History of S.F. housing

Thursday, March 25, join local advocacy groups in improving the quality of housing and land use in San Francisco. Joe O'Donoghue and Calvin Welch lead a seminar titled "San Francisco Housing and Land-Use Battles, a Historical Review from the 1970s to the Present" as part of a monthly series sponsored by the San Francisco Green Party and the New College Center for Social Education and Action. 7-9 p.m., New College of California, 777 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 826-2140.

Local women's history

Thursday, March 25, learn how women contributed to the growth of Oakland before and during the turn of the 20th century. As part of National Women's History Month, the Oakland Heritage Alliance hosts Oakland Tribune columnist Annalee Allen and environmental conservationist Elaine Koerner in a presentation on the early clubwomen's movement in Oakland. 7-9 p.m., Casa Romana, 124 Montecity, Oakl. $15 donation. (510) 763-9218 (RSVP).

School spending

Thursday, March 25, find out how your money is being spent in the schools. Get your questions about the San Francisco Unified School District budget answered at Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth's teach-in. 6-8:30 p.m., Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth, 459 Vienna, S.F. Free. (415) 239-0161 (RSVP).

Anarchist book fair benefit

Friday, March 26, attend a benefit supporting the Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair and anarchist political prisoner Sherman Austin, who is the first person to be charged under the U.S. 1997 anti-terrorism law for providing a link on his Web site to a guide containing information on explosives. The evening includes a performance, a vegan dinner, dancing, and more. 6 p.m., 225 Potrero, S.F. $5-$15 donation requested. Email for more info.

Catholicism's future

Saturday, March 27, join scholars, clergy, and followers of the Catholic faith in a discussion of the future of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., University of San Francisco, Lone Mountain Campus, Pacific Rim Room, Turk between Parker and Temescal Sts., S.F. Free. (415) 422-5200 (RSVP required).

Protect Baghdad's libraries

Saturday, March 27, scholars of Islamic studies and librarians come together to discuss the war's impact on the cultural history of Iraq, Islam, and the Middle East through the destruction of libraries. Find out what the United States is doing to protect these important archives at this event sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, San Francisco Friends Meeting, the Librarians' Guild, and others. 2-4 p.m., San Francisco Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin, S.F. Free. (415) 565-0201, ext. 24, or (415) 626-6933.

Tax strike

Saturday, March 27, before you mail off a check to the Internal Revenue Service, consider that some of your money is going toward war efforts. Attend a war-tax resistance workshop and find out what the consequences are for refusing to pay some or all of your federal taxes, learn some legal protest actions, and identify local alternative funds to which you can redirect withheld taxes. 9 a.m.-noon, 2220 Sacramento, Berk. Donation requested. (510) 843-9877.

Green state meeting

Saturday, March 27-Sunday, March 28, join Green Party activists from around the state to discuss electoral strategy, the presidential nomination process, and other important issues. Workshops and discussions give attendees an opportunity to learn more about Green Party issues. Sat/27, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun/28, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., California State Building, 350 McAllister, S.F. $25 one day, $45 both days. (415) 823-5524, www.sfgreenparty.org, www.cagreens.org/plenary (RSVP).

March for Cesar Chavez

Sunday, March 28, march in the fourth annual Cesar Chavez Holiday Parade and Festival in celebration of the life and legacy of the civil rights and labor leader. This year's theme is "support worker and immigrant rights." Music and performances begin after the parade. March noon, corner of Market and Second Sts.; festival 1 p.m., Civic Center Plaza, Larkin between Grove and McAllister Sts., S.F. Free. (415) 621-2665.

Chavez birthday celebration

Tuesday, March 30, join representatives from the farmworkers, labor, and environmental movements in celebration of Cesar Chavez's birthday while they reflect on past and present struggles for justice. United Farm Workers representative Jorge Rigera reports on the efforts to organize Sonoma County vineyards, and Food First's Christine Ahn delivers an update on the boycott of Taco Bell. Performances, organic snacks, and a discussion round out the evening. 7-9 p.m., Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo, Berk. Free. (510) 548-2220, ext. 233.

Sustaining peace

Tuesday, March 30, Johan Galtueg, founder of the International Peace Research Institute in Oslo, Norway, in 1959 and world-renowned peace advocate, gives a lecture titled "Peace by Peaceful Means: Foreign Policy for a Sustainable Future" as part of a student-initiated UC Berkeley course. 6-8 p.m., UC Berkeley, 155 Dwinelle, Berk. Free. (510) 642-6000.

Bike route planning

Wednesday, March 31 as the city enters the final phases of its official Bike Plan, you still have a chance to offer input on 20 proposed bicycle network improvements. Representatives from the San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition lead the workshop. 6:30-8 p.m., SoMa Recreation Center, 270 Sixth St., S.F. Free. (415) 431-BIKE.

Reforming the U.N.

Wednesday, March 31, professors from San Francisco State University, Cal State Hayward, UC Berkeley, and the University of San Francisco discuss the future of the United Nations, how to overcome the internal and external challenges that threaten its viability, and Kofi Annan's commission to review the U.N.'s structure and recommend changes. 7-9 p.m., Unitarian Church of San Francisco, Starr King Room, corner of Geary and Franklin Sts., S.F. $5, $2 students. (415) 674-9701.

Shore savior

Wednesday, March 31, congratulate Sylvia McLaughlin as she receives the Berkeley Outstanding Woman Award for her 40 years worth of work with Citizens for the Eastshore State Park, which protects open space on the East Bay shoreline. 7:30 p.m., North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berk. Free. (510) 461-4665.