NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS: Blogs, Alternative Energy, Veterans for Peace, Groups and Events

NORTH CAROLINA BLOGGING:

LeftyBlogs North Carolina is the place to find out what's happening in the progressive blogosphere across North Carolina.

BlueNC is a community-driven website that promotes progressive values and policies in North Carolina.

N.C. Justice and Community Development Center
The Justice Center is dedicated to helping low income and working poor North Carolinians escape poverty and achieve economic security. It includes several well-known projects within its umbrella and is professionally staffed by a team of lawyers, community educators and policy analysts.

Raleigh Eco News: Reporting environmental news and views from North Carolina's capital city.

Indyweek.com: Progressive News, Culture & Commentary For Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill


Some Stories of Interest:

North Carolina Unemployment Shoots to 9.7% for January...the Bush legacy just gets worse.

Intro of School Violence Prevention Act

Miller and Hagan on Obama Stem Cell Research Decision

Neuse River cleanup set for April 4

No Shuler Senate Run in 2010

Voter-Owned Elections Goes Mainstream

Majority of North Carolinians Support Major Health Reform

General Assembly Considers Racial Justice Act

Stand up Against Mortgage Fraud

Congratulations Rep. Miller and Thank You

McDonald's Hates American Heroes

Gov. Perdue Announces First Round of Road and Bridge Projects as Part of Federal Economic Stimulus...on a related topic: Gov. Bev Perdue Scores on Transparency, Launchs NCRecovery.gov

Downtown Raleigh gets free electric bus service

President Obama’s Rural Policy

Bank of America owes North Carolinians an apology. I have recently gotten ripped off by Bank of America and am looking at TD Bank, USAA and US Bank as alternatives.

Exxon/Mobil Rakes in Profits While Americans Suffer


VETERANS FOR PEACE, NORTH CAROLINA:

We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace and justice. Americans will be secure at home only when there is peace and justice abroad. To this end, we will work, with others: toward increasing public awareness of the costs of war, to restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations, to end the arms race and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons, and to abolish war as an instrument of international policy. To achieve these goals, members of Veterans For Peace pledge to use non-violent means and to maintain an organization that is democratic.

Veterans for Peace, Inc. (VFP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational and humanitarian organization dedicated to the abolishment of war and was founded in 1985 by ex-service members.

Listen to Veterans Voices
WPVM-93.5 FM
The Progressive Voice of the Mountains
Tune in at 5 pm every Wednesday
Interviews, News, Conversations, by and about Veterans

Stream/Podcast Here

Asheville Chapter:

Weekly Veterans for Peace Vigil in Asheville
Every Tuesday 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
At the Vance Memorial
Pack Square
Asheville, NC 28801

Find more events in Asheville here.

Help the Asheville chapter help orphans in Afghanistan


Triangle Chapter:

Go here to find their upcoming events


Alternative Energy and Sustainable Agriculture in North Carolina:

Some statistics from Repower America:

* The coast region from Massachusetts to North Carolina contains up to 330,000-megawatts of offshore wind energy potential. This power is larger than the entire mid-Atlantic coast's total energy demand for electricity, heating, gasoline, diesel, and natural gas.

* The state has nearly 500 companies providing services related to efficiency, renewables and sustainability, with expectations for its green sector to grow by 24 percent this year.

* North Carolina has a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that requires investor owned utilities to generate 12.5% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2021, with electric cooperatives generating 10% by 2018. The state also wants to improve its energy efficiency 5% by 2021.

Here are a couple of biodiesel cooperatives in North Carolina. If you drive a diesel car or truck, please check them out.

Piedmont Biofuels
The most successful biodiesel cooperative in America
Pittsboro, NC

Here is a list of services offered.

Three locations: Production site, co-op and educational site.

Check out their website

Burlington Biodiesel Coop
Burlington, NC
Check out their website


Here are some other alternative energy groups in North Carolina:

Making Energy Work: Building a Sustainable Energy Economy in the Southeast
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Raleigh Convention Center
Raleigh, North Carolina

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, along with our partners and sponsors, is pleased to present Making Energy Work: Building a Sustainable Energy Economy in the Southeast on February 3, 2009 in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Raleigh Convention Center.

The forum will bring together over 800 leaders from across the region and nation to discuss the Southeast’s emerging new energy economy and developing sustainable energy resources. Participants will include local, state and federal government, educators, business and industry, facility managers and owners, design and engineering companies, academic institutions, economic developers, and community organizations from across the Southeast.

For more information on the forum and to register, go to www.makingenergywork.org.

North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is a 501c3 non-profit membership organization of individuals and businesses interested in sustainable energy. Located in Raleigh but active throughout the state, NCSEA works to ensure a sustainable future by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency in North Carolina through education, public policy and economic development. Go here to get involved. To find upcoming events, go here.

Greensboro Sustainable Living Meetup Group:
Meet others in your town interested in various Environmental issues on global and/or a local level.

This is a forum for people to get together and discuss issues and share ideas on sustainable living. Let's share ideas about organic and locally grown food, reducing toxins in our environment, reducing our use of resources, the carbon issue, raising healthy children, etc.

People who should join include those with expertise to share, those wanting to learn more, and anyone interested in building community through environmental initiatives. For more info, go here.

Alternative Energy Resources in North Carolina: a short summary of alternative energy resources for North Carolina. For more information on each technology, visit the State Energy Alternatives Technology Options page.

North Carolina Sustainable Agriculture Organizations and Publications: Whether you're a beginning farmer, or an experienced agricultural producer interested in transitioning to more sustainable practices, you may want to start by learning more about the principles of sustainable agriculture and some of the "systems" approaches associated with it.


Here are events and groups in North Carolina:

Weekly Women in Black Anti-War Vigil in Asheville
Every Friday 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Vance Monument - Pack Square
Asheville, NC

The Women In Black stand in silence against war, each Friday from 5 to 6 PM. All others are welcome to stand with them.

Democratic Women of Union County hold their monthly meeting the second Monday of every month at the Hilltop Restaurant Hwy 74 and 601 South. Seating for "Dutch Dinner" at 5:30PM, Program & Business at 6:00PM

Cabarrus County Senior Democrats have their monthly meeting the second Tuesday of every month at Troutman's BBQ restaurant, 1388 US-601-BYP S, Concord, NC. They start at 6.30 pm and for $7 you can enjoy a delicious BBQ buffet.

Mecklenburg County Democratic Women meet on the second Wednesday of each month, usually at a local library. Meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00. Meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Joan Belk, 704-578-4227

Mecklenburg County Senior Democrats
meet on the second Friday of each month at Walls AME Zion Church, 2722 Bancroft St. Bring a bag lunch if desired. Meeting time is Noon.
Contact Sam Brown, 704-553-9061 or sambev_at_bellsouth.net

The Young Democrats of Mecklenburg County meet on the second Sunday of each month at 7:00 pm. Locations will vary and will be announced in advance of each meeting. Contact Becky Gomer, 704-200-8801 or president_at_meckyoungdems.org

"Third Thursday Group", a North Carolina Democratic "think tank", meets every third Thursday at Restaurant Costello's from 6.30 to 8.30 pm. 970 Branchview Dr NE, Concord, NC. Join us again to express your views and help to shape the party's agenda as we move into the future!

African-American Caucus of Mecklenburg County
Takes place the third Thursday of each Month, at 7:00 pm, at the Texas Land & Cattle Co., 517 University Center Blvd. Contact Michael Lawson 704-458-8150 or mamlawson_at_carolina.rr.com

Cabarrus County Democratic Women will have their monthly meeting the fourth Thursday of every month at the Stowe A-Way fish restaurant, starting at 6.30 pm. 455 Corban Ave Se, Concord, NC. All Democrats are encouraged to attend.


And for those who want to combine social events with politics, here are the Drinking Liberally Groups in North Carolina:

Asheville, North Carolina
* Every Thursday, 7:00-10:00 pm
* Asheville Brewing Company, 77 Coxe Ave (Downtown, 1/2 block north of Hilliard Ave.)
* Hosted by Aric Vance and Susan Lee, asheville (at) drinkingliberally.org

Charlotte, North Carolina
* First Monday and Third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* First Monday of the month Location: Brixx Uptown, 225 E 6th St (we usually gather at the bar, on the LEFT side)
* Be sure to bring in your parking pass for validation, and to tell the parking attendant you are going to Brixx so they don't charge you $5!
* Third Wednesday of the month Location: Dolce Vita, 3205 N Davidson St 1/2 priced wines by the glass on Wednesday
* Hosted by Marcus Williams, Andy Graves and Mark Campbell, charlotte (at) drinkingliberally.org

Charlotte Eating Liberally
* Second Saturday of each month, 10:00 am
* Matthews Community Farmers' Market, 105 N Trade St, Matthews (We meet at the tables just outside of the Community House Coffee Shop)
* Come by after collecting your week's bounty & join us for a cup of coffee from the community house and a freshly baked pastery from one of the vendors!
* Bring your favorite organic/local/sustainable related books or recipes.
* Hosted by Laura Paynter and Heather Taylor, charlotte (at) eatingliberally.org

Concord, North Carolina
* Second Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Sweet Pea Cafe, 16 Union St S (1/2 block south of Cabarrus & Union)
* Hosted by Mark Ortiz, concordnc (at) drinkingliberally.org

Greensboro, North Carolina
* Every Thursday, 7:00-9:00 pm
* The Green Bean, 341 S Elm St
* Hosted by Richard Rozzelle, greensboro (at) drinkingliberally.org

Raleigh, North Carolina
* Every Tuesday, 6:00-9:00 pm
* Players Retreat, 105 Oberlin Rd (right near Hillsborough Street)
* Look for us in the room across from the bar, thru the doorway.
* Hosted by Wallace Pankow and Dave Carden, raleigh (at) drinkingliberally.org

Wilmington, North Carolina
* First and third Tuesday of each month, 7:30 pm onward
* Orton's, 131 N Front St
* Hosted by Tom Schutte and Jimmy Cartrette, wilmingtonnc (at) drinkingliberally.org