Muusja Mailing List: MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE FOR JANUARY 17, 2007

[Lauren Culbert (lculbert]

MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE JANUARY 17, 2007
 
Minnesota UU Social  Justice Alliance--Bringing  together UUs to work
collectively for social change.
 
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This  update includes announcements about: 

A. Local Social Justice News
B. National UU Advocacy
C. Social Justice Links

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A. LOCAL SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS

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1.
THUR, JAN 18
7:00 TO 9:00 PM
HENNEPIN AVENUE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
511 GROVELAND AVENUE, MPLS
PARKING IN CHURCH PARKING LOT

THIRD THURSDAY GLOBAL ISSUES FORUM: RECENT GLOBAL ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING.
Free and open to the public. Come and bring a friend.

The world awaits US re-engagement in the fight to prevent irreversible
damage from climate change. Absent action at the federal level, leaders from
around the world are focusing on significant sub-national initiatives such
as the new California global warming solutions act. The new make-up of the
US Congress and the Minnesota legislature also suggest new possibilities, as
does the recent meeting in Nairobi, Kenya of the parties to the UN
Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. We will discuss the
results of that meeting and the forthcoming report of the UN
Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, with particular reference to the
economics of taking action to mitigate the problem.

Presenter: J. DRAKE HAMILTON. As Science Policy Director for Fresh Energy,
Ms. Hamilton is responsible for scientific analysis, policy development and
outreach on renewable energy, global warming, and the promotion of clean
technology. She is a Board member of the US Climate Action network and the
principal author of FE's Playing with Fire: Climate Change in Minnesota.

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2.
SAT, JAN 20
7:00 PM
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY UPPER ASSEMBLY HALL

A CHANCE TO SEE AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH has been arranged by CUUPS-TwinCities
for the Pagan community (all denominations) and their friends. 

Admission is FREE, though we do need RSVPs.  (We have room for 400 in the
screening room, but need approximate numbers for refreshments and to set up
break out rooms for discussion.)  Send an email to rsvp [at] paganinstitute.org
and put INCONVENIENT TRUTH in the subject and the number of your party in
the body.
 
Doors open at 6:45 pm and the event begins with drumming and browsing
displays of Pagan efforts towards environmental restoration and cleanup. Any
local group who wants display space needs to contact cuupstc [at] aol.com in
advance, as display space is somewhat limited. If there are sufficient
displays from the community we will run press releases to the general media
for the event.
 
There will also be a (cash) espresso & dessert bar to defray expenses of
this and future free film nights. 

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3.
JAN 19, JAN 20
UNITED AUTO WORKERS UNION HALL
2191 FORD PARKWAY, ST. PAUL

LABOR AND SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE to develop a campaign to confront the
climate crisis and halt the further degradation of earth's ecosystems by
converting to a sustainable economy through green manufacturing that is
powered by clean, renewable energy with a just transition for all workers.

Anyone who works for a living has an important role to play in this effort.
Working men and women built this country with very little to say about how
it was done, and now we are suffering the consequences in the worst way at
the hands of the big corporations.  Our planetary home and the future of
generations to come are at risk as never before.  To ensure that we are not
the ones making all of the sacrifices in terms our jobs, livelihoods and
children's security, we must take the lead and develop a plan of action and
a fight back strategy to defend our interests and those of Mother Earth.  We
are asking environmental activists in the Great Lakes Region concerned with
the fate of the planet to join with us in this effort. 

FFI: website:  www.laborandsustainability.org
Email:    info [at] laborandsustainability.org

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4.
MON, JAN 22
6:30 PM
FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH LIBRARY
3400 DUPONT AVE. SO. 

WOMEN WHO READ BOOK CLUB Potluck and Discussion. Join us to discuss How the
Pro-Choice Movement Saved America by Cristina Page and Reproductive Justice.
For future dates, Women Who Read Book Club, meets on the 4th Monday of every
month.  All are welcome to attend. Meetings are usually held in homes so
interested women should phone First Universalist Church (612-825-1701) to
get the next book title and location.

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5.
MON, JAN 22
4 TO 6 PM
MACALESTER ALUMNI HOUSE
1044 SUMMIT AVE, ST. PAUL

Celebrate the Anniversary of  Roe V. Wade at a reception (suggested donation
$15) For carpool contact Cathy Apostle-caquilt51 [at] aol.com.

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6.
WED, JAN 24 2:30 TO 4:00 EST OR
THURS FEB 1 12:30 TO 2:00 EST
ONLINE TRAINING

FEDERAL BUDGET ADVOCACY MADE SIMPLE. The President's budget will be out on
February 5.  Will you be ready?

Sign up for an online training session to learn -What's at stake for human
needs in the coming year's budget decisions -The basics:  how the budget
process works, when decisions are made, and who makes them -Practical tools
to help you make the case for the right budget priorities.

This training is primarily intended for state/local advocates who plan to
use the information to inform policymakers and/or the press about the impact
of federal budget proposals on their state/community.

Contact Maricela Donahue, mdonahue [at] chn.org, or call (202) 223-2532 to sign
up

Closer to your session, you will receive an email with instructions on how
to connect to the online training.  
Please note that in order to participate in the training you will need a
computer with internet access, speakers, and an audio streaming program,
such as iTunes or Real Player. These programs can be downloaded for free
onto your computer.  

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7.
SAT, JAN 27
1:00 TO 2;30 PM
FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS BASED ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. Join Rev. Kate Tucker,
Meredith Schonfield -Hicks, Clara Barton
Intern for Women's Issues. Kellie Clement, AUW member and Seminarian for
Choice. Hear UU women's beliefs  on abortion
that are Pro-Faith,  Pro-Family and Pro-Community.

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8.
SUN, JAN 28
9:00 AM AND 11:00 AM
FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

AUW Sunday," Choice Makes Us Human."  Featuring AUW Seminarian for Choice
Kelli Clement and Meridith Schonfeld-Hicks, Clara Barton Intern for the UUA.

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B. NATIONAL UU ADVOCACY

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1.
KEEP DARFUR ON THE MINDS OF OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
 
The 110th Congress is now in session. Send your elected officials a loud and
clear message to make ending the genocide in Darfur a top priority. Congress
must keep Darfur in the news, support civilian protection, and increase
pressure for a negotiated peace.
http://capwiz.com/uusc/issues/alert/?alertid=9253616&type=CO

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2.
FEB 16 THROUGH FEB 18
KEY BRIDGE MARRIOTT, ARLINGTON, VA

NOW IS THE TIME: LEADING CONGREGATIONS INTO A MULTIRACIAL MULTICULTURAL
FUTURE UUA Congregational Services

Ten years ago the General Assembly made a commitment to move toward becoming
an anti-racist, anti-oppressive multicultural Association of Congregations.
At the 2006 General Assembly the following resolution written by a GA
delegate in response to reports of UUA officers as well as events impacting
Unitarian Universalist communities of color, especially youth, at the 2005
and 2006 General Assemblies, was overwhelmingly supported by the delegates
from over 600 UU
congregations:

"Resolved, that the Delegates to General Assembly are charged to work with
their congregations to hold at least one program over the next year to
address racism or classism, and to report on that program at next year's
General Assembly." 

NOW IS THE TIME! Join congregational leaders from around the country as we
explore together what we can do to lead Congregations into a Multi-Racial,
Multi-Cultural Future. Online Conference Registration is happening NOW!

http://www.uua.org/cde/nowisthetime2007/index.html

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3.
FEB 23 THROUGH FEB 25
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF DENVER

TURNING TOWARD ONE ANOTHER II,UU SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY CONSULTATION. Each
of us carries a part of the solution. We gather to nurture the skills needed
for the journey we are called to as progressive people of faith. Won't you
join us?

FEATURING:

*The Witness, Faithful Fools Street Ministry of San Francisco *Effective
Models for Congregation-based Social Justice Ministry *Interfaith Community
Organizing: Theology & Praxis *UU Community Ministry in the Urban
Environment *Creating Beloved Community - The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
*Dynamic Worship, Dance Party & Networking Opportunities *Participation
Equalization Funds Available.

Sponsored by the Urban Disciples (Veatch Program on UU Urban Social Justice
Ministry) and the UU Society for Community Ministries (SCM.) Event details
including information on registration, program and travel grant application
coming soon. Contact Rev. Deborah Holder at (505)231-7724 or visit us online
at www.urbandisciples.org or www.uuscm.org.

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4.
MARCH 22 THROUGH 24
NEW YORK CITY
FACING RACE 2007: DEFINE JUSTICE, MAKE CHANGE APPLIED RESEARCH CENTER(ARC)

>From the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast to the creation of a new 
>immigration
system, questions of racial justice dominate debates in academia, government
and the media this year and into the future. With our conference, we hope to
unite our movement by building bridges across issues and communities to
amplify the concerns of communities of color in the intellectual, policy and
popular debates that lie ahead.

Gary Delgado, founder of ARC, resigned as its executive director after 16
years, but still serves as a consultant -  he worked with about 25 local UUs
last year, in a racial justice workshop sponsored by MUUSJA.   ARC is
considered one of the most effective racial justice organizations in the
country.  - Jo Haberman

FFI: http://www.arc.org/content/view/499/
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C. SOCIAL JUSTICE LINKS

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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 Economic Community 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 are  member of a group who would like us to list your web
site, send it to muusja-editor [at] muusja.org

Alliance for Sustainability www.afors.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/