CUUPS Bulletin - Mar. 2011

David Pollard - CUUPS President

The recent disasters in Japan have brought forth strong reactions from all over the world. Here in the states, the UUA has teamed up with our long-time interfaith partners in Japan (primarily Buddhist and Shinto organizations) and are letting the local charities determine needs and priorities. Also, non-UU Pagans have organized a campaign to fund Doctor Without Borders efforts to assist the medical needs of those affected by the Earthquiake and Tsunami.

Both of these are necessary and worthwhile efforts that deserve your financial support. What has happened in Japan is a major disaster, and these things don't get fixed quickly. New Orleans is still suffering from Katrina and perhaps even more appropriate to this situation - the Ukraine is still recoving from the Chernobyl disaster. What Doctors Without Borders does is to provide emergency medical assistance which is vital in the first days and weeks after a natural disaster. The Japanese charities with which the UUA has partnered with are local (mostly Pagan) folk who will have the knowlege of what needs to be done to assist in the rebuilding. Thus - for right now, we urge people to contribute to Doctors without Borders, then once the immediate medical emergencies are done with, focus on contributing to the UUA Japan Relief Fund.

Peter Dybing, first officer of the Covenant of the Goddess, set up a Pagan Community donation page for Doctors Without Borders. This NGO was recommended due to their level of accomplishment in Haiti saving lives. Additionally, when this organization raised enough funds for its Haiti response - it stopped accepting donations. It is important to recognize that organizations have a logistical limit as to how much they can accomplish. By suspending fundraising this organization demonstrated a commitment to spend funds wisely and not just take the opportunity to raise unlimited cash as other large NGO's did.

To visit (and hopefully donate to) the Pagan Community's Doctors Without Borders fundraising page click here

UUA / UUSC Japan Relief Fund

Following March 11th's devastating earthquake and resulting tsunamis, the UUA has been in contact with our religious partners in Japan to express our concern and our willingness to partner with them in recovery efforts. Our partners, including Rissho Kosei-kai, Tsubaki Grand Shrine, the Konko Church of Izuo, the Tokyo Dojin Church, and the Japan Chapter of the International Association for Religious Freedom are all in discernment about the specific efforts they will be taking to support recovery work, and the UUA and UUSC will walk with them in the directions that are ultimately chosen and will make all appropriate decisions about the distribution of the funds. Please join with UUs throughout the United States by contributing to the UUA / UUSC Japan Relief Fund which will support the work that our Japanese partners pursue.

This model is starkly different than the way most "churches" would handle disaster relief - Rev. Christa Landon had a few things to say to put it in perspective:

"For nearly two centuries, Unitarians and Universalists have startled their Protestant neighbors by proclaiming the presence of sacred wisdom in Asian religions, and supporting the integrity of these Pagan faiths.

Lending our moral support was daring then; now we can be proud that UUA is materially supporting charitable Pagan institutions in this terrible crisis.

Many Americans don't understand the value of creating religious institutions, thinking that spirituality is a purely private matter.

Institutions are created by people to embody their values and organize their energies. Without institutions to embody OUR values and organize our energies, we are dependent on institutions which embody somebody else's. This is why we are Unitarian Universalists, and why the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans was organized.

The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans is grateful to the Unitarian Universalist Association's leadership for this swift response, and proud to tell other Pagans. We invite you to contribute to this fund as well.

To visit (and hopefully donate to) the UUA / UUSC Japan Relief Fund donation page click here .

Both of these campaigns provide relief to those affected by this natural disaster, and do it in ways which are consistent with Earth-Centered Spiritual values. As such they deserve your support.