5/2 Novoscene Weekend

Image courtesy of Hip Hop for President

Wake yo Game up!

I don’t think there’s much debate around the significance of the upcoming presidential election. Not only do we have two candidates, a woman and a black man, that have a damned good chance of winning the top spot but we also have the chance to unseat the party responsible for the last 8 years of failed international policy, economic downturns and general Anti US sentiment worldwide. To just say we have a lot at stake here would be a big ol’ fat understatement.
But the thing is, just how much does your vote count if things really don’t change much when the next set of suits step into the White House? And is saying that you voted in a historic election really that significant if it’s the only community minded thing you do all year? What about the historically low voter turnouts in low income communities nationwide? If anything, the people who need to have the loudest voices are often the most disenfranchised. What do we do about it?
These are the kinds of questions that’ll be flying around the room at the Oakland Museum tonight during the Wake Yo Game Up panel discussion and performance presented by the Town Business Network. A panel of deep thinkers, community organizers and activists are hoping to get down to the nuts and bolts of the electoral process, focusing the discussion on how to turn the political rhetoric into practical action, the factors affecting voter participation in urban communities and where do we go after the election, no matter who wins. The panelist will be addressing the issues with a particular focus on hip hop culture and ways that artists and cultural influencers can be a part of the change. Speakers will include Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, writer and historian Davey D, radio personality Chuy Gomez, journalist Eric K. Arnold and Town Business Network founder Charles Johnson. -kwan
Wake Yo Game Up!
Free
7-9:30
Oakland Museum
1000 Oak Street, Oakland
510-776-4644

3/26 Bush Family Fortunes

Bush Family Fortunes

As the 5th anniversary of the war passes and the death toll for U.S. soldiers tops 4,000, tonight the humanist hall is offering just one more reason to question the intelligence of the “War on Terror”:

“This film by Greg Palast explores the connections between the Bush family, the Saudi Royal family and the Bin Laden family of Saudi Arabia. It covers much of the same Saudi ground as “Fahrenheit 9/11″ but it makes a bolder assertion: that the real reason for the war in Iraq is to wrest incredibly rich oil fields from Iraqi control and give them to international oil corporations. There is a lot of background on George Bush’s early career in the oil business and in Texas politics, and how Bush and Saudi money and influence smoothed over the bumps in his spotted career…What emerges is a story about a spoiled rich kid who never really had to suffer the consequences of his life choices. More than any other documentary, this one shows how Bush’s life of regal privilege has convinced him that he can get away with anything. He benefitted from powerful connections which smoothed over his problems. Way back behind him, pulling the strings and providing ample money, is the vast wealth of the Saudi Royal family, the Bin Laden family and Enron money, before Enron went belly up. It explains the energy policy and the current military strategy of the U.S. If you want to know where that policy came from, just follow the money.”

Bush Family Fortunes
$5 donations
7:30-9pm
Humanist Hall
390 27th Street, Oakland
www.humanisthall.org

Photos: Bill Clinton in Oakland

Former President Bill Clinton made his way through Oakland yesterday, stumping for his wife’s presidential campaign and pressing the flesh with the people. You could have seen him at Everett & Jones on Broadway, thanks to One California, a new community bank in Oakland. If you missed it, freelance photographer Dorice McFadden captured the scene.

12/28 Novoscene Weekend

 

-Spanish Harlem Orchestra

While the weather outside is getting rather frightful, the events in the Bay this weekend are oh so delightful! And while there’s no snow in the forecast, this weekend’s events, combined with Monday’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza’s (Look for the full list here tomorrow) promise to be enough to ward off the winter chills. -kwan

11/14 “Green Cities, Brown Folks” salon

It’s almost the end of 2007. Are you green yet? In the last year everyone and their momma’s gone eco: from movie stars to oil companies, power plants to magazine publishers-sustainability is the new black. At least in casual conversation. Tonight the good folks over at the Ella Baker Center are present the next session of their ongoing “Solutions Salon” series with the aim of turning all the talk into executable community plans.

Tonight’s “Green Cities, Brown Folks” focuses on how urban communities can benefit from and lead the way in the new green revolution. The event will include speakers from the local and national sustainability movements and offer community members an opportunity to meet and talk with others concerned with the long term life of our global ‘hood.

Speakers for the night include Van Jones-Ella Baker Center/Green For All, Babak Tondre-urban permaculture designer at DIG Cooperative, Sara Nuño-team leader at California Youth Energy Services and Jason Harvey-food justice organizer at Oakland Food Connection. The event is free and will also feature performances by recording artists Diamond, Seasunz, and Galen as well as Dancers Without Borders, and Destiny Arts.-kwan

“Green Cities, Brown Folks”
Free
6-8pm (reception, food and music starting at 5:30)
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1330 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
www.ellabakercenter.org

11/8 Mix It Up East Bay

Hey all you hot young East Bay politicos, looking for something to do Thursday night? How about joining some like minded lefties for caipirinhas and campaign strategy at Mix it Up, the monthly happy hour social for East Bay activists, organizers and social justice leaders.

This month’s event features short presentations by reps from the three leading Democratic Presidential candidates-Clinton, Obama and Edwards , preceded and proceeded, with lots of imbibing. (Maybe it’s just me, but politicos and activists are some of the hardest partiers I know. Guess I can’t blame them…)

Come get sauced for the cause. -kwan

Mix it Up East Bay

Thurday Nov. 8th
Free
6-9pm
Arsimona’s Bar and Lounge
561 11th st., Oakland
Questions:
Call Emily Weinstein 510.435.8248
www.arsimona.com

Naomi Klein and the Grrrl MC’s

Tonight the ladies speak fire at the House of Stormz in East Oakland: