Muusja Mailing List: MUUSJA E-UPDATE FOR AUGUST 25, 2006

[Lauren Culbert (lculbert]

MUUSJA  E-EVENT UPDATE August 25, 2006
 
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

1.
MON, SEPT. 11
7:00 PM
MACALESTER COLLEG WEYERHAEUSER CHAPEL
1600 GRAND AVE, ST. PAUL

As the Iraq War continues to garner attention as one of the most significant
issues of this election cycle, the St. Paul groups of Democracy for America
(DFA) is pleased to sponsor an Iraq War Forum. The forum will consist of a
panel of four participants and a moderator.  There will be an opportunity
for questions from the audience. The primary purpose of this forum is to
open up a discussion, as opposed to a debate, to this critical issue that
concerns us all.  For more information visit the website
http://www.DFAlink.com/saintpaul 
    
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2.
NOW AVAILABLE...

The Interfaith Alliance's annual publication, Religion and Politics: A Guide
for Houses of Worship, is now available!
(download at www.interfaithalliance.org/elections). 

This resource helps religious leaders during the campaign season understand:

- The importance of encouraging their members/congregants to vote. 
- Why they should never tell members/congregants whom to vote for.  
- A partnership between religion and government can and should preserve the
autonomy of houses of worship and ensure that religious institutions are not
held hostage to the priorities and interests of federal, state, or local
governments. 
- Religion's powerful healing force in politics can be severely compromised
when America's shared values are replaced by values that advance only
particular sectarian interests. 
As always, there is no charge for these.  If you would like hard copies for
yourself, please reply to Anne Sclater (asclater [at] interfaithalliance.org) 
and
let her know quantity and where to mail.  Feel free to also share this email
with colleagues.  We are also more than happy to send you larger quantities
so that you can share with your networks/colleagues/members, etc.

 

B. NATIONAL UU ADVOCACY

1. 
IMMEDIATELY

TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATORS TO SUPPORT A CLEAN MINIMUM WAGE BILL
NOW
Could it be a perfect storm for finally raising the federal minimum wage,
which has not gone up since 1996? More than 80% of Americans support raising
the minimum wage. With many hotly contested Congressional elections in
November, moderate Republicans may feel the need to be on the right side of
this justice issue.

Please implore your Representative and two Senators to increase the federal
minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour in a clean bill as soon after the
2006 Labor Day recess as possible.

Your immediate action will greatly contribute to Congress raising the
federal minimum wage. Find your Members of Congress, then call toll-free at
1-888-355-3588 to urge them to support a clean bill without any poison
pills. Coupling a minimum wage raise with tax breaks for the wealthiest
Americans and language that weakens existing labor protection laws is
unconscionable.

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2.

UUA SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING TELECONFERENCES
Mark your calendars and invite a group from your congregation to join the
call. See details at http://www.uua.org/finance/sri/.

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3.
BEGINNING SEPT 15TH
 
A searing documentary about Iraq and the experience of US troops is being
released on September 15th and will be shown in major cities. Several UU
congregations in selected areas will be showing the film in as well.
Additionally, all congregations will have the opportunity to host a Ground
Truth Gathering on OCT 11th and show the DVD. Go to
http://www.thegroundtruth.net/ for more information, to order a DVD, and to
sign up for a gathering.


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 EconomicCommunity 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 ara  member of a group who would like us to list your web
site, send it to muusja-editor [at] muusja.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