With notorious sweatshop conditions for workers around the world--from the North Pole Elves IWW 1098 to the two-month old Vietnamese infant sewing your Isotoner gloves--what better time to tackle the hairy issues of globalization and labor union rights?

The documentary A Year in the Streets gathers testimonies from around the country; showing at Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, Saturday, December 15 at 2 pm.

This Is What Democracy Looks Like shows footage from Seattle's WTO riots at It's A Beautiful Pizza, 3341 SE Belmont on Sunday, December 9, 7 pm. Following the movie, Rose City DSA will facilitate a discussion about globalization. Come, confess your guilt for holiday binge catalog purchases.

Four Wall Cinema is showing The Journey, a film that refutes patriotic knee jerks and media cover-ups. Monday and Tuesday, December 3, 4, 10; 425 SE 3rd, Studio 400, 7:15 pm, 231-6548

Also, every Friday, a loose coalition of activists and ordinary citizens known as Portland Peaceful Response hosts an hour-long vigil starting at 5 pm in Pioneer Square. It's not a pity party or a contemptuous rally against Republicans; instead, PPR holds a freeform debate with integrity and patience.

Rain and sleet haven't discouraged local environmentalists: Skip the annual X-mas tree hike for a trek to the Mill Creek Timber sale. Visit the proposed 1400 acre swatch of federal land and help enviros dig in their trenches. Sunday, December 9, carpools depart from the Daily Grind, SE 42nd and Hawthorne, 9:30 am.

Meanwhile, a criminal trial for treesitters in God's Valley, a hotly contested logging stand, is scheduled for Friday, December 14. Cascadia Forest Alliance is planning to raise the (courthouse) roof on this one. Stay tuned for info; 241-4879.