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September 24, 2010
Contents:
I. "Welcome to Our Global Faith" Video Resource
The UUA's International Resources Office has released a new video resource, providing an introduction to and overview of the global aspects of our Unitarian Universalism.
The "Welcome to Our Global Faith" video is designed to introduce the global nature of Unitarian Universalism to new members of Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations. Leaders of new member classes or orientation sessions can include it as part of their curricula. Congregations may find it useful in other contexts as well.
View "Welcome to Our Global Faith"
II. UN Sunday | News from the UU-UNO
Celebrating United Nations Sunday is an excellent opportunity for Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations to express their commitment to our Sixth Principle: We Covenant to Affirm and Promote the Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty and Justice for All.
The UU-United Nations Office's (UU-UNO's) theme for UN Sunday 2010 is:
Ethical Aspects of Climate Change
The UU-UNO recommends that congregations schedule a UN Sunday service on October 24, 2010, (or another convenient date) in recognition of the birth of the United Nations on October 24th, 1945.
The UU-UNO has also recently announced the 2011 Intergenerational Spring Seminar's theme: Women's Rights
The seminar will take place April 28-30, 2011 (Youth arrival on April 27).
Further details will become available online in the coming months.
Learn more about UN Sunday and the Intergenerational Spring Seminar!
III. Holdeen Partner "Breakthrough" Launches Global Campaign
Mallika Dutt, CEO and President of Breakthrough, a UU Holdeen India Program Partner, announced the launch of the "Bell Bajao" global campaign on domestic violence recently at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).
Launched in 2008, Bell Bajao (Hindi for "Ring the bell") calls on men and boys from around the world to champion the cause by ringing the bell to interrupt domestic violence. The campaign started as part of a three-year CGI commitment to bring an end to the pandemic of violence against women and HIV/AIDS in India.
Through a series of powerful, award-winning print, radio, and television public service announcements, Bell Bajao has started a national conversation in India by reaching more than 130 million people, enhancing public awareness of laws against domestic violence, and sharply increasing reporting of the crime.
Read more about Breakthrough's global campaign against domestic violence!
IV. Witness to a Return Home: A Trip to Uganda
In northern Uganda, more than 1.8 million people have been displaced from their homes for as long as 22 years. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) has worked for two years there with partner Caritas Pader, piloting a unique program that has empowered thousands of people displaced by war to return to their villages.
While UUSC has been working in northern Uganda, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has developed a relationship with Rev. Mark Kiyimba, leader of a Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregation in Kampala, Uganda's capital. Kiyimba runs a 400-student school and 20-child orphanage near Masaka and has been campaigning against Uganda's draconian anti-homosexuality bill. On the second part of the trip, participants will meet with the UU Kampala congregation; talk with Ugandan leaders of the struggle for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's rights; and visit the school and orphanage the Kampala congregation supports.
Learn more about this joint UUA-UUSC travel opportunity!
V. Churches for Middle East Peace: Don't Let Peace Talks End!
From Churches for Middle East Peace:
This Sunday Israel's freeze on new settlement construction in the West Bank will end. Settlements are a critical issue in the renewed negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. The end to this freeze signifies a vital turning point for everyone involved in the peace talks. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that the moratorium will not be extended. Yesterday, Palestinian Authority President Abbas said that it would be "very difficult" for talks to continue if Israeli construction resumes. This impasse threatens to end what careful progress has been made towards an agreement thus far. Continue reading
Take action now by sending a message to President Obama and Senator Clinton: The time is now to keep talks going for a just and comprehensive peace for Israelis and Palestinians!
VI. EUU Fall Retreat
OCTOBER 29-31 2010
The European Unitarian Universalists (EUU) is happy to invite you to attend the Fall EUU Retreat in Alsace, France, hosted by the UU Fellowship of Paris. UUA President Rev. Peter Morales will be the theme speaker.
Theme
Rev. Morales' retreat theme, "Building a Religion Beyond Belief," will explore religion not as a set of beliefs but as what we love - including the role of religious community and the need to adapt to contexts.
All are welcome
EUU retreats are for people of all ages - we offer a full program for young people as well as adults.
Location
The retreat will be in Mittelwihr, France (near Colmar) on the eastern side of the Vosges Mountains, along the Route des Vins d'Alsace (Wine Route). Nearby Riquewihr is a walled, well-preserved picturesque medieval market town. The province of Alsace is known for its typical wood framed houses, large black hats and regional specialties. As one of the regions of Europe welcoming to Renaissance humanists, Alsace is a fitting setting for our retreat.
Learn more about the retreat and register online!
VII. UUSC-UUA Relief Effort for Pakistan Flooding
In response to the massive flooding in Pakistan, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) have launched the UUSC-UUA Joint Pakistan Flood Relief Fund.
Two of UUSC's partners are responding to the crisis in Pakistan, with a specific focus on the needs of women and unaccompanied children. Donations to the UUSC-UUA Joint Pakistan Flood Relief Fund will support their work.
Please consider donating to the UUSC-UUA Joint Pakistan Flood Relief Fund to ensure that women and refugees in Pakistan can access the immediate relief they need. The situation in Pakistan is dire and worsening. Your support can make a big difference.
Donate to the UUSC-UUA Pakistan Flood Relief Fund!
VIII. UUPCC Fall Newsletter Now Available
The UU Partner Church Council's fall newsletter is now available online.
Read about: The celebration in Kolozsvár, commemorating 20 years of the modern partnership movement, upcoming virtual conference calls, the future of partnership in Transylvania, planning for the 2012 Women's Convocation, and more!
Read the UUPCC's fall newsletter!
IX. UUHIP: Partners for Justice in India Video
The UUA International Resources Office is happy to announce the release of "UUHIP: Partners for Justice in India," a great introduction to the work and philosophy of the Unitarian Universalist Association's Holdeen India Program.
UUHIP works with key leaders and organizations of India's most marginalized and disadvantaged peoples in their struggle to secure human rights and economic and social justice. The program supports the efforts of those peoples excluded or oppressed on the basis of gender, caste, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, especially dalits (untouchables), adivasis (tribals), migrant, bonded and child laborers, domestic and home-based workers, and scavengers, helping them to participate fully in the social, economic and political life of India.
Available online for free, as well as on DVD, the video features profiles of 5 Holdeen India Program partners as well as reflections by Program Direction Kathy Sreedhar, former UUA President Rev. John Buehrens and UU minister Rev. Abhi Janamanchi.
For those interested in obtaining a DVD copy of the video, please contact the International Resources Office.
View "UUHIP: Partners for Justice in India" online!
X. Events
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