Social Action Newsletter
Desert Southwest Conference United Women in Faith April/2024
Mural Painting at Tempe First United Methodist Church: 4/14 8 a.m. - noon
Third Planting Rainbows Social Action Event - 4/20 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Planting Rainbows will be held at Tempe First UMC on Saturday, April 20 from 9:30-1:30.
The registration link and more information are below.
https://dscumc.org/event/planting-rainbows-uwf-social-action-event/
This year will be the third year of Planting Rainbows. Please save the date: Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. A light breakfast will be served. The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Tempe First United Methodist Church located at 215 E University Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281. Parking is free. However, carpooling is recommended. Using the lightrail is also recommended. (Should you go green and take the lightrail, getting off at the main transit station is the best place to exit the lightrail. From the main transit station, it is a short 5 minute walk on College Avenue to Tempe First.) The program will focus on Tribal Justice and opportunities to take action. Lunch will also be served.
After Planting Rainbows, you may want to take advantage of the opportunities ASU offers. There is a Pow Wow at the Desert Financial Arena. The entry ticket costs $8, and the Pow Wow is both Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21. The ASU Art Museum is also featuring the exhibit “Twin Flames: The George Floyd Uprising from Minneapolis to Phoenix.” The exhibit will be featured until July 28.
April Eco-Tips from the Desert Southwest Conference
In AZ Central News: Arizona retirees are fighting a gas plant amid a rural ban on solar
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2024/04/07/fort-mohave-arizona-residents-fight-proposed-mohave-energy-park/72485758007/
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2024/04/07/fort-mohave-arizona-residents-fight-proposed-mohave-energy-park/72485758007/?utm_source=azcentral-dailybriefing-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailybriefing-greeting&utm_term=Content%20List%20-%20Stacking%20-%20optimized&utm_content=pphx-phoenix-nletter02
Earth Day is April 22, 2024
Here are some ways to celebrate Earth Day every day from Earth Day - the Official Site:
Glowing Plants - Available this Month
These plants were discussed on the radio. Intrigued, I wanted to see a picture for myself. Here's an article I found about them:
Consider Signing Onto an Amicus Brief
The group Apache Stronghold is engaged in a legal battle to stop the land transfer of Oak Flat to foreign mining company Resolution Copper. The legal argument is based on religious freedom, as the process of mining would destroy a site that has been sacred a site since time immemorial. Read more about the court case on the Becket Law webpage (Apache Stronghold v. United States et al). Learn more about Apache Stronghold at their website.
On March 1, the 9th Circuit Court ruled against Apache Stronghold, on a 6-5 vote (article here). Apache Stronghold will be appealing the case further, including likely the Supreme Court. We are working on listing the faith communities who are interested in signing on to an Amicus Brief to support that appeal.
In addition to the links above. I’m attaching a one-page resource handout from the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery.
Arizona Interfaith Power & Light is working with Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery to support Apache Stronghold and share information about their Amicus Brief request. We are tracking which congregations and organizations that are intending to sign on, and we will share that with Becket Law so that they can get in touch with the congregations.
When your church/organization officially decides that you intend to join an Amicus Brief:
Email Leigh Brown at Becket (lbrown@becketlaw.org) and let her know your organization is interested in filing or joining an amicus brief. Tell them the name of the official signer for your organization.
Please also copy Rev. Carol Rose, carolarose77@gmail.com and Melanie Beikman melanie.beikman@azipl.org in that email so that we can support your process going forward.
Let me know if you have questions.
Regards,
Melanie
Melanie Beikman
Arizona Interfaith Power & Light
(480) 540-9519
melanie.beikman@azipl.org