• OSPIRG Foundation’s new report, “Oregon’s Multi-Million Dollar Democracy,” will be released at 10 am Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza downtown. The report highlights the disparity between large and small donors in Oregon’s 2014 elections and recommends steps to level the playing field. Speakers will include Linda Lynch, president of Lane County League of Women Voters, and Amy Laws of OSPIRG.
• Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein will talk about the future of the climate justice movement and her participation in the Paris conference at 7 pm Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2945 NW Circle Blvd. in Corvallis. Her free talk is on “Ecological Economics and Jill Stein’s Green New Deal.”
• Congressman Peter DeFazio will be the speaker at City Club of Eugene at noon Friday, Jan. 22, at the Downtown Athletic Club, 999 Willamette Street. DeFazio is the top Democrat on the bipartisan Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in Congress and will describe his legislative priorities for 2016. $5 for non-members.
• Author and University of Paris professor Frank Romano will be available to talk about his book Love and Terror in the Middle East, 4th Ed. from 2 to 4 pm Saturday, Jan. 23, at Black Sun Books, 2467 Hilyard Street. His book “dramatically captures the author’s efforts to promote understanding and cooperation between Jews, Muslims and Christians.”
• A “Save Kesey Square” rally has been planned for 6:30 pm Monday, Jan. 25, at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza in front of Harris Hall (125 E. 8th Ave.), where a 7 pm council meeting is scheduled. Find the event on Facebook. A different Kesey Square event is being planned at Kesey Square at 3:30 pm Friday, Jan. 29.
• UO President Michael Shill will speak on “Access and Higher Education” at 4 pm Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the UO Law School Room 175, 1515 Agate Street. Shill will speak on the Oregon Commitment program that assures students have the support they need to graduate in four years.
• “Violence with Guns” is the topic of a forum from 7 to 9 pm Thursday, Jan. 28, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1685 West 13th Ave. Panelists will include Sen. Floyd Prozanski, Commissioner Pete Sorenson, Mayor Kitty Piercy and rabbi Jonathan Seidel. Email mydiane@q.com for more information.