January 1, 2003

Peace vigil

Wednesday, Jan. 1, join a weekly candlelight vigil and peace walk to raise awareness of and express opposition to the war on terrorism. Signs, banners, musical instruments, and candles are welcome. 6:30 p.m., downtown Berkeley BART station, Shattuck at Center Streets, Berk. (510) 528-9217.

Clothing drive

Wednesday, Jan. 1, through Friday, Jan. 31, contribute to the "Together, Miracles Will Happen Clothing Drive," back after a two-year hiatus. Benefiting the St. Anthony Foundation, the clothing drive collected more than 400 bags of men's, women's, and children's clothing in its last four drives. The St. Anthony Foundation provides clothing and furniture to more than 1,600 needy individuals and families a month, while the St. Anthony Foundation Dining Room serves more than 2,000 meals a day. Drop-off locations: Marlena's, 488 Hayes, S.F.; Club Rendez-Vous, 1312 Polk, S.F.; Aunt Charlie's, 133 Turk, S.F.; Mr. Lee Ona's, 301 Turk, S.F.; Powerhouse, 1347 Folsom, S.F.; Mr. S. Leather's, 310 7th St., S.F.; Daddy's, 440 Castro, S.F.; The Edge, 4149 18th St., S.F.; Bay Guardian Building, 135 Mississippi, S.F. To have furniture picked up by St. Anthony's, call (415) 592-2727. For further information, contact St. Anthony's at (415) 241-2600.

Home-ownership 101

Saturday, Jan. 4, attend a free seminar on the basics of buying your own home in the Bay Area. The seminar is sponsored by the American Library Association and Wells Fargo Bank. 2-3:30 p.m., Ocean View Branch Library, 345 Randolph, S.F. Free. (415) 355-5615.

Immigration help

Saturday, Jan. 4, help male Arab nationals threatened with deportation by providing Arabic-English translation at a drop-in legal clinic. Male Arab nationals from Lebanon, Algeria, Bahrain, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen are required to register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. It is feared that many of these men may be detained when registering and possibly deported. 1-4 p.m., American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, 522 Valencia, S.F. (415)861-7444.

Antiwar walk

Sunday, Jan. 5, participate in a weekly walk for peace with the Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace. The walk usually takes about an hour and a half. If you can't get there for the walk's beginning, feel free to join it along the way. 4 p.m., colonnade between Grand and Lakeshore Avenues, northeast end of Lake Merritt, Oakl. (510) 763-8712.

Gay bowling league

Monday, Jan. 6, go to Seabowl Lanes in Pacifica for the first meeting of the Montreal 2006 League. The league is preparation for the Gay Games, the largest amateur athletic competition in the world, which will be held in Montreal in 2006. Meeting 6:30 p.m., league play 7:30 p.m., Seabowl Lanes, 4625 Coast Highway, Pacifica. (650) 738-8190.

Israeli occupation

Monday, Jan. 6, hear Huwaida Arraf and Adam Shapiro from the International Solidarity Movement report back from Palestine. The ISM began peacefully intervening on behalf of Palestinians last year as Israel stepped up its military presence in the occupied territories. Arraf and Shapiro discuss future ISM campaigns and how people can participate in upcoming activities. The two activists also address the war on Iraq and what Americans can do to promote peace and justice in the Middle East. 7 p.m., New College of California, 766 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 255-7296.

Thurgood Marshall hearing

Monday, Jan. 6, attend a special school board meeting for community members to voice their concerns and provide feedback on the findings of an investigative report released by the Thurgood Marshall Community Task Force on the Oct. 11 incident at Thurgood Marshall Academic High School. 6 p.m., Thurgood Marshall Academic High School, 45 Conkling, S.F. (415) 241-6493.

Agribusiness and global ruin

Tuesday, Jan. 7, learn about the global effects of agribusiness at a lecture by Florence Windfall titled "Agribusiness at the Heart of Global Ruin." Using books and posters by Helena Norberg-Hodge, Windfall discusses the dire consequences of supporting agribusinesses and their products, as well as options for consumers to avoid contributing to the globalization of agriculture. 7:30 p.m., Fellowship of Humanity, 390 27th St., Oakl. Free. (510) 393-5685.

Medea Benjamin and the peace movement

Wednesday, Jan. 8, join Global Exchange director Medea Benjamin for an update on the Women's Peace Vigil and other antiwar happenings. Benjamin has just returned from six weeks in Washington, D.C., where she has been instrumental in organizing against the war on Iraq. Find out how you can help make the peace movement stronger and more effective in the new year. 7:30 p.m., New College Cultural Center, 766 Valencia, $10. (415) 255-7296, ext. 244.

Antiwar letters

Ongoing, show support for the mainstream media's most comprehensive, important article yet concerning the current antiwar movement, published Dec. 2 in the Washington Post. The Post and the story's author, Evelyn Nieves, are now under attack by right-wing pundits and "media watchdogs" calling for an end to such reporting and for Nieves's dismissal. People in the United States and abroad deserve more, not less, journalism that accurately portrays popular sentiment. Write to the Post to compliment them on their antiwar-movement coverage and urge them to continue and expand it. E-mail messages to letters@washpost.com or send surface mail to Letters to the Editor, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071.

Glide volunteers

Ongoing, help San Francisco's less fortunate by becoming a volunteer at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, just for the holidays or as a permanent commitment. Glide currently has volunteer positions in numerous areas, including meal programs, health services, employment services, youth and child services, and the Cecil Williams Community House. For more information go to www.glide.org/give/volunteer.asp or call (415) 674-6080.

War humor

Ongoing, check out the following link for a little war humor, if you're having a bleak New Year: www.commondreams.org/views02/1216-06.htm.