Muusja Mailing List: E-EVENT UPDATE FOR AUGUST 10, 2007

[Lauren Culbert (lculbert]

MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE FOR AUGUST 10, 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. Action Alerts
B. Local Social Justice News
C. Social Justice Links

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A. ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT 

1.
REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS 80% BY 2050. Our world is in a state of ill health.
Our temperature is rising; severe, unpredictable and unprecedented weather
patterns are continually emerging; in the midst of a great extinction,
species are disappearing from the earth each day; and the waters that lap up
against our shores are gradually reaching further inland. For these
troubling symptoms and the more tragic consequences yet to come, humankind,
and our negligent stewardship, is responsible. And those who have been most
negligent, the carbon producing and over-consuming countries, such as the
US, more easily guard against those changes, while those in the developing
world suffer disproportionately from changing weather patterns.

As citizens of the largest carbon emissions producing country in the world,
we have the opportunity to begin to heal our world. In both houses of
Congress, legislation has been introduced that would dramatically reduce our
nation's carbon emissions and help turn the tide on global warming. Take
action here to support that legislation. 
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/UUA/campaign.jsp?campa
ign_KEY=12260

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2.
SUPPORT THE RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD. UU EcoMinds Needs Volunteers for the
State Fair CFL Lighting/Climate Change Booth You know a little about CFL
light bulbs & have some at your home, right? Then you're qualified to staff
the Congregations Caring for Creation CFL light bulb booth in the
EcoExperience Building at the State Fair!  Twin Cities UU EcoMinds are
working hard on this very popular booth and are calling other UU's to take a
4-hour shift (or whatever you are able). It is a rare opportunity to educate
so many people and make a real impact on their energy choices.  People who
tried CFL's 10 years ago are happy to learn they've improved and try them
anew. People who have never tried them are happy to be able to see them up
close. Plus it's really fun and you'll learn the latest on CFLs and LED
lighting. Sign up by contacting Marcy Leussler, 612-824-3240 or
mleussler [at] speakeasy.net

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B. LOCAL SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS

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1. 
MON, AUG 13
6:30 PM
PLYMOUTH CHURCH, 1900 NICOLLET AVENUE

NETWORK OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESSIVES-MINNESOTA will meet on MONDAY AUGUST 13 at
Plymouth Church (1900 Nicollet Ave., just south of downtown Minneapolis.
Enter the door under the canopy off the rear parking lot and go downstairs
to the Jackman Room.) The chapter meeting starts at 7:30; at 6:30 affinity
groups meet and there will also be snacks and conversation and a brief
orientation for new members.

Our August speaker will be peace activist PHIL STEGER, the strategic mind
behind the Peace in the Precincts campaign. Phil has traveled to Iraq many
times and is presently working on preserving documents and artifacts from
the old monastic communities around the eastern crescent of the
Mediterranean. Phil will share with us his own spiritual journey into peace
activism and will also explain how US troops are contributing to the Civil
War in Iraq.

We will also continue with our series of short, inspirational videos  from
Rabbi Lerner on key issues. 

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2.
TUES, AUG 14
WED, AUG 15
6-8:30 PM

JO'S NOTE: UU EcoMinds (a working group of MUUSJA) is looking at the
possibility of working on legislation in 2008 re: policies coming out of the
MN Climate Change Advisory Group; here's a great opportunity to learn more
about MCCAG, sponsored by our Environmental Justice allies!

PHONE NIGHTS FOR PUBLIC FORUM ON MN CLIMATE CHANGE ADVISORY GROUP: Get out
the word with our allies Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota !
Free Pizza! 

Tuesday, August 14th - 6:00 - 8:30pm  at the Sierra Club North Star Chapter
Office 2327 E. Franklin Ave. , Minneapolis
Wednesday, August 15th - 6:00 - 8:30pm - at the Minneapolis Urban League -
2100 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis

Contact Karen Monahan, Environmental Justice Organizer, to sign up for one
or both nights! karenejam [at] yahoo.com 612-436-5402.

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3.
FRI, AUG 24
6:30 TO 8:30 PM
MINNEAPOLIS URBAN LEAGUE
2100 PLYMOUTH AVENUE NORTH

PUBLIC FORUM ON THE MN CLIMATE CHANGE ADVISORY GROUP. Sierra Club North Star
Chapter and the Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota join together
in this forum to ensure that the public knows:

-What the MN Climate Change Advisory Group is and how it works 
-How the public can participate and how to influence the process 
-If citizen concerns such as the equitability and level of justice in the
solutions will be addressed 
-Get our questions answered 
-Collectively discuss next steps for how the public can be involved and
achieve what we believe is important 
 
Currently presentations include Dave Thornton with the MN Pollution Control
Agency and Ed Garvey with the MN Department of Commerce.  Public discussion
shall follow. Contact Karen Monahan, Environmental Justice Organizer, if you
have questions or wish to assist with the planning. karenejam [at] yahoo.com
612-436-5402.

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4.
SAT, SEPT 15

MARCH ON WASHINGTON. Dozens of groups throughout the nation are endorsing
the march on Washington that is being coordinated by the A.N.S.W.E.R.
Coalition- Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. Transportation should be
available from the Twin Cities. For further information please contact:
http://www.answercoalition.org/ info [at] internationalanswer.org.

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5.
SAT, SEPT 15
1:00 PM
STATE CAPITOL, ST. PAUL

CO-SPONSORS WANTED--PEACE MARCH AND RALLY Please join Pathways to Peace of
First Universalist Church of Minneapolis in co-sponsoring this peace march
and rally organized by IPAC (Iraq Peace Action Coalition).  Let's get 500
Unitarian Universalists out for this witness event as encouraged by UU
General Assembly in 2006 and 2007!
FFI: please contact Jenny Thomas of First Universalist
(jjthomas [at] skypoint.com) or Sarah Martin of White Bear UUC, IPAC, Twin 
Cities
Peace Campaign and WAMM (scsrn [at] yahoo.com).  Co-sponsors will be named on 
the
flyer; let Sarah know ASAP if you want to endorse the march.

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6.
SEPT 30, 2007

DEADLINE FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS, PSD DISTRICT CONFERENCE.

The Annual Conference Program Planning Committee invites you to consider the
opportunity to present a workshop that speaks to the theme as we explore the
role and vitality of democracy in our faith communities.  In your
contemplation of a workshop offering for 2008, consider the message you
would like to pass on to youth of the Prairie Star District regarding
"Rebuilding a Faithful Democracy."  We are confident you will come up with
engaging, creative, informative, stimulating and fun ideas for workshops
relevant to Unitarian Universalists of all ages in Prairie Star District. To
propose your workshop, follow this link for materials:
http://www.psduua.org/AnnualConference/AnnualConference

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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 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

Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota www.ceimn.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

Congregations Caring for Creation http://www.c3mn.net/

Network of Spiritual Progressives: http://www.spiritualprogressives.org/

Network of Spiritual Progressives, local chapter http://www.nspmn.org/