[Northampton-GP] Greens and the 2004 Presidential Race

[James Bosman]

See the three sections below (section 1, 2 and 6) dealing with 2004 
presidential race. This discussion needs to start showing up on our local 
meeting agendas. Heavy stuff...


>From: "David Pollard" <davidpollard at attbi.com>
>To: <alerts-m at lists.gp-us.org>
>Subject: [GP-US Alert] USGP Email Update May 20, 2003
>Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 17:15:02 -0500
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>Green Party of the United States E-mail Update: May 20, 2003
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>Contents:
>0) To Run Or Not To Run...
>1) Green Power Politics
>2) The Green Party and the 2004 Elections
>3) Greens Lead Progressives into Government in New Paltz, NY
>4) Wisconsin Greens Call for Support of Tyson Workers Strike
>5) GP-US 2003 Annual Convention July 18-21 in Washington DC
>6) Presidential Exploratory Committee Status Report
>7) Sex and the Green Party
>8) USGP Accountant's Report for March 2003
>9) USGP Coordinating Committee Watch
>10) Recently Issued Press Releases and other Media
>11) Update from Africa - Green Conference in Nairobi
>12) Green Party of Iraq Founded
>13) 600% Increase for Green Delegation in the Scottish Parliament
>14) English Greens Make Gains in Local Elections
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>
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>
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>_______________________________________________________________________
>0. To Run or Not To Run...
>
>Just as the corporate parties have started to discuss their
>strategies for the 2004 Presidential campaign, so to have the
>Greens. Some view the Bush Presidency as so toxic to peace and
>liberty that anything, even foregoing direct participation in the
>Presidential Race - so that a pro-corporate, pro-war Democrat wins,
>would be preferable to a second Bush term. Others see running a
>Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates as the raison d'etre
>for having a national Green Party.
>
>This issue highlights a couple excellent essays on this topic. As
>there are probably as many different opinions on the matter as
>there are Greens, I won't claim these views as representative -
>but they do come from two people who help found the Green Movement
>in North America, Charlene Spretnak and John Resenbrink.
>
>Also in this issue is news of elections successes in New York,
>where voters in New Platz have chosen to be the first town in NY
>history to be governed by a Green Party mayor.
>
>The night before I put this out the Bylaws, Rules, Policies, and
>Procedures Committee issued a lengthy report to the GP-US
>Coordinating Committee on our party's committee structure and
>proposed reforms to it. As this issue is full-to-bursting as it
>was, I'll put a summary of the report into next month's Update.
>
>If you have material that you would like included in this publication
>please email it to alerts-m at lists.gp-us.org I can't promise I'll
>always include it, but I'll try my best.
>
>The next issue of this publication is scheduled to be sent out on
>May 17th. If you wish to have something included in it, please
>have your article to me by Noon (CDT) on May 14th.
>
>All the Best,
>David Pollard
>_______________________________________________________________________
>1. Green Power Politics
>by
>Charlene Spretnak
>
>    While it is encouraging that the Democrats have finally found
>their voice as an opposition party on some issues, via Speaker of
>the House Pelosi and a few of the contenders for the Democratic
>presidential candidacy next year, can we count on this development
>to grow stronger? Might it, rather, become reabsorbed after the
>election into the puzzling paralysis and acquiescence that most
>Democratic progressives and liberals have found so maddening in
>recent years?
>
>    The Democrats' managing to lose all those Senate races last
>year -- even though the Bush administration had significantly
>degraded the common good in an array of areas by then -- was a
>depressing spectacle.  It seems that Karl Rove's essential strategy
>is for President Bush to push through so many outrageous policies
>in so many areas at once that everyone is literally stunned.
>
>    As an American citizen, I am profoundly concerned that President
>Bush might be re-elected for a repugnifying second term and damage
>our nation even further.  As a Green Party activist, I would be
>deeply disturbed were the Greens to contribute, even inadvertently,
>to the continuation of the Bush administration and/or to the
>continuation of Republican control of both houses of Congress.
>
>    It is likely that many key electoral races will be closely
>contested next year because our country is currently so polarized
>(and because the Democrats cannot seem to convince poor people to
>register and vote).  Given that reality, I believe there is a way
>to restructure the political interaction between the Democratic
>Party and the Green Party to their mutual benefit. The concept is
>that the Green Party of the United States, being the third party
>of the land but still a small minority, might publicly adopt a
>dual strategy to function as an electoral pressure-group as well
>as a party in the following circumstances.
>
>. Situation #1:  In electoral campaigns in which the Green Party
>candidate has a realistic chance of winning, as indicated in public
>opinion polls, the Green candidate would run to win all the way to
>election day.
>. Situation #2:  In electoral campaigns in which the pubic opinion
>polls indicate  -- say, one month before the election -- that the
>Green Party candidate is not going to get enough of the vote to
>win but will most likely get enough of a percentage such that the
>Democratic candidate cannot win without some of those Green votes,
>the Democratic candidate and the Green candidate, plus two members
>of each candidate's campaign staff, would enter into public
>negotiations in order to arrive at the following:  (1) a number of
>Democratic concessions toward the Green Party platform (positions
>that go further or are not in the Democratic platform at all), and
>(2) the publicly promised appointment of the Green candidate and
>two other qualified Greens to positions of significant influence.
>. Situation #3:  In closely contested electoral campaigns in which
>the Democratic candidate's positions are so utterly loathsome that
>Greens would consider negotiations to be out of the question, the
>Democrats would lose the possibility of picking up Green votes
>through negotiated concessions, thereby losing the election in all
>likelihood.  Eventually, the Democratic Party would realize that
>they must nominate candidates who are more progressive and
>"eco-social" ... or keep losing.
>
>    At this point in the election cycle, the Green Party of the
>United States has not decided whether to run a candidate in the
>presidential race next year.  Among those Greens who favor doing
>so, several potential candidates are being discussed.  There is a
>larger question, however, which pertains to all Green campaigns:
>Is there a way in which the Greens can avoid the role of "spoiler,"
>in the eyes of many, and can begin to accomplish their eco-social
>goals now, not merely in the future?
>
>    Under the arrangement I propose, the progressive and truly
>liberal wings of the Democratic Party would benefit, as they could
>say to the more corporate-oriented Democrats and the corporate
>donors, "Gee, we'd just love to keep selling down the river the
>best interests of the American people, but those pesky Greens have
>forced us to adopt policies that support community-based economic
>development here and abroad, serious enforcement of our
>environmental laws, increased funding for education, a truly
>progressive tax structure, and the phasing out of GATT and the WTO
>to be replaced with new agencies of the UN that would further 'Fair
>Trade.' We've got to go along if we want any chance of winning
>elections."
>
>    Adopting the dual focus of electoral pressure group and
>political party would also benefit the Greens.  The combination of
>continuing to win elections at local and county levels, as well as
>some state assembly races, while getting some of their progressive,
>eco-social policies accepted at higher levels and getting qualified
>Greens into appointed governing positions at those levels, would
>attract many new people into the Green Party, thereby aiding efforts
>to build the party.  The higher the Green percentage of the vote,
>the more progressive pressure they can bring to bear for change in
>government policies and political processes.
>
>    For the past several months I have circulated the proposal
>described above for informal discussion to many Green Party members
>and to supporters of the Greens.  Through this article I am also
>trying to circulate the idea among progressive Democrats.  I
>emphasize that this proposal has not yet been submitted to any
>governance body within the Green Party; I am merely floating the
>idea for discussion in various quarters.  Granted my sampling has
>been small, but thus far most Greens and Green supporters have
>expressed a favorable reaction.  Some Greens are strongly opposed
>to the idea, however, because they feel that adopting the dual
>focus would detract from the work of building the party.
>
>    By fall of 2000, many liberal parties around the world had
>commonly responded to tight electoral races with Green candidates
>either by entering into a formal coalition (in countries with a
>parliamentary democracy) or by making policy concessions toward the
>Green Party platform in order to pick up Green votes.  Consequently,
>I had expected the Gore campaign to do the same - once it finally
>admitted, in the final phase of the 2000 presidential race, that
>the Green Party candidacy of Ralph Nader was indeed a problem for
>them.  At that point, around the third week of October in 2000, I
>realized that life was imitating art, for I had written a visionary
>story as the last chapter of my most recent book, The Resurgence of
>the Real (Addison-Wesley, 1997; Routledge, 1999), in which - as an
>homage to William Morris' eco-social tales of a time-traveler - a
>resident of a Midwestern city in 2024 explains to the time-
>traveling protagonist how the Greening of various aspects of
>society took place and, in particular, how the presidential
>campaign of 2000 contributed to the transition.  In the story,
>which I wrote in the summer of 1996, Al Gore is the Democratic
>candidate for president.  When he realizes, in late October 2000,
>that he cannot win the presidency without most of the Green votes,
>he cuts a public deal with the Greens and calls a press conference
>to announce his accommodation.  He demonstrates a willingness to
>adopt Green policy positions in various areas by publicly naming
>the nationally known Green or Green-oriented persons he will
>appoint to his cabinet, if elected - such as Paul Hawken as
>Secretary of Commerce, Dolores Huerta as Secretary of Labor,
>Winona LaDuke as Secretary of the Interior, Jim Hightower as
>Secretary of Agriculture, and Ralph Nader as Attorney General.
>Gore then wins.
>
>    In the actual campaign of 2000, as we all know, life did not
>mirror this story beyond the window of opportunity, which was
>slammed shut when Gore's $15,000-per-month, purportedly savvy
>advisors convinced him that the way to handle the Greens was to
>give them the back of his hand verbally in his daily stump
>speeches, clips of which were broadcast on the national news every
>night - hence reaching all the closely contested states where the
>Democrats desperately needed some Green votes to defeat Bush.  I
>watched in amazement as Gore repeatedly scolded the Greens for
>being naughty children who should get back in line within the
>Democratic Party. Every time he did so, the opinion polls showed
>a spike in the number of people planning to vote for Nader.
>(While I doubt that Nader would have cut any type of a deal with
>Gore, Gore could have announced in his daily speeches several
>significant policy concessions toward the Green Party platform
>and thereby picked up a lot of Green votes in the closely
>contested states.)
>
>    What I had thought was the obvious solution was apparently not
>even on the table for discussion.  I hope it is now.
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>2. The Green Party and the 2004 Elections: A Three-Dimensional Plan
>
>John Rensenbrink / Tom Sevigny
>
>This message is an attempt to bring together in a single vision
>various ideas, points of view, and practical recommendations that
>have been made by many different people in the rapidly intensifying
>debate over what the Green Party of the United States should do in
>the 2004 national elections.
>We think everyone would agree that it would be foolish to enter
>the national races, especially the one for president and vice
>president, without strategically weighing all the options. We
>cannot afford to have a knee-jerk reaction and blindly enter any
>race, certainly not the one for president in this fateful time.
>After making two observations about the evolving situation facing
>the Green Party, we present a "Three Dimensional Plan". It will
>enable the Green Party to avoid grave dangers, build our party,
>and move forward with confidence, strength, and unity.
>We take pains to point out that we propose this not in our
>capacity as holders of official positions within the national
>Green Party (Tom as a Co-Chair of the Steering Committee and John
>as member of the Presidential Exploratory Committee). We propose
>this plan simply as concerned members of the Green Party.
>
>Setting the Context: Some Observations Regarding the Situation
>Two things especially rivet one's attention as we look towards
>the 2004 elections.
>First, the prospect of a Green Party run for the presidency is
>producing a gathering storm of debate within and without the
>party, peppered with near-panic declarations, threatening to
>engulf the party in fractious internal contestation. One
>long-time and savvy leader of the Greens describes the situation
>as "a dark and scary tunnel."
>But outside the party this debate is also rising to a flood of
>concern, advice, and anguished pronouncements - not only from
>Democrats or from those erstwhile Republicans who detest Bush,
>but especially from the peace and environmental movements. Great
>fear is expressed that the Green candidate for president will
>prevent the defeat of George Bush and his despised cronies. One
>commentator on-line entitles his article "Bush Presents Colossal
>Dilemma for Greens in 2004." (Earl O. Hutchinson).
>One can't help smiling a little - it's as if "the movements" have
>finally discovered the Green Party! However, we believe they make
>a solid point - and that in any case they reflect the feelings
>and considered opinions of millions of voters. The Green Party
>cannot and must not just shrug our shoulders and pretend this
>outpouring does not exist or is simply misguided. We could
>self-destruct if we did that.
>
>Second, a widespread belief has taken hold among many sections of
>the electorate that the Green Party's campaign for the presidency
>in 2000 either caused, or in any case paved the way for, Bush's
>becoming President. Quite aside from the virulence of the attack
>on the Green Party and our candidate Ralph Nader (and from some
>quarters it was and is very very nasty), there exists a strong
>residue of opinion among millions of voters that Ralph and the
>Greens spoiled Gore's bid for the presidency.
>Whether or not they are right about this (we don't believe they
>are); and quite aside from whether or not they are right that Gore
>would not have been as bad as Bush, their opinion has settled into
>a solid view.
>The Green Party can dismiss this -- and we have read countless
>emails, preaching to the choir, detailing that this view is
>mistaken and wrong. But that will not make it go away. The point
>is, it will NOT go away. We must face this. We must find a
>positive and creative way forward.
>In fact, let's find a way to use these negatives to our advantage.
>With this in mind, we urge the following "Three Dimensional Plan"
>for 2004.
>
>A Three-Dimensional Plan for 2004
>The plan has three fully integrated components. Together they offer
>a winning strategy for 2004.
>The three components are:
>First, the Green Party runs 4-6 candidates for Congress (House of
>Representatives) in 2004 in carefully selected Districts, fully
>focusing the energies and resources of the party to get them
>elected.
>Second, the Green Party runs homegrown Greens for President and
>Vice President in a vigorous campaign that includes, at the
>beginning, the stated intention to be ready to a) give their
>support to the Democratic ticket late in the campaign if the race
>between the R and D candidates is very close; or b) if the race
>between the D and the R candidates is very close, to concentrate
>only in states where the outcome between the D and the R
>candidates is not in doubt.
>Third, the Green Party invites nationally known figures,
>especially Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney to throw the weight
>of their presence and resources in support of the Congressional
>candidates and the homegrown Green candidates for President and
>Vice President. This third component could include a campaign for
>the U.S. Senate in Connecticut by Ralph Nader.
>
>What this Plan Accomplishes
>1. It transcends the spoiler argument and "spoiler effect"
>altogether and removes it from the campaign.
>2. It opens the door for the Green message to be heard on its
>merits.
>3. It grooms national candidates for 2006 and 2008 - both the
>home grown candidates for president and vice president and the
>Congressional candidates. It gives them experience and national
>exposure.
>4. It enables the Green Party to "run against Congress" - doing
>what Harry Truman did so effectively in 1948 when he ran, and won,
>on the slogan of the "do nothing Congress!" This has enormous
>potential for us -it could even result in having a Green in
>Congress as we begin the year 2005. Maybe more than one! We can
>all join in on this -- Ralph and Cynthia, our presidential and
>vice presidential candidates, all the tendencies and wings within
>the party -- as well as many celebrities who would be able to
>support us enthusiastically, whereas now they are hesitant, given
>the rising pressure to defeat Bush at all costs. We could go a
>long way with this; and find it very exciting and satisfying to
>boot. Congress has been an enormous failure in the past two years
>and deserves to be run against. We think most voters agree and
>would give our campaign a big hearing.
>5. By running against Congress, we can make our case against the
>Democrats even stronger. We can use their blank check for war,
>their support of the Patriot Act, etc. etc., in a much more
>effective way than we could by putting our big efforts into
>running a high profile presidential candidate as we did last time.
>The Democrats in Congress could have stopped Bush; they decided to
>go along with him. We are free to make that point, again and
>again, effectively.
>6. It unifies the Party, transcending what could otherwise become
>a very bitter debate and harmful in-fighting within our party.
>7. The plan enables us to change from what would otherwise be a
>defensive posture in the campaign, always having to expend energy
>and time reliving and explaining the past, to a positive and
>forward looking posture.
>8. It helps our Party grow, whereas the present prospect is of a
>party saddled with baggage from the past, divided within itself,
>uncertain about its future, and on the outs with millions of
>voters who could otherwise be on our side. With this plan, we
>surmount the negatives, surprise our critics, and take a new leap
>forward.
>
>Respectfully submitted,
>John Rensenbrink / Tom Sevigny
>May 1, 2003
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>3. Greens Lead Progressives into Government in New Paltz, NY
>
>Progressives elected to a majority in New Paltz in an upset
>victory: 2 Green, 1 Innovation Party members.
>
>In an upset victory on May 7, Green Party of New York State
>committee member Jason West was elected Mayor of the Village of
>New Paltz. Green Party member Rebecca Rotzler was elected Trustee.
>State University of New York (SUNY-NP) student Julia Walsh was
>also elected Trustee. The three united in a progressive coalition
>titled "Innovation Campaign" with both the Green Party and
>Innovation Party listed on the ballot line.
>
>"New York Greens lost ballot status in 2002 after failing to win
>at least 50,000 votes for their gubernatorial candidate, a
>requirement under New York's ballot access rules designed by the
>Democrats and Republicans in collusion," said Mark Dunlea, chair
>of the Green Party of New York State. "New York Greens have filed
>a so far successful suit to retain the right of New York voters
>to enroll in the party. That's why we consider our victories in
>New Paltz so important for third parties. This is the first time
>Green politics and policies of clean government and ecological
>sustainability will be tried in New York at the municipal level.
>New York voters will see Greens in action."
>
>Jason West campaigned for mayor on a platform of environmentally
>sustainability, calling for the creation of artificial wetlands
>to help the water treatment plant filter water without toxic
>chemicals.
>
>West also pledged to have Village government use solar power and
>wind energy, and to use biodiesel fuel in Department of Public
>Works trucks. He previously ran on the Green ticket for State
>Assembly in New York.
>
>"After years of working as a Green, with much success in
>implementing local policy, the state of today's political
>environment left me no choice but to take a public position where
>true democracy will be represented," said Rebecca Rotzler. "The
>bombs dropped on Iraq on March 19, my birthday, were a horrific
>wakeup call. New Paltz is Green at heart, and the people proved
>that on May 6."
>
>Rotzler grew up in Alaska, and has resided in New Paltz for 11
>years. She attended SUNY-NP as a communication studies major where
>she served as President of Students for a Free Tibet. She is also
>a member of the local organization 9-11 People Against Racism.
>
>A Yupik Eskimo, Rotzler is the third elected Green who is Native
>American. The other two are Cass Lake, Minnesota Mayor Elaine
>Fleming and Della Coburn of the Kasaan Tribal Council in Alaska.
>
>Results
>Jason West, Mayor, New Paltz Village
>1st/4 for 1 seat, 322 votes, 37.6%
>http://www.innovationcampaign.org/Jason.htm
>
>Julia Walsh, Village Trustee, Village of New Paltz
>1st/6 for 2 seats, 343 votes, 20.1%
>http://www.innovationcampaign.org/Julia.htm
>
>Rebecca Rotzler, Village Trustee, Village of New Paltz
>2nd/6 for 2 seats. 342 votes, 20.0%
>http://www.innovationcampaign.org/Rebbecca.htm
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>4. Wisconsin Greens Call for Support of Tyson Workers Strike
>A CALL FOR GREENS TO SUPPORT THE STRIKING TYSON WORKERS OF
>JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN
>
>This week, the Wisconsin Green Party Coordinating Council passed
>a resolution in support of the striking UFCW Local 538 workers at
>the Tyson plant in Jefferson, Wisconsin.
>
>Green Party members and supporters are called upon to boycott
>Tyson products -- such as pepperoni & chicken -- in solidarity
>with the workers who have been denied livable wages & fair
>benefits by a company whose gross profits were more than 2 billion
>dollars last year.
>
>The Greater Milwaukee Green Party and Southern Kettle Moraine
>Green Party have organized protests at QPS, a staffing service
>currently providing the plant with non-union workers, who cross
>the picket lines daily to continue operations at the plant.  The
>Four Lakes Green Party is organizing an informational event with
>UFCW 538 President Mike Rice, and is ramping up Madison area
>pickets as well.
>
>A general global boycott of Tyson products, and protests at Pizza
>Hut (whose meat products are purchased from Tyson) and McDonalds
>(whose McNuggets are Tyson products) is in the works.
>
>Volunteers are needed to raise awareness by hand-billing at
>grocery stores, spreading the word to friends and family, and
>letter-writing campaigns to companies that transport and
>distribute Tyson products. Please check back for more details.
>
>* For more information about the Tyson strikers, please visit
>their website http://www.tysonfamiliesstandup.org
>
>* To get involved in Green efforts in support of the Tyson
>boycott, please email manski at greens.org and ask to be subscribed
>to the listserve.
>
>* To read the entire resolution, as passed by consensus by the
>WIGP Coordinating Council, click below.
>http://wisconsingreenparty.org/blogs/WIGPnews/archives/000089.shtml
>_______________________________________________________________________
>5. GP-US 2003 Annual Convention July 18-21 in Washington DC
>
>The Green Party will hold its annual National (Coordinating)
>Committee meeting in Washington, DC, at the Mayflower Hotel,
>1127 Connecticut Ave NW on the dates July 18-21, 2003. We will
>be discussing our strategy for the 2004 elections, as well as
>receiving committee reports and other updates on Green Party
>growth. Please check our web page for updates on how to attend
>the conference. http://www.gp.org/conference2003.html
>
>You can now make hotel reservations for the summer national
>committee meeting of the Green Party in July. The meeting will be
>from 18-20, with additional committee meetings on the 17th, and
>maybe a few following on the 21.
>
>You can call to make reservations at 202-347-3000, and ask for
>reservations. Rooms are $124/night plus tax, so about $142 per
>night, and this is for both single and double (at least)
>occupancy.
>
>As is usual, the high cost of the rooms gets us our meeting space
>for free, so for those who are able, we encourage you to stay at
>the hotel. If you want to share a room, but do not have somebody
>to share with, you can send me an email regarding your needs
>(nights wanted to share, what gender, etc). We do not take
>responsibility for matching people to share, but we will provide
>your information to anybody else who asks for it.
>
>Dean Myerson
>Green Party Political Coordinator
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>6. Presidential Exploratory Committee Status Report
>
>From: Jane M. Hunter janehunter at worldnet.att.net
>The Green Party of the US
>Presidential Exploratory Committee (PEC)
>Status Report
>
>The USGP Presidential Exploratory Committee has sent letters of
>invitation to discuss the possibility of a 2004 Presidential
>candidacy to 41 individuals proposed by the state Green Parties.
>Since our last status report, we have heard from many of these
>individuals and have followed up with meetings and conversations.
>
>We have begun to develop resources for potential candidates to
>assist them in assessing whether they wish to pursue a candidacy
>and to facilitate their efforts to do so.  These resources
>currently include contact information for key points of contact
>within the state parties as well as with USGP and information
>about the electoral process and calendar within each state.
>
>The PEC has analyzed the input from the state parties regarding
>candidate characteristics and campaign goals.  We are also
>reviewing this information in light of the current political
>climate.  This will become the basis of a strategic assessment
>of potential candidacies used to provide candidate analysis to
>the CC.
>
>We are working with Steering Committee members and staff to plan
>a facilitated open roundtable discussion of goals and strategies
>for the potential 2004 campaign during the CC meeting in
>Washington, DC, in July.
>
>* Candidate Response Status
>The following individuals have responded that they have interest
>in continuing to explore the possibility of a Green 2004
>Presidential candidacy: David Cobb, Paul Glover, Ralph Nader.
>
>The following individuals have indicated interest in a Vice
>Presidential candidacy only: Kevin Danaher, Annie Goeke, John
>Rensenbrink.
>
>The following individuals have indicated that they are willing
>to hold discussions with us: Jello Biafra, Cynthia McKinney,
>Carol Miller, Cornell West.
>
>The following individuals are currently in communication with
>the PEC: David Bonior, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dennis Kucinich.
>
>Sixteen individuals have not yet responded to PEC attempts to
>contact. Contact efforts are continuing.
>
>The following individuals have indicated that they definitely
>have no interest in a Green 2004 candidacy for President or VP:
>Medea Benjamin, Robert Bowman, Peter Camejo, Noam Chomsky,
>Angela Davis, Russell deforest, Barbara Ehrenreich, Lani Guinier,
>David Korten, Manning Marable, Robert B. Reich, Kim Stanley
>Robinson, Jesse Ventura.
>
>* Next Steps
>By June 1, the PEC will provide a follow-up report that will
>contain additional candidate responses.  The PEC will also submit
>a proposal for the agenda and structure of the goals and strategy
>discussion for the DC meeting.
>
>The PEC will be making additional queries to the state parties
>over the next two months.  In some cases this will ask for
>additional information, while in others, it will re-visit some
>of the information gathered in the initial questionnaires in
>light of current conditions.
>_______________________________________________________________________
>7. Sex and the Green Party - May 17, 2003
>by Jack Uhrich
>
>We are in such competition for your attention sometimes that we
>have to stoop to sneaky tricks like this to get you to read a
>Fundraising Update.  However, since I do really have your
>attention, can I ask you one question:
>Is your state, candidate or elected Green official on one or
>more of the lists below?
>
>DC, MI, NY, CT, NC, NM, ID, Camejo, Bacon, Lass, Jacobson,
>Eidinger.  These are state Green Parties, Green candidates and
>elected Greens who are sharing their lists with the USGP for a
>joint fundraising mailing in June that is part of the ForEverGreen
>and Growing (FEG&G) Spring Fundraising Drive.
>
>MA, NJ, RI, AZ, TX:  These states Green Parties are still actively
>considering sharing their lists for the FEG&G mailing.
>
>DC, MI:  These state Green Parties are willing to carry out a
>phonathon (follow-up phone calls to the mailed-to donors to
>increase the response to the June mailing), in addition to sharing
>their donor lists for the joint mailing.
>
>NC, RI:  These state parties are committed to holding a joint
>fundraising event for the USGP FEG&G Spring fundraising drive.
>
>MO, VT:  Have pledged to share their donor lists with the USGP for
>the next joint mailing in December.
>
>We are truly grateful to these states for having the leadership
>to carry out the fundraising efforts necessary to build our party
>on the national level as well as the state and local level.
>
>If your state is not listed above, we urge you to get the
>information about our Forever Green and Growing Campaign to your
>state and local Green Party representatives in charge of
>fundraising, and urge them to join the USGP in this campaign.
>We also urge you to help as a volunteer with this effort.
>The FEG&G Fundraising Campaigns in the Spring and over the winter
>holidays are of critical importance to all of our fundraising
>efforts, and it will raise money for your state and local Green
>Party as well as the USGP.
>
>For more information about the FEG&G Spring Fundraising Drive,
>contact Alexandra Silverthorne at alexa1 at dcstatehoodgreen.org or
>(toll-free), 1-866-414-7336; or visit our Green Fundraising Ideas
>webpage at http://gp.org/fundraising.html.
>
>Finally, if you haven't recently donated to the Green Party,
>please do so, to the best of your ability, by visiting the Donor
>page at our GP.org website.  If you have already given, we thank
>you for your support of the Green Party.
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>8. USGP Accountant's Report -- APRIL 2003
>
>SUMMARY for the April 2003:
>Donations = $62k, Expenses = $47k, Net Income = $15k.
>Cash as of the end of the month = $61k. Assets = $67k,
>Liabilities = $13k.
>Cash increased significantly this month, up $30k.
>Income was significant, the third highest month ever.
>
>SUMMARY for the Quarter ended March 31: Donations = $149k,
>Expenses = $122k, Share with States = $14.3k, net income = $13k.
>Cash as of the end of the month = $45.8k.
>Assets = $52k, Liabilities = $7.7k.
>
>Budget to Actual comparison: Income YTD is 76% of budget, under
>by $68k. This is primarily because there have been no events,
>budgeted at $14k, and personal solicitations were budgeted at
>$60k. Direct mail income is exceeding budget. However, expenses
>are likewise under budget by $130k. The expenses are under
>budget due to the committees being under budget and big items
>like the DC office, Staff and Direct Mail expense being under
>budget. The organization is in good condition as expenses are
>being decreased to match the income, which is running at
>$633k on an annualized basis. Income was budgeted at $874k for
>the year.
>
>We have paid all the states' sharing amounts for events and
>mailings as of Dec 31, 2002. A quarterly sharing with states
>schedule for 2003 Q1 is nearly complete and it shows $12.6k will
>go to states. We anticipate that checks will be issued by the
>end of the month.
>
>USGP financial statements are available at:
>http://www.greenpartyus.org/committees/fundraising/financials/index.htm
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Doug Malkan, CPA
>USGP Accountant
>dougm at greens.org
>
>IRS Form 990 was filed May 6th for the year 2002. The 12 page
>form supplies an income statement, balance sheet, information
>on officers, information on contributors that donate $5,000 or
>more and other information to the IRS. The form is due May 15.
>
>We reported $482,515 in gross receipts, $438,576 in expenses,
>$34,916 paid to states, for a net deficit of $2,644 for the year.
>Ending cash balance was $30,478, total assets of $36,547 and
>total liabilities of $10,875.
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>9. USGP Coordinating Committee Watch
>
>Issues Under discussion:
>
>Purpose: To set site for 2004 Convention.
>The Steering Cmte. has received three proposals to consider for the
>2004 Convention of the GP of the US.
>Presenter: USGP Steering Committee
>Contacts:
>Minneapolis: Stephen Eisenmenger 2004 at MNGreens.org
>Milwaukee: Ruth Trujillo moondog at execpc.com
>San Francisco: Susan King funking at mindspring.com
>Floor Manager: Badili Jones 404-454-6909 badili at greens.org
>Timeline: Discussion two weeks: May 19-June 1
>Voting one week: June 2-June 9
>Proposals can be accessed at:  http://www.gp.org/convention.html
>
>Issues currently being voted on:
>
>
>Votes concluded and announced:
>
>Approved: SUBJECT: Reorganization of Green Pages / Editorial Board
>FLOOR MANAGER: Ben Manski, USGP Co-Chair, WI Delegate -
>manski at greens.org
>PRESENTER: Green Pages Editorial Board, Green Party of the United States
>Proposal Details available at:
>http://www.gp.org/committees/steering/votes/green_pages.html
>28/41 states and 1 caucus voted, 51 Yes Votes, 5 No votes, and 3
>abstentions.
>YES - (Arizona - RS, CE) (Arkansas - GH) (California - BMH, KM, SB,
>ABIII, GMC) (Colorado - CG) (Connecticut - PT, TS) (Delaware - JRC)
>(District of Columbia - MO'C, SS) (Hawaii - AP) (Kansas - BR, RW)
>(Lavender Caucus - SR) (Maine - MD'A, JR) (Maryland - RM)
>(Michigan - JR, MR, DS) (Minnesota - DA, SE) (Nebraska - DS, GC)
>(Nevada - PE) (New Mexico - CM, DB) (New York - RT)
>(North Carolina - GN, LK) (Oregon - MG, PL)
>(Texas - JSD, KA, NP, DP, MG) (Pennsylvania - DK)
>(Tennessee - KC, JD) (Vermont - GP) (Virginia - SD, TY)
>(Washington - BM, JH) (Wisconsin - BM, RT)
>NO - (California - MW, JS, PL) (Michigan - DB) (New Jersey - JH)
>ABSTAIN - (California - JC, BM) (Iowa - EO)
>
>Approved: Proposal for accreditation of the Green Party of
>Indiana as an affiliate state party of the Green Party of
>the United States.
>PRESENTER: USGP Accreditation Committee
>PRESENTER CONTACT: AC Co-Chair Ginny-Marie Case (CA) -
>ginnycase at greens.org
>  AC Co-Chair David Pollard (TX) - davidpollard at attbi.com
>FLOOR MANAGER: Ben Manski, SC, WI Delegate, manski at greens.org
>36/41 states voted, 62 Yes votes, 1 No votes, 1 Abstentions
>YES -  (Arizona - CE, RS) (Arkansas - GH) (California - MW,
>SB, KM, BM, JS, JC, GMC) (Colorado - CG) (Connecticut - PT, TS)
>(Delaware - JRC, KL) (District of Columbia - MO'C) (Florida - JA)
>(Georgia - BJ) (Hawaii - AP) (Idaho - HB, BN) (Iowa - EO, JC)
>(Kansas - BR) (Lavender - SR) (Maine - JR, MD'A) (Maryland - RM, BZ)
>(Michigan - JR, MR, DS) (Missouri - BK) (Minnesota - DA, JE)
>(Nebraska - DS, GC) (Nevada - PE) (New Jersey - JH) (New York - RT)
>(North Carolina - GN) (Ohio - AR, LM) (Oregon - MG, PL)
>(Pennsylvania - DW, DK, EJ) (Rhode Island - JB, TA) (Tennessee - JD)
>(Texas - EG, KA, NP, DP) (Utah - LP) (Vermont - GP) (Virginia - SD)
>(Washington - JH, BM) (Wisconsin - BM, RT)
>NO - 1/1 - (New Mexico - CM)
>ABSTAIN - 1/1 - (New Mexico - RL)
>
>Failed: SUBJECT: Platform Policy on Caucus Submissions
>FLOOR MANAGER: Badili Jones, USGP Co-Chair, GA Delegate -
>badili at greens.org
>PRESENTER: Green Party of Michigan, Wisconsin Green Party
>PRESENTER CONTACTS: Marc Reichardt (dystopia at wwnet.com) - GPMI
>Ben Manski (manski at greens.org) - WIGP
>Proposal that the Coordinating Committee direct the Platform
>Committee to correct the wording and action of its process
>to indicate that platform submissions shall be accepted from
>'state parties and caucuses', without conditions, and shall
>begin to utilize said corrected process immediately.
>"We have a total of 44 persons voting including 2 abstentions.
>I can say the vote was very close (23 yes and 19 no). We needed
>2/3's to pass. The proposal failed. A more detailed summary of
>the vote will follow at a later date." - Badili Jones
>
>Approved: PROPOSAL: Travel Policy - Green Party of the United States
>PURPOSE:  To provide structure and guidelines for disbursal of budgeted
>travel expense.
>PRESENTER: Steering Committee of the Green Party of the United States
>CONTACT: Jo Chamberlain, California, <joc at pobox.com>, 650.726.1949
>BACKGROUND: During the 2003 budget approval process there were
>reasonable concerns expressed regarding the disbursal of budgeted travel
>funds. This policy will provide guidelines, procedure and definition for
>committees and Party members regarding travel funds.
>FISCAL IMPACT: None beyond the travel funds approved in annual budget.
>Full travel policy proposal can be found at:
>http://www.gp.org/committees/steering/votes/travelpolicy.html
>30/40 states and 1 caucus voted, 55 Yes votes, 8 No votes, 1 Abstentions
>YES - (Arizona - RS) (Arkansas - GH) (California - JC, AB, BD, GC)
>(Colorado - CG, AG) (Connecticut - PT, TS) (Delaware - JRC, KL)
>(District of Columbia - MO'C) (Florida - JA) (Georgia - BJ) (Iowa - JC)
>(Idaho - HB, BN) (Lavender - SR) (Louisiana - EDM) (Maine - JR, MD'A)
>(Maryland - RM, BZ) (Michigan - CD, JR, MR, DS) (Missouri - BK)
>(Minnesota - DA, JE) (Nebraska - DS, GC) (New Jersey - JH)
>(New Mexico - CM, RL) (New York - ES) (North Carolina - GN, LK)
>(Oregon - MG, PL) (Pennsylvania - DW, DK) (Tennessee - KC, JD)
>(Texas - JSD, EG, NP, DP) (Virginia - SD, TY) (Washington - JH, BM)
>(Wisconsin - BM, RT)
>NO - (California - BM, BMH, KMcK, PL, SB, JS, MW) (New York - RT)
>ABSTAIN - (Iowa - EO)
>_______________________________________________________________________
>10. Recently Issued Press Releases and other Media
>
>GP-US Press Releases:
>
>Rumsfeld Agenda Would Gut U.S. Democracy.
>http://www.gp.org/press/pr_05_13_03.html
>
>Revelation of Halliburton's Oil Distribution Deal Tops the
>Extensive List of Bush's Wartime Lies.
>http://www.gp.org/press/pr_05_12_03.html
>
>Greens Lead Takeover of New Paltz, N.Y.
>http://www.gp.org/press/pr_05_08_03.html
>
>Urgent Steps Needed to Protect US Troops, Iraqis from the Effects
>of Depleted Uranium.
>http://www.gp.org/press/pr_05_02_03.html
>
>Greens Call Worldwide Water Privatization 'Theft' of Public
>Resources.
>http://www.gp.org/press/pr_04_29_03.html
>
>Lavender Greens Call for the Removal of Sen. Santorum From His
>Senate Leadership Post.
>http://www.gp.org/press/pr_04_29_03b.html
>
>Greens Urge Repeal of 'Rave Act' Legislation.
>http://www.gp.org/press/pr_04_23_03.html
>
>Greens Demand Complete Overturn of Supreme Court's
>Bowers v. Hardwick Anti-Sodomy Decision.
>http://www.gp.org/press/pr_04_21_03.html
>
>State Party Press Releases:
>
>(CA) Green Party of California Calls for Expedited Resolution of
>Financial Investigations.
>http://www.gp.org/press/states/ca_05_09_03.html
>
>(CA) Green Party of California Neutral on Davis Recall.
>http://www.gp.org/press/states/ca_05_08_03.html
>
>(NJ) Openly Gay Assembly Candidate Jonathan Oriole (G-Bayonne) Says
>Elected Officials Should Heed Public's Support of Same-Sex Marriage.
>http://www.gp.org/press/states/nj_05_07_03.html
>
>(ME) Maine Green Independent Party to Hold 2003 Convention.
>http://www.gp.org/press/states/me_05_05_03.html
>
>(DE) Third Parties Unite in Support of Democratic Reform.
>http://www.gp.org/press/states/de_05_04_03.html
>
>(DC) Statehood Greens Urge D.C. Council to Support Tenants, the
>Disabled in 2004 Budget.
>http://www.gp.org/press/states/dc_05_05_03.html
>
>(MI) GPMI Backs Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation.
>http://www.gp.org/press/states/mi_05_04_03.html
>
>(WI) Green Party candidates finish strong in special election.
>http://www.gp.org/press/states/wi_04_29_03.html
>_______________________________________________________________________
>11. Update from Africa - Green Conference in Nairobi
>
>Dear Greens,
>
>Below is the official press release written by Catherine Greze, French
>GP
>member to the EFGP and Global Green delegate, about the recent P7
>meeting
>hosted by the Greens/EFA and others.
>
>Sadly, we were not able to have anyone from the USGP represented at this
>conference.  But I know the participants knew that our party was there
>in
>support.
>
>It is encouraging to hear about some of the positive political changes
>that
>African greens are initiating.
>
>Green blessings and peace from Annie Goeke
>co-Chair International Committee
>----
>THE GREENS/EUROPEAN FREE ALLIANCE IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
>
>PRESS RELEASE - NAIROBI, 23 April 2003
>Opening Session of the Sixth P7 Summit
>
>Organized by the Green\Efa Group in the European Parliament and
>Kenya's GreenBelt Movement, the Sixth P7 Summit got underway in
>Nairobi today with calls for the forging of stronger solidarity
>between the Green movements in the North and their counterparts in
>the South in order to realize a more sustainable utilization of
>resources and social justice in the sharing out of benefits from
>environmental utilization.
>
>The Conference was opened by a UNEP official, Mr. Barkary Kante
>who described poverty as been a worse state than AIDS epidemic and
>cancer. Paul Lannoye, Member of the Green/EFA Group of the European
>Parliament has presented the background history of the P7, which is
>an alternative Summit of G7 initiated by the Greens in 1997. In his
>presentation he has pointed out the shocking situation of Africa's
>natural wealth and the social poverty of its population.
>
>Nearly all participants expressed emotive sentiments on the manner
>with which globalisation continues to ruin the capacity of
>communities in the South -and especially in Africa- to feed
>themselves and how it is relegating real owners of natural
>resources to an almost permanent state of material deprivation
>and debilitating poverty. Though much of the blame for this
>scenario was heaped on multinationals -which were described as
>predators- the greens felt that government officials in the South
>connived with multinationals to deny poor communities their rights.
>
>From Cameroon to Guinea, from Burkina Faso to Zimbabwe, the story
>on delegates' lips was almost similar; that much of the poverty in
>the South is a direct effect of the relations between governments
>and multinationals. In a presentation on War and Mining; Challenges
>for the Green Movement, Stephan Van Praet of Belgium visited the
>situation in Democratic Republic of Congo which has been embroiled
>in what is called "Africa's World War".
>
>Last year, a UN-Panel of Experts established how international
>companies of foreign countries have kept the conflict alive in
>order to continue reaping from illegal exploitation of natural
>resources in RDC. On his part, Jean N'Kendih from Cameroon detailed
>how such powerful oil companies like Elf (from France) and Shell
>have in the past fueled and kept armed conflicts in a number of
>African countries -Gabon, Chad and Cameroon- raging; how they have
>offered a helping hand in political assassinations and in violent
>and illegal changes of a number of governments in order to retain
>the hold they have on oil resources in the continent. To
>demonstrate this, participants revisited the hanging of Nigerian
>Poet, Ken Saro Wiwa and nine other members of the Ogoni community
>for opposing oil exploitation in their locality.
>
>But it was a Kenyan participant, Prof Ouma Muga who summed it all
>up by saying: "Multi-national companies have presided over
>environmental colonialism, in the sanctioning of poverty, death
>and destruction of Africa's rich biodiversity."
>
>Been the first P7 Summit to be held in Africa, the meeting was
>addressed by Kenya's leading environmentalist who now serves in
>the government as an assistant environmental Minister, Prof
>Wangari Maathai who revisited with nostalgia her pet topic of the
>need to promote indigenous cultures in the South as a potent tool
>in the move towards re-establishing the South's control over its
>natural resources and the process used in developing them.
>
>"*until their culture is subdued, a community cannot be fully
>controllable and therefore exploitable. In Africa, the destruction
>of cultures of the African peoples is commensurate with the
>exploitation and impoverishment."
>
>In line with the tradition of past P7 Summits, the Nairobi meeting
>coincided with the G7 summit and had about 300 participants from 23
>countries.
>
>During the opening session, a number of delegates suggested that
>international tribunals be established to try those multinationals
>responsible for massive pollution in the South in the same manner
>those accused of crimes against humanity are prosecuted. Others
>suggested that rather than ask multi-nationals to adopt sound
>corporate social responsibilities, the greens should instead be
>calling for the expulsion of these corporations from territories
>in the South. But the less radical among participants felt that
>corporate social responsibility should not be limited to such
>face-saving exercises as the funding of a health center but should
>center on how revenue from exploitation of natural resources in
>the South should accrue to national governments, at a higher level,
>and communities, at a different level.
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>12. Green Party of Iraq Founded
>
>Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire; May 8, 2003
>
>IRAQ: GREEN PARTY ESTABLISHED
>
>As part of the recent active re-emergence of various political
>activities in Iraq, the Green Party was founded for the first time
>in Iraq's political life, as a movement to defend the environment
>in Iraq and protect its green spaces against fire and pollution.
>
>This party, which is part of the world-wide movement, which has
>become active in the past years in the West, endeavours to keep
>away threats to the environment and the climate, particularly in
>Iraq which has, during the past 40 years under the ousted Ba'th
>Party regime, been polluted by gunpowder and various chemical and
>biological experiments.
>
>It is worth noting that within the framework of the threat of the
>traces of Iraq's weapon of mass destruction, the head of the
>International Atomic Energy Agency, Muhammad al-Baradi'i, warned
>everyone against the threat of the looting of Iraqi Tuwaythah
>atomic site near Baghdad, which was looted recently by people.
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>13. Green Delegation in Scottish Parliament Grows from 1 to 7.
>
>Scotland has joined countries across Europe in welcoming a dynamic
>new group of Green parliamentary activists. That's the message
>from the Green MSP Robin Harper who is now joined by six other
>Green MSP's including Chris Ballance of South Scotland.
>
>Following yesterday's poll the Greens have so far returned MSPs
>in list seats in 5 regions: Glasgow: Mid Scotland & Fife; North
>East Scotland; Highlands and Islands; and two in Lothians. There
>were near misses in West Scotland and Central Scotland.
>
>The Greens see their success as a vindication of a new style of
>politics. Voters, they claim, are turned off by back-biting and
>sniping among politicians and see the Greens' efforts to build
>consensus as more in tune with the kind of parliament the public
>wants. However, the party also pledges to bring a new edge to
>its work: as parliamentary activists not parliamentarians.
>
>Robin Harper said:
>"I am, of course, delighted to be joining the group Green MSPs.
>I wish to thank each and every Green voter for the confidence
>they have placed in us and in a better future for Scotland.
>
>"This enlarged group means that we will be able to forge ahead
>with the urgent task of greening Scotland. We have crossed the
>crucial threshold of 5 MSPs which gives us a place at the top
>table in parliament.
>
>"We will look to build new and stronger alliances with campaigning
>and community groups so that Scotland's record as the dirty,
>wasteful capital of Europe will be put behind us.
>
>"We will share experiences with our sister parties in Europe where
>almost every country has a significant Green voice in politics.
>
>"Above all, we will remember that there are huge establishment
>interests standing in the way of a greener, more secure Scotland.
>We will remain as activists inside parliament just as much as
>when we were on the outside."
>_______________________________________________________________________
>14. English Greens Make Gains in Local Elections
>
>After gaining twelve seats in last night's local elections, the
>Green Party now has 52 Councillors in English primary authorities
>and I in Wales the party's highest total ever making break-
>throughs in key cities like Manchester and York, and reinforcing
>Green strongholds in Bradford, Brighton, Lancaster and Norwich.
>Darren Johnson, Leader of the Green Group on the London Assembly
>and the party Principal Speaker, said "We started local election
>night with 41 councillors in 23 principal authorities. We now hold
>a record 53 councillors on a record 26 councils."
>
>Vanessa Hall, who made the party's breakthrough in Manchester,
>added: "Many of these gains are in places where we expect to do
>well in next year's European elections. This is extremely good
>news.
>
>"While disillusionment with Labour has played a great part, the
>strength provided by local, focused campaigning and door knocking
>has enabled the Greens to achieve such excellent gains."
>_______________________________________________________________________
>Join your local Green Party today!
>Without your financial support we cannot maintain our office and
>staff, and your local party can't do all the things that need to
>happen where you live.
>
>You can also contribute online: http://www.gp.org/donate.html
>
>To unsubscribe via the web, visit
>http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/alerts-m or via email, send a
>message with subject or body 'help' to alerts-m-request at lists.gp-us.org
>Direct Subscriber Count 05/20/03: 4830
>_______________________________________________________________________
>
>
>_______________________________________________
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