The First Tuesday Social Action Film Festival screened the film “Moving to Mars” on March 1st.  Moving to Mars  follows  a group of Burmese refugees as they relocate to England.  A group from the Dallas community of Burmese Karen refugees joined us and shared their perspectives as well as their musical talent.

More information on the Dallas Karen Community and photographs from last nights event can be found on the One World Outreach blog:  http://oneworldoutreach.blogspot.com/2011/03/film-screening.html

A recording of the presentation is now available here as an MP3 file. RT 32:42

A good turnout greeted American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas’ Executive Director Terri Burke. Ms. Burke addressed the State Board of Education’s recent abuse of its authority, including the efforts of some members to insert personal ideology into curriculum content. She also discussed issues of importance to voters in the upcoming State Board elections in November.

Burke drew on information gathered in the ACLU of Texas report, "The Texas State Board of Education: A Case of Abuse of Power" issued last May.

Diane Jennings of The Dallas Morning News quoted Rev. Walz in two articles on the event: “The Rev. Mark Walz of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff said he was there both as a pastor and as the father of a Marine. ‘No one who ascribes to terrorism has the right to claim a religious motivation,’ Walz said.”

“Waltz said he is passionate about battling the tendency to ‘demonize each other as human beings.’”

You can watch a video of  Jonathan Betz reporting for WFAA (Channel 8):
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Dallas-religious-leaders-call-for-unity–102713909.html

Arezow Doost covered the event for CBS (Channel 11) News
http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=57342@ktvt.dayport.com and featured Ministerial Intern Shams Cohen of First Unitarian Church of Dallas.

Since watching, “The World According to Monsanto”, “Sustainable Table”, and “Peaceable Kingdom”, I have become vegetarian. I have been made aware of factory farms—cows, pigs and chickens living in close, dark, unsanitary quarters, shot full of antibiotics, being fed GMO-corn to fatten them up quickly which, in turn, has fattened us up. More importantly, I have learned how to eat healthier by eating organic; to be more environmentally conscious by buying locally; and to make my voice heard through emails, calls and letters when my government does something that I don’t like.

“An Inconvenient Truth” and “11th Hour” awakened me to how my choices were destroying our planet. My family now recycles, composts, uses organic fertilizer and organic household cleaners. We have changed our electric supplier to one which uses wind and solar sources. We have traded our gas guzzlers for a diminutive Yaris and a Hybrid Prius that averages 45 miles per gallon.

“At The Death House Door” nudged me to join the “Coalition for Texans Against the Death Penalty” which keeps its members apprised when letters to the Governor and Board of Pardons and Paroles for Clemency or requests for Stays of Execution might help. I believe we were instrumental in the Supreme Court’s decision to review the death penalty case against Hank Skinner.

Other films included “China Blue” which taught me about the deplorable conditions of Chinese blue jean sweatshops. We now search for fair-trade, union-made, or cooperative-made clothing. “The Two Towns of Jasper,” “Reel Bad Arabs,” and “The Canary Effect” opened my eyes even wider to racial and social injustice. I made calls to my Senators, Congresswoman and other Democrats to help get the Healthcare legislation passed so all Americans have an equal opportunity to be healthy. “Rethink Afghanistan” helped me reshape my thoughts about U.S. involvement in that country and become a true advocate for peace

There were other films I saw and there will be other films to come that will continue to change who I am. I like the person I am becoming more than the person I was. To change the world we must first change ourselves. I will gladly continue going to the First Tuesday Film Festival at the Oak Cliff Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff and I urge you to do the same. You might just like the new you.

WHERE:
UU Church of Oak Cliff
3839 W. Kiest

Who are the Speakers?

• Bruce F. Knotts, Executive Director
• Rev. Patricia Ackerman, LGBT/SOGI Human Rights Program Officer
• Geronimo D. Desumala III, LGBT/SOGI Human Rights Program Associate

Bruce is the person responsible for getting GLBT issues added to the UN civil rights agenda- come hear about their work on our issues.

QUESTIONS:
Contact Daniel Polk

According to the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA, 2008), in their annual “Point in Time” homeless census count, in 2008 there were 5,869 homless persons counted, which was a 14% increase from 2007.  There were 611 “chronically homeless” counted, an increase of 8% from 2007.  Forty-three percent of those surveyed in that count reported they had been homeless for more than one year.  (Chronic homelessness means an individual has been homeless for 1 year or has had 4 episodes of homlessness in a 3-year period.) 

As the winter weather descends upon North Texas, I am excited to announce this year we will partner with the national non-profit organization One Warm Coat to aid in our coat drive.  Our recipient this year will be the Austin Street Centre.

OWC has been gracious enough to send me a wonderful banner and other materials for our coat drive, which will be held through December 20th.  I will be delivering the marketing materials at church this weekend. 

***WE ARE IN URGENT NEED OF A LARGE COLLECTION BOX (or boxes)*** 

If anyone can bring one to the church this Sunday, December 13th, it would be much appreciated.  If you have a box or boxes, please contact me (Jase) at org.psych2010@gmail.com.

For more on One Warm Coat, click here.

For more on the Austin Street Centre, click here.