Don't cut ash trees!
I recently noticed that the massive ash tree next to the University Baptist Church, at the southwest corner of Franklin and Columbia streets in downtown Chapel Hill, is suddenly gone, even the stump. I don't know who did this or why, but I hope it wasn't because I informed some people concerned about the emerald ash borer's arrival in Orange County. As I said before, research shows that pre-emptively cutting ash trees costs more than waiting, and it is possible the ash could have been resistant to theisnon-native beetle, or biological controls being released would have worked a miracle, and the old tree would have survived, but now we will never know.
Durham's Southwest Regional Library is collecting intact eclipse glasses for Astronomers Without Borders (see www.facebook.com/SouthwestRegionalLibrary/posts/2044988178860325 )
Saving the River One Song at a Time: The Eno River Festival Legacy
Wilson Library is also hosting an exhibit (June 2nd to September 22nd, on the 4th floor) on the effort to save the Eno River when the City of Durham proposed drowning it for a drinking water reservoir in the 60's. This led to the formation of what is today the Eno River Association, Eno River State Park in 1973, and the annual Eno River Festival, first held in 1980. For more information, see: blogs.lib.unc.edu/news/index.php/2017/06/eno-river-festival-exhibit/
A movement tried but failed to save the New Hope River (erased from the map today) and lower Haw River from the Federal dam project that created what is today Jordan Lake, and today people are trying to reduce the reservoir's pollution problems, which were predicted before the dam was built.
Mayor Up
There will be a series of discussions with the candidates for mayor of Durham: September 6th (on police practices), September 27th (on affordable housing), and October 4th (on development, transportation, and equality of opportunity). For details see: clarioncontentmedia.com/mayorup/
Student Action with Farmworkers 25th anniversary
Student Action with Farmworkers, based in Durham, was organized in 1992 and is hosting anniversary exhibits and events throughout NC and in Washington, DC this year. There will be an exhibit at FLOC's office in Dudley, Wayne County May 26th to December 31st. There will be an event August 5th 6-9:30pm at the Power Plant in Durham's American Tobacco complex. Duke's Center for Documentary Studies will host an exhibit June 22nd to November 11th, with a reception September 10th 2-4pm. For details, see: saf-unite.org/content/saf-2017-exhibits-events
More than one story / Mas de una historia: 25 years of farmworker voices from SAF
There will be an exhibit of photos from Wilson Library's SAF archive in the Davis Library Gallery (first floor) until February 2018 (see: library.unc.edu/2017/08/more-than-one-story-mas-de-una-historia/ )
Local elections coming up
There will be a primary election in Durham and an election in Raleigh October 10th and elections in Chapel Hill and Morrisville November 7th. The Durham Board of Elections website is: dconc.gov/government/departments-a-e/board-of-elections and the State Board is at: www.ncsbe.gov/
NC anti-BDS bill is now law
Apparently Governor Cooper did not veto House Bill 161, requiring that the state and its subdivisions divest from and not contract with companies that boycott Israel; the text of the bill is online at: www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2017&BillID=H161
Supposedly progressive Durham senators Mike Woodard and Floyd McKissick voted for it, along with several other Democrats in both houses (including local senators Valerie Foushee and Jay Chaudhuri) and almost but not all of the Republicans (one senator opposed it, while a few other Republicans were absent for whatever reasons). Among local House Democrats, Representative Marcia Morey (who replaced the deceased Paul Luebke), Graig Meyer, Henry Michaux, MaryAnn Black (replaced Larry Hall after he resigned in January), Verla Insko, Grier Martin, Rosa Gill, and Robert Reives voted against the bill.
From an activist calendar in Chapel Hill:
Some Triangle Peace and Justice Events August 30 to September 16, 2017 (Events listed in chronological order except for recurring events posted at end)
CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS, HISTORICAL MEMORY & FREE SPEECH Panel discussion with Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue; Danielle Christmas, Assistant Professor of English, UNC; Jamie Fiocco, Manager and Owner, Flyleaf Books; William Sturkey, Assistant Professor of History, UNC; Harry Watson, Atlanta Alumni Distinguished Professor of Southern Culture, UNC; Edwin M. Yoder, Jr., Contributing Columnist, Raleigh News and Observer. Moderated by Lloyd Kramer, Professor of History and Director, Carolina Public Humanities, UNC. Q and A Following. 6 pm - 7:30 pm, Wednesday, August 30, Chapel Hill Public Library, Room B, 100 Library Drive, off North Estes Drive. Sponsored by Carolina Public Humanities, human [at unc period edu]. Info: http:// chapelhillpubliclibrary.org/ .
[In Durham people should know there is a memorial glorifying US imperialism's actions in Korea]
CHANGES TO THE NC JUDICIARY Panelists UNC Law Professor Gene Nichol, Judge Samantha Cabe, and Representative Marcia Morey discuss types of cases judges hear and how they impact our lives, about the new changes, including partisan elections for judges, and expected outcomes and what we need to do. 6:30 - 8:30 p. m., Wednesday, August 30, Extraordinary Ventures, 200 South Elliott Road, Chapel Hill. Democratic Women of Orange County, 919-360-9498.
SAVE OUR COURTS AND THE LEGISLATIVE THREAT TO NC’S JUDICIAL SYSTEM Panelists, all former or current judges, Rep. Joe John, Rep. Marcia Morey, and Orlando Hudson, discuss importance of an independent judiciary in NC. Moderated by Melissa Kromm, NC Voters for Clean Elections. 5:30 - 7 p.m., Thursday, August 31, Durham County Courthouse, Courtroom 4D, 4th floor, 510 South Dillard Street, Durham. Democracy North Carolina, 919-286-6000.
THE GATHERING: A TIME FOR REFLECTION, REVIVAL, & RESISTANCE Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove co-host a monthly program to equip communities with resources for faithful reflection and public action on moral issues. Topic for September : LIVING WAGE, livestreamed and podcast as a resource. 6 p.m. -7:30 pm., Sunday, September 3, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh. Livestream at www.breachrepairers.org/livest ream . Information: National Social Justice Organizer Rev. Erica Williams at ewilliams [at breachrepairers period org] .
CONVERSATION ON SANCTUARY MATTERS Isaac Villegas, pastor of Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship, speaks on sanctuary movement in NC. 7 p.m., Tuesday, September 5, Binkley Baptist Church, 1712 Willow Drive (corner of Fordham Blvd), Chapel Hill. Hosted by Peace & Justice Action Committee of Binkley as first step toward making decision to become a sanctuary church. Ashely Nissler (ranissler [at mindspring period com]).
SHOW SUPPORT FOR UNC CENTER FOR CIVIL RIGHTS Join rally and march with Center for Civil Rights 3:30– 4:30 p.m., Thursday, September 7, from UNC South Building (Cameron Avenue opposite Old Well) , to Silent Sam (across from post office), to house of UNC President Margaret Spellings (corner of East Franklin and Raleigh Streets). Protest Board of Governors by standing with CCCR at BOG meeting, 8:45 a. m., Friday, September 8, Center for School Leadership Development, Friday Center Drive. twlongest [at gmail period com].
CELEBRATE PALESTINIAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES! Hear eyewitness accounts from diverse speakers who recently visited West Bank and/or Gaza Strip . Buffet dinner with music and dance performances. Speakers include Matthew Hoh, Atrayus Goode, and Serene Alsous, followed by a performance by Palestinian American Artist Sijal Nasralla and Baladna Dabkeh group. 5:30-8:30 p. m., Saturday, September 9, Baba Ghannouj Mediterranean, 5400 South Miami Blvd #138, Research Triangle Park (at corner of NC 54). Tickets $45 (www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night- for-palestine-tickets-36706563 319, 919-618-2865). www.cpwj.org.
MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK: FAIR ELECTIONS, REDISTRICTING, REFORM Jennifer Bremer presents status of special legislative redistricting and complexities of message League of Women Voters of Orange-Durham-Chatham needs to convey to elected officials and public as it advocates for fair maps. 3-5 p. m., Sunday, September 10, Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4907 Garrett Road, Durham. Sponsored by LWV. More information: http://odc.nc.lwvnet.org/ Calendar.html."
"SCREENING OF FILMS BY DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER See and discuss Fusion Films of Eric Preston, veteran of Moral Monday coverage by film documentation (NC Forward Together Moral Movement Channel). 7:30 p. m., Wednesday, September 13, Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist sanctuary, 106 Purefoy Road (corner of Mason Farm Road). Balance and Accuracy in Journalism (BAJ), 919-542-2139."
"SANCTUARY MATTERS: TESTIMONY AND BEST PRACTICES Reflection and training for congregations in discernment about offering sanctuary to immigrants facing deportation. Keynote speaker, Rev. Noel Andersen. Additional speakers with Peruvian luncheon following. $10. Register at https://unitedchurch.org/sanct uary-matters/. 8:30 AM – 12:30 p. m., Saturday, September 16, United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. jennie [at ncchurches period org."
APPEAL TO EMPOWER FARMWORKERS TO PARTICIPATE IN UNION CONVENTION Getting 300 workers from North and South Carolina to FLOC’s Toledo OH Convention on 9/8-9/17, a feat and financial challenge. Triangle Friends of Farmworkers requests contributions toward bus-tickets: [round trip ($124/worker), one-way ($62)]; food: $30/day/worker, or lodging: $250/5 workers. Make tax-deductible contribution to Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice (CMWJ) online (https://secure.donationpay.or g/cmwj/) or by check to CWMJ mailed to CWMJ, 1221 Broadway Street, Toledo, Ohio 43609. Information: 919-433-6718."
Upcoming Library Book Sales
There will be regular three-day Friends of the Durham Library book sales September 8-10 and November 10-12, and another one-day sale December 2nd. It will be at Books Among Friends in Northgate Mall (1058 West Club Boulevard, Suite 252, near Sears).
The Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library is also having a book sale September 8-10.
The 20th Friends of the Chatham Community Library book sale will be October 5-7.
The big Wake County Public Libraries book sale at the State Fairgrounds will be in spring 2018 (watch www.wakegov.com/libraries/events/Pages/booksale.aspx for an announcement). Lee County has not announced any upcoming book sales.
August 23rd-30th is the Week of Solidarity with Anarchist Prisoners, according to prisonbooks.info
Martha, a captive passenger pigeon at the Cincinnati Zoo, the last known member of her species, died September 1st, 1914. Passenger pigeons may have been the most abundant bird ever known, their flocks darkening the sky, but they were exterminated by habitat loss and wanton hunting.
Possibly the last wild Carolina parakeets were seen in 1937 or 38, and the last captive parakeet died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918.
The Fight for $15 and Union Rights
There will be strikes and other events throughout the week beginning with Labor Day in Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Asheville, Brevard, and elsewhere. For more information, see: bit.ly/LaborDay17 This is a listing from the NC AFL-CIO, and also mentions the Greensboro Labor School:
Monday, September 4, 2017
6:00am (strike support) // 12:00pm (rally)
Strike at McDonald’s // 2700 Guess Rd, Durham, NC
Rally at CCB Plaza // 201 Corcoran St, Durham, NC
6:00am (strike support) // 12:00pm (rally)
Strike at McDonald’s // 2700 Guess Rd, Durham, NC
Rally at CCB Plaza // 201 Corcoran St, Durham, NC
Local cooks and cashiers from McDonald’s, Burger King and other restaurants announced Friday that they will walk off the job on Labor Day, joining strikes by fast-food workers in 300 cities from coast to coast. Durham workers in the Fight for $15 will stress their demand not just for $15 an hour, but for union rights in order to fix the economic and political systems in the U.S. that big corporations have rigged to benefit themselves over working people.
RSVP online: http://fightfor15.org/s-petition/national-labor-day-2017-petition/
Like and share on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/264281734077917/
Like and share on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/264281734077917/
Raising Wages Labor Day Weekend Picnic (event page)
Saturday, September 2, 2017
11:00am to 1:00pm
Silvermont Park in Brevard // 364 E Main St, Brevard, NC
Hot dogs, art, music, opportunities for action, and information about the campaign to raise North Carolina’s minimum wage to $12/hr by 2020 and $15 in five years.
Labor Day – Voices from the Past Call Out to Us (documentary screening)
Sunday, September 3, 2017
1:30pm to 3:30pm
Extraordinary Ventures // 200 South Elliot Road, Chapel Hill, NC
Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle will celebrate Labor Day by showing the documentary film “The Wobblies,” about the founding of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in 1905, in the time of a widening economic chasm between industrial giants and downtrodden workers. The IWW was the only union in its time that was open to all workers, regardless of gender or ethnicity. The film will be introduced by Greta Dorfman, whose uncle, Sam Krieger, was a laborer who later became an organizer, and whose interview appears in the film.
People's Alliance @ the Durham Farmer's Market
Sunday, September 3, 2017
8:00am to 12:00pm
Durham Farmer's Market // 501 Foster St, Durham, NC
At this community outreach event, the Durham People's Alliance will be talking to people about the Consumer Living Wage Pledge and the RaisingWagesNC campaign. Local elected officials will be joining us.
The Wages and the Worker - CJJ Brunch and Learn
Sunday, September 3, 2017
10:30am to 12:00pm
Beth Meyer Synagogue // 504 Newton Road, Raleigh, NC
Join CJJ for a Brunch and Learn about historic minimum wage actions. We will learn from Professor David Zonderman of NCSU. The Torah portion, Ki Teitze, commands us to not withold wages from the worker. How have Jews and others fought for equitable wages in this country historically? What can we do to help achieve a livable wage for workers today? Join us to educate ourselves to become better allies to the poor workers in our community.
Labor Day Parade in Canton (event page)
Monday, September 4, 2017
10:00am to 11:30am
Canton, NC // 8 Sorrells St, Canton, NC
Snaking through the downtown district with over 100 homemade floats, the parade showcases the workers, farmers, elected officials, and non-profits that keep the WNC region vibrant and sustainable for all people. Be sure to arrive an hour early with a lawn chair or blanket to stake claim to a couple square feet of sidewalk.
18th Annual Charlotte Labor Day Parade (event page)
Monday, September 4, 2017
11:00am to 12:00pm
Hal Marshall // 700 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC
The 2017 Charlotte Labor Day Parade is now forming. We are a genuine Labor Day parade, non-profit, and organized by labor unions to yearly remind the community of the history of organized labor and the benefits it brought to all. Our parade features labor organizations, schools, political candidates, car clubs, and civic groups. We hope you can join us in the parade.
Orange County Living Wage Week of Tabling
Mon, Sep 4, 2017 12:30pm to Fri, Sep 8, 2017 6:30am
UNC Chapel Hill // E. Cameron Ave, Chapel Hill, NC
Come take a stand on what a living wage means to you! Tabling around UNC's campus to get students involved in efforts to raise NC wages.UNC Chapel Hill // E. Cameron Ave, Chapel Hill, NC
Come out to take photos with our signs and tweet about what a living wage means to you. We will pass out pledge cards, support cards, and brochures while also signing up student volunteers for future events.
Reversing Runaway Inequality
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
6:00pm to 8:00pm
El Pueblo // 2321 Crabtree Blvd #105, Raleigh, NC
El Pueblo, Communications Workers of America and Raising Wages NC invite you to a popular education workshop title: “Revirtiendo la Desigualdad Desfrenada”
Language: This workshop is offered in Spanish
**Refreshments will be served at 6pm and please rsvp by Tuesday if you need childcare.
Faces of Poverty- Film Screening and Interfaith Workshop (event page)
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Beth Ha-Tephila Congregation // 43 North Liberty Street, Asheville, NC
Join Carolina Jews for Justice and Just Economics for a film screening of a grassroots documentary about living on a low income in Buncombe County, workshop activity, and a panel discussion--addressing poverty through an interfaith lens. The event will also have information about the campaign to raise wages in North Carolina. For more on that, you can go to www.raisingwagesnc.org This event is free and open to anyone.
Love Letters to Workers Rally and Parade (event page)
Thursday, September 7, 2017
5:30pm to 7:00pm
Dairy Queen // 26 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC
Gather with the community to celebrate and honor workers during Labor Day Week! This is a celebratory rally and march. On the march, participants will be going into businesses along the way and handing out love letters to workers along the march route. Letters will have individual messages in support of workers and also a message that we are committing to act in solidarity with workers to raise wages through the Raising Wages NC Campaign."
Triad Jobs with Justice Presents “Labor School,” 9/10-10/8 in Greensboro
Come out every Sunday, Sept. 10 – Oct. 8 to the CWA Local 3607 union hall in Greensboro to learn about Social Justice from some of the people who have lived it and strive to change things, share their struggles, and empower us to make a difference!Read more."
Vietnamese revolutionary and national liberation leader Ho Chi Minh died September 2, 1969.
Labor Sabbath 9/1-3
The NC Council of Churches (www.ncchurches.org) and Raise the Wage NC are calling upon faith communities to discuss labor issues over Labor Day weekend: "Faith leaders can adapt their holy day services in ways that reflect the importance of workers, the value of labor unions, and the need to raise the North Carolina minimum wage.
Through Labor Sabbath, congregations have the opportunity to talk about faith, work, and justice. Across the state this year, we are focused on honoring labor and supporting the need for education to raise the minimum wage in NC."
Some resources:
www.ncchurches.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/LABOR-SABBATH-2017-TOOLKIT.pdf
www.ncchurches.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Labor-Sabbath-2017-bulletin-insert.pdf
www.ncchurches.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Labor-Sabbath-2017-Love-letters-with-explainer.pdf
www.ncchurches.org/lectionary/living-wages-easter-2/
www.ncchurches.org/lectionary/supporting-workers-proper-17/
For more information call 828-505-7466 or email Vicki [at justeconomicswnc dot org] or amy [at justeconomicswnc dot org].
The last captive Tasmanian tiger or Thylacine, a male called Benjamin, died at Australia's Hobart Zoo September 7, 1936. Tasmanian tigers, large, striped predatory marsupials, are considered extinct, though sightings are still reported.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established September 9, 1948. The Republic of Korea had already been established earlier that year, cementing the post-WWII division of Korea and helping to create a cold war with the threat of total destruction where there had been an alliance between the USA and USSR.
Stream monitoring demonstration in Chapel Hill and other Haw River Assembly events
Emily Sutton of the Haw River Assembly will conduct a water quality monitoring workshop at Chapel Hill's Umstead Park Sunday, September 9th, 11am-1pm. For more information, contact Emily [at hawriver period org]. There will be a Haw River Monitoring weekend September 23-24; for information see above or call 919 542 5790. HRA's 28th annual Haw River Learning Celebration for 4th Graders will be September 23-October 13 (see www.hawriver.org/projects/4th-grade-field-trip/ ).
The HRA's August newsletter says there are issues with new industrial chemicals classed with GenX in the Haw River system and the solvent 1,4-dioxane was found in Pittsboro's water. The General Assembly wants to try using algaecides to improve Jordan Lake's water quality, instead of trying to reduce excess nutrient inputs from upstream, and the proposal was pushed by a former House speaker, now a lobbyist for SePro, the company that received the contract for this experiment. It still needs a approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Chatham County Commissioners banned fracking for another year on June 17th. Superior Court Judge Carl Fox blocked Duke Energy from continuing to dig in Brickhaven, Chatham County, to landfill coal ash from around the State.
16th anniversary of the 9/11/2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 airliners were hijacked and three skyscrapers at the World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon were destroyed, killing thousands of people. The official conspiracy theory says the Islamists of al Qaida, many from Saudi Arabia, were behind it. There are other theories, ranging from the position that al Qaida was behind the attack, but was assisted by the US or other governments, to the position that it was a completely state run false flag operation. I plan to write a third article on problems with the official explanation, but it won't be ready this fall.
Why is Silent Sam Still Standing? The History of UNC's Confederate Monument and the Protests Surrounding Its Presence
This panel organized by several departments and academic organizations at UNC will be 3-5pm September 11th in the University Room of UNC's Hyde Hall. Joseph Jordan, Director of the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History will moderate a panel including Omololu Babatunde, Michelle Rolanda Brown, Warren Christian, Renee Alexander Craft, Sharon Holland, Kenneth Janken, Jim Leloudis, and James Moeser. Judging from the panelists, the discussion seems likely to be how soon to remove the statue of a Confederate soldier near Franklin Street, not whether it should be done or what should be done with it if it is taken down.
A court hearing regarding the Durham state toppling is coming up, and there will be protests in solidarity.
Durham's 43rd annual Centerfest will be held September 16-17 ( www.centerfest.durhamarts.org/ )
The Congress of People's Resistance will be held in Washington, DC, September 16-17
( www.congressofresistance.org/ )
A More Perfect Union rally
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP is hosting a rally celebrating community solidarity Wednesday, September 20th from 10am-6pm in Chapel Hill's Peace and Justice Plaza. They are seeking musical and spoken word artists.
The UN International Day of Peace is September 21st ( internationaldayofpeace.org/ ).
"Twitter and Tear Gas; the Power and Fragility of Networked Protest" by Zeynep Tufekci
This is part of the Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library's Author Teas, and looks at the use of technology in recent protest movements, and how governments have reacted to these new tools. The discussion will be September 21st 3:30-5pm in the Library's Room B. For more information, see: friendschpl.org/wp/event/twitter-and-tear-gas-the-power-and-fragility-of-networked-protest-by-zeynep-tufekci/?instance_id=222
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee national convention
The ADC's 37th annual convention will be September 21-24 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC; to register, see: www.adc.org/2017/08/renowned-speakers-galas-souk-at-adc-convention/
The Fall equinox is September 22nd.
The 20th annual Carrboro Music Festival will be September 23-24 ( carrboromusicfestival.com/311/Carrboro-Music-Festival )
The International Bluegrass Music Association's annual World of Bluegrass festival is September 26th-30th in Raleigh ( ibma.org/world-of-bluegrass ).
The Untold Stories of GMO Pioneers
I heard about this on NPR, and NPR food and agriculture correspondent Dan Charles will be the keynote speaker. It will be September 26th 5:30-8pm at NCSU's James B Hunt Library. To register, see: research.ncsu.edu/ges There are possibly beneficial uses of genetic engineering and gene editing, but it is also obviously dangerous. On that website there is a link to an Aububon magazine article on using gene editing to potentially kill every non-native rodent on islands where they are harming nesting seabirds, and another article saying the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has given NCSU millions of dollars to study those technologies. There is a creepiness aspect and the risk of unintended consequences, such as killing off native rodents if a modified mouse escaped, but it seems obvious that this gene editing could also be weaponized to kill humans or our food supply. Some have said that projects like this are just whitewashing a dangerous technology so it will be accepted by the public. A while ago there was talk of NCSU genetically engineering trees, which it seems would obviously effect 'natural' forests, if the trees were ever planted in the open and allowed to reproduce, and who decides if that is acceptable?
The first Annual Cape Fear River Forums
The Cape Fear River Assembly is hosting forums to discuss issues in the basin and its future. Downtown Durham marks the watershed between the Neuse and Cape Fear river basins, so water in southern Durham County, Jordan Lake, and the Haw River eventually flows into the Cape Fear and reaches the ocean near Wilmington, while the Neuse River goes to New Bern. The forums will be Tuesday, September 26th at Elon University; Wednesday, September 27th at Fayetteville State University; and Thursday, September 28th at the UNC-Wilmington Center for Marine Science. For more information and registration, see: cfra-nc.org/
The NC Wildlife Resources Commission is promoting these events as well as a Green Growth Toolbox: www.ncwildlife.org/Conserving/Programs/Green-Growth-Toolbox Their excellent Wildlife in NC magazine, started in 1937, is also launching a digital edition.
The Making of Maestra: Women and the 1961 Cuban Literacy Campaign
Promoting literacy was one of the achievements of the Cuban Revolution, and in this campaign 250,000 volunteers helped 700,000 become literate. This is the subject of the documentary MAESTRA, which looks at the experiences of nine women who were volunteers in the campaign. The film's archive was donated the UNC's Wilson Library, so there will be a showing September 28th at Wilson Library. There will be a reception at 5pm in the Melba Remig Saltarelli Exhibit Room, and the screening and discussion with Director Catherine Murphy will be at 5:30 in the Pheasants Family Assembly Room (I think this is off of the lobby on the north side of the building). For more information, contact Liza Terll of the Friends of the Library: liza_terll [at unc period edu] or 919 548 1203.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
This celebration of Hispanic/Latino culture is September 15th - October 15th, according to Wikipedia. The City of Durham is hosting three events:
TED Talk on Diversity and the Media September 28th 12-1pm at the Neighborhood Improvement Services Department, Golden Belt, 807 East Main Street, Building #2, Third Floor
Screening and discussion of the documentary Undocumented in America September 28th 5:30-8:30pm at the Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris Street downtown
Annual Hispanic Heritage Month City Employee Celebration, October 6th 11am-12:30pm at the City Hall Committee Room, 101 City Hall Plaza, Second Floor.
NC Botanical Garden's Fall Plant Sale
The members' event (people can join on the spot) will be Friday, September 29th, 4-8pm, and will have live music and refreshments. The second day, Saturday, September 30th, 9am-3pm will be open to all.
Chapel Hill's Festifall will be October 1st, 12-6:30 along West Franklin Street. Usually Stop Torture Now and the Orange County Bill of Rights Defense Committee table.
Big Sweep trash cleanups
There will be trash cleanups across the state this fall as part of the annual Big Sweep; Big Sweep in Durham will be October 7th, though the City/County will collect trash picked up at other times as well (see keepdurhambeautiful.org/our-events/big-sweep/ for Durham events).
Jordan Lake Heritage Day
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area's 18th annual Heritage Day will be October 4th, 10am-3pm at thee White Oak day use area, on the north side of Highway 64, just east of the Lake. I think this is correct, but more information should be posted at: www.ncparks.gov/jordan-lake-state-recreation-area/events-and-programs
The annual Shakkori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance is coming up in October 5-8th ( shakorihillsgrassroots.org/ ).
The dubious Afghanistan War began October 7, 2001 and continues to this day, fighting the Taliban and groups that didn't even exist in 2001.
Indigenous People's Day is October 9th.
Revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara, from Argentina, but a leader in the Cuban Revolution, was executed in Bolivia October 9, 1967.
The NC State Fair in Raleigh will be October 12-22, and this is its 150th anniversary ( www.ncstatefair.org/ )
A Century of Movement: Russian Culture and Global Community Since 1917
There will be speakers, discussions, performances, and exhibits October 12-13th in various venues at UNC, looking at Russian and Soviet culture and relations with the wider world, especially in music; for more information see: centuryofmovement.unc.edu/
Durham Monarch Festival
This annual festival celebrates the orange, black, and white monarch butterflies migrating through the state towards a few groves in the mountains Mexico where they spend the winter. Monarchs are also having problems, apparently because current farming practices have reduced the population of milkweed species, which monarchs eat as caterpillars, and probably illegal logging is effecting them in Mexico. This year the festival will be Saturday, October 14th from 10am to 4pm at Sandy Creek Park (3510 Sandy Creek Drive). For more information, see: keepdurhambeautiful.org/our-events/monarchfestival/
Annual Jordan Lake Fall Cleanup
This year the cleanup will focus on Stinking Creek (downstream from Robeson Creek along the flooded Haw River part of the Lake), last cleaned in 2015, and floods since then have no doubt deposited more trash. The Cleanup will be October 14th, 9am-1pm, and there will be a light lunch. Volunteers on foot will meet near 455 Ryan Road, Pittsboro and those with watercraft will meet at the Robeson Creek boat ramp. This is part of National Public Lands Day, and volunteers will get a one-day pass for any national park. There will also be a Trash Treasure Hunt with prizes. The Meetup page for the event is at: www.meetup.com/helpcleanjordanlake/ and it is organized by: cleanjordanlake.org/
Albanian revolutionary and leader in national liberation Enver Hoxha was born October 16, 1908 in Gjirokaster, in what is now southern Albania, at the time part of the Ottoman Empire.
Libyan leader Gaddafi was killed brutally and without trial October 20, 2011, and Hillary Clinton laughed.
"The Sixth Great Extinction: An Unnatural History" discussion
This is part of the Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library's Books Sandwiched In discussion series, and will be November 1st 11:30am-12:30pm in the Library's Room C. For For more information, see: friendschpl.org/wp/event/bsi-the-sixth-extinction-an-unnatural-history-by-elizabeth-kolbert/?instance_id=240
Occupy 2.0
Protests are planned for November 4th, about a year after Trump was elected, and round the clock occupation will follow, like Occupy Wall Street. I'm not sure yet if anything is planned in this area or who is organizing this campaign. There is a criticism about using this tactic in the winter: www.counterpunch.org/2017/08/30/why-are-progressives-stupid-its-not-too-late-to-get-smart/
There will be elections in [some] locations November 7th.
Haw River Assembly annual meeting and 35th anniversary celebration and fundraiser
There will be free events and the annual meeting the afternoon of Sunday, November 12th, and a ticketed party in the evening with refreshments and music, at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, Alamance County.
NC Commission of Inquiry on Torture hearings
There will be hearings investigating North Carolina's role in extraordinary rendition and torture November 30th and December 1st in the Raleigh Convention Center (for more information about the NCCIT, see www.nccit.org/ ). The hearings are free and public, but registration is encouraged (email info (at nccit dot org). June 26th was the UN's annual International Day in Support of Victims of
Torture.
UNC Sonder Market
This is a student operated food coop, open every Monday and Thursday at the Edible Campus Garden.
City of Durham Sustainability Report online at: durhamnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16104
CompostNow
If you can't have a compost pile, CompostNow provides a bin for food waste and replaces it weekly (and they can take pizza boxes, meat, and bones, which are usually left out by backyard composters), and you get compost for your yard and reduce landfill use and pollution in exchange. There is a two week free trial, and the regular cost is $25 dollars a month. For information, see: compostnow.org/offer/eventleads1/
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