Muusja Mailing List: E-EVENT UPDATE FOR OCTOBER 25, 2007

[Lauren Culbert (lculbert]

MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE FOR OCTOBER 25, 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

A. ACTION ALERTS

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ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION
ALERT
1.

The vote to override President Bush's veto of SCHIPS, health care for poor
kids, comes up TODAY in the House of Representatives.  All Minnesota reps
are supporting it except KLINE and BACHMAN who need to be contacted. If you
know anyone who lives in the 2nd or 6th district, please urge them to
contact Kline or Bachman. Kline: 202-225-2271. Bachman:202-225-2331

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ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION
ALERT
2.

A version of the EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT that does not include
gender identity--H.R. 3685--is expected to come up for a vote in the House
soon. Based on the 2007 General Assembly resolution, and the opposition of
more than 300 groups from the bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender
community, the UUA opposes the non-inclusive ENDA. We must stand together in
support of an all-inclusive ENDA. 

Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) plans to introduce an amendment which
would restore the original gender identity protections. The UUA strongly
supports this amendment. If it fails, the Association will oppose the
overall bill. Individuals and congregations are encouraged to do the same.
To take action, follow this link:

http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issues/employmentnon-discrimination/32253.s
html

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ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION
ALERT
3.
Immigrant students brought to the United States as children deserve the
opportunity to contribute to America and realize their dreams. This week,
the United States Senate will vote on the DREAM Act. 

WHAT IS THE DREAM ACT? The DREAM Act would provide a path to legal status
starting after high school graduation for undocumented individuals brought
to the U.S. as children more than 5 years ago. To qualify for legal status,
these youth would be required to demonstrate good moral character and within
a 6-year period either graduate from community college, complete two years
towards a four-year degree, or serve at least two years in the U.S.
military. 

WHY THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT: Over 65,000 undocumented immigrant students
graduate from high school each year. These students have been raised in the
United States and their families pay taxes, but they do not have a legal
mechanism to remain here. The DREAM Act will enable them to adjust their
immigration status and contribute their education to the nation's benefit. 

Call your members of Congress today. 
http://nilc.org/immlawpolicy/DREAM/index.htmFFI

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B. LOCAL SOCIAL ACTION NEWS

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1.
SAT, OCT 27
NOON
HIAWATHA AND LAKE STREET, MINNEAPOLIS

BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW demonstration: http://www.antiwarcommittee.org or
612-379-3899.  
Or, for $75, you can take a bus at 4 am from Joan of Arc, march in Chicago
at 1 pm, and be back at St Joan's around midnight.  Call 612-823-8205 for
details. For general Chicago info, go to 
http://www.oct27chicago.org

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2. 
SUN, OCT 28
9:30 FORUM
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY

ELECTION INTEGRITY: EVERYTHING ELSE DEPENDS ON IT. Join us for a short video
"Help America Vote on Paper" providing an overview of the issue of election
integrity followed by a discussion and report on the resolution we passed at
General Assembly and ways to help. FFI: Jenny Thomas, jjthomas [at] skypoint.com
or Carol Johnson 612-825-3322.

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3. 
FRI THRU SUN
NOV 2-4
UAW FORD TRAINING CENTER
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT FORD PARKWAY

TWIN CITIES SECOND NORTHLAND BIONEERS CONFERENCE Providing Practical
Solutions to Today's Most Pressing Environmental and Social Issues 

The second Northland Bioneers Conference returns to Minnesota.  It will
serve as a convening place for the growing number of Midwestern people and
organizations keen to protect and sustain the ecosystem by illuminating the
connections between the environment, social health, economics, science and
spirituality.  National and local leaders will showcase practical solutions
to today's most pressing environmental and social challenges.

This year's conference will take place at the UAW Ford Training Center on
the Mississippi River at Ford Parkway thanks to a cooperative effort with
the United Auto Workers Labor and Sustainability Group. The emcee for
festivities will be Gemma Bulos, musician and founder of internationally
acclaimed, A Single Drop.  Susan Hubbard, CEO of Eureka Recycling, a
non-profit successfully dispelling the concept of waste, will offer a
keynote address. Performing musical artist Michael Monroe will provide
entertainment.

For program info or to register, visit www.nbconference.org. Scholarships
and volunteer opportunities are available.

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4.
SAT, NOV 17
9 AM TO 5 PM--COFFEE AT 8:30
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY CHALICE ROOM
900 MOUNT CURVE, MINNEAPOLIS

A WORKSHOP ON WHITENESS: a UU program on anti-racism & racial justice. The
last census revealed much about the changing face of Minnesota's racial mix.
Much growth is in groups known as people of color. And it is now possible to
check more than one racial category ~ "multiracial" is becoming the highest
percentage of children in many parts of the country.

While we can know intellectually that we are all part of the human race, few
would claim that racism in our country and our congregations has been fully
eliminated. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words ring true: Sunday morning
remains the most segregated hour of the week.

Many of us long for authentic diversity in our communities, wishing to be
people making the journey towards wholeness.  A first step in dismantling
racism is the ability to articulate our own heritage, moving on to our
community history and/or our congregation's past regarding issues of racial
justice. 

Participants in the Workshop on Whiteness will have the opportunity to
reflect with others on their own personal experiences of race and explore
how to move forward to a more inclusive future. Presented by the Rev. Dr.
William Gardiner. Dr. Gardiner is an anti-racism consultant for the
Unitarian Universalist Association and past Director of the UUA's
anti-racism and Social Justice Empowerment programs.

Registration is $15, payable to Prairie Star District (write "MUUSJA
Workshop" in Memo line)

Mail registration to:
Catie Chi Olson
attn: Workshop on Whiteness
4344 Oakland Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55407

Registration includes continental breakfast and a light lunch (vegetarian
option available).
FFI: Jo Haberman - 612-822-8870  jojane [at] juno.com

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C. SOCIAL JUSTICE LINKS
To learn 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/