FRIDAY, MAY 30

8 AM-4:30 PM. "The Dropout Crisis in the Northwest: Confronting the Graduation Rate Crisis with Special Focus on American Indian and Alaska Native Students." Seventh annual conference on the challenges of dropout rates in our nation's public schools. Ethnic Cultural Theater on the University of Washington campus. Seattle. Info: http://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu or Daniel Liou dnyliou@ucla.edu.

7-9:30 PM. A Film: US vs. John Lennon. Plus the Short: I Met The Walrus. Followed by discussion. Free and open to the public but donations are kindly accepted. Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Pl., Seattle. Info: http://www.meaningfulmovies.org.

SATURDAY, MAY 31

10 AM-7 PM & SUN., JUNE 1: 10 AM-6 PM. The 37th annual Pike Place Market Street Festival. Main and Busker stages with rock, classical, reggae and alternative music. Info: http://www.PikePlaceMarketStreetFestival.com.

11 AM-6 PM. Chinese Culture and Arts Festival. Celebrate one of the world's ancient civilizations through the rich traditions of dance, music, martial arts, and costumes. Visual arts displays, cultural exhibits, books, traveling and gift booths, Seattle's own Chinese garden and an array of interactive exhibits. Free admission. Center House, Seattle Center. Info: http://www.chinaartandculture.com or http://www.seattlecenter.com/festal.

Noon-4:15 PM. Anti-war demonstration at 4:30. Northwest Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan. Hear local and regional chapters of Iraq Veterans Against The War bring home the truth about the occupations with eyewitness accounts of what is really happening, day in and day out, on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. With featured speaker Antonia Juhasz, respected policy-analyst, author, and activist. Renowned journalist Dahr Jamahl, former diplomat Col. Anne Wright, and many others will also attend. Seattle Town Hall, 8th Ave and Seneca St. Tickets: $5 at the door, first-come-first served. Doors open at 11 AM. Sponsored by Iraq Veterans Against the War. More info: http://givoice.org/. Directions to Town Hall: http://www.townhallseattle.org/directionsandparking.cfm.

SUNDAY, JUNE 1

2-4 PM. Tiananmen Square Memorial. As the Beijing Olympics comes closer the world is spotting human rights issues in China more than ever before. The Government of China has long tried to erase the memory of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. We are going to preserve it. Westlake Park, 401 Pine St., Seattle. Info: 206-829-8972 or seattlefdc@comcast.net.

TUESDAY, JUNE 3

7:30 PM. Town Hall presents Carl Zimmer on "Microcosm." E. coli, known to most us for its deadly outbreaks, has actually played a pivotal role in the history of biology, and continues to lead the way in the search for life-saving drugs, clean fuel, and a deeper understanding of our own genetic makeup and the history of life. Award-winning science writer Carl Zimmer presents an enlightening biography of this humble germ in Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life. Tickets $5 at the door only. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Avenue, Seattle. Info: http://www.townhallseattle.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5

5:30-7 PM. 2008 Human Services Awards. Come help us honor and celebrate Safe Schools Coalition volunteer and member Heather Carter of the Youth Suicide Prevention Program who has been voted and selected by the Children, Youth, and Families Coalition in recognition of their commitment to social justice and the leadership the program has displayed in addressing the needs in our LGBT community. Light hors d'oeuvres & refreshments will be served. Donations accepted at the door. Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room, 600 Fourth Avenue, Seattle.

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

7:30-10 PM & SAT. JUNE 7: 9 AM-4 PM. Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream. Friday night will include the New Dreams Coffeehouse, featuring the band The Holy Crows and other music, performers, and poets. Come enjoy the entertainment along with snacks and beverages. On Saturday, Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream: A Symposium will be presented. Participants are given the opportunity to reflect on these four simple questions: Where are we? How did we get here? What is our new dream? How do we make that dream real? Registration by June 2 is $35 including a simple local-organic lunch. Young adults and students $20. Family discounts available and none turned away. Register online or through The Center. St. Andrew's Parish Hall, 111 NE 80th Street, Seattle. Info: http://www.forthegrandchildren.org or Victor Bremson, 206-838-5176.

7-10 PM. An Evening with Cindy Sheehan. With entertainment by local Seattle musicians: Arabflowsta, Ayron Jones, Obelisk, Seattle Labor Chorus, with Eva Walker, Emcee. Cindy Sheehan will be speaking on A Revolution of Values: Moving from a War Economy to a Peace Economy. Come help us raise funds for this courageous anti-war leader who is challenging Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for Congress. Tickets are $10-25 (sliding scale) and available through Brown Paper Tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/33712. Town Hall, 8th and Seneca, Seattle. Info: bebop@rockisland.com.

7-9:30 PM. A Film: "Iraq in Fragments"  Followed by discussion. Free and open to the public but donations are kindly accepted. Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Pl., Seattle. Info: http://www.meaningfulmovies.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

7-9 PM. Dahr Jamail Speaking on the Current Situation in Iraq and the Relationship of Iran and Iraq. Dahr Jamail is an independent journalist, one of the few non-embedded journalists who reported from Iraq during the early years of the current war. Free will offering--no one turned away. University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd Street, Seattle.

SUNDAY, JUNE 8

Time TBA. Campout to Stop the Sweeps! Overnight campout, followed by Monday morning delegation by homeless and homeless advocates to meet Mayor Greg Nickels. Sponsored by Real Change. Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Ave., downtown. Info: http://www.realchangenews.org.

MONDAY, JUNE 9

7:30 PM. Seattle Science Lectures present Richard Preston: "Panic in Level 4."   Known for his previous bestselling books, The Hot Zone and The Wild Trees, Richard Preston has assembled in his most recent book true stories of cannibals, killer viruses, and the search for the hidden order in the number pi, among other tales of intrigue. Tickets $5 at the door only. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Avenue, Seattle. Info: http://www.townhallseattle.org.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11

7 PM. Come meet ETS!! Business meeting to talk about gossip, the state of the world, and ETS! content, fundraising, and, well, business; all are welcome. 3rd floor, Univ. Baptist Church, 4554 12th Ave. NE in the Univ. District. Info: 206-719-6947; info@eatthestate.org.

7:30 PM. Town Hall Center for Civic Life presents George Lakoff on 21st Century Politics/18th Century Brains. In the 21st century, George Lakoff argues in The Political Mind, brains wired for an 18th century view of the world no longer help us understand what is going on politically. Lakoff attempts to find a science behind American politics that may retune minds to function efficiently in the present. Tickets $5 at the door only. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Avenue at Seneca Street, upstairs, enter on Eighth, Seattle. Info: http://www.townhallseattle.org.

For an excellent and much, much longer compilation of upcoming and ongoing progressive events in Seattle, check out Jean Buskin's Peace Calendar: http://www.scn.org/activism/calendar/ or e-mail her at bb369@scn.org. Also, check out www.seattleactivism.org.

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Hear Eat the State! political commentary on Mind Over Matters every Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:00 on KEXP 90.3 FM. If we can get up that early, the least you can do is turn on your radio and listen! If you can't - you can listen to archived programs on the web.