Conduits of change

Wednesday, April 14, the Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal hosts "Visions of Social Change and San Francisco," a community forum with Sups. Chris Daly and Matt Gonzalez. Find out how you can become more involved in effecting change around housing, economic justice, gay marriage, and other local policy issues. 6 p.m., UC Hastings College of the Law, Dining Commons, 200 McAllister, S.F. Free. (415) 794-6317.

Rabbi against Zionism

Wednesday, April 14, attend the benefit premiere of Oakland filmmaker Wendy Campbell's documentary Neturei Karta: Jews Against Zionism, featuring Rabbi Weiss of the Orthodox Jewish group Neturei Karta. 7:30 p.m. La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berk. $20 (no one turned away for lack of funds). (510) 849-2568.

Bombardment of Laos

Thursday, April 15, as part of the Our World, Our Planet video series, the Naropa University Spiritual Cinema Center sponsors a screening of Jack Silberman's documentary Bombies, on the U.S. bombardment of Laos 30 years ago during the Vietnam War and the enduring dangers from unexploded cluster bombs. 7:30 p.m., University of Creation Spirituality, 2141 Broadway, Oakl. $3-$10 sliding scale. (510) 595-7726.

KPFA benefit

Thursday, April 15, celebrate the 55th anniversary of the nation's first noncommercial, listener-sponsored radio station, KPFA-FM, including appearances by Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, and Spearhead's Michael Franti. 7:30 p.m., King Middle School, 1781 Rose, Berk. $15 ($20 door). (510) 848-6767, ext. 612.

Rally for children

Thursday, April 15, rally in front of San Francisco's City Hall and demand city investments in child care, health care, and programs for youth. Attendees will have an opportunity to sign up with their supervisor to discuss these issues one-on-one. San Francisco Children's Advocacy Network, San Francisco Families United, and Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth sponsor this event with featured guest Mayor Gavin Newsom. Rally 11 a.m.-noon, Civic Center Plaza, Larkin between Grove and McAllister Sts., S.F.; supervisor meetings noon-2 p.m., City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl., S.F. (415) 239-0161, ext. 12.

Stiff Uncle Sam

Thursday, April 15, Northern California War Tax Resistance, Direct Action to Stop the War, and Stop U.S. Tax-funded Aid to Israel Now! sponsor a tax-day rally in front of Oakland's Federal Building in protest of taxes supporting military efforts in Iraq. Meanwhile, DontAmend.com, a national network devoted to stopping antigay constitutional amendments, urges you to picket post offices. Rally 11:30 a.m., Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay, Oakl. www.nowartax.org or www.dontamend.org.

Unionize maquiladoras

Thursday, April 15, attend a forum featuring a presentation by Gema López Limón, who is a professor at the University of Baja California and a main organizer of the Daewoo Workers Support Committee, a group assisting the employees of a TV-screen factory who were fired after trying to organize a union. 7 p.m., Center for Political Education, 522 Valencia, S.F. Call for price. (415) 641-8616.

King Abdullah II speaks

Friday, April 17, attend a keynote address on avenues to peace in the Middle East given by Jordan's 42-year-old leader, King Abdullah II, titled "The Road Ahead: The Need for Vision and Visionaries." Abdullah receives the 21st Century Award for outstanding leadership at this Inforum-sponsored event. Check-in 11:15 a.m., program 1 p.m., Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness, S.F. $40, $65 premium seating, $25 members. Register by April 15, 3 p.m. www.ticketweb.com.

Global justice talk

Friday, April 16, and Saturday, April 17, three grassroots activists from Tanzania, El Salvador, and south Texas give a talk on the failures of globalization policies and what can be done to improve conditions for working people and the environment. Fri/16, 6:30 p.m., New College of California, Room Four, 777 Valencia, S.F. Sat/17, 6:30 p.m., Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar, Berk. $5 donation requested. (415) 437-3425. For tabling opportunities call (415) 575-5542.

Hospital worker care

Saturday, April 17, meet with hospital workers, Sups. Sophie Maxwell and Chris Daly, and state Board of Equalization chair Carole Migden to discuss public interest legislation designed to improve the availability and quality of care at local hospitals. 10 a.m.-noon, West Bay Community Center, 1290 Fillmore, S.F. (415) 503-5745, www.newdirections4care.org.

Improve Oakland's schools

Saturday, April 17, join Oakland vice mayor Nancy Nadel, the LoveLife Foundation (a local grassroots nonprofit dedicated to building community), and teachers for a town hall meeting on ways to improve Oakland's schools as they face state budget cuts. 7 a.m.-noon, Oakland City Hall, Council Chambers, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakl. (510) 663-5683 or (510) 238-7003.

Save lab animals

Saturday, April 17, rally and leaflet to save animals used in laboratory experiments at this "World Week for Animals in Laboratories" kickoff event. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., UC San Francisco, 513 Parnassus, S.F. (415) 751-3756.

Fight nuisance evictions

Monday, April 19, though the nuisance eviction ordinance passed in Oakland, a coalition of community members continues fighting for stable housing and real solutions to neighborhood problems. Join All of Us or None, Critical Resistance, East Bay Uprising, and other concerned community groups in the discussion. 7 p.m., Data Center, ninth floor, 1904 Franklin, Oakl. (510) 444-0484.

Mumia turns 50

Tuesday, April 20, celebrate prison activist and death-row inmate Mumia Abu Jamal's 50th birthday and the release of his new book, We Want Freedom: A Life in the Black Party, at an event sponsored by Refuse and Resist. Speakers include Abu Jamal's defense attorney Robert R. Bryan, author and former Black Panther David Hilliard, and others. 7 p.m., Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakl. $5. (510) 704-5293.

Muni public hearings

Tuesday, April 20, voice your consternation with Muni's recent fee hikes and proposals to cut or reduce service on most bus lines. 4 p.m., City Hall, Room 400, 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Pl., S.F. (415) 554-4129.

Youth activism education

Deadline: Thursday, April 22, today is the deadline to apply for School of Unity and Liberation Summer School, which offers youths paid summer internships in community organizing with groups such as People Organized to Win Employment Rights and East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy. To obtain an application call (510) 451-5466, ext. 307, or e-mail malachi@youthec.org.