Muusja Mailing List: SJ E-event Update May 22, 2008 - Documentaries! Honor the Water celebration! Forums, arts, more...

[Ralph Wyman (rwmuusja]

---------- E-EVENT UPDATE FOR MAY 22, 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 Wed 6/4 6:30 PM  Dinner and a Movie: UNCOUNTED
--2 WED 6/18 6:00 PM  Repro Rights/Sacred Choices Year End Party
--3 WED 6/18 6:30 PM  EcoMinds BBQ Pot-Luck & Planning
--4 WED 6/25 General Assembly: Training to be an effective advocate!

B.  Allied Social Action news:
--5 WED 5/28 6:00 PM  Town Hall Forum on U.S. Foreign Policy with Iran
--6 THUR 5/29 7:00 PM  Edina GSA Film presentation: For the Bible Tells Me
So
--7 THUR 5/29 7:00 PM  Metro CERTS (Clean Energy Resource Teams)
Presentation
--8 FRI 5/30 6:00 PM  US Rep. Ellison at Foreclosure Forum
--9 SAT 5/31 11:00 AM  Chalchiutlicue Honor the Water Community Celebration
--10 WED 6/11 12:00 Noon  Roundtable: Racial and Environmental Justice

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A.  MUUSJA & UU Social Action news:

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--1 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.
Event is free - contributions for meal welcome.  

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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--2 Repro Rights/Sacred Choices Year End Party
WED JUNE 18
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Sea Salt Restaurant
Minnehaha Falls Park Building
Minneapolis

Cap off a busy year for the Reproductive Rights/Sacred Choices team at the
delightful Sea Salt Restaurant. Get ready for C.H.O.I.C.E.S. 2008-2009: 
C/Continue relationship with RCRC and MUUSJA.
H/Host events.
O/Outreach.
I/Inform about activism.
C/Coalition building with other faith based communities [C/Cake!]
E/Esprit de Coeur/Encourage and nurture.
S/SEAT!! (Sexuality Education Advocacy Training)

RSVP and details to Sara [mckru [at] comcast.net].

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--3 EcoMinds Summer PotLuck and Planning
WED June 18
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Bob Friedman?s home
Minneapolis (RSVP for directions!)

Social time, sharing of food, and getting ready for a productive and
engaging 2008-2009 program year.  Bob will offer a grill for veggie
grillables (Tofu kabobs? Fresh ear corn?...a delicious way to lower your
carbon footprint is a vegetarian diet!).  Or bring a salad, hot dish or
desert to pass.
If you volunteered to be an EcoMinds "Buddy" to another congregation this
year, please have your surveys done in time for June 18th. Thanks!
RSVP or for more info: ralph [at] muusja.org 612-998-6624
  
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--4 General Assembly: Great Training Opportunity!

The annual UUSC sponsored pre-conference training 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.


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B.  Allied Social Justice news:

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--5 Town Hall Forum on U.S. Foreign Policy with Iran
Wednesday, May 28
6:00 - 8:00 pm
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Lower Assembly Hall
900 Mount Curve Avenue, Minneapolis

Congressman Keith Ellison hosts a Town Hall Forum on U.S. Foreign Policy
with Iran, featuring Dr. Trita Parsi, author of "Treacherous Alliance--The
Secret Dealings of Iran, Israel, and the United States," and William Orman
Beeman, chair of the Department of Anthropology at the University of
Minnesota. "Should the U.S. engage in direct dialogue with Iran? Should the
U.S. insist on certain conditions in order to engage in dialogue? What can
citizens and residents of the U.S. do to promote peace and avert conflict in
Iran?" Come share your thoughts.

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--6 Edina GSA Film & discussion: For the Bible Tells Me So
Thursday, May 29
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Landmark Edina 4 Theater
50th & France (3911 West 50th), Edina

The Edina High School G.S.A. (Gay Straight Alliance) invites everyone to
this special screening of "For the Bible Tells Me So", a documentary by
Daniel Karslake about 5 families of faith and how they handle the
realization of having a gay child.  >>>Let's turn out to support youth
initiative!<<<
Co-sponsored by OutFront Minnesota. 
Free admission (donations to defray costs gladly accepted).  

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--7 Metro CERTS (Clean Energy Resource Teams) Presentation
THUR May 29
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Common Roots Café
2558 Lyndale Ave. S, Minneapolis
(corner of 26th St. and Lyndale)
 
Come engage with fellow neighbors from the Twin Cities, and learn what the
Metro Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) Network is all about!
Have you heard about community energy projects like the Lindin Hills Power &
Light? or the solar installation in the Southeast Como neighborhood? Is your
neighborhood thinking about how to act and be part of the solution?  Attend
this presentation on newly-forming CERTS!
FFI: Diana McKeown, Metro CERTs Coordinator
612-278-7125, dmckeown [at] greeninstitute.org

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--8 Congressman Ellison at Foreclosure Forum
Friday, May 30
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street, Second Floor Banquet Hall, Room 218 

Congressman Keith Ellison will talk about the foreclosure crisis and what is
being done federally and how homeowners, tenants, and neighbors concerned
about foreclosed and vacant properties can access resources, information and
policy and advocacy information. Foreclosure counselors, tenant rights
advocates, and community-based organizations will be available to south
Minneapolis residents to offer free advice and answer questions
confidentially. Lenders and foreclosure counselors will also be setting
appointments.

The forum will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Sabathani
Community Center located at 310 East 38th Street in the Second Floor Banquet
Hall, Room 218. Food will be provided.

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--9 Chalchiutlicue Honor the Water Community Celebration
SAT May 31
11:00 AM - Community March from Mpls American Indian Center
1530 Franklin Ave, Minneapolis. March down Bloomington Ave to:
Noon - 4:00 PM Celebration @ Powderhorn Park 

Part of a three day program of education, action and celebration of the
Waters of the World.  www.chalchiutlicue.org for more info including a
Friday Environmental Justice conference at the Wellstone Center in St. Paul,
a Saturday community dinner, and a Sunday hike/swim/picnic.
About the organization:  Founded in 2004 to respond to the urgent need to
care for the environment, the Chalchiutlicue Environmental Project's goal is
that members of the Latino community will engage as active participants in
addressing issues around protecting the environment. 

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--10 Roundtable: Racial and Environmental Justice 
WED June 11
Noon - 1:30 PM
Alliance For Metro Stability
2525 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 200
Minneapolis, MN

Racial justice is a key issue that must be dealt with more prominently in
the future of the environmental movement. Learn from leaders in the
environmental justice field about what the current work is and how you can
increase your knowledge and ability to integrate these practices into your
work. Our panel of includes: 

Karen Monahan, Environmental Justice Organizer for Environmental Justice
Advocates of Minnesota; Dr. Cecilia Martinez, Senior Policy Fellow and
Faculty at the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy; and Cesia Kearns,
Conservation Organizer for the Northstar Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Free event but RSVP required to 612-332-4471
  
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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