Tuesday, April 22nd - As we celebrate Earth Day this year, we are reminded to appreciate the beauty and sustenance our earth offers us. But unalterable change is occuring rapidly, and only we can reverse our destructive trends. Take a moment today to consider: what will future Earth Days celebrate if we continue down this path?
 
ICPJ’s working group on Global Warming is taking action, and we invite you to join us! Current involvement/upcoming project ideas are:
• Educational events on climate change
• Environmental awareness-raising through film screenings
• Political action to oppose anti-sustainable legislation 
 
Please join us in this effort! To join the Global Warming group’s efforts, email Jan Wright at janwrigh@umich.edu.
 
**UPCOMING EVENT: Free screening of “The Story of Stuff,” which focuses on the enormous amount of resources we consume and transform into an enormous amount of waste! It calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. Dinner begins at 6:30 PM, movie at 7 PM. Discussion to follow. FREE and open to the public. Located at Memorial Christian Church, 730 Tappan, Ann Arbor. Details: chuck@icpj.net, 734-663-1870.

University of Michigan and EMU commencement ceremonies are this weekend, which makes for a ripe chance to sign people of for the Health Care for Michigan Campaign.

We’re looking for people to circulate petitions before commencement on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, meet Michelle Debbink at the corner of North University and State Street for petitioning from 9 to 10:30 a.m. You can reach Michelle at (734) 904-9924.

Sunday, meet Gail Steih at the front doors of the EMU convocation center for petitioning from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. You can reach Gail at (734) 255-6345.

If these times work for you, email chuck@icpj.net so that we know you’re coming.

Action Alert - the Friends Committee on National Legislation reports that between now and April 30 (an extended deadline), the Energy Department is collecting comments on the Bush administration’s proposal to restart the U.S.’s nuclear weapons program. Sixteen national religious organizations filed formal public comments opposing the administration’s plans to build a new nuclear bomb plant that would be wasteful, unneeded, and dangerous, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers) announced.

Read the full text of the statement (PDF), organized by FCNL and the National Religious Partnership on the Nuclear Weapons Danger”, to go to the article entitled “Public Comments to the Energy Department on the Supplement to the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Complex Transformation” for further information. and to see a list of signers.

The ICPJ Iraq Next Steps Committee is joining the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) in making June 2008 the month for Banners Across America! NRCAT is asking congregations of all sizes, from every state, and all faiths, to join in a public witness against torture by displaying a banner outside their place of worship during Torture Awareness Month June 2008. Please join with other congregations across Washtenaw County and across the country to speak out on this important moral issue. Download the sign up form to order your banner now! The cost is $155 for a 3’x 9’ banner.

April 26th & 27th begin Cover the Uninsured Week (www.CoverTheUninsured.org), a nation-wide effort to raise awareness of our failing health care system and to take action in support of the 47 million Americans without health care coverage. We can take this opportunity to spread the word about how we ARE taking action in Michigan - by supporting the Health Care for Michigan campaign! Take this chance to tell your fellow congregants that they can make a difference!

3 Easy Ways to Involve Your Congregation:

1. Get an announcement in your congregation’s weekly bulletin.
2. Make a brief announcement to your congregation during or following service.
3. Bring the Health Care for Michigan petition to share with your congregation. Stop by the ICPJ office (in Memorial Christian Church, 730 Tappan - corner of Hill St. & Tappan Ave.) to pick up petitions and informational fliers. Let your fellow congregants know about Cover the Uninsured Week and Health Care for Michigan; explain why you’re involved with the campaign; ask them to sign the petition; and invite them to get more involved by signing up to be a health care volunteer!

For example announcements and more information, refer to our Additional Information Sheet.

*Please email gracek@icpj.net to let us know if you will participate in this action alert!

Contact gracek@icpj.net or call 734.663.1870 for more information.

Make a difference! Join ICPJ to work on an exciting campaign to make access to health care a right for all Michigan residents!

INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION
ICPJ is recruiting a part-time intern with a desire to gain experience in community organizing in an interfaith environment. The position will primarily focus on organizing local community members (throughout Washtenaw County) to become involved in the Health Care for Michigan Campaign. Possible tasks include supporting volunteers, arranging workshops and presentations, assisting with media outreach, and participating in fundraising efforts. It is an excellent opportunity for people looking to gain skills and experience in grassroots organizing.

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Join us on April 6th from 5 - 7pm for a benefit shopping event where a portion of the profits go to the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice.

The benefit will take place at Ten Thousand Villages, 303 S Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

Register for a free gift basket! Ten Thousand Villages is also doing a drawing for a free gift basket. Just print out this registration form and turn it in to Ten Thousand Villages during the benefit.

Ten Thousand Villages is a great store. Since 1946 Ten Thousand Villages has supported the work of literally tens of thousands of artisans in over 30 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, making us one the largest fair trade organizations in North America. Working with more than 100 artisan groups, they purchase fine pieces from craftspeople with whom we have longstanding, nurturing relationships…helping to bring dignity to their lives.

Friends Committee on National Legislation reports that between now and April 10, the Energy Department is collecting comments on the Bush administration’s proposal to restart the U.S.’s nuclear weapons program. The administration has asked for money to build a facility to make triggers for nuclear warheads and to modify facilities across the country. This proposal would set up the infrastructure to allow the U.S. to build new nuclear weapons in the future.

Use the form on their Website to send your comments directly to the Energy Department, copying your members of Congress. Remember to personalize the sample letter FCNL provides.

Tanja Markus of SIPAZ (Servicio Internacional para la Paz, International Service for Peace) will speak on Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 218 N. Adams (corner of Emmet and Adams), Ypsilanti.

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