UUMFE Connections at General Assembly 2021
UU Ministry for Earth was at the Virtual General Assembly with pre-programs, workshops, movie screenings and post-programming from June 23rd through June 27th. In addition, leaders of UUMFE will host open conversation hours in the virtual UUMFE Booth.
Get Connected on CreateClimateJustice.net
Connect with other UU eco activists participating in General Assembly and stay up to date on meet-up times and the like by joining the “UUA General Assembly (GA) 2021 participants” group on CreateClimateJustice.net
2020 GA PROGRAMS and WORKSHOPS by UUMFE
Documentary Screening of The Condor & The Eagle
Indigenous environmental leaders embark on an extraordinary trans-continental adventure from the Boreal forest to deep into the heart of the Amazonian jungle to unite the peoples of North and South America and deepen the meaning of “Climate Justice”.
Transforming & Ending the Colonial Paradigm
with the InterNātional Initiative for Transformative Collaboration
Indigenous Peoples have emerged as leaders in the movement for climate justice. This session is an invitation calling our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves to gather, listen, and consider how it is possible to move into a deeper relationship with each other and Earth.
GA BUSINESS
UUMFE Endorsed the Business Resolution, “Embodying Human Rights in Our Investment Decisions”
The Business Resolution enhanced the work of Unitarian Universalists for social justice by strengthening our use of corporate investment/divestment and shareholder advocacy in support of human rights. The Resolution calls on the UUA to:
- Strengthen its use of human rights considerations in its investment decisions;
- Develop mechanisms of communication between the UUA investment committees and UU social justice groups.The UUA investment committees support the resolution.
Action of Immediate Witness from the Plymouth 400th Remembrance Task Force:
Address 400 Hundred Years of White Supremacist Colonialism
This AIW describes the reasons why Unitarian Universalists must remember and address the European invasion of this continent, the genocide of the original peoples and the ongoing destruction of our earth. It offers priority actions which Unitarian Universalists can take in solidarity with Indigenous-led movements and struggles.
Contact Information:
Rev. Clyde Grubbs, cegrubbs@me.com
Rev. Karen VanFossan, karenvanfossan@gmail.com, 701.202.2421
Ann Gilmore, gilpete@msn.com
ON-DEMAND WORKSHOPS
LEARNING FROM PROVIDENCE: Climate & Environmental Justice Training – #622
Part 1 – The Providence Climate Justice Plan
The Providence team describes how their plan was developed and is already preventing pollutants in their most burdened communities.
Part 2 – Building from the Providence Example
Learn how to achieve measurable emissions reductions and justice objectives using the lessons from Providence and the Strengthen Local Climate Commitment (SLCC) Campaign.
Part 3 – Create Climate Justice – Weaving it All Together
Band together and become the UU Movement in partnership with frontline impacted communities.
Workshop Participants
Leah Bamberger, Director of Sustainability, City of Providence
Dick Boyce, UU Church of Columbus Indiana, Chairman Environmental Acton Team
Eric Goplerud, UU Congregation of Fairfax, VA, Board Chair, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, FACS
Monica Huertas, Racial and Env.Justice Committee, City of Providence, Member, Religious Society of Bell Street Chapel (UU)
Court King, Climate Justice Policy Associate, City of Providence
Lisa Maloney, Green Team Facilitator, First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI
Doris Marlin, All Souls Church UU, Washington DC. Lay Leader, Strengthen Local Climate Commitments (SLCC)
Bill McPherson, University Unitarian Church, Seattle, WA, Climate Lead, JUUstice Washington
Zak Mettger, Green Team Facilitator, First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI
Gary Piazzon, UU Congregation of Whidbey Island, WA, Social Environmental Justice Council Co-Facilitator
Aly Tharp, UU Ministry for Earth Program Director, Member, Wildflower UU, Austin, TX
Rev. Dr. Kate Walker and the Climate Team of Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church, Alexandria, VA
Walter Weiss, River Road Unitarian Church, Bethesda MD, Dir., MC_FACS, Montgomery County MD, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
Shout Out To: Steve Ahlquist, member First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI
PLYMOUTH 400th REMEMBRANCE – Colonialism Workshop Track
Part 1 – Covenant & Colonialism – #605
We remember the Pilgrims and the first churches in New England as forerunners of our contemporary
Unitarian Universalism. We especially cherish their covenants. Yet we know that these churches advocated
and blessed the conquest and genocide of the original people of this land. Who do we covenant with, and
why?
Part 2 – Settler Colonialism and Genocide – #606
Our earth nourishes and gives us life, yet the values and practices of settler colonialism have been ecologically
destructive and now threaten life itself. Sustainable indigenous ways of life were violently replaced. Learning
life giving practices from Turtle Island’s original peoples could make all the difference for generations to come.
Part 3 – Decolonization & Earth Justice – #616
The Mayflower landing represented something new in the conquest of “the Americas.” We review the
Plymouth Planation as an example of Settler Colonialism and begin to understand how the Pilgrims modeled
the coming genocide, the introducution of chattel slavery and removal for the original people of this land.
Workshop Participants:
- Rev. Dr. Clyde Grubbs
- Rev. Danielle Di Bona
- Rev. Gary McAlpin
- Rev. Karen Van Fossan
- Rev. Adam Lawrence Dyer
- Aly Tharp, Program Director, UUMFE
Indigenous Resistance: NoDAPL Political Prisoners Create Climate Justice
Sunday, June 28 @ 1:30-3 pm PT / 2:30-4 pm MT/ 3:30-5 pm CT / 4:30-5 pm ET
Sponsored by Green Sanctuary Program of the UUA
Colonialism criminalizes Indigenous resistance. While the Water Protector Movement at Standing Rock inspired the world, Indigenous activists are targeted as Political Prisoners by the US government. UUs have responded powerfully to the Standing Rock call. Now, toward a truly just and sustainable world, we are called into deepening decolonizing work.
Speakers:
- Leoyla Cowboy Giron
- Little Feather Giron
- Rev. Karen Van Fossan
- Additional Members of the NoDAPL Political Prisoners Support Committee
VIRTUAL EXHIBIT HALL
UUMFE VISITATION HOURS – This is a chance to talk with UUMFE leaders about campaigns, webinars, worship materials, and other resources for your climate justice programming and projects.
No GA Registration required.
Open ZOOM LINk for UUMFE Booth.
GREEN SANCTUARY POSTER SESSION
CLIMATE URGENCY: A UU Faithful Response
Green Sanctuary offers a new congregational path for UU faithful responses to the current climate crisis, even during the pandemic. Justice and climate lay and professional leaders will learn about program structure and flexibility for congregational work and mobilization. Staff and Green Sanctuary Board advisors offer question and answer time.
THE UUMFE STORE – Logo Shirts, UUYACJ bandannas now in four colors, UUMFE brochures and Create Climate Justice buttons are available in The UUMFE Store to help promote your values and actions.
POST-PROGRAMS
THE CONDOR & THE EAGLE Documentary Screening & Discussion
Co-Hosted by UUMFE, Side With Love, & multi-faith partners. The perfect way to close out GA 2020!
GA PARTICIPANT SURVEY
Thank you for connecting with UU Ministry for Earth! Please fill out the form below to join UUMFE’s mailing list[s] and share more information about who you are, what you are seeking in connecting with UU Ministry for Earth, and what your ministries for Earth Justice are focused on: