[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE US Greens congratulate Caroline Lucas, UK's first Green member of Parliament, on election victory

[Green Party of California Updates]

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

For Immediate Release:
Saturday, May 8, 2010



US Greens congratulate Caroline Lucas, the UK's first Green Party member of
Parliament, on her election victory

• Colombian Green presidential candidate Antanas Mockus holds a strong lead in
polls, may become the first Green Party head of a national government

• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on foreign policy
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-foreign-policy.php

• The Green Party's 2010 Annual National Meeting, Detroit, Michigan, June
24-27 http://greenpartymeeting2010.wordpress.com
Media credentialing page: http://www.gp.org/forms/media
More information: 1-866-41-GREEN, office at gp.org


WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States congratulates Caroline
Lucas and British Greens on Ms. Lucas' election to the House of Commons on May
6.  Ms. Lucas, the first Green member of Parliament, will represent Brighton
Pavilion.

"The election of the first Green to the British House of Commons is cause for
celebration among Greens in the US and for everyone who wants to see a new
direction in politics and an end to the stranglehold of the pro-war
pro-corporate old parties," said Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party's 2008
nominee for President of the United States and former member of the US House
of Representatives from Georgia.  "If Greens can win a seat in the UK, we can
win one or more seats in Congress here in America."

While Ms. Lucas is the only Green Member of Parliament, the Scottish Green
Party holds two seats in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood and there are two
Green members in the London Assembly.  13 Green city councillors serve in
Brighton and Hove.

"Caroline's victory was not achieved by watering down the Green message, but
by standing for it firmly by advocating economic fairness, social justice, and
environmental well-being, showing that voters will support a truly Green
alternative when presented with the option.  With this in mind, we support
Caroline's call for a referendum on enacting proportional representation for
the UK, so that the Green Party's true level of support can be realized," said
Mike Feinstein, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.  Mr.
Feinstein contributed a foreward to Ms. Lucas' book 'Green Alternatives to
Globalisation' (Pluto Press, April 2004,
http://www.plutobooks.com/display.asp?K=9780745319322&).

While the Green Party of England and Wales expressed elation over the victory,
Ms. Lucas said, "[Brighton voters] have shown that they are prepared to put
their trust in the Greens, despite the overwhelming national media focus on
the three largest parties and a voting system that is fundamentally
undemocratic. I feel humbled by their trust in me, and I am excited by this
vote of confidence and I'm looking forward to the challenging task of fully
representing the voters of Brighton."
(http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2010-05-07-caroline-wins.html)

Videos of Caroline Lucas are posted on the web sites of the BBC
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8667032.stm) and
The Guardian
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2010/may/07/caroline-lucas-green-party).

US Green Party leaders also noted that polls in Colombia show Antanas Mockus,
the Green Party presidential candidate, in the lead in the Colombian national
election (http://www.mediacoop.ca/story/3345).  Since the beginning of the
campaign in March, Mr. Mockus moved from 9% to 39% and now leads Juan Manuel
Santos of the ruling 'U' Party by 12 percentage points going into Colombia's
first ballot.

If Antanas Mockus maintains his lead, he will become the first ever Green
Party head of a national government.  Mr. Mockus, former mayor of Bogota, is
credited with leading the 'Bogota Miracle,' which revitalized a crime-ridden
city with sprawling slums.


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• Green Party Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus

Caroline Lucas' web site http://www.carolinelucas.com/cl.html

Green Party of the United States: International Committee
http://www.gp.org/committees/intl

"Historic win for Greens in tight Brighton race"
The Guardian (UK), May 7, 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/07/greens-historic-win-brighton

The Green Party's 2010 Annual National Meeting, Detroit, Michigan, June 24-27
http://greenpartymeeting2010.wordpress.com
Media credentialing page: http://www.gp.org/forms/media
More information: 1-866-41-GREEN, office at gp.org

Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the
United States
Winter 2010 issue now online
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog


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