SOJOMAIL FROM SOJOURNERS: College move-in day, queer Christian edition 20AUG26

 

By Betsy Shirley Editor in Chief, Sojourners The best advice I got before college move-in day: Pack your window fan last so it’s the first thing you unpack from the car. The practical wisdom of this advice became clear as my family and I hauled boxes of stuff up four flights of stairs to a not-at-all air-conditioned dorm room in the middle of Indiana in August. I switched my fan on that very morning and didn’t turn it off until Halloween. As campuses across the country roll out the welcome banners (and a few coveted handcarts) for new students, Oisín Rowe offers more practical wisdom: If you’re a queer student headed to a Christian college, look for safe allies but be cautious, especially if you’re somewhere that doesn’t openly support the LGBTQ+ community. Rowe, a graduate of Bob Jones University, knows what it’s like to be young, queer, and kicking off your first semester at a Christian college that doesn’t feel safe. (BJU, as you might recall, has strict fundamentalist roots and a past president who once made a statement at the White House calling for “homosexuals” to be stoned). From this experience, Rowe learned some useful tips to find local churches, organizations, and even alumni who can offer the affirming support you may not find on campus. “I cannot emphasize how much love and respect I have for closeted and out students who are at these Christian institutions today,” writes Rowe. “My heart is with you. Until then, be safe and know that there are millions of people out there who will respect and affirm you just as you are.” Solid advice for freshmen. And seriously, get that box fan on ASAP. Beyond the world of college campuses, here’s what else you need to know this week: Somebody’s watching you: We’ve brought you a number of stories over the past few weeks about the government’s growing appetite for surveillance (in everything from the latest Spider-Man flick to the Department of Homeland Securities new biometric toys). But as Chicago pastor Michael Woolf reflects, the biggest risk of government surveillance has less to do with what three letter agencies know—and everything to do with us. “Bullet holes in banana trees”: Earlier this year, Filipino American activist Lyle Prijoles was one of 19 people killed by the Armed Forces of Philippines. Hannah Keziah Agustin reports on a group of Christian clergy from the Philippines and the U.S. who embarked on a fact-finding mission to uncover the truth of what happened. More than good feels: Our outgoing magazine editorial assistant Evana talks with Catherine Meeks about alternatives to the “let’s just seek spiritual harmony” approach that dominated much of the “racial reconciliation” movement. (Also, we’ll miss you, Evana!) Awkward parables: I never know what to do with the parable of the talents—you know, the one in Matthew 25:14-13 where a man gives his slaves money to invest, then berates the one who just buried it. But Damon Garcia offers a refreshing take (with illustrations by Daniel Jurman that are just plain adorable). Icelandic escape: A new, unhurried drama from director Hlynur Pálmason offers following offers what film critic Abby Olcese calls “a tender portrait of people continuing to love each other in times of joy, confusion, and crises minor and major.” Which sounds pretty relevant, right now, especially as... The midterms are coming: Deep breaths, everyone. Contemplatives like Barbara Holmes invite us to see more clearly, even in moments when we fear crisis, shattering, or rupture. How To Survive Christian College As a Queer Student (by Oisín Rowe) Find safe allies—and other tips from my own experience. Read the full article Advertisement Community Notes If you attended a Christian college or university, what advice would you give to those starting their first semester this fall? And regardless of what institution students may attend, what is your prayer for this year’s incoming group of college freshmen? What prayer would you have wanted someone to pray for you? We’d love to hear! Let us know at response@sojo.net (or just reply to this email). Our Latest Stories Omniscience Does Not Belong to the State (by Michael Woolf) The government is surveilling protesters in new ways. The point of that surveillance is to discourage Christians from following our consciences. Read more Catherine Meeks Says Christians Need Solidarity, Not Racial Reconciliation (by Evana Upshaw) The Episcopal scholar’s new book proposes a different strategy for dismantling white supremacy. Read more In the Philippines, Christians Seek Justice After the Toboso Killings (by Hannah Keziah Agustin) “This makes me feel more convicted in my faith,” one clergymember said, “to stand with the truth, to always listen and be present with the oppressed and the toiling masses.” Read more From the Magazine: An Anti-Capitalist Take on the Parable of the Talents (by Damon Garcia) A better way to think about the parable of the talents: I no longer believe God gives us individual gifts of specific skills that we’re supposed to discover and use. Now I believe God gives all of us one big gift that we all share together. Read more From the Magazine: ‘The Love That Remains’ Shows a Director’s God’s-Eye View (by Abby Olcese) Hlynur Pálmason’s story of an Icelandic family creates a world he knows completely. Read more From the Magazine: Preparing Our Spirits for Midterm Elections (by José Humphreys III) What is “crisis contemplation” and why do we need it’s lessons in preparation for this year’s midterms? Read more Advertisements Leadership and Life Coach Training for Women in Faith-Based Ministry As a global society we need to cultivate relationship skills to help people develop strong communities of support and belonging. The Leadership and Life Coach program (which is international and accredited by the International Coaching Federation) is available for women in faith-based ministry. How much money is enough? Are you giving enough? Saving enough for retirement? Faith and Money Network’s study groups meet via video conference to study and discuss faith-driven approaches to daily life’s money choices. New groups starting this fall! Donate Subscribe Unsubscribe or update email preferences Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #342, Washington, DC 20003 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842

30 daga til að vernda hvali frá ólöglegum whaeling iðnaður 13MAR14 Íslands

Ísland er illt land. Svo margir fólk hugsa íslensku eru góðir, og eyja þjóð er fallegt og eru ótrúlega fyrir því hvernig þeir hafa skapað nútíma samfélagi meðan þau bjuggu í slíkum erfiðar aðstæður og gera smá skaða á umhverfinu. Svo hvernig er það að svo umhverfisvænt meðvitað og gott fólk þola og jafnvel styðja brot þjóðarinnar síns reglugerðum Alþjóðahvalveiðiráðsins er um hvalveiðar og ólöglegri sölu og viðskipti með svörtum markaði Hvalkjöt? Loks Obama er tilbúinn að taka efnahagslega aðgerða gegn Íslandi svo lengi sem þeir halda áfram að brjóta alþjóðlegar reglur um hvalveiðar. Smelltu á tengilinn til að senda skilaboðin til Pres Obama segja honum að leggja refsa efnahagslegum refsiaðgerðum á hvalveiðum Íslendinga og tengslum atvinnugreinum samkvæmt heimild í Pelly Amendment .....

Íslands hvalveiðar iðnaður heldur áfram að slátra hvali í svörtum markaði hvala  kjöt og afurðir. Segðu President Obama sem við þurfum miða refsiaðgerðir á hvalveiðar fyrirtækja á Íslandi. Yfir 135 útrýmingarhættu langreyðar voru slátrað í fyrra meðfram strönd Íslands -. Bara að fæða sjúkleika auglýsing markaður fyrir hvalkjöti Nú, þökk sé þrýstingur frá nefnd Greenpeace stuðningsmenn eins og þig, Bandaríska ríkisstjórnin hefur loksins talað út opinberlega gegn Íslandi er ólöglegt . hvalveiðar og hefur opnað dyrnar að miða efnahagslegar eða viðskipti refsiaðgerðum gegn hvalveiðar iðnaður Íslands President Obama hefur takmarkaðan tíma til að gera formlegt svar - minna en 30 daga. Við þurfum að sýna að opinber stuðningur er á bak sterkari viðurlög um ólöglegt hvalveiðar fyrirtækja á Íslandi. Við erum að leita að mynda 40.000 opinberar athugasemdir til forseta og við þurfum rödd til að vera einn af þeim. Segðu President Obama að setja sterkari refsiaðgerðir á viðskiptalegum Íslands hvalveiðar - og setja þetta grimmur iðnaður að hvíla vel. Þrátt fyrir bann við alþjóðlegum auglýsing viðskipti, Íslands hvalveiðar iðnaður heldur áfram að flytja ólöglega Hvalkjöt og vörum. Undanfarin diplómatískum refsiaðgerðum hafa ekki verið nóg -  það er kominn tími að við fengum erfiðari. Við höfum minna en 30 daga til að sýna almennan stuðning fyrir hvali og sannfæra Obama forseta til að taka afstöðu gegn félögum sem tengjast illri og ósjálfbær starfi Íslands í hvalveiðar. Klukkan er tjalddúkur. Segðu forseti Obama að það er kominn tími til að vernda hvali í dag. Þetta er ótrúleg tækifæri til að vera meistari í hvali. Með sterkum miða refsiaðgerðum gegn fyrirtækjum bundinn við íslenskum hvalveiðum, fjárstuðning er síðasta auglýsing hvalveiðimenn Íslendinga verði vera farinn - og við getum loksins sett þessa grimmur iðnaður að sofa.  Við höfum stór áform á undan til að vernda hvali og höf okkar árið 2014 - við munum halda áfram að útlistun á svart-markaði Hvalkjöt viðskipti, berjast seismic próf sem gæti skaðað og drepa yfir 100.000 hvalir og höfrungar, og vinna að loka utanríkisþjónustunni skotgat að enda hvalveiðar í eitt skipti fyrir öll. En við þurfum Whale varnarmenn eins og þú á hlið okkar. Vinsamlegast grípa til aðgerða til að vernda hvali í dag. með röddinni, getum við að lokum vinna baráttuna gegn hvalveiðar og stöðva þessa vitlaus slátrun. Fyrir hvali, Phil Kline Greenpeace Senior Oceans campaigner . PS  Við höfum aðeins 30 daga til að sannfæra forseta Obama til staðar miðaðar efnahagslegar refsiaðgerðir á ólöglegum hvalveiðar iðnaður landsins. Segðu forseti Obama að það er kominn tími til að vernda hvali í dag!

30 days to protect whales from Iceland's illegal whaeling industry 13MAR14

 
ICELAND is an evil country. So many people think the Icelandic people are good, and the island nation is beautiful and are amazing for the way they have created a modern society while living in such harsh conditions and doing little harm to the environment. So how is it that such an environmentally conscious and good people tolerate and even support their nation's violations of International Whaling Commission's regulations on whaling and the illegal sale of and trade in black market whale meat? Finally, the Obama administration is ready to take economic action against Iceland as long as they continue to violate international whaling regulations. Click the link to send your message to Pres Obama telling him to impose punishing economic sanctions on Iceland's whaling and associated industries as authorized by the Pelly Amendment.....

Iceland’s whaling industry continues to slaughter whales for black market whale meat and products. Tell President Obama that we need targeted sanctions on Iceland’s commercial whaling companies. Over 135 endangered fin whales were slaughtered last year along the coast of Iceland — just to feed a morbid commercial market for whale meat. Now, thanks to the pressure from committed Greenpeace supporters like you, The US government has finally spoken out publicly against Iceland’s illegal whaling and has opened the door to targeted economic or trade sanctions against Iceland’s commercial whaling industry. President Obama has a limited time to make a formal response — less than 30 days. We need to show that public support is behind stronger sanctions on Iceland’s illegal whaling companies. We're looking to generate 40,000 public comments to the President and we need your voice to be one of them. Tell President Obama to place stronger sanctions on Iceland’s commercial whaling — and put this brutal industry to rest for good. Despite a ban on international commercial trade, Iceland’s whaling industry continues to export illegal whale meat and products. Past diplomatic sanctions have not been enough — it’s time we got tougher. We have less than 30 days to show public support for whales and convince President Obama to take a stand against companies linked to Iceland’s cruel and unsustainable practice of commercial whaling. The clock is ticking. Tell President Obama that it’s time to protect whales today. This is an amazing opportunity to be a champion for the whales. With strong targeted sanctions against the companies tied to Icelandic whaling, financial support for Iceland’s last remaining commercial whalers will be gone — and we can finally put this brutal industry to bed.  We have big plans ahead to protect whales and our oceans in 2014 — we’ll continue exposing the black-market whale meat trade, fight seismic testing that could injure and kill over 100,000 whales and dolphins, and work to close the diplomatic loopholes to end commercial whaling once and for all. But we need Whale Defenders like you on our side. Please take action to protect whales today. With your voice, we can finally win the fight against commercial whaling and stop this senseless slaughter. For the whales, Phil Kline Greenpeace Senior Oceans Campaigner PS. We only have 30 days to convince President Obama to place targeted economic sanctions on Iceland’s illegal commercial whaling industry. Tell President Obama that it’s time to protect whales today!

Icelanders force accountability for banks — why can’t we? 5JUN12

THE people of Iceland have had enough and are holding those responsible for deceiving and misleading the nation into a devastating reception. Powerful bankers were forced to resign as was the government and their PM was convicted of dereliction of duty by allowing the banks to almost destroy the nation. Does anyone think we will ever be as smart and as brave and as powerful as the people of Iceland? From WagingNonViolence......
by George Lakey

Protests at the Icelandic parliament in January 2009. By OddurBen, via Wikimedia Commons.

Ever since Iceland’s economy collapsed in 2008, the country has been busy reinventing itself. The first step was to restore democracy through a turbulent nonviolent struggle, then to force resignations in the financial sector and secure a criminal conviction of their prime minister for dereliction of duty. Now they are exploring getting a new currency: the Canadian dollar.
If Icelanders think their traditional money has lost its legitimacy, why not adopt the euro or the U.S. dollar? Too much influence from the big banks of Europe and the U.S., they believe. Better to risk interference from the smaller and much better-regulated banks of Canada. (Canada, like the publicly-owned state bank of North Dakota, did far better in the 2008 crisis than most of the U.S. and Europe.)
For decades, Iceland was part of the “Nordic model” of social democracy, with the high standards of living, free university education, universal health care, full employment and other benefits. Like Norway and Sweden, in the late 1980s the Icelanders flirted with neoliberalism, but unlike their Viking cousins they went all the way. The right-wing party privatized banks, cut regulations and lowered the corporate tax rate. The banks, in turn, created a bubble through hysterical foreign borrowing, and the bubble broke in September 2008. Banks failed. Unemployment and inflation shot up, and crisis reigned.
In mid-October, the singer/songwriter Hörður Torfason stood in the public square in the capitol of Reykjavik with an open microphone, inviting passersby to speak. Every Saturday people gathered to speak and protest, to the point where 2,000 people gathered outside the parliament building on January 20. They banged pots and pans to disrupt the meeting of parliament – the “Kitchenware Revolution,” they called it.
The crowds grew to 10,000 — out of a total population of 320,000! — and the increasing turbulence forced Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde to announce that he and his cabinet would resign and new elections would be held. Although politicians responsible for Iceland’s financial life were resigning, the campaigners didn’t stop there; they demanded — and won — the resignation of the governing board of the Central Bank.
The social democrats came back into power and started to clean up the mess, with help from Sweden and Norway. Iceland was hurt and people had tough times. However, the social democrats refused to do what capitalist wizards expected. Instead of trying to pacify international investors, Iceland created controls on the movement of capital. Instead of initiating an austerity program, the government expanded its social safety net.
According to The New York Times, “Some economists have argued that the collapse of its banks forced the country to deal with its problems faster and aided a swifter recovery.” Iceland’s economy is expected to grow 2.5 percent this year and next.
But the mood of the cheated Icelanders was not, “Let’s move on.”
In March, Iceland opened a criminal trial against its former prime minister. Continues the same Times article:

Mr. Haarde was charged, in effect, with doing too little to protect the country against the depredations of its bankers as they pursued wildly expansionary lending that resulted in financial disaster for the country.

Haarde was found guilty. Former executives of the failed Kaupthing Bank have also been indicted.
The movement of Icelanders that rejected a European Union-style austerity program and instead put accountability where it belonged did not come out of thin air. Even while some Icelanders were trying to buy glamour through neoliberalism, others spent the years between 2000 and 2006 protesting the Karahnjukar hydropower project that the Icelandic 1 percent sponsored along with the Alcoa and Bechtel corporations.
Decades before that eco-justice campaign, Icelandic women shut down most of the nation for a day in 1975 to force passage of a civil-rights bill for women’s equality.
I see two big lessons that the rest of us can learn from the painful Icelandic experience. First, avoid assuming that activism is a “sometimes thing,” to be put aside after major victories are won. Icelandic activists achieved much but then almost lost it. As Canadian labor unions are fond of pointing out, “The struggle continues.”
Second, it is possible to take your country back from the mismanagement of the economic elite if your campaign’s strategy generates broad participation. Iceland mobilized no less than 3 percent of its population in direct action. For U.S. activists, that implies giving serious attention to campaign organizing and generating allies. The model of just occasional “mass bashes” doesn’t cut it.
http://wagingnonviolence.org/2012/06/icelanders-force-accountability-for-banks-why-cant-we/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WagingNonviolence+%28Waging+Nonviolence%29 

Tell the State Department to Stand Up for Marine Reserves 12APR12

WHILE our government has improved it's stewardship of the oceans in our EEZ http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/
more can and should be done, especially to protect whales along our East coast and the entire Alaskan marine ecosystem. And now we have the American government standing in the way of an international agreement establishing a network of marine reserves. Check this out from Greenpeace and click the link to participate in their campaign to change this American government policy.

Tell the State Department that you care about the health of our oceans and urge them to either take the lead on establishing a network of marine reserves or to get out of the way this summer. There’s almost no protection at all for the world’s oceans. And it shows... Companies like Chicken of the Sea are pushing some tuna and shark species to the brink of extinction in the Pacific Ocean with their destructive fishing practices. Industrial fishing vessels are destroying the breathtaking coral habitats of the Bering Sea canyons and putting an entire ecosystem at risk. Japanese, Icelandic and Norwegian whaling vessels continue to ignore international law and kill thousands of majestic whales from the Southern Ocean to the North Atlantic each year. These challenges can be addressed together with a single solution — a network of fully protected marine reserves. So why is the State Department standing in the way? It’s time they took action to protect our oceans. Urge them to take the lead in establishing a network of marine reserves before it’s too late. Right now, less than one percent of the world’s oceans are set aside as marine reserves. That’s why we’re working on a global agreement which would allow the international community to establish a network of marine reserves on the high seas. Unfortunately, the US government seems to be standing in the way of these efforts by refusing to join along with other countries who are in favor of developing a new agreement to create a network of marine reserves. The high seas are like the Wild West at the moment. It might be good for the companies that are making billions off the destruction, but it is killing our oceans. If we don’t start protecting and managing our oceans they aren’t going to survive. Marine reserves are a proven and cost effective tool for protecting biodiversity, rebuilding fish populations, and enhancing fisheries in surrounding areas. The best chance we have to get the international community on the right path toward creating a network of protected areas is this summer in Brazil. The US delegation is developing their position right now. It’s the perfect time to let them know you are paying attention. A global network of fully protected marine reserves would benefit sea turtles, whales, tuna, seals, narwhals and any other creature (including humans) that you can think of. We’ll be at the meetings this summer working hard for this outcome. Without your support, it won’t matter. Send your letter to the State Department today and tell them that we need the US to join the G77, the European Union, and most of the rest of the world in standing up for marine reserves. Thanks for your help. John Hocevar Greenpeace USA Ocean Campaign Director
Click here to forward this message.
Greenpeace 702 H Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001 | 1-800-722-6995

CAMPAIGN VIDEO: STOP ICELAND'S ILLEGAL WHALING 17AUG11

THE NRDC and Sanctionwhaling.org are continuing the campaign for Pres Obama to impose sanctions in Iceland for their illegal whaling. Check out this video and then click the link or header to participate in this vital action for whales....
http://www.sanctionwhaling.org 

It's time to make Iceland pay a price for killing whales from NRDC 4AUG11

IT is disgusting that a nation, a people as "civilized" as Iceland still is whaling. Please join in this action from the NRDC calling on Pres Obama to impose strong trade sanctions on Iceland until they stop whaling. And please boycott all things Icelandic, including travel on Iceland Air and travel to Iceland until they stop whaling. Click the link to take action...

		An important message from Pierce Brosnan “Please join me in urging President Obama to impose tough trade sanctions on Iceland for its illegal slaughter of whales.” The time has come for Iceland to pay a steep price for its inhumane and illegal slaughter of whales. But that may only happen if hundreds of thousands of us speak out now with one powerful voice that cannot be ignored. Let me explain. The U.S. Commerce Secretary has just formally declared that Iceland is defying the international ban on commercial whaling. That declaration starts the clock ticking on a 60-day period during which President Obama must decide whether or not to impose trade sanctions on Iceland. Please join me in urging the President to impose tough sanctions and make Iceland pay a real, measurable price for its mass killing of whales. Iceland has proven that it will thumb its nose at anything less -- and will go right on slaughtering whales for profit. In 2004, the United States denounced Iceland in the same manner -- but failed to impose sanctions -- and Iceland proceeded to ramp up its awful slaughter. Since 2006, Iceland has killed 280 endangered fin whales and more than 200 minke whales. In the last two years alone, it has exported millions of dollars worth of whale meat, blubber and oil to Japan, Norway, Latvia and Belarus. Iceland is not only flouting the ban on whaling, it is depleting whale populations at an alarming rate. It’s practically begging to be sanctioned. Please ask President Obama to make Iceland pay a price at long last -- for the sake of whale survival. For starters, he could target imports by those Icelandic seafood companies directly tied to the whaling industry. But do not assume for a second that such presidential action is a sure thing. In fact, the U.S. has never before imposed sanctions on another nation for whaling. That’s why it’s so important that President Obama feel a groundswell of public support if he is to take this next historic step. Please make your own voice heard inside the White House. You can be sure that Iceland will not end the abhorrent practice of whaling until it is forced to do so. Let’s fight 'em. Again and again. Sincerely, Pierce Brosnan Natural Resources Defense Council