Ecominds-a Mailing List: Leadership Team meets 6/6; MUUSJA honors EcoMinds; more

[Joe + Madalyn (joemadalyn]

UU EcoMinds A-List for June 5, 2006
(This is an announcement only list. 
Replies should be sent to
ecominds-editor [at] muusja.org)

UU EcoMinds promotes lifestyles, policies, and technologies  that
respect and sustain all life on earth and is a working 
group of the Metro Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance
(MUUSJA)

In this posting (sorry it's long! Lots to get to you):

#1  TOMORROW June 6: UU EcoMinds Leadership Team Meeting, all welcome.
#2  Thur June 8: MUUSJA Quarterly Meeting, 7pm, Unity Unitarian, St.
Paul
#3  June 9, Premiere "An Inconvenient Truth" award winning Al
Gore/global warming documentary
#4  UU Statement of Conscience "Threat of Global Warming" : Latest
version for review
#5  June 20 and 21: UU Summer Solstice celebrations
#6  NORTH SOUTH EAST WEST: Photo exhibit on Global Warming effects on
human life
#7  More on GW impacts on human life: UU writing about recent Christian
Aid report predictions 
#8  Post-Legislative Session Update on RES
#9  Homeland Security rules may halt windpower projects in WI

=============================
#1  TOMORROW June 6: UU EcoMinds Leadership Team Meeting, all welcome.
Tuesday, June 6 3253 46th Ave. S. (home of Bob Friedman) 6-10pm (potluck
dinner)

UU EcoMinds leadership team and interested parties are invited to our
spring leadership meeting/dinner at the home of Bob Friedman, 3253 46th
Ave. So. That's three blocks south of Lake St and three blocks west of
West River Road in Mpls.

Bring a dish to share and get involved in planning next year's EcoMinds
action, education, and legislative campaigns. There's lots going on: 
Reviewing and celebrating what we did and learned this year; 
Readying for GA and our response to the Global Warming statement of
conscience; 
Planning for the State Fair "global warming" booth with other C3
members; 
Possible "Ask the Candidate about Global Warming" pre-election efforts,
and lots more! 
Possible preparations to continue work to pass RES.
And more! Bring your ideas and energy.
FFI: Madalyn, 612-926-5249
-------------------------------------
#2  Thur June 8: MUUSJA Quarterly Meeting, 7pm, Unity Unitarian, St.
Paul THURSDAY, JUNE  8 7:00 to 9:00  PM UNITY  CHURCH-UNITARIAN, ST.
PAUL

MUUSJA'S QUARTERLY MEETING AND CELEBRATION. 
UU EcoMinds and UUs Out for Marriage to be honored for work
in global warming and the marriage equality work. 
We'll also get an update from the UU Affordable Housing Partnership. 
The Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs of Unity will speak about how we can draw on
our UU theology and legacy to strengthen and empower our collective
work.
Includes special refreshments!  Please join us and bring your friends!
RSVP by June
4th to Betsy Allis at erallis [at] aol.com or 612.871.6946. (Or ASAP if this
is the first you've heard of the meeting!)

-------------------------------------------------
#3  June 9, Premiere of "An Inconvenient Truth" award winning Al
Gore/global warming documentary
FFI: www.climatecrisis.net

Columnist John Tierney smears Gore as a "nerd" presenting graphs to spin
this important movie out of the mainstream. A conservative group (in the
pocket of Exxon among others) has issued TV ads around the nation with
the tag line "Carbon dioxide. They call it pollution. We call it life." 
Find them at http://streams.cei.org/

While EcoMinds hasn't organized a group to go see this movie, it is
crucial you do, but even more important that you get your heretofore
uninterested friends and relatives to see it. Buy them dinner and a
movie! 

--------------------------------------------------
#4  UU Statement of Conscience "Threat of Global Warming" : Latest
version for review

The UUA Commission on Social Witness's final Draft Statement
of Conscience on Global Warming is now available for downloading as part
of the Final Agenda for GA 2006. 
The link is: http://www.uua.org/ga/ga06/FinalAgenda.pdf.

It is important that delegates to GA be prepared to respond
intelligently to this draft.  The UU Ministry for Earth board will 
likely issue their own responses and suggestions prior to GA. Hopefully
the local UU EcoMinds will as well. 

IF YOU ARE ATTENDING GA AS A DELEGATE and would like
to discuss the draft beforehand, please contact Madalyn Cioci,
612-926-5249.

If you will NOT be attending GA, take time to speak with your delegates
about the SOC.  Make sure they are informed regarding your
congregation's response to the draft SOC and know of your individual
and/or collective response to the final draft once it becomes available.
Talk with them a about 
any critical elements you believe require amendment or exclusion from 
the final SOC.  

Read it carefully and critically.
Does it accurately state the threat of global warming?
Does it articulate the serious ethical, and justice issues connected
with the issue? Does it connect the issue with our Unitarian
Universalist spiritual values and principles? Does it call for action
from the Unitarian Universalist Association as well as from
congregations  and individuals? Does it give UUs and their congregations
clear guidelines for implementation?

Watch for more info at www.uuministryforearth.org 

---------------------------------------------------
#5  June 20 and 21: UU Summer Solstice celebrations

June 20: (from Douglas Owens-Pike)
This may be the last year we have access to this outdoor labyrinth for
this celebration since my clients are selling 
the property. If you are interested, come to:
2129 Larpenteur, home of Larry & Carol, who will be joining us; 2nd
driveway E of Cleveland on N side of Larpenteur 
(between U of M driving range and Gibbs Farm museum).  
If drive is full of cars, easy parking a short walk, to 
west of driveway, at driving range parking lot.
 
Schedule for evening:
7:00 PM gather in labyrinth for opening prayer, statement of group
intention
7:30       walk labyrinth
8:00       ritual fire, stories and prayers for our Mother Earth
8:30       sharing snacks
9:00       closing prayer of blessing all present and our intentions

We are open to suggestions, input. We see this as an opportunity for
those of us working for eco-justice to gather to celebrate our 
achievements as we gather strength for the challenges we face. 
FFI: Douglas, 612-821-9797

June 21: 
Indoor Labyrinth Walk
First Universalist
34th and Dupont, Mpls
begins at 6:00pm

June 21
Summer Solstice Celebration
Bring a poem or song to share
indoors and out
First Unitarian Society
900 Mt. Curve Ave., Mpls
6:00 ? 10:00pm 
FFI: Audrey, 952-924-1039

-------------------------------------------------
#6  NORTH SOUTH EAST WEST: Photo exhibit on Global Warming effects on
human life

NorthSouthEastWest
Science Museum of MN
June 9 to Aug 11 

NorthSouthEastWest is a photographic exhibition that reveals the threats
that millions face to their food supplies, fresh water, health, culture
and even the existence of their countries due to global warming.  
The display in addition details solutions that can help prevent 
global warming from getting out of hand.  NorthSouthEastWest is 
an outdoor exhibit and is located on the museum's Level 3 terrace, 
adjacent to the Chomp snack shop.  
Open regular museum hours June 9 through August 11. 
FFI: See www.smm.org 
----------------------------------------------------
#7  More on GW impacts on human life: UU writing about recent Christian
Aid report predictions 

>From Doug S., Santa Fe UU: 
The moral issue that we've known is coming - global climate
change-related triage ? has unfortunately arrived, in the form of a
just-released report by Christian Aid, the international aid group: To
quote excerpts from the Independent UK article on the group's report:

"The report highlights the fact that, despite hand-wringing in the West
about the threat to its coastlines from rising temperatures, it is the
poorest who are likely to suffer most. It estimates that 
a "staggering" 182 million people in sub-Saharan Africa could die of
disease directly attributable to climate change by 2100. Many millions
more face death and devastation from climate-induced floods, famine,
drought and conflict.

The potential ravages of climate change are so severe that they could
nullify the efforts to end the legacy of poverty and disease across
developing countries, the charity says.

Sir John Houghton, former co-chairman of the scientific assessment
working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
has given his support to the report's findings. "This 
report exposes clearly and starkly the devastating impact
that human-induced climate change will have on many 
of the world's poorest people," he said.

(Madalyn's note: for comparison, 11 million died in the Holocaust)
FFI: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0514-04.htm

------------------------------------------------------
#8  RES stymied in MN House of Representatives
This post-legislative update provided by Fresh Energy (formerly ME3),
edited for length:

The legislative session is over, and with it the opportunity for elected
leaders 
to do the right thing for energy production in Minnesota. [At the
session's end] 
House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) refused to take action on the 
Omnibus Energy Bill, passed in the Senate by an overwhelming margin.
With that action, 
Speaker Sviggum ensured there would be no Energy Bill in Minnesota this
year? at a time when polls are showing energy is a top concern for most
Americans. Time for action by the House. After the Senate passed the 20
percent Renewable 
Electricity Standard as an amendment to the Omnibus Energy Bill, it was
up to the 
House of Representatives to make it become law. For that to happen, the
Standard 
would again have to be amended to the Energy Bill. 
It became crystal clear there wasn't enough support in the House to pass

the RES, so [ME3] made a difficult but important decision: wait until
next year 
for the Standard to avoid opposition to the Energy Bill. There were a
number of 
important and non-controversial provisions in the Energy Bill?provisions
to help 
consumers reduce energy costs, help small businesses develop smart and 
innovative energy projects, and prevent elderly and low-income residents

from having their heat shut off in winter. 
Despite agreements by all parties and all key energy policy leaders in
the 
legislature, the utility lobby and the Chamber of Commerce persisted in 
demanding that House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) kill the entire
energy bill. 
Unfortunately, Speaker Sviggum agreed to prevent further discussion of
energy policy 
this session?even items with consensus support between House and 
Senate committee chairs Senator Ellen Anderson (D-St. Paul) and 
Representative Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake).
We'll be back next year. The good news is that there is strong support
for the 
Renewable Electricity Standard in the Minnesota Senate and even greater
focus 
and determination among renewable energy advocates in the state. 
------------------------------------------------------
#9  Homeland Security rules may halt windpower projects in WI and beyond
(from Erin S. at Fresh Energy, formerly ME3)

No kidding---check this out.  
"A recently adopted requirement on the Department of 
Defense to study and report on the effects of windpower installations on
military readiness has mutated into an open-ended stop-work order on
projects in Wisconsin, according to RENEW Wisconsin Executive Director
Michael Vickerman?" "By all accounts, the original Congressional
language was aimed at one project. However, DOD and the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) have decided to expand upon the original study
directive and apply it to all proposed windpower installations in the
United States."? 
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: http://www.businessnorth.com/pr.asp?RID=1818

And here's a kicker... 
DOD/DHS won't reveal which projects have been targeted, as it would
reveal the proximity of a military radar base.  In fact, some of the
"military" radar sites are actually commercial radars that DOD/DHS is
simply tapping in to.
 
================================== 
 
E-mail your announcement suggestions to ecominds-editor [at] muusja.org 
If you have questions and want to talk to a real person about 
UU EcoMinds, call Madalyn at 612-926-5249.
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