Susan Greene, renowned Bay Area community mural artist and clinical psychologist will speak about her twenty years of experience with collaborative community based mural projects that re-inscribe walls in Occupied Palestine. Greene’s talk will focus particularly on murals that were painted in 2005 on the walls of the Rachel Corrie Children and Youth Cultural Center in the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip.

Greene is one of four Jewish American female artists who in 1989 formed Break the Silence Mural Project (BTS) and traveled to the West Bank city of Ramallah to paint community murals with Palestinian community members and artists. Upon returning,they presented their work and reflections to high school, university, and community audiences across the United States including at the San Francisco Art Institute, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Alternative Museum in New York. The group produced an award winning video that aired on cable TV networks and in film festivals. In San Francisco’s Mission District, a traditional haven for refugees the world over, Break the Silence painted a mural about the occupation of Palestine and the Palestinian right to a homeland, making connections with issues of “home.” Break the Silence artists have returned to the West Bank and Gaza numerous times to facilitate community mural projects, conduct arts workshops, and create sculpture in refugee camps in Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Beit Hanoun and Rafah.

It's MOVIE NIGHT at the CAPITOL THEATER on Tuesday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m. JOIN US! Let's build community and solidarity and all go together to the movies! Invite your family, friends, Dems, Greens, fence-sitters, ALL! Then let's meet at the FISHBOWL BREW PUB for a beer and socializing!
The Dixie Chicks started a firestorm when lead singer Natalie Maines declared onstage at a 2003 London concert that she was ashamed that President Bush was from Texas, her home state. The group faced drastic consequences, including death threats and blacklisting. This is a "bracingly candid documentary portrait of the artists in a career-defining transition....It also happens to be a lot of fun."

"Iraq For Sale" Movie Fundraiser for Thurston County NOW. Donation of $5 requested, refreshments. Join is for an evening of video-viewing and discussion!

Olympians for Peace in the Middle East potlucks welcome community members who want to work in solidarity with the people of the Middle East. This social event offers an opportunity for people to plug in to the emerging solidarity movement in Olympia during this time of dangerous misconceptions, war and occupation.

In the past month we helped plan the event Muslims of Thurston County Speak Out, attended by over 200 community members. We gathered signatures for a letter to The Olympian about anti-Muslim hate speech. A relpy has arrived! Please keep an eye on your Sunday paper to find out more about The Olympia on-line comment section and their current policy in publishing inflamatory language as we continue this crucial dialogue.

Death Penalty Abolition Committee,
meeting for justice issues.

The Olympia chapter of Amnesty International will hold an emergency vigil to amplify the call for an immediate cease-fire of hostilities by Israel and Hizbullah, and an end to arms transfer to the conflict.

The chapter invites the community of Olympia to stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors on both sides of this conflict and urge action by the international community.

This silent vigil will take place at Heritage Park Fountain, across from Percival Landing, on Monday, August 7, 2006 from 5pm to 7pm. Wear black, if you wish, to express mourning for the untold suffering and loss of innocent lives, many of whom are children. Signs will be provided.

Monthly meeting of PFLAG, discussion of transgender issues with panel from Gender Variant Health Project. All welcome.

A day-long workshop to learn and practice NVC or Nonviolent Communication as the basis for a strong compassionate presence in the world. Gain skill in radically honest, empathic communication with the patterns of blame and shame so prevalent in our society. For all levels of experience, including those new to NVC. Sliding scale fee. Facilitated by Suska Davis, Ph.D. For info and registration, call (360) 754-1600 or visit www.fernhavencenter.com

Don't miss the Capitol Lakefair Parade! Is your community organization going to be present? Lots of people will be and, if you have a cause you want to promote, you'll want to be there too. Parade groups begin to meet at preassigned locations around 4 pm. The parade is scheduled to begin at 5 pm.

Don't miss this year's Super Saturday! It's a great way to connect with the community (if you're an organization who needs to get the word out about your cause) or to meet other activists in the area. From 10 am to 6 pm on the campus of The Evergreen State College.