The Just Peace Team is continuing to work and explore advocacy opportunities for different justice issues.  Here are some ways you can work on a justice issue this month.

CLIMATE CHANGE – from Rev. Alice O’Donovan,  for Just Peace

A Chat with God

A:  Good morning – thank you for the new day and good rest.

G:  Likewise, and you’re welcome.  What’s on your mind?

A:  I’m really worried about this climate change stuff.  That was serious rain last night and it’s not normal!   And the hurricane in the Carolinas!  Can’t you do something about this?

G:  Nope.  Out of my hands.  You made the mess!   Clean it up!  And you better hurry because it’s going to get worse before it gets better!

A:  Oh.  Got it!  Thanks, I think.

What can we do?  We’re so little, the problem is beyond huge.  Bill McKibben, expert on the climate crisis, calls us to come together to advocate for 3 broad policy goals.

Work with our towns to get each and every town to set the goal of becoming 100 per cent renewable.  Talk with, work with the town councils and select boards to set that goal, and get going.

Keep the carbon in the ground – we don’t mine a lot of coal or pump a lot of oil around here.  But there are plans for gas pipelines, both fracked and natural gas.  Connecticut towns are working to stop those pipelines.

Divestment.  Disinvest in fossil fuels, reinvest in renewable energy.  Where do we have influence?  Where are the pension moneys invested, the mutual funds? Where are the church investments placed?  Do we serve on boards of non-profits or endowments?  Get the money out of fossil fuels, put the money into renewables.

REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE – from Kathy Lindner, Just Peace Team member

A few months ago, 26 of our church members sent letters to:

Senator Lamar Alexander
Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

requesting that his Committee support Bill S. 834 to support funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research firearm safety and gun violence prevention.  Bill S. 834 would provide $10 million per year through 2023 to conduct research.

This was a recommendation in the form of a Synod resolution of the national United Church of Christ in 2017, recognizing that gun violence is a public health emergency.

To date, this bill has still not come out of the Committee.  You can still write to Senator Alexander urging the Committee to support this bill.

Also, I am working as a Promise Leader, with Sandy Hook Promise, to bring the educational programs, Start with Hello and See Something, Say Something to our local schools.  Currently, Sue Irvine, Enrichment Coordinator at the Southeast Elementary School in Mansfield Center has accessed the materials for the Start with Hello program and will be working to promote it in her school.  This program has activities to encourage children to include others who may feel isolated.  The See Something, Say Something program helps students identify potential behaviors that may result in violence and report them to a trusted adult.

If you are affiliated with a local school and would like to help bringing these programs to your school, please let Kathy Lindner know.  201-723-0458.

IMMIGRATION – The October 2018 Carillon included an article contributed by Pam Roberts, Just Team Member, on  increasing  the refugee admissions goal from 30,000 (just set by the Trump administration) to 75,000.  See the October Carillon for more details.
Go to http://greateras1.org/saverefugeeresettlement/ to access an online form for contacting your legislators and advocate to increase refugee admissions.

Pam  also encourages members to consider attending the Mystic Seaport Museum film series:  “Becoming American:  A Film and Discussion Series” this fall.   Call 860-215-2283 for the schedule.   You can also call Kathy Lindner, 201-723-0458 or email her at kathyartist72@gmail.com and she will forward you the email with complete information.