Social Justice Action

California Leads In May 2026, California generated over half (51%) of its electricity from solar panels for the entire month. Both utility-scale projects and roof-top arrays figure in this statistic. Of note, California is the first economy worldwide to reach this milestone. Hungary is close behind at 47%, but with a far smaller GDP. In California, natural gas is the only other power source that produces appreciable levels of electricity. However, solar led natural gas not on

Mark Wilkens is a UUFSD member, writer, and poet. A graduate of Arizona State University, he lives in Poway with his partner Leslie, son Miles, two cats, and three geese. His debut collection of poetry, "You Can't Discover What Was Always There" is available wherever books can be ordered, and his writing can also be found on his Substack, "Forgotten Candles." Attached here is the sermon "The Real." This sermon began as thoughts about the usage of AI in a spiritual context, an

Two important environmental justice bills that have passed the state Senate are coming up for a vote in the Assembly. State Senator Catherine Blakespear, who authored one of the bills - SB 954 - could use our support getting them over the finish line. San Diego 350 lists both bills on their list of 2026 legislative priorities. SB 954: Restore Environmental Review ProtectionsSB 954 narrows a California Environmental Quality Act exemption adopted last year by restoring protecti

ISRAELI SETTLERS DIVERT PALESTINIAN WATER TO FILL WEST BANK POOL REUTERS August 13, 2026 11:01 PM By Pesha Magid Summary: Settlers have cut off Palestinians' access to springs across the West Bank, Palestinians say One spring diverted by settlers to fill a pool, drying up Palestinian farmland Water seizures coincide with growing Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians. Copies of the complete Reuters article are available, at the PIJG table in the Core area.

In an effort to disentangle the US from violence in the Middle East, The Palestine Israel Justice Group is gathering signatures in August and September asking our representatives and senators to stop taking AIPAC money. The PIJG will have an excerpt from Thomas Friedman's (Op Ed writer for the New York Times) Op Ed of August 11, 2026, "El Sayed's Winning Path in Michigan" in which he offers his opinion of AIPAC's influence in American politics. Please visit us in the courtyar

Every week the SJA publishes a list of various justice actions that members and friends can take from the comfort of their homes. We ask you to add your name to at least one, that resonates with you. From MOMS RISING New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that deaths due to mental health conditions rose 5% in just one year. This means that the postpartum window of risk is growing, and our systems are not keeping up. Demand that our leader

Peak Power When demand for electricity is heavy, especially during a heat wave, utility companies generally fire up a back-up fossil fuel plant to meet the extra demand. In some parts of the country they charge more for power generated from these plants. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of homes and businesses generating their own electricity via solar panels and storing it in batteries for use when the sun isn’t shining. ComEd, a power company in Ill

What do a musician/songwriter, author of a best seller and a PhD in human rights law and sustainable development have in common? They are all Adam Met. Adam is the bassist in the multi-platinum indie pop band AJR, an adjunct professor at Columbia University and author of Amplify: How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action and Build a Better World. Adam is a popular musician, but he’s a self-described policy wonk and founder and director of the non-profit, Plane

FROM NEWTOWN ACTION ALLIANCE AND UUFSD GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION GROUP On Saturday, August 1, 2026, a gunman armed with an assault weapon opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, killing three people, wounding seven others, and then turning the gun on himself. Another ordinary day became another American tragedy. Following the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Newtown Action Alliance and gun violence survivors succeeded in securing passage of the Fede

Number of Mass shootings January-July 2026: 273 Children and Teen Victims January-July 2026 Killed: 636 Injured: 1777 Gun violence and crime incidents are collected/validated from 5,000+ sources daily – Incident Reports and their source data are found at the gunviolencearchive.org website. We are looking for a GVP Coordinator, Contact Irv Himelblau at: ihimelblau@gmail.com, for more information.

The UUFSD quarterly plant-based potlucks are very popular. Members and guests bring and share delicious, healthy dishes and good conversation. Some of the conversation at July’s potluck centered on how to become more plant-based and still take care of nutritional needs. A common question is how to get enough protein from a plant-based diet. That question and more is answered in the Washington Post article, What a plant-based food expert eats for protein, calcium and more.

The SJA would like your support for this fundraiser. This family’s story is one of many in Encinitas, and is heartbreaking. Unfortunately, we had five abductions in July. Once someone is taken, families lose a significant part of their income. We can show our compassion by donating. Thank you for your generosity.

GAZA ANNEXATION AGENDA Several far-right Israeli ministers have publicly and repeatedly advocated for the annexation of the West Bank and the re-occupation/annexation of Gaza, along with policies that encourage Palestinian emigration. These calls are not official Israeli government policy but are pushed by key members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. The remarks coincided with statements by Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who said Israel is effectively mov

Looking for an incentive to declutter closets and drawers? Target just made it a whole lot easier for you. According to a recent San Diego Union Tribune article, Target has expanded its recycling program. Called Target Textile Drop Spot, the program even accepts unusable clothing, sheets and towels. That’s different from thrift stores and other donation spots that typically require items to be stain-free and in good condition. Target's website says “Bring in your old clothing

July 26, 2026 at 11am-12pm - Core Area This coming Sunday, July 26th, is the final date for collecting school supplies for underserved kids in our area. Don't like to shop? If so, please bring a check or some cash to contribute and Betsy will do the shopping. Find the big bin in the core area to make your donation.

BAN BUMP STOCKS This advocacy day couldn't come at a more important time. As America celebrated its 250th birthday, our nation experienced 17 mass shootings over the July 4th holiday weekend - 9 on Independence Day and 8 more the following day. Those shootings left 11 people dead and 86 wounded in 16 communities across 14 states. Americans should be able to celebrate our nation's independence without fearing gun violence. The Trump administration is systematically reversing 3

July 26, 2026 at 1:30-3:15pm - Otay Mesa Detention Center (7488 Calzada De La Fuente, San Diego, CA 92154) Friends: As we read in the news that the federal government has purchased the 'detention center' in Otay Mesa, we are reminded of concentration camps of another generation being supported by an unheeding, apathetic citizenry. When our tax dollars reward the private, for-profit-incarceration corporation CoreCivic with $1.5 billion, while we ignore the inhumane and corrupt

The New York Times article “Who Speaks for the Trees? A Tiny Quebec Town” examines an unusual decision by the small town of Terrasse-Vaudreuil to recognize trees as living beings with rights, further exploring the growing global movement to give nature legal standing. The town council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Trees, recognizing trees as more than property. The resolution says trees have rights such as the right to l

Every week the SJA publishes a list of various justice actions that members and friends can take from the comfort of their homes. We ask you to add your name to at least one, that resonates with you. From MomsRising New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that deaths due to mental health conditions rose 5% in just one year. This means that the postpartum window of risk is growing, and our systems are not keeping up. Demand that our leaders

Gun Regulations: The Trump administration is scrapping more than three dozen firearms regulations, abandoning a crackdown on illegal sales, restoring gun rights to some people with mental illness and loosening oversight of private weapons transactions. The GVP is looking for a program coordinator to work with the San Diego Alliance to End Gun Violence and other like minded organizations in the San Diego area. For more information on what the responsibilities of a coordinator