Dear friend,
Blessings and hello! I am writing to you from Portland, Oregon, where UU Ministry for Earth leaders gathered and covenanted together over the past week. For the first time ever, the UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) Board of Directors, UU Young Adults for Climate Justice, & an emergent UUs of Color Environmental Justice Caucus came together in person, exploring and discussing our common aims and avenues on this faithful journey to Climate Justice.
In the months to come, you will hear more about this gathering and what we accomplished and committed to --- for now I will share that a deep sense emerged of hope, spiritual renewal, and anticipation that Unitarian Universalism and UUMFE are on the cusp of a powerful and vital shift.
Climate Justice Month is not “the time of the year when we do more about climate” --- it may be that, too, but more importantly it is a time for reflection, renewal, and recommitment to work that must be done every day in many ways.
As May begins, I pray that EVERY Unitarian Universalist and UU ministry for climate and environmental justice experiences hope, spiritual renewal, and excited anticipation for emergent strategies, leadership, and change.
I pray that our hearts and our songs may ring with the truth that, as Arundhati Roy would say, “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”
In faith,
Aly Tharp
UU Ministry for Earth Program Director
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CONNECTION
How was your Climate Justice Month & Earth Day Sunday? UUMFE would love to hear your stories and see pictures! Upload photos to this Google Shared Album or email them along with your stories to office@uuministryforearth.org. For photos, please be certain that you have permission to share and include any relevant information about photo credit, congregation, who is pictured, etc.
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EDUCATION
In case you missed it, Elandria Williams (co-moderator of the UUA) was the April special guest on the Environmental Justice Practitioners Network (EJPN) Webinar Series, a joint-program of the UUA Green Sanctuary Program and UUMFE. Speaking on a wide range of topics --- from examples of inspiring community solutions to human and Earth exploitation, to the future of the Unitarian Universalist Association --- you don’t want to miss what Elandria has to say! Watch it now.
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INSPIRATION
On April 16th, 2018, 10-year-old Unitarian Universalist, Levi Draheim, a Juliana v US plaintiff and recipient of UUMFE’s Guardian of the Future Award --- along with seven other youth plaintiffs --- filed a constitutional climate lawsuit against his home state of Florida. There are now youth climate lawsuits pending in 9 US states and some form of legal action has taken place in all 50 US states, with support from the organization Our Children’s Trust. And don’t forget -- the Juliana v US trial will begin on October 29th, in Eugene, OR!
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ACTIVATION
The Unitarian Universalist Association is a participating partner in the new Poor People’s Campaign for Moral Revival, a fusion justice movement that includes a vision and call for Environmental Justice. From May 13th through June 23rd, a mass movement for collective liberation will participate in weekly community prayers, education sessions, and direct actions at state houses all over the United States. There is a commitment form specifically for UUs who want to engage in the new Poor People’s Campaign as a faithful public witness of their UU values.
PS - Numerous highlights of this message focus on activities in the United States --- and this is often the case, in part because UUMFE is based in the US -- however, UU Ministry for Earth seeks to actively support and engage with Unitarian Universalists all over the world, not just in the US. UUMFE is thrilled to see groups such as the UUs of Hong Kong participating in Climate Justice Month and wishes to express gratitude and solidarity with UUs acting for climate justice all over the world.
Photo Credits: Header Image of Mt Hood and apple tree blossoms by Aly Tharp. Earth Day UUMFE graphic designed by Rose Gallogly. Photo of Elandria Williams is from Elandria’s Facebook profile. Youth v Gov logo is from the Our Children’s Trust Twitter profile. Poor People’s Campaign logo is from the campaign website
Visit UU Ministry for Earth online at uumfe.org.
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