Unitarian Universalist of San Mateo
Social Action Committee
We are a committee made up of members of
the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo.
We generally meet monthly see UUSM Activities page for current
schedule. The UUSM Social Action Committee provides opportunities for congregants
to discuss and work together on social issues of mutual interest and raises
awareness of these issues with the congregation and the community. Before September
11, our biggest areas of interest were the death penalty specifically, working
for a moratorium on executions), ecology, and globalization. In the last year,
the international and domestic "War on Terrorism" has become a major
concern. Minutes of our meetings will soon be available on line.
In the past couple of years, our activities have included:
- hosting a film series with a focus on the death penalty and
on globalization
- hosting a vigil for an execution
- co-sponsoring with the Open Door committee a benefit at the
Comedy Club for San Mateo NAACP youth.
- participating in a protest march to
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal and a variety of peace marches
- joining with PIA to participate in the Freedom Train and march
for Martin Luther King
- co-founding (with Palo Alto Friends and others) a chapter
of California People of Faith for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
- a compact-fluorescent light bulb sale and working with the
maintenance committee to replace all UUSM bulbs with compact fluorescents
- facilitating ride-sharing to services
- efforts to improve signs near the entrance to the San Mateo-Hayward
Bridge ("Every trip to Hayward a WANTED trip to Hayward")
- publicity and ride sharing to several large demonstrations
- spearheading a monthly second collection for charity
At past retreats, we discussed several major questions. One of them, which I
focused on, was exploring opportunities to encourage and support participation
in social action issues for our congregational members, how to interelate with
other local UU congregations in the Pacific Central District, and thirdly, exploring
opportunities to network with other local social justice and environmental organizations.
We want an easier way to know what events and actions other groups are planning
with which we could participate.
To that end, I volunteered to create a website which our congregation
could use to discover opportunities for social activism. Besides listing appropriate
websites, I also indicate which of those websites provide opportunities for
direct action in the form of email or snail mail directions for communication
with legislators or corporate leaders. I endeavor to provide current listings
for local activism opportunities. We would like to request that the PCD create
a website linking all the local UU social action/justice committes to facilitate
networking as described in their mission statement below. (Sanda
Everette)
Our congregation is part of the Pacific
Central District of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The PCD has
a committee with a similar purpose called the Social Justice Action Committee.
The mission of Social Justice Action Committee (SoJAC) is to facilitate social
justice action within the Pacific Central District through: Networking (between
societies and other appropriate groups); Resources (identify, develop, and make
available a variety of resources to local societies; Education (facilitate education
on social justice issues within member PCD societies); Leadership Development
and Support (deepen our spiritual understanding of social justice work and offer
practical training in organizational skills, media skills, alliance-building
and fund raising); and Coordination (facilitate cooperation and coordination
among PCD member societies for social justice action).
At one point I researched work of other UU Social Justice
Programs and came up with some interesting resources and references.
- Characteristics
of an effective social justice program
- The role of the congregation and the board of trustees in
social justice
ministry
- Congregational SOCIAL
JUSTICE EVALUATION FORM
- Minutes
of another social action group
- Voices of
Commitment: Longtime UUs Reflect on Their Lives in
the Denomination
- InterConnections: Website
as Front Door and Covenants
- The Social Justice
Ministry within the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco
- Faithful Fools Street
Ministry
- Inspires Urban Church Conference Attendees
(Real Audio)
- Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. The Busy Person's
Guide to Social Action. Boston,UUSC, 1986.
- A useful guide to getting started: developing an action plan,
holding meetings, getting the story out, lobbying, raising money. This book
makes it all seem possible and is full of practical tips.
From the UUA website "Unitarian Universalists have a rich
history of working to vitalize democratic participation in our political system,
dating back to the earliest days of American government. Our fifth principle
reads we will covenant to affirm and promote the right of conscience and the
use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
We have long been committed to the belief that our democracy will be enhanced
and improved by greater participation."
-
-
Some opportunities to look at photos of the some of the
events that we have attended...
really, there are lots more, I just have not set up the links....
On-line opportunities for Social Activisim
Some of these web sites provide opportunities to send email
to appropriate individuals and will be identified with 
Death Penalty Issues
- Amnesty InternationalÝ
- ACLU Death Penalty
Web Site
- Anti-Capital
Punishment Resources from the American Society of Criminology
- Prison Family Support Services
- Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
- Death
Penalty Educational Curriculum
- Death Penalty Focus
Death Penalty Information
Center
- Journey of Hope...from
Violence to Healing
- Links Toward Abolition
- Moratorium
Now!
- Murder Victims' Families for
Reconciliation
- National Death Penalty
News, Information & Updates
- National Coalition to Abolish
the Death Penalty
- Religious
Tolerance- The Death Penalty
- The Justice Project
- The Mobilization To Free
Mumia Abu-Jamal
- The Moratorium
Campaign
- Truth in Action- The
official web site for Joe Giarratano
- Truth
in Justice Site- Innocent People Imprisoned, Sentenced to Die, Executed
- Unitarian
Universalists for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
- Washington
& Lee Law School- Capital Case Clearing House
Healthy Food Issues (non-GMO)
- True Food Network
- Organic Consumers
Association
- Bay Area Coalition for
Urban Agriculture
-
Social Justice-treatment of Workers
Boycott Action News: Environment,
Justice, Labor, Worker, Animal, Human Rights
Co-op America
Fair Trade Federation
- Global
Citizens foster constructive change in our global community by
assembling diverse groups of concerned individuals -- from world leaders to
local activists -- for challenging discussions that stimulate meaningful and
enduring resolution of our world's pressing concerns.
Democracy, Globalization, and Media
- Alliance for Democracy
- Consortium News
- FAIR -- Fairness and
Accuracy In Reporting
- Inmotion
Magazine , a multicultural, online U.S. publication about democracy
- Independent Media Center
a collective of independent media organizations and hundreds of journalists
offering grassroots, non-corporate coverage, a democratic media outlet for
the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of truth.
-
- International Action Center
Information, activism, and resistance to US Militarism, war, and
corportate greed, linking with struggles against racism and oppression within
the United States (Founded by Ramsey Clark)
- Media Channel News-media
watchers
- National Radio Project
Making Contact is a weekly program committed to investigative journalism and
in-depth critical analysis which goes beyond the breaking news.
- Natural Capitalism
creating the next industrial revolution
- Progressive Review since
1964 Washington's most unofficial source
- The Ruckus Society provides
training in the skills of non-violent civil disobedience to help environmental
and human rights organizations achieve their goals
-
Local Social Justice and Environmental Organizations
Acterra
California Peace
Action
Ecology Center
Flashpoints
Radio - Hard Hitting Investigative News Magazine
Greenaction for
Health and Environmental Action
KPFA radio 94.1fm Berkeley
Peace
Action of San Mateo County
Peninsula Peace and Justice Center
RecycleWorks Recycling
and Composting Program of the County of San Mateo
San Francisco
Bay Area Progressive Directory
San Francisco Bay Area
Eco Calendar
San Mateo County Greens a hotly debated group in our organization
Sierra Club-Loma
Prieta Chapter
Sustainable San Mateo
County
-
Other Environmental and Social Issues
- AtKisson Action
Guide to accelerate sustainable development
- Environmental Organization
WebDirectory
- Flash Activist Network
- Give
for Change
- Global Exchange
- Green Peace Action Center
- Internet Resources
for Nonprofit Public Service Organizations
- New Dimensions Radio
- Positive Futures
Network
- Rainforest Action Network
- Rocky Mountain Institute
- Sierra Club
- True Majority . is a grassroots education
and advocacy project founded by Ben Cohen. Once you register, you can go to
our "Take Action" section and send faxes on on the issues we all
care about to members of Congress and national leaders.
- Working
for Change
- World Watch global
environmental information
-
Some opportunities to look at photos of the some of the events that
we have attended...including the Peace
Rally in San Francisco, 9/29/01
Any thoughts you want to share with me . . . 
This group is formed for the purpose of facilitating
communication between the
memmbers of the San Mateo Unitarian Universalist's Social Action
Committee. It
also enables us to archive our communication.
