[JTWNews] Healing Our World

[Susan Leslie]

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JOURNEY TOWARD WHOLENESS (JTW) NEWS
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Dear JTW-News Readers:

How wonderful it has been this week to see the faith community and
others stand on the side of immigrants.  If your congregation
participated in any of these events or advocated for humane immigration
policies please let us know.  We received the following report from Rev.
Monica Cummings of First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles:

"On March 25, 2006, 20 members from First Unitarian Church of Los
Angeles along with 5 youth advisors, 2 young adults and 41 Young
Religious Unitarian Universalists attending the PSWD social action
conference at First Church, attended the history making march in
downtown Los Angeles.  It was the largest march most of us had ever
experienced in our many decades of social activism (over 500,000
people!).  There were many memorable moments during the march, however
none more so than being thanked by Hispanic brothers and sisters for
standing in solidarity with them."

The UU contingent carried the church banner and YRUU made signs in
support of immigrant rights.  First Unitarian of LA has several members
that are undocumented workers and they have strong ties with the
immigrant community.  Their newsletter and materials are all bi-lingual
and the 11 a.m. Sunday service is always translated into Spanish.  See
http://www.uula.org/.

The UUA is an endorser of the New American Opportunity Campaign - see
http://www.cirnow.org/ to learn about what you can do.  Many of the
issues facing immigrants are issues of economic justice.  This issue of
SAC-News includes two easy and effective action items from Let Justice
Roll on increasing the federal minimum wage.  And news from the
Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a farmworkers organization, on a Day of
Prayer on Friday, March 31st, and their march on McDonald's headquarters
on Saturday, April 1st.

Thanks to all of you who sent in reports of your activities on the third
anniverary of the Iraq war. A link to an article on UUWorld.org about UU
opposition to the war is posted below along with exciting news from San
Diego. Also see next steps in the Win Without War campaign for an Open
Debate in Congress on the Iraq War which is really gaining momentum.

Friends, as the genocide continues The Save Darfur campagin has become
even more urgent.  Please join the campaign the UUA is co-sponsoring to
send 1 million postcards to the White House.  We are hoping to collect
25,000 cards from UUs.  These will be presented on April 30th, the same
day as a major rally to Save Darfur is held in Washington, DC (there
will also be an event in San Francisco.  See
http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/ for details on how to print out or
send for cards and then mail them to the UUA Washington Office for
Advocacy. 

I'm so heartened by all your efforts to work for justice and heal our
world.  Don't forget to feed your souls.  I recently had the pleasure of
hearing Sarah Dan Jones of the UU Musicians Network at a UUA Chapel
service and was left breathless!  If you are looking for music for
social justice events that will bring spirit to your social action
activities check out http://www.sarahdanjones.com/. Her song "When I
Breathe In" will move you beyond words right into your heart.

In faith, Susan

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(1) UUs MARK THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQ WAR
(2) WIN WITHOUT WAR CAMPAIGN FOR AN OPEN DEBATE IN CONGRESS ON THE IRAQ
WAR
(3) LET JUSTICE ROLL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN FOR RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE
(4) COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS DAY OF PRAYER & MEDITATION DURING
MCDONALDS TRUTH TOUR

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(1) UUs MARK THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQ WAR

Unitarian Universalists mark third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of
Iraq with peace vigils, rallies, and sermons.
By Donald E. Skinner 

Unitarian Universalists marked the third anniversary of the U.S.
invasion of Iraq last weekend with peace vigils, rallies, and sermons. 

In Portland, Ore., about 350 friends and members of First Unitarian
Church joined 10,000 others for a downtown rally and march Sunday, March
19, against the war. Despite the numbers, Robert C.A. Moore, founder of
a peace group at First Unitarian, said he sensed less enthusiasm this
year. Noting that 40,000 turned out in Portland when the war started in
2003, he said, "There seems to be some real fear among people that
they'll do or say something that will get them investigated by the FBI.
But for those of us who remain active, we're motivated by the thought
that we might do something that will end this war one day sooner." 

For full article and other reports see
http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/uusmarkanniversaryofiraqwar3040.sht
ml.

Rev. Arvid Straube of First UU Church of San Diego reports that "The
Faith Leaders for Peace action was by far the most well covered and most
effective action in San Diego this weekend about the Iraq war. Over
1,000 people attended the interfaith witness for peace.  The new
organization began by clergy talking to each other.  See more about
Faith Leaders for Peace at www.flfpeace.org. There are some great
pictures, our platform, press coverage, and more."

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(2) WIN WITHOUT WAR CAMPAIGN FOR AN OPEN DEBATE IN CONGRESS ON THE IRAQ
WAR

Members of Congress will be gathering on Capitol Hill on April 5th in
support of H.Res.543, a petition to discharge the Homeward Bound Act on
to the House floor for debate . To support  this congressional call for
an open debate, Win Without War (WWW)  http://www.winwithoutwarus.org/
-- of which the UUA is a member -- is launching an End the Congressional
Rubber Stamp Campaign - allowing for the debate and vote on all
alternatives to the Administration's failed policy in Iraq.  On the
Third Anniversary of the Iraq War, President William Sinkford issued a
statement that said, "As I said in a letter to Congress in December
2005, I believe that continuing to pursue a military-based strategy that
has failed to produce peace - a strategy that has tragic human
consequences almost every day - is ethically and religiously bankrupt.
The time for a public debate is long overdue."  For President Sinkford's
full statement---Call for Debate on Iraq--see http://www.uua.org/ .  For
the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy strategy see
http://www.uua.org/news/2003/iraq/060316_congress.html.


The campaign is continuing to develop, but here is the current schedule:

*       April 3, 4 and 5 - Radio ads are launched in Columbus and
Minneapolis
*       April 5 - Local press conferences are held in Columbus and
Minneapolis to announce the launch of  newspaper ads in Columbus Post
Dispatch and Minneapolis Star Tribune
*       April 5 - WWW Coalition launches National Call-in Day urging
Members of Congress to end the rubber stamp for the Administration's war
in Iraq and support an open and honest debate on alternatives.
*       April 5 - A bipartisan group of Members of Congress will hold a
press conference announcing their support for  H.Res.543 and walk
together to sign the discharge petition on the House floor. .
*       April 6 - Public launch of the End the Congressional Rubber
Stamp Roll Call.
*       April District Work Period (April 10-21) - Continued grassroots
district meetings with Members of Congress across the country.
*       www.openiraqdebate.org   will feature information on the
campaign with tool kits for press and grassroots campaigns, as well as a
Roll Call of Members who are for and against a debate on Iraq.

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(3) LET JUSTICE ROLL ADVCOACY CAMPAIGN FOR RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE

Two significant actions on behalf of raising the federal minimum wage.

1)    The first is a "citizens' co-sponsorship" campaign for the Fair
Minimum Wage Act in the Senate. By going to the following computer link,
you can sign on as a citizen co-sponsor of the Senate's Fair Minimum
Wage Act  which, when passed, will increase the federal minimum wage
from $5.15/hour to $7.25/hour. The web link is:
http://kennedy.senate.gov/newsletter/mwcitizencosponsor.cfm. Please sign
on to the "citizens' co-sponsorship" campaign as soon as possible.

2)    The second is a campaign to force the House of Representatives to
vote on the Fair Minimum Wage Act. Thus far, the House leadership has
blocked all efforts to bring this bill to the floor of the House. Now,
however, there is an opportunity to force a vote. House Resolution 614
is a "discharge petition" that will force a debate and vote on the bill
if a majority (218) of the members of the House sign it. The House of
Representative's version of the Fair Minimum Wage Act, like the
companion bill in the Senate, will increase the federal minimum wage
from $5.15/hour to $7.25/hour.

      You can use the following web link to see the names of those
      Representatives who have signed the petition.
      http://clerk.house.gov/109/1rc/pd/Petitions/Dis11.htm.
      If your representative(s) has signed, please thank them. If they
have
      not, please urge them to do so.

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(4) COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS DAY OF PRAYER & MEDITATION DURING
MCDONALDS TRUTH TOUR

Day of Prayer and Medititon to Advance Real Rights for Farmworkers
People of Faith Across the Nation Pray for McDonald's and Farmworkers

National and regional leaders of religious bodies are calling upon their
members to pray for McDonald's and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
(CIW) on Friday, March 31.  On this Day of Prayer and Meditation to
Advance Real Rights for Farmworkers, adherents will be praying for
McDonald's Corporation, headquartered in Oak Brook, IL, to work with the
CIW to advance the real rights of farmworkers in its tomato supply
chain.  

The CIW is a membership-led organization of agricultural workers based
in Immokalee, Florida, that seeks justice for farmworkers and promotes
their fair treatment in accordance with national and international labor
standards.   The farmworkers have launched a McDonald's Truth Tour and
have been calling on the company to ensure improved wages, the full
participation of farmworkers in protecting their own rights, and an
enforceable code of conduct based on universally established labor
standards.
"Prayer and meditation have the ability to change hearts and minds and
offers sustenance to those who are suffering" said Fred Seidl
[FSeidl at uua.org], from the Unitarian Universalist Association.  "Today
across the nation we surround McDonald's and the farmworkers with our
thoughts and prayers.

Religious bodies, including the Unitarian Universalist Association have
been on the forefront of supporting the CIW's efforts to ensure the food
served by fast-food corporations is produced fairly. See
http://www.ciw-online.org/UU%20Mcds%20letter.html. Many national faith
bodies supported the CIW-led, four-year boycott of Taco Bell which led
to a ground-breaking agreement in March 2005 that significantly improved
farmworker wages and established the first code of conduct for Florida
agricultural suppliers which guarantees a meaningful role for
farmworkers in the protection of their own rights. 

"We've been calling on McDonald's to do what Taco Bell has already done;
namely work with the CIW to improve wages and advance farmworkers'
rights in its own tomato supply chain" said Seidl of the UUA. 
 
Farmworkers continue to be some of the most exploited and impoverished
workers in the US. Florida's tomato pickers earn 40-50 cents for each
32lb bucket of tomatoes they pick. At that rate - a rate that has
remained virtually unchanged since 1978 - workers have to pick more than
two tons of tomatoes just to earn minimum wage. They receive no overtime
pay and no benefits, and have no right to organize in order to improve
these conditions. 

"The regularized exploitation faced by farmworkers picking tomatoes for
McDonald's suppliers is a glaring example of unethical practice.  As
people of faith we are called to ensure that our economic systems work
for the well-being of all, not just some" insisted Dr. Seidl.

The Day of Prayer comes during the CIW-led McDonald's Truth Tour which
is visiting seventeen cities as it educates and mobilizes consumers.
The Truth Tour culminates with a peaceful rally at the Rock 'n Roll
McDonald's in downtown Chicago, on April 1st at 1pm.

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Send in your congregation's news!   
 

Susan Leslie
Director for Congregational Advocacy and Witness
Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon Street, Boston MA  02108
(617) 948-4607; sleslie at uua.org
www.uua.org/justice
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