Februaiy 27. 2008
Page A4
Coffee Trade’s Tangled Trail of Tyranny
‘Black Gold' screens at
multicultural film fest
“ B lack G o ld " asks us to face the unjust
conditions under w hich o u r favorite d rink -
coffee - is p roduced and to decid e w hat we can
do about it.
T he a w ard -w in n in g d o c u m e n ta ry w ill be
screened M onday. M arch 3 as part o f the free
c o m m u n ity M u ltic u ltu ra l F ilm F e stiv a l at
Jefferson High School startin g at 6 p.m. in
room C-39.
Black Gold traces the tangled trail from the two
billion cups of coffee consum ed each day hack to
the coffee farmers who produce the beans. In
particular, it follows Tadesse M eskela as he tries
to get a living wage for the 70,000 Ethiopian
coffee farm ers he represents. In the process
Black Gold provides the most in-depth study of
any commodity on film today and o tters a com
pelling introduction to the “fair trade" movement
galvanizing consum ers around the globe
In E thiopia, for exam ple, 15 m illion people
are dependent on the coffee industry; 67 p er
cent o f its foreign trade is in coffee. Betw een
■UK
------ —
—tòov.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
Iron Ladies of Liberia
Ethiopian coffee packers work under harsh conditions in the documentay “Black Gold" coming
Monday, March 3 to the Multicultural Film Festival at Jefferson High School.
2001 and 2003, w hen the price for coffee hit a
30 year low , farm ers could no longer feed
them selves, fam ine spread and feeding stations
had to be established throughout the coffee
W ho’s in Hare's House - Currently through March 9, the Portland
Children's Museum presents whimsical puppets of “W ho’s in Hare's
House," with Sunday performances by the Tears of Joy Theatre and a
puppet scavenger hunt. For more information, call 503-223-6500.
W E N T C C T À IN M C N T
Portland Jazz Band and Choral Union - Sunday. March 2, at 7 p.m..
Sliders Grill - Sliders Grill, 3011 N. Lombard, features an eclectic
assortment of performers on the main stage, accompanied by delicious
food. Call 503-459-4488 for more information.
Sunday Night Jazz - Jazz enthusiasts can enjoy listening
to the cool sounds of Mel Brown, in the Rogue River Room
at Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City. No cover
charge.
enjoy the University of Portland’s hot jazz,
ensemble performing jazz and pop at the
Buckley Center Auditorium, 5000N. Willamette
Blvd. This free concert is open to the public.
Emergence-See -- Daniel Beaty's “Emergence-See!" is
presented Thursday, Feb. 28 and Friday, Feb. 29 at the
Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center. The one-man, multi
character show centers on contemporary black America as
a slave ship rises out of the Hudson River in front of the
Statue of Liberty. Fortickels, call the IFCC box office at 503-
823-4322.
Movie Madness-Saturday, March 1 at8p.ni.,the Portland
Gay M en's Chorus will don their top hats and canes to
perform favorites from ‘Footloose,' ‘Fame’ andothergreat
movies; the single performance will be at the Newmark Theatre-
Portland Center for Performing Arts; to purchase tickets call 503-226-
2588.
region. School teachers w ent unpaid and m any
farm ers, in d esperation, tore out th eir coffee
trees and replanted their hillsides in chat, a
narcotic w idely used in E ast A frica.
The Portland Community Cinema series presents
"Iron Ladies of Liberia, followed by panel a discus
sion, On Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 8 pm. At St. John’s
Theater, 8704 N. Lombard St.
With unprecedented access, this intimate docu
mentary goes behind-the-scenes with Africa's first
freely elected female head of state, Ellen Johnson-
Sirleaf, president of Liberia.
The film explores the challenges facing the new
president and the extraordinary women surround
ing her as they develop and implement policy to
rebuild their ravaged country and prevent a descent
back into civil war.
Follow Johnson-Sirleaf through her first year in
office as she faces angry mobs, ambitious political
rivals and high-ranking members of the international
community. Her story is inspiring a new generation of
leaders in Africa and around the world.
Hip-hop Dance Classes — Vancouver-Clark Parks and Rec
reation is hosting family friendly hip-hop dance classes for
ages 5 to 18. Various lessons teach rhythm, technique,
coordination, agility and teamwork through urban dance moves. For
more information, call 360-696-8236.
‘Dreamsville’ Tour - Thursday, March 13,
from 7 to 9:30 p.m., enjoy the silky sound of
Ginger Berglund and the trombone mastery of Scott
Whitfield along with theGary Hobbs Trio, performing at
The Old Church. 1422 S. W. 11 th Ave.
St. Patrick’s Dance - Saturday, March 15 at 7 p.m., dance the night
away at the historic Linnton Community Center. 10614 N. W. St. Helens
Rd., featuring the sounds of the Prime Time 16 Piece Big Band, an
authentic Irish corned beef and cabbage dinner, raffles and more. For
more information,call 503-286-4990.
( )pen MicNight — Every Wednesday night at 7 p.m., Proper Eats Market
and Café, 8638 N. Lombard St., host open-mic night.
Sea M onsters-S pectacular photo-realistic animation brings creatures
of the deep to life in the new National Geographic Ominimax film Sea
Monsters: a Prehistoric Adventure, now playing at OMSI.
B L A C K H IS T O R Y M O N T H • FEBRUARY 2008
THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC AGENCIES IN THE PORTLAND METROPOLITAN AREA SALUTE
The Achievements of Black American Scientists & Inventors
Many skills and talents are needed to build a great country. Throughout American history, often under adverse conditions, African American
scientists have advanced our nation through their research, inventions, patents, and innovations in technology. Here are a few examples:
DR. CHARLES HENRY TURNER, Ph D.
DR. DANIEL HALE WILLIAMS
(1856- 1931) Daniel
Hale Williams is credited
with having performed
open heart surgery on
July 9. 1893 before such
surgeries were estab
lished. In 1913, Daniel
Hale Williams Williams
was the only A frican
American member o f
the American College o f
Surgeons.
(1867- 1923) was one o f the very first African-
American researchers in animal behavior. He
published over 50 papers in the areas o f physiology,
invertebrate ecology and morphology. Dr. Turner is
best known for his pioneering work demonstrating
hearing in insects.
DR. MAE JEMISON
MADAME C. J. WALKER
(born / 956) Dr Jemison earned her
medical degree from Cornell Uni
versity, and practiced international
medicine before answering NASA ’s
call. She became the first African
American woman to enter space as
a mission specialist with the Space
Shuttle Endeavor in 1992. She now
heads the Jemison group, with
projects that include improving
health care in Africa and advancing
technology in developing countries.
She is fluent in four languages.
Inventor and Entrepreneur
(¡867 1919) created hair care prod
ucts and a national product distribution
DR. PERCY JULIAN, Ph D.
model that revolutionized the hair care
(1899 1975) Dr. Julian
and cosmetic industry for A frican wom
was a chemist who
en in the 20th century. She was the first
synthesized physostigmine
A merican female self-made
for treatment o f glaucoma
millionaire.
and cortisone for the
treatment o f rheumatoid
arthritis. Among his many
research achievements.
DR. NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON, Ph D.
Dr. Julian developed and
(born 1958) Dr Tyson, an astrophysicist, is the Director o f the
held a patent for a fire-
Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum o f Natural History,
retardant foam used to
and Visiting Research Scientist and Lecturer at Princeton Univer
extinguish gasoline and
sity'. His research interests include star formation, exploding stars,
oil fires.
dwarf galaxies, and the structure o f our Milky Way. Dr Tyson
hosts the PBS Nova television series. Nova Science Now.
Please contact the following agencies about contracting and consulting opportunities:
Multnomah County - Gail Rubin • 503-988-5111 ext. 22651 • gail.h.rubin@co.multnomah.oc.us • www.multcopurch.org
M etro - Angela Watkins • 503-797-1816 • watkinsa@metro.dst.or.us • www.metro-region.org
MULTNOMAH COUNTY OREGON
M ETRO
i
City o f P ortlan d / Bureau of Purchases -
GregWolley« 503-823 6860 «gwolley@ci.portland.or.us • wwwportlandonline.com/omf.purchases
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