Activism
If you're worried about medical marijuana legislation or Planned Parenthood funding, you may want to peek in at the Utah Legislature, which opened for the public's business on Monday (see p. 16). On Thursday, for instance, you might be interested in the Public Education Appropriations Committee, starting at 8 a.m. You can stop in at a committee meeting or sit in either the House or Senate gallery to keep an eye on those wily legislators. You—yes, you—can even call them out to talk to you about an issue of interest. You don't have to be a lobbyist. You just have to care. Utah Capitol, 350 N. State, Senate, 801-538-1035, House of Representatives, 801-538-1029, Jan. 25-March 10, Le.Utah.gov
World Affairs
Brazil has been having problems, from the Zika virus to its volatile financial markets as Latin America's largest economy. Indeed, Brazil lost 1.5 million payroll jobs last year. Yikes. Learn about this country at the Hnckley Institute of Politics "Pizza & Politics—Brazillian Politics on the World Stage." Paulo Sotero, director, Brazil Institute, Woodrow Wilson Center, will speak. Hinckley Caucus Room, Room 222, Orson Spencer Hall, 260 Central Campus Drive, 801-581-8501, Thursday, Jan. 28, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Hinckley.Utah.edu
Donation Drive
More than 40 million women in the United States are living in poverty or near it. In Utah, that means 100,000 women who are often forgotten as people donate to the needy. The Salt Lake City Mission will be collecting feminine hygiene items as part of a nationwide initiative named Mardi Bra which is put on by the anti-poverty think tank "Rock and Wrap It Up!" Financial donations are welcome, too. New and unused women's hygiene items and full-sized toiletries can be dropped off at the Mission. 1151 S. Redwood Road, Ste. 106, 801-355-6310, through March, SaltLakeCityMission.org
Transportation Talk
There might be a sustainable future for transportation, but it doesn't come without challenges. "Electrification: Towards a Sustainable Transportation System" will discuss the technical challenges limiting market adoption of electric vehicles, particularly those related to range anxiety, and overview new technologies in development at Utah State University aimed at overcoming these challenges and transforming the future of transportation. Little America Hotel, 500 S. Main, Friday, Jan. 29, 7:30 a.m., RSVP: Sunrise.usu.edu/Sunrise
