Ecominds-a Mailing List: MUUSJA EcoMinds Meeting Tues May 13 2008-Tomorrow!

[Ralph Wyman (rwmuusja]

A bit of time has passed since the last MUUSJA EcoMinds meeting.  It will be
good to re-connect with you all tomorrow evening!  Please plan to attend --
we have successes to share and things to work towards.

Tuesday 5/13/08
1st Univ, 3400 Dupont S, Minneapolis
Room 209

Some suggested agenda items (agenda to be finalized at the top of the
meeting):

* Green Solutions & Clean Cars Postcard recap
Quick Earth-day recap from our congregations

If possible (and if you have not already) contact your 'buddies' to see how
the postcard effort and Earth day went across Minnesota:

1. Cecelia - Bemidji, Grand Rapids, and First Universalist.
2. Lisa - Bloomington, Burnsville, Unity, and Rochester.
3. Jo - Brainerd, Excelsoir, and Willmar.
4. Stewart - Buffalo, Hanska, and Wayzata.
5. Ralph - Duluth, Fridley, and Northfield.
6. Marcy - Mankato, FUS, Groveland, and Winona.
7. Bob - Underwood and Virginia.
8. Dick - Arden Hills, St. Cloud, Spirit of Life, and White Bear.

* State Fair C3/EcoExperience booth planning

* Getting ready for 2008-2009 "Church year" and next legislative session:
        > Leadership model for next year?  Possible co-chairs/team members?
        > Goals/Issues for the year
        > Proposal to be MUUSJA working group due at fall meeting (late
Sept).

* Boxer-Sanders Bill vs. Lieberman-Warner Bill~ 
Info from UUA: Boxer-Sanders Bill - better bill but not moving
Lieberman-Warner Bill - moving (will be voted on after Memorial Day) but not
nearly adequate to protect the environment

Issue:  Do we support the bill that is moving or hold out for a better bill?
Concerns with Lieberman-Warner Bill:
1.      The Lieberman-Warner bill falls far short of the target emissions
reductions recommended by the scientific community     
2.      The bill gives far too much money (in the form of carbon credits) to
corporations - much more than is necessary to offset their increased costs -
and far too little money to low-income families to help them offset their
costs.  
3.      If the bill passes it will increase the economic injustice that
already exists.

Comments welcome to rwmuusja [at] gmail.com