Activist Alert 3-5-2015

• The Metropolitan Policy Committee meets from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Thursday, March 5, at Springfield City Hall Library, 225 Fifth St. Scenario planning is on the agenda. Contact Paul Thompson, 682-4405.

• Author David Barsamian, founder of Alternative Radio, will speak at 1 pm Thursday, March 5, at Building 17, Room 309, on the main LCC campus. His topic is “Media and Democracy.”

• A community forum on “A Fair Shot for Oregon” will begin at 6:30 pm Thursday, March 5, at First Christian Church, 1166 Oak St. Discussion will focus on legislation regarding the minimum wage, paid sick leave, retirement security, profiling and discrimination. Sponsored by Lane County Strong Voice.

• The Eugene School Board 4J has narrowed the field to three finalists for superintendent. Parents, students, staff and community members are invited to meet and provide input on the candidates at a community forum from 6 to 8:30 pm Thursday, March 5, at the 4J Education Center, 200 N. Monroe St. Each of the candidates will share information about themselves, then respond to questions. Community members will be asked to share their input. The board expects to name a new superintendent before spring break, and the new superintendent will begin July 1.

• “The End of Debate Programs in Our Public Schools” is the topic at City Club of Eugene at noon Friday, March 6, at the Downtown Athletic Club, 999 Willamette St. Speakers include students Matt Bucy, Liliana Hernandez and Henry Lininger, along with Steven Clemmons of UO forensics. $5 for non-members. 

• A symposium on “Media, Democracy & Technology” will be from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm Friday, March 6, at the Knight Library Browsing Room on the UO campus. Panelists will include Madeleine Blair, Danny O’Brien, Endalk Chala, Tewodros Workneh and Gabriela Martinez. Free and open to the public. 

Maxine Kaufman-Lacusta, a Quaker Jewish activist and writer from British Columbia, will speak on “Nonviolence in Palestine” at 7 pm Saturday, March 7, at the UO Wesley Center, 1236 Kincaid St. She is the author of Refusing to be Enemies: Palestinian and Israeli Nonviolent Resistance to the Israeli Occupation and will be available for book signing. Sponsored by CALC and Women in Black. Contact CALC at 485-1755 or email calcpeace@efn.org. Free. 

• The Post Ignorance Project is planning a protest at the Capitol in Salem from 10 am to 2 pm Wednesday, March 11, to demand solutions for Fukushima and all nuclear pollution. Email nutzforart@gmail.com for more information.

• A “Medical Freedom Rally” in opposition to mandatory childhood vaccinations is planned for 1 to 2:30 pm Monday, March 9, on the Capitol steps in Salem. Several speakers have signed up and signs will be available. More information at noonsb422.com. 

• An all-day symposium on “Public Engagement in Latin@ and Latin American Studies” will begin at 9 am Thursday, March 12, at the Knight Library Browsing Room on the UO campus. See cllas.uoregon.edu for details and registration.   

• A “Forest Pesticide Reform Advocacy Day” is being planned for 9 am to 4 pm Thursday, March 12, at Room 350 of the Oregon State Capitol, Salem. Contact Lisa Arkin at Beyond Toxics, 465-8860.