Afghan Women's Mission features three upcoming events in Southern California:

• 

  SUNDAY MAY 11, 10:30 - 11:30 am

  A Mother's Day talk by Afghan Women's Mission Co-Director, Sonali Kolhatkar about "The Lives of Afghan Women." Kolhatkar will address how US policy has affected Afghan women, before and during the US occupation of Afghanistan. She will also offer solutions on what Americans can do to end the war.

  DETAILS: Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society or the "Onion" is located at 9550 Haskell Ave., North Hills, CA 91343. Tel: 818-894-9251, Website: www.valleyonion.org, Email (for these events only): jungersmith@yahoo.com.

• WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 4:00 - 6:00 pm

  A teach-in by Afghan Women's Mission Co-Director, Sonali Kolhatkar about the war in Afghanistan and Afghan women's resistance, followed by special free screening of "Enemies of Happiness."

  Winner of countless awards and recipient of the 2007 "World Cinema Jury Prize for A Documentary Film" at the Sundance Film Festival, "Enemies of Happiness" tells the story of Malalai Joya, elected to the Afghan Parliament after a campaign that resulted in multiple death threats. More information about the film can be found at www.enemiesofhappiness.com.

  DETAILS: UCLA Campus - Kerckhoff Art Gallery in Kerckhoff Building Level 2 - Westwood/Los Angeles CA. Parking available on the UCLA Campus in Lot 6&4 (Off of Wilshire & Westwood)

• SUNDAY MAY 18, 1:00 - 5:00 pm

  The Women's Empowerment Group will host a screening of the acclaimed documentary by Meena Nanji, View From a Grain of Sand to benefit the projects of the Afghan Women's Mission. View From a Grain of Sand chronicles the political evolution of Afghanistan including foreign invasions and fundamentalism, through the lives of three Afghan women. More information about the film can be found at www.viewgrainofsand.com.

  DETAILS: Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society or the "Onion" is located at 9550 Haskell Ave., North Hills, CA 91343. Tel: 818-894-9251, Website: www.valleyonion.org, Email (for these events only): jungersmith@yahoo.com.

Afghanistan's fiercest critic of the warlords, Malalai Joya, returns to the US for a brief visit. She will be addressing students and antiwar activists.

In May 2007, Joya was kicked out of Parliament for comparing the warlords to animals in a zoo in a TV interview. Thousands of Afghans protested across the country. Today, Joya is still awaiting reinstatement to the Parliament.

Event details:

• Friday March 14th, 6-8 pm at Pasadena City College, R building, Room R-122 (South side of the Quad near the center of campus). This event is sponsored by Students for Social Justice. Click here to download the flyer.

• Saturday March 15th, 12 noon at the major antiwar rally on the corner of Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles. Click here for more details.

Tired of submerging your conscience every holiday season as you battle the crowds at the mall? Join us this winter for our 3rd Annual Fair Trade and Conscious Gifts Holiday Bazaar. Buying gifts for your loved ones does not have to violate your ethics. WHEN: Saturday December 1st from 11 am – 3 pm WHERE: Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles (Geneva Room)

Browse through a large selection of affordable, sweat-shop free arts and crafts made by artisans internationally and locally, including:

• Embroidered pillow-covers, wallets and purses from Afghanistan

• Locally made jewelry, blankets, scarves

• Hand made tote bags and designer gift bags

• Fair trade coffee & honey

• Conscious books, CDs

• …and much more!

Free entrance and complementary refreshments while you shop.

All proceeds will directly benefit the artists and workers who made the items.

Confirmed vendors include: Afghan Women’s Mission, Ten Thousand Villages, Garment Worker Center, Pacifica Radio Archives, Global Voices for Justice, Cyntex, SmART Blondz, Frank Dorrell, and local artists Azadeh Ghafari, Gypsie Vasquez-Ayala (Arte Quetzal), Janna Marit, and Sonali Kolhatkar.

For more information, visit www.afghanwomensmission.org or call 626-676-7884. Read more

Recently Pakistani authorities ordered the Jalozai refugee camp to be closed down. This camp includes Khewa and Sharwali camps which are home to several RAWA projects including Malalai Clinic. RAWA reports that in the past few moths they have tried to convince the government to allow the Afghan refugees to remain in the camps for 2 more years as promised. But the Pakistani government will not budge.

The refugees do not wish to return to Afghanistan yet as the security situation has continued to deteriorate and the cost of living has escalated. In fact, food prices have almost doubled in the past two months. Additionally the unemployment rate is over 60%. The coming winter could also spell disaster for returned refugees who lack shelter.

RAWA is calling urgently for donations to help move their projects and resettle the families in Afghanistan. Click here to make a donation. Click here to read RAWA's appeal for help. Read more

Organize a private screening of "View From a Grain of Sand"

Now there’s an even easier way to support Afghan women! A new documentary by Meena Nanji, View from a Grain of Sand, brings to the screen a stunning and detailed portrait of Afghanistan historically and currently, as seen through the eyes of three Afghan women: a doctor, a teacher, and a member of RAWA. Hailed by critics as “searing, wide-reaching” (Los Angeles Times), and an “insightful, often heart-wrenching account of trauma, war and rights abuses,” (LA Weekly), Nanji’s highly acclaimed film is the first to effectively expose US responsibility for fundamentalism and the myth of women’s liberation.

You can do your part to help RAWA by raising crucial funds for this remarkable organization by organizing a house party. Your efforts will help sustain RAWA's life-saving projects.

Organize a House Party Download the House party Kit Order a DVD of View From a Grain of Sand About View From a Grain of Sand

Read more

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