"The 'post' terms, thrown about vigorously by pundits, send out signals that the problems of our society related to gender and race have magically flown away in an unseen balloon," write the editors.

In the Fall 2009 edition, "Race, Feminism, Our Future," editors and writers take on race and feminism, two of the most provocative social, political and cultural topics of our times. The edition is a series of big-picture articles and visionary ideas.

In "Taking on Postracialism," Rinku Sen tackles the idea of postracialism and argues that just because a black man was elected President of the United States doesn't mean racial equality has been achieved. Sen says implementing policies to end racism won't erase it.

"Most Americans don't see racism as a system enabled by rules and structures," writes Sen. "They have no idea that when we lay seemingly race-neutral policies on top of the history of explicitly racist policy, the racial gap remains in place or grows."

To address racism and work toward achieving real racial justice Sen advocates re-framing the postracial discussion.

In "Birthers and Birchers: Hiding Behind Stars and Stripes," Loretta J. Ross makes a link between those who deny Obama's citizenship (birthers) and nativist, racist sympathizers (Birchers, named after members of the John Birch Society.) Ross warns that to ignore the far right allows the further spread of deceitful misinformation.

"We need to build a united human rights movement that won't allow wedge politics to divide us," writes Ross, who is the National Coordinator at SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective and a Consulting Editor on this edition of On The Issues Magazine.

Serena Garcia, Communications Coordinator at SisterSong, also consulted on this edition.

In a unique featured artist piece, Faith Ringgold narrates a multimedia slideshow of her story quilt, "How The People Became Color Blind and We Came to America." Ringgold is well known for her vast body of work that often combines painting, quilted fabric and storytelling.

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"To all the activists, all the organizers, all the people who helped make this day happen, thank you for your years of advocacy and activism, pushing and protesting that made this victory possible," said Obama during the ceremony. "You know, as a nation we've come far on the journey towards a more perfect union. And today, we've taken another step forward. This afternoon, I signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act."

The act, part of a defense spending bill, gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence in instances where the perpetrator has victimized a person based on his or her actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability, in addition to race, color, religion, and national origin which are currently covered.

"I think God was smiling and moving with every stroke of the pen as Obama signed this legislation," Caldwell said. "I think passage of this legislation gives the country the opportunity to press the pause button to say enough is enough. No more violence."

Not long after Caldwell became bishop he was asked to preside at Shepard's funeral. Shepard had served as an acolyte in the Wyoming diocese and was a member of the University of Wyoming Canterbury Club, a Christian university group, at the time of his torture and murder in 1998.

Shepard's murder brought international attention to the limitations of U.S. hate crimes statutes at the local, state and federal levels. In 2007, Congress passed bills to reform existing hate crimes law to allow state and local governments more control and accountability over such cases. But the bill, added as an amendment to the Defense Reauthorization Bill, was dropped when former U.S. President George W. Bush said he would veto the defense bill if it included the amendment.

James Byrd, Jr., an African American, was brutally murdered in Jasper, Texas, in 1998, in what was termed a "lynching," by three white men, two of whom received the death penalty and the third was sentenced to life in prison for the crime.

In addition to including sexual and gender identity, the legislation also gives the Justice Department greater oversight of state and local criminal investigations where bias is involved, and makes grants available to fund training, prevention campaigns and to assist in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes.

The FBI reported 7,624 single-bias hate crime offenses in 2007. Of those, 51% were race-based. Ranked second and third were those based on religion (18%) and sexual orientation (17%) in its most recent report on hate crimes.

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Los Angeles, CA – October 23, 2009 Jean Welles has a dream. She has dedicated her energy to helping Christians around the world draw closer to our God through helping to train up new worship leaders. Just in time for Christmas, She has released a new course which helps guitar players of all levels with their finger picking skills.

Welles, who graduated with a Masters Degree in Guitar Performance from USC, has been teaching guitar for over 30 years. In 2001, she made her technique available to a wider group and released the first Jean Welles Worship Guitar Class™ video.

'Our courses are now in around 1500 stores and 56 countries that I know of,' says Welles. Her series of DVDs and videos are designed to help individuals and families quickly learn how to play the guitar in the comfort of their own homes.

At the heart of all of her work, Welles says, is her commitment to Christ. In addition to teaching and coaching guitar players all over the world, she is a worship leader in the Los Angeles area, and her video series has been used by hundreds of churches to train new worship leaders. By combining popular Worship, excellent technique and step-by-step instruction, Welles has helped tens of thousands of people explore new ways of incorporating music into their worship.

The newest addition to the Jean Welles Worship Guitar Class™ series is a new book and DVD entitled 'Mastering Finger Picking.' This course includes all-new material and is designed to help worship guitar students of all levels improve their finger picking skills.

Welles explains, 'The new course is easy enough for a newer player to learn from, and will also be beneficial for people who have been playing the guitar for many years.'
The course centers around honing one's finger picking technique through exercises, and then progresses into song accompaniments and solos. Included are Christmas songs, classical pieces, Christian hymns and even a flamenco solo.

The book and DVD are available now.

A worship leader and guitar coach in the greater Los Angeles area, Jean Welles has been responsible for helping over 100,000 people learn to play the guitar for worship. In addition to the Jean Welles Worship Guitar Class™ series, Ms. Welles sponsors yearly worship songwriting contests for both children and adults. This year's contest will be held in November. More information is available at http://worshipguitarclass.com.

Contact:
Jean Welles
Jean Welles Worship Guitar
11664 National Blvd. #275
Los Angeles, CA 90064
1-800-391-5412
jean@worshipguitarclass.com
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In Looking for Love, Cusella shares the incredible and sometimes shocking story of a woman who survived sexual abuse, depression, and gambling. She endured what she refers to as a kind of trial by fire, experiencing love, fame, money, and success, only to discover that none of it could fill the emptiness inside her.

Today the author is a faith-filled evangelist with a passion for giving. But Cusella's life wasn't always this way.

After achieving the wealth she'd craved, Cusella discovered that life had become hollow and meaningless, her identity stripped away by the shallow, superficial trappings of the fame she'd achieved so young. From the bright lights of the stage as a much sought after Stevie Nicks look-a-like and popular feature performer in nightclubs, Cusella finally hit rock bottom—and suffered the pain and hopelessness that follow when everything is taken away.

'I'm a survivor,' says Cusella. 'Though many times I felt totally defeated, even suicidal, someone kept me going. Eventually I discovered who that someone was, turned my life around, and was reborn.'

After losing everything she'd worked for—including her will to live—Cusella's spirit was nearly broken; her life almost came to a tragic end. But, she says, God saved her life.

'I was ready to take my own life,' says Cusella. 'But then I had a vision, and heard a voice. It was the voice of God; I felt His presence all around me as He encouraged me to go on living.'

Today Cusella is a multi-faceted, faith-filled woman—a gifted author, talented musician, and anointed speaker—who has committed her life to helping others discover God's redeeming love.

Looking for Love is the story of a troubled early life, and the desperate search for love in all the wrong places. Tested over and over again by excruciating challenges, it was finally through God's grace that one courageous woman began to live the life she was meant to live.

Cusella has committed her life to helping others discover the love they have always sought, but never had the courage to find. Now a humble servant of God, she is a role model for others who've become lost along the way.

About Cheryl Cusella

Today Cheryl Cusella lives in California, and has completed three years at Moody Bible College where she is studying towards her bachelor's degree in biblical counseling. She is an anointed evangelist, gifted author, passionate speaker, and talented singer. Forever Changed is the title of her soon to be released CD. Cusella believes she has been entrusted with a unique gift to share God's love with audiences throughout the nation. For more information about Cheryl Cusella visit online at www.cherylcusella.com.

Media Contact
Susan M. Zahn
WDC Media PR
Toll-Free: 1-877-862-3600
office@wdcmedia.com
www.wdcmedia.com

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Bell ringing, postcard campaigns and community connections will point the way to Copenhagen when congregations join in the International Day of Climate Action this Saturday, October 24.

Organized by the 350.org campaign, this year's annual celebration will call for a fair climate treaty when world leaders gather in Copenhagen in December. Three hundred fifty parts per million is considered to be the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere.

Episcopal congregations have marked the day in previous years by ringing steeple bells 350 times. This year, Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, and Mary Evelyn Tucker of the Forum on Religion and Ecology are urging greater participation by religious congregations.

Tyler Edgar of the National Council of Churches' Eco-justice unit points out that it is important for the United States to be committed to reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions if it is to be effective in Copenhagen.

"More than 10,000 individuals from the broader ecumenical community have signed postcards, asking President [Barack] Obama to attend the upcoming climate negotiations and calling on Congress to pass climate policy that will protect God's creation and God's people," Edgar reports, adding that Episcopal congregations have requested more than 5,000 postcards.

On Sunday, October 18, the first of 350 postcards were stamped and distributed by the Simpler Living Ministry at a forum on alternative transportation at St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego, California. Some congregants tried new ways of getting to church, by bus, bike and car pool. All had an opportunity to learn about the impact of climate change and how their transportation choices could make a difference.

Edgar explains that the House of Representatives passed a comprehensive climate and energy bill for the first time in June. The Senate has begun to move things forward with the introduction on September 30 of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act by Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Edgar adds, "As the world's largest historical emitters of greenhouse gases, we have for decades, contributed to the global climate crisis and must take responsibility for our actions."

The Countdown to Copenhagen Campaign was originally scheduled to end in early October, but congregations requested an extension so postcards could be signed and collected during the events of October 24.

The Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN) in the introduction to a statement to leaders worldwide, emphasizes that "we have always known that 'without a vision, the people perish'. The Copenhagen Conference can either produce a bland, minimalist set of non-enforceable targets or it can sketch a vision to inspire the world and its peoples. Leaders lead, please … do not let us down."

Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, priest associate at Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst, is preparing to lead this year's October 24 actions in her community. She explained her commitment to address the reality of climate change in the Amherst Bulletin of October 16.

"I, for one, refuse to believe that human beings will simply cool our heels and resign ourselves to living in a world of violent weather as we placidly bid our glaciers, coral reefs and alpine forests goodbye," she said. "I refuse to believe that we will not stand up to climate skeptics and do everything in our power to pass along to our children and our children's children a world whose living diversity and stable climate resembles the world into which we were born. This is indeed the moral challenge of our generation, and it is a privilege to take part in this great work."

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Following in the footsteps of alternative rock band Radiohead (who released their 'In Rainbows' album in 2007 and for 3 months offered it exclusively as a free online download to customers), Jewish rock band Shlock Rock is releasing their 31st album 'No Limits' in a pay-what- you-want format with a minimum download price of $1 for the entire 12 song album. Customers who wish to pay actual retail price of the album ($15) will also receive the disc in the mail upon the album's release on Dec 3, 2009.

Shlock Rock, an independent Jewish rock band founded in 1986 by Lenny Solomon, has sold more than 200,000 CD's, tapes and DVDs in the contemporary Jewish Rock arena. Their music is a mix of pop-rock song parodies and original rock songs in English and Hebrew. The purpose of the band is to spread Jewish pride, identity and awareness throughout the Jewish community for the purpose of promoting Jewish continuity.

The album was written in Israel and recorded in Haworth, NJ.

'I wrote twelve songs in four days from my house in Israel,' explained Shlock Rock founder, Lenny Solomon. 'I love these songs and want everyone to have them. With the state of the economy we feel that everyone should be able to download this new release. Our unprecedented pay-what- you-want format now gives the entire population the ability to do so!'

This offer will run until December 19th which is the end of the Hanukah season.

The album download can be found at http://www.shlockrock.com.

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McCaughey knows what she is talking about as she and her husband Roger are the founders of Kumara Meditation & Healing Centres (www.kumara.com.au). The first Kumara Centre opened in 2003 and is located in the beautiful Northshore Tennis and Country Club. This Centre has a large workspace room, plus therapy and massage rooms.

The second opened its doors in September 2007 in the northern suburbs of Perth. Kumara developed from a basic meditation centre to its current form. It now offers 3 different meditation courses, and a wide variety of energy courses, deeper study courses and yoga. Kumara is a complete healing centre, with its growing number of practitioners, teachers and many weekly healing meditations.

Due to a growing consumer need the facility quickly expanded from one teacher to 5 teachers with Satellite centres planned and opening throughout Western Australia. The second centre has a gift shop and book-café plus a large workspace area. Kumara is also proud to be Home for Pranic Healing in Western Australia and has introduced a Kabbalah Self-Study group in conjunction with The Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles.

'We are happy to provide a place where anyone would feel welcome, whether they are interested in meditation and healing- or they just enjoy a good cup of coffee and a great book' says McCaughey. With so much to offer, it is definitely worth a visit. If you can't make it to one of the centres then check out the website at http://www.kumara.com.au

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