Happenings

---

For more details on these and other events this week, see Community Listings.

---

THURSDAY, APRIL 5

GOLD AND GREED: NORTH AMERICAN MINING IN CENTRAL AMERICA A talk from Carlos Amador Aleman and Sandra Cuffe, organizers in Honduras and experts in the environmental and human-rights violations caused there by mining companies. 8-10pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 300-3685. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

---

FRIDAY, APRIL 6

PEOPLE UNITED features members of the Lilith Fund on abortion access and reproductive health. 1pm. KOOP 91.7FM. www.koop.org.

SEN. JOHN KERRY talks about his new book, This Moment on Earth. Book-sale proceeds benefit the Save Our Springs Alliance. 2:30pm. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar, 472-5050. Free. www.bookpeople.com.

---

SATURDAY, APRIL 7

URBAN MEDIA SYMPOSIUM This all-day symposium gathers the most prominent movers and shakers in the urban-media landscape, from advertising, music, and film to broadcast, sports, and interactive media. 7:30am-5pm. UT campus, 476-6666. $50-100. www.urbanmediasymposium.com.

---

MONDAY, APRIL 9

AIDS ALLIANCE POLICY DIRECTOR DAVID GARTNER The internationally known AIDS advocate speaks about global AIDS issues. 6:30-8:30pm. Catholic Charities of Central Texas, 1817 E. Sixth.

---

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11

METROPOLITAN BREAKFAST CLUB Rep. Patrick Rose presents an 80th Legislature update. 7-8:30am. UT Club, Darrell Royal Memorial Stadium, sixth floor, 479-9460. $15. www.mbcaustin.org.

WITNESS TO AN EXECUTION The Campaign to End the Death Penalty hosts this panel including the Rev. Caroll Pickett, Jewel Nelms, and Lily Mae Hughes. 7:30pm. UT campus, NOA Building, Room 1.126. Free. www.nodeathpenalty.org.

---

THURSDAY, APRIL 12

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH: THE PLANETARY EMERGENCY OF GLOBAL WARMING AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT Austinite Maura Nevel Thomas presents the slide show on which the award-winning Al Gore doc is based. Call to RSVP. 7:30-9pm. The Crossings, 13500 FM 2769, 225-1075 x4101. Free.

BUT WE MUST SPEAK The words of Martin Luther King Jr. shed some light on our current situation in Iraq as the Austin Peace Center celebrates the 40th anniversary of King's "Beyond Vietnam" speech. 7-9pm. St. James Episcopal Church, 3707 E. MLK, 926-6339. Free. www.austinpeacecenter.org.

CENTRAL TEXAS DEMOCRATIC FORUM Previously known as the Austin Democratic Forum, this newly re-formed group convenes its first luncheon meeting with Rep. Lloyd Doggett. Call or e-mail to reserve your seat. 11:45am-1pm. Shoreline Grill, 98 San Jacinto, 320-0665. $14 ($11, members). [email protected].

TAX SEMINAR The comptroller's office is offering this seminar to help taxpayers with their questions. 6-8pm. William B. Travis State Office Building, 1701 Congress, 463-4865. Free. www.window.state.tx.us.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE Today is your last chance to register to vote in this May's city, school, and constitutional amendment elections. www.traviscountytax.org/goVoters.do.

---

ONGOING

THE BARBARA JORDAN NATIONAL FORUM ON PUBLIC POLICY Honors the former congresswoman with two days of discussion regarding the Path to Social Change: Activating Your Community. April 5-6, Thursday, 8:15am-7:30pm; Friday, 7am-1:30pm. Thompson Conference Center, 26th & Red River, 471-2933. Free. www.utexas.edu/lbj/barbarajordanforum.

MOPAC 1 OPEN HOUSE TxDOT invites you to give your input on improvement recommendations to the Loop 1 corridor from FM 734 to the Cesar Chavez interchange. 5-8pm. Tuesday, April 10: O. Henry Middle School, 2610 W. 10th. Thursday, April 12: McCallum High, 5600 Sunshine, 498-7700. Free.

MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT CONFERENCE This two-day symposium gathers experts to debate the many questions around this act aimed at "bringing to justice terrorists and other unlawful enemy combatants through full and fair trials by military commissions." 4:30pm. Tuesday-Wednesday, April 10-11. UT School of Law, 727 E. Dean Keeton, 232-1277. www.utexas.edu/law/journals/tilj.

20TH ANNUAL SAFEPLACE WALK Register now to participate in this walk on April 14. Waterloo Park, 403 E. 15th. www.austin-safeplace.org.

COMMUNITY TAX CENTERS FREE TAX PREPARATION Most families who made $50,000 or less last year (and individuals who made less than $25,000) qualify for free tax help, in English and Spanish. See www.communitytaxcenters.org for locations. 447-2026.

GLOBAL WARMING BLOG Visit www.klruspark.com to get the lowdown on how climate change affects Austinites and what we can do about it. Mayor Wynn, enviro guru Paul Robbins, and many others share their expertise.