ACLU forum on drugs

Wednesday, April 21, with the understanding that U.S. drug policy is costly, ineffective, and sometimes racist, the American Civil Liberties Union organizes a discussion on the war on drugs. Speakers include northern California ACLU director Dorothy Ehrlich and UC Berkeley professor Rob MacCoun, a specialist in comparative drug policy. Rapper Why? of the Anticon and Hieroglyphics hip-hop collectives performs before and after the discussion. 5-8 p.m., Lower Sproul Plaza, UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk. Free. (510) 435-6869.

Earth Day film

Thursday, April 22, attend a screening of filmmaker Toby McLeod's In the Light of Reverence, Earth Island Institute's Sacred Land Film Project capturing opposing views of sacred land use presented by Hopi, Wintu, Lakota, coal miners, and recreationists. Check-in 5:30 p.m., program 6 p.m., Commonwealth Club of California, second floor, 595 Market, S.F. $12, free for members. (415) 597-6700.

Peskin town hall

Thursday, April 22, Sup. Aaron Peskin holds a District Three town hall meeting to discuss a variety of legislative issues affecting constituents. Representatives from the San Francisco Police Department, the San Francisco Fire Department, and other city services also attend and answer questions. 6-8:30 p.m., Francisco Middle School, 2190 Powell, S.F. Free. (415) 554-7453.

Protest Hummers

Thursday, April 22, battle the ultimate behemoths of the SUV industry and personal chariots of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Earth Day by circling your local Hummer dealership in slow-moving hybrid cars and bikes. Sponsors include the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, Global Exchange, and CodePink. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Putnam Hummer, California and Howard, Burlingame. (650) 344-2912, patgray.green@att.net. Also 5-6:30 p.m., Team Hummer, 2 Shoreline Parkway, San Rafael. (415) 575-5525, nohummer@codepinkalert.org. For information on other events go to www.codepinkalert.org.

Poverty discussion

Friday, April 23, attend a discussion sponsored by International Development Exchange titled "Overcoming Obstacles to Economic Development in Zimbabwe and Oakland: An Uncommon Dialogue." Panelists George Gonani, executive director of Credit Against Poverty in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, and Juliet Ellis, executive director of Urban Habitat in Oakland, present ways to improve conditions for impoverished communities. 5-7 p.m., Port of Oakland, seventh floor, 530 Water, Oakl. Free. (415) 824-8384, kisha@idex.org.

Scholarships for Palestinians

Friday, April 23, the Friends of Deir Ibzi'a presents a night of Middle Eastern music to help Palestinian children's education. The Georges Lammam Ensemble plays popular and classic Arabic hits while art from the West Bank village of Deir Ibzi'a hangs on the walls. Proceeds provide scholarships for youth in Deir Ibzi'a. 8:00 p.m., La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berk. $15. (415) 567-1699.

Action training

Friday, April 23-Sunday, April 25 learn how to organize your community in this intensive weekend activist-training seminar sponsored by the Center for Third World Organizing. Experienced organizers and role-playing help participants get ready to take community and political action. Fri/23, 5-9 p.m.; Sat/24, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun/25, 8 a.m.-4:15 p.m., Center for Third World Organizing, 1218 E. 21st St., Oakl. $200 (meals included). (510) 533-7583.

Abolitionist archive debut

Saturday, April 24, attend the unveiling of a research archive on abolitionist Mary Ellen Pleasant. The research resolves some central questions about the California civil rights pioneer's life and is available in a three-DVD set. 1 p.m., African American Museum and Library at Oakland, 659 14th St., Oakl. (510) 637-0200, www.oaklandlibrary.org.

Empower women of color

Saturday, April 24, defend women's rights and attend the Rally for Women's Lives, sponsored by San Francisco youth and community partners and held in solidarity with the March for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C. Noon-4 p.m., Dolores Park, Dolores between 18th and 20th Sts., S.F. sfrallyforwomenslives@yahoo.com.

Get your kids into college

Saturday, April 24, the UCSF Center for Science Education and Outreach sponsors a conference organized to help eighth-grade students prepare for high school and college. Find out what classes a student should take in high school, how grades affect college eligibility, and how to access financial resources for college. Make sure to register in advance. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., UCSF main campus, 513 Parnassus, S.F. Free. (415) 514-651, www.ucforyou.com.

Traveling Bohemians

Sunday, April 25, experimental performing arts group the Traveling Bohemians presents The Voice of the People, a variety show voicing political, social, and environmental concerns, based on a new anthology of poetry and prose by northern California poets, writers, and artists. A book signing follows the performance. 4 p.m., La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berk. $10. (530) 229-7818.

Civil marriage rights

Tuesday, April 27, attend a screening of I Can't Marry You, a documentary about the right to marry, featuring same-sex couples in long-term relationships, civil rights attorneys, and narration by Ellen DeGeneres's mom, Betty DeGeneres. Proceeds from the event support the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, purchase television airtime for the film, and send copies of it to Congress. Attendees get a free DVD, video, or "I can't marry you ... YET!" T-shirt. 7 p.m., San Francisco LGBT Community Center, Rainbow Room, 1800 Market, S.F. $25-$100. (415) 865-5555.

Addressing globalization

Wednesday, April 28, Levi Strauss and Co. president and CEO Philip Marineau speaks on outsourcing and the worldwide business environment at "The Dilemmas of Globalization: How One Company Is Addressing Change," sponsored by the Commonwealth Club of California. Wine-and-cheese reception 5:30 p.m., program 6 p.m., Commonwealth Club of California, second floor, 595 Market, S.F. $15, free for members. (415) 597-6705.

Daniel Ellsberg

Wednesday, April 28, the Oakland Public Library sponsors "An Evening with Daniel Ellsberg," at which the author discusses and signs copies of his book Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers. 7 p.m., Oakland Museum of California, James Moore Theater, 1000 Oak, Oakl. Free (limited seating). (510) 238-3134 or (510) 238-3271, www.oaklandlibrary.org.

Donate to school

Ongoing, support academic programs by donating technical and science equipment or funds to the School of Social Justice and Community Development, a small alternative East Oakland high school that had almost all of its equipment stolen earlier this month. (510) 879-8559 or (510) 301-8105.