REACHING OUT. . .
NEWS FROM LA BORGOÑA
With Cheryl Avery back in Nicaragua, we've resumed our long-distance, email conversations and have held two three-hour meetings this month.

Nicaragua is in its third year of drought, the newly elected government has announced Draconian cuts in the budget for education and social services, and unemployment now exceeds 60%.  In the face of this, you employ teachers, provide scholarships for children and adults, provide clinics (our 4th session was December 21, 2001) which services 60 people each session, and deliver material aid by ship and by suitcase.

Now, let's admit that everything in our relationship is not working perfectly.  We continue, not always successfully, to try to monitor events in the community and to see to it that our resources are used in the ways we've mutually agreed.  We are not solving ALL the problems.  But, when we write, when we show up, when we provide what we can, they believe that God is using us to show them that they are not alone.  So, for now, lets try to view problems as opportunities, and setbacks as temporary bumps in the road.

Venceremos,   Bob Miner

GALLUP POLL SHOWS 
WORLD OPPOSES MILITARY ACTION

An international Gallup Poll showed that a majority in 32 out of 35 countries (the US, Israel and India in opposition) favored a criminal justice response, rather than military action response to the 11 September acts of violence.  The numbers were clear: 67%-88% in NATO/Western countries and 83%-94% in Latin America favored a non-military approach. 

30% of US respondents also supported this option even though the mainstream US media consistently ignores this.  Of the European countries polled, France had the highest support for military action with 30% in favor. In the UK, 18% favored military action, and in Greece 8%.  All of the European countries were well above 60% in support of extradition of the terrorists to stand trial.  source: Gallup International Association - 25 Coborn Road - London E3 2DA - UK  www.gallup-international.com/terrorismpoll_figures.htm

CLEAN ELECTIONS FOR FULL DEMOCRACY,
AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT
An Adult Study: January 6~February 3, 2002

The Outreach Committee is sponsoring this adult education study during the 11th Hour for the five Sunday mornings, beginning on January 6, 2002, and running through February 3rd, under the leadership of Ken Kreutziger. The primary text for the study is the booklet, “Political Bribery in the U.S.A.: How Corporations and the Wealthy Buy Power and What We Can Do to Stop Them” published by The Alliance for Democracy, September 2001.

During the winter last year, a church task force sponsored by the Outreach Committee presented a series on the issues of corporate rule outlining its nature, magnitude, and the urgency for an evolutionary change to American democracy. For the church to move forward in this area the LUMC planning session for programs this year indicated the need for additional church wide education. This year’s study about the influence of corporations in our democracy focusing on the election process will expand our education and provide that additional opportunity for more people to become informed.

The study begins on January 6 with The Clean Elections Crisis: Framing the Issue. It will feature a video case study from “Free Speech for Sale” by Bill Moyers.  Details of the individual studies are on the Adult Study Opportunities page.

For the Outreach Committee by Bill Santelmann