Muusja Mailing List: E-UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER 2, 2006

[Lauren Culbert (lculbert]

MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE OCTOBER 27, 2006
 
Minnesota UU Social  Justice Alliance--Bringing  together UUs to work
collectively for social change.
 
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This  update includes announcements about: 
 
A. Local Social Justice News
B. National UU Advocacy
C. Social Justice Links

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A. LOCAL SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS

1.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY
900 Mt. CURVE AVE. MPLS
7:00 PM 

Minnesota Premiere of  STEALING AMERICA Vote by Vote, a powerful documentary
by Emmy award winning, Oscar- nominated filmmaker, Dorothy Fadiman, about
irregularities in the 2004 presidential election, demonstrating that
election fraud and reform are not partisan issues. Includes discussion with
filmmaker. Sponsored by UU Protecting Rights Campaign. FFI:
jjthomas [at] skypoint.com.

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2.
SAT, NOV 4
9:00 AM
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY, 900 MT. CURVE AVENUE, MINNEAPOLIS

UU ECOMINDS FALL MEETING AND LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS. Join us for our Big Fall
Strategy Meeting! We'll be electing leadership for the next 2 years and
setting our course for the year. Bring your passion for action and your
ideas for campaigns this year -will we pursue work with Congregations Caring
for Creation? Tackle the RES again, or a different legislative effort? Or
dive into the Minnesota Energy Challenge? RSVP's are helpful, but not
required. Contact Madalyn, 612-926-5249 or ecominds-contact [at] muusja.org
 
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3.
SATURDAY NOV 4
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY
900 MT. CURVE AVE. MPLS
10 AM
 
DANGER TO DIGNITY: The Fight for Safe Abortion. Emmy award-winning film by
Dorothy Fadiman combines rare archival footage with interviews that document
the courageous efforts of those who fought to break the silence, change the
laws and end the shame which surrounded abortion when it was a crime.
Includes a discussion with filmmaker, Dorothy Fadiman.. FFI: Contact Pam
Vincent at pbvincent [at] msn.com.  
 
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4.
SAT, NOV 4
NOON TO 1:00PM
FEDERAL BUILDING, 330 2nd AVENUE S, MINNEAPOLIS 2nd Ave S., between 3rd and
4th Streets.

SECOND INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST AGAINS GLOBAL WARMING AND GOVERNMENT
INACTION. This event happens just following the UU EcoMinds fall meeting at
9am this same morning. Pack  a lunch and make a day of it. UUs were a strong
presence at this event last year. Location changes  this year to the grounds
of the more visible Federal Building in Minneapolis.
 
FFI: Christine Frank, Twin Cities Climate Crisis Coalition,
christinefrank [at] visi.com, 612-879-8937
 
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5.
SUN, NOV 5
7:00 PM
ST. JOAN OF ARC CHURCH, 4537 3RD AVE. SO, MINNEAPOLIS

IS CRITICISM OF ISRAEL ANTI-SEMITIC? An evening with NORMAN FINKELSTEIN.
Finkelstein is a provocative, thoughtful, and actively critical voice
speaking out against Israel's policies toward the Palestinian people and US
political and  financial support of Israel.  

Norman Finkelstein received his doctorate  from Princeton for a thesis on
the theory of Zionism.  He currently teaches at DePaul University in
Chicago.  He is author of many books including his most recent Beyond
Chutzpah: On the Misuse of Anti-Semitism and the Abuse of History. The son
of Holocaust survivors, Finkelstein is known for his view that the Holocaust
is being exploited for pro-Israel political ends.

Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the WAMM Mideast Committee
612-827-5364

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6.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5
UU MORNING SERVICES

WEAR THE COLORS OF THE SUFFRAGETTES! Dress in white, purple and yellow in
honor of the brave women who won our freedom.  Sponsored by UU Protecting
Rights Campaign. Contact Pam Vincent at pbvincent [at] msn.com.

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7.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7

ELECTION DAY: VOTE YOUR VALUES! HELP GET OUT THE VOTE! Work with your
favorite candidates or nonpartisan GOTV efforts (e.g.,
www.americavotes.org).  Assert your influence with decision makers around
reproductive health. Contact Cathy Apostle at caquilt51 [at] aol.com.

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8.
TRANSIT FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES SUPPORTS THE TRANSPORTATION AMMENDMENT
Nov. 7th, Transit for Livable Communities supports the Minnesota
Transportation Amendment.  It will provide the first dedicated funding
source for transit, and is designed to phase in over 5 years to protect
other state programs.  The Amendment also has the support of labor groups,
environmental organizations, senior citizen groups, and members of the
education community.  Please visit our website at tlcminnesota.org.

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9.
FRI, NOV 10 AND SAT, NOV 11
UNITY CHURCH, UNITARIAN, ST. PAUL

LOCAL UU ANTI-RACISM CONFERENCE
There will be two parallel anti-racism conferences - with a few key
connections between the two - held at the same time.  One track is for UUs
of color (DRUUMM), the other is for white UUs (ARE) who want to learn more
and work with people of color within UUism and in the larger world.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED--PLEASE REGISTER ASAP.

FFI: DRUUMM: www.druumm.org
FFI: ARE: http://www.uuallies.org/MCARIWorkshop.htm

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10. 
NOV 13 THROUGH NOV 17
WASHINGTON DC, BALTIMORE
MIDWEST ACADEMY ORGANIZING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE TRAINING
"Organizing for Social Change" is a five day, residential, comprehensive
training for a variety of organizational staff and leaders. Most are working
on specific issue campaign and building powerful, progressive organizations.
This training helps to be more strategic in the fight for social, economic
and racial justice. 
FFI: http://midwestacademy.com/training_DC_nov06.html

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11.
SAT, NOV 18
WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, MINNEAPOLIS

INGNITING A CULTURE OF LOVE, PEACE, AND JUSTICE is the theme of the Midwest
Conference of Spiritual Progressives. It is sponsored by the Network of
Spiritual Progressives - Minnesota and co-sponsored by about 40 diverse
organizations and congregations.

Progressive panelists in every field--health care, education, business,
environmental protection, and popular culture--will explain how they are
organizing their lives and their institutions to pursue this new bottom line
of spiritual values. This conference will be a celebration of what we can do
together!

Details of the conference and registration information are available on the
NSP website at http://www.nspmn.org/ or by calling 952-476-6126. The
registration fee is $45 (lunch included), students and activists are asked
to pay $20, and scholarships are readily available for anyone who needs one.

B. NATIONAL UU ADVOCACY

1. 
The UUA has partnered with over 80 organizations to support the PATHWAY Act,
the Prevention Against Transmission of HIV to Women and Youth Act. If
passed, the PATHWAY Act will strike down the 33 percent
"abstinence-until-marriage" earmark on US prevention funding and require the
Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) to develop a comprehensive
prevention strategy geared towards women and youth, the most rapidly rising
vulnerable group. 
For World AIDS Day, this coalition is sponsoring a national campaign called
"For Whom the Bell Tolls". On World AIDS Day we are encouraging communities
to gather together and hold vigil by ringing a bell, beating a drum,
clapping your hands, etc. every eight seconds to mark each new HIV infection
worldwide. This vigil can be built into a program by incorporating speakers
and by taking direct action in support of the PATHWAY Act. For support on
hosting such an event visit the campaign website
www.pepfarwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=91&Item where
you can read our soon to be posted event guide, learn of events being
planned in your area, or register your event with our national coordinators.
If you are interested in holding a "For Whom the Bell Tolls" event please
contact Adam Gerhardstein at agerhardstein [at] uua.org. 

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2.
For this World AIDS Day, December 1st, The UUA, the UU-United Nations
Office, and the UU Global AIDS Coalition have partnered to present a
campaign themed "Prevention that Empowers". As part of this campaign we are
encouraging congregations to mark this 25th anniversary of the AIDS pandemic
by holding worship services for both youth and adults, to engage in
advocacy, and to take direct action. To enable these actions our three
organizations have produced a World AIDS Day resource packet that includes
background information on global AIDS, advocacy opportunities, information
on the Red Ribbon Congregation program, worship materials, and youth
oriented materials. It is a very comprehensive guide that should enable you
to easily produce both meaningful worship and effective action. You can
access this guide at www.uu-uno.org/?q=taxonomy_menu/2/7/84 Please think of
reserving a Sunday soon before or after December 1st, during which your
congregation can bear witness to the tragedy of global AIDS, and take action
for a brighter future. 
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C. SOCIAL JUSTICE LINKS

To find out about other local and national social justice events, check out
these websites.  

UU SOCIAL JUSTICE AND OTHER UU LINKS:
Unitarian Universalist Association:  http://www.uua.org/

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee:  http://www.uusc.org/

UUA Washington Office for Advocacy http://www.uua.org/uuawo/new/

UUA Congregational Advocacy and Witness:
http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/

Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA):  http://www.muusja.org/

Prairie Star  District: http://www.psduua.org/

FOR UU SOCIAL ACTON CHAIRS, sign up for regular e-news from the UUA, called
Sac-news www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo
 
UU Ministry for Earth http://uuministryforearth.org/index.shtml

UUs for a Just Economic Community http://www.uujec.net/

UU Committee for Socially Responsible Investing
http://www.uua.org/finance/sri/ 

UU Gulf Coast Advocacy http://www.uua.org/news/gulfcoastrelief/advocacy.html

OTHER SOCIAL JUSTICE LINKS: 
*note: if you are  member of a group who would like us to list your web
site, send it to muusja-editor [at] muusja.org
 
Minnesota  Alliance of Peacemakers  http://www.mapm.org/
 
Women Against Military Madness at  www.worldwidewamm.org
 
Progressive Calendar subscribe by emailing  shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu.
  
Planned Parenthood of Minnesota:   www.ppmns.org
 
NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota:   www.prochoiceminnesota.org

Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH):
http://www.micah.org/
 
Code Pink: www.codepink4peace.org

Center for Victims of Torture: http://www.cvt.org/main.php

Network of Spiritual Progressives: http://www.spiritualprogressives.org/

Network of Spiritual Progressives, local chapter http://www.nspmn.org/