Social Action Page

Opinion pieces on this page do not express the views of the Society as a whole or of the entire Social Action Committee.

Next Social Action Committee Meeting
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
3:00 PM at the Society

Social Action Committee Minutes from June 3, 2008

Terri Seuss's letter to the Editor that appeared in the 6-23-08 issue of the Star Ledger:

Terri Suess's Report on Ed Lewinson going to Jail

"Fairness, Freedom, and the Dying" by Win Thies

Star Ledger Article February 19 about Ed Lewinson and School of the Americas

Next Social Action Committee Meeting is
Sunday, April 27, Immediately after platform

The Season of Nonviolence -- Jan 30 through April 4
(Death of Gandhi through Death of Martin Luther King)

The Presidential Candidates' Postions on Climate Issues

(Thanks to Barry Zack!)

Some interesting Green sites

Click here for health care materials.

Info on the Essex County Greens

Minutes of Past meetings (Reverse Order)

Ethical Action Reports from the AEU

Minutes of Past meetings (Reverse Order)

A Statement on Regime Change by Win Thies

A Letter on Withdrawing from Iraq by Bill Graves

Resources about Being Green

(Thank you, Lisa Novemsky)

Environmental Working Group

The Green Guide

Click here and here for groups in the UK,
where you can also look for a fairtrademark:

April 27, 2008

December 2, 2007

September 16, 2007

Attending: Betty Levin, Boe Meyerson, Barbara Cotler, Doris Rados, Sue Willis. Visiting: Marty Cotler.

Minutes --Social Action Committee Meeting-- July 9, 2007 7:00 PM

Attending: Boe Meyerson, Mira Stillman, Win Thies, & Sue Willis

Minutes --Social Action Committee Meeting--June 4, 2007 7:00 PM

Attending: Barbara Cotler, Boe Meyerson, Doris Rados, Gladys Smith, Win Thies, Sue Willis

Minutes April 1, 2007

Next meeting: Sunday, April 1, 2007 after platform.

Minutes December 3, 2006

Minutes October 15, 2006

The summer meeting took place at the Society building with a small but enthusiastic group that began by going over last year's goals (click here) and a letter from Fred Sebastian with a suggestion for a focus for the this year– illegal and undemocratic voting machines.
    After some discussion, the group expressed a desire to find ways to continue to have at least a connection to some of our last year's work. Boe suggested focusing both on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and on the Department of Peace Bill; Anja talked about her work in the coming year with Sew for Hope and other involvement in Afghanistan and its women and girls. Sue wanted more short term projects and to continue funneling ideas for platforms for the platform committee.
    Here are the things we came up with, which we would like to have input and support from the rest of the committee on. First, we brain stormed some possible platform ideas. These are just ideas, of course, no one has been asked yet if they are available.

I.

Fred Sebastian has speakers on the voting machine scandal that would make a good platform
           Michael Novemsky on global warming/living lightly on the earth (or other)
         – A speaker from MeretzUSA or GushAmon or other peace-oriented group with connections to Israel
    – Marty Cotler on where to get the real/best/least biased news
    – Nabil Marshood on ethnic relations or other
    – And a platform by the Social Action Committee!! Which leads to....

II.   Our second idea was for a platform, possibly in late October around U.N. Day. This would be an interactive platform in which the Social Action Committee would lead the audience in breaking up into small groups to deal with some national or international problem using the tools that would be in place if a Department of Peace were established. Thus, one group might brainstorm how the problem would be worked on in schools and other educational institutions; one might be discussed in terms on international diplomacy that focuses on problem solving, etc. Boe and Sue will work on this project, and we invite others to work on planning it with us. The committee will also give occasional support to Anja Moen\'s work with Sew for Hope (which is responding to a need for fabric, needles, and thread in Afghanistan). She is organizing a garage sale to raise money for the project on September 9 & 10, and she\'ll tell us what concrete help she needs from the Committee and the Society.\n

IV. Anja will make one more try with the people who teach how to work with the Elizabeth Detention Center. If her efforts fail this time, we\'ll let this one drop.

V. Another one shot but very exciting project:   DARK DAYS AHEAD! We will buy a supply of efficient light bulbs and sell them at cost early in December on the street or on the Society\'s porch with information about saving resources. This will be both a practical step (more people will be replacing their bulbs with the energy efficient ones) and an opportunity for education.\n

What do you think? We think these actions are doable and related to our last year\'s goals (Department of Peace, Detention Centers, Global Warming). Please let us know what you think!

III. The committee will also give occasional support to Anja Moen's work with Sew for Hope (which is responding to a need for fabric, needles, and thread in Afghanistan). She is organizing a garage sale to raise money for the project on September 9 & 10, and she'll tell us what concrete help she needs from the Committee and the Society.

IV. Anja will make one more try with the people who teach how to work with the Elizabeth Detention Center. If her efforts fail this time, we'll let this one drop.

V. Another one shot but very exciting project:   DARK DAYS AHEAD! We will buy a supply of efficient light bulbs and sell them at cost early in December on the street or on the Society's porch with information about saving resources. This will be both a practical step (more people will be replacing their bulbs with the energy efficient ones) and an opportunity for education.

What do you think? We think these actions are doable and related to our last year's goals (Department of Peace, Detention Centers, Global Warming). Please let us know what you think!


Minutes Social Action Committee Meeting
April 9, 2006

Attending: Barbara Cotler, Anja Moen, Boe Meyerson, Paul Surovell, Sue Willis, Peter Jacob ( Students for Solidarity and Justice at Kean University)

This short meeting had been set up to prepare a statement on the detention centers for immigrants in order to have a carding on April 23. Before addressing that, we did vote to put an ad in the Peace Action journal, if it is not too late.

After some discussion of the Detention Center issue, Barbara suggested a simple post card message to be sent to Senators and Representatives (as the detention centers are federal). Please look at the following message and offer any suggestions, keeping in mind that it has to be short enough to go on a post card.

Dear Senator (Representative) __________ ,
Please give urgent consideration to creating more humane conditions and easier access to lawyers and visitors for the detainees at the Elizabeth Detention Facility, a temporary detention center for people waiting for their immigration status to be determined, or who are awaiting deportation. This particular facility is adminstered by a much-criticized private company, the Corrections Corporation of America.
Please help create better conditions at the Elizabether Detention Facility and others like it.
Sincerely,
_______________________

We reaffirmed our intention to bring cards, letters, stamps, addresses, etc. on April 23rd for after the platform, and and Anja, Barbara, and Sue all committed to being present. Peter Jacob also hopes to come, as well as to include his organization. Meanwhile, Paul will follow up with the American Friends Service Committee to see if there is any other information we can add to what we have.

Our guest Peter Jacob told us about a new student activist organization at Kean (look at their website at http://www.ssj.8k.com/) He is a junior at Kean, invited to meet us by Boe. He intends to take some of our pre-printed post cards and addresses of U.S. Senators and Representatives to Kean.

We set our next meeting set for Sunday, June 11, 2006– to evaluate and to discuss plans and goals for coming months.

Minutes Social Action Committee Meeting
March 5, 2006

Barbara Cotler and Terri Suess reported on yesterday’s meeting of the Social Action subcommittee on Global Warming and environmental issues, a committee ably chaired by Mira Stillman. The group had a presentation about how to live more lightly on the earth at the Society on Saturday March 4, 2006. Attendees brought energy utility bills and took a quiz to learn how much energy they are using and how they can do better. Plans for the future include taking this kind of training to other organizations and meeting with the political leaders of Maplewood and South Orange to see what the towns can do to encourage savings on energy consumption and thus to stave off global warming. This falls under one of our 2005 - 2006 objections, “To take actions to curtail Global Warming.”

Another of our objectives is to “work to ease the situation of immigrants in the Detention Center in Elizabeth New Jersey.” This objective has broadened as the year has progressed. In January we had a visit from former Elizabeth detainee Serge Pakhomou and a speaker from The New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee (NJCRDC– website at http://www.nj-civilrights.org/index.php.)

Today Terri gave us an update on Serge’s case. He had his court date, and his case was postponed until December, 2006. Terri says that Serge was disappointed to be left once again in limbo, but that he is ready to work with her on creating a fact sheet both about immigration and about the notorious Corrections Company of America.

The Committee decided to do a letter writing-carding campaign at the platform on April 23, 2006 at the Society. In preparation for this, we will, at our April 9, 2006 meeting, talk through the message we want to set forth. To educate ourselves on this issue, people committed to do the following:
*** Terri will work, with Serge if possible, on a fact sheet about immigration, the Elizabeth Detention Center, and the CCA.
*** Paul Surovell will do a little research about other organizations working on these issues and what legislation and other actions they are taking that might inform out discussion.
*** Anja Moen will find out if it is feasible to do a training for visitors to the Elizabeth Detention Center.

Our third objective this year is continuing to support and publicize the National Peace Department Bill. Paul and South Mountain Peace Action are preparing to make a visit to Senator Lautenberg and other governmental officials about the National Peace Department Bill and other issues, to which he will invite our committee when the meetings are set up.

One other action we took was to vote to empower Chair Sue Willis to enroll our committee among the groups opposing AOL’s projected two tier system for free e-mail. AOL has announced a "certified email" proposal through which large emailers can pay to get guaranteed access to people's in boxes—with their messages having a preferential high-priority designation. Charities, small businesses, civic organizing groups, and even families with mailing lists will have no guarantee that their email will be delivered unless they are willing to pay the "email tax" to AOL. This is a step down the slippery slope toward dividing the Internet into two classes of users—those who get preferential treatment and those who are left behind. The Internet is a force for democracy and economic innovation because it is open to all Internet users equally – AOL's "email tax" would create an unlevel playing field and harm the Internet forever. If you would like to sign a petition as an individual, go to http://www.dearaol.com/ .

Finally a piece of good news passed on to us by Matthew Johnson of the New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty is that on January 9, 2006, by a 55 – 21 vote, the New Jersey General Assembly approved S-709/A-2347, legislation calling for an immediate moratorium on all executions in New Jersey and creating a study commission that will examine the flaws in the State’s current death penalty system. On January 12, 2006 New Jersey Governor Richard Codey signed S-709/A-2347. This bipartisan bill is the first legislative moratorium in the United States. The report will be submitted on November 15, 2006. For more information, and to join NJADP, go to their website http://www.NJADP.org . Their mailing address is New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, NJADP Central Office, 986 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08611, Phone: 609-278-6719

The next meeting will be Sunday, April 9, 2006, at the Society building. after the platform. Please come!

Minutes Social Action Committee Meeting
January 22, 2006

We had an unusual two part meeting with members of the Society Board attending for part of the meeting, then going to the Board meeting. Meanwhile, the rest of the Social Action Committee repaired to the kitchen for excellent hot ziti and sauce provided by Win Thies. Thank you, Win for your generosity!

During the two parts of the meeting, we had two separate presentations on aspects of the situation for immigrants at the present time in the United States. First, Serge Pakhomou, an oceanographer and student of forensic science who came to the U.S. from Russia fifteen years ago, told us his experience. His application for asylum was rejected after years of applications and effort, but he was not informed of the decision or of a deportation order that was put out against him. Meanwhile, through his job, he was pursuing a green card. When he went to a regular hearing, he was arrested because of the outstanding deportation order and taken to the Elizabeth detention center, a facility run by a for-profit company called the Corrections Corporation of America.. Mr. Pakhomou told us that most of the inmates there are tax payers, many highly educated, and people with family connections. Most are also, he said, in prison for very small technicalities. He was ultimately released and his next hearing later this month. Mr. Pakhomou suggested that a small group like ours might help by visiting and talking to detainees in Elizabeth, but also that we should find other groups and make connections. Terri Suess recommended that we write an article on Serge, to put a human face on immigration issues, and also do research into the CCA and how it is profiting from people being held for immigration offenses.

After moving into the kitchen and enjoying Win’s ziti, we were visited by Eric Lerner of the New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee (See their website at http://www.nj-civilrights.org/index.php). The NJCRDC has been focusing its efforts on trying to publicize the plight of detainees who are being held in county jails. They have organzied petitions signed by the inmates and by demonstrations on the outside. They have had a major success in the upcoming removal of detainees from the Passaic County jail. They also have set up a hotline for detainees and are seeking volunteers for their future demonstrations and possible to person hotlines when detainees need to talk to someone.

Mr. Lerner also gave an excellent overview of how there are not only practical needs for action and help for the detainees, but serious constitutional issues as well. The Constitutional issue is that it is not, in fact, a crime to be a so-called “illegal alien.” It is further unconstitutional, said Mr. Lerner, to hold people who are not accused of a crime. We further discussed the far reaching possible consequences of “administrative detention,” which is how most of these immigrants are being held, and how if immigrants not accused of crimes can be detained, what is to stop a dictatorial government from detaining others, also administratively.

Our next meeting is set for March 5, 2006, after the platform, at which time we will discuss next steps. Tentatively, there is also a platform set for March 26 with representatives of the NJCRDC. Thanks to Fred Sebastian for this connection, and deep thanks to Mr. Pakhomou and Mr. Lerner for their most informative presentations.

Social Action Committee Meeting --December 11, 2005

We set Sunday, January 22, 2006 for our next meeting, which will be devoted to a visit from Serge Pakhomou, who has himself spent time at the Elizabeth detention center.

Anja Moen made a report on the Elizabeth Detention Center Project: we will be arranging a training session for people who want to visit detainees probably in February, which timing fits in well with a visit from Serge Pakhomou. Anja is also working on a speaker on the topic, and Fred Sebastian suggested another speaker he knows, and he will get in touch with that person and then speak to Elaine of the Platform Committee.

Anja has also arranged for a speaker on March 26 on the situation of women in Afghanistan. We had some lively discussion around money– what we should pay for, the incredible inequity in what we spend for different things: for example, an entire new school for Afghan girls and women would cost about what it costs for one year for one of our children at many colleges.

Betty Levin then gave an excellent update on the Bill in Congress (both houses now!) to establish a cabinet level Department of Peace with responsibilities for education. The Committee also voted to contribute $25 toward Naomi Drew’s fee for the November 5 Conflict resolution workshop which had 35 attendees.

Finally, Joan volunteered, if she can get Gus to help, to organize a mid-January “carding” with information to encourage our legislators to vote to get out of Iraq in 2006.

Social Action Committee Meeting
November 15, 2005

Report lost in cyberspace-- Sue had a hard drive crash!

Social Action Committee Meeting
September 18, 2005

The meeting began with several short reports: first, the sub-committee on "greening" the Ethical Culture society had to reschedule for Monday evening, September 26 at Mira Stillman's house. This group will be looking into practical ways to take action to "green" the society and otherwise act in responsible ways vis-a-vis our human impact on the environment and global warming. In a related matter, Sue reported that Paul Surovell has suggested Dr. DeLaTorre as a Platform speaker on these matters.

The subcommittee and Platform speakers on this topic are, of course, working toward our Objective # Three for 2005-06, to take actions to curtail Global Warming. The three Objectives that will be mentioned in these minutes were developed and voted on at our June, 2005 meeting.

Our Objective # Two, to work to ease the situation of immigrants in the Detention Center in Elizabeth New Jersey, led us to some discussion of possible activities. Joan and Anja have taken the training required for visiting with detainees at the detention center, and Joan reported that we already have immigrants living in our community who need help. Anja will make a presentation with suggestions for action at the next Social Action Committee meeting.

Terri Suess reported via Sue that the Russian immigrant Serge Pakhomou, seized for a visa violation he was not aware of, was released on September 1.

The final short report came from Win who described the information about Living Wills now available on our website. Go to http://www.essexethical.org and click on "Planning Your Living Will" to see our materials. Gus suggested that a program on Living Wills might be offered as a service every year.

Our major presentation of the meeting came from Betty Levin who brought us up to date on the National Department of Peace, continuing to support and publicize which is our Objective # One. Betty first told us that the Bill, H.R. 3760 was reintroduced into the House on Wednesday, September 14. This bill now has some sixty House sponsors plus at least two interested Senators. It would establish a cabinet level Department in the Federal government with a responsibility to educate about and othedrwise promote peace. For detailed information on the bill, go to http://www.thepeacealliance.org/main.htm/. Betty spoke eloquently of the need to call our representatives immediately and to ask them to support the bill, especially by becoming a co-sponsor.

Betty has also taken the lead in local action for peace at our Society. The Social Action Committee is co-sponsoring a Conflict Resolution Workshop with Naomi Drew at the Society Building on Saturday November 5 from 1 - 5, organized by Betty. For more information about Naomi Drew, see her website at http://www.learningpeace.com/pages/aboutnaomi.html.

The next meeting of the committee was set for Sunday, October 25, 2005 immediately after the Platform.

Bob Call picked up Ed yesterday to drive from Ed's place in Newark to the Federal Correction Institution (FCI) at Elkton, Ohio. That's where Ed has been assigned to do his 90 day jail sentence for committing civil disobedience by crossing on to Fort Benning, GA while protesting the School of the Americas at the SOA-Watch protest last November. Ed reported to the prison at 2 p.m today, April 3rd.   (Bob had served time earlier for committing civil disobedience at the SOA-Watch protests, so it was great that he could take Ed over to Elkton.)

People's Organization for Progress held a protest in front of the Federal Building last week in support of Dr. Lewinson, calling for him to be re-assigned closer to home so people could visit him. Ed also filed a written request for re-assignment with Congressman Payne's office March 21st. Since then, people have been calling Senator Launtenberg's office and Senator Menendez' office as well.

But as of yesterday, there was no re-assignment, so Bob picked Ed up early in the morning, and they left on their drive to Ohio.

I spoke with Theresa Call, this afternoon and she told me that Tom Mehedy had called SOA-Watch in Washington, D.C. to see if there were any supporters near Elkton, OH. Tom was put in touch with a Pax Christie group in Youngstown, OH, about 30 miles from the prison.   When that group heard Ed and Bob would be arriving the day before Ed had to report, they arranged for a potluck supper last night to greet them. This morning, a priest from Pittsburgh was going to meet Ed and Bob at the courthouse and accompany Ed to the prison.

So even though we did not succeed in having Ed re-assigned to a closer prison, as of yet, at least he is not alone over in Ohio.   There are people nearby who know where he is, and who will also be supporting him while he is in prison.

Attachment to this email contains information I copied from the Bureau of Prisons' website and specifically about Elkton. You can also google FCI Elkton, Ohio for more information. (Also, in the attached word file there is a reference link to a .pdf that you can check out if you would like to visit Ed. It gives all the information about rules and regulations related to visiting inmates. It is 23 pages long!)

If you would like to write to Ed -- here is his address:

Dr. Edwin Lewinson #92126-020
FIC Elkton
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 10
Lisbon, OH 44432

I am sure hearing from everyone will help Ed keep his spirits up while he is in jail doing his time.

Also, there is a possibility Ed may be re-assigned during his prison sentence to a federal facility closer to home.   It has been suggested that people continue calling Congressman Payne's office to find out what progress has been made, and also Senators Launtenberg and Menendez offices. (Although Sen. Launtenberg's office said that since Congressman Payne's office received the initial written request, it would be best to have them work on it.)

Well, I think that's about all for now.

Terri Suess
862-215-7711

2005-2006 Objectives

Objectives for 2005 - 2006 as voted on at the June 2005 meeting:

Objective # One:
     Continue to support and publicize the National Peace Department Bill which will be re-introduced into Congress on September 10.

Objective # Two:
    Work to ease the situation of immigrants in the Detention Center in Elizabeth New Jersey.

Objective # Three:
     Take actions to curtail Global Warming, particularly to work towards a "green" Ethical Culture Society and to educate our members and the public.

       Falsely Convicted and Exonerated: A Community Forum and Reception

          with David Shepard, Nate Walker, & Professor Delores Jones-Brown



Community Forum – 2:00 pm Saturday January 6th, 2007
at the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County
516 Prospect Street, Maplewood



Both Nate Walker and David Shepard spent more than 10 years in New Jersey State Prisons for crimes they did not commit. Nate and David are African-American men who were accused of sexual assaults against white women. They were both model prisoners, who served their fellow inmates, while fighting to prove their innocence. Nate was eventually exonerated through the efforts of Princeton-based Centurion Ministries who arranged the blood tests that proved his innocence. David filed his own briefs through the federal district courts to challenge his conviction. His victory in the federal courts led to DNA testing which established his innocence. Nate Walker and David Shepard’s cases are featured in Lost Innocence in New Jersey by Sandra Manning and Scott Christianson, which documents wrongful prosecutions and convictions in New Jersey.

Professor Delores Jones-Brown, Director of the Center on Race, Crime, and Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice will also appear and provide commentary on both cases.

The Community Forum featuring David Shepard, Nate Walker, and other special guests will begin at 2:00pm at the Essex County Ethical Culture Society 516 Prospect Street in Maplewood. It is free and open to the public. This event from the Martin Luther King Holiday Committee is co-sponsored by the Social Action Committee of the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County.

The Forum will be followed by a reception at the Baker-Johnson home 318 South Ridgewood Road in South Orange. “Falsely Convicted and Exonerated” is a fundraising event for the South Orange/Maplewood Martin Luther King Holiday Committee (MLK-HC), and co-sponsored by the Peoples’ Organization for Progress. Its purpose is to inform the community about the impact of mass incarceration in the United States while raising funds for the annual Martin Luther King Holiday Celebration. This event promises to be timely, moving and relevant to Dr. King and the civil rights legacy. A $35.00 donation ($15.00 for students, payable to Martin Luther King Holiday Committee) is requested to attend the reception in honor of David Shepard and Nate Walker. Contact Matthew Johnson 973 941-6497 for further information.



Local Peace Department Campaign Group:

A Letter from Tricia Idrobo:

Hi Sue,
      I am thrilled that the Social Action Committee is taking on Dept. of Peace as a project and having the letter writing session for people at Ethical.
      Please pass on this message about the NJ Dept. of Peace campaign. We are starting a NJ Dept. of Peace Campaign list serve through Yahoo Groups. This group will connect people all over NJ who are working on passing the DoP legislation. We expect to discuss strategies, share our successes, give and seek advice, and receive information about the DoP and our activities.
      If anyone is interested in being in this e-mail group please send me your e-mail to me at pfressidrobo@hotmail.com .
      Perhaps if one or two people on the committee would like to receive the mailings, they can pass on info to the rest of the committee. The national Dept. of Peace campaign also has a monthly conference call the first Tuesday of every month at 9 PM EST for people who prefer that. Perhaps someone would also like to be a liaison there. I have found the calls to be very informative and inspiring. In fact that is how I got involved in the DoP campaign - it is one thing to read about it and another to connect to real human beings who are working on it and who sound so nice and also very organized.
      The phone number and code often changes so it would be good for people who wish to participate to check on their website at http://www.thepeacealliance.org/main.htm for current numbers or sign on to their e-mail list for monthly e-newsletters. The phone number for tonight is (702) 851-3330 They will ask for your code. It is 456123. Betty Levin and I plan to be on the call tonight. If I can be of any help, call me at (973) 994-7018.
                                                                  Thanks, Tricia Idrobo

    Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. it is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children...This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.>

                          - The Honorable Dwight D. Eisenhower 1890-1969
                             34th President of the United States
                             Supreme Commander, Integrated European Defense Forces

To see our objectives and action steps for 2005-06, click here.    For more information, or to get on the mailing list, email us at essex@essexethical.org

We also often support causes and organizations in which our individual members are active. For example, if you want to learn more about Physician Aided Dying, get in touch with Committee member Win Thies, founder and former President of the Hemlock Society of NJ, Inc. (now Compassion and Choices of New Jersey.)    Social Action chair Meredith Sue Willis is a trustee of the South Orange Maplewood Community Coaltion on Race.   E. Betty Levin is active in the New Jersey Association for Spirituality, Ethics, and Religious Values in Counseling and in work for Peace around the Department of Peace legislation.  She and several other members of our Society are also active in New Jersey Peace Action.

Fairness, Freedom and the Dying

On March 22, 2002, the High Court in London ruled that Ms. B, a paralyzed patient being maintained on a machine to help her breathe (a "ventilator") is entitled to kill herself by directing her physicians to disconnect her ventilator. Director of England’s Voluntary Euthanasia Society Deborah Annetts commented: "This is a victory for common sense. The case has confirmed that patient choice must be at the center of all treatment decisions."

Meanwhile, three days prior in Strasbourg, France, Diane Pretty, suffering from motor neurone disease and paralyzed from the neck down, was present on a stretcher at the European Court of Human Rights while her attorney argued that the United Kingdom’s refusal to let her husband help her to die was a violation of her basic civil rights.

Among the simple truths we learned in kindergarten, like "take turns" and "share", was "fairness": that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike.

One might think that certainly we are all treated fairly, all treated equally when it comes to that most personal, private and—to many—religious experience in our lives: the dying process. Alas, not so. Those who are on a life support system, like a ventilator in order to breathe or kidney dialysis, or simply need antibiotics for garden-variety pneumonia or some other infection—such persons are accorded greater freedom than other dying persons.

When a person is terminally ill and in intractable suffering (suffering that cannot be relieved by the highest skill of the pain-control physician) it is reasonable for such dying person to regard life as no longer a benefit but a grave burden. And a burden he would gladly shuck off, if he could.

If such dying person is on a life support system (as was Ms. B) or needs medical treatment in order to survive, has full decision-making capacity and is not treatably depressed it is settled law that the patient may, if wished, as of right direct the removal of the life support system or refuse the essential medical treatment and thus effect death. That is the central lesson of the Karen Ann Quinlan case and the Cruzan case. And this basically was settled law in the U.K., too, even prior to Ms. B’s case. With good pain control care the dying patient in this situation can thus achieve a good death: one that is quick, pain-free and gentle.

In contrast, a patient in all respects similarly situated but not on a life support system or needing further medical treatment (like Diane Pretty) seemingly has not that freedom: the freedom to effect his or her own death. Possibly the patient suffers from a degenerative and inevitably fatal disease, like ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) or severe multiple sclerosis. The patient must linger on in increasing suffering. (Only in Oregon under its Death With Dignity Act is it clear that a physician may lawfully even write a prescription for a lethal dose of drugs which the dying patient may later elect to take. And even that modest advance in freedom for the dying is threatened: also last Friday attorneys at the direction of Attorney General John Ashcroft were arguing in Portland, Oregon, U.S. District Court that physicians compassionately responding to their patients under the Oregon law could be jailed for up to 20 years on account of Federal drug laws.)

Understand that we are not here considering those cases in which a patient does not want to die in order to end suffering but merely wants an intrusive life support system removed. In our scenario the patient wants to die and his doctor supports and joins in that intention. (With Ms. B, of course, her physicians resisted taking an action that would kill her. The High Court ruled they did so unlawfully.)

Is there any principled ethical difference on those facts assumed between the three means of achieving a good death: refusal of medical treatment, physician aid-in-dying (PAD), where the physician only writes the lethal prescription, and euthanasia, where the physician gives a lethal injection?

Let’s look at the factors involved. In each case physician and patient both intend that the patient die. In each case the motive of both doctor and patient is to benefit the patient: to end suffering through a hastened dying. In each case doctor and patient in effect act together to achieve that end. And in each case the result is the same: the death of the patient.

It is thus plain that there is no principled ethical difference between refusal of treatment (including removal of a life support), PAD and euthanasia on our facts. But today only if the first be available does the patient have full freedom to control his or her dying. While currently in all states save Oregon PAD is illegal and would subject the physician involved to serious jail time and loss of license. And while euthanasia, probably the most compassionate of all the three means, is illegal throughout America, including Oregon.

The three means are ethically the same, but are treated harshly differently. (Witness the savage treatment meted out to Dr. Jack Kevorkian, now in solitary confinement and facing a further 23 years in jail.) Fairness cries out that we accord to the dying freedom to write the final chapter in the book of their lives and thus to invoke whatever means they wish. It is not the proper place of government to intrude into this most personal, private and religious experience in a person’s life.

As we freed the slaves, freed women, assured freedom for reproductive choices, let us now affirm freedom for the dying by enacting state laws allowing them any of the three means, with reasonable protections against abuse. A good start would be a law much like the Oregon Death With Dignity Act, which has worked flawlessly for four years, but also permitting euthanasia (as in the Netherlands).

This essay was written by Winthrop Thies, former President of The Hemlock Society of New Jersey (the predecessor organization to Compassion and Choices of New Jersey, Inc.).

�� See Website of Final Exit at FinalExitNetwork.org

April 1, 2008 is Fossil Fools Day!

Led by the Energy Action Coalition, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, and Rising Tide, there will be on April 1 collective
action to turn the tide away from fossil fuel dependence and towards a clean and just energy revolution. The sponsoring organizations say that they have had enough of "fossil fuel tomfoolery" - empty promises and lackluster leadership from our governments and dirty energy companies. We have had enough of coal companies that destroy communities, poison our air, and spew global warming pollution. We are sick of oil and car companies keeping us dangerously addicted to oil. We know that tar sands development in Canada must be stopped. And we will kick every politician out of office who refuses to show bold, political leadership in fighting climate change. Join us in making April 1 a day the fossil fuel industry never forgets! Sign-up for an action in your community today." For more information, see

http://fossilfools08.org

Fossil Fools Day ideas include, but are by no means limited to: rallies at gas stations or representative offices,
Critical Mass bike rides, office occupations, Billionaire's for Tar Sands/Coal demonstrations, spank the bank visits, high-powered
projections of solutions on the side of dirty energy factories, Board of Trustees meeting take-overs, hold a clean energy camp at a dirty
energy site, do solar installations, make spoof videos and websites, offer alternative, clean energy bus rides, do some coal mining of your own at a coal company's headquarters...

Honorable Frank Lautenberg
United States Senator
One Gateway Center, 23rd Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102

Re: United States forces in Iraq

Dear Senator Lautenberg:

I listened to President Bush’s State of the Union address and to Senator
James Webb’s response. Senator Webb spoke for me and millions of Americans
when he said that our troops should be removed from combat in Iraq and
brought home in an orderly manner. I do not think that the non-binding
resolution which states that the increase in forces in Iraq is not in our
national interest is enough. Vice President Cheney has said already that
President Bush will ignore the resolution.
You and other members of the Senate must do more to compel President Bush
to change direction in Iraq. It is not enough to express the opinion of a
majority of the House.
The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of
2002, Public Law 107-243, authorizes the President to “use the Armed Forces
of the United States ... in order to –
(1) defend the national security of the United States against the
continuing threat posed by Iraq; and
(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions
regarding Iraq.”
The various “Whereas” clauses in the Joint Resolution make clear that the
dangers referred to related to Iraq’s wars of aggression against it
neighbors, its failure to abide by the U.N. Resolutions relating to the
cease fire in the Gulf War, its weapons programs to possess and develop a
significant chemical and biological weapons capability and to develop a
nuclear weapons capability, its brutal repression of its civilian population
and its activities in supporting and harboring terrorists organization.
None of these reasons now exist. There is no continuing threat posed by
Iraq. Saddam Hussein has been tried, convicted and executed. The various
other officials responsible for the genocide in Kurdistan and other crimes
against humanity are now on trial for their crimes. Iraq has a
democratically elected government and a constitution approved by its people
in a referendum. Iraq no longer has chemical, biological or nuclear
weapons. Iraq may now be in the middle of a civil war, of ethic cleansing
and of other internal strife, but none of these things were or are
encompassed by the Iraq Resolution of 2002. If President Bush wants to use
the Armed Forces of the United States to deal with these problems he must
seek authorization from Congress.
I urge you to introduce and gain support for a joint resolution stating
that the President is no longer authorised to use the Armed Forces of the
Untied States in Iraq and requiring him to remove them from Iraq with all
deliberate speed..
Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution authorizes Congress, not the
President: “To declare was ....; To raise and support Armies ...; To make
Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and navel Forces ...”
Congress clearly has the power to revoke the Iraq Resolution of 2002.
Congress has the power to limit its funding for the Armed Forces to
defensive measures in Iraq and to those actions necessary for an orderly
removal of Forces from Iraq.
President Bush will continue to spend recklessly the lives of our service
men and women because he cannot admit to a mistake. It is your duty as an
elected representative of the people to make sure that President Bush’s
pride and arrogance to not further injure our country and its Armed Forces.

Very truly,

William E. Graves

Dear Friends:

In the Q & A following Leader Boe Meyerson's Mar. 4, 2007 talk on the current Iraq situation and how we might ethically get out of it, I questioned her broad assertion that "regime change" not effected through the UN is always unethical.

There is a weakness in over-generalizing from specific difficult situations. We fought the Cold War, including the Korean War (successfully, but at great cost) on account of "the lesson of Munich". Such supposed "lesson" also informed our involvement in Viet Nam. Then the supposed "lesson" of Viet Nam affected our policy in later years. (While we ignored success against insurgencies by the British in Malaya, the Philippines against the Huks, the French in Algeria (although they eventually left.). And our own success in putting down the Philippine insurgency under Aguinaldo a century ago, at the cost, I remind you, of some 4,300 Americans slain.

Some took my comments as a defense of the current Bush administration. Not so. They were merely intended as a corrective to laying down a dubious general ethical rule.

Yes, as an ideal matter the world community would end the horrors of a tyrannical regime through UN action. Alas, the very imperfect instrument that is the UN (with egregious misrepresentation and the veto, etc.) fairly precludes this in many cases--while horrific conditions crying out for immediate relief yet continue. I point to Darfur today. (And think back to the horros of Idi Amin and Pol Pot.) Met with UN ineffectuality the straightforward--and ethical--move would be for a few good nations to send in an allied force to replace the current lawless Sudanese regime. (Alas, on account of the supposed "lesson of Iraq" we and like minded nations will not do that.)

That regime change is fully licit when a government be sufficiently tyrannical is well established. Thoughout history the right of an oppressed people to replace a tyrant (by assassination or otherwise) has long and repeatedly been affirmed. Hence the general rejoicing at the fall of a tyrant, with the cry: "Sic semper tyrannis!"

If it be settled that an oppressed people may ethically so act, what does it matter that the means to effect an ethical act come from external forces? A few top German officers came close to slaying Hitler in the (alas) failed assassination attempt of July 20, 1944. The War dragged on for near another year, with millions more slain, maimed, raped, rendered homeless, etc. Had the effort to kill Hitler been mounted by a band of Allied secret agents would the act have been any less ethical?

Yes, immoral governments on occasion may use the rubric "legitimate regime change" as a cover for imperialist aggression. But that a principle may be misued does not render it illegitimate. We recall the settled maxim "Abusus non tollit usum": "the abuse of something does not bar its proper use."

Accordingly, it is error to lay down a general rule that regime change not effected through the UN is always unethical.

Plainly, I invite dialogue (from Boe and others) on this.

Sincerely, Winthrop Drake Thies

Here are places to find information about presidential candidates and their health care positions:

For a quick summary, thanks go Barry Zack, click here.

Hillary Clinton:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/healthcareplan/

John Edwards:
http://johnedwards.com/issues/health-care/

Rudy Guliani:
http://www.joinrudy2008.com/

Mike Huckabee:
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=8

Dennis Kucinich:
http://www.dennis4president.com/go/issues/a-healthy-nation/

John McCain:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm

Barack Obama:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

Mitt Romney:
http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Health_Care

July summary of candidate positions from the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/06/us/politics/06health.html?pagewanted=print

Here are more good health care materials to read:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9255124

http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/3/10?eaf

http://content.healthaffairs.org/

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/momentum-grows-universal-health-care/

http://www.aarp.org/issues/dividedwefail/divided_we_fail_platform_affordable_health_care.html

SF Chronicle article

The Season of Nonviolence-- Jan 30 through April 4

(for more information, go to http://www.seasonfornonviolence.net and/or get in touch with Tricia Idrobo at PFressIdrobo@hotmail.com .

The 11th annual Season for Nonviolence has now officially begun, starting on Jan. 30 which is the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's death, to April 4 which is the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. The New Jersey Department of Piece initiative is giving a challenge for the Season of Nonviolence--that everyon consider doing at least one action per month to move the Department of Peace Campaign forward!

The monthly action could be as basic as reading the bill (H.R. 808) or becoming familiar with the helpful resources on the DoP website (www.thepeacealliance.org).   It could be as easy as passing on a DoP brochure or e-newsletter to friends and acquaintances. Other actions could be phoning or writing your member of Congress, arranging to have a DoP speaker at a group, or hosting a DoP get-together at your house.

Since collective efforts bring increased results, please consider joining the DoP team in your area and working with others to plan and carry out the most effective ways to promote the campaign. We will send opportunities for involvement throughout the Season of Nonviolence.

If everyone on this list serve would make this commitment we could accomplish so much. Please let us know what you are doing!

The Season for is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world. www.seasonfornonviolence.net

AEU Ethical Action Archives

Ethical Action

September 2007 Ethical Action Report

July 2007 Ethical Action Report

Schedule of Sunday Platforms Who We Are    HOME How to Find Us    Society Leader
How Do I Become a Member? National Affiliation    Humanist Weddings     Forum
Social Action Committee An Ethical Culture Review of Books    An Ethical Culture Magazine

Social Action Committee Page

Next Social Action Committee Meeting Tuesday, August 26, 2008 3:00 PM at the Society

Social Action Committee Minutes from June 3, 2008

Terri Suess's Report on Ed Lewinson going to Jail

"Fairness, Freedom, and the Dying" by Win Thies

Star Ledger Article February 19 about Ed Lewinson and School of the Americas

Next Social Action Committee Meeting is Sunday, April 27, Immediately after platform

The Season of Nonviolence -- Jan 30 through April 4 (Death of Gandhi through Death of Martin Luther King)

The Presidential Candidates' Postions on Climate Issues

(Thanks to Barry Zack!)

Some interesting Green sites

Click here for health care materials.

Info on the Essex County Greens

Minutes of Past meetings (Reverse Order)

Ethical Action Reports from the AEU

Minutes of Past meetings (Reverse Order)

A Statement on Regime Change by Win Thies

A Letter on Withdrawing from Iraq by Bill Graves

Resources about Being Green

(Thank you, Lisa Novemsky)

Environmental Working Group

The Green Guide

Social Action Committee Co-Sponsored with the Martin Luther King Holiday Committee a Community Forum January 6, 2007 at 2:00 At the Ethical Culture Society: Falsely Convicted and Exonerated: A Community Forum and Reception with David Shepard, Larry Peterson, & Professor Delores Jones-Brown

Interested in buying Fair Trade Coffee and other Products? First, read what Fair Trade is here. Then click here for information about the Fair Trade Federation. Click here for information about the free trade shop in New Jersey.

Click here and here for groups in the UK, where you can also look for a fairtrademark:

Minutes of Past meetings (Reverse Order)

June 3, 2008

April 27, 2008

Attending: Ed Bokert, Karen Bokert, Boe Meyerson, Lisa Novemsky, Gladys Smith, Win Thies, Sue Willis, and Barry Zack

Ed Lewinson 92126 -020 FCI Elkton PO Box 10 Lisbon, OH 44432

3. Barry Zack reported on the great success of the SOLAR ENERGY FORUM program on that he organized and took place on Thursday, April 24 at the Society building– in fact, people had to be reminded to leave at the end of the evening!

Karen Bokert's Report on April 6 Meeting with Ed Tick

He gave those who are interested in this project, several ways to get started: Have a war movie night for several months so that we get used to the horrors. There are several fine ones out there that we could use. i.e. STOP-LOSS.

Once we get a vets group going, use the arts - music, dancing, poetry, and fine arts to help them express their inner feelings Use meditation - it's a gentle but very effective way to open them up. Speak about Buddhism which is the main reason that the Vietnamese do not have PTSD .

Have a 24/7 hotline for any vet that may need to talk to a qualified person.

He gave out a sheet with about 25 ways to begin working to help the vets. (I'm sure you have this list). Basically, it says to us that a retraining of'our culture needs to be done.

He said that PTSD begins in boot camp.

He said we should learn from other cultures about how they have treated their returning warriors, i.e. the Native Americans. He wentinto a lengthy explanation about what Natives do in their culture and there is no PTSD in their warriors.

If there are any Iraqis living in the area, try to bring them in to talk to the vets, the goal might be some kind of reconciliation.

He was also very concerned about the families of our soldiers. Perhaps a program could be started to invite these and listen to their angers, fears,problems, etc.

Sat Nam. Karen Bokert

March 30, 2008

Attending: Betty Levin, Win Thies, Lisa Novemsky, Doris Rados, Boe Meyerson, Mira Stillman, Sue Willis, Gladys Smith, Sylvia Kramer, & Barbara Cotler

Congressman Payne was at the “Be About Peace Day” on Saturday night, March 29, 2008, which was a big success with a lot of participation and good energy. We congratulate Paul Surovell and South Mountain Peace Action on the event!

After setting the next meeting for 4-27-08, we adjourned.

February 10, 2008

Attending: Betty Levin, Win Thies, Lisa Novemsky, Doris Rados, Boe Meyerson, Barry Zack, Mira Stillman, Terri Seuss, Ed Lewinson, Karen Bokert, Fred Sebastian, Ed Bokert, Sue Willis.

December 2, 2007

Attending:, Barry Zack, Barbara Cotler, Lisa Novemsky, Boe Meyerson, Win Thies, Gladys Smith, Sue Willis. Visiting: Karen Bokert, Ed Bokert

Chair Sue Willis distributed copies of a draft op-ed piece on Health Care growing out of the platform we presented on October 28. Sue will be sending the piece electronically to committee members who will get back to her with suggestions by December 7

The group decided not to set a meeting till we could arrange it with Betty to get more information on the Warrior Project.

September 16, 2007

Attending: Betty Levin, Boe Meyerson, Barbara Cotler, Doris Rados, Sue Willis. Visiting: Marty Cotler.

Minutes --Social Action Committee Meeting-- July 9, 2007 7:00 PM

Attending: Boe Meyerson, Mira Stillman, Win Thies, & Sue Willis

We took the following actions/ decisions:

1. We voted to accept as final the statement drafted last meeting on health care:

The American Health Care system is too expensive, and it delivers inferior and unequal care. Adequate health care for every individual must be seen as a basic human right.

2. In order to have some impact with this admittedly general statement, we have decided to do the following things:

Win and Sue will write an op-ed piece to be submitted to the News-Record and possibly elsewhere. This will ideally appear around the time of our October Platform

We will also prepare a carding or petition.

If you haven't read the online articles with links here, try to take a look.

4. We set our next meeting for Sunday, September 16, 2007, immediately after the Platform.

Minutes --Social Action Committee Meeting--June 4, 2007 7:00 PM

Minutes April 1, 2007

Attending: Betty Levin, Mira Stillman, Boe Meyerson, Gladys Smith, Lisa Novemsky, Win Thies, Sue Willis

Mira also reported on Terri Suess’s idea for an event next month to spread the word about greening and to link it to peace, and the group is eager to give support to this.

We will do a carding on stopping the New Jersey Death penalty again (we did one a few weeks back). This will take place at coffee hour on April 22. Win will take the lead on organizing this.

The group expressed satisfaction with the plan of having more frequent but shorter meetings, and the next meeting was set for Monday, June 4, 7:00 PM at the Society Building.

Attending: Barbara Cotler, Boe Meyerson, Anja Moen, Gladys Smith, Mira Stillman, Win Thies, Sue Willis

Next meeting: Sunday, April 1, 2007 after platform.

Attending: Lisa, Gus, Anja, Win, Paul, Sue, Boe, Betty, Mira

Minutes December 3, 2006

Attending: Lisa Novemsky, Barbara Cotler, Anja Moen, Win THies, Boe Meyerson, Sue Willis, Paul Surovell. Visitor: Julie Verratti of MassEquity & Garden State Equality.

Minutes October 15, 2006

Minutes Social Action Committee Meeting January 22, 2006

Social Action Committee Meeting --December 11, 2005

We set Sunday, January 22, 2006 for our next meeting, which will be devoted to a visit from Serge Pakhomou, who has himself spent time at the Elizabeth detention center.

Social Action Committee Meeting November 15, 2005

Community Forum – 2:00 pm Saturday January 6th, 2007 at the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County 516 Prospect Street, Maplewood

Next Social Action Committee Meeting
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
3:00 PM at the Society

Next Social Action Committee Meeting is
Sunday, April 27, Immediately after platform

The Season of Nonviolence -- Jan 30 through April 4
(Death of Gandhi through Death of Martin Luther King)

Interested in buying Fair Trade Coffee and other Products?
First, read what Fair Trade is here. Then click here for
information about the Fair Trade Federation.
Click here for information about the free trade shop in New Jersey.

Click here and here for groups in the UK,
where you can also look for a fairtrademark:

Ed Lewinson 92126 -020
FCI Elkton
PO Box 10
Lisbon, OH 44432

Once we get a vets group going, use the arts - music, dancing, poetry, and fine arts to help them express their inner feelings
Use meditation - it's a gentle but very effective way to open them up.
Speak about Buddhism which is the main reason that the Vietnamese do not have PTSD .

Minutes Social Action Committee Meeting
January 22, 2006

Social Action Committee Meeting
November 15, 2005

Community Forum – 2:00 pm Saturday January 6th, 2007
at the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County
516 Prospect Street, Maplewood

Hillary Clinton:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/healthcareplan/

John Edwards:
http://johnedwards.com/issues/health-care/

Rudy Guliani:
http://www.joinrudy2008.com/

Mike Huckabee:
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=8

Dennis Kucinich:
http://www.dennis4president.com/go/issues/a-healthy-nation/

John McCain:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm

Barack Obama:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

Mitt Romney:
http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Health_Care

July summary of candidate positions from the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/06/us/politics/06health.html?pagewanted=print