alerts

by deborah giattina

Indie movie

Wednesday, Dec. 7, come to a wine bar and attend a networking event following a screening of the documentary film Independent America, in which a husband-and-wife team travel through 32 states and over 13,000 miles of road (using no interstates) and patronize only independently owned businesses. 7-9:30 p.m., Varnish Fine Art, 77 Natoma, SF. www.independentamerica.net.

Save St. Brigid's

Wednesday, Dec. 7, advocate for landmarking St. Brigid's, a historic Catholic church, and stop the Academy of Art College from renovating the interior, at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors. 1 p.m., City Hall, Rm. 263, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl., SF. (415) 577-0105, (415) 488-1888.

Spiritual solutions

Wednesday, Dec. 7, find your faith in democracy at the San Francisco for Democracy Holiday Meet-up, focusing on spirituality, values, and politics. Special guest Peter Gabel, director of the Institute for Spirituality and Politics at New College, talks about how to blend progressive politics with spirituality. 7-9 p.m., Schroeder's, 240 Front, SF. Free. (415) 789-8008, dfa.meetup.com/123.

UN Climate Summit demo

Wednesday, Dec. 7, in recognition of the UN Climate Summit currently being held in Montreal, demand environmental justice at a press conference and march organized by Sups. Ross Mirkarimi and Tom Ammiano, as well as Global Exchange, Rainforest Action Network, and many others. Call for local, state, and federal policies to stop global warming. 1 p.m., City Hall steps, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl., SF. For more information, contact chalicenew@earthlink.net, (415) 731-7924. Find out how you can help at our-city.org/campaigns/index.html and www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/actnow/copmop.html.

Party with the Dems

Thursday, Dec. 8, join the District 3 Democratic Club and celebrate the holiday season at Andrew Jaeger's House of Seafood and Jazz, a restaurant relocated to SF from New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Support both Democrats and hurricane evacuees during one jazzy evening. 6-9 p.m., Andrew Jaeger's, Broadway and Columbus. (415) 781-8222, www.condorsf.com.

Humanitarian help

Saturday, Dec. 10, celebrate Human Rights Day by strolling the city with California Peace Action to promote abolishing small-arms trade. Distribute door hangers and postcards to Congress in local neighborhoods with other volunteers. Meet at 10:30 a.m., Golden Gate Park in front of the County Fair Building, Ninth St. and Lincoln, at the Peace Action tent. Free coffee and bagels. All welcome. RSVP at (510) 849-2272, ext. 107, or laura@californiapeaceaction.org.

Radio day

Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11, support public radio at the annual KPFA Crafts and Music Fair. Buy jewelry, sculpture, photography, toys, items made from reused materials, and art made by hip-hop artists. Enjoy gourmet food for sale and music by jazz duo John Santos and John Calloway and others. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Concourse Exhibition Center, Eighth St. and Brannan, SF. $8, $13 for two-day pass, $5 for seniors, free under 17. (510) 848-6767, ext. 611, craftsfair@kpfa.org, www.kpfa.org.

Prisoner benefit

Sunday, Dec. 11, raise money for political prisoners by attending the 20th annual Holiday Appeal for Class-War Prisoners sponsored by the Partisan Defense Committee and Labor Black League for Social Defense. Funds go to the Class-War Prisoners stipend fund. 2-6 p.m., YWCA tea room, 1515 Webster, Oakl. $5-$15 sliding scale. (510) 839-0852.

Socialist holiday party

Sunday, Dec. 11, celebrate the season with the Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women, and mingle with other radicals working for social justice. Nibble on food and drinks, and enjoy the folk music of Faith Petric. 1 p.m., New Valencia Hall, 1908 Mission, SF. $6.50 donation for food. (415) 864-1278, rwbayarea@yahoo.com, www.socialism.com.

Overhauling health care

Monday, Dec. 12, come listen to John Hammergren, CEO and chair of McKesson Corporation and twice listed on Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Powerful People in Health Care, speak about the skyrocketing costs of health care and how they can be reduced. 5:30 p.m., Commonwealth Club Office, 595 Market, second fl., SF. $18, free for members. (415) 597-6712.

WiFi hearings

Monday, Dec. 12, come to one of two meetings with the Board of Supervisors to advocate for public input and discussion of how WiFi gets implemented in San Francisco. 1 p.m. (also Dec. 16, 2 p.m.), City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl., SF. www.webnetic.net/2005/1/what_do_you_think_san_francisco.html.

Venezuelan video screening

Wednesday, Dec. 14, catch the movie Talking of Power: Sex, Race, and Class in Revolutionary Venezuela to see how power politics operate throughout the Americas. 7-9 p.m., Red Vic, 1665 Haight, SF. $5-$10, no one turned away for lack of funds. (415) 626-4114.