
Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica, New
York
Social Action
/Green Sancuary Committee
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Hello from the Social Action / Green Sanctuary Committee!
Jacquelynn Leisos Co-chair for Social Action Agenda mamaleisos@verizon.net
Bill
Gazitano Co-Chair
for Green Sanctuary Agenda pencandle@roadrunner.com
Next Meeting is Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 12:00 Noon at Church*
All are welcome
To e-mail this committee write to socialaction@uuutica.org
REDUCE
YOUR
CARBON FOOTPRINT!
(Click on the above link for more
information)
The
Social
Action Committee served
lunch to Habitat for Humanity volunteers on Saturday, January
28, 2012 at 12:00 noon at 307 Lansing Street, Utica.
Environmental
Update
Film Series - 7 p.m.
At
Utica
Unitarian Universalist Church:
Wednesdays
February 22, 2012
March 28, 2012
At
Uptown
Theater:
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Hydrofracking
Letter as a pdf document
Contact
information - who to send letters to as a pdf document
Hydrofracking
Information Brochure as a pdf document
If you would like these documents sent to you as Word
documents, so you can edit and personalize the letter and
change the address, write to pencandle@roadrunner.com
In looking at our principles
and purposes, each one relates to areas where social justice
issues are being affected by trends in our nation. It is
important to stand for those values we have come to share and to
take responsible action to further those values. For more
information about our committee and to get involved, contact
Jacqueline Leisos or Bill Gazitano. Other members of our
congregation who have participated in this committee include
JoAnn Jacobson, Diane & Don Stebbins, Doreen Markson, Peter
Ogden, Barbara Brookes, Paul Baker, Sunithi Bajekal, Jay &
Deborah Hagenbuch and others. We are also grateful to many of
our members and friends who take action for good causes, who may
have not been involved in our committee.
Compassionate Consumption
UUSC is launching a new consumer advocacy initiative called Choose Compassionate Consumption (CCC) — and I want you to join us!
Through
the CCC initiative, you and other UUSC supporters can form a
powerful consumer block promoting workers’ rights, fair trade,
and a living wage. Together with UUSC, you can act on your
commitment to a fair economy by spending wisely, in alignment
with your values.
Take the first step today. Sign the Choose Compassionate
Consumption pledge.
When you sign the pledge, we will send you one of the new CCC
credit-card sleeves. These free credit-card sleeves include a
tip guide and questions to consider in making a values-driven
purchase. The sleeves have been produced by a socially
responsible vendor that provides employment opportunities to
at-risk adults. These sleeves are available for free to the
first 1,500 people to sign the CCC pledge. Join
the grassroots network of consumer advocates who will
advance workers’ rights, fair trade, and a living wage. Sign the pledge today.
Wednesday,
June 1, 2011
7:00 PM: The Social
Action &
Green Sanctuary Committee of the UU Church showed the documentary Gasland at
the Church and 41 people attended. Barbara Freeman of the UU Church in
Barneveld led discussion after the film. This
documentary was Oscar nominated for best documentary and
demsntates the unwanted effects of hydrofracking on water and
the environment. Barbara Freeman of the Barneveld
congregation will be there to offer her UU perspoective to
this issue. Hydrofracking is being considered in upstate
NY. There will be time for discussion after the film.
There is no charge for attending and some refreshments will be
available. If you have not seen this film, yet, you will
find it compelling. If you have seen it before, you may
want to see it again. The film itself runs a little over
90 minutes, but there are no dull moments in it. Learn
more about this important issue. More informaton at http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/ Other points of
view available on line.
Jacquelynn Leisos, Social Action Committee
UUSC Coffee Project
Coffee, Tea, Chocolate Fundraiser
Equal Exchange, our church’s supplier, has
undergone some changes since last October. Farmers'
supplies and labor costs are rising, and coffee
availability has been affected by climate change and
competition from private dealers. This is resulting in
increased cost of products, and temporary unavailability
of some of your favorite blends." Items now on
display in the sanctuary were purchased prior to the price
increase and you may see a higher cost in the new products
coming soon. Equal Exchange continues to provide us with
high quality, fair trade organic coffee, tea and
chocolate, supporting small-scale farmers and
democratically-run cooperatives, sustainable farming
practices, and UUSC programs such as the Small Farmer
Fund. The sale also provides this church with a year-round
fundraiser. Please consider making your purchases
soon! Please contact Kim Bywater
for additional
information or item requests.
Reducing our
“carbon footprint” is everyone’s responsibility. What is our
carbon footprint? It is the amount of greenhouse
gases we as individuals produce, that contribute to global
warming. Acting locally begins in the home.
Here are a few suggestions from the website: http://www.nativeenergy.com/more_you_can_do.html
Travel: Keep your auto tuned up and the
tires properly inflated. Don’t leave that junk in the
trunk either. All that extra weight is killing your gas
mileage, so leave those cinder blocks at home where they
belong. Don’t idle your car. Accelerate
gently. Drive slower on the highway. Use public
transit, when possible. Share your ride. Ride your
bike.
Household: Compact Fluorescent Light
bulbs (CFLs) are a more efficient way of lighting your
home. They last longer and use less energy. (The
initial cost is higher, but you save in the long run.)
Use a programmable thermostat for your furnace or air
conditioning. Seal up those drafty windows and doors.
More information is available at our church
website: http://www.uuutica.org/carbonfootprintinfo.htm
If you are a National Grid customer, you can elect to have your energy supplied from wind and hydro-electric (renewable) sources. This may cost a few more dollars a month, but it is one way we can decrease demand for nuclear and fossil fuels. Go to: http://www.niagaramohawk.com/enrgchoice/programs/renew-res.html or call 1-800-642-4272. They can send you a copy of the card that is needed to make the switch. Or you can make the switch on website above, by going directly to one of the providers listed on that page.
COMPEER Volunteers & Donations needed Can you spend an hour or so a week having lunch or visiting with an adult or child with mental health or emotional challenges? Your help is greatly appreciated. Bill Gazitano, one of our members, is a on their Board of Directors. Go to http://www.compeermv.org for more information or call COMPEER at 315-735-1066. Financial donations are welcome, as funding has been reduced.
White House: president@whitehouse.gov
US Senate: US Senators for NYS
US House: Contact your Congress person
Letter to the Editor: Utica Observer Dispatch
For more information on the Darfur Relief Fund, check the Social Action Bulletin Board at church, and visit www.savedarfur.org and/or www.uusc.org.
What is the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee?
Originally founded by Unitarians in the days before World War II to assist European refugees, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee has been successfully partnering with grassroots organizations around the world for over 60 years to empower women, to support the struggles of oppressed racial, ethnic and indigenous groups, and to defend the rights of children. In addition, the Service Committee trains young people here at home to be the next generation of social justice leaders.
The UUSC does not receive direct support from the
Unitarian Universalist Association or from any government
agency. UUSC relies primarily on the contributions of its
25,000 members, supporters and volunteers.
Kate Beasley,
director of Religious Education at the Eno River Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship wrote, "When I was growing up in a
Unitarian Church in the 1950's and 60's, supporting the
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee was as much a part of
being Unitarian Universalist as attending church. It was a
given that if you joined a church you also joined the UUSC.
Becoming a member of the UUSC is one of the easiest ways to
put our UU values into practice."
Wouldn't it be wonderful for our congregation to be a leader in UUSC involvement, so that it becomes "a given that if you joined [this] church you also joined the UUSC"? Please consider becoming a member. Information will be on the "Guest at Your Table" boxes you will receive this month. To learn more, visit http://www.uusc.org .
Click on this link:
Social
Justice
Resources for Your Congregation
for
resources to our congregation or write to: social_justice@uua.org
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Previously Published:
Highlights from our October 24, 2010 Meeting:
We discussed plans for Guest At Your Table and Annual Bread Sale scheduled for November 21, 2010.
We discussed what role we could play in reducing cyber bullying and other bullying, related to those who are GLBT as well as others who may experience this, possibly in conjunction with other local denominations, locally.
We reviewed suggestions regarding energy savings, such as an energy audit (possibly done by young people in our congregration, frozen containers of water in the freezer and furhter use of programmable thermostats.
We also discussed having a caulking party for making our windows even more energy efficient. Related resources were also noted.
We also discussed the impact of agribusiness and raising farm animals on the environment. Local efforts for using local food supplies are available from the Food Shed and the Slow Food movement.
WE plan to meet again on November 21, 2010 following the Bread Sale.
Highlights from our September 19, 2010 Meeting:
The Social Action/Green Sanctuary Committee met on 9/19/10. Present were Jacquelynn Leisos, Barbara Brookes, Joanne Jacobson, Mary Grace Culp, Carola Zavalidroga, Bill Gazitano, Diane Stebbins and Don Stebbins were present. We discussed and agreed to be co-sponsors for the gathering in Clinton on 10/2/10 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm to support the gathering in Washington D. C. “One Nation Working Together”.
Carola asked if the Social Action/Green Sanctuary Committee would be responsible for handling the service on 10/10/10 when Steven Barnes will be speaking at our service. We agreed that we will be responsible for the service. Jacquelynn ageed to introduce him and picking out the 2 songs that we will sing. Bill Gazitano to have an announcement in the Observer Dispatch about Steven Barnes coming on October 10th to speak.
Diane Stebbins told us that she got mail telling about Guest At Your Table and said it is the Sunday before Thanksgiving, the same Sunday as the bread sale. She suggested that we be ready for it by announcing it in Church early.
Mary Edith wanted to know more about the Green Sanctuary part of the Committee. Bill explained that it deals mostly with making changes within our Church. We also mentioned that we have helped out with environmental and global warming things going on within the community. Don Stebbins told about global warming talks going on at The Other Side every third Sunday for the next 3 months starting on September 19, 2010 from 6:30 to 8:30.
We discussed checking into getting copier paper that is made out of recycled paper. We also talked about looking into buying toilet paper and paper towels made out of recycled paper.
Bill said that he wanted Rev. Ijams at the next meeting. He said he would find out what Sunday she will be at Church in October. He will let us know when the next meeting will be. We agreed that we will discuss at the next meeting what we will try to focus on during the year. We will also discuss whether one person will be in charge of the meetings or if everyone will take turns.
Social Action / Green Sanctuary Highlights June 13th Meeting
Our Social Action
/ Green Sanctuary Committee met on June 13, following the service.
Jacquelynn
Leisos has agreed to co-chair the
committee for Social
Action endeavors, Bill Gazitano will continue with Green Sanctuary endeavors. Food Bank /
local agency items to be collected for the summer were
discussed. During the month of July, it was
suggested we consider items that are important in warmer
weather. These can be sun block, bug spray, sum
glasses, summer hats or other similar items. Some of our
members have looked at our current hearing assistance
devices and we plan to identify a contact person in
our congregation if anyone with hearing concerns, that
would like to practice using these devices. It was
noted that they only work when the speaker at the service
is near a live microphone. On June 26, from 2 - 5 PM
at Hanna Park, our local Refugee Center is co-sponsoring
World Refugee Day 2010. All are welcome. We
also discussed the local need for shelter for local
homeliess individuals. Current Green Sanctuary ideas
include lower energy dimmable light bulbs and other ideas
that will be forwarded to the house committee. We
look forward to scheduling a meeting with our new Minister
at a mutually convenient time. Our next committee
meeting is scheduled for Sunday, September 19 at 12:00
Noon. All are welcome.
Jacquelynn
Leisos
- mamaleisos@verizon.net
Bill Gazitano -
pencandle@roadrunner.com
Social Action Committee Minutes:
The paper crane is a symbol of peace, inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped near her home in Hiroshima, Japan.When she was twelve, she was hospitalized with what her mother called "an atom bomb disease" - leukemia. There is a Japanese saying that if you fold 1000 cranes, you will be granted a wish. Sadako began folding, but died before reaching 1000. The story goes that her friends finished for her.
Inspired by this, we are offering a workshop for children, which incorporates the Sadako story with teaching children how to fold paper cranes (or peace doves for the very little ones).
How can you help?
Be trained as a workshop leader - Wed, June 16
at 7pm
We have a lesson plan - come learn how to work with
it.
Syracuse Center for Peace and Social Justice (2013
E. Genesee St., Syracuse - 2nd floor)
RSVP to Terri Gavagnon at
tgavagan@twcny.rr.com
Invite us to give a workshop in your program
Do you work at a summer camp,
after school program, etc? We'd love to connect with you.
Please contact Terri at tgavagan@twcny.rr.com
Sponsored by Peace Action of CNY and the Syracuse Peace Council
Earth Day was April 22nd. One of
our committee members had met with representatives from
congregations of other denominations to plan an interfaith
project to our local community between Earth Day and
Memorial Day. Unfortunately, the person who had
initiated this local effort was not able to continue his
leadership role. Some of the other participating
congregations indicated they would do something
anyway. Our congregation can do the same. As
members, we can strive to decrease are carbon foot print,
suggestions on how to do this are posted through a
committee page link below; http://www.uuutica.org/carbonfootprintinfo.htm
Our committee has been
looking at ways of using more low energy light bulbs at
our church.
The UUSC has a page dedicated
to climate justice at http://www.uusc.org/climatejustice/whatyoucando
and it includes many
suggestions of what you can do.
Our committee is still in need of new leadership,
please join us at our next meeting. Bill Gazitano
Social Action News
If you would like to
volunteer for the Long Term
Ombudsman Program go to http://ocgov.net/oneida/ofa/ltcop
for more details.
Click on the link, In Memoriam, for a photo album of flags flown in memory of those who have died in Irag, US Military, Iraqi Citizens and others.
Farm Worker's Act
Please consider sending this to representatives in the NY State Senate and NY State Assembly, to urge their support for this legislation. You may use the wording below or your own:
"Farmworkers in New York State deserve to be given
the same rights as all other New York workers. They deserve
nothing short of equality.
I urge you to support
the Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act (FFLPA), which will
erase the remaining exclusions that keep farmworkers in a
state of labor inequality. [NOTE: In 2009, the FFLPA bill
number is A.1867 in the NYS Assembly and S.2247 in the NYS
Senate.]
New York must take a stand to show the country that
inequality will not be tolerated.
We must continue the
civil rights struggle until we reach true equality.
We cannot stand for
laws that target and exclude people from their basic civil
rights."
Links:
To find out who your State Senator and Assembly Member is you can search by your zip code on both sites linked above. Just click on the link and it will open your browser to the correct page.
Other contact information such as traditional mailing address and phone numbers should be available at the individual Senator's and Assembly Member's individual site, which you can find from the links above.
Green Tip:
Last month, we said reduce your thermostat by 1 degree. If you have central air, the same may apply, only you would increase your thermostat by 1 degree. If your car has air conditioning, it will get better mileage when you don't use it.
The Community Food Bank needs our help!
If you have a garden, plant a row for the Community Food Bank. Director Kim Strong said if 200 people would donate the harvest from five plants each, this would enable them to feed the ever increasing number of hungry people.
"We need all the help we can get to survive this year," she said. "People are saying they have enough to pay their bills but there is nothing left for food. If you can lend a hand or have questions, contact Kim and Denise.
The Family Nurturing Center of Central NY, Inc. sent a note of thanks for the paper products given to the Evelyn’s House. They are very pleased our congregation is a part of the community’s efforts in assisting them in meeting the needs of young women and their babies who are in need of services.
Green Sanctuary
Green Sanctuary Committee will become a subcommittee of Social Action and agenda items will be included in Social Action meetings.
Becoming the Change – Green Ideas
The following list was compiled during the last IONS (Institute of Noetic Science) Community Group Meeting. These are ideas of how each of us can demonstrate our commitment to reduce energy consumption and to reduce our impact on the environment. If you have additional ideas you’d like to share or would like more information about our group, please contact Jack Pendrak at email: jpendrak@a-znet.com. The next group meeting is March 29 at 10 A.M.
· Turn off lights/appliances when not in use
· Replace
incandescent with compact florescent lights
· Keep up air
pressure in your car tires
· Use
environmentally-friendly cleaning/laundry products (some are
concentrated which reduces containers as well as costs)
· Buy carbon
offsets – One carbon calculator can be found at
(http://www.carbonfund.org/site/pages/carbon_calculators/)
· Use canvas
or other reusable shopping bags – (Saves on Plastic and is
also a way to show your intentions publicly).
· Give
eco-friendly Christmas gifts (florescent lights – carbon
offsets – eco friendly cleaning products, reusable shopping
bags are gift suggestions)
· Use a
thermos or refillable bottle/ceramic not Styrofoam
· Garden
organically – or support those who do
· Eat locally
grown food
· Buy through
co-ops (Utica Community Co-op and Little Falls Co-op are
examples)
· Buy
cruelty-free products
· Find out
about the Better World Auto Club (www.BetterWorldClub.com)
· Use public
transportation/bike/walk
· Compost
· Educate
yourself/attend workshops
· Reduce water
consumption/waste
· Reduce use
of paper/plastic
· Reduce
packaging
· Car Pool
· Reduce
support for the meat industry
(The meat industry in
the US consumes more fossil fuels than all passenger cars in
US each year. Becoming a vegetarian keeps 2.5 tons of
carbon out of the atmosphere as compared with 2 tons by
switching to a hybrid car) .
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee has a web site from which you can send action alert messages to your elected representatives. Go to http://capwiz.com/uusc/home/
If you would like to sign on as a member of our
Human Rights Defenders network of activists and receive
regular e-mail alerts, please contact Brandi Tague in our
Programs Department
at Brandit@uusc.org.
This is a quick way to
make your voice heard.
EXTRA! If you would like to send an email message to President Bush about the Campaign to help end the genocide in Darfur, you may go to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee site and under "What's New" on the right hand side, click onto "Join Million Voices for Darfur". This site, http://www.uusc.org/darfur/index.html, will allow you the opportunity to send an electronic postcard to President Bush. Paper postcards will also be available at church on Sunday. Also, the UUSC has a blog page at http://www.uusc.org/blog/hotwire.html called hotwire . Visit it for more information.
Close the School of Assassins
On November 18-20, 2005 thousands of people of conscience will gather to demonstrate at the entrance to Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, home of the notorious School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC) where the U.S. Army trains dictators and terrorists who commit atrocities against humanity throughout Latin America.
This school’s legacy of shame began in 1946 in Panama. In 1984 it was kicked out of that country under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty. Former Panamanian President, Jorge Illueca, stated that the School of the Americas was the “biggest base for destabilization in Latin America.” The SOA, frequently dubbed the “School of Assassins,” has left a trail of blood and suffering in every country where its graduates have returned.
Over its 59 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000
Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques,
sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military
intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have
consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own
people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators,
union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and
others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of
thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped,
assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into
refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins.
This spring an
opportunity will come in the form of a Congressional vote to
have this school closed for good.
Support for and against this action is just about even, so a strong presence at this November demonstration could make all the difference. It is an annual demonstration, one of the most family and beginner friendly protests in the country.
I am urging the members of our congregation to, if you are able, join this peaceful protest and speak out for justice. If you are unable to attend you can sponsor someone from our region to attend. Our nearest organizing group is School of the Americas Abolitionists in Syracuse.
You can get more information from the School of Americas Watch website at www.soaw.org. Michael Pasquale is a member of the SOAW Council and on the Personnel committee. Please contact him at mpasqual@twcny.rr.com, for more information. You may also contact UU Utica congregant Brett Axel as listed in the directory. Brett has attended the demonstration and if enough interest is shown, will be leading a forum on it this month at the church (date TBA).
Information on Drug Policy Reform
UUs for Drug Policy Reform, a national independent affiliate of the UUA, invites you to get involved. Find the resources to help you with the UUA's drug war Study/Action Issue and other useful information at http://www.uudpr.org/ or contact Charles Thomas, President, UUs for Drug Policy Reform, at 301-938-1577, e-mail charlesthomas@uudpr.org
A short message from the Social Action Committee
We are continuing to investigate ways to add our
voice to the concern over the efficacy
of the 30-year-old
Rockefeller drug laws that deal with the sale of drugs.
Currently we are contacting each of the 32 other uu churches
in the St. Lawrence District to see if there is any interest
in making this a collective effort.
Several from the Committee attended a presentation at a meeting of the League of Women Voters about the Oneida County Drug Court. This is a relatively new specialized court that deals with nonviolent offenders who use/abuse drugs, and uses a community-based team approach that seeks to modify behavior rather than to automatically turn to the traditional incarceration system.
We are looking for volunteers from the congregation to participate in NYS's Adopt-A-Highway Program. This is a 2-year contract to attend to a 2-mile stretch of roadside four times/year. In turn a sign would be placed at the location acknowledging our church's participation.
Pro-Choice Assistance Needed
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America has
advised Planned Parenthood Centers nationwide that
October 3rd 2005 may be an intense day of picketing by
Anti-choice groups.
Why?: October
3rd marks the beginning of the next United States Supreme
Court session.
Who?: Multiple
anti choice groups may be involved including STOPP (Stop
Planned Parenthood) and ALL (American Life League.
When?: All day
Monday October 3, 2005. Our center hours on Mondays are
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Where?:
Planned Parenthood Center, 1424 Genesee St., Utica
What can YOU do to
help?:
Come stand in support
of pro-choice – come for 30 minutes, an hour, anytime that you
can – help our patients and the community know that there are
pro-choice advocates out there and we have a voice.
Bring a friend, a
family member, a stranger, come alone – every body and voice
counts.
It is not our policy
to engage protestors, it is our right to be out there just as
it is the right of these protestors to be there.
Mission statement of
PPFA:
“-to empower every
individual to make responsible and informed decisions about
sexual and reproductive health.”
Congratulations to Kate Oser, who was awarded the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, by Utica College at their annual commencement May 15, 2005. Kate was recognized for her many years as a social activist. Click on her name to read full article.
INTEREST IN MAKING THE WORLD A MORE PEACEFUL PLACE! ! !
Join the
The Mohawk Valley Peace Coalition Mission
Its mission. . .
To challenge
violent conflict in all its forms by
1) increasing
awareness of the consequences of and alternatives to war
2) promoting an
understanding of motivation for war and
3) offering
education on creative alternatives for conflict resolution.
To get involved contact Doreen Markson as listed in our Directory.
T -Shirts:
The logo on the T
-shirts being sold is "War is not the Answer". Very
versatile, being sold at cost to raise consciousness. Posters
are also available. Contact Kate Oser, as listed in our
Directory.
Unitarian
Universalist Service Committee (uusc.org)
A powerful voice for human rights In order to help
Unitarian Universalists and peace advocates educate, act, and
organize around this issue, we have assembled resources that
you and your community can use to advocate peace and
alternatives to violent conflict in Iraq. Below are links that
provide important information about current events, the
history of the conflict with Iraq, as well as resources for
action:
American Friends Service
Committee http://www.afsc.org/iraq/Default.htm
Provides alternatives to
war, reasons to oppose the war, history of the conflict,
and resources for action.Ê Friends Committee on
National Legislation (http://www.fcnl.org/) United for Peace http://www.unitedforpeace.org/
Unitarian Universalist
Association http://www.uua.org/news/2002/021105.html
Churches for Middle East
Peace http://www.cmep.org/
National Council of Churches
http://www.ncccusa.org/
National Network to End the
War http://www.endthewar.org/default-new.htm
New York Times Iraq Page
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/world/worldspecial/index.html
St. Lawrence District Opportunities (See Bulletin
Board for moor info)
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