News - Gulf Veteran Speaks Against Conflict in Iraq

To commemorate the two-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, the Georgia Tech chapter of Amnesty International will present retired Gulf War veteran Maj. Kelley Culver on Tues., March 15. Culver spent 23 years in the Air Force and will speak about his personal disapproval of the U.S. government’s offensive in Iraq and the “disinformation” he believes is being propagated about the conflict. Culver’s talk will focus on ways for Americans to support their country when they disagree with its politics, a particularly pertinent issue as the U.S. involvement in Iraq drags on.

The talk will be held at Georgia Tech’s Bill Moore Student Success Center, 219 Uncle Heinie Way, first floor, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Parking is free after 5 p.m. on decks E46 and E47. For more info, e-mail DrWGeist@aol.com or dclark@antiwar.com or call 770-855-6163.

ST. BALDRICK’S DAY: CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation will sponsor St. Baldrick’s Day, a twist on St. Patrick’s Day, Fri., March 11. Volunteers will shave their heads to help raise money for childhood cancer research. T.J. Duckett of the Atlanta Falcons will shave his beard, and the band Hot August Nights will perform. There is a $10 cover, and festivities start at 8 p.m. at Park Tavern, 500 10th St. To volunteer, call 404-931-6453 or e-mail mike@mrdfinancial.com.

LIBERTARIAN CONVENTION: The 2005 annual convention of the Libertarian Party of Georgia will be held Sat., March 12, at the Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. Topics will include ways to encourage Libertarian activists to run for local office. Bob Barr, former U.S. representative, and Lance Lamberton, former deputy director of the White House Office of Policy Information, are among the speakers. Register at database.lpgeorgia.com/register.cgi. For more info, call 404-888-9468 or e-mail executive.director@lpgeorgia.com.

ANIMAL RIGHTS: Georgia Animal Rights and Protection, a grassroots animal advocacy group, will meet Sat., March 12, from 10:30 a.m.-noon, at the Fulton County Library branch at 395 Mt. Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs. For more info, visit www.garpatlanta.org.

CHARITY AUCTION: Support the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless’ online auction by visiting its website at www.galawcenter.org from Mon.-Fri., March 14-25. Auction items include gift certificates from metro Atlanta restaurants, hotels, and more. All proceeds benefit the Law Center, which has been providing free civil legal services to homeless clients since 1983. For more info, call 404-625-7419.

GOVERNMENT PROTEST: A rally demanding a more open government will be held on the steps of the state Capitol on Tues., March 15. All interested parties are invited to attend in support of the state Open Records Act. The newly formed group Georgians for Open Government will lead the rally. For more info, call 770-322-1325 or e-mail rgnm3@bellsouth.net.

TOWN HALL MEETING: Atlanta City Councilwoman Carla Smith will host a town hall meeting about the Belt Line on Wed., March 16, at 7 p.m. in the Conservation ARC building at Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave. Former City Council President Cathy Woolard will give a presentation on the progress of the Belt Line, a proposed 22-mile loop of transit that would circle Atlanta, serving dozens of neighborhoods and linking to MARTA. For more info, visit www.beltline.org.

SHOCK AND AWE ANNIVERSARY: Pacifist groups are issuing an appeal to “people of conscience” to demonstrate their war objections during the week of Mon.-Sun., March 14-20. On Fri., March 18, from 5-7 p.m., a march and rally is scheduled in downtown Atlanta. For more info, visit www.georgiapeace.org. Many protests also will be held Sat., March 19; for more info, visit www.unitedforpeace.org or www.answercoalition.net/news/update/102503report.html.

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.

EMORY LECTURE SERIES: Emory will host a lecture by Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of the best-seller The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness on Wed., March 30, at the Hilton Atlanta, 255 Courtland St., 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Call 800-289-0051 or online at www.luminaryseries.com to register.

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 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.

GREENSPACE CONFERENCE: Park Pride will host its annual Parks and Greenspace Conference in the Atlanta Botanical Garden on Mon., April 11, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Speakers will include Mayor Shirley Franklin and former Home Depot CEO Arthur M. Blank. Registration for the event is $75 before March 11, $85 through April 10, and $100 on April 11. To register, visit www.parkpride.org or call 404-817-6761.

SOLID WASTE MEETINGS: Public 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.

NEW ORDER: The youth empowerment group New Order will be speaking at the Metro Youth Detention Center in Atlanta every Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more info and to find out how you can be a part of New Order, call 678-887-2752.

CL EVENTS

POLITICAL PARTY: Creative Loafing’s next town hall meeting takes place Wed., April 13, 8 p.m., at Dad’s Garage Theatre, 280 Elizabeth St.

Want to publicize a political or civic event? E-mail publicagenda@creativeloafing.com.??