District Eight forum

Wednesday, Aug. 14, the Noe Valley Democratic Club hosts a public forum for all District Eight Democratic supervisorial candidates. 7:30-9:30 p.m., Noe Valley Ministry, upstairs, 1021 Sanchez, S.F. Free. (415) 285-6043.

Fight for power

Thursday, Aug. 15, make your voice heard in favor of public power at a hearing on the Local Agency Formation Commission's final energy services study, which has important implications for the future of public power. 9 a.m., City Hall, Room 263, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, S.F. (415) 554-7702.

Save the Bulb

Thursday, Aug. 15, come to the last public hearing on the East Shore State Park to preserve the Albany Bulb landfill as a free place for off-leash dogs and unsupervised art. 7:30 p.m., H'S Lordships Restaurant, 199 Seawall Drive, Berk. (510) 845-4809.

Organize for disabled minorities

Friday, Aug. 16, the Disability Advocates of Minorities Organization brings its Breaking Silence and Organizing Campaign to the Mission District to recruit, educate, and organize disabled minorities and establish a support group. Join members for an introductory meeting. 1-3 p.m., Mission Neighborhood Resource Center, conference room, 165 Capp, S.F. Free. (415) 346-3740.

'Fiery Feminist Freedomfest'

Saturday, Aug. 17, Bay Area Radical Women celebrates Women's Rights Day, the anniversary of women winning the right to vote, with its third annual "Fiery Feminist Freedomfest," featuring performances by poets Nelly Wong and Merle Woo, rapper JenRO, musician Michelle Garcia, and much more. An extra donation buys a summer supper (vegetarian option available). 6 p.m., San Francisco Women's Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. $10, $8.50 dinner. (415) 864-1278.

Mad cows and penned pigs

Sunday, Aug. 18, Dr. Michael Greger speaks about mad cow disease and other threats to our food supply at a vegan tea party to support the Farm Sanctuary, a shelter for abused and neglected farm animals. The fundraiser is sponsored by the Food and Social Justice Project and the Oakland chapter of the Unitarian Universalists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. 4-7:30 p.m., First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St., Oakl. $5-$25. (510) 914-7131.

Middle East peace

Sunday, Aug. 18, University of San Francisco professor Stephen Zunes tries to widen perspective on the polarized Middle East conflict at a talk titled "The Israeli Palestinian Conflict: Exploring It from Both Sides," followed by facilitated small-group discussions, sponsored by the Bay Area Tikkun Community Education Committee. 2-5 p.m., New College Cultural Center, 766 Valencia, S.F. $5-$10. (415) 575-1200.

'Rachael's Film Night'

Sunday, Aug. 18, join AK Press's Rachael Rakes for a screening of The Last Bolshevik, a tribute to Russian filmmaker Alexander Medvedkin by Chris Marker. 7 p.m., Artists' Television Access, 992 Valencia, S.F. $5. (510) 208-1706.

Hermana cubana

Monday, Aug. 19, come for music and a report and video on Berkeley's sister city in Cuba's Santiago de Cuba province, Palma Soriano. Proceeds benefit the Berkeley-Palma Soriano Sister City Association. 7 p.m., La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berk. $8-$10. (510) 548-6914.

The PATRIOT act

Monday, Aug. 19, the Town Hall Committee Against War and Hate asks, "Is dismantling our civil liberties worth the gain in 'security?' " at a presentation and discussion on the war on terrorism-inspired USA PATRIOT Act passed by Congress and what to do about it. 7-9 p.m., Centro del Pueblo, 474 Valencia, S.F. Donation requested. (415) 705-0693.

District Three town hall

Tuesday, Aug. 20, share ideas with or air complaints to Sup. Aaron Peskin and representatives of the police, fire, parks and recreation, public works, and public health departments and Muni and the Mayor's Office on Neighborhood Services at a town hall meeting. 6-8 p.m., Chinese Recreation Center, 1199 Mason, S.F. (415) 554-7453.

Protest no-parole policy

Tuesday, Aug. 20, Californians come together against Gov. Gray Davis's no-parole policy in a simultaneous statewide protest, sponsored by the California Coalition for Battered Women in Prison, the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, Justice Now, and others. Noon, 455 Golden Gate, S.F. (415) 255-7036.

Skateboarders unite!

Tuesday, Aug. 20, tell the supes to give skateboarders the respect they deserve at a Youth Commission rally preceding a Rules Committee hearing on establishing a skateboarding task force. Rally noon, City Hall, front steps, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, S.F.; hearing 1 p.m., City Hall, Room 263. (415) 554-6446.

'Lawyers in the Library'

Tuesday, Aug. 20-Thursday Aug. 22, the Oakland Public Library offers free legal assistance and referrals. Sign-up is by lottery. Tues/20, sign-up 5:45 p.m., sessions 6-8 p.m., Piedmont Branch, 160 41st St., Oakl. (510) 597-5011. Aug. 22, sign-up 5:45 p.m., sessions 6-8 p.m., Main Branch, 125 14th St., Oakl. (510) 238-3134; sign-up 5 p.m., sessions 5:30-7:30 p.m., Asian Branch, 388 Ninth St., Suite 190, Oakl. (510) 238-3400.

'Garbage and Globalization' IV

Wednesday, Aug. 21, part four of the Ecology Center's "Garbage and Globalization" series, this benefit for the Zero Waste Fellowship presents Ann Leonard of Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives and the center's own Tim Krupnik; they will discuss their experiences battling trash in Haiti, globalization's consequences for world health, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa. 7 p.m., Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo, Berk. $5 donation. (510) 527-5555.

'Rockin' Solidarity'

Thursday, Aug. 22, City College of San Francisco's Labor Heritage/Rockin' Solidarity Chorus begins its fall schedule. Every Thursday during the semester, learn to raise your voice for labor, and earn college credit, too. 6:30-9:30 p.m., City College of San Francisco, Phelan Campus, Creative Arts Building, Room 135, S.F. Per-credit tuition fee, enrollment required. (415) 550-4380 or (415) 239-3641.

Women for office

Thursday, Aug. 22, the National Women's Political Caucus invites the public to hear from women candidates running for office in November. 6-10 p.m., State Building, lower-level conference rooms, 455 Golden Gate, S.F. Free. (415) 922-5004.