Muusja Mailing List: MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE February 16, 2006

[Lauren Culbert (lculbert]

MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE February 16, 2006
Metro UU Social Justice Alliance--Bringing together UUs to work collectively
for social change.

Editor's Note: Please mail news of your congregations social action events
to lculbert [at] comcast.net

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This update includes announcements about:

A. Local UU Events
B. UUA Advocacy
C. Other items of Interest
D. Social Justice Links

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A. Local UU Events  

1. 

FEB 25, MARCH 4, 11
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

DOORKNOCK FOR A RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD! 
On February 11th twelve UUs knocked on doors in Edina as part of UU EcoMinds
2006 Campaign to promote passage of a Renewable Electricity Standard in the
state legislature. Within two hours volunteers collected 180, signed
postcards to send to our elected officials asking them to support the RES!
We have three more doorknocking events planned and the more volunteers are
needed. This activity proved to be easy yet rewarding work. Once homeowners
realized that we were not asking for money or pushing a political candidate
many were eager to talk about the issue, in fact many thanked us for doing
this!  Training, handout materials (and moral support for those new to
doorknocking) provided. 

FFI: Madalyn 612-926-5249 or mcioci [at] earthlink.net. 

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2.
FEB 22,  MARCH 1
7:30 to 9:00 PM
Optional dinner ($5) at 6:30 PM

UU ECOMINDS SERIES ON SUSTAINABILITY. 
A Mother's Promise the World Must Keep. Inspired by "The Cairo Accords"
passed 10 years ago, this series explores the promise to commit moral and
financial resources so that people the world over can make the best
decisions for themselves, their families, and the environment.  Women's
rights are central to the goals.    

Feb 22. A Promise to Work Together to Solve the World's Problems 
March 1. A Promise to Keep Mothers Safe.
First Universalist Church, Minneapolis

FFI: Connie Diercks at cdiercks [at] mn.rr.com.

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3.
FUN - FAST - FACTS!  On same-sex marriage..
GLBT Civil Rights and Same Sex Marriage - is a fun, fast-moving and
informative power point tool available by email - to receive a copy, email
Ralph Wyman at Ralph-longfellow [at] earthlink.net.  Developed by Melissa
Embers-Herbert, member of White Bear UU Church, teacher at Hamline
University in St. Paul, and member of UUs Out For Marriage (a working group
of Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance) - it's excellent for adults and
youth groups.

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4.
Feb 22nd and Feb 23rd

UUs OUT FOR MARRIAGE TRAINING AVAILABLE
Learn about key talking points and effective ways to communicate about the
anti-marriage constitutional amendment. This is a great chance for UUs to
learn about the issues, and gain confidence in advocating for GLBT fairness.
We Unitarian Universalists urge members of all Minnesota UU congregations to
attend a training - & tell neighbors and friends, too!

Feb 22nd - Loring Neighborhood, Mpls.
Feb 23rd - Hayden Library, St. Paul
FFI: Visit www.OutFront.org <http://www.outfront.org/>  or call Becky at
(800) 800-0350 x 103

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5.
FEB 27, MAR 6, 13
7:00 PM

RACE: THE POWER OF ILLUSION A Three-part video and discussion series 122 W
Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis
Sponsored by the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing
<http://www.micah.org/>  (MICAH.)  MICAH is a key partner of UUAHP. 

FFI- contact Cheryl Wilson at cheryl [at] micah.org or 612-871-8980 x104

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6. 
THURS, MARCH 2
8:30 AM TO 4:00 PM

DAY ON THE HILL-JOINT RELIGIOUS LEGISLATIVE COALITION. MSUUJA is a member of
JRLC. 

FFI http://www.jrlc.org/

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7.
MONDAY, MARCH 6
7:00 to 8:30 PM

UU'S OUT FOR MARRIAGE (UUO4M) MONTHLY MEETING. UUO4M is organizing UUs
statewide to convince legislators to vote against the anti-marriage
constitutional amendment and keep it off the ballot in 2006. At our monthly
UUO4M Strategy Session we will be finalizing plans for April 27th Lobby Day
and UU events!  UUCM - UU Church of Minnetonka, 605 Rice St. E, Wayzata. Its
tricky to find. Visit  www.uucmtka.org <http://www.uucmktka.org/>  for info.


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8.
MARCH 28
9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM

LOBBY RALLY DAY-HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR A STRONGER MINNESOTA. Join
HousingMinnesota, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, and Minnesota NAHRO
in the capitol rotunda to ask our leaders to help all Minnesotans have a
home they can afford!

FFI- www.housingminnesota.org/lobbyday

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9.
APRIL 27

OUTFRONT MINNESOTA'S JUSTFAIR LOBBY DAY. UUs Out For Marriage-a working
group of MUUSJA- will be organizing UU participation Lobby Day. Plan to show
up and oppose the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage!

FFI-Ralph Wyman Ralph-longfellow [at] earthlink.net

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B. UUA Advocacy

1.

As Marriage Equality Week 2006 continues, religious leadership-in interfaith
coalitions, legislative rallies, and public witness settings-has continued
to show that Unitarian Universalists choose to stand on the side of love. 

FFI--See http://www.uua.org/ 

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2.
SAT., FEB. 18th
1-2 PM EST

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING WORKSHOP TELECONFERENCE. It's not too late to
join the next Socially Responsible Investing Teleconference presented by
members of the UUA Committee for Socially Responsible Investing (CSRI). To
join the teleconference just call in at (866) 868-1054, code 1571617.

FFI http://www.uua.org/finance/sri/

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3.

BROADEN YOUR SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM 
Sustainable Action: Planting the Seeds of Relational Organizing By Rev.
Louise Green

FFI--
http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/relationalorganizingplantingseeds.pdf

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4.

NEW BLOG ON UUA ANTI-OPPRESSION, ANTI-RACISM MULTICULTURAL INITIATIVE
Skinner House will be publishing a new book that's working title is: Journey
>From Calgary: An Unfinished Dialogue, a history of the UUA's efforts to
become an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural institution by Rev.
Leslie Takahashi-Morris and Dr. Leon Spencer and Chip Roush.  They have a
blog where they discuss the book and the issues they are addressing - see
http://journeyfromcalgary.blogspot.com/

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C. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
1.

GLOBAL FRIENDLY FAMILY IS BACK! As some of you may remember, First
Universalist church piloted the Global-Friendly Family (GFF) project about
four years ago. Former FUC member and GFF chair, Sandy Moses, who has since
moved to Eugene, Oregon, wanted to bring GFF back.  Since commuting would be
prohibitive, she decided to create a GFF website instead.This new resource
provides practical information and resources on how each of us can make a
difference, one small step at a time. The GFF website includes a new
global-friendly tip each month, features global-friendly organizations and
projects, and lists helpful resources for all ages.  Please check it out at
www.globalfriendlyfamily.org.

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D. SOCIAL JUSTICE LINKS 

Find out more about local social justice events by checking out these
websites. 

Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers http://www.mapm.org/
Women Against Military Madness at www.worldwidewamm.org
<http://www.worldwidewamm.org/> 
Progressive Calendar at shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu.