From jims at greens.org Tue Sep 27 12:42:50 2005 From: jims at greens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 12:42:50 -0700 Subject: [GPCA Updates] URGENT! Malik Rahim needs our help in New Orleans for relief efforts Message-ID: <4339A0BA.EB7DEC7F@greens.org> Malik Rahim, a Green Party member who lives in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, needs our help! Malik, who ran as a Green candidate for New Orlean City Council, has been organizing in New Orleans to develop medical clinics and self-help operations, deliver food and water to those who need it, clearing blockages, and helping people deal with FEMA and the police, which have been trying to force and intimidate people into leaving. Read more at http://www.commongroundrelief.org and http://rebuildgreen.org John Eder, reelected Green Party member of the Maine state legislature, recently visited Malik in New Orleans and confirms that he needs help, and is appealing to Greens all over the US to respond. Michele & Rick Tingling-Clemmons in DC have also been working hard to get the word out. Malik invites people to call him in New Orleans at 504-368-6897 for information about how to send assistance. Assistance can also be sent to Common Green, PO Box 3216, Gretna, LA 70054. Forward this message and spread the word! * * * ||||| The D.C. Statehood Green Party http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org The Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org National office: 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191 or 202-319-7192 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 ______________________________________________________ Yahoo! for Good Donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/ From updates-admin at cagreens.org Wed Oct 5 13:46:39 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (updates-admin at cagreens.org) Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 13:46:39 -0700 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GREEN RELEASE: Green Party candidate scores in Orange County 48thcongressional Special Election primary, ] Message-ID: <43443BAF.F7065A9B@cagreens.org> News Advisory THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA http://www.cagreens.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, October 4, 2005 (11:05 p.m.) Green Party candidate scores in Orange County 48th congressional Special Election primary, predicts ?Green revolution' in run-off SANTA ANA (Oct. 4, 2005 / 11:05 p.m.)- Green Party candidate Bea Tiritilli - running a surprising strong race despite her party's tiny registration in conservative Orange County - late Tuesday night found herself among the top 10 finishers in the Special Election primary to replace former Congressman Christopher Cox in the 48th District. As of late Tuesday night, it appeared none of the 17 candidates had won more than 50 percent of the vote, which forces a Special Election run-off Dec. 6. The top vote-getter in each party qualifies for the run-off, including Tiritilli, who was running 9th with more than double the Green Party's .56 percent registered voters in Orange County. She was leading six Republicans, a Libertarian and one Democrat. "I look forward to working on a strategy to promote a peaceful and Green revolution in Orange County and the United States," said Tiritilli, 42, a high school teacher who made opposition to the Iraq War and social justice a major part of her grassroots campaign. "We must bring our soldiers home from Iraq. That's our first and most imperative priority. We need to defeat the mind-set that war is the only method to combat our differences with other nations. Next, we must overturn the pathetic environmental policies this administration has designed to pander to the corporations. This includes starting fresh with an energy policy which does not subsidize big business at the expense of conservation and small alternative-energy businesses," said Tiritilli late Tuesday night. "We also need to focus on sane immigration reform which does not blame undocumented immigrants as scapegoats for everything that ails our society. Instead, we must take a creative approach to examining and acting upon the roots of undocumented immigration, which often means economic desperation brought on by American foreign policies that favor corporations at the expense of the poor and dwindling middle class," Tiritilli added. Sixty-seven Greens hold office in California, including Karl Warkomski, mayor of Aliso Viejo. Tiritilli is the third California Green to run in a Special Election in 2005 and fourth nationwide. In April, Aimee Allison finished fourth of eight candidates vying for an empty Oakland City Council spot, and Pat Driscoll was eighth of 12 candidates in a special election for the 5th Congressional District (Sacramento) in March. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Thu Oct 6 17:42:47 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (updates-admin at cagreens.org) Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 17:42:47 -0700 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GREEN RELEASE Greens back local cable access providers, blast telecomm bills Message-ID: <4345C487.B0DEE413@cagreens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 6, 2005 GREEN PARTY TO CONGRESS: REJECT ATTACKS ON LOCAL CABLE ACCESS TV Greens support local cable access providers, and call S. 1394, S. 1504, and R. 3146 giveaways to corporate telecommunications lobbyists. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party cable access producers today criticized three bills in congressional committees that would cancel local control and funding of public, educational, and governmental cable television access. If adopted, the bills may cost local governments billions per year in lost revenue. "The cable companies and the local political machine are already restricting access to cable by disallowing public access," said John Atkeison, producer of the monthly show 'GreenViews' in Wilmington, Delaware. "We pay dearly for time now, and this legislation would make our situation even worse." "Here in West Chester, Pennsylvania, we don't have free cable access," added Victoria Webb, a producer of 'GreenTV', launched by the St. Joe Valley Greens chapter in South Bend, Indiana. "Why? Because Comcast chooses not to offer it in our area. Remember that we, the public -- not corporate television -- own the airwaves. This bill would make it that much harder for the public to have access to yet another service that they already pay for with their tax dollars. We are not getting reciprocal service." Greens warn that S. 1394, S. 1504, and R. 3146 will: . prevent state and local governments from negotiating cable franchise agreements . eliminate financial and technical support for local cable access stations . give public property and rights-of-way to telecommunication corporations . allow redlining on the basis of race, sex, age or geographic location . remove funding for local services such as police, fire, emergency alert and street construction . prevent local zoning of cellular towers "Were it not for local community outlets, regular people would have no voice; no recourse to communication and information on a local level; no outlet for the creation of programs that train, educate, and provide health education; and no way of making themselves heard," said John Rouse, cable access producer of 'Green Hour' in Arlington, Virginia. "The broadcast airwaves are among our most precious assets, and citizen access, diversity of viewpoints and respect for local community interests are best promoted by local control over these resources." Greens, noting the broken promise of cable as a medium for public access and exchange of ideas and information, assert that the law needs to go in the opposite direction -- towards removing the power of cable companies to restrict access. "Our communities rely on us for protection in what already is a monopoly for cable providers, placing lower income taxpayers are at a severe disadvantage," said Rebecca Rotzler, Deputy Mayor of New Paltz, New York and co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. "These measures threaten access for elderly and physically impaired residents who participate in community events via television. It would be a complete shame as well as a sham to deny them yet another right." MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 Greens on the Air: Directory of broadcast and webcast programs hosted or produced by Greens http://www.gp.org/onair/ "Bills threaten to cut cable to local access TV programs" By Frank Gray, The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana), September 13, 2005 http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/12632327.htm ~ END ~ From jims at greens.org Thu Oct 20 17:03:15 2005 From: jims at greens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 17:03:15 -0700 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GPCA first to endorse initiative to dramaticallyincrease state minimum wage Message-ID: <43583043.DF124DA1@greens.org> News Advisory THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA www.cagreens.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 20, 2005 Green Party of California first to endorse initiative to dramatically increase state minimum wage to help ?working poor' SACRAMENTO (October 20, 2005) ? An initiative filed this week to dramatically raise the state's hourly minimum wage ? to as much as $8.75 from the current $6.75 within three years ? has been endorsed by the Green Party of California. The "California Fair Wage Initiative" would appear on the November 2006 ballot. Language for several versions of the initiative were officially filed earlier this week by representatives of Californians for Fair Wages (CFW), including Barry Hermanson, a Green Party Assembly candidate in San Francisco and Pat Driscoll, former Green congressional candidate from Sacramento. A coalition of social justice, and labor representatives formed CFW following Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto ? for the second year in a row ? of a modest proposal to raise the hourly minimum wage to a modest $7.75 in two years. The minimum wage ? despite significant increases for housing, food and energy ? has not been raised since 2002. To equal, in purchasing power, the state minimum wage paid in 1968, the state's lowest-paid workers would have to earn about $9.50 an hour today. California is now offers the lowest minimum wage in the West. One version of the initiative ? the final version won't be decided upon until December ? would raise the minimum wage to $8.75 an hour over three years, with an annual cost of living increase (COLA) automatically included to keep pace with inflation. A second version raises the minimum hourly wage to $7.75 an hour in two years, with a COLA. This version also would add one-half of the annual COLA to allow workers to recover purchasing power lost over the past 35 years. "We believe this initiative, whatever the final language will be, is not nearly enough for our minimum wage workers. But, it is a much more progressive step than what has been taken by either the governor, of the Legislature. It's a fair initiative, for workers, for business and for California," said Driscoll, a GPCA official spokesperson and treasurer for CFW. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Wed Oct 26 17:04:01 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (updates-admin at cagreens.org) Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 17:04:01 -0700 Subject: [GPCA Updates] NEWS ADVISORY: Greens charge Governor ducks questions... Message-ID: <43601971.4B49B0B8@cagreens.org> News Advisory THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA www.cagreens.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, October 25, 2005 Governor ducks property tax question, happy to shift tax burden to working people to benefit corporate land holders, say Greens SACRAMENTO (October 25, 2005) ? Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's refusal to directly answer a question about the tax burden of working people ? to the benefit of corporations ? at Monday's "performance" before a live Bay Area and television audience shows he's not a true "reformer," said the Green Party of California Tuesday. Schwarzenegger refused to answer the audience member's question concerning the enormous property tax loophole provided corporations because of the implementation of Prop. 13, a statewide ballot initiative passed in 1978. The audience member specifically asked about corporate property, even mentioning the company Southern Pacific by name. But Schwarzenegger, behaving just like the career politicians he constantly derides, chose to play deaf and only address the benefits of Prop 13 to longtime homeowners, said Erika McDonald, San Francisco Green Party spokesperson. Many California residents, including those in the Green Party, understand the need for Prop. 13 to protect residential property owners who may be on fixed incomes and unable to pay full market value property taxes on their homes. Sheltering corporations from these property taxes, however, is unnecessary and has increased the tax burden on homeowners who have paid high prices for homes in more recent years, said McDonald. Before Prop. 13, two-thirds of all property tax was paid by businesses, including corporations, landlords and speculators. One-third of taxes were paid by homeowners. Since then, the percentages have reversed. Homeowners in many counties pay two-thirds of the property tax as compared to one-third for corporations, some of which have been posting record profits. "It is clear why Schwarzenegger does not want to address the free-ride that his corporate donors are getting. If Arnold was truly a 'reformer', as he claims, he would be more honest about who really pays the bills in this state," said McDonald. "In failing to answer the citizen's question about Proposition 13, Schwarzenegger once again demonstrated his utter disdain for ordinary working people," added McDonald, who said that if business properties were assessed more often then the state would have the tax revenue to truly support schools, cities and counties without bonds and regressive sales taxes. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Wed Oct 26 17:06:56 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (updates-admin at cagreens.org) Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 17:06:56 -0700 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens mark 2, 000 US troop deaths in Iraq, demand end to occupation Message-ID: <43601A20.CE327C8D@cagreens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 GREENS MARK THE 2,000th DEATH OF A U.S. SERVICEMEMBER IN IRAQ Greens press for immediate withdrawal and call for political action to remove pro-war politicians; Wisconsin Greens campaign for state referendum to return U.S. troops. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Parties across the U.S. are marking the announcement that 2,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces have been killed in Iraq, with vigils, protest rallies against the continued occupation, and other events. "We're remembering the 2,000 dead American troops, thousands more injured, and also the tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians killed as a result of the U.S. invasion and occupation," said Rebecca Rotzler, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States, co-chair of the party's Peace Action Committee, and Deputy Mayor of New Paltz, New York. "'Occupation' has become a euphemism for continued war." Greens noted that the number of estimated civilian Iraqi casualties -- uncounted by the U.S. Department of Defense -- ranges from 24,000 to more than 100,000, and that U.S. military deaths which occur outsidea a war zone from injuries sustained within a war zone are not counted within the Defense Department's 2,000 figure. Green Party leaders emphasized the need for concerted political action to follow up on the September 24 protests in Washington, D.C. and other cities against the war. "Unless Americans appalled by the direction of our country take steps to remove the Bush Administration and the Republicans and Democrats who supported the war, the September 24 demos will have limited effect," said Steve Kramer, co-chair of the Green Party. In Wisconsin, Greens have initiated a ballot referendum which, if approved by voters in an April 2006 election, will authorize the state to demand the complete and immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops. The Green Party called for the impeachment of President Bush in July, 2003, citing the numerous deceptions and violations of U.S. constitutional and international law behind the invasion. The party has also strongly criticized Democrats and Republicans who surrendered Congress's constitutionally mandated power to declare war to President Bush, and has condemned the requests from some Democratic leaders to increase troop numbers, especially Sen. Hillary Clinton's (N.Y.) call for 80,000 more troops. In calling for a White House order to begin the withdrawal of U.S. troops immediately, the Green Party has rejected the position of Democrats who ask for a plan to withdraw troops by the end of 2006. "Every day the occupation is prolonged, more American troops and Iraqi civilians will be killed and maimed, we're no closer to stability in Iraq, and are possibly nearer to a civil war there," said Jody Grage Haug, Green Party co-chair and GPAX member. "The thousands of dead soldiers and civilians, nonexistent WMDs, forged evidence of an Iraqi nuclear threat (highlighted by the Plame scandal), torture in Abu Ghraib, and realization that a radical political ideology has motivated a massive abuse of power have resulted in majority opposition to the war, according to recent polls." "On this sad day, we also remember the servicemembers who are still risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we remember the families who have lost loved ones and who fear news of a lost loved one. And we thank people like Cindy Sheehan and all the veterans, families of fallen soldiers, and organizations supporting them for calling America back to sanity," added Marc Sanson, party co-chair. MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 Green Party Peace Action Committee (GPAX) http://www.gp.org/committees/peace/ Wisconsin Green Party: Referendum on Troop Withdrawal http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org/iraqreferendum American Friends Service Committee: Wage Peace Campaign http://www.afsc.org/2000/ Gold Star Families For Peace http://www.GSFP.org Iraq Veterans Against the War http://www.ivaw.net/ Military Families Speak Out http://www.mfso.org From updates-admin at cagreens.org Sun Oct 30 16:42:32 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (updates-admin at cagreens.org) Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 16:42:32 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] Greens to New Orleans: Roadtrip for Relief Message-ID: <43656878.D92718E7@cagreens.org> Join Green Party member Malik Rahim and activists from across the US in standing up for the rights of the people of New Orleans. JOIN THE ROADTRIP FOR RELIEF!! CLEAN-UP, REPAIR, REBUILD IN THE 9TH WARD WITH COMMON GROUND COLLECTIVE November 20-27 Common Ground Collective has called a National Caravan to arrive in New Orleans on November 20th and work over the week of Thanksgiving until November 27th. That's less than four weeks away!!! Contact Susan King funking at mindspring.com for more info on how you can get involved with your time, energy, funds and/ or resources. What: Common Ground wants hundreds of volunteers from all around the country to converge in New Orleans with donated funds and building & clearning supplies. Volunteers will work on a particular section of the 9th Ward picking up yard debris, cleaning the streets, tarping rooftops, etc. For nearly a month, Common Ground has been organizing and meeting folks in the neighborhood as they return. A community center was just established which will soon be the site of another Common Ground distribution center of needed goods. Why: The poor neighborhoods of the city don't have electricity and are not being cleaned up or repaired, while the French Quarter and other predominantly white areas are relatively clean and quite functional. This seems to be a purposeful effort to keep poor and black residents from feeling any hope of being able to recreate their lives in New Orleans. While residents are returning, many poor folks are now living in a vast diaspora around the country, away from their homes, communities, jobs, families and friends. The concentrated efforts of this caravan will bring hope to people in that diaspora as they see that it is possible to clean-up their neighborhoods and rebuild their lives. The work of the caravan will be a demostration of what is possible. Who: You. Your organization. Self-sustained groups that can organize themselves. We also need volunteers with specific skills: electricians, mechanics, plumbers, mold abaters, roofers, construction workers, carpenters, tree workers, lawyers, cooks ???????? and people who can train other volunteers and residents in these skills. When: We're asking folks to arrive in New Orleans on November 20th and work through the Thanksgiving week until Novmeber 27th. Of course, volunteers are needed continuously and can arrive anytime. How you can help: Get on the bus. Donate a bus. Organize a bus. Donate $$$$. Donate supplies (see the list below). Help raise funds, plan a fundraiser, ask your network to donate. Help spread the word. To get plugged-in: Please email: sfcaravan at mutualaid.org A phone number will be worked out soon. Monetary donations. Please write and send tax-deductible checks to Common Ground's fiscal sponsor: Community Futures/ Common Ground Relief (please note "Bay Area" in memo) 221 Idora Ave. Vallejo, CA 94591 (707) 644-6575 Supplies. When we have a donation drop-off site, I will let you know. Supplies can aslo be sent to the address noted below. A beginning needs list (please donate supplies in good condition that are ready to use): Tarps (for roofing, 30' x 20/50')Electrical supplies for rewiring houses (wire, outlets, breakers, etc.) 12 Amp, 100 foot extension cords Sheetrock Good quality tools Tents (12' x 20/30'), Domes Ready to run computers Generators!! Trucks/Tractors Mobile Kitchens Liquid vacs (wet/dry vacs) Chainsaws Respirators N95 face masks Shovels Brooms Mops Hammers and nails Sledgehammers Drills and thick screws To send supplies directly to Common Ground, please mail to: Common Ground Relief Center 331 Atlantic Ave New Orleans, LA 70114 Medical: To support Common Ground's Free Medical Clinics, please refer to: http://www.commongroundrelief.org/2005/09/info_for_volunteers_at_common.html #more AND http://www.commongroundrelief.org/wish_list/ More about Common Ground Collective: Common Ground's Mission & Vision http://www.commongroundrelief.org/mission_and_vision/ Common Ground's Flyer on every door in the 9th Ward http://www.commongroundrelief.org/flyers_and_graphics_for_download/ Common Ground's Website www.commongroundrelief.org Current Common Ground Programs: Compiled by Susan King, a Common Ground Volunteer Distribution of food and supplies: There are still very few open stores in the greater New Orleans area, and even in communities that were not flooded, there is a need for food and supplies. To date, the Common Ground Collective has provided over 60 tons of food, water, cleaning supplies, diapers, health and hygene goods and other necessities to more than 15,000 people in Algiers, Houma and other locations. This week, they will open a distribution center in the 9th Ward. People are starting to come back to this community, and we are working to ensure that they have the basic provisions that they will need. More on the 9th Ward below. Free Medical Clinic: Located in Algiers, with a mobile unit that goes to other communities, this clinic provides a range of medical support, including treatments for respiratory illness, infections and other ailments directly related to exposure to toxins from the flood. The clinic also provides regular medical check ups, prescriptions and medications, mental health services, drug and alcohol diversion programs and alternative healing treatments such as homeopathic medications, massage, and acupuncture. Over 100 people per day line up for services, which are provided from 8 am to 8pm six days per week. Many visitors to the clinic have not seen a doctor or medical professional for years, which underscores the neglect and unmet needs of this community. Plans are underway to open permanent medical facilities in Algiers, the 9th Ward, and other low income areas. Emergency Home Repair: Ensuring access to housing remains a critical need, and volunteers are working around the clock to assist residents in making their damaged homes livable and safe to occupy. Immediate work includes: Roof Tarping for damaged roofs, Debris Removal, Tree Trimming and removal and Mold Abatement. Focus is on assisting home bound individuals and others not being served by FEMA, the Red Cross and other official relief efforts. It is not surprising to see that the official relief efforts have been focused on middle and upper class neighborhoods. The longer formerly submerged houses go untreated, the less likely that they will be salvageable, that is why the urgent repair work focused on the 9th Ward and other low income communities is so critical. Legal Support: There have been literally thousands of incidents of police brutality and abuse since the hurricanes hit the gulf. Hundreds of African Americans have been routinely harrassed arrested and detained for questionable offenses. There are still no clear reports on how many young men have been slain by the police (who are shipped in from cities around the US). Common Ground has a working group that is focused on Copwatch/Police Brutality issues and provides documentation and legal support. The other major legal issue is eviction defense. Rent increases and evictions are happening at an alarming pace as low-income residents in undamaged homes are being moved out to house those able to pay more. Common Ground provides legal support, monitors incidents of evictions and is providing support and solidarity for tenant advocates working on these issues. Housing Advocacy: Common Ground is part of a larger ad hoc advocacy collective working to ensure the right to return for residents of public housing. Subsidized housing in New Orleans has been eroding for many years, and housing advocates fear (rightfully, IMHO) that housing agencies will use the hurricanes to justify the continued gentrification of New Orleans. HANO, the HUD controlled housing agency, is stalling the re-opening of habitable public housing units. Developers stack the official "Bring Back New Orleans" Committee, which further challenges efforts to rebuild New Orleans in a just and sustainable way. Common Grounds efforts include the organizing of legal clinics for tenants and working closely with tenant leadership to ensure that they are supported in bringing the 14,000 or so public housing residents back home. Communications/Information services: Common Ground operates a local low-power radio station, Radio Algiers, which provides information, interviews with residents, tapes of national radio shows as well as a range of music, including live performances to the residents of Algiers. Common Ground operates a free drop-in wireless computer lab in its HQ and has set up five mobile computer labs in New Orleans for residents. Mesh Wireless Network is setting up a free wireless service for the entire Algiers area. Common Ground produces and distributes a range of vital information to residents and provides assistance in filling out FEMA applications, insurance forms and other applications. 9th Ward Cleanup and advocacy: The 9th Ward has gained international media attention due to the severity of the flooding and the exposure of long-standing human rights violations and neglect the residents have endured. Damage in the 9th Ward is severe because of the proximity to the broken levee, the quality of the housing before the levees broke and the fact that it was flooded twice following both hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Despite this, there are many homes and buildings that are worth repairing. Of the two sections of the 9th Ward, upper and lower, over half of the structures were flooded with 4 feet of water or less, which means that the chances are very good that these homes can be salvaged if they are repaired in time. Common Ground has prioritized the clean-up and immediate repairs in this area. Advocacy: It is critical that this community not be bulldozed, and official reports vary on the assessment of the damage and the plans for repair vs. razing. Advocacy work focuses on supporting residents demands to return and for the immediate restoration services (trash removal, electricity and plumbing) to habitable parts of this area. Roof Tarping: The first step in repairing involves tarping damaged roofs so that the building interiors will remain dry when the rains come. Debris Removal: City officials are now beginning the first phase of removing large trash heaps from the area, and Common Ground volunteers are working to ensure that this area receives attention and support provided to other regions of the city. Mold abatement is also critical, and Common Ground will begin a Mold Abatement Training Program for residents to learn to repair their own homes and gain tangible job skills to participate in official paid clean up operations. Health/Environmental Monitoring: Common Ground has recruited skilled volunteers to do Water/Soil Sampling, coordinate the sharing of this data with government health organizations and to create and distribute pertinent information to the public on potential hazards. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Fri Nov 4 16:28:58 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Fri, 04 Nov 2005 16:28:58 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] Green Party ACTION ALERT - save the coasts Message-ID: <436BFCCA.3E916B0E@cagreens.org> PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!!!!! A bill aimed at opening all of America's most sensitive coastlines to offshore drilling will be voted on, up or down, on the House Floor in only a week, on November 9. Hastily approved by a party-line vote in the House Resources Committee on October 26, the deceptively titled "Ocean State Options Act" would immediately remove all of our existing coastal protections by quickly rescinding the bipartisan offshore drilling moratorium that has been renewed each year for twenty-four years. House Leadership has chosen to hide offshore drilling within a broader budget bill that is immune from any amendments, so your own Representatives must now vote against "final passage" of what is called the "Budget Reconciliation Package" to save our state's coastal waters. We need you to help keep our coastlines safe from the ugliness of offshore oil platforms and the potential of a disastrous oil spill. Take action by November 8th! Call or email your congressperson. Contact info for Congress is at http://clerk.house.gov/members/index.html. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Mon Nov 7 16:03:59 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2005 16:03:59 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GPCA RELEASE: Greens back drug discount measure, opposeGovernor's Props Nov. 8 Message-ID: <436FEB6F.BE49498@cagreens.org> News Advisory THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA www.cagreens.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, November 4, 2005 Green Party of California recommends support for only Prop. 79 (mandatory drug discounts), urges ?No' votes on governor's propositions SACRAMENTO (Nov. 3, 2005) ? The Green Party of California today urged voters to vote "Yes" for only one proposition on the Special Election ballot Nov. 8 ? Proposition 79, which would reduce the cost of prescription drugs for millions of Californians. An internal poll of affiliated Green Party county chapters determined all other measures ? except Prop. 80 and Prop. 77, which received "No Position" recommendations ? should be defeated. Greens recommend the defeat of the parental consent measure (Prop. 73), and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pet propositions (74-76). (NOTE: A complete list of the GPCA recommendations are at www.cagreens.org/ccwg/05props.htm.) In backing Prop. 79, the GPCA noted that Health Access California, and other labor and consumer groups sponsored the measure, which would use the purchasing power of the State of California to negotiate prescription-drug discounts for millions of Californians who now must pay retail prices for these medications. "Proposition 79 is good for Californians. And the fact that it is opposed by ?Big Pharma,' the prescription drug industry, gives it even more credibility," said Susan King, a spokesperson for the GPCA. Greens also urge a "No" on Prop. 78, which seeks to confuse voters by advocating a "voluntary" price-reduction plan for the drug industry. While Green county councils generally favored Prop. 80, which requires some regulation of the energy industry, they gave it a "No Position" recommendation because they could not gather the necessary 80 percent margin needed for a "thumbs up." Many Greens believe the measure is a step in the right direction, but others believe it locks communities into long term energy contracts with private corporate energy providers. Greens were also split on Prop. 77, giving a "No Position" recommendation on the Governor's redistricting measure, believing it does not correct the real problems of gerrymandered districts and distracts voters from the real problem and real reform. "The governor has proven time and time again that his stated goal of ?reforming' California is really to target unions, schools and even democracy, while giving more power to corporate special interests," said Larry Cafiero, the GPCA Liaison to the Secretary of State's office. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Wed Nov 9 20:03:25 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 20:03:25 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] California Greens win four of five races in November8th elections Message-ID: <4372C68D.7F3787A7@cagreens.org> ================================================================== California Greens win four of five races in November 8th elections A Preliminary Report By Mike Feinstein November 9th, 2005 http://www.greens.org/elections ================================================================== Three Green incumbents, plus newcomer Hilary Bradburg-Huang, all won elections on November 8th. Perhaps most impressive among them was Bradbury-Huang's victory to the Board of Trustees of Pasadena City College. She beating a long-term Republican incumbent to win her seat, and becomes the seventh Green currently holding elected office in Los Angeles County. Elsewhere, Green incumbents Jim Harvey and Perkovic won re-election to the Montara Water and Sanitary District Board in San Mateo County and Nicole Vigeant won her bid to return to the Community Service Area, Tomales Village, in Marin County. California Greens now have 66 members holding elected office across the state. http://www.feinstein.org/greenparty/electeds.html California Green Election Results - November 8th http://cagreens.org/elections Hilary Bradbury-Huang http://www.bradbury-huang.net/ Board of Trustees, Pasadena City College (Los Angeles) Place: 1st, 2 running for 1 seat 5299 votes, 51.12% http://rrccmain.co.la.ca.us/charts/0035/0035SCHCPA5.htm Jim Harvey Water and Sanitary District Board, Montara Water and Sanitary District (San Mateo) Incumbent Place: 1, 4 running for 3 seats 1028 votes, 28.37% Paul Perkovic Water and Sanitary District Board, Montara Water and Sanitary District (San Mateo) Incumbent Place: 2nd, 4 running for 3 seats 973 votes, 26.86% Nicole Vigeant Community Service Area, Tomales Village (Marin) Incumbent 3 running for 4 seats Dana Dillworth City Council, Brisbane (San Mateo County) Place: 5th, 9 running for 3 seats 398 votes, 12.43% From jims at greens.org Thu Nov 10 13:47:43 2005 From: jims at greens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 13:47:43 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] =?iso-8859-1?q?Greens_charge_initiative_process_as?= =?iso-8859-1?q?_=91manipulated=27_by_=91big-monied_interests=27?= Message-ID: <4373BFFF.D4CDC3CD@greens.org> News Advisory THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA www.cagreens.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 8, 2005 No matter what the results Tuesday night, Greens charge initiative process as ?manipulated' by ?big-monied interests' to control state's voters SACRAMENTO (Nov. 8, 2005) ? The Green Party of California criticized Tuesday night's Special Election ? the final vote count notwithstanding ? and charged the initiative process had been manipulated by big monied interests to control voters in the state. Although the final results were still too close to call, the GPCA said the Gov. Schwarzenegger's initiative gambit hurt the people of California no matter who won or lost Tuesday night. "Arnold's initiatives are just another example of how big money controls politics in this state and country," said Forrest Hill, a California Green national delegate. "How can we expect Americans to take government seriously, when what passes for leadership is trivial television ads, mean-spirited initiatives targeting working people and red-herring solutions like redistricting to solve the undemocratic nature of our government," he said. Hill suggested that if "we truly want to stop gerrymandering and get money out of government as Arnold says he want to do, then let's move to a system of proportional representation like most every other democracy in the world." The GPCA endorsed only Prop. 79, a drug discount measure opposed by pharmaceutical companies but supported by consumer groups. It was losing Tuesday night. Greens offered "no position" of Prop. 77 and Prop. 80 ? also both losing Tuesday night ? and opposed all other propositions on the ballot. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Wed Nov 16 14:11:38 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2005 14:11:38 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Media ignore US election fraud, say Greens; GAO report cited Message-ID: <437BAE9A.1AEFA6A1@cagreens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 MEDIA IGNORE MOUNTING EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD VOTE FRAUD AND ELECTION MANIPULATION, CHARGE GREENS WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders urged the mainstream media to cover evidence, including a report from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that electronic voting machines can be manipulated without detection, along with other evidence of election fraud and obstruction. "Why won't the media cover the GAO report?", asked Gwen Wages, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. "Just as major newspapers and broadcast media ignored indications that intelligence of Iraqi WMDs and collusion between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda had been cooked before the U.S. invaded Iraq, they're now ignoring the destruction of American democracy." After Election Day, 2004, Green presidential candidate David Cobb led efforts to investigate widespread reports of vote obstruction and manipulation by Republican and Democratic officials in Ohio and New Mexico, especially targeted at African American and young voters. Unlike 2000, the major U.S. media dismissed evidence compiled in 2004 by the Cobb campaign and revealed during hearings led by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) that Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell and other Republican election officials used various means to fix the election's outcome. Greens cited recent news about election manipulation, covered in independent print and Internet media: . The GAO's 107-page report , released publicly on October 20, confirms that electronic voting machines are not secure, can easily be hacked, and often use secret, in-house software that is neither certified nor adequately inspected. The report supports many claims widely dismissed as 'conspiracy theories' that George W. Bush was placed in the White House through a fixed election in 2004, repeating the 2000 election theft. Mainstream media ignored the report's release. . Voter Action reports that New Mexico election officials have refused to allow the voter plaintiffs in a law suit challenging the results of the 2004 Presidential Election (Patricia Rosas Lopategui v. Rebecca Vigil-Giron, et al.) to inspect electronic voting machines. ("Plaintiffs Blocked During Discovery Phase of New Mexico '04 Election Lawsuit", The Brad Blog, November 12, 2005, ) . Investigations by journalists Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman exposed electronic vote manipulation to prevent passage of four election reform proposals on the ballot in Ohio, after the outcome on November 8 was inconsistent to the point of statistical impossibility with polls of voters conducted by The Columbus Dispatch. ("Has American Democracy died an electronic death in Ohio 2005's referenda defeats?", The Free Press, November 11, 2005 ) The Green Party has called for voter-verified paper ballots to provide an auditable record of votes cast on computer voting machines, and for voting machine source code designed to be open for public inspection and verification before and after an election. MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 "Federal Efforts to Improve Security and Reliability of Electronic Voting Systems Are Under Way, but Key Activities Need to Be Completed" United States Government Accountability Office, September 2005 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05956.pdf http://www.gao.gov/htext/d05956.html "Deep-rooted Voting Irregularities Persist, Watchdogs Say" By Catherine Komp, The News Standard, November 10, 2005 http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=2585 "Powerful Government Accounting Office report confirms key 2004 stolen election findings" By Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman, Axis of Logic, November 1, 2005 http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_19846.shtml "None Dare Call It Stolen: Ohio, the election, and America 's servile press" By Mark Crispin Miller, Harper's Magazine, August, 2005 http://harpers.org/ExcerptNoneDare.html From updates-admin at cagreens.org Sun Nov 20 17:59:58 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (updates-admin at cagreens.org) Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2005 17:59:58 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] Election Update: the Green Party Wins in 2005 Message-ID: <43812A1E.BF81878E@cagreens.org> Green Party of the United States Election Update: the Green Party Wins in 2005 Green candidates won 24 races last Tuesday, bringing the total number of Green electoral victories to 37 for 2005. Highlights of Election Day included Cam Gordon's victory in his bid for Minneapolis City Council, Annie Young's reelection to Minneapolis Recreation and Parks Board. Susan Hopkins won election to the Portland, Me., school board, where she will serve alongside three other Greens; Greens in Maine also helped defeat a ballot initiative that would have repealed the state's new law protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people form discrimination. Four out of five candidates in California won their bids for office. Greens in Takoma Park, Md., helped pass an Instant Runoff Voting initiative, which will ensure that elections won't be winner-take-all. All of these successes would not have been possible without the Coordinated Campaign Committee (CCC), a national committee that provides training and resources to Green campaigns. The CCC consists of Green Party activists who are skilled campaign volunteers from all over the country who help locals and states build strong Green Party campaigns. And they expect to undertake and accomplish more victories in 2006. Unlike the two major corporate parties, the Green Party depends entirely on donations from individuals. We do not take money from big business. Green office holders are accountable to their constituents, not corporations. The work of the CCC and other national Green Party projects would not be possible without the financial support of thousands of people across the country. The Green Party of the United States plans to run more candidates in 2006 and we anticipate more victories in 2006. The Coordinated Congressional Campaign is creating a unified message to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops now. A gift of $250.00 will allow us to promote the Green Party values of peace, genuine democracy, and sustainability in a national progressive publication like "The Progressive" for one month. The CCC plans to hold eight campaign schools in 2006 to train candidates and campaign staff to successfully run for office. Your gift of $100.00 will help pay a quarter of the travel expenses to bring an expert campaign consultant to a campaign school. A gift of $50 will allow us to print and send 100 copies of Green Pages to help start a new Campus Greens chapter. And if you haven't seen Green Pages lately, check out its snazzy new format by placing an order at our online store, https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/Greens/shop/shop.jsp?storefront_KEY=4 Everyone donating $20 or more receives a yearly subscription to Green Pages. The Green Party is growing bigger, stronger, and more organized every day because of the support of people like you. Please help us realize our goals for 2006 and donate generously at https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/Greens/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=1090 Email: office at gp.org Office: PO Box 57065 Washington, D.C. 20037 202-319-7191 or toll-free (US): 866-41GREEN From updates-admin at cagreens.org Mon Nov 28 16:10:38 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 16:10:38 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens, pressing Palestinian rights, urge boycott of Israel Message-ID: <438B9C7E.29F9556D@cagreens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Monday, November 28, 2005 GREENS, CALLING FOR PALESTINIAN RIGHTS, URGE DIVESTMENT FROM ISRAEL WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Green Party of the United States has endorsed a statement calling for a comprehensive strategy of boycott and divestment that would pressure the government of Israel to guarantee human rights for Palestinians. The resolution, introduced by the Wisconsin Green Party and passed in the Green Party's National Committee, seeks reversal of Israel's current policies. The text is appended below. "Israel's treatment of Palestinians -- those who are Israeli citizens as well as those in the territories -- is comparable in many ways to South African apartheid, and has resulted in a cycle of violence and lack of security for both Israelis and Palestinians," said Mohammed Abed, a member of the Wisconsin Green Party. "A stable and just resolution of the conflict requires the full realization of the human rights of Palestinians and Israelis." Greens allege that the 'peace process' will ensure neither peace nor human rights, and have called the Gaza Disengagement Plan a smokescreen to buy time and accumulate political capital for the Sharon government while it pursues a plan to force Palestinians into disconnected reservations on less than half the West Bank. The Green Party is already on record as supporting the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and to receive compensation for their losses; immediate Israeli withdrawal from all lands acquired since 1967, including the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem (see ); maintenance of Jerusalem as a shared city open to people of all faiths; suspension of U.S. military and foreign aid to Israel; complete dismantling of the Israeli separation wall; and serious consideration of a single secular, democratic state as the national home of both Israelis and Palestinians. Greens have affirmed the right of self-determination for both Palestinians and Israelis. "The Green Party is on the side of the many Israeli and Palestinian organizations working together to achieve a just resolution through nonviolent means," said Ruth Weill, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party. "As proven in South Africa in the 1980s, divestment and boycott are an effective means to achieve justice for the oppressed." Greens note that direct U.S. aid to Israel has been conservatively estimated at nearly $105 billion since 1949, which does not include recently proposed assistance such as the $1.2 billion package for developing the Negev and Galilee. "American taxpayers' money is subsidizing Israel's treatment of its Palestinian citizens and of Palestinians in the occupied territories," said Peter LaVenia, chair of the Albany, NewYork Greens. RESOLUTION Adopted by the Green Party of the United States, November 21, 2005 1. The Green Party of the United States (GPUS) publicly calls for divestment from and boycott of the State of Israel until such time as the full individual and collective rights of the Palestinian people are realized. To maximize the effect of the Green Party's support for divestment and boycott of Israel: 2. The party calls on all civil society institutions and organizations around the world to implement a comprehensive divestment and boycott program. Further, the party calls on all governments to support this program and to implement state level boycotts. 3. The party urges the Campus Greens network to work in cooperation with other campus organizations to achieve institutional participation in this effort. 4. The GPUS National Committee directs the Green Peace Action Committee (GPAX) to encourage the larger anti-war movement to promote the divestment/boycott effort. 5. The GPUS National Committee directs the International Committee to work with our sister Green parties around the world in implementing an international boycott. MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 Green Party International Committee http://www.gp.org/committees/intl/ Green Party Peace Action Committee http://www.gp.org/committees/peace/ University of Wisconsin Divest from Israel Campaign http://alawda.rso.wisc.edu/links.htm ~ END ~ From updates-admin at cagreens.org Thu Dec 1 21:30:19 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Thu, 01 Dec 2005 21:30:19 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] Green Party State Meeting Message-ID: <438FDBEB.C8962583@cagreens.org> REMINDER The next GP state meeting is at UC Davis in Yolo County Dec. 10 - 11. All pertinent information is at http://www.cagreens.org/plenary/ Online registration will close at midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 7. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Sun Dec 4 16:09:36 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2005 16:09:36 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens: US must rejoin Kyoto, regulate CO2, or face more disasters Message-ID: <43938540.19279731@cagreens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Thursday, December 1, 2005 GREENS: THE U.S. MUST REJOIN KYOTO The U.S. must push for more dramatic steps against global warming, regulate industry, and convert to clean energy sources, or face more Katrinas, warn Greens as nations in Montreal for the U.N. Climate Conference. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders strongly criticized the Bush Administration's decision to shun the U.N. Climate Conference in Montreal (November 28 - December 9) on global warming, calling it reckless and irresponsible in the face of the growing climate crisis. "We're calling on all Americans to reject President Bush's so-called market-based solutions to global warming," said Marc Sanson, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. "Corporations will not voluntarily take steps to end dependence on fossil fuels, cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, or conserve energy, when such steps interfere with short-term profits." "We need regulation -- surpassing the minimal Kyoto measures -- just as we needed the EPA and OSHA to curb pollution and the lack of workplace safety," added Mr. Sanson. "A democratic nation has a responsibility to regulate powerful corporations." Green Party members throughout the U.S. plan to attend various rallies and other events urging increased measures to curb global warming when nations meeting in Montreal discuss the Kyoto accords, and to protest the U.S.'s nonparticipation. Greens are participating in the Climate Crisis Coalition, which is coordinating the December 3rd International Day of Action to Stop Global Warming. Ted Glick, Green Party member and organizer of the Independent Progressive Politics Network, is co-founder of the Coalition, which has established the 'People's Ratification of the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty' http://www.kyotoandbeyond.org a nationwide petition drive. On December 3, a rally titled 'Kyoto and Beyond Climate Crisis: USA Join the World!' in Madison Square Park (12:30 -2:30 p.m., Madison Avenue between 24th and 25th Streets) will feature Gloria Mattera, 2005 Green candidate for Brooklyn Borough President; Tony Gronowicz, 2005 Green candidate for Mayor of New York; and Lynne Serpe, who managed 2004 Green presidential candidate David Cobb's campaign. "We're stressing the need for conservation and clean energy sources, and warning that nuclear energy is not an acceptable alternative to fossil fuels," said Julia Willebrand, New York Green and organizer of the Madison Square Park rally. "Nuclear power is a security risk and creates tons of radioactive waste. We need to decrease energy consumption and convert to solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, fuel cell, and biomass sources." Greens point to widespread evidence that global warming is already underway, such as the recent increase in killer hurricanes like Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, shrinkage of the Arctic ice cap, and disappearance of glaciers and tundra. An overwhelming majority of scientists assert that the original Kyoto goal of a reduction of 5% to 1991 greenhouse gas levels is severely inadequate and urge a 70% reduction, a goal supported by Green Party members. MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 Climate Crisis Coalition http://www.climatecrisiscoalition.org December 3, 2005 Global March for the Climate http://www.3dec2005.org/-en- "Time for Green Action on Global Warming" By Mark Dunlea, Hudson Mohawk Independent Media Center, November 28, 2005 http://hm.indymedia.org/newswire/display/11366/index.php "The New Harvest: Biofuels and Windpower for Rural Revitalization and National Energy Security" By Patrick Mazza, Research Director, Climate Solutions/Harvesting Clean Energy Network, and Eric Heitz, President, Energy Foundation The Energy Foundation, November 2005 http://www.ef.org/documents/CompFinalNov18.pdf Carbon Taxes: A Green Priority By Charles Komanoff, June 13, 2005 http://www.komanoff.net/fossil/carbon_taxes.php ~ END ~ From updates-admin at cagreens.org Mon Dec 5 18:33:00 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2005 18:33:00 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens appeal for release of hostages, including GP member Message-ID: <4394F85C.C7E20769@cagreens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Monday, December 5, 2005 GREENS APPEAL FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF FOUR PEACE ACTIVIST HOSTAGES Hostages include Green Party member Tom Fox; Greens direct appeal to Middle East press, including al Jazeera. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Green Party called for the immediate release of four hostages who were seized in Baghdad on Saturday, November 26. All are members of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT); one of them, Tom Fox, is a member of the Virginia Green Party. "The four peaceworkers taken as hostages have put their lives on the line to help the Iraqi people and end the occupation," said Audrey Clement, Green Party of Virgnia delegate to the Green Party of the United States. "We appeal especially to the Middle East media, including al Jazeera, to broadcast our request for the kidnappers to release the CPT hostages unharmed and as quickly as possible. Holding them hostage serves no purpose -- please help us make it possible for Tom Fox and his fellow peace activists see their families again." The Green Party of the United States, like the Christian Peacemaker Teams, has strongly opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and the Green Party has repeatedly called for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops occupying Iraq. Greens noted that the four CPT members were traveling unarmed and without bodyguards, which is inconsistent with the accusation that they are spies or acting in any capacity with the U.S. government or armed forces. Tom Fox, 54, resident of Clear Brook, Virginia, and a member of Langley Hill Friends Meeting, has been working with CPT in Baghdad documenting human rights abuses and promoting peace. Most recently, he had been actively working to develop Muslim Peacemaking Teams in Baghdad. Mr. Fox's web log can be read at . An online petition for the release of the CPT hostages has been signed by authors Arundhati Roy and Tariq Ali; Denis Halliday, former U.N. Assistant Secretary General and Head of the U.N. Humanitarian Program in Iraq; antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan; Cindy and Craig Corrie, parents of Rachel Corrie, who was killed by Israeli military; Ralph Nader; historian Howard Zinn; Noam Chomsky; and thousands of others . MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 Green Party Peace Action Committee (GPAX) http://www.gp.org/committees/peace/ Green Party of Virginia http://www.vagreenparty.org/ Christian Peacemaker Teams http://www.cpt.org/ ~ END ~ From updates-admin at cagreens.org Tue Dec 6 16:55:50 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Tue, 06 Dec 2005 16:55:50 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GPCA RELEASE: Greens plead with governor to spare lifeof 'Tookie' Message-ID: <43963316.C757EDD5@cagreens.org> News Advisory THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA www.cagreens.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, December 6, 2005 Green Party of California asks the governor to spare life of Stanley ?Tookie' Williams at upcoming clemency hearing date SACRAMENTO (December 6, 2005) ? As the only major political party opposed to the death penalty, the Green Party of California ? in a letter hand-delivered to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today ? asked the state's chief executive to spare the life of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, now scheduled to be executed Dec. 13. The GPCA, in its letter, thanked Gov. Schwarzenegger for scheduling a Dec. 8 clemency hearing to "review the death penalty case," and requested the governor consider "the importance of the life of Stanley ?Tookie' Williams, the negative social and economic impact of the death penalty, and spare Mr. Williams' life." "The Green Party rejects the notion of capital punishment as a viable crime deterrent, and we urge you to grant clemency in this case," said the letter, which was also e-mailed and sent by facsimile to the governor. "The campaign to save Stan Williams is particularly urgent, and the Green Party platform is clear on this issue: the death penalty is wrong, under any circumstances," said Susan King, a GPCA spokesperson. "We know innocent people have been executed. The death penalty does not deter crime, and has disproportionately affected the poor and people-of-color." The Greens noted that, among other issues in Mr. Williams' case, there is compelling evidence that racism was a major contributing factor to his conviction. The prosecutor was able to secure a conviction by effectively barring all African Americans from the jury. Mr. Williams has become a leader in speaking out against gangs and violence, and written nine childrens books about the dangers of gang life which have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people all over the world. He has developed a Protocol for Street Peace which has been used by rival gangs around the country and the world to broker gang truces. In recognition of his work, Stanley Williams has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times and has been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature four times. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Thu Dec 8 15:01:03 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Thu, 08 Dec 2005 15:01:03 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] RELEASE: Green candidate vote nearly triples registration rate in election Message-ID: <4398BB2F.3B9785E7@cagreens.org> News Advisory THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA www.cagreens.org OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, December 7, 2005 Green candidate vote nearly triples party registration in 48th congressional special election; Bea Tiritilli finishes fourth SANTA ANA (December 7, 2005) ? A high school teacher ? making opposition to the war in Iraq and social justice the focus of her campaign ? collected nearly triple the percentage of Green Party registered voters in the 48th Congressional District Special Election here Tuesday. Bea Tiritilli, who was fourth behind the two major party candidates and an ultra-conservative, shut-down-the-borders American Independent Party candidate, earned about 1.3 percent of the vote in the District, where just .5 percent of voters are registered Green. Tiritilli finished ahead of Libertarian Bruce Cohen in conservative Orange County. Cohen had just .9 percent of the vote. Republican John Campbell won with 44.7 percent, followed by Democrat Steve Young, 28 percent and AI's Jim Gilchrist, 25.1 percent. "My campaign was a success. I gave voters an opportunity to choose an alternative voice to represent their views, we registered many new Green voters and I did receive more votes than I expected in this extremely conservative district," said Tiritilli. And, while her platform largely focused on ending the war, developing an intelligent energy policy, and forming sane immigration laws which don't scapegoat immigrants for all of society's ailments, Tiritilli said she also received support from conservative voters. "Over and over again during this campaign, I spoke with voters from various parties who didn't believe their philosophies were represented by the other candidates," Tiritilli said. "Some anti-war Republicans were surprised to learn how closely my views mirror their own. Many people have the impression the Green Party is only about the environment. They don't realize we're much deeper than that. Others have the misconception that being socially liberal equates with being fiscally liberal. "There was a time in this country when being a conservative meant you were fiscally restrained and wanted to minimize government intrusion into private lives. Perhaps that is why many old-school Republicans are able to find common ground with me," added Tiritilli, who said her campaign focused, in part, on "fiscal responsibility, ending our national debt, and giving local governments greater control over law-making and promotion of individual liberties?issues upon people from a wide cross-section of society can agree." Sixty-seven Greens hold office in California. Tiritilli is the third California Green to run in a Special Election in 2005. In April, Aimee Allison finished fourth of eight candidates vying for an empty Oakland City Council spot, and Pat Driscoll was eighth of 12 candidates in a 5th District election. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Tue Dec 13 15:30:10 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Jim Stauffer) Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 15:30:10 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] RELEASE: GREENS DENOUNCE GOVERNOR'S DECISION RE: TOOKIE WILLIAMS Message-ID: <439F5982.5DCCFA05@cagreens.org> News Advisory THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA www.cagreens.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, December 12, 2005 Official response: Governor's Decision re: Stanley "Tookie" Williams Green Party of California denounces death penalty, governor's ?unwise' decision to not spare the life of ?Tookie' Williams SACRAMENTO (December 12, 2005) ? The Green Party of California Monday denounced Gov. Schwarzenegger's decision today to not grant clemency to Stan "Tookie" Williams. "It is with profound sadness that we denounce the Governor for his unwise decision today. We strongly feel that his decision will not, in any constructive way, serve the cause of justice or community, in either the short or long term," said the Green Party of California in a prepared statement. "The campaign to save Stan Williams was particularly urgent, and the Green Party platform, unlike that of the Democratic and Republican parties, is clear on this issue: the death penalty is wrong, under any circumstances," the statement concluded. --------------------------------------------------------- Postscript KPFA reported today that, in addition to wide condemnation from the European Union, some Austrians are calling for the removal of Schwarzenegger's name from a sports stadium, and the Austrian Greens are calling for his Austrian citizenship to be revoked. From updates-admin at cagreens.org Thu Dec 15 16:52:09 2005 From: updates-admin at cagreens.org (Updates) Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 16:52:09 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] NEWS ADVISORY Green Party anti-war leader to challenge Sen. Feinstein in Calif. Message-ID: <43A20FB9.4AB1B3A0@cagreens.org> URGENT NEWS ADVISORY For Immediate Release Thursday, December 15, 2005 SF anti-war leader calls for 'referendum' on Iraq, will officially launch 'A Million Votes for Peace' campaign to unseat Dianne Feinstein SAN FRANCISCO - A former organizer for Ralph Nader's presidential campaign and co-author of the "College Not Combat" initiative on the San Francisco ballot last month will formally declare his candidacy for US Senate Thursday to unseat longtime Sen. Dianne Feinstein - and use the campaign as a referendum on the war and occupation in Iraq. Todd Chretien, 36, of Oakland, will launch his "A Million Votes for Peace" campaign at news conference and major rally of his supporters on THURSDAY, 10 a.m. at Feinstein's office (1 Post Street in San Francisco). Mr. Chretien will be joined by anti-war activists from throughout California, including Green Party leaders Matt Gonzalez, Peter Camejo, Renee Saucedo and Aimee Allison, Richmond City Councilwoman Gayle McGlaughlin, National Council of Arab Americans representative Dr. Jess Ghannam and Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) president Nativo Lopez, among others. Mr. Chretien, who has said the current elections in Iraq will "solve nothing," will comment on results from the elections during his Thursday news conference. He will also comment on Feinstein's support for the USA Patriot Act, her opposition to immigrant drivers licenses, gay marriage and her support for the death penalty. The Green Party intends to run its most ambitious statewide race ever - because the Republican Party has not yet fielded a candidate against Sen. Feinstein, it raises the possibility of a two-person, Green v. Democrat race. Distributed by the Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org