THURSDAY, APRIL 17

6:30 PM. Instant Runoff Voting! The King County Charter Review Commission is charged every 10 years with recommending changes in the County Charter to the King County Council. IRV is the system that allows us to ensure a true majority, end the so called "spoiler" effect and vote our hopes rather than our fears. River Rock Grill and Ale House, 4050 Maple Valley Highway, Renton. Info: Joe Szwaja, 206-523-3656.

7:30 PM. Film series: If You Meet Buddha on the Road: Reflections on the Buddhist World. With indelible images of the full cycle of life in a traditional Buddhist community, this film offers an intimate view of a world that no longer exists anywhere, as modernity and dislocation take their toll. Info: and tickets: http://www.siff.net/events/detail.aspx?FID=103. SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer Street, Seattle. Info: promotions.interns@siff.net or 206-381-1247.

FRIDAY, APRIL 18

7 PM. Colonel (Ret.) Ann Wright. After 29 years in the US military, Col. Ann Wright resigned her post as Deputy Ambassador in 2003 to protest the then-coming war in Iraq - and the curtailment of rights in the US. A special reception (admission $25) will be held at 5:30 PM; RSVP to Geov Parrish, geovlp@earthlink.net, 206-547-4619. University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd St in the University District, Seattle. Info: http://www.vociesofconscience.com or 206-547-4619.

7-9:30 PM. A Film: "Toxic Bust: Chemicals and Breast Cancer" Toxic Bust uncovers the growing evidence that links breast cancer to chemical exposure. Free and open to the public but donations are kindly accepted. Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Pl., Seattle. Info: http://www.meaningfulmovies.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19

10 AM-5 PM. Earth Day Duwamish Alive! River Restoration. Come join hundreds of volunteers as they roll up their sleeves to work on multiple simultaneous habitat restoration projects along the Duwamish River. 10 AM to 2 PM: Volunteer at any of the sites along the Duwamish River including Duwamish Waterway Park,  Hamm Creek, and the West Duwamish Greenbelt. 2 to 5 PM: Celebrate Earth Day with a community picnic at the Cooper School near Pigeon Point Park. To sign up or info: Eliza Ghitis 206-382-7005 ext. 220 or eghitis@pugetsound.org or http://www.pugetsound.org/events/duwamishalive.

SUNDAY, APRIL 20

4-10:30 PM. Tractor Tavern's Second Annual Old Fashioned Bluegrass Event. A Benefit for the New Beginnings shelter for women and children. 4-6 PM Socializing and Open Picking (pickers of all levels welcome); 5:30-7 PM Community Pot-Luck and BBQ Dinner; 7-10:30 PM Live Performance featuring Dysfunction Junction, Big Bluegrass and more! $10 suggested donation. Ages 21 and over. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle. Info: http://www.seattlebluegrass.com, or Cait Allen 206-926-3041.

MONDAY, APRIL 21

7 PM. Northwest premiere of "The Reflecting Pool," "a ground-breaking new drama challenging the official version of 9/11." With writer/director Jarek Kupsc attending. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Av., Seattle. Sponsored by 911 Truth Seattle. Info: Ben Collet, benco10@comcast.net.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24

7 PM. Panel Discussion: When Words are Not Enough. Panelists: Larry Gossett, James Gregory, Janet Jones, and Aaron Dixon. During the height of the Civil Rights Movement, photographer Stephen Shames had unprecedented access to the Black Panther Party and captured not only its public face, but also unscripted, behind-the-scenes moments. An exhibit of these images is on view at Odegaard Library to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the student takeover of the administration building at the University of Washington. Henry Auditorium. Free. Tickets available at the Henry admissions desk April 17. Seating is limited. First come, first served.

7-9:30 PM. A Night Out for New Orleans. Concert to Benefit the Common Ground Collective helping New Orleans Katrina victims, with music by Jim Page and the File Gumbo Band. Plus a presentation by local activist Aaron Dixon on Common Ground and the situation in New Orleans. Common Ground's mission is to provide short term relief for victims of hurricane disasters in the Gulf Coast region, and long term support in rebuilding the communities affected in the New Orleans area. $10-20 sliding scale admission. Woodshed Studios, 300 Fairview Avenue N., Seattle. Info: Jack 206-321-4815.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25

7-9:30 PM. Film: "You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train." This film documents the life and times of Howard Zinn, historian, activist, and author of the best selling classic, A People's History of the United States. Event is free but donations are kindly accepted. Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Pl., Seattle. Info: http://www.meaningfulmovies.org.

7 PM. "Finding Our Power in the Great Turning" with Joanna Macy and David Korten. Seattle Unity Church. Tickets $10 advance at Brown Paper Tickets or $15 at the door. For registrations go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/26825. Directions: see http://www.SeattleUnity.Org.   SATURDAY, APRIL 26

9:30 AM-3:30 PM. Green My Ride: A Free Alternative Transportation Fair. The interactive event is intended to help us all take that next step toward a greener ride. You can listen to live music all day, swap bikes and gear, and much more. This rain or shine event will also offer kids' activities, speakers and theater pieces. Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle. Info: http://www.greenmyride.info.

1 PM. Gathering to mark the 40th anniversary of the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party! With panel discussions, workshops, music, poetry, and food. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to meet the organizers and leaders of the Black Panther Party. The Yesler Terrace Community Center, Seattle, Info: Laura 'piece' Kelly-Jahn, piecefulwarrior@yahoo.com or Shomari Jones, shomarijones@yahoo.com.

ColorsNW Royale, a Concert and Casino Night! Join ColorsNW in celebrating our 7th anniversary, as the only multicultural medium in the Pacific Northwest. We will enjoy an array of live music from local musicians of color and have an opportunity to test your luck in some charity gaming. Heavy ethnic hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Tickets $65, call 206-444-9251. No tickets at the door. The Fremont Studios, 155 N. 35th St., Seattle.

MONDAY, APRIL 28

7:30 PM. Town Hall presents a lecture by Mary Roach: "Science & Sex." Dubbed "the funniest science writer in the country" by The New Yorker, Roach devoted two years to researching sexual physiology in her new book Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex. Tickets are $5 at the door only. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Avenue at Seneca Street, Seattle. Info: http://www.townhallseattle.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 29

7:30 PM. Howard Fineman: "Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country." Newsweek's Fineman believes that our nation's process of never-ending argument is not only what defines us as a country but is what keeps us free. Tickets are $5 at the door only. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle. Info: http://www.townhallseattle.org or 206-652- 4255 or 206-624-6600 or http://www.elliottbaybook.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30

7 PM. 1968: Year of Revolt. A national tour marking the 40th anniversary of 1968, sponsored by the International Socialist Review. Room BE1110, Seattle Central Community College, Broadway & Pine, Seattle. Info: isoseattle@gmail.com or 206-931-2922 or http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=22363344040.

7:30 PM. Kevin Phillips reads from "Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism." With the current crisis in housing and mortgage, Phillips sees harbingers of a national economic crisis. In Bad Money, Philips presents an historical and global context of the over-speculative global capitalism that he believes exceeds terrorism as the Achilles heel of US national security. Tickets $5 at the door. Town Hall, 8th Ave & Seneca, Seattle. Info: http://www.townhallseattle.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 1

Noon. "No Peace--No Work" ILWU/labor May Day march to end the war. Jack Perry Memorial Park, 1729 Alaska Way S., between Pier 30 and Pacific Maritime Institute; march along the waterfront to Pier 66. Info: Paul Bigman, ILWU: pbigman@aol.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 3

5:30-9 PM. Seattle Young People's Project's annual auction. Support youth organizing efforts! We'll have unique desserts, SYPP updates, and eye-catching items for bid! Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, 3001 24th Ave S., Seattle; Info: Info:@sypp.org or 206-860-9606 or http://www.sypp.org.

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