Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

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Hot! Greenways and Green Rides

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

Hello, Tractivists!

Summer is heating up, and with it real climate legislation is on the way. The American Clean Energy and Security Act, which would regulate greenhouse gas emissions and finance renewable energy, excitingly may come up for vote this month in the House of Reps.

Conveniently, summer is also an excellent time for us to get outside and get around town a little more greenly…

What: Ride Green: Cycle the ATT
When: Sunday, June 7th, 1 PM – 4 PM; meet before 12:45 PM for simple bike tune-ups
Where: At the corner of Morehead Ave and Blackwell St. in Durham, in the parking lot under the bridge for 147
Bring: Bike, helmet, water, sunscreen, and ice cream money
RSVP: outdoors@gettraction.org

We’ll bike down the American Tobacco Trail from downtown Durham to South Point Mall; we’ll rest over ice cream; we’ll talk about climate legislation and safe biking; then we’ll come on back. If you’re just dusting off your bike, we’ll have supplies to lube your chain and pump up your tubes. (COME EARLY for bike care!) The ride is very flat and will be about an hour each way. We’ll mix pleasant company with cheap exercise, green spaces, and clean transportation.

The American Tobacco Trail (ATT) is a project of the Triangle Rails to Trails Commission (TRTC). This non-profit works to preserve abandoned railroad corridors so that they could be re-opened in the future, avoiding the need to claim private land for rail projects. In the meantime, the TRTC converts them into greenway trails for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrian riders.

Interested in more on climate change and green energy? Stay tuned for a ReelPolitik showing of Kilowatt Ours. Interested in future outdoors events? This ride is one in a series of outdoors events every other Sunday afternoon. To stay in the loop, e-mail outdoors@gettraction.org .

I hope to see shiny happy Tractivists for a relaxing, green ride on the ATT!

Missy
Rain-dancer, Berry-picker, Tractivist

P.S. Want to come, but don’t have a bike? Have a bike, but can’t come? Contact me. I’ll try to get a bike lending program together so that everyone who wants to come can. If you don’t have a bike, it is ESPECIALLY important that you RSVP early, and I make no promises.

Posted in Environment, Events | No Comments »

Guest Post: 1st Annual Traction Strawberry Pickstravaganza

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

Good afternoon, Tractivists!

Strawberry season is a fleeting thing. For barely four weeks, the
little strawberry plants squeeze out plump, happy berries at
incredible speeds. And then, before you know it, it’s all over until
next year, and all we have to eat are pale, watery berries from
California. You think, "Is it over already? I totally forgot!"

Well, not this time, Tractiberries!

WHAT: 1st Annual Strawberry Pickstravaganza: Pick your own organic
strawberries and talk with a local farmer about organic biodynamic
farming.
WHEN: This Saturday, May 23rd, 1 PM – 4 PM +
WHERE: Carpool from the Durham Farmer’s Market at 1 PM or meet at the
farm in Cedar Grove at 2 PM
WHO: You. And your kids. And your mom. And your neighbor. And that guy
from work who always brings salads to meetings. Invite ‘em all.
PRICE: $2.50/lb of strawberries. (Join the group photo at the end of
the farm tour to get this special Traction group rate, which is highly
competitive for organic strawberries.)

http://www.chateaugardenique.com/images_uploads/StrawberryFarm.jpg

Traction is excited to partner with Rob and Cheri of Whitted Bowers
Farm, the only organic pick-your-own strawberry farm this side of Wake
Forest. Whitted Bowers emphasizes sustainable organic agriculture,
with a biodynamic bent. "What’s biodynamic farming?" you ask. As far
as we know, it’s a system of organic agriculture with a holistic
approach.  Rob will tell us all about it.

We’re happy that Rob and Cheri are here, because strawberries are one
of the infamous Dirty Dozen, 12 fruits and vegetables that, according
to the Environmental Working Group, are highly contaminated with
pesticides even after washing. At least 90% of the conventional
strawberries the EWG tested had at least one pesticide on them, and
70% had at least two.

The cap it all off, conventional strawberries demand more pesticides
to grow and ship intact than almost any other type of produce. All
these pesticides aren’t very good for you , farm workers , or the environment .

To recap, here’s why you should come strawberry picking with us:
1. You need to get out more.
2. Strawberries are high in Vitamin C and bioflavonoids.
3. We’ll show you how to identify ripe berries and how to preserve and
process them.
4. Next year, you’ll be all confident and knowledgeable about
strawberries. Your friends will be impressed. You boss will promote
you.
5. Picking local organic strawberries is a win-win-win situation:
- You win because your strawberries are cheaper, fresher, tastier,
and longer-lasting.
- Farm workers and the environment win because these strawberries
were grown without heavy pesticide use.
- Local farmers win because your money goes directly to the farmer
instead of through distributors.
6. Picking local organic strawberries is a finger in the eye of the
agricultural-industrial complex.
7. Your freezer is too empty.
8. Because going to a Traction event is like emptying a bottle of
delirious joy goo all over your head.

So if you’re of a mind to fill a basket with sweet berry goodness
before the season ends (at the end of May), drop an e-mail to me at
strawberries@gettraction.org . Please include in your RSVP:
a. How many people you’ll bring (best guess)
b. Whether you’d rather carpool with us from the Market or meet
us at the farm.

I will reply to RSVPs with detailed information on the meeting point,
directions to the farm, a list of what to bring, copies of any
handouts, etc.

Remember also that strawberry season marks the beginning of swimming
season. On Memorial Day, Monday 5/25, Tractivists will be swimming,
potlucking, and Locopopping together. Look for more info later this
week, or write to swimming@gettraction.org for more info.

I look forward to plundering the berry harvest in your company.

Colin Cannell
Smuggleberry, libertine, Tractivist

Posted in Environment, Events, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Join the (Progressive) Revolution!

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Tractivists!

The month of May is full to the brim with opportunities to celebrate revolutions and revolutionary ideas. May 1st, or May Day, is International Workers’ Day, a time to honor workers and celebrate the achievements of working class movements (minimum wages, the 8-hour workday, paid sick leave—oops, NC is still working on that one). Cinco de Mayo, the Fifth of May, is a celebration of the Mexican movement against oppressive and unjust financial policies of European nations in the late 1860s, and today is symbolic of the power of people and communities to shape their own futures.

Progressive folks have been the heart and soul of so many of the revolutionary social and political movements in the US. Today, progressives (like me and you) still form the core of countless local and national movements based on the values of community, freedom, human rights, equality, and collective action.

How did I come to know all this? I spent last summer working at Progressive Strategies in Washington, DC with political strategist, blogger, and author Mike Lux. Mike is coming to Durham next week to meet Triangle progressives and talk about the past, present, and future of the progressive movement and his new book, The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be. The book is a real eye-opener as to the power we have as progressives to change things for the better. You’ve got two chances to meet Mike and get in on this important and exciting conversation:

Mike Lux and The Progressive Revolution

What: Book signing and discussion at The Regulator Bookshop
When: Wednesday, May 13th, 7 PM
Where: 720 Ninth St. Durham

What: Drinking Liberally
When: Thursday, May 14th, 8 PM
Where: Bull McCabe’s Irish Pub, 427 West Main St. Durham

RSVP for either or both: cara@getTraction.org or on the facebook event page here .

This May, don’t just celebrate, participate. Come out, pick up a signed copy of the book, grab a pint, and share ideas about how to keep the progressive revolution rolling in our nation and our state. Join the conversation (and the revolution)!

Cara Wittekind
Crayon artist, revolutionary, Tractivist

P.S.: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY ALERT!
We also need one or two superstar revolutionaries to sell books at the Drinking Liberally event. I’ve got a free Traction tee for the first two takers, so act fast!

Posted in Events, Politics | No Comments »

Easy like Sunday morning

Friday, March 27th, 2009
Believe me, I like a sweet reason to get out of bed (or loll in bed) on Sunday mornings. One of the nicest motivations, in my mind, is the promise of quiet time beneath these nourishing North Carolina trees alongside a lovely, ever-changing river.  And good company.

So early risers and Sunday lovers, join me this Sunday morning at 10:30 for another Traction outdoors event.  This one will be a moderately strenuous hike (~4 mi.) to the highest point I know of around Durham.

What: mid-morning hike along the Eno River
Where: Cox Mtn Trail (off Cole Mill Road)
When: Sun Mar 29th 10:30am

RSVP: outdoors@getTraction.org

I’m bringing my dog, and coffee and something freshly-baked to share, but you don’t need to bring anything except sturdy shoes.  We’ll wrap up around 12:30pm or so — plenty of time to get to The Overwhelming (see below).  Please RSVP to outdoors@getTraction.org for the specific meeting place and to be in the loop in case of weather (forecast looks good).
It won’t be long until these trees explode with green leaves and then all we’ll talk about is the heat.  Come enjoy the spring.

Cori
storyteller, community member, Tractivist

Posted in Economic Justice, Events | No Comments »

Join Traction at HK on J 3

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

Hey Tractivists

If you’re not already planning to come out to HK on J 3 this Saturday, this video will change your mind.

It’ll be great if we have a large number of Tractivists come out to send the message that Traction (and young people in general) are standing up for progressive change in NC.  It’s also going to be a lot of fun and a chance to meet folks from progressive organizations from across the state.

So, get yourself to HK on J using one of these 3 easy options:

Carpool from Orange County

There’s an official group that is arranging bus seats and carpools leaving from University Mall: http://groups.google.com/group/HKonJ-OC/browse_thread/thread/c3b8a06a462c8b97/8d85edc04bfade69?show_docid=8d85edc04bfade69&pli=1

Or, email me ( cara@gettraction.org ) and we’ll meet up at Eastgate Shopping Center in Chapel Hill, near Trader Joe’s.  Email me ahead of time to let me know know if you can drive or if you’ll be riding with someone else.

Carpool from Durham

Meet at Traction office (1018 Broad St.) at 8:40 AM; leave 8:45.  Email me ( cara@gettraction.org ) ahead of time to let me know if you can drive or if you’ll be riding with someone else.

Meet up at Chavis Park in Raleigh

Look for the Traction crew (with Traction shirts and banner) on the playground side of the seating area.  If you can’t find us, call Cara on the Traction phone at 919-Traction (919-872-2846).

Email me ( cara@gettraction.org ) ASAP to let me know you’ll be there.

See you Saturday,

Cara

Posted in Civil Rights, Economic Justice, Education, Environment, Events, Fair Elections, Health Care, Peace, Politics, Tractivists in Action, Walk the Talk | No Comments »

Festivus Presents!

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

This Saturday I know exactly where I’m going to be:  Traction’s Festivus for the Left of us.

More specifically, I’m planning to be at the bar all night long… volunteering.

I’ll be joined by some amazing Tractivist volunteer bartenders, who will be pouring out some of the tastiest hops to the hoppingest party.

I don’t have the full scoop yet on all the refreshments we’re serving, but I do know we’ll have at least a couple kegs of one of my all-time favorite local beers from the Triangle Brewing Company, thanks to an amazing donation from our friends at All About Beer magazine.

Speaking of amazing donations and the best over-21-years-old refreshments… we’ll also be serving wine from the absolutely fantastic Durham Wine Authority .

I personally have a pretty hard time finding wines that fit exactly what I’m looking for. Thankfully, the Wine Authority has this marvelous Italian machine called an Enomatic , that’s basically a self-serve wine tasting. If you haven’t tried it out yet, you should really swing by their store sometime soon.

Better yet, just come to Festivus this Saturday night, and you can bid on an Enomatic debit card with every dollar of the proceeds going to a good cause!

If you don’t have your Festivus tickets yet you can get them right here, right now.

And once you’ve got your tickets, this Saturday you’ll know where to find me.

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Posted in Festivus | No Comments »

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