GEORGIA FOCUS

BLOGGING GEORGIA:

For Local Georgia News and Events, go to Lefty Blogs Georgia for the latest.

GAPolitico: GAPolitico started out as UGA Liberal in the Summer of 2007. Over its history, the blog grew from having a few visitors a day to having a couple of hundred of visitors everyday. Eventually, the demand for more coverage area and bloggers grew. To add to our coverage and design, we moved from Blogger over to WordPress. In doing so, we also switched the name up from UGA Liberal to GAPolitico, as we broadened our coverage from UGA and Athens to state politics in general.

Blog for Democracy is a group blog covering progressive politics in Georgia, USA. The site was launched in January of 2004 to help demystify the process of political involvement for new activists. Although a few of the original and current authors serve(d) in elected or appointed positions within Georgia and/or county Democratic Party organizations, this website is not, and has never been, officially affiliated with any political party organization.

Atlanta Unfiltered: The Internet brims over with opinion. Facts? Not so much. We want to restore the balance. We dig up & share public records on ethics and transparency in public institutions. Tips, documents & feedback are welcome. We also offer tutorials (we know, it's geeky) so you, too, can dig up public records.

Atlanta Progressive News: Also on Every Thursday on 89.3 FM WRFG 12pm "Current Events" Show with Adam Shapiro. And for more on Radio Free Georgia, go here.

Project Logic Ga: Southern Moderate African American Issues

Georgia Justice Project is an unlikely mix of lawyers, social workers and a landscape company. We defend people accused of crimes and, win or lose, we stand with our clients while they rebuild their lives.


CURRENT TV:
Current TV, founded by Al Gore, includes some of the best journalism in America today. In particular their Vanguard series is amazing and should not be missed by ANYONE who wants to know in depth coverage of some of the major stories in the world. And now CurrentTV has Keith Olbermann as well.

In most areas Current TV is available on:
DIRECTV Channel 358
DISH Network Channel 196
Comcast Digital: Channel 107
AT&T U-Verse: Channel 189

Check out their program schedule here.


Here are a couple of Democracy for America meetings in Georgia:

Decatur Meeting: First Wed. of every month, 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM, Location: ChocoLate Coffee, 2094 North Decatur Rd, Decatur, GA, 30033 US Contact: Susan Keith susan_at_georgiafordemocracy.org

The North Fulton/East Cobb Democracy for America: Second Tuesday of every month, 7:00 PM, sign up here to find out where and more details.

You can also sign up here to help organize a Georgia for Democracy group in your area.


Drinking Liberally is a grassroots social organizations for people who like to meet fellow liberals over a good beer. Here are the Drinking Liberally chapters in Georgia:

Atlanta, Georgia
* Every Thursday, 8:00 pm onward
* Thinking Man's Tavern, 537 W Howard Ave, Decatur
* Hosted by Erin Abrahams, atlanta (at) drinkingliberally.org

Dunwoody
* First and third Wednesday of each month (next meeting January 2), 7:00 pm onward
* Ye Olde Dunwoody Tavern, 5488 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd (map)
* Hosted by Hillary Meister, dunwoody (at) drinkingliberally.org

Augusta, Georgia
* Second and fourth Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Helga's Lounge, 2015 Central Ave
* Hosted by Margie Hobbins, augusta (at) drinkingliberally.org

Savannah, Georgia
* First and third Thursday of each month, 7:30 pm onward
* Crystal Beer Parlor, 301 W Jones St (corner of west jones and jefferson)
* lots of parking
* Hosted by John Mattingly, Victor Fishman and McKay Schwalbach, savannah (at) drinkingliberally.org


SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL UNION:

Click here for the Georgia AFL-CIO website to get involved in protecting your rights in the workplace.

For more union info, contact:

Georgia State AFL-CIO
501 Pulliam St., SW Suite 549
Atlanta, GA 30312
Phone: 404-525-2793
Fax: 404-525-5983


Next let me highlight some NAACP groups:

The Cobb County NAACP monthly meetings are the first Monday of the month at the branch office at 6:30 p.m.

General membership meets the fourth Tuesday of the month, mostly at the office location but varies based on programs. Members are encouraged to attend these meetings. Join a committee today. Elections of officers are held in even years.

For more info contact the branch office: 605 B. Roswell St Marietta, GA 30061 770.425.5757 info_at_cobbnaacp.org

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP, is the oldest, largest and strongest civil rights organization in the United States. The principal objective of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens of the United States.

The NAACP is committed to achievement through non-violence and relies upon the press, the petition, the ballot and the courts, and is persistent in the use of legal and moral persuasion even in the face of overt and violent racial hostility.

Fayette County NAACP Branch General Membership Meeting:
2nd Saturday Each Month - 4:00 PM, Flat Rock AME Church

Wheeler Co (Alamo) NAACP
PO BOX 143
Glenwood, GA 30428
912-523-5295

Dodge County NAACP
PO BOX 4231
Eastman, GA 31023
478-374-9283

Dublin-Laurens County NAACP
PO BOX 4827
Dublin, GA 31021
478-275-7331

Ben Hill County NAACP
P.O. BOX 1151
Fitzgerald, GA 31750
229-409-2209

Coffee Co NAACP
PO BOX 414
Broxton, GA 31519
912-359-3877

Toombs Co NAACP
554 HENRY O'NEAL ROAD
Lyons, GA 30436

Wilcox (Rochelle) NAACP
PO BOX 723
Rochelle, GA 31077

Bleckley County NAACP Youth Council
PO BOX 202
Cochran, GA 31014

Bleckley County NAACP
PO BOX 603
Cochran, GA 31014
478-934-7624

Baldwin County (Milledgeville) NAACP
PO BOX 713
Milledgville, GA 31061
912-452-3670

Appling County NAACP
PO BOX 1769
Baxley, GA 31515
912-253-1912

Waycross NAACP
PO BOX 1668
Waycross, GA 31502
912-816-8581

Cook County Adel NAACP
PO BOX 167
Sparks, GA 31647
229-549-7847

Colquitt County NAACP
P. O. BOX 932
Moultrie, GA 31768
229-985-7466

Jesup (Wayne County) NAACP
PO BOX 956
Jesup, GA 31598
912-530-7463

Mc Intosh County NAACP
PO BOX 817
Darien, GA 31305
912-437-4309

Charlton (Folkston) NAACP
PO BOX 685
Folkston, GA 31537


Georgia Green Drinks Groups

Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.

We have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business. Come along and you'll be made welcome. Just say, "are you green?" and we will look after you and introduce you to whoever is there. It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organising network.

These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. It's a force for the good and we'd like to help it spread to other cities. Contact your local node to get the latest info about coming along.

Here are some Green Drinks Groups in Georgia: (click on the links to find out more info)

Athens, GA

Atlanta

Atlanta Green Drinks NORTH

Bowman

Middle Georgia

Roswell-Alpharetta

Thomaston


ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IN GEORGIA:

Some statistics from Repower America:

* According to the Georgia State Wind Map and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there is over 10,000-megawatts of wind potential off the state’s coast. That's enough to replace 10 large coal-fired power plants!

* There are 2,027-megawatts of clean hydroelectric power in Georgia, which accounts for nearly all of the state's renewable energy generation today.

* Suniva, Inc. is building the first solar manufacturing plant in Georgia. The company will begin production at its 32-megawatt, high-efficiency solar cell facility in Gwinnet County, initially creating 100 new jobs.

Saving the Economy and Environment with Clean Energy!

Solar, Wind, Energy Efficiency, and Energy Conservation all have the power to meet our current and projected energy demand more cheaply then fossil fuels (read: Fools), all while providing more local jobs then traditional coal, nuclear, or natural gas plants! Join here for more details. Or go here: www.cleanpower4georgians.com

Alternative energy and YOUR energy bill: YOU can be part of the solution for America by signing up to purchase your energy through a Green Power Provider. My wife and I have been doing this in NYC for years. All our energy usage is provided through wind energy generation on American farms. So we use clean energy AND help American farmers. It costs us three cents per kilowatt-hour more per month, but we feel great about it. Although our actual energy may come from anywhere, we are paying to purchase wind energy for the energy grid. Each state has different programs available, usually through yuor existing energy provider right on your existing energy bill. To find such options in Georgia, go here and pick your energy provider from the list. If you need help, you can email me and tell me who you get your bill from (don't give me any other info!) and I can tell you who to contact to go green through that energy provider. Or you can do the same thing using Renewable Energy Certificates through an organization that works with utility companies, though in this case it is a separate bill. One off the cheapest (.4-1 cent per kilowatt-hour), but still e-Green certified, ways to do this is through Good Energy. Or, for about half a cent per kilowatt-hour you can purchase renewable energy certificates through Carbonfund.org. ANY of these ways you do it, you are helping the environment, helping America, and helping cut carbon emissions.

Atlanta Beyond Oil
We are interested in peak oil, global warming, relocalization,
sustainable communities, alternative energy, permaculture, and more. We are beginning to network with other Metro Atlanta groups and to have events that educate people about our concerns. We offer support, information, and opportunities to contribute to the solution. We'd love to have you join us! Go here for more details.


ALTERNATIVE FUELS:

There are two kinds of alternate fuels that are readily available that lower your carbon foot print and use AMERICAN resources and create AMERICAN jobs rather than supporting big oil companies and oil nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela.

ETHANOL: Cars labeled FlexFuel (now becoming common in some states) can use up to E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline). E85 burns cleaner than gasoline and is usually cheaper. I have used E85 in California and found it to be 10-40 cents cheaper than the cheapest gasoline at the same station. CLICK HERE TO FIND STATIONS IN GEORGIA OFFERING E85. This can be a really good way to help the American economy, help the environment, AND save money.

BIODIESEL: Here are some biodiesel stations in Georgia (and Georgia has a great network of biodiesel stations). Biodiesel is less polluting and has a smaller carbon footprint than regular diesel, and is produced right here in the USA. Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine.

Citgo Food Mart: 174 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30004, 770-475-7071. Offers B20 (ok for all engines). Open 24 HRS

ReFuel Bio: 250 Arizona Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307, 404-219-9709. Offers B100 (not ok for some older engines). Open 24 HRS.

SA White Oil: 590 Atlanta Street SE, Marietta, GA 30060, 770-427-1387. Offers B20 (ok for all engines) and B100 (not ok for some older engines). Open 7AM-6PM M-F; SAT 7AM-2PM.

Down to Earth Energy: 941 Monroe Jersey Road, Monroe, GA 30655, 770-267-7891. Offers B20 (ok for all engines) and B100 (not ok for some older engines). Open 8AM-7PM.

Enterprise Oil Co. 651 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy SE, Cartersville, GA 30120, 770-382-4804. Offers B100 (not ok for some older engines). Open 6AM-5PM M-F.

Apex Express: 205 Hawthorne Ave. Athens, GA 30606, 706-549-7535. Offers B20 (ok for all engines). Open 6AM-11PM M-F.

Merryman Biodiesel: 288 Bowdoin LN SW, Adairsville, GA 30103, 706-602-9160. Offers variety of biodiesel blends. Open M-F 9-5.

Rock-It BP: 145 Highway 411 SE, Rome, GA 30161, 706-234-1838. Offers B20 (ok for all engines). Open 24 HRS.

Soymet 101: 5680 Alabama Hwy NW, Rome, GA 30165, 706-802-1110. Offers B20 (ok for all engines). Open 24 HRS.

Walthall Oil Company #401: 4433 Forsyth Road, Macon, GA 31210, 478-405-8218. Offers B20 (ok for all engines). Open 24 HRS. NO TRACTOR/TRAILER ACCESS

Mini Food Stores: 3224 Vineville Ave, Macon, GA 31204, 478-742-2023. Offers B10 (ok for all engines). Open 24 HRS.

Davis Oil Company: Gunn Rd and Eagle Pkwy, Centerville, GA 31093, 478-953-1437. Offers B20 (ok for all engines). Open 24 HRS.

Fillers #21: 2601 Moody Rd, Warner Robins, GA 31088, 478-328-3755. Offers B20 (ok for all engines). Open 6AM-MIDNIGHT.

Fast Break: 200 South State Street, Lyons, GA 30436, 912-526-6591. Offers B20 (ok for all engines). Open 24 HRS.

Fastbreak - BP: 142 South State Street, Lyons, GA 30436, 912-526-6591. Offers B20 (ok for all engines). Open 24 HRS.


Here are more organizations, groups and events in Georgia:

The Carter Center: Creating a world in which every man, woman, and child has the opportunity to enjoy good health and live in peace. Find out how you can get involved.

DeKalb County Young Democrats: The future leaders of DeKalb County. Go here to see upcoming events.

Atlanta Area Democrats Meetup Group: Grassroots Democrats upset with the direction the Republicans are taking our country and our state - we're taking action! Sign up for more information.

Cobb County Young Democrats
Monthly Happy Hours on the first Fridays of every month and monthly Business Meetings on the third Tuesdays of every month. Both are great opportunities to meet fellow Cobb County Young Democrats and learn about the 2008 heated races taking place in Cobb County.

Happy Hours: BLACKBIRD, 114 W Hancock St, Milledgeville, GA, 31061 US
Contact: Christin Ivey, Christin_ivey@ecats.gcsu.edu,

Business Mettings: Little Azio Pizza and Pasta 1675 Cumberland Pkwy, Ivywalk Unit #415, Smyrna, GA, 30080 US
Contact: Alexandra O'Callaghan, alli@georgiayds.org,


Georgia Equality is the political advocacy voice of Georgia's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender citizens and their allies. Founded in Atlanta in 1995, it has grown into a true statewide organization and is known nationally as one of the leaders among state and local LGBT groups.

Atlanta Amnesty International Chapter 75: Meet others in your local area interested in Amnesty International USA, a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. Sign up to find out when and where.


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