Hey Hey Hey – are you tuned in
to our awesome Columbus community radio?
drawing for prizes!
Share your favorite program to Hello@simplyliving.org to enter
a drawing for prizes! Winners announced on Buy Nothing Day!
Pssst! All the good info in this weekly Community Update is brought to you by two volunteers, Rita Haider and Chuck Lynd. Are you a wannabe blogger, love to search the Net, or just passionate about our SL mission? We’d sure welcome your help, shoot an email to chuck@simplyliving.org! Text 614-354-6172
Simply Living and the Ohio Sustainable Business Council are proud to be featured at the upcoming two-day conference, organized by the
Ohio Recycling Coalition.
On Tuesday, November 16, at 9 a.m., Mayda Sanchez, executive director of the Ohio Sustainable Business Council, and Cathy Cowan Becker, executive director of Simply Living, will lead the session on Sustainability. Sanchez will present on “Discovering the Benefits of Being a Sustainable Business,” while Cowan Becker will present on “Six Phases of an Advocacy Campaign.” More info on the conference here.
The conference will be conducted virtually on Zoom. Register here
Co-Creating the Eco-Future: Meetup & Discussion
Monday, December 6 at 7 pm EST on Zoom
Hi there all you cultural creatives! Simple livers, renegades from the consumer society, green activists, arts and craft makers, yoga lovers, meditators – you know who you are! Join us for a meet and greet, a time to share what you are reading, watching, imagining, and doing to make the changes we need to get to an ecological culture. We can get there if we gather together, online and in person, learn from each other, and build a community that is inclusive, resilient, and way more fun than life in big box stores, traffic jams, and fast food. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for! Contact: Chuck@simplyliving.org Register
Tired of Same Old, Same Old Big Box Economy?
There Is Another Way, and It is Emerging Now
Join Us! The Economics of Happiness:
Deep Dive and Discussion of Community Localization
Tuesday, December 7 at 7 pm EST via Zoom
This discussion course is based on the award-winning film, Economics of Happiness (EOH), developed by Helena Norberg-Hodge and her team at the International Society for an Ecological Culture (LocalFutures.org). Each session includes content from the EOH film or related media, a presentation that frames and explores the topic in greater depth, and class discussions based on selected readings in the booklet Localization: Essential Steps to an Economics of Happiness. Participants can attend any or all classes.
In this session we will explore the many ways our communities benefit when localization is a priority. To learn more about the topic, check out this reading on the benefits of localization to understand how localization can serve as an antidote to the negative impacts of globalization. You can view short films that address this topic here. Come prepared to discuss how localization is happening in Columbus and central Ohio.
Chuck Lynd is the facilitator, and he will share his experience of leading a coalition of local organizations engaged in Local Food, Locally owned retail goods and services, Local micro loans to entrepreneurs, Local community banks and credit unions, and local businesses and advocacy groups. As we like to say: Eat Local, Buy Local, Bank Local, Invest Local, and LIVE Local. The session is free or consider a free will donation. The zoom link will be sent to you after registering here.
Spirit and Money – Self paced.
A 7 Session Pre-Recorded Self-Study Course ONLY $59.00!
Learn more and Take the course at: https://ishpa.gumroad.com/l/tatVr
Your Money or Your Life/YMOYL a best-selling book and study course by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez – a 9 Step Program for personally Re-Tooling your conscious activity with money leading to transformation, fulfillment, and purpose.
Introduction to Solar PV – This is an online course.
Residential Solar Installation and Design – Online.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SIMPLY LIVING’S
BE THE CHANGE COMMUNITY CALENDAR
This month, slow down and appreciate the good in your life. See the November 2021 Happiness Calendar from the Greater Good Science Center here
Location: The Comfort of Your Home or Office (via Zoom) Save Your Spot
Those that sign up will get the video recording emailed to them after the event.
Herb lovers have been joining us for the Free Herbalism Project since 2013. Connection and community are more important than ever, so we’ve taken our flagship event online! We’re bringing the botanical expertise and world-class entertainment to you via Zoom—ALL FREE! More + Schedule here.
The film’s creators have collaborated with PETA for a first-of-its-kind cooperative release. From November 11 to 17, when patrons use this link to watch the documentary, 50% of the proceeds ($20 donation) will be donated to PETA to support our vital work to end speciesism.
Watch ‘They’re Trying to Kill Us’ Before November 17
As a follow-up to the award-winning film What the Health, They’re Trying to Kill Us addresses food injustice and food deserts, nutritional and environmental racism, cruelty to animals, the climate crisis, and the radical changes needed to build a compassionate society. More info here.
Carolyn Harding with Mike Ferner and Markie Miller, advocates and activists for the health and well being of Lake Erie. Rebroadcast/Highly Recommended
Tune in to GrassRoot Ohio radio 11/12 on 94.1FM and streaming @ WGRN.org; and 11/14 on 92.7/98.3FM and streams @ WCRS.org;
Mike Ferner is coordinator of Lake Erie Advocates, a grassroots citizens’ group that educates and organizes to build awareness and public pressure to stop the assault on Lake Erie by factory “farms” and other polluters.
Markie Miller is a volunteer organizer for Toledoans for Safe Water, and the Ohio Community Rights Network. She is an ambassador for the Lake Erie Bill of Rights and the Rights of Nature, speaking at the United Nations, appearing on The Daily Show, and numerous local, national and international media outlets.
Someone needs to explain to me why wanting
clean drinking water makes you an activist, and why proposing to destroy water with chemical warfare doesn’t make a corporation a terrorist. ~ Winona LaDuke
Free Press Second Saturday Cyber–Salon
Saturday, November 13 from 7:00-8:00PM EST
Facebook Event Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906590837
TOPICS: COP 26 report;
Nazek Hapasha, Policy Affairs Manager of the League of Women Voters and the Fair districts Campaign will review the Ohio election results and expectations for policy impact from the results;
Native American Heritage Month; Travis Irvine will update us on the corruption surrounding House Bill 6 and the fallout. and more!
Catch an intimate glimpse of innovative and iconoclastic “noise guitarist” Marc Ribot as he performs solo on stage at Mershon Auditorium. Ribot’s solo performances are unpredictable events that may draw on any of his many musical collaborations or none, creating a sonic matrix of memory, free improvisation, zeitgeist, extraterrestrial radio signals, and much more—leaving listeners on the edge of their seats. More info and registration links here.
Nov 20 BluesSwing ~ Nov 27 Starlit Ways
2201 Fred Taylor Dr. Columbus, 43210
Tue Nov 16th 7:15am – 9:30am Register Here
Live streaming of this event will be available at our EPN YouTube channel linked here. More info on SL calendar.
The 2020 U.S. Census Bureau shows that the central Ohio region experienced the fastest population growth in the Midwest in the last decade, and Columbus was one of only 14 cities nationwide to add more than 100,000 residents. With population growth comes the need for jobs, housing, transportation, and infrastructure – is this form of growth sustainable for our region? Do we have the social and environmental systems in place to support this growth?
Learn principles and protocols for creating dynamic, ecologically rich landscapes where nature does much of the “planting. Larry Weaner, FALPD, is the president and founder of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates and developer of New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL). This webinar is free and open to the public. More info and registration on SL calendar here.
Tue Nov 16th 8:00pm
Witness flawless musical virtuosity as sisters Katia and Marielle Labèque grace the stage at Mershon Auditorium with a double piano recital.
For this engagement, the sisters will present a special recital beginning with El Chan from American composer Bryce Dessner, founder and guitarist of the rock band The National, followed by the five-movement Ma mère l’oye by French composer Maurice Ravel. The evening concludes with Philip Glass’s suite Les Enfants Terribles. More info and registration info here.
As Amazon grows in size, hard truths about the retail giant’s environmental impact and labor abuses continue to get swept under the rug. Labor Justice Campaigns Director Charlotte Tate and Equal Justice Works Legal Fellow Dan Stein will discuss the retail giant’s negative impacts on people and the planet and tell you how you can help hold Amazon accountable. The second half of our webcast will include a demonstration of our Green Pages – our tool for finding certified green businesses – and a brief interview with Joan Frisz of Just Creations, which has been one of our certified Green Business Network members for nearly 20 years!
Join us for this one hour webcast to learn why you should reconsider your Amazon wish list AND how you can direct your purchasing power to more sustainable businesses this holiday season and beyond. More on SL calendar here.
“Bright Green Future” with author Trevor Decker Cohen Wed Nov 17th 7:00pm
Bright Green Future: How Everyday Heroes Are Reimagining the Way We Feed, Power, and Build Our World is the 4th in our book club series. In this book we have the opportunity to consider the positive and empowering stories of individuals making real change across the US and the world. Conveying a sense of hope and solidarity, Bright Green Future gives voice to everyday heroes, inspiring readers to do the same. More info, discounts, and ebook options are available on the Simply Living calendar here.
Register now for Agriculture & Climate Change
Ohio farmers are facing serious challenges related to extreme weather events, shifting growing seasons, and other climate-related impacts. At the same time, environmental scientists are examining agriculture’s contribution to the changing climate. To discuss all sides of these important issues, GEO is pleased to present Aaron Wilson, Research Scientist at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center at The Ohio State University, and Jordan Hoewischer, Director of Water Quality and Research at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, in a virtual conversation on Climate Change and Agriculture.
Thursday, November 18th from 7 to 8pm on Zoom.
Todd and Mryia will be sharing pictures from their trip to MotorBella for Industry Day. We will take look at current EVs like the Audi E-Tron and Ford Mustang Mach-E plus we will see photos of the Bollinger All Electric Vehicles, GM Hummer EV, and Ford F-150 Lightning.
We will be drawing one attendee to win a Ford F-150 Lightning hat just for being there! Register for our 11/18 Zoom
One of the effects of living with electric information is that we live habitually in a state of information overload. There’s always more than you can cope with.
~ Marshall McLuhan
Sponsored by Interfaith Power and Light for free online viewing
Deeply moving and laugh-out-loud funny, Mission: JOY is a documentary with unprecedented access to the unlikely friendship of two international icons who transcend religion: His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu. In their final joint mission, these self-described mischievous brothers give a master class in how to create joy in a world that was never easy for them. They offer neuroscience-backed wisdom to help each of us live with more joy, despite circumstances. Register and watch the trailer here.
NEWS + RESOURCES
FOR LIVING LOCAL
Did You Know? SearchScene.com features gorgeous photos from all over the earth and they donate to nonprofits working to save the planet!
I’m addicted and happy to reduce my support for Google. Give it a try!
Speaking of beautiful photos… Reconnect with Nature at Columbus’ Quarry Trails Metro Park. Enjoy a 25-Foot Waterfall. Opens Nov 30!
From Columbus Navigator. The first phase of Quarry Trails Metro Park will open on November 30. The new park will offer hiking, biking, picnicking, fishing, climbing, a dog park, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Love our parks!
Thanks to Mort Schmidt for sharing his knowledge of trees each month. The November Tree of the Month is the Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra)
That’s the Ohio buckeye tree in bloom before the leaves fell. Mort loves to post photos of tree leaves, bark, fruit, and more.
Read the full blog post!
https://twitter.com/Simply_Living/status/1457419767246200832
10 Reasons to Be Optimistic About Climate Change
BY JEFF GOODELL for YES! Magazine
The 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference is underway in Glasgow, and it already looks like a slow-motion train wreck. The leaders of three of the biggest polluting nations—Russia, Brazil, and China—aren’t there. The national pledges that have already been made to cut emissions won’t be met—and even if they were, they aren’t enough to avoid catastrophic warming. Rich nations of the world are woefully behind in their commitment to pay $100 billion a year into the Green Climate Fund to help poor nations adapt to climate impacts and transition to clean energy.
But the climate fight is a big and complex war that’s being carried out on many fronts. Even for experienced climate warriors, it’s hard to keep the whole picture in your head at once. The apathy and self-dealing in Glasgow are obvious. What’s less obvious are signs of real progress.
Feeling thankful? Craving that sumptious stuffing? Googling ‘the best way to brine a bird’ after hours? With only two weeks remaning before Thanksgiving, many of you are probably starting to plan what will be on the table that day. Our farmers and producers are bringing the best of their late-season harvests to the market, and we hope you’ll take advantage by finding local ingredients to make your holiday feast shine. Here’s what’s fresh at market this week ~
Vegetables: acorn squash, arugula, beets, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, collard greens, delicata squash, escarole, fennel, garlic, green tomatoes, herbs, kale, kabocha squash, leeks, lettuces, microgreens, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, rainbow chard, salad greens, shallots, spaghetti squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watermelon radish, winter squash
Fruits: apples, cider, pears
Proteins: beef, chicken, eggs, lamb, pork, salami, tilapia
All-season: baked goods, cheeses, coffees, dried flowers, honey, hot sauce, jams and jellies, kombucha, pasta, salsas, sweet potato pies, wreaths
Also, if you’re headed to market this Saturday, don’t forget your old TV screens, computers, and printers! SWACO is holding a FREE electronic recycling event in the north lot of the Ohio History Center from 10 am – 2 pm. You can reserve a drop off slot here.
We need to have a course in school that teaches about ecology
and gastronomy. I could imagine that all children could eat at school for free and that the cafeteria would become part of
the school’s curriculum. ~ Alice Waters
Imperfect Groceries Help Reduce Food Waste
Making Your Home More Resilient to Disasters
more…
5 Easy Tricks To Reduce Food Waste
Did you learn something new today?
Please Support Earth911 database updates so we can help others recycle!
Listen on your radio or online anytime!
CALENDARS!
LIVE LOCAL, BUILD COMMUNITY #SIMPLYLIVING
Good, Cheap, Fun
- 2022 Hocking Hills Comfort Food Tour
- Hollyfest Arts and Crafts Show
- “Light Up Camp” Drive-Through Light Display at Flying Horse Farms
- Columbus Christmas lights displays, and a Google map to find them!
- Magical Lights of Winter at National Trail Raceway
- PBJ and Jazz Concert Series at Lincoln Theatre
- Over 125 free or cheap events this weekend in Columbus!
- Santa Photos and Christmas at Polaris Fashion Place
- Over 40 Holiday Art and Christmas Craft Festivals around Columbus
- TBDBITL Skull Sessions before home OSU football games
- Restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Columbus (and to-go options)
- Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit in Columbus open now!
- 2021 Christmas Theater and Concerts in Columbus
- Santa’s Wonderland and Santa Pictures at Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops
- Free Admission Days and Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
- Photos with Santa at Easton return in 2021!
- Easton Holiday Lighting Grand Illumination and seasonal fun
- Take a festive ride around the Town with Easton Holiday Carriage Rides
Check out Wes Williams and the landscaping services he offers:
https://www.plantconnections.net/
COLUMBUS UNDERGROUND
Mega Weekend
Big Weekend for Comedy Shows, Through Vincent’s Eyes Opens, and More
Here’s a rundown of fun things to do this weekend. Thank you to all veterans. This is a big weekend in Columbus for comedy! Did you know Studio 35 is haunted? Enjoy your weekend!
Nightlife and Comedy
Hear The Quebe Sisters at Natalie’s Grandview.
David Cross performs at The Atheneaum.
Nikki Glaser is in town with her Bang it Out Tour.
Cap City Comics perform at Natalie’s in Grandview.
Meet YouTube star B.Love at The Sauce’s grand opening.
Club Lincoln brings dance djs to the stage.
Dance at Church. Jim Gaffigan is in town.
Chelsea Handler performs too!
Food and Shopping Events
Eat a cajun dinner at Short Supply (advance tickets).
Bexley Library hosts a book sale.
Shop the Black Fine Art Fair.
Distillery Tours start back up at Middle West Spirits.
Find some artisan chocolates at North Market.
Friday evening, Sew to Speak hosts a Handmade Holiday Event.
Shop the Clintonville Arts Guild holiday show.
Tasty Dawg is back with more wigs and weenies!
Get some cold brew from Fifty5 Rivers Barge.
Shop the Not Your Mama’s Craft Show at BrewDog.
ENJOY EXPLORING ART
Experience Vincent Van Gogh’s real paintings at the new exhibit, Through Vincent’s Eyes that opens at the Columbus Museum of Art.
CATCO’s Mr. Burns continues.
Zodiac opens at Blockfort, and there’s a new exhibit opening at Wild Goose too.
CSO bring renowned pianist Claire Huangci to the Ohio Theater.
Check out The Thanksgiving Play.
Meet Atreyu from The NeverEnding Story at Studio 35 or Grandview Theater.
Friday night, watch the movie Double Walker that explores the ghosts of Studio 35.
Hear the New Basics Brass Band at PBJ & Jazz.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO
THIS WEEDKEND?
The Hungarian Butcher opens on Friday.
Blazers and Bottoms Boutique hosts its grand opening this weekend.
Matsuricon hosts a meetup at Inniswood.
It’s Purdue vs. Ohio State.
Watch (or participate) in a rock climbing competition.
Make a holiday card at Small Talk.
Thanks for reading and enjoy your weekend! A great community is an informed community. Want to help keep our news free for all and support our small, local company?
Your support helps Columbus Underground further our mission.
“Activism begins with you, Democracy begins with you, get out there, get active! Tag, you’re it” ~ Thom Hartmann
edited by Connie Hammond (pictured above).
Email cmhammond11@att.net to subscribe to her Community Calendar or share meeting info.
Friday, November 12, 2021, 5:00 – 5:30 PM. GrassRoot Ohio With Carolyn Harding. Our mission is to profile every-day people working on important issues and to connect them with other folks who want to help. Conversations with every-day people, working on important issues here in Columbus and all around Ohio Justice: environmental, social, racial, economic, w/ folks on the front lines. LISTEN TO 94.1 FM and stream US online at WGRN.com. You can find all GrassRoot Ohio podcasts/shows on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-42674753. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grassroot-ohio/id1522559085 and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAX2t1Z7_qae803BzDF4PtQ.
Friday, November 12, 2021, 4:00 PM. The deadly connections between space militarization and the climate crisis. The deadly connections between space militarization and the climate crisis. A UNAC sponsored webinar in conjunction with the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. Dave Webb (UK) – Board chair of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space and current chair of UK’s Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). Koohan Paik-Mander – a Hawaii-based journalist and media educator. She is a board member of the Global Network and the CODEPINK working group “China is Not Our Enemy.” She formerly served as campaign director of the Asia-Pacific program at the International Forum on Globalization. Bruce Gagnon -Coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. Register here.
Friday, November 12, 2021, 1:00 PM. What’s Going on with the Iran Deal? With Assal Rad. Now 9 months into the presidency of Joe Biden, the United States continues to stay out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a deal to which Iran, Russia, China, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom still adhere. Violating both international norms and his own campaign promises, President Biden has wasted time and threatened to scotch one of Barack Obama’s greatest foreign policy achievements. Advocates for peace and justice have been left scratching their heads, wondering what the solution is to an intransigent administration. Joining Massachusetts Peace Action to discuss next steps for the Peace Movement and the overall state of US-Iran relations is Dr. Assal Rad, Senior Research Fellow at the National Iranian American Council. More information and registration here.
Saturday, November 13, 2021, 9:00 AM. Engaging with Diverse Communities. Yvonka Hall, Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition, will conduct a workshop for SPAN Ohio on how to successfully engage with diverse communities, especially communities of color. We are inviting all of you to join us that day. While we will be concentrating on the health care issue, this training will be helpful for any social justice organization. Register here.
Saturday, November 13, 2021, 12:00 – 1:00 PM. Occupy for Our Revolution. Join Our Revolution each Saturday at the intersection of North Broadway and High Street to demonstrate for peace and justice. Bring a mask and a sign or two in solidarity. Register with Our Revolution here.
Saturday, November 13, 2017, 7:00 PM. Columbus Free Press Second Saturday Salon. Since we aren’t getting together in person, we can gather for a couple hours on the second Saturday night of each month from 7-8:00pm Eastern Time on Zoom. Join Zoom meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906590837. Meeting ID: 839 06.
Saturday, November 13, 2021, 12:00 – 7:00 PM. Doing Justice: Israel/Palestine. Grounded in our belief that peace in Israel/Palestine cannot exist without justice for all – Israelis and Palestinians: Jews, Muslims, and Christians – this seminar will examine why and how we, as American citizens, must seek effective ways to end U.S. complicity in the dispossession and human rights violations of a people living under Israeli military and civil control. We will look at present living conditions for Palestinians in the occupied territories, as well as the legalization of an apartheid system of discriminatory laws that deny basic political rights, including peaceful protest. Register for the virtual event for $10.00. More information and registration link here.
November 13-26, 2021. Pastors for Peace 31st Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba. Join us for a life-changing experience in Cuba. Let’s break the information blockade of lies and propaganda against Cuba! Cuba is reopening for foreign visitors on November 15th and the 31st IFCO/Pastors for Peace Caravan will be flying to Cuba that very day – the first US delegation to make the trip. As part of our program, we will meet with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel who will personally give us an overview of the challenges that Cuba has been facing from the brutal US economic blockade and the COVID pandemic, and how the country is creatively responding. Throughout our visit we will witness in greater depth the challenges, and the responses through its national health care system, its social system, its international medical brigades, and its mass vaccination campaign using its own vaccines. We will be taking with us much needed medicines and medical supplies. These supplies will be things Cuba could produce for itself if it wasn’t for the brutal economic war of the blockade. COST OF PROGRAM: $1800. Round trip travel to Miami from home not included. Small scholarships available for first time caravanistas of low income. To get more information and an application form email: friendshipmentcaravan@ifconews.org. Deadline to apply is October 2021.
Sunday, November 14, 2021, 3:00 PM. Voices from the Holy Land Online Film Salon: “1948: Creation and Catastrophe.” “1948: Creation & Catastrophe” is the story of the establishment of Israel as seen through the eyes of the people who lived it. Rather than being a history lesson, this documentary is a primer for the present. It is simply not possible to make sense of what is happening in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today without an understanding of 1948. Yet despite the critical importance of 1948, most of the people interviewed for this documentary have never been able to tell their story in full. For nearly seven decades, they have been living with the legacy of that fateful year. Many of the veterans, refugees and witnesses interviewed have already passed away. This film truly is the last chance to hear this story directly from those who lived it. Once you register, you will get a confirmation email from Zoom with a link to the meeting and a link with to watch the film. More information and registration here.
Sunday, November 14, 2021, 2:00 PM. GrassRoot Ohio With Carolyn Harding. Our mission is to profile every-day people working on important issues and to connect them with other folks who want to help. Conversations with every-day people, working on important issues here in Columbus and all around Ohio. Justice: environmental, social, racial, economic, w/ folks on the front lnes. LISTEN TO 94.1 FM and stream US online at WGRN.com. You can find all GrassRoot Ohio podcasts/shows on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-42674753. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grassroot-ohio/id1522559085 and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAX2t1Z7_qae803BzDF4PtQ.
Sunday, November 14, 2021, 1:30 PM. MR Conversations: A Land With A People. Stories touch hearts, open minds, and transform our understanding of the “other”—as well as comprehension of our own roles and responsibilities. Originally a storytelling project of JVP-NYC, “A Land With A People: Palestinians and Jews Confront Zionism,” is a collection of personal stories, history, poetry, and art which elevates rarely heard Palestinian and Jewish voices. Join co-authors Rosalind Petchesky and Esther Farmer of Jewish Voice for Peace-NY, and their guests Sara Abou Rashed, Mohammed Rafik Mhawesh and Sagiv Galai, as they discuss their contributions to “A Land With A People,” and come together to demonstrate the power of anti-Zionism. Register here.
Sunday, November 14, 2:00 – 4:00 PM. IACO Annual Meeting: Faith and Interfaith in Times of Transition featuring keynote speaker—Rev. Tim Ahrens. Join Interfaith Association of Central Ohio’s Council Members as we come together to celebrate our 35 years of existence and explore future strategies and events; assess societal transformation resulting from the pandemic and its impact on IACO. We promise fun, renewed relationships, and inspiration to take the next steps. Call 614-849-0290 or access our website: www.iaco.org for additional information. Location: Columbus, 444 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215, USA. RSVP here.
Monday, November 15, 2021, 7:00 PM. The Nicaraguan Election and the Ongoing US Campaign to Overthrow the Sandinista Government and destroy the Sandinista Revolution. Camila Escalante. Camila is a TV news producer and presenter at teleSUR English and also works with Kawsachun News (Bolivia). Ben Norton, from Managua, Nicaragua. Ben is a journalist, writer, and filmmaker. He is the assistant editor of The Grayzone, and the producer of the Moderate Rebels podcast, which he co-hosts with editor Max Blumenthal. Camila and Ben will discuss the 2018 coup attempt in Nicaragua, how it was carried out, what happened on the ground? What was the role of the US, and the local elites in the coup, and what was the response from the Sandinista government and the Sandinista movement? They will also discuss the tremendous social and economic damage and pain caused by the coup, reversing a decade-long period of achieving high rates of social and economic growth. Ben and Camila will also analyze the emerging patterns in the US led campaigns of regime change in Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Register here.
Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 7:00 PM. Book Talk: The Strong Black Woman with Marita Golden. Join the Institute for Policy Studies as we host Marita Golden in conversation with IPS Director Tope Folarin, about her new book “The Strong Black Woman: How a Myth Endangers the Physical and Mental Health of Black Women”. Marita Golden is the author of 19 works of fiction and nonfiction, including the novels The Wide Circumference of Love, and A Woman’s Place and the memoirs Saving Our Sons Raising Black Children in a Turbulent World and Don’t Play in the Sun One Woman’s Journey Through the Color Complex. She is co-founder and President Emerita of the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation. Register here. This event will also be live streamed on the IPS Facebook page.
Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 12:30 – 1:30 PM. Groundswell: OEC Annual Meeting. The meeting is free and open to all Ohio Environmental Council members and the public. We invite you to submit questions for our policy experts when you RSVP. OEC members will also have the opportunity to elect members of the Board of Directors during our meeting. Register here.
Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM. Justice & Java: Strength in the Face of Struggle, Stories from Our Community. Justice is a series of small and large victories. As we wind down another calendar year we reflect on the strength, perseverance and heart required in the fight for human rights, especially for immigrants. Join us to celebrate the many ways our community leverages our talents to successfully overcome obstacles. You will hear from a pro bono attorney team at Winston & Strawn LLP about how they strategically advocated and won asylum with a man who is one step closer to reuniting with his family. You’ll hear from a young person who recently received protection under Special Immigrant Juvenile Status after fighting his case with his team from the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) for seven years. And, as protecting human rights takes a village, Caitlin Tupper, Director of the Anti-Violence Project at the Center on Halsted, will share how our collaborative efforts support LGBTQ+ immigrants. Register here.
Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 5:30 PM. Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio Town Hall: The Future of Abortion Access in Ohio. Republicans in Ohio just introduced a copycat of Texas’ ban that is even more extreme, banning all abortions. We will update you on this bill, the Mississippi law the Supreme Court will be hearing on December 1, and the trigger ban moving through the Ohio legislature that would make abortion completely illegal in Ohio if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Register here.
Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 7:00 PM. Worthington Interfaith Neighbors: From Russian Refugee to U.S. Immigration Attorney. Inna Simakovsky emigrated from the former Soviet Union in 1976 as a refugee. She was raised in Ohio and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Cincinnati, then moved to Washington D.C. to help a major law firm grow their presence in Russia. She later earned her law degree from the Ohio State University. Ms. Simakovsky has been practicing immigration law for over twenty years, starting her career in Washington State at Columbia Legal Services and then in California at Jewish Family and Children’s Services. In 2004, she returned to Ohio to supervise the legal department of Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS). Through her experience and commitment to the non-profit sector, Simakovsky Law was launched in 2007, to bring affordable and professional immigration legal services to clients. Ms. Simakovsky is a past Board member of Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), the oldest international migration and refugee resettlement agency in the U.S as well as Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) a national immigrant advocacy organization. She is currently very involved with immigrant communities in the Central Ohio area and enjoys educating the community on their rights when it comes to immigration. She resides in Bexley, Ohio with her husband and three sons. Ms. Simakovsky will discuss her experiences as a Russian refugee as well as the present refugee/immigrant/asylum seeker experience and how regular people can be involved in a way that will make an impact on refugee/immigrant/asylum seeking individuals living in Central Ohio. All are welcome. There is no charge for this program. To request your Zoom invitation and meeting ID number, please email windiversity@gmail.com.
Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 7:00 PM. Media, Politics and Palestine with Anti-war Journalist Ryan Wentz. As the ongoing oppression and occupation of the Palestinian people continues, executed by the Israeli government and supported by the U.S. government, extremist Zionist settlers provoked another round of war this year in Palestine/Israel. As Israel subjugates the Palestinian people and wages war, the corporate U.S. media reflexively blames “both sides” creating a false equivalence between the nuclear-armed state of Israel and the stateless Palestinian people. With regards to Palestine, and broader issues of U.S. foreign policy, young and creative journalists are creating infrastructures to distribute information outside of the traditional, corporate media. On November 18 at 7 pm EDT, we are joined by journalist Ryan Wentz. Ryan currently works for MintPress News and has a background in Palestine solidarity organizing and anti-war activism. Ryan previously organized with Beyond the Bomb, Codepink, and more. Join us for an exciting discussion about traditional and alternative media, Palestine, and U.S. politics. Massachusetts Peace Action. Register here.
Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 4:00 – 6:00 PM. Construction Career Expo. Learn more about a career in the construction field. Sponsored by the Central Ohio Worker Center, Columbus Building Trades, and City of Columbus CBA Apprenticeship Committee. Location: Westgate Community Recreation Center, 455 South Westgate Ave., Columbus 43204. More details soon at https://columbusconstruction.org.
Thursday, November 18, 2021, 8:00 – 9:00 PM. Tensions over Taiwan: Preventing Nuclear War. The relationship between China and the U.S. has major global, political significance. Every decision or policy made by the U.S. government may escalate tensions or even trigger a kinetic or nuclear war. So let’s talk about Taiwan, which must be addressed to prevent U.S. war on China. Register now for the Zoom link!
Join CODEPINK and Massachusetts Peace Action’s webinar, Tensions over Taiwan: Preventing Nuclear War, with our guest Carl Zha. Carl Zha is a Chinese American independent political analyst. He is the creator and host of the podcast “Silk & Steel” about China, the Silk Road, history, culture, and geopolitics. This event will discuss the colonial history of Taiwan, and present day misconceptions about U.S., China, and Taiwanese relations. CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs. Massachusetts Peace Action is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to develop the sustained political power to foster a more just and peaceful U.S. foreign policy. Register here.
Thursday, November 18 and Friday, November 19, 2021, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Ohio Public Interest Environmental Law Conference: Our Fight for Clean, Safe & Accessible Water. Everyone deserves safe drinking water, both at the source and at the tap. They also deserve accessible water. No one should fear losing their access to their water, whether due to a disaster or because their water costs too much. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact everyone, the essentials for survival have become more apparent in our lives. At our 2020 law conference, we focused our discussions on democracy, and we’ve seen our democratic systems tested over the past year. In the present, debates over infrastructure funding and climate policy rage across the nation. This year, our focus on water will highlight the victories, struggles, and ongoing fights for clean, safe & accessible water in Ohio and across the country. From federal to state to local policy, to executive decision-makers to community organizers, we’re considering many approaches to ensuring water for all. The Ohio Public Interest Environmental Law Conference is open to all, whether you’re an attorney, advocate, student, or someone simply ready to learn. Attending attorneys will receive continuing legal education (CLE) credits for each webinar they attend. We expect to be providing a total of 6 CLE hours (pending Ohio Supreme Court approval). More information and link to registration here.
Friday, November 19, 2021, 12:00 – 1:00 PM. The Problem with Plurality-Winner Elections – And Can Requiring Majority Winners Help Save Democracy? Only six states require their Members of Congress to be elected with a majority of the vote. All other states allow for plurality winners who, in multi-candidate elections, get more votes than any other candidate, but over half of the voters might have wanted someone else. What does that mean in a representative democracy with an allegiance to majority rule? And for a candidate who can’t win their own party’s primary election (because they aren’t favored by the relatively small and intense base of primary voters), but who would be the most preferred candidate in the general election, what is the effect of a plurality-winner rule? Our panel of experts will tackle these questions as we search for ways to protect our system of democracy. The panel will be moderated by Professor Steven Huefner, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. More information and registration here.
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Columbus Free Press Activists Calendar Editor Bob Roehm
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All I ask is that we compare human consciousness with spirochete ecology. ~ Lynn Margulis
Every once in a while, I get mad. ‘The Lorax’ came out of my being angry. The ecology books I’d read were dull… In ‘The Lorax,’ I was out to attack what I think are evil things and let the chips fall where they might. ~ Dr. Seuss
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