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Meleah Houseknecht on Environmental Justice: Using Our UU Principles as a Theological Guide

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I joined the Minneapolis Community Environmental Advisory Commission in 2012 as a part of an effort to diversify the commission and refocus it toward public health and community resilience. Another new member was Rochelle, a community activist from North Minneapolis, which has the highest poverty rates and largest concentrations of indigenous people and people of … Continue reading Meleah Houseknecht on Environmental Justice: Using Our UU Principles as a Theological Guide

Homelessness

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Is homelessness as intractable as it would seem in this country? Homeless encampments are found at the intersection of widespread poverty and an array of failed federal tax and spend policies. There were over 550,000 homeless individuals in the United States in 2021, the government estimates. Most advocates consider this a significant undercount since it … Continue reading Homelessness

The Right to Choose

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By Elizabeth Mount To begin, to start, to create, to undertake, To grow, to promise, to increase, to generate. All these are our birthright. As we are created, so may we create. The ability and the choice to create is sacred. To withdraw that chance from any person without their permission Would be a violent … Continue reading The Right to Choose

Climate Policy Loses If Green Climate Fund Becomes Political Football

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The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a global platform established to respond to climate change by investing in low-emission and climate-resilient development. The fund also assists vulnerable societies in adapting to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Climate-related extremes have affected productivity in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Droughts, floods, wildfires, and marine heatwaves have affected … Continue reading Climate Policy Loses If Green Climate Fund Becomes Political Football

Flat Funding for the Department of Homeland Security FY22 

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UUSJ has advocated for reduced funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, especially their detention and other enforcement activities, after several years of significant increases.  The FY22 budget proposal just out May 28 for all of DHS is $52 billion, unchanged from last year. That may seem disappointing but the truth … Continue reading Flat Funding for the Department of Homeland Security FY22 

Good News for Stopping Climate Change

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David Shilton, Environmental Action Team Convenor The EPA Announces Phase Out of HFCs The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced proposed rules to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) over the next 15 years. HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases that are used in most refrigerators and air conditioners, and they tend to leak out into the atmosphere over … Continue reading Good News for Stopping Climate Change

How President Biden’s Climate Finance Plan Measures Up to UUSJ Demands

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Many UUs participated in the recent UUSJ Action Alert, asking President Biden, key Administration officials, and representatives in Congress to commit to funding this country’s fair share of the Green Climate Fund. UUSJ  joined other UU organizations, faith groups, and citizens in highlighting the United States’  moral responsibility to aid poorer countries suffering the effects … Continue reading How President Biden’s Climate Finance Plan Measures Up to UUSJ Demands

Democracy 2021 Priorities

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The Democracy Action Team is working on advocacy plans for 2021. After meetings with Senate staffers last month, the Team agreed on its priorities for this year as well as the groups it hopes to partner with. (Find the team’s complete report HERE.) The Team’s priorities focus on: Ensuring fair elections Enabling voters’ participation and … Continue reading Democracy 2021 Priorities

Immigration Justice, New Administration, New Bills

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Immigration Justice, New Administration, New Bills With President Biden proposing a bold immigration bill that includes pathways to citizenship, the Immigration Action Team is focusing on the House and Senate committees considering the legislation. The Administration’s proposal includes – among other things – citizenship pathways for all 11 million immigrants here without full legal status. … Continue reading Immigration Justice, New Administration, New Bills