Siouxland Social Justice eNews
12/15/20
In This Issue: Events // Blogs and Podcasts // More!
Please continue to visit our website where you’ll find links, inside the “Get Involved” and “Events” pages, to webinars, videos and citizen science activities for everyone regardless of where you call “home.” Check out our “official” Facebook page, and never hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Recent Facebook Posts–Like us on Facebook
Call us: 712.986.6210
No matter where you live, we encourage you find your nearest Sierra Club chapter
https://www.sierraclub.org/ . We all can benefit from community.
National “Get Out the Vote” campaigns details:
Mobilizing more than ever to elect climate-friendly candidates and to get people to vote. Members (and their friends) can volunteer to call, text, and/or write letters.
https://www.sierraclubindependentaction.org/2020-plan-to-win
Jeanne Bockholt
Northwest Iowa Group Sierra Club
Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.
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Beyond Irony
Is anyone else amazed, even insulted, that Giving Tuesday comes AFTER Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday? So, if you have anything left after shopping, give a little on the needy. This seems to show blatantly our national priorities. Charity comes after the economy! Some may say that without a growing economy, we can’t afford charity. Wrong! It’s a matter of priorities. We’ll be just fine with a steady-state economy and have plenty to give away.
Post-Election Language
During the 2016 campaign, Hilary supporters made the mistake of calling T**** followers “despicables.” T****-ites took that as a badge of honor. I preferred to call them “gullibles.” Now after four years of despicable non-leadership and an election of unbelievable sedition, I think “gullibles” is far too mild.
The Biden-Harris team has called us to work together, to be united. I think some things must happen first. We who support the new team must admit our part in the Earth-killing, grieve and change ourselves.
And we must hold the T**** supporters accountable for their on-going support of such a man and such a party.
We must remember the “Triumverate of Evil” — T****, McConnell and Paul Ryan — who brought us the Republican Tax Scam of 2017 that gave away billions to large corporations and the wealthy. We must work to reverse that immense inequality and instead to Tax the Rich!
We can pay for so many essential social programs by having a just redistribution of wealth.
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Invitation to Read and Sign OneEarth Jubilee Covenant for the 2020’s
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Latest UPDATE from Jubilee OneEarth Economics
Well worth a read!
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2020 Resources from Advent Conspiracy
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The Thom Hartmann Hidden History Series
The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment
The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America
The Hidden History of the War on Voting: Who Stole Your Vote and How to Get It Back
The Hidden History of Monopolies: How Big Business Destroyed the American Dream
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It was in that spirit that I launched the new Beatitudes Center (www.beatitudescenter.org) to help “build a better, different, human future. Here are some upcoming Zoom programs. Join us! And help us by sending out this good news far and wide.
Thanks! Fr. John Dear
12/6,13, 20 “Advent Series on Contemplative, Active and Prophetic Nonviolence”
1/1/21: “The Year of Living Nonviolently – A New Year’s Day Retreat”
1/16: “The More Excellent Way of Love and Nonviolent Protest” – Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail and What it Means for us Today
2/6: “Blessed are the Peacemakers: An Introduction to the Nonviolent Jesus”
2/17: “Jonah and the Whale’s Tale: An Ash Wednesday Retreat Session on the Book of Jonah, the call to repent and nonviolent change”
“Following the Nonviolent Jesus through Lent: A Lenten Series every Monday in Lent for seven weeks through Easter Monday – 2/22, 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5”
To register for these and other programs visit:
http://www.beatitudescenter.org
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First Thursday of the Month–Loess Hills Audubon Society monthly meeting at Pecaut Nature Center.
No meetings are currently scheduled due to the CoronaVirus!
Visit http://lhas.tripod.com/id33.html
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Although Pecaut Nature Center is CLOSED Until Further Notice, the trails are open for self-guided hikes. And the Center conducts numerous educational events by ZOOM every week. To stay up-to-date, visit the Center on FaceBook or sign-up for email alerts.
Simple Living Works! Latest Blog–eNews #111; Episode 1220::Will O’Brien: Peace on Earth and the Politics of Christmas
Simple Living Works! Latest Blog–eNews #110: SLW! Podcast Ep. 1120–How Empowering Women Changes the World
SLW! Podcast Ep. 1020–Scott Klinger: Maximizing Justice Over Profits Is Possible
SLW! Podcast Ep. 0920–So Much We Learn from Outsiders: Immigrant Advocacy
Pandemic Series–Ep. 0820 // Ep. 0720 // Ep. 0620 // Ep. 0520 // Ep. 0420
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Read and use this Advent–“The Liberating Birth of Jesus: A Birth Story Able to Reverse Our Planet’s Perils” by Lee Van Ham. Read more here. // Hear more here.
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Watch: The Update on Racial Profiling in Iowa
ICYMI, CCI members Lori Young and Harvey Harrison presented a detailed webinar that included robust data and information about the history of racial profiling in Iowa.
You can access the recording of the webinar here. Slides are available at this link.
This political education meeting discussed how this global pandemic has only exposed just how bad our communities have been hurting, and challenged us to think bigger about the scale of solutions we should be fighting for in response to the Covid-19 crisis. We examined the neoliberal policies that got us here and what it will take to get us out of the hole we’re in.
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Invitation to Read and Sign OneEarth Jubilee Covenant for the 2020’s
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How to be in better relationship with the oppressed of the oppressed
Rev. Vance Blackfox–“Truth & Healing for the Sake of Indigenous People” Series
Indian 101 // Movements in Indian Country // Indigenous Thought & Theology
Questions? Contact Vance@OtherWise.Red
For previous workshops in this series, visit “Truth and Healing for the Sake of Indigenous People” Series.
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Solving the Climate Crisis with No-Growth Economics
To get a worldview very different from the greed and profit-oriented politicians and corporatists, visit these solution-oriented resources:
- GrowthBusters // GrowthBusters Podcast
- Post-Carbon Institute // CrazyTown Podcast — SLW! Ep. 109–Richard Heinberg
- CASSE: Center for the Advancement of the Steady-State Economy // Steady-Stater Podcast // The Common Good Podcast Ep. 46–Brian Czech (use player)
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“Jubilee Circles” is now available also as an audiobook, at iTunes, Nook Audiobooks, Google Play, and Audiobooks.com, which offers a free sample. It includes 20 actions to take to help keep our planet livable.
https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/jubilee-circles/381421 THAT’S THE LINK to the audio version of the little book “Jubilee Circles: Help Save Life on the Planet.” Please share this audio version with all who’d like to listen while jogging, walking, etc.
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Months 11/20-1/21 of the Simpler Living Daily Nudge (updated weekly)
- Month 11* // Week 1: More Celebrating || Week 2: Preparations || Week 3: Unplug the Christmas Machine || Week 4: Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
- Month 12*: Responsible Celebrating (Advent) Week 1: Ten Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas, #1-6 || Week 2: 10 Tips, #7-8 || Week 3: 10 Tips, #9-10+ || Week 4: Christmas, Kwanzaa, Holy Innocents
- Month 1*: Life Principles of Voluntary Simplicity — Week 1: Do Justice || Week 2: Learn from the World Community || Week 3: Nurture People || Week 4: Non-conform Freely
Send “Nudge” to SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com to receive a free, brief daily email.
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Post-Election Thoughts
Shallow Patriotism
I’m disturbed by the use of the America fly for partisan political purposes. I call it shallow patriotism. Also disturbing is the use of fake flags — American flag with black stripes to show support for police or soldiers. These false flags show disregard for America, not loyalty. The commercialization of the flag by using it for purses, clothing, etc. is an affront to the flag. As a child I was taught respect for the flag. not its abuse, manipulation or redesign. Avoid being drawn into “shallow patriotism.”
This is more than “flag etiquette,” such as taking the flag down at night or shining a light on it in the dark. It is illegal to desecrate the flag, to burn it or to make something of it that it is not.
Beware the Clinton Syndrome
I was there. I saw it happen. The Democrats were so happy to see Bill Clinton elected that they sat back, and instead of working for systemic change, said “Bill’ll handle it.” And he couldn’t because the Republicans under Newt Gingrich and his “Contract on America,” organized against him and took over the House two years later.
American progressives must not be apathetic! Joe won’t handle it. He’s a militarist and a corporatist. Despite his calls for unity, the Republicans with their really deep pockets are organizing against him. We must also organize to pressure him to do what’s best for the Earth, not the wealthy.
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More Worthwhile Podcasts
Subscribe at iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service for free.
CrazyTown: Post-Carbon Institute
Fallon Forumwith Ed Fallon
Patheos–Progressive Christian
Jesus for Everyone
Author of ‘They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace and NonViolence in a Time of Climate Change’; SLW! #114: Part 1 // TCGP #98: Part 2
10 Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas
Healthy Political Practices & Spiritual Disciplines // “Post-’16 Election Emergency/Disaster Preparedness and Survival Guide”
Tips for Banishing Fake News // Simpler Living SANITY Suggestions
SLW! Blog–Nudge [click “+Follow” to subscribe]
Simpler Living Daily Nudges – brief, available by email [send Nudge to SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com] and/or Twitter [follow @GeraldIversen]
Also connect with SLW! at
Facebook | SLW! Blog | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest
Gerald “Jerry” Iversen, host/producer
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MORE EVENTS
Betty Strong Center offers “must see” programs Sundays, 2 p.m. Call: 712-224-5242, visit: http://www.siouxcitylcic.com/ NOW find them on Facebook.
IA Legislation tracking, a drive to amend Citizens United, water quality improvement action items and more can be found at Sierra Club-Iowa Chapter: http://iowa.sierraclub.org/
Sign up as a Friend of Prairie Fire. Visit www.prairiefirenewspaper.com or find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Listen to “Living on Earth” Sun., 10 am on KWIT-FM90.3, online @ loe.org, or subscribe as podcast at iTunes.
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Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center(DPNC), 4500 Sioux River Rd., Sioux City. Most events are free and held at DPNC. To register, contact 712-258-0838 or tkruid@woodburycountyiowa.gov
Find details of Sierra Club activities and others on our website at the Events and Meetings tab: http://www.sierraclub.org/iowa/northwest-iowa
“Explore, enjoy and protect the planet!”
Click here for quick access to our Facebook site: “Like” Us on Facebook
Click here to visit our new website: http://www.sierraclub.org/ iowa/northwest-iowa
CALENDAR
http://www.sierraclub.org/iowa/northwest-iowa/events-and-meetings
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Like SimpleLivingWorks.org on Facebook. | Follow me on Twitter.
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- SLW! Blog Index | SLW! Podcast Index
- SUBSCRIBE to SLW! Podcast for free through your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to SLW! Blog. Click “+Follow” at lower right of blog post, enter a name and email address. Welcome!
- Non-Conform-Freely Celebrations: Months 9-12*
- Check out a few of SLW! thought-provoking, timely resources that might meet your personal, family or congregational/group needs. They’re all FREE. Visit Seasonal/Thematic Resource Index.
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Jubilee in the Midst of the CoronaVirus
DONATE: https://oneearthjubilee.com/support-oneearth-jubilee/
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- Why We Podcast–We truly believe in the missions of SLW! and Jubilee OneEarth Economics! The mainstream corporate media — left, right or center — exist to sell us more stuff. Though we are only the tiniest whisper, we cannot stop offering an honest alternative to that MultiEarth message. There is no Planet B. Here’s a list of worthwhile media. And even more.
- Our Daily Simpler Living Nudge — What It Is / How It Works / How to GET It – Subscribe by sending NUDGE to SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com. / How to SHARE It
- Previews of Simple Living Blogs, Podcasts and Sites // Collaborators & Champions
- Recent Responses to SLW! media
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