Dear friend,

Since the murder of George Floyd two weeks ago, steady streams of protestors have shown up for racial justice in streets, parks and airwaves across the country. Riots and state violence have  erupted in some of our hometowns. Fires have burned.  
 
Many among us carry a righteous rage kindled by having borne the brunt of a legacy of systemic racism. Or, perhaps, a fire of commitment ignited by an irrepressible, holy indignation and empathy for our kin. In solidarity, UUMFE affirms Black Lives Matter and the Movement for Black Live’s demands for Divestment from the police and Investment in Black Communities. It’s past time to divest from anti-Blackness and invest in anti-racism.
 
Meanwhile, the slow, insidious violence of environmental racism continues to simmer, disproportionately harming communities of color and low income. In this time of pandemic, this racism flares up in communities already suffering from air pollution, where recent findings show a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 and suffering poor outcomes than in communities with cleaner air.
 
The pandemic, like our civil unrest, has laid bare so much about what is inextricably broken - and interconnected -  in our world. In our work to create environmental, climate and ecological justice, it is clearer than ever that working for racial justice and equity is an integral part. And that following the leadership of front-line communities is key if we are to take down entrenched patterns of power and oppression.
 
UUMFE commits to working in this way. Which is why, as part of each Board meeting, your UUMFE Board members affirm the proposed Eighth Principle, which calls us to take “actions to accountably dismantle racism in ourselves and our institutions.” We are grateful to be on this journey of building a diverse, anti-racist, multicultural, Beloved Community with you and our many partners.
 
Check out ways you can engage with some of our partners and our upcoming General Assembly programming in this issue. We hope to see you there!
 
As always, we are grateful for the trust you show in UUMFE whenever you make a donation.  Your one-time or recurring support helps sustain our work and strengthen our shared ministries for Earth. Thank you!

Rev. Cindy Davidson
Board Chair, UU Ministry for Earth 

INSPIRATION

Introducing UUMFE Intern Elizabeth Fernandez

UUMFE is delighted to have Elizabeth Fernandez join the team as an intern! Elizabeth is sponsored by the Student Activity Fund of the Long Island Area Council of UU Congregations --- a program that encourages young Unitarian Universalists to live their religious values through internships in social action, advocacy and service. Learn more about Elizabeth’s passions and background in this introductory blog post:
 

Reflecting back on Spring for Change - a Season of Sacred Activism (March 22-May22nd) 

While our sense of time may feel disjointed in the fog of intersecting crises, our ritual blessings and reflection during Spring for Change called us back into the rhythms of our surroundings, and of wisdom from time immemorial. Our planet keeps turning, and water rushes over us to give us a necessary clarity: we act knowing every day is Earth Day, every season a season of unfolding struggles for justice. 

CONNECTION

Connect with UUMFE at the Virtual General Assembly
Weds. June 24 - Sunday, June 28th 

Join UUMFE at the UUA Virtual General Assembly (GA) 2020, including pre-programs, workshops during the Assembly, and post-programming from June 19th through June 28th. UUMFE has assembled teachers, leaders and activists to share stories and experiences about deepening our relationship to Earth and effectively working for change.

Get Grounded for GA with the InterNātional Initiative for Transformative Collaboration

Tues. June 23rd, 9-12 PT / 10-1 MT / 11-2 CT / 12-3 ET

This year marks the 400th landing of the Mayflower at Plymouth, MA, and this will be acknowledged at GA through hard truth telling and centering the voices and experiences of Native/Indigenous people. Get grounded and ready for GA by joining this 3-hour experiential pre-program with UUMFE & our partners at the InterNātional Initiative for Transformative Collaboration. Space is limited to 300 people.

ACTIVATION

Show Up for RISE ST. JAMES to “Stop Formosa!”

Last month, Sharon Lavigne, the founder of RISE St James --- a Black, Christian environmental justice grassroots organization in Louisiana’s “Death Alley” ---  joined UUs for an intimate and powerful conversation with the Environmental Justice Practitioners Network. 

Sharon Lavigne is mounting a David & Goliath campaign against one of the worst polluters in the petrochemical industry, Formosa Plastics. When asked how UUs could best support her right now, she asked us to make a few phone calls to her local and state elected officials. Can you spare some time to show up in solidarity with RISE ST. JAMES? 

EDUCATION

Join an upcoming screening of The Condor and The Eagle:

Both of the remaining documentary screenings this month will be fantastic programs! The first will be a more intimate conversation among UUs in the lead-up to the General Assembly (GA), and the second will be a HUGE, multi-faith program (as a grand finale to GA for those attending).

Thursday, June 18th @ 5:30 PT / 6:30 MT / 7:30 CT / 8:30 ET
CO-HOSTED BY
Native Caucus of the Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM)
Billings Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, MT
Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City, CA

Sunday, June 28th @ 3 PT / 4 MT / 5 CT / 6 pm ET
Multi-faith & bilingual (English & Spanish) program!

CO-HOSTED BY
Interfaith Power & Light
Native Caucus of the Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM)
Side With Love (Unitarian Universalist Association)
GreenFaith Colorado Front Range Circle
Earth Ministry (Washington IPL)

FILM SYNOPSIS - four Indigenous leaders embark on an extraordinary trans-continental adventure from the Canadian plains to deep into the heart of the Amazonian jungle to unite the peoples of North and South America and deepen the meaning of “Climate Justice”. 

You can also sign up to co-host as a congregation/team for these or future screenings! 

Bonus Recipes

How to make Oat Milk - the recent Environmental Justice Practitioners Network program on “The Story of Plastic” helped remind us of the social & ecological harms of hard to recycle packaging. Check out how easy it is to reduce your tetra-pak/plastic carton use by making your own oat milk!

Image and recipe source: Minimalist Baker

Visit UU Ministry for Earth online at uumfe.org
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