Spokane calendar

Today

Historical films – The films “Men of Bronze” and “Up from Slavery” depict the African American experience during World War I, 11:30 a.m., Spokane Community College Learning Resources Center, 1810 N. Greene; 533-7382.

Spring lecture series – Gonzaga University hosts it’s first lecture with Gonzaga biology professor Hugh Lefcort, a veteran of the Israeli Army, speaking on “What 100 Years of the Arab-Israeli Conflict Can Teach Us about the War on Terror,” noon at the Jundt Art Museum auditorium; 323-6679.

Birds of the Galapagos Islands – The Spokane Audubon Society hosts bird photographer Bart Whelton, who will present a slide show, 7 p.m. at the Riverview Retirement Home, 1801 N. Upriver Drive.

Black History Month – Spokane Community College presents Loretta Ross, founder of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective, who will speak on “Human Rights Violations in the United States,” 11:30 a.m. at the SCC Lair Student Center, 1810 N. Greene; 533-8114.

Geology lecture – Katrin Iken, assistant professor at the School of Fisheries and Ocean Studies at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, will speak on “Arctic Ocean Exploration in Light of a Changing Environment,” 7 p.m. at the Spokane Community College Lair Student Center, 1810 N. Greene; 533-8017.

Terrorism debate – Spokane Falls Community College faculty and students debate whether terrorism in response to terrorism is justified, 11:30 a.m. , SFCC Student Union Building Lounges A and B, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive; 533-3698.

Upcoming

Great Decisions lecture series – Whitworth College hosts Vandana Asthana speaking on “China and India: Partners or Competitors?,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Weyerhaeuser Hall, 300 W. Hawthorne Road. Asthana leads the Christ Church College Political Science Department and Environmental Studies Unit in Kanpur, India; 777-3270.

Songs for Peace – An evening of music in opposition to the war in Iraq and the erosion of civil liberties, 7-9 p.m. Saturday at the Community Building, 35 W. Main. Performers include Laddie Ray Melvin, The Raging Grannies, Mark Stanton, Jenny Edgren and The Blue Ribbon Tea Co.; 323-3816.

Whitewater safety – The Northwest Whitewater Association offers an indoor seminar on whitewater safety, 9 a.m. Sunday at the Valley YMCA, 2421 N. Discovery Place; $25; (208) 661-3042.

St. John Vianney’s Spaghetti dinner – Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., 503 N. Walnut Road; $20 family of six, $6 adults, $5 seniors and children 6-12, free for children under 6; 926-5428.

Surviving war – Excerpts of the documentary “The Pilot” and discussion on the mental and emotional impact of war facilitated by Robert Smith, former director of psychiatry at Sacred Heart Medical Center, 3 p.m. Monday, SCC Learning Resources Center, 1810 N. Greene; 533-7382.

Poverty – The United Nations Association-Spokane presents Bart Haggin of the Spokane County Growth Management steering committee speaking on the fundamentals of poverty, 7 p.m. Monday at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 W. Fort George Wright Drive; 624-3608.

Valentine dance – The Spokane Valley Senior Center hosts a Valentine dance, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Uncle Harold’s Dance Band will provide the music; refreshments will be served; 18 and over only; $5; 926-1927.

Black History Month – Spokane Falls Community College hosts Dan John, director of student programs and multicultural student services at Lower Columbia College, 11:30 a.m. next Wednesday in Sub Lounges A and B, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive; 533-3240.

Spokane City Forum – Guest Theresa Sanders, executive vice president-business development for the Spokane Area Economic Development Council, will speak on “Spokane’s Economic Development Succeeds with Leaps of Faith,” 11:45 a.m. next Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar. Reservations are required. Lunch is $8.50, $5 for students. Child care available by reservation; 777-1555.

Great Decisions lecture series – The Whitworth College series continues with guest John Yoder, a professor of political studies at Whitworth, speaking on “Democratization and Elections: Perspectives on Liberia,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Weyerhaeuser Hall, 300 W. Hawthorne Road. Yoder recently served on The Carter Center’s international monitoring team that observed the elections in Liberia; 777-3270.

University Women – The American Association of University Women hosts Kathy Carman, who lived in South America, speaking on the culture of the Cuna Indians, 10 a.m. Feb. 18 at Chic-A-Ria, 1812 W. Francis. Reservations are required; lunch is $15; 487-1080.