Muusja Mailing List: E-UPDATE FOR OCTOBER 6, 2006

[Lauren Culbert (lculbert]

MUUSJA  E-EVENT UPDATE OCTOBER 6, 2006
 
Minnesota UU Social  Justice Alliance--Bringing  together UUs to work
collectively for social change.
 
****
This  update includes announcements about: 
 
A. Local Social Justice News
B. National UU Advocacy
C. Social Justice Links

****
A. LOCAL SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS

1.
MON, OCT 9
6:30 PM
PLYMOUTH CHURCH, 1900 NICOLLET AVE
NETWORK OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESSIVES

As always, the meeting will start at 7, but more and more people are coming
at 6:30 for snacks and conversation before the meeting. A brief orientation
for new members also starts at 6:30.

Joining us at the October meeting will be Sondra Samuels, wife of city
councilman Don Samuels and president of the PEACE Foundation which has been
doing such important work on the northside with vigils, outreach to youth,
and community events to build solidarity and a consciousness of peace and
love instead of crime and violence. A dynamic, direct, and honest speaker,
Sondra will tell us how spiritual values are fueling the PEACE Foundation's
work and her own activism for social justice. 

****
2.
WED, OCT 11
6:30 PM
RONDO COMMUNITY OUTREACH LIBRARY (DALE AND UNIVERSITY AVE) ST. PAUL

HOW DO WE BUILD A SUSTAINABLE MINNESOTA?

Hear: a Report on Gardens of Eagan's victory over Big Oil!
Watch: an inspirational documentary, "The Power of Community: How Cuba
Survived Peak Oil."
Discuss: ideas and strategies for building a more sustainable Minnesota.
This will be a great opportunity to gather inspiration from what others have
achieved, and brainstorm ways to move together towards a more sustainable
future!  Join Us!
 
Sponsored by MN Metro WILPF, Corporations v. Democracy Committee
FFI: Karen at 651-283-3495 or vegan14ever [at] riseup.net

****
3.
WED, OCT 11
1:30 PM TO 2:30 PM CST
TOLL FREE 866 818 1393

NATIONAL PHONE SEMINAR: LEGAL AND ETHICAL GUIDANCE FOR HOURSE OF WORSHIP IN
AN ELECTION YEAR. Should we permit candidates to speak from the pulpit? How
should I guide my congregation without directing their vote? Should I
distribute voter's guides from partisan organizations? Participation is
first come, first serverd, but there will be replays available. FFI:
http://www.inerfaithalliance.org

****
4.
THURS, OCT 12 THROUGH SAT, OCT 14
HENNEPIN AVENUE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
511 GROVELAND AVENUE, MPLS

VOICES UNITED--A CONFERENCE AND RALLY TO END THE PROFANITY OF EXCLUSION
http://www.faithfamilyfairness.org/FFFA/getinvolved.htm)

Voices United conference article: 
http://www.lavendermagazine.com/artman/publish/article_3209.php 

****
5. 
FRI, OCT 20 THROUGH SUN, OCT 22
MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE 1ST ANNUAL NORTHLAND BIONEERS
CONFERENCE

Register soon, before October 10, so planners have an accurate count for
food

For more information about this local conference, visit
www.nbconference.org. For information about the national Bioneers, visit:
www.bioneers.org

****
6.
SUN, OCT 22
3:00 TO 5:00 PM
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY, 900 MOUNT CURVE, MINNEAPOLIS
Directions:   www.firstunitariansociety.org

MUUSJA General Meeting 

Rev. Meg Riley Director, UUA Advocacy and Witness Staff Group, will present
an overview of current trends in religiously-based progressive policy and
political work.  Rev. Riley has represented Unitarian Universalism in the
progressive religious community for 14 years nationally.  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. 

Also - Reports from MUUSJA working groups; program updates.  Connect with
other UUs working for social change!  Bring an appetizer or beverage to
share.      Questions contact: Jo Haberman at jojane [at] juno.com

****
7. 
FRI, OCT 27
7:00 PM
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY, 900 MOUNT CURVE AVENUE, MINNEAPOLIS

Get Reel about Global Warming: 
Free Community Showing of "An Inconvenient Truth" 
 
An Inconvenient Truth, the award-winning documentary about global warming
featuring Al Gore's work on the issue, made headlines this summer. If you
missed it during its brief Minneapolis run, here's a chance to see it for
free, no reservations required, no Donations requested, or strings attached!
Free popcorn and drinks. Informal discussion following the film. On-site
childcare is A available for a fee. A reservation for childcare IS required.
Please call Jan at 377-6608 x.108 to reserve childcare spaces.

****
8.
SUN, OCT 29TH
9:00 AM TO 9:00 PM--SIGN UP FOR A TWO HOUR SHIFT FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
6750N EAST BROADWAY BROOKLYN PARK, MN 55428

LOCAL ACTION FOR DARFUR: A Metro-wide interfaith coalition (a collaboration
of synagogues, church groups and human rights and social justice
organizationssuch a Temple Israel, Adath, Bet Shalom, Shir Tikva, JCRC, The
MN Council of Churches, The Human Rights Center at U/MN)has been workingto
gain public awareness and involvement with the Darfur Holocaust. 

Our next project is an "Interfaith Day of Action" on Sunday, October 29th.
This will be a day of fundraising, lobbying, and food packing for the
victims of Darfur in collaboration with a local humanitarian relief
organization "Feed My Starving Children." Please help by signing up for a
two hour shift. FFI: sharonlehrman [at] yahoo.com

****
9.
NEW NATIONAL NETWORK OF STATE-WIDE UU SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUPS

The Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA) is in GOOD company!  In
early August, the UU Service Committee hosted a national gathering in
Boston, with 20 people representing state-wide UU groups across 10 states -
(two more states planning to join!).  Over the last year, state-wide UU
groups have organized successful campaigns for social change, human rights,
and policy reform. The groups that gathered in Boston chose GLOBAL WARMING
for their first collaborative issue, and hope to work together across the
country to educate, advocate, and influence the policy climate between now
and the end of 2007.  The idea is to work from the grassroots of UU
individuals and congregations, through districts like PSD, and at GA, with
UUA Affiliates (in this case, UU Ministry for Earth), and in strategic
partnerships with organizations around the country.    The second
collaborative issue will be UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE - some programming will
begin as early as next GA in Portland.   The UUSC is "incubating" and
supporting this exciting effort to develop the national "UU State Advocacy
Networks"  - check out web info at: http://www.uusan.org UNITARIAN
UNIVERSALIST STATE ADVOCACY NETWORKS.  The UUA is also a key partner.  This
is the first time that UUSC, UUA, and state-wide UU groups have co-created a
national UU program for social change - imagine the possibilities!  Stay
tuned for more information, FFI: Jo Haberman at jojane [at] juno.com

B. NATIONAL UU ADVOCACY

1. 
****
VISIT THE UUA WASHINGTON OFFICE FOR ADVOCACY SITE AT
http://www.uua.org/uuawo/new/ to take action on warrantless wiretapping,
torture, DC voting rights, and more.

****
2. 
POLL WATCHER FOR DEMOCRACY - SIGN UP FOR NOV. 2nd

Poll watchers for Democracy, an effort by Mainstreet Moms, Working Assets,
VotetrustUSA, and Verified Voting encourages everybody to participate
actively in the voting process. Please go to http://themmob.org/pollworkers/
and sign up with Poll workers for Democracy to work at the polls or, if that
is not possible (too late to sign up for this year, or if your party
registration status excludes you from working at the polls) to be a poll
watcher. Please sign up with P4D even if you are already a poll worker. We
will provide you with information, training and, after the election, with an
online reporting form for election incidents you have observed. This
information will be entered into a national database of voting incidents.
Please take action. There is an effort to privatize our election. Do not
allow them to do that!
UUs for Verified Voting 

****
3.
FREE 1 HOUR SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING TELECONFERENCES! OCT. 7, 14, 21,
28 & NOV. 4

The UUA Committee on Socially Responsible Investing is proud to present five
free one hour learning teleconference sessions, including a repeat of our
three successful sessions from last spring. The theme is "Making a
Difference with Ideals, Impact and Involvement." Each session will teach one
of the key strategies of the socially responsible investing movement. You'll
learn concrete steps to get strategies implemented in your personal life or
within your congregation. 

Each session is on a Saturday morning for one hour from 1:00pm EST to 2:00
EST. 

Start times in other regions: 12pm Central Time, 11am Mountain, and 10am
Pacific.

**Saturday, October 7th, 1:00pm EST
Where Is Your Congregation Along the Spectrum of Involvement?

**Saturday, October 14th, 1:00pm EST
Impact - Community Investing

**Saturday, October 21st, 1:00pm EST
Ideals - Investment Screening

**Saturday, October 28th, 1:00pm EST
Involvement -- Shareholder Activism

**Saturday, November 4th, 1:00pm EST
IW Financial - A Screening Tool

Details for all calls are on the flyer posted at
http://www.uua.org/finance/sri/SRI-TeleConference-FlyerFall06.pdf 

Please join us for one or all of these. 

Register at least three days before the session by emailing Audra Friend
with your name, phone number, congregation or other affiliation, and your
role/title at:  afriend [at] uua.org.  She will reply providing the call in
numbers needed to participate. 

****
4.
UN SUNDAY:  OCT. 24 or OCT. 29

2006 UN Sunday: Peacebuilding and Sustainable Development in Our
Interdependent World Community

FROM THE UU UNITED NATIONS OFFICE:

Dear Minister, Director of Religious Education, Chair of Social Justice
Committee, Envoys, and Friends of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations
Office,

October 24, 1945 marked the birth of the United Nations. Unitarian
Universalist congregations across the U.S. and Canada celebrate the birth of
this organization with UN Sunday, a service focusing on the work of the UN
and its relation to the Unitarian Universalist principles. The theme for
this year's UN Sunday is "Peacebuilding and Sustainable Development in Our
Interdependent World Community." Last year's theme explored the connections
between Unitarian Universalism and the steps towards peace outlined by the
UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This year's builds upon that by
focusing on the importance of building sustainable peace in order to build
sustainable development.
In conflict and post-conflict areas, it is not enough to send UN
peacekeeping forces who deal with the symptoms of human rights violations,
the causes of these abuses must be addressed. These themes reflect our own
principles, particularly our goal for world community with peace, liberty,
and justice for all.  

Each congregation that celebrates UN Sunday is free to do so in its own way.
However, the UU-UNO has created a UN Sunday Resource packet to offer ideas
and suggestions for congregations. The packet includes background
information on UN Sunday in general as well as this year's theme in
particular. It also includes service ideas with suggested readings and
music. Additionally, the Resource packet contains sample RE worships and
activities and also opportunities beyond UN Sunday. Go to
http://www.uu-uno.org/?q=taxonomy_menu/10/54 to download the UN Sunday
Resource Packet. To order the Resource Packet and materials to be mailed to
you, click here http://www.uu-uno.org/files/UN%20SundayOrderForm.pdf.

As the UU-UNO contact person for UN Sunday, please feel free to email me,
Alex Horton, at ahorton [at] uu-uno.org, or  212-986-5165, and I will be happy 
to
answer any of your questions.

Thanks in advance for sharing your planning with the UU-UNO, and reporting
about your UN Sunday experiences and the impact they have on your
congregation mission.

Alex Horton,
Program Associate
Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office

****

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 EconomicCommunity 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 ara  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/