Lots of new events to report on this week. Covid cases seem to be trending down (as is true for most large urban areas in CA), but the situation still warrants being extra vigilant in following safety measures. As always, check to see the status of events before you head out.

Special Announcement: Next Thursday, February 3rd at 4:00 PM, the Worldview Project in partnership with the Kroc School for Peace Studies and the San Diego United Nations Association will host a virtual panel discussion: Careers in Changemaking: Working in Humanitarian Aid & Non-Governmental Organizations with Kenro Oshidari, the former regional director for Asia of the World Food Programme, and Kirsten Mandala of Mercy Corps will discuss their experiences working with international humanitarian assistance organizations.  

Today (Friday), the Little Saigon Foundation kicks off its 3-day Lunar New Year Festival at Henwood Memorial Park. The fabulous Media Arts Center has partnered with Sundance FF to bring a number of online film screenings beginning tonight. La Guerra Civil will begin streaming at 6:00 PM, and the film Alice will be shown at 8:30 PM. Selena tribute band Como la Flor Band will perform at the Music Box.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the San Diego Korean American Folk Dance Association will present a dance performance at the Central Library. Warwick's and a great number of other independent bookstores will host a virtual talk with the acclaimed author Isabel Allende who will discuss her latest novel Violeta. The MAC/Sundance Film Festival offerings for Saturday are: Every Day in Kaimukī, Sirens, and Emergency.

Sunday, Warwick's will host author Mordy Levin who will discuss his book, The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners. MAC/Sundance will virtually screen the films Marte Um (Mars One) and Free Chol Soo Lee.

Next Wednesday, the 2022 Human Rights Watch Film Festival will begin a week of virtual screenings and Q&As with filmmakers. The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park will host a Setsubun Celebration to ward off misfortune and welcome the spring.

Next Thursday, the virtual panel discussion Careers in Changemaking: Working in Humanitarian Aid & Non-Governmental Organizations will take place online. The Timken Museum will present an online lecture on the life and works of the 18th century Dutch painter Gabriel Metsu.

Next Friday, the 3-day annual San Diego Tết Festival will take place in Mira Mesa featuring a pageant, lion dancing, cultural booths, a beer garden, children's games and more. UCSD Visual Arts with host an online lecture with artist Christina Fernandez who will talk about her works that address labor, gender, migration, and her Mexican–American identity.

Next Sunday, at Mujeres Brew Pub a Hands On Kimchi Workshop will happen. TuYo Theatre, in partnership with CSU San Marcos, Turnkey Theatre and San Diego State University for a small group production of On Her Shoulders We Stand. Performances will continue until the end of February. The San Diego Buddhist Association will host an hour-long Celebration of Chinese New Year. And, rounding out next weekend, the acclaimed Brazilian guitarists Romero Lubambo and Chico Pinheiro will perform at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library.

Everyone here at the San Diego Participant Observer and the Worldview Project wish you a fulfilling, illuminating and culturally rich weekend. See you next week and by all means, STAY SAFE!

Your Window to the World

How Facebook Took Over the Internet in Africa – and Changed Everythingf ‘It's Russian Roulette’: Migrants Describe Nightmarish Route Across Florida Straits World's Best Building Award Won by Rainwater-Harvesting Hospital in Rural Bangladesh Port in a Storm: the Trailblazing Town Welcoming Climate Refugees in Bangladesh Christ and Cocaine: Rio's Gangs of God Blend Faith and Violence Nearly 100 ‘Potential Human Burials’ Discovered at British Columbia School Chile's President-Elect Names Progressive, Majority-Women Cabinet Restoring Hope: ‘Why Can’T We Recreate the Old Energy of Sarajevo?’ Italian Sexism Row Over Job Advert Asking for Bathing Suit Image Uk's Propaganda Leaflets Inspired 1960S Massacre of Indonesian Communists Cut the Cussing: the Indian Man on a Mission to End Sexist Swearing Japan's Favourite Snack Falls Victim to Global Inflation With First-Ever Price Hike Catalonia to Pardon up to 1,000 People Accused of Witchcraft A #MeToo Moment Shakes Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Sweden’s Songwriters Dominated U.S. Pop. Now, They’re Looking to Korea. Australian Government Buys Copyright to Indigenous Flag Pakistan Says Only Fully Vaccinated People Will Be Allowed in Mosques

Our recipe of the month is Karydopita (Καρυδόπιτα) or Greek Walnut Cake. Kardopita is a delicious concoction of walnuts, cinnamon, and a hint of orange which is baked and then suffused with a sugary syrup. It is enjoyed around Christmas time and other special occasions. It is a very good dish to make ahead of time and take to a potluck party.

The Participant Observer Book of the Month selection is Aunty Lee's Delights: A Singaporean Mystery by Ovidia Yu. This delectable and witty mystery introduces Rosie “Aunty” Lee, feisty widow, amateur sleuth and proprietor of Singapore’s best-loved home cooking restaurant. Note: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. International Films Around Town NOTE: Covid-19 remains a serious public health problem. Please use utmost caution so that you protect yourself and others. Belfast A semi-autobiographical film which chronicles the life of a working class family and their young son's childhood during the tumult of the late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capital. Belle A high school student becomes a globally beloved singer after entering a fantastic virtual world. She soon embarks on an emotional and epic quest to uncover the identity of a mysterious beast who's on the run from ruthless vigilantes. Encanto The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. the magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift -- every child except Mirabel. However, she soon may be the Madrigals last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger. Flee On the verge of marriage to his long-time boyfriend, a successful academic in Denmark is confronted with a secret from his past. Good Luck Sakhi Plagued by seemingly endless bad luck, including the accidental death of her fiance, a young woman trains to compete as a sharpshooter at the national level. Hridayam A man in his early 30s reflects on his misspent youth and the rocky road that brought him to adulthood.. My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission Japan's greatest heroes must track down the mastermind behind a deadly chemical attack. Parallel Mothers Two single women meet in a hospital room where they are both going to give birth. One is middle aged and doesn't regret it, while the other is adolescent and scared. The two women form a strong bond with one another as they both confront motherhood. Rifkin's Festival A woman has an affair with a French filmmaker, while her husband falls in love with a beautiful Spaniard. The French Dispach A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in "The French Dispatch." The Tragedy of Macbeth A Scottish lord becomes convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland. His ambitious wife will do anything to support him in his plans of seizing power. West Side Story Love at first sight strikes when young Tony spots Maria at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks -- two rival gangs vying for control of the streets. Digital Gym Virtual Screenings Days Kang lives alone in a big house, Non in a small apartment in town. They meet, and then part, their days flowing on as before. Luzzu A poor Maltese fisherman faces temptation to sell his wooden fishing boat and join a black-market operation that's decimating the Mediterranean fish population and the livelihoods of local families.

Have you thought of new features that you would like to see in the Participant Observer?  Let us know by writing to us at: tjon@thewvp.org

Important Disclaimer: While as a public service we list political, religious, spiritual, consciousness-raising and commercial events in our calendar, this does not mean that The Participant Observer necessarily endorses or otherwise supports any of the views, sentiments, beliefs or products presented or promoted in such events. We endeavor mightily to ensure that our calendar listings are accurate, but please confirm dates and times of events.

The San Diego Participant Observer is Published by:

www.worldviewproject.org
2445 Morena Blvd. Suite 210
San Diego, CA 92110