Conference to Focus on Ending Sweatshop Conditions

Joining a national anti-sweatshop campaign, a Southern California progressive Christian movement said it will picket several Wal-Mart stores during the Christmas season to urge the retail chain to disclose working conditions at factories that produce its goods.

Although the main “season of conscience” effort will take place during the holidays, there will be a half-day conference today at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, followed by a gathering at the Wal-Mart in Duarte.

Keynote speaker today will be the Rev. David Dyson, a national leader in the anti-sweatshop movement and pastor of Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Richard Bunce, executive director of Mobilization for the Human Family, which is headquartered in Claremont, said today’s conference and the action planned for the holidays are part of a long-term effort to end sweatshop conditions.

Registration for the conference begins at 8:30 a.m. The church is at 54 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena. A free will offering will be taken. (909) 625-8722.

EVENTS

Leading faith groups and organizations involved in economic and social justice issues are sponsoring a three-day conference on community conflict transformation. The event, which opens Tuesday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will feature presentations by South African leaders. Speakers will include Bishop Mvume Dandala (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.), co-chairman with Nelson Mandela of the South African Moral Summit, and Alex Boraine, (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.) co-chairman with Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The convention center is at 1010 S. Flower St. More information is available at https://www.urbanonramps.com/cerj. Free. (213) 746-2211.

* Called the largest Hindu gathering on the West Coast, the “New Year and Festival of Lights” will be offered today by the Federation of Hindu Assns. of Diamond Bar. The event, featuring food, dance and drama, will run from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Cerritos Regional Park, Bloomfield Avenue at 195th Street, Cerritos. (714) 777-5782.

* Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz of Israel, one of the world’s foremost Talmudic scholars, will speak Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on his latest book, “Simple Words: Thinking About What Really Matters.” His talk will be held at the Peltz Theater of the Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Advance tickets only. $5. (310) 772-2452.

* The third annual “People of the Book: The Jewish Book Festival” will be held Wednesday through Nov. 21 at three locations: the West Valley, Valley Cities and Westside Jewish Community

centers. Invited authors include Alan Dershowitz, Janet Fitch, Gina Nahai, Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple in Westwood and Rabbi Steve Z. Leder of Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Hours and prices vary. Call (818) 464-3300 for a brochure with a detailed schedule and directions.

* Bereavement discussions by health care and mortuary representatives will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joachim Catholic Church, 1964 Orange Ave., Costa Mesa. (949) 574-7400.

* “Finding God in All Things: The Tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola” will be the subject of a talk Thursday at 7:30 p.m. by Wilkie Au at St. Augustine Parish Hall, 3850 Jasmine Ave., Culver City. $5. Call Linda Schultz at (310) 338-7772.

* An unofficial Catholic reform group that endorses the ordination of women and married priests, Call to Action, will hold a prayer meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Mother of Good Counsel Church Parish Hall, 2010 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. Free. (818) 954-8671.

* The second of a four-part USC lecture series on science and religion will be held today at 1:30 p.m. at the Park La Brea Community Center, 351 S. Fuller St., Los Angeles. The center is in the basement of Tower 25. Today’s lecturer is Robert W. Bleakney, doctoral candidate in religion and social ethics. Free. (323) 934-1177.

* The fifth lecture in the University of Judaism’s series on archeology, “The Tragic End of the Last Jewish Revolt: Return to the Cave of Letters,” will be presented Monday at 8 p.m. in the university’s Gindi Auditorium, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel-Air. The speaker will be Rami Arav, archeologist and University of Nebraska professor of philosophy and religion. $16. (310) 440-1282.

* “The Persecuted Church” is the subject of a talk to be presented Sunday by John Matthews, area director of Open Door Ministries, at 6 p.m. in the north chapel of Rolling Hills Covenant Church, 2221 Palos Verdes Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Free. (310) 521-2507. Representatives of Voice of the Martyrs, Friends of Israel Gospel Ministries and South Asian Fellowship will also speak briefly.

MUSIC

St. Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Mack, will perform Benjamin Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis” and music by Francaix at 8 p.m. Friday at the church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades. $15. (310) 573-7787, Ext. 2.

* Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2 will be performed Sunday at 4 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 580 Hilgard Ave., Westwood. $10 general, $6 students /seniors. (310) 208-6516.

* The choirs of First Congregational United Church of Christ, First Christian Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, all of San Bernardino, and Redlands United Church of Christ will join in a festival and vespers service marking All Saints Day, Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Congregational church, 3041 N. Sierra Way, San Bernardino. Free. (909) 886-4911.

* Inner Light Community Gospel Choir will present a concert titled “Carrying Songs of Praise Into the New Millennium” tonight at 7:30 at First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave., Santa Barbara. $8 adults, $5 children. (805) 961-2712.

Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053; faxed to Southern California File at (213) 237-4712; or e-mailed to religion@latimes.com. Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations, with address, phone number, date and time. Because of the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee publication.