Trans social

Wednesday, March 31, San Francisco Transgender Empowerment, Advocacy, and Mentorship provides dinner, drinks, and fun to transgender and gender-variant individuals at the Spring Fling 2004. 6-9 p.m., San Francisco LGBT Community Center, Rainbow Room, 1800 Market, S.F. Free. (415) 865-5555.

Protest the humiliation

Thursday, April 1, a group from North Carolina called Democracy Means You wants everyone to observe National I'm Embarrassed by My President Day this April Fools'. Wear brown if your face is red. For more information, go to www.democracymeansyou.com.

No North Korean nukes

Friday, April 2, come to an all-day conference addressing the problems and possible solutions of the North Korean nuclear crisis. Bruce Cumings of the University of Chicago delivers the keynote address. 9:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m., University of San Francisco, Lone Mountain Campus, 2800 Turk, S.F. $20 ($35 with lunch). (415) 422-6357.

Play it safe

Friday, April 2, Safeway and Albertson's workers are invited to attend a panel discussion held by Bay Area Strikers Solidarity Organization in preparation for their contract's expiration. Health care benefits are at risk. 7 p.m., Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakl. Free. (510) 655-5764.

Labor and tech conference

Friday, April 2-Sunday, April 4, organized around the premise that labor needs to improve its access to and its creation of media, Labor/Tech Access 2004 Conference can help labor members, activists, and journalists pull together and get their message heard. Dozens of workshops over three days cover such topics as police oppression of alternative media, rights to access broadband, and establishing community cable programs. Friday, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Sunday 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Stanford University, Slone Hall and Jordan Hall, Palo Alto. $150-$175 (contact coordinator for student and unemployed rates). (415) 282-1908, www.labortech2004.org.

Day laborer benefit

Saturday, April 3, La Raza Centro Legal, the organization that administers the Day Labor Program, has been dangerously short on resources ever since former mayor Willie Brown cut its funding. Help support the program by attending an emergency benefit with a talent show, music, and all kinds of fun. 6-9 p.m., Centro del Pueblo auditorium, 474 Valencia, second floor, S.F. Donations requested. (415) 553-3404.

Socialist conference

Saturday, April 3, join socialists, activists, students, and trade unionists at "Resisting U.S. Empire, Fighting for a Better World: Northern California Socialist Conference 2004" to discuss and debate topics around the upcoming presidential election, gay marriage, the occupation of Iraq, labor, and the viability of socialism as a political system in the United States. A performance of Howard Zinn's play Marx in Soho concludes the event. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., UC Berkeley, Dwinelle Hall, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk. $10-$50 sliding scale. (510) 333-4604.

Dinner and a movie

Sunday, April 4, attend a screening of Lynne Ramsay's 1998 film, Ratcatcher, about a poor boy trying to make do during Scotland's mid-1970s national garbage strike. Chow down with other punks before the movie. Dinner 7 p.m., screening 9 p.m., Long Haul Cafe, 3124 Shattuck, Berk. Free. (510) 540-0751.

South African freedom

Sunday, April 4, it's been 10 years since South Africa first allowed all of its population to vote. Celebrate this milestone with a dialogue by Rev. Kelvin Sauls, Sister Patience James, and other native South Africans. Performances by poets, musicians, drummers, and the legendary Vukhani Mawethu choir round out the event. 2:30-5 p.m., Main San Francisco Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin, S.F. Free. (415) 565-0201, ext. 15.

Small film fest

Monday, April 5, the East Bay chapter of the United Nations Association sponsors a mini film fest called "Promotion of Universal Respect." Three documentaries dealing with Iran, Canada, Russia, and the United States showcase the struggle for justice. 7 p.m., PFA Theater, 2575 Bancroft, Berk. $8-$10. (510) 849-1752, www.unausaeastbay.org.

Paul Theroux speaks

Tuesday, April 6, meet the acclaimed author who farted before the Queen of England, traveled across Africa without flying, and melded fiction and travel writing. Reception 5:30 p.m., presentation 6:00 p.m., Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market, second floor, S.F. $15, $9 members. (415) 597-6705.

Renewable-energy panel

Tuesday, April 6, come hear a panel of state and local renewable-energy experts from government and industry discussing the role of the United States in international renewable-energy agreements and clean-energy solutions in preparation for the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn, Germany, this June. 6 p.m., World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter, S.F. $7-$12 (World Affairs Council members free). (415) 200-9848.

Port of Oakland demo

Wednesday, April 7, Direct Action to stop the War and People United for a Better Oakland organize a peaceful demonstration beginning with a rally at the Oakland Police Department, continuing with a march to the Oakland docks, and ending in a community picket. Rally 4 p.m., Oakland Police Department, 455 Seventh St., Oakl.; march 5 p.m., West Oakland BART, 1451 Seventh St., Oakl. For more information, go to www.actagainstwar.org or www.peopleunited.org.

Win in court

Wednesday, April 7, traffic attorneys and court personnel from the Traffic Division of the San Francisco Superior Court Self Help Center lead a workshop on how to handle court proceedings and prepare a defense against moving violations. 5:30 p.m., San Francisco Superior Court, 850 Bryant, second floor, S.F. Free. (415) 553-9456.

Zapatista beginnings

Wednesday, April 7, attend a screening of Zapatista: A Big Noise Film, which recounts the first four years (1994-1998) of the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, Mexico. Leaders and pundits such as Tacho and Ana Maria, Zach de la Rocha from Rage Against the Machine, and Noam Chomsky appear in the film. 7 p.m., Fellowship of Humanity, 390 27th St., Oakl. Free. (510) 393-5685.

Continuing without Dean

Ongoing, volunteers with the former Howard Dean presidential campaign are uniting under the new banner of Democracy for America. Meet-ups for this movement are on the first Wednesday of the month. 7 p.m., Plough and Stars, 116 Clement, S.F. Free. (415) 902-0501.