“When you pray, move your feet.” This African proverb flashes on the screen at the end of An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore’s film about global warming. On Sunday, February 11th from 6 – 7:30 pm, the Unitarian Universalist Church (2120 North Fee Lane) will host a panel discussion
exploring how each of us, individually and together, can move to action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. What are our options in transportation, housing, food, energy use? What do those choices mean? How can we change? Speakers will include David Rollo (Bloomington City Council member), eith Vogelsang (Fellow at the Land Institute), and Jeff Riegal Naturalist). Ben Brabson (IU Physics) will moderate. There will be mple time for questions and comments. Come help us cross the threshold rom understanding to action. There will be a vegetarian potluck at 5 pm that you are welcome to attend as well.

Green Communities offers grants to help cover the costs of designing, planning and implementing green components into affordable housing developments, as well as tracking their costs and benefits. Grant funds up to $50,000 per project–plus funding for community trees — is now available for developers committed to providing green affordable housing.

Applications must be received online by February 23, 2007.

Awards are expected to be made by the last week of March 2007.

In this event, we will review in detail the grant application process for Green Communities. Enterprise staff will also present information on reporting requirements if applicants are awarded funds.

Expected Outcomes:

• Participants will be able to submit complete and competitive applications.
• Participants will have information on the reporting requirements of the funds if they are awarded a Green Communities grant.

Registration takes place 20 minutes before the event. Information on how to join the meeting can be found at http://www.enterprisecommunity.org/training_and_events/webinars/

If you have questions about joining this event, please call Donna Schmidt at 410-772-2417.

Saturday, February 17th
6 pm
Boxcar Books
310 S. Washington

Speakers:

Mohammed Khatib

Mohammed Khatib is a leading member of Bil’in’s  Popular Committee Against the Wall and the Secretary of Bil’in’s Village  Council. Mohammed has been a principle organizer of Bil’in’s year and a half long, creative, nonviolent struggle to prevent the construction of Israel’s Wall on Bil’in’s land and to block the expansion of neighboring illegal Israeli settlements. Mr. Khatib has frequently been arrested and wounded by the Israeli military for participating in nonviolent protests.

Firyal Abu Haikal

Firyal Abu Haikal recently  retired after 11 years as the headmistress at  the Kortuba School in the heart of Hebron’s old city. The Kortuba school serves 100 Palestinian children in grades 1- 10. Hebron’s old city is a  center for some of the most extreme Israeli settlers, who regularly use  violence against Palestinian residents in an effort to drive them from
their homes and community. By continuing to function despite continual attacks by Israeli settlers and soldiers on students and staff, the school has serves as a model of nonviolent resistance to Israeli occupation.

A lifelong resident of Tel Rumeida, and a mother of eleven children, Firyal and her family have remained in their home despite efforts by  settlers to take over their land and home. Firyal and all members of her family have been attacked and harassed by settlers, and her husband and sons arrested by the Israel military, simply for insisting on remaining in their homes.

Link

This Masters Thesis production, written and directed by Garlia Jones, tells the story of the end of one black man’s life. This compelling play examines his struggles with mental health, drug abuse, lost love and the pursuit of elusive happiness.

The 13th annual Soup Bowl Benefit for the Hoosier Hills Food Bank will be held at the Monroe County Convention Center at 5pm on Sunday, February 18th.

Tickets are $20 and will be available in advance at both Bloomingfoods stores, Yarns Unlimited and the Food Bank, starting on Monday, January 29, 2007. Attendees receive a handmade bowl. Children’s tickets for paper bowls will be available at the door on the day of the event for $6. This year’s Soup Bowl will feature old time music and dance with Fiddle ‘n’ Feet. For further ticket or other information, please call 812-334-8374.

The Soup Bowl Benefit has become a much-anticipated event in Bloomington over the past dozen years, and growing to provide the largest contribution to the Food Bank’s annual operating budget. The 2006 benefit raised approximately $60,000 for the Food Bank, and this year is set to be even more fruitful. The Food Bank is in a time of great need – with hunger on the rise throughout Indiana (as in much of the rest of the country), resources are being stretched thin.

The success of the Soup Bowl Benefit can be credited to the wide participation of the Bloomington arts, business, and larger communities: potters donate over 600 handmade bowls each year. Over a dozen restaurants donate tasty soup and several bakeries, including Bloomingfoods, donate hearty bread and cookies. Local businesses donate door prizes and cash contributions, musicians donate their time and talents, and artists donate decorations. Dozens of people of all ages donate their time to make the event run smoothly, and over 600 people buy tickets and attend the benefit each year.

We like to tell you about the Soup Bowl well in advance, because tickets do fly out the door. Watch for signs letting you know when they go on sale, around the 20th of the month. Visit the Soup Bowl website to learn more, including information about how YOU can volunteer: www.hhfoodbank.org/soup_bowl1.htm