Emerald ash borers found in Chatham County
Emerald ash borers are now known to be in Chatham County, and have already spread through Durham, Orange, Wake, and other counties. According to an article in the Chatham News and Record, the NC Forest Service detected the beetle through trapping along Wilkinson Creek south of Chapel Hill ( www.chathamnewsrecord.com/stories/invasive-emerald-ash-borer-makes-its-way-into-chatham,2622 ). The NCFS created a new map in June showing where these East Asian beetles have been found, though they have probably spread further ( www.ncforestservice.gov/forest_health/fh_maps.htm ). I have wondered if I am starting to see the effects in Durham, but I'm not certain (and I'm watching for laurel wilt, but so far it has only been found at the southeast corner of the state). Their larvae bore in living ash trees and possibly related fringetrees, and since they are not native to North America and therefore have few natural controls they become so numerous that they kill trees above a certain size. The many species of ash and one fringetree are ecologically and culturally important and common trees (people also plant Chinese fringetrees, and I think there are some at UNC). It is possible to treat individual trees with (controversial) insecticides and various Asian parasitoid wasps are being released to control the beetles, and some trees might be able to survive. On the other hand, it seems like the beetles could ultimately kill all or almost all ash trees where they spread (and ash seeds don't stay viable long enough to replenish the population later), and there is little to stop them (and people transport wood with grubs, etc. so they are spreading faster than they should naturally). Studies show that it is a waste of money to preemptively cut ash and what if a tree that would have withstood the onslaught is cut, so I urge people not to kill healthy trees. For more information see: durhamspark.blogspot.com/2016/04/emerald-ash-borer-unnecessary.html
Here is a Twitter account that links the latest news on EAB in North America: twitter.com/emeraldashborer (be warned there might be a virus at the Yadkin Ripple link).
Demand an End to War: Rage Against the War Machine (more details below, October 11 - 12)
The next planning call will be August 4th at 3pm EST, 2pm CST, and 12pm PST: marchonpentagon.com/rage-against-the-war-machine-call-sunday-august-4/
Support the Venezuela Embassy Protectors
The Embassy Protectors, Americans who occupied Venezuela's embassy in Washington with the permission of the elected Maduro administration, to prevent the US government and coup supporters from seizing the building, were removed by the US and now face trials on various charges, and some could be imprisoned for up to a year and fined $100,000 dollars. They are seeking tax-deductible donations to pay $50,000 in legal fees and solidarity messages and actions by other groups. For more information see: defendembassyprotectors.org/
Tulsi Gabbard voted for House Resolution 246
Tulsi Gabbard is being justly criticized for voting for House Resolution 246 "Opposing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel" July 23rd. I would have condemned the resolution and I avoid products made in Israel, but it should be noted that the text acknowledges Americans' first amendment rights to criticize US and Israeli policies and the use of boycotts against countries like South Africa, and it calls for a 'viable, democratic Palestinian state." It is possible that BDS is sometimes excessive, but Israel's actions are outraging the world and under the Trump administration the USA makes even less of an attempt to appear like a evenhanded peace broker. Israel is the entity carrying out collective punishment and denying the rights of its neighbors and its Arab citizens. Islamophobia is increasing around the world and often leads to violence against Muslims and even people just thought to be Muslim and is being used by the new crop of 'authoritarian' leaders, such as Trump. The resolution doesn't seem to do anything except express that the majority of the House of Representatives is biased against the Palestinians and solidarity campaigns and backs brutal Zionist colonialism, and that isn't new.
Did Gabbard do this because she is really very opposed to BDS and a partisan for Israel, or was it for expediency or somehow a mistake? On the other hand, Gabbard still appears to be better on foreign policy than the current occupant of the White House or most of her competitors (or North Carolina's Congressional delegation). David Price, Butterfield, Foxx, etc. also voted for H.Res.246. The text, votes, etc. can be found by searching at Thomas.loc.gov [It isn't very surprising that Democrat David Price and other members of Congress from North Carolina voted for the resolution, but I was surprised that Gabbard supported it, given her progressive statements condemning the plot against Venezuela and intervention in Syria, though it's possible that her vote was not surprising to anti-war people in Hawaii.]
The second round of Democratic presidential primary debates are being held July 30 - 31st, and I think Gabbard will appear on the 31st.
Marxism-Leninism Today
Hari Kumar, primary instigator of no longer active Alliance Marxist-Leninist and International Struggle Marxist-Leninist (old articles are online at ml-review.ca/aml/index/subject.html ), has set up a new blog focusing on Marxist-Leninist history and analysis of current news: ml-today.com/
Ten years after the US-supported Honduran coup
School of the Americas Watch is urging support for HR1945, the Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act, to end "security aid:" www.soaw.org/take-action-on-the-10th-anniversary-of-the-military-coup-in-honduras/ There are currently 61 co-sponsors, but none representing North Carolina. Demonstrations and deadly repression is going on in Honduras now, though it is not often mentioned by the mainstream media.
For more information see: www.counterpunch.org/2019/06/28/honduras-at-ten-years-after-the-coup-a-critical-assessment/
Also: www.counterpunch.org/2019/07/11/the-honduran-coup-one-decade-later/
Also: www.counterpunch.org/2019/07/11/the-honduran-coup-one-decade-later/
Library booksales
The Friends of the Durham Library will have booksales August 3 - 4, October 5 - 6, and December 7 - 8, and the hours for all of these sales will be 10am - 12pm members only and 12 - 4pm open to all on Saturdays and 1 - 4pm $10 paper grocery bag sales open to all on Sundays. The sales are at Books Among Friends (Suite 252) inside Northgate Mall (1058 West Club Boulevard, Durham), formerly next to Sears (with Sears closed, people will have to enter through entrance 8, between Foot Locker and Plato's Closet; FODL store's back service door won't be open). There are small satellite sales inside the library branches daily ( durhamcountylibrary.org/friends/ ).
The Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library will have book sales September 13 - 15 and December 6 -8 ( friendschpl.org/FCHPLevents ).
Friends of the Lee County Library has a continuous book sale: library.leecountync.gov/friends
Niche Gardens is going out of business
This pioneering native plant nursery a few miles southwest of Carrboro is going out of business ( nichegardens.com/ ). It is no longer possible to order online, but they will be open Mondays - Fridays 9am - 5pm in August. Sales will start in September, with all plants available for 25% off September 2nd through 22nd, and even more September 23rd to their close on October 18th. Plants can't be reserved, sales are final, no exchanges or credits, and no itemized receipts. The nursery itself is for sale. Niche is at 1111 Dawson Road (look for a gravel driveway on the left); from Carrboro take Jones Ferry Road across University Lake, turn right on to Old Greensboro Road, and Dawson Road is on the left after 7.5 miles). Besides the retail nursery there are display gardens. NCSU graduate Kim Hawks founded Niche Gardens on Dawson Road in 1986, when gardening with native plants was a more unusual concept. The nursery was also a pioneer in selling plants online. Hawks sold the nursery to employee Blair Durant in 2002, and I think he was still in charge as of last year.
August 1st - 7th is World Breastfeeding Week: www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2019/08/01/default-calendar/world-breastfeeding-week-2019
Friedrich Engels died August 5, 1895 in London, UK of throat cancer. His ashes were spread in the English Channel off of the high white chalk sea cliffs of Beachy Head in East Sussex, England.
The bombing of Hiroshima
The US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima a little after 8am on August 6, 1945. The UK consented under the Quebec Agreement.
The USSR and Mongolia entered the war against Japan very early on August 9th, as had long been requested by the other Allies, and quickly advanced deep into Japanese-held areas.
The bombing of Nagasaki
A second atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki August 9, 1945 after 11am when the cloud cover that would have saved the city broke (Wikipedia articles say that the primary target August 9th was Kokura and that it had been the alternative target on August 6th). The bomb used on Hiroshima was set to explode as it fell, while the bomb used on Nagasaki exploded at ground level, but hills deflected some of the force and unlike in Hiroshima there wasn't a firestorm. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both hit by atomic bombs (as opposed to more destructive hydrogen or thermonuclear bombs based on nuclear fusion and first developed by the USA for use during the Cold War), but the designs were different.
August 9th is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples and this year it focuses on Indigenous Peoples' Languages and 2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages: www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/ I would like to study Classical Nahuatl or a related modern language.
Friedrich Engels died August 5, 1895 in London, UK of throat cancer. His ashes were spread in the English Channel off of the high white chalk sea cliffs of Beachy Head in East Sussex, England.
The bombing of Hiroshima
The US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima a little after 8am on August 6, 1945. The UK consented under the Quebec Agreement.
The USSR and Mongolia entered the war against Japan very early on August 9th, as had long been requested by the other Allies, and quickly advanced deep into Japanese-held areas.
The bombing of Nagasaki
A second atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki August 9, 1945 after 11am when the cloud cover that would have saved the city broke (Wikipedia articles say that the primary target August 9th was Kokura and that it had been the alternative target on August 6th). The bomb used on Hiroshima was set to explode as it fell, while the bomb used on Nagasaki exploded at ground level, but hills deflected some of the force and unlike in Hiroshima there wasn't a firestorm. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both hit by atomic bombs (as opposed to more destructive hydrogen or thermonuclear bombs based on nuclear fusion and first developed by the USA for use during the Cold War), but the designs were different.
August 9th is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples and this year it focuses on Indigenous Peoples' Languages and 2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages: www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/ I would like to study Classical Nahuatl or a related modern language.
SAF End of Summer Celebration
This fundraiser for Student Action with Farmworkers will be Sunday, August 11th 1 - 4pm at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh. Meet the community of SAF supporters and enjoy food, music, and art, and the announcement says something about the opening of NCSU's corn maize: www.saf-unite.org/content/saf-end-summer-celebration
International Youth Day is August 12th: www.un.org/en/events/youthday/
The Mexican capital Tenochtitlan fell to a force of several hundred Spaniards and thousands of Indian allies under Hernando Cortés around August 13, 1521, following a long siege and attack by land and water (the city was in a large lake, Lake Texcoco, and crossed by many canals). Aztec emperor Cuauhtémoc (his predecessor Cuitláhuac, who replaced Moctezuma II, had died of disease in 1520) was captured as a flotilla attempted to escape the last assault in Tlatelolco, Tenochtitlan's connected sister city. Tens to hundreds of thousands of its inhabitants were killed in battle and by massacres (also involving rape and looting), disease epidemics, and starvation (similar to the numbers killed by atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki). Much of Tenochtitlan was levelled during the war and modern Mexico City sits on the ruins. In all, several thousand Spanish and native allies (the majority of casualties were allies), were killed. The Spanish force included some non-Spaniards and women.
Societies far away probably didn't know about Tenochtitlan and the rest of the Valley of Mexico, but populous Tenochtitlan and the surrounding region could be considered a cultural and political capital of North America in its time, similar to New York City, Washington, and Los Angeles today. It was the capital of one of the most politically and culturally powerful states in pre-Columbian North America. I think objects from ancient Mexican cultures have been found as far away as the Southwest and Eastern US, though it is an open question whether people there knew their origin. Maize formed the basis of the economy over much of the Pre-Columbian Americas and is thought to have been domesticated in what is now Mexico, though that was long before the Mexica and might have begun in a different region.
Karl Liebknecht was born August 14, 1871 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany and was a founder of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (which he represented in Prussia's parliament and later in the German Reichstag), the Spartacist League, and the Communist Party of Germany. Along with Rosa Luxemburg he was tortured and executed by Freikorps rightists, supporting the Social-Democratic German government at the end of WWI.
In a recorded radio broadcast at noon on August 15, 1945 Emperor Hirohito announced domestically that Japan had surrendered to the Allies.
UNC-Chapel Hill will start charging for parking on weeknights, from 5pm on Mondays to 7:30am on Fridays, starting Thursday, August 15th (and daytime parking on weekdays is not free as usual): move.unc.edu/parking/weeknight-parking/
World Humanitarian Day is August 19th: www.un.org/en/events/humanitarianday/
The International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism Day is August 21st: www.un.org/en/events/victimsofterrorismday/
The International Day Commemorating the Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is August 22nd: www.un.org/en/events/victimsofreligiousviolenceday/
The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition is August 23rd, commemorating the beginning the Haitian Revolution on the night of August 22 - 23, 1791 in what is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic on the island of Santo Domingo: en.unesco.org/commemorations/slavetraderemembranceday
German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was born August 27, 1770 in Stuttgart, Germany; his thought was a major influence in the later development of Marxism.
Triangle Friends of Farmworkers late summer activities
TFF will cook for the FLOC Black-Brown Unity Tour bus coming to North Carolina from Toledo, Ohio August 27th. To help, come to 130 Hunt Street in Durham anytime 1 - 6pm August 26th and possibly also August 27th; the morning of August 29th members will set up a lunch at the FLOC office in Dudley.
The next anti-VUSE picket at a Circle K, in Chapel Hill or Carrboro, is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, September 3rd, details TBA.
The campaign to give Circle K one-star reviews on Google and Yelp continues. If you do it at home, let them know your name, the store's address, the date, and optionally your review. Just on July 17th members left about 60 reviews. Below is an example:
Circle-K REVIEW: Location: 5009 Fayetteville Road, Garner/Raleigh, NC July 7, 2019
“This Circle K always has a wide variety of snacks, and a gal can’t live without her favorite snacks and a sturdy cup of coffee. Add to that the convenient location, chit-chatty workers and my loyalty is hooked. It is a source of frustration to me, however, that Circle K continues to stock VUSE e-cigarettes in defiance of a nationwide boycott supporting FLOC, the farm workers union, which means, by extension, that Circle K also supports the inhumane treatment those workers endure from Reynolds Tobacco. Since I, a stubborn Missouri Mule in Garner, refuse to support cruelty in any form, this means I can no longer stop here even if I am craving a Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème cookie. So instead of the high grade I would like to give this business, I must give a "one" until such time as the corporate values of Circle K align with my personal values regarding the way farm workers are treated. Please pressure your management to support this move for justice. Please hurry - ease your conscience and my withdrawal symptoms. Thank you for your consideration”.
TFF's next business meeting will be Monday, September 23rd at 7pm at 130 Hunt Street in Durham.
The International Day Against Nuclear Tests is August 29th: www.un.org/en/events/againstnucleartestsday/ I was surprised to learn that the US detonated nuclear weapons as recently as 1992: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States%27_nuclear_weapons_tests In the Vela Incident on September 22, 1979 a possible nuclear test was detected in the Indian Ocean between South Africa and Antarctica. There were many theories, including that it was a joint test by South Africa and Israel (Israel is generally thought to have hundreds of nuclear weapons today and South Africa used to have nuclear weapons).
The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is August 30th: www.un.org/en/events/disappearancesday/
US and Canadian Labor Day, is Monday, September 2nd. Unions called for the creation of a day for workers in the late 19th century, with some advocating a date in September, and the government supported a September date instead of May 1st, associated with revolutionary labor movements. Around the world May Day is labor day or an official holiday in many countries, such as Mexico, and that date also has roots in the American labor movement. Beginning under Eisenhower May 1st has been called Loyalty Day and Law Day and previously it was Child Health Day.
Imperial Japan formally surrendered September 2, 1945 onboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. There were other surrenders elsewhere.
Wild and Scenic Film Festival
This annual environmental film festival will be Thursday, September 5th 6:30 - 9:30pm at the Carrboro Century Center (100 North Greensboro Street, Carrboro) and is being organized by the Haw River Assembly. Tickets are $20 to 30 dollars, and can be bought at hawriver.org/2019-wild-scenic-film-festival/ or by calling 919 542 5790.
International Literacy Day is September 8th: www.un.org/en/events/literacyday/ The success of Cuba's 1961 literacy campaign and later initiatives both in Cuba and as aid to other countries have often been noted.
World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10th: www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/wspd/en/
National Estuaries Week will be September 14 - 21.
International Day of Democracy is September 15th: www.un.org/en/events/democracyday/
Mexico's Independence Day is September 16th, commemorating Miguel Hidalgo's Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores) in 1810.
The International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer is September 16th: www.un.org/en/events/ozoneday/ September 16, 2009 agreements protecting the ozone layer became the first universally ratified UN treaties. The ozone layer (made of a form of oxygen) absorbs some ultraviolet light, but is depleted by industrial chemicals, such as CFCs, which are also potent greenhouse gases.
The 62nd Annual Convention of the NC AFL-CIO will be held September 19 - 20 in Charlotte.
The Global Climate Strike will be September 20.
Durham's annual Centerfest will be September 20th and 21st (10am-11pm Saturday and 11am to 5pm Sunday) downtown: centerfest.durhamarts.org/
The International Day of Peace is September 21st and this year's theme is Climate Action for Peace: www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/
The NC Museum of Natural History's BugFest will be September 21st and this year's theme is beetles (almost 1/4th of all known animal species are beetles).
The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is September 26th: www.un.org/en/events/nuclearweaponelimination/ The USA, Russia, and other major nuclear powers demand that smaller countries completely and unilaterally denuclearize, and not develop rockets that could carry nuclear weapons, while they have thousands of nuclear weapons ready to destroy humanity and instead of beginning to get rid of them, they spend huge amounts to maintain their current weapons and develop new ones.
Iraq was accused of developing nuclear weapons, and was invaded in 2003, killing many civilians and leading to sectarian conflict and the creation of ISIS. Libya gave up its weapons program and was attacked in 2011, creating a "failed state" and flood of migrants through Libya to the EU. Democrats and Republicans accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons and it is under severe pressure and faces war, despite not developing nuclear weapons while under threat from nuclear powers, and agreeing to the JCPOA, which Trump tore up. Iran also has the right to develop peaceful nuclear technology under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The DPRK developed nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, and seems relatively safe from attack by the USA and other countries, though that isn't only because of its nuclear status, and the nuclear weapons give the US another justification for its Korean policies. On the other hand, the US doesn't mind when its allies, such as Israel and India, develop nuclear weapons and even helps them.
World Maritime Day is also September 26th, and focuses on women working in shipping industries this year: www.un.org/en/events/maritimeday/
World Rabies Day is September 28th: www.who.int/rabies/WRD_landing_page/en/ I heard from a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator that vaccination against this almost universally fatal virus is offered by the Durham health department, and immunity usually lasts a long time, but vaccination is expensive.
September 28th is also the International Day for Universal Access to Information: en.unesco.org/commemorations/accesstoinformationday
World Space Week is October 4th - 10th: www.un.org/en/events/spaceweek/
Demand an End to War: Rage Against the War Machine
This sequel to the March on the Pentagon last fall ( durhamspark.blogspot.com/2018/10/reportback-from-womens-march-on.html ) will be Friday, October 11th in front of the White House and the Anti-Imperialist Revolution Summit will be Saturday, October 12th ( marchonpentagon.com/demand-an-end-to-war-rage-against-the-war-machine/ ).
The next planning call will be August 4th at 3pm EST, 2pm CST, and 12pm PST: marchonpentagon.com/rage-against-the-war-machine-call-sunday-august-4/
Chapel Hill's annual Festifall will be Saturday, October 12th 11am - 3pm along West Franklin Street and includes political groups: www.chapelhillfestifall.com/
Disarmament Week is October 24th - 30th: www.un.org/en/events/disarmamentweek/
Brexit
Just in time for Halloween, the United Kingdom is now supposed to leave the European Union October 31st, possibly "crashing out" without a withdrawal agreement, resulting in problems such as the return of a "hard" international border between British-held Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and the possibility of renewed fighting. Brexit could also encourage the disintegration of the UK if constituents such as Scotland or Northern Ireland vote to secede in coming years, and there are already calls for referenda.
Close the School of the Americas
School of the Americas Watch is organizing a demonstration outside Fort Benning, Georgia (near Columbus and the border with Alabama) November 15 - 17. November 16th is the 30th anniversary of a massacre at the Central American University in San Salvador, El Salvador in 1989.
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