FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Fw: [anews] Immigration, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Climate Change, Marriage Equality and General Assembly!!

[Carol Koepp (carolkoepp]

Advocacy and Witness
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Unitarian Universalist Justice Action Network 
To: carolkoepp [at] comcast.net 
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 5:38 PM
Subject: [anews] Immigration, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Climate Change, Marriage 
Equality and General Assembly!!


            Featured Content
              a.. Legislative Objectives 
              b.. Calendar 
            UUA Advocacy and Witness


            Dear Friends of Justice, 

            Many significant events have happened since last we spoke. You can 
read about some of them on our staff blog, Inspired Faith, Effective Action. 
However, the events of the last two days are not yet on our blog. In 
particular, we note the murder of Stephen Tyrone Johns and the attack on the 
National Holocaust Museum yesterday. Many in UUA's Washington Center have ties 
to the museum, which not only honors the victims and the heroes of the 
Holocaust but also works on current human rights issues in places like Darfur. 
An attack on the Holocaust Museum is an attack against social justice, and the 
murder of Johns pains all of us who dream and work for the Beloved Community. 
Some members of the Washington staff attended the memorial vigil today. While 
that was happening, other members of the staff were returning from a public 
witness event where UUA president, Bill Sinkford, and other religious leaders 
spoke out against torture. You'll be able to read more about both events 
shortly. 

            In faith and for justice, 
            Orelia, Kat, Lisa, Alex, Audra, Susan, Adam, and Meg 

            Action of the Month 

              a.. If you're planning to attend General Assembly, make space in 
your schedule for a Public Witness event supporting immigrant families on 
Friday evening, June 26th. In the mean time, see information below about two 
actions you can take to support immigrant justice right now.
            Advocacy


              a.. Immigration: Unitarian Universalist Walt Staton was convicted 
of "knowingly littering" last week for putting out water bottles intended to 
prevent deaths of migrants crossing the Sonoran desert. Sentencing will occur 
in August. See the No More Deaths website for updates and send letters of 
support to media [at] nomoredeaths.org 

              b.. "Don't Ask Don't Tell" - Lt Colonel Victor Fehrenback, an 18 
year Air Force veteran who has received at least 30 awards and decorations, is 
being discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Take Action and speak out 
against this harmful policy of discrimination. 

              c.. Global Climate Change - The American Clean Energy and 
Security Act (ACESA) has passed out of the House energy and commerce committee 
and will go to the House floor for a vote within the next couple of weeks. The 
fossil fuel industries spent tens of millions of dollars to weaken the bill and 
we only have our passion and word of mouth to make some much needed 
improvements. FAX Your Representative through 1Sky's action page now. And tell 
your friends to do the same! 
            General Assembly


              a.. Social Justice Chairs & Leaders Meeting - There will be a 
gathering for Unitarian Universalist (UU) social justice makers on June 24th, 
2:00 - 5:00 p.m at the Hilton, Grand Ballroom B. We will offer training, best 
practice case studies, and time for networking on issues. Most especially we 
will explore together how we connect congregational service and education with 
collective national advocacy and witness. To register, write to Audra Friend at 
socialjustice [at] uua.org. 

              b.. Interfaith Public Witness event Standing on the Side of Love 
with Immigrant Families - Friday, June 26th from 5:15 PM - 6:00 PM. Find 
printable fliers online here. The event will be hosted by the UUA and First 
Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, a new sanctuary congregation. Speakers 
include: 
                a.. UUA President Rev. William Sinkford 
                b.. Most Reverend John C. Wester, US Conference of Catholic 
Bishops, Chair on Migration & Refugees; 
                c.. Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish, Episcopal Diocese of Utah; 
                d.. Rev. Pablo Ramos, Episocopal Latino Missioner of Utah, and 
members of his congregation-St. Stephens, Salt Lake City; 

              c.. Environmental Justice Passport - Stop by one of the following 
four booths in the exhibit hall to pick up your Environmental Justice Passport 
and to register for daily drawings for earth-friendly prizes: 
                a.. UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE), Booth #831 
                b.. UU Service Committee (UUSC), Booth #718 
                c.. UUA Advocacy & Witness (UUA A&W), Booth #521 
                d.. Congregational Services/Green Sanctuary (UUA CS/GS), Booth 
#431
              After you've collected your passport, you can obtain passport 
stamps for attending environmentally themed workshops, choosing "green" 
alternatives at GA, making "greener" choices at GA, and supporting 
organizations that work for environmental justice. The Environmental Justice 
Passport collaborative project is brought to you by the UUMFE, UUSC, UUA Office 
of Advocacy and Witness, and the Green Sanctuary Program. 

              d.. For more information on this and other GA events, see our A&W 
at GA page! 

              e.. Final Draft of Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking - The 
Commission on Social Witness has released the final draft of the Statement of 
Conscience on Peacemaking for General Assembly. To read the draft, please visit 
uua.org/peacemaking. We encourage congregations to read and discuss the 
Statement of Conscience with their delegates in preparation for General 
Assembly. Any comments directed to the UUA on the Statement of Conscience will 
be reserved for the GA delegates. 
            Success: Marriage Equality in New Hampshire is Law 

              a.. In a resounding victory for marriage equality and in 
affirmation of religious freedom in the State of New Hampshire, Governor John 
Lynch signed into law the final version of a bill that was approved by both 
houses of the state legislature allowing same sex marriages. Read UUA President 
Willam G. Sinkford's statement celebrating this news. 
              During the debate on the House floor, Representative Gary 
Richardson said, "What has.been lost in all this debate is that there are 
religions, Unitarians and others, and my church among them, that [do] allow gay 
people to marry.. The time has come to let all faiths practice their own 
religion as they see fit without interference by other religions." 

              Amen.

            Blog Round-Up: this week in Inspired Faith Effective Action 

              a.. Orelia reported on DC Clergy United for Marriage Equality. 
              b.. She then jubilantly let us know that Marriage Equality is law 
in New Hampshire. 
              c.. Alex prepared us for the vote on the Peacemaking Statement of 
Conscience SOC at General Assembly. 
              d.. Orelia related One Youth's Experience With Sexuality 
Education Advocacy Training. 
              e.. And shared her experiences at the interfaith service honoring 
Dr. George Tiller. 
              f.. Kat shared Lessons Learned from Climate Change Legislation. 
           

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