Van Jones Asks Supporters to Promote Green Jobs

The following message was sent on Tuesday by Van Jones to his supporters and friends. For those of you who are unfamiliar with his work, Jones is a leading figure in the green movement and in the fight for environmental justice. He is the founder of Green for All -an organization that continually inspires all of us at GO- which defines itself as "a national organization working to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty." He also co-founded Color of Change, an organization committed to bringing about racial...
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NYTimes Reports on Toxic Water in West Virginia

Jennifer Hall-Massey knows not to drink the tap water in her home near Charleston, W.Va. In fact, her entire family tries to avoid any contact with the water. Her youngest son has scabs on his arms, legs and chest where the bathwater — polluted with lead, nickel and other heavy metals — caused painful rashes. Many of his brother’s teeth were capped to replace enamel that was eaten away.

We Are Appalachia: Take a Stand Against Mountaintop Removal

All next week artists, activists, and educators will come together to expose the truth about mountaintop removal. Come learn about the atrocity that is destroying our biodiverse landscape for the sake of coal. According to collaborative artists The Beehive Collective, "Every day, mountaintop removal mines use more explosive power than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Mining companies are clear-cutting thousands of acres of some of the world's most biologically diverse forests. They're burying biologically crucial headwaters streams with blasting...
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Green the Block

President Obama has called upon all Americans to participate in our nation's recovery and renewal by serving in our communities on September 11, 2009, National Service Day, as part of the United We Serve initiative. See what Green for All has come up with to do its part.

Press Release, Twestival Local Asheville 2009

In February, people from all over the world joined together for Twestival and community by community raised over $250,000 for 55 different clean drinking water projects. All of this was organized using Twitter, the social networking tool where “micro-bloggers” post “tweets” in 140 characters or less. Twestival Asheville raised three times the international average. This weekend, cities all over the world are participating in Twestival Local and the international event promises to be even better, with the hopes of raising one million dollars in one...
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You're Invited to the "Clean Water for NC" Anniversary Party

Here's their invitation: Clean Water for North Carolina, founded in 1984 (as Clean Water Fund of NC) to work with communities for clean water, air and environmental justice, is celebrating our 25th Birthday and we want YOU to join us for an afternoon of fun, food, music, inspiration and thanks for new and old members, staff, and supporters! CWFNC 25th Anniversary CelebrationSaturday, September 19th 1:30 to 5:00 PMBurton St. Recreation Center134 Burton St. Asheville The fabulous Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble of Black Workers for Justice and...
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Save the Date for the West Asheville Garden Stroll

Get yourself to the West Asheville Library at 10:30 on September 12 and parade through the west side of town for a tour of your neighbors' bountiful gardens. Follow the link to read the flyer.
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Thank you, Allegra Print and Imaging!

Allegra Print and Imaging has given us a generous donation of $1000 in free printing. As part of the FootPRINT fund, they have awarded $10,000 to local non-profits for the last five years, with the intention of supporting the communities they serve. Some other recipients this year include Asheville Pregnancy Support Services, Arts for Life, Asheville Humane Society, League of Women Voters, and Western Carolina Rescue Ministries. Allegra Print and Imaging offers a myriad of high-quality services, including digital printing, marketing services, graphic design, and...
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Save a Bag for GO

Here's another great way to save the planet while supporting your favorite non-profit...at no cost to you! GO has been selected to be a friend of Earth Fare for the entire month of September. That means that every time you bring your own bag instead of using a new paper or plastic one, Earth Fare will donate five cents to Green Opportunities. A great place to shop, this southern company aspires to promote healthy living by selling an array of organic, local, non-GMO, and fair trade foods. Thanks, Earth Fare, for your support! Shop at either of their locations, at...
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DIY Sustainable Homes Tour

Get to know your permaculture neighbors and learn some tricks to make your own home more sustainable at this awesome event organized by Freeskool Asheville. Here's the scoop: DIY Sustainable Homes Tour Sunday, August 30 2009, 1:00pm - 6:00pm    Details: Sunday August 30th @ 1pm. Meeting at the Greenlife Parking lot. Free. The Second Annual D.I.Y. Sustainable Homes Tour is an exploration of urban permaculture systems. The tour will consist of 3 or 4 homes within a few miles of each other near the center of the city. Each home will hav several...
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Saying Goodbye to a Dear Friend

Beloved teacher and green being Frank Cook passed away Wednesday morning. Frank was a devoted ally to the plant kindom and spent the last fifteen years sharing his love of plants with everyone he met. He traveled extensively with the goal to meet every plant genera in the world. His master's thesis, "Emerging Planetary Medicine," embodied Frank's vision that a new world culture is forming, a culture he was helping to create. He often said,  "we don't need to survive, we can thrive!" Frank, you certainly did that in the...
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The Beehive Design Collective Comes to Asheville

The Beehive Design Collective is a group of community activitists whose mission is "to cross-pollinate the grassroots, by creating collaborative, anti-copyright images that can be used as educational and organizing tools." Based in Maine, this small group  works together to create beautiful murals that tell the story of a relevant political or environmental event. Their latest project, "The True Cost of Coal," is well on its way to becoming a fabulous representation of the destructiveness of coal mining, with the hope of making us all...
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Happy Birthday, Clean Water for NC!

In their own words, "Clean Water for NC has been working with communities since 1984 for better cleanups at Superfund sites, environmental justice, safe and affordable drinking water, polluter accountability, clean air and energy, and more." This year they celebrate 25 years of faithfully serving North Carolina to make this state a healthy place to live.  Check them out! Thanks for all your work, Clean Water!
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Green for All: "A New Sound"

"The dirty-energy economy has brought pollution and poverty to too many. But a clean-energy economy can bring opportunity, health, and wealth to struggling communities. Clean-energy jobs such as weatherizing homes, installing solar panels, and manufacturing wind turbines will put people to work in their own communities. A new green economy will provide opportunity to people who have been left out of the old economy. That is the promise of Green For All. Watch the video. Take Action. Share A New Sound with your friends and family."

Community Sustainability Workshops Offered at Eco-Education Center

AVI is a non-profit eco-educational organization and collective of permaculture experts and students developing a demonstration site of sustainable living in downtown Asheville.  AVI creates sustainable urban solutions through hands-on education, demonstration and action.  AVI seeks contributions to the tax deductible Sustainability Education Scholarship Fund to support workshop costs for low-income community members.   "In these changing times, as more people think about what it means to be sustainable, we are delighted to bring hands-on...
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Come Visit Us at the S.E.E. Expo

Asheville GO is taking a stand for clean energy by staffing the electronic recycling station at this year's Southern Energy and Environment Expo. Bring in your old electronics and recycle them for FREE with the cost of daily admission, and you'll get to meet some of our GO members while you're at it. When you're done, stop in at a presentation on energy policy, retrofitting your home, local food, and more. Dozens of local businesses and organizations will be present. The event will be held at the WNC Agricultural Center on Friday, August 21 - Sunday, August 23,...
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Greening the Ghetto

Activist Majora Carter discusses environmental injustice and the need to green our ghettos.
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Seeking GED Tutor

   With our next semester of Asheville GO right around the corner, we are currently in search of a volunteer to help prepare our members for their GED exams. For the right person, this is a great way to get involved in our movement. Preferred schedule would be Thursday mornings from mid-September through mid-December. Contact Sara at volunteer@greenopportunities.org for more information. Thanks for your support!
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GO Weatherizes Marshall Senior Center

    When the folks at the Marshall Senior Center decided they wanted to go solar, the GO Energy Team jumped at the chance to bring green technology to a county-owned building. Our crew played a part in the renovations by weatherizing the building. New crew members caulked around doors and windows, replaced inefficient light bulbs, and added low-flow aerators. With support from FLS Energy and the French Broad Electric Membership Corporation, the Senior Center is now officially solar and as green as can be.     When the job was...
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Watch "Green Anthem" Music Video

Tem Blessed, First Be, and Outspoken highlight the importance of Green for All, a national organization hard at work to create an inclusive green economy. See their music video here.
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