The Olympia FOR invites the public to participate in our 32nd Annual Holiday Peace Vigil on Saturday December 15 from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. along both sides of West Fourth Avenue — along the south side of Percival Landing and also along the north side of Heritage Fountain.

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The U.S. Army’s School of the Americas (SOA) is commonly known as the School of Assassins because it trains Latin American military personnel to suppress democracy, violate human rights, and kill people. Although the army renamed it the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), the deadly mission remained the same. Every November people gather near its gate at Fort Benning (near Columbus), Georgia, to nonviolently work for closing it. Every year Congress gets closer to cutting off the funding. The resistance is organized by School of the Americas Watch. Info: www.soaw.org.

Rod Davis, Ph.D., conducts this 3-part evening class (Monday, October 22 & 29, November 5). It is interactive and discussion-based. Participants will explore Gandhi’s and Teresa’s paths and teachings through two wonderful books: Gandhi the Man by Eknath Easwaran, and No Greater Love by Mother Teresa. It is not necessary to purchase these books in advance, or at all, to participate in the class. Participants will also look at how to integrate more of these teachings into their own life paths. 7-9 p.m. in Olympia. Sliding-scale fee $45-$90 for the series. Info: 360-754-1600 or www.fernhavencenter.org.

Olympia FOR’s November TV program (“Korea: A History of U.S. Interventions”) debuts today and runs every Monday from 1:30 to 2:30 pm and every Thursday from 9:00 to 10:00 pm through Nov 29 on TCTV cable channel 22 within Thurston County. Additional details are available here. Info: Glen at 360-491-9093 or glen@olyfor.org.

This film (“War Made Easy: How Presidents & Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death”) reaches into the Orwellian memory hole to expose a 50-year pattern of government deception and media spin that has dragged the United States into one war after another— from Vietnam to Iraq. Narrated by actor and activist Sean Penn, the film exhumes remarkable archival footage of official distortion and exaggeration from LBJ to George W. Bush, revealing in stunning detail how the American news media have uncritically disseminated the pro-war messages of successive presidential administrations. 7:00 pm at the Olympia Unitarian-Universalist Congregation (OUUC), 2200 East End St NW, Olympia. This monthly movie series is sponsored by OUUC’s Social Justice Committee and the Alliance for Democracy’s South Puget Sound Chapter. Everyone is welcome. Free, but $5-$25 sliding-scale donations are welcome. Info: Howard Rosenfeld, 360-790-4020 hrstruggle@comcast.net.

Gather with other local folks to plan further activities. (Usually the second Monday of the month, but the first Monday this time) 7:00-9:00 p.m. Call 491-9093 or 491-1540 for location. Citizens Movement to Impeach Bush/Cheney.

Heartsparkle Players: Playback Theatre is a spontaneous collaboration between performers and the audience. People tell moments from their lives, then watch them re-created with movement, music and dialogue. Heartsparkle Players is an outstanding local troupe with a loyal following. 7:30 pm at Traditions Café, 5th & Water. A $5-$10 donation is suggested, but no one will be turned away. Info: Debe Edden 360-943-6772 debek@olywa.net.

Mark your calendar for Friday potluck supper and workshop from Friday evening until 2:30 Saturday afternoon. Explore how to resist the war machine with FOR folks from throughout Western Washington. Info: Glen 360-491-9093 or info@olyfor.org

The new local chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State will meet from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at a location to be scheduled soon. Info: Barry Christianson, 360-379-4055 phoenixresearch@cablespeed.com

The death penalty abolition committee of Olympia FOR meets at 7:00 pm in Tumwater. Everyone who opposes the death penalty is invited to help strengthen the movement to abolish this atrocity. Info and location: Chuck or Rozanne, 360-705-8520.

The OMJP meets from 7 to 9 pm to plan a variety of activities to work for justice and peace everywhere. Olympia Community Free School, 610 Columbia SW. Everyone is welcome. Info: Larry Mosqueda 360-867-6513.

This is part of the free Earth Care Series by Interfaith Works’ Earth Stewardship Committee. 7:00 p.m. Info: 360-357-7224.

The Iraq Moratorium will be an escalating monthly series of actions demanding an end to the war, occuring the 3rd Friday of each month. Devote a significant part of today to build the peace movement and show the U.S. government that our troops must be brought home, now! Take this pledge: “On the third Friday of every month, I will break my daily routine and take some action, by myself or with others, to end the War in Iraq.” Info: www.iraqmoratorium.org.

Watch and discuss these two documentaries. “Corporate Lockdown” is a 22-minute documentary examining the role of prisons in society as a private corporation enters into the management of an Ontario adult correctional facility. The filmmaker believes the criminal justice system is not making communities safer, nor is it rehabilitating offenders, and that privatizing prisons does not help. “Granito de Arena (Grains of Sand)” is a 60-minute documentary about the many thousands of public schoolteachers who nonviolently resisted global economic forces to protect the integrity of public education. The award-winning filmmaker Jill Freidberg (“This is What Democracy Looks Like”) is from Seattle and spent two years in southern Mexico working on this. The film also provides context for understanding the popular uprising in Oaxaca, Mexico in 2006. 7:00 pm at the Olympia Unitarian-Universalist Congregation (OUUC), 2200 East End St NW, Olympia. This monthly movie series is sponsored by OUUC’s Social Justice Committee and the Alliance for Democracy’s South Puget Sound Chapter. Everyone is welcome. Free, but $5-$25 sliding-scale donations are welcome. Info: Howard Rosenfeld, 360-790-4020 or hrstruggle@comcast.net.

All veterans and others are invited to connect and work for peace. 1:30 social time. 2:00 pm meeting. Traditions Café, 5th & Water. Info: Jody Tiller 360-705-3384 or hungryforpeace@gmail.com.

Earth Gratitude — Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration, 3:00-4:30 p.m. at The United Churches, 110 11th Ave SE, Olympia. Please bring your friends, family, and neighbors to this program presenting ways different faiths express their gratitude for the earth. Visiting and light snacks available after the program. Sponsor: Interfaith Works, 360-357-7224 or www.interfaith-works.org.

The SSBPF includes members of the local Buddhist community engaging in the Buddhist path of right action in regard to working for peace, justice and social change. 3:30-5:00 pm. Location & more info: Robert Lovitt 360-357-2825 or lovitthere@scattercreek.com.

Jazz concert to benefit Interfaith Works’ World Sacred Music Festival (March 8, 2008): Enjoy the Jazz Senators’ performance of big band selections from The Nutcracker, klezmer music, and other holiday jazz classics. 7:00-9:30 p.m. at the Minnaert Center, South Puget Community College. $15 general admission, $12 students/seniors; tickets available through buyolympia.com or the Interfaith Works office. Sponsor: Interfaith Works, 360-357-7224.

Gather with other local folks to plan further activities. 7:00-9:00 p.m. For location call 491-9093 or 491-1540. Citizens Movement to Impeach Bush/Cheney.

The OMJP meets from 7 to 9 pm to plan a variety of activities to work for justice and peace everywhere. Olympia Community Free School, 610 Columbia SW. Everyone is welcome. Info: Larry Mosqueda 360-867-6513.

Health Care for All–WA holds its annual meeting from 1 to 4 pm in the Forum at Horizon House, 900 University Street, Seattle. Newcomers are welcome! Program includes a new visual presentation developed by Larry Kalb, entertainment by the Raging Grannies, and free potluck refreshments. Info: 206-323-3393 or toll-free 1-877-903-9723.

The Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch Relay will urge China to use its influence with the government of Sudan and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to allow a robust security force on the ground in Darfur to protect civilians and humanitarian aid workers. The Olympics will be held in China, so this gives us leverage now. In recognition of the Olympic torch, a relay began last August in the African nation of Chad, where many of Darfur’s refugees have gone, and is circling the globe. When it passes through Seattle, please gather at Alki Beach, 2701 Alki Ave SW, West Seattle, at 12:30 p.m., to light a torch of conscience for Darfur. Info: www.savedarfur.org/page/event/detail/4jv54.

Peacekeeper Training is likely to be offered in Tacoma to help keep events safe, nonviolent and effective. Info: Dave Lambert, 253-759-2280 or dmlamb@harbornet.com.

Three speakers (Ray Nacanaynay, Gail Johnson and Glen Anderson) will share information and encourage local organizing for impeaching Bush and Cheney when the Tacoma FOR meets. 3:00 p.m. business meeting, 4:00 p.m. program, and 5:00 p.m. potluck. Tacoma Friends Meeting House (Hillside Community Church), 2508 S. 39th St., Tacoma, just west of Borders Bookstore on 38th St. near the Tacoma Mall. Info: David Lambert 253-759-2280 or Vivi Bartron 253-572-4912.

Mark your calendar for Friday evening and Saturday morning and afternoon in Lacey with FOR folks from throughout Western Washington. Info: Glen 360-491-9093 glen@olywa.net or Western Washington FOR 206-789-5565 wwfor@connectexpress.com

Planning is starting now for another special time Friday evening and Saturday morning and afternoon in Lacey with FOR folks from throughout Western Washington. Info: Glen 360-491-9093 or glen@olywa.net.