From updates at cagreens.org Fri Jan 6 16:24:40 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:24:40 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] Open Letter to Governor Jerry Brown: Where is the money? In-Reply-To: <141F82E3-B124-47E9-982A-7EF3CA989B12@yahoo.com> References: <141F82E3-B124-47E9-982A-7EF3CA989B12@yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F0790C8.4030707@greens.org> Open Letter to Governor Jerry Brown by Laura Wells http://LauraWellsSolutions.com http://twitter.com/#!/Wells4Gov I just heard your voice on the radio saying, ?That?s where the money is!? The reference was to the oft-quoted answer to the question, ?Why do you rob banks?? That little joke, right there, points to the heart of our budget disasters and to the thinking that keeps the disasters in place. Where is the money? In cuts to public education? In cuts to welfare and childcare? No, the money is in the hands of the super rich. Not in public schools where California?s spending is near the bottom of all the states. Every single time that you ? and all of your colleagues in the huge majority the Democratic Party holds in Sacramento ? speak about the budget you have a chance to improve the system, or not. Every time you speak and do not condemn the two-thirds majority required to increase taxes, you are selling out the 99% and pandering to the 1%. I cannot wait until representatives in Sacramento ? the current batch or new ones we will elect ? catch up with the rest of us. The social movements have shifted from the plea of ?Stop The Cuts? to demanding the solution, ?Tax The Rich.? Statistics are readily available to explain to people who love old Prop 13 and its two-thirds vote requirement that their love is misplaced. Explain that California has 85 billionaires with a total wealth of $287 billion. Only 3.5% of that wealth would close a state budget gap of $10 billion. And although it would be a hardship for 7 people since they would no longer be billionaires, and would only have $900 million, they would probably get that 3.5% back within a year. And California would not have to cut welfare, childcare, and schools. Explain facts the California Budget Project gives us every year: when you look at family income, the poorest 20% pay more in state and local taxes than the richest 1%. Those who average $12,600 pay 11.1% and those who average $2.3 million pay 7.8%. That?s where the money is. Wealth like that used to be taxed at higher rates, and in those times people could still get richer. Explain that a bipartisan budget agreement in favor of the 99% will never be reached when slightly more than 1/3 of California legislators have signed a pledge that they will never vote to raise taxes. The 2/3 requirement gives that 1/3 minority veto power over taxing the rich. The only bipartisan budget agreement operating right now is the silence about the rotten parts of old Proposition 13. You were Governor in 1978 when Proposition 13, with all of its damaging unintended consequences (unintended by the voters), was voted into law. It is only fitting that you should undo its damage now. Sincerely, Laura Wells *Laura Wells: Solutions *| January 5, 2012 at 8:43 pm | Tags:2/3 majority ,brown budget ,California budget ,california tax ,laura wells ,tax the rich ,two-thirds majority | Categories:Uncategorized | URL:http://wp.me/p1LY8C-3O Comment See all comments From updates at cagreens.org Tue Jan 17 16:44:17 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:44:17 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP ADVISORY Green Party live online chat during State of the Union will feature Green pres. candidates, Jan. 24 In-Reply-To: <1326809429.84489.YahooMailNeo@web120004.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1326809429.84489.YahooMailNeo@web120004.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F1615E1.1060500@greens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 The Green Party will host a live online chat during President Obama's 2012 State of the Union address on Jan. 24 ? The Livestream broadcast will feature Green presidential candidates Jill Stein and Kent Mesplay; viewers can participate in the chat and phone in with questions ? When: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 9:00 pm until 11:30 pm ? Where: http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus ? Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/338640229488962/ WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party presidential candidates will participate in an online discussion immediately following President Obama's 2012 State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Jan. 24. During the show, to be broadcast on the Green Party's Livestream channel (http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus), viewers can call in with questions for the candidates. Viewers can also join in an online chat that will take place simultaneously with the State of the Union broadcast, which will be visible on the Livestream page. The public is invited to participate. The two candidates competing for the Green presidential nomination are Kent Mesplay (http://www.mesplay.org) and Jill Stein (http://www.jillstein.org). Dr. Mesplay and Dr. Stein will be on the Livestream broadcast via remote webcam. Craig Seeman and Starlene Rankin are producing the show and will serve as hosts. Green Parties in several states and the District of Columbia will hold presidential primary elections in 2012 similar to the Democratic and Republican primaries. The Green Party of the United States will hold its 2012 Presidential Nominating Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, July 12 to 15. The party will set up a credentialing page for members of the media who plan to attend. Convention web site: http://www.gpconvention2012.com Media advisory on the convention: http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=464 MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 202-319-7191 ? Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml ? News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml ? Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers ? Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus ? Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php ? Green Papers http://www.greenpapers.net ? Google+ https://plus.google.com/116812674914344319819/posts ? Twitter http://twitter.com/gpus ? Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus ? GP-TV Twitter page: http://twitter.com/LivestreamGreen 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention July 12-15, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.gpconvention2012.com Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States http://gp.org/greenpages-blog ~ END ~ From updates at cagreens.org Sat Jan 21 17:50:40 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:50:40 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] ADVISORY Today: Green pres. candidate Jill Stein speaks at 'Occupy the Courts' at steps of the US Supreme Court In-Reply-To: <1327074735.30400.YahooMailNeo@web120005.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1327074735.30400.YahooMailNeo@web120005.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F1B6B70.8000808@greens.org> Jill Stein for President A Green New Deal for America http://www.jillstein.org TODAY ~ WASHINGTON D.C. ~ 11:45 AM Dr. Jill Stein rallies movement to "Occupy the Courts" at steps of U.S. Supreme Court "To restore the rights of the people, we must take our Constitution back from the corporation." (WASHINGTON D.C.) ~ Tens of thousands of Americans in over 130 cities gather today at federal courthouses and in public squares, nearly the two-year anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC, to reject the doctrines of corporate personhood and money is speech. Dr. Jill Stein, Green Party presidential candidate, is a lead speaker today in Washington, D.C., where she joins protesters on the steps of the court building of the Supreme Court of the United States. Dr. Stein joins leading members of the Move to Amend coalition, as well as Thom Hartmann, Medea Benjamin, and others in this role. "Since 1996, the Green Party has called for a constitutional amendment to abolish the doctrine of corporate personhood," said Stein. "Greens have been ahead of the curve, but today, the curve has caught up with us, and now this movement for a constitution that serves we, the people, has gathered a historic momentum." The Move to Amend coalition, responsible for today's Occupy the Courts actions, is by far the nation's largest and most diverse coalition working to overturn Citizens United v. FEC. In addition to today's actions, local Move to Amend affiliates are instigators of the dozens of municipal and local government resolutions already adopted this year calling for constitutional reform. Move to Amend is a genuinely non-partisan coalition in that its leadership includes members of various political parties, as well as independents. Among the prominent Green Party members who are co-founders of Move to Amend are David Cobb (2004 Green Party presidential nominee), Leesa George Friday (co-chair of the Black Caucus of the Green Party of the United States), Ben Manski (former national party co-chair, 2001-2004), and Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap (a local elected official in northern California). http://www.jillstein.org/dr_stein_rallies_movement_to_occupy_the_courts # # # From updates at cagreens.org Mon Jan 23 14:38:49 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:38:49 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Green Party to Obama: lay off the threats against Iran, work for a nuke-free Middle East In-Reply-To: <1327332426.95021.YahooMailNeo@web120005.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1327332426.95021.YahooMailNeo@web120005.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F1DE179.8040406@greens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Monday, January 23, 2012 Green Party to President Obama: Hands off Iran; work for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and restore good will with the people of Iran ? Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on foreign policy: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-foreign-policy.php WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party candidates and leaders said today that the US must avoid a military confrontation with Iran by diplomacy based on the goal of ridding the Middle East and Asia of nuclear weapons, including Israel, Pakistan, and India. The Green Party strongly opposes a military attack on Iran, a country that poses no threat to the US. Greens compared the deceptive rhetoric now being used to vilify Iran with the Bush Administration's fraudulent justifications for a war on Iraq nearly ten years ago, with unconfirmed allegations about Iran's plans for nuclear arms taking the place of Iraqi WMDs. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the Green Party's presidential contenders will discuss foreign policy and other topics in a live online chat with viewer participation during President Obama's 2012 State of the Union address, to be aired on the Green Party's Livestream channel (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=471). ? Jill Stein, candidate for the Green Party's 2012 presidential nomination (http://www.jillstein.org): "The threats of an assault on Iran by Israel or the U.S., or both, are igniting tensions that could erupt into a larger conflict. If we object to Iran's nuclear ambitions, the first step in resolving these tensions is to recognize that no nation has a 'right' to possess nuclear weapons. The possession of such weapons by any country in the region is a motivation for other countries to obtain them as well, and Iran has unfriendly nuclear nations on either side, being Israel and Pakistan. The United States should press Iran's neighbors to divest themselves of their nuclear arsenals and to use such pressure as the basis for good-faith negotiation with Iran." ? Kent Mesplay, candidate for the Green Party's 2012 presidential nomination (http://www.mesplay.org): "If the US is serious about resolving conflict in the Middle East, we must reduce the US consumption of fossil fuels and end our government's subservience to the oil industry. Along with aggravating global warming, American oil addiction has resulted in aggressive military policies against some oil-rich nations, like Iraq and Libya, and alliances with dictatorships in other oil-producers like Saudi Arabia, which has its own conflicts with Iran as well as ties to al-Qaeda. We must also press Israel to cease its murderous actions against Palestinians, on display in the recent invasion of Gaza and abolish internal apartheid policies directed at Palestinian Israelis, and withhold aid until Israel complies with international law." ? Michael Canney, Florida Green and member of the Green Party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl): "Although Iran's government is a repressive theocracy that has silenced dissent, it poses no current threat to the U.S. The US's own belligerence, under the Bush and Obama administrations, has resulted in wars on three Muslim countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya), drone attacks on Pakistan, and support for Israel's attacks on Palestinians. If the US launches an attack on Iran or supports an attack by Israel, it will serve to further discredit the US as an honest broker in the region and will exacerbate an already explosive situation." ? Carol Brouillet, California Green and host of "Community Currency" on the Progressive Radio Network (http://www.communitycurrency.org): "The recent assassinations and explosions targeting Iranian scientists are acts of terrorism, widely believed to have been carried out by Israeli agents with US complicity. There's no doubt that assassinations of US or Israeli scientists would be recognized as terrorism if committed by agents dispatched by Iran. As columnist Glenn Greenwald recently noted, the defendants in an alleged Iranian murder-for-hire plot to kill a Saudi ambassador on US soil were charged with 'international acts of terrorism' (http://www.salon.com/2012/01/12/iran_and_the_terrorism_game/singleton). By refusing to condemn terrorism by a US ally, while justifying suspension of constitutional procedures for people detained by the US on suspicion of terrorism, the Obama White House has betrayed an increasing and dangerous disregard for the rule of law." (See also "Timeline / Mysterious deaths and blasts linked to Iran's nuclear program," Haaretz, Jan. 11, 2012, http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/timeline-mysterious-deaths-and-blasts-linked-to-iran-s-nuclear-program-1.406704) ? Natale "Lino" Stracuzzi, DC Statehood Green Party candidate for delegate to the US House of Representatives (nonvoting): "60% of Iran's population is under 30. The Obama Administration is squandering an opportunity for a new relationship with the future leaders of a country in which many young people want a more democratic and secular society. The US should work to undo the damage caused in the early 1950s by the CIA's complicity in the overthrow of democratically elected president Muhammed Mossadegh and installation of the Shah, whose brutal regime resulted in the popular embrace of authoritarian religious leaders, and restore good will between the US and Iran." See also: "Perspectives: An Iranian Scientist's Assassination" Frontline (PBS), Jan. 18, 2012 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2012/01/perspectives-an-iranian-scientists-assassination.html "Preventing a Nuclear Iran, Peacefully" By Shibley Telhami and Steven Kul, The New York Times, Jan. 15, 2012 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/opinion/preventing-a-nuclear-iran-peacefully.html From 2004: "Obama would consider missile strikes on Iran" The Chicago Tribune, September 25, 2004 http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-09-25/news/0409250111_1_nuclear-weapons-iran-missile-strikes MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 202-319-7191 ? Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml ? News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml ? Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers ? Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus ? Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php ? Green Papers http://www.greenpapers.net ? Google+ https://plus.google.com/116812674914344319819/posts ? Twitter http://twitter.com/gpus ? Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus ? GP-TV Twitter page: http://twitter.com/LivestreamGreen 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention July 12-15, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.gpconvention2012.com Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States http://gp.org/greenpages-blog ~ END ~ From updates at cagreens.org Tue Jan 24 16:55:10 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:55:10 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP ADVISORY State of the Union + Green pres. candidates + live online viewer chat on Green Party Livestream, Jan. 24 In-Reply-To: <1327393978.31438.YahooMailNeo@web120001.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1327393978.31438.YahooMailNeo@web120001.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F1F52EE.9030701@greens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 Green presidential candidates Jill Stein and Kent Mesplay will comment on Obama's State of the Union on the Green Party's Livestream channel, Tuesday, Jan. 24 ? Viewers can participate in the chat and phone in with questions during the broadcast ? When: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 9:00 pm ET until 11:30 pm ? Where: http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus ? Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/338640229488962/ WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party invites the public to participate in an online chat during President Obama's 2012 State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Jan. 24, on the Green Party's Livestream channel (http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus). The State of the Union broadcast, which begins at 9:00 pm ET, will be aired on the Livestream page. A chat box will for the discussion will be on the screen next to the live State of the Union video. Green Party presidential candidates (http://www.mesplay.org) and Jill Stein (http://www.jillstein.org) will hold an online discussion immediately following the State of the Union. Viewers are encouraged to contribute questions for the candidates, online by text chat or by phone. Dr. Mesplay and Dr. Stein will be on the Livestream broadcast via remote webcam on Skype. Craig Seeman and Starlene Rankin are producing the show and will serve as hosts. Green Parties in several states and the District of Columbia will hold presidential primary elections in 2012 similar to the Democratic and Republican primaries. The Green Party of the United States will hold its 2012 Presidential Nominating Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, July 12 to 15. The party is preparing a credentialing page for members of the media who plan to attend. Convention web site: http://www.gpconvention2012.com Media advisory on the convention: http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=464 MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 202-319-7191 ? Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml ? News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml ? Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers ? Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus ? Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php ? Green Papers http://www.greenpapers.net ? Google+ http://www.gp.org/google ? Twitter http://twitter.com/gpus ? Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus ? GP-TV Twitter page http://www.gp.org/twitter ? Facebook page http://www.gp.org/facebook 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention July 12-15, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.gpconvention2012.com Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States http://gp.org/greenpages-blog ~ END ~ From updates at cagreens.org Mon Jan 30 16:47:45 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:47:45 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] BAY AREA EVENT: International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4F273A31.4060901@greens.org> -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: confirm 2b4be1aeca2079a7f3bcc4e8cc6eee2abe68d934 Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:04:24 -0800 From: Dorothy Kemeny To: sosfbay-news-request at cagreens.org, gpca-grow at lists.riseup.net, gpca at cagreens.org Dear Fellow Greens, The Leonard Peltier Defense Offence Committee sent an email to me about an event that San Jose is holding 2/4/12 on the occasion of International Day of Solidarity. I subscribed to this list so that I could tell you about it. The attached file has that information. [Attachment is posted below] At the Fullerton GA the state party approved the forming of the Free Leonard Peltier Caucus, declaring Oct. 12 Leonard Peltier Day and putting out petitions for clemency for Leonard. This is an effort to grow the party through social justice actions. The petition can be accessed at www.petitiononline.com/greens/petition.html . A celebration is being planned at CSULA this coming October for Leonard Peltier Day and a LA contingency is making plans to meet up with the Leonard Peltier Walkers for Human Rights, who are bringing awareness to the plight of political prisoners by walking across the nation to arrive in DC on May 18. It would be great if Greens across the nation would come out to support their effort. I know that the Northern CA Greens are very active and I hope you can participate in this endeavor. Good luck. Dorothy Kemeny, member LA County Council ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATTACHMENT San Jose Standing with Leonard Peltier: Two is Better than One San Jose, California: International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier. Join our standouts for Leonard Peltier on February 4th and 6th On February 4th, gather in front of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Library at the corner of 4th Street and Santa Clara Street, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Join the 06 February standout in support of Leonard Peltier at the corner of Market Street and San Carlos Street (south end of Chavez Plaza). Come support Leonard Peltier and distribute case literature to auto passengers and pedestrians. Bring signs, posters, banners. Suggestions: "Leonard Peltier - 36 Years Justice Denied," "Bill of Rights is another Broken Treaty - Free Leonard Peltier," or "Leonard Peltier is Innocent." Sponsored by LPDOC Chapter - Silicon Valley. Do you plan to join us or have questions? Contact Donna Wallach at408-293-4774 or 408-569-6608, or by e-mail at dbwall at earthlink.net. From updates at cagreens.org Wed Feb 1 16:26:48 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:26:48 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Green Party to Obama: The problem isn't just foreign oil, it's all fossil fuels In-Reply-To: <1328002527.7620.YahooMailNeo@web120003.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1328002527.7620.YahooMailNeo@web120003.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F29D848.8090506@greens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 Green Party to Obama: Whether foreign or domestic, it's time for America to cut oil and gas from our energy diet ? Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on energy, climate change, and related topics: http://www.gp.org/speakers/subjects.php WASHINGTON, DC -- President Obama's energy policy shows a dangerous disconnect from the real nature of the current energy crisis, said Green Party candidates and leaders, who promoted the "Green New Deal" as a way to alleviate impending climate change and create millions of new jobs (http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2010/08/11/62-green-candidates-endorse-green-new-deal). ? Jill Stein, candidate for the Green Party's 2012 presidential nomination (http://www.jillstein.org): "With his State of the Union speech, President Obama has adopted the 'Drill, Baby, Drill' platform of the Republican Party. He has embraced the energy industry position that our public lands and our environment should be sacrificed for the goal of increasing domestic production. This spin ignores the fact that our most pressing problem isn't foreign oil -- it's what fossil fuels, both foreign and domestic, are doing to our planet. The President's 'all of the above' approach is an alarming denial of the climate emergency we face and the urgent need to substantially reduce the amount of carbon we exhaust into the atmosphere. Our nation and human society around the world are already at serious risk for devastating climate disruption. Obama's proposals make this risk even worse. With the President's support of the oil company agenda, the Green Party now emerges as the one clear political voice for a sustainable energy policy that our planet and economy so badly need." ? Audrey Clement, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States: "The White House's plan to expand natural gas extraction on US public lands, which President Obama talked about during this State of the Union, is a menace to public health and the environment. Hydrofracking contaminates groundwater, releases gases from combustion into the air with worse greenhouse gas emissions than coal or oil, and creates severe toxic waste disposal problems. According to seismologists, it's likely to have caused small earthquakes in Ohio near sites where shale gas drilling has taken place. The Obama Administration has shown extremely poor judgement in its support for hydrofracking, 'clean coal', and offshore drilling in US coastal waters that would place major cities at risk for disasters similar to the BP oil spill in 2010, and its toleration of mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia and other states. We're pleased that President Obama postponed approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, which NASA scientist James Hansen warned would be 'game over for the planet'. But we remain concerned that the project will get approved in 2013 by the next Obama Administration or by a new Republican president." (See also "Shale Gas A Bridge To More Global Warming" by Stephen Leahy, Inter Press Service, Jan. 24, 2012, http://www.globalissues.org/news/2012/01/24/12513 and "Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations" by Robert W. Howarth, Renee Santoro, and Anthony Ingraffea, Climatic Change, http://www.sustainablefuture.cornell.edu/news/attachments/Howarth-EtAl-2011.pdf) ? Kent Mesplay, candidate for the Green Party's 2012 presidential nomination (http://www.mesplay.org): "America can take one of two roads in the coming years. The first road involves denial of climate change or refusal to take it seriously, inadequate measures like emissions trading schemes that allow corporate polluters to keep polluting, and no real effort to reduce fossil fuel consumption. This road will lead to further melting of the polar icecaps and permafrost, release of CO2 and methane into the atmosphere, growing climate instability, flooding and droughts, 'peak oil', dwindling access to food and fresh water, and the inevitable wars to gain control of resources. The second road means treating climate change in the same way that the US and its allies treated the Axis powers early in World War II -- as an emergency requiring international unity against a threat to civilization. We still have the chance to curb the advance of global warming through democratically enacted means and to use it as an opportunity to put millions of people back to work, jumpstart the damaged economy, and create cooperation and good will among nations. Democratic and Republican leaders are stuck on the first road. The Green Party and its candidates and elected officials insist on the second road -- which is why the Green Party is the imperative of the 21st century." ? Howie Hawkins, co-chair of the Green Party of New York State: "The Green Party remains the only party with a set of constructive solutions for the energy crises that we face. Many of these ideas are spelled out in the Green New Deal, which Green candidates have adopted as their agenda. Green solutions include the creation of millions of new jobs in energy conservation projects such as retrofitting homes and other buildings for energy efficiency, innovative technologies for safe and clean energy that don't rely on nuclear or petroleum-based sources, planning and new construction for cities and towns that will free them from reliance on car traffic, and expanding public transportation. Unfortunately, Democrats lack the political will and Republicans are hostile to the idea that government can initiate public works projects to employ millions of Americans. President Roosevelt proved that such projects can be very successful. Greens are ready to prove it again, when we take public office." (Mr. Hawkins introduced the Green New Deal during his campaign for Governor of New York in 2010.) MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 202-319-7191 ? Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml ? News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml ? Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers ? Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus ? Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php ? Green Papers http://www.greenpapers.net ? Google+ http://www.gp.org/google ? Twitter http://twitter.com/gpus ? Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus ? GP-TV Twitter page http://www.gp.org/twitter ? Facebook page http://www.gp.org/facebook 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention July 12-15, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.gpconvention2012.com Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States http://gp.org/greenpages-blog ~ END ~ From updates at cagreens.org Sun Feb 5 20:42:02 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:42:02 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Green Party welcomes pres. candidates Roseanne Barr, Jill Stein to the race for the Green nomination In-Reply-To: <1328285583.97127.YahooMailNeo@web120005.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1328285583.97127.YahooMailNeo@web120005.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F2F5A1A.1070908@greens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Friday, February 3, 2012 The Green Party welcomes presidential candidates Roseanne Barr and Jill Stein + The Green presidential nominee will be chosen at the party's 2012 convention in Baltimore, Md., July 12-15 WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States welcomes two candidates into the race for the 2012 Green presidential nomination, Jill Stein and Roseanne Barr. Ms. Barr and Dr. Stein submitted paperwork to meet the Green Party's requirements as of the evening of the Feb. 1 deadline. "We are thrilled to have two strong women running for President as Greens," said Darryl! Moch, national co-chair of the Green Party. "We look forward to a race based on Green ideas and values, and to showing the Democrats and Republicans how to run without the corrupting influence of fat corporate campaign checks and corporate-funded attack ads." "Anyone hopeful about the Occupy Wall Street's challenge to the status quo or disappointed by the Obama Administration's broken promises of change now has a pair of candidates to watch. Anyone bored or irritated with the Mitt Versus Newt Show by now will be relieved by the breath of fresh air -- maybe a Green gale force of righteousness -- that's about to come," said Tamar Yager, also a national co-chair of the Green Party. For more information about the candidates, visit the following sites: + Jill Stein: http://www.jillstein.org + Roseanne Barr: http://www.roseanneforpresident.com + 2012 Press Information for Green Candidates http://www.gp.org/candidates/index.php The nominee will be chosen at the Green Party's national convention, July 12-15, in Baltimore, Maryland (http://www.gpconvention2012.com) State Green Parties in California, Arizona, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and possibly Ohio are participating in primary elections. Other state Green Parties will choose the nominee they support and apportion delegates during statewide Green conventions. The Green Party currently has ballot access in 17 states. Greens expect to have the presidential nominee and other candidates on the ballot in at least 46 states and the District of Columbia on Election Day 2012. Past Green Party convention sites and nominees: + 2000: Denver, Colorado; Ralph Nader + 2004: Milwaukee, Wisconsin; David Cobb + 2008: Chicago, Illinois; Cynthia McKinney "We consider it important to have strong women candidates at a time when women's reproductive rights are under assult, from the Obama Administration's decision on the morning-after pill to the Komen Foundation's withdrawal of funding for breast cancer screening from Planned Parenthood. We're proud that our presidential nominee in 2008 was a woman," said Carl Romanelli, Pennsylvania Green and member of the Green Party's International Committee. 132 Greens hold public office in the United States, including five mayors. The largest city with a Green mayor is Richmond, California, with Mayor Gayle McLaughlin. The Green Party and its candidates accept no money from corporate PACs. Many Green candidates are promoting the "Green New Deal" in their campaigns (http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2010/08/11/62-green-candidates-endorse-green-new-deal). Greens have been active participants in the Occupy Movement; both Ms. Barr and Dr. Stein have appeared and spoken publicly at Occupy rallies. For information about the Green Party's positions on important issues, visit the party's press release page (http://www.gp.org/press.php) and platform page (http://www.gp.org/committees/platform/2010/index.php). See also: "The Green Party chooses Baltimore, Md., for the 2012 Green Presidential Nominating Convention," Green Party press release, Dec. 1, 2011 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=464 Green Party Watch: blog with inside news about the Green Party and Green candidates http://www.greenpartywatch.org MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 202-319-7191 + Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml + News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml + Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers + Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus + Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php + Green Papers http://www.greenpapers.net + Google+ http://www.gp.org/google + Twitter http://twitter.com/gpus + Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus + GP-TV Twitter page http://www.gp.org/twitter + Facebook page http://www.gp.org/facebook 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention July 12-15, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.gpconvention2012.com Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States http://gp.org/greenpages-blog ~ END ~ From updates at cagreens.org Tue Feb 7 18:15:52 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:15:52 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee Blog Update In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4F31DAD8.6080702@greens.org> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Green Party Members, Remember to sign our petition on line if you haven't yet done so. Or better yet, download a copy to collect signatures to sent back to me to be sent to Obama at the end of his term. Go to www.cagreens.org/caucuses to find the petitions on the Free Leonard Peltier Caucus page. Ever Green, Dorothy Kemeny ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee Blog Update Link to Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Call to Action: Call the White House for Leonard Peltier Posted: 05 Feb 2012 10:30 PM PST Today marks the 36th anniversary of the arrest of Leonard Peltier. Today, be certain to call the White House comment line to request the release of Leonard Peltier on humanitarian and constitutional grounds. Call 202-456-1111 . If the lines are busy, try the White House switchboard at (202) 456-1414 . Ask for the comment line. You may be placed on hold until the next available staffer can take your call. Thank you for all you do on Leonard's behalf. 06 February Anniversary Message from Leonard Peltier Posted: 05 Feb 2012 10:09 PM PST Greetings to my relations, my friends, and to my many supporters the world over. It is that time again. Another year has passed, and on February 6th I will be marking 36 years since my arrest. During all this time, my family and allies have discovered just how far the government will go to wrongfully convict and imprison someone they know is innocent. They do this as a message?first to Indians, and further to anyone who might stand up to injustice?as if to say, ?We will do as we please?. From the day of my arrest until now, through you my supporters, I have been honored with many activist and humanitarian awards. I thank you for keeping awareness of me and my case alive. Your commitment has really been a special experience for me. In addition many celebrities, political figures, and organizations have called for my release, including 55 members of Congress. This last November, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) passed a permanent resolution calling for my release. Well let?s hope its not that permanent. The NCAI has committed to being directly involved with my case so that the message from Washington to Indian people does not remain, ?We will do as we please?. Still, despite all this attention and with all the leaders and people of conscience calling for my release, I have been kept in this iron cage. They have even kept me longer than their own laws say they can. With evidence corroborating that I did not receive a fair trial, with proof of government misconduct, with admissions by government officials that they do not know who killed those two agents that day at the Jumping Bull property, here I sit. ?We will do as we please.? Recently, as many of you know, an act was passed and signed into law that allows for indefinite detention of American citizens without charge or trial. This is perhaps the final straw, the final nail in the coffin of American freedom, the end of habeas corpus and due process. ?We will do as we please.? We Indians said it for generations: If they can kill us indiscriminately, they will do it to anyone. If they can take our land, they will do it to anyone. If they can kidnap our children and take them to prison schools, they will do it to anyone. If they can starve us and lie to us, they will do it to anyone. If they can wrongfully imprison us, they will do it to anyone. Now, sadly, this is another Indian prophecy fulfilled. ?We will do as we please.? Our ancestors and tribal people all over the world prophesized a time of upheaval and great change. I believe that time is fast approaching. I believe a part of this is the government?s ongoing overreach of its authority?until the people rise up and tell Washington, ?You will NOT do as you please! We are NOT your slaves! We will NOT be subjugated! We will NOT be ruled by an iron fist! We will NOT allow you to steal our liberty or our justice!" My friends, my relatives, my supporters?Be a part of this latest, perhaps the last "Indian uprising". Make your voice heard! Be a part of the brave Movement to come, the Movement that will change the course of human history. Make change and hope and peace and justice a part of your personal legacy. Be the change that you envision and know in your heart must take place. Do this, and on the day you take your last breath and prepare to meet Creator, you will know your life on this Earth was well spent. Close your eyes knowing you used your breath and energy to Creator?s good purpose. Smile as you cross over knowing you changed the world so that the next seven generations can know a good life. Do these things and know that I am with you. I will embrace you as my relations?in this life or the next. Mitakuye Oyasin. In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, Leonard Peltier From updates at cagreens.org Tue Feb 14 15:47:59 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:47:59 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Green pres. campaign news: state party conventions & caucuses begin; questionnaire responses from Barr & Stein In-Reply-To: <1329132934.30212.YahooMailNeo@web120001.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1329132934.30212.YahooMailNeo@web120001.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F3AF2AF.6060103@greens.org> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Monday, February 13, 2012 Statewide Green conventions and caucus begin in Ohio, Minnesota, Maine, Illinois; more Green presidential campaign and ballot access news ? First counts place Jill Stein in the lead; Green presidential questionnaires are now online: responses from Roseanne Barr, Stein on top issues and campaign plans WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Parties in several states across the US have begun to choose Green presidential candidates and apportion delegates for the Green National Convention in Baltimore, Md., July 12 to 15 (http://www.gpconvention2012.com). Two candidates, Jill Stein and Roseanne Barr, have fulfilled Green Party requirements to compete for the nomination, although other candidates are on the ballot in some states. Green presidential candidate Jill Stein was the winner at the state convention of the Ohio Green Party on Saturday, Feb. 4 (http://www.ohiogreens.org/node/72). Dr. Stein drew 90% of the vote in a four-way race in which Roseanne Barr, Kent Mesplay, and Harley Mikkelson were also on the ballot. The convention met in Columbus to select delegates to be sent to the Green National Convention. The Ohio Green Party?s presidential preference vote was the nation?s first. The second was Minnesota, where the Green Party held caucuses on Tuesday, Feb. 7 (http://www.mngreens.org). The results are still being counted, but Dr. Stein won a straw poll in Minnesota with 92 out of 165 votes (http://www.mngreens.org/news/02122012-1115am/stein-wins-gpmn-caucus-straw-poll). Green-Independent Party of Maine is holding a series of caucuses throughout the state, with caucuses already taking place Jan. 14 and 25 and Feb. 4 and 11 (http://www.mainegreens.org / http://www.mainegreens.org/index.php?sectionID=996&mode=). The Illinois Green Party is using an online primary ballot. Voting began on Saturday, Feb. 11 and continues throug Feb 19 (http://www.ilgp.org/2012-elections/presidential-caucuses-in-illinois/). The Green Party's state affiliates will continue participating in primary elections or holding statewide conventions and caucuses during the next few months in preparation for the Baltimore convention. Roseanne Barr and Jill Stein will be on the California primary ballot (http://news.yahoo.com/roseanne-barr-calif-ballot-us-president-135247559.html). California will hold its primary election on June 5. BALLOT ACCESS The Green Party of Tennessee now has major party ballot status, after US District Court Judge William J. Haynes invalidated Tennessee?s new ballot access law for minor parties (http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/02/03/tennessee-ballot-access-law-for-new-and-minor-parties-struck-down/ and http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120207/NEWS02/302070040/Judge-TN-must-lower-hurdles-for-third-parties). The Green Party of Arkansas qualified for the ballot on January 19 (http://arkgreens.kk5.org / http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2012/01/20/green-party-qualifies-for-arkansas-ballot). The Green Party is already on the ballot in the four largest states: California, Florida, New York, and Texas, and aims to have the Green presidential and vice-presidential nominees on the ballot in at least 46 states on Election Day, Nov. 6. CANDIDATES' QUESTIONNAIRES The Green presidential candidates' questionnaires, submitted for recognition of the candidates by the national party, are now online and can be read by the public. The questions cover the candidates' positions on major issues and their campaign plans. ? Roseanne Barr http://www.gp.org/committees/pcsc/documents/rfp_gpus_questionnaire_1_23_12.pdf Campaign site: http://www.roseanneforpresident.com ? Jill Stein http://www.gp.org/committees/pcsc/2012/candidate-questionnaire/stein.shtml Campaign site: http://www.jillstein.org MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 202-319-7191 ? Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml ? News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml ? Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers ? Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus ? Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php ? Green Papers http://www.greenpapers.net ? Google+ http://www.gp.org/google ? Twitter http://twitter.com/gpus ? Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus ? GP-TV Twitter page http://www.gp.org/twitter ? Facebook page http://www.gp.org/facebook 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention July 12-15, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.gpconvention2012.com Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States http://gp.org/greenpages-blog ~ END ~ From updates at cagreens.org Thu Feb 16 14:13:13 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:13:13 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] RELEASE Roseanne Barr at 6% in national poll, with 19% of youth vote (from Roseanne for President 2012) In-Reply-To: <1329331512.75305.YahooMailNeo@web120004.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1329331512.75305.YahooMailNeo@web120004.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F3D7F79.5050906@greens.org> ***For Immediate Release*** ROSEANNE BARR HAULS IN 19% OF YOUTH VOTE IN NEW NATIONAL POLL ? WITHIN 5 POINTS OF MITT ROMNEY BARR POLLS AT 6% IN THREE-WAY NATIONAL CONTEST VERSUS OBAMA AND ROMNEY A new national poll conducted by Public Policy Polling (PPP) shows Green Party presidential hopeful Roseanne Barr surging with the youth vote. In a three way contest between Barr, Democratic incumbent Barack Obama and Republican hopeful Mitt Romney, Barr pulls in 19% of voters between the ages of 18-29, narrowly trailing Republican hopeful Mitt Romney by 5 points. This is the first poll to include Barr in its survey. In a three-way national contest, Barr pulls in 6% versus Democratic incumbent Barack Obama (47%) and Republican hopeful Mitt Romney (42%). Barr?s support among Democrats and Republicans is virtually equal, with Barr pulling in 6% of Democrats and 5% of Republicans, in addition to 8% of Independent/Other voters. This 6% crosses a critical threshold ? under current campaign finance laws, winning 5% of the national vote would bring the Green Party and its presidential nominee millions in funding in the following election cycle and access to a number of state ballot lines may be secured as well. In response to the poll, Roseanne Barr stated, "Only three weeks into my campaign, we are off to a great start. This poll shows the deep dissatisfaction voters have with the two corporate parties of the 1% and the opportunity that the Green Party has to make a real difference for the 99% in this election and elections to come. I am in it to win it and look forward to giving the Democrats and Republicans a run for their corporate money. My campaign is the beginning of the end of patriarchal politics. Just this past week, we've witnessed a bunch of 70-year-old men wearing funny hats who haven't gotten laid in decades attempting to dictate whether women have access to contraception or not. In this bright future, we'll be the ones wearing the funny hats. Behold the greening of America." Poll results: http://is.gd/bCyEaZ CONTACT: Eric Weinrib Roseanne for President 2012 ericweinrib at gmail.com From updates at cagreens.org Tue Feb 21 15:42:26 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:42:26 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Green Party blasts Obama, NRC on approval of new nuclear reactors in Ga.; taxpayers to subsidize high cost & liability In-Reply-To: <1329708514.39714.YahooMailNeo@web120006.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1329708514.39714.YahooMailNeo@web120006.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F442BE2.6030604@greens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Friday, February 17, 2012 The Green Party blasts Obama, NRC on approval of new nuclear reactors in Georgia US taxpayers to subsidize the high cost and high liability for the new units, while Southern Co. reaps the profits Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on energy and related topics: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-energy.php WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party candidates and leaders strongly criticized a Feb. 9 decision by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to issue the final license for two new reactors located at the currently operating Vogtle nuclear power plant near Augusta, Georgia. Greens said that the 2011 Fukushima disaster, with radioactive water and waste continuing to spill into the local environment, proves the need to put nuclear power on permanent hold. Green Party leaders noted that residents near Plant Vogtle claim that some cancers increased after 1987, when the Atlanta-based Southern Company opened the first of the two existing reactors. "The energy companies know that nuclear energy is extremely expensive and a high risk for security, public health, and the environment. They saw what happened in Fukushima, as well as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. Rather than gamble with their own money, energy companies have convinced President Obama to pass the cost and liability on to US taxpayers," said Denice Traina, Coordinating Council member and former co-chair of the Georgia Green Party (http://www.greens.org/georgia). The new units will cost more than $14 billion. The Obama Administration has pledged $8.3 billion in federal loan guarantees for the construction. Southern Co. has not yet invested any of its own money for the units, while Georgia ratepayers are being asked to pre-fund construction payments in their current bills. US taxpayers currently subsidize insurance coverage for the private firms that own and operate all US nuclear plants. Georgia has suffered multiple threats and radioactive releases from the Southern Co. and Dept. of Energy nuclear complex. DOE operates its Savannah River site bomb-making facility across the river from Shell Bluff, which hosts Plant Vogtle's two reactors and is now targeted for two more reactors, despite the cancer cluster that health officials have failed to study. Tritium has been found in cows' milk in Girard, Georgia. A tritium spill at the bomb plant led the Dixie Crystal sugar refinery to idle its Savannah workforce while the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources closed the oyster beds at the mouth of the Savannah River, with significant adverse economic repercussions. Vogtle faced an emergency when a truck backed into a utility pole, cutting off the cooling system, and backup generators failed to start. Meanwhile, another Georgia-based Southern Co. facility, Plant Hatch, which is now approaching the end of its license, has operated since its inception without a containment dome. "Despite these outrages, Georgia residents subsidize nuclear industry profits with risks to our health and safety," said Bruce Dixon, press secretary of the Georgia Green Party and managing editor for Black Agenda Report (http://www.blackagendareport.com). "The policies which fund new nuclear capacity, while forgoing needed investments in renewables, would not be possible without discounting the lives of those who live in these sacrifice zones. Having a black president offering the taxpayer guaranteed loans, with his appointees granting the license, does not diminish the racism inherent in these policies." NRC chair Gregory Jaczko, appointed by President Bush, cast the lone dissenting vote on the new licenses. The commissioners who voted for approval included Democrats appointed by President Obama. "Despite assurances from President Obama and other nuclear plant defenders, there is no such thing as safe, clean, reliable nuclear energy," said Darryl! Moch, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. "The Green Party supports a ban on new nuclear reactors and decommissioning of existing reactors, and conversion to genuine safe and clean energy sources as we find ways to reduce energy consumption." "We have an opportunity to create millions of jobs in developing safe energy technologies and converting to energy efficiency, by retro-fitting homes and buildings, public transportation to reduce car traffic, and numerous other projects. Unfortunately, Democratic and Republican party leaders, including President Obama, lack the political will and are addicted to political contributions from corporate PACs representing the energy industry," said Mr. Moch. Conversion from fossil fuel and nuclear energy and public works projects to create new Green jobs are part of the Green New Deal promoted by Green candidates. See also: Nuclear Watch South http://www.nonukesyall.org "No More Solyndras: Groups Call On DOE to Force Public Release on Delays and 12 Secret Cost Overruns at Vogtle Reactors" North Carolina Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, February 16, 2012 http://www.ncwarn.org/2012/02/nc-warn-allies-sue-nrc-over-new-reactors/ "An Anti-Nuclear Renaissance? Since the US government has not given up on approving new reactors, we must not give up opposing them" By Karl Grossman, Common Dreams, Feb. 13, 2012 http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/02/13-0 "State Green Parties sponsor and host 'No Nukes Tour: Organize the South!', October 3 to 8 in southern states" Green Party press release, Sept. 29, 2011 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=451 "Greens call President Obama's resurrection of nuclear power and handout for Georgia nuclear reactors his 'worst idea yet'" Green Party press release, Feb. 18, 2010 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=297 MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 202-319-7191 + Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml + News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml + Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers + Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus + Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php + Green Papers http://www.greenpapers.net + Google+ http://www.gp.org/google + Twitter http://twitter.com/gpus + Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus + GP-TV Twitter page http://www.gp.org/twitter + Facebook page http://www.gp.org/facebook 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention July 12-15, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.gpconvention2012.com Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States http://gp.org/greenpages-blog ~ END ~ From updates at cagreens.org Mon Mar 5 13:30:51 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:30:51 -0800 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Green Party urges Supremes to strike down Obamacare mandates, sees a chance for Medicare For All In-Reply-To: <1330935022.30434.YahooMailNeo@web120001.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1330935022.30434.YahooMailNeo@web120001.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F55308B.1020807@greens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Monday, March 5, 2012 Contacts: Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty at greens.org Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene at gp.org The Green Party urges the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act's health insurance mandates, sees a chance for Medicare For All ? Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on health care http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php WASHINGTON, DC -- Candidates and leaders of the Green Party of the United States expressed hope that the Supreme Court will strike down the 'individual mandate' section of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) when the court issues a ruling on its constitutionality in late March. Greens, who support single-payer national health care (Medicare For All), have called the passage of the ACA in 2010 a defeat for meaningful health care reform. "A Supreme Court decision gutting the ACA's individual insurance mandate can bring us closer to real universal health care, because we already know that Social Security and Medicare are constitutional. Medicare For All is based on the same model as these successful programs," said Mayor David Doonan (Green) of Greenwich, New York. Green Party members participated in protests and civil disobedience in 2009 when Democratic Party leaders held health care reform roundtables that included industry representatives and excluded single-payer advocates, particularly when Senate Financial Committee chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) declared single-payer "off the table" and President Obama negotiated away the public option in backroom meetings with lobbyists (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miles-mogulescu/ny-times-reporter-confirm_b_500999.html). "America needs real universal health care, not a direct public subsidy in the form of a health insurance mandate to sustain the private insurance industry," said Barry Hermanson, Green candidate for Congress in California's 12th District (San Francisco) (http://www.barryhermanson.org). "President Obama and Democrats in Congress could have introduced a Medicare For All bill, which would cover every American and drastically reduce medical costs by removing insurance companies from control over our health care. Instead they acted in the interests of insurance and other corporate lobbies. Even with the mandate, the ACA leaves 23 million Americans without coverage and many millions more with inadequate health care." Greens strongly oppose proposals by Republicans to make Medicare a voucher program, which would privatize and dismantle Medicare. Greens also criticize Democrats for offering cuts to benefits and physician reimbursements as a compromise for higher taxes on the extremely wealthy. "Democrats continue to defend the ACA, including mandates, because they want a political victory for President Obama in this election year. In the Green Party, we consider health care for every American and relief for people facing financial ruin over medical costs more important. Democrats pilfered the mandate idea from Republicans who introduced it in the 1990s, even though Republicans now oppose it," said Carol Brouillet, Green candidate for California's 18th District (http://www.carol4congress.org). "Health insurance mandates cannot be compared to the requirement that every car owner purchase car insurance. Driving a car is a privilege for people with drivers' licenses. Health care is not a privilege. It's a necessity for the basic right of Americans to stay alive, to be able to enjoy life and make a living," said Ms. Brouillet. Medicare For All would cover every American regardless of employment, ability to pay, age, or prior medical condition and which would provide everyone with high-quality low-cost medical treatment and full choice of health-care provider. Decisions about medical treatment would be made by physicians and patients instead of insurance bureaucrats. Medicare For All would boost the US economy by abolishing the financial burden on businesses to provide health care benefits for employees. Americans would pay for Medicare For All in the same way we pay for Social Security, but we would pay far less because the high cost of private insurance (for executive salaries and bonuses, profit margins, and other overhead) would be eliminated. Private insurance pads health costs up to 30% in administrative overhead, compared to 3% for Medicare. The profit motive is an incentive for insurance companies to restrict or deny needed medical treatment. Green Party leaders sharply criticized Democratic and Republican legislators in California who defeated the recent statewide single-payer bill. "California is a sterling example of the huge Titanic Parties playing games with our health. When Republican Schwarzenegger was governor, the Democratic legislature passed single payer twice, knowing it would be vetoed. When Democrat Jerry Brown was elected, it was predicted that the legislature would not pass the bill, and sure enough, they have not. Jerry Brown refused to take a stand on Medicare for All, and the Democratic legislature is leaving him alone. They?re also leaving us alone, with terrible health care," said Laura Wells, 2010 Green candidate for Governor of California (http://www.LauraWells.org). The Green Party speaks for a majority of Americans on health care reform: 64% of Americans believe that government should provide a national health insurance program for all Americans, even if this would require higher taxes, according to a 2007 CNN poll (http://www.pnhp.org/news/2007/may/new_polls_on_univers.php). "Americans already recognize that everyone deserves the right of personal health and safety. That's why we have public police and fire departments, without requiring insurance for the services they provide. We recognize that people have a right not to spend their final years in destitution. That's why we have Social Security. The demand for national health care is based on the same principle. It's time to recognize health care as a human right, instead of a cash cow for corporate middle-men and major shareholders," said Natale "Lino" Stracuzzi, DC Statehood Green Party candidate for the District of Columbia's nonvoting seat in the US House (https://www.facebook.com/groups/stracuzziforcongress). See also: "Fifty Medical Doctors for Single Payer Urge Supreme Court to Strike Down Individual Mandate" Single Payer Action, Feb. 14, 2012 http://www.singlepayeraction.org/blog/?p=3178 "Seeking Coverage For All" By John R. Battista and Justine McCabe (Connecticut Green Party), Hartford Courant, October 31 2006 http://www.pnhp.org/news/2006/november/seeking-coverage-for-all "Hijacked -- Stolen health care reform V: Overall assessment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA)" By John Geyman MD, July 22, 2010, Physicians for a National Health Program http://pnhp.org/blog/2010/07/22/hijacked-stolen-health-care-reform-v-overall-assessment-of-the-patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-of-2010-ppaca/ "Obama's Health Care Bill Is Enough to Make You Sick" By Chris Hedges, Truthdig, July 11,2010 http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/obamas_health_care_bill_is_enough_to_make_you_sick_20100712/ Insurance industry contributions to political campaigns in recent elections The Center for Responsive Politics http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=F09 MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 202-319-7191 ? Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml ? News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml ? Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers ? Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus ? Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php ? Green Papers http://www.greenpapers.net ? Google+ http://www.gp.org/google ? Twitter http://twitter.com/gpus ? Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus ? GP-TV Twitter page http://www.gp.org/twitter ? Facebook page http://www.gp.org/facebook 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention July 12-15, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.gpconvention2012.com Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States http://gp.org/greenpages-blog ~ END ~ From updates at cagreens.org Fri Mar 16 19:32:24 2012 From: updates at cagreens.org (Green Party of California Updates) Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:32:24 -0700 Subject: [GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Green Party seeks abolition of Prison Nation/Police State policies in the US In-Reply-To: <1331912496.74297.YahooMailNeo@web120003.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> References: <1331912496.74297.YahooMailNeo@web120003.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4F63F7B8.2060906@greens.org> GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Friday, March 16, 2012 Green Party seeks abolition of Prison Nation and Police State abuses in the US ? Greens promote sane justice system and security policies, including a halt to the War on Drugs and constitutional violations ? 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention, July 12-15, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.gpconvention2012.com WASHINGTON, DC -- As more and more Americans express alarm at the curtailment of rights and privacy and the increasing numbers of citizens locked up in prison, Green Party candidates and leaders are calling for rational security, law enforcement, and justice system policies. "The US cannot be called a 'free country' as long as Prison Nation and Police State abuses are allowed to continue," said Darryl! Moch, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. "The War on Drugs, privatized prisons, and other outrages have led to America's record-high incarceration rate, with the proportionally highest prison population in the world. Racial disparities in arrests and sentencing have devastated black and brown communities. Instead of providing safety and civic peace, these policies have eroded our freedoms, safety, and the rule of law." Greens pointed to bipartisan landmarks in the growth of the Prison Industrial Complex and erosion of the US Constitution: President Reagan's efforts to criminalize the poor and people of color, beginning with the Drug War and rhetoric about 'welfare queens'; President Clinton's expansion of the War on Drugs, privatization of prisons, programs to train civilian police in military tactics, and the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act; and 9/11, which the Bush and Obama Administrations have used to justify attacks on constitutional rights in the name of the War on Terrorism. "The billions of dollars made available for Homeland Security and the War on Terrorism quickly became a feeding trough for corporate contractors and lobbies that have a financial interest in the assault on freedom, privacy, and constitutional rights," said Muhammed Malik, co-chair of the Miami-Dade Green Party and former racial justice specialist at ACLU Florida. Mr. Malik currently works with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition as an advocate for the restoration of civil rights for formerly convicted felons. Greens listed a set of necessary reforms and reversals of current justice system policies: ? Cancellation of the War on Drugs, which Greens call a colossal waste of billions in taxpayers' money that has had virtually no effect on the drug trade, except to target the poor and place more ground-level drug pushers behind bars, while leaving criminal cartels in place to satisfy the high American demand for drugs. The Green Party supports drug legalization and treatment of addiction as a medical rather than criminal problem, which would put violent cartels out of business. ? An end to racial disparities in policing and sentencing, which have resulted in mass imprisonment of young, black, brown, and poor Americans. Such disparities, which include brutal treatment by police and prison personnel, and the cheap labor provided by inmates have in effect continued the convict-lease system, which maintained slavery for blacks long after emancipation. The prison labor system pays inmates substandard or no wages for products made in poor safety conditions that undercut the prices of companies that don't exploit prison labor. ? An end to the private prison system, which has created financial incentives to lock up more and more Americans in order to increase the profits of private prison corporations and contractors. ? Automatic restoration of civil rights for formerly convicted felons, with an end to policies that prevent them from reintegration into society, such as denial of housing, education, public benefits, and the right to vote. Greens say that such policies impose "permanent criminal" status on exconvicts and disenfranchise the poor and people of color who are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement. ? Release of political prisoners (or retrial in cases of conflicting evidence), e.g., Bradley Manning, Leonard Peltier, Mumia Abu-Jamal; release of prisoners locked up on the basis of violations of rights by police and prosecutors, and prisoners detained by racist border patrols, raids, and "Arizona laws" targeting Latinos. Greens have expressed concern about the expanded and unchecked power of prosecutors through policies like mandatory sentencing, zero tolerance, three-strikes laws, and severe limits imposed on judicial discretion. ? A halt to the expansion of military operations into US civilian law enforcement and use of military tactics by civilian police departments. Some of these practices have been used for the brutal suppression by police of legitimate political dissent by US citizens, such as the protests by the Occupy Movement. The ?Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011? (HR 347) was passed by Congress recently to enable further police suppresson of protest by groups like Occupy Wall Street. ? Abolition of the death penalty. The disregard for exculpatory evidence in the case of Troy Davis and other death-row inmates indicates that innocent people are being executed. ? Repeal of the USA Patriot Act and cancellation of boondoggle "Homeland Security" contracts that contribute nothing towards public safety and only enrich favored companies at taxpayer expense. Greens also asserted that an equitable justice system requires punishment of powerful people who have enjoyed impunity for serious crimes: ? Officials responsible for war crimes and other serious violations of the US Constitution. Such violations include misleading the public to justify invasions of other countries (e.g., manipulation of intelligence and false claims that led to the Iraq War), the use of torture and extraordinary rendition, indefinite detention and denial of habeas corpus, and warrantless surveillance of US citizens. The Obama Administration has refused to investigate and prosecute Bush-Cheney officials for such violations and in many cases maintained the same abuses. The Obama Administration even introduced a new violation -- assassination of suspected US citizens on orders from the White House, without due process. The targets of these violations have very often been Muslims and people of Middle-Eastern origin and political dissidents. ? Corporations and corporate executives responsible for the fraudulent practices that triggered the Subprime Mortgage Crisis and 2008 economic meltdown; punishment has so far been rare and limited to SEC slaps on the wrist. See also: "Greens urge President Obama to condemn police brutality against Occupy protesters" Green Party press release, Dec. 12, 2011 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=465 "Green Party members speak out to stop execution of Troy Davis in Georgia, urge abolition of the death penalty" Green Party press release, Sept. 16, 2011 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=448 "Investigate 'Ongoing Pattern' of Inmate Abuse Georgia Green Party Demands of Governor Deal" Georgia Green Party press release, Feb. 14, 2011 http://www.georgiagreenparty.org "Green Party leader to receive award from the Drug Policy Alliance for leadership in drug law reform" Green Party press release, Dec. 2, 2007 http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_12_02.shtml "The Disproportionate Impact of the Criminal Justice System on People of Color in the Capital Region" Dr. Alice Green, The Center for Law and Justice (Dr. Green is a former Green Party candidate for Lt. Governor of New York and Mayor of Albany) http://www.cflj.org/thedisproportionateimpactofthecriminaljusticesystemonpeopleofcolorinthecapitalregion (News article: "Report cites disparity in arrests of minorities" in the Albany Times-Union, Feb. 16, 2012, http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Report-cites-disparity-in-arrests-of-minorities-3336738.php) Georgia Green Party: End Mass Incarceration http://www.georgiagreenparty.org/Issues/issues-3 The Campaign to End Mass Incarceration http://endmassincarceration.org "What Could Go Wrong? Alabama Deploys Prisoners To Transport Primary Ballots" Mediaite, March 13, 2012 http://www.mediaite.com/tv/what-could-go-wrong-alabama-deploys-prisoners-to-transport-primary-ballots "Mumia?s Death Sentence Has Been Officially Dropped! Desmond Tutu Calls For His Release" Press Release: Response to DA Seth Williams' decision on the Mumia Abu-Jamal case http://www.freemumia.com/?p=777 "Inside that new anti-Occupy bill: HR 347 is drawing fire -- but many of its shameful restrictions already exist" Natasha Lennard, Salon.com, March 7, 2012 http://www.salon.com/2012/03/07/the_inside_scoop_on_hr_347/singleton MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 202-319-7191 ? Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml ? News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml ? Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers ? Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus ? Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php ? Green Papers http://www.greenpapers.net ? Google+ http://www.gp.org/google ? Twitter http://twitter.com/gpus ? Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus ? GP-TV Twitter page http://www.gp.org/twitter ? Facebook page http://www.gp.org/facebook 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention July 12-15, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. http://www.gpconvention2012.com Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States http://gp.org/greenpages-blog ~ END ~