Greensweek: The Green Bulletin

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Vol. 2, No. 3
Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Green News
Upcoming Events
Green Action
Good Reads

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GREEN NEWS

CALIFORNIA: Terry Baum is running for Congress in the 8th District (San Francisco) as a write-in candidate. She will need about 1,600 write-ins to get on the ballot in November. Baum cites Nancy Pelosi's support for the invasion of Iraq and the USA Patriot Act as motivations for her campaign.
More: http://www.greencampaigns.org/

CALIFORNIA: Also running for Congress on a strong antiwar platform is Sacramento software consultant Pat Driscoll, who is attempting to unseat 13-term Democrat Robert Matsui (D-Sacramento) in the 5th Congressional District. More: http://www.driscollforcongress.org and http://www.greencampaigns.org/

CALIFORNIA: Tom Hutchings, 33rd Assembly District Green Party candidate and Democratic write-in candidate on the March Primary Ballot, has received the endorsement of the Central Coast Chapter of the Mexican-American Political Association (MAPA). Hutchings delivered a bilingual speech at the monthly chapter meeting on January 18. Afterwards, the vote was unanimous to endorse Hutchings for the primary election on March 2. More: http://www.votetom.org

DELAWARE: The Delaware Green Party denounced plans by DuPont to process the highly toxic nerve gas agent, VX hydrolysate, at its Chambers Works, New Jersey facility, calling it the result of programs to create weapons of mass destruction. Delaware Greens endorsed a resolution prepared by the Delaware Clean Air Council against DuPont's project and urged Delaware citizens to oppose it strenuously.
More: http://www.gpde.org

DELAWARE: The Green Party of Delaware's leadership endorsed the Global Day of Action peace demonstrations, set for March 20 to mark the one-year anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. Working closely with the national group United for Peace and Justice, Greens plan to join protests set for New York, San Francisco, and Chicago among other worldwide cites. Delaware Greens, including UofD Campus Greens, expect to join other concerned Delaware citizens by supporting local peace demonstrations in unity with worldwide peace actions. (More about the March 20 protest below under Schedule.)
More: http://www.gpde.org and amc@UDel.Edu (University of Delaware Campus Greens contact)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: DC Statehood Greens participated in DC's 'First in the Nation' presidential primary on January 13, with David Cobb winning with 37% of the votes cast. The only other candidate on the ballot was Sheila Bilyeu, about whom little is known. Write-ins (not specified in the published DC Board of Elections and Ethics count) also captured a large percentage. More: http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org

GEORGIA: Launching its 2004 Ballot Access campaign under the theme, 'Democracy Starts Here!', the Georgia Green Party today announced plans to hold a monthly 'Orientation for Greens Committed to Ballot Access.' The meetings will take place starting at 10 am, the third Saturday of each month at the new state Party office, on the Third Floor of the Little Five Points Community Center, 1083 Austin Avenue NE Ste 203-A, in Atlanta. More: http://www.greens.org/georgia/

GEORGIA & SOUTH CAROLINA: Greens were invited to meet Ralph Nader in Clemson, South Carolina, as 2000 Georgians signed on to a Draft Nader effort for 2004. Nader will attend two events in Clemson (two hours from Athens and Atlanta, Georgia) on Wednesday, January 21. At 7 pm, he will speak at Clemson University, and then meet with supporters at the Joint, a Clemson night club, at 9 pm.
More:
gpga-nader04draft@greens.org
http://www.greens.org/georgia/
http://www.scgreenparty.org
http://www.thejointlive.com/directions.html

INDIANA The St. Joe Valley Greens in South Bend have endorsed the Near Northwest Neighborhood Association's petition urging legislators to find more equitable ways to allocate the costs of city services among all the county's residents. Greens charge that the current tax assessment system places the burden of supporting institutions that serve the entire County on the backs of City residents while allowing those who use the Cities and their institutions to avoid paying their fair share, and noted that many individuals and small business owners have found their property taxes going up as much as 300%.
More: http://www.sjvgreens.org/

MAINE: The Biddeford Green Independent Committee has nominated local celebrity Dorothy Lafortune to be the Green Independent candidate in the February 3rd special election for House District 18. Lafortune, in November 2003, received 43% of the vote when she ran for a Biddeford City Council seat. Lafortune also ran for State Senate in 2002. A special election was set by Governor Baldacci last week for House District 18 after State Representative Marie Laverriere-Boucher resigned. The winner of the February 3rd election will represent District 18 through the end of this year. More: http://www.mainegreens.org

NEBRASKA: Steve Larrick of Lincoln, a member of the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District board and the first Green to be elected to office in Nebraska, has announced his candidacy for the open House seat as a member of the Green Party. Larrick said he chose Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday to announce his candidacy to emphasize the need to "reduce the scale of violence being projected by the Bush administration in the Middle East, in the environment and throughout the world." Larrick has more than 20 years of experience working with communities and neighborhoods in Nebraska, including five years with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 13 years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Architecture and one-year stints with the Lincoln Action Program and the federal Farmers Home Administration.
More:
http://journalstar.com/local.php?story_id=114884
http://www.nebraska.greens.org

RHODE ISLAND: The Green party of Rhode Island will host a live Green Presidential Candidates debate to benefit Rhode Island's first Green Party Presidential Primary ballot. The debate will take place on Wednesday evening, January 28 at the Synod Hall at 271 N Main Street in Providence. The debate will be the first in a series of such debates across the northeastern US between candidates David Cobb and Kent Mesplay, with a Massachusetts debate set for January 29 and weekend appearances in Ohio and Pennsylvania. More: http://www.greens.org/ri 401-490-7602

WISCONSIN: The Wisconsin Green Party denounced the 'Jobs Creation Bill', recently passed in the Assembly (84-14) by Democrats and Republicans, saying that it erodes the state's ability to ensure that waterways and air quality will be adequately protected and that its intent is to attract businesses looking for shortcuts to set up shop in Wisconsin. The bill, which still needs to pass in the Wisconsin Senate, would diminish the opportunity for the public and Wisconsin regulatory agencies to examine and prohibit detrimental activities. Wisconsin Greens called the bill an example of the dangers of the bipartisan corporate agenda and compared it to the loss of jobs and labor and environmental protections caused by NAFTA, WTO, and other trade agreements. More: http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org

NATIONAL: Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, long the subject of a draft effort among Green Party activists, ended speculation on her Green presidential ambitions for 2004. McKinney informed the co-chairs of the Presidential Exploratory Committee and co-chairs of the Georgia Green Party that "a national campaign is not in the cards for me at this time." According to news reports, McKinney intends to run for her old House seat in 2004.
More:
http://www.greens.org/georgia/
http://www.ajc.com/metro/...

CHESAPEAKE REGION: The national Coordinated Campaign Committee and Greens in Maryland, DC, Delaware, and Pennsylvania are organizing a two-day Campaign School in Baltimore, at the University of Baltimore on January 31 and February 1, 2004. See the listing under Upcoming Events below.

NATIONAL: A reminder for all Greens running for public office.... Make sure you're in the database at <http://www.gp.org/patience.html>. You can e-mail your information and corrections using the form on the web or by sending it to <juscha@greens.org>.

NATIONAL: In a letter dated January 15, 2004, Peter Camejo authorized Greens to place his name before nominating conventions or primaries where possible across the US as a candidate for president, saying he wants delegates to go to the convention with full freedom to vote according to their best judgment. Camejo added, "I will not bind any delegate who votes for me but will make it clear at the convention that they should vote their conscience.

A new web site has been set up for Camejo supporters: http://www.DraftCamejo.org

NATIONAL: Essential information about the Green Party's 2004 National Nominating Convention, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from June 23 to 28, 2004, and presidential candidates:

Convention Information
Registration
Presidential Candidate Nomination Process
David Cobb for President (may be under construction) Yahoo Group
Lorna Salzman for President
Draft Ralph Nader for President
Draft Peter Camejo for President
Carol Miller: contact carolmiller@newmexico.com

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UPCOMING EVENTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29: Norman Solomon and and Peter Camejo will debate what direction the Green Party and progressives should take in the 2004 election season. Camejo supports Nader, even as an independent, and hopes Ralph Nader can be persuaded to run with the Greens. Were Nader not to run, Camejo would like the Greens to run a candidate. Solomon says Nader should not run, and that the Greens should work to defeat Bush. The debate is a benefit for listener-sponsored KVMR radio. If any Greens can help at a table, contact <jbarton@greens.org>. 7:30 pm at the Crest Theatre, On the K Street mall (at 10th
Street) in downtown Sacramento. $12 general, $10 KVMR members, $6 low income.
More: thecrest.com and kvmr.org

JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 1, 2004: The national Coordinated Campaign Committee and Greens in Maryland, DC, Delaware, and Pennsylvania are organizing a 2-day Campaign School at the University of Baltimore, with intensive workshops, classes, and training exercises. Who should attend: Greens (from anywhere) planning to run for office or serve as a campaign manager, press secretary, fundraiser, volunteer coordinator or other campaign principal in 2004. Speakers: CCC members Masada Disenhouse, Dan Kinney, Mike Livingston, Gray Newman; national Media Committee members Stacy Malkan, Scott McLarty, Linda Schade, Kevin Zeese; national Green organizers Dean Myerson, Jason Ravin, Lynne Serpe. Workshops will be held from 12:30-5 pm Saturday and 9:45 am-4:30 pm Sunday. To register, contact Ann Forno <annforno@jhu.edu>. Registration is $15 (but no Greens will be turned away).

MARCH 19-21: Prairie Region Campaign School, at Concepcion Abbey, Concepcion, Missouri (near Kansas City). For Greens interested in running for public office, working on a campaign, or building electioneering skills is encouraged to attend. Cost to be determined, probably around $80 for the weekend, including room, board and tuition; some scholarships will also be available, based on need and availability of funds. Pre-registration: Dee Berry at 816-942-3081 or <deeberry@kc.rr.com>. Questions: Phil Huckelberry at 309-268-9974 or <huckelberry@softhome.net>.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20: Global Day of Action: The World Still Says No to War. On the one-year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and invasion of Iraq. Millions around the globe will take to the streets to say YES to peace and NO to pre-emptive war and occupation. Joining with growing numbers of military families and soldiers, United For Peace and Justice and other groups will call for an end to the occupation of Iraq and Bushs militaristic foreign policies. To endorse, e-mail m20endorse@unitedforpeace.org or call UFPJ at 212-868-5545 to let UFPJ know your group is on board.
More: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2136

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GREEN ACTION

CALL CONGRESS

Call, fax, write a letter, or pay a visit
Contact information: Congressional switchboard: (202) 224-3121
US House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/
US Senate: http://www.senate.gov
Write a letter to the editor, a guest op-ed column, essay, or article

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Contact your Congress members about the police treatment of protestors at the FTAA Ministerial in Miami in November and call for charges to be dropped. On November 20 and 21, during the Free Trade Area of the Americas Ministerial in Miami, the Miami police, known for brutalizing poor and immigrant communities in Miami for years, brutally attacked and arrested over 250 people and used excessive force to squash the demonstrations. Dozens of charges have already been dropped, but the City of Miami continues to harass people in the legal system. They recently announced that they would not seek jail time, thereby making it impossible for defendants to access public defenders. Lawyers in the Miami are working to insure that everyone is represented, but a nationwide demand has been launched to urge the city to drop all charges. To send an e-mail to any Representative, enter the state and zip code at http://www.house.gov/writerep/. More contacts, sample letters, information:
http://www.citizenstrade.org/
http://www.saveourcivilliberties.org/en/static/packet.shtml
http://www.saveourcivilliberties.org/misc/sample_letter.html

Repeated from earlier Greensweeks but still current....
Tell your Senators to vote NO on the Senate's version of HR 1904, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 and instead to support efforts that protect communities from forest fires without weakening environmental protections. More: http://wildforests.com/...
House Republican leaders are trying to block a resolution overturning the FCC's media deregulation plan from reach the floor for a vote. Urge Reps to force the vote and pass the resolution.
More:
http://www.mediareform.net
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1010-13.htm
Tell Congress to support a $215 million increase for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). More: The Save ADAP Committee, a working group of the AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition (ATAC) http://www.atac-usa.org
Tell Senators to keep student information private! Under a little known provision of the 'No Child Left Behind' Act, schools are required to turn over their entire student rolls, including confidential contact information, to military recruiters. The only way to prevent military recruiters from getting this student information is if a parent 'opts-out' -- but the unfunded No Child Left Behind Act has no allocated budget to tell parents about this option.
Tell Senators and Reps to respect Indian claims: The House has put into serious jeopardy billions of dollars in American Indian Trust Funds, when members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior put last minute language into the HR 2691 conference report on Interior appropriations. More: http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/...
Tell Representatives to support Rush Holt's bill HR 2239, which would require paper records for all votes cast on electronic voting machines.
More:
http://www.verifiedvoting.com
http://www.verifiedvoting.com/fair_elections.asp
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Tell Senators to use their influence to see that the US Fish and Wildlife Service calls off proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 that would make it easier for circuses, pet importers, and leather importers to capture, exploit, and kill certain endangered species.
More: http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/...
Tell Senators to vote NO on Bush's plan to take overtime pay away from millions of American working people by reclassifying their jobs. The bill already passed in the House and faces a Senate vote on January 20. More: http://www.saveovertimepay.org/bushproposal.htm
Tell Senators to order the Justice Department to stop spying on innocent Americans now! On November 23, the New York Times disclosed a confidential FBI memorandum detailing FBI efforts to engage in coordinated, nationwide surveillance of United for Peace and Justice and other organizations in the peace movement.
Sign a petition:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/petition/index.php?id=5

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GOOD READS