Ecominds-a Mailing List: Nov 4 EcoMinds fall strategy meeting; MN energy challenge; Moyers "is God Green?" and more!

[Joe + Madalyn (joemadalyn]

UU EcoMinds A-List for Oct 11, 2006
(This is an announcement only list. Responses should be sent
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)


Hello EcoMinds! It's been months since we last posted. Apologies. But
we're back
now with a load of great and important activities coming up.  Inclusion
in this list doesn't mean
we've voted to endorse or support all the involved groups.  We just
provide info.you do the rest!  --Madalyn

In this posting:
 
Last minute addition: 
Tonight: Wednesday Oct 11- Bill Moyers will host a special "Is God
Green?" 
8:00pm TPT Channel 2 & Thurs Oct 12 7:00pm TPT Channel 17.
 
UU ECOMINDS EVENTS:
#1  Nov 4, 9am: UU EcoMinds Fall Meeting and Leadership Election
#2  "Inconvenient Truth" Showing at a UU or Faith Community Near You!
#3  Oct 22, 3-5pm at FUS: MUUSJA Quarterly Meeting
 
PARTNER ORGANIZATION EVENTS:
#4  All About the Minnesota Energy Challenge
#5  Will Steger & C3: Eyewitness to Global Warming Events
 
MAKE A DIFFERENCE! SHOW UP! TAKE ACTION! 
#6  Oct 16, 1pm or 6pm: Public Hearing: Help Stop the Big Stone II Coal
Plan Expansion 
#7  Nov 4, Noon: 2nd Internat'l Day of Protest Against Global Warming
and Government Inaction
 
EDUCATION FOR ELECTIONS AND BEYOND: 
#8 TPT17: MN Gubernatorial Candidates Interviewed about Environmental
Stances 
#9  Oct 20-22 Bioneers Conference 
#10 Oct 24, 8-5, free U-M conference on global sustainable energy
systems
#11 Nov 1: Blue/Green Alliance Get Out the Vote Rally w/ Sierra Club
Executive
 Director Carl Pope, and United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard
 
=============================
#1  Nov 4, 9am: UU EcoMinds Fall Meeting and Leadership Election
 
First Unitarian Society
900 Mt. Curve Ave.
Minneapolis
 
Save the date and join us for our Big Fall Strategy Meeting, from
9-11:30, Saturday, Nov. 4.  
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
 
-------------------------------------------
 
#2  "Inconvenient Truth" Showing at a UU or Faith Community Near You!
 
In October, Interfaith Power and Light, the national interfaith
environmental group, turns a
 "Spotlight on Global Warming" by facilitating screenings and
discussions of "An Inconvenient
 Truth" at 4,000 faith communities throughout the country. Faith leaders
nationwide will join
 together to mobilize a religious response to global warming. 
 
In Minnesota alone, about 200 groups are showing the film. Congregations
Caring for Creation
 is helping to organize the Minnesota showings. Some UU congregations
have already shown
 the film. These UU churches still have screenings coming up.  All
screenings are free and open to the public: 
 
Wed. Oct. 11, 7pm
UU Fellowship of Northfield
Corner of West 2nd and Linden Street, off Highway 3, 
FFI: Suzanna 507-663-7876, 
 
Sat, Oct 14, 7 pm 
Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship
10715 Zenith Ave. S., Bloomington
FFI: Lisa, 952-830-1971
 
Fri, Oct 27, 7pm 
First Unitarian Society
900 Mt. Curve Ave., Minneapolis
Free popcorn and drinks. Informal discussion following the film. On-site
childcare is available for a fee.
 A reservation for childcare IS required. Please call Jan at 377-6608
x.108 to reserve childcare spaces.
 
-----------------------------------------------
 
#3  Oct 22, 3-5pm at FUS: MUUSJA Quarterly Meeting
General Meeting
 Sunday, October 22nd, 3-5pm
 all UU's welcome!
 
Learn about current trends in religiously-based progressive policy and
political work from Rev. Meg
 Riley Director, UUA Advocacy and Witness Staff Group.  Rev. Riley has
represented UUism in the
 progressive religious community nationally for 14 years. She currently
chairs the board of Faith in
 Public Life:  A Resource Center for Justice and the Common Good, and
serves the boards of Interfaith
 Worker Justice and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
She has previously been
 on national boards of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice,
The Interfaith Alliance, Equal
 Partners in Faith, and worked in dozens of interfaith coalitions.  She
will share her view of the current
 state of the progressive religious community's work in the public
arena.
 
The religious right has been very successful in mobilizing their
followers over the last thirty years. 
 They have also been able to define and "own" morality in this country.
This has allowed them to help
 shape public policy at the federal and state level.  Their influence in
judicial appointments has also
 changed our courts.  They speak openly of "taking back" America, and of
asserting control over the
 lives of every citizen.  Progressive religious groups are building
efforts to challenge this religious extremism
 and re-claim morality.  Many of us also want to create a spiritual
deepening and stronger connection to
 our faith thought our activism.  Come hear about the trends, who is
involved, what
 lessons are being learned - and what the UUA is involved in. 
 
Connect with other UUs working for social change!  Bring an appetizer or
beverage to share. 
 FFI: contact: Jo Haberman at jojane [at] juno.com
 
-------------------------------------------------
#4  All About the Minnesota Energy Challenge
 
Join the kick-off of the MN Energy Challenge by attending one of the
"Take the Minnesota Energy Challenge" Energy Fairs
October 16 & 24, November 13, 6 - 9 p.m.
 
October 16, 6 - 9 p.m.
Hale Elementary School, 1220 54th Street E, Minneapolis
WCCO-TV Newscaster Don Shelby will speak at 7:30 p.m.
 
October 24, 6 - 9 p.m.
Jenny Lind Community School, 5024 Bryant Avenue N, Minneapolis
Artic explorer Will Steger will speak at 7:30 p.m. 
 
November 13, 6 - 9 p.m.
Central Senior High School, 275 North Lexington Parkway, Saint Paul
MN Energy Challenge website www.mnenergychallenge.org will be going
"live" on October 13th.  You will be able to: 
Take the Energy Challenge and commit to taking action steps to reduce
your energy use. 
Learn more about programs and resources available to help you implement
CO2 reductions. 
Ask an expert questions about energy conservation. 
Calculate your current emissions. 
Participate in an online forum to share your ideas and learn what other
Minnesotans are doing to reduce their energy use. 
Learn how to lower your energy bills and protect the environment by
lessening your impact on
 climate change and maximize your use of this great new website. The
Center for Energy and
 Environment (CEE) and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul have
scheduled three neighborhood
 energy fairs that will feature demonstrations and displays on home
energy audits, energy
 efficient furnaces, renewable energy, financing options for
energy-saving improvements
 and how to participate in the Minnesota Energy Challenge.
 
The Minnesota Energy Challenge is a statewide initiative, developed by
CEE, to encourage
 every homeowner, renter, business owner, educator, worship leader, city
manager and
 student to reduce their electricity and energy use. CEE has projected
that a 2 percent
annual reduction in electricity energy use will eliminate the need to
build more coal-fired energy plants in Minnesota.  
 
The first 500 people at each fair will receive a free compact
fluorescent light bulb. There will also be activities for children. 
 
FFI:  Call Center for Energy and Environment at 612.335.5858. 
 
--------------------------------------------------
#5  Will Steger & C3: Eyewitness to Global Warming Events
Sun, Oct 15, 7 p.m.
Ridgewater College, Willmar
320.354.5894
 
Thurs., Oct 26, 7 p.m.
Advent Lutheran Church, 9475 Jefferson Highway, Maple Grove
www.adventlutheran.com, 763.425.4243
 
Sun., Oct 29, 12:30 - 4 p.m. 
Pax Christi Catholic Community, 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie
www.paxchristi.com, 952.941.3150
 
Mon, Nov 13, 7 p.m.
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi
www.saintandrews.org, 651-426-3261 
 
Will Steger, renowned polar explorer, educator, writer and photographer,
will speak on
 global warming at several metro area congregations and schools this
fall. His slides
 and stories document his first-hand observations of the dramatic
changes occurring at the
 Arctic and in Antarctica where the effects of global warming are most
apparent. Steger and
 Congregations Caring for Creation will share information on what
individuals, government leaders
 and congregations can do to address this serious global concern. 
 
FFI: Sean Gosiewski at sean [at] allianceforsustainability.net or Alycia
Ashburn at ashburn [at] lcppm.org.
 
-----------------------------------------------------
#6  Oct 16, 1pm or 6pm: Public Hearing: Help Stop the Big Stone II Coal
Plan Expansion
 
Public Utilities Commission
Mon, Oct 16
1:00pm OR 6:00pm
MN PUC Large Hearing Room
121 7th Place E. Ste 300, Saint Paul
 
Show decision-makers that Minnesota
does not want more coal-fired power!
Attend one or both hearings, 1pm or 6pm.
 
Big Stone II is the proposed expansion of a huge, 600-megawatt coal
burning power generator just across the Minnesota border
in South Dakota. The expansion would run new power
lines across Minnesota to carry power to the Twin Cities
area. 
The new plant would:
. Emit tons of global warming pollutants
. Deposit more mercury and other toxins into our air
and water
. Inhibit growth of renewable energy sources, like wind
power, that could boost Minnesota's economy
 
FFI or to RSVP that you'll attend: Cesia (pronounced Saysha), 659-9124,
cesia.kearns [at] sierraclub.org
 
---------------------------------------------
 
#7  Nov 4, Noon: 2nd Internat'l Day of Protest Against Global Warming
and Government Inaction]
 
Sat, Nov 4, 12 noon - 1 pm
Federal Building
330 2nd Ave. S.
2nd Ave S., between 3rd and 4th Streets.
Minneapolis, MN
 
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.
 
Check out all the countries that participated last year and the young
UUs pictured at the USA listing:  
 
FFI: Christine Frank, Twin Cities Climate Crisis Coalition,
christinefrank [at] visi.com, 612-879-8937
 
---------------------------------------------------------
 
#8 TPT17: MN Gubernatorial Candidates Interviewed about Environmental
Stances 
 
TPT17 interviews: MN Gubernatorial Candidates 
on Our Environment and the Future of Our Communities"
 
October 14, 11 p.m. Channel 17 and
Streaming online 24/7 at www.tpt.org and www.envisionminnesota.org
 
Watch Minnesota's major party gubernatorial candidates discuss their
ideas on water, energy,
 transportation and other issues related to the Envision Minnesota
recommendations. 
 
-------------------------------------------------------
#9  Oct 20-22 Bioneers Conference
 
Minneapolis Community and Technical College (Loring Park)
Friday-Sunday, October 20-22
 
Northland Sustainable Solutions presents the first annual Northland
Bioneers Conference. The
 event will gather people and organizations in the Midwest to learn how
to better protect and sustain
 ecosystems by connecting the dots among the environment, health,
science, social justice and spirit. 
 

Horst Rechelbacher, Ann Bancroft and Dr. David Wallinga will be among
the local presenters, plus
 live satellite coverage of keynote addresses from the 17th annual
Bioneers Conference (see http://www.bioneers.org/)
 in San Rafael, California. Bioneers is the preeminent gathering of
leading scientific innovators and environmental
 visionaries who explore how to heal nature by working with nature.
 
See the web site below for costs and other details. Three dozen
workshops to be presented at
 Northland Bioneers include: * "The Basics of Biomimicry" *
"PermaCulure: Turning Problems
 into Solutions and Solutions into Opportunities" * "Social Marketing:
The Art and Science of
 Behavior Change" * "4 Houses: In Search of Truly Sustainable Design" *
"Celebrate the Connection:
 Arts and Ecology" * "Duluth Stormwater Garden Project" * *Dual
Currency: EcoBucks" * "Technology,
 Business and Meaning for the Green Revolution" * "Biodiesel Eco
Entrepreneurship" * "Sustainability
 of H2O and Protection of the Commons" * "Post Petroleum Transformation"

 
FFI: http://www.nbconference.org/
 
-------------------------------------------------------
#10 Oct 24, 8-5, free U-M conference on global sustainable energy
systems
 
(editor notes: EcoMinds member Lisa Herschberger highly recommends this
event)
 
October 24, 2006 
8am to 5pm
University of Minnesota, Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center, 301 19th
Avenue
S., Minneapolis, 55455
 
Moving Toward Sustainable Energy Systems: 
Exploring Global Pathways to a Common Destination

Free and open to the public. 

This workshop is the second in a three-part series titled Climate Change
and
Sustainable Development: Paths to Progress. The objective of this
workshop
is to find pathways for transformation toward a sustainable
energy future. This workshop will focus on comparing constraints and
opportunities around the globe, particularly in the Upper Midwest and
India,
in order to examine how different technologies can be deployed and
policies
structured to create economically viable and environmentally sound
energy
futures. Keynote speaker is David Jhirad, Vice President for Science and
Research,
 World Resources Institute, Washington DC, USA

Featured Speakers:
* Ken Keller, Center for Science, Technology & Public Policy, UMN
* J. Brian Atwood, Humphrey Institute of Public Policy, UMN
* Don Shelby, WCCO-TV
* Robert Donkers, Delegation of the European Commission to the United
States
* Surya P. Sethi, Planning Commission, Government of India
* Bill Grant, Izaac Walton League
* David Hales, College of the Atlantic
* Elizabeth Wilson, Center for Science, Technology & Public Policy, UMN
* Leena Srivastav, The Energy & Resources Institute
* Lester Lave, Green Design Initiative, Carnegie Mellon University
* M. K. Gajendra Babu, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
* Armin Rosencranz, Graduate Schoool of Public Policy, UMD
* S. K. Sarkar, The Energy & Resources Institute
* Bob Elde, Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment, UMN
* Naveen Kumar, Delhi College of Engineering
* Nick Jordan, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, UMN
* David Morris, Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Seating is limited, so registration at your earliest convenience is
highly
recommended. Online registration is available at:
http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/stpp/global_climate_econdvlp.html 

For more information, please contact Sophia Abbott, 612-626-1593;
albot002 [at] umn.edu
 
---------------------------------------------------------------
#11 Nov 1: Blue/Green Alliance Get Out the Vote Rally w/ Sierra Club
Executive
 Director Carl Pope, and United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard
Wed. Nov 1, 6pm
Carpenters Hall
700 Olive Street, (near Xcel Center)
St. Paul
What:   America Votes GOTV RALLY 
           The Road to Energy Independence Tour
Who:   Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club
           Leo Gerard, President of the United Steelworkers
Join America Votes partners the Sierra Club and United Steelworkers on
the
 Road to Energy Independence Tour on November 1 in St. Paul.
A Get-Out-The-Vote rally will be held with Carl Pope, the Executive
Director 
of the Sierra Club and Leo Gerard, President of the United Steelworkers
where you 
can hear about the road to energy independence and what you can do to
make a difference this Election Day.  

FFI: To register for the rally call the America Votes office at  (651)
647-2640 or www.gotvminnesota.org.
 
================================== 
 
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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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