FRIDAY, JUNE 23 

Reduced City Services Today Call ahead to ensure programs or services you desire will be available. 981-CITY. www.cityofberkeley.info 

Impeachment Banner Fridays at 6:45 to 8 a.m. on the Berkeley Pedestrian bridge between Seabreeze Market and the Berkeley Aquatic Park, ongoing on Fridays until impeachment is realized. www. Impeachbush-cheney.com 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Andy Ross, owner of Cody’s Books, on “Can the Independent Local Bookstore Survive in Berkeley?” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $13.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925.  

How’d You Become an Activist & What Now? with Pauline Wynter and Jacques Depelchin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1924 Cedar St. at Bonita. Donations appreciated. 528-5403. 

Ecocity Report from New Orleans at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., near Dwight Way. Cost is $10 but no one turned away for lack of funds. 548-2220. 

East Bay Animal Advocates’ Dairy Documentary at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donations of $5 accepted. 

Moving Mom and Dad with Donna Robins on finding the right retirement community at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5190.  

Berkeley Chess Club meets Fridays at 8 p.m. at the East Bay Chess Club, 1940 Virginia St. Players at all levels are welcome. 845-1041. 

Women in Black Vigil, from noon to 1 p.m. at UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph. wibberkeley@yahoo.com 548-6310, 845-1143. 

SATURDAY, JUNE 24 

Open the Little Farm Feed the goats, collect some eggs, hold a bunny and meet our new calves at 9 a.m. at the Little Farm, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Outdoor Art Learn how to make a natural mural at 11 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $3. 525-2233. 

A Visit with a Guide Dog at 2 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. Sponsored by Guide Dogs for the Blind of Marin. 524-3043. 

Spiral Gardens Food Security Project from 1 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon St. Peaches, nectarines, cherries, root veges, garlic, onions, cabbage, and squash - with summer vegetables on the way!  

Challenge Hike on Sobrante Ridge Explore a fragile ecosystem and a small forest of rare manzanita on this 3-mile hike with some hills. Meet at 10 a.m. at the staging are at the end of Coach Drive, El Sobrante. For ages 10 and up. 525-2233. 

Send-Off for the 17th U.S.-Cuba Friendhipment Caravan with a film, music and food, at 6 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar St. at Bonita. Donation of $10-$15 requested, no one turned away. 650-367-9183. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland “New Era/New Politics” highlights African-American leaders who have made their mark on Oakland. Meet at 10 a.m. at the African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. 238-3234. 

Carribean American Heritage Commemoration at 10 a.m. at Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th and Broadway, Oakland. 599-1645. 

Re-Fresh Festival A community celebration of creative re-use and recycling from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 9235 San Leandro St., Oakland. 638-7600.  

Family Origami Craft Day from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. Free. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Buddhist Temple of Alameda Bazaar, Sat. from 4 to 9 p.m. and Sun. from noon to 8 p.m. at 2325 Pacific Avenue, Alameda. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, JUNE 25 

Brooks Island Voyage Paddle the rising tide across the Richmond Harbor Channel to Brooks Island from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For experienced boaters who can provide their own canoe or kayak and safety gear. For ages 14 and up with parent participation. Cost is $20-$22. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Free Sailboat Rides for ages 5 and up from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cal Sailing Club in the Berkeley Marina. Bring change of clothes, windbreaker and sneakers. For more information and directions see cal-sailing.org 

Berkeley CyberSalon “Blogging Mommies” with Grace Davis, Joan Blades, Mary Tsau, Jenny Lauck, and Lisa Brewer Canter at 5 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $5-$10. 527-0450. 

Teach Your Dog to Walk Without Pulling from 3 to 4 p.m. at Grace North Church, 2128 Cedar St. To register call 849-9323. companyofdogs.com  

Epic Arts BBQ and Open House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 644-2204, ext. 12. 

Berkeley City Club free tour from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tours are sponsored by the Berkeley City Club and the Landmark Heritage Foundation. 2315 Durant Ave. 848-7800 or 883-9710. 

Sunday Summer Forum: Towards a More Just World with Dr. Theodore Rosak at 9:30 a.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302. 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712.  

Tibetan Buddhism Panel on “Memories of the World Peace Ceremony” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, JUNE 26 

Healthy Eating Habits Seminar at 7 p.m. at New Moon Opportunities, 378 Jayne Ave., Oakland. Free, but registration required. 465-2524. 

Deeksha and Chanting at 7:30 p.m. at the Northbrae Church, 941 The Alameda. Donations accepted. 655-1425. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, JUNE 27 

Cancer Prevention and Survival Cooking Course A series of 8 classes at 6:30 p.m. at Keller Williams, 2nd floor, 4341 Piedmont Ave. Oakland. Free, but registration is required. 531-2665. 

Raging Grannies of the East Bay invites new folks to come join us from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. to sing and have fun at Berkeley Gray Panthers office, 1403 Addison St., in Andronico’s mall. 548-9696. 

Great Weekend Camping Trips A slide presentation with Matt Heid at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. East Pauley Ballroom, MLK Student Union, 3rd floor, UC Campus. To make an appointment call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. www.BeADonor.com  

PC Users meets at 7 p.m. at 1145 Walnut St. near Eunice. 

Stress Less Seminar at 7 p.m. at New Moon Opportunities, 378 Jayne Ave., Oakland. Free, but registration required. 465-2524. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28 

Walkin’ in Pride a 4-mile shoreline walk in Point Pinole at 6:30 p.m. in celebration of LGBT Pride Month. For information call 525-2233. 

Trip to Audobon Canyon Ranch with the El Cerrito Senior Center, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $15, reservations required. 215-4340. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around the restored 1870s business district. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of G.B. Ratto’s at 827 Washington St. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

“Ten Excellent Reasons Not to Join the Military” presented by Cindy Sheehan, Paul Rockwell, and Aimee Allison at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

“Bureaucracy vs The Environment: What Should Be Done?” with speakers Michael Shaw, Founder, Liberty Garden, Randy Simmons, Prof. of Political Science, Utah State Univ., Carl Close, Co-editor, Re-Thinking Green at 6:30 p.m. at The Independent Institute, 100 Swan Way, Oakland. Cost is $10-$15.  

“Alameda County: Present and Future” with Keith Carson, Alameda County Supervisor at 1:30 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. Sponsored by the Berkeley Gray Panthers. 548-9696.  

“The Art of Placemaking: Transit-Oriented Development” A panel discussion on both the challenges and potential of making Transit-Oriented Development successful, at 5:30 p.m. at AIA East Bay, 1405 Clay St., Oakland. Cost is $10-$20, includes dinner. To register call 464-3600. www.aiaeb.org  

Indigenous Permaculture with slides and music and information from El Salvador at 7 p.m. at Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $5-$50 sliding scale. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

“McLibel” A documentary about two activists who take on MacDonalds in England, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donations of $5 accepted. 

“Girl, I’ve Been Through A Lot...” Poetry workshop for girls age 13 to 17 at 4 p.m. at Oakland Public Library, Room 219, 125 14th St. 238-3134. 

Bayswater Book Club meets to discuss Rabbi Paul at 6:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, El Cerrito. Also organizing meeting to become a Democratic Central Committee Chartered Club. 433-2911. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. East Pauley Ballroom, MLK Student Union, 3rd floor, UC Campus. To make an appointment call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. www.BeADonor.com  

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes. 548-9840. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. Sponsored by the Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www. 

geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, JUNE 29 

Ecological Sanitation in Haiti, Compost Toilet Project with Sasha Kramer on the work of Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. Free. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

A UPB Conversation on how we can live with strong ecological values locally with Ernest Callenbach, author of “Ecotopia” and “Ecology: A Pocket Guide,” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. At University Press Books/Berkeley, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. 

Teen Science Fiction/Fantasy Book Club with guest speaker Tom Whitmore on “The Other Change of Hobbit” at 4 p.m. at Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue. 981-6133. 

Free Skin Cancer Screening Clinic at Markstein Cancer Education Center, Summit Campus, Oakland. Free, but appointments required. 869-8833. 

Women’s Initiative “Develop a Business Action Plan” A free seminar for women entrepreneurs from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at 519 17 St. at Telegraph. 415-641-3463. www.womensinitiative.org 

World of Plants Tours Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 p.m. at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $5. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

CITY MEETINGS 

Parks and Recreation Commission meets Mon., June 26, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Virginia Aiello, 981-5158. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/commissions/parksandrecreation 

Zero Waste Commission Mon., June 26, at 7 p.m., at 1201 Second St. Tania Levy, 981-6368. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/solidwaste 

City Council meets Tues., June 27, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Civic Arts Commission meets Wed., June 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Mary Ann Merker, 981-7533. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/civicarts 

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission meets Wed., June 28, at 7 p.m., at the Emergency Operations Center, 997 Cedar St. 981-5502. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/disaster 

Energy Commission meets Wed., June 28, at 6:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Neal De Snoo, 981-5434. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/energy 

Mental Health Commission meets Wed., June 28, at 6:30 p.m. at 2640 MLK Jr. Way, at Derby. Harvey Turek, 981-5213. www.ci.erkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/mentalhealth 

Planning Commission meets Wed., June 28, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Janet Homrighausen, 981-7484. www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/commissions/planning 

Police Review Commission meets Wed., June 28 , at 7:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/policereview 

School Board meets Wed. June 28, at 7:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers. Mark Coplan 644-6320. 

By Judith Scherr 

The sign Ramzi Obeid carried Tuesday afternoon at the downtown Berkeley BART station demonstration read: “Killing and destruction in Gaza—paid for by our taxes.” 

The demonstration that attracted about 100 protesters and a dozen counter-demonstrators was aimed at making the public aware of the recent killings in the Gaza strip, Palestine, and was organized by the Berkeley-based Middle East Children’s Alliance and the American Arab Anti-discrimination Committee. 

Obeid—a Palestinian-American who says he cannot go to the family home his mother left in 1948 in Jaffa, Israel-Palestine, because “I am not Jewish”—condemns the Israeli shelling of Palestinians in Gaza. 

Standing on a pick-up truck south of the BART station, Middle East Children’s Alliance Executive Director Barbara Lubin described the June 9 incident on a beach in Gaza when eight members of one family, including a six-month old infant, were killed while picnicking, allegedly a result of Israeli shelling. 

Lubin read a statement from Mona Elfarra, a physician working in Gaza: “An Israeli gunship suddenly fired at random against the beach while army tanks fired artillery shells and Apache helicopters crossed the sky; 40 civilians were injured, 10 killed.” The picnickers were among them. 

Counter-demonstrators flew Israeli flags and sported placards such as “Pro-Israel/Pro-Peace.” When Lubin addressed the rally from the truck, several pro-Israeli demonstrators moved from the north side of the BART station close to the demonstration, where picketers were circling as they listened to Lubin. 

“You’re lying Barbara, you’re lying,” yelled a counter-demonstrator through a bullhorn as he approached the truck with several others carrying Israeli flags. 

Lubin encouraged protesters to keep marching and ignore the other protestors as Berkeley police moved in to keep the pro-Israel group away from the pro-Palestine rally. 

Sanne DeWitt, a spokesperson for the pro-Israel demonstrators from Stand With Us, San Francisco Voice for Israel and Israel Action Committee of the East Bay, told the Daily Planet: “A lot of lies have been told.” 

Speaking to the protesters, Lubin contended that Palestinian functionaries have not been paid for months; the Israelis collect taxes and refuse to turn them over to the Palestinian Authority. “There’s no money to feed the children,” she said. 

DeWitt defended the Israeli government’s refusal to relinquish the Palistinian funds. “I’m concerned that Hamas [the ruling party] will use the funds to buy weapons and fight,” she said. 

After a few short speeches the protesters took their march to University Avenue down to Sacramento Street then back up to the BART station.

FRIDAY, JUNE 23 

THEATER 

Aurora Theatre “Permanent Collection” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through July 23. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatere.org 

“Bigger Than Jesus” Rick Miller’s one-man show at 8 p.m. and Sat. at 2 and 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus. Tickets are $30. 642-9988. 

Berkeley Rep “The Miser” at 8 p.m. at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $53. Runs through June 25. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

California Shakespeare Theater “The Merry Wives of Windsor” at the Bruns Amphitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd., Orinda. Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 4 p.m. through June 25. Tickets are $15 and up. 548-9666. www.calshakes.org 

Central Works “The Inspector General” a new comedy, Thurs., Fri., and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., through July 30. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1381. 

Crowded Fire Theater Company “We Are Not These Hands” a comedy about the friendship between two teenaged girls in a fictional third-world nation, Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 7 p.m. through July 16 at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $10- $20. www.crowdedfire.org 

Masquers Playhouse “The Fantasticks” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm on June 25, July 2, 9, 16. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, through July 22. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Pinole Community Players “Oliver!” the musical, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., selected Sun. at 2 p.m., at the Community Playhouse, 601 Tennent Ave., Pinole, through July 15. Tickets are $14-$17. 724-3669, 223-3598.  

TheatreFirst Staged readings of four plays under consideration for next season, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at at 469 9th St., Oakland. Free. 436-5085. 

FILM 

Isabelle Huppert: Passion and Contradiction “Malina” at 7 p.m. and “The Trout” at 9:25 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Davy and Peter Rothbart introduce “Found II” at 8 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Roy Zimmerman in “Faulty Intelli gence” An evening of satirical songs, Wed.-Fri. at 8 p.m. at The Marsh Berkeley, 2118 Allston Way. 800-838-3006. www.themarsh.org  

Jessica Jones Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Tim O’Brien at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $24.50-$25.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

David Gans, Mario DeSio and Jeff Pehrson at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Pellejo Seco, Cuban son, at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568.  

The Girlfriend Experience, Machine Green, Tokyo Decadence at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

“Listen” recordings by contempory sound makers at 8 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Tickets are $10-$18. 843-2787. 

Blanks 77, Hellbillies, Ashtray, Peligro Social at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

Hyim & The Fat Foakland Orchestra at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low. Cost is $5. 548-1159.  

Du Uy Quintet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Mike Marshall, Angel of Thorns, The Brod Rob Experience at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $10. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Kenny Garrett at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$22. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, JUNE 24 

FILM 

Isabelle Huppert: Passion and Contradiction “Merci pour le chocolat” at 6:30 p.m. and “Violette Nozière” at 8:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Rhythm & Muse will host an appreciation and fundraising night for the Berkeley Art Center, which is in jeopardy of closing its doors due to the cumulative effects of funding cuts by the City of Berkeley over the past three years. Open mic sign up at 6:30 p.m., reading at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., between Eunice & Rose Sts. 644-6893. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Summer Solstice Celebration in Oakland’s Laurel neighborhood with over 50 musical groups performing from 3 to 7 p.m. at MacArthur Blvd. and 38th Ave. 531-1499. 

Hal Stein Quartet at 4 p.m. at 4024 MacArthur Blvd. Free. 

“Praise Him in Song” Gospel Concert at 5 p.m. at Linen Life, 1375 Park Ave., Emeryville. tickets are $20-$25. 776-8222. 

“Stand Still” with Gospel soloist Yvonne Cobbs-Bey, at 7:30 p.m. at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, 4113 Telegraph Ave. at 41st St., Oakland.  

Baba Ken & Kotoja at 9:45 p.m. at Ashkenaz. African dance lesson at 9 p.m. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Dance in the Key to Life Dance from Hawai’i, Tahiti, North India, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and West Africa at 8 p.m. at Regent’s Theater, Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. Tickets are $25. 925-798-1300. 

Company of Prophets, AIDS Awareness and hip hop show, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Khalil Shaheed/Yasir Chadley Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Rick DiDia and Nate Cooper at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

The Ravines at 8 p.m. at Spud's Pizza. Suggested donation $7, no one turned away. 540-7874. 

Bill Kirchen at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Sister Farmers Big Machine at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $8-$10. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

Eric Muhler, solo piano, at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Santa Diabo, Project Greenfield, Mission Players at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $8. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Jagadambe, part of the Kirtan devotional music series at 7 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Tickets are $15-$18. 843-2787. 

The Devil Makes Three, The Blue Roots at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

A Night of Voices, stories by Matt Holdaway and music by The Isabellas, Kou Chen, at 5 p.m., and Slydini at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

SUNDAY, JUNE 25 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Inner Visions” Abstract paintings by Judy Levit and Susan Hall. Reception from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Foyer Gallery of the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave.  

“Staff Picks” New work from William Smith, Jennie Ottinger, Kvin B. Chen, Robert Armstrong, Edward Foley through July 27 at Barbara Naderson Gallery, 2243 Fifth St. 848-3822. 

FILM 

Isabelle Huppert: Passion and Contradiction “Saint-Cyr” at 3 p.m. and “Coup de torchon” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

PEN Oakland Poetry Benefit “Words Upon the Waters” to benefit Centers for Independent Living in Mississippi, at 3 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. 841-JAZZ.  

Reading for Two Late Barbarian Poets: Eli Copolla and David Lerner at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Eric Dinerstein talks about “Tigerland and Other Unintended Destinations” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Friends of Negro Spirituals Bay Area Negro Spirituals Heritage Day at 3:30 p.m. at the West Oakland Senior Center, 1724 Adeline St., Oakland. 869-4359. 

Mozart in the Garden preview concert for the Midsummer Mozart Festival in the East Bay Hills. Tickets are $65. 415-627-9141. 

Kalanjali: Dances of India at 1 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Free. www.juliamorgan.org 

Brazilian Soul Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Americana Unplugged: Homespun Rowdy at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 655-5715. 

Pat Ryan’s Celtic Junket at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Jessica Neighbor Quartet at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

MONDAY, JUNE 26 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“New Writing by Women of the Iranian Diaspora” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. www.codysbooks.com 

Amy Spade and Owen Hill read at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Poetry Express open mic on “The Blues” at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Blue Monday Jam at 8 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Bruce & Matt, traditional Italian music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Jake Shimabukuro at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $8-$12. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com  

TUESDAY, JUNE 27 

CHILDREN 

Gretchen Woefle reads from her book “Animal Families, Animal Friends” as part of the Kensington Library’s Summer Reading Program at 7 p.m. at 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Puppet Company “Fantasy on Strings” a magical excursion with a variety of 3 feet tall, fully articulated marionettes at 7 p.m. at The Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

FILM 

Against Indifference: The Cinema of Krzysztof Kieslowski “No End” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Belinda Rathbone reads from “The Guynd: A Scottish Journal” at 7:30 p.m at Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary and Garden Arts, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Tell It On Tuesday Storytelling at 7 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Cost is $8-$12 sliding scale at the door. www.juliamorgan.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Golden Gate International Childrens’ Choral Festival at 3 p.m. at the Mormon Interstake Center, Oakland. 547-4441. 

Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Michael Coleman Trio Jazz Jam at 8 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Bring your instrument. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Randy Craig Trio, jazz, at 7:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Chris Chandler and David Roe House Concert at 7 p.m. at 1609 Woolsey St. 649-1423. 

Zemog El Gallo Bueno at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays, a weekly showcase of up-and-coming ensembles from Berkeley Jazzschool at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28 

FILM 

Arab Women Film Series “Ashiqat Al-Cinema” at 7 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

The Puppet Animation of Kihachiro Kawamoto “Demons, Poets, and Priests” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Writing Teachers Write” monthly student and teacher reading series at 5 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Natalie Coughlin and Michael Silver describe “Golden Girl: How Natalie Coughlin Fought Back, Challenged Conventional Wisdom, and Became America’s Swimming Champion” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. www.codysbooks.com 

Roy Zimmerman in “Faulty Intelligence” An evening of satirical songs, at 8 p.m. at The Marsh Berkeley, 2118 Allston Way. 800-838-3006. www.themarsh.org  

“Ten Excellent Reasons Not to Join the Military” presented by Cindy Sheehan, Paul Rockwell, and Aimee Allison at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Golden Gate Childrens’ Community Concert at 7:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church, Kensington. 547-4441. 

Justin Hellman Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

J Soul at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Ugly Beauty at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Zemog El Gallo Bueno at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, JUNE 29 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Somewhere in Space” Installations and paintings by Mayumi Hamanaka and Eric Larson. Reception at 6 p.m. at Swarm Studios + Gallery, 560 Second St., Oakland. 839-2787. 

“TRASHed” an eco-friendly art exhibition of recycling bins on Bay Street through the end of August. 655-4002. www.baystreetemeryville.com  

FILM 

The Puppet Animation of Kihachiro Kawamoto “Absurdities, Legends, and Fairy Tales” at 7 p.m. and “The Book of the Dead” at 8:35 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Sandra M. Gilbert and Phyllis Stowell read from thier new books on death and grief at 3 p.m. in the 3rd floor Community Meeting Room, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6107. 

“For Review” with Jack Marshall discussing his memoir “From Baghdad to Brooklyn: Growing Up in a Jewish Arabic Family in Midcentury America” at 6:30 p.m. at the Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $6-$8 549-6950. 

Michelle Tea will read from her new book “Rose of No Man’s Land” at 6 p.m. at Oakland Public Library, West Auditorium, 125 14th St. 238-3134. 

Siddharth Dhanvant Shangvi describes “The Last Song of Dusk” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. www.codysbooks.com 

Nomad Spoken Word Night at 7 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Elizabeth Grossman talks about “High Tech Trash: Digital Devices, Hidden Toxins, & Human Health” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

“The Da Vinci Code: Is the Truth Stranger than Fiction?” with Rabbi Harry Manhoff at 7:30 p.m. at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Donation $5. 839-2900, ext. 249. 

Word Beat Reading Series with Ronda Lawson and Eugene David at 7 p.m. at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. 526-5985. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“Full Circle “ Dream Dance Company and Jose Francisco Barroso and Carlos Mena, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St. at 9th St., Oakland. Tickets are $12-$15. 597-1619, ext. 110. dreamdancecompany.org  

Lloyd Gregory Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Triskela, three harps, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Hali Hammer CD Release Party at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar St. at Bonita. Suggested donation $5-$10 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds. 649-1423. 

Roy Zimmerman in “Faulty Intelligence” An evening of satirical songs, at 8 p.m. at The Marsh Berkeley, 2118 Allston Way. 800-838-3006.  

No More Stereo, Melaquis, The Team Hate at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. 

Jimi Bridges, music without borders at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $6-$8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Take 6, a capella, at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $28-$32. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jennifer Johns at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $8. 451-8100.

Al Gore may be soaking up the spotlight with his doc du jour An Inconvenient Truth, but The Road to Guantanamo, opening today (Friday) at Shattuck Cinemas, is a far more incendiary film and one that many Americans would do well to see. 

Guantanamo tells a harrowing tale, and though it ends happily enough for the young Englishmen whose story it relates, it is full of anguish and anger on behalf of the potentially hundreds of innocent detainees who have not fared as well. 

The film is part documentary, part dramatization. It tells the story of the “Tipton Trio,” three Englishmen of Pakistani origin who set out for their native country so that one of them can get married there. There were actually four of them at the start of the journey, but one vanished somewhere in Afghanistan, where the young men had traveled to be of some help to fellow Muslims caught in the crossfire between the United States and the Taliban.  

They were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, rounded up with a group of alleged Taliban soldiers, arrested by the Northern Alliance, turned over to the American military, and eventually shipped off to Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They were lucky to even make it that far, but that was far from the end of their troubles. At Guantanamo the trio was subjected to inhumane conditions and repeated interrogations. They were systematically humiliated, beaten, abused and degraded. 

Though the story is dramatized, the action is interspersed with news footage and interviews with the Tipton Trio themselves. The technique may sound clumsy on paper but it works quite well, taking the simple, just-the-facts monologues of the young men and illustrating them with dramatic re-creations of their experiences. 

The dramatized segments feature young actors with little professional experience, chosen because they reflected many of the same traits as the men they portray; they are young, adventurous, brash, not especially religious and certainly apolitical. They are just kids, really, caught up in something too dark and too vast to comprehend, and the casting of these young actors brings those qualities to the fore. 

The film has already sparked controversy for its unflinching portrayal of the trespasses of the U.S. and British governments. Doubtless, its claims will be refuted, written off as politically-charged fantasies. But the tale is real. 

It seems like just a few years ago that tales of abduction, torture, indefinite detention and unlawful imprisonment occurred only in far-off lands: criminal deeds done by lawless, totalitarian governments or shadowy drug cartels in exotic locales. But now the American government is in on the act, if not for the first time then certainly for the first time on such a grand scale.  

Fahrenheit 9-11 kicked off this latest wave of political documentaries, but unlike that film and the many that followed in its wake—Outfoxed, The Corporation, Wal-Mart: The High Price of Low Cost, and even An Inconvenient Truth—Road to Guantanamo is not so easy to dismiss as a politically motivated polemic, especially in light of the recent suicides at Guantanamo.  

The film avoids many of the pitfalls of some of its recent predecessors, keeping the focus on the story itself rather than on the political players; George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Tony Blair make only brief appearances. 

The filmmakers spend little time recounting the How and the Why, instead focusing their cameras on their subjects and sticking to the What. Why distract the audience with the pale justifications, obfuscations and moral rationalizations of politicians? Directors Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross dispense with the small talk and get right to the point, knowing that it is far more effective to simply stick to the facts, to simply show what happened to these men and leave spin to others. There is no more effective and affecting story to be told than the disturbing tale of how an unchecked government and an unwinnable war robbed these young men of more than two years of their lives. 

But those two years were not wasted, for these men did not cave in; they did not give in to the temptation to ease their suffering by saying what their captors wanted to hear. 

“It only made me stronger,” one of the men says in an interview, and the line received a round of applause from a recent San Francisco preview audience. This sense of irony is pervasive throughout the film, as we watch burly, ruthless Marines—“Honor-Bound to Defend Freedom,” as their slogan reads—systematically subverting every tenant of their democratic ideals in a misguided effort to protect freedom by destroying it.  

At times the film draws uneasy laughter, as if it were simply a comedy of errors as the big, bad bully misses the forest for the trees, lording his power over the powerless while his world crumbles around him. It is truly bewildering and dispiriting to think of the U.S. Marines wasting the time and resources to ask a few clueless kids, over and over, “Where’s Osama?” 

The film reinforces the realization that bin Laden has in fact achieved a crucial—if “asymmetric”—victory, having reduced the once-mighty United States to a nation of paranoia and recklessness, ruled by an increasingly undemocratic government bent on squandering its vast power and wealth in pursuit of the unattainable goal of an undefined victory over an unseen enemy.  

But the military acts at the behest of our president, and our president prefers to paint with a broad brush, with good represented by white faces and evil represented by brown ones. The Tipton Trio never had a chance.  

Even when evidence to the contrary rests right before their eyes, the Marines at Guantanamo see only what they want to see, choosing to gaze instead through the same polarizing lens favored by al Qaeda. 

And for many Americans, that’s quite all right. “My country, right or wrong,” apologists say. But they never finish the quote, never include the words Missouri Sen. Carl Schurz used to modify the statement: “My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.” 

Contributed Photo.  

A scene from the part documentary, part dramatization The Road to Guantanamo

Over 40 local poets—including Ntozake Shange, Floyd Salas, Avotcja, Gerald Nicosia, Tennessee Reed and Reginald Lockett—will read to benefit the Hurricane Katrina victims of Mississippi, and to celebrate the self-publication of a book of poems on Katrina, Words Upon the Waters, this Sunday, 3 p.m., at Anna’s Jazz Island. 

Both the production of the book and the reading come from a collective effort by the artists involved, building on an earlier benefit at La Peña, to send all proceeds directly to elderly and disabled Katrina victims through the Center for Independent Living in the East Bay.  

“All of us are artists; I never thought we’d have a book,” said Kim McMillon, who hosts a reading series at Anna’s Jazz Island, and will preside at Sunday’s benefit with fellow organizers Wanda Sabir and Karla Brundage. 

The ball got rolling for the benefits and the book one night last year when a few friends began e-mailing each other and talking on the phone. 

“We’re mostly of color—African American, Native and Asian American, Latina,” said McMillon of the group that coalesced from the mutual concern. “Some of us had relatives down there, or our families were from there—my parents were married in Gulfport. And we could see that the needs of people were being ignored, especially those of older and disabled victims.” 

The group decided to focus on Mississippi because such a wide area of that state got devastated; it wasn’t just New Orleans. 

“People feel helpless,” McMillon said. “But for us, it’s an opportunity to use our words to help—and we’re building a sense of community.” 

Sabir, whom McMillon called the backbone of the effort, spent the time following Katrina “in a daze, waiting for phonecalls” to account for family members in the stricken area. 

“The older people, especially those in their 80s and 90s didn’t leave,” she said. “The younger ones evacuated, the older stayed. I kept seeing photos of people in wheelchairs being evacuated to the Astrodome in Houston.” 

Sabir, who teaches at Alameda Jr. College, visited Mississippi last fall. “Aid was being blocked; people were going, taking blankets and food down.” 

On her return, she talked with others, then contacted Karla Brundage. 

“We’d done events for South Central, for abolishing the death penalty together. We had lots of names standing by,” Sabir said. “Karla organized the La Peña reading. The poetry was awesome; the testimony, fabulous. We taped the evening, and Karla, Kim Shuck, Leroy Franklin and other poets started talking about doing a book.” 

“Inkworks donated 500 covers and found a binder for us,” said McMillon. “The project deserved something more than a stapled chapbook and Reginald Lockett legitimized us with his Jukebox Press. We’ve got an ISBN number, and—after Karla and five others spent all night long, every night for a week at the Bay Area Alternative Pres—we have 500 bound copies. When you make something this way, when your hand touches every page, it puts a different value on it.” 

McMillon said publishers have been invited to the reading, in the hope that one of them will publish the book. 

All proceeds from the readings and a silent art auction of donated works at La Peña are being wired, without fee, by the Center for Independent Living to Mississippi and Houston. 

“We get detailed reports on how it’s been spent,” said Sabir. “Jan Garrett of CIL has been great—and Mr. Batiste, whose own family members were evacuated during Hurricane Rita. He knows.” 

Brundage commented on the interracial and intercommunity cooperation that’s sprung from a widespread disaster, teamwork that’s overcoming a sense of voicelessness from being confronted with a history of neglect. 

“There are places down there that don’t exist anymore,” Sabir said. “But our community of poets and artists are of the same ethnic diversity—even including a similar diversity of disabilities—as the Katrina victims. We span the spectrum, and when we feel something, we write a poem or a song, put on a concert.” 

The reading is sponsored by Oakland PEN, Before Columbus Foundation and Poetry Flash. McMillon credits Anna Rodriguez, of Anna’s Jazz Island with “really going to bat for us—and she contributed a great poem, too.” 

“The anniversary of Katrina’s just around the corner,” cautioned McMillon, “and it’s hurricane season again.” 

Words Upon The Waters 

A Healing Event for Katrina by Bay Area Poets & Artists 

Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way,  

Sunday, 3 p.m. 

$5 admission; book $20.