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.

- Bill Gazitano

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.

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 .

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.

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

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:

New York State Senate

NY State Assembly

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.

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)