VERO BEACH — The second annual statewide conference on “Healing Our World and Ourselves: Communities Coming Together” will be held in Vero Beach Feb. 21-22, continuing the work of the 2013 conference in Orlando.
Co-sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard, UU Justice Florida and the UU Fellowship of Vero Beach Social Justice Committee, the conference will address the question: “How do you see the problem of climate disruption in relationship to the earth, and its most basic relationship to us and the rest of creation?”
The special focus at the conference will be on food and water, with solutions through earth rights, democratic/legislative rights of people, the effect of globalized addictions and the need for recovery. The conference has an outstanding array of speakers from the organic farmer and author Will Allen to Bruce Knotts, executive director, UU United Nations Office; and Brock Leach, Vice President for Mission, Strategy and Innovation, UU Service Committee.
Keynote speakers are: Patricia Siemen, Director of the Center for Earth Jurisprudence, Barry University School of Law, who will discuss Earth Law and how caring for the earth is integral to caring for ourselves; George Friday, National Field Organizer for the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and Coordinator for the Independent Progressive Politics Network; Shyla Nelson, founder of One Earth. One Voice.; and Bruce Alexander, professor and author of “Peaceful Measures: Canada’s Way Out of the War on Drugs” and “The Globalization of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit.”
Other conference speakers and panelists include: Pat Holborn Alexander, Vancouver, Canada, Indigenous Peoples Community; Scott Alexander, Minister, UU Fellowship, Vero Beach; Juanita Baker, Pelican Island Audubon Society, Professor Emerita, Florida Institute of Psychology; Richard Baker, Pelican Island Audubon Society, Professor Emeritus, University of Florida, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Vero Beach; Jan Booher, Climate Disruption Southeastern, Miami Florida; Leah Booher, Climate Disruption, IMatter Youth Council; Michael Greenman, UUs for a Just Economic Community, Move to Amend; Irene Keim, Unitarian Universalist Ministry for the Earth; Kindra Muntz, Unitarian Universalist Justice Florida; Linnea Pearson, Interfaith Chaplain and Adjunct Professor of Religion, FIU, Miami; Corry Westbrook: Federal Policy Director, Oceana, former Legislative Director for the National Wildlife Federation; Gregory Wilson, Globalization of Addiction, Earth Recovery Support Groups; Jeff Wolfe, a recognized leader in business and policy in the solar energy industry.
There will also be music, time for small group interaction, opportunities for dance and movement – a time to “feed” and heal body, mind, and spirit. Musicians, artist and breathwork facilitator are: Samantha Moffatt, a multi-instrumentalist and singer, gardener and language teacher from Vershire, Vermont, performing and recording folk and world music since 1981; the Dock Street Band, singer/songwriters from Jensen Beach, who have written several songs to illustrate the concepts behind the Healing Our World and Ourselves Conference; featured artist Seija Floderus’ exciting art, rooted in her love of nature, which will be on display during the Conference; and Aaron Hoopes, native of Vermont, founder of the Art of Zen Yoga, who studied the martial arts, Eastern philosophy, ancient history and alternative medicine in the United States, Australia and Japan.
The suggested donation of $75 for both days includes coffee, continental breakfast, lunch and dinner on Friday and coffee, continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday. There is a reduced rate for one-day attendees.
Registration is online at www.HealingOurWorldAndOurselves.org or by mailing a check payable to “Healing Our World Conference” to: UU Church of Brevard, 2185 Meadowlane Avenue, West Melbourne, FL 32904.
The UU Fellowship offers a liberal religion on the Treasure Coast, has easy parking and is handicap accessible. It is located at 1590 27th Ave., Vero Beach, on the southeast corner of 27th Avenue and 16th Street. For more information, call 772-778-5880 or check the website at http://healingourworldandourselves.org/ or at uufvb.org.