Res Publica

Thursday09

GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEM DISCUSSION Learn how free-trade agreements unfairly centralize food production. 7pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. Free. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE If you want to vote for Austin's next mayor on May 9, then you have to be a voter. Visit www.traviscountytax.org or call 854-9473 to find out if you're registered or to print out a registration form to mail today. (Want to see the mayoral and council candidates in person? Attend one of this week's many community forums – for the schedule, see "Campaign Trailin'.")

---

Friday10

CLIMATE PROTECTION RESOURCE FAIR Learn about your role in achieving Austin Climate Protection Plan goals, and find out what resources are available to help you. Noon-2pm. City Hall, 301 W. Second. www.cityofaustin.org/acpp.

---

Saturday11

BOYCOTT HIGHLAND MALL RALLY Join Austin NAACP in holding Highland Mall management accountable for its decision to close the mall during the Texas Relays. 9am-noon. Highland Mall, 6001 Airport Blvd..www.kpwr.org/boycott-highland-mall

TRANSGENDER EDUCATION NETWORK OF TEXAS MEETING 2:30pm. Call for location: 448-6354, 877/532-6789. www.tentex.org.

---

Monday13

A MUSLIM BOY MEETS THE WEST Former Austinite Imran Ahmad, author of Unimagined: A Muslim Boy Meets the West, shares his experiences as a Muslim child growing up amid English Christians. 7:30pm. First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover, 452-6168. www.austinuu.org.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: LAST DAY TO SUBMIT COMMENTS The three finalists vying to create the city of Austin's new Comprehensive Plan have finished answering questions submitted by Austinites, and their answers are posted online. Check them out at www.cityofaustin.org/compplan, and don't forget: You can still submit your comments for City Council consideration, as long as you do it now: Today's the last day!

SOCIAL REALITIES OF ECUADOR Writer Michelle Wibbelsman, author of Ritual Encoun­ters: Otavalan Modern and Mythic Community, talks about the people, history, and current state of Ecuador. 6:30pm. Garden District Coffee House, 2810 S. Congress. Free.

---

Tuesday14

BUS RIDERS UNION MEETING 7pm. Little City, 916 Congress, 476-2489. Free. www.busatx.org.

LONG-RANGE PARK-PLANNING MEETING Check out the long-range plan for Austin's parks at www.cityofaustin.org/parks/longrangeplan.htm, and attend this meeting to let the planners know what you think. 6:30pm. Northwest Recreation Center, 2913 Northland, 458-4107.

SOLAR MOVIE NIGHT Meet state legislators sponsoring solar legislation, and watch a short film about solar energy. Call or go online to RSVP. 6pm. State Capitol, Rm. E2.002, 236-0723. Free. www.environmenttexas.org/action/solar-power/rsvp.

WE SHALL REMAIN Dr. Loriene Roy, past president of the American Library Association, presents a multimedia project weaving together native and American histories. 7pm. Will Hampton Library, 5125 Convict Hill, 892-6680. Free.

---

Wednesday15

CRUDE AWAKENING AUSTIN MEETING Peak oil and fossil-fuel depletion are the topics on the agenda. 7pm. Carver Library, 1161 Angelina, 914-6803. Free. www.crudeawakening.org.

GALVESTON RECOVERY Whether you're BOI (Born on Island) or IBC (Islander by Choice), Galveston is part of the big heart of Texas. Come out and rally to support House Bill 6, legislation for some serious island relief. Check www.recoverygalveston.org for an Evite with more details. 10am. Texas Capitol, 409/744-5555.

LIVE FROM DEATH ROW Families of death row inmates describe their experiences with the criminal justice system. 7pm. UT campus, UTC Rm. 3.122. Free. www.nodeathpenalty.org.

TAX DAY TEA PARTY Pork-haters join Gov. Rick Perry to protest Texas' spending packages at City Hall at 11:30am. The rally moves to the Capitol at 4pm for more speakers, then descends on Lady Bird Lake for a re-enactment of the Boston Tea Party. www.taxdayteaparty.com.

RALLY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY Noon. West Mall, UT campus. www.nodeathpenalty.org.

---

Thursday16

LISTENING TO BARBARA JORDAN A panel discussion on the life and impact of this beloved Texas stateswoman. 6pm. Perry-Castañeda Library, 21st & Speedway, 495-4644. Free.

FAIR FOOD ACROSS BORDERS A discussion on the effects of the proliferation of migrant agricultural workers in the U.S. and Mexico. 7pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop. Free.

LONG-RANGE PARK-PLANNING MEETING (See Tuesday.) 6:30pm. Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center, 808 Nile, 478-7695.

---

Ongoing

CHANGE YOUR GENERATION Play this new information-packed online game, and help Austin Energy decide how to provide power to Austin's homes and businesses over the next 11 years. Pick an animated alter ego – Roger Duncan? Will Wynn? T. Boone Pickens? – then mix and match energy sources to meet the city's projected electric needs. www.austinsmartenergy.com.

ZERO WASTE SURVEY Want to help Solid Waste Services reach its zero-waste goals for Austin? Take five minutes to complete this online survey: www.austinrecycles.com.