Muusja Mailing List: SJ E-event Update for May 7, 2008 -- Get REAL, State Fair plans, Movies, and more

[Ralph Wyman (rwmuusja]

---------- E-EVENT UPDATE FOR MAY 7, 2008 ----------

MUUSJA--Bringing UUs together to work collectively for social change.

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This  update includes announcements about:

A.  MUUSJA & UU Social Action news:
--1 Net Advocacy:  Get REAL (Responsible Education About Life)
--2 THU 5/8 7:00 PM  MUUSJA Board Meeting
--3 SAT 5/10 11:30 AM  Voter Rights Working Group Meeting
--4 TUE 5/13 7:00 PM  EcoMinds Working Group Meeting
--5 Wed 6/4 6:30 PM  Dinner and a Movie: UNCOUNTED
--6 General Assembly: Great Training Opportunities
--7 UUSC: Cyclone Relief

B.  Allied Social Action news:
--8 THUR 5/22 Film: Stop the ReRoute ~ Taking a Stand on Sacred Land
--9 MAY 23-25 Performance: Play Unto Others? 

A.  MUUSJA & UU Social Action news:

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--1  UUA Net Advocacy:  Get REAL ~ the Responsible Education About Life
(REAL) Act
http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/index.shtml

The Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing titled
"Domestic Abstinence-Only Programs: Assessing the Evidence" on Wednesday,
April 23, 2008. The American Public Health Association and the Institute of
Medicine presented testimony which showed that abstinence-only programs are
ineffective at delaying sex for teens and have not decreased pregnancies or
STD's among teens.

Now is the time for action! Join the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy and
take action on this important issue. Keep pressure on Congress to move
forward on this extremely important issue. Tell your Representative or
Senator to Get REAL and support the Responsible Education About Life (REAL)
Act (H.R. 1653, S. 972). Let us take a stand and demand funding for
medically accurate and inclusive sexuality education programs!
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=bKPynCL46D2VQReLKbH3d
iSmMXxO11v%2F
(please use uua.org link at top of listing if this track-link is broken)


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--2 MUUSJA Board Meeting
THU MAY 8
7:00 PM ? 9:00 PM
Unity Church ? Unitarian
732 Holly Ave, St. Paul

All are welcome to attend and to join in conversation at our monthly board
meeting.  Preparations for the annual cycle of proposals for Issue Working
Groups to be presented/voted on by membership at the fall 2008 meeting,
planning for MUUSJA-wide Leadership Training Event, General Assembly and
more.  Contact Ralph at 612-998-6624 or rwmuusja [at] gmail.com for more
information or to request an agenda.

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--3  Voter Rights Meeting
SAT MAY 10
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
First Universalist Church
Cummins Room
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis

Plan for actions including documentary screenings, possible candidate
forums.  Work on outreach to Minnesota, PSD and other UU congregations on
Voting Integrity issues.  Help plan the fall 2008 MUUSJA meeting which will
feature Voter Rights issues - just in time for the 2008 election!!

FFI Jenny 612-920-4246 jjthomas [at] skypoint.com

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--4 EcoMinds Meeting - State Fair Prep! And more!
TUE MAY 13
7:00 - 9:00 PM
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis

The annual Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair is one of EcoMinds
most successful ventures!  300,000 or more fair-goers come in to learn about
living green, and MUUSJA's EcoMinds together with C3 (Congregations Caring
for Creation) have done and will continue to play an important role in
education and outreach.  Come to this EcoMinds meeting to help prepare for
the Fair and for the next "church year" of Eco Minds actions & activities.
Recap of our Green Solutions postcard campaign & congregational surveys,
too.

FFI Ralph 612-998-6624 rwmuusja [at] gmail.com

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--5 Dinner and a Movie: UNCOUNTED
WED JUNE 4
6:30 - 8:30 PM  
First Universalist Church
Social Hall
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis

Dinner and screening of "UNCOUNTED" (80-minutes) will be followed by a
discussion. This riveting new documentary exposes how Americans were
impacted by vulnerable voting systems during the 2004 and 2006 elections and
why we're at risk for 2008.  The film includes compelling reports from
computer programmers, statisticians, journalists, and experienced elections
officials ? along with eyewitness accounts from whistleblowers.  
Learn what you can do to help address this threat to the very core of our
democracy.  

Sponsored by MUUSJA and AUW - all are welcome.  FFI: Jenny Thomas
jjthomas [at] skypoint.com 612-920-4246.  Contact Carol Johnson for child care 
by
May 28 at 612-825-3322.

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--6 General Assembly: Great Training Opportunities

There are multiple training opportunities for Justice minded folks attending
GA in Ft Lauderdale this year:

1) The first is the annual UUSC sponsored pre-conference training.  It will
focus on organizing to respond to the Iraq war as we head into a major
election season.  These skills are highly transferrable to organizing around
other social change issues!

Details: Activist Training to End the War in Iraq
When: Wed, June 25, 2008, 9am - 4pm 
Where: Hyatt Regency Pier 66, Fort Lauderdale Florida
What: It's a great time to step up our organizing and advocacy against the
unjust and immoral war in Iraq. Learn how UUs can raise our voices and carry
a message for peace into the 2008 elections and beyond. Join UUSC and the
UUA for a day-long activist training before General Assembly. Participants
will get updated policy information and practical tools and skills for
taking effective action.
The UUSC is hosting the training free of charge, but space is limited. For
more information, and to register please contact Michelle Rudy at
gacountdown2008 [at] uusc.org.

2) During G.A. there will be several "Super Slots."  These are 3 hour
double-workshop sessions that allow time for substantive training on issues
and actions.  Details will be available soon, topics will include:
->Election & Voter Protection
->Issue advocacy and organizing
->Internet/Cyber Organizing
There is plenty of time to register for GA!
http://www.uua.org/events/generalassembly/index.shtml

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--7  UUUSC-UUA Sponsored Cyclone Relief

While MUUSJA works primarily in the area of systemic social change, there
are times when immediate disaster relief becomes an urgent matter.  Please
consider giving through the UUSC's Rights in Humanitarian Crises service
area, co-sponsored with the UUA:
http://www.uusc.org/info/article050608.html


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B.  Allied Social Justice news:

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--8 World Premier Screening:  Stop the ReRoute: Taking a Stand on Sacred
Land
THUR MAY 22
6:00 - 9:00 PM (film at 7)
Riverview Theater
3800 42ns Ave S, Minneapolis

Stop the ReRoute tells the dramatic story of a community's opposition to the
State of Minnesota's plan to drive a road through its birthplace, Camp
Coldwater.  This inspiring film bears witness to the commitment of citizen
activists to live lightly on the earth and engage in nonviolent civil
disobedience.  Tickets $10 at the door.  http://oakfolkfilms.net 

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--9  Live Performance: Play Unto Others?
MAY 23-25, 30-31, various show times
Hennepin Ave United Methodist Church
511 Groveland Ave, Minneapolis
http://spiritinthehouse.org/play-unto-others/

Part of Spirit in the House! 10 days of Interfaith Spiritual Performance

Play Unto Others
What is often called ?the golden rule? can be found in every major religious
tradition on Earth. SoulPlay Performance Ensemble dives into this rich
reservoir known as the Ethic of Reciprocity. Through dance, music, story and
bodyprayer we explore with our audience what it means for humans to deeply
know that we all share needs, loves, pains and hopes. Nine players, with the
help of our audience, create this mystical exploration in the moment, making
each show a unique, fully embodied meditation on the oneness of humanity.
Tix: $12 adults, $10 Student and Senior, $8 kids under 12. Available at the
door.

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MUUSJA Links ~ visit a complied list of Social Justice Links of interest to
MN UUs at:
http://justcomm.org/sjlinks.htm