Charlottesville area events

PLEASE ATTEND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WITH US WEDNESDAY. PLEASE
ARRIVE AT 6PM TO REGISTER TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PEACE
RESOLUTION.

The Monticello High School Student Peace Alliance, the leaders of our
local Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace, invite you to join them in
presenting a request to the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors that
Albemarle County endorse a resolution calling on Representative Goode to
co-sponsor HR 808 establishing a US Dept. of Peace and Non-Violence and
Senators Warner and Webb to introduce a Senate version of HR 808. In
April, The Monticello H.S. Student Peace Alliance won the approval of the
Charlottesville City Council for the Resolution requesting that our
Congressional delegation support the formation of a US Department of Peace
and Non-violence.

The Department of Peace and Non-Violence would be responsible for funding
best practices solutions to gun violence, domestic violence, gang
violence, school violence, hate crimes, and other violence harming
American communities. The Department would play a role internationally
implementing proactive preventative measures to stop armed conflict
globally. Finally under the Department of Peace and Non-violence, a Peace
Academy providing higher education training in domestic and international
peacemakers would be established to parallel the military academies.
Additionally, an education system for teaching kindergarten through
twelfth grade students developmentally appropriate communication,
mediation, and peace making skills would be funded.

On the final Thursday of every month, the Interfaith Pray for Peace Gathering welcomes people of all faiths, backgrounds, and beliefs to an inspired and inspiring flow of prayers, meditations and songs for peace. 7:15 - 8:30 p.m.

EYES WIDE OPEN: THE COST OF WAR TO VIRGINIA
“An exhibit that speaks directly to our hearts and reminds us of the human cost of war.”

Over 112 pairs of empty
combat boots – tagged with the names of
Virginia soldiers who have died in the
current Iraq war – will be displayed, together
with a visual representation of hundreds of
thousands of Iraqi civilians who have died
during the conflict.

FREE SPEECH WALL, THE DOWNTOWN MALL
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA

Friday, May, 23, 1:30 – 5:30 PM
Saturday, May 24, 10 AM – 6 PM
Sunday, May 25, 1 – 5 PM

EYES WIDE OPEN is the American Friends Service Committee's widely acclaimed
exhibition on the human cost of the Iraq war.

For more information: www.afsc.org/eyes

Sponsored by TJMC – UU Peace Conversations, Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice, Charlottesville Friends Meeting, and Veterans for Peace, Eyes Wide Open-Virginia is coordinated statewide by Midlothian Friends Meeting, Richmond Friends Meeting, and the Richmond Peace Education Center.

EYES WIDE OPEN is the American Friends Service Committee's widely acclaimed
exhibition on the human cost of the Iraq war.

For more information: www.afsc.org/eyes

Sponsored by TJMC – UU Peace Conversations, Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice, Charlottesville Friends Meeting, and Veterans for Peace, Eyes Wide Open-Virginia is coordinated statewide by Midlothian Friends Meeting, Richmond Friends Meeting, and the Richmond Peace Education Center.

We meet every week for one hour at the Mudhouse Downtown to create a more peaceful world by working with our established government.
We are working on supporting a US Dept of Peace and also working on Pennies for Peace.

Thanks

Twin Oaks Womyn's Gathering: August 22 -24. Camping, music, workshops,
drumming, performances, swimming, sweats, a mudpit, and creative
activities. Cooperative childcare will be provided. The site is wheelchair
accessible, and sign language interpreters will be available. $70 (sliding
scale) includes food and tenting.

Womyn's Gathering, 138 Twin Oaks Rd, Louisa, VA 23093. 540-894-5126

gathering@twinoaks.org

www.twinoaks.org/community/women/index.html

Twin Oaks Communities Conference: August 15 - 17. Ecovillages, communes,
coops, CoHousing, and more. A weekend of workshops, community-building,
and culture creation. We'll explore topics such as group decision-making,
intentional relationships, and sustainable living. $85 (sliding scale)
includes food and tenting. We welcome community seekers and members
alike.

Communities Conference, 138 Twin Oaks Rd, Louisa VA 23093. 540-894-5126
conference@twinoaks.org

www.communitiesconference.org

Come march with CCPJ in the Dogwood Festival Parade!

Join the fun! And march for peace and justice. It is a unique
opportunity to take our message out to people who do not attend
our events.

EVERYONE WELCOME. Bring your family, kids, friends, pets for
peace, bicycles, tricycles, signs, balloons, drums, flags. We
will have signs.

We are near the beginning of the parade: #13, so we must be ready
early. Please find us and join us by 10:15 am. The parade
starts at the intersection of Preston and McIntire (the corner
with the County Office Building). Come to that intersection and
ask a parade official where we are to be found. Last year there
were many officials with clipboards in the area who had location
info.

PARKING: Anyone marching may enter McIntire Road from the 250
bypass, show a parade pass, and, if there is room, park in the
County Office Building parking lot. If you would like to march
with us, please (Contact info for person) and we will email you
a pass. Please allow at least 15-30 minutes to be admitted, find
a parking place and find our entry. If the parking lot is full,
you will have to exit and park on a street somewhere.

This is the first ever Nelson County Health Care Fair featuring local Alternative Medical Practitioners.

Local practitioners who offer: Acupuncture, Clinical Nutrition, Herbalism, Homeopathy, Reiki, Bodywork, Rolfing, Massage, Thai Yoga Massage, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Reflexology, Aromatherapy and much more...

There will be a grand prize raffle held offering valuable prizes donated by these local practitioners!!!!!

The event is on Sat. May 3rd from 9am to 3 pm. at the Rockfish Valley Community Center, in Afton.

There will be a free complimentary screening of the acclaimed documentary from Michael Moore: "Sicko" exposing the current health care crisis in America.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting the evening of Wednesday, April 16, at Louisa County High School. The meeting will run from 7-10 pm. The NRC will hold an open house prior to the meeting from 6-7 pm.

The purpose of the meeting is for the NRC to inform the public that it will be creating a new Environmental Impact Statement related to North Anna Power Station's Combined Operating License application. It is expected that the NRC will state that the environmental issues referenced in the Early Site Permit will be considered final unless new information is available to reopen those issues. The key to making a difference is to show "substantial changes" which have occurred regarding the environmental issues to convince the NRC that they need to revisit the original Environmental Impact Statement. Topics to emphasize include: rapid global warming issues, ongoing and ever-worsening droughts conditions in central VA and the impact on nuclear plants (threats of shutdowns, etc.), and that given our water crisis, Lake Anna is not a sufficiently robust body of water to sustain an additional reactor.

Carpools will leave Charlottesville from Albemarle County Office Building on McIntire Road at 5:30 on April 16.

If you have questions, call Barbara Crawford anytime after 1 pm at 540-894-4154.

THE THIRD ANNUAL TREEHUGGER'S BALL, a fundraiser to celebrate forest protection, community education and environmental awareness, featuring music from Trees on Fire will take place on Saturday, May 10, at 7pm at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church, 717 Rugby Road, in Charlottesville. The Treehugger’s Ball is a benefit for The Living Education Center for Ecology and the Arts and Wild Virginia and features a raffle, silent auction, dancing, chocolate buffet, massage, food, and fun.

The Help Increase the Peace Program, known as HIPP, is a 3-day workshop that teaches young people and adults communication skills for conflict resolution. HIPP confronts prejudice and renews our hope to be agents for positive social change. The training introduces alternatives to violence and allows participants to practice various options by modeling and role playing. Exercises include self-affirmation and discovery of how insensitivity can magnify problems. It's straightforward and fun. And it’s happening here in Charlottesville.

Suggested donation: $30 - includes lunches and snacks (Scholarships available).

Participants should plan to attend all three sessions: Friday 6PM-9PM, Saturday 10AM-6PM, and Sunday 1PM-7PM

This conference is geared towards an academic approach to
understanding the cultural, social, and economic factors that
influence Sino-Tibetan relations in the PRC. The overriding
goal is not to get immersed in the politics of the current situ-
ation or of Tibet in general, but to listen to actual Chinese,
Tibetans, and other students and professionals and encourage
dialogue among them. Join us for an afternoon of informative
speakers, student presentations, and interactive dialogue.

On the final Thursday of every month, the Interfaith Pray for Peace Gathering welcomes people of all faiths, backgrounds, and beliefs to an inspired and inspiring flow of prayers, meditations and songs for peace. Sponsors: Interfaith Cooperation Circle of Central Virginia-URI; Gesher Center; Unity Church.

The Virginia Antiwar Network will be holding a meeting in Charlottesville on Sunday, April 6, from 2 - 4:30 pm at 609 E. Market Street.

Help stop new nuclear reactors! Support the North Anna legal appeal!

Do you want four nuclear reactors 30 miles from Charlottesville? Dominion Power is moving forward with their plans to construct two new reactors at the North Anna Power Station. This will put a tremendous strain on central Virginia’s water resources and threaten the safety and health of our citizens.

The People’s Alliance for Clean Energy (PACE) and the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) have filed an appeal in state court to the decision of the Va. Water Control Board to re-issue a permit allowing Dominion to discharge hot water from their existing reactors into Lake Anna. The purpose of the appeal is to preserve the lake environment and to discourage Dominion from building new reactors. The first hearing on this appeal will occur on April 23.

Funds are desperately needed for legal expenses. If you support our cause, please send a contribution to:

People’s Alliance for Clean Energy
P.O. Box 1166
Charlottesville, VA 22902

Contact Elena Day @ (434) 296-2494 for more information.

Thank you!!!!

JOHN PRENDERGAST AT UVA

Presented by Students Taking Action Now: Darfur

Tuesday, April 1st from 5:30-8:30 in Newcomb Ballroom. This event is free!

5:30 - Lecture by John Prendergast on The Situation in Darfur & What You Can Do
6:15 - Book Signing: Not on Our Watch (co-authored with Don Cheadle)
6:45 - Film screening: Sand and Sorrows followed by Q&A with John
Prendergast (Directed by Paul Freedman & Narrated by George Clooney)

ABOUT JOHN PRENDERGAST

· John Prendergast is Co-Chair of the ENOUGH Project.
· During the Clinton administration, John was Director of African
Affairs at the National Security Council.
· He has authored eight books on Africa, the latest of which he
co-authored with actor/activist Don Cheadle, entitled "Not on Our
Watch," a New York Times bestseller (www.notonourwatchbook.com).
· He was involved in the making of two recent documentaries "Darfur
Now" and "Sand and Sorrow".
· John regularly contributes op-ed columns to major newspapers and
journals. John travels regularly to Africa's war zones on fact-finding
missions, peace-making initiatives, and awareness-raising.
· To learn more about John, visit www.enoughproject.org.

We would like to give a special thanks to Carol Anne Spreen of the
Curry School for all her help with bringing John to UVA.

For more information, please contact Caitlin at csc6q@virginia.edu

COMING UP: STAND'S WEEK LONG OF EVENTS APRIL 7TH – 11TH

Featuring a presentation on the psychology of genocide & refugees
speaking on their past.

This event is being co-sponsored by Curry School of Education, Office
of Equity & Diversity, Dean of Students, Arts & Sciences Council,
Political & Social Thought Department, Student Affairs, & Politics Department.

Willie Nelson, creator of the beautiful song "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth" and founder of the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute, and his peace activist family, will be performing in Charlottesville on July 29th.

Tales of ants and economics in the Americas: With huge portable murals of collaboratively produced illustrations, a six-foot tall fabric picture book and an engaging narrative... the Bees will take you on an interactive visual tour of the connections between colonization, militarism, and resource extraction in the Americas.

http://www.beehivecollective.org

Bill Clinton called Mosley his favorite mystery writer. Mosley himself has recently endorsed Barack Obama. Walter Mosley is one of the most prolific writers in America today. He writes about Los Angeles, the city, and the men and women who migrated there after World War II, seeking the American Dream and finding often, instead, racism, classism, corruption, brutality, and love.

Mike Farrell is best known for his portrayal of B.J. Hunnicutt in M*A*S*H. He has worked with Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Amnesty International and other organizations. He will talk about his life as an actor and an activist at the Paramount Theatre.

We’re living in serious times. And yet ... there’s something funny going on. Which means there is more reason to laugh, and more need for it. The more unfunny occurrences that occur, the more important it is to fortify ourselves with heart-opening, mind-expanding comedy. Wholehearted laughter is the ultimate weapon of “mass-deconstruction” to blow apart the insanity that masks itself as “sanity” in this shrinking world that could use a good shrink.

That’s why we are calling Swami’s upcoming tour -- that will take us to the Big Island of Hawaii, to Charlottesville, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Asheville, North Carolina in April -- the Wake Up Laughing tour. We need to awaken, and what better to wake us up than through the sound of our own laughter?

On Friday evening, April 18th at 7:30 p.m., Quest Bookshop in Charlottesville is sponsoring a Swami performance at the Sojourners United Church, 1017 Elliot Ave. in Charlottesville. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 door and can be purchased at Quest Bookshop, 619 W Main, Charlottesville. For information, call (434) 295-3377. Or online at http://www.thequestbookshop.com/

What to Expect

During the day participants will
Explore basic ecological principles
Discuss real life stories of poverty and ecological problems
Examine scriptural roots of ecological responsibility
Learn and share practical skill that build community and foster creativity

The Day at a Glance

Gathering, Introduction and Overview
Basic Ecological Principles
Connections to Our Faith
Ecology, Poverty and Development
Developing Habits of Creation: Teaching Activities
Brainstorming New Habits
Opportunity for Developing New Habits
Closing Prayer and Commissioning

All interested in connecting spirituality to care for the earth are welcome to attend - you don't have to be Catholic.

The Academy Award winning film will be shown at The Paramount Theater. There will also be a 3pm showing. The 7pm film will be followed by a panel discussion including Denise Lunsford, (Commonwealth Attorney), City Sheriff Cornelia Johnson, Attorney Stephanie Commander, and Mary Badham who played Scout in the film.

Ben Sloan, Professor and Chair of the English Dept at PVCC will lead a discussion of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Part of THE BIG READ.

Nick Patler, author and historian, will give an historical talk on TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee. Part of THE BIG READ.