Energized for justice - Envoy News February 2018

Dear ,

I'm sure you join me in feeling inspired and energized by the activism coming out of Florida in the wake of the heart-breaking tragedy there. There's no time like the present to take action for disarmament. It may be too little, too late, but every change we can make is better than nothing, never.

As I spoke about on the February Envoy conference call last week, I had an incredible experience at the 2018 ICUU conference in Kathmandu, Nepal Feb. 12-15. (For evidence, see photo of me riding a rickshaw... Namaste!) You can read all about the conference in the Minutes from the Feb. Envoy Call and also in the blog post I wrote (see blog section down below!). Our next Envoy conference calls will be Tuesday March 20th - mark your calendar now and please RSVP here. The March calls will feature a special presentation about disarmament by UU-UNO Envoy Joanne Dufour from the North Shore UU Society in Lacombe, Louisiana!

Since you should have all received the most recent issue of Act Globally on Friday, I will keep this edition of the Envoy News brief - but be sure to take a look at the Winter 2018 Act Globally for announcements and information about opportunities to engage with global U/U faith in action!

And as a gentle reminder: the deadline to qualify as a Blue Ribbon Congregation is fast approaching: all requirements must be achieved by March 31st! Please contact me by email if you want to check in on how your congregation is doing towards achieving Blue Ribbon status this year.

In freedom, love, hope, and justice,

Allison Hess

International Engagement Associate

ENVOY TASKS

Please complete the following tasks by the end of March.

Blue Ribbon: Don't forget to share about your UN Sunday service! www.uua.org/unsunday/services ...and if you haven't checked yet, make sure to be in touch if not sure of your status this year.
Report back on the Quick Question below! (Look below!)

February Review: (1) Check in re: Blue Ribbon status (2) Let me know if you'll attend CUC National Conference or UUA Pacific Western Region's Regional Assembly.

March Events

A look behind, a look ahead

February 1: UNO Director Bruce Knotts speaks at UN Panel on poverty & incarceration.

February 9: Bruce speaks at Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University.

February 11-16: Allison in Nepal for 2018 ICUU Council Meeting and Conference.

February 13: "Forced Migration due to Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity" event co-hosted by UU-UNO and All Souls Church NYC.

March 7: Extended deadline for submissions to the Dana Greeley Sermon Competition.

March 8: International Women's Day!

March 12-23: United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in NYC.

March 15: UNO Hosts CSW panel "Advancing Gender Equality through Community-based Organizing and Global Advocacy"

March 16: UNO hosts CSW panel "Female Genital Mutilation: Advancing Awareness and Advocating for Global Action"

March 20: March UU-UNO Envoy Conference Calls.

March 31: Deadline to meet all requirements to become a Blue Ribbon Congregation!

FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER

At the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland in February, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the international community to join the world-wide effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons. "Countries persist in the mistaken idea that nuclear weapons make the world safer," he said. "My initiative will strive to offer a new perspective on traditional priorities, a clear vision for the future, and also practical and implementable actions." This new initiative is part of a global trend that brought to life last year's Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Follow the global disarmament conversation, and learn about the background and recent developments, via the Unitarian Universalist United Nations' new blog "Disarming Our Planet." www.uua.org/international/blog/disarmament

A Gathering of Multifaith Leaders and Local Activists Working Together in the Face of Fear

July 29 - August 1, 2018

Washington, DC

George Washington University Marvin Center

This event focusing on skill-building, networking, and organizing for grassroots activists and interfaith peacebuilders from around the world, is co-sponsored by numerous organizations including Religions for Peace-USA, Shoulder-to-Shoulder, United Religions Initiative-North America, World Congress of Faith, the Interfaith Funders Group, the Internaitonal Association for Religious Freedom, and multiple faith communities including the UUA! Registration rates increase on April 1st. See you there?

Syria - Airstrikes and shelling continue in Syria despite Security Council's call for a ceasefire. The continued violence means a worsening of the humanitarian situation there.

Ending FGM & Child Marriage - In a recent episode from the UN's "The Lid is On" podcast, the new UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for Africa Jaha Dukureh explains her optimism that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and child marriage are on the way out.

Break Up with Plastic - For Valentine's Day, the UN Environment Program called on people to end their "toxic relationship" with single-use plastic and find "new love" with more environmentally sustainable options.

Sexual Harassment - The United Nations has just launched a 24-hour hotline for staff to report sexual harassment.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT - Every two weeks the UN posts articles and videos summarizing noteworthy news developments over the past two weeks in the UN system. Find it here!

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