Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice

NRCAT PROGRAMS, EVENTS, RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES – Winter 2012

Speakers Bureau Press Release final Jan 15 

NRCAT has four primary program areas

• Calling for a Commission of Inquiry intoU.S.government-sanctioned abuse and torture
• Countering anti-Muslim sentiment in theU.S.
• Ending extended isolation inU.S.prisons – anything more than 15 days
• Calling for the President to sign and the Senate to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture

Suggested Resources and Actions by Program area:

Ending Extended Isolation in US prisons

Federal Legislation – NRCAT is currently working to pass the National Criminal Justice Commission Act (NCJCA). NCJCA would create a commission tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of all aspects of our national criminal justice system. There has not been a comprehensive review of our national criminal justice system in over 40 years, and it is well past time.

• Contact your members of Congress to pass the NCJCA. 

Resource:  Special Rapporteur Juan Mendez presented a report about the use of solitary confinement in prisons across the world to the United Nations General Assembly on October 18, 2011. The report contains an overview of the history and effects of solitary confinement. The report also provides conclusions about when solitary confinement amounts to torture and offers recommendations to limit and reform its use. This report, General Assembly report A/66/268, is available in six languages on the UN website. Select “E” for English.

• Check the NRCAT website for a list of states where reform is taking place. A new DVD will be available by January 2012.  Schedule a showing for 2012 on the subject. 

Countering Anti-Muslim Sentiment in the U.S

Resource: DVD Hawo’s Dinner Party. Go to http://www.shelbyvillemultimedia.org/modules/hdp/ for a complete guide to using this DVD to foster discussion. View the trailer or the complete video. NRCAT has a limited supply of DVDs to share. WRRCAT has one copy available for use.

• Schedule a showing of the DVD and facilitate discussion using the guide provided.

Calling for a Commission of Inquiry

Resources: DVD “Repairing the Brokenness”, downloadable resources online at the NRCAT website. Download the petition style form of the call for a Commission of Inquiry into abuses approved by our government. 

• Ask your congregation members and body to sign the call for a Commission of Inquiry.

Urging the President to sign the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture

Resource: DVD Preventing Torture Everywhere. Petition style form for groups to sign on to urge the President to sign OPCAT and for the Senate to ratify. Use the following link: http://nrcat.nonprofitsoapbox.com/storage/nrcat/documents/opcat_statement_petition_version.pdf

• Show the DVD
• Print the petition and invite individuals and the congregational body to sig

General Education for Congregations on What Torture is – and is not:Torture is a Moral Issue

• Download the petition style Statement of Conscience and ask individuals and congregations to sign – online or on the hard copy petition. 

http://nrcat.nonprofitsoapbox.com/storage/nrcat/documents/petition_style_form_1_5_08.doc

• Go to the NRCAT Home Page to the Action Center and then to the Online Store and purchase a banner that states “Torture is Wrong”  or “Torture is a Moral Issue” and display it prominently.

  Some congregations keep the banner up all year; others display it during June, Torture Awareness Month. 

• Use the NRCAT DVD “Ending Torture Forever” as an education piece for congregations to stimulate discussion about what torture is – and what it is not. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT WRRCAT CHAIRWOMAN SUZANNE O’HATNICK AT     wrrcat2012(at)gmail.com

July 22–29

fromAtlanta,Ga., toBirmingham,Montgomery, andSelma,Ala

for ages 15-20

This trip UUSC’s 2012 Civil Rights Journey is specially tailored to young people, ages 15–20. July 22–29, 2012, participants will travel by bus from Atlanta, Ga., to Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma, Ala. In addition to visiting historic sites, participants will meet some of the courageous people who worked to desegregate schools, register new voters, and bring an end to racial discrimination in the United States. The cost for the trip is $600 per person for youth ages 15–20 and $900 for a limited number of adults able to serve as chaperones. The trip will be led by Rev. Hope Johnson of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Central Nassau, in Garden City, N.Y., and UUSC staff member Sam Jones. Along the way, participants will also learn about the progressive, nonviolent organizing techniques used by civil-rights activists and how those techniques are still being used today — to advance rights for workers, immigrants, and LGBTQ people; to work toward economic justice through the Occupy movement; and more.   Interested applicants can visit our website for more details about the trip or fill out an online application form today! Participants on past UUSC Civil Rights Journeys have described the experience as inspiring and transformational

February 6 7:00pm webinar on curriculum

UU Ministry for Earth has developed a new Environmental Justice curriculum.  Our Place in the Web of Life employs  ‘transformative learning’ methods that provide a highly experiential process to stimulate greater appreciation of our interdependence with all of life, ethical and spiritual discernment, personal behavioral change, and collective congregational advocacy.

Our Place in the Web of Life curriculum is now available for download on the UU Ministry for Earth website.

To help insure your success with the curriculum, a Facilitation Coaching Webinar is being offered with the curriculum developers Pamela Sparr and Mark Hicks.   The webinars will have a limited number of participates to facilitate discussion and questions, so register soon for one of the coaching sessions.

Visit the Our Place in the Web of Life web page to:

Watch the Overview Video with curriculum developers Pam Sparr and Mark Hicks.

Register and download Our Place in the Web of Life. 

Thanks to a new Montgomery County website there is now one place residents can go to get all the information they need to green their lifestyles and save money: MyGreenMontgomery.org! This site directs users to County, State, Federal and utility programs and incentives that make “going green” a no-brainer. Additional resources and information from local organizations and community groups is interesting and relevant to Montgomery County residents. Through www.myGreenMontgomery.org  anyone can create a personalized Green Plan, add an event to the Calendar, comment or ask question about specific Green Projects, or share their own success story. This site not only directs users to accurate information and resources, it also serves as a platform for residents to engage in green topics

The Citizens United decision is just the latest and most blatant example that corporations have hijacked our government. The ruling has opened the floodgates for corporate money in political campaigns to drown out the voices of natural persons – we the people – in our democracy. WHAT: Public forum and action meeting to discuss the need for a constitutional amendment to reverse the Citizens United decision and remedy the pernicious influence of money in politics. Discuss what we can do as a community, and learn about the Occupy the Courts and Occupy the Corporations events to be held on the two year anniversary of Citizens United. WHEN: Saturday, January 14, 2012, from 2PM to 4PM. WHERE: Shirlington Public Library, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA 22206. Sponsored by Northern Virginians for Peace and Justice, in solidarity with the coalition comprising Public Citizen, Free Speech For People, Move To Amend, People For The American Way, and Common Cause calling for a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United and abolishing the false doctrine of corporate personhood. Help Build the Movement to Reclaim Democracy from Corporate Influence Join with MoveToAmend to Occupy the Courts on Friday, January 20th. Occupy the Courts will be a one day occupation of Federal courthouses across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC, U.S. Supreme Court Bldg., One 1st St NE, Washington, DC 20543. Visit www.movetoamend.org/occupythecourts  for more information. Join with Public Citizen on Saturday, January 21st to Occupy the Corporations. As part of our Nationwide Day of Action to overturn Citizens United and end corporate rule, Public Citizen is working with local activists to “apprehend” corporate impostors posing as “people” with the same constitutional rights as the rest of us. Visit www.citizen.org/occupy-the-corporations  for more information.

Dept. of Labor Official Will Discuss Immigration: Feb 5th

On February 5th from 10:25am to 11:15am, Gabriela Lemus, Ph.D., will discuss immigration issues at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation (RRUUC) in Bethesda. Lemus is Senior Advisor and Director for the Office of Public Engagement, Department of Labor (DOL).   She represents the DOL at the Senior Policy Operating Group on Trafficking in Persons; the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status; and various inter-agency working groups in immigration policy. Lemus was the first woman to hold the position of Executive Director at the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA).

Gutierrez Will Explain “TheMaryland Dream Act” : Feb 12

 Also at RRUUC, Rep. Ana Sol Gutierrez will present “The Maryland Dream Act: What it is and what it isn’t. What does it do?” on Sunday, February 12, from 10:25am to 11:15am.  Delegate Gutierrez, (D) has been a District 18 Representative for ten years and was instrumental in legislating the “Dream Act.” The law now faces court action on the method of gathering signatures for a referendum. Also, there are questions about the outcome of the ballot in the General Election of 2012.

Islamophobia
Faiz Shakir, Vice President,
Center for American Progress

On February 19th at 10:25am, Faiz Shakir, vice president of the Center for American Progress, will present
“Islamophobia,” at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation (RRUUC) in Bethesda, Md. “Islamophobia” is a
term for the fear of “the other” that he  says has led to the demonization of minorities. Shakir  believes that
discriminatory legislation targets Latino Americans in many
states, conservative radio hosts vilify gays, and Muslims in America are often
ostracized and the victims of hate crimes. He believes that all three groups are the targets of organized
campaigns. Shakir will explore the roots of Islamophobia in America – how
it is funded, organized, and what proponents are trying to
accomplish.

What Every Citizen Should Know about Immigration Law
Nancy Elkind, Immigration Attorney

On February 26 , “What Every Citizen Should Know
about Immigration Law” will be discussed by Nancy Elkind, a Denver
immigration attorney. Beginning at 10:25am, she will explain how US immigration laws work. A second
discussion,“What We Should Know about the Principal Players and the Future of
the Immigration Law,” will begin at 12:30pm and conclude at 2 pm. The second
discussion will explore the implications of being in the US illegally and why
people break the rules.

Both the Feb. 19th and Feb.26th presentations are part of RRUUC’s ongoing program, Coffee,
Controversy and Conversation (CC&C). Each discussion is also part of the
Congregation’s February, 2012 “Immigration Month” program, an effort to
focus attention on the theme “Immigration: Lives Matter.” The CC&C
presentations are free and open to the public and will be held in the
Congregation’s Fireside Room. RRUUC is located at 6301 River Road, Bethesda,
Md., 20817. The website: www.rruuc.org. Tel. #: 301-229-0400 

 The February presentations are part of RRUUC’s ongoing program, Coffee, Controversy and Conversation (CC&C). Each discussion is also part of the Congregation’s February, 2012 “Immigration Month,” program, an effort to focus attention on the theme “Immigration: Lives Matter.” The CC&C presentations are free and open to the public and will be held in the Congregation’s Fireside Room. RRUUC is located at 6301 River Road, Bethesda, Md., 20817. The website: www.rruuc.org. Tel. # 301-229-0400

On Wednesday, January 18 and March 14, UU Church of ArlingtonPeace Camp is co-hosting two workshops with the Creating Peace Group: Teaching Peace in the Family. These workshops will show parents, teachers, and others working with children, how to help children cope with, and respond to, interpersonal conflict and to understand attitudes that contribute to conflict. Conflict will be addressed as an opportunity: an invitation to building relationships and negotiating win-win solutions. Practical lessons, creative ideas, and hands-on experiences will be central to both sessions. In the workshops participants will learn how to move from win-lose situations to win-win solutions. Workshop presenters are MJ and Jerry Park, co-directors of “Little Friends for Peace” and UUCA’s annual Peace Camp.  The workshops are open to the public and will take place at from 7:00pm – 8:30pm at UUCA, 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, Virginia 22204. Childcare will be available.

The workshops are part of Creating Peace, a series organized around the 2010 UUA Statement of Conscience. For information or questions on this series, contact either of the series facilitators, Sharon Sundial, ssundial01(at)verizon.net or Sarah Munson, sarahmun223(at)yahoo.com

Peace Camp 2012 will run for three weeks this year:  June 25 through July 13. To learn more or to register for Peace Camp, please see: http://www.uucava.org/group/peacecamp or contact the camp coordinators

 Virginia Interfaith Power & Light is engaging Virginia faith communities in the fight to keep the ban on uranium mining in Virginia. Virginia Uranium, Inc, a Canadian-owned company, is trying to repeal a nearly 30-year statewide ban on the mining of uranium, the milling of yellowcake, and the disposal of radioactive waste in Virginia. A proposed mine and mill in Pittsylvania County would generate over 28 million tons of mill tailings waste. This type of waste has been linked to increases in leukemia, kidney disease, and other severe health problems. Learn more here: http://vipl.org/PublicPolicy/UraniumMiningBan/tabid/892/Default.aspx  You’re invited to sign a petition to “Keep the Ban,” and share the link with your congregation: http://keeptheban.org/?page_id=237  To learn more about how your Virginia congregation can help, including collecting “Keep the Ban” postcards, email my colleague Trieste at Virginia Interfaith Power & Light: trieste(at)virginiainterfaithcenter.org.

running from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday on January 16 to Valentine’s Day.

For the THIRTY DAYS OF LOVE we will provide you with resources for guided theological reflections, activities for creating a collective vision, as well as opportunities for self-reflection, sharing our stories, lifting up courageous love, and taking concrete actions now as we examine where we go from here.

Click here to see an overview of the month and the resources we are offering so you can begin planning now.

This past year has opened up tremendous new opportunities. Just last week, Time Magazine named its 2011 “Person of the Year.” The winner? “The protester” – from the demonstrators across the Arab world to the Occupy Wall Street movement that continues to make headlines.

“There’s this contagion of protest,” Time managing editor Richard Stengel said on NBC television. “These are folks who are changing history already and they will change history in the future.”

Standing on the Side of Love is about far more than just protests – it’s about a movement that begins with our selves, and is rooted in our congregations and communities. It’s a movement that translates our faith in a better, more loving world into individual and collective actions with those who are marginalized and discriminated against because of their identity. And yes, it’s a movement of tremendous activism! THIRTY DAYS is a celebration of all of this.

Click here to preview the THIRTY DAYS campaign and see what resources we are offering.

Public Forum Flier_FinalAccotink Unitarian Universalist Church in Burke, VA will be hosting two events in January as part of a Public Forum on Homelessness.  These events are free, open to the public, and will take place at AUUC, 10125 Lakehaven Court, Burke, Virginia 22015.  Please see the AUUC website for directions:  http://www.accotinkuuc.org. 

Panel Discussion, January 15, 2 pm – 4 pm: Featuring a panel of speakers from the National Coalition for the Homeless. We’ll learn about the problems facing the homeless in our area directly from individuals who are or who have been homeless in the Washington, DC area.  Speakers will share their experiences and insights on ways we can help.  

Friday Night Film and Speaker, 20 January, 7:30 pm:  Join us for the film American Refugees:  Homelessness in 4 Movements, a portrait of life on the street featuring interviews with the homeless and those who try to help them.  Following the film, guest speaker Carolyn Fowler of the Partnership for Permanent Housing and CHRP Transitional Housing, Northern Virginia Family Services, will speak about local efforts underway to address homelessness.