Muusja Mailing List: E-EVENT UPDATE FOR JUNE 21, 2007

[Lauren Culbert (lculbert]

MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE FOR JUNE 21, 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 Alert
B. Local Social Justice News
C. National UU Advocacy
D. Social Justice Links

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A. ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT

1.
Did you know that one in six hate crimes are motivated by the victim's
sexual orientation, and yet today's federal laws don't include any
protections for these Americans? What's even more outrageous is that the
radical right is running an all-out campaign to stop Congress from expanding
hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity -
something three out of four Americans support.

The Human Rights Campaign is asking all of us to contact our Senators and
urge them to pass this important legislation! To send your letter, go to:
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/matthew_shepard

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2.
Put your John Hancock on our Declaration of New Patriotism. Our Declaration
of New Patriotism to stop global warming has garnered more than 30,000
signatures from folks across the country. We need 50,000 more signatures
before July 4th. Sign today:
http://action.environmentaldefense.org/campaign/newpatriotism/ibdnug4q38t

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B. LOCAL SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS
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1.
SUNDAY, JUNE 24TH
11:00 AM
HENNEPIN AVENUE AT THIRD STREET TO LORING PARK

THE TWIN CITIES 35TH ANNIVERSARY PRIDE PARADE IS SUNDAY, JUNE 24TH! "The
Evolution of Equality" is the 2007 Pride theme and represents how society's
definition of equality has changed over the years.  In 1969, GLBT people
were fighting simply for the right to exist, socialize and to not be
harassed by the authorities.  Today we are working towards a future of true
equality for the GLBT community.  The parade site will take place along
Minneapolis' Hennepin Avenue from Third Street to Loring Park, site of the
Twin Cities GLBT Pride Festival.  The parade will kick-off promptly at 11:00
a.m.  If you would like to march with other UU's, please contact Doug
Federhart at White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church at (651) 426-2369 to
register with the group.

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2.
Monday, June 25
7:00 p.m.
St. Joan of Arc Church
Hospitality Hall
4537 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis

Dr. Mona El-Farra, internationally-renowned physician and human rights
leader on her first U.S. speaking tour. 
GAZA: Life in Occupied Palestine
  
Dr. El-Farra is the Director of Gaza Projects for The Middle East Children's
Alliance (MECA), a nonprofit humanitarian aid organization based in
Berkeley, California, as well as the Vice President of the Palestinian Red
Crescent Society of the Gaza Strip and a member of the Union of Health Work
Committees. Born in Khan Younis, Gaza, Dr. El-Farra has dedicated herself to
developing community based programs that aim to improve health quality and
link health services with cultural and recreation services all over the Gaza
Strip. Dr. El-Farra travels frequently to Europe to meet with solidarity
activists and to speak to general audiences about life in Occupied Gaza and
how the international community can join Palestinians in their efforts to
secure justice. Now, you can hear her clear and powerful voice. Free and
open to the public.  Donations accepted. Info: 612.827.5364

Sponsored by The Middle East Children's Alliance and The Mideast Committee
of WAMM. http://www.mecaforpeace.org FFI: WAMM, 612-827-5364.

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3.
TUES, JUNE 26
12 NOON TO 1:00 PM
Coleman's office, 2550 University Ave W, Suite 100N, St. Paul, MN 55114

Note: a few months ago, a group of UUs from several congregations brought a
statement to Senator Coleman and other members of congress, protesting
against the Military Commissions Act and for restoration of Habeas Corpus
- this is a good follow-up action to join.....  - Jo Haberman

The MN ACLU is hosting a rally at Senator Norm Coleman's office, June 26th,
2007, for an hour of action and protest against the Military Commissions Act
and for restoration of Habeas Corpus.
 
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4.
TUES, JUNE 26
7:00 PM 
HENNEPIN AVENUE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ART GALLERY
 
The Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers (MAP) has endorsed a reading that will
be presented Tuesday, June 26th at 7:00 p.m. at Hennepin Avenue United
Methodist Church in the Art Gallery.
  
THE CASE FOR WAR - WAS IT FRAUDULENT?
Six readers will present the evidence for an indictment of top government
officials claiming they tricked the nation into the Iraq war, or, in legal
terms, conspired to defraud the United States. The facts and circumstances
are real. They are the result of two years researching the run-up to the war
by a former federal prosecuting attorney with 20 years of experience and
passion for justice, Elizabeth de la Vega. The script is adapted from her
book, United States v. George W. Bush et al.
 
The jury, randomly picked from the audience, decides whether there is enough
evidence to indict. Admission is free.
  
If you would like your whole organization to devote a meeting for hearing
this reading, just ask one of the readers for a script, make 3 other copies
of it, recruit six in-house readers, and just do it informally. No rehearsal
is necessary. The purpose is to enlighten..
 
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5.
WED, JULY 11
5:00 - 6:00 PM
LAKE STREET/MARSHALL AVENUE PEACE BRIDGE

PEACE VIGIL BY PEOPLE OF FAITH People of faith speak out against the war and
occupation of Iraq.  Join members of First Universalist and other metro
churches in this great display of church banners demonstrating for peace.
For information at First Universalist contact Jenny Thomas,
jjthomas [at] skypoint.com, 612-920-4246. For information on the Twin Cities
Peace Campaign-Focus on Iraq contact Marie Braun, 612-522-1861. 

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C. NATIONAL UU ADVOCACY--GA NEWS

1. 
The federal government exclusively funds abstinence-only sex education
programs that by law cannot teach about condoms or contraception except to
emphasize their failure rates. These programs are not required to be
scientifically accurate, and in April 2007 the government's own long-awaited
report found that they were not effective in influencing teen behavior.
Nonetheless, there are rumors on Capital Hill that some abstinence-only
programs might actually receive an increase in funding for 2008! 

In response, Rev. Sinkford is calling on Unitarian Universalists and other
people of faith and conscience to take action. 
The REAL Act would create federal funding stream for comprehensive sexuality
education programs that are medically accurate and age-appropriate. You can
send an email now through the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy's online
action center.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/UUA/campaign.jsp?campa
ign_KEY=11903

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2.
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL
A short advocacy video about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the military's ban on
openly gay service members was released today by Brave New Foundation, the
people who brought you Wal-Mart: the High Cost of Low Price and Iraq for
Sale have released. The film, available online at www.lifttheban.org,
features Stephen Benjamin, a former Arabic linguist dismissed under the law.


Since 1993, at least 58 Arabic speakers have been dismissed under the law,
as well as countless other specialists. More than 11,000 service members
have been dismissed since implementation of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 1993.
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), nearly 800 of those
dismissed had skills deemed 'mission-critical' by the Department of Defense,
including more than 300 language specialists. The cost to U.S. taxpayers for
maintaining the ban is estimated at $363.8 million. 

The UUA joins a number of Other organizations in marking the film launch,
including the Service members Legal Defense Network (SLDN), California
Council of Churches, Campaign For America's Future, Campus Progress,
Democrats.com, Human Rights Campaign, Log Cabin Republicans, National Center
for Lesbian Rights, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, People for the
American Way, SEIU, Young Democrats of American, and Young People For. 

To view the film, and for more information on the campaign to repeal "Don't
Ask, Don't Tell," visit www.lifttheban.org. 

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D. 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 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/