FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21

7-9:30 PM. Film: "Joyeux Noel." In 1914, World War I, the bloodiest war ever at that time in human history, was well under way. However, on Christmas Eve, numerous sections of the Western Front called an informal and unauthorized truce where the various front-line soldiers peacefully met each other in No Man's Land. Free and open to the public but donations kindly accepted. Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Pl., Seattle. Info: www.meaningfulmovies.org.

7:30-9:30 PM. Winter Solstice Moonlight Beach Walk. You are invited to immerse yourself in the chilly ambiance of a starlit beach while exploring with a local beach guide. After the beach walk, enjoy sipping hot drinks by the bonfire and share a story or two. Bundle up against the weather and be sure to bring: a flashlight with good batteries, wading boots (you'll be in ankle deep water), a warm hat & dry gloves. The event is free and family friendly. Refreshments will be served. Lincoln Park, 8603 Fauntleroy Way SW, West Seattle. Reserve your spot by contacting Daoud Miller at dmiller@pugetsound.org or 206- 382-7007 x217.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22

Noon. The Tudor Choir and Seattle Baroque Orchestra in Handel's Messiah. Suitable for children age six and older and their families. Free for kids 12 and under with accompanying adult/ $5 for adults. Town Hall Seattle, 8th & Seneca, Seattle; Tickets required for children and adults: www.brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23

4 PM. Short Stories Live. ACT Theatre's Kurt Beattie returns as host and director of Town Hall's version of Selected Shorts from Symphony Space. Three of Seattle's favorite actors read short stories with a theme suitable to the season. Advance tickets are $15/$13, $18/$15 at the door. Town Hall Seattle, 8th & Seneca, Seattle. Info: www.townhallseattle.org or www.brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26

7 PM. The Green Party of Seattle general membership meeting. The public is welcome. University Heights Center, NE 50th and University Way NE, Room 110, Seattle. Info: 206-524-3377, info@seattlegreens.org or www.seattlegreens.org.

7:30-9 PM. The Democracy Conversations, a Civic Book Club. Last of 4 sessions. Book: Cracking the Code by Thom Hartmann. We'll read 2-3 chapters for each week. Facilitator: Dr. Cecile Andrews, author of Slow Is Beautiful and The Circle of Simplicity. Sponsored by Phinney EcoVillage. Special book discount at Santoro's Books at 7216 Greenwood Ave N. & Wayward Coffee House, 8750 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle. Info: Cecile Andrews 206-783-1152, cecile@simplicitycircles.com or calendar at www.phinneyecovillage.net.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28

5:30 PM. Critical Mass, an organized coincidence of bicyclists who ride around the streets of Seattle en masse. It happens when a lot of cyclists happen to be in the same place at the same time and decide to cycle the same way together for a while. Westlake Park, 4th & Pine, Seattle. Info: http://students.washington.edu/spiegel/cmass.html.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31

3:30 PM. Walking Meditation for Compassion and Peace. Founded eight years ago at the advent of the new millennium as a United Religions Initiative, the walking meditation has become a Seattle interfaith/inter-religious tradition bringing together thousands of people of faith for reflection and hopeful resolve for the New Year. This year the event is dedicated to the Care of Creation. Following opening ceremonies, everyone will travel clockwise around the lake. The 2.7-mile walk takes approximately one hour. They will return to the starting point for Closing Ceremonies. Please dress warmly and bring a candle to light the darkness. Green Lake, start just south of Community Center/ Pool, Seattle. Info: www.interfaithcommunitychurch.org.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2008

Happy New Year!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 4

7-9:30 PM. Film: "Harold & Maude." Theme: positive aging in America. Discussion to follow. Free and open to the public but donations kindly accepted. Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Pl., Seattle. Info: www.meaningfulmovies.org.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5

Experience the tremendous migration of bald eagles to the Skagit Valley this winter with the North Cascades Institute. Each winter, hundreds of bald eagles migrate from Canada and Alaska to the Skagit River to feast on the Puget Sound's most fecund run of chum salmon. Bundle up, grab your binoculars and join Libby Mills, a renowned naturalist who has studied this natural wonder for more than 20 years. At Rockport State Park and the Skagit/Sauk confluence, timed to coincide with the seasonal peak population of bald eagles in the Skagit watershed--a jaw-dropping display of feathers and flight. To register, visit www.ncascades.org/programs/seminars/course.html?work shop_id=846 or call 360-856-5700 ext. 209.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8

7-8:30 PM. Planning meeting of the Martin Luther King Celebration Committee. Preparing for the Jan. 21, 2008, MLK Day March and Rally. CAMP, 722 18th Ave. near Columbia St., Central Area of Seattle, location may change, suggest confirming. Info: Kamilah.Brown@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-0321.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11

The ACLU is calling on people of conscience to wear orange to demand the closing of the prison at Guantánamo Bay and an immediate end to 6 years of injustice. Make a contribution to the ACLU today and get a "Close Guantánamo" armband. On Jan. 11, 2002, the first prisoners from Afghanistan arrived at the prison at Guantánamo Bay. In the six years since, the prison has been a mark of shame for our country. In fact, three years after the military tribunals were first established there, there has yet to be a single trial completed for any person in custody. Guantánamo has become a stain on our nation's honor.

7-9:30 PM. Film: "Conviction." With Jackie Hudson, local anti-nuke activist who is featured in the film. This event is in support of Ground Zero Center For Nonviolent Action (www.gzcenter.org) and in support of their Martin Luther King Day vigil at the Gates of Bangor Submarine Base on Hood Canal. Bangor houses 2,364 nuclear warheads, just 20 miles from downtown Seattle. The documentary film evokes important conversations about the role of nuclear weapons in national defense, the role of international law in the Federal Courts, and much more! Jackie Hudson will join us in a community conversation. Free and open to the public but donations kindly accepted. Presented by Friday Night at the Meaningful Movies and Wallingford Neighbors for Peace and Justice. Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Pl., Seattle. Info: www.meaningfulmovies.org.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12

10 AM. Seattle Esperanto Society. The Seattle chapter of an international peace movement, this meeting is an informal discussion and language practice, and beginners are welcome. Meets in the cafe at Third Place Books, Ravenna. Info: http://seattleesperanto.org; free online Esperanto lessons at http://www.lernu.net.

11 AM and 1:30 PM. Thomas Mapfumo. The legendary "Lion Of Zimbabwe" and father of electric mbira (thumb piano) music that inspired the Chimurenga songs of that country's revolution plays an infectious blend of African jazz, R&B, rock and reggae, with a touch of gospel. No children admitted without adults. No adults admitted without children. Suitable for children age 5 and older and their families. Free for kids 12 and under with accompanying adult/ $5 for adults. Tickets required for children and adults, available ar www.brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006. Town Hall Seattle, 8th & Seneca, Seattle. Info: www.townhallseattle.org or www.seattleinternational.org.

11 AM-1 PM. War and the Soul (a book discussion group), Healing Vets From PTSD. A safe place to come to help ourselves, so that we might help others. Vets Helping Vets. Bradford Center, 750 - 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, one block north of Bellevue Transit Center. Info: Charlotte (a vet), 206-285-0341.

For an excellent and much, much longer compilation of upcoming and ongoing progressive events in Seattle, check out Jean Buskin's Peace Calendar at http://www.scn.org/activism/calendar/ or e-mail her at bb369@scn.org. Also, check out http://www.seattleactivism.org.

Eat the Airwaves

Hear Eat the State! political commentary on Mind Over Matters every Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:00 on KEXP 90.3 FM. If we can get up that early, the least you can do is turn on your radio and listen! If you can't - you can listen to archived programs on the web.