Benefit for 'Holy Land' film

Wednesday, Aug. 18, come to a benefit reception for the film Holy Land: Common Ground, which portrays a coalition of Palestinians and Israelis working toward peace. Producer and director Ed Gaffney shows clips highlighting activism, reconstruction, and other projects. A Middle Eastern buffet is included in the event. 7 p.m., Arab Culture and Community Center, 2 Plaza, S.F. $50 requested minimum donation. (415) 469-0702 or (415) 661-2200.

Protect the world's water

Thursday, Aug. 19, learn about how people around the world are guarding our right to water and find out what you can do to stop corporations from privatizing water sources and exploiting water-scarce regions. 7-9 p.m., Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo, Berk. Free. (510) 548-2220.

Sup. McGoldrick meeting

Thursday, Aug. 19, District One constituents can discuss issues with Sup. Jake McGoldrick at this town hall meeting. Light refreshments are served. 6 p.m., Richmond Recreational Center, 251 18th Ave., S.F. Free. (415) 554-7410.

RAWA benefit

Friday, Aug. 20, watch performances by some of the most captivating members of the Bay Area experimental and avant-garde music scenes at a benefit for the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan. The event features musicians Pamela Z, Shoko Hikage, Jesse Quattro, Moe! Staiano, and Vicki Grossi. 8 p.m., 21 Grand, 449B 23rd St., Oakl. $7-$70 sliding scale (no one turned away for lack of funds). (415) 273-4681, media@museumfire.com.

Community mosaic project

Saturday, Aug. 21, attend a mosaic workshop and assist artists Colette Crutcher and Aileen Barr in the construction of a 163-step public stairway on 16th Avenue and Moraga. Noon-5 p.m., Christ Church Lutheran Parish Hall, 1090 Quintara, S.F. Free. (415) 681-4502.

SomArts benefit

Saturday, Aug. 21, help support SomArts Cultural Center, a 30-year-old community gallery and theater, which has been forced to cut back its projects and staffing due to constant decreases in arts funding. Live music, dancers, magic acts, comedy, a raffle, and more are featured at this art exhibit and performance benefit. 8 p.m., SomArts Bay Gallery, 934 Brannan, S.F. $5-$10. (415) 552-2131, www.artworksf.com.

Tenderloin nature tour

Saturday, Aug. 21, join Thomas Wang, park section supervisor for the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, on a nature hike through the Tenderloin and Civic Center. Learn about rodent nests near City Hall, local landscapes, and pigeon feeders and help plant a medicinal ethnobotanical garden at Boeddeker Park. 9-10:30 a.m., meet Civic Center Plaza, center lawn, corner of Hyde and Grove Sts., S.F. Free. (415) 621-3260, www.sfneighborhoodparks.org.

Beat Bush with comedy

Monday, Aug. 23, politically driven stand-up comedians Jeff Kreisler, Brian Malow, Michael Capozzola, and Dan Piraro (creator of the newspaper comic Bizarro and author of The Three Little Pigs Buy the White House) bring their nationwide comedy tour, "Bizarro's PolitiComedy-a-Go-Go," to San Francisco. With incisive and unrestricted humor, the foursome cover relevant issues such as drug laws, corporate crime, and global warming. 9 p.m., Punchline, 444 Battery, S.F. $12. (415) 397-0644, www.comicsagainstevil.com.

Prop. F Meeting

Monday, Aug. 23, Parents United for Education holds a meeting to discuss strategy and organize campaign teams for Proposition F, appearing on the November ballot. Nine members of the Board of Supervisors currently support the initiative, which would allow noncitizen parents to vote in city school board elections. 6-7 p.m., Instituto Familiar de La Raza, 2919 Mission, S.F. Free. (415) 647-4141. For more information on Parents United for Education call David Chiu at (415) 793-5462 or e-mail david.chiu@grassroots.com or call Carlos Petroni at (415) 452-9992 or e-mail alternative@sbcglobal.net.

9/11 commissioner speaks

Tuesday, Aug. 24, 9/11 commissioner Richard Ben-Veniste addresses the Bar Association of San Francisco about the commission's recently released report. Ben-Veniste discusses what's been learned from 9/11 and how to protect the United States from future attacks. Registration 11:30 a.m., lunch and address, noon, Omni San Francisco Hotel, 500 California, S.F. $65, $50 BASF members, $35 students ($500 for tables of 10). (415) 782-8992.

Buñuel's political comedy

Wednesday, Aug. 25, as part of a series on political comedy, the Fellowship of Humanity hosts a screening of surrealist filmmaker Luis Buñuel's Viridiana, based on the life of a little-known Spanish saint. The film was so controversial when it came out that it caused the Franco government to permanently exile Buñuel from Spain. 7:30 p.m., Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakl. Free (donations appreciated). (510) 393-5685.

Eliminate torture

Wednesday, Aug. 25, speaking out against the cruel and unethical practices against detainees, American Bar Association president Robert Gray discusses why the organization opposes the endeavor to find a legal justification for torture while interrogating detainees. The U.S. Justice and Defense Departments have searched for holes in our system that would permit prison guards to use abusive interrogation tactics, such as those allegedly used at Abu Ghraib prison. Reception 5:30 p.m., program 6 p.m., Commonwealth Club of California, second floor, 595 Market, S.F. $18, free for members. (415) 597-6705.

Rally in Palo Alto

Wednesday, Aug. 25, assemble in downtown Palo Alto with Listening for a Change and march to Rep. Anna Eshoo's office to express your disagreement with the 9/11 cover-up and the Intelligence Transformation Act she supports. The event is scheduled to challenge the Republican National Commission in New York City. Gather 11 a.m., march 1 p.m., Lytton Plaza (University and Emerson), Palo Alto. www.communitycurrency.org.

Women's Resource Fair

Wednesday, Aug. 25, learn about resources and opportunities available for women in the community during the second annual "It's Your Community – Use It!" Women's Resource Fair. The event promotes women's empowerment in areas such as health, education, career development, and economics. Free health screenings, vocational instruction, and other services are offered. 4 p.m., Women's Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. Free. (415) 431-1180, www.womensbuilding.org.

Research assistance by Alison Hathaway.