rejecting the deadly nuke industry’s attempt to position itself as the solution to the climate crisis.

The convergence is a place to strengthen our movement, network with new allies, and take action against dirty energy while working to build a sustainable world. Workshops will include: community organizing, direct action 101, debunking false solutions to climate change, blockades, sustainable living systems, media, disaster response, fighting nukes and coal, and much more. The convergence will culminate in an empowering action to show that the southeast is serious about tackling climate change. For more information check out: www.climateconvergence.org For more information, email risingtide@mountainrebel.net

08/06/08 The Many Faces of Asheville trip, sponsored by the Center for Diversity Education at UNCA. This will be from 8:30 AM to 4 PM. This will be a look at the contemporary and historic immigrant community in Asheville and Buncombe County. Cost is $35 and includes trip, bus, and lunch. More information at dmiles@unca.org or call 828-232-5024.

08/06/08 Names and Remembrance ceremony at Y12 National Nuclear Security Complex in Oak Ridge at 6 AM. This is organized by Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance. www.stopthebombs.org

08/06/08 The movie “White Light, Black Rain” will be shown at UNCA in honor of Hiroshima Day. This will be at 7 PM in Laurel Forum at Karpen Hall. Award-winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki examines the lingering impact of the two bombings in the documentary “White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki”. In this movie, Okazaki talks with fourteen survivors of the 1945 attacks, ranging from an artist who has recounted his experiences in comic art to a woman who was the only child out of 620 students to survive at a Hiroshima elementary school. For more information, call 828-232-5024.

08/08/08 Movie night by the Social Justice Council at Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville. The movie will be “Rights on the Line” and it is about the minutemen and what is going on with immigration in our country. This is free and open to the public, and discussion will follow. Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us or call 828-299-1242 for more information.

08/08/08 Activist Movie Club in Waynesville. This is an opportunity to see some movie about social justice issues or environmental issues and discuss them afterwards. For more information, contact John at buckley_john@bellsouth.net.

08/08/08 to 09/08/08 Congressional summer recess

08/09/08 Peace Japanese Lantern ceremony by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance at 8 PM. This will be held at Sequoyah Hills Park, West End, on Cherokee Blvd (off Kingston Pike) in Knoxville. A ceremony of hope remembering the bombing of Nagasaki and looking forward to a future free of nuclear weapons. For more information, go to www.stopthebombs.org.

08/18/08 Common Sense at the Nuclear Crossroads will meet at Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville. Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us or call 828-299-1242 for more information.

08/19/08 WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility will meet at noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us or call 828-299-1242 for more information.

08/19/08 WNC Peace Coalition will meet at 7 PM at Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville. Please enter on the north side in the basement. Call the Peace Line for more information at 828-271-0022.

08/22/08 to 08/24/08 Southern Energy and Environment Expo 2008 at the Western NC Agricultural Center.

09/02/08 Dept of Peace Campaign meets at 7 PM at the Community Action Opportunities Building at 25 Gaston Street. Contact Laura at 665-3668 for directions or more information.

09/09/08 Meeting for the local Amnesty International group at 7 PM at 227 Edgewood (Asheville Friends Meeting House). Topic TBD. For more information, call Janese at 828-779-1270.

09/11/08 to 09/12/08 “National Summit on Torture: Religious Faith, Torture, and Our National Soul” at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. More information at this link.

09/12/08 Movie night by the Social Justice Council at Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville. The movie will be on Darfur. This is free and open to the public, and discussion will follow. Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us or call 828-299-1242 for more information.

09/12/08 Activist Movie Club in Waynesville. This is an opportunity to see some movie about social justice issues or environmental issues and discuss them afterwards. For more information, contact John at buckley_john@bellsouth.net.

09/21/08 International Day of Peace. The Student Peace Alliance will have a walkathon and would like the community to participate. After the walkathon, they will visit local congressional offices in support of HR 808.

10/07/08 Dept of Peace Campaign meets at 7 PM at the Community Action Opportunities Building at 25 Gaston Street. Contact Laura at 665-3668 for directions or more information.

10/17/08 to 10/18/08 5th Annual Gandhi King Conference on Peacemaking. This will be held at Christian Brothers University in Memphis TN.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ACTIONS

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Short You Tube video on conditions in Iraq, done by Susan.

Another You Tube video on Winter Soldier by Kathy Kelly (with local IVAW member in it).

Do you think Karl Rove should be in jail for contempt of congress? More information here along with a petition to sign at this link.

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From WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility: Call Congress: Oppose H. Con. Res. 362
House Concurrent Resolution 362 urges the president to increase sanctions and to work towards an internationally-supported blockade. This is actually an act of war.
Call your representative and urge him/her to oppose H. Con. Res. 362 and to work towards diplomatic solutions to our conflict with Iran. You can contact Congressman Shuler at: (828) 252-1651 or (202) 225-6401

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In Charlotte, NC:
Sat., Aug. 2 Demonstration to Stop War On Iran & Protest Gas Prices 1:00 pm
Independence Blvd & E. 3rd St, Charlotte, NC
In front of Chevron's Texaco Gas Station
Forwarded by N. C. PEACE ACTION

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Petition to Obama on Iran: "A Open Letter to Barack Obama on Iran"

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From National Impeachment Network:

Action alert: Lobbying Needed on July 25th and before

THIS IS A PRELIMINARY HEARING ON THE TOPIC OF IMPEACHMENT -- TO PUSH IT OVER THE EDGE INTO FULL-BLOWN IMPEACHMENT, PLEASE -- IF YOU CAN POSSIBLY GET TO D.C. JULY 25th FOR THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING ON DENNIS KUCINICH'S BILL, IT'S URGENT THAT YOU DO SO! (Contact Vets for Peace, Chapter 99, if you are interested in going to DC for lobbying.)

CALL NOW: House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr.: (202) 225-5126

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: (202) 225-4965

You can contact Congressman Shuler at: (828) 252-1651 or (202) 225-6401

Email to the entire Judiciary Committee at this link.

If you wish to leave a comment on voicemail, the Democrats' House Judiciary Office is Phone: 202-225-3951 and the Republicans' is 202-225-6504.

And, Representative via Rep. Dennis Kucinich's impeachment petition is at this link.

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July 14, 2008 PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN COMPLETES ITS 19TH CHALLENGE OF THE US BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA: "DETAINED" COMPUTERS RELEASED BY US AUTHORITIES AND SENT ON TO CUBA

Members of the 19th US/Cuba Friendshipment Caravan returned to the US today after challenging the US blockade on travel to Cuba and delivering nearly 100 tons of humanitarian aid to that island nation. When they crossed through Mexico and reached the US border at Hidalgo, TX today, the members of the caravan were processed through US Immigration and Customs. Responding to constant pressure from communities all across the US, US officials then returned to the caravan the 32 computers that had been seized on July 3.

"It's difficult for even the US government to enforce the blockade against us, since they know that we are acting on the basis of our moral principles -- principles which are supported by the great majority of the US people," said Rev. Thomas Smith, president of the board of directors of IFCO/Pastors for Peace. Determined caravanistas then hand-carried the 32 computers across the International Bridge from Hidalgo, Texas into Reynosa, Mexico.

The computers will be sent from Reynosa on to Cuba, which means that every item of the nearly 100 tons of humanitarian aid collected by the caravan from all across the US will in fact be donated to Cuba. "We appreciate that the computers were released today. But our work could not be complete until we knew for sure that the computers would be on their way to their intended home," said Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., executive director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace. "In fact, even now, our work is not complete not until this mean-spirited, foolish, petty, counterproductive, immoral blockade against our Cuban sisters and brothers is ended."

The caravan program in Cuba included visits to different provinces, homes for the elderly, and health care sites. Caravanistas also visited the Latin American School of Medicine, where young people from 30 nations of the Americas and Africa are studying medicine on full scholarship in order to serve as physicians in their home countries. More than 100 of the students in this program are from medically under-served communities in the US. Caravanistas are already planning for next year's 20th Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba, which is expected to have broad participation, including a large youth contingent to participate in next year's US/Cuba 'Hip Hop Exchange."

Pastors for Peace is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), which has been working for 40 years in support of social justice. More information about the caravan and photo images are available at www.pastorsforpeace.org

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Hi Everyone,

We are looking for families to host Ukrainian citizines September 19 through the 27. They will need a place to stay for 8 days and a ride to Monford neighborhood each morning at about 8:30. Meals they spend with you will only be Sunday morning and occasional breakfast. Last year the group from Ukraine was very interesting and lovely to be with. I hope you consider this great opportunity, especially if you have children in your home or simply know the value of cultural exchanges and how much they mean for global peace. So much to learn from one another.
Sincerely,
Laura
665-3668
Contact Laura for more information.

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NC State AFL-CIO Email: The Catawba County Chamber of Commerce is organizing a rally against the Employee Free Choice Act at 9am on August 19, 2008. The Hickory Daily Record ran an article about the planned anti-labor rally just this past Tuesday. The event will feature Sen. Elizabeth Dole, Rep. Robin Hayes (R-8th), Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-10th), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-5th), and Rep. Sue Myrick (R-9th). SAVE THE DATE - 8/19 Union members need to rally against this attack on workers rights. The Employee Free Choice Act is key to saving the middle class of this country and growing our movement. Please save the morning of August 19th to attend an important counter rally. Details on our counter rally to follow soon.