Antiwar benefit

Wednesday, May 14, as resistance to the U.S. occupation of Iraq continues, help Direct Action to Stop the War at a benefit featuring a spoken word cabaret and Afro-Brazilian polyrhythmic band Aphrodesia. 8 p.m.-midnight, El Rio, 3158 Mission, S.F. $10-$15 donation. (415) 282-3325.

Fired columnist

Wednesday, May 14, catch up with Henry Norr, the former San Francisco Chronicle technology columnist fired for his involvement in antiwar protests in March, at the Society of Professional Journalists' "Second Wednesdays" mixer. 6-8 p.m., Café de la Presse, 352 Grant, S.F. Free. (415) 398-2680.

Candidate meeting series

Thursday, May 15, the City Democratic Club begins its November Election Candidate Series with mayoral candidate and City Treasurer Susan Leal and district attorney candidate Kamala Harris. 7:30 p.m., Delancey Street Discussion Room, 600 Embarcadero, S.F. Free. (415) 923-5252.

Chilean journalist

Thursday, May 15, Ernesto Carmona, director of Radio Nacional in Chile during the Allende years and an exiled underground critic of Pinochet, discusses his new book, Los duenos de Chile (The owners of Chile), which examines the concentration of wealth in Chile. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Acción Latina, 2958 24th St., S.F. Free. (415) 648-1045.

Israeli objectors

Thursday, May 15, protest the incarceration of Israeli reservists and high school seniors who as conscientious objectors have refused to serve in the occupied territories. Send a message to U.S. and Israeli authorities that the detention of Israeli refuseniks and Palestinians does not constitute a move toward peace in the Middle East. Noon, Israeli Consulate, 456 Montgomery, S.F. Free. (415) 504-6301.

Occupation and apartheid

Thursday, May 15, commemorate the 55th anniversary of Al-Nakba, the forced Palestinian expulsion in 1948, with Rula Khalafawi's timely lecture "A Road Map from Baghdad to Jerusalem." Khalafawi details the similarities between the Israeli occupation and apartheid in South Africa. 7-9 p.m., New College of California, Room 4, 777 Valencia, S.F. $5 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds. (415) 575-5539.

Toxins and youth

Friday, May 16, Literacy for Environmental Justice and teachers from the San Francisco Unified School District present a youth-organized conference on the environmental and social impacts of war and the military. The event takes place in Bayview-Hunters Point, home of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, an environmental disaster. 9:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m., Bayview Opera House, 4705 Third St., S.F. Free. (415) 508-0575.

What rights?

Friday, May 16, Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union join local community groups for a forum on the state of human rights during the war on terror, specifically the PATRIOT Acts, special registrations, and racial profiling. Forum participants will also propose a plan for action. 7-9 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin, S.F. Free. (415) 661-5326.

Campaign training

Saturday, May 17, learn everything you need to know about getting an initiative passed or a candidate elected at a progressive campaign training event held by the San Francisco Green Party, featuring Sups. Matt Gonzalez and Chris Daly and school board members Mark Sanchez and Sarah Lipson. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sutter Theater, 533 Sutter, S.F. Free. (415) 386-2706.

Occupation of Iraq

Saturday, May 17, Bay Area United Against War hosts the public antiwar teach-in "Teach-In/Speak-Out: Countering the Myths of the U.S. War and Occupation of Iraq." The panel discussion portion of this event features journalist and publisher Alexander Cockburn and depleted-uranium expert Louren Monet, among other noted academics, scientists, and lawyers. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez, S.F. $15 (includes lunch), no one turned away for lack of funds. (415) 487-6431 or (415) 824-8730.

World Fair Trade Day

Saturday, May 17, promote fair trade, an economic system that ensures a living wage for artisans, farmers, and laborers around the world, on World Fair Trade Day. Stop by a Global Exchange store in Berkeley or San Francisco to find out what goes on when chain stores like Safeway sell non-fair trade products like Folgers coffee. Then, join others at area Safeways urging the public to recognize the benefits of fair trade. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., San Francisco Global Exchange store, 4018 24th St., S.F. (415) 648-8068. 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Berkeley Global Exchange store, 2840 College, Berk. (510) 548-0370.

Mental health events

Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18, attend workshops, exhibits, and a town hall forum focusing on the changing mental health system and take in live entertainment on Saturday. On Sunday, rally for freedom and choice instead of forced drugging and the expansion of forced-treatment laws at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting. Both events are sponsored by MindFreedom Support Coalition International. Sat/17, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Everett Middle School, 450 Church, S.F. Sun/18, 1 p.m., Moscone Center, 747 Howard, S.F. 1-877-623-7743.

Public power forum

Monday, May 19, the third in a series of public power activist forums focuses on an organizational model for the group and more. 5:30 p.m., International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 21, 1182 Market, S.F. Free. (415) 864-2100.

Indigenous Brazilians

Tuesday, May 20, learn about the land and cultural struggles of the Xavante Indians, indigenous peoples of central Brazil, at this slide show and discussion, and find out how you can help with future international outreach and solidarity projects. 6-8 p.m., Thoreau Center for Sustainability, Presidio Bldg., 1014 Lincoln, Presidio, S.F. Free. (415) 752-8678.

View from Baghdad

Tuesday, May 20, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and founder of Iraq Peace Teams, Kathy Kelly delivers an eye-witness account of the bombing of Baghdad at a benefit for Middle East Children's Alliance and Voices in the Wilderness. 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing, Berk. $20. (510) 548-0542.

Mayoral candidate reception

Wednesday, May 21, the San Francisco Preservation Consortium presents a mayoral candidate reception, featuring candidates Angela Alioto, Susan Leal, Sup. Gavin Newsom, and others for an evening of meet-and-greet as the campaign season gets under way. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Carey and Co. (formerly Old Engine Co. No. 2), 460 Bush, S.F. $10. (415) 434-4300.

Human rights award

Wednesday, May 21, and Thursday, May 22, Global Exchange presents its annual Human Rights Award to Dr. Azmi Bishara, a Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset and founder of the National Democratic Assembly, on Thursday. On Wednesday, Bishara offers an analysis of the Bush administration's Middle East policies. May 21, 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison, Oakl. $12, $10 in advance. May 22, 6-10 p.m., Palace of Fine Arts, 3100 Lyon, S.F. $125. (415) 255-7296, ext. 200.