From American Friends Service Committee: Wage Peace in Afghanistan

Action Needed:

Your call can stop the government from sending more troops to Afghanistan.

 

Now is a critical time to make your voice heard.

Call the White House comment line today and say you are opposed to sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.  The comment line number is 202-456-1111.

In the coming week, President Obama will likely be making a decision about the role of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. He has rejected the current proposals for additional troops until there is an exit strategy. We believe this is a good sign, and we need more — a decision not to send more troops to the region and to deescalate the war.

The decision will have a dramatic effect on the future of Afghanistan and the stability of the region. This is the moment when we can have an impact.

If you only take one action for peace this year, please make this phone call to the White House today.  Tell them you’d like the administration to put these elements into their Afghanistan plan.

White House comment line: 202-456-1111

No additional troops to Afghanistan. A timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and for diplomacy and dialogue with all parties to the conflict, without preconditions. Badly needed development aid provided, to be coordinated by civilian-led organizations, not the military. Redirect the more than $44 billion spent yearly on war to supporting real human needs in Afghanistan and at home.

Help President Obama make the best decision on Afghanistan.  Please take a moment and make your call today.

Wage peace,

Peter Lems and Mary Zerkel
American Friends Service Committee

P.S. Thanks to the more than 400 of you, we have gathered many comments and virtual postcards to Obama on Facebook.  But we could always use more.  See the photos, write a comment, and join the group on our Facebook site today.

Visit: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&gid=204795041210.

From the Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners

It has been eight years since the United States military began operations in Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I know you join me in lamenting the suffering, violence, and death on both sides of the conflict. Our scriptures and history teach us that war is not the answer to building the peace and security we are striving for in this world.

I’ve joined with other faith leaders in sending an open letter to President Obama, urging him to build a new strategy in Afghanistan that leads with bold humanitarian aid and development instead of more military escalation. Will you join me?

Tell President Obama: We need a whole new approach in Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, the options being debated are far too narrow and are unlikely to bring the peace and stability we so desperately need to end this war.

The two strategies contending for prime time - counterinsurgency, requiring a substantial escalation of troops, and counterterrorism, relying on precision targeting technology to apply military pressure on the most dangerous operatives, often at the expense of civilian lives - don't address the deep moral and practical issues we face in Afghanistan.

There are many moral concerns at stake in President Obama’s decision: legitimately protecting Americans from further terrorism, protecting the lives of our men and women in uniform, protecting the Afghan people from the collateral damage of war, defending women from the Taliban, and genuinely supporting democracy - to name a few.

Focused and effective humanitarian assistance and development can no longer be an afterthought. They must be central to any strategy the U.S. government puts forward. The president must choose nonmilitary strategies to lead the way, rather than the other way around, which often just makes aid and development work another weapon of war.

Tell President Obama: More war will not bring peace.

We know what can rebuild a broken nation, inspire confidence, trust, and hope among its people, and most effectively undermine terrorism: massive humanitarian assistance and sustainable economic development.

And it costs less - far less - than continued war. The Congressional Research Service has said it currently costs about $1 million per U.S. soldier, per year in Afghanistan.

We all share in responsibility for a war that has been waged in our names and with our tax dollars. Join me and many faith leaders across our country in praying for the president as he considers a new strategy in Afghanistan.

After you pray, sign our letter to President Obama urging his serious consideration of a humanitarian and diplomatic surge, instead of more military options. We'll make sure it gets to the White House.

Blessings and peace,

Jim Wallis

Step It Up/Cool A.I. Update #33, 11/15/09

Hi, Green Friends,

(I always hear the voice of Kermit when I type that greeting. Appropriate, since this is the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street.)

A very important meeting coming up on this Thursday night, November 19. It's of crucial importance to all customers of the Newport Water Department, no matter where we live. Come ask the Newport City Council and the Utilities Department essential questions about the planned U-V installation at Easton's Beach. See the write-up in the calendar, below.

And yet another reminder that http://www.neighborhoodenergychallenge.org/ is open for business. Come visit, and sign on to save energy and money and earn prizes!

As we learned in science classes, trees sequester carbon, and Newport is blessed with a fabulous collection of them. The Newport Tree Society has updated its web site, and has initiated its first Newport Tree Walk, a one-mile self-guided tour starting at Washington Square. Learn more about the organization and the walk at http://www.newporttreesociety.org/.

Recently, a friend forwarded an email with advice, credited to Andy Rooney, about ways to stop telephone and mail solicitations. As is my habit, I checked it out on Snopes.com. As usual, not only did the advice not come from Andy Rooney, the recommendations do not work. Instead, Snopes recommends the following strategies:

To stop phone solicitations, sign on to the National Do Not Call Registry: www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

To stop most direct mail solicitations, go to the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service: http://www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html

To stop most unsolicited credit card and insurance offers, go to the Opt Out service offered by the four major credit rating companies: www.optoutprescreen.com/opt_form.cgi. (You can opt out permanently or for five years, and you can return to opt in, if you choose to.)

Beth

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Energy Efficiency Opportunities for your Business

Time: 12 to 2 PM

Location: Newport County Chamber of Commerce, 35 Valley Rd., Middletown

Increasing Your Bottom Line Through Energy Savings.

Presented by Energy Action: Aquidneck Island & Jamestown, A National Grid Community Initiative. Lunch will be served!

Please RSVP to Kathleen Papp

Free for Newport Chamber members

$25 for non-members

RI Interfaith Power & Light Cool Congregations training

Time: 6:00 to 9 PM

Location: Christ Church, 7 Elm St., Westerly

Help your congregation save Creation by shrinking their carbon footprint at home. Become a Cool Congregations trainer for your congregation! Become better stewards of Creation by understanding your own household's energy usage and learning practical steps to increased energy efficiency. It's fun and informative!

Pizza will be served. Limited enrollment. Call 401-267-0029 by November 14 to enroll. There is a suggested $10 donation but no one will be turned away.

For more information, go to www.riipl.org, and click on "Cool Congregations" on the menu.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Workshop on U-V treatment system-Newport city Council

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Newport City Hall, Broadway

A statement from the Aquidneck Island Watershed Council: "It is important to have a good turnout at this meeting to show the Council and City officials that the citizens of Aquidneck Island have concerns about this project. The UV plant does not solve the problem of beach pollution. Middletown is not participating in the project even though the Esplanade outfall pipes are the primary cause of the beach closings at Atlantic Beach. Newport, Middletown and the DOT need to work together on a comprehensive strategy for storing and treating storm water runoff. The UV plant is an expensive, end of pipe solution to a complex non-point pollution problem.

"What is the real cost of the project? With the specter of climate change and a carbon tax on the horizon, it does not make sense to build a plant that uses enormous amounts of electricity when natural solutions are available. What is the estimated annual electricity cost of the plant? What are the estimated maintenance costs? Personnel costs? Depreciation? Debt service? Opportunity costs? (What other projects will be deferred or rejected because of the cost of this project?)

"Please call your elected representatives and express your thoughts on the project. Come to the meeting next Thursday and bring your friends."

(Note: this may be one of the only opportunities for public input on this proposal, which we rate payers will ultimately be paying for.)

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Electronic Waste Recycling Day

Time: 8 AM to 1 PM

Location: Easton's Beach, Newport

Recycle electronic waste and plastics during the Clean City Program’s Fall Recycling Day. Saturday, November 21, 8am to 1pm. All RI residents welcome.

Examples of electronic waste accepted are: computers/CPUs, monitors, keyboards, mice, scanners, televisions, laptops, fax machines, modems, routers, VCRs, DVD players, miscellaneous computer parts and wires, digital cameras, cell phones & accessories and more.

The following items will not be accepted: Freon bearing items such as air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators and large metal items such as washers and dryers.

Plastic items that will be accepted for recycling during this one-day event are not accepted in the curbside recycling program. Examples of plastic items accepted are: #3-7 plastics, plastic toys, buckets, milk & soda crates, laundry baskets, lawn furniture, landscape items such as edging, microwave trays, plastic totes, plastic drums (food grade only, no chemical containers), pet carriers, plastic pallets, coolers, shelving, closet organizers, dish drainers, flower pots (no soil), garbage cans, recycling bins, waste baskets, 5 gallon water bottles. All plastic items brought for recycling must be free of any wood, metal, glass, wires or batteries.

Newport residents can exchange their old recycling bin for a new bin for $5, regularly $8. This discounted price will be available at this event only and recycling bins will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. Please bring a check for payment and proof of Newport residency.

For more information about the Fall Recycling Day or the City of Newport’s residential solid waste and recycling collection program, contact the Clean City Program at 845-5613 or visit www.cityofnewport.com/cleancity.

Sponsored by the City of Newport’s Clean City Program, Good Point Recycling, Sony Electronics Inc., and Waste Management.

Monday, November 23, 2009

"LEED Core Concepts & Strategies"

Time: 8:30 AM to 5 PM

Location: NE Institute of Technology, Warwick

This workshop, offered by the RI Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, is the first of two that have been approved as eligible training programs under the federal Workforce Investment Act. The first is a non-technical course, intended for students, property owners, facilities managers, emerging or experienced green designers, engineers, builders and product manufacturers and service providers, including realtors, appraisers, trades people, attorneys and government officials.

Tuition fees, with reduced rates for signing up before November 15. For information about the workshop, visit http://www.usgbcri.org/.

Unemployed or underemployed applicants may be eligible for free tuition under the Workforce Investment Act. Eligibility must be established before the workshop. For information about eligibility, visit www.networkri.org/centers.htm.

The second, more advanced workshop, "Building, Design and Construction, the LEED Implementation Process," will be held early next year.

From Unitarian Universalist Justice Action

Dear Friends of Justice

In addition to news about the Basta Dobbs campaign victory, an update on 350.org, and an action on health care, we have an exciting opportunity to tell you about! On Wednesday, November 18th at 8 PM EST, our partners at Reform Immigration for America are sponsoring a national conference call with Rep. Luis Guitierrez, the champion of comprehensive immigration reform in the US House of Representatives. Congressman Gutierrez will outline the framework for his bill and give strategic information for community leaders. There will be selected questions from the field, and then a short discussion on what you can do next to help bring us closer to a fair, comprehensive reform.

We are asking you to hold house parties with your family, friends, neighbors, churches, classmates and anyone else who supports comprehensive immigration reform for America. We will supply the tools, the message and the Congressional leaders; all you have to do is get your friends and family involved! To participate, see the website.

In faith and for justice,

Susan, Audra, Orelia, Rowan, Kat, Rob, and Meg

ACTION: Don't Let Health Reform Eliminate Reproductive Choice!

On Saturday, November 7th the House of Representatives passed a comprehensive health care reform bill that essentially eliminates a woman's right to choose abortion. The Stupak-Pitts Amendment, included in the final bill, bans private insurance providers in the health insurance exchange from covering abortion services. If this amendment becomes law, women receiving subsidies to buy insurance for themselves and their families could be left without essential care. The language of the amendment even bars women from using their own money to purchase comprehensive health coverage that includes abortion services.

We need your help to ensure that this amendment does NOT make it into the final bill. A health system that doesn't give us access to the care we need is inherently unjust and unacceptable. The President has told us time and time again that his reforms would let us keep the coverage we already have. We must hold him to his promise. Please contact the White House and your Senators to tell them that health care reform MUST protect the rights of women to comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion.

Read more in Inspired Faith, Effective Action, the UUA's Advocacy and Witness blog.

SUCCESS: Lou Dobbs Resigns from CNN

On October 21, UUA President Rev. Peter Morales participated in a rally and press conference for the Basta Dobbs (translated as "Enough Dobbs!") campaign, which focused on getting CNN to take Lou Dobbs on account of his repeatedly demonizing and spreading misinformation about Latinos and immigrants.

On his show Wednesday, Lou Dobbs resigned!!! In a press statement released today, the Rev. Morales--the first Latino President of the Unitarian Universalist Association and spokesperson for Standing on the Side of Love--said, in part:

"I am filled with hope and happiness to learn that Lou Dobbs has decided to take on, in his words, a more 'positive' and 'constructive' role in addressing the issues facing this country. I applaud the decision by Dobbs and CNN to stop his show's misinformation and demogoguery that was dividing our country and pitting neighbor against neighbor. I also commend CNN on its enduring commitment to the highest integrity in its journalistic endeavors."

For the full statement see www.standingonthesideoflove.org. Many thanks and congratulations to all of you who helped with Basta Dobbs as part of the UUA's Standing on the Side of Love campaign. We did it!

NEWS: Climate Change Update

The International Day of Climate Action on 10/24 was a grand success, with more than 110 congregations participating. Read more about the actions and see some photos of the events. The Senate is continuing to work on climate legislation, and world leaders are getting ready for the climate convention in Copenhagen, and the faith community is continuing to call attention to the human rights issues and importance of caring for our only planet. More information about the climate change campaign is available on the UUA climate change pages.

RESOURCE: Faith-Based Support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

The UUA has been working with a diverse group of religious and faith-based organizations to create a website where religious leaders can find information and resources supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, (ENDA; HR 3017) which would guarantee bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender workers federal protection from employment discrimination. ENDA could come up for a vote in Congress as early as next week! To learn more, go to http://goldenruleatwork.org/learn-more/, and please share this link with your ministers and colleagues!

From the UUSC

On Thursday, December 10, 2009, UUSC will be honoring pioneering activist Mel King at our annual Rights Night. A crusader, educator, organizer, and entrepreneur, King has devoted his life to organizing and advocacy for anti-poverty and urban renewal causes.

King will be honored with UUSC’s Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award for his commitment to social justice and human rights. Afterwards, stay for drinks and light refreshments, and join activists from across Boston’s many communities in conversation about carrying the legacy of King’s work forward.

Date and time: Thursday, December 10 (International Human Rights Day), at 7 p.m.

Location: Media Arts Center of Roxbury Community College, conveniently located across the street from the Roxbury Crossing T Stop. Free parking is also available.

All are welcome! The event is free, but RSVPs are recommended. RSVP by e-mailing rsvp@uusc.org or calling 617-301-4381.

Download a flyer for the event to pass along or post in your congregation or community space.

_______________________

Charlie Clements

President and CEO

UUSC

689 Massachusetts Ave.

Cambridge, MA 02139-3302

phone: 617-868-6600; fax: 617-868-7102

http://www.uusc.org/ // info@uusc.org

Step It Up/Cool A.I. Update # 32, 11/8/09

Hi, Green Friends,

Some important issues to keep an eye on this week.

The Middletown Planning Board has written a very reasonable wind ordinance, which has been through its first reading, and is running into rough weather. It'll be coming up for discussion again soon, and anyone concerned for sane sources of energy, regardless of residency, should plan to attend.

Personally, I find wind turbines beautiful and graceful. They reap a power source that doesn't rape the environment. We know what's ugly--filthy air, children struggling with asthma, fish kills, blown-off mountain tops and slag-filled waterways, not to mention carbon induced temperature climb, melting polar and Greenland ice, and massive flooding.

The powers that told us two years ago that they opposed off-shore wind, but had not problem with small onshore turbines, now seem to oppose everything wind related.

Even we on the front lines of this battle have no true understanding of the distance we need to go to reverse our carbon dependence. The rest of us aren't even ready for baby steps toward getting started. Let's stop clean energy obstructionism in the name of our precious views. Watch for the next ordinance reading, and stand up for wind.

Meanwhile in Newport, the U-V treatment plant at Easton's Beach will be part of the City Council's annual financial meeting. Informed people have serious misgivings about the planned installation, including already outmoded technology, which is unproven in a storm water situation, huge expense for installation and maintenance, huge electrical usage and the potential for a power outage in a storm, just when it would be needed most, since no on-site generator is planned.

This is a highly technology-dependent plan that treats the the problem at its last possible point, instead of dealing with it upstream, with lower tech Low Impact Design principles. Aquidneck Land Trust has the right idea, piecing together watershed protection with greenways. (Congratulations to them on adding yet another piece to that puzzle with the Easy Street Farm!) The EPA and DEM endorsed these practices at the A. I. Watershed Council Conference last month. Was the city listening?

Also at issue is the reluctance of our neighbors to join in cost sharing, so this is all on Newport's shoulders. If this had come up as a bond issue, it would have been (pardon the pun) dead in the water. Now, it's incumbent on the citizens of Newport to ask serious questions before this project just floats through in the budget. We'll all be paying for it in our water bills.

Watch for that meeting, coming soon. We need to pack the Council Chambers.

And one more reminder that www.NeighborhoodEnergyChallenge.org. is going strong. Check in and sign up! It's free!

With a long climb down from a very tall soapbox,

Beth

Thursday, November 12, 2009

LEED FOR Homes Presentation

Time: 4:30 to 6:30 PM

Location: NE Tech, Student Lounge, 2480 Post Rd., Warwick

Learn about designing and building a LEED™ Home through the eyes of a builder and LEED Home provider. The goal of this presentation will be to provide a basic understanding of how to get a project on the path to certification. The Energy Star Homes program is a major component of LEED Homes; strategies for success will also be discussed. 1 CEU Credit anticipated.

Members - free, non-members - $5, CEU credit - $10.

Can you attend this event? Register at: http://leedforhomespresentation.eventbrite.com/

For more information: http://www.usgbcri.org/, then Click on "Events."

Sponsored by the US Green Building Council - RI Chapter

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Coastal Cleanup

Time: 12 to 2 PM

Location: Tuckerman Right of way, Middletown

Sponsored by Clean Ocean Access.

For more information, contact dmclaughlin71@hotmail.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Energy Efficiency Opportunities for your Business

Time: 12 to 2 PM

Location: Newport County Chamber of Commerce, 35 Valley Rd., Middletown

Increasing Your Bottom Line Through Energy Savings.

Presented by Energy Action: Aquidneck Island & Jamestown, A National Grid Community Initiative

Lunch will be served!

Please RSVP to Kathleen Papp, 847-1608

Free for Newport Chamber members

$25 for non-members

RI Interfaith Power & Light Cool Congregations training

Time: 6 to 9 PM

Location: Christ Church, 7 Elm St., Westerly

Help your congregation save Creation by shrinking their carbon footprint at home. Become a Cool Congregations trainer for your congregation! Become better stewards of Creation by understanding your own household's energy usage and learning practical steps to increased energy efficiency. It's fun and informative!

Pizza will be served. Limited enrollment. Call 401-267-0029 by November 14 to enroll. There is a suggested $10 donation but no one will be turned away.

For more information, go to www.riipl.org, and click on "Cool Congregations" on the menu.

From "Standing on the Side of Love"

As I write, people across the nation are gathering to stand in solidarity with the people of Maine, whose right to marriage equality was taken away by a majority vote yesterday.

As I watched the results come in late into the night, something became abundantly clear to me, we should never have to go to bed wondering if discrimination will be more legal in the morning.

If nothing else, today has taught us once again of the importance of achieving full and equal protection under the law for LGBT people. The Standing on the Side of Love campaign continued to work towards that goal this morning by delivering 8,262 of your signatures on the Petition for Full Equality to the members of Congress who will, tomorrow, begin to discuss the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. We are still collecting signatures and will deliver them to decision makers each step along the march to full equality.

Thank you! Thank you for standing tall on this day, for standing on the side of love.

Love,

Adam

From Unitarian Universalist Justice Action

We're happy to bring you the debut issue of our weekly Unitarian Universalist Justice Action (or UU JustAct for short). It arrives just in time to welcome all our new congregational Social Action Chairs (see our special note to SACS below). In it you will find how congregations can take action in support of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), information on the new resource - A People So Bold DVD and curriculum that inspired the UU University Social Justice Track at General Assembly, and news about the Basta Dobbs! Campaign and Standing on the Side of Love Friday Calls.

In faith and for justice

Susan, Audra, Orelia, Rowan, Kat, Rob and Meg

ACTION: Act Now to Help Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act!

On Thursday, November 5th, the Senate will hold its first hearing on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) since 2002. We can't wait any longer for ENDA to extend basic employment protections to bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender workers in the United States.

Your members of Congress need to hear from you TODAY! Tell them that workplace discrimination should be against the law. Tell them that as a person of faith, you demand to see their commitment to justice and equality for all.

Ask them to Help Pass the Employment Non Discrimination Act!

SUCCESS: Unitarian Universalists & Friends Join Basta (Enough!) Dobbs Campaign

UUA President Rev. Peter Morales and a contingent of Unitarian Universalists participated on October 21st in a Basta Dobbs! rally and press conference held at the Massachusetts State House. The Basta Dobbs (translated as "Enough Dobbs!") effort calls on CNN to take pundit Lou Dobbs off the air. The campaign states, "Lou Dobbs uses his platform on CNN to spread myths and misinformation about Latinos and immigrants, even as his network is wooing Latino viewers. It's time we said enough (that's "basta" in Spanish)."

For full story and to sign on to the campaign see http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/151861.shtml.

NEWS: A Special Note to Social Action Chairs about Unitarian Universalist Justice Action

First a welcome to all the new SACs! Our new weekly streamlined UU Justice Action replaces the monthly SAC-News and weekly Advocacy News that our UUA Advocacy & Witness staff used to send you. Each week you will find an Action, Success, News, and Resources. Look for your weekly UU Justice Action to get information and opportunities for action to share with your congregations.

Please let your Task Force and Project Chairs know that there are also lists for particular issues - such as immigration, environmental justice, LGBT rights, gulf coast recovery and more. They can sign up at http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1272/t/4696/signUp.jsp?key=1357. And remember, they can always find more resources and information on social justice issues at http://www.uua.org/socialjustice.

We hope that you will find our new format helpful and would love your feedback. Also send us your success stories so that we can share them with our readers and help building a learning community for justice!

RESOURCE: A People So Bold: Social Justice Ministries & Theologies

Resources for congregations to deepen work for social justice

In January 2009, thirty-two leading UU theologians, ministers, and activists gathered to reflect on how congregations might be beacons of UU values for the larger world. How do we understand suffering, oppression, injustice in the light of our faith?

Out of those conversations came A People So Bold, a DVD and online curriculum materials designed for congregational use as well as individual viewing and reflection. The curriculum can found online at www.uua.org/apeoplesobold and copies of the DVD can be requested by emailing socialjustice@uua.org. The video will soon be available for viewing online as well.

Standing on the Side of Love Friday CALL: Let's Start at the Very Beginning

We continue with our weekly 45 minute Standing on the Side of Love Calls, Friday at 1 PM EST. This week, a call for congregational leaders who still aren't quite sure what it all means!

Rev. Meg Riley, Campaign Director, will share what the campaign is, and how congregations can best take advantage of the resources and vision it brings. There will be time to ask questions about your congregation's participation in the campaign and to learn from each other.

Please RSVP for the call at: www.StandingontheSideofLove.org/fridaycalls.

To Join the Call: Dial 218-844-8230 entry code 593426#

Log onto the web-cast by opening this link: http://persony100.uua.org/?meeting=3566382.

CBCO News: Congregation-Based Community Organizing

A Newsletter from UUA Congregational Advocacy & Witness and UU Ministers Council on CBCO - Fall 2009

Dear CBCO News Readers:

We hope you have been having a great fall. We are now up to over 130 UU congregations engaged in CBCO. We are becoming more powerful in our work for health care, housing, immigrant justice and more. The items below will help you and us here at HQ (please fill out our quick CBCO survey) to deepen our organizing, build our power, and win our justice issues!

In faith,

Susan Leslie, UUA Director for Congregational Advocacy & Witness and

Staff Liaison for UU Ministers Advisory Council on CBCO

In this Issue:

Highlight Reports from two UU Congregations
CBCO & Standing on the Side of Love Campaign
Interreligious Organizing Initiative on Immigration Reform
UUA CBCO Survey
CBCO at GA 09
UUFP $ for CBCO Training

1) CBCO Highlights from two UU Congregations

Report from Boulder Valley UU Fellowship in Lafayette, CO: 'Faith-based groups show reform support.'

Member Kathy Partridge writes:

Our minister Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry talked about the need to stand on the side of love of those who need health care in her remarks in Ft. Collins Colorado at a rally of PICO Colorado, part of the Health Care Day of Action in August. We had about two dozen UUs from 2-3 congregations there. We're using the SSL slogan for future local work with PICO around immigration reform, and would love signs and a banners.

The photo is of our CBCO team at Metro Organization for People action for health care reform last March, which included the issues of in-state tuition, health care and payday lending, with Rev. Lydia and our Minister Emerita, Rev. Catherine Harris, and one of our teens as well as other members of the congregation. We had about twenty people go by bus to the action.

Report from Rev. Mark Stringer, a member of CBCO Ministers Advisory Council and minister of First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, Iowa, with IAF affiliate AMOS - See 'Group holds summit on job options, health care'.

2) Connecting CBCO & Standing on the Side of Love of Love Campaign

A great way to strengthen your congregation's commitment to your CBCO work and expand your core team is to link up with the new UUA Standing on the Side of Love Campaign. This new UUA initiative brings the idea of grassroots organizing and standing with marginalized communities to a wider audience of UUs. Bringing the slogan into your interfaith work will be welcomed by your colleagues and bring more UUs to the work as well. The SSL Campaign will help ministers prepare their remarks for press conferences and Letters to the Editor and get OpEds placed as well.

Note Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry's remarks above in our CBCO Highlight and read Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones, minister of First Unitarian Church of San Jose, and the PICO Affiliate People Acting in Community Together (PACT) account below:

Standing on the Side of Love with Immigrant Families at PICO Action

The 45-minute press conference at La Trinidad United Methodist Church in San Jose at 11:30 this morning went very well! When I arrived, there was already a bank of still and video cameras pointed at a colorful crowd of Comprehensive Immigration Reform supporters, who were chanting "Si' se puede" and "Family Unity Cannot Wait" and "Janet, escucha, estamos en la lucha" (Listen, Janet, we are here together in the struggle). A press conference and vigil was called because Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano was in town. Some of these supporters had arrived by the busload from Southern California, from Oregon, Idaho, and one of the other Western states. A couple of busloads of visitors spent the night on the floor at First Unitarian following the rally in Santa Clara this evening, and we had congregants who spent the night right alongside them to serve as their hosts. What dedication!

The press conference included statements from Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors member and from San Jose City Councilmember Sam Liccardo (council member from First Unitarian's district--a friend of the church!). We heard moving testimonials from families and community leaders directly affected by our unjust immigration policies; Korean, Latino/a, and Indian (Southeast Asian) speakers brought home the universality of the devastating effect that these policies have. I was called on to present the overarching faith perspective on this action, as well as to put out the invitation to join the rally in the evening. Here are my remarks:

In the face of unjust laws that have denied the basic dignity of every human being and that have torn families apart, my religious ancestors-our religious ancestors-have stood on the side of love by harboring runaway slaves, protesting the internment of Japanese Americans, and fighting to overturn those unjust laws.

Well, now this country's current immigration policies are unjust, denying the dignity-the very personhood-of our brother and sister human beings and tearing families apart, right here in Santa Clara County and all across the nation. We people of faith are standing on the side of love tonight to say that Comprehensive Immigration Reform cannot wait. Our local and national leaders have a responsibility to unify and advance our communities, not to divide us from our neighbors simply because our backgrounds differ. Please join us today at 4:30 at the corner of Lewis and El Camino Real in Lafayette Park in Santa Clara , to let Secretary Janet Napolitano know that we want immigration laws that reflect the deepest values of fairness, diversity, and compassion-these core values that each of our faith traditions upholds; the core values that make this country truly great.

3) IOI Report on Coordinated Action for Immigration Reform with Organizing Networks

On Oct. 7th, the Interreligious Organizing Initiative (IOI) hosted a major national meeting to plan a coordinated strategy for immigration reform between denominational advocacy staff, organizing networks and immigration reform organizers. In attendance were national representatives from the organizing networks PICO, Gamaliel, DART, and IVP (and local folks from IAF), the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (representing 25 faith denominations), Interfaith Worker Justice and the New Sanctuary Movement, Reform Immigration for America Now (the largest immigration reform coalition in the US), and staff from several religious denomination including UUA, ELCA (Lutherans), UMC (Methodists), and URJ (Reform Jews) along with funders.

Deepok Bhargava, Exec. Dir. of Center for Community Change, gave a cogent briefing that boiled down to the fact that we actually have a chance of passing immigration reform this year as opposed to 2007 because we will have a better bill, unions are agreed on strategy, and new umbrella organization Reform Immigration for America has been launched. Schumer & Lindsay Graham introducing in Senate early in Jan.; Guitierrez just introduced in House on Oct. 13th January to Mid-March is the window for passing legislation. Much after this is too close to elections. We don't have all the details yet but there was consensus that we Need Large Sense of Scale - Proposed Actions: National Day of Action in January; Major Mobilization In Spring.

There was also a portion of the meeting dedicated to strengthening CBCO among all the denominations. Stay tuned!

4) UUA CBCO Quick Survey

As part of tracking and mapping here at HQ we would like you (if you haven't already) to fill out our survey on CBCO. We can use the information in a variety of ways to grow support for CBCO by reporting to major stakeholders and funders on the 'state of the field' of UU congregations and faith-based organizing. It also allows us to connect UUs in CBCO affiliates working on issues (such as immigration reform) with other UUs who are in or not in CBCOs but working on the same issues. It's part of our effort to bring as much UU strength to bear on our priorities issues as possible.

To fill out this short survey go to: CBCO Survey

5) CBCO at GA 09

If you missed GA there was a terrific report on CBCO in plenary from the UUA CBCO Ministers Council, UU Church of Arlington VA who recently helped formed VOICE in No. VA, and the Office for Congregational Advocacy & Witness. You can view it online.

6) UUFP $ for Training

Over 30 UU congregations have received matching grants for CBCO first year dues and for training for clergy and congregational leaders.

Grants for training--for clergy and congregational leaders--are available on a rolling basis (approximately a two week turn around) and for congregations in CBCO or considering CBCO. The grants will cover costs of the training, travel and other expenses, including childcare. Congregations already in CBCO can strengthen their core team and congregational leadership by sending folks to training. Social Justice Councils and Committee folks will benefit as well. In addition to traveling to training, congregations might want to arrange for weekend training in their congregations as well.

To apply for funds, please see the CBCO Application Information and the CBCO EZ Application.

Trainings are posted on all the major network sites. See the UUA's CBCO pages for a listing.

Contact Us:

Office for Congregational Advocacy & Witness

Susan Leslie

Director

sleslie@uua.org, 617.948.4607

Audra Friend

Program Coordinator

afriend@uua.org, 617.948.4656

Step It Up/Cool A.I. Update #31, Nov. 1, 2009

Hi, green friends,

The Neighborhood Energy Challenge had been official for a week now, and people are signing up! If you signed one of our lists in the past couple of months, you've received an email invitation to join. But don't wait for an invitation. Go to http://www.neighborhoodenergychallenge.org/, and come on board!

Do you have some friends that you'd like to team up with? Maybe colleagues at your workplace, or a club, or a mom's group? Or a congregation? Or even several of your neighbors? The teams are informal and there's no minimum or maximum size. We'll register your team on our web site, and you can challenge other teams.

How about joining our volunteer crew? We passed out leaflets at several stores last Saturday, and got a very friendly reception. We'd love to have more helpers, so we can leaflet at more locations for the next couple of weeks. The more ways we can create "buzz" about the challenge, the more people will sign up. Our goal is 1000 families by the end of the year. Will you help us get there?

Beth

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Coastal Cleanup

Time: 12 to 2 PM

Location: Tuckerman Right of way, Middletown

Sponsored by Clean Ocean Access.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

RI Interfaith Power & Light Cool Congregations training

Time: 6 to 9 PM

Location: Christ Church, 7 Elm St., Westerly

Help your congregation save Creation by shrinking their carbon footprint at home. Become a Cool Congregations trainer for your congregation! Become better stewards of Creation by understanding your own household's energy usage and learning practical steps to increased energy efficiency. It's fun and informative!

Pizza will be served. Limited enrollment. Call 401-267-0029 by November 14 to enroll. There is a suggested $10 donation but no one will be turned away.

For more information, go to http://www.riipl.org/, and click on "Cool Congregations" on the menu.

Monday, November 23, 2009

"LEED Core Concepts & Strategies"

Time: 8:30 AM to 5 PM

Location: NE Institute of Technology, Warwick

This workshop, offered by the RI Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, is the first of two that have been approved as eligible training programs under the federal Workforce Investment Act. The first is a non-technical course, intended for students, property owners, facilities managers, emerging or experienced green designers, engineers, builders and product manufacturers and service providers, including realtors, appraisers, trades people, attorneys and government officials.

8:30 AM to 5 PM. Tuition fees, with reduced rates for signing up before November 15. For information about the workshop, visit http://www.usgbcri.org/.

Unemployed or underemployed appplicants may be eligible for free tuition under the Workforce Investment Act. Eligibility must be established before the workshop. For information about eligibility, visit www.networkri.org/centers.htm.

The second, more advanced workshop, "Building, Design and Construction, the LEED Implementation Process," will be held early next year.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Coastal Cleanup

Time: 12 to 2 PM

Location: Hull Cove, Jamestown

Sponsored by Clean Ocean Access

From East Bay Citizens for Peace

Journalist - Jonathan S. Landay

Senior National Security Correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers

“The Stakes in Afghanistan:  The Debate We Ought to Have”

Mr. Landay has just returned from a two-month-long investigative tour of Afghanistan. He is a veteran foreign affairs reporter with long experience in South Asia, Iraq, the Balkans and Washington.

Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 8 PM

The Bristol State House

240 High St., Bristol, RI

Open to the public - suggested donation - $5

East Bay Citizens for Peace, a grassroots organization committed to peaceful solutions to conflict and to social and economic justice through the promotion of open, respectful dialogue. For more information contact 247-9738, eastbaycitizens4peace@hotmail.com or http://www.eastbaycitizens4peace.org/

Martha Lucia Giraldo Villano To Speak Westminster Unitarian Church - East Greenwich, RI

Our next event is coming up quickly on Friday, November 6 at 7pm in Fellowship Hall. We will be hosting guest speaker Martha Lucia Giraldo Villano from Columbia, sponsored by Witness for Peace (WFP). WFP is a politically independent, nationwide grassroots organization of people committed to nonviolence and led by faith and conscience. WFP’s mission is to support peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas by changing U.S. policies and corporate practices which contribute to poverty and oppression in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to sending delegations to observe first hand the consequences of U.S. foreign policy decisions, WFP also sponsors people from Latin America on speaking tours in the U.S. to inform citizens of ongoing projects and struggles.

Nick Schmader has taken the lead on this event, and Westminster’s Social Responsibility Committee is proud to be hosting a WFP speaker. Martha’s father, a small-scale farmer, was murdered by the Columbian military in an “extrajudicial” killing. She will speak to these state-sanctioned murders, the billions of dollars of military and police funding provided by the U.S., Plan Columbia, official impunity, the importance of memory, and the National Movement of Victims. There will also be ample time for Q&A. Coffee and light refreshments will be available. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Columbia and the work of Witness For Peace. Naturally, expenses are incurred on a speaking tour so donations in any amount will be gratefully accepted. To learn more about this courageous woman and WFP check out witnessforpeace.org and go to the NE region page.

Westminster Unitarian Church is located at 119 Kenyon Ave., East Greenwich, RI.  Directions at westminsteruu.org.

From UUA Advocacy and Witness

Dear Friends of Justice,

Ordinarily we try to bring you a success story each week. This week we simply could not choose. After ten years, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law. And over the weekend, UU congregations were well-represented in the largest ever call-to-action on global climate change. See below for details on both. Due to a couple of glitches, our new, revamped action alerts will debut next week instead of this week. In the meantime, Happy Halloween everybody!

In faith and for justice,

Orelia, Rowan, Rob, Kat, Audra, Susan, and Meg

Stand on the Side of Love for Employee Non-Discrimination!

Next week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) will hold the first hearings on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) since 2002. If passed, ENDA would prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Standing on the Side of Love campaign has called on people to gather a total of 7,500 petition signatures, which will be delivered to the members of the Senate HELP committee on the eve of the hearings.

Please sign the petition for full equality now and help us pass ENDA!

And when you have signed, forward this request widely; we need your help to get 7,500 signatures by next Tuesday! You can sign online or download a PDF copy to gather signatures in your congregation or community, and fax it to the campaign office.

SUCCESS: Matthew Shepard Act Signed Into Law

It was over ten years in the making, but the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed by President Obama yesterday. Bias-motivated violence based on perceived race, color, religion, or national origin was already considered to be a hate crime. The new Hate Crimes Prevention Act extends that protection to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. For more on the UUA's reaction, see here.

SUCCESS: International Day of Climate Action

More than 115 congregations participated in the International Day of Climate Action, advocating for climate change legislation to work toward reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million (ppm). This is so energizing to hear, knowing that the future of our world depends on our ability to effectively curb climate change, and the future of our brothers and sisters all over the world depends on our ability to do this justly. Congregations all over the country catalyzed and supported interfaith and community-wide events. They rang their bells 350 times, facilitated conversations in their congregations and communities, wrote letters to governmental officials, watched movies, sang out, and rallied! This is not only a UU issue, but something that reminds us of the interdependent web of which we are all a part. Read more on our blog, Inspired Faith, Effective Action.

Standing on the Side of Love Friday Calls

Join our Friday 45 min. Standing on the Side of Love Organizing Webcast Calls - 1pm EDT (12pm Central; 11 am Mountain; 10 am Pacific)

Oct. 30th Call on Protect Marriage Equality/Domestic Partnerships in Maine & WA; ENDA Hearings & Full Equality Petition

This week features presentations from:

Rev. Becky Gunn, Minister, UU Society of Bangor, about hers and other congregation's SSL work to defend Marriage Equality in Maine with the Religious Coalition for Freedom to Marry

Carol McKinley, Director, Washington State UU Voices for Justice, about bringing the SSL message to the Washington Families Standing Together campaign to preserve Washington State's domestic partnership law.

Susan Leslie, Director, UUA Office for Congregational Advocacy & Witness, on SSL Full Equality Petition & ENDA Hearings

Get call-in information and RSVP by clicking on http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/fridaycalls/.

To Join the Call: Dial 218-844-8230 entry code 593426#

Log onto the web-cast by opening this link: http://persony100.uua.org/?meeting=6336114.