Muusja Mailing List: April 25 E-Update Includes Special Action Alert

[ERALLIS (ERALLIS]

MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE APRIL 25,  2005 
Metro UU Social Justice Alliance--Bringing together   
UUs to work collectively for social  change. 
This update includes announcements  about: 
A. UU Events and a Special Alert 
B. Community Events  
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A. UPCOMING UU EVENTS AND A SPECIAL ALERT   
SPECIAL ALERT  
Text of a recent Strib article is reprinted at the  end of this Update. UU 
Ralph Wyman urges UUs to replay. He  says: "I am hopeful that both major metro 
dailies, as well as locals  such as the St Cloud paper and the Stillwater 
Gazette, etc, can be flooded  with letters to the editor from liberal 
religonists 
telling Ms Bachmann  and the Governor that it is outrageous to say that 
opposing gay marriage  "...unites people of all races, of all ethnic 
backgrounds, of 
all  religious backgrounds, of all political persuasions." Thanks! Ralph Wyman 
  
**** 
1. 
THURSDAY-SATURDAY APRIL 28, 29, 30   
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILDS  
Help build a 4 plex in cooperation with   
Congregations  Building Communities, a group  of  
Downtown  Minneapolis congregations.   
Heritage  Park: Hwy 55 and  Lyndale Ave. N.,  Mpls 
FFI: Contact your congregation's Habitat   
Organizer or Carol Koepp, 952.893.2383.   
ckoepp [at] mn.rr.com. 
**** 
2. 
SATURDAY, APRIL 30 
10:00 AM to 4:00  PM 
Sign in at 9:30  AM  
WORKSHOP: "UUs ORGANIZING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE"   
The progressive faith-based movement is growing and   
responding to increasing threats to our democracy and  UUs are needed to 
empower this movement in  Minnesota! It's challenging  work and we need to 
learn 
what it takes to be effective. Lead Trainers,  Beth Newkirk and Meg Riley, will 
fill in the details plus tell us about  the UU social justice landscape and 
how we can draw on our UU values and  legacy to sustain our work.  
First  Univeralist  Church 
Sponsored by MUUSJA and Prairie Star  District 
REGISTER TODAY. Send $30 check made out to FUS, with   
MUUSJA in the memo line, along with your name,  congregation  
and contact information to First Unitarian Society,   
900 Mt. Curve  Ave, Mpls.  55403. FFI: Betsy Allis, erallis [at] aol.com or Jo 
Haberman,  _jojane [at] juno.com_ (mailto:jojane [at] juno.com) . 
**** 
3. 
THURSDAY, MAY 5 
7:00-9:00  PM 
MEETING OF UU ECOMINDS, a  new working group of MUUSJA.   
Agenda includes sharing of  Earth Day events, confirming action projects, and 
update on Peak Oil program  on June 10th. 

First Unitarian Society,  Minneapolis  
FFI: Madalyn Cioci.  _joemadalyn [at] earthlink.net_ 
(mailto:joemadalyn [at] earthlink.net)  
**** 
4. 
THURSDAY, MAY 5 
7:00-9:00  PM 
MEETING OF UU AFFORDABLE  HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
First Unitarian Society,  Minneapolis  
FFI: Bob Aderhold._raderhold [at] mn.rr.com_ (mailto:raderhold [at] mn.rr.com) 
.  
**** 
B. COMMUNITY EVENTS OF  INTEREST 
1. 
TUESDAY, APRIL 26 
7:00 PM   
FREE PUBLIC SHOWINGS: "THE CORPORATION"   
A riveting 2004 documentary film will be shown in 15  metro  
neighborhood libraries and coffee shops as part of a   
grassroots initiative to raise awareness about the  impact of  
corporations on our world. Includes discussion.  Showings  
include:  
Tues Apr 26, 7:00  pm. The RenBox, 509 Sibley  St, Lowertown,  
St. Paul   
Wed Apr 27, 6:30pm. May Day Books, 301 Cedar Av,  West Bank, U  
of M, Mpls  
Thur Apr 28, 7:00 pm. Walker Church,  3104 16th Ave S, Mpls   
Sat Apr 30, 1:45  pm. Roseville  Library, 2180 N Hamline  Ave,  
Roseville   
Sun May 1, 1:30  pm. Ridgedale Library,  12601 Ridgedale Dr.,   
Minnetonka   
Sun May 1, 6:30  pm. Twin Cities Friends Meeting, 1725 Grand   
Ave, St.  Paul  
Mon May 2, 6:00  pm. Hamline/Midway Library, 1558 W  Minnehaha  
Av, St.  Paul  
Tues May 3, 6:00  pm. Southdale Library, 7001 York Ave  S,  
Edina   
Wed May 4, 6:00pm. Eden  Prairie Library, 565  Prairie Ctr Dr,  
Eden  Prairie  
Thur May 5, 6:00pm.  Macalester  College Campus Ctr,   
Downstairs, St.  Paul  
Sat May 7, 1:30pm. Dakota Cty Library, Wescott Br, 1340   
Wescott Rd,  Eagan  
Sat May 14, 1:30  pm. Hayden Hts. Library, 1456 White Bear  
Ave, St.  Paul  
Organized by IMPACT ("Ideas to Mobilize People Against   
Corporate Tyranny (IMPACT). Co-sponsors include  Citizens for  
Corporate Responsibility (C4CR) and WILPF. FFI: Todd   
Hierlmaier:  (952)920-1809/thierlmaier [at] elitemail.org. 
**** 
2. 
TUESDAY, APRIL  26 
11:00 AM 
KFAI RADIO “CATALYST" on  KFAI FEATURES LIZA FEATHERSTONE, 
investigative journalist and author  of new book "Selling Women Short: The 
Landmark Battle for Workers' Rights  at Wal-Mart".  Get a taste of  Lisa’s 
keynote talk for the annual "Untold Stories"  cosponsored by the St. Paul 
Public 
Library, `various unions and other TC  organizations. Watch for details about 
this May 5th program.

90.3fm Mpls, 106.7 fm St.  Paul ALL shows archived for 2 weeks at
www.kfai.org Got an event to  announce or show idea? Produced/hosted  
by  Lydia Howell. _lhowell [at] visi.com_ (mailto:lhowell [at] visi.com) .  
612.338.3407.

**** 
3. 
THURSDAY, APRIL 28 
7:00  PM 
WOMEN OF THE WORLD AND WAR: FOCUS: THE  HMONG 
4th in a series.  Sponsored by WAMM.  Mai Neng  Moua will speak of the 
effects of war on the  Hmong women and children of Laos, those who have  
remained  
in Laos and  Thailand and those who have  migrated to the U.S. 
Gustavus  Adolphus  Lutheran  Church   
1669 Arcade  St  (Arcade and Larpenteur)  St.  Paul.   
**** 
4.  
SAURDAY & SUNDAY, APRIL 30 & MAY 1, 2005.   
10 AM to 5  PM 
LIVING GREEN EXPO 
Includes a showcase of environmentally sound products,   
technologies, information, and practices and workshops  on  
everything from how to compost and reduce toxicity in  your  
home to using the latest energy-saving technology and  cooking  
with organic, locally grown food. Free and family  friendly!   
MN State Fair Grounds,  Grandstand  Building.   
Free parking, secure bike storage, accessible by bus.   
FFI: Melissa Wenzel at melissa.wenzel [at] pca.state.mn.us  or 651- 
556-0574. www.livinggreen.org   
**** 
5. 
SUNDAY, MAY 1 
1:00  PM 
MAY DAY PARADE  
Volunteers needed to help paint the names of over 7,000  U.S. and  Iraqi war 
dead on an enormous banner for the Parade.  Just show up Tuesdays and  
Thursdays from 7 – 9 p.m. and  Saturdays from 9- - 11 a.m. and  1 – 3 p.m. 
through 
April  29.   
FFI staff artist Esther Ouray at  612-824-4647. 
Powderhorn Park 
Starts at Bloomington  Ave. S. at 25th  St. and travels down to  Powderhorn  
Park, Mpls.   
**** 
6. MARK YOUR CALENDARS  
THURSDAY, MAY 5: 12  NOON 
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN A CHANGING  AMERICA 
Robert Putnam, Prof of Public Policy,  Harvard  University 
Westminster  Presbyterian  Church Town  Hall Forum 
Nicollet at 12th,  Minneapolis 
____ 
SATURDAY, MAY 7: 10:30 AM 
MOTHER'S DAY WALK FOR PEACE 
Gather in  Lyndale  Park Peace  Garden,  Minneapolis 
Walk begins at 11  am.  Bring a sign  & flower.  Program is at  Judson  
Memorial  Baptist  Church,  4144 Harriet Ave,  Minneapolis at 11:45 a.m.   
Snacks 
provided.    
____ 
TUESDAY, MAY 10: 7:00-9:00 PM 
CITIZENS MEDIA FAIR: THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION IN  BROADCASTING 
Includes presentations on digital broadcasting and  facilities tours. Watch 
for details.  Hosted by tpt and presented and sponsored by Media Reform 
Minnesota  (MRM) and Twin Cities Media  Alliance.   
**** 
* STRIB ARTICLE  
Thousands rally for amendment to ban gay marriages   
Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune  
April 21,  2005 
With a tone that seemed decidedly less inflamed than in  previous years, a 
group supporting a state  constitutional ban on same-sex marriage rallied 
Wednesday at the State Capitol. Speakers at the rally sponsored by  the group 
Minnesota for  Marriage called for the state Senate to hold a vote on the 
amendment. 
A  proposal has passed the Republican-controlled House but has yet to have a  
hearing in the DFL-controlled Senate. 
Several thousand people attended the rally, many  bearing circular red and 
white signs that  said "Defend Marriage." Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a supporter of the 
proposed  constitutional amendment, criticized Senate leadership, which he 
said has  wrongfully called the constitutional ban a mere distraction on more  
pressing issues.  
"If you hear them speak about it, they'll say there are  other issues that 
should come in front of  this issue," Pawlenty said. "They probably said on the 
bridge of the  Titanic that icebergs are a distraction. Marriage between a man 
and a  woman and protecting that is not a distraction. It's important." Sen.  
Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, the point person on the same-sex marriage  
debate in Minnesota, noted a recent Mason-Dixon poll that showed 63  percent 
statewide support for a vote on the constitutional amendment,  which would be 
on 
the 2006  ballot. 
"I'm here to tell you there is no more uniting issue,"  said Bachmann, a 
candidate for Congress  whose profile has been elevated by the issue. "It 
unites 
people of all races, of all ethnic backgrounds, of all  religious backgrounds, 
of all political  persuasions." 
Barb White, a pastor of Light Foundation Ministries who  is black, said the 
sanctity of marriage cannot be equated with the  struggle for racial equality. 
"It is just over a century that slavery has  been prohibited, but I am 
watching the family of the  United States of  America, and African American 
families, 
 disintegrate at rates beyond our imagination," she said. "It's time we  
don't make this a civil rights issue, it's time we make this a moral  issue." 
The crowd appeared close in size to a rally held two  weeks ago by opponents 
of the ban. While a  small group of protesters huddled in the back, there were 
no reported incidents. Pawlenty, among others, urged the  group to pursue 
their support "with an  attitude of love and understanding and decency and  
civility." 
C. Scott Cooper, a lobbyist and spokesman for OutFront  Minnesota, an 
organization  representing the state's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender  
community, compared the event with a  livelier rally last year in the heat of a 
nationwide presidential race. Nevertheless, the  proposed ban continues to act 
as 
a wedge in the state, Cooper  said. 
"It's not a unifying issue, it's an extremely divisive  issue. It's tearing 
apart communities,  congregations and families," he said.  
Mark Brunswick is at  mbrunswick [at] startribune.com. 
****