November 27, 2002

Holiday dinners

Wednesday, Nov. 27-Friday, Nov. 29, help Tenderloin Tessie's Holiday Dinners continue its 30-year tradition of serving meals to those with no place to go on Thanksgiving, including families and the homeless, elderly, and disabled. Volunteers are needed to help set up Wednesday evening, serve meals Thursday, and clean up Friday. Wed/27, 4-7 p.m.; Thurs/28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri/29, 4 p.m.-6 p.m., First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin, S.F. (415) 637-3550 or (415) 922-0422.

Benefit for El Salvador

Friday, Nov. 29, support striking health workers in El Salvador by attending a benefit organized by the Latin American Cultural Association and FLMN-San Francisco and featuring local musicians and poets. 6 p.m.-midnight, 522 Valencia, third floor, S.F. $5 donation. (415) 420-4203.

Buy Nothing Day

Friday, Nov. 29, join Adbusters and other activist groups in protesting corporate corruption and capitalist consumption by buying nothing on what has historically been the busiest shopping day of the year. Go to www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd for more information on this growing, global movement.

Women in Black

Friday, Nov. 29, join Bay Area Women in Black in a silent walking vigil around Union Square to protest the U.S. military escalation against Iraq and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Participants should wear black; please don't bring signs. Gather 11:45 a.m., Bank of America, 1 Powell, S.F. Free. (510) 486-2744.

Indymedia Israel benefit

Saturday, Nov. 30, attend an Indymedia Israel fundraiser featuring Indymedia Israel cofounder and Israeli military refuser Ronen Eidelman, who will speak about Israeli dissent, ecology, and globalization. Also, help create a banner of solidarity to be taken back to Indymedia Israel. 6 p.m., the Lab, 2948 16th St. S.F. $5-$20 sliding scale; no one turned away for lack of funds. (415) 864-8855 or (415) 271-0576.

Activism film festival

Saturday, Nov. 30 and Sunday, Dec. 1, see eight films on two screens at "Change and Hope: Fall Activism and Social Change Film Festival," sponsored by New College's Activism and Social Change program. As globalization proceeds under the gun of U.S. military power, be inspired by these films on activist history. Sat/30, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun/1, 1-6 p.m., New College of California, 766 Valencia, S.F. $5 each day. (415) 427-3465 or (415) 437-3425.

'Working Women'

Sunday, Dec. 1, join the Labor Archives and Research Center for a workshop on UNION Wage, the 1970's feminist labor organization. Speakers include historian Rochelle Gatlin and former Union W.A.G.E. editor Chude Allen and photographer Cathy Cade, who presents a slide show depicting women's struggles from the period. 1:30 p.m., Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University, 480 Winston, S.F. Free. (415) 564-4010.

Desert Storm film

Monday, Dec. 2, watch The Hidden Wars of Desert Storm, the result of a two-year investigation into the Gulf War and its effects, as well as the embargoes on Iraq and Gulf War Syndrome. The film includes never-seen-before documents and interviews with Commander General Norman Schwarzkopf, former attorney general Ramsey Clark, and others. 7-8:30 p.m., Walden Pond Bookstore, 3316 Grand, Oakl. Free. (510) 658-8994.

Israeli history lecture

Monday, Dec. 2, attend Joel Beinin and George Bisharat's lecture titled "From Oslo to the Second Intifada," part of a continuing series sponsored by A Jewish Voice for Peace. 7:30 p.m., Geary Theater, 415 Geary, fifth floor, S.F. $10-$20 sliding scale, $5 students. (415) 789-8279.

Health care for California

Tuesday, Dec. 3, hear Bruce Bodaken, Blue Shield of California chair and CEO, outline potential solutions to the health care crisis threatening California. Currently one in five Californians don't have health care, and the slow economy and large state-budget deficit will only make the problem worse. Reception 5:15 p.m., program 6 p.m., Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market, second floor, S.F. $15, $9 members. (415) 597-6712 or (415) 597-6719.

Women and violence

Tuesday, Dec. 3, join Latinos Contra la Guerra for an informal discussion about the ongoing violence faced by the women of Juarez, Mexico. More than 500 women have disappeared from the border town, while many of the remaining women have suffered sexual assault and torture. The talk addresses what the war on terrorism has to do with this violence, what Latinos can do about it, and other topics. 6:30 p.m., Center for Political Education, 522 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 701-9502.

Environmental panel

Wednesday, Dec. 4, Scott Shafer of KQED-FM moderates a panel discussion with local Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religious leaders on the topic "Caring for Creation: Faith and Environmental Responsibility." The event is presented by California Interfaith Power and Light. 6:30 p.m., San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin, S.F. Free. (415) 557-4277.