Greensweek: The Green Bulletin

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Vol. 2, No. 9
Tuesday, March 9, 2004

Green News
Upcoming Events
Green Action
Good Reads

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GREEN NEWS

ATTENTION Candidates and campaigns:

(1) The Green Party's Prairie Region Campaign School will take place March 19-21 in Concepcion, Missouri, near Kansas City. Read the listing under Upcoming Events below, or visit <http://www.prairieregiongreens.org>.

(2) Are you listed on the Green elections page http://www.gp.org/patience.html If you are running for reelection, have you submitted your information for the 2004 page? Given the current level of media attention on the Green Party, it is especially important that the page lists all qualified Greens running for office listed. Also, candidates should check existing listings for accuracy and completeness of information. A friendly reminder from Brent McMillan, Political Director of the Green Party of the United States, 202-319-7191, Brent@gp.org

CALIFORNIA: In the 'Super Tuesday', March 2 primary election, Pamela Elizondo and Patricia Gray won contested Green congressional primaries. Incumbent Michael Harrington, incumbent Green candidate for Davis City Council, was defeated in a highly contested race, finishing 5th out of 8 candidates for three seats. More: http://www.cagreens.org

CALIFORNIA: San Francisco election officials have now uncovered more than 1,700 write-in votes in the 8th Congressional District, raising the possibility that Green candidate Terry Baum will become the first third-party candidate in the state to win a nomination by write-in method since a Black Panther slate did so in 1968. The Green Party put together a late bid to put Baum on the ballot to challenge the disappointing votes of incumbent Nancy Pelosi (D). Baum has been endorsed by Matt Gonzalez, Peter Camejo, and Medea Benjamin, among others. More: http://www.terrybaum.com

GEORGIA: Georgia Green Party officers certified with the Georgia Secretary of State its new slate of officers on February 29, naming Denise Traina as the Party's new co-chair and Adam Shapiro as the Party's new Secretary, filling vacancies created by two recent resignations. More: http://www.greens.org/georgia

ILLINOIS: The Illinois Green Party has endorsed IL SB 2440 and HB 04868, state bills to create the Medical Cannabis Act, which would allow use of medical marijuana by a person who has been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition. More: http://www.ilgreenparty.org http://www.idealreform.org

MARYLAND: Thousands of voters protested the use of paperless electronic voting by demanding paper ballots and demonstrating at precincts in Takoma Park, Baltimore, and Annapolis on 'Super Tuesday', March 2. The protests were organized by the Campaign for Verifiable Voting in Maryland (TrueVote), led by Green activists Linda Schade and Kevin Zeese, which noted complaints that several precincts in had computer crashes, votes were lost, Democrats were given computer cards for Republican ballots, and the choices on some machines were incomplete. TrueVote estimates that 1/3 of Maryland voters who requested paper ballots were given them. While many judges expressed concern with the new electronic voting system, they followed the orders from the Board of Elections and refused to provide paper ballots. More: http://www.TrueVoteMD.org

MINNESOTA: Minnesota Greens, attending caucuses around the state on March 2, participated in a presidential preference straw poll, with the following results: 22.41% for no candidates; 18.10 % for none of the above; 17.93 % for undecided; 16.03% write-ins; 12.07 % for David Cobb; 4.83 % for Lorna Salzman; 4.14 % for Peter Camejo; 1.38 % for Kent Mesplay; 1.21 % for Carol Miller; 1.03 % for Paul Glover; 0.52 % for no endorsement; 0.34% for Sheila Bilyeu. 596 people attended; 102 of 134 districts reported results. More: http://www.mngreens.org
http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20040302/ElecRslts.asp?M=SWGP

NEW MEXICO: In Santa Fe, Green municipal judge Fran Gallegos was re-elected to her third term on March 2, with 55% of the vote in a four-way election. Gallegos is popular for her innovative sentencing practices that favor community service instead of imprisonment. Gallegos, who is Latina, is currently the only Green judge in the US. More: http://www.nmgp.org
http://www.sfnewmexican.com/

NEW MEXICO: Governor Bill Richardson announced on March 5 that he has appointed Carol Miller, a well-known health care expert and Green Party leader (and a 'favorite daughter' candidate for President in New Mexico), to serve on the state Commission on Higher Education. Miller is the executive director and founder of Frontier Education Center, a Santa Fe-based research, education and advocacy organization. Miller has served as a public health consultant, national rural health advisor, and health care administrator in New Mexico, and will serve as an at-large member on the Commission through July 2007.

NEW YORK: The Green Party of New York State issued a strong statement of support for Green New Paltz Mayor Jason West, who faces prosecution for performing marriages for same-sex couples. New York Greens called for the Ulster County District Attorney and New Paltz Police to drop all charges immediately against Mayor West for officiating at marriages. Greens are working to set up a defense fund for West (details forthcoming).
More: http://www.gpnys.org/index.html
http://www.villageofnewpaltz.org

NEW YORK: Latest figures show the Green Party of New York increase by 16% over the past year, for a total of 38,492 members. More: http://www.gpnys.org

OREGON: Members of the Pacific Green Party of Oregon issued a statement of support for same-sex couples in Oregon and elsewhere who are marrying the partners of their choice. Some PGP members, while supporting the movement for same-sex marriage, expressed concerned about the undemocratic process, when the Multnomah County Commissioners reached agreement to let the marriages proceed through meetings that excluded the public and one Commissioner representing a conservative district. PGP members also voiced strong opposition to the proposed Marriage Amendment that was recently endorsed by President Bush.

RHODE ISLAND: The Green Party of Rhode Island held its first Presidential Preference Primary on 'Super Tuesday', March 2. With more than 20% of Green Party registrants in Rhode Island voting in the primary, David Cobb received approximately 53% of the vote, Kent Mesplay received 13%, 22% voted for 'uncommitted', and 12% were write-ins. GPRI Co Chair Linde Rachel noted that Green Party participation in the primary exceeded those of the other parties. More: http://www.greens.org/ri/

WASHINGTON: Eight phone-bankers from the Green Party of Seattle called nearly 500 Greens in Western Washington State in the past week to encourage Greens to contact their state senators in support of two bills pending in the state legislature: (1) for Instant Runoff Voting; (2) non-discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Dozens of Greens then took the time to call both their state senators.
More: http://www.www.seattlegreens.org
http://www.wagreens.org/

WISCONSIN: The Wisconsin Green Party is holding congressional district caucuses throughout the state during March. Each CD is choosing 2 delegates and one alternate to the Green Party's national Presidential Nominating Convention to be held in Milwaukee, June 23-28. Wisconsin will have 33 delegates to the June convention, out of a total of 836. More: http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org

WISCONSIN: AB911, a bill supported by the Wisconsin Green Party that would allow Preference Voting or Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) in local, non-partisan elections, was introduced into the Wisconsin State Assembly last week. Although this bill only allows IRV in local non-partisan elections, Wisconsin Greens favor IRV in all elections, partisan and non-partisan, from local to national. Also: The Wisconsin Green Party issued a strong statement against a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages, saying it would pay special attention to the votes of state senators.
More:
http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org
http://fairvote.org/irv/index.html

HELP WANTED: The Green Party needs native speakers of languages spoken in the US, such as Spanish, to translate web pages and other documents. Our diversity is our strength -- but if we can't even talk to each other, we won't have much diversity. Please help. The Communications Committee is preparing a database of volunteers. Any and all languages are welcomed! More information and details: Deirdre Helfferich, Communications Committee estereditor@mosquitonet.com

NATIONAL: Greens cast votes for presidential candidates in the March 2 'Super Tuesday' primary elections in California, Rhode Island, and Minnesota. There are now 203 Greens elected to public office in the US. More: http://www.gp.org/patience.html

NATIONAL: According to a survey of national support for presidential candidates conducted for the Associated Press by Ipsos-Public Affairs, President Bush (Republican) received 46%, Sen. Kerry (Democrat) 45%, and Ralph Nader (Independent, with a Green campaign to draft him for the nomination) 6%.
More: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040304/D813PD7G1.html

NATIONAL: On March 20, Greens and Green Parties will participate in protests, organized by United for Peace and Justice http://www.unitedforpeace.org, throughout the US against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Notable locations for the demos: New York City (Midtown Manhattan); Fayetteville, North Carolina (the US military base at Fort Bragg); Crawford, Texas (President Bush's hometown). In Illinois, the Green Party, a formal co-sponsor of the Midwest Regional Anti-War Coalition for March 20th Global Day of Action, voted to add Haiti to their list of occupied nations, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. More information under Upcoming Events below.

NATIONAL: Instant runoff voting (IRV), the ranked-choice method of voting favored by Greens, received a strong boost yesterday when voters in Berkeley, California overwhelmingly supported a ballot measure for IRV. The Center for Voting and Democracy also noted a telephone survey of likely voters in the upcomin Illinois primary in which a majority of respondents expressed support for IRV in presidential elections. More: http://www.fairvote.org and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/instantrunoff

NATIONAL: Essential links for the Green Party's 2004 National Nominating Convention, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from June 23 to 28, 2004, and for Green presidential candidates:
- Convention information: http://www.gp.org/convention/process.html
- Registration https://secure.gpus.org/convention/
- Media credentialing for the convention http://www.gp.org/forms/media/
- Presidential candidates, nomination process http://www.gp.org/convention/process.html
- David Cobb for President http://www.votecobb.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cobb4President
http://cobb2004.meetup.com/
- Lorna Salzman for President http://www.lornasalzman.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lorna4President/
- Redraft Nader
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RalphNader2004/
http://www.votenader.org
- Draft Camejo http://www.DraftCamejo.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/camejoforpresident/
- Carol Miller: contact carolmiller@newmexico.com
- Kent Mesplay for President http://www.presidentkent.org

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

INTERNATIONAL: The European Green election campaign website is now online: http://www.eurogreens.org

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UPCOMING EVENTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 9: Northwest Greens (Pennsylvania) will hold a forum on ending Pennsylvania's racist legal system, 7:30-9:00 pm, at the Ghebre Michael Inn of Immaculate Conception Church, 5725 Sprague Street in Germantown. Currently, 66 percent of Pennsylvania prison inmates are people of color. The meeting is open to all neighbors regardless of partisan or other affiliations. More: Chris Robinson, 215-843-4256, nwgreens@yahoo.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 11: (Continuing every 2nd Thursday of the month) At 7 pm, the David Cobb campaign will hold a meetup to help organize and support his campaign for President in 2004. More: http://cobb2004.meetup.com/

SATURDAY, MARCH 13: The Green Party of Connecticut will host a debate and discussion about Green Party election strategy and candidates for the 2004 Presidential Election, 3-5 pm at the First Church of Christ, 190 Court Street in Middletown, Connecticut. Confirmed candidates so far: Lorna Salzman; Lynne Serpe to represent David Cobb. Open to both Green Party of Connecticut members and the general public. More: riverbend2@earthlink.net.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17: Los Angeles Greens will hold a presentation on the life and achievements of Petra Kelly, cofounder of the German Green Party, in celebration of Women's History Month. More: http://www.losangelesgreens.org

MARCH 19-21: Prairie Region Campaign School, at Concepcion Abbey, Concepcion, Missouri (near Kansas City). Greens interested in running for public office, working on a campaign, or building electioneering skills are encouraged to attend. Cost: $80 for the weekend, including room, board and tuition ($90 for a single room); $40 for students; some scholarships will also be available, based on need and availability of funds. Registrations and payment must be received by March 15 to guarantee reservation. Questions: Phil Huckelberry, 309-268-9974, huckelberry@softhome.net. More: http://www.prairieregiongreens.org

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 information and on-line registration: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2136

SATURDAY, MARCH 20: The Maine Green Independent Party has endorsed the 'March for Truth' planned by the Maine Coalition for Peace and Justice and other groups throughout the state to call for an end to the occupation of Iraq and Bush's militaristic foreign policies, as part of the Global Day of Action planned by United for Peace and Justice (see above). A rally and march will take place at the State Capitol in Augusta at 12 noon. More: http://www.marchfortruth.org

MARCH 20-APRIL 4: The Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts, Economic Human Rights Project, and Sisters Together Ending Poverty are founding sponsors of a 16-day Massachusetts March to Abolish Poverty through the state's lowest income communities.
More information, route map, contacts:
http://www.abolishpoverty.org 617-776-3895 x 3 or 508-333-2394
info@abolishpoverty.org http://www.massgreens.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 27: The Green Party of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, will hold its first convention, 9 am to 5 pm at the Frick Fine Arts Building Auditorium, Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh (across from the Carnegie Library in Oakland). More: http://www.gpoac.org

SUNDAY, MARCH 28: Green Presidential candidate Peter Camejo will speak at the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, DC, in the UDC Student Lounge (tentative), time and other details to be announced. More: http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org

APRIL 17-18: The Maine Independent Green Party 2004 Convention in Lewiston, with a special dinner on April 17 celebrating the party's fifth anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the Maine Greens. Party members will also choose 19 delegates to attend the national Green convention in Milwaukee, June 23-28, make changes to the party's platform and bylaws, and approve the 2004-05 budget. Registration: suggested $10, with a sliding scale of $0-15 based on ability to pay. More: http://www.mainegreens.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 24: Organizers have put out a worldwide call for action for Mumia Abu Jamal on April 24, the anniversary of President Clinton's signing of the notorious Effective Death Penalty Act which has eliminated Habeas Corpus for death row inmates and made it nearly impossible for innocent people on death row to prove their innocence. (It's also Mumia's 50th birthday.) More: http://www.mumia.org 215-476-8812 http://www.freemumia.com

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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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Good News for Community Radio: On February 20, the FCC called for the lifting of the stringent industry-sponsored restrictions on low-power broadcasting. Because low-powered FM stations are non-profit and reach a small broadcast area, they hold great promise for community-driven andlocally oriented programming, with diversity and a greater range of debate and local programming than corporate radio can offer, allowing underrepresented or misrepresented voices to be heard. As Big Media grows more powerful, these are the voices that are increasingly being snuffed out. It's up to Congress now to act on the FCC's recommendations. We must demand legislation that repeals the worst aspects of the Radio Preservation Act of 2000. This will clear the way for hundreds, if not thousands, of communities to begin broadcasting locally-originated content. The battle in Congress is about to be fought, and the National Association of Broadcasters is going to fight back hard. More: http://mediareform.net/lpfm/

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GOOD READS