FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Fw: [anews] Speak Up for BGLT Equality and a Green Economic Recovery!

[jojane (jojane]

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: UUA Justice Action Network <UUA [at] mail.democracyinaction.org>
To: jojane [at] juno.com
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:18:50 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [anews] Speak Up for BGLT Equality and a Green Economic
Recovery!
Message-ID: <891105764.-1105929694 [at] org.orgdb.mail.democracyinaction.org>


"{Social} conflict clarifies values and makes latent values manifest."

- Lewis Closer (sociologist)

ADVOCACY NEWS
A Newsletter of the UUA's Advocacy & Witness Staff Group
Speak Up for BGLT Equality and a Green Economic Recovery!
February 4th, 2009





Dear Friends of Justice,
Welcome to February and a new Action of the Month. You can read more
about "Speak Up for BGLT Equality" below. In addition, we have an urgent
action for you to consider. The much needed economic stimulus recovery
plan passed in the House but threatens to be stalled in the Senate. It
will likely come to a vote later this week. It is crucial that the Senate
approve the recovery plan. This afternoon, the Washington Office sent out
a letter to the Senate that included an updated Moral Balance Sheet,
comparing money spent on war versus money spent on essential services
such as education and health care. We are also making calls to Senators
and need your help on this. Your Senators are keeping track of phone
calls from constituents - both in favor and against the recovery plan. We
need to make it clear how they should vote. Please call your Senators
today.
In faith and for justice, 
Kat, Alex, Orelia, Lisa, Adam, Audra, Susan, and Meg
In This Issue:
URGENT Environmental Justice Action: Call Your Senators Now! 
SUCCESS: Peacemaking Statement of Conscience is Being Sent to General
Assembly! 
February Action of the Month: Speak Up for BGLT Equality 
Immigration: February 13 - 22 Week of Action 
Darfur: Postcard to President Obama Campaign Begins 
Vacancy: Funding Panel for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility 
Upcoming Dates and Deadlines 





(1) URGENT Environmental Justice Action: Call Your Senators Now!
In partnership with Green For All  
Urge Your Senators to Vote for the Green Recovery Plan!
Every day we hear more news of layoffs and foreclosures. Our economy is
in crisis and millions of Americans are struggling. If there is any
silver lining to this, it is that urgently needed economic recovery
stimulus package being voted on in Congress offers a chance to move our
nation to a green economy - one that is both based on renewable sources
of energy and provides job opportunities to those most in need. A version
of this Green Recovery Plan has already passed the House of
Representatives, but is in danger of stalling in the Senate. Please tell
your elected Senators, who are supposed to represent your interests, that
you will not stand for gridlock and inaction.
Urge Your Senators to Vote for the Green Recovery Plan!






(2) SUCCESS: Peacemaking Statement of Conscience is Being Sent to General
Assembly!
The UUA Bylaws requires a 25% quorum of congregations to send a Statement
of Conscience to General Assembly. On Monday, February 2nd, the
congregational poll asking whether or not the Statement on Peacemaking
should be voted upon at GA closed. A total of 81% of congregations
participated in this poll! The resolution to send the Statement on
Peacemaking to General Assembly overwhelmingly passed with over 40% of
all congregations approving of the measure compared to the less than 1%
who voted it down. This is a huge success. In the past, less than 10% of
congregations would participate in the congregational poll for a
Statement of Conscience.
Feedback was also collected by congregations and delivered to the
Commission on Social Witness. Congregations decided how they would vote
in the poll in a myriad of ways. Many congregations held congregational
meetings to discuss and vote on the measure. Other congregations
empowered their social justice teams or ministers to speak on behalf of
the congregation.
If you congregation is not participating in the peacemaking study action
issue, it is not too late to begin. You can get more information at
uua.org/peacemaking or by emailing peacemaking [at] uua.org.






(3) February Action of the Month: Speak Up for BGLT Equality
 
This month there are so many ways that you can speak up for equality for
Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Americans.
Join us February 8th through 14th for "7 Conversations in 7 Days" during
Freedom to Marry Week! According to Freedom to Marry, having
conversations is the single most important way that you can help achieve
marriage equality nationwide. Each day of Freedom to Marry Week, our
social justice blog will feature a different Unitarian Universlist
perspective on marriage equality. Check it out, start your own
conversations with friends, family and others in your community and make
sure to write us about how you participated at la_BGLT [at] uua.org.
Sign up to lobby your congressional representative to support legislation
that impacts the BGLT community. Get the latest information on new
legislation in the "Current State of BGLT Issues" section of our Action
of the Month page and make your voice heard in the struggle for equal
rights for all Americans!
Support the UUA's work to achieve marriage equality by sending
personalized cards to your friends and family! For more information
visit: www.uua.org/loveletters.






(4) Immigration: February 13 - 22 Week of Action
Join a week of action for immigration reform when Congress members return
to their districts February 13 - 22. Plan a vigil, write a prayer or poem
for your worship service, or ask RE students to make art related to
immigrant rights to display in your church. Log your action, no matter
how small, and find other events on the Interfaith Immigration Event
Calendar. Find more information on the week of action on our blog,
Inspired Faith, Effective Action, and the Interfaith Immigration
Coalition website. Questions? Email Lisa at lswanson [at] uua.org.






(5) Darfur: Postcard to President Obama Campaign Begins
 
During his Presidential Campaign, President Obama made very strong
statements concerning the future of Darfur in Sudan. He said the United
States must have "unstinting resolve" to solve the crisis there. So far,
we have seen no movement on his part to act. The UUA, a member of the
Save Darfur Coalition, is asking you to send a postcard to President
Obama to help end the violence in Darfur. You can send your postcard
electronically and request hard copies for your congregation by visiting
the Darfur Action Center.






(6) Vacancy: Funding Panel for Unitarian Universalist Social
Responsibility
The Committee on Committees of the UUA Board of Trustees is accepting
applications for a vacancy on the Funding Panel for Unitarian
Universalist Social Responsibility to fill out the remainder of a term
until December 31, 2009. The appointee would be eligible for
re-appointment to three more 2-year terms. Travel and other meeting
expenses are covered, per established guidelines. 
The Fund for UU Social Responsibility makes grants to Unitarian
Universalist organizations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico that:
Increase the direct involvement of UUs in service, advocacy and/or
community organizing to create justice in the larger community 
Link Unitarian Universalists with the larger community 
Foster a generosity of spirit and action in all aspects of our UU
communities 
For balance on the panel, the following are especially encouraged to
apply: minister, male, and/or person of color or other under-represented
group in Unitarian Universalism.
A link to the online Committee on Committees application form can be
found at uua.org/aboutus/governance/7313.shtml.






(7) Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
February's Action of the Month: Speak Up for BGLT Equality 
February 12: Freedom to Marry Day
February 14: Valentine's Day / National Condom Day
February 16: President's Day
March 1: Deadline for congregational feedback on Ethical Eating CSAI
March 1: Deadline for nominations for the Bennett, Holmes-Weatherly,
Skinner Sermon, Social Witness Sermon, and Wilton Peace Prize awards
March 8: International Women's Day
March 13-16: Ecumenical Advocacy Days






Contact Us:
Rev. Meg Riley
Director of Advocacy & Witness
mriley [at] uua.org
Washington Office
Adam Gerhardstein
Acting Director
also working on International Issues
agerhardstein [at] uua.org, 202.393.2255 x21
Kat Liu
Assistant Director
also working on Environmental Justice
kliu [at] uua.org, 202.393.2255 x13
Orelia Busch
Legislative Assistant for Women's Issues
UU Women's Federation Clara Barton Intern
obusch [at] uua.org, 202.393.2255 x12
Lisa Swanson
Legislative Assistant for Economic & Racial Justice
lswanson [at] uua.org, 202.393.2255 x22
Alex Winnett
Program Associate for Peacemaking
Mary Bonner Memorial Intern
awinnett [at] uua.org, 202.393.2255 x20
Congregational Advocacy & Witness
Susan Leslie
Director
sleslie [at] uua.org, 617.948.4607
Audra Friend
Program Coordinator
afriend [at] uua.org, 617.948.4656



Congregational Advocacy & Witness
25 Beacon St | Boston, MA 02108 | Phone 617.948.4656 | Fax 617.742.03213 
Washington Office for Advocacy
666 11th Street NW, Suite 800 | Washington DC, 20001 | Phone:
202.393.2255 | Fax: 202.393.5494
email: socialjustice [at] uua.org | website: www.uua.org/socialjustice
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