Res Publica

For more details and events, see Community Listings.

Thursday10

ANGUISH IN THE AMERICAN DREAM Author Robert Jensen shares his views on redefining the Amer­ican Dream in a post-downturn world. 7pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

FREE SPEECH DIALOGUES Experts from New York University and The New York Times on the right to free speech. 7pm. UT campus, Mezes 1.306. Free. www.utexas.edu/news.

Friday11

ALAN POGUE RECEPTION Buy one of Pogue's photos and support the photographer's upcoming trip to document prison reform efforts in Africa. 5-7:30pm. The Old School, 1604 E. 11th. www.documentaryphotographs.com.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FORUM features a panel on linking investments in affordable housing and transportation. 9-10:30am. Street-Jones Building, 1000 E. 11th.

Saturday12

SAVE JOSLIN A Manchaca march to raise support for this South Austin school threatened with closure. 10am. Joslin Elementary School, 4500 Manchaca Rd. [email protected].

TLAC VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION Learn how to care for underage puppies and kittens until they can be adopted. 10am-noon. Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez, 942-6071. www.rescueapetnow.com.

Sunday13

GREEN PARTY MEET-UP Discuss the current legislative session. 6pm. Dominican Joe, 515 S. Congress #108, 448-3919. www.txgreens.org.

DIPLOMACY & U.S. INTERESTS IN EGYPT A talk by UT government professor Jason Brownlee. 12:30pm. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 14311 Wells Port Dr., 251-0698. Free. www.staopen.com.

REPORT FROM COP16 Attendees of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancún share their thoughts. 7pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. Free. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

Monday14

COMPETITIVE BENEFITS RALLY Why don't same-sex partners get benefits at UT? Join the march. Noon. UT West Mall.

Wednesday16

ENERGY IN THE 21ST CENTURY A talk by Nobel Prize winner/Stanford University professor Burton Richter. 4:15pm. UT campus, RLM 4.102, 657-3752. Free. www.ph.utexas.edu/events_colloquia.html.

MY TRIP TO AL QUEDA Journalist Lawrence Wright screens this documentary about his work on Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Looming Tower. 7:30pm. Avaya Auditorium (ACES 2.302, UT campus), 471-9056. Free. www.humanitiesinstitute.utexas.edu.

PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR A NEW ECONOMY Learn how experiences with a cooperative economy in Spain can teach Americans in a struggling economy. 7:30pm. 5604 Manor Rd., 321/948-3423. Free. www.thirdcoastworkers.coop.

Thursday17

ACLU HONORS Judge Charlie Baird earns Civil Libertarian of the Year. 6pm. Victory Grill, 1104 E. 11th, 902-5057. Free. www.aclutx.org.

ACTIVIST SCHOLARSHIP CONFERENCE Community organizers, scholars, and others discuss the state of social justice in the Americas. Thu.-Sat., Feb. 17-19. Texas Union, UT campus, 24th & Guadalupe. Free. http://on.fb.me/eoRlcf.

MEETING ON OPEN MEETINGS ACT Learn about open records requests, the Open Meeting Act, and more. 6:30pm. Austin Energy Building, 721 Barton Springs Rd., Rm. 130.

CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY DAY Speak up for children's rights after a briefing on how to talk to your legislator and a pit stop at the Mental Health Rally (see below). Noon-3:15pm. Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress. [email protected].

MENTAL HEALTH DAY begins with an advocacy workshop and lunch followed by a trip to the Capitol to draw attention to mental health legislation. 10am-4pm. First United Methodist Church, 1201 Lavaca, 693-2000. $6.

AN EVENING OF FAITH IN ACTION Religious leaders from various faiths discuss the rights of workers and the role of churches in the fight. 7pm. St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th, 391-2305. Free. www.workersdefense.org.