Muusja Mailing List: E-EVENT UPDATE FOR APRIL 26, 2007

[Lauren Culbert (lculbert]

MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE FOR APRIL 26, 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. National UU Advocacy
D. Social Justice Links

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A. ACTION ALERTS

1. MINNESOTA ISSUES (From Ralph)
The Omnibus Health Bill is in conference @ the MN legislature right now. It
could allow units of government to offer domestic partner benefits. Please
let your legislators know you want this (I hope you do...if you have
questions about that, we can chat!)

And, most importantly, let our Governor know you want domestic partner
options to be available.

You can e-mail him from this site:
http://www.governor.state.mn.us/contacts/index.htm

A simple message of support is all he needs to hear. Below is what I just
sent:

Dear Governor Pawlenty,

I hope you will join with the Minnesota Association of Small Cities,
the League of Minnesota Cities, many city governments, civic leaders
and just plain old citizens like me in supporting the right of units
of government to offer basic partner benefits to all their employees.

Hundreds of Fortune 500 companies know what is right for their
employees. Why let qualified workers be lured away from serving our
great state? We often hear how government needs to be more like the
private sector in how it conducts its business. This is one way
Minnesota can be more like private enterprise.

Respectfully, Governor, allowing units of government this option is a
sensible, measured step towards fairness. Please say yes.

Sincerely,
citizen
address
city, state zip

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2. NATIONAL ISSUES
SUPPORT ANTI-HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION. Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes
Prevention Act of 2007. This legislation addressing hate crimes has now been
introduced both in the House and Senate. The Local Law Enforcement Hate
Crimes Prevention Act would help law enforcement investigate and prosecute
hate crimes, and expands the definition of hate crimes to include violent
crimes based on gender identity, gender, sexual orientation, and/or
disability. Support for the bill is strong: the UUA Washington Office has
been contacting legislators about the bill, many of whom are enthusiastic
and ready to help it move forward.  
    
As early as next Monday, the House may vote on one of the most important
bills we've ever seen: the first federal hate crimes law that would include
sexual orientation and gender identity. Lawmakers are making up their minds
NOW, and the right wing knows it. They're sending daily alerts to their
fundamentalist base, and barraging reporters and representatives with
misinformation. To learn more about the bill, please visit
www.unitedagainsthate.net. 

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B. LOCAL SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS

1.
FRI, APRIL 27
7:00 TO 9:30 PM
UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS

INTRODUCTION TO NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION--Marshall Rosenberg, founder and
creator of Nonviolent Communication. FREE 
Plus, 2-day workshop (cost & location information  - see website, email,
phone number below) Saturday, April 28th and Sunday, April 29th "Speaking
Peace in a World of Conflict: Conversational Judo with a Heart Connection"
FFI:  651-341-5932 www.stthomas.edu/justpeace/nvcevent OR
minnesotaNVC [at] gmail.com

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2. 
SAT, APR 28
1:00 TO 6:00 
CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
U OF M WEST BANK
321 19th  Ave S., Mpls
Rooms L110, L114, L118 and L122

DIVESTMENT FROM APARTHEID ISRAEL: AN ORGANIZING CONFERENCE
Keynote speaker: Farid Esack

How is the current situation in Israel/Palestine similar to that of
apartheid-era South Africa? How is it different? What can the international
community learn from the South African experience to strengthen and empower
the movement for justice and peace for Palestinians?

Farid Esack is uniquely qualified to speak to those questions. Veteran of
the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa and former national
commissioner on gender equality appointed by President Nelson Mandela.  He
is currently the William Henry Bloomberg Visiting Professor at Harvard
Divinity School.

Join us in a variety of working groups to discuss how labor, campus,
religious, political and Jewish groups can work towards justice for the
Palestinian people. Sponsored by the Coalition for Palestinian Rights (CPR)
www.coalitionforpalestinianrights.wordpress.com

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3.
SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2007
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
MAYFLOWER CHURCH (UCC)
106 E. Diamond Lake Rd.
Minneapolis, MN 55419612-824-0761

THEME:  "A RETURN TO SPIRIT: Simplicity, Surrender and Surprise"
Facilitated by Br. ChiSing, M.Div., M.A.(an ordained disciple of Zen Master
THICH NHAT HANH) View facilitator Br. ChiSing's biography.

This peaceful, joyful and healing retreat for beginners and non- beginners
is open to persons of all religions, orientations and cultures.  It will
include sitting meditation, walking meditation, eating meditation, practical
teachings Q & A, journal-writing, mindful movement (some relaxing yoga &
energizing qigong), silence, music, small group sharing, large group
discussion, and a heart- warming closing ceremony, etc.

Sliding Donation: $40-$60 (includes vegetarian lunch) Clergy and students
may request a scholarship rate. TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE
AT:www.InterMindful.com(please try to register by April 26, thank you; this
will help us determine how many lunches to prepare)

INTERFAITH MINDFULNESS MINISTRIES
serving Minnesota, Texas, California, etc.
www.InterMindful.com

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4.
WED, MAY 2
9:00 AM TO 11:00 AM
UNITY CHURCH UNITARIAN
732 HOLLY AVENUE, ST. PAUL

GUN INJURIES AND DEATHS IN RAMSEY COUNTY: WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THEM? You are
invited to participate in the development of an Action Plan related to the
question, "What do people need to believe and know in order to prevent gun
violence?" Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Citizens for a Safer
Minnesota, 651-645-3271. 

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5.
SATURDAY, MAY 12
12 NOON
HIAWATHA & LAKE ST., MINNEAPOLIS

MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND PEACE ACTION initiated by Iraq Peace Action Coalition.
Across the country on Mother's Day weekend events will be held to call for
an end to the war. The historic roots of Mother's Day in the U.S. are a call
for peace and justice. Join us in making sure that this Mother's Day is the
last Mother's Day when U.S. troops occupy Iraq.

For more info: Anti-War Committee 612-379-3899, Twin Cities Peace
Campaign/Focus on Iraq 612-522-1861,
Veterans for Peace 612-821-9141,Women Against Military Madness 612-827-5364,

Military Families Speak Out:mfso-minnesota [at] mn.rr.com
<mailto:mfso-minnesota%40mn.rr.com> 

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C. NATIONAL UU ADVOCACY

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1.
SAT, MAY 5
WASHINGTON DC 
FAITH AND FREEDOM CONVOCATION

A call to all people of faith and conscience to respond to acts of torture,
terrorism and denial of basic civil rights committed by our government.
Participants will be encouraged to learn, reflect, and act within their
communities. For more information or to register, please see the Unitarian
Universalist Social Justice (UUSJ) website. http://uusj.org/

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2.
MAY 6 THROUGH MAY 8
WASHINGTON DC
CHURCHES FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE  ADVOCACY CONFERENCE

REGISTER NOW: "For the Peace of Jerusalem" 
Keynote Speaker: Lincoln Chafee, Former US Senator from RI. Information and
registration flyer now available.
http://www.cmep.org/

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D. SOCIAL JUSTICE LINKS
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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
 
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

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

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

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