Works In Progress - October 2007 - October 2007 Announcements

2007 marks the twin 30th Anniversaries of two hope-filled local efforts, the Olympia Food Co-op and the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action. In celebration of this spooky coincidence, the Tovarish D. Wagster Fund has arranged a way for Co-op shoppers to feel doubly good about their purchases! Few South Sounders are conscious that the Trident submarine base at Bangor (a mere 20 miles west of Seattle) now houses the nation’s largest single stockpile of nuclear warheads. The property of the G.Z. Center directly abuts the Bangor base. A couple of years ago, fire burned the house which had served as the HQ for Ground Zero’s bold struggle against nuclear self-annihilation. An ambitious fundraising campaign has been launched to replace the old house with an improved building. How is this tied to the Co-op? Thanks to a working member’s contribution, the first 50 people who send in a donation of $25 or more to the Ground Zero Building Fund, will receive back a magic green card, which is good for 25% off on all purchases (up to $100) at either of the Co-op’s convenient locations. For more info on the Ground Zero Center and its unrelenting battle against the nuclear dragon, please visit: http://www.gzcenter.org . Your generous donations can be sent directly to:

Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action

16159 Clear Creek Rd. NW

Poulsbo, WA 98370

(Please, be extra sure to mention your interest in the Co-op’s ‘green card give-away’ promo with your donation.)

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POWER Mom’s Night Out

Monday, October 1, 5:30 pm

First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way SE

Attend Mom’s Night Out, the first Monday of every month at the First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way SE. We start at 5:30 with a potluck meal, and meet from 6–8 pm. We provide on-site childcare. On Oct. 1st, we’ll make crafts and talk about fundraising. On Nov. 5th, bring your ballot for a roundtable discussion the evening before voting day. Share what you know about the candidates and issues and hear what others have to share.

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Female Faces of War and the Iraqi Refugee Crisis

Wed., Oct. 3, 1:00 pm

The Evergreen State College, Sem II, e1105

Female Faces of War is a short documentary film about US women soldiers, soldiers’ mothers and Iraqi refugees. Following the film will be speaker Zahra Sultan, an Iraqi social worker and refugee. Originally from Baghdad and featured in the film, Zahra will speak about the crisis for Iraqi refugees, her family’s struggle in Iraq and her work in Jordan’s refugee camps with Iraqi, Sudanese and Palestinian refugees. Sponsored by SESAME (Students Educating Students About the Middle East) and the Women of Color Coalition.

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What’s so scary about justice for Palestine? Academic freedom and Palestine/Israel

Friday, Oct 5, noon

The Evergreen State College, Sem II, e1105

How is academic freedom curtailed nationally when dealing with Palestine/Israel? In what ways has this affected teaching locally? What makes the conflict difficult to talk about on campus?

In the wake of the attacks on Norman Finkelstein and Nadia Abu Al-Haj, join a round table discussion about the affects of silencing campus and academic discussion of the Israel/Palestine conflict with Simona Sharoni, Women Studies Associate Professor at Plattsburg SUNY and former Evergreen Faculty, and Therese Saliba, Evergreen’s Professor of Middle East Studies and Third World Feminism.

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Film showing: Broken Limbs

Friday, Oct. 5 at 7 pm

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 2200 East End Street NW in West Olympia.

Presented by the Alliance for Democracy and the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Committee. Catch this movie series every First Friday of the month. Details at http://www.sounddemocracy.org . Broken Limbs explores these hopeful stirrings within agriculture, and outlines ways in which any individual can play a role in saving US farmers. Told from a hometown perspective, the film presents the stories of farmers attempting to create this new model for agriculture and emerging, more sustainable solutions to the crises of recent years solutions applicable not just to apples and not just to farming, but to nearly any sector of the US economy troubled by the effects of consolidation and globalization. http://www.brokenlimbs.org

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CLIP presents: The Focus on Poverty

Olympia City Council Candidate Forum

Saturday, October 6, 1–3 pm

First Christian Church (701 Franklin St)

Come question your city council candidates about homelessness, low-income rental conditions, and the realities of welfare in Olympia. Ask your candidates about the issues you care about. What will they do about police accountability? What about Tent City? The war?

The Coalition for Low-Income Power is a network of poverty activist and individuals and groups. The CLIP Panel will consist of representatives of Thurston County Tenants Union, POWER and Bread & Roses.

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Pro-Choice counter-protest of the 40-day vigil outside Planned Parenthood

Friday, October 12, 10:30 am–noon, 1–2 pm

outside Planned Parenthood at the corner of Legion Way and Adams Street in downtown Olympia

Come out and show your support for birth control. Anti-choice demonstrators are trying to discourage people from utilizing the services of Planned Parenthood with grisly signs and a constant presence during their 40-day vigil. Let’s send a positive message to the community about the medically accurate information about sexuality and birth control provided by Planned Parenthood. Don’t let the “pro-lifers” turn back the clock on choice!

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29th Annual Sausage Fest

Oct. 12–13, 2007, 4–8 pm

Gull Harbor Lutheran Church (4610 Boston Harbor Rd. NE)

All proceeds go to Thurston County Food Bank, Safe Place, and Lutheran World Relief.

Menu: Sausages (Kielbasa, Bratwurst, Knackwurst); German potato salad; Red Cabbage; Strudel; Root beer.

Enjoy live accordion music (in traditional costume) while you are dining.

Cost: $12 adults, $5 kids. For more information, call (360) 352-5335.

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OFS Special Membership Meeting

Saturday, October 13th, 12 pm,

Capitol Theater, 206 E. 5th Avenue, downtown Olympia

On Sept. 11, the Board of Directors of the Olympia Film Society received a petition signed by 10% of the general membership requesting a special meeting of the membership be called. In accordance with the request, this meeting is to vote whether to change current OFS bylaws to provide for election of OFS Board members by the membership, and to vote whether to immediately hold elections to constitute a new interim Board until the next Annual Membership Meeting. Only these topics may be discussed at the special meeting. You must be present at the meeting to vote. A two-thirds majority vote of members in attendance will be required to pass these proposals. Any member of the Society wishing to stand for Board election, should the proposals pass, is encouraged to do so. For more information, please see the materials posted in the Capitol Theater lobby or visit http://olyfilmsociety.org .

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PFLAG silent auction

Sat., Oct. 13, 7–9 pm

Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 2200 East End Street NW, Olympia

Money raised at this auction will support our outreach to the community, which includes printing and distributing informational and educational brochures, the “I’m loved by PFLAG” stickers, arranging public speaking events, and providing free Pancakes in the Park for Pride. We maintain a helpline and answer many calls for help, information and resources. To donate auction items or ask questions contact Shirley Pearson at 943-9590 or e-mail her at shirley.jp@comcast.net

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PFLAG monthly meeting

Sunday, October 14, 2–4:30 pm

First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way SE at Boundary Street in Olympia.

We will have an unstructured discussion following introductions, announcements, support time and snacks. Use the entrance facing 5th Avenue. It is handicap-accessible. Visit http://www.pflag-olympia.org for more information.

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“Jerusalem Dispossessed,”

Photographic Exhibition

Oct. 17–Nov. 6, Evergreen State College Library,

Opening reception on October 17 at 7 pm

Want to know what life is like for Palestinians living under Occupation? Come and experience the real-life imagery and world-renowned poetry of “Jerusalem Dispossessed,” which is on view at the library of the Evergreen State College from October 17 through November 6. This collection of color photographs is on loan from the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions ( http://www.icahd.org ), features the photographic excellence of the ActiveStills collective, and is presented by SESAME.

SESAME invites community members to the opening celebration of this gripping exhibit on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 7 pm. The program for the evening will include a reading by Palestinian-American journalist and poet, Muna Hamzeh, author of Refugees in Our Own Land. Mark your calendar for this singular event! For more info, contact sesame@evergreen.edu, (360) 867-6724.

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Film showing: Crossing Arizona

Friday, October 19th at 7 p.m.

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 2200 East End Street NW, West Olympia.

Presented by the Alliance for Democracy and the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Committee. Crossing Arizona: Seen through the eyes of frustrated ranchers, border patrol agents, local politicians, farmers dependent on an illegal work force, seasoned humanitarian activists, desperate migrants preparing for their journey north, and the Minutemen who have become darlings of the national media, this powerful documentary unveils the complicated dilemmas presented by the border crisis and the surprising political stances people take when immigration and border policy fails everyone, on all fronts. http://crossingaz.com

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POWER Member/Board Meeting

Saturday, October 20th,11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fertile Ground Guest House, 311 9th Avenue

We’ll share a potluck lunch and have on-site childcare. Help us finish our work on values and craft a mission statement. Members will vote on a permanent Board of Directors. Let us know if you would like to be a candidate.

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David Barsamian speaks at Evergreen

Thurs, Oct. 25, noon, The Evergreen State College Armenian-American writer and radio broadcaster David Barsamian will speak at Evergreen. Barsamian is the founder and director of Alternative Radio. His latest book is Targeting Iran.

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Rod Coronado ends in mistrial!

WIP was happy to learn of the mistrial of Earth Firster and animal liberationist Rod Coronado. Hopefully, Coronado will get through his next case with similar to better results. For details, contact olycivlib@list.riseup.net.