[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens congratulate Cynthia McKinney on 'Peace through Conscience' award from the Munich American Peace Ctte.

[Green Party of California Updates]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, February 4, 2010



Greens congratulate Cynthia McKinney, recipient of the 'Peace through
Conscience' award from the Munich American Peace Committee

• McKinney will accept the award at a peace conference in the same city as
NATO's Munich Security Conference, which will address the war on Afghanistan;
Greens contrast McKinney's 'deserved' award with Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on peace, foreign
policy, and other related issues: http://www.gp.org/speakers


WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States congratulated former US
Representative Cynthia McKinney after an announcement that she will receive
the 'Peace through Conscience' award from the Munich American Peace Committee
(MAPC / http://www.mapc-web.de).  Ms. McKinney was the Green Party's 2008
nominee for President of the United States.

Ms. McKinney has been invited to participate in an International Peace
Conference scheduled to take place in Munich, Germany, from February 6 to 7,
coinciding with the Munich Security Conference, which will address NATO
strategy towards Afghanistan, including President Obama's planned troop
escalation.  A long-time proponent of abolishing NATO, Ms. McKinney is
scheduled to speak on February 6 at a rally in protest of the NATO conference.
  After the rally, she will participate in the conference.

MAPC will present the award to Cynthia McKinney during ceremonies of the
Munich Peace Conference on the evening of February 6, 2010.  The MAPC Peace
Prize is normally awarded by the previous year's winner.  In Ms. McKinney's
case, the award will be presented by André Shepherd, a US Army Specialist who
applied for asylum in Germany after objecting to the wars in Iraq.

"I am humbled to be so recognized," said Cynthia McKinney.  "Clearly, the MAPC
gave more thought to the significance of those whose struggle for peace is
based on principle and an unshakeable commitment, despite the personal
sacrificies required, than did the Nobel Peace Committee that rewarded our
President for war."

Commenting on the decision to grant President Obama the 2009 Nobel Peace
Prize, Ms. McKinney said, "In this way of thinking, peace is now war, lies are
now truth, and ignorance is strength."

Ms. McKinney has urged Americans across Germany to gather in Munich and
protest US and NATO war policies, noting that Germany has sent its own troops
to Afghanistan.  She will meet with American expatriates while in Munich.

"We are very proud of Cynthia McKinney's work for peace and human rights in
the US and internationally," said Dr. Justine McCabe, co-chair of the Green
Party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl).  "Ms.
McKinney has led the demand for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and
Afghanistan and strongly criticized President Obama's announcement of a troop
surge in Afghanistan.  She has challenged NATO's global expansion of military
operations and demanded its abolition.  Last June, after President Obama urged
humanitarian aid for people in Gaza, Ms. McKinney and other Free Gaza
activists tried to deliver medical and construction supplies and other relief.
  They were illegally intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters
and jailed, while the White House remained silent.  Unlike our President,
Cynthia McKinney deserves a peace prize."

In a presentation at the 8. Internationale Muenchner Friedenskonferenz (Eighth
Munich International Peace Conference), Ms. McKinney will discuss chances for
a civil and nonviolent US foreign policy, the need to end the US wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, US policies regarding Colombia and its neighbours, and
efforts toward a nuclear-free world.  She will pose the question "What should
governments and the politicians at the Security Conference do to promote peace
and justice?"


MORE INFORMATION

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• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• Green Party Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus

Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the
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Fall 2009 issue now online
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog


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