 April 17, 2008 Earth Day Issue #21
“Passover is an exercise in collective optimism, which is another word for faith. Faith is not necessarily the same thing as believing in God with a muscular arm and outstretched fingers. Faith can be a commitment to the unprovable proposition that it is worth the struggle to cross the next impossible barrier, to seek meaning in our lives, to try, try again to do justly and build another peace. “ – Anita Diamont Dear [FNAME], How appropriate that this year, Passover is being celebrated the same weekend as Earth Day. Indeed, we must find a way out of the bondage of complacency that is leading us to global climate change. This past few months, I have seen new levels of collaboration among UU justice ministries, locally and nationally - from working to limit climate change, and educating UUs about water justice in California, to standing up for the freedom to marry. Read my "Walmart Reflections" online. We travel farther when we walk together. This coming month, on May 13th, UUs are invited to walk with our interfaith allies at the annual Interfaith Lobby Day here in the Capitol when people of faith raise our voices for a moral and humane budget not balanced on the backs of the poor. When Moses took his first steps, he did not know the outcome. The path is made by walking it. With thanks and blessings,
Internationally known singer/song-writer, Holly Near will perform at a UULM-CA house concert in Thousand Oaks this Sunday from 1:30-3:30 p.m. It’s not too late to reserve a seat; click on “donate now” to make a secure donation. Ticket price of $73 per person benefits UULM programs, including the UULM Low Carbon Challenge, marriage equality spokesperson trainings, and health care reform workshops. For more information, please call (626) 818-2900. Holly Near has been traveling the globe for 35 years as a singer, teacher, recording artist, peace advocate, and human rights activist. Whether she’s appearing in support of nurses striking for better conditions in the emergency room or in opposition to racist violence by police, Holly’s anthems have captured the mood of many social movements. UUs know her as the prestigious Ware Lecturer at the UUA’s General Assembly 2004 in Long Beach, and composer of hymns and ballads, including the perennial favorite, “We are an Angry, Gentle People.”
UUs from Sacramento to San Diego will be out in force this weekend, joining with hundreds of LGBT allies across the state in a final effort to stop an anti-gay constitutional amendment that the religious right is trying to qualify for the November ballot. “It’s down to the wire in our efforts to keep the opposition from getting enough signatures to make the cutoff deadline—and we can’t let up now,” said Rev. Anne Felton Hines of the Emerson UU Church in Canoga Park. She has led nearly a dozen members of her congregation in front of Walmarts, Targets, and other major “big box” stores, talking with supporters of the freedom to marry and asking them not to sign the opposition’s petitions. The opposition needs 1.1 million voter signatures to ensure that they can qualify for the November ballot—and we have just one more weekend to stop them. “This final weekend will be crucial,” said Jan Garbosky, a lay leader from First UU Church San Diego, who has volunteered almost daily on the campaign for the past two months. She has led the largest UU team in the state-- 40 members of the San Diego congregation-- in filling hundreds of shifts over the course of the campaign. “We need 1,000 volunteers to cover all the shifts and locations in Sacramento, Fresno, LA County, San Diego County, Orange County and Riverside County," she said. Come join us and help make history!” Sign up with Equality For All’s Rapid Response teams, and/or email cclark@uulmca.org at the UULM Action Network about which day and shift (morning or afternoon) you can work in which area. Don’t forget to mention that you are a Unitarian Universalist so that UUs from different congregations can meet each other! Lay UUs from dozens of congregations, as well as ministers such as Reverends Kurt Kuhwald and Amy Morgenstern of the UU Church of Palo Alto, Rev. Hannah Petrie of Neighborhood UU Church, and Rev. Matthew Crary of UU Church of Riverside, have already rallied to the call of “all hands on deck.” How about you?
As spiritual descendents of Emerson and Thoreau, UUs are called to confront catastrophic global warming and the perilous changes it brings. Join Earth Day events this Sunday in your congregation. UULM-CA is joining with the Unitarian Universalist Association, the UU Service Committee, UU Ministry for Earth, and the network of UU Legislative Ministries and State Advocacy Networks to celebrate and take action to reduce our carbon footprint. Also, UUs are asked to support national climate change legislation and invited to join the UULM Low Carbon Challenge by attending a workshop at PSWD and PCD District Assemblies next weekend or contact the UULM office at (916) 441-0018 to get the challenge starter kit. This is a small group study/action program to respond to climate change at a household level. Our goal is for Unitarian Universalists in California to collectively lose one million pounds of carbon emissions by Earth Day 2009. Activist Helps Launch UULM Low Carbon Challenge
"My years as an activist have been fueled by successes because I set my sights on small, doable steps, and really celebrate each victory,” said Rachel. Today, she is a member of the UU Church of Ventura, and making a difference as co-founder of VCCool, a citizen action group that works to prevent climate change. A performing artist, web developer (she is UULM’s webmistress), former organic farmer, and high-tech product manager, Rachel says she feels “like I’ve been training all my life to take on the challenge of global warming.” Using ideas and experience from VCCool, she has joined forces with the UULM-CA Climate and Water Team to launch the UULM Low Carbon Challenge. “I think the factors of strong UU values and community, along with the addition of the discussion sessions will be key to helping people make personal change,” she said. "Lifestyle changes, no matter how minor, aren’t easy for any of us. I think it’s all about community.” "One Small Ring", the song Rachel wrote and recorded for the UULM Low Carbon Challenge, is now posted on our website...with banjo! You will also find materials to engage households to help your congregation join in as California UUs lose 1 million pounds of carbon emissions before Earth Day 2009. Enjoy!
If you want to make your voice heard in Sacramento, you’re invited to join UULM Action Network and the California Interfaith Coalition at the annual legislative issues briefing May 13, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Sacramento. “Opening Our Hands to the Poor and Needy: Budget Justice in California” is the theme of this interfaith lobby day. Please join UUs from across the state and interfaith allies to talk with legislators about the importance of preserving state-funded programs for low-income Californians. Advocates will meet first for a legislative briefing with budget experts such as Lenny Goldberg at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Social Hall, 1701 L Street (17th and L Streets), Sacramento. Afternoon visits will be made to key legislators designated by the interfaith coalition. “We are facing severe program cuts that affect the most needy in our community-- the poor, children, the sick and infirm," said Suzanne Marsh, ministerial intern and health reform team staffer. “The Governor's proposal would reduce access to health care, cut covered benefits and raise costs for millions of the poorest Californians." “We have said often that annual budgets are really moral documents that reflect our society’s values,” she added. “UUs must speak up now and open our hands for budget justice." Whether or not you go to Sacramento May 13, there is action you can take today to make your voice heard. Contact Senate Budget Committee members and Assembly Budget Committee members. Find your legislators, and let them know how you feel. You can learn more about related health care bills that are worthy of your support. For more information on attending or on any Health care related topic, please contact Suzanne Marsh. Young Adults to Make Road Trip for Water Justice
From the base of Mt. Shasta at the headwaters of the Sacramento River, where community members are trying to stop the sale of their water to Nestle, to Tulare County, where rural communities suffer from polluted ground water, we will learn from local activists, experts, and one another. Other activities include worship, music, and a day of rafting on the American River. Participants will learn how to voice their concerns, questions and experiences to legislators and bring their insights back to their communities. Cost is $460 per person; if your congregation sponsors you with a donation of $75, UULM will contribute an additional $75, reducing your fee to $310. College students may be able to receive course credit for this trip. For more trip details, click here. Contributions toward the UULM matching scholarship program are gratefully received and are tax deductible. Please send your check to UULM, 717 K St. #514, Sacramento, 95814. April 20, 1:30-3:30 p.m. UULM Benefit Holly Near House Concert, Thousand Oaks, (626) 818-2900 April 26, 10:45 a.m.-noon, "UULM Low Carbon Challenge" workshop at PSWD District Annual Assembly April 26, 1:15 – 3:15 p.m., Global Warming Workshop (includes intro to UULM Low Carbon Challenge), Joy Morgenstern, and the Rev. Lindi Ramsden, PCD Annual Assembly, Fremont August 2-10 Young Adult Water Justice Tour To contribute to the UULM Action Network CA and/or the UULM-CA, please visit our Donation pages. UULM Action Network, CA (non-tax deductible) UULM-CA (Tax deductible, for educational purposes). Monthly donors are vital to our work, and one time donations are also gratefully received. Our Privacy Policy |
UUs Stopping Anti-Gay Petitions
As a ten-year old in Columbia, Missouri, Rachel Morris learned important lessons about activism. A neighborhood group had formed to prevent widening of her tree-lined street. Her contribution was to call the local radio station as “Sadie Lou Sapsucker” to expound the joys of a six-lane freeway through the neighborhood. Today, you can still walk in the shade of the majestic trees on a sweltering Missouri afternoon.
How will climate change affect our water supply? What can we do to live in harmony with the interdependent web of life and assure access to safe affordable water for basic human needs? What is water justice? These and many more questions will be addressed by young adults (ages 18-25) August 2-10 on a