Stop fast track!

Wednesday, May 22, Global Exchange hosts a phone banking drive to oppose fast-track legislation, which, if passed, would give the president full authority to negotiate free-trade agreements without congressional approval. Members of Congress are considering such legislation this week. 6-9 p.m., Global Exchange, 2017 Mission, S.F. (415) 558-9490.

No HOPE

Thursday, May 23, the Committee to Save Rent Control urges concerned San Franciscans to attend today's Board of Supervisors' Transportation and Commerce Committee hearing, during which Sup. Tony Hall is expected to introduce his Home Ownership Program for Equity legislative proposal, which, if passed, housing activists say, would create the means for real estate speculators and landlords to remove rent control from thousands of rental units (see "Beyond HOPE," 5/1/02). 11 a.m., City Hall, Room 263, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, S.F. (415) 703-8634.

'Youth Activism Through Video'

Thursday, May 23, Southern Exposure presents "Leave It to Us ... Youth Activism Through Video," a screening of videos produced by high school-age San Franciscans and addressing issues they face. Screening 4-6:30 p.m., Q&A 6:30-7 p.m., San Francisco Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin, S.F. Free. (415) 863-2141.

End the sanctions!

Thursday, May 23 and Tuesday, May 28, demand that the United States end the economic sanctions against Iraq – responsible, according to some figures, for the deaths of almost 1,600 children under the age of five each month owing to sanctions-related illnesses – at two separate, ongoing vigils. The American Friends Service Committee holds a vigil every Thursday in San Francisco, and the Ecumenical Peace Institute and the Mustardseed Affinity Group hold one every Tuesday in Oakland. Thursdays, noon-1 p.m., San Francisco Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate, S.F. (415) 565-0201, ext. 28; Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m., Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay, Oakl. (510) 548-4141.

Earth First! trial wrap-up

Friday, May 24, Utah Phillips, Darryl Cherney, Alicia Littletree, and others "fiddle down the FBI" at a rally to commemorate the 12-year anniversary of the car bombing of the late Judi Bari and Cherney and to celebrate the end of their civil rights trial against the FBI and the Oakland Police Department. Noon, Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay, Oakl. (510) 663-6330.

Presidio privatization and labor

Saturday, May 25, National Parks and Public Employees, Local 1141, and the San Francisco Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO rally against the privatization of Presidio National Park, the layoff of 62 park employees, and the Presidio Trust's abuse of public lands and public jobs. Informational picket 10 a.m.-noon, speakers noon-1:30 p.m., Presidio, Lombard Gate, Lombard and Lyon, S.F. (415) 561-2270.

Renewable fuels

Saturday, May 25, learn how to make and use homemade biodiesel, a renewable, nontoxic, alternative fuel that can be made out of vegetable oil and can be used in any diesel engine, and find out more about the growing biofuels movement at an Ecology Center workshop. Bring your own lunch. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo, Berk. $15 donation, $10 donation for members. (510) 548-2220, ext. 233.

'Take It to the Bridge!'

Saturday, May 25, demand that the United States end its aid to Israel and its interventions in the Middle East, repeal the USA PATRIOT Act, and end its criminalization of oppressed people at an antiwar rally and march to the Golden Gate Bridge called by the All People's Coalition to Stop U.S. Terror and Occupation, a group including the Al-Awda Palestinian Right to Return Coalition, the African People's Solidarity Committee, the Barrio Defense Committee, the Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Berkeley Stop the War, and others. Rally noon, Crissy Field airfield, Marina Gate at Mason, S.F.; march 2 p.m. (415) 569-9620, www.takeittothebridge.org.

Colombia in crisis

Sunday, May 26, is presidential election day in Colombia, and Comité for a New Colombia holds a panel discussion on the election, the 38-year-old civil war, and the nature and consequences of increased U.S. involvement in the country. 3-5 p.m., Centro del Pueblo, 474 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 821-6545.

Guatemala in struggle

Tuesday, May 28, Raul Nájera of Hijos por la Identidad y la Justicia contra el Olvidio y el Silencio, an organization composed of sons and daughters of those disappeared during Guatemala's civil war, and Ricardo Mérida, member of an electrical workers' union currently holding the longest vigil in Guatemalan history on the steps of the presidential palace, offer personal testimonies and discuss their struggles for change in the context of deepening social turmoil in the face of globalization, at an engagement presented by East Bay Sanctuary Covenant and Rights Action. 7 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 2362 Bancroft, Berk. $10-$30 donation. (510) 540-5296.

'The Global Water Crisis'