March 18 2003

If the war begins…

Anytime, antiwar coalitions ask for your support at impromptu protests, if and when the war against Iraq begins. Also, Direct Action to Stop the War asks that you call in sick to work or school the morning of the first business day following the start of the war. Day of the war, 5 p.m., Powell at Market, S.F. Day after start of the war, noon, Civic Center Plaza, S.F. First business day after the start of war, 7 a.m., Market at Main, S.F. (415) 820-9649, www.actagainstwar.org, (415) 821-6545, www.actionsf.org.

Corporate pigs

Wednesday, March 19, Van Jones, founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, joins Arianna Huffington for a discussion of the corporate greed and corrupt politicians detailed in Huffington's book Pigs at the Trough. Proceeds benefit the Ella Baker Center, Global Exchange, and KPFA-FM. 7 p.m., First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison, Oakl. $10-$12. (510) 848-6767, ext. 609; (415) 255-7296, ext. 200.

'Love and Revolution'

Wednesday, March 19, Activist-authors Signe Waller, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, and Max Elbaum present "Love and Revolution," a talk on the important lessons to be learned from the 1960s' and 1970s' peace and civil rights movements and how they can be applied to the current political climate. 7-9 p.m., Center for Political Education, 522 Valencia, S.F. $5 donation. (415) 431-1918.

California women artists

Thursday, March 20, in celebration of Women's History Month, Diana Burgess Fuller, coeditor of Art/Women/California 1950-2000, presents a slide show and lecture on California women artists from the 1950s to 2000 and their impact on the art world. 9:30-11 a.m., City College of San Francisco, Ocean Avenue Campus, Rosenberg Library, Room 305, 50 Phelan, S.F. Free. (415) 239-3580.

Potrero Hill power plant

Thursday, March 20, learn about the city's new Energy Resource Plan and possible alternatives to Mirant Corp.'s proposed expansion of its 900-megawatt facility, at this community meeting held by the Potrero Power Plant Citizens Advisory Task Force. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro, S.F. (415) 554-6075.

School budgets

Saturday, March 22, state assemblymember Wilma Chan discusses the impact on students of the more than $2 billion in school budget cuts, as well as possible alternatives, including increased taxes on the wealthy. The event is sponsored by Save Schools Now!, a grassroots mobilization to save state education money. 9 a.m., Peralta School, 460 63rd St., Oakl. Free. (510) 286-1670, ext. 23.

Mission for Peace

Sunday, March 23, neighborhood peace group Mission for Peace presents Anthony Arnove, editor of Iraq under Siege, in a discussion of the United Nations' role during times or war, as well as alternative forces for peace. 6-8 p.m., San Francisco Women's Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. Free. (415) 923-1185.

Interracial relationships

Monday, March 24, author and Harvard Law School professor Randall Kennedy speaks on interracial sex, marriage, identity, and adoption in relation to politics and law in the United States and specifically California. He also addresses the national debate concerning his previous best-seller, Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word. Reception 5:15 p.m., program 6 p.m., Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market, second floor, S.F. $15, free for members. (415) 597-6712, (415) 597-6719.

Israel-Palestine peace

Tuesday, March 25, Tanya Reinhart, professor of linguistics at Tel Aviv University, discusses her popular book Israel/Palestine: How to End the War of 1948, which examines Israeli policy and its effects on the Middle East. 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing, Berk. $15 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds. (510) 236-4250, (510) 465-1777.

'Words Not Wars'

Tuesday, March 25, attend "Words Not Wars: The Arts of Diplomacy and Dissent," an event with live music, peace presentations, and readings by poets including Lawrence Ferlinghetti. 5:30 p.m., Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists' Hall, 1024 Cedar, Berk. $10-$15 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack funds. (510) 632-8530, (510) 841-4824.

WW II conscientious objectors

Tuesday, March 25, attend a timely screening of The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It, a documentary that sheds light on the men who refused to fight in what is widely considered the most popular and justifiable war of the past century. 7 p.m., World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter, Suite 200, S.F. $12, $5 students, free for members. (415) 293-4600.

Soul of a representative

Wednesday, March 26, celebrate Women's History Month at an event with District of Columbia congressional representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, a fiery civil rights activist and feminist, who discusses a recent biography on her, Joan Steinau Lester's Fire in My Soul. First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin, S.F. (415)776-4580.