George Soros lecture

Wednesday, Mar. 3, listen to financier and philanthropist George Soros in conversation with Orville Schell, dean of UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, as Soros offers his take on the Bush administration's foreign policy and how its post-9/11 actions have pointed the country in a direction that will lead to ruin. The event is sponsored by the Commonwealth Club of California, the Goldman Forum on the Press and Foreign Affairs, and UC Berkeley's Office of the Chancellor. 7:30 p.m., Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk. $10, $5 for Commonwealth Club members. (415) 597-6705.

WSF report-back

Wednesday, Mar. 3, hear a report-back, sponsored by the Activism and Social Change and the Media Studies M.A. Program at New College of California, from Bay Area participants in the recent World Social Forum in India. Find out what was accomplished and about challenges facing the WSF, as well as its significance and future. 7 p.m., New College Cultural Center, 766 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 437-3425.

ANSWER double feature

Thursday, Mar. 4, celebrate International Women's Day with two films, sponsored by International ANSWER: "With Babies and Banners" presents the untold story of the women behind the 1937 General Motors strike, while "You Have Struck a Rock!" commemorates the contribution of South African women to the antiapartheid struggle. 7:30 p.m., Artists' Television Access, 992 Valencia, S.F. $5 donation. (415) 821-6545.

Library privacy panel

Thursday, Mar. 4, attend a panel on issues of privacy in library applications of radio frequency identification technology. Speakers include Lee Tien of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Jackie Griffin of the Berkeley Public Library, and Susan Hildreth of the San Francisco Public Library. 6-8 p.m., San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch, 100 Larkin, S.F. Free. (415) 557-4400.

Protest Bush or bust

Thursday, Mar. 4, as President George W. Bush speaks at a Santa Clara fundraiser, join Bay Area activists to demand money for jobs and education, not war and occupation, and to protest Bush's proposed constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage. The demonstration is sponsored by South Bay Mobilization and International ANSWER Coalition-S.F. Bay Area. Call to reserve transportation. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great American Parkway, Santa Clara. Free. (415) 821-6545.

Human rights films

Friday, March 5, the fourth Human Rights Watch International Film Festival runs every Friday in March. Through fiction and documentary, the films advocate for human rights as they honor the activists who fight for them. For screening times got to hrw.org/iff/2004/sanfran/schedule.html. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, S.F. $7, $4 for members, students, and seniors. (415) 978-2787.

Same-sex marriage panel

Friday, Mar. 5, attend a panel discussion on the struggle for same-sex marriage with prominent lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender activists Esperanza Macias, Debra Walker (Harvey Milk Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club), Howard Wallace (Pride at Work, AFL-CIO, and Harvey Milk Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club), and Gerry Foley (Socialist Action Newspaper). 7:30 p.m., Socialist Action Bookstore, 298 Valencia, S.F. $5. (415) 255-1080.

Tales from her POV

Friday, Mar. 5-Sunday, Mar. 7, the Women's Building hosts "Herpectives: Breathing New Life into Old Stories," three evenings of art and performance. Interactive art installations and multimedia stage performances by local young women invert myths about female power. The Women's Building, Mission Girls, Loco Bloco, the Center for Young Women's Development, and WILD for Human Rights sponsor this event celebrating International Women's Day. Performances contains emotionally sensitive material. Live art 7 p.m., performances 8 p.m., Women's Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. $10-$30 sliding scale, $5-$10 sliding scale for youth under 18. (415) 431-1180.

Women's film fest

Friday, March 5-Monday, March 8, in honor of International Women's Day, "Trespasses," a four-day film festival, celebrates women filmmakers from near and far. Enjoy international documentaries such as Lourdes Portillo's Senorita extraviada and shorts made by local filmmakers Kirthi Nath ("By the By") and Laurie Koh ("Sisterz of the Underground: Extra Credit"). Fri/5, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Sat/6, 7-9 p.m.; Sun/7, 7-9:30 p.m.; Mon/8, 7-9:30 p.m., New College Cultural Center, 766 Valencia, S.F. $3-$5. (415) 437-3408.

Anne Delbee lecture

Monday, Mar. 8, hear actor, director, playwright, and author Anne Delbee speak (in French) on sculptor Camille Claudel at "Camille Claudel, Symbole du Feminisme." Alliance Française sponsors this event in honor of International Women's Day. 7 p.m., Alliance Française, auditorium, 1345 Bush, S.F. Free. (415) 775-2539.

Protest U.S. intervention

Monday, Mar. 8, in honor of International Women's Day, Global Women's Strike stands in solidarity with women in Venezuela to protest threats of further U.S. government intervention in that country and media disinformation to justify it. Bring puppets, placards, and banners. Film clips run after the protest. 3:30-5:30 p.m., Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate, S.F. (415) 626-4114.

America's other war

Tuesday, Mar. 9, the African People's Solidarity Committee sponsors "America's Other War: Building an Anti-War Movement to Stop the War on the Black Community," a discussion on the war in U.S. inner cities. Keynote speakers are Omali Yeshitela (African People's Socialist Party), Penny Hess (African People's Solidarity Committee), and Bakari Olatunji (International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement). 7-9 p.m., Fellowship Hall, 390 27th St., Oakl. $5-$25 donation. (510) 625-1106.

Health care crisis

Wednesday, Mar. 10, the Women's Economic Agenda Project hosts a town hall meeting to assess the health care crisis and how to build long-term solutions for the right to health care. 2 p.m., St. Mary's Center, 635 22nd St., Oakl. Free. (510) 451-7379, ext. 233.

SFPUC public hearing

Wednesday, Mar. 10, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's Rate Fairness Board hosts a series of public hearings to address proposed sewer rate recommendations. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and comment on sewer rate policy recommendations and adjustments. 6-8 p.m., Excelsior Club House, Russia Avenue at Madrid, S.F. Free. (415) 554-1539.

Help the Haitians

Ongoing, the American Friends Service Committee, an international humanitarian organization, has created a special fund to support transport of food and basic supplies to rural areas of Haiti during this time of unrest. Send contributions to AFSC-Haiti, 65 Ninth St., S.F. 94103, or call 888-588-2372, ext. 1, to pay by Visa or MasterCard.

Research assistance by Lisa Macabasco.