Greetings!
I left this weekend’s virtual Intergenerational Spring Seminar hosted by the UUA office at the United Nations in partnership with UU Ministry for Earth feeling inspired and ready for the work ahead. It was an honor being on the planning committee for this seminar to help create impactful programs relevant to this year's theme: “All In For Climate Justice: Food Equity and Sustainability.” The 3-day seminar was designed to ground, connect, and equip participants to take action toward achieving climate justice through more equitable and sustainable food systems. If you were not able to join us, you can read the highlights below and view recordings and resources on the Intergenerational Spring Seminar Website.
Over the past 11 months as an intern, UUMFE has taught valuable information about climate injustice and the many interconnected issues that play an integral role such as colonialism, racism, and capitalism, as well as the importance that UU principles, including the proposed 8th Principle, play when engaging in faith-based activism.
As my internship at UUMFE comes to a close, I’d like to thank all the staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors that have given me the seeds I need to grow in this Season of Sacred Activism to learn, reflect, and act toward a more sustainable future. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the work that UUMFE does to create a more just world, and for the heart and compassion that fuels their activism.
My time with UUMFE is ending but my activism and gratitude live on. I invite you all to join me on April 25 for a livestream event for a meaningful and beautiful virtual worship service to honor Earth Day 2021. Read more about this Virtual Earth Day Worship Service below and be sure to join the Spring for Change – A Season of Sacred Activism to explore Pathways to Healing & Regeneration.
In faith and solidarity,
Elizabeth Fernandez
EARTH DAY 2021
Earth Sunday Worship Resources are LIVE!
UU Ministry for Earth has produced a robust and beautiful virtual worship service for use in full or in part by participating congregations this Spring, as part of Spring for Change: A Season of Sacred Activism. Earth Sunday Worship Resources are available for use through May 23. This worship service will also be livestreamed freely to the public on Sunday, April 25 at 3:30 PT / 4:30 MT / 5:30 CT / 6:30 ET. Find the order of service and speaker bios HERE.
Share Your Earth Day and Climate Week Plans!
How is your Congregation or community observing Earth Day / Climate Week 2021? This year, with more events going online, UU Ministry for Earth wants to help spread the word about your event! Your Earth Day / Climate Week events can be listed on UUMFE’s webpage and social media if desired; this webpage will be regularly updated with UU offerings. Consider also listing on the Earth Day Network map.
The Condor and the Eagle Film Screening
Wednesday, April 21 starting at 9am PT / 10 MT / 11 CT / 12 ET
Playing every 15 minutes until Thursday, April 22 at 12pm PT / 1 MT / 2 CT / 3 ET
Come together virtually as people of faith and conscience to watch the award-winning documentary, The Condor and The Eagle, and unite the UU community in the movement for Indigenous rights and climate justice. The Condor and The Eagle documentary offers a glimpse into a developing spiritual renaissance as the film's protagonists learn from each other’s long legacy of resistance to colonialism and its extractive economy.
BIPOC Caucus Session 3: Water Justice
Thursday, April 22 at 5 PT / 6 MT / 7 CT / 8 ET
All are welcome to join this third session of the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Caucus, convened by Paula Cole Jones (All Souls Church DC) and Rashid Shaikh (First Parish Cambridge). This session will discuss Water Justice and include caucus spaces for BIPOC and White participants. The BIPOC caucus, which is inspired by the UU Seventh Principle (respect for the interdependent web of all existence) and the Eighth Principle (accountably dismantle racism and all other oppressions), meets monthly and the first 5 sessions are open to all.
ACTIVATION
Write Here! Write Now! Expert Opinion Issue Briefing Call
Thursday, April 15 at 11am PT / 12pm MT / 1 CT / 2 ET
UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE), Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ) and UUs for Just Economic Community (UUJEC) are partnering for a Write Here! Write Now! (WHWN) letter-writing advocacy campaign that will culminate in virtual meetings with US Capitol Hill staffers the week of April 26. The campaign will focus on advocacy for the Justice for Black Farmer's Act and Climate Stewardship Act. Learn everything you need to know on this call, featuring Adam Zipkin, Counsel to US Senator Cory Booker, and Ben Thomas, Senior Policy Director for Agriculture at the Environmental Defense Fund. If you can’t make the call, you can still sign up for resources to organize letter-writing actions!
UUs and Elders Build Momentum for Drawdown Initiative
For the past few weeks, UUs and Elders Climate Action have been busy with the UU Project Drawdown Initiative 2021. UU DD 21 mobilizes teams or individuals to earn points for taking a variety of actions for climate and environmental justice. You can SIGN UP and take part in the challenge at any time until June, when the collective efforts will be compiled in a video to be shared and celebrated at UUA General Assembly. Get inspired with these highlights of progress so far.
Tell Federal Legislators that Line 3 Permits Must Be Reviewed
The best way to stop the Line 3 tar sands pipeline is for President Biden to use executive action to revoke key federal permits for the pipeline and stop construction. UUs are joining frontline and interfaith leaders to keep up the pressure on the Biden administration in order to make this happen. One way to do so is by calling U.S. senators and representatives to speak out on Line 3 and call on the Biden administration to revoke the permits. Can you send a message to your legislators using this form from MN Interfaith Power & Light, and spread the word?
Art by Aaron Hughes
EDUCATION
Reflections & Recordings from Intergenerational Spring Seminar
Last weekend, more than 200 participants gathered for 3 days of worship, learning and action around food justice at the Intergenerational Spring Seminar, co-hosted by the UU Office at the UN and UUMFE. This weekend focused on uplifting the voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as youth. Keynote speaker Soul Fire Farm did a phenomenal job of utilizing storytelling to weave the history and structural realities of racial injustice in the food system, with movement strategies past and present of frontline communities mobilizing for food and land sovereignty. These themes were carried throughout the seminar to leave participants feeling informed and inspired. Check out the resources below to continue learning and action for food justice!
Recordings & Resources from the Spring Equinox
On the Spring Equinox, more than 250 people, representing over 100 congregations, gathered virtually together for an uplifting day of worship, learning, reflection and action, as part of the Spring for Change Opening Celebration and Congregational Climate Convergence. Be sure to check out and share the Invitations & Calls to Action from that day, as well as the Recordings. Is your congregation on-boarded with the newly launched Green Sanctuary 2030: Mobilizing for Climate Justice -- A Roadmap for Congregations? Learn more about this powerful program by watching the recording and reading the Green Sanctuary Presentation. And please take a moment to fill out this short feedback form so we can continue to offer the support that UUs need to continue building our climate movement.
CONNECTION
Ancestral Waters Film Screening & Discussion
TOMORROW! Wednesday, April 14 at 5:30 PT / 6:30 MT / 7:30 CT / 8:30 ET
Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light, JUUstice Washington, Multifaith Network for Climate Justice and Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) are excited to bring Native Daily Network's film Ancestral Waters to the wider community! The film documents the Puyallup Tribe's fight against Puget Sound Energy's Tacoma Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) project in Tacoma, WA. Watch Ancestral Waters together (the film is about 80 min) then stay on to hear about what's happening right now with Tacoma LNG and how Unitarian Universalists can stand with the Puyallup Tribe in this fight and for the interdependent web of which we are all a part.
Time for Art! Sip n’ Paint Party with Side with Love & UUMFE
Friday, May 14 at 3pm PT / 4 MT / 5 CT / 6 ET
Artist Sharon Davis with Time for Art will be leading a virtual Sip n’ Paint party, hosted by Side with Love and UUMFE. Each participant will be mailed a canvas with a climate justice-themed image pre-etched onto it, to paint during this program, but must secure their own paint supplies, snacks and beverages of choice. This program will celebrate our love and vision for the earth and for an anti-racist, multicultural Beloved community. Because we are mailing canvasses to participants, please only register if you can make a firm commitment to attend!
YOUNG ADULTS
Sign & Share the Youth Climate Demands
In response to the Leaders Summit on Climate being hosted by the Biden Administration April 22-23, youth organizations across the United States have come together to create these Youth Climate Demands. These demands call on US leaders to create a pledge that asserts that all generations deserve a future to look forward to, and where all communities can thrive. Please read and share these demands, and if you are a youth or young adult, sign this petition to demand a pledge that is just and equitable to combat the climate crisis!
Art by David Solnit
Biodiversity Sunday & Endangered Species Art Project - SIGN UP
General Assembly - June 23-27, 2021 - REGISTER
BONUS RECIPE: Asparagus Tart
From The Plantiful Plate: Vegan Recipes from the Yommme Kitchen, by Christine Wong comes this springtime tart showcasing these flavorful leggy greens. Don’t have asparagus? Use broccoli, leeks, sun dried tomatoes, or mushrooms instead!
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