WEDNESDAY 9
Rally for safety
The corner of Ellis and Ashby streets in Berkeley is one of the most dangerous corners in the city for pedestrians — averaging about one hit every 14 months. Furthermore, efforts to make it safer by installing flashing beacons and other improvements have only been met with bureaucratic red tape. Rally to demand that city transportation and Caltrans get it together and hasten this painfully slow process to make this corner safe.
7:45 a.m.–8:15 a.m., free
Malcolm X Elementary School
1731 Prince, Berk.
jk.mxsafety@gmail.com
THURSDAY 10
Film screening and discussion
Watch the political documentary Nasser 56 — the black-and-white film depicting the tumultuous period of 1956 when controversial Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser seized the Suez Canal from its European owners. Stay afterward for a discussion on the parallels between that historic event and the recent youth-led Egyptian uprising.
7:30–10 p.m., $6 suggested donation
ANSWER Coalition
2969 Mission, SF
Talks on union busting
Attend this forum and learn more about the current assault on the working and middle classes going on all around the country as wealthy corporations receive tax breaks while workers face losing their benefits and the right to bargain collectively. An array of speakers will be on hand, including professor George Wright of Skyline College, radio journalist Maria Hall, Charlie Rachlis of the Department of Public Health, and more.
6:30–8:30 p.m., donation requested
Center for Political Education 522 Valencia, SF
The truth about pirates
Far from the Disneyfication of singing pirates with eye patches and parrots is the reality of criminal exploits on the Red Sea. Piracy in Somalia has gotten much press these days, but so little is actually understood of this complex situation. Professor Audi Samaritan, chair of the geography department at the University of Minnesota, will help you understand the relationship between modern-day pirates and the global political economy, conflicts over resources, and the disintegration of the Somali state.
6:15-7:45 p.m., $5 suggested
Niebyl Proctor Library
6501 Telegraph, Berk.
SATURDAY 12
Naked bike ride
Join the World Naked Bike Ride, a worldwide protest of the world’s dependency on the oil industry. Wear as little or as much as you feel comfortable — grass skirt, wookie suit, or nothing at all — and ride whatever set of wheels you like, as long as it doesn’t have a gas tank. Whether on a fixie, roller skates, blades, tricycle, or unicycle, you will surely enjoy this leisurely tour of the city, which winds past the Palace of Fine Arts, Lombard Street and beyond. Facebook the event to stay informed about changes to the route.
11 a.m., free
meet at Justin Herman Plaza
Market and Embarcadero, SF
Facebook: World Naked Bike Ride San Francisco
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