The Ethical Culture Society of
Essex County
516 Prospect Street, Maplewood, New Jersey
07040 Phone 973-763-1905 Email:
ecsec.nj@gmail.com
Board of Trustees:Tom Cunningham, President;
Jacqueline Herships, Vice-President; Diane Beeny; Jill Farrer;
William Graves; ; Lisa Novemsky; Bill Stoever, Terri Suess; Peggy Toy.
Leader Emeriti: Martha Gallahue, Boe Meyerson, Jim White
Liz Cunningham, Office Manager
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updated 4-27-25
Social Action ACTION
And Resources Page
The Social Action Committee is the social action arm of ECS. It is dedicated to peace and justice as well as combatting the crisis in our climate. The committee promotes education by seeking out speakers for the Society's weekly Sunday programs. It organizes letter writing campaigns and takes other actions in areas centered on the climate crisis, voter suppression, the treatment of inmates in local immigration detention centers, and many other issues as well as doing social service projects like collecting food and clothing for people in need.
This page is kept by the Social Action Committee of the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County. We try to update it frequently with issues we are working on or concerned with. We hope to offer you practical and timely actions that you can take on your own. We also try to have materials linked that you can use to learn more.
We have also already written and published letters on various issues. We have checked facts and discussed language.
Please feel free to use our letters and opinion pieces as a basis for your own letters!
Here are some examples for you to use.
Terri Suess writes to suggest watching Democracy Now (you can watch online at your own convenience). She says WBAI Democracy Now is providing real info and reporting on what is happening in our own fed govt and country...and responses emerging.
WBAI Democracy Now is providing real info and reporting on what is happening in our own fed govt and country...and responses emerging. The show runs from 8 to 9 am, but you can... go to the website and read the reports.
[Today there was] an incredible interview with Peter Bienart, editor of Jewish Currents. Early in the interview he makes a main point about fundamental Jewish belief of the essential belief in the human dignity and worth of every human being. Sanctity and dignity of every individual.
This concept is what Felix Adler brought us. Much more here. No wonder our member Jerry Stillman wrote for Jewish Currents.
"Where is our religious and moral direction today?" Bienart asks
Please follow up and read this interview. Go to Democracy Now.
Social Action Committee Next Meeting
Next Social Action Committee Meeting
Friday, April 25, 2025 at 5:00 pm.
By ZoomSocial Action Committee Minutes here.
Latest Resources:
A Decent Congressional Bill with a Very Dangerous Second Part: See the Social Action Committee's letter to Legislators about Stopping the Terror Financing Bill
How can I Learn About Voter Suppression? Was the 2024 election Fair?
Daniela Gioseffi recommends the Documentary Vigilantes, Inc. with NAACP lawyers, Senator Warlock, Stacey Abrams of DNC, etc. Martin Luther King Jr,'s 92 yrs old relative testifying to voter suppression by MAGA.
Vigilantes, Inc. is free on YouTube to view and learn about STEALING of Black, Asian, Latinx VOTES.
Produced by Martin Sheen and researched by investigative reporter Greg Palast.
Daniela also recommends links to the letter and action and news about breaches in the voting system: https://freespeechforpeople.org/computer-scientists-breaches-of-voting-system-software-warrant-recounts-to-ensure-election-verification/ letter from TOP PhD. Info Technologists to VP Harris. https://freespeechforpeople.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/letter-to-vp-harris-111324-1.pdf Asking for a hand recount of paper ballots in swing states.
What can I do to help Migrants who are being seized in their homes by ICE?
Start with these web addresses to learn more and to PRINT YOUR OWN INFORMATION CARDS IN SPANISH and many other languages:
General information and card printing: You can print your own at New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice ( https://www.njimmigrantjustice.org
https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas).https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/Artwork%20for%20Printing%20Your%20Own%20Red%20Cards%20-%20Haitian%20Creole.pdf
njimmigrantjustice.org
Where can I give money to support victims of the Los Angeles fires?
Huffington Post has a list of places that includes big guys likek the American Red Cross, of course, but also things like the California Fire Foundation (works with local fire departments) and World Central Kitchen,which is feeding first responders and victims. There are a lot of others on that list and elsewhere.
Terri Suess recommends this article with suggestions: https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-palisades-eaton-los-angeles-21ca02ac9b897fd1eddef8c5e8dd3c25
Is There a Way to Make Polluters Liable for Climage Change in New Jersey?
Esther Barcun plans to present a model Municipal Resolution supporting the New Jersey Superfund Act (Senate Bill #3545) This Act would hold certain fossil fuel companies liable for certain damaages caused by climate change. You can use this model resolution to ask your own town to adopt it, and/ or to write letters to your state legislators. Download it here: Model Municipal Resolution Supporting S3545.
What is a good Source of Climate Crisis Information about New Jersey?
A quick and simple way to speak out against new fossil fuel facilities in New Jersey. Go to www.EmpowerNewJersey.com (a Coalition of 120 eco-orgs) to learn more.
What Do About Fracked Gas Power Plants in Essex County, NJ?
The proposed Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission is considering granting a license for a fracking gas-fired power plant to be located in an already overburdened community in Newark that is already adverse for the types of stressors that the plant would emit. DEP has repeatedly stated its commitment to environmental justice, and the Environmental Justice law requires the DEP to act in line with Environmental Justice principles.
– Call Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo and ask him to use his influence on an issue he has already spoken out against, which is the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission's attempt to license a fracked gas power plant to be built on Newark. Call DiVincenzo at 1-866-862-3237
– Also, on this same issue, send comments on this permit to Kevin Greener at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection by October 29, 2024 at Kevin.Greener@dep.nj.gov. Watch your email for Daniela's updates on t
Keep Updated on Stopping Hydrogen Hubs in NJ with Delaware Water Keeper
Keep Updated via Delaware Water Keeper on Stopping Hydrogen Hubs:
https://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/ongoing-issues/mid-atlantic-hydrogen-hub
Is There Anywhere Local to Donate refrigerated good and frozen?
Maplewood Food Fridge Pantry on Sringfield Avenue:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5139672739427230?hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen&multi_permalinks=7288789621182187 .
Is There Anything I Can Do to Save Trees Globally and Locally?
A Youtube of Daniela Gioseffi's poem on trees.
(These suggestions from Daniela Gioseffi:
Please ask Friends and Family to take a few minutes a week to do the following, also:
Fight to save our old growth forests, and use only RECYCLED paper products.
Whole Foods & Trader Joe’s own brands are best, because they do not use paper from abused, clear cut forests. Buy recycled paper products ONLY. Call Gov. Murphy and say PROTECT NJ”s OLD GROWTH FORESTS so important to our climate, clean air, and water.
Calls direct to Gov. Murphy during weekday office hours: 609-292-6000
What you can do and contact information to NJ Governor Murphy:
Think globally, act LOCALLY:Â NJ Coalition of 120 environment non-profit orgs such as Empower New Jersey. Sign the petition Receive alerts
3 mins. Phone Action: Moratorium Mondays. We call the Governor to say NO NEW FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTS. via Empower New Jersey 866-586-4069 It’s suggested what to say and then you’re connected to the gov’s office.
E -Letters at the Governor’s Website https://www.state.nj.us/governor/contact/all/e-mail the Gov: constituent.relations.nj.gov
To learn more about how forests communicate and why hub, or Mother Trees, are vital to rejuvenating forests go to Suzanne Simard’s TED TALK: on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un2yBgIAxYs or buy her book. FINDING THE MOTHER TREE: https://suzannesimard.com
Some letters and opinion pieces to use as a model/basis for your own:
Social Action Committee Opinion Piece on Gun Control
in The Village Green 7-18-23Ethical Culture of Essex County Social Action Committee Letter on Fossil Fuels to The News Record published The News Record February 16, 2023
Letters on Immigration Detainees Issues
More Information
Letters on Immigration Detainees Issues
Segregation in New Jersey
Major piece on Climate Refugees in The Guardian
Aid for Ukraininan People
Fairer voting
The NJ Forward Party has a short animated video -- with the 2016 election as background -- will fill you in on Ranked-Choice Voting, including what's meant by the "spoiler effect."
For more, check with Represent.Us of New Jersey
Intimidation of Voting Officials
A page on Ranked Choice voting by Martha Howlett from the Social Action Committee
Intimidation of Voting Officials (6-19-22)
For future Get-Out-the-Vote Projects: Sign up to write and call to Get-Out-The-Vote! Here's how to register to help: https://www.centerforcommonground.org/postcarding
Volunteer information for Getting out the Vote
from ROV/Center for Common Ground
Selected Older Issues
Want to give to flood crisis in eastern Kentucky?See this Lexington Herald-Leader article with suggested places to donate.
Suggestions for giving humanitarian help to people in Ukraine.
United Help Ukraine: https://unitedhelpukraine.org/ (They have a passing grade on Charity Navigator (85/100). To check organizations with Charity Navigator, go here: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/471837509
Global Citizen: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ways-to-help-ukraine-conflict.
Ukraine Red Cross
Ukrainian Congressional Committee of America
www.donate.wck.org
The United Nations World Food Program gives the opportunity to donate food specifically to those who have fled Ukraine: wfpusa.org
The AEU Statement on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine with suggestions for how to amplify it. See the AEU Discussion Board about War in Ukraine
3-7-22 New Lawsuit about segregated schools in New Jersey
Ranked Choice Voting--Check out this opinion piece on Ranked choice voiting: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/opinion/alaska-elections-ranked-choice.html?referringSource=articleShare
A page on Ranked Choice voting by Martha Howlett from the Social Action Committee
Good Sources on Voting Reform and Other Issues
The Brennan Center
NJ Policy Perspective
A book called Code Red
-- For summaries of the day's news by an historian, Heather Cox Richardson, subscribe here. (Be sure you click the "free" subscription button!)
-- For information on Environmental issues, get on the list at 350.0rg.
-- First Friends of NJ and NY: our Social Action Committee has been supporting this organization to help immigrant detainees for more than ten years.
-- Against Endless War is an organization based in Union County, NJ. The web site lists many social justice and diversity events. The group is in Highland Park and has coffee houses, now all on zoom: Against Endless War
-- The following groups work for ballot reform, including open primaries (primaries not by party) and ranked choice voting.
Represent US
Represent New Jersey Their chapter meetings are the 3rd Saturday of the month on Zoom, at 11 a.m.
-- This organization offers actions and information combatting the use of fossil fuels:
No New Fossil Fuel Projects in New Jersey
Social Action Committee Recent Minutes (Reverse Order)
Click here for Social Action Committee Archives Pre-2021
Click here for Social Action Committee Archives Pre-2010
Click here for Social Action Committee Archives Pre-2008Opinion pieces on this page do not necessarily express the views of the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County as a whole or of the entire Social Action Committee.