News - Human rights in crisis
Georgia Tech will host a two-day conference Fri.-Sat., Feb. 18-19, to discuss the current status of human rights, in particular how the War on Terror affects those rights. John Hume, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to find a solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland, will speak on Saturday. Other guests include experts from the Carter Center, Georgia Tech, Planned Parenthood Global Partners, and the University of Georgia. The various lectures will focus on human rights as they relate to topics ranging from terrorism to technology. Have human rights been superseded by a vigorous new era of imperialism, warfare and terror? In what arenas have human rights advanced?
The event will be held at Tech’s Wardlaw Center, 177 North Ave., from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Free. For more info, call 404-894-4233, visit www.humanrights.gatech.edu/hrconference.php, or e-mail elizabeth.campell@icpa.gatech.edu.
DECATUR HEARINGS: DeKalb County Commissioner Henry “Hank” Johnson will host separate public meetings to discuss park renovations and local landfills. The progress of renovations at Browns Mill, Redan, and Rock Chapel parks will be the topic at a Thurs., Feb. 17, meeting at Redan Middle School, 1775 Young Road, Lithonia, and a Thurs., March 3, meeting at Rock Chapel Elementary School, 1130 Rock Chapel Road, Lithonia. Both meetings are at 7 p.m. Concerns about operations at Hickory Ridge, Live Oak and East DeKalb/Scales Road landfills will be heard at a Sat., Feb. 19, meeting at 10 a.m., at Cedar Grove High School, 2360 River Road, Ellenwood. For more info, call 404-371-4745.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Planned Parenthood of Georgia is hosting “Real Life Deserves Real Talk,” a free workshop on how to talk candidly about sex issues. The workshop will discuss the benefits of comprehensive sexual education programs and will take place Sat., Feb. 19, at 100 Edgewood Ave., Suite 1604, at 9:30 a.m. Refreshments provided. For more info or to reserve a seat, call 404-688-9305 or e-mail leigh.croft@ppfa.org.
DEFEATING GAY PANIC: The Fulton County district attorney’s office and the Atlanta Police Department will host “Defeating the Gay-Panic Defense” to combat the bogus criminal defense of homophobia. The three-day training course will take place Wed.-Fri., Feb. 23-25, at the Sheraton Midtown Atlanta Hotel at Colony Square, 188 14th St. Speakers include state Attorney General Thurbert Baker, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editorial Page Editor Cynthia Tucker, and Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington. Registration fee $225, For more info, call 404-730-0195 or e-mail jada.dawkins@co.fulton.ga.us.
COBB AWARENESS: Juvenile advocacy group New Order will host a Cobb County Schools Awareness Forum to discuss the rise of gang violence in the schools. The meeting takes place Thurs., Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m., at the Cobb County School Board, 514 Glover St., Marietta. For more information, call 678-229-3647, visit www.neworder.8m.net, or e-mail neworder1992@yahoo.com.
SOCIAL SECURITY: Congressman John Lewis is hosting a town hall meeting to discuss the Bush administration’s privatization of Social Security. Panelists include Gordon Sherman, of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and Marie Smith, president of AARP. The meeting takes place Sat., Feb. 26, from 10 a.m.-noon, at the Loudermilk Center’s amphitheater, 40 Courtland St. Free parking in the center’s garage. To reserve a seat, call 404-659-0116 or e-mail rachelle.o’neil@mail.house.gov.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN OUTREACH: The sixth annual African-American Outreach Initiative will be held at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel, 1 Hartsfield Centre Parkway, on Sat.-Sun., March 19-20. Info about HIV insurance, housing, nutrition, and legal issues will be provided. Free. A complimentary shuttle will depart from the College Park MARTA Station to the hotel. To register, call 404-589-9040 or e-mail sandra.muckle@positiveimpact-Atl.org.
EARTH DAY: A planning session for the 35th annual Earth Day Celebration will be held Sat., April 2, with half-day green work projects followed by a lunch in appreciation of the volunteers. The 2005 Earth Day party will take place Sat., April 23, at the Interface Showroom, on the corner of Spring and Fifth streets. For more info, visit www.earthsharega.org or call 404-873-3173.
SOLID WASTE MEETINGS: Meetings will be held in several Atlanta communities to help create a 10-year plan for waste reduction, collection and disposal. To find the time and place of your local meeting, visit www.atlantaga.gov/Calendars/PublicMeetings.aspx.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Habitat for Humanity plans to build 14 new homes in the southwest Atlanta neighborhood of Pittsburgh through March. To volunteer or for more info, call 404-223-5180 or visit www.atlanta-habitat.org.
VOLUNTEER FOR THE ELDERLY: Senior Connections is looking for volunteers to help prepare and deliver meals to home-bound seniors. For more info, visit www.srconn.org or call 770-455-7602.
CALLING FOSTER PARENTS: Creative Community Services is urging families to open their homes to neglected children. Foster parents receive monthly financial assistance for the expenses of each child. For more info, call 866-618-2823 or visit www.ccsgeorgia.org.
GOOD FOR GRADY: Grady Health System needs volunteers for hospice, rape crisis and Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital. Spanish speakers are needed. Volunteers are asked to commit for three months. For more info, call 404-616-4360 or visit www.gradyhealthsystem.org.
NEW ORDER: The youth empowerment group New Order visits the Metro Youth Detention Center in Atlanta every Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more info and to find volunteer with New Order, call 678-887-2752.
CL EVENTS
POLITICAL PARTY: Creative Loafing’s next town hall meeting takes place Wed., March 9, 8 p.m., at Dad’s Garage Theatre, 280 Elizabeth St.
Want to publicize a political or civic event? E-mail publicagenda@creativeloafing.com.??