Upcoming Events - 11/16/08

Life under occupation -

An Iraqi family sits in the courtyard of their farm as US soldiers search the premises for weapons in Mullah Eid village just south of Baquba. A suicide car bomb has exploded at a police checkpoint in Iraq's volatile Diyala province, killing at least 15 people, including seven policemen, a security official has said. (AFP/File/Patrick Baz)

Next meeting of the WNC Peace Coalition will be on November 18, 2008 at 7 PM at Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville. Hope you can join us! Events and late breaking news can be listed in the comments.

EVENTS

11/17/08 Presentation on Middle East peacemaking and US Christians at All Souls Cathedral in Biltmore Village from 7 to 9 PM. This is organized by the NC Council of Churches. On November 17, the North Carolina Council of Churches will offer a public program on Iran and the prospects for peace in Israel-Palestine and Iraq following the November 4 election, at All Souls' Cathedral, on the corner of Rt. 25 and Angle St., at Biltmore Village.

11/17/08 WNC Chapter of the Network of Spiritual Progressives will meet at Jubilee (Patton Street entrance). BYO dinner at 5:30, meeting at 6 PM. Contact Bob at bobb@main.nc.us for more information.

11/18/08 WNC Peace Coalition meeting at UU Church in Asheville at 7 PM. Please enter on the north side. Contact the Peace Line at 271-0022 for more information.

11/20/08 Transgender Day of Remembrance

11/20/08 The North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement and the Mountain Area Interfaith Forum (MAIF) present “Knowing the Stranger: On Forgiveness”, the next installment in a series of panel discussions through an interfaith lens. Time is 7PM and location is the Chestnut Ridge Room at the Reuter Center, on the campus of UNC-Asheville.

11/21/08 to 11/23/08 Converge on Fort Benning, Georgia. The annual November vigil to close the School of the Americas at the gates of Fort Benning will follow the presidential election by two weeks. It will be an opportunity for the progressive movement to push for the closure of the SOA/WHINSEC and to set an agenda against oppressive U.S. foreign policy, whatever the result of that election is. More information at www.soaw.org.

11/21/08 Activist Movie Club in Waynesville. Contact John at buckley_john@bellsouth.net for information on the movie to be shown, directions and to RSVP.

11/25/08 Asheville City Council to hear Common Sense at the Nuclear Crossroads presentation on their local campaign to raise awareness about existing nuclear shipments of materials and waste and the prevention of an enormous increase in quantity (and hazard) of nuclear waste if “recycling” of nuclear waste is approved and takes place in South Carolina. They are asking for an ordinance that would make it a crime to bring irradiated fuel through the city. PLEASE attend the November 25 City Council meeting at Asheville City Hall, inviting folks who care about this issue to attend as well. There will be a public comments period on this issue. For more information, contact Mary Olson at nirs@main.nc.us. For more background information, go to this post.

12/01/08 World AIDS Day

12/02/08 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.

12/04/08 Veterans for Peace meet at 6:30 PM at Firestorm Café & Books in Asheville. Contact Ronald at 828-LUCK 180 for more information.

12/04/08 Public meeting in Graniteville, SC about Dept of Energy's draft EIS regarding reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. Tom Clements urges attendees to voice opposition (SRS is prime site for US’ high-level waste). For info on how to submit email or written comments, go to this website.

12/05/08 to 12/06/08 Progressive Democrats of NC Annual Convention in Greensboro. Go to http://www.progressivedemocratsnc.org/blog/node/119 for more information.

12/06/08 Buncombe County Green Party meeting at 10 AM at the Fortune building on Haywood Street. Call David at 828-683-1783 or email ireland.dw@juno.com for more information.

12/10/08 Human Rights Day

12/12/08 to 12/14/08 United for Peace & Justice will hold their National Assembly near Chicago at the Wyndham O’Hare Hotel.

12/12/08 Unitarian Universalist Congregation will show a film at 7 PM. Discussion will follow. Free, donations accepted. Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us or call 828-299-1242 for more information.

12/15/08 Bill of Rights Day

12/16/08 WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility meeting at UU Church in Asheville on Charlotte and Edwin St. Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us or call 828-299-1242 for more information. This meeting has been canceled.

12/16/08 WNC Peace Coalition meeting at UU Church in Asheville at 7 PM. Please enter on the north side. Contact the Peace Line at 271-0022 for more information.

12/21/08 The Ethical Society of Asheville will meet at 2 PM at the Botanical Gardens Visitor Center at 151 W.T. Weaver Blvd in Asheville.

01/13/09 to 01/17/09 “Heeding God’s Call: A Gathering on Peace” in Philadelphia. This is a gathering of the Religious Society of Friends, Church of the Brethren and Mennonite Church. The purpose of the gathering is to strengthen our witness and work for peace in the world by inspiring hope, raising voices, taking action. More information at www.peacegathering2009.org.

January 20, 2009: Join thousands to demand "Bring the troops home now!"

01/27/09 to 02/01/09 World Social Forum will be held in Brazil. The World Social Forum is an open meeting place where social movements, networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, for formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action. http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/.

03/20/09 to 03/23/09 Department of Peace Campaign National Conference, March 20-23, 2009 in Washington, DC

3/21/09 Massive day of protest against the Iraq occupation and war.
Mass Actions on the 6th Anniversary of the Iraq War -- March 21, 2009
Bring All the Troops Home Now -- End All Colonial Occupations!
Fund People's Needs, Not Militarism & Bank Bailouts!

04/29/09 to 04/30/09 Join Christian Peace Witness for Iraq in Washington DC. This is with the Episcopal Peace Fellowship.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ACTIONS

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SOWING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST - a Program Event of the North Carolina Council of Churches

On November 17th, the North Carolina Council of Churches will offer a public program on Iran and the prospects for peace in Israel-Palestine and Iraq following the November 4 election, at All Souls' Cathedral, on the corner of Rt. 25 and Angle St., at Biltmore Village. This will be the first in a statewide series, “Sowing Peace in the Middle East: A New Moment in 2009”. The program will be from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Please forward, distribute, post and announce this information!

Jim Fine, Legislative Secretary for Foreign Policy of the Friends Committee on National Legislation will speak to the recent history and dynamics of relations between the U.S., Iran, Israel and Iraq, and how the United States can effectively build stability and peace in the region at this point in history. Fine, a Middle East scholar, has lived in Beirut, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Baghdad, and traveled throughout the region serving as the American Friends Service Committee's (AFSC) International Affairs representative in the Middle East, working with a Quaker high school in Ramallah, and on the staff of the Middle East Council of Churches. He may also be available to speak to university classes in the area on the afternoon of Nov. 17 or the morning of Nov. 18.

Following Fine’s presentation, Ymani Simmons, founder of the relief organization A Common Thread, will present a short documentary, "A Call to Peace, Listen to Iran's People" about her 2007 trip to Iran with a civilian diplomatic delegation of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The NC Council of Churches will also provide information about ways that churches and individuals can support peacemaking initiatives in Iraq, Iran, and Israel-Palestine, and about what denominational and interchurch organizations are doing to support peace in the Middle East.

For further information, please contact Rev. Spencer Bradford, Program Associate for Peace, at 919-596-4702, or sbradford@nccouncilofchurches.org. Times and locations for each event in the series are below, and are also listed at www.nccouncilofchurches.org.

MONDAY, NOV. 17, 7:00-9:00 PM, ASHEVILLE
ALL SOULS CATHEDRAL, Corner of Rt.25 and Angle St., Biltmore Village
Jim Fine and Ymani Simmons – Sowing Peace in the Mideast

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From the Peace Alliance:

We're launching a "Personal Postcards to Your President" campaign!

It's easy to participate!

1. Visit your local store and get a postcard representing your town or city
2. Write a note to YOUR next President
3. Mail it by Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009
4. Urge all of your friends and family to do the same

You should use the address of Obama’s Senate office:

President-elect Barack Obama
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1305

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This is from Codepink, and it is an action already completed, but I thought you might like to know about it.

Dear Friends,

It would be WONDERFUL if you could join us on Thursday, November 13 as we travel to the embassies of Cuba, Syria, Venezuela, Bolivia and Iran with the message YES WE CAN...Live in Peace.

We will be gathering at 10am at the CODEPINK house, 712 5th St. NE between G and H, in Washington DC. We are near the Union Station metro (or the X2 bus that goes along H Street). If you plan to come by car, please let us know (we have two RVs, but might need another car or two).

Our schedule will be as follows:
11am Cuban Interest Section
11:45am Syrian Embassy
12:30pm Venezuelan Embassy
1:15pm Bolivian Embassy
2pm Iranian Interest Section

If you can't join us at 10am but want to meet later in the day, you can go to one of these stops. Or you can call us at 202-903-3363 to find out where we are. We will take flowers, apple pies and cards to the Embassies of these five countries with which the Bush administration has had antagonistic relations. We will be doing this gesture as citizen diplomats on behalf of the American people, reflecting the policies we would like to see in the new administration. At the Cuban Embassy, we will call for a lifting of the U.S. Embargo. With Syria, we will apologize for the recent U.S. Military incursion that resulted in the loss of civilian lives. At the Venezuelan and Bolivian Embassies we will call for the Ambassadors to return to Washington and for the U.S. to stop interfering in the internal affairs of those

countries by supporting opposition groups. At the Iranian Embassy, we will call for direct talks as soon as President Obama takes power.

Please join us in taking this pre-emptive action for peace, and invite your friends! For more info, you can email me or call 202-903-3363.

Best, Medea Benjamin
CODEPINK/Global Exchange

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From Democrats.com – the Aggressive Progressives – A Petition

To: ABC, AP, CBS, Chicago Tribune, CNN, FOX, Los Angeles Times, McClatchy, MSNBC, NBC, Newsweek, NPR, New York Times, PBS, Time, USA Today, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal

On November 4, 2008, the American people demanded change in Washington DC. One of the most important changes must be excluding felons and proven liars from serious national policy debates, including our commercial airwaves and and opinion pages. This is not a First Amendment issue because we are not asking Congress or the White House to engage in censorship. Rather, this is an editorial standards issue. We believe any credible news organization should adopt standards that exclude felons and proven liars. Below is a list of individuals who have disqualified themselves from serious national policy debates.

Go here to read the rest and sign the petition: http://www.democrats.com/change-the-media-no-more-crooks-and-liars.

[They leave a few people off, but it is a good start.]

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Peace & Earth Committee of Asheville Friends Meeting is working to help Haiti

From American Friends Service Committee: We have received an urgent appeal to send Hygiene Kits and Infant Kits to Haiti as soon as possible. Please help with this desperate need. Below is a list of items needed. Please place items in a plastic bag and leave on front porch of Meeting House or contact Susan for pickup. (dancewater2@gmail.com) Cash donations are also welcome. Checks can be made out to “Asheville Friends Meeting” and are tax-deductible. Please put “Haiti” on the memo line.

HYGIENE KIT
1 Tube Toothpaste
1 toothbrush
1 Bottle Shampoo
1 Bar Bath Soap (Antibacterial or Ivory)
1 Comb (Wide-toothed)
1 Washcloth
1 Small Towel

INFANT KIT
2 Receiving Blankets
4 Baby Washcloths
1 Baby Towel
1 Bar Baby Soap (or Ivory or Baby Liquid Soap)
1 Small Tube or Jar Petroleum Jelly
2 Pairs Infant Socks

Thank you for your participation in this outreach to storm-ravaged Haiti.

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PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF NC

2008 PDNC ANNUAL CONVENTION
BUILDING A UNITED PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT
When: Friday evening, December 5th, 6 PM, PDNC Business and Strategy Meeting with election of officers.
Saturday, December 6th, 8:30 – 5:00, Progressive Summit

Where: Bur-Mil Club House, 5834 Bur-Mil Club Road, Greensboro, NC 27410

The Questions: What are the strategic implications of the election and the economic crisis? What are the next steps for bringing together progressive groups in NC in a unified and effective social movement? How do we effectively move the Democratic Party and the legislature in a progressive direction?

Saturday’s Keynote Speakers Include:

Tim Carpenter, National Director, Progressive Democrats of America, See: http://www.pdamerica.org/

Michael Schwalbe, Professor of Sociology, NC State University, http://www.progressivedemocratsnc.org/blog/node/109

Registration: Go to: http://www.progressivedemocratsnc.org/blog/
or send your check to David Mills, PDNC Treasurer, 1607 Delaware Ave., Durham, NC 27705
Fees:
Friday night: $25 early bird (by Nov. 23rd); $35 after Nov. 23rd. Includes dinner
Saturday: $30 early bird (by Nov. 23rd.); $40 after Nov. 23rd. Includes lunch

A limited number of scholarships will be available for students and low-income people.

Registration at either event includes annual membership dues. Membership is open to any voter registered in North Carolina as Democrat or Unaffiliated who openly espouses the PDNC Statement of Purpose and actively supports the policy agenda of the organization.

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From Courage to Resist:

On October 15 police attacked a peaceful gathering of Iraq vets and others at Hofstra University in Long Island during the last presidential debate. You can find out more about them and sign a petition showing your support for these Iraq war veterans who were peacefully protesting:

Sign the petition to support the Hempstead 15