Dear friend,
UUMFE’s prayers and thoughts go out to all as we collectively encounter the COVID-19 pandemic. Wherever you are, we are with you in action and spirit as you strive to defend the health and wellbeing of the communities in which you and your loved ones live, work and worship. We are reminded, once again, of the truth, fragility, and resilience of our interconnected web of existence.
At this time when we are urged to disconnect ourselves by “social distancing” in order to stop the rapid spread of the coronavirus, I am especially grateful to be virtually connected across the miles to many of you in the UUMFE community. Our shared work of creating climate and environmental justice can in-and-of-itself be a steadying force. Even when our attention has been diverted to more urgent and immediate disruptions or chaos, we will always be returning, much like the meditator returning to the breath, to this work.
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UUMFE is at a critical point organizationally and needs your help! Our resiliency and sustainability are serious challenges. The Board, in particular, requires an infusion of fresh blood and inspiration. We are lacking in number and diversity and seek a new treasurer as well as enthusiastic folks who will help us grow our collective UU organizing capacity. And, folks who will help us develop more robust relations with UU congregations, ministers, and religious professionals. Could one of those folks be you or someone you know?
I can tell you we pride ourselves on being a nimble and responsive Board and are looking to more fully develop into a dynamic, multicultural, multigenerational, and counter-oppressive Board. We are geographically dispersed, ZOOM-friendly, and committed to using forward-looking, dynamic governance practices. Qualities like curiosity, flexibility, and creativity are valued, and we welcome self-starters with good humor! Interested? Learn more from our online UUMFE Board position description.
Life is calling us forward incessantly into The Work of honoring the Earth and moving in the world - intentionally, creatively, collaboratively - to create climate and environmental justice. Won’t you join us on this path? We’d love to connect!
With joyous resolve,
Rev. Cindy Davidson, Board Chair, UUMFE
cindy.davidson@uumfe.org
INSPIRATION
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The UU United Nations Office (UU-UNO) Spring Seminar is going virtual!
All In for Climate Justice: People – Power – Planet
April 16-18, 2020
The UU-UNO and 2020 Planning Committee have made the decision to move this year’s Intergenerational Spring Seminar to a virtual event rather than an in-person one, due to the current threat posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus. The virtual event will take place during the time originally slotted for the 2020 Seminar: April 16-18. People will now be able to attend virtually from home (whether or not you had previously registered)! Information updates will be posted to the seminar's webpage.
ACTIVATION
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Send love & letters to Sherrie Anne Andre
UU young adult Sherrie Anne Andre (pronouns: they/them/theirs) is currently serving a 30-day prison sentence in North Dartmouth, MA.for an arrest from a non-violent direct action protest in August 2018, in which Sherrie and others blocked the entrances to the Bristol County House of Correction (where they are now imprisoned) and the ICE facility therein. The FANG Collective, which Sherrie co-founded, is calling on supporters to send letters, books (through a commercial distributer), and donations for Sherrie’s commissary and court expenses. Sherrie is a member of the UU Young Adults for Climate Justice network.
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Illustrated by Anna Welch |
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Spring for Change: A Season of Sacred Activism
March 22 - May 22, 2020
The Condor and the Eagle - Dozens of congregations have made the difficult decision to cancel their documentary screening events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UUMFE is currently working with the filmmakers to adapt to this new reality and launch an online streaming campaign in the near future (and hope for renewed opportunities for community screenings later this year). UUMFE will announce updates as soon as they are available. Please mark your calendars for a webinar with members of the film campaign team on Thursday, March 26th at 11 AM Pacific / 2 PM Eastern (details below).
Write Here! Write Now! Letter Writing Advocacy Campaign (USA) - COVID-19 is also affecting advocacy-as-usual on Capitol Hill. UUMFE will confer with Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ) to determine how to adjust the protocols and plans for the Spring for Change letter-writing campaign to adapt to these unanticipated circumstances. Please stay tuned and fill out the sign-up form linked above if you are definitely willing to champion some letter-writing about climate to the US Senate!
Earth Day / #ClimateStike - A great many earth day and climate strike public events are being canceled or rescheduled, but the climate strike will not be canceled. Greta Thunberg has put out a call for a #ClimateStrikeOnline and the US climate strike coalition is actively finalizing a digital strike contingency plan. Once again, stay tuned for updates!
Biodiversity Sunday (5/17) / Join the Procession of Species - UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) is inviting UUs to learn about threatened and endangered species in their local areas, and to co-create an artistic representation of one or more local endangered/threatened species to bring to the UUA General Assembly (GA) for a Procession of the Species in their honor during the GA Closing Ceremony on Saturday, June 27th. Mini-grants are available to support UUs in their Procession art-making endeavors! This is an activity that can be done at home with family! Stay tuned for other Covid-19-adaptation updates; as of now, GA is still scheduled to continue as planned in Providence, Rhode Island, June 24-18, 2020.
CONNECTION
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Updates from the UU Young Adults for Climate Justice (UUYACJ)
The following three programs are particularly for young adults, ages 18-35:
Theology of Place Zine - UUYACJ is seeking submissions for a Theology of Place Zine, exploring how place and spirituality inform our climate justice work. Submissions are due May 15, 2020. Find more details on submission guidelines and resources here.
UUYACJ Community Call: Theologies of Place Discussion! - Monday, March 23 at 5 pm Pacific / 8 pm Eastern / Please register in advance here. Calling all UU young adults for climate justice! Join this community call to check-in, and share an informal discussion about how place, climate justice, and spiritualities inform our work. And get inspired to make some art for the Theologies of Place Zine!
Direct Action Training - Wednesday, March 25 at 8pm ET / Please register in advance here.
Leading up to the climate strikes, UUYACJ will be leading several direct action trainings to help equip our communities to take bold action on climate. This training is open to all identities and experience levels.
EDUCATION
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The Environmental Justice Practitioners Network Webinar Series
The Condor & The Eagle: Conversation with Filmmakers and Protagonists
Thursday, March 26th
11 am Pacific / 2 pm Eastern
What is The Condor & The Eagle feature documentary about, and why is it such a powerful tool for education and movement building? When can I watch it, &/or host a screening at my congregation? What are the film's protagonists working on now? Join this webinar session to learn the latest and begin the journey of witnessing The Condor & The Eagle with thousands of other Unitarian Universalists.
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As Long as Grass Grows - Book Discussion with Author Dina Gilio-Whitaker
Thursday, April 9th
4:30 pm Pacific / 7:30 Eastern
Join the Environmental Justice Practitioners Network (EJPN) webinar on April 9th, for a special book discussion of As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock, with author Dina Gilio-Whitaker. This book and webinar are great resources for all who are seeking to deepen their understanding of Indigenous issues in preparation for General Assembly, June 2020 in Providence, or for whatever reason. Dina Gilio-Whitaker was a guest on the EJPN series last year when As Long as Grass Grows was first released; this webinar will be more of a book discussion format than the previous webinar.
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Bonus Recipe
Visit UU Ministry for Earth online at uumfe.org
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