Raise the Bar Hershey

RAISE THE BAR CAMPAIGN

Did you know that much of the chocolate - candy, cocoa, ice cream - you eat is made with ingredients produced by slave labor? Next time you buy a chocolate product check to see whether it has a label certifying it as being made from cacao beans produced without labor by abducted children. You can find a list of these labels at this site.

www.fair-trade-hub.com/fair-trade-certified-label.html

Particularly in the West African countries of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana large plantations use this type of labor to harvest the crop. Children from neighboring Mali are often the targets of false promises of easy money and are smuggled across the border by motorcycle taxis. Once there they are exposed to long hours, dangerous conditions and no chance to escape.

In spite of signing an International Labour Organization (ILO) protocol in 2001, some major chocolate producers purchase their ingredients from export companies that are ignoring the protocol. The chocolate companies use the excuse that they don’t own the plantations so they have no control.

The major American company guilty of continuing these practices is Hershey. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), of which some of you are members, is partnering with several other groups to tell Hershey to “Raise the Bar” and change its practices. You can find more information about what is happening and how to help by checking the websites of these groups.

www.globalexchange.org

www.laborrights.org

www.greenamerica.org

www.oaisusa.org

www.greenopolis.com

www.change.org

Did you ever make S’mores - perhaps as part of a summer vacation or camping trip. A special part of this campaign is the “We Want More from our S’mores”. This is asking people around the country to hold S’more parties this summer using Fair Trade chocolate. Then send the information about the party to one of the organizing groups such as www.raisethebarhershey.org or www.change.org . The group will let Hershey know how we feel about their lack of action.

Next time you’re at First Parish you can sign a petition for Hershey. Or sign one online at one of the sites listed above.

Summer Services Notice

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The July 24 service will be Susan Holton/First Principle Project: Standing on the Side of Love: How Do We Do That?

August 21 is currently open.

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First Parish celebrates Fourth of July

The First Parish Church did it up big again for the Town of Bridgewater's Fourth of July celebration. Many church members pitched in to put on the annual Snack Bar, Lemonade Stand and Book Sale. After viewing the downtown parade, customers lined up for the fresh and tasty food and drinks... including our popular strawberry shortcake and homemade lemonade. Books, CDs and DVDs sold well at the Book Sale.

The Rev. Ed Hardy and Janet Dye, member of the church's Green Sanctuary Committee, at the information table on the BSU Quad.

This year, we added an information table on the Bridgewater State University Quad along with artisans and other vendors. On display were assorted pamphlets on Unitarian Universalism, the First Parish Church and environmental issues. Free tap water was also available for people and pets. Many folks, young an dold, stopped by for a quick drink and a chat. Our simple environmental message: "You don't need to buy bottled water. Tap water tastes just as good and drinking it is better for the planet, creating less plastic waste." People were also encouraged to recycle their cups. All in all, it was a great day!

Summer Services Notice

The July 24 service will be Susan Holton/First Principle Project: Standing on the Side of Love: How Do We Do That?

The August 21 is currently open.

Liberals & Conservatives

Hurrah! This is the 100th post on the First Parish blog!


In today's summer service, Frank Yeatman introduced a fascinating video from TED Talks, in which Jonathan Haidt explores the developmental and moral dimensions of political identity. The survey that Haidt describes is available at YourMorals.org.



Find more interesting discussions at ted.com.

Juneteenth Gathering: Island Grove Park

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CELEBRATION

BRIDGEWATER, BROCKTON, ROCKLAND Congregations

June 19, 2011 at 11AM, followed by picnic

MUSIC, SINGING, SHORT SERMONS

Photo by Bunkosquad

Island Grove Pond is a 38 acre artificial pond created in the 1700s by building a dam on the Shumatuscacant River. The impoundment created was used to power a sawmill. The 1.74 miles of shoreline has on the eastern shoreline the 11 acre town owned Island Grove park with picnic tables, a summer camp (Busy Beaver Summer Camp) and a town swimming pool; the rest of the shoreline is developed with road frontage and residences. The bottom is sand along the edges and muck in the deep areas. Aquatic vegetation is abundant.

Abington’s Island Grove Park is often called the “Crown Jewel of Abington” and has long been a historic gathering spot. From 1846-1865, the park drew crowds of Abolitionists, this historic use was honored in 1909 at the spot where speakers once addressed the annual meetings. In 1902, the Civil War Memorial Arch and Bridge were constructed to honor the town’s Civil War veterans for the town’s bicentennial. In 2002, the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Access:
Shoreline fishing is readily available from Island Grove Park with the main entrance off Park Street and access across the Memorial Bridge from Wilson Place. Small non motorized boats and canoes can be launched from the park. From the town of Abington website.



View Larger Map

DIRECTIONS

From Bridgewater:
North on Route 18
Right on Route 123 (at lights)
Left on Washington St. (at lights) – still Route 123
Right at next lights still Route 123
First Left is LAKE STREET     (see below)
Fourth Left is PARK AVENUE (see below)

LAKE STREET            There are maybe ten to fifteen parking spaces along Lake Street. You will have to cross the footbridge to enter the park (see view above).

PARK AVENUE          Main parking is along Park Avenue. You will be able to drive into Island Grove Park to unload, but will have to return your car to Park Avenue. If you have a handicapped parking sticker you may park within Island Grove Park.

WHAT TO BRING: Chairs, picnic lunch, a dessert for sharing, maybe some bug spray, and, if you are adventurous, some swimming trunks. Musical instruments if you are inclined.

Note: The "Juneteenth" in the title of this post refers to the historic significance of this date, rather than any specific aspect of the program.

Summer Services

First Parish -- like most UU churches -- has a "church year" that corresponds to a typical school year, with summers reserved for less formal services. In our case, the services are usually held in the Upper Parish Hall, and they are held at 9:30 a.m., in hopes of benefiting from some morning coolness.

The final "regular" service this year will be in the sanctuary at 10:30 on June 12. Our annual "picnic" service will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Island Grove Park in Abington.

Thereafter, summer services will be in Upper Parish Hall at 9:30. The services are informal and are led by members and friends of First Parish.

June 26 -- Frank Yeatman: The Real Differences Between Liberal & Conservatives
July 3 -- No service
July 10 -- Green Sanctuary Committee: The Life & Legacy of Rachel Carson
July 17 -- Betty Gilson: The Chocolate Dilemma
July 24 -- Susan Holton/First Principles Project: Standing on the Side of Love: How Do We Do That?
July 31 -- James Hayes-Bohanan: Coffee & Land Mines
August 7 -- Lori Tunewicz-Gavin: Topic TBD
August 14 -- Vernon Domingo: Travels through Southeast Asia
August 21 -- Open
August 28 -- Kathy Keenan: Topic TBD

Please check the blog throughout the summer for updates on TBD (to-be-determined) services.

June 19 Service: At Island Grove Park

As is the custom at First Parish, the last service of our church year is combined with a picnic gathering. This year, for the second time, the service will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Island Grove Park in Abington. The service will be in a lovely location and will be jointly led by Rev. Ed Hardy and Rev Bob Thayer of the Channing Church in Rockland.

Bring lawn chairs and lunch to enjoy this service with our neighbors from Rockland.

What I Like About UU

During last Sunday's intergenerational service, children -- and interested adults -- were given paper, crayons, and the opportunity to draw something that represents what we like about coming to First Parish Bridgewater.

I took the paper and crayons without anything particular in mind. I like many things about First Parish, but I have to admit that the first thing that came to mind was coffee hour: both the conviviality and the source of the coffee.

Please see my coffee pages for more about the beverage.

Religion and Sex Quiz

During this morning's service, Rev. Ed mentioned the Religion and Sex Quiz that appears in today's New York Times. Nicholas Kristof uses the quiz to introduce his review of Jennifer Wright Knust's cleverly-titled new book, Unprotected Texts: The Bible’s Surprising Contradictions about Sex and Desire. (A purchase made through this link benefits First Parish Bridgewater.)


The arguments made by Kristof and Knust echo those made by a few years ago by Canadian activist Vaughn Roste in an article entitled Biblical marriage: A bad source for debate.