October 2005
This issue of the Michigan UU Justice News includes:
- Michigan UU Justice News Circulation Triples!
- MUUSN Survey Reveals Top UU Issues
- Next Meeting of MUUSJN: October 20th
- MUUSJN State-wide Conference Calls Planned
- Michigan UU’s Respond to Challenge of Helping Hurricane Victims
- ACTION ALERT – Demand Hurricane Relief Justice!
- Keep Michigan’s Water Working for Michigan’s Future
- Universal Health Forum - October 17th, UAW Local 600, Dearborn
- Anti-Torture Legislation Alert
- Thanks to the UUSC for its commitment to our Network
Michigan UU Justice News Circulation Triples! – WELCOME to 146 new people who are now receiving news and action alerts from the MUUSJN! Most of you expressed an interest in receiving action alerts when you completed the MUUSJN Justice Issues survey during September 2005. That triples our list of justice contacts from 68 UU’s (including 22 ministers) to 214 people! We now have people from 20 of 23 Michigan UU Congregations and Fellowships in our Network.
We are beginning to realize how fortunate we are to be connected to UU’s, such as yourself, who care about and are working for justice. You are invited to share your ideas for further MUUSJN actions. People who do not have e-mail are also receiving this newsletter by regular mail.
Is there someone in your community who would like to get on this mailing list? Please forward their name, e-mail, phone and address to Randy Block, beelock47@comcast.net.
MUUSN Survey Reveals Top UU Justice Issues – As of October 11, 2005, a total of 451 MUUSJN Issue Priority Surveys were received from 14 Michigan UU congregations. As we receive surveys from other congregations, results may change. In order of their ranking, here are Michigan’s preliminary top five UU issue priorities: 1. Universal Health Care 2. Poverty 3. Environment 4. Civil Liberties 5. Abortion/Reproductive Rights. Closely following #5 was the War in Iraq, followed by Racial Justice and Education Reform. MUUSJN Network Coordinator, Gwen Winston, and I will tally surveys by church and send the results back to each church. We have a commitment to respond to these priorities. How can we work together for justice? For more information, contact Gwen at 313-874-8463 or gwenbwin@gbaileywinston.com
Next meeting of MUUSJN will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 20th at the Northwest UU Church, 23925 Northwestern Highway in Southfield. Our meetings are action packed and enjoyable too! If you are within driving distance, we hope to see you then. A copy of the minutes for the September meeting are attached for your information.
MUUSJN State-wide Conference Calls Planned – Promoting justice communication between UU’s in Michigan is one of our goals. In order to promote conversations about our Network’s issues and actions with representatives of all Michigan UU churches, the MUUSJN plans to hold periodic conference calls. We hope to set up our first call in November. Details will be provided in a future e-mail.
Michigan UU’s Respond to Challenge of Helping Hurricane Victims – Last month, Michigan UU’s were invited to share what they’re doing to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina. Here are some of the responses:
“Our church (UU Church of East Liberty) held a special collection for the UUA-UUSC fund and raised over $600.” -Rev. Cindy Landrum
“Peoples Church, Kalamazoo collected a variety of non-food items (duffle bags, bathroom items, flashlights, padlocks, etc.) in a truck in front of the church. Since we publicized in the local newspaper as well as within the Church, we received many generous donations from the larger community. The donations went to Second Harvest of Southwest Michigan and then on to the Katrina evacuees now in Fort Custer, MI”. -Phil Kramer
The Farmington UU Church and Northwest UU Church (NWUU) in Southfield are coordinating their efforts to assist evacuees living in the Ramada Inn in Southfield, Michigan. Both churches are taking collections. NWUU collected $1,400 and is planning to purchase gift certificates for the evacuees. Both churches are exploring ways congregations can assist individual evacuees. Cassi Hartley, Farmington UU Church. Morris Goodman, NWUU
ACTION ALERT - Demand Hurricane Relief Justice! As millions of Americans are digging deep into their pockets and opening their hearts to help victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, there are proposals – in the name of hurricane relief -- to exploit this national disaster to slash government support for low and middle income persons. The UU Service Committee forwarded to us the following action alert from the Coalition on Human Needs, which is urging the public to call their Congresspersons toll-free (1-800-426-8073) on October 17 and 18 and urge them to get their priorities right.
Keep Michigan’s Water Working for Michigan’s Future - “Environment” is one of UU’s top priorities. The MUUSJN recently endorsed the “Great Lakes, Great Michigan” platform -- see www.greatlakesgreatmichigan.org/platform.htm -- which spells out steps Michigan must take to keep “Michigan’s water working for Michigan’s future”. Gayle Miller, a lobbyist from the Michigan Sierra Club, has requested that advocates send e-mails to their State Senators and Representatives urging them to support legislation which will put these principles into law. Please let us know if your church’s social justice group will discuss this environmental platform at its next meeting. To send a message to your legislator, click here.
Universal Health Forum - October 17th, UAW Local 600, Dearborn - The MUUSJN is co-sponsor of an October 17th forum to promote universal health care via HR. 676, The United States National Health Insurance Act. The forum will be held 6-8 p.m. at UAW Local 600 in Dearborn, Michigan. The MUUSJN will have a table at this event. For more information on this issue, contact Randy Block at 248-549-5170.
Anti-Torture Legislation Alert – Jackie Ladd, a staff with the UU Service Committee, requested that we share the following action alert on anti-torture legislation (the “McCain Amendments”) which was recently overwhelmingly adopted in the U.S. Senate:
Support Sen. McCain’s anti-torture amendments. Help send message to White House: Americans don’t support torture
On Wednesday, October 5, the Senate defied the White House and voted overwhelmingly to prohibit cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment of detainees under U.S. custody or control and to set uniform standards for interrogation methods. The vote was 90-9 in favor of the amendments sponsored by Sen. McCain, with 46 Republicans joining 43 Democrats and one independent in support of the new prohibitions against the use of torture. Despite this near-unanimous bipartisan message against the use of torture, President Bush has threatened to veto the entire Defense Appropriations bill if the McCain amendments are included. The defense bill, which previously passed the House of Representatives before the amendments were proposed, now goes to a conference committee of both houses to reconcile the differences between the two bills. At this critical time in the policymaking process, we must make our voices heard.
Take action now!
Raise your voice against U.S.-sponsored torture. The lawmakers are scheduled to recess October 7 for one week and most members will be in their home districts.
Write a letter to the editor of your hometown newspaper expressing your support for the anti-torture provisions of the Defense Appropriations bill. Visit our website at (LINK) for a sample letter and suggestions for placing it in your newspaper.
Call your House and Senate members while they are in their home districts and make it clear them that you expect them to support the anti-torture amendments against an anticipated White House offensive to kill the proposals in the conference committee.
Visit our online Legislative Action Center <link> http://capwiz.com/uusc/home/ to obtain contact information, including hometown phone numbers of your senators and representatives.
Thanks to the UUSC for its commitment to our Network! – In 2005, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) made a five year funding commitment to the MUUSJN to further build this justice network in Michigan. Thank you!
