From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Fri Apr 1 14:22:07 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 11:22:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: {news} MAJOR BALLOT ACCESS VICTORY! One step closer in CT Fairness! Message-ID: <20050401192207.42196.qmail@web81107.mail.yahoo.com> April 1st, 2005 SB 1233, to set up a procedure by which a group can turn itself into a qualified party, passed the Connecticut Joint Administration and Election Committee on March 31. If the bill becomes law, a group that submits a petition signed by 1% of the last vote cast (currently 15,788 signatures) could then nominate by convention for any partisan office it wished, without further petitioning. The petition also has a distribution requirement. More details to follow- must of course pass both house and be signed by Gov. Rell. We have done major drives like this in the past. Nader 96, 2000 as Green Party candidate and over 12,000 signatures for Independant Nader in 2004. (Cobb was on automatically because of past Green (Nader, 96,2000) success) But this is for ALL OFFICES!! Special thanks to Mike DeRosa, CT CO-CHAIR who worked this committee hard!! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Fri Apr 1 14:28:05 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 11:28:05 -0800 (PST) Subject: {news} "Green Policy 2005" Madison , WI Message-ID: <20050401192805.64268.qmail@web81106.mail.yahoo.com> Green Policy 2005 A Gathering to Share Issues and Actions and Possibly Discuss Coordinating our Work Hosted by Green Officeholders and Supported by the Green Institute, the Havens Center and Liberty Tree Green officeholders in Dane County and Madison, Wisconsin, are putting out an invitation to all Green officeholders to meet in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin, on the weekend of June 25th and 26th, 2005 to discuss our activities as officeholders, share our successes and failures, and talk about possibly coordinating our activities for greater impact. I hope that you can come to Madison for our gathering. We Green officeholders need to work together and share our experiences. I think this meeting can really improve our effectiveness and impact. ? Brenda Konkel, City Council, Madison, Wisc. Where: Madison, Wisc, When: June 25-26 Cost: No registration cost to attendees Who: This event is open to officeholders. Officeholders may request that their staff be included. Certain speakers and representatives may also be invited. Purpose: To encourage communication, sharing and possibly coordination between officeholders. Any follow-on work, organization, or effort after this conference is at the choice and decision of those attending. Keynote speaker to be determined Housing: Local organizers will help attendees find free housing among local people if they cannot afford a hotel. Scholarships: Conference sponsors are offering scholarships to a limited number of officeholders to assist them with the expense for their travel and in some cases, for hotel rooms. They will not pay 100% of these costs. The purpose of the scholarships is to support diversity in attendance as it relates to racial, gender, sexual orientation, age, office type and geography, to the greatest degree possible. Forms will be posted on a website now under construction to apply for these funds. In the mean time, forms can be requested at the email address below. Please contact Dean Myerson at dean at greeninstitute.net for further information. A website will be announced shortly. This event is being co-hosted by the Green Institute, the Havens Center and Liberty Tree. These non-profit, non-partisan organizations are legally prohibited from expending funds to support or oppose particular candidates for electoral office, and are therefore participating in this event solely to carry out its nonprofit purpose, which is to educate on issues of importance to our values. ------------------------------ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Fri Apr 1 16:50:33 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 13:50:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: {news} Fwd: [CTVOTER] Common Cause & TrueVoteCT press conference - Monday, April 4 Message-ID: <20050401215033.78152.qmail@web81107.mail.yahoo.com> Rich Sivel wrote:To: From: "Rich Sivel" Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 15:58:40 -0500 Subject: [CTVOTER] Common Cause & TrueVoteCT press conference - Monday, April 4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } Common Cause & TrueVoteCT press conference with Lieutenant Governor Kevin Sullivan Monday, April 4, at 11:00 AM at the state Capitol in Hartford Please circulate widely and plan to attend! Common Cause and TrueVoteCT will hold a joint press conference with Lieutenant Governor Kevin Sullivan on Monday, April 4, at 11:00 AM at the state Capitol in Hartford. The press conference will be focused entirely on the issue of electronic voting machines. The Lieutenant Governor will join the two advocacy groups in urging support of Senate Bill 55 which requires an accessible, voter-verifiable paper ballot for all new voting machines purchased by the state. SB 55 was favorably reported out of the Government Administration and Elections (GAE) committee last week and is now headed for the floor of the State Senate. It is important for the verified voting community to show widespread support of SB 55 as we move into a statewide campaign for passage of SB 55 by the entire General Assembly. Please plan to attend this press conference and bring along other supporters of accessible, voter-verified paper ballots! Rich Sivel (860) 231-7428 TrueVoteCT.org --------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CTVOTER/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: CTVOTER-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Fri Apr 1 18:43:15 2005 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Fri, 01 Apr 2005 23:43:15 +0000 Subject: {news} RE: MAJOR BALLOT ACCESS VICTORY! One step closer in CT Fairness! In-Reply-To: <20050401192207.42196.qmail@web81107.mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Details of committee vote and full text of the bill is available here: http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=1233 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF A MINOR PARTY. To provide an alternative method for a political party to qualify as a minor party, thereby increasing ballot access for candidates of such a political party. Introduced by: Government Administration and Elections Committee David Bedell From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Fri Apr 1 19:16:04 2005 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Sat, 02 Apr 2005 00:16:04 +0000 Subject: {news} RE: Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Update In-Reply-To: <6.2.1.2.2.20050331190152.02de1fa8@pop.emailsrvr.com> Message-ID: Here's the final press release issued by Clean Water Action. Levco has been a power supplier in CT for some time, offering a cheaper, all-nuclear alternative to CL&P's Standard Offer. Now they are offering a "100% renewable" option, but it is dirtier than the options soon to be available from Sterling Planet and Community Energy. Of course, CL&P still handles all transmission and billing. http://www.sterlingplanet.com http://www.newwindenergy.com http://levcoenergy.com David --------------------------------------------------------- CLEAN WATER ACTION 645 Farmington Ave, 3rd Floor, Hartford, CT 06105 (860) 232-6232 For immediate release Contact: Clean Water Action March 31, 2005 Roger Smith 860-232-6232 rsmith at cleanwater.org Levco Energy Fails to Demonstrate Environmental Benefit of ?100% Renewable? Electricity Offer; Environmental Groups Encourage Consumers to Choose ?CT Clean Energy Options? HARTFORD?For the first time in recent years, consumers will be able to choose clean energy on their electricity bills through the Connecticut Clean Energy Options this April. The Department of Public Utility Control approved Sterling Planet and Community Energy to offer customers a high-quality clean energy products at a modest premium over existing rates. The Connecticut Clean Energy Options include energy from wind, clean landfill gas, and small-scale, low-impact hydropower, and the premium consumers pay for these options will support new generation from clean energy sources. These products offer significant health, environmental, and economic benefits, and have the support of the environmental community, as they will reduce our reliance on coal, oil, nuclear power, and other dirty energy sources. ?Connecticut consumers deserve to have a choice of how their electricity is generated. We are very pleased that this April consumers can sign up for the Connecticut Clean Energy Options on their electricity bills. The slight extra charge will support clean energy sources like wind, and will help reduce our air pollution and our dependence on fossil fuels,? said Roger Smith, Campaign Director for Clean Water Action. In contrast, Levco Energy recently offered and began promoting a ?100% Renewable Offer? which has no additional cost but also provides no demonstrated environmental benefit. Environmental groups are concerned that this product is being marketed in a misleading fashion. Levco?s marketing materials claim that people "can now choose to help the environment without increasing their monthly energy costs? by purchasing the Levco Energy 100% renewable product. In a March 3rd letter to Levco, Clean Water Action requested the exact product mix to substantiate their claim of an environmental benefit, and to know if Levco would rule out using incineration in their product. Levco did not reply. Levco?s website states that their offer is only 1.5% Class I (clean) renewable energy, with the remaining 98.5% less desirable Class II renewable energy from older or dirtier sources. Levco?s marketing campaign is misleading because: ? Levco has not ruled out using incinerators for Class II energy, this source is significantly dirtier than the regular offer, and incineration is opposed by all the organizations below. ? The mere 1.5% Class I clean energy is already required by state law for all electricity suppliers and offers consumers no additional benefit whatsoever. ? Other Class II sources provide no additional environmental benefit as they are not new. Dr. Mark Mitchell, President of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice said, "Incineration produces more air toxins than other methods of generating electricity and has no place in any renewable energy option. Incinerators are disproportionately located in urban communities and communities of color, and are not an environmentally acceptable renewable energy source." For Levco?s product to truly benefit the environment it should at least meet or exceed standards set by the independent Green-e organization. Green-e represents the consensus view on the minimum requirements for electricity products to be considered environmentally superior. The minimum Green-e standard in 2005 requires that 20% of the electricity come from NEW Class I or equivalent energy facilities. Green-e also prohibits the use of incineration, bars purchases of nuclear power that exceed the system mix , and requires full disclosure of the resources used in the product. ?As a consumer advocate, I recommend avoiding Levco Energy?s ?100% Renewable Product.? Levco can?t have it both ways, claiming to provide an environmental benefit while refusing to tell us where the electricity is coming from. If they want our support they need to show that their energy is at least 20% new and only comes from truly clean sources,? said Chris Phelps, Legislative Advocate for ConnPIRG. The undersigned environmental groups are working to create a market for clean energy by encouraging consumers to spend their dollars supporting new, clean energy sources. For this reason, these groups urge their members and supporters to avoid the Levco ?100% Renewable Energy Offer,? and to sign up for the Connecticut Clean Energy Options when they become available in April 2005. ### Environmental Organizations Supporting this Statement: Clean Water Action is a non-profit environmental health organization and collaborator in the 20% by 2010 clean energy campaign. www.cleanwateraction.org/ct/energy.html The Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice works to protect urban environments through educating communities, promoting changes in local, state, and national policy, and promoting responsibility towards our environment. ConnPIRG is a non-profit, non-partisan advocate for the public interest with over 20,000 citizen and student members throughout Connecticut. Congregation Pnai Or Connecticut Citizen Action Group Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone Connecticut Green Party Environmental Concerns Coalition Interrelligious Eco-Justice Network Mattabeseck Audubon Middlesex Clean Air Association People?s Action for Clean Energy Portland-River Valley Garden Club Sierra Club Connecticut Chapter Toxics Action Center From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sun Apr 3 01:30:08 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 01:30:08 -0500 Subject: {news} internal elections conference call Tues 4/5/05 7:30pm Message-ID: <0ffb01c53816$d5e4ba20$7b8cf504@edgn2b574u14bi> On Tuesday April 5 at 7:30pm the internal elections committee will have a conference call. We will talk for as long as necessary (perhaps an hour) to plan the details of the internal elections. Any Green who wishes to participate in this call as an observer should contact Ed DuBrule (edubrule at sbcglobal.net 860-523-4016) to obtain the phone number to be called and an access code. Participants will be billed on their normal telephone bill at normal rates for a call to Iowa. (I presume that if you have a cellphone with no long distance charges you won't pay anything. We're doing this through www.freeconferencecall.com and that website might have answers to questions like this. I also called their talk-to-a-human phone number listed on the website and the guy was helpful.) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sun Apr 3 01:30:16 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 01:30:16 -0500 Subject: {news} Executive Committee conference call Tuesday 4/5 6:30pm Message-ID: <0ffc01c53816$d702d450$7b8cf504@edgn2b574u14bi> On Tuesday April 5 at 6:30pm the Executive Committee of the CT Green Party (co-chairs, treasurer, and secretary) will have a conference call. We will talk for up to an hour to decide on what will happen at the April 17 annual meeting other than the balloting--will there be speaker(s)? (The balloting is the responsibility of the internal elections committee; speakers at the annual meeting are the responsibility of the Executive Committee, at least this year.) Any Green who wishes to participate in this call as an observer should contact Ed DuBrule (edubrule at sbcglobal.net 860-523-4016) to obtain the phone number to be called and an access code. Participants will be billed on their normal telephone bill at normal rates for a call to Iowa. (I presume that if you have a cellphone with no long distance charges you won't pay anything. We're doing this through www.freeconferencecall.com and that website might have answers to questions like this. I also called their talk-to-a-human phone number listed on the website and the guy was helpful.) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Sun Apr 3 11:13:07 2005 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 11:13:07 -0400 Subject: {news} April 7, Lecture by Dr. Riffat Hassan: Women's Rights in Islam Message-ID: <063301c5385f$a4978850$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> ----- Original Message ----- From: Azam Saeed To: Azam Saeed Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 10:57 AM Subject: Dr. Riffat Hassan: Women's Rights in Islam The following event is on April 7 at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford. Dr. Hassan's presentation will cover a range of issues, especially women's rights in Islam. [I have not been able to fully capture the original flyer which has some images and the speaker's photo.] 2005 McAuley Lecture Riffat Hassan, Ph.D. Professor of Religious Studies and Humanities University of Louisville, Kentucky "Human Rights and Islam" One of the pioneers of feminist theology in the context of the Islamic tradition - an area in which she has been engaged since 1974. Has also been extensively involved in interreligious dialogue with Jews, Christians and Muslims, with a particular focus on Human Rights in Religious Traditions. Thursday, April 7, 2005 7:30 p.m. ~ Mercy Hall, Crystal Room Admission is free but reservations are required. Please call 860-231-5346 or send an e-mail to jperkins at sjc.edu Established in 1951, the McAuley Lecture series features distinguished scholars and researchers who reflect the educational mission of Saint Joseph College and the compassionate service of the Sisters of Mercy. The lecture series is named in honor of Catherine McAuley who founded the Sisters of Mercy to serve Ireland's poor citizens. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net Sun Apr 3 14:02:41 2005 From: JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net (Jean de Smet) Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 14:02:41 -0400 Subject: {news} Internal Elections and Annual Meeting Message-ID: <008901c53877$56db3f40$64e0f504@jeansmet> Greetings to all Greens, The Annual Meeting of the State of CT Green Party is scheduled for April 17th in New Haven, at the Greater New Haven Labor Council Offices, time TBD. Please put this on your calendar, and we will get you more specific information, including the agenda and directions, as soon as we can. We wanted to let you know as soon as possible because the annual Election of Green Party Officers will also be held at that time. Candidates so far are: *co-chair: Aaron Gustafson, Kelly McCarthy, Mike DeRosa *treasurer: Bob Eaton *secretary: Barbara Barry DeRosa *US Green Party reps: Tim McKee, Tom Sevigny *US Green Party rep alternate: Karin Norton There are exactly as many candidates as there are positions; there are no contested positions. The ballot will allow voting for write-ins, none of the above and nominations from the floor, as usual. All candidates must announce their intention to run by April 8th at 5 pm. At that time, ballots, candidate statements and related information will be available to all members who would like to vote but cannot attend the annual meeting, via the website, email or US Post Office. This is a very short timeframe, and we apologize. Please respond to JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net if you would like a copy of the ballot and associated information sent to you by email or by US Post Office on April 9th. Instructions on how to cast an absentee vote will be included at that time (and posted on the website). Please be on the look-out for more updates. And please share this information within your chapters. Thank you, The Internal Elections Committee -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From demac at galaxyinternet.net Sun Apr 3 15:57:25 2005 From: demac at galaxyinternet.net (Jean de Smet) Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 15:57:25 -0400 Subject: {news} Internal Elections and Annual Meeting Message-ID: <008401c53887$5e5200a0$77c2f504@jeansmet> Greetings to all Greens, The Annual Meeting of the State of CT Green Party is scheduled for April 17th in New Haven, at the Greater New Haven Labor Council Offices, time TBD. Please put this on your calendar, and we will get you more specific information, including the agenda and directions, as soon as we can. We wanted to let you know as soon as possible because the annual Election of Green Party Officers will also be held at that time. Candidates so far are: *co-chair: Aaron Gustafson, Kelly McCarthy, Mike DeRosa *treasurer: Bob Eaton *secretary: Barbara Barry DeRosa *US Green Party reps: Tim McKee, Tom Sevigny *US Green Party rep alternate: Karin Norton There are exactly as many candidates as there are positions; there are no contested positions. The ballot will allow voting for write-ins, none of the above and nominations from the floor, as usual. All candidates must announce their intention to run by April 8th at 5 pm. At that time, ballots, candidate statements and related information will be available to all members who would like to vote but cannot attend the annual meeting, via the website, email or US Post Office. This is a very short timeframe, and we apologize. Please respond to JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net, 860 456-2188, if you would like a copy of the ballot and associated information sent to you by email or by US Post Office on April 9th. Instructions on how to cast an absentee vote will be included at that time (and posted on the website). Please be on the look-out for more updates. And please share this information within your chapters. Thank you, The Internal Elections Committee -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Ehscouts at aol.com Sun Apr 3 19:43:01 2005 From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com) Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 19:43:01 EDT Subject: {news} I am fighting all I can! Message-ID: The ctgp-news web master has release a email that I send out on March 22. In this email I wrote that New Britain Green Party had their first meeting on March 21st. The title of this email was (Report from New Britain Green Party). Please let me explain that first is not easy to establish a third party in New Britain and do it on a voluntary basic. I have been working on this since January right after christmas. When I said that this was the first meeting I was trying to informed that this was the first meeting at YMCA. Before we was meeting at El Pegaito Cafe, or at New Britain Dinner, or at Armanis Restaurant. But now we found a permanent place where to meet until we get our own office. It looks like I am fighting to establish the Party in New Britain, I am fighting to win 2005 election and now I have to fight poeple in my own party. We should stop fighting each other and instead we all of you should be working with me to win this election an put up the name of our party in New Britain and all Connecticut. Sincerely yours Miguel Angel Nieves -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Sun Apr 3 22:53:17 2005 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 02:53:17 +0000 Subject: {news} strategy meeting reported in New London Day Message-ID: The Day Heavy Rains Keep The State's Greens At Home By RICHARD RAINEY Published on 4/3/2005 New London ? Bad weather was a factor in a low turnout for the statewide meeting of the Green Party at New London's public library Saturday. Four people braved the torrential rains to begin strategizing about mounting campaigns against national politicians in November 2006. Sen. Joseph Lieberman topped their lists of targets. ?There's so much interest in running against Joe Lieberman because he's practically a Republican to a lot of people,? said Tim McKee, chairman of the Green Party's national committee. The Green Party in Connecticut has been growing, officials said Saturday. Some candidates took as much as 10 percent of the votes in a few November elections across the state, they said. Mike DeRosa, a co-chair of the state Green Party, said it currently held three seats in Connecticut, and about 220 nationwide. But it is the laws regulating the petitioning process that have hamstrung the party, members said. ?These rules are designed to keep third, fourth and fifth parties off the ballot,? DeRosa said. By state law, a petitioning candidate must gather the signatures of 5 percent of statewide registered voters to be eligible for a national election. Green Party officials planned to get around the problem by forming a slate. That way, with numerous candidates on a single ticket, it would be easier to canvas for signatures. Andy Derr, a local party member who ran for City Council, said they plan to have citywide candidates in place by mid-June, and statewide candidates in place some time after November's local elections. ? The Day Publishing Co., 2005 From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Mon Apr 4 09:39:39 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 06:39:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Dem to challenge Lieberman to speak to Green Party Message-ID: <20050404133939.74947.qmail@web81107.mail.yahoo.com> Greens, I have spoken with Dr.John Orman, a Fairfield U professor who is challenging Joe Lieberman in the Democrat primary about speaking to the Green Party. He considers himself a "Green Democrat". I wanted him to talk with us, and answer questions about the race and his stances on the issues. I still think we should run our own candidate for US Senate and I think he is a long shot at winning against Lieberman, but I think we should listen to him and make up our own mind. I have penciled in April 19 or 21 at the Hartford office. I would like the Exec. Com to give a quick appoval also. If you have a prefernce on dates, please let me know. Tim McKee 860-643-2282 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Tue Apr 5 00:57:31 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 00:57:31 -0400 Subject: {news} actions from American Friends Service Committee-Peace Train May 1 etc. Message-ID: <005701c539a3$58be5bd0$0100007f@edgn2b574u14bi> >From Kasha Ho of the American Friends Service Committee. ----- Original Message ----- From: Kasha Ho To: Kasha Ho Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 6:18 PM Subject: Connecticut for Peace and Nuclear Abolition Mayors for Peace Connecticut Action Alert The Mayors for Peace campaign was initiated by the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who have called on mayors around the world to transcend national borders and work together for nuclear abolition. In the spirit of world safety, community members across Connecticut have joined an international effort to abolish nuclear weapons. Please read on for ways to be involved with this work. Find out more about the Mayors for Peace campaign by visiting the Western Massachusetts AFSC website: http://www.westernmassafsc.org/mayors/mayors.html All Aboard for the Peace Train on May 1st A major rally is occurring in Central Park, New York, against the war in Iraq and for the renewal of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. This critical treaty is up for renewal in May and calls for all nations to undertake nuclear disarmament. See details below for purchasing tickets to ride on the Peace Train - purchase now for a discount! Ask your Mayor to support Nuclear Disarmament A mailing has been sent out to the Mayors and First Selectmen of Connecticut, asking them to sign in support of the Resolution in support of the elimination of nuclear weapons, passed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in June, 2004. Mayor Eddie Perez of Hartford, Mayor Carl Amento of Hamden, Mayor Richard Borer of West Haven, and the New Haven Board of Aldermen have already signed in support. We need your help to follow up with your own mayor or first selectman about supporting this resolution and joining us on May 1st in New York if possible. To view the Resolution, visit: http://www.westernmassafsc.org/mayors/mayors5.htm or contact Joe Wasserman: 860.561.1897. Public Forum with Jonathan Schell Tuesday, April 12 7:00pm - West Hartford Town Auditorium, 50 South Main Street, 3rd floor, West Hartford The Deepening Shadow of Nuclear Danger: an evening with Jonathan Schell, award-winning journalist, peace fellow at The Nation Institute, author of The Fate of the Earth, and The Unconquerable World. Contact Mims Butterworth: 860.521.9506 Support Connecticut Senate Bill No. 33 for Nuclear Abolition The Government and Elections Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly has voted to send Senate Bill 33 to the full Assembly. The Bill calls for negotiations for the TOTAL ABOLITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. The last time the General Assembly voted on this issue was in 1982. Since that time, no national issue was accepted by the General Assembly for consideration. We urge letters of congratulations to members of the Committee and calls to all Representatives and Senators urging them to vote for the Bill when it appears on the docket. The passage of the Bill and a full Peace Train to New York will demonstrate the determination of the people of Connecticut to demand that the US abide by the agreements of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty to negotiate for the total abolition and disarmament of nuclear weapons. Stop Funding for New Nuclear Weapons The Bush administration this year is reviving its proposal for a new generation of "usable" nuclear weapons, often described as "bunker busters." Your actions and the efforts of thousands of others helped support efforts by Rep. David Hobson (OH) to eliminate funding for these weapons in 2004. Now we need to mobilize again to slam the door shut on these new nuclear weapons before the administration proposal gains momentum. Act Now! Contact your representatives today. Urge them to call for the elimination of all funding for the bunker buster weapons from the defense authorization bill and the energy and water appropriations bill that Congress is now drafting. Also, thank Congress for eliminating funding for the bunker buster weapons last year. Tell your representatives that new nuclear weapons will not make the world more secure. Developing new nuclear weapons sends a message to the rest of the world that nuclear weapons are usable. This undermines U.S. security. Contacting your members of Congress is easy. You can email or fax your member of Congress for free by going to FCNL's website at http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=7330336&type=CO. Once there, you will also find talking points to help you write your letter. It is best to put your message in your own words, since congressional staff often ignore "form letters." Because this issue is so urgent, please pass this message on to your family and friends! PEACE TRAIN May 1 End the Occupation of Iraq Bring Our Troops Home Now No Nuclear Excuses for War ABOLISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS The Bush administration invaded Iraq over false claims it had nuclear weapons. The United States and other nuclear weapons states are violating the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty. Refusal to disarm encourages other states to obtain nuclear weapons. Progress on implementing the NPT will be reviewed at the United Nations in May 2005. Join the Mayors of Hiroshima, Nagasaki and hundreds of cities around the world to demand abolishing nuclear weapons. Join Abolition2000, American Friends Service Committee, CT United for Peace, Greater New Haven Peace Council, Mayors Campaign, United for Peace &Justice. Peace Train Bound for CENTRAL PARK RALLY New Haven Union Station to Grand Central 8:45am, return 4:15pm Round-Trip "Fare" Departure Point Amount After 4/15 New Haven $22 $25 Bridgeport $21 $24 Westport or Stamford $17 $20 Click on one of the departure points to pay online with American Express, VISA, or Mastercard or send check to AFSC 56 Arbor St. Hartford, CT 06106-1201 phone: 860-523-1534 or Greater New Haven Peace Council PO Box 3105 New Haven, CT 06515 phone: 203-389-9547 Scholarships are available: Call 860 523-1534 or 203 389-9547 Children ride for half-price -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 49995 bytes Desc: not available URL: From embrancato at netzero.com Wed Apr 6 19:38:54 2005 From: embrancato at netzero.com (Elizabeth M. Brancato) Date: Wed, 06 Apr 2005 19:38:54 -0400 Subject: {news} [Fwd: Invite to Event at Yale Law School] Message-ID: <4254730E.5070309@netzero.com> Dear Elizabeth, I just wanted to invite you and others at Green Party of Connecticut to a major lunch event at the Yale Law School in New Haven this Monday featuring Senator Joseph Lieberman and others. The event, called ?The 9-11 Commission: Putting the Reforms into Action,? will offer background on the 9-11 Commission report, the current status of its recommendations, and the road ahead in implementing its reforms. The event will begin with a ?Perspectives on the 9-11 Commission? panel discussion from 12 to 1 p.m. in Yale Law School room 127. This panel will feature a 9/11 family member who was pivotal in the Commission?s creation, a senior 9-11 Commission staffer, and a legislator who was influential in enacting the Commission?s reforms. A free pizza lunch will be served. Then, from 1:15 to 2:00 p.m. in the Yale Law Schooln auditorium, Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) will give a talk on the 9-11 Commission reforms and answer audience questions. The Yale Law School is located at 127 Wall Street in downtown New Haven. To reach Yale Law School by car, take Exit 3 off I-91 (from North or South). The exit ramp becomes Trumbull Street. Follow Trumbull Street to the end (at the fifth light - Prospect Street). Turn left on Prospect Street. Take the first right (at the stoplight) onto Grove Street. The Law School is in the second block on your left. Metered parking is available on Grove Street and on other streets in the vicinity; the main entrance to the Law School (127 Wall Street) is a short walk away at the corner of Wall and High Streets. I have copied below an announcement about the event. If possible, please share this announcement with your colleagues. With many thanks, Seth Green Executive Director, Americans for Informed Democracy (www.aidemocracy.org) Phone: (202) 270 6268 *The 9-11 Commission:* *Putting the Reforms into Action* * * *Panel: Perspectives on the 9-11 Commission* *12-1 p.m., April 11, Yale Law School Rm 127* *(Pizza will be served)* */ /* */Featuring/* */ /* Mary Fetchet Mother of 9/11 Victim who played pivotal role in the Commission?s formation Michael Hurley Former Director of Counterterrorism Policy Review for the 9-11 Commission Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) Legislator who introduced 9/11 Commission Report Implementation Act to U.S. House / / *Keynote: A Call for Sustained Engagement* *1:15-2 p.m., April 11, Yale Law School Auditorium* / / */Featuring/* */ /* Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) Legislator who introduced 9/11 Commission Report Implementation Act to U.S. Senate This event is cosponsored by Americans for Informed Democracy, Voices of September 11, and the 9-11 Public Discourse Project Directions to Yale Law: The Yale Law School is located at 127 Wall Street in downtown New Haven. To reach Yale Law School by car, take Exit 3 off I-91 (from North or South). The exit ramp becomes Trumbull Street. Follow Trumbull Street to the end (at the fifth light - Prospect Street). Turn left on Prospect Street. Take the first right (at the stoplight) onto Grove Street. The Law School is in the second block on your left. Metered parking is available on Grove Street and on other streets in the vicinity; the main entrance to the Law School (127 Wall Street) is a short walk away at the corner of Wall and High Streets. From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Fri Apr 8 00:54:23 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005 00:54:23 -0400 Subject: {news} Executive Committee meeting 4/11 Hartford office 6pm Message-ID: <17ad01c53bf8$1169c600$de37f704@edgn2b574u14bi> The Connecticut Green Party Executive Committee (co-chairs, treasurer, and secretary) will meet Monday April 11 at 6pm at the Hartford office. Any Green is invited to attend Executive Committee meetings as an observer. ------------------------------------------------ The office is at 418-A New Britain Ave., Hartford. The office is just east of the intersection of Hillside Ave. with New Britain Ave. It's next to Roma's Bakery on the north side of New Britain Ave, across from Piolin Restaurant. The office phone is 860-524-9448. If coming from the west on I-84: Take exit 44 (Prospect Ave.). At the end of the exit ramp are two stop signs--take a left onto a road (Caya Ave) that quickly brings you to Prospect Ave. Take a right onto Prospect Ave. **When Prospect Ave. meets New Park Ave. (you'll see a Crowley Chevrolet dealership) take a right onto New Park Ave. Take a left onto Flatbush Ave. (a Shell Gas Station and a Volkswagen dealership are on the corner of New Park and Flatbush). Travel past Hartford State Technical College (now a branch of Capital Community College) and you'll reach Hillside Ave (a small grocery store is on the corner of Flatbush Ave. and Hillside Ave). Take a right onto Hillside Ave. When Hillside Ave. intersects New Britain Ave. (see another small grocery store) take a left. The Greens office and Roma's Bakery can be seen on the left. If coming from the east on I-84: Take exit 44 (Prospect and Oakwood Avenues). At the end of the exit ramp you'll see Prospect Plaza (a shopping center that includes Home Town Buffet). Take a right onto Kane St. Take a right onto Prospect Ave. (a Shell Gas Station and a Burger King are at the corner of Prospect Ave. and Kane St.) Continue along Prospect Ave. until you reach New Park Ave (you'll see Crowley Chevrolet dealership). Then follow the directions at ** above. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From embrancato at netzero.com Tue Apr 12 05:17:52 2005 From: embrancato at netzero.com (Elizabeth M. Brancato) Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 05:17:52 -0400 Subject: {news} [Fwd: [ctunited4peace] Fwd: RE: Invitation to Rally for Children to END CHILD POVERTY 11am 4/13/05 State Capitol LOB] Message-ID: <425B9240.1000605@netzero.com> *Hartford is the second poorest city in the Nation.* In Hartford, 41% of the children live in Poverty. / What about your town? /*_ Big Rally for Children _* *_Rally _& _Speakout_* ** *Wednesday, April 13* *?05* * State Capitol ? L.O.B. (Corner of Capitol Ave. & Broad St..) * *11:00 a.m.* * * *Let?s stand together to demand * *END CHILD POVERTY?.Right Now!* * For more information. How you can help. please call: * *Vecinos Unidos, Inc.* ** *Tel. 951-7312* *Co-sponsored by The Coalition to END* *CHILD POVERTY IN THE RICHEST STATE* Note: forwarded message attached. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Do you Yahoo!? Make Yahoo! your home page From jherkimer at snet.net Tue Apr 12 14:49:52 2005 From: jherkimer at snet.net (Judith Herkimer) Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:49:52 -0400 Subject: {news} 2005 Housatonic Risk Summit 4/20 - Kent Town Hall Message-ID: <140b01c53f90$74043340$a6d4fc40@k8h9a3> PCBs in the Housatonic River: What Are The Risks? A discussion with Dr. David Carpenter and Dr. Peter deFur Housatonic fish, waterfowl and sediment have some of the highest levels of PCBs in the United States. Come hear two of the world's leading experts on risks from PCBs. Why does everyone have PCBs in their bodies? What are PCBs doing to the wildlife? What is the Precautionary Principle? Why are there still fish advisories in Connecticut? April 20, 2005, 7-9PM Kent Town Hall (Kent Center; off of Route 7) free ~ refreshments ~ Q&A www.housatonicriver.org (The same program will be presented the previous evening 4/19 at Simon's Rock College, Fisher Science Center, Great Barrington, MA) For more information: Tim Gray, Housatonic Riverkeeper, HRI Judy Herkimer, HEAL 413-243-3353 timgray at berkshire.net 860-672-6867 healct at snet.net Peter L. deFur, Ph.D., has extensive David Carpenter, MD, is an internationally experience in ecological and human recognized expert in PCBs and public health. health risk assessment regulations, He is Professor at the Environmental Health guidance and policy. He is chair of the and Toxicology Division, School of Public Board of the Science and Environmental Health, SUNY Albany. He is one of the lead Health Network and is President of researchers studying PCBs in farm- Environmental Stewardship Concepts of raised salmon, airborne PCBs and the impact Richmond, VA. of PCBs on indigenous communities. SPONSORS Housatonic River Initiative ~ Housatonic Riverkeeper (MA/CT) Housatonic Environmental Action League ~ Berkshire Environmental Action Team Berkshire Environmental Research Center -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Tue Apr 12 15:15:41 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 12:15:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Town Hall Forum Thursday - campaign finance reform & verified voting Message-ID: <20050412191542.25874.qmail@web81103.mail.yahoo.com> Rich Sivel wrote:To: From: "Rich Sivel" Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:53:44 -0400 Subject: [CTVOTER] Town Hall Forum Thursday - campaign finance reform & verified voting Please distribute widely! -Town Hall Forum-- Democracy for Sale? Panel Discussion: Campaign Finance Reform and Verified Voting in Connecticut Author of Walking Across America in My 90th Year Doris 'Granny D' Haddock THU, APRIL 14 2005 ~ 7:00pm 200 ORANGE STREET, NEW HAVEN Sponsored by: Yale Students for Clean Elections True Vote Connecticut DemocracyFundPAC --------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CTVOTER/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: CTVOTER-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 4.14.05 Type: application/pdf Size: 641279 bytes Desc: 4.14.05_poster.pdf URL: From capeconn at comcast.net Tue Apr 12 19:19:20 2005 From: capeconn at comcast.net (Tom Sevigny) Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 19:19:20 -0400 Subject: {news} Campaign school Message-ID: <00d101c53fb6$0eab9210$a3970218@sevigny8wcbjrd> NORTHEAST CAMPAIGN SCHOOL FOR GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES, CAMPAIGN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PLEASE HOLD THE DATE WHEN: Saturday May 7, 2005 from 10am - 4pm WHERE: All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 60 Huntingdon Street, New London, CT HOW MUCH: $5.00 a person to cover food cost. Lunch will be provided. Guest speakers will include GPUS Political Director Brent McMillan and GPUS Media Coordinator Scott McClarty. Other speakers to be announced. Housing for over night stays will be provided. More details to follow within the next few days. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From embrancato at netzero.com Tue Apr 12 19:26:17 2005 From: embrancato at netzero.com (Elizabeth M. Brancato) Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 19:26:17 -0400 Subject: {news} [Fwd: [GPUS-PAX] Fw: Military intrusions into schools] Message-ID: <425C5919.50101@netzero.com> *Military intrusions into high schools* :*"Beware Monster.com *" April 8, 2005 * * by Dr. Teresa Whitehurst at http://www.antiwar.com/whitehurst/?articleid=5491' *...M*y youngest child is 17, and the military has joined forces with a name that young people have grown to trust - Monster.com - in a terribly deceptive program it owns and operates called "Making College and Career Count." After the presentation in the auditorium, the perky speaker instructed all students to fill out the conveniently detachable back cover of booklet titled "My Career!," and hand it in before returning to class. How very convenient for the military. Now that convincing teens to go fight in a war where most of the soldiers killed are young has hit a wall, it's essential to get those kids' names and numbers. What better way to gather that information for your recruiters and/or an imminent draft board, than to do it at their high school while talking about college rather than the military, thus raising no red flags? Kids are such easy targets. Because we've talked about the ways in which young people are deceived into signing up for what may prove to be their deaths , and about the military's need for identifying information in the coming draft , my daughter opted not to share her name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and date of birth. Sadly, however, most students won't notice that all those questions about students' plans for college and career are a cover for the /real/ questions, which are embedded near the end: "If you are considering a military career, which of the following describes your plans?" and "Which of the armed services would you prefer?" Neither will most kids notice or care about fine print at the bottom, printed in a font size so small that few will bother trying to read it: "To learn more about what kinds of information you might receive ... visit www.YourFuture.org ," which means they'll never see the "privacy" statement, which makes very clear where their "private" information is going: /"Dear Student: The most important benefit of participating in this voluntary survey and research project is the information you and your family will receive from colleges and universities. In some cases, you and your family may also receive information from non-profit and for-profit organizations and government agencies, including offers for educational products and services such as student loans and financial aid, college admissions and tutorial services, extra-curricular enrichment and recognition programs, career, employment *and military opportunities*, and camps. NRCCUA does not share your information with commercial marketers offering to sell you non-education-related products and services." /(emphasis added) *It Gets Worse* *B*ut that's not the worst of it. If you visit Monster.com's www.MakingItCount.com , the Web site for that duplicitous and self-serving "workbook" that my daughter and her classmates were told to fill out, you'll see that college isn't all that's being sold. On MakingItCount's pages "Ways to Pay" and "Scholarships," Army links are prominently displayed. When you click on those links, you immediately see references to the costs of college, and how enlisting in the military can (supposedly) eliminate the worries of money-strapped families who want their kids to have a college degree: Aimed at the kids:/ / /"Whether you're a college-bound high school student or already attending a college or university, Army ROTC has scholarships available. Scholarships are awarded based on a student's merit and grades, not financial need. Army ROTC scholarships are valuable in many ways:/ /"Two-, three-, and four-year scholarship options based on the time remaining to complete your degree./ /"*Scholarship amounts vary*./ /"Additional allowances pay for books and fees."/ (emphasis added) Aimed at the parents/: / /"By serving the country and protecting our freedoms, your son or daughter will be building a better future for others as well as for him or herself. A future full of pride, honor, and opportunities. But the benefits don't end there. Your son or daughter can also earn *money for college*, gain training in a multitude of skill areas, receive excellent healthcare benefits and take advantage of a wide variety of career options, just to name a few."/ (emphasis added) The Army National Guard Web site is far more exciting visually, however, and pushes the pay-for-college angle with tidbits such as: /"Did you know? / /"You can receive over $60,000 for college or technical school education. / /"You can receive up to $1,500 a year to help repay existing student loans. The Army National Guard offers enlistment bonuses up to $10,000./ /"Higher Education is Within Your Reach./ /"Don't let cost get in the way of your higher education. In the Army National Guard, you can receive the funding necessary while you gain the experience of a lifetime."/ High school students aren't the only ones targeted by sophisticated manipulation by military recruiters, as reflected by the new (and decidedly desperate) emphasis on using storytelling by satisfied customers whose children enlisted (see "Meet the Families" on Monster.com's "Making It Count" Army link). We who understand what can happen to children who enlist in Mr. Bush's endless wars have an obligation to help educate parents, particularly low-income parents, about the slick new appeals that are beginning to target /them./ These emotionally arousing ads play on any parent's love for their child and hopes for his or her success... but we must remind them that not every soldier's parent has reason to be a happy customer. Pardon me for having no patience with dirty tricks played on children and their parents, but this latest scam, perpetrated in high schools across America, is simply unconscionable. Every person who cares about children and families should speak out against the newest in a long line of military intrusions into our public schools, which increasingly erode parents' trust in educators to safeguard their children during school hours. From embrancato at netzero.com Wed Apr 13 20:59:55 2005 From: embrancato at netzero.com (Elizabeth M. Brancato) Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 20:59:55 -0400 Subject: {news} [Fwd: Conference on Draft Resistance and Counter-Recruiting] Message-ID: <425DC08B.2020009@netzero.com> Conference on Draft Resistance and Counter-Recruiting Saturday, April 16 11am-5pm at PS 41, 116 West 11th St. (at 6th Ave) in Manhattan ******************************************************************************************** 1) Register for the conference online: http://www.NoDraftNoWay.org 2) Donate online: http://www.nodraftnoway.org/donate-new.shtml 3) Download literature and help get the word out: http://www.nodraftnoway.org/resources.shtml ******************************************************************************************** As the war against the people of Iraq continues and the Bush Administration contemplates new wars against Iran, Venezuela, Syria, North Korea, and elsewhere, the Pentagon is finding that it does not have enough troops. Enlistments are down and soldiers are begining to refuse to deploy. Some have sued the military over its "stop loss" policy. The military is becoming desparate for new soldiers. Recruiters are becoming more aggressive, targeting poor and working class youth with their slick sales campaigns. They are using a little-known provision of the No Child Left Behind Act to obtain access to students' personal information. Meanwhile, the Selective Service System is gearing up for a draft, staffing local draft boards, streamlining the induction process, and training volunteer registrars to work in high scholls to ensure maximum compliance with registration. Their goal is to "Ensure a mobilization infrastructure of 56 State Headquarters, 442 Area Offices and 1,980 Local Boards are operational within 75 days of an authorized return to conscription." (Strategic Objective 1.2 of the FY 2004 Selective Service Performance Plan) Youth have a right to defend themselves against recruiters who are preying upon them, trying to drag them away from school to kill or be killed in an illegal war. They also have the right to refuse to be inducted into an Army in order to wage war for empire. This conference will feature veterans, draft counselors, counter-recruiting organizers, and youth activists. Workshops will be focused on developin concrete strategies and tactics to stop the draft before it starts and shut down military recruiting. Workshops and presentations will include: 1) Counter-recruiting strategies 2) The economic draft 3) Organizing now to stop the draft 4) Draft resistance 5) Shutting down ROTC 6) Your rights on campus ******************************************************************************************** 1) Register for the conference online: http://www.NoDraftNoWay.org 2) Donate online: http://www.nodraftnoway.org/donate-new.shtml 3) Download literature and help get the word out: http://www.nodraftnoway.org/resources.shtml ******************************************************************************************** http://www.NoDraftNoWay.org _______________________________________________ This message was sent to embrancato at netzero.com Anyone can subscribe. Send an email request to NoDraftNoWay-subscribe at organizerweb.com To unsubscribe NoDraftNoWay-unsubscribe at organizerweb.com Subscribing and unsubscribing can also be done on the Web at http://www.organizerweb.com/mailman/listinfo/nodraftnoway From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Wed Apr 13 22:14:06 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 22:14:06 -0400 Subject: {news} annual meeting directions/speakers/details--this Sunday 11am New Haven Message-ID: <21bb01c54099$b20c4650$c28cf504@edgn2b574u14bi> **Please disseminate this e-mail widely within the CT Green Party. Chapters, please put it on your chapter listserves. Could someone put it on the Women's Caucus listserve? Connecticut Green Party Annual Meeting (includes election of officers) Greater New Haven Central Labor Council Office 267 Chapel St, New Haven (Driving directions below.) 11am until approximately 4:30pm 11am-noon Socialize and potluck lunch. Come meet your fellow Greens and socialize--no decisions need to be made and you don't need to read an agenda beforehand!! (Those who can help set up might be able to get into the hall somewhat earlier--a prior meeting in the hall was said to be ending by 10:30am) Noon-1pm Candidate forum. Candidates for the positions listed below have been invited to speak and answer questions from the audience. Nominations will be accepted from the floor of the annual meeting for these positions. Co-chair: Aaron Gustafson, Kelly McCarthy, Mike DeRosa Treasurer: no candidate (Bob Eaton withdrew and is no longer a candidate) Secretary: Barbara Barry DeRosa US Green Party reps: Tim McKee, Tom Sevigny US Green Party rep alternate: Karin Norton 1pm-1:15pm Voting 1:15-approximately 4:30 Speakers: Dr. John Battista--universal health care in Connecticut Brent McMillan, political director of the national Green Party Caleb Kleppner--instant runoff voting (unconfirmed, though hopes to speak to us) (Caleb Kleppner has been associated with the Center for Voting and Democracy, www.fairvote.org. He played a key role in the successful 2002 ballot measure in San Francisco in 2002 that implemented instant runoff voting for all local offices.) ------------------------------------------------- People who are members of the CT Green Party are entitled to vote (ballots will be available at the annual meeting). (You may also request a ballot to be e-mailed to you by sending a request to JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net. The ballot you receive by e-mail can be sent back by US mail; it must be postmarked by April 16. Since this arrangement means that ballots mailed out may not have reached the internal elections committee by the day of the annual meeting, final results may not be able to be announced at the annual meeting.) See below for the bylaws definition of who's a member of the CT Green Party. ------------------------------------------------ Directions to Greater New Haven Central Labor Council Office (Thanks to David Bedell for these.) 267 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT (parking lot entrance on Saltonstall Ave) >From I-91 Southbound (from Hartford) or I-95 Southbound (from New London): (If on I-95, after crossing the Q Bridge take Exit #48 to join I-91.) Take Exit #2 - Hamilton Street. Go straight one block on Ives Place. Turn right onto East Street. Go one block, turn left onto Chapel Street. Go over the Mill River Bridge, take the first left onto Mill Street. Go one block, turn right onto Saltonstall Ave. Turn right into the rear parking lot. Enter from the back door. >From I-95 Northbound (from Bridgeport): Take Exit #46 - Long Wharf. Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive. Go 0.9 mi. on Long Wharf Drive (which becomes East Street) past the Rusty Scupper, the Maritime Center, & Texaco station to the next traffic light. Turn right on Chapel Street. Go over the Mill River Bridge, take the first left onto Mill Street. Go one block, turn right onto Saltonstall Ave. Turn right into the rear parking lot. Enter from the back door. MapQuest map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&address=267+Chapel+St&city=new+haven&state=ct ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Bylaws definition of a member of the Connecticut Green Party (and hence entitled to vote at the annual meeting): Individual Membership (Modified by statewide vote in 2001): Anyone registered to vote as a Green is a Green Party member. In addition, anyone who can satisfy (and verify) at least 2 of the following criteria will be considered a Green Party member: have attended 2 meetings of the Green Party (either state meetings or meetings of an officially recognized chapter) within the past 12 months; are on the state's official mailing list; and/or have submitted a written (or email) request for membership or informational materials from the Party; have performed at least 2 volunteer activities with the Green Party (or with a coalition partner) of the Green Party within the past 12 months. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Wed Apr 13 22:59:21 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 22:59:21 -0400 Subject: {news} we need a treasurer candidate Message-ID: <222c01c5409e$08ad9050$c28cf504@edgn2b574u14bi> Please forward the below widely within the Connecticut Green Party. Chapters, please put on your chapter listserves. ----------------------------- We do not have a candidate for treasurer (Bob Eaton is no longer a candidate). Please consider running. Nominations will be accepted from the floor at the annual meeting (this Sunday--candidate forum at noon, voting at 1pm). A person who wishes to state his/her candidacy for treasurer need not be present at the annual meeting for his/her name to be put in nomination from the floor. (If this situation applies to you, e-mail your request to be announced as a candidate to JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net.) (It is desirable, however, that a treasurer candidate participate in the candidate forum.) Without a treasurer, the Connecticut Green Party cannot legally exist. (Though I believe individual chapters can still exist--but I don't know the legalities here--each chapter may need to appoint a treasurer??) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Ehscouts at aol.com Tue Apr 5 19:39:34 2005 From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com) Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 19:39:34 EDT Subject: {news} New Britain Green Party Chapter Message-ID: <1f6.712ba47.2f847bb6@aol.com> I want to share with all of you the address of New Britain Green Party. Our address is: New Britain Green Party New Britain YMCA 50 High Street New Britain CT. 06051 Soon we will have a voice mail line for this office and I am working on a web site. If you are interested in becoming a member of this chapter please come to our regular meeting for a registration form. Regards, Miguel Angel Nieves www.nieves.politicalgateway.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Ehscouts at aol.com Tue Apr 12 11:32:15 2005 From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com) Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 11:32:15 EDT Subject: {news} Event Program Message-ID: <85.256ba850.2f8d43ff@aol.com> There was a Man picking up starfish and throwing then in to the Ocean. Another Man pass in front of the one throwing the starfish and ask: " Do you think you will make a difference by throwing those starfishes back in to the Ocean?" The Man pickup another starfish and say: " I made a difference for that one." On April 29th you all have an opportunity to make a difference for the City of New Britain. Live in the City or not you can still make a difference. You are all invited to the most important event in the life of Miguel Angel Nieves. You are all cordially invited to hear Miguel Angel Nieves announce his candidacy for Mayor of New Britain. Friday, April 29, 2005 at 8:00 p.m. in the ground of the Puerto Rican Society of New Britain, 152 High Street. This will be an event you will never forget. There is no charge to come in and food is free of charge as well. Please invite your family and friends. Every one is also welcome to participate. If you are an Musician or an DJ, Do you dance? Want to perform in this event, You are a Community Leader and want to say a few words in favor of this campaign, Are you part of the Radio or Newspaper media and want to cover this event? Then all of you are welcome to cantact us at 860-832-8141. It is time to put New Britain back in to the Residents hands. Miguel Angel Nieves New Britain Mayoral Candidate New Britain Green Party Co-Chairman _www.nieves.politicalgateway.com_ (http://www.nieves.politicalgateway.com/) _www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nievesformayor_ (http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nievesformayor) _www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nbgreen_ (http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nbgreen) Tel: (860) 832-8141 Paid by Nieves for Mayor Campaign, Annette Alicea -Treasurer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Fri Apr 15 18:40:43 2005 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 22:40:43 +0000 Subject: {news} Electric Vehicles and American Independence @ Yale :: Apr25/Noon In-Reply-To: <20050415190924.19720.qmail@web51107.mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Talk on Battery Research coming to Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Monday, April 25, 2005 @ Noon Bowers Auditorium, Sage Hall Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies New Haven, Connecticut Donald Sadoway, a battery expert and John F. Elliott Professor of Materials Chemistry at MIT, will give a talk, "Towards Viable Electric Vehicles and American Independence" on Monday, April 25, 2005 at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Professor Sadoway and his team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have invented the Slimcell, a lightweight battery comprised of lithium and a Plexiglas-like material, which is capable of storing in excess of 300 watt-hours per kilogram. Ultimately, the team's goal is for the Slimcell to power electric vehicles. The team is also conducting research on doubling or tripling the capacity of today's batteries. Since September 11, 2001 the need to break US reliance on petroleum has been put into sharp focus. According to Professor Sadoway, the only major technological obstacle remaining is a battery capable of enabling vehicle performance comparable to that delivered by an internal combustion engine. Recent studies in his laboratory have led to the discovery of a suite of advanced materials that in combination offer the prospect of developing solid-state, thin-film batteries capable of propelling an automobile 300 miles on a single charge. Towards Viable Electric Vehicles and American Independence is sponsored by the Yale Center for Industrial Ecology, the Connecticut Technology Council, and the Environmental Library Fund. Lunch will be provided courtesy of the Connecticut Technology Council. For more information about the lecture, please contact Gretchen Rings, program coordinator, at 203.432.6953 or gretchen.rings@ yale.edu Related links of interest http://web.mit.edu/dsadoway/www http://www.yale.edu/cie http://www.ct.org http://www.bmbb.biz Yale Campus Map: http://www.yale.edu/campusmap/hillhouse.html From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sat Apr 16 00:13:50 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 00:13:50 -0400 Subject: {news} summary of major health care bills in CT legislature in 2005 Message-ID: <043101c54242$2acf4a70$df0df704@edgn2b574u14bi> >From Gretchen Vivier, CCAG's liason with the Health Care for All Coalition. Summary of Major Health Care Bills in 2005 Status as of 04/12/05 Universal Health Care: HB 6303 Would require CT to establish a single payer health care system - one something like the Canadian system. Status: Heard in Public Health. Died in Committee. SB-1147 Would require large employers (100+ employees) to pay a fee to cover their employers if they don't already. Status: Passed out of Labor. Currently in the Finance Committee. SB-1034 Started as the Insurance Committee version of Universal Health Insurance that would cover everybody through tax credits, "flexible benefits" and health savings accounts. Changed to allow individuals to buy into the Municipal Employees' Health Insurance Plan. Still includes "flexible benefits" Status: Passed out of Insurance and Real Estate Committee. No fiscal impact to the state. Protection and Expansion of Public Programs: HB-6438 Extends coverage until June30, 2005 for adults over 100% of the federal poverty level who would otherwise have lost coverage April 1, 2005. Status: Passed Human Services, Appropriations, the House and the Senate. Governor signed into law. SB-1323 Restores HUSKY coverage for parents and caretaker relatives up to 185% of the federal poverty level. Status: Passed out of Human Services. Currently in Appropriations. HB-6927 Restores funding and coverage of services such as medical transportation for the State Administered General Assistance Program. Status: Passed out of Human Services. Currently in Appropriations. SB-1353 Establishes a full-cost buy-in to the HUSKY program for the uninsured. Status: Passed out of Public Health. Wiser use of resources: SB 1237 "Budget neutral" expansion to mental health coverage using the Medicaid. an option used by every state but Connecticut. Status: Passed out of Public Health HB-6118 Allows for Medicaid coverage of home and community-based care for individuals with developmental disabilities. Status: Passed out of Human Services. . HB-6542 Allows for Medicaid coverage of family planning services. This coverage has a 90% federal match. Status: Passed out of Human Services. Currently in Appropriations. HB 6880 Establishes a pilot program to provide home care services to disabled persons aged 18-64. Status: Passed out of Human Services. Currently in Appropriations. SB-1225 Allows for Medicaid coverage of smoking cessation programs. Status: Passed out of Human Services. Currently in Appropriations. Nursing Home Provider Tax Cost Savings: HB-6655 The Comptroller's recommended changes to the Municipal Employees' Program expected to save 15% or more on health insurance for small businesses. Status: Passed out of Insurance and Real Estate. No fiscal impact to the state. SB-46 Requires various state agencies to consider options for buying prescriptions together in bulk. The state currently spends about $850 million for all Rx programs. Status: Passed out of Public Health HB- 6854 UC UConn School of Pharmacy will do outreach and provide information related to patient assistance programs and discount drug cards of pharmaceutical companies. Status: Passed out of General Law. Expected cost to state $750,000. Consumer Protections: HB 6846 Makes sure ConnPACE and Medicaid recipients are made "whole" with wrap-around coverage when the new Medicare prescription drug benefit begins. Status: Passed out of Human Services. Currently in Appropriations. SB 607 Provides basic consumer protections for enrollees in state programs that require prior authorization through a preferred drug list. Status: Passed out of Human Services. Currently in Appropriations. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sat Apr 16 00:21:12 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 00:21:12 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: ANWR, the Budget and CT's Delegation Message-ID: <043201c54242$2cf3b110$df0df704@edgn2b574u14bi> The below came to my inbox, presumably having been sent to the "contact us" e-mail address on our website. --Ed ----- Original Message ----- From: Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 1:31 PM Subject: ANWR, the Budget and CT's Delegation > Fellow activists! > > I've attached a letter from Representative Nancy Johnson which we want > to get our entire CT Republican Delegation to sign on to. This means > Rep. Rob Simmons. If any of you are in his district, please email or > call his local or DC office and ask him to sign on to this letter! The > battle for ANWR is far from over! > > John C > State Coordinator > CT Sierra Club > > > SECOND ROUND IN THE FIGHT TO PROTECT THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE > REFUGE! CONTACT CONGRESSMAN SIMMONS TODAY AND ASK HIM TO VOTE AGAINST > ANY BUDGET THAT OPENS AMERICA'S ARCTIC TO DRILLING! > > > April 12, 2005 > > Dear Alaska Activists, > > While last month's narrow loss in the vote to remove Arctic drilling > from the Senate budget was disappointing, the fight to protect the > Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is far from over! This minor defeat > was simply a setback, which we believe has in fact, strengthened and > empowered our grassroots network for the next round! So gear up for > our greatest fight yet to protect America's Arctic Refuge! > > Our next battle will take place in the House of Representatives. > Unlike the Senate, the House version of the budget did not include > Arctic drilling. Next week a budget committee, representing both > members of the House and Senate will meet to craft a final budget and > hopefully they will follow the House's lead and keep Arctic drilling > out of the budget. Regardless of their decision we are going to fight > every step of the way to keep the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge > protected. In preparation for the possibility that Arctic drilling > could be included in the final budget, we are asking individuals to > contact their Representatives today and ask them to vote against the > final budget if it includes any measures that allow drilling to take > place in America's Arctic Refuge. > > As a moderate Republican who has voted to protect the Arctic Refuge in > the past, Congressman Simmons is particularly important to this fight > and therefore, he needs to hear from you as soon as possible. Please > tell Congressman Simmons that his previous opposition to drilling in > the Arctic Refuge was critical, and that he must maintain that > position against drilling by voting against any final budget with > Arctic drilling provisions in it. > > Nancy Johnson > > > TO TAKE ACTION: > > 1. Email your members! Click here > http://capwiz.com/awc/issues/alert/?alertid=7378331 to send a message > to your Representative urging them to vote against any budget that > would allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. > > 2. Call Rep. Rob Simmons at: 202-225-2076 (DC) or 860-886-0139 > (Norwich) and mention the Nancy Johnson letter! > > 3. Be an organizer! Tell your friends to email and call their members > too! The more emails and calls we can generate the more likely we are > to win this battle and to keep America's Arctic WILD! > > > MORE INFORMATION: > > In the next two weeks, Congress will vote on a final budget and our > opponents will try to approve Arctic drilling by hiding their proposal > in the federal budget bills --- the only bills that are exempt from > filibuster or extended debate. This sneaky attempt not only defies > the democratic process, but it reveals the fundamental weakness of the > push for drilling: proponents of drilling know they cannot pass this > through the normal legislative process, so they are resorting to a > procedural tactic to prohibit an open and honest debate. > > A lot is riding on this decision. This incomparable wilderness is > home to more than 250 animal species, including wolves, grizzlies, > caribou, and millions of migrating birds. Unfortunately, it is also > the target of an intense, relentless lobbying campaign by the oil > industry. Unless we stop them, this world-class wilderness will > become a vast oil development field. > > We need you to help make some noise! If we can draw enough attention > to this issue, we can stop oil industry allies in Congress from > getting away with this attempt to slip Arctic drilling into the budget > bill. > > Once you've taken action, please forward this email message to at > least ten friends that live in your district. Thank you for your time > and for your continued support for wild Alaska! > > > Sincerely, > > Alaska Coalition > > > If you have questions or would like more information email Katie > Little, Alaska Coalition, at katie at alaskacoalition.org > > Katie E. Little > Grassroots Campaigns Associate > Alaska Coalition > 122 C Street NW > Suite 240 > Washington, DC 20001 > 202-266-0482 ext 182 > katie at alaskacoalition.org > > From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Sat Apr 16 14:55:34 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 11:55:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} CT Greens make Stamford Advocate News Message-ID: <20050416185534.99333.qmail@web81108.mail.yahoo.com> http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-tax1apr16,0,776056.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines Last-minute filers flock to Stamford post office By Zach Lowe Staff Writer April 16, 2005 STAMFORD -- The few first drivers turned away at 10 p.m. were polite. But at 10:02 p.m., the cursing started. "Oh come on," said Greg Janowski, after being informed the Camp Avenue post office had closed two minutes earlier. Then he uttered an obscenity. Determined to drop off the tax returns he had mostly finished in February, Janowski pulled out of the post office driveway, sped about 20 feet toward Hope Street and parked his car on the grass. He sprinted about 50 yards to the post office door, which police had kept open an extra couple of minutes, and mailed his money away. "I was worried they'd tag my car," Janowski said afterwards. "But this is a tradition for me -- the last hour at the post office." The Camp Avenue post office has been the only after business hours option for lower Fairfield County filers since 2001, when the Atlantic Street post office gave up the April 15 midnight shift. This year, the Camp Avenue post office closed two hours earlier, sending surprised residents to facilities in White Plains, N.Y., and Bridgeport that stayed open until midnight. "White Plains?" asked one woman at about 10:10 p.m. "Are you (kidding) me?" "Is Bridgeport in Connecticut?" asked another. Those who arrived before closing time found the post office taking tax returns and churning out customers faster than they had anticipated. Most never even had to enter the building. Instead, they drove in and dropped off their stamped envelopes to two postal employees. The first placed the envelopes in a white crate, and the second, Tina Inabinet, postmarked them April 15. Others parked nearby at Stamford Twin Rinks and walked their returns over to Inabinet, who joked that her last name sounds like "in a minute." "This is nothing compared to last year," Inabinet said. "We had cars going in this direction, that direction, and other directions that weren't even there." Mark Dolan, the post office manager, said tax night lines are shorter now that more people file online. The days of arguing over parking spots and lines snaking out the post office door appear to be finished, he said. "It's nothing like the old days," Dolan said. He remembered when the West Avenue post office had midnight duties in Stamford. One year, Dolan said, the line of cars stretched up the Exit 6 ramp and caused gridlock on Interstate 95. Last night, a steady flow of about 30 people came in and out of the post office building. They either didn't have stamps or wanted to send their returns as certified mail so they could have a return receipt to prove they had paid on time. As they entered, they were greeted by members of the Connecticut Green Party who handed out fliers with pie charts showing what percentage of the federal budget goes to variousgovernment agencies. "Do you want to know where your money goes?" they asked. "Unfortunately, I already know where it goes," one man answered. "But I still have to pay." Inside, they found about 10 postal employees fanned out around the building like a football team lined up for an offensive play. Immediately in front of the door, two women postmarked envelopes. Behind them, people lined up to buy stamps from two machines. To the left, Dolan sold books of 20 stamps. He was glad nobody was scalping them for higher prices outside the post office this year. "People pay double not to come in here tonight," he joked. In the back, four employees manned all the normal windows. Most late filers said they were simply procrastinators or waited until the last minute because they knew they owed money. Mariann Niblo, an account manager for the city, said she was filing an extension because she may have made a mistake on her return -- a mistake that may have cost her a refund. "I only found out an hour ago," Niblo said. "My dad would kick my butt if he knew I were here at the last minute." Her father, Niblo said, is an international tax law expert. Copyright ? 2005, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. var st_v=1.0; var st_pg=""; var st_ci="703"; var st_di="d019"; var st_dd="st.sageanalyst.net"; var st_tai="v:1.2.1"; var st_ai=""; if (st_v==1.0) { var st_uj; var st_dn = (new Date()).getTime(); var st_rf = escape(document.referrer); st_uj = "//"+st_dd+"/"+st_dn+"/JS?ci="+st_ci+"&di="+st_di+ "&pg="+st_pg+"&rf="+st_rf+"&jv="+st_v+"&tai="+st_tai+"&ai="+st_ai; var iXz = new Image(); iXz.src = st_uj; } -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Mon Apr 18 11:36:07 2005 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:36:07 -0400 Subject: {news} TONIGHT, MONDAY, 7:30, CTGP-SPONSORED TALK BY ISRAELI JOURNALIST MICHEL WARCHAWSKI AT CCSU Message-ID: <03d501c5442c$586019b0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> Dear all, Please try to attend this CTGP-endorsed event TONIGHT at Central CT STATE U. at 7:30. Directions below. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD. Justine McCabe =============================================================== Hear Michel Warshawski The renowned Israeli Author of On the Border & Toward an Open Tomb: The Crisis of Israeli Society* will give a major talk. April 18 at 7:30 p.m. Marcus White Hall at CCSU Sponsored by: Middle East Crisis Committee, Al Awda CT, Green Party CT, If Americans Knew, & the New London-based Council for National Interest. For more info: mail at TheStruggle.org/203-934-2761 Since the breakdown of the Oslo peace process in 2000 and the beginning of the second Intifada, conflict has escalated in Israel/Palestine and come to seem irreversible. The overwhelming power of the Israeli military has been unleashed against a largely defenseless population in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza, driving Palestinians to despair and to desperate measures of retaliation. Michel Warschawski, has for many decades been active in building alliances of Jews and Palestinians to oppose the Israeli occupation. In this book, however, he focuses especially on the effects of the occupation on the occupiers-that is, on Israeli society-rather than its victims. Warschawski describes the atrocities of the occupation-from the sack of Ramallah to the massacre in Jenin, the razing of houses and refugee camps, shooting at ambulances and hospitals, the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields-showing how each of these pushes back the boundaries of what was previously thinkable. He documents the resulting shifts in Israeli political thought,. Toward an Open Tomb seeks to explain the forces within Israeli society and culture that are leading to a self-defeating result. *On the Border chronicles a radical political education in a time and place charged with idealism and danger. One of the most renowned figures of the Israeli left, Michel is known commonly by his nom de guerre Mikado. A Polish Frenchman and a rabbi's son, he went to Jerusalem as a young man to study the Talmud. Warschawski recounts how he became radicalized, and muses on the vibrancy of border cultures that welcome and engage with strangers-where languages exchange phrases and people trade foods. Warschawski's involvement in radical politics led to inspiring alliances with Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Marxists. Yet as the border lines hardened and Mikado became a movement leader, he became targeted by the Shin Bet, Israel's notorious intelligence agents, who eventually arrested him. Incarcerated and interrogated for 20 days, Mikado gives his readers an insider's view of the psychological and political pressures that Shin Bet brought to bear, even on Jews, and never lets you forget the severity of treatment that his Palestinian colleagues faced. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: map to white hall.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 57262 bytes Desc: not available URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Mon Apr 18 11:41:52 2005 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:41:52 -0400 Subject: {news} Thanks Message-ID: <03dc01c5442d$259ed330$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> Many thanks to Judy Herkimer and David Bedell for their enormous efforts and the smooth internal election yesterday at the annual meeting. We look forward to tabulation of the final results once the absentee ballots are counted. Despite the very low turnout, we enjoyed great talks by John Battista on single payer health care and USGP national polical director Brent McMillan on the state of the national party (which was very hopeful). Thanks to both of them. Justine McCabe Western chapter -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Mon Apr 18 12:21:00 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 12:21:00 -0400 Subject: {news} FW: Seminar and Discussion on "Green Buildings" 4/23 in W Hartford Message-ID: <000201c54434$577f35f0$a832f704@edgn2b574u14bi> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Bedell" To: Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 9:02 PM Subject: [green_west_hfd] FW: Seminar and Discussion on "Green Buildings" 4/23 in W Hartford > ----Original Message Follows---- > From: krishnan raman > Subject: Seminar and Discussion on "Green Buildings" > Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005 17:58:54 -0700 (PDT) > > From the > Solar Energy Association of Connecticut > > All interested people are invited to a Seminar and > Discussion on > > " HOW GREEN IS MY BUILDING ? " > [ Dealing with Different Aspects of the Design and > Operation of "Green" Buildings ] > on > > Saturday, April 23, 2005 ( 2 PM) > at the > > University of Connecticut, Library Building (Room 308) > 1800 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut > (between Trout Brook Drive and North Main Street ) > > featuring presentations by > > KIM TRELLA ( Supervising Environmental Analyst, CT DEP > Pollution Prevention, and Chair of Education,Committee > for the CT Green Building Council ) : > > "Overview of the Conn Green Building Council's & the > Conn DEP's Involvement with Green Buildings"; > > MARK LOEFFLER ( IALD, LEED, Lighting and Sustainable > Design Practice Leader, The RETEC Group ): > "Lighting and Sustainable Design"; and > > GREGG BERGMILLER, Architect, LEED, S/L/A/M > Collaborative: > "Connecticut Green Building Projects -- Southern > Connecticut State University Dormitories and Pfizer > Clinical Research Unit, New Haven" > --------------------------------------------------- > > All interested persons are welcome. > > There is no charge, but please register in advance by > calling: > (860) 233-5684 or (860) 489-9555 or (203) 613-4363 or > (845) 669-8341. > > This event is presented by the > Solar Energy Association of Connecticut, a NonProfit, > Educational, Public-Awareness Organization, active > since 1976. > ================================================ > Please also see the Web Site > http://www.SolarEnergyOfCT.org > for some more details, including a poster, and > directions to the seminar location. > ================================================ > A Request: We need your help in letting others know > about this event. > We request you to pass on this announcement to others > you know. > > Also, it will be helpful if you can go to our Web > site http://www.SolarEnergyOfCT.org, > download the attached Seminar poster, print a few > copies of it, and have them displayed on bulletin > boards ( e.g. in libraries). > > Thanks. From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Mon Apr 18 14:57:40 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:57:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Civil Unions rally 24th// Real Dialogue Speak Out April 22 Message-ID: <20050418185740.44216.qmail@web81101.mail.yahoo.com> Civil Unions Today Equal Dignity Tomorrow! Marriage Equality Action (simultaneous to Family Institute Anti-Equality Rally) Sunday, April 24, 2005 1:00 -- 3:30 PM CT State Capitol, South Side (overlooking Capitol Avenue) featuring speeches, songs, and A Gay Wedding at 2:00 PM with marriage licenses for same-gender couples! Celebrate the Marriage Equality Future We Seek Today! Sponsored by the CT Marriage Equality Coalition http://www.ctEQUALITY.org Background info: The Family Institute of CT/Action is planning to bring 25,000 people to our Capitol to oppose Marriage for Same-Gender Couples. Join the CT Marriage Equality Coalition as we celebrate the de facto (but legally unrecognized) marriages of same-gender couples. To Register as a Couple or to Add your Organization or Congregation as a Co-sponsor, go to www.ctEQUALITY.org, click on the Contact Us link, and use the form provided. ********** You, your organization, your voice is invited to participate in the Real Dialogue Speak Out Real People ~ Real Issues ~ Diversity Critical Friday, April 22, 2005 6:30 till 8 pm ~ Street Theater and gathering in front of the Bushnell (166 Capitol Ave, Hartford) 8 till 10pm ~ Real Dialogue Speak Out at the First Presbyterian Church next to the Bushnell (136 Capitol Ave) If the paid political pundits at the CT Forum: ?The Culture War ? Moral Values, Decency, Marriage and Religion? or the media in general do not represent you or the issues you find essential, join the Real Dialogue outside the Bushnell. The Coalition for a Real Dialogue is not defining the issues - we are providing people the opportunity to present their issues and concerns in their own way. Real People ~ Real Speech ~ Diversity Essential. You and your organization can make this possible. Bring your message ? written, spoken, performed ? to Hartford?s Speak Out and Free Speech Zone. For further information contact Richard at (860) 951-0095 or Jerimarie at (860) 983-8139. The Coalition for a Real Dialogue comes together this evening to present the many values and issues that must be a part of any discussion of the so-called ?Cultural War?. Our coalition members are actively involved in building a culture of peace. We gather to affirm human dignity, equality, personal responsibility and caring, honesty, and diversity as necessary values in building community. We are committed to building a society where economic and political power is truly shared by all racial and ethnic groups. --------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Tue Apr 19 09:28:57 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 06:28:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} G. P. of California mourns the loss of Marla Ruzicka Message-ID: <20050419132857.98321.qmail@web81109.mail.yahoo.com> Forwarded by the Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org News Advisory THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA http://www.cagreens.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, April 18, 2005 Contact: Sara Amir, spokesperson 310.270.7106, saraamir at earthlink.net Kevin McKeown, spokesperson 310.393.3639, kevin at mckeown.net Beth Moore Haines, spokesperson 530.277.0610, beth at ncws.com Green Party of California mourns the loss of 'activist's activist' Marla Ruzicka in Iraq SAN FRANCISCO (April 18, 2005) ? The Green Party of California Monday expressed deep sorrow in the loss of longtime human rights activist and Green Party member Marla Ruzicka, who died tragically in Iraq Saturday in a car bomb blast. Ms. Ruzicka, who was from Lakeport, California, was the founder of Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC), which negotiated with the U.S. government for monies for civilian victims of the war in Iraq. She was in Iraq most recently to conduct door-to-door surveys to determine the number of civilian casualties in the war. "Those of us who knew Marla personally, and there are many of those, will never forget this incredible woman, or the remarkable effect she had on all our lives in the short time that she was among us," said Michael Wyman, state Green Party treasurer. "Marla was an activist's activist, impressing us all with her energy and forcing us all to work that much harder just to keep up with her. She will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her, and to be touched by her incomparable energy and commitment," he added. "Losing Marla is a sobering shock," said Santa Monica City Councilmember Kevin McKeown, who worked with Ruzicka on the Green Party of California's 2000 Senatorial campaign. "In a war that has ended too many young lives, Marla's death is a double tragedy because the only reason she was there was to identify and help civilian victims," he added. -30- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Tue Apr 19 09:33:59 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 06:33:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} US Green Party News Circulator Message-ID: <20050419133359.33513.qmail@web81107.mail.yahoo.com> U.S Green Party News Circulator for 4/11/05-4/18/05 For more Green Party news go to http://web.greens.org/news/ ***************************************************************************** 1) CANADA: GREENS SCRAMBLE TO REPLACE CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION 2) SCOTLAND: LIBDEM PIONEER GOES TO GREENS 3) UTAH: ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS ATTACK PRO-WAR STANCE OF DEMOS, KERRY 4) NEW YORK: AUDITS OF ERIE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED LONG AGO 5) WASHINGTON D.C.: ANWR IS A START 6) ILLINOIS: GREEN PARTY OPENS NEW LOCAL WEB SITE 7) IRELAND: HARNEY SAYS DEAL WITH FG, LABOUR NOT RULED OUT 8) TURKEY: EUP GREEN PARTIES CALL ON PM TO ENHANCE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION 9) ZIMBABWE: NEW ZEALAND PM JOINS CRICKET BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN 10) AUSTRALIA: GREEN MEETING 11) CANADA: NDP BUOYED BY JUMP IN SUPPORT 12) SCOTLAND: FURY AT GBP 40M LAND PURCHASE AHEAD OF M74 EXTENSION OK 13) ENGLAND: GREENS TARGET FIVE KEY SEATS 14) ENGLAND: GREENS OFFER 'MORE JUST AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY' 15) NEW ZEALAND: GREENS JOIN OPPOSITION TO ROTORUA AIRPORT PLAN 16) AUSTRALIA: GREENS CLAIM LOOPHOLE IN LAW ALLOWS GAY WEDDINGS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BID 17) NEW ZEALAND: GREENS WON'T GAMBLE :500 18) CANADA: GREEN PARTY STILL SEEKING CANDIDATE FOR PROVINCIAL ELECTION 19) CANADA: DUKE POINT POWER PLANT ADVANCES ANOTHER STEP: COURT SAYS OPPONENTS CAN'T APPEAL UTILITY COMMISSION APPROVAL 20) ENGLAND: QUOTES OF THE DAY 21) IRELAND: GREEN TDS OPPOSE PRE-ELECTION PACT 22) ENGLAND: GAFFE OF THE DAY: 23) ENGLAND: THE EVIL SCHEMES OF THE CUNNING GREENS ROBERT SHRIMSLEY - NOTEBOOK 24) ALASKA: OPINION- VOTER CHOICE 25) CANADA: GREEN PARTY'S PLATFORM NOT RULING OUT TAX HIKES 26) NEW YORK: NADER ON THE RADAR 27) ENGLAND: GREEN PARTY ADOPTS AN 'ANTHEM' 28) ENGLAND: GREENS GROW; MARK BALLARD ARGUES THAT IT IS WELL WORTH GIVING THE GREENS YOUR VOTE ON MAY 5 29) ENGLAND: BRITAIN - LUCAS ATTACKS MEPS FOR REJECTING ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES; 30) IRELAND: STATE 'INFAMOUS' FOR BREACHING EU LAW 31) TURKEY: GERMAN GREEN PARTY'S 'GENOCIDE' BILL CRITICIZED 32) WALES: CAMPAIGN WEB LOGS 33) ENGLAND: SELLAFIELD ACTION CALL 34) ENGLAND: GREENS LASH LESBIAN BIAS ***************************************************************************** 1) Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia); April 10, 2005 CANADA: GREENS SCRAMBLE TO REPLACE CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION by Lindsay Kines and Jeff Rud KLAUS CALL: The withdrawal of Klaus Solterbeck as the Green candidate for Malahat-Juan de Fuca has left the party scrambling for a replacement with the provincial election just over five weeks away. Solterbeck informed party chairman Alan Dolan on Wednesday by e-mail that he was dropping out for personal reasons. "It's always a concern to have a candidate that withdraws at this point in the campaign, but we'll find somebody else,'' Dolan said this week. Tom Cornwall, the Green party's provincial organizer responsible for candidate search and support, said those interested in running before Solterbeck was nominated would be approached. "We're essentially beginning the search process anew.'' It was reported elsewhere that Solterbeck had resigned in the wake of comments he made during a Green party function Monday night at the University of Victoria. But Solterbeck couldn't be reached for an answer on that, and Dolan, Cornwall and Green party Leader Adriane Carr all said they knew nothing about it. "I don't have any more information than it was for personal reasons and, because those can be sensitive, I haven't asked,'' Cornwall said. Dolan said that the candidate had mentioned financial reasons for dropping out when contacted in person. "I've been told that he has stepped down from running for personal reasons,'' added Carr, who attended the Monday meeting and said she was unaware of any comments the former candidate might have made. "I didn't notice anything at all at that event,'' Carr said. "All of this is coming as a surprise to me...'' ***************************************************************************** 2) The Sunday Herald; April 10, 2005 SCOTLAND: LIBDEM PIONEER GOES TO GREENS by Rob Edwards LIBERAL Democrat hopes of winning one of their target marginal seats in Scotland have been dented by a former parliamentary candidate deciding to stand for the Greens. Stuart Callison, who stood as a LibDem candidate in the 1999 and 2001 elections, is now standing for the Scottish Green Party in East Dunbartonshire. The LibDems need a swing of 6.3-per cent to win the seat from Labour. Callison is launching his election campaign this weekend with an attack on the environmental "hypocrisy" of his former party. He said: "The LibDems have continually failed to put policy into practice. It has become impossible to regard the Liberals' environmental commitments as anything other than a trick, to be discarded if there is any electoral advantage to be had from a contrary view." Callison accused the LibDems of abandoning their manifesto commitment to green taxes on fuel, opposing congestion charging in Edinburgh and campaigning against clean renewable energy in northeast Scotland. "And recently we have had the spectacle of another LibDem minister, Nicol Stephen, approving the M74 extension, in the face of the public inquiry's clear finding that such a scheme would add to pollution and traffic congestion, " he said. Callison joined the Social Democratic Party as a student in 1982, then stood for the SDP Liberal Alliance against Donald Dewar in Glasgow Garscadden in 1987. He was a founder member of the Liberal Democratic Party in 1988. He contested Paisley South in the 1999 Scottish parliamentary elections, then Glasgow Maryhill in the 2001 Westminster elections. He left the party in 2003. *************************************************************************** 3) Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City); April 10, 2005 UTAH: ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS ATTACK PRO-WAR STANCE OF DEMOS, KERRY by Lindsay Iorg Environmental activist and Green Party organizer Bob Brister said Saturday a vote for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election wasn't an effective means to oppose President Bush. Rather, it was a vote for another pro-war presidential candidate. "How do we get out of the cycle of choosing between the greater evil and the lesser evil?" Brister asked a small audience at the Anti-war Activists and Educational Conference in the Salt Lake City Public Library auditorium. "Progressives must declare themselves independent from the pro-war Democratic Party," he said. Brister, along with local and national leaders of the anti-war movement, expressed dissatisfaction with U.S. domestic and foreign policy. Among the injustices addressed was the two-party political system, which raises only a limited set of issues and promotes a narrow way of public thought, the speakers said. Brister said the Green Party was betrayed in the 2004 presidential election when its members adhered to the strategic tactic of supporting Kerry, hoping to beat Bush. The failed strategy came at the cost of aligning even closer to the elected president, he said.... **************************************************************************** 4) Buffalo News (New York); April 10, 2005 NEW YORK: AUDITS OF ERIE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED LONG AGO Last fall, the Executive Committee of the Green Party of Erie County called for both a financial and a personal audit of the county. Thankfully on March 18, under State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, a financial audit finally got under way. Had our call for a financial audit been heard, perhaps the county could have avoided the now infamous red budget process. Perhaps county legislators would have made the inevitable cuts using best-management practices or based upon predetermined outcomes if department heads and legislators had known the true amount of available funds. Instead we saw reductions made with an across-the-board percentage cut to reach the required bottom line. The Buffalo News once called the Green Party of Erie County a "government watchdog." We're still watching and waiting for an independent personnel audit. Sandra J. Carrubba, Vice Chairwoman, Green Party of Erie County **************************************************************************** 5) The Washington Times; April 11, 2005 WASHINGTON D.C.: ANWR IS A START by Patrick J. Michaels Sometimes we have to hand it to our greener friends, especially those in the Green Party. To express their horror about the recent Senate vote to open a teeny section of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling, they raise the global warming specter. Specifically, the March 22 press release says, "Green Party members noted that new drilling not only threatened local lands and wildlife in Alaska, but also risked accelerating the advance of catastrophic global warming." Even if we grant all the globe's average annual warming of 0.017 degree Centigrade in the last 10 years was due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide - and that's quite a concession - the numbers on ANWR are a drop in the barrel.... **************************************************************************** 6) The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois); April 11, 2005 ILLINOIS: GREEN PARTY OPENS NEW LOCAL WEB SITE BLOOMINGTON --The McLean County Green Party has launched a new Web site at www.mcgreens.org , hosted by pabn.org (Progressive Alliance of Bloomington-Normal). **************************************************************************** 7) The Irish Times; April 11, 2005 IRELAND: HARNEY SAYS DEAL WITH FG, LABOUR NOT RULED OUT The Progressive Democrats will go into the next general election open to entering government with Fine Gael and Labour and will not be tied to the single option of coalition with Fianna Fail, according to Tanaiste Mary Harney, writes Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent. In a move which opens up the coalition possibilities after the next election, the PD leader said yesterday that her party is less concerned with the personalities who would be in government than with the policy programme it would agree. "We would be as open to being in a Fine Gael-led government as a Fianna Fail-led government," she told The Irish Times. While the party may contest the next election seeking the return of the present combination, she said: "We are not tied to a Fianna Fail-only option." She said she believed her party could serve in government with Fine Gael and Labour but she ruled out the Green Party, whose economic policies she described as "crazy". ... ...She insisted hers was a policy-driven party which was open to different government options so long as they could have a substantial input into that government's policy. In relation to the Green Party, however, she said their economic policies were "crazy. . . They are so fundamentally different to ours that it just wouldn't work." She said that the Greens favoured "high levels of tax on industry to protect the environment. We believe that increasing economic activity will raise the resources to invest in anti-pollution technology."... **************************************************************************** 8) Financial Times Information via Asia Africa Intelligence Wire/ InfoProd; April 11, 2005 TURKEY: EUP GREEN PARTIES CALL ON PM TO ENHANCE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION According to Sabah, the Greens group of the European Parliament this week sent a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling for improved freedom of expression in Turkey and an immediate end to a so-called "hatred campaign" against Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk. Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the EP's Greens group head, Joost Lagendijk, co-chair of the Turkish-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, and Cem Ozdemir, a German Green of Turkish origin, signed the letter criticizing the attitudes of some Turkish politicians and press organs against Pamuk. They called on Erdogan to protect freedom of expression in Turkey. **************************************************************************** 9) Africa News; April 11, 2005 ZIMBABWE: NEW ZEALAND PM JOINS CRICKET BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark has urged New Zealand Cricket, to consider not touring Zimbabwe in August this year. Speaking after co-leader of The Green Party in New Zealand, Rod Donald, had revealed that he had petitioned 25 NZC players to consider boycotting the Zimbabwe tour, Clark said, "I have to say that, if it were me, I would not be going on the tour both on political and moral grounds," adding that Zimbabwe had just had elections that no reasonable person would agree were free or fair.... *************************************************************************** 10) Aberdeen Press and Journal; April 11, 2005 AUSTRALIA: GREEN MEETING THE Green Party have called a public meeting in the Aytoun Town Hall, Auchterarder, at 7.30pm on April 11. The meeting will discuss climate change and flooding; farming and supermarkets; war, peace and local regiments; energy production and windfarms; transport, planning and the local community; internation justice, fair trade and the G8. The meeting will be a chance to meet George Baxter, Green Party candidate for Ochil and South Perthshire, who will address the meeting and answer questions. MSP Mark Ruskell will take the chair. **************************************************************************** 11) The Toronto Star; April 12, 2005 CANADA: NDP BUOYED BY JUMP IN SUPPORT by Bruce Campion-Smith OTTAWA -- Federal New Democrats have been buoyed by a poll that shows they're gaining support at the expense of the scandal-plagued Liberals. Voter support for the NDP is 20.5 per cent, up five points from last June's election, in the wake of damning allegations from the Gomery inquiry last week. But as the NDP woos disenchanted Liberals, party leader Jack Layton should keep an eye on his rear-view mirror. The Green party got a boost as well - it's at 5 per cent nationwide, according to a Toronto Star poll conducted by EKOS Research - and an influx of cash thanks to new election financing rules. And in the battle for environmentally conscious voters, each party is trying to paint itself as the greenest. Layton says the NDP Kyoto strategy, unveiled in January, has won acclaim from environmental groups, and he touts his own long record on the issue. "I've been working on environment issues for 20 years," said the former Toronto councillor. But Tom Manley, deputy leader of the Green party, says the NDP environmental plan falls short. "They don't have a solution to sustainability any more than the Liberals do," Manley said in an interview. The Green party is looking to woo support from across the political spectrum but the NDP in particular feels the pressure, he said. "If we're going to take a couple of points from them, that hurts," he said. Manley said new political financing has made a "world of difference" for the growing party. Under election financing laws, each political party gets $1.75 for every vote it got in the last election, a move that will pump about $1 million into the Green party coffers this year. The new cash, up dramatically from the one-time annual budget of $35,000, has allowed the party to keep a staff on a payroll instead of having to close up shop between elections, he said. Still, despite the Green party's optimism, it's the NDP that has been capitalizing on Liberal misfortunes and is now poised to do "surprisingly well," said EKOS president Frank Graves. "They are up slightly since February, but more importantly, they now lead as the second-choice party for those whose voting intention may change." **************************************************************************** 12) The Scotsman; April 12, 2005 SCOTLAND: FURY AT GBP 40M LAND PURCHASE AHEAD OF M74 EXTENSION OK by Peter Macmahon THE Scottish Executive was last night accused of double standards after it emerged that it spent GBP 40 million buying land for the controversial M74 extension before the motorway was given the go-ahead. Chris Ballance, the Green Party MSP, levelled the charge at ministers after details of the compulsory purchase of land along the five-mile route emerged, showing that some money was spent even before the inquiry - which rejected the road - had begun. But last night the Executive strongly defended its actions, citing previous purchases of land in advance of road schemes and saying that it acted to protect up to 3,000 jobs. An Executive spokeswoman said that the scale of the purchase was unusual but there were several other examples of land being bought in advance. The Executive owns land in South Queensferry bought for GBP 6.7 million in 1995 as part of the planned second Forth crossing. It also owns some property in Fife for the same reason. Mr Ballance, the Green Party's transport spokesman, said: "This once again shows that there is one set of rules for spending on roads - all the stops pulled out, decisions fast-tracked, large amounts of taxpayers' money made available - and another for public transport projects. "The Waverley Line had its funding capped from the word go, whilst the Glasgow crossrail sat on the back-burner for years despite it being simpler and cheaper than the M74." **************************************************************************** 13) Press Association; April 12, 2005 ENGLAND: GREENS TARGET FIVE KEY SEATS by Amanda Brown The Green Party has set its sights on five key target constituencies and is fielding candidates in 200 seats in the forthcoming General Election, it emerged today. The party's leading spokesman today urged the public to back them, insisting a vote for them would not be "wasted". Greens believe they have a real chance of capturing their first Commons seat on May 5. The top target constituencies include Brighton Pavilion, Lewisham Deptford, Norwich South, Leeds West and Holborn St Pancras. Councillor Darren Johnson, London Assembly member, told a London news conference to launch the Green Party manifesto: "Our top target seats are Brighton Pavilion, where we actually topped the poll in the European elections... and Lewisham Deptford, where I am standing and where we made it to second place in European elections and the GLA elections last year. We are really pushing hard..." The Greens want to increase taxes for higher earners to raise ?15 billion a year for public services, scrap VAT and replace it with an "eco tax", halt the Government's road building programme, withdraw the troops from Iraq and set up a Ministry for Crime Prevention as well as put social justice and sustainability at the heart of their policies. The party said there are billions of pounds to be saved. Mr Johnson told reporters: "We think we can save billions of pounds on defence spending, we think we can save money through scrapping ID cards and the road building programme which would free up ?30 billion." Asked if the Greens were deliberately targeting disgruntled Labour supporters with their manifesto, Mr Johnson replied: "It is not a wasted vote. Our vote has been building up over the years - even after first-past-the-post we have got local councillors elected. "A Green vote is not a wasted vote, otherwise the other parties are going to have it all their own way and there's never going to be any serious opposition to the three main parties." Keith Taylor, councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion, said: "Every Green vote is sending a message to Westminster and a message to City Hall that people are fed up with the politicians who ignore the wishes of the populus. "How many million people do we have to get on to the streets to protest about invading Iraq for our politicians to listen? "And then to be told months later that it was something Mr Blair believed in, is a wholly inadequate response." "It is economic policies and seeking to re-distribute wealth and seeking to offer radical and progressive solutions. "It's all about saving and conserving resources for the future. It's all about getting better value for money and doing more with less. "We are standing on a platform of economic and social justice with at the centre of our policies Planet Peace and People, and who could argue with that? "The Greens are offering a radical agenda, placing the environment at the centre, protecting and conserving resources for future generations, not squandering and polluting. "We are centring on climate and solutions to combating carbon emissions and not pretending that there's no problem like the Westminster parties." Mr Taylor hit out at Prime Minister Tony Blair's war record, accusing him of taking Britain into battle "five times in six years, especially with Iraq there is common agreement that the war was illegal and immoral". "I for one see no evidence that Tony Blair has learned a single lesson from that and I am very worried indeed that when George Bush comes to us and says he doesn't like what Iran's doing can we invade them? I am wondering if Tony Blair has learned any lessons. "We won't be in power on May 6, but I hope we have demonstrated how important it is to have strong Green voices at Westminster because you can bet your bottom dollar that none of the other parties that are there will be championing those issues. They would rather they didn't get mentioned." Mr Taylor said climate change was not an issue for the main political parties and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy was travelling around the country "in the most environmentally damaging form of transport - an aeroplane". "That, we have calculated, is generating one hundred tonnes of carbon. If the guy is completely ignoring the effect of his own activities, what hope do we have in getting delivery from his party of climate (change) reduction measures? "If you look at aviation expansion, the Liberal Democrats are very mealy mouthed about permitting extra runways in the South East of England. They say once the facilities have been used up we might allow some more runways. Air transport is the most polluting form of transport. "The Government has missed its own targets and is going to have a struggle to meet the Kyoto targets and yet is presiding over a system that is encouraging the trebling of aviation in 20 years. "I don't hear the Liberal Democrats challenging that as something that is not in the community's interests." Greens believe that local farmers and local food production is the cure for and not the cause of intensive farming and unhealthy foods. Their policies, they claim, will put British family farming back at the heart of food production and curb the monopolistic power of the supermarkets. Organic food production would be encouraged with a 30% production target. Jenny Jones, London Assembly Member, who is standing for the Greens in South Dulwich and West Norwood, said her party had a message for consumers. Greens are not, she said, "condemning people to a life of misery and imitation". "What we are saying is just understand your impact on not just your own life, but the global economy when you shop. "Nobody ever says that, in fact, if you buy mangoes you are helping the rest of the world. We accept you are always going to want bananas regardless of whatever Greens can do." A Liberal Democrat spokesman responding to the Green Party's claims about Charles Kennedy's travel arrangements during the election campaign said: "We feel it is important that our party leader is able to meet voters across the nation, but are very aware of the issue of environmentally sustainable travel. "We are making a particular effort to ensure our campaign will have a neutral impact overall on the environment. "We contribute to an organisation called 'Climate Care' who fund projects around the world, to reduce greenhouse gases. "They run a scheme that enables you to offset any emissions. We use this organisation regularly - for instance to ensure our Party Conferences are climate neutral. "When the final mileage of our campaign tour is calculated, we will donate the appropriate and scientifically agreed amount to 'Climate Care' to fund projects to reduce carbon emissions by a corresponding amount. "We will oppose the construction of international airports on new sites and also the expansion of airports in the South East." **************************************************************************** 14) Press Association; April 12, 2005 ENGLAND: GREENS OFFER 'MORE JUST AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY' by Amanda Brown The Green Party pledged to put social justice and sustainability at the heart of its policies which aim to safeguard the environment in the long term. Keith Taylor, Green principal speaker and Brighton Pavilion candidate who is to lead today's election manifesto launch in London, said: "The Green manifesto sets out long-term, realistic and radical policies for a more just and sustainable society which places people and the planet at its heart. "For the past five years the big three parties have followed agendas of privatise and pollute which have left carbon dioxide levels soaring, local economies decimated and public services sold off to profiteering private companies. "Meanwhile, successive Governments' neglect of the public transport network has left essential services out of reach to many. "The Green Party proposes real change, such as progressive tax reforms that will raise billions for public services and ?30 billion saved from scrapping the Government's roadbuilding scheme - to rebuild and repair Britain's public transport network. "Meanwhile, we will use money from eco-taxes to invest in the renewable energy industry and create more skilled manufacturing jobs. "Green Party policies are policies for people all about reforging the links between government and the community. They are about recognising that we only have this planet and it must meet our needs as well as those of generations to come. Only the Greens are at the forefront of peace, justice and sustainability." The Green Party said its progressive "eco taxes" will cut carbon dependency and fund a massive investment in renewable energy. Meanwhile better air quality will benefit every citizen and help to cut down on NHS bills. It manifest: Green Taxation. Phase out VAT, replace with eco taxes such as aviation fuel tax, plastic bag tax. Scrap council tax for a Land Value Tax, levied also on speculative property. Scrap employers' National Insurance Contributions to stimulate more employment. Develop community banks that would invest in the local economy. Replace Uniform Business Tax with a Land Value Tax that is much fairer to small businesses. Raise income tax for higher earners, introduce more tax bands. Energy and Climate Change. Set "20% by 2010" CO2 emissions reductions targets. Set "60% by 2010" recycling target for domestic waste. Establish two million square metres of solar panels and two million small-scale wind energy systems. Use funds from eco-taxes to invest heavily in renewables. Introduce a carbon tax, weighted to protect small households. Real Progress on Public Services. Health. Restore the NHS to its founding principles, opposing PPPs and foundation hospitals. Increase funding to at least the pre-2004 EU average - ?90 billion per year by 2008. Phase out prescription charges. Education. Increase education funding, especially post-16 and pre-school. Abolish SATs, move towards more individualised learning plans. Scrap tuition fees, restore student maintenance grants. Real Progress on Transport. Raise ?30 billion for public transport by scrapping the Government's roadbuilding scheme. Return rail and tube networks to public ownership. Re-regulate the bus network. Invest in and improve the rural bus network. Use progressive town and city planning to promote within reach local services and priorities buses, pedestrians and cyclists. Increase fuel duty and abolish the tax disc. Introduce a UK tax on aircraft emissions for domestic flights, increase airport passenger duty. Crime Prevention. Set up a Ministry for Crime Prevention. Oppose ID cards, saving ?3 billion to plough back into community policing. Improve city design to make streets and public spaces safer. Ensure universal access to high-quality youth facilities. Introduce tough new legislation on gun crime. Promote human rights, tackle hate crime. Farming and Food. Introduce an organic targets bill, setting an organic target of 30% by 2012. Fight to reform the CAP and the CFP, to help small and family farmers. Ban GM foods. Make the supermarkets code of practice legally binding and monitored by an independent watchdog. Peace and Progress. Decommission the UK's nuclear weapons and work for arms reduction. Increase the overseas aid budget to 1% of the UK's GDP. Cancel the UK's debt for the 52 poorest countries. Withdraw all UK troops from Iraq. End subsidies and credit for UK arms exports, close Defence Export Services and Export Guarantee Department. Work towards replacing the World Trade Organisation with a General Agreement on Sustainable Trade. **************************************************************************** 15) The New Zealand Herald; April 12, 2005 NEW ZEALAND: GREENS JOIN OPPOSITION TO ROTORUA AIRPORT PLAN The Green Party has joined Labour in opposing international flights from Rotorua Airport. Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons met Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters yesterday to confirm the party's opposition to the airport's extension and plans to handle transtasman flights. Labour has already indicated it will oppose the move and the airport will be one of the matters Prime Minister Helen Clark will discuss with Mr Winters when the two meet this evening. "We agree with the Government that this airport plan should not proceed, though our reasons may be somewhat different," Ms Fitzsimons said. Among the Greens' concerns are the impact transtasman flights could have on the environment and rising oil prices. Ms Fitzsimons said with the skyrocketing price of the world's oil supplies it was an inappropriate time to spend millions of dollars on more airports. "I believe it could be a white elephant. Instead, they should reinstate the rail link to Auckland so tourists can fly into Auckland then hop on the train to Rotorua." Biosecurity was also a huge issue which had not been properly considered, Ms Fitzsimons said. "There are all kinds of subtropical nasties. Do the people of Rotorua want to be sprayed for the painted apple moth?" Rotorua Green Party candidate Amanda Reid said the environmental impact of extending the airport was significant. She said it would include "unacceptable noise pollution for residents on the flight path, further encroachment on Maori land without resolution of existing grievances and the destruction of a unique eco-system of wetlands and kahikatea trees".... **************************************************************************** 16) Hobart Mercury (Australia); April 12, 2005 AUSTRALIA: GREENS CLAIM LOOPHOLE IN LAW ALLOWS GAY WEDDINGS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BID by Danny Rose A LOOPHOLE created during federal reforms of marriage law has opened the door for Tasmania to legislate to allow same-sex weddings, say the Greens. The party also announced it had prepared three Bills, to be introduced to State Parliament today, that would enable Australia's first recognised gay marriages to be performed in Tasmania. Franklin Greens MHA Nick McKim said he expected the move to be controversial. He said he would call for the Bills to be discussed first by a parliamentary committee. He said this would give the public more of a say and, he hoped, lead to a "mature and respectful public debate" of the topic. "The time has come to begin a mature debate on the issue of same-sex marriage, which I hope will lead to the removal of one of the final bastions of discrimination faced by same-sex couples," Mr McKim said yesterday.... *************************************************************************** 17) Wellington Weekly News; April 13, 2005 NEW ZEALAND: GREENS WON'T GAMBLE :500 The Green Party has pulled out of the General Election fight in Taunton - less than six months after announcing Milverton mum Dawn Stephenson as its candidate amid a fanfare of publicity. Local party chairman and election agent Alan Debenham told the WWN on Monday that the decision had been taken owing to lack of funds and a shortage of "troops on the ground". He added: "It is hard for a handful of people to raise the money for the ?500 deposit and pay for leaflets and other material. "Instead we will be concentrating our resources on the Upper Tone ward, where Dawn will be standing in the county council elections on the same day, and where we feel she has a chance of winning." Mrs Stephenson's withdrawal from the fray could be good news for Liberal Democrat Jeremy Browne, who is bidding to overtake Tory Adrian Flook's 235-vote majority at the polls on May 5. Mr Debenham is urging Green Party supporters to switch their vote to the "peace candidate" - a direct reference to the Lib Dems' opposition to the Iraq war. He also assured us that outstanding bills associated with the launch of Mrs Stephenson's candidacy last November will be paid soon. Money is said to be owed to both Oake Manor Golf Club and the Albemarle Centre in Taunton.... **************************************************************************** 18) The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia); April 13, 2005 CANADA: GREEN PARTY STILL SEEKING CANDIDATE FOR PROVINCIAL ELECTION DELTA -- The Green party, which managed to attract nearly 17 per cent of the vote in Delta South in the last provincial election, still doesn't have a local candidate for the May 17 provincial election. With only a few days to go before the writ is dropped on April 19, John Hague, who is running for the Greens in Delta North, is still holding out hope that Delta South independent candidate Vicki Huntington will wrap herself in the Green banner. "She could make Canadian history. She could be the first Green party candidate elected to senior government," Hague said. Huntington, known as a Conservative federally, has a strong environmental background on the civic front. The Delta North candidate, who calls Huntington and himself former "green Tories," said the party has held off pursuing other candidates while it continues to court the longtime civic councillor. **************************************************************************** 19) Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia); April 13, 2005 CANADA: DUKE POINT POWER PLANT ADVANCES ANOTHER STEP: COURT SAYS OPPONENTS CAN'T APPEAL UTILITY COMMISSION APPROVAL by Andrew A. Duffy The Duke Point power project is one step closer to breaking ground after the B.C. Appeal Court ruled Tuesday there is no leave for appeal of the B.C. Utilities Commission's approval of an electricity purchase agreement between B.C. Hydro and proponent Pristine Power.... ...It didn't take long for the Green Party to weigh in and turn the project into an election issue. Nanaimo Green Party candidate Doug Catley said the appeal court ruling was another example of a public body failing to protect the public interest. **************************************************************************** 20) Press Association; April 13, 2005 ENGLAND: QUOTES OF THE DAY "In over 50 years of political life, I have learned at least one valuable lesson: 'If anyone offers to resign in a huff, accept' It saves time" - Green Party peer Lord Beaumont of Whitley.... *************************************************************************** 21) The Irish Times; April 13, 2005 IRELAND: GREEN TDS OPPOSE PRE-ELECTION PACT by Mark Brennock Most Green Party TDs are opposed to entering a pre-election pact with other parties, and the party leader and chairman believe this reflects the majority view of their membership. Four of the six Green Party deputies yesterday said they believed they should fight the next election as an independent party in order to maximise their number of Dail seats and support for their policies. The other two TDs expressed reservations about a pact but did not state a fixed position. Green opposition to a pre-election deal is a blow to the ambitions of Fine Gael and Labour to form a tripartite alliance with that party in advance of an election, expected in 2007. Most Green TDs said yesterday that although the logic of their opposition to this Government was that they wanted the Coalition parties replaced, they did not believe in a formal opposition alliance. All said they wanted to be in government. The party's annual conference in Cork next month will debate motions calling on the party to fight the next election independent of alliances with other parties. Deputies Dan Boyle, Ciaran Cuffe, Paul Gogarty and John Gormley said yesterday their personal view was that they should contest the election as an independent party. Eamon Ryan TD said he too had doubts about a pre-election pact but remained "open to persuasion". Party leader Trevor Sargent did not express a personal view but said he believed most members were currently against a pact, a view shared by Mr Gormley. Mr Sargent said there was a danger in pre-election pacts, which was that the identity of smaller parties became blurred. Party members would first have to agree on a policy platform, an approach to government negotiations, and what minimum number of seats was necessary to ensure it had enough influence in a government. "After that comes the decision on whether to fight as a totally independent party", he said. They would be seeking commitments from potential coalition partners on investment in public transport, mechanisms to stop industry from burning scarce fossil fuels, care services for the elderly and childcare. Mr Gormley said the Green Party "has a clear identity independent of other parties" and he believed it should fight an election independently. "Look at the history of the PDs," he said. "They had a pact with Fianna Fail in 1997 and they were almost wiped out." Mr Cuffe (Dun Laoghaire) said his personal view was that the party should fight the next general election on issues, and should not enter any formal voting pact. "We are issues-based. It comes down to what parties we can do business with on transport, healthcare, childcare and other issues. The crucial question is what parties would implement our policies," Mr Cuffe said. Mr Gogarty (Dublin Mid-West) said he believed the Green Party should contest the next election independently of other parties. "I believe we will get more Green seats if we put forward a distinctive platform." Mr Boyle (Cork South Central) also expressed a preference for fighting the election as an independent party. He said that, historically, "it has been better for the electoral strength of small parties to go into an election without a pact and then to negotiate afterwards". Responding to Ms Harney's description of Green Party economic policies as "crazy", Mr Boyle said: "The feeling is mutual." *************************************************************************** 22) The Independent (London); April 13, 2005 ENGLAND: GAFFE OF THE DAY: Keith Taylor, one of the principal speakers of the Green Party. The former beer importer from Essex told the BBC that the environment was a 'minority interest' issue. The party banner fell off the stage during their manifesto launch and their policy on eating local fruit fell flat when their spokeswoman Jenny Jones admitted that 'people are always going to want bananas'. **************************************************************************** 23) Financial Times (London, England); April 13, 2005 ENGLAND: THE EVIL SCHEMES OF THE CUNNING GREENS ROBERT SHRIMSLEY - NOTEBOOK by Robert Shrimsley The first thing one has to acknowledge about the Greens is that they are nice people; really nice people; the kind of people you would want living next door to you as long as you could cope with the smell of pigs and the sound of chickens. So, er, perhaps make that the kind of people you would want a few roads down. But definitely nearby. Maybe a five-minute drive away - although obviously that would be a 15-minute walk. If you are asking a Green to babysit your kids for an hour they prefer you not to bring them round in the back of your Hummer. But that is fine because you would not want to upset them as they are so nice. A tad earnest, but definitely nice. It is, in other words, very hard to dislike the Greens; very hard, but still worth a try. It is worth it, not merely out of sheer cussedness - although that quality is grossly undervalued - but because if you peel away the layers of niceness the Greens are in fact, the handmaidens of Satan. For years they have conned us into thinking they are a bunch of harmless cranks. But we know that can't be true or they would have joined the Lib Dems instead. The truth is far more sinister. Oh, they may look harmless in their bicycle clips and man-made fibres, quietly munching their alfalfa bars. They may sound well-meaning with all this talk of protecting the environment, but these people are standing between you and a second home in the Cotswolds. They hate your holiday on Grand Cayman and are in eternal revolt against imported fruit or your right to drive a 4x4. Don't be fooled by their unelectability, the carefully erected facade of incompetence which prevents them even choosing a leader. Oh, they may talk about saving the planet but they'd have your iPod, soon as look at you. The combination of the Westminster voting system and their immense niceness has got them an easy ride from press and public. But deep down they yearn to destroy the capitalist system if they could. They would just try to do it courteously. Yesterday they launched their election manifesto at the Institute of Civil Engineers in Westminster. They could have gone to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers next door but they opted for the civil engineers - so much more polite. There was, as one might expect, a lot of environmental stuff; carbon taxes, air-fuel duties, greater energy efficiency, more fresh local produce, an end to road-building and a ban on genetically modified food. There was even an extra Pounds 14bn for the NHS, a 35 per cent rise in child benefit and the renationalisation of the railways. All we have to accept in return is a 30 per cent rise in corporation tax for large companies, 50 per cent income tax for those earning Pounds 50,000 and 60 per cent for those on Pounds 100,000, a new raft of eco-taxes and zero economic growth. Actually Darren Johnson, leader of London's Greens, stressed that zero economic growth is "frankly a bit of a blunt instrument". In some sectors negative growth would be better. Herein is the secret story with the Greens. You vote for them thinking you are signing up for a bit of saving the planet, solar panels, organic tomatoes and nettle wine. It turns out you have voted for the British economy circa the 1970s with the added bonus of Tony Benn as chancellor. Porritts to the Pounds The manifesto in fact reveals that the Greens don't really believe in a national economy at all. They believe in lots of "self-sufficient" local economies with a range of barter schemes or even new local currencies for those regional economies. In their ideal world then, Britons will be trading in Porritts and Oddies as they cycle to the local farm for that night's dinner on their way home from a hard day's work at the blacksmiths. Not that everything will be different. We may not be flying off on holiday any more but we will still need Travelexes to convert our Porritts into Monbiots for the annual trip to Wigan. It should be stated that they do not want a complete cultural revolution with all of us living in shanties and mud huts. For one thing that would be Maoist; and for another they would never countenance such a huge programme of construction with the earth's scarce resources. Of course, the Greens do not expect to implement their policies. They admit that even winning one seat would be a breakthrough. So this is more of a wish list of ideas. But there's plenty more where they came from. Jenny Jones, another candidate, said yesterday that we should all act as if we had our own personal allowance of environmentally unfriendly actions. So, look, if you want to eat a mango, well that's fine, but that's your limit for the day. If you want another one you should trade for a bit of someone else's allowance. Of course this would be voluntary. We are not going to have squads of green police bursting into people's homes and carting them away for excessive mango munching or loitering with intent to consume bananas. That would not be nice. And as we know, the Greens are terribly nice. *************************************************************************** 24) Anchorage Daily News (Alaska); April 13, 2005 ALASKA: OPINION- VOTER CHOICE by Matt Zencey Skip the political machinations on ballot access questions When is a political party large enough to deserve a regular spot on Alaska's election ballot? The Legislature is pondering that question, and -- what a surprise -- the answer may depend more on political considerations than on enlightened notions of democracy and voter choice. In the Republican-run state House, the State Affairs Committee worked up criteria that give the Green Party a slot on the next statewide ballot while keeping the Libertarians off. (The measure is HB94.) Politically, that would help Republicans. Conventional wisdom is that the Green Party siphons votes from Democrats while Libertarians draw from those who are more likely to vote Republican. The House Judiciary Committee took a more inclusive approach. It changed the standard so both the smaller parties would be on the ballot. (Numerically speaking, the change was subtle. Instead of requiring a party to get 3 percent in a statewide race, the Judiciary Committee dropped the threshold to 2 percent.) There's no guarantee the more inclusive version will survive though to final passage. It is the product of a rare bipartisan amendment in committee. All too often in Juneau, power is wielded by partisans who think that what's best for their party is automatically what's best for Alaska. It's a quirk of the American two-party system that the two major political parties get to decide the rules for letting smaller parties onto the ballot. There's no golden rule or magic formula that says whether 2 percent or 3 percent of the vote is the right threshold. If there's a general principle at work here, rather than crass political considerations, it's that more choice for voters is better than less choice. Competition helps drive improvement in the marketplace, and it can do so in Alaska's politics as well. BOTTOM LINE: When it's a close call about letting a political party onto Alaska's ballot, give voters more choice, not less. **************************************************************************** 25) The Vancouver Province (British Columbia); April 14, 2005 CANADA: GREEN PARTY'S PLATFORM NOT RULING OUT TAX HIKES by Ian Bailey Adriane Carr promises the cost of her Green Party's platform will add up even though no figures were released yesterday to go with such pledges as boosting school funding, taxing junk food and ensuring seniors' care is provided in communities where they or their families live. Other pledges in the party's 55-page platform include commitments to: - Legalize the adult use of marijuana and tax it at a rate similar to tobacco. - Re-establish B.C. Ferries as a Crown corporation. - Assert provincial jurisdiction over the sex trade. - And hold a public inquiry into the sale of B.C. Rail by the Liberal government. Carr said officials have costed out the pledges, but their calculations were going through a "last-minute" review and would be released next week as the campaign for the May 17 provincial election officially begins. "It does add up to more than a balanced budget," said Carr, going into her second election as leader. "It's a four-week election. [Voters] will hear those costs. I am confident that people will be patient." Unlike the NDP and Liberals, Carr isn't ruling out tax hikes. Instead, the Greens are proposing "tax shifting" and say they'd boost taxes in some areas -- such as a 10-per-cent junk food tax, five-cents-a-litre "clean air" tax on gas and diesel fuel and taxes on polluters. "There will be tax increases in some areas, and reductions in other areas," said Carr. Carr, running in Powell River-Sunshine Coast, said the party is as committed to conserving money as resources. The release of the Green platform coincided yesterday with the release of the NDP platform. Carr said the Greens had scheduled their release before learning the New Democrats would be unveiling their platform at the same time. Carr ruled out delaying the Green plan: "We were geared up and ready to go with people involved." The Greens have nominated candidates in 52 of B.C.'s 79 ridings, and have 11 nominations ready to go, said Carr. The party is aiming for a full slate of candidates. They are also not aiming to form the government -- yet. "We are aiming to break through and elect MLAs so we can be a new set of voices and gain experience to eventually form government," Carr said. **************************************************************************** 26) The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York); April 14, 2005 NEW YORK: NADER ON THE RADAR by John Mariani Ralph Nader, who tried to persuade voters that he was the only viable option to President George W. Bush or Sen. John Kerry, is coming to Syracuse on Friday and Saturday to help the Green Party organize for 2005 and to raise money to defray his own 2004 campaign expenses. Nader will appear at a dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Westcott Community Center, then head to SU's Hendricks Chapel for a rally at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $50 and are available in advance at the Southside Newsstand, 2621 S. Salina St. Donations will be accepted at the door at the rally. On Saturday, the consumer advocate will help the Greens open its two-day "Organizing to Win" conference at the former Printers Devil building, 307 E. Division St., Syracuse. The conference begins at 9 a.m. and Nader is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m., said Howie Hawkins , the party's Onondaga County coordinator. Rebecca Rotzler , deputy mayor of New Paltz, will be the featured speaker at the Sunday session, which also opens at 9 a.m. Rotzler is a member of the village board's Green majority. Fees for the conference range from $10 to $30. ***************************************************************************** 27) North Devon Journal; April 14, 2005 ENGLAND: GREEN PARTY ADOPTS AN 'ANTHEM' People heard humming a popular 1980s Peter Gabriel smash hit around North Devon in coming weeks could be forgiven for thinking it has been re-released. But it is all down to Ricky Knight, the Green Party candidate for North Devon, who has persuaded the world famous musician to let the party use Don't Give Up as his campaign anthem. Mr Knight, a teacher, has re-recorded the song which he thinks is "ideal" for the Green Party. He explained: "It is not the original song but is a cover version. It was originally recorded as a wedding gift for a family friend about four years ago." In November last year, Mr Knight - who confesses to being a huge Peter Gabriel fan - met the man himself at the wedding of Dominic Greensmith, the drummer with rock band Reef. Mr Knight said Peter Gabriel gave his permission for the song to be used after he penned the "most preposterously ingratiating" letter to the artist little more than a month ago. It was recorded by Mr Knight and it features Julie-Alanah Brighten, the West End musical star, who was once in his band Geneva, along with Mr Knight's son Jason, keyboard player with rock band Reef and Dominic Greensmith, Reef's drummer. He said: "The song is ideal for the Green Party because the words are appropriate because it talks the essence of it is about is to keep going and refusing to give up." The song is available in MP3 format and can be downloaded from Mr Knight's website and the national Green Party website. ***************************************************************************** 28) Morning Star; April 14, 2005 ENGLAND: GREENS GROW; MARK BALLARD ARGUES THAT IT IS WELL WORTH GIVING THE GREENS YOUR VOTE ON MAY 5 by Mark Ballard Only six years ago, Greens took a big step forward when Robin Harper was elected as the first Green parliamentarian in the UK. Now, there are seven MSPs in the Scottish Parliament. Two UK MEPs join a European Green group of 33 and there are some 60 Green councillors in Britain. Across Europe, Greens hold the balance of power in several countries and there are Green parties in 70 countries worldwide. Against this background, even without making the Westminster voting system more democratically representative, a Green MP seems almost inevitable. Especially when you consider that we are already starting to push to being the main challenger in some Westminster constituencies. The 2004 European election results saw the Greens take second place in two constituencies - Glasgow Kelvin and Edinburgh North & Leith. The Scottish Green Party will stand candidates in 20 constituencies in the Westminster election, nearly five times as many as 2001. A first-past-the-post breakthrough is a challenge of course - but by no means fanciful. By concentrating our resources on targeted contests, people will know that their vote could make a real difference this time round. We are also living within our means. Unlike other Scottish political parties, we don't have a burden of debt. As we grow as a political force, up to a third of Scottish voters will now have the chance to vote for a Green Westminster candidate, many for the first time. Just as Robin Harper made the breakthrough in Scotland, a Green MP would drive a wedge into politics as usual across the rest of the UK. We believe that our record over the last six years shows that voting Green is a serious choice for change. We have taken our responsibilities very seriously - proposing and influencing legislation, initiating investigations, leading revolts over issues like government plans for ID cards and bringing pressing issues to public attention. Even columnist George Kerevan, who not often has a kind word to say about us, recently wrote: "The Greens have proved a tougher political proposition than I predicted ... they have attempted to cover every major aspect of Holyrood politics and be serious about legislation." Our pre-manifesto pledges - centred on the themes of people, planet and peace - kick off our election campaign, setting out key commitments on major reserved matters that affect Scots directly. There are key issues at stake - the erosion of civil liberties, our changing climate, trade injustice and poverty both here and abroad, plans for yet more nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants on Scottish soil, ID cards and a government-sponsored culture of fear and conflict. For many people, voters and the army of non-voters, things don't look good. We stand on a platform that puts peace before war, to promote and nurture peaceful approaches to reducing conflict. We put forward solutions to make real progress on the global challenges of climate change and trade injustice. We offer an agenda that puts people and the environment first, not just the interests of big business. Our message that we need to grow an economy that is sustainable, both environmentally and socially, is hitting home. We will spell out ways of building and protecting local economies. Our pledges will again remind people that Greens are serious about all aspects of the political agenda - that we are the only party to join the dots between the environment, social justice and the economy. We could also make progress on one of our key principles - continuing the process of bringing power closer to the people. We see independence for Scotland as a means of empowering communities that are currently trampled over by centralised governments and increasingly powerful businesses. Independence should not be a matter merely of territorialism or sovereignty - that debate and those concepts are now largely irrelevant. Neither is it a matter of naively basing our country's future spending on a finite fossil fuel. Rather, it is about true devolution that brings politics and politicians closer to the people. Indeed, putting the interests of big business and corporations before communities and people has become a hallmark of the Labour/LibDem coalition - one that will remain in the public mind, be it a Scottish or UK election. We are confident of taking votes from Lib Dems, in particular, due to their poor record on the environment and social justice issues - on GM crops, congestion charging or the Glasgow M74. Any "green" claims that they or Labour make in this election will sound very hollow indeed. We'll take SNP votes too - for many, a party of the single issue of independence is increasingly inadequate. And, while the "main" parties merge into an indistinguishable morass of shallow, short-termist point-scoring, it is little surprise that people are looking for something different from politics as usual. The problems that face people and the planet need to be tackled much more seriously - and that requires fresh ideas, courageous policies and honest politicians willing to take on tough decisions rather than tinker round the edges. For many, this will be the first time that they vote with conviction rather than settling for a tactical vote to "keep out the Tories." Increasingly, people are asking - why vote for the best of a bad bunch when you can vote Green instead? It certainly seems like a Green MP is inevitable - our sister party in England and Wales is standing in 180 seats with some real possibilities, such as in Brighton, to make a breakthrough. But wouldn't it be good to see a Scot become the first Green member at Westminister? Mark Ballard is Scottish Green MSP for Lothians and its speaker on parliamentary affairs. ***************************************************************************** 29) Morning Star; April 14, 2005 ENGLAND: BRITAIN - LUCAS ATTACKS MEPS FOR REJECTING ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES; Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas condemned fellow MEPs yesterday for rejecting a package of anti-fraud measures which would have prevented abuse of their expenses and pension schemes. The European parliament in Strasbourg rejected a series of proposals that would have introduced stricter controls of their expenses claims and ended the monthly merry-go-round of alternating business between Brussels and Strasbourg. MEPs' expenses are currently paid without the need for receipts to be produced and flights are reimbursed at a higher rate than the actual costs of fares, allowing some MEPs to notch up unofficial tax-free bonuses of up to GBP 10,000 a year. But the parliament rejected proposals to bring the system in line with best practice by scrapping the Strasbourg "seat" and making MEPs' expenses, allowances and pension arrangements clear, transparent and subject to public scrutiny. The South-East England MEP said: "MEPs have rejected proposals to put their own house in financial order by stamping out huge areas of fraud and waste - and I am absolutely disgusted. "Their failure to subject themselves to the same rules as everyone else amounts to the adoption of a cheats' charter," she added. ***************************************************************************** 30) The Irish Times; April 14, 2005 IRELAND: STATE 'INFAMOUS' FOR BREACHING EU LAW by Marie O'Halloran The Government needs to "pull its socks up" over breaches of EU law for which it is "infamous", the Green Party has claimed. As party leader Trevor Sargent called for an investigation into continued "maladours" from the Ringsend sewage treatment plant in Dublin, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he was amused by the party's inconsistency. Mr Sargent "opposes every treaty, but he uses every power that the treaties give us", Mr Ahern said. The Green Party leader said Ireland was cited in the second highest number of legal actions by the EU Commission and in the highest number of complaints per capita on environmental issues. He said party chairman John Gormley, in whose Dublin South East constituency the Ringsend plant is located, had made an official complaint to the EU about the problem, which continued almost two years after the plant was opened. Mr Sargent said the Taoiseach had "presided over and accepted the plaudits for the opening of the plant, but will he accept political responsibility and commission an investigation to enable people know what the problem is and deal with it?" He said the EU Commission had repeatedly warned the Government about the need for legislation to regulate waste-water plants. People who lived in Ringsend, Sandymount or the southeast area "are faced with problems on a daily basis". If the problem was not addressed Mr Ahern would be standing over more than EUR 300 million of misspent taxpayers' money in building the plant. Mr Ahern denied it was a major problem, and said the state-of-the-art plant had resulted in Dublin Bay being cleaned up. "A wonderful, magnificent job has been done in the area." He said the commission had criticised Ireland for not having rules for odour from waste-water treatment plants, and the draft binding rules were being finalised by the department to comply with this requirement. The reality, however, "is that the rules will not prevent odours arising from time to time while a new plant is being commissioned and settling". This was the technical advice they had received. "Obviously these issues must be addressed by the builders and operators of the plants, and they are endeavouring to do so." ***************************************************************************** 31) InfoProd via Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire; April 14, 2005 TURKEY: GERMAN GREEN PARTY'S 'GENOCIDE' BILL CRITICIZED According to Turkiye, speaking at a press conference following his meeting with Fritz Kuhn, the foreign policy spokesperson of the Greens in Germany, Parliament European Union Harmonization Commission head Yasar Yakis said that a draft bill prepared by the Greens on the so-called Armenian genocide was rife with falsehoods, adding that the measure could harm relations between Germany and Turkey. ***************************************************************************** 32) South Wales Evening Post; April 15, 2005 WALES: CAMPAIGN WEB LOGS Neath Green Party has vowed to keep its voters closely involved in the election campaign. Susan Jay, who is standing for the party in Neath, and Miranda La Vey, who is standing in Aberavon, want to make voters feel more engaged in politics. To help them do this, the candidates have established blogspots. Ms La Vey said today: "A blogspot is available on the internet and is a shortened version of a web log. "The blog will be updated everyday and people with limited computer knowledge will be able to access the blogs and follow our campaign. "Voters will also be able to use the blogs to post comments and questions to the candidates and this means getting the answers to questions about issues that really affect them." Ms La Vey hopes the blogs will encourage more people to get involved in politics. ***************************************************************************** 33) The Mirror; April 16, 2005 ENGLAND: SELLAFIELD ACTION CALL THE Green Party yesterday demanded Government action over the damning warnings on Sellafield. It emerged the plant may have to operate for 150 years and that more nuclear waste may be discharged into the Irish Sea. Green spokesman Ciaran Cuffe said: "We want the Irish Government to apply pressure on British Prime Minister Tony Blair to speed up the vitrification of liquid waste at Sellafield." ***************************************************************************** 34) The Mirror; April 16, 2005 ENGLAND: GREENS LASH LESBIAN BIAS by Neil Cotter THE Green Party yesterday slammed the Government's "shameful" decision to contest a lesbian couple's bid to have their marriage recognised here. Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan, who were married in Canada, are taking legal action to have their union acknowledged in Ireland. Greens justice spokesman Ciaran Cuffe said: "This is a human rights issue. I believe this will cost the Government and the Irish taxpayers more in the long run if the case is defended." Ministers fear if the lesbian couple gained tax concessions, the state's 77,000 cohabiting couples could do likewise. The cost of that has been estimated at EUR167million a year. ***************************************************************************** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more Green Party news go to http://web.greens.org/news/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Tue Apr 19 11:52:20 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 08:52:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Tulsa to host National Meeting July 21-24 Message-ID: <20050419155220.38712.qmail@web81106.mail.yahoo.com> The Green Party of Oklahoma will host the meeting in Tulsa on 21 - 24 July. Both Tom and I voted for this, the only proposal. I do hope we discuss who could go and why. I am not sure I can go at this time, but i think it would be very valuble to us. The Tulsa, Oklahoma proposal is temporarily available online at http://www.jmbzine.com/okgreens-nationalproposal/ and will be available later at www.okgreens.org. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Tue Apr 19 12:36:41 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 12:36:41 -0400 Subject: {news} Elizabeth Brancato, Justine McCabe, and David Eliscu were approved to serve on Peace Action Committee Message-ID: <005d01c54503$9b45aba0$c4fbf504@edgn2b574u14bi> At its 4/11/05 meeting, the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Green Party decided that Elizabeth Brancato, Justine McCabe, and David Eliscu are approved by the Connecticut Green Party to serve on the Peace Action Committee of the national party. The Executive Committee acted in accord with a proposal (pasted below) passed by the March 2005 SCC meeting. (The minutes of that meeting have not yet been completed, but will be put on the News listserve before the April 26 SCC meeting.) Solicitation of other candidates had been done previously. The agenda item "approval of Elizabeth Brancato, Justine MccAbe and David Eliscu to serve on national Green Party's Peace Action Committee" appeared on the March SCC agenda, although time did not permit consideration of it at that meeting. I am publishing notice of approval today to the News listserve. The minutes of the 4/11/05 Executive Committee meeting have not yet been completed, but will be put on the News listserve before the April 26 SCC meeting. --Ed DuBrule former CT Green Party secretary and former member of the Executive Committee--my term in office ended 4/17/05, the date of the CT Green Party's annual meeting, when new officers (including a new secretary) were elected. ------------------------------------------ Appendix 4 Green Party Meeting Proposal Form PRESENTER: Executive Committee CONTACT: Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT 06790, embrancato at netzero.com SUBJECT: Approval of Delegates to National Committees BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are many national committees which SCC members in good standing can join and contribute to. We feel this benefits and strengthens our SCC, as well as the individual delegates. We would like to encourage members joining and working on national committees. We have, in the past, put these nominations before the full SCC. This has sometimes resulted in delay and discouragement. The SCC meetings often do not have quorum. When there is quorum, the agendas are so full that often all business is not done, or is done in a rushed manner. PROPOSAL: We propose that the Connecticut Green Party allow the Executive Committee to approve delegates to national committees. Notice of the pending approval and solicitation of other candidates will take place before the approval. Notice of the approval will be posted on the News list serve within 48 hours of the approval being granted. Notice of the approval will be reported at the next SCC meeting as part of the report of the Executive Committee. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Wed Apr 20 00:59:03 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 00:59:03 -0400 Subject: {news} agenda 4/26/05 SCC meeting,part 1 of 2 Message-ID: <002b01c54566$5a541dd0$31ecf504@edgn2b574u14bi> Agenda--April 26, 2005 SCC meeting Time: 7-9pm Location: Wesleyan University, Middletown CT, Fisk Hall Room 302 Directions: Take Rt. 9 to Exit 15 onto Rt. 66 West (Washington Street). Proceed uphill on Rt. 66 (Washington Street) for about 1/2 mile to the 4th traffic light and turn left onto High St. Fisk Hall is located at 262 High Street, 2 blocks down on the left at the 2nd traffic light (corner of High & College Streets). Parking: From High Street turn left onto College Street and turn left again into the parking lot located in back of the Fisk Hall. No parking permit is needed. Go to www.wesleyan.edu for a campus map. On the homepage click on "About Wesleyan", then click on "campus map". Facilitator: David Eliscu Note to chapter reps: to make SCC meetings as productive as possible, please make every effort to come prepared to vote on each issue in the agenda. Members of the Executive Committee are willing to answer questions about agenda items, or the committees, chapters, or groups of 5-or-more Greens that proposed agenda items can be contacted. A. PRELIMINARIES 1. (2 minutes) Introductions/identify chapter reps, recruit stacker and timekeeper 2. (1 minute) Identify people present who are NOT voting reps (information needed by secretary) 3. (1 minute) Adopt groundrules (last page of this agenda) 4. (2 minutes) Approval of tonight's proposed agenda/additions and deletions 5. (2 minutes) Comments/approval of March SCC minutes 6. (5 minutes) Treasurer's report 7. (10 minutes) Guest slot: 5 minutes will be allocated for parting remarks of any member of the old Executive Committee who wishes to speak. Then 5 minutes will be allocated for the new Executive Committee. B. OLD BUSINESS AND PROPOSALS 1. (10 minutes) Proposal on funding of office (Appendix 1) 2. (15 minutes) Proposal on creation of a "Chapter Balance" Fund (Appendix 2) 3. (5 minutes) Select replacement on Process Committee for Rachel Goodkind, who has moved from Connecticut --must be female 4. (10 minutes) Proposal on Executive Committee endorsement of events (Appendix 3) 5. (10 minutes) Proposal on modified consensus process and facilitators (Appendix 4) C. REPORTS 1. Chapter reports (1 minute each) 2. (10 minutes) Internal Elections Committee 3. (5 minutes) 2004-5 Executive Committee 4. (5 minutes) Report from US Green Party representatives 5. (2 minutes) Legislative report (Mike) 6. (2 minutes) VOTER (Mike) D. ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 1 Proposal on funding of office CTGP Proposal Form April 5, 2005 PRESENTER: Hamden Chapter, Northwest Chapter, Shoreline chapter, and Women's Caucus CONTACT: Kelly McCarthy; 83 Treadwell St, Hamden, CT 06517; 203-230-9726; kelly.mccarthy at aya.yale.edu SUBJECT: CTGP funding of office space in Hartford BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The CTGP has gone through the last fiscal year without an approved budget. The voting body of the SCC have been denied their right to vote on and shape how our operational funds have been and continue to be distributed. Most importantly, and specifically, the degree to which we continue funding the office space in Hartford, which currently accounts for approximately 90% of all yearly cash expenditures (see Office Committee Report), must be addressed. This one activity determines what the CTGP can or can't afford to do, representing a disproportionate distribution of our funding. PROPOSAL: If we continue funding the office space in Hartford (and its related expenses) at the current rate, we leave ourselves without cash funding for any other endeavors (supporting local candidates, merchandizing, holding events, doing regular mailings, etc.). We suggest that this is the single most important issue we will vote on this year, and the issue should be considered accordingly. Therefore, we propose that the SCC cease the funding of the office space in Hartford immediately, upon a favorable vote of this proposal, which includes all costs associated with rent, utilities, taxes and office liability insurance. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 2 Proposal on creation of a "Chapter Balance" Fund CTGP Proposal Form April 5, 2005 PRESENTER: Hamden Chapter CONTACT: Kelly McCarthy; 83 Treadwell St, Hamden, CT 06517; 203-230-9726; kelly.mccarthy at aya.yale.edu SUBJECT: Creation of a "Chapter Balance" Fund BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The CTGP has allowed itself to accrue a great deal of debt by spending monies owed to its Chapters for operational expenses. By not separating our operational funds and chapter balances, we now find ourselves in a situation contrary to the Ten Key Values and our own CTGP by-laws. PROPOSAL: We propose that the SCC instruct the Treasurer to maintain a Chapter Balance Fund for the CTGP sufficient to cover all monies owed to individual Chapters, and governed by the following: 1) Monies designated to this fund will be used solely as the depository for the 30% share of donations received by the CTGP owed to individual Chapters from this time forward; 2) No general operational expenses will be paid out of this fund, and requests to the Treasurer from Chapters for any portion of their balance (from donations received after the fund's inception) will only be paid from these monies; 3) No Chapter will be "loaned" money from this fund. Withdrawals will only be honored up to the limit of the individual Chapter's balance; 4) Balances currently owed to all Chapters will be paid out of the current operating budget, as requested to the Treasurer, until individual Chapters reach a zero balance via withdrawal requests or by donating their remaining balance to the CTGP operating fund; 5) Any existing negative Chapter balance must be remedied before said Chapter's subsequent 30% share of donations are credited to this fund. Until a negative balance is resolved, any and all credits for said Chapters will be applied to the existing negative balance. 6) The Treasurer will provide a balance report for this fund at each SCC meeting. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 3 Proposal on event endorsement by the Executive Committee -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Wed Apr 20 01:02:15 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 01:02:15 -0400 Subject: {news} agenda 4/26/05 SCC meeting,part 2 of 2 Message-ID: <002c01c54566$5d4f0e50$31ecf504@edgn2b574u14bi> Appendix 3 Proposal on event endorsement by the Executive Committee Green Party Meeting Proposal Form PRESENTER: 2004-5 Executive Committee CONTACT:Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT 06790, embrancato at netzero.com SUBJECT: Event Endorsement by the Executive Committee BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE : The Executive Committee has the authority to approve the endorsement of events when there is not time to bring the request for approval before the full SCC. Most event endorsements are straightforward and not at all controversial. SCC meetings often do not have quorum, and even when they have quorum, the agenda is full. We believe that the time of the SCC would be better spent if the Executive Committee took on the task of approving routine endorsements. PROPOSAL: We propose that the Connecticut Green Party allow the Executive Committee to approve the endorsement of all events. The EC will approve the endorsement if there is full consensus. If the there is not full consensus, and there is time to put the endorsement before the SCC, it will be added to the agenda for the next meeting and will be discussed and decided-upon by the full SCC. If there is not time to put the endorsement before the full SCC, a simple majority vote of the Executive Committee will prevail. The Executive Committee will consider, and be directed by, the platform of the Green Party and the list of Allied Partners, when making its decision. The Executive Committee will notify the membership, via a posting on the 'News' list serve, of the approval of any endorsement, within 48 hours of making that approval. Any approval of the endorsement of an event may be reviewed at the next SCC meeting after the Executive Committee has granted the approval. ------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 4 Proposal on modified consensus process and facilitators Green Party Meeting Proposal Form PRESENTER: Green Party of CT Women's Caucus CONTACT: Justine McCabe, 860-354-9773; justinemccabe at earthlink.net SUBJECT: I) Training Green Party of CT facilitators in Modified Consensus Process*; educating Green Party of CT membership about Modified Consensus Process. II) Responding to requests for facilitation by any member of any Green Party of CT committee; recommendation that facilitation be used by all Green Party of CT committees. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A hallmark of Green Parties worldwide is attention to the process by which decisions are made as well as to policies based on the 10 Key Values. In other words, a significant part of the Green Party philosophy is expressed through our decision-making/discussion process at every level of organization. Thus, a "Green" process seeks cooperation rather than competition; it attempts to sustain an interdependent company of empowered equals rather than reinforce hierarchical, and in many instances patriarchal, control by a few; and to transform not only deadening and unjust governmental policies but the deadening and overly hierarchical structures and relationships that sustain them. To paraphrase Marshall McLuhan, "the policy is the process." The group process that seems to best reflect a compromise between this Green ethos and the expediency necessary to get things done, is "Modified Consensus Process" (MCP) rather than Robert's Rules of Order (RRO) that has been used for decades by groups like the Democratic and Republican Parties. Again, in affirming MCP over RRO, Green Parties oppose the bias towards zero-sum decision-making (i.e., the gain of one is at the loss to another) inherent in RRO in favor of the more organic decision-making/discussion process characterizing MCP. In November 2001, the Green Party of CT (GPC) affirmed the use of MCP for facilitation of the meetings of its governing body, the State Central Committee (SCC). While the primary role of the MCP is facilitator, the process also calls for roles of stacker, timekeeper, and vibes watcher. However, since then, there have been difficulties finding GPC members who are familiar or trained in MCP facilitation. As a result, some members more familiar with RRO have expressed the wish to revert back to RRO, in part because of its longstanding cultural familiarity in American group decision-making. I) Thus, there is an identified need to provide education and training of GPC members in the roles comprising MCP--especially facilitators--for any GPC meetings, including of the SCC, Executive Committee (EC) and other GPC committees. II) Historically, the work of many non-facilitated GPC committees, notably small groups like the Executive Committee (EC), has been obstructed by inattention/non-adherence to process rules. Thus, requests for facilitation by any GPC committee member are constructive and should be honored. PROPOSAL: TWO Parts: I) The GPC Women's Caucus proposes to organize ongoing training for facilitators and other roles comprising Modified Consensus Process, and to create a pool of male and female facilitators, stackers, timekeepers and vibes watchers from which GPC committees could draw. Such trainings would consist of two parts: a) One-day formal training sessions that would include instruction (pre-and post-tests), role-play and group discussion practice implementing basic elements/roles of Modified Consensus Process. Training in MCP facilitation would be the primary focus with concomitant practice as stacker, timekeeper and vibes watcher as by-products. Attendance and completion of training session requirements would then qualify GPC members as facilitator-stacker-timekeeper-vibes watcher "interns." b) Qualified facilitator "interns" would then be required to co-facilitate 3 meetings with an experienced "certified" GPC facilitator before becoming a "certified" facilitator and available as an independent facilitator for GPC meetings. II) That the request by any one member of a GPC committee for facilitation for that committee's meetings (including conference call and computer-based meetings), will be honored immediately (i.e., a facilitator will be provided by the next meeting of that committee); and that in the service of implementing the Green values of efficient use of resources (committee members' time, labor) as well as respect among members, facilitation of all GPC meetings, especially the EC, is strongly recommended by the SCC. *ADDENDUM: I. MODIFIED CONSENSUS PROCESS Consensus Process Step By Step 1. Present proposal 2. Clarifying questions 3. List concerns & affirmations (may include general discussion) 4. Seek to resolve concerns (including amending proposal) 5. Test for consensus 6. If concerns remain, are all willing to stand aside? 7. If not, seek to resolve individual concerns one by one (time permitting): restate, clarify, discuss 8. Test for consensus 9. If unresolved concerns, are all willing to stand aside? 10. If not, go to closing options: ? A. return proposal to committee/working group, or ? B. request additional time, or ? C. move to vote Presenting the Proposal One or more presenters briefly explain the proposal to the group. Attention should be given to any aspects not covered in the written proposal, and to how the proposal furthers the interests and goals of the group. The proposal will be made available in writing to chapter representatives at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting; if possible, concerns and feedback should be communicated to the presenters prior to the meeting, so that the presenters can look for possible solutions in advance. Clarifying Questions It is essential to consensus that everyone in the group understand the proposal in order to make an informed decision. For this reason, the facilitators will call for any 'clarifying questions' before any discussion or concerns. Generally, presenters answer questions, though anyone may offer a 'point of information'. Questions and answers should be brief and should not slide into argumentation. Some folks try to disguise concerns or opinions as clarifying questions; facilitators should ask these folks to hold their comments until later. It is important that all questions be dealt with before moving on. Concerns & Affirmations Facilitators next call for concerns and affirmations. A concern is any objection or reservation about the proposal as currently stated, and may be based on personal views or values. Concerns should be briefly stated (and possibly scribed where all can see); concerns should not be repeated, except to state that "I share Carol's concern". Concerns may include suggested amendments or solutions to address the concern. Amending the proposal Sometimes a concern can be addressed by modifying the proposal. Anyone may suggest such an amendment, usually during the 'concerns' period. The presenter(s) of the proposal may accept or reject any proposed friendly amendment. If accepted, exact wording of any amendments should be given to the notetaker, and read back before making a decision. Testing for consensus Once all concerns are heard and addressed, the facilitators 'test for consensus' by asking if there are any unresolved concerns. If none exist, or if they are all willing to stand aside, then consensus is achieved and the proposal is accepted. Unresolved concerns ('blocking') & 'standing aside' If concerns remain after group discussion and any attempts to amend proposal or otherwise address them, then these are considered 'unresolved concerns'. Those holding the concerns are asked if they are willing to 'stand aside'; that is, allow the group to move forward with the proposal, having heard and noted their concerns. Standing aside does not indicate agreement, or even a relinquishing of one's concern. It indicates that the person doing so recognizes that their concern is not so essential that passing the proposal would jeopardize the values, goals, or interests of the group. Closing options If there remain unresolved concerns, presenters have three options: 1. Ask for more plenary time to try to resolve outstanding concerns. 2. Refer proposal to committee or working group 3. Move to a vote. ground rules as last page -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Wed Apr 20 09:11:13 2005 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 09:11:13 -0400 Subject: {news} Scott Ritter Exclusive interview on The Struggle TV Message-ID: <074901c545aa$6e158c70$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> ----- Original Message ----- From: Stan H To: New Haven Greens ; ctpeace ctpeace ; awda awda Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 7:08 PM Subject: [al-awda-CT] Scott Ritter Exclusive interview on The Struggle TV Starting tomorrow Wed Depending where you live you'll see: Show #66 "Scott Ritter's Warnings" exclusive interview with former Marine major and UN arms inspector Scott Ritter. He blasts the Iraq election and warns about a possible massive bombing attack against Iran this June. Also more of the Pat O'Connor interview. This segment about continuing wall building and land stealing during the Palestinian cease-fire. Also part of Jamilah Rasheed's comments on March 19 and a plug for May Day on the New Haven Green. Show #65 "Expelled for Protesting the Wall" Part 1 of an interview with Patrick O'Connor of the International Solidarity Movement who was jailed and later expelled by Israel for peaceful protest in the Occupied Territories. He talks about the protests against the apartheid wall and interviews he did with Palestinians who were jailed and tortured by the Israeli government. Also an interview with James Washington of CORD which is a New Haven community group trying to get Yale New Haven Hospital to agree to a deal. Yale wants to build a medical facility. The community wants jobs and rights to join a union. Show #64 "The Barnard Park Rally" Highlights of the start of the rally of 1,000 anti-war folks in the park on March 19, See Luz Santana, Todd Dewey, Francis Davila, Cornell Lewis, Marela Zacarais, Mazin Qumsiyeh, Pat O'Connor, Sam Goldberger and Charlie Pruitt It is now even easier to see our shows on the internet. We've made it possible to see it with Windows Media Player which all Windows folks have. We still have the shows in Real Player [preferable if you have it because you can resize the show and fast forward] Goto www.TheStruggle.org Tell us what you think of our new look Schedule: **Wednesday** Hartford, 5 p.m. on Cable Channel 5 on Wednesday New Britain, Bristol, Farmington, Avon, Burlington, Plainville Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Channel 5 **Thursday** Windham and 15 surrounding towns, CTV Channel 14, Thursday, 9:30 New Haven, West Haven, Hamden Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Channel 28 (repeated the next Wed at 1 a.m. in the morning) Middletown, Middlefield, Cromwell, Portland, East Hampton Thursday at 7:30 Danbury, Ridgefield, Bethel Thursdays, 8 p.m. Channel 23 Clinton, Durham, Killingworth, Essex, Haddam, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Chester, Deep River Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. Channel 13 Seymour, Ansonia, Huntington, Shelton, Oxford, Naugatuck Thursdays, 8:00 p.m. Channel 10 Bridgeport, Milford, Fairfield, Orange, Stratford, Woodbridge Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Channel 77 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From capeconn at comcast.net Wed Apr 20 16:43:46 2005 From: capeconn at comcast.net (Tom Sevigny) Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 16:43:46 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: Green Line April 2005 Message-ID: <005b01c545e9$a61de240$a3970218@sevigny8wcbjrd> GreenLine: The E-Newsletter of the Green Party ----- Original Message ----- From: Green Party of the United States To: capeconn at comcast.net Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 3:20 PM Subject: Green Line April 2005 April 2005 News Headlines Former Black Panther Party Chair Elaine Brown to Speak at Chesapeake Campaign School Elaine Brown Elaine Brown, activist, author, lecturer, candidatefor Mayor of Brunswick, Georgia, and the only woman to lead the Black Panther Party, will be the featured guest speaker at the Chesapeake Campaign School. Her Saturday night keynote speech, "From Revolution to the Ballot Box: A Discussion of Strategy for Radical Change," will be given at Howard University's Blackburn Center in the Digital Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. The Green Party Coordinated Campaign Committee and the D.C. Statehood Green Party (dcstatehoodgreen.org) are co-sponsoring the latest Campaign School. Participants from all states are welcome. Organizers expect participants from D.C., Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. For information about registration for the Chesapeake Campaign School, or about organizing a Campaign School in your region, contact the national Green Party office at 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN, or office at gp.org. Cascadia Campaign School Helps Green Party Get Organized to Win Otha Major and Ross Mirkarimi The Green Party of Washington State hosted the Northwest Cascadia Campaign School in Seattle earlier this month to bring Greens and progressives together, both to share lessons learned and to prepare for future successful campaigns. The school kicked off with a party on Friday evening to welcome participants and to model a fundraising event. Guests mingled to the smooth sounds of a pianist and appetizing food. Joe Szwaja, 2000 Green Party Congressional candidate, gave an inspiring speech on the important role the Greens must play in the electoral process and as candidates in the future.The night concluded with an amazing performance by beat boxer Otha Major. The school's workshops officially began on Saturday morning with Brent McMillan, Political Director of the Green Party of the United States, addressed participants on "What Every Green Candidate Needs to Know" Afternoon workshops were designed to support participants in becoming candidates, campaign managers, field organizers and running successful initiative/petition drives. Workshop presenters were well versed in their fields and included Seattle School Board President Brita Butler-Wall. On Sunday morning Ross Mirkarimi, an elected Green on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and former campaign manager to Matt Gonzalez, shared his expertise on campaign strategy. Green Party of California Mourns the Loss of "Activist's Activist" in Iraq Former San Francisco Supervisor Matt Gonzalez and Marla Ruzicka in 2001. On a somber note, Greens expressed deep sorrow in the loss of longtime human rights activist and Green Party member Marla Ruzicka, who died tragically in Iraq Saturday in a car bomb blast. Ruzicka, who was from Lakeport, California, was the founder of Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC), which negotiated with the U.S. government for monies for civilian victims of the war in Iraq. "Those of us who knew Marla personally, and there are many of those, will never forget this incredible woman, or the remarkable effect she had on all our lives in the short time that she was among us," said Michael Wyman, state Green Party treasurer. "Marla was an activist's activist, impressing us all with her energy and forcing us all to work that much harder just to keep up with her." Make your friends GREEN with envy. Become a card-carrying Green today! Buy Your Green Party Card Online (or download a PDF order form). The latest, coolest item in the wallets of progressives is the personalized Green Party Card. For $36.00 a year* you can be a card-carrying Green. When you become an active supporter of the Green Party of the United States, you'll receive our spanking-new card, which shows the world that you stand committed to time-honored progressive values like liberty, equality, democracy, social justice, personal responsibility and focus on the future. In addition, you will receive a Green Party button and bumper sticker, a one-year subscription to Green Pages, plus all of the information you need to get involved and active as a Green. Half of your contribution will be shared with your state's Green Party. The Future is Green! Order Your Green Party Card Online Today ------------- Federal law requires political committees to use their best effort to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and employer for each individual whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. Contributions form the following individuals and entities are prohibited: corporations, labor organizations, national banks, government contractors, people under 18 years of age, and foreign nationals. *$36.00 is roughly equivalent to the $1.00 paid for a one-year membership in the Populist Party of the 1890s. The Populist Party was a multiracial, progressive, grassroots third party of working people which agitated for many popular progressive reforms. The Green Party of the 21st century continues the Populist's fight for citizen empowerment and progressive reforms at all levels today. Register Green. Vote Green. Give Green. The Green Party does not accept corporate donations and we depend entirely on donations from people who are committed to building a powerful and progressive alternative to the two corporate parties. We ask you to challenge corporate influence in politics by supporting the Green Party of the United States! Show your resistance to the status quo by enabling us to continue organizing and mobilizing for real change. Please help us get out our positive, progressive values to new communities, and to deepen our involvement where we're already anchored. Support us today and please consider becoming a sustainer (look for the recurring donation option). Green Party online shopping just got easier! Visit our improved online store. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = All comments, feedback and content suggestions should be sent to: office at gp.org. You've been reading Green Line, the monthly e-newsletter of the Green Party of the United States. Subscribe for free at gp.org. Click here to unsubscribe. Paid for by the Green Party of the United States -------------------------------------------------------------------- Green Line is the monthly e-newsletter of the Green Party of the United States PO Box 57065 Washington, DC 20037 866-41GREEN or 202-319-7191 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Thu Apr 21 15:15:24 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 12:15:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} (GP NEWS RELEASE) DEMOCRATS SELL-OUT ON BANKRUPTCY BILL Message-ID: <20050421191524.98019.qmail@web81102.mail.yahoo.com> News Release Home | Press | Print Democrats Sell-Out on Bankruptcy Bill. Thursday, April 21, 2005 Contacts: Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-487-0693, mclarty at greens.org Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576, nallen at acadia.net Greens Blast Democrats for Selling Out to Credit Card Lobby. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders strongly criticized the House's passage of the Bankruptcy Bill on April 15, calling the 302 to 126 vote new evidence that the Democratic Party has sided with Republicans and corporate lobbies against middle- and low-income working Americans. "72 Democrats handed President Bush, the Republicans, and corporate America a victory last week, proving that Americans have only one party for working people -- the Green Party," said Peggy Lewis, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. The bill allows creditors to demand higher payments before and after bankruptcy, drives up bankruptcy filling fees and minimum payments in repayment plans, and also lets millionaires escape their debts by hiding their money in exemptions and trusts. The bill was passed without amendments that would have blocked abuses of bankruptcy laws by corporations like Enron. Greens noted that nearly 90% of bankruptcies are the result of employment, illness, or inadequate or lack of health insurance. "The Bankruptcy Bill is a multi-billion-dollar bipartisan gift to credit card companies, big landlords, debt collectors, and other powerful corporations, to be paid by the rest of us," said Jake Schneider, treasurer of the national Green Party. "Years ago, the Democratic Party discarded national health insurance, repeal of Taft-Hartley restrictions on workplace organizing, and opposition to antidemocratic international trade authorities like NAFTA and the WTO from its platform. Now mainstream Democrats have sacrificed financial security for American families." "Passage of legislation like the Bankruptcy Bill is inevitable when politics is limited to two parties chasing after corporate dollars," added Mr. Schneider, who noted that 36 Democratic Senators, including Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), and Joe Biden (Del.) voted for a similarly destructive bankruptcy bill in March, 2001. "A few Greens in Congress wouldn't only be certain to vote against such bills, they'd also be a competitive influence on the entire Democratic Party, and on some Republicans, too." According to the Center for Responsive Politics, financial and credit firms gave more than $7.8 million in individual and PAC contributions during the 2004 election cycle to both Republicans (64%) and Democrats (36%). The Green Party and its candidates refuse contributions from corporations, and have called for laws sharply restricting the power of corporations over public policy, including an end to the status of corporations as 'persons' according to a 19th-century interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. MORE INFORMATION The Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 Center for Responsive Politics Tracking the Payback: Bankruptcy Reform http://www.opensecrets.org/payback/issue.asp?issueid=BA3&CongNo=109 News Release var gAutoPrint = true; // Flag for whether or not to automatically call the print functionfunction printSpecial(){ if (document.getElementById != null) { var html = '\n\n'; if (document.getElementsByTagName != null) { var headTags = document.getElementsByTagName("head"); if (headTags.length > 0) html += headTags[0].innerHTML; } html += '\n\n\n'; var printReadyElem = document.getElementById("printReady"); if (printReadyElem != null) { html += printReadyElem.innerHTML; } else { alert("Could not find the printReady section in the HTML"); return; } html += '\n\n'; var printWin = window.open("","printSpecial"); printWin.document.open(); printWin.document.write(html); printWin.document.close(); if (gAutoPrint) printWin.print(); } else { alert("Sorry, the print ready feature is only available in modern browsers."); }} -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Fri Apr 22 07:51:09 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 04:51:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Yale Daily News-"Pillsbury may vie for Alderman" Message-ID: <20050422115109.66769.qmail@web81105.mail.yahoo.com> http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=29404 Published Friday, April 22, 2005 Pillsbury may vie for alderman BY MARCEL PRZYMUSINSKI Staff Reporter New Haven Green Party co-chair Charlie Pillsbury ?70 DIV ?90 (left) speaks to Ward 9 Alderwoman Elizabeth Addonizio at an event for candidates in the 2003 election. Pillsbury said he will run again for Ward 19 alderman in this year?s election, provided that Democratic Alderwoman Alfreda Edwards ? to whom he lost in 2003?s Ward 19 aldermanic race ? does not run for re-election. (ZOE PERSHING-FOLEY/ PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR) New Haven Green Party co-chair and former congressional candidate Charlie Pillsbury '70 DIV '90 announced yesterday he will run for Ward 19 alderman unless current Ward 19 Alderwoman Alfreda Edwards decides to seek reelection. Pillsbury said he will attend community meetings in the coming weeks, and plans to begin making phone calls and going door-to-door after Labor Day. He said he decided to run because he thinks the seat will be open. Edwards did not return phone calls last night inquiring about her plans. Pillsbury -- who roomed with Gary Trudeau '70 at Yale and was in part the basis for the comic character Mike Doonesbury -- said he is interested in local issues such as crime, traffic and schools, but he would also push for election reform and environmental issues, in particular clean air. "I myself contracted asthma while living in this city, and up to 20 or 25 percent of the school-age children in this town suffer from mild or severe asthma," he said. "That's a major public health issue." With regard to Yale-New Haven Hospital's cancer center expansion proposal, which is currently before the Board of Aldermen, Pillsbury said he would like to see the hospital's employees vote on unionization before the cancer center is approved. "We all recognize the need for a world-class cancer facility," he said. "At the same time, I think the only way to make it world class is to have an organized labor force." New Haven Director of Public Information Derek Slap said Mayor John DeStefano Jr. believes Edwards has been a strong advocate for her ward. "The mayor understands that she's deciding whether to run right now, and that's her decision and something that she needs to ultimately make on her own," Slap said. "The mayor feels that she's done a great job for her constituents and would certainly support her candidacy ? We're just waiting to see what she's going to do before we go anywhere else." Ward 1 Alderman Ben Healey '04 said that, as far as he knows, Edwards has told members of the Board of Aldermen she does not plan to run for reelection. Healey said he thinks that Pillsbury has done good work in the community on clean elections, progressive taxation and environmental causes, in addition to giving to various local philanthropic causes. "While I have some disagreements with the Green Party, I feel that Charlie has excellent values, and I think he would make a great alderman," Healey said. Ward 2 Alderwoman Joyce Chen '01 is currently the only Green Party member on the Board of Aldermen. Pillsbury said he would not run against Edwards because she is a popular incumbent among Ward 19 residents. Pillsbury graduated from Yale in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in Latin American studies. Since 1989, he has served as executive director of Community Mediation, a local nonprofit dedicated to enabling individuals and communities to resolve disputes amicably. He ran against U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro for Congress in 2002 and lost to Edwards in the 2003 Ward 19 aldermanic race. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Fri Apr 22 16:51:17 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 13:51:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} 2 Green Party Job openings : 1.Web Project Coordinator 2. Fundraising Message-ID: <20050422205117.63454.qmail@web81109.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 16:22:26 -0400 From: "Maya O'Connor" Subject: [usgp-coo] Position Description: Web project Coordinator Please send questions or comments to me, Maya O'Connor, at oconnorm1975 at starpower.net. Resumes should be emailed as an attachment to: office at gp.org Closing date is May 15th, 2005. Maya O'Connor For the Personnel Committee ------------------------------------- Green Party of the United States Position Description Job Title: Web Project Coordinator Supervisor(s): Operations Director, Fundraising Director 1. Purpose of the job:(What are the end results or objectives of this position? Why does the job exist?) Coordinate on-line fundraising and outreach projects with staff and committees. On-Line Project Assistant will work with the Webmanager, Operations and Fundraising Directors in an assistance capacity 2. Essential functions and responsibilities: 30% - Manage email and donor contact lists using online tools (from DIA or developed by the Green Party Code Weavers Network) 20% - Work with the Operations and Fundraising Directors to ensure that email fundraising appeals are sent out on a regular basis. 20%- Liaison with web campaign and online payment processing service providers. 10% - Work with Operations and Fundraising Directors to develop on-line marketing and list building plan. 5% - Ensure that merchandise orders are tracked and processed. 5% - Prepare monthly donation reports to import into GPUS database. 10% - Responsible for learning and expanding GP implementation of DIA and/or in-house online tools. 3. Supervisory Responsibilities: (Provide the number and type of employee supervised, level of authority to hire and fire or to make recommendations.) None 4. Knowledge and Skills: (Indicate which are required, preferred or desirable. Include licenses and certificates. Include weights or priorities and whether required or desired.) Required: Familiarity with on-line fundraising and organizing Strong verbal and written communication skills Ability to work with small groups and committees. Experience working with the Green Party or with other community, labor, or activist projects. Database management Desired: Persuasive Writing Written Spanish Web Design 5. Fiscal Responsibility:(Budgeting responsibilities, approval privileges on purchase orders and check requests, reporting and auditing functions) None 6. Extent of Public Contact:(Within and outside the party) Small groups and committees Steering Committee / National Committee conferences and reports Vendors, contractors and service providers 8. Physical Demands:(Walking, lifting, equipment, operation) None 9. Working Conditions and Environment: (i.e., necessary travel, unusual work hours, unusual environmental conditions, etc.) DC area preferred although not required. DC office will be available. If not in DC area, the candidate must have access to the necessary computer and office equipment. 10. Position details (Salary, benefit, full/part time, temporary/permanent, contract, etc.) Part-time contract position $500/month salary (Approximately $15/Hour) ------------------------------ Please send questions or comments to me, Maya O'Connor, at oconnorm1975 at starpower.net. Resumes should be emailed as an attachment to: office at gp.org Closing date is May 15th, 2005. Maya O'Connor For the Personnel Committee ------------------------------------- Green Party of the United States Position Description Job Title: Assistant Fundraising Coordinator Supervisor(s): Fundraising Director The Green Party of the United States needs someone to help with our fundraising program. At this time the position will primarily involve phone banking but in the future the position may also involve other fundraising or administrative tasks. This is a part-time consultant position paying $500/month. The position requires that the Coordinator work with Staff and Fundraising Committee to set realistic goals and fundraising targets. Continuation of the contract will, in part, be determined by whether or not a monthly target is reached -within the context of an overall evaluation of the strength of the monthly work package. The contract can be cancelled with 30 days notice by either the Coordinator, or the Green Party of the United States. Responsibilities: The Coordinator will work with the Operations and Political Directors on the development of a monthly work package and progress of phone campaigns. The Coordinator will provide weekly updates and a monthly summary to the Fundraising Committee. The Coordinator will target donors under $200 and new donors with the goal of raising their commitment level and/or building our Sustainer Program. Qualifications: Experience with phone banking or other fundraising is essential. The Coordinator must have previous experience working with the Green Party and be able to enthusiastically promote the Green Party and Green campaigns. Some campaigns may involve organizing phone banking events; experience with volunteer coordination is an advantage. Work schedule is flexible, although the Coordinator should be able to spend most of their time during early evenings and weekends -when people can be reached at home. Proximity to the national office in DC is a plus, although not required. The Coordinator has the option to work out of the national office. If the Coordinator does not work out of the office, they should have regular access to a computer and necessary office equipment. The Green Party of the United States will reimburse for phone calls, any other expenses will be reimbursed pending approval by the Treasurer. Women and People of Color are strongly encouraged to apply. Please send cover letter and resume in an e-mail attachment, to: office at gp.org ____. Deadline for applying to this position is _ May 15 _________. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From capeconn at comcast.net Sun Apr 24 17:18:37 2005 From: capeconn at comcast.net (Tom Sevigny) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 17:18:37 -0400 Subject: {news} Campaign school Message-ID: <005f01c54913$2e874370$a3970218@sevigny8wcbjrd> Folks, The media workshop alone is worth the trip to New London. Please make every effort to attend this campaign school. Candidates, campaign staff and volunteers will find this school extremely helpful. NORTHEAST CAMPAIGN SCHOOL FOR GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES, CAMPAIGN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PLEASE HOLD THE DATE WHEN: Saturday May 7, 2005 from 10am - 4pm WHERE: All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 60 Huntingdon Street, New London, CT HOW MUCH: $5.00 a person to cover food cost. Lunch will be provided. Guest speakers will include GPUS Political Director Brent McMillan and GPUS Media Coordinator Scott McClarty. Housing for over night stays will be provided. AGENDA 1. 10-10:30 Coffee social and introductions 2. 10:30 - 11:00 "The proper role of a state elections committee." Ben Gworek, RI Green Party 3. 11:00 - 11:30 "How to get out the vote" John Funchion, RI Green Party 4. 11:30 - 12:45 Lunch 5. 12:45 - 3:00 "Media Workshop for Greens." Scott McClarty, GPUS Media advisor. 6. 2:45 - 3:45 "What Every Green Candidate Should Know." Brent McMillan, GPUS Political Director Directions to All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 60 Huntington Street, New London, CT From the West, take I-95 North to exit 83. At the traffic light at the end of the ramp, go straight- you are now on Huntington Street. Go through three traffic lights, and All Souls is on the right just past the third one. Parking is in the rear- go past All Souls, take the first right (at the stop sign) onto Jay Street, and take a quick right into the first parking lot. Go all the way to the back, and All Souls will be on the right. From the North, take I-395 South to exit 78 (left exit). This dumps you out onto Rt 32 south. Follow Rt 32 past Conn College and I-95, and just past I-95 it turns into Eugene O'Neill Drive. At the third light past I-95, turn right on State Street. Go up State about 1/4 mile, and turn left onto Huntington. All Souls is on the right as soon as you make the turn. Parking is in the rear- go past All Souls, take the first right (at the stop sign) onto Jay Street, and take a quick right into the first parking lot. Go all the way to the back, and All Souls will be on the right. From the East, take I-95 South across the Gold Star Bridge, and take the first exit after the bridge, exit 84. The exit splits into three; keep all the way to the left, following the signs for Exit 84S, Downtown New London. The exit puts you onto Eugene O'Neill Drive. At the third light, turn right on State Street. Go up State about 1/4 mile, and turn left onto Huntington. All Souls is on the right as soon as you make the turn. Parking is in the rear- go past All Souls, take the first right (at the stop sign) onto Jay Street, and take a quick right into the first parking lot. Go all the way to the back, and All Souls will be on the right. Public Transit- Amtrak and Greyhound both come to New London. Union Station, where they both arrive, is on Water Street at State Street. Walk out of the building, turn left, and you come to State Street almost immediately. Turn right on State, and walk up the street about 3/8 mile. When you reach Huntington Street, All Souls is across the street, a little bit to the left -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From capeconn at comcast.net Sun Apr 24 21:13:05 2005 From: capeconn at comcast.net (Tom Sevigny) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 21:13:05 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: [USGP-ccc] Elaine Brown joined the Green Party! Message-ID: <00f401c54933$ef85f2e0$a3970218@sevigny8wcbjrd> GREAT NEWS!! > > Elaine Brown, former Chair of the Black Panther Party, and author of "A > Taste of Power: A Black Woman's Story" announced at a speaking event > last > night hosted by the Green Institute that she was going to affiliate with > > the Green Party. This morning, she went to the national office and > filled > out the Green Card form. She is technically an independent candidate for > > mayor (a non-partisan position) in Brunswick, Georgia this year, but > will > campaign as a Green. She will attend the Georgia Green Party endorsing > convention in June and ask for their endorsement. > > Today, she participated in a panel at the Chesapeake Campaign School > along > with Michelle and Rick Tingling-Clemmons and Joe Leonard entitled > "Organizing Communities of Color" and announced that she was a "card > carrying Green Party member." She also declared that she was not going > to > create another Black Panther Party and that "the Green Party is viable, > but > could be even more viable." > > Her race for mayor in Brunswick is in a relatively small and poor town > that > is host to a huge port with tens of billions of dollars in economic > activity each year, and so is of great interest because nothing goes in > or > out of that port without passing through Brunswick. > > Dean Myerson > > > > > +-- > | from "Brent McMillan" via ccc at gp-us.org > | for changes or help, ccc-request at gp-us.org > +-- > From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sun Apr 24 23:02:05 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 23:02:05 -0400 Subject: {news} minutes of March 2005 SCC meeting-part 1 of 2 Message-ID: <03fd01c54943$8bfa4b80$47f5f504@edgn2b574u14bi> Minutes of March 29, 2005 SCC meeting Judd Hall, Wesleyan University, 7-9:30pm Attendees: 1. Central Connecticut chapter: Vic Lancia, Vincent Maruffi 2. Fairfield chapter: David Bedell, John Amarilios 3. Hamden chapter: Aaron Gustafson, Kelly McCarthy(NV), Joel Dubin, 4. Hartford chapter: Ed DuBrule(NV), Mike DeRosa, Barbara Barry DeRosa, Rob Pandolfo, Albert Marceau 5. New Haven chapter: Charlie Pillsbury (facilitator) 6. New London chapter: Andy Derr 7. Northeast chapter: Jean de Smet 8. Northwest chapter: Elizabeth Brancato (voting for Women's Caucus only), Judy Herkimer, Kim Herkimer 9. Shoreline chapter: Lindsay Mathews, David Adams 10. Western chapter: Justine McCabe, Brooks Kelley 11. Tolland chapter: Tim McKee These minutes report the approval of the New Britain chapter. Once his chapter was approved, Miguel Nieves became a voting representative--he voted at tonight's meeting. NV=non-voting. Tim served as timekeeper, Judy as stacker, and Lindsay as vibes watcher. Preliminaries: The groundrules were adopted by consensus. The agenda was approved with the addition of three proposals from the Executive Committee and the addition of a proposal from the internal elections committee. The proposal from the New London chapter (that the CT Green Party not spend any money received from the Cramer estate until the State Central Committee has passed an annual budget) was withdrawn, since the money in the will of Margaret Cramer will not be received by the CT Green Party (see treasurer's report). The minutes of the November 2004, January 4, January 25, and February SCC meetings were approved by consensus. Discussions related to including or not including the report/proposal from the Office Committee in tonight's agenda are reported under the Office Committee proposal. Treasurer's report (read by Aaron): "3/280/05. Over the last month we had receipts of $440.27 and expenses of $458.67. Currently we have a balance of $1,583.26. "Receipts: Monthly contributions (2 months worth) $370.00 Other individual contributions 25.00 Greater Hartford Green Party PAC 45.27 ---------- Total $440.27 "Expenditures: Office in Hartford Rent (minus half of utilities) -$201.21 Office in Hartford phone - 50.82 Office in Hartford electric - 38.52 Reimbursements - 74.24 Credit car processing - 35.52 Toll free number - 3.94 American Mailing - 54.42 ----------- Total -$458.67 "Last month I mentioned that the Green Party of Connecticut was listed as the beneficiary of a will. It turns out that we are not the actual beneficiary of the will. I called the attorney last week to ask if the money could go to the Green Party of the United States instead of the Green Party of Connecticut (since we cannot receive money from an estate). When the attorney looked at the will he read that it was to go to the 'national green party'. He apologized to me, that he had not looked into it more carefully before. Although we are not the beneficiary, I think that what benefits the Green Party of the United States also benefits us. "These are the current chapter balances: Central: $ 701.99 Fairfield: 1,141.80 Hamden: 57.00 Hartford: -1,644.02 New Haven: 1,077.53 New London: 156.67 North East: 155.10 North West: 2,110.38 Shoreline: 15.00 Southeast: 213.56 Tolland: 132.35 West Hartford: 135.00 Western: 276.50 "Our obligated balance is $4,528.86 (this total includes being reimbursed for negative chapter balances) "As always please consider being involved in the Fundraising and Budget Committees. "For more information on the CT Green Party Finances you can call me at 860 379-0632, email me at green at spazmo.com, or look at this webpage: http://www.kirajoy.com/CTGP/CTGP_Treasurer.html "Bob Eaton "CT Green Party Treasurer" Barbara asked if the national Green Party could give Connecticut money from the will. She wondered if Tim and Tom could work with national on this. Do we have a right to any portion of it? GUEST SLOT--Miguel Angel Nieves, planning to run for mayor of New Britain as a Green. He was born in Puerto Rico, came to Hartford as a 9-year old, has a Hartford High diploma and a degree in business admininistration from the Morse School of Business. He has lived in New Britain since 1996. He helped establish the store in Westfarms Mall where he is employed. He worked in many political campaigns including those of state senator Donald DeFronzo and Nancy Johnson. He passed out invitations to his announcement of candidacy (April 29, 8pm, Puerto Rican Society of New Britain, 152 High St.) NEW BUSINESS ITEM--approval of New Britain chapter. Miguel reported that there have been 4 chapter meetings with at least 5 people attending each meeting in New Britain. [Secretary's note: at least two past SCC meetings have considered a requirement for chapter approval to be 3 chapter meetings with 5 people in attendance at each.] The following points were discussed: *Miguel said that he is a registered Green. *The bylaws sections which define a CTGP member and which give the requirements for chapter membership were read aloud (Appendix 1). *It was asked if at those who attended the New Britain meetings were members per the bylaws definition. Ed asked if we considered this question when we approved the Shoreline and Hamden chapters. Jean stated that the SCC "did not know the people [who attended meetings] when we approved the college chapters". *It was asked if sufficient work has been done to build a New Britain chapter. It was pointed out that Miguel has not previously attended SCC meetings. He did attend a state Green party strategy meeting in January and has worked with the Hartford chapter. Should Miguel be asked to further build the chapter, to attend the April SCC meeting, and should the SCC consider approving the chapter at the May SCC meeting? *Miguel's April 29 announcement of candidacy will occur before the May SCC meeting. *It was asked whether if the New Britain chapter is approved tonight would Miguel be able to vote at tonight's meeting. Vincent said he recalled that in a parallel situation in the past the attendee voted at the meeting after the chapter was approved. *It was stated that if tonight's meeting doesn't approve the New Britain chapter, the Hartford chapter could approve Miguel's running as a Green for mayor of New Britain. Because of the above questions and concerns, the question of approving the New Britain chapter tonight was brought to a vote. SCC DECISION: we approved the New Britain chapter as a CTGP chapter by a vote. 18 voted to approve the chapter tonight, 2 voted against this, and 2 abstained. OLD BUSINESS AND PROPOSALS 1. Proposal from Office Committee. Due to its length, this report/proposal is not included in these minutes. It was posted on the News listserve March 17. For a copy of this document in Microsoft Word, you may contact Ed (secretary) at edubrule at sbcglobal.net or 860-523-4016. Several issues were discussed: **The March 12 meeting of the office committee did not occur. Should submission of a final report be deferred until such a meeting occurs? **Are we tonight to decide on accepting the report, and/or to decide among Options A, B, and C in the report? OPTION A. Keep CTGP funding of office as is (CTGP paying only 50% of rent & utilities + all taxes & insurance costs = approx. $5,500/year = approx. 90% of all CTGP cash funds); Budget & need for office/use will be re-evaluated every 6 months. OPTION B. Decrease CTGP funding of office to 25% (CTGP paying only 25% of rent, utilities, taxes & office insurance policy = approx. $2,500/year = approx.40% of all CTGP cash funds; 25% is based on liberal estimate of use of office space by CTGP & represents a more balanced distribution of funding); Budget & need for office/use will be re-evaluated every 6 months. OPTION C. Cease CTGP funding of office (CTGP would not be responsible for any portion of rent, utilities, taxes or office insurance costs = 0% of all CTGP cash funds; we would purchase individual liability event policies for CTGP needs); Budget & need for office/use will be re-evaluated every 6 months. **Should we ignore Options A, B, and C and instead let members of tonight's SCC meeting propose voting options? It was decided to keep the office report agenda item on tonight's agenda (keep it on agenda--8 votes; omit it from the agenda--5 votes; abstain--2). Mike passed out a handout "Little known facts about the Hartford office" (copies available from Ed). Albert passed out a handout "A Summary of the Progressive Movie Night Held at the Conn. Green Party Office in Hartford, Conn." (copies available from Ed). Mike said that he had submitted the information in his handout to Kelly. Barbara said that the office committee report only looks at one year of the history of the office; she had hoped to get agreement at the March 12 meeting to include facts from previous years in the report. Kelly said that much of the information in Mike's handout is included in the report. She said that despite the failure to have a second meeting of the committee on March 12, information could have been submitted to her via e-mail or phone calls; she said that no one on the committee made an effort to reschedule the meeting and no one submitted other voting options besides options A, B, and C. Tim said that alternative ideas were brought forward but Kelly did not recognize them as such. Mike said that one purpose of forming the office committee was to come up with creative solutions to the problem of the office; he said that hasn't been a chance to come up with such creative solutions--now we are left with divisive options. Tim spoke of fundraising plans for the office ("progressive movie nights" twice a month, speaker from Common Cause). Kelly said that Tim hadn't informed her of these plans. Kelly noted that the contents of the office committee report were largely the same as the first version of the report presented to the February SCC meeting; additions include the section on insurance written by Justine and the voting options (A, B, and C). Kelly proposed that we not consider the voting options above tonight. She said that the report is a proposal and calls for a vote, and proposed that we carry out such a vote tonight. The facilitator said that it appeared that the committee is at a total impasse. He said that he did not see that the office committee report contained a proposal. He suggested that a chapter, the Executive Committee, or another committee could submit a proposal to be considered by the SCC. He said that the agenda time allocated to the office committee had been reached or exceeded. Kelly suggested that we let proposals come from the SCC tonight. By vote it was decided to add ten minutes more agenda time to discussion of the office issue (yes add time--13 votes, no--8, abstain--0). Tim said that he could provide details of fundraising plans for the office to the office committee, including what percentage of the funds raised would go to the state Party. Kelly recommended that people make use of the office committee report, saying it contains information that isn't widely known. Vic said that an effective, viable Green Party needs an office; the very existence of an office serves as a symbol of the fact that we're a viable party and helps fundraising. Justine spoke of the large negative chapter balance of the Hartford chapter. She said that the Connecticut Green Party now can't afford to support an office. She said that her research indicates that there is no need to have an office to have insurance for the Connecticut Green Party. David Adams asked that a proposal be considered by tonight's meeting: that the state Party cease funding the Hartford office. Justine, too, asked that we consider this proposal tonight. The facilitator suggested that such a proposal be brought to the April SCC meeting, since we have exceeded the ten minutes added time. Mike said that proposals can't be added in the middle of an SCC meeting; proposals must be brought to the membership. Charlie asked if we should vote on whether to have a vote. Kim said that we should take a vote on the office issue. Charlie said that the New Haven chapter hasn't voted on the question of funding the office. Miguel said that the New Britain chapter, as a new chapter, could use more time to consider the issue. David Bedell said that the Fairfield chapter would like more time to consider the issue. Kelly suggested that chapters (rather than the office committee) come up with voting options to be considered by the SCC. David Adams said that he anticipates that he (apparently meaning the Shoreline chapter) will submit a proposal that the CTGP terminate funding of the office. 2. Proposal on Green Party of Connecticut Northwest Chapter account balance (Appendix 2). Judy presented the proposal, which is not a proposal in the sense that the SCC needs to vote on it or approve it; it is submitted as a courtesy to the treasurer and the SCC. A friendly amendment (from the Shoreline chapter) has been added to the proposal since it was submitted for printing in the agenda: "That the tabling kit that is available to each chapter be as flexible as possible so that the chapters can choose from a 'menu' of available items." Barbara asked if chapters could donate items for the tabling kits (this would decrease costs); for example the Hartford chapter has Green Party banners. 3. Proposal on fundraising mailing--additional funds (Appendix 3). SCC decision: expenditure of up to $200 authorized to settle the mailing bureau account. 4. Proposal on approval of delegates to national committees (Appendix 4). Elizabeth presented the proposal. It was written after -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sun Apr 24 23:03:34 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 23:03:34 -0400 Subject: {news} minutes of March 2005 SCC meeting-part 2 of 2 Message-ID: <03fe01c54943$8c4b51b0$47f5f504@edgn2b574u14bi> 5. Proposal on event endorsement by the Executive Committee (Appendix 5). Elizabeth presented the proposal. The June 2004 SCC passed a proposal authorizing the Executive Committee, by majority vote, to "endorse and/or agree to co-sponsor events, activities, proposals, or petitions when there is not time to submit the request to the full SCC". The proposal to be considered tonight has the objective of conserving SCC time by letting the Executive Committee endorse routine (non-controversial) events. The following points were raised about the proposal being considered tonight: *The proposal passed in June requires the Executive Committee to post its endorsement on the announcements (or News) listserve within 48 hours; the current proposal lacks such a requirement. *Should the proposal address the issue of donations to groups requesting our endorsement? *Should a comment period be allowed before the Executive Committee endorses an event? An event perceived by the Executive Committee members as routine may be perceived as controversial by others in the Party. Executive Commitee members may lack knowledge about groups or events that others in the Party have. A proposal put out for comment could be put on the News listserve for 1 week. *Should a comment period be required for controversial proposals (which might be defined as those without consensus among Executive Committee members)? *Some people might purposely delay submitting a proposal so that it couldn't be dealt with by the SCC and had to be dealt with by the Executive Committee. *Should the sentence be included (as it was in the June 2004 proposal) "the Executive Committee should draw guidance from the 10 Key Values and the national Green Party platform"? (Elizabeth commented that in her experience different Greens sometimes interpret the 10 Key Values differently as applied to a particular situation at hand.) DECISION: the Executive Committee withdrew the proposal and will consider revising it in light of the above comments. 6. Proposal from internal elections committee. Jean presented the proposal (Appendix 6). SCC DECISION: the proposal was accepted by consensus, with the date of the annual meeting to be Sunday April 17. The proposal has 10 sections (1-5, 5A, and 6-9). Highlights of the proposal, with decisions made at tonight's meeting, are as follows. Section 1. The deadline for announcing candidacies is Friday, April 8, 2005 at 5:00 pm. Section 2. The annual meeting, by consensus, will be April 17 from 10am-2pm with a potluck lunch. (The alternative proposed date of April 23 was rejected because Passover celebrations begin that evening, and also because the Hamden chapter has scheduled a cleanup day that date.) Section 3. Hall rental ($75)--the SCC approved this expenditure by consensus. (The possibility of the donation of this money by the New Haven chapter--noted in the proposal--was not mentioned at tonight's meeting.) Section 4. Nominations from the floor of the annual meeting will be accepted. Section 5. Ballots and candidate information will be mailed to any Connecticut Green Party member who requests one. The SCC approved tonight up to $200 for printing/postage associated with the annual meeting. The Hamden chapter offered use of a copying machine. Section 5A. To date there are no contested races. Tonight the SCC decided that even if additional persons declare candidacies, no mailing of internal elections/annual meeting information will be done this year (with the exception of the mailings to those requesting ballots). Section 6. All positions will be filled by elections (rather than by direct appointment by the SCC). Section 7. There will be a candidate forum at the annual meeting. Section 8. Publicizing the annual meeting. Section 9. Tonight the SCC approved the expenditure of up to $100 to reimburse possible annual meeting speaker(s) for transportation expenses and to be able to offer small honorari(a) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 1. Bylaws excerpts. Individual Membership (Modified by statewide vote in 2001): Anyone registered to vote as a Green is a Green Party member. In addition, anyone who can satisfy (and verify) at least 2 of the following criteria will be considered a Green Party member: have attended 2 meetings of the Green Party (either state meetings or meetings of an officially recognized chapter) within the past 12 months; are on the state's official mailing list; and/or have submitted a written (or email) request for membership or informational materials from the Party; have performed at least 2 volunteer activities with the Green Party (or with a coalition partner) of the Green Party within the past 12 months. 2. Regional Chapter Membership Any group of five or more individual members, resident in a cohesive geographical or political area, may form a Regional chapter provided that the group appoints an official who will inform the Party on a continuing basis of Chapter membership, meeting place and schedule, minutes of meetings and other significant Chapter activities, and shall in a timely manner transmit to the Chapter members significant communications from the State Party and shall commit to compliance with all other requirements established by the Party for the conduct of Chapters. The chapter shall also provide regular representation at Party Conventions and State Central Committee Meetings, and timely response (positive or negative) to Party requests for action and information. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Appendix 2 Proposal on Green Party of Connecticut Northwest Chapter account balance Green Party Meeting Proposal Form Tuesday, March 22, 2005 PRESENTER: Northwest Chapter of the Green Party of Connecticut CONTACT: Judy Herkimer: jherkimer at snet.net SUBJECT : Green Party of Connecticut Northwest Chapter account balance BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: According to the current Treasurer (Bob Eaton), the Northwest Chapter account balance is $2,075.88. This balance is a result of an agreed upon 70/30 split with the Green Party of Connecticut (70%) for all donations that originate from within the Northwest Chapter (30%) geographic boundaries. These funds are held by the Green Party of Connecticut under the oversight of the Treasurer and disbursed upon request by the chapters. The current available records indicate that the Northwest Chapter has not drawn any funds from their account since (at least) the first quarter of 2003. PROPOSAL: In preparation for ongoing tabling opportunities throughout the state and beyond, for use during campaigns and for any beneficial use towards furthering the building of the party, our chapter proposes the design and purchase of comprehensive "tabling kits". These kits will be distributed (at no cost) to all chapters in the state and will be made available to those at-large members in areas not currently covered by a specific chapter. Input from anyone in the Green Party of Connecticut is welcome during the design and creation of the tabling kits. Tabling kit items under consideration: folding table with cover chairs (2-3) canopy and hardware banner and display hardware signage donation can printed paper material (e.g. brochures, literature, campaign materials) items for sale (e.g. buttons, bumper stickers, clothing, videos, flying discs) supplies (e.g. tablecloth, clipboards, office supplies, receipt book) paper weights CD of basic handouts carrying case The Northwest Chapter anticipates the total cost of the tabling kits to be between $1500-$2000. As a courtesy to the Treasurer, we submit this proposal as notification of our intention to present invoices in the near future for supplies and services associated with the tabling kits. As a courtesy to the State Central Committee, we submit this proposal to inform the general membership of this exciting project and to encourage widespread participation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 3 Green Party Meeting Proposal Form PRESENTER: Executive Committee CONTACT: Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT 06790, embrancato at netzero.com SUBJECT: Fund Raising Mailing - Additional funds BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The SCC, in November approved paying $855-$955 for a fund-raising mailing. The mailing was done, but the bill has run over the cost estimate. Although part of the overage seems to be due to printing more copies than the original quote called for, it seems that the overage is also due to our requesting printing on two sides of the insert. That was not part of the original quote. PROPOSAL: We propose that the Connecticut Green Party approve an additional expenditure of up to $200.00 to settle this account in full. ----------------------------------------- Appendix 4. Green Party Meeting Proposal Form PRESENTER: Executive Committee CONTACT: Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT 06790, embrancato at netzero.com SUBJECT: Approval of Delegates to National Committees BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are many national committees which SCC members in good standing can join and contribute to. We feel this benefits and strengthens our SCC, as well as the individual delegates. We would like to encourage members joining and working on national committees. We have, in the past, put these nominations before the full SCC. This has sometimes resulted in delay and discouragement. The SCC meetings often do not have quorum. When there is quorum, the agendas are so full that often all business is not done, or is done in a rushed manner. PROPOSAL: We propose that the Connecticut Green Party allow the Executive Committee to approve delegates to national committees. Notice of the pending approval and solicitation of other candidates will take place before the approval. Notice of the approval will be posted on the News list serve within 48 hours of the approval being granted. Notice of the approval will be reported at the next SCC meeting as part of the report of the Executive Committee. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 5 Green Party Meeting Proposal Form PRESENTER: Executive Committee CONTACT: Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT 06790, embrancato at netzero.com SUBJECT: Event Endorsement by the Executive Committee BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Executive Committee has the authority to approve the endorsement of events when there is not time to bring the request for approval before the full SCC. Most event endorsements are straightforward and not at all controversial. SCC meetings often do not have quorum, and even when they have quorum, the agenda is full. We believe that the time of the SCC would be better spent if routine endorsements were taken care of by the Executive Committee. PROPOSAL: We propose that the Connecticut Green Party allow the Executive Committee to approve the endorsement of all events. The EC will approve the endorsement if there is full consensus. If there is not full consensus, and there is time to put the endorsement before the SCC, it will be added to the agenda for the next meeting and will be discussed and decided-upon by the full SCC. If there is not time to put the endorsement before the full SCC, a simple majority vote of the Executive Committee will prevail. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 6 Green Party Meeting Proposal Form [Saturday, March 26, 2005; with revision from Judy received 3-28-05; totals with postage added by Ed] PRESENTER Internal Elections Committee (IEC) CONTACT: Jean de Smet, 39 Davis Street, Willimantic, CT 06226 860-456-2188 demac at galaxyinternet.net SUBJECT : 2005 Annual Meeting/State Party Convention of the Green Party of Connecticut (GPC) BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The IEC is charged by the State Central Committee (SCC) to coordinate and implement all aspects of an annual election for elected positions within the GPC. PROPOSAL: 1. Deadline for announcing candidacies is Friday, April 8, 2005 at 5:00pm. 2. Proposed Convention dates are Sunday, April 17th or Saturday, April 23rd; 10am-2pm with a potluck lunch. 3. Authorize David Bedell to rent for $75 the Greater New Haven Labor Council, 267 Chapel Street, New Haven, 203-777-2756. The New Haven Chapter previously offered (January 20, 2005) to donate the rental fee. 4. Nominations from the floor the day of the Convention will be accepted (Co-Chairperson[3], Secretary, Treasurer, GP-US Representative[2], GP-US Representative Alternate). 5. A ballot and candidate information will be mailed to any qualified member who requests one. Deadlines for mailed ballots will be established once the Convention date is set. Ballots will be numbered and mailed by this committee. Numbered ballots and printed candidate information will be available at the Convention. This committee requests that $200 (or less) be earmarked by the treasurer for printing and associated costs for ballots, candidate information sheets, envelopes and postage. 5A. In the event of an uncontested race, this Committee does not recommend a widespread mass postal mailing of ballots and candidate information for the following reasons: (i) the low amount of money in the Party's checking account; (ii) apparent disinterest among members in the idea of doing a mailing. Weeks ago the secretary sent lists of registered Greens to each of the chapters with the request that chapters return to him address changes and additional members (per the bylaws definition of member) in preparation for the internal elections; few of the chapters have responded (iii) inability of the secretary to find time to do further work on the lists (e.g. add missing zip codes, determine why dozens of names were not included in the lists sent to the chapters). However, if other candidates should come forward thus creating a contested election, this Committee requests the guidance of the SCC as to whether or not the Party wishes to consider a mass postal mailing. Estimated cost quotes of three printing/mailing options: (postage included): Option #1: 2800 postcards/200 full ballot $1,291 Option #2: 2000 postcard/1000 full ballots $1,892 Option #3: 3000 full ballots $3,260 6. Although the bylaws state that the only elected position is Co-Chairperson[3] and all other positions are appointed, this committee recommends that the Party follow historical precedent by electing all positions. The bylaws read: ".Co-Chairpersons shall be elected by an absolute majority vote of the members, as established if necessary by successive preferential voting." --Bylaws of the GPC, Adopted by the SCC-January, 1999; revised 2000, 2001: II. Party Structure and Functions, 2. Officers, f) Election/Appointment of Officials 7. At the Convention, candidates will be allowed opportunity to present their positions and answer questions. 8. Notice of the Convention will be disseminated via existing listservs, chapter representatives, email, media "events" listings and our website. Chapters are encouraged to reach out to their members via phone calls. 9. In anticipation of the Executive Committee arranging for Convention speaker(s), we request an appropriation from the SCC for speaker(s)' gasoline expenses and small honorarium. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have serious disagreements with the accuracy of anything written in these minutes, please contact the secretary, Ed DuBrule, at edubrule at sbcglobal.net or 860-523-4016. If your e-mail or letter is titled "I remember things happened differently" or "I remember that this also occurred", I will treat your e-mail or letter (or a summary of it) as an addendum to these minutes. Such e-mails or letters must be received within 4 weeks of the date of publication of the minutes to the News listserve to be considered addenda. Addenda are published to the News listserve and are considered part of the minutes. They are brought to the following month's SCC meeting (for distribution at the time the minutes are approved/disapproved); they are posted to the CT Green Party website as part of the minutes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From chapillsbury at igc.org Sun Apr 24 23:10:52 2005 From: chapillsbury at igc.org (Charlie Pillsbury) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 23:10:52 -0400 Subject: {news} 042205NHREGISTER-Hamden couple chosen to lead Connecticut Green Party Message-ID: <004901c54944$637eb820$841efea9@S0031616584> Message -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 04/22/2005 Hamden couple chosen to lead Connecticut Green Party Andy Bromage , Register Staff A Hamden couple has been tapped to head the Connecticut Green Party. At its recent annual meeting, the state Green Party elected Aaron Gustafson and Kelly McCarthy, members of the Hamden Green Party, as co-chairmen of the state organization. Mike DeRosa was re-elected as the party?s third co-chairman. Elections took place Sunday at the Greater New Haven Labor Council Offices, 267 Chapel St., New Haven. The election of Gustafson and McCarthy gives a local face to the state?s Green Party, which nominates candidates for state and national elections and approves nominees for municipal races. Also elected were Barbara Barry, secretary; Tim McKee and Tom Sevigny, national representatives; and Judy A. Herkimer, treasurer. Terms are one year. "Since 2000, we?ve been the brunt of a lot of anger, and there?s a lot of room for us to improve our overall image," said Gustafson, 27, a Web designer/developer. "If we have any interest in going after higher positions, we really need to have people on the ground who are in local positions," he said. McCarthy said her top priority is developing a statewide strategy for the party. "There is a lot of turmoil occurring at the state level and my main drive and concern is to clearly define the goals of the party," said McCarthy, 27, a personal tutor. In Hamden, Gustafson is chairman of the Climate Change and Energy Use Task Force, and McCarthy sits on the Clean and Green Commission. The couple will serve as party spokesmen and sit on the executive and steering committees, reviewing nominations for elections. They will join DeRosa, a three-year co-chairman. "The Green Party has this attitude that with three co-chairs, that if you don?t like two of us, you still have one more," DeRosa said. Charles Pillsbury, co-chairman of the New Haven Green Party, the largest in the state, said the party is strong and getting stronger. "After surviving the perfect storm that would have destroyed most parties in 2004, we?re still running candidates and electing state party chairs. That?s a sign that we?ll be around for a few more years," he said. The Hamden Green Party was formed in 2002. Before that, it was part of the New Haven County Green Party, which included New Haven and the Shoreline, Pillsbury said. The New Haven Green Party will hold its nominating convention May 7 to pick its slate of candidates for alderman and mayor. ?New Haven Register 2005 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: custlogoLG.gif Type: image/gif Size: 7128 bytes Desc: not available URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sun Apr 24 23:21:48 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 23:21:48 -0400 Subject: {news} REVISED SEND:minutes March 2005 SCC meeting-part 2 of 2 Message-ID: <044f01c54945$eec90650$47f5f504@edgn2b574u14bi> (Please delete from your inbox the originally-sent part 2 of 2; it omitted the minutes section on the proposal for Executive Committee endorsement of delegates to national committees.) ----------------------------------------------- 4. Proposal on approval of delegates to national committees (Appendix 4). Elizabeth presented the proposal. It was written after the Executive Committee considered the request of Elizabeth Brancato and Justine McCabe to join the newly-formed national Peace Action Committee. We put an inquiry on the News listserve and David Eliscu said that he, too, would like to join that committee. An agenda item to approve these three persons was on the February SCC agenda but was not reached due to lack of time. Justine asked if there should be a defined period of time in which people could express interest in joining committees. Judy asked if the proposal included mention of caucuses; Elizabeth said it doesn't; Judy then noted, however, that some people wanting to join caucuses might not want their names on the News listserve. Justine recalled that the current process (approval by SCC) had delayed her joining national committee(s) and had in at least one instance had prevented her from giving input to a committee until the issue at hand was moot. Barbara noted that the bylaws define the term of officers as one year and that more than one year has passed since the Executive Committee was elected. She said that if approval of delegates was brought to the SCC (except in cases where deadlines precluded this) more people would become aware of the committee opening. Attendees expressed the opinion that the SCC should approve Executive Committee actions. Attendees spoke of the awkward situation where the Executive Committee made an appointment but the SCC disapproved of it. Perhaps the proposal should be modified to take into account whether there was a deadline for the approval and whether the SCC was meeting soon. Elizabeth said that, were the proposal as presently written were to pass, a person wishing to join a national committee could still approach the SCC for approval rather than the Executive Committee. SCC decision: by vote, the proposal was accepted as submitted by the Executive Committee (yes, accept proposal--14; no--2; abstain--5) 5. Proposal on event endorsement by the Executive Committee (Appendix 5). Elizabeth presented the proposal. The June 2004 SCC passed a proposal authorizing the Executive Committee, by majority vote, to "endorse and/or agree to co-sponsor events, activities, proposals, or petitions when there is not time to submit the request to the full SCC". The proposal to be considered tonight has the objective of conserving SCC time by letting the Executive Committee endorse routine (non-controversial) events. The following points were raised about the proposal being considered tonight: *The proposal passed in June requires the Executive Committee to post its endorsement on the announcements (or News) listserve within 48 hours; the current proposal lacks such a requirement. *Should the proposal address the issue of donations to groups requesting our endorsement? *Should a comment period be allowed before the Executive Committee endorses an event? An event perceived by the Executive Committee members as routine may be perceived as controversial by others in the Party. Executive Commitee members may lack knowledge about groups or events that others in the Party have. A proposal put out for comment could be put on the News listserve for 1 week. *Should a comment period be required for controversial proposals (which might be defined as those without consensus among Executive Committee members)? *Some people might purposely delay submitting a proposal so that it couldn't be dealt with by the SCC and had to be dealt with by the Executive Committee. *Should the sentence be included (as it was in the June 2004 proposal) "the Executive Committee should draw guidance from the 10 Key Values and the national Green Party platform"? (Elizabeth commented that in her experience different Greens sometimes interpret the 10 Key Values differently as applied to a particular situation at hand.) DECISION: the Executive Committee withdrew the proposal and will consider revising it in light of the above comments. 6. Proposal from internal elections committee. Jean presented the proposal (Appendix 6). SCC DECISION: the proposal was accepted by consensus, with the date of the annual meeting to be Sunday April 17. The proposal has 10 sections (1-5, 5A, and 6-9). Highlights of the proposal, with decisions made at tonight's meeting, are as follows. Section 1. The deadline for announcing candidacies is Friday, April 8, 2005 at 5:00 pm. Section 2. The annual meeting, by consensus, will be April 17 from 10am-2pm with a potluck lunch. (The alternative proposed date of April 23 was rejected because Passover celebrations begin that evening, and also because the Hamden chapter has scheduled a cleanup day that date.) Section 3. Hall rental ($75)--the SCC approved this expenditure by consensus. (The possibility of the donation of this money by the New Haven chapter--noted in the proposal--was not mentioned at tonight's meeting.) Section 4. Nominations from the floor of the annual meeting will be accepted. Section 5. Ballots and candidate information will be mailed to any Connecticut Green Party member who requests one. The SCC approved tonight up to $200 for printing/postage associated with the annual meeting. The Hamden chapter offered use of a copying machine. Section 5A. To date there are no contested races. Tonight the SCC decided that even if additional persons declare candidacies, no mailing of internal elections/annual meeting information will be done this year (with the exception of the mailings to those requesting ballots). Section 6. All positions will be filled by elections (rather than by direct appointment by the SCC). Section 7. There will be a candidate forum at the annual meeting. Section 8. Publicizing the annual meeting. Section 9. Tonight the SCC approved the expenditure of up to $100 to reimburse possible annual meeting speaker(s) for transportation expenses and to be able to offer small honorari(a) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 1. Bylaws excerpts. Individual Membership (Modified by statewide vote in 2001): Anyone registered to vote as a Green is a Green Party member. In addition, anyone who can satisfy (and verify) at least 2 of the following criteria will be considered a Green Party member: have attended 2 meetings of the Green Party (either state meetings or meetings of an officially recognized chapter) within the past 12 months; are on the state's official mailing list; and/or have submitted a written (or email) request for membership or informational materials from the Party; have performed at least 2 volunteer activities with the Green Party (or with a coalition partner) of the Green Party within the past 12 months. 2. Regional Chapter Membership Any group of five or more individual members, resident in a cohesive geographical or political area, may form a Regional chapter provided that the group appoints an official who will inform the Party on a continuing basis of Chapter membership, meeting place and schedule, minutes of meetings and other significant Chapter activities, and shall in a timely manner transmit to the Chapter members significant communications from the State Party and shall commit to compliance with all other requirements established by the Party for the conduct of Chapters. The chapter shall also provide regular representation at Party Conventions and State Central Committee Meetings, and timely response (positive or negative) to Party requests for action and information. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Appendix 2 Proposal on Green Party of Connecticut Northwest Chapter account balance Green Party Meeting Proposal Form Tuesday, March 22, 2005 PRESENTER: Northwest Chapter of the Green Party of Connecticut CONTACT: Judy Herkimer: jherkimer at snet.net SUBJECT : Green Party of Connecticut Northwest Chapter account balance BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: According to the current Treasurer (Bob Eaton), the Northwest Chapter account balance is $2,075.88. This balance is a result of an agreed upon 70/30 split with the Green Party of Connecticut (70%) for all donations that originate from within the Northwest Chapter (30%) geographic boundaries. These funds are held by the Green Party of Connecticut under the oversight of the Treasurer and disbursed upon request by the chapters. The current available records indicate that the Northwest Chapter has not drawn any funds from their account since (at least) the first quarter of 2003. PROPOSAL: In preparation for ongoing tabling opportunities throughout the state and beyond, for use during campaigns and for any beneficial use towards furthering the building of the party, our chapter proposes the design and purchase of comprehensive "tabling kits". These kits will be distributed (at no cost) to all chapters in the state and will be made available to those at-large members in areas not currently covered by a specific chapter. Input from anyone in the Green Party of Connecticut is welcome during the design and creation of the tabling kits. Tabling kit items under consideration: folding table with cover chairs (2-3) canopy and hardware banner and display hardware signage donation can printed paper material (e.g. brochures, literature, campaign materials) items for sale (e.g. buttons, bumper stickers, clothing, videos, flying discs) supplies (e.g. tablecloth, clipboards, office supplies, receipt book) paper weights CD of basic handouts carrying case The Northwest Chapter anticipates the total cost of the tabling kits to be between $1500-$2000. As a courtesy to the Treasurer, we submit this proposal as notification of our intention to present invoices in the near future for supplies and services associated with the tabling kits. As a courtesy to the State Central Committee, we submit this proposal to inform the general membership of this exciting project and to encourage widespread participation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 3 Green Party Meeting Proposal Form PRESENTER: Executive Committee CONTACT: Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT 06790, embrancato at netzero.com SUBJECT: Fund Raising Mailing - Additional funds BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The SCC, in November approved paying $855-$955 for a fund-raising mailing. The mailing was done, but the bill has run over the cost estimate. Although part of the overage seems to be due to printing more copies than the original quote called for, it seems that the overage is also due to our requesting printing on two sides of the insert. That was not part of the original quote. PROPOSAL: We propose that the Connecticut Green Party approve an additional expenditure of up to $200.00 to settle this account in full. ----------------------------------------- Appendix 4. Green Party Meeting Proposal Form PRESENTER: Executive Committee CONTACT: Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT 06790, embrancato at netzero.com SUBJECT: Approval of Delegates to National Committees BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are many national committees which SCC members in good standing can join and contribute to. We feel this benefits and strengthens our SCC, as well as the individual delegates. We would like to encourage members joining and working on national committees. We have, in the past, put these nominations before the full SCC. This has sometimes resulted in delay and discouragement. The SCC meetings often do not have quorum. When there is quorum, the agendas are so full that often all business is not done, or is done in a rushed manner. PROPOSAL: We propose that the Connecticut Green Party allow the Executive Committee to approve delegates to national committees. Notice of the pending approval and solicitation of other candidates will take place before the approval. Notice of the approval will be posted on the News list serve within 48 hours of the approval being granted. Notice of the approval will be reported at the next SCC meeting as part of the report of the Executive Committee. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 5 Green Party Meeting Proposal Form PRESENTER: Executive Committee CONTACT: Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT 06790, embrancato at netzero.com SUBJECT: Event Endorsement by the Executive Committee BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Executive Committee has the authority to approve the endorsement of events when there is not time to bring the request for approval before the full SCC. Most event endorsements are straightforward and not at all controversial. SCC meetings often do not have quorum, and even when they have quorum, the agenda is full. We believe that the time of the SCC would be better spent if routine endorsements were taken care of by the Executive Committee. PROPOSAL: We propose that the Connecticut Green Party allow the Executive Committee to approve the endorsement of all events. The EC will approve the endorsement if there is full consensus. If there is not full consensus, and there is time to put the endorsement before the SCC, it will be added to the agenda for the next meeting and will be discussed and decided-upon by the full SCC. If there is not time to put the endorsement before the full SCC, a simple majority vote of the Executive Committee will prevail. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 6 Green Party Meeting Proposal Form [Saturday, March 26, 2005; with revision from Judy received 3-28-05; totals with postage added by Ed] PRESENTER Internal Elections Committee (IEC) CONTACT: Jean de Smet, 39 Davis Street, Willimantic, CT 06226 860-456-2188 demac at galaxyinternet.net SUBJECT : 2005 Annual Meeting/State Party Convention of the Green Party of Connecticut (GPC) BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The IEC is charged by the State Central Committee (SCC) to coordinate and implement all aspects of an annual election for elected positions within the GPC. PROPOSAL: 1. Deadline for announcing candidacies is Friday, April 8, 2005 at 5:00pm. 2. Proposed Convention dates are Sunday, April 17th or Saturday, April 23rd; 10am-2pm with a potluck lunch. 3. Authorize David Bedell to rent for $75 the Greater New Haven Labor Council, 267 Chapel Street, New Haven, 203-777-2756. The New Haven Chapter previously offered (January 20, 2005) to donate the rental fee. 4. Nominations from the floor the day of the Convention will be accepted (Co-Chairperson[3], Secretary, Treasurer, GP-US Representative[2], GP-US Representative Alternate). 5. A ballot and candidate information will be mailed to any qualified member who requests one. Deadlines for mailed ballots will be established once the Convention date is set. Ballots will be numbered and mailed by this committee. Numbered ballots and printed candidate information will be available at the Convention. This committee requests that $200 (or less) be earmarked by the treasurer for printing and associated costs for ballots, candidate information sheets, envelopes and postage. 5A. In the event of an uncontested race, this Committee does not recommend a widespread mass postal mailing of ballots and candidate information for the following reasons: (i) the low amount of money in the Party's checking account; (ii) apparent disinterest among members in the idea of doing a mailing. Weeks ago the secretary sent lists of registered Greens to each of the chapters with the request that chapters return to him address changes and additional members (per the bylaws definition of member) in preparation for the internal elections; few of the chapters have responded (iii) inability of the secretary to find time to do further work on the lists (e.g. add missing zip codes, determine why dozens of names were not included in the lists sent to the chapters). However, if other candidates should come forward thus creating a contested election, this Committee requests the guidance of the SCC as to whether or not the Party wishes to consider a mass postal mailing. Estimated cost quotes of three printing/mailing options: (postage included): Option #1: 2800 postcards/200 full ballot $1,291 Option #2: 2000 postcard/1000 full ballots $1,892 Option #3: 3000 full ballots $3,260 6. Although the bylaws state that the only elected position is Co-Chairperson[3] and all other positions are appointed, this committee recommends that the Party follow historical precedent by electing all positions. The bylaws read: ".Co-Chairpersons shall be elected by an absolute majority vote of the members, as established if necessary by successive preferential voting." --Bylaws of the GPC, Adopted by the SCC-January, 1999; revised 2000, 2001: II. Party Structure and Functions, 2. Officers, f) Election/Appointment of Officials 7. At the Convention, candidates will be allowed opportunity to present their positions and answer questions. 8. Notice of the Convention will be disseminated via existing listservs, chapter representatives, email, media "events" listings and our website. Chapters are encouraged to reach out to their members via phone calls. 9. In anticipation of the Executive Committee arranging for Convention speaker(s), we request an appropriation from the SCC for speaker(s)' gasoline expenses and small honorarium. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have serious disagreements with the accuracy of anything written in these minutes, please contact the secretary, Ed DuBrule, at edubrule at sbcglobal.net or 860-523-4016. If your e-mail or letter is titled "I remember things happened differently" or "I remember that this also occurred", I will treat your e-mail or letter (or a summary of it) as an addendum to these minutes. Such e-mails or letters must be received within 4 weeks of the date of publication of the minutes to the News listserve to be considered addenda. Addenda are published to the News listserve and are considered part of the minutes. They are brought to the following month's SCC meeting (for distribution at the time the minutes are approved/disapproved); they are posted to the CT Green Party website as part of the minutes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Mon Apr 25 23:47:07 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 23:47:07 -0400 Subject: {news} minutes of/report on 4/5/05 Executive Committee conference call Message-ID: <08ad01c54a16$90ac3cf0$d28cf504@edgn2b574u14bi> The 4/5/05 Executive Committee conference call was devoted entirely to planning for the annual meeting (what speakers to have). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Tue Apr 26 08:03:06 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2005 05:03:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} U.S. Green Party News Circulator for 4/18/05-4/25/05 Message-ID: <20050426120306.78075.qmail@web81103.mail.yahoo.com> Green Party-CT wrote:Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2005 04:56:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Green Party-CT Subject: Fwd: [media-states] U.S. Green Party News Circulator for 4/18/05-4/25/05 To: Tim McKee Andy Parx wrote: From: Andy Parx To: undisclosed-recipients: ; Subject: [media-states] U.S. Green Party News Circulator for 4/18/05-4/25/05 Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 14:29:49 -1000 U.S. Green Party News Circulator for 4/18/05-4/25/05 For more Green Party news go to http://web.greens.org/news/ **************************************************************************** 1) WALES: ELECTION DIARY 2) CANADA: GREENS' LEADER THINKS THERE'S A CHANCE OF WINNING AT LEAST ONE SEAT -- HER OWN 3) NEW ZEALAND: JONATHAN MILNE: AN UPHILL BIKE RIDE AHEAD FOR THE GREEN PARTY 4) NEW YORK: COMMUNITY ACTIVIST TO RUN FOR MAYOR 5) NEW ZEALAND: BE FLEXIBLE - OR ELSE! 6) CANADA: COUPLE ENGAGED AS GREENS: RUNNING IN COQUITLAM IN NEIGHBOURING RIDINGS 7) NEW YORK: NADER PROTESTS WAR IN IRAQ 8) ENGLAND: GREENS REVEAL BURNING ISSUES 9) ENGLAND: GREENS CALL FOR A TICKET TO RIDE 10) NEW ZEALAND: SMALL PARTIES CRY FOUL OVER BROADCAST FUNDING 11) CANADA: FEDERAL GREENS FLUSH WITH $1M WAR CHEST: BUT DESPITE THE PARTY'S READINESS FOR A VOTE, ITS LEADER SAYS CANADIANS DON'T WANT AN ELECTION NOW 12) NEW ZEALAND: GREENS AND UNITED FUTURE BACK EVERY CHILD COUNTS' CAMPAIGN 13) ENGLAND: PANDORA: DOWNING STREET SPIN DOCTOR HEADS FOR GREENER PASTURES 14) CANADA: GREEN PARTY ATTACKS LIBERALS, NDP: PARTY LEADER ADRIANE CARR SAYS NDP ARE STILL ON FOSSIL FUEL PATH AND LIBERALS ARE A DISASTER 15) NEW ZEALAND: MORE TAXI DRIVERS TO BE BANNED UNDER WIDENED SCOPE OF BILL 16) NEW ZEALAND: FITZSIMONS WARNS NELSON OF OIL CRISIS 17) IRELAND: PROBE CALL OVER SEWAGE 'FIASCO' 18) ENGLAND:GREEN CANDIDATE 'FEELS EXCITED' 19) ENGLAND: MY MANIFESTO: STEPHEN TWEEDIE 20) ENGLAND: MY MANIFESTO: BRYAN MELOY 21) ENGLAND:: MY MANIFESTO: MARTIN WHITESIDE 22) SCOTLAND:: GENERAL ELECTION 2005: GREENS' POWER VISION 23) CZECH REPUBLIC: NEO-NAZIS, ANTI-FASCISTS TO MEET ON MAY DAY IN BRNO - PRESS 24) ENGLAND: GREEN PARTY PLEDGES ?30bn TRANSPORT REVOLUTION 25) ENGLAND: GREENS' ENERGY CAMPAIGN 26) NEW ZEALAND: GROWTH 'SHOULD GO UP, NOT OUT' 27) IRELAND: GORMLEY QUERIES CALLELY EVIDENCE 28) GERMANY: GERMANY SET TO JOIN U.S.-LED MISSILE PROJECT ; GREENS PARTY AGREES TO BACK NEW SYSTEM 29) NEW ZEALAND: TANZCOS DIPS ON PARTY LIST 30) CONNECTICUT: PILLSBURY MAY VIE FOR ALDERMAN 31) CANADA: GREENS TARGET JUNK FOOD, TOBACCO, POLLUTERS, GAMBLING: POLICY I PARTY PRIORITIES WOULD BE EDUCATION, HEALTH **************************************************************************** 1) Wales on Sunday; April 17, 2005 WALES: ELECTION DIARY Peter Hain may not be rattled by Cannabis Granny Patricia Tabram standing against him in Neath, but one party is worried. The Green Party has approached the Legalise Cannabis Alliance asking them to pull out of several Welsh constituencies. 'The reason that we asked them to step down was because a lot of our voters would probably share their views,' said Welsh Green spokesman Martin Shrewsbury. 'Although we're not a single issue party we felt their candidates would get in the way.' But the Alliance's Welsh campaign organiser Steve Penk said: 'Our policy is not to stand down for other parties. We are an established political party.'... **************************************************************************** 2) Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia); April 17, 2005 CANADA: GREENS' LEADER THINKS THERE'S A CHANCE OF WINNING AT LEAST ONE SEAT -- HER OWN by Les Leyne, Lindsay Kines and Jeff Rud GREEN ACRES: Even Green party Leader Adriane Carr admits that her party isn't a serious contender to govern after this election, so the fact the Greens released a 300-promise platform with no costing didn't raise many eyebrows. But Carr does maintain this will be the spring the party breaks through and wins at least one seat in the B.C. legislature. And the best bet for that seat, she says, is the one she's running for. "As leader of the party, people around the province want to see me elected,'' Carr said this week. Carr is running again in the Powell River-Sunshine Coast riding, which has a history of electing leaders from smaller parties. Gordon Wilson was elected there in 1991 as Liberal leader (yes the Liberals qualified as a small force then) and then again in 1996 as leader of the now-defunct Progressive Democratic Alliance. Liberal incumbent Harold Long is not running again and Carr maintains Long's successor for the nomination, Maureen Clayton, is "not a strong candidate.'' The Green leader sees her competition coming from NDP candidate Nicholas Simons, director of health and social development for the Sechelt Nation. Carr has a score to settle with the NDP, which she alleges turned its resources on her riding midway through the 2001 campaign to make sure she wouldn't win the seat. Long won the riding with 9,904 votes while Wilson was second at 6,349 and Carr narrowly third at 6,316. "What if they had helped Carole James's riding [Victoria Beacon-Hill] or Victoria-Hillside [where Steve Orcherton lost narrowly to Sheila Orr] instead?'' Carr said. "Was their goal really to have fewer Liberals elected or just to make sure that the Green Party leader didn't get elected?''... *************************************************************************** 3) The New Zealand Herald; April 17, 2005 NEW ZEALAND: JONATHAN MILNE: AN UPHILL BIKE RIDE AHEAD FOR THE GREEN PARTY Just down the road from Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons' wind and solar-powered house is Thames, "Gateway to the Coromandel". Once known for its gold mines, Thames is now better known for its famous organic, GE-free strain of marijuana, Coromandel Gold. Thames is not much of a tourist destination. But then, if its townsfolk had really wanted to advertise their community, surely they could have done better than to describe it as the gateway to somewhere else. The same applies to Fitzsimons' party, whose mantra this year is: "A party vote for the Greens is a vote for a Labour-led government." The implicit message to voters? "We don't offer much ourselves but we are a route by which you can return Labour to government." Suffice to say, the idealists in the Greens got a harsh lesson in political pragmatism at the 2002 election. The Corngate allegations sparked an acrimonious battle with Labour, causing both votes to crumble. Fitzsimons lost the Coromandel seat, the party's 7 per cent vote share fell short of its 10 per cent target, and Labour teamed up with United Future to lift the moratorium on commercial release of GM organisms. The Greens swore they could never support a government that lifted the moratorium, and have voted "no confidence" in Labour ever since. Until now, that is. The Green and Labour leaderships met behind closed doors last month and, unsolicited, the Greens made the offer to abstain on the confidence and supply votes in the May Budget and June estimates. It is the start of a new strategy to position the Greens as a solid, sensible support partner for a future Labour-led government, rather than the erratic flakes the public perceived in the past. And it will make it more difficult for Labour to use the John Tamihere crisis to call an early election, with no threat to its majority. Yesterday the Greens began hand-delivering 400,000 leaflets headlined: "Give a damn. Help make a difference." Despite the ad man's gently provocative language, the message is toned down from the absolutism of past election campaigns. In 2002, the party turned away a proffered $10,000 donation from casino operator Sky City. This year, they may rue being so picky as they realise their fees from their 3000 members fall well short of the $700,000 war chest they seek. The party expects a September election but will still issue its candidate list this week or next. Fitzsimons will travel the country in a mini-campaign, seeking to lift polling above Thursday's meagre 3.8 per cent rating on TV3. Their biggest weakness may be in Auckland, where they have only one permanently based MP to woo a third of the nation's voters. A key message - coming soon to a newspaper advert or billboard near you - will be of the danger of "peak oil" when global oil production starts dropping and the world's car, planes and factories begin grinding to a halt. Environmentalists say that day is almost upon us; others insist it is 50 years away. But car-loving Auckland may not welcome the offer of bicycles instead of motorways. In past elections the Greens have scared out the vote with their dire warnings of the impact of genetic modification. This time the newly-pragmatic Greens will be hoping the "peak oil" apocalypse coincides with election day. *************************************************************************** 4) Buffalo News (New York); April 17, 2005 NEW YORK: COMMUNITY ACTIVIST TO RUN FOR MAYOR Community activist Judith Einach, endorsed by the Green Party, launched her mayoral campaign Saturday by promising more attention to "fixing the little things so the big things can fix themselves." "To build a strong economy we need to include creative or less-tried but proven methods to generate wealth," she said. Einach, 57, is project director of Food Ventures, a micro-enterprise development program. She spoke to about two dozen supporters outside city-owned historic row houses at 147-153 Woodlawn Ave., near Masten Avenue, that are in disrepair. "We should expect city government to act as a steward and care for our properties until they are sold to a responsible buyer," she said. If elected, she promised: To better spend the millions in aid from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development revitalizing neighborhoods and housing stock. To oppose locating a gambling casino in Buffalo. Parks and eco-tourism projects for the Outer Harbor. *************************************************************************** 5) Waikato Times (Hamilton, New Zealand); April 18, 2005 NEW ZEALAND: BE FLEXIBLE - OR ELSE! by Michael Herman Proposed legislation may force companies to offer flexible working hours. But, as Michael Herman reports, business is wary. -------------------- AN EMPLOYMENT law put forward by the Green Party introducing mandatory flexible working arrangements is an unwelcome development, according to Business New Zealand. Chief executive Phil O'Reilly says the skills shortage has already taught employers that embracing flexibility is the best way to retain staff, making legislation unnecessary. "We already have laws against discrimination on the grounds of sex, pregnancy and family status, and the growth in part-time jobs in response to employee wishes indicates there is already a mind-set of flexibility among employers." But Green Party MP Sue Kedgley, sponsor of the Employment Relations (Flexible Working Hours) Amendment Bill, says surveys show employees are "chronically" stressed. They complain of having too little time to spend with their families and are fearful of the consequences of asking for greater flexibility. Ms Kedgley says working arrangements are already on political agendas abroad and European governments are moving to "protect" people who want more flexible work arrangements. The parties sitting at opposite sides of the wage table agree on the value of flexibility and the need to transform traditional ways of managing people for the modern lifestyle. But they disagree on how this should be brought about. Legislation is important, Ms Kedgley says. Law makers appear to believe that people who want greater flexibly could be discriminated against by employers who view requests of this kind as proof they are not sufficiently committed to their jobs. She cites research showing workers fear management disapproval when asking for changes to standard working arrangements. "This came through in a Department of Labour survey that showed most employees are reluctant to broach their employers for fear they would be penalised in some way." However, Mr O'Reilly and businesses his organisation represents maintain putting more compulsion on employers is "misconceived" and unwelcome. "Business NZ is already working with the Government on behalf of thousands of enterprises that are committed to providing family-friendly workplaces. Employers already know that taking account of staff needs and diversity are the best way to retain staff in a tight labour market." Mr O'Reilly claims Labour knows this legislation is counterproductive and charges it is only backing the bill to secure support from the Greens before the election. "The Government is aware of the weight of research on best practice in this area, which points to the fact that voluntary arrangements made on-site work better than state compulsion. Perhaps it is trying not to offend the Greens."... ************************************************************************** 6) The Vancouver Province (British Columbia); April 18, 2005 CANADA: COUPLE ENGAGED AS GREENS: RUNNING IN COQUITLAM IN NEIGHBOURING RIDINGS by Kent Spencer Two betrothed candidates are staking their future on the Green Party in Coquitlam. Michael Hejazi and Carli Travers plan to tie the knot Sept. 24 no matter what happens in the May 17 provincial election. Hejazi, 22, is running in Coquitlam-Maillardville. Travers, 21, is running in neighbouring Burquitlam. Hejazi, who acknowledges that Green poll numbers aren't close to those of the Liberals or NDP, does not expect to win a seat this time. "They say it takes 15 years to build a new political party," he said yesterday. "The first election [the Greens ran a full slate in 2001] you're introducing yourselves; the next you're making yourselves known; and the third time you're winning." He's Iranian by birth; she's a New Westminster girl. "We're dirt-poor students," he said. "I'm studying sociology and Carli wants to be a social worker." Hejazi said he chose to be Green because the party is beholden to no one. "NDP reads its cards from the unions and B.C. Federation of Labour. The Liberals are in with the corporate sector. They closed St. Mary's Hospital and that is not the direction we need to go in an inflated economy. "The Green Party is in favour of long-term sustainability in jobs, health and the environment." It also wants to reduce the "over-prescription of drugs" and move health care into the community, where it would "cost less." *************************************************************************** 7) Daily Orange (Syracuse University) via U-Wire; April 18, 2005 NEW YORK: NADER PROTESTS WAR IN IRAQ by Laura Van Wert, SYRACUSE -- One would think, after losing his second consecutive presidential election, Ralph Nader would be sitting at home licking his wounds instead of touring the country spreading his messages to the American people. Nader, who ran for president for the Green Party in both the 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections, spoke at Hendricks Chapel on Friday night. His speech, entitled "Bring Our Troops Home. Stop the Iraq War. Rebuild Our Communities," focused on the problems that America faces due to the U.S. occupation in Iraq and how the U.S. presence there takes away from the needs of American citizens. The event was free for both students and the community, but organizers accepted donations requested at $10 for the community and $5 for students. Nader is touring the country because his most recent campaign for president left his organization in debt. Nader spoke to members of both the community and university as part of a three-day Green Party conference, "Organizing to Win," held by the Upstate Greens, the local chapter of the Green Party. The event began with the local teenage youth group Media Unit performing a labor skit. In addition, several groups such as the Partnership for Onondaga Creek, the Campus Greens, members of Syracuse University's Student Environmental Action Coalitions and students from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry gave brief speeches about their groups' causes and recent activities.... ...The evening's events ended with local Green Party member Howie Hawkins and an additional musical performance from Patti Smith. ************************************************************************** 8) UK Newsquest Regional Press - This is Oxfordshire; April 18, 2005 ENGLAND: GREENS REVEAL BURNING ISSUES The Oxford Green Party launched its county council election manifesto by burning fake ?5 notes to illustrate its claim that the council has been wasting taxpayers' money. About 50 of the 73 Green Oxfordshire county candidates gathered outside County Hall in the town centre for the launch on Saturday. Craig Simmons leader of the Greens said: "We are standing on five main issues the first is financial management. There should be no more lost millions and no more poorly managed schemes such as Cornmarket Street which wasted huge amounts of taxpayers' money. "We want better services for vulnerable people better social and health care services. Disabled people should not have to pay for care let alone be overcharged as they have been. "We will tackle the issue of air pollution in Oxford and implement the 10-point action plan for cleaner air. "We stand for better education for health and well-being. Most schools don't even have kitchens. Pupils need healthier school meals and better pastoral care. "The Greens would rule out an incinerator outside Oxford reduce waste and increase levels of recycling. "We put in place the real nappies scheme which the county council has now got rid of." Their key manifesto policies include: * More investment in social services and how money can be raised to fund this without affecting Council Tax. * Better accounting systems and improved external audit of the council's accounts alongside more financial training for councillors. * The county should do more to improve the learning environment for example providing healthier school meals training on nutrition better exercise facilities and action to address bullying. * Expand recycling and introduce waste minimisation schemes and remain opposed to incineration -- which the county is still pursuing as an option. * A shift in transport policy towards traffic reduction lower speeds and improvements in air quality. This will limit climate change while improving safety. *************************************************************************** 9) The Star (Sheffield); April 18, 2005 ENGLAND: GREENS CALL FOR A TICKET TO RIDE GIVE us back our buses! That was the call from Sheffield's Greens as the party launched its election campaign at the city's Pond Street interchange. Boosting the quality of public transport is essential if the city's transport chaos is to be eased - and re-regulating bus services is the first key step, its candidates argue. The Greens are standing in three Sheffield constituencies - Hallam, Central and Heeley, and are setting themselves the initial target of retaining their deposits. Nationally the party is hopeful of electing its first member of parliament, with around five seats targeted. But initially more important is the war of ideas raging on city doorsteps, as candidates present their policies to the voters. "We want to put our bus services back into the hands of the people," said Bernard Little, who is fighting Sheffield Central. "We can't have decent quality public transport if the system is in the hands of companies whose sole interest is in profit. "And we will not be able to persuade people to get out of their cars, freeing our city from pollution and gridlock, if the quality of our bus services is not improved." The Greens are highlighting the 50 routes in South Yorkshire which are set to be cut or reduced later this month, increasing isolation for pensioners or those without transport who may then be unable to get to post offices, shops and community centres. Rob Cole, fighting Hallam, said he had met many disillusioned Labour voters on the doorsteps, who felt they had been let down over the Iraq war. "But we are not just a protest vote - we have alternative policies on all the key issues which we feel offer a real alternative to the major parties in this election," he added. Rob Unwin, who is standing in Heeley, said he sensed a different climate emerging which would see the Greens making significant progress over the next few years. *************************************************************************** 10) New Zealand Press Association; April 18, 2005 NEW ZEALAND: SMALL PARTIES CRY FOUL OVER BROADCAST FUNDING NZPA political reporters Wellington, April 18 - The Labour Party is satisfied with $ 1.2 million and United Future has no problems with $ 200,000, but none of the other political parties thinks the Electoral Commission did a fair job when it doled out money for election broadcasting. Reactions today ranged from United Future's very pleased'' to ACT's it's a rort''. New Zealand First suspects a plot and wants the commission fired, while the Greens have crunched the numbers and say the whole thing is unfair. The commission has handed out a total $ 3.212 million for election campaign broadcasts on radio and television, and has allocated free air time for opening and closing speeches. Labour has been given $ 1.2 million and 18 minutes broadcast time. National is getting $ 900,000 and the same broadcast time. ACT, the Greens, NZ First and United Future each get $ 200,000 and 10 minutes broadcast time. The Maori Party has been given $ 125,000 and seven minutes, and the Progressive Party $ 75,000 and seven minutes. The rest of the money has been spread among six parties not represented in Parliament, each getting $ 10,000 and one minute... ...Green Party co-leader Rod Donald said the total budget had increased by 60 percent, and Labour's share had jumped 78 percent compared with the last election. National's had gone up 46 percent, but the Greens and the other small parties had only gained a 20 percent increase. Mr Donald said advertising rates had increased 30 percent in the past year, and a 20 percent increase meant the small parties were effectively getting less than last time. The commission's chief executive, Helena Catt, said the criteria had been followed and the increased total reflected higher costs. It considers the number of MPs each party has, votes won at the last election and opinion poll ratings. *************************************************************************** 11) The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia); April 19, 2005 CANADA: FEDERAL GREENS FLUSH WITH $1M WAR CHEST: BUT DESPITE THE PARTY'S READINESS FOR A VOTE, ITS LEADER SAYS CANADIANS DON'T WANT AN ELECTION NOW by Grant Robertson OTTAWA -- Flush with more cash than it's ever had before, Canada's federal Green Party says it's ready to fight an election and has more than 80 per cent of its candidates in place. But the upstart party that surprised Ottawa by capturing more than half-a-million votes in last June's federal vote isn't eager to dip into the $1-million war chest of federal funding it has collected since then. Green Party leader Jim Harris lashed out at the federal Conservatives Monday, saying Canadians don't want to go to the polls and accused the Tories of "self-serving" politics. "We've moved to political self interest where the opposition parties smell blood and are working to bring down the government when the polls are most favourable to them," Harris said. "Rather than measuring for drapes at Sussex, Mr. Harper and his colleagues should be focused on the issues that are of concern to Canadians and in fact everyone in the world -- issues like Kyoto." The Greens and the New Democrats, who both ran on environmentally focused platforms in the last election, have separately called on the government to strengthen its climate-change legislation. Both parties are concerned allegations of corruption inside the Liberal government, stemming from the Gomery inquiry into the sponsorship scandal, will push Canada's Kyoto plan to the periphery. Should the scandal force Canadians back to the polls, it will prompt a battle between the Greens and the NDP for the environmentally conscious voter. The Greens, who once scraped by on a $35,000 annual budget, have amassed an almost $1-million bank account thanks to new election financing laws. Under those new rules, each political party gets $1.75 worth of annual federal funding for every vote it received in the last election. The Greens, which ran a lean campaign, have much of that cash on hand. On Monday, NDP leader Jack Layton acknowledged his party is still in debt from the last federal election, but is close to getting out of the red. "It's practically gone," Layton said of the party's debt. "And we're all set for the next election. We have our finances arranged and we're ready to go . . . we'll have a larger campaign than we had last time." While both parties have enjoyed a bump in polling amid the Liberal sponsorship scandal, Layton brushed off suggestions the Greens might use their bank account to erode NDP support. Meanwhile, the NDP can finance a snap election on the larger number of votes it can likely expect across Canada, Young said. The Greens have been on the outside looking in on Parliament Hill and were refused a few months ago when the party sought to have offices there because it lacks an MP. ************************************************************************** 12) New Zealand Press Association; April 19, 2005 NEW ZEALAND: GREENS AND UNITED FUTURE BACK EVERY CHILD COUNTS' CAMPAIGN Wellington, April 19 - The Greens and United Future are backing the call by children's groups for the needs of young people to be recognised in the policies of political parties. The coalition made up of Barnados, Plunket, Save the Children, Unicef NZ and AUT's Institute of Public Policy today launched its Every Child Counts campaign. Because children could not vote they were often ignored in public policy, campaign spokeswoman Emma Davies said. Green Party co-leader Rod Donald said there should be a multi-party accord to end child poverty by 2010. The Greens back the campaign 100 percent and applaud its call for children to be at the centre of the election policy debate,'' he said. This significant coalition of social service agencies is right to call on political parties to give children the same attention as the grey' vote.'' Mr Donald said parties had to stop treating children as political footballs.... *************************************************************************** 13) The Independent (London); April 19, 2005 ENGLAND: PANDORA: DOWNING STREET SPIN DOCTOR HEADS FOR GREENER PASTURES by Oliver Marre A signal that New Labour is in trouble, despite its resilience in the opinion polls. In something of a career departure, a former Downing Street spin doctor is standing as a Green party candidate in the general election. James Humphreys " previously Tony Blair's Head of Corporate Communications " has announced that he is running for the Greens in the Blairite heartland of Islington South. 'I would have supported Labour in the past,' he tells me. 'My criticism is that people in Downing Street were always looking for the middle ground and the marginal constituencies. Labour's record on the environment has been worse than the Conservatives who were prepared to take some unpopular decisions.' Humphreys' candidacy is also bad news for the Lib Dems, who hope to gain the seat, where the former Labour cabinet minister Chris Smith is standing down. 'The Lib Dems would support Labour in a hung Parliament so a vote for them wouldn't send out much of a signal,' he adds.... Humphreys' day job is now at the Department for International Development, where he assists developing countries to learn the skills of spin doctoring. Demonstrating a good grasp of his art, he adds, ominously: 'My old colleagues in Downing Street have been very understanding about my decision.' Surely bad news for the Labour high command: if Tony Blair can't rely on the support of his own communications team, who can he trust? ************************************************************************** 14) The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia); April 20, 2005 CANADA: GREEN PARTY ATTACKS LIBERALS, NDP: PARTY LEADER ADRIANE CARR SAYS NDP ARE STILL ON FOSSIL FUEL PATH AND LIBERALS ARE A DISASTER by Glenn Bohn B.C. Green Party leader Adriane Carr attacked the New Democratic Party's environmental platform and the Liberals' environmental record in power as she campaigned Tuesday. Speaking outside the Capers health food supermarket in the West End -- where the party introduced seven Vancouver candidates -- Carr said government can control health care costs by investing more in prevention. "That starts with a clean and healthy environment," she said. "That environment is not healthy now. We've got increasing pollution; food that is not safe. We want to see an environment where the water is clean, the air is clean, and our food is healthy and safe to eat." Green Book 2005, the 55-page Green party platform document, proposes "toxic-free legislation" to eliminate the use of products containing the most toxic substances, plain language labelling and warnings, a 10-per-cent "toxic tax", and more enforcement of existing laws on industrial pollution. Other Green pledges include ones to "phase out fossil fuel-fired electricity and prevent new ones," like B.C. Hydro's contentious gas-fired plant at Duke Point near Nanaimo, and a "permanent moratorium" on offshore oil and gas exploration. Asked to distinguish the Green's environmental platform from the NDP's, Carr said "They haven't done anything new or innovative. Same old, same old." Carr said the Liberals have been a "disaster" for the environment. gbohn at png.canwest.com *************************************************************************** 15) New Zealand Press Association; April 20, 2005 NEW ZEALAND: MORE TAXI DRIVERS TO BE BANNED UNDER WIDENED SCOPE OF BILL Wellington, April 20 - All convicted murderers and serious sex offenders will be banned from driving taxis if Parliament accepts the recommendation of a select committee regarding the Land Transport Amendment Bill. Parliament's transport and industrial relations committee this week reported the bill back to Parliament with several changes. Under the original bill anyone convicted in New Zealand of murder or a sex offence punishable by more than seven years' prison -- from the date the bill was passed -- would have been banned from operating taxis. Those convicted before the law was passed would have escaped the ban.... ...The report acknowledged dissent within the committee, with the Green Party believing the amendment would unfairly discriminate against drivers who held a serious conviction, but had safely operated a taxi for the past 20 or 30 years. The Greens believed the law should allow the director of land transport to grant exemptions to the ban where they believed the person was no longer a risk to the public.... *************************************************************************** 16) The Nelson Mail (New Zealand); April 20, 2005 NEW ZEALAND: FITZSIMONS WARNS NELSON OF OIL CRISIS by Dave Williams Nelson's crucial tourism and deep sea fishing industries could be hit hard by peak oil predictions and the region needs to build up its natural advantages to avoid a crisis, Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons warns. More than 150 people crammed into the Balling Theatre at the Nelson School of Music last night to hear Ms Fitzsimons and Green MP Mike Ward speak on peak oil, climate change and urban growth. Ms Fitzsimons told the meeting that the price of oil would increase as the world tapped into the second half of available reserves which would be extracted at a slower rate than the first half. Some experts believed oil production may have already peaked and demand was exceeding supply, or that it was just a few years away, she said. With China and India increasing their use of oil, there would be a growing mismatch between supply and demand, she said. Ms Fitzsimons said the cost of a barrel of oil had gone from $ US10 in the 1990s to about $ US57 today, which just a few years ago had been predicted to happen in 2030. She said New Zealand should be looking to carry freight more efficiently using rail. The Nelson region was at a disadvantage because it lacked a rail service but that could be offset by using its port. Nelson was also surrounded by forests which could be a source of heating fuel from waste wood products, and it had a benign climate and would be a good region to harness solar power, she said. Increasing aviation costs would see less global tourism and Nelson should concentrate on attracting tourists to stay longer and spend more. Deep sea fishing was highly energy intensive and more pressure would be put on coastal fisheries where there was already conflict, which meant conservation was likely to be the loser. ''Maybe we need to get more reserves in place now, before that happens.'' Ms Fitzsimons told the meeting that oil products pervaded people's lives through petrol, roads, food production, synthetic fibres and plastics and New Zealand needed to prepare for a time when oil was prohibitively expensive. She said there was not going to be a ''silver bullet'' alternative and the solution lay in a variety of energy sources. People should invest in more efficient home heating and insulation and buy more efficient cars, and public transport systems would need to be viable options. The biggest round of applause came when Ms Fitzsimons suggested people substitute the word ''oil'' for ''terrorism'' when US President George Bush talked about the war on terrorism. *************************************************************************** 17) Irish Independent; April 20, 2005 IRELAND: PROBE CALL OVER SEWAGE 'FIASCO' by Kathy Donaghy THE GREEN Party last night called for an independent investigation into the operation of Ringsend sewage treatment plant, after it emerged Dublin City Council plans to expand the plant's capacity - although it has not yet formally taken over its running. Green Party chairman John Gormley TD last night claimed the whole sorry saga of the Ringsend waste water treatment facility stank and said Environment Minister Dick Roche must now order an investigation into the affair. The plant, which was brought into operation in July, 2003 has been dogged by bad smells and the City Council has not finished the commissioning of the plant. The council last night confirmed that commissioning would shortly be completed but it was withholding a final payment from the private company which built the facility until issues including that of drifting foul smells were sorted out. The council claims that the original tender for the facility allowed for expansion and that this had always been intended. However, Mr Gormley said the matter must now be investigated urgently and he said it was the case that the City Council had been forced to admit the plant was to be expanded even though it is still being commissioned. "The Taoiseach, the Minister for the Environment and Dublin City Council officials have had ample opportunity to tell us about these expansion plans but did not do so because it would highlight their own incompetence and be highly embarrassing. How could they have got it so badly wrong?" he added. Raising the issue by way of adjournment in the Dail last night, Mr Gormley also claimed that he had evidence that sludge from the plant was being illegally dumped in Co Carlow. "Is the Minister for the Environment going to stand by or will he now act, as the Greens have requested, and investigate these issues as a matter of urgency?" Mr Gormley asked. The deputy has also complained to the European Commission about the affair. *************************************************************************** 18) Grimsby Evening Telegraph; April 20, 2005 ENGLAND:GREEN CANDIDATE 'FEELS EXCITED' The Green Party's candidate for Grimsby has spoken of his excitement about the current campaign. Former Havelock School pupil David Brooks (54), of Manor Avenue, has been involved in Green Party politics "for many years". After leaving school, Mr Brooks attended the North East London Polytechnic, in Walthamstow, and worked as an estate surveyor in Grimsby and Scunthorpe. He studied social studies at Ruskin College, Oxford and returned to Grimsby last summer. The party's election manifesto claims that climate change is a bigger threat than terrorism. The Greens want to replace VAT with a new eco-tax and increase NHS investment to ?90-billion a year by 2008. The party would also invest in sustainable energy and scrap Labour's ID plan policy. *************************************************************************** 19) The Gloucester Citizen; April 20, 2005 ENGLAND: MY MANIFESTO: STEPHEN TWEEDIE Party: Green Constituency: Forest of Dean There are now Green Parties in the majority of countries around the world and Greens have been making real progress here too, both in local government and in the recent European elections. This is because, only the Green Party is taking the future seriously, going beyond the immediate symptoms to consider the root causes of our difficulties, and developing policies that really deal with the needs of the environment. Enhanced global warming, resource depletion and ecological degradation all sound like more threats and scares but, in fact, they also suggest how we are going to resolve our social, environmental and global problems. In short, the Green Party wants ecology to be at the heart of our political agenda. Everything is linked; nothing can be dealt with in isolation so we must make planned changes now to take account of new realities, like climate change and the decline in oil production. In the Forest of Dean, I will work for: A region that aspires to self-reliance and real sustainability; A thriving local economy based on clean, renewable technologies; A just society for the environment and the people within it; A strong democracy with power retained in local communities; A low-energy strategy moving away from dependence on oil; An effective transport system with developed bus and train services; A peaceful world where the arms trade is ended and war is inconceivable. Being "green" is not just to have an environmental policy; it is to say that care, restoration and regeneration of ecological systems is integral to all sustainable social, political and economic activity. Earth care and people care are inseparable. Vote Green to support the changes you want to see in the world! *************************************************************************** 20) The Gloucester Citizen; April 20, 2005 ENGLAND: MY MANIFESTO: BRYAN MELOY Party: Green Constituency: Gloucester I, like many others, am sorely disappointed by the Labour Government. It has failed to deliver most of its election manifestos and now looks like another version of the Conservative Party that we were so pleased to see the end of in 1997. Labour's failure made me realise it was time for real politics based on people working together to get the best for all, including future generations. I believe the three main parties offer virtually the same things, and in standing as Green Party candidate I offer Gloucester another option, that of politics based on respect, equality and co-operation. I believe that politics shouldn't be about power at any price and fear, as the other parties would have it. It should be fun and it should be about communities that work together, co-operating and agreeing a consensus. It should be about hope. With this in view I co-ordinated last year's hugely successful Green Fayre and have promoted a number of bands in a city pub. I also helped to collect a petition of 800 signatures (which the Green Party presented to the county council) asking for a GM-free Gloucestershire, and organised a number of speakers for open meetings in Gloucester. I continue to campaign strongly against the war on Iraq and the Green Party, unlike the Liberal Democrats, was unequivocal from the start in our opposition to the immoral, destructive and illegal war on Iraq. In their "six pledges" Labour totally fail to mention climate change, that's despite Tony Blair just one week earlier naming it number one challenge. The Greens offer the only real policies designed to tackle this problem. Billions of pounds are being spent on Labour's illegal and immoral wars - hundreds of thousands of people are dying in them and hundreds of thousands more being made homeless and stateless. War has never produced security and understanding. Only by giving the Middle East fair treatment can we expect to contribute towards stability in the region. We should be offering real alternatives based on co-operation, not intimidation. To help end Iran's nuclear energy programme we should be signing contracts with them for the transfer of renewable energy technologies. We offer a different attitude to other parties and every single Green vote sends a message that the pantomime politics of Westminster is no longer good enough. Voters are fed up with parties whose policy setting is not about long-term vision or strategic thinking, but more about what marketing experts have identified will sway them to vote one way or the other. Look at the race to find scapegoats led by Michael Howard, followed closely by Charles Clark - immigration, asylum seekers and gypsies/travellers. The more vulnerable the target the better, there's less chance of anyone speaking out for them. Except, for the Green Party. *************************************************************************** 21) The Gloucester Citizen; April 20, 2005 ENGLAND:: MY MANIFESTO: MARTIN WHITESIDE Party: Green Constituency: Stroud The Green Party stands for the future - your future and the planets future. We have carefully worked out policies on the economy, crime, social justice, health and much more to achieve this. Climate change is our greatest threat. The other parties say they are concerned, but their economic globalisation policies will only make matters worse. Tony Blair says urgent action is needed but under Labour greenhouse gas emissions have risen. Only the Green Party has a clear strategy and the political courage for real change. We can create a fairer world. All three main parties put free trade and big business profit before sustainability and ending poverty. They have created a system where a better quality of life for some comes at the expense of a widening gap between rich and poor. Green Party policies of fair trade, fairer taxes and support for the local economy would reverse this trend. Yes, this will mean a 60% tax band for those earning over ?100,000 but we think that is fair. Greens support real investment in public services and a halt to their privatisation by stealth under Labour. Privatisation means money for shareholders, not for hospital cleaning, school meals, nurses, education and more. We will support investment in sustainable transport, renationalisation of the railways and make Britain a leader in sustainable technologies, creating an additional 200,000 jobs. We also oppose bad planning policies which lead to unsustainable housebuilding on green fields. We can create a safer world. Only the Green Party unambiguously opposed the war in Iraq from start to finish. We will work with the UN to promote law and peace, rather than supporting Bush in further wars for oil, undermining international law and creating a future of distrust, re-armament, anger and yet more terrorism. Closer to home, we oppose the erosion of our long-held liberties, including house arrest without trial, compulsory ID cards and restrictions on the right to demonstrate. We would treat asylum seekers more fairly and with dignity - allowing them to use their skills to work - supporting themselves and our economy. Greens would promote more local, GM-free and safer food. This would include an end to factory farming and cruel, long journeys for farm animals. We support a reformed Europe, with Britain keeping the pound. Surely a Green vote is a wasted vote? A Green vote is never wasted, as it sends a strong message that people are demanding change. Over a million people voted Green in last year's European elections and we have two Euro-MPs, seven Scottish MPs and a growing number of councillors. Pressure to vote for a party you don't want, to keep out someone worse, is just blackmail used to prop up our unfair electoral system. Don't give in to blackmail. One thing is certain, if you don't vote for what you really want, you're never going to get it. We need a political programme that is for at least the next hundred years, not just the next hundred days. *************************************************************************** 22) Daily Record; April 20, 2005 SCOTLAND:: GENERAL ELECTION 2005: GREENS' POWER VISION THE Greens yesterday pledged to power Scotland entirely by wind, wave and solar energy. The Scottish Green Party launched their manifesto with a promise to rid the country of nuclear and fossil fuel power by the year 2050. Co-convener Shiona Baird MSP said: 'This is a manifesto for people planet and peace. A manifesto for a just society where the interests of people and the environment are taken seriously.' They also revealed a raft of controversial policies. They would decriminalise drugs and replace benefits with a 'citizen's income' for people not in full -time work *************************************************************************** 23) Czech News Agency; April 20, 2005 CZECH REPUBLIC: NEO-NAZIS, ANTI-FASCISTS TO MEET ON MAY DAY IN BRNO - PRESS BRNO, April 20 (CTK) - Neo-Nazis from around the Czech Republic are planning to meet in Brno on May Day, announcing their demonstration march through the centre of the city as "The March of Students and Youth," the south Moravian supplement to the daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) writes today. At the same time as the Neo-Nazi demonstration, anarchists from the Anti-Fascist Initiative plan to demonstrate in Brno against war and armaments, MfD writes. The Green Party, Friends of the Earth, and Unbendable civic groups are trying to find a way to block the Neo-Nazi demonstration. "Holding such an event in Brno on the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two is completely audacious," Friends of the Earth director Martin Ander said. A similar opinion is held by the local Green Party head Dita Horova, who is a lawyer and is now looking for a legal way to stop the march. The march has already been registered with City Hall and should move through the centre of the city. "The organisers fulfilled their announcement obligations and City Hall has very limited ways of banning the demonstration," City Hall spokesman Roman Burian said. "We will manage the situation to avoid clashes and we will be aggressive," a Brno police spokesman said. *************************************************************************** 24) Press Association; April 21, 2005 ENGLAND: GREEN PARTY PLEDGES ?30bn TRANSPORT REVOLUTION BY Amanda Brown A cut back in road traffic and action to create cleaner and safer cities is promised today by the Green Party. Principal Speaker Councillor Keith Taylor will unveil five transport pledges in his Brighton Pavilion constituency aimed at delivering progressive transport measures worth ?30billion which would also reconnect urban and rural England. Mr Taylor said: "Successive governments' obsession with road-building and their neglect of the public transport network has cut people who can't drive from their essential services and left Britain with a ?43 billion a year road habit that accounts for more than one-fifth of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. "A working, affordable public transport network is key to tackling climate change and to creating a more equitable society. "The Green Party will implement five practical measures to rebuild Britain's transport network, make cities cleaner and safer places and reconnect rural Britain." The Five Green Transport Pledges are: 1 Invest ?30 billion into rail, bus, cycle and pedestrian transport. 2 Bring rail back into public ownership and reduce train fares. 3 Re-regulate Britain's buses. 4 Reduce road traffic by 10% over five years; scrap the tax disc, increase fuel duty. 5 End aviation's ?9 billion a year tax break. *************************************************************************** 25) North Devon Journal; April 21, 2005 ENGLAND: GREENS' ENERGY CAMPAIGN It was a colourful campaign opening for the North Devon Green Party. Number 10 Joy Street, Barnstaple, was packed with people on Saturday when the political party launched its campaign. A throng of friends and supporters were there to uncork the Champagne. North Devon candidate Ricky Knight said one highlight was the appearance of Green Elvis - unmistakable in his bright green suit, green guitar and eco-songs. Mr Knight said: "It's a fantastic advert for the local Green Party, to have a prime town-centre shop window like this to highlight our existence and our campaign. It was a glorious opening but now it's heads down and on with the campaign." The following day the North Devon Green Party held a sponsored cycle ride from the Hinkley Point power station, near Bridgwater, Somerset to Fullabrook Down, near Braunton, where there are proposals to build 22 wind turbines. Mr Knight said: "We certainly chose a day for it: cold, wind and driving rain and then down came a mist at Blackmoor Gate. "But we rose to the occasion, although the original green dozen were whittled down to seven by the time we had covered 64-miles, and arrived at Fullabrook Down nine-and- a-half-hours later. The things we do for love." *************************************************************************** 26) The Nelson Mail (New Zealand); April 21, 2005 NEW ZEALAND: GROWTH 'SHOULD GO UP, NOT OUT' by Dave Williams Nelson should build in and up, not out, says Green Party MP Mike Ward, as the city considers its long term growth options. Mr Ward and Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons addressed over 150 people at the Nelson School of Music on Tuesday night on peak oil, climate change and urban growth. A Nelson City Council study shows projected population growth to over 61,000 people will require 8600 houses, units and apartments by 2051. Large pockets of undeveloped land have been earmarked for development at Nelson South near Saxton Field, Ngawhatu, Marsden and Maitai Valleys, the Brook and Atawhai. Hira and the Glen have also been identified as possible areas for development. Mr Ward said the principle of building housing around transport nodes was a good one and rural lifestyles sounded attractive, but there were innovative and creative ways to develop medium density housing in Nelson. Mr Ward questioned why the population had to grow as fast as 1 percent a year and the common wisdom that if you produced more, things would come right. ''Why buy a house miles from where you want to be, bigger than it needs to be, less energy efficient with three or four cars in the garage, and then grizzle about petrol price increases?'' Speaking outside the meeting Mr Ward said zero growth was a difficult target, but should be aspired to. But if Nelson expanded out it would lead to further congestion on roads and Mr Ward said he would like to see more people living in town. ''Building single storey places in the city is a nonsense. We can build three storeys high some will be accommodation. We still talk about two acre lifestyle blocks; we need to discourage them.'' Mr Ward said ''great rows of tenements'' scared him, but there were innovative ways to design higher density housing and good overseas models should be investigated. Mr Ward told the meeting New Zealand could be a role model for the world by building a strong local economy where people sourced quality products from as close as possible, and lived in warm, efficient houses. ''In a food producing nation, why are we importing our food?'' ''We can make an enormous difference for four million people, and the planet is looking for role models.'' Submissions to the Nelson City Council urban growth strategy close on May 13. *************************************************************************** 27) The Irish Times; April 21, 2005 IRELAND: GORMLEY QUERIES CALLELY EVIDENCE by Mark Brennock Green Party chairman John Gormley has questioned evidence given yesterday by Minister of State Ivor Callely to the committee examining the Travers report. Mr Gormley says Dail records suggest Mr Callely could not have briefed the Taoiseach on the issues of charges for nursing-home care when he said he did. Mr Callely told the Oireachtas Committee on Health that after a meeting of senior health managers in Dublin's Gresham Hotel in December 2003 heard of concerns that the charging of long-term residents of state-run institutions could be illegal, he briefed Bertie Ahern to this effect. "My recollection is that I informed the Taoiseach in the course of a Dail vote," he said. He said believed that this was not on the day of that meeting - December 16th - but on one of the other Dail sitting days that week - December 17th or 18th. Mr Gormley said last night that according to the Dail record, Mr Ahern did not vote in the Dail on either of those days. He said there was now a need for Mr Ahern and Mr Callely "to explain how they could have had a conversation during a Dail vote about the eligibility issue on either the 17th or 18th of December 2003, when in fact the Taoiseach, according to the Dail records, was not present for any vote on those particular days." According to the Travers report, Mr Callely recalled that he spoke to the Taoiseach on this issue, that the Taoiseach did not respond when he spoke to him and that the conversation took place during the course of a Dail vote on an "unrelated matter". A spokesman for the Taoiseach said last night that Mr Ahern "has never stated which day Deputy Callely aproached him on this issue". Mr Ahern told the Dail last month that he had a conversation with Mr Calllely on the matter, but did not say when. Mr Gormley said notes taken on the meeting between Department of Health management and health board chiefs recorded that Mr Callely said he would speak to Mr Ahern and Minister for Health Micheal Martin. Attempts to contact Mr Callely last night were unsuccessful. *************************************************************************** 28) The International Herald Tribune; April 21, 2005 GERMANY: GERMANY SET TO JOIN U.S.-LED MISSILE PROJECT ; GREENS PARTY AGREES TO BACK NEW SYSTEM by Judy Dempsey BERLIN-- Chancellor Gerhard Schroder's government approved Wednesday night the development of an ambitious new air defense system, ending months of wrangling in his coalition and paving the way for better ties with the United States. The decision, which was finalized by Parliament's budget committee, is a major compromise for the pacifist wing of the Greens party, the junior partner in Schroder's coalition, which is led by the Social Democrats. "With the Greens on board, the way should be clear for developing the system," said Elke Leonhard, a senior Social Democrat, defense expert and member of the budget committee. "It will provide better protection for our troops but also send a clear signal to the United States that we are reliable partners and we do want to work together with them over this new system." The Medium Extended Air Defense System, or MEADS, is a joint project developed and funded by the United States, which holds a 58 percent stake. Germany holds 25 percent and Italy 17 percent.... Germany's share of the development costs will amount to 886 million, or $1.16 billion, over eight years, and procurement costs will total more than 2 billion. Lockheed Martin, a U.S. company; EADS, which is partly owned by Germany; and MBDA of Italy are the lead companies developing the mobile surface-to-air missile system. The Greens had opposed the project for months, despite having initially supported it. The party claimed that the costs were too high, particularly at a sensitive time for the government, which faces crucial state elections next month in North-Rhine Westphalia. The coalition's popularity has fallen since it started this year to reduce social welfare payments while unemployment, at more than five million, reached record levels. Also, the pacifist wing of the Greens had questioned the need for a separate air defense system to protect German soldiers in peacekeeping missions abroad. However, its biggest concern was that once the system was deployed it would push the military toward participating in high-combat operations, which the pacifists strongly oppose. "It wasn't easy at all for us," said the Greens party leader, Reinhard Butikofer. The United States said Wednesday that it welcomed the Greens' support. "Obviously we are still waiting for the budget decision, but the agreement with the Greens is a good thing," said an official who requested anonymity. "We have been pursuing this project for a while with Italy and Germany. It shows the alliance is working,"... *************************************************************************** 29) The Southland Times (New Zealand); April 22, 2005 NEW ZEALAND: TANZCOS DIPS ON PARTY LIST ALL eight Green Party MPs planning a return to Parliament have won the top places on the party's list. However, its star youth-vote attraction, Nandor Tanzcos, has dropped several places to No7 -- a place that could put his seat in jeopardy if the party only just manages to scrape past the 5 percent threshold. The MP has championed the drive to decriminalise cannabis but there have been concerns within the party the issue is a potential turn-off to voters. Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald are at Nos1 and 2, followed by Sue Bradford, Sue Kedgley, Keith Locke, Metiria Turei, Mr Tanczos and Mike Ward. Craig Carson, who is seeking selection in Invercargill, is at 30. *************************************************************************** 30) Yale Daily News; April 22, 2005 CONNECTICUT: PILLSBURY MAY VIE FOR ALDERMAN by Marcel Przymusinski New Haven Green Party co-chair and former congressional candidate Charlie Pillsbury '70 DIV '90 announced yesterday he will run for Ward 19 alderman unless current Ward 19 Alderwoman Alfreda Edwards decides to seek reelection. Pillsbury said he will attend community meetings in the coming weeks, and plans to begin making phone calls and going door-to-door after Labor Day. He said he decided to run because he thinks the seat will be open. Edwards did not return phone calls last night inquiring about her plans. Pillsbury -- who roomed with Gary Trudeau '70 at Yale and was in part the basis for the comic character Mike Doonesbury -- said he is interested in local issues such as crime, traffic and schools, but he would also push for election reform and environmental issues, in particular clean air. "I myself contracted asthma while living in this city, and up to 20 or 25 percent of the school-age children in this town suffer from mild or severe asthma," he said. "That's a major public health issue." With regard to Yale-New Haven Hospital's cancer center expansion proposal, which is currently before the Board of Aldermen, Pillsbury said he would like to see the hospital's employees vote on unionization before the cancer center is approved. "We all recognize the need for a world-class cancer facility," he said. "At the same time, I think the only way to make it world class is to have an organized labor force." New Haven Director of Public Information Derek Slap said Mayor John DeStefano Jr. believes Edwards has been a strong advocate for her ward. "The mayor understands that she's deciding whether to run right now, and that's her decision and something that she needs to ultimately make on her own," Slap said. "The mayor feels that she's done a great job for her constituents and would certainly support her candidacy ? We're just waiting to see what she's going to do before we go anywhere else." Ward 1 Alderman Ben Healey '04 said that, as far as he knows, Edwards has told members of the Board of Aldermen she does not plan to run for reelection. Healey said he thinks that Pillsbury has done good work in the community on clean elections, progressive taxation and environmental causes, in addition to giving to various local philanthropic causes. "While I have some disagreements with the Green Party, I feel that Charlie has excellent values, and I think he would make a great alderman," Healey said. Ward 2 Alderwoman Joyce Chen '01 is currently the only Green Party member on the Board of Aldermen. Pillsbury said he would not run against Edwards because she is a popular incumbent among Ward 19 residents. Pillsbury graduated from Yale in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in Latin American studies. Since 1989, he has served as executive director of Community Mediation, a local nonprofit dedicated to enabling individuals and communities to resolve disputes amicably. He ran against U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro for Congress in 2002 and lost to Edwards in the 2003 Ward 19 aldermanic race. *************************************************************************** 31) The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia); April 23, 2005 CANADA: GREENS TARGET JUNK FOOD, TOBACCO, POLLUTERS, GAMBLING: POLICY I PARTY PRIORITIES WOULD BE EDUCATION, HEALTH by Glenn Bohn The Green party says it can raise $700 million to restore slashed B.C. government programs and boost funding for health, education and other Green priorities by hiking taxes on junk food, tobacco, pollution and gambling. Greens say another $600 million in new revenue would come from higher royalties and taxes imposed on companies that extract and sell publicly-owned resources, such as forestry, mining and energy firms. Those are some of the highlights in the party's first Green Budget, a three-page summary of how much each of the party's 10 priorities would cost, and where the money would come from. Party leader Adriane Carr says the Liberals and New Democrats don't get their priorities right. "This is a budget that's tough on polluters and activities that cost our society and our health," Carr said at a Vancouver news conference. "The wastefulness of resources, like raw log exports, the pollution and toxics, like the ones that end up in our air, water and food; we pay for those costs, in the long run. This budget rewards a lighter footprint, like energy conservation. Getting on a sustainable path means changing the way we do business." The Green budget lists proposed changes to the provincial Liberal budget. They would be massive changes, such as $538 million more for public education and services for children, $369 million for health initiatives such long-term-care beds and community health clinics, $300 million for public transit and affordable housing, $270 million for such things as value-added forestry, eco-tourism, arts and culture and wild fisheries. The budget looks for almost $1.3 billion in additional tax revenues. Anyone who buys gasoline, tobacco and junk food would pay more in taxes. By restoring 2001 tax levels for the top 2.5 per cent of income-earners, the Greens say the government could take in $460 million. The second-biggest new stream of tax revenues would come from a five-cents-per-litre fuel tax. The gambling tax, a 10-per-cent tax on earnings above $100, would bring in a projected $100 million. One of the Greens' proposed tax cuts is an end to the provincial sales tax on made-in-B.C. goods -- a $100-million cut in provincial revenues. Another proposed tax cut would reduce taxes for small businesses, to two per cent from the current four per cent, over three years. Greens also want to cut some of the Liberal government's dearest projects, including the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver rapid transit line and the proposed twinning of Port Mann Bridge. The bottom-line numbers offered by the Greens: total increased revenues of $2.216 billion; total increased expenses of $1.967 billion; a projected surplus of $249 million -- money earmarked for debt reduction. Green party deputy leader Dennis Perry, a retired investment banker, suggested British Columbians will accept that kind of "balanced" approach. "We're going into a new era where we won't have the cheap fossil fuels that we historically had," he said. "This pushes and motivates us into going into that new era." *************************************************************************** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more Green Party news go to http://web.greens.org/news/ _______________________________________________ media-states mailing list media-states at lists.gp-us.org http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/media-states THE GREEN PARTY OF CONNECTICUT is the third largest political party in CT. The Greens are also the third largest political party in the US, with 220 Greens officeholders in 27 states. Over 80 countries in world have Green Parties. Wangari Maathai, the 2004 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is Kenya's assistant minister for environment and an elected Green Party member. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From capeconn at comcast.net Tue Apr 26 16:13:09 2005 From: capeconn at comcast.net (Tom Sevigny) Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2005 16:13:09 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: GREEN RELEASE Former Black Panther chair Elaine Brown will run as Green Message-ID: <008d01c54a9c$5e0e5b80$a3970218@sevigny8wcbjrd> ----- Original Message ----- From: "DC Statehood Green Party" To: Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 4:13 AM Subject: GREEN RELEASE Former Black Panther chair Elaine Brown will run as Green > GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES > http://www.gp.org > > For Immediate Release: > Tuesday, April 26, 2005 > > Contacts: > Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, > mclarty at greens.org > Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576, > nallen at acadia.net > Elaine Brown, candidate for Mayor of Brunswick, > Georgia, 912-261-9381, sistereb at bellsouth.net > > > FORMER BLACK PANTHER CHAIR ELAINE BROWN WILL RUN FOR > MAYOR OF BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA, AS A GREEN > > > WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Elaine Brown, the only woman to > lead the Black Panther Party, has declared her > intention to run for Mayor of Brunswick, Georgia, as a > member of the Green Party. > > Ms. Brown will formally announce her candidacy in the > nonpartisan race on May 19 -- Malcolm X's birthday -- > in Brunswick. Ms. Brown ran twice for public office > as a member of the Black Panther Party; a brief bio of > Ms. Brown is appended below. > > "I'm trying to win this seat to create a base of > economic power for Brunswick's majority black and poor > population through redistribution of the massive > revenues of the city's powerful port," said Elaine > Brown. "I intend to be the first black mayor and the > first woman mayor in a city now controlled by a white, > wealthy consortium whose current mayor is a lieutenant > colonel in the Sons of Confederate Veterans. > > "At the top of my agenda is economic and political > power for the black residents of Brunswick, and > forestalling a development plan that would displace > Brunswick's black population," added Ms. Brown, who is > profiled in the current issue (May 2005: 35th > anniversary issue) of Essence magazine. > > Elaine Brown gave a speech Saturday evening, April 23, > to a full house at Howard University in Washington, > D.C. on "From Revolution to the Ballot Box: A > Discussion of Strategy for Radical Change." The event > was sponsored by the Green Institute, an independent > tax-exempt organization. > > > ELAINE BROWN > A Brief Biography > > -- Elaine Brown is a former leading member of the > Black Panther Party and author of A Taste of Power and > The Condemnation of Little B. > > -- A Taste of Power, Brown's memoir, is slated for > film production by Suzanne de Passe, Emmy-award > winning president of de Passe Entertainment. > > -- In 1996, after living six years in France, Brown > moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she established the > nonprofit education corporation Fields of Flowers to > build a comprehensive model education center for black > and other poor children. > > -- Brown is Executive Director of the Michael Lewis > Legal Defense Committee, organized to support the > legal appeal of Lewis ("Little B"), who, arrested at > the age of 13 for a murder he did not commit, was > convicted and sentenced to life in prison (1997). > > -- Brown is a co-founder and Board member of the > National Alliance for Radical Prison Reform, an > organization primarily composed of former prisoners > and family members and friends of prisoners, the goals > of which are to repeal the harsh criminal laws of the > U.S., advocate for human rights for prisoners, and > provide re-entry programs for former prisoners. > > -- In addition, Brown is a member of the Geechee > Council of Georgia; the Brunswick NAACP; Vice > President of The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation; and a > partner in Seize the Time, Inc. > > -- Brown lectures at colleges and universities > throughout the country on New Age Racism and > realization of the vision of eliminating racism, > gender oppression and class disparity toward an > inclusive and egalitarian world society. > > -- Brown, a fluent French speaker, has traveled > extensively throughout the world, both on behalf of > the Black Panther Party and independently, from China, > North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Algeria to France, Italy, > Russia, Argentina, Uruguay, and elsewhere. > > -- Brown, who studied classical piano for years and > recorded two albums of her original songs, one for > Motown records, has attended Temple University, UCLA, > Mills College, and Southwestern University School of > Law. > > -- The mother of one adult daughter, Brown grew up in > the ghettos of North Philadelphia. Brown's papers have > been acquired by Emory University. > > > MORE INFORMATION > > The Green Party of the United States > http://www.gp.org > 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 > Washington, DC 20009. > 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN > Fax 202-319-7193 > > > ~ END ~ > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > From chapillsbury at igc.org Wed Apr 27 00:01:10 2005 From: chapillsbury at igc.org (Charlie Pillsbury) Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 00:01:10 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: 042405NHREGISTER-Pillsbury seeking seat in 19th Ward Message-ID: <00c201c54add$bf863a40$841efea9@S0031616584> Message -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 04/24/2005 Pillsbury seeking seat in 19th Ward maybe Andy Bromage , Register Staff NEW HAVEN ? Pledging to fight for clean air and clean elections, Green Party co-chairman Charles Pillsbury Friday announced his candidacy for 19th Ward alderman. However, Pillsbury said he will only run if incumbent Alderwoman Alfreda Edwards, a Democrat, opts not to seek re-election. Pillsbury lost a bid to unseat Edwards in 2003. Edwards, a three-term alderwoman, could not be reached, though city Democratic chairwoman Susan Voigt confirmed that Edwards is undecided. Pillsbury, 57, of 247 Saint Ronan St., said his decision was based on private conversations with Edwards, in which she hinted about vacating her seat. "Alfreda is well-liked in the ward," Pillsbury said. "That?s why I wasn?t going to challenge her again. But I have been very clear that when the seat opens up, I plan to run." Pillsbury is executive director of Community Mediation, Inc. and co-chairman of the New Haven Green Party, the largest chapter of Greens in the state. He ran his first campaign in 2002, challenging U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, for her congressional seat. Pillsbury took 5 percent of the vote to DeLauro?s 66 percent. City GOP chairman Ricther Elser took 29 percent. Pillsbury?s campaign platform is focused on municipal campaign-finance reform and clean-air initiatives, he said. "As someone who acquired asthma as a resident of this city, that issue is close to my heart," he said. "Air quality is a major issue for all of us, especially for our kids." Ward 19 represents residents in Prospect Hill and the easternmost portion of Newhallville. "The 19th Ward is ready for a Green," said Pillsbury, who timed his announcement to coincide with Earth Day, April 22. As in 2003, Pillsbury said he will keep campaign expenses below $1,000. Whatever Edwards? choice, the 19th Ward race is likely to be hotly contested. Elser said he expects a Republican to run, raising the prospect of a three-way race. Pillsbury is married to the Rev. Allie Perry and has four children from a previous marriage: Leah, 22; Susie, 21; Lydia, 19; and Andrew, 19. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Andy Bromage can be reached at abromage at nhregister.com or 789-5714. ?New Haven Register 2005 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: custlogoLG.gif Type: image/gif Size: 7128 bytes Desc: not available URL: From embrancato at netzero.com Sun Apr 24 18:20:32 2005 From: embrancato at netzero.com (Elizabeth M. Brancato) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 18:20:32 -0400 Subject: {news} [Fwd: [Bill-C] what i heard about iraq] Message-ID: <426C1BB0.5060602@netzero.com> */MISSION ACCOMPLISHED???/* * * *a dramatic reading of* *_ _* *"_What I Heard About Iraq_"__* * * *Testimonies of participants and witnesses compiled by* *Eliot Weinberger* * * *I heard the president say:* * * *"You can embolden an enemy by sending a mixed message... I know what I'm doing when it comes to winning this war."*** May 1^st , 2005 4:00 p.m. The Washington Club Hall 92 Green Hill Road, Rte. 47 Washington, CT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 94 bytes Desc: not available URL: From timmacs at yahoo.com Mon Apr 25 01:54:12 2005 From: timmacs at yahoo.com (Tim MacSweeney) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 22:54:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Re: [ctunited4peace] [Fwd: [Bill-C] what i heard about iraq] In-Reply-To: 6667 Message-ID: <20050425055412.66390.qmail@web20527.mail.yahoo.com> When I heard him say that I thought I distinctly heard him say, "Mexed Missages." "Elizabeth M. Brancato" wrote: */MISSION ACCOMPLISHED???/* * * *a dramatic reading of* *_ _* *"_What I Heard About Iraq_"__* * * *Testimonies of participants and witnesses compiled by* *Eliot Weinberger* * * *I heard the president say:* * * *"You can embolden an enemy by sending a mixed message... I know what I'm doing when it comes to winning this war."*** May 1^st , 2005 4:00 p.m. The Washington Club Hall 92 Green Hill Road, Rte. 47 Washington, CT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From activist.ga at gmail.com Mon Apr 18 18:24:39 2005 From: activist.ga at gmail.com (The Pen) Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 14:24:39 -0800 Subject: {news} This will trigger nuclear conflict Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Thu Apr 28 13:53:31 2005 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 17:53:31 +0000 Subject: {news} Clean Cars for Clean Elections! In-Reply-To: <1114691535.255.56869.m18@yahoogroups.com> Message-ID: CAR WASH SATURDAY, APRIL 30th 10am-12pm (Rain or Shine) While we've been working to boot Tom DeLay and clean up the halls of Congress, our friends at the Clean Up Connecticut Campaign (a coalition of 50 organizations led by the Connecticut Citizen Action Group and Connecticut Common Cause) are working to clean up the state capitol. Please join them on Saturday, April 30th for "Clean Cars for Clean Elections" car washes in 14 separate locations around the state . We're inviting you to bring your car to be washed for just $3, the same low price for which citizens of Connecticut can buy back their government. http://www.cleanupconnecticut.com/carwash (Click here to find a car wash near you!) Former Gov. John Rowland is in jail, but the mess he left behind in state government still needs to be cleaned up. The same pay-to-play mentality still reigns supreme in the State Capitol, and unless state leaders clean up the problem of money in politics, the state is sure to see another scandal. It's time for an overhaul of this system. Legislation (HB 6670 and SB 61) that would provide public financing for qualified state candidates is working its way through the Legislature. Citizens around the state are reaching out to their neighbors. As one "vehicle" for reaching out to the people, the Clean Up Connecticut Campaign is holding 14 car washes in key legislative districts around the state. Find the one near you to let your legislator know that you want Clean Elections in Connecticut! Pledge to bring your car and if you can spare an hour or two we're also looking for volunteers to wash cars, hold signs, hand out fliers to those getting their cars washed, sign up potential volunteers on petitions, etc. The carwashes are scheduled from 10:00 in the morning until noontime. You can find out the carwash nearest you and volunteer at http://www.cleanupconnecticut.com/carwash Let's show those people in Hartford what 'clean' really means! From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Thu Apr 28 17:04:15 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 14:04:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Voting System Panel Focuses on Verification (ELECTIONLINE.ORG) Message-ID: <20050428210415.15267.qmail@web81104.mail.yahoo.com> electionline Weekly ? April 28, 2005 electionline.org Voting System Guideline Panel Focuses on Verification By Elizabeth Schneider electionline.org GERMANTOWN, Md. ? The Technical Guidelines Development Committee, a panel chaired by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and created to make recommendations to the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on voluntary voting system guidelines, met to finalize draft standards earlier this month, wading through the oft-controversial topic of verifiability with electronic voting machines. The recommendations must now be adopted by the EAC. So far states have relied upon 2002 technology standards set by the Federal Election Commission. Because of the rising use of direct-recording electronic (DRE) machines, some of the debate at the two-day meeting focused on security measures for these systems. Among the recommended security measures was the use of ?independent dual verifications? systems such as voter-verifiable paper audit trails (VVPAT), modified optical-scan machines and ?witness? or capture screen technology. Recognizing the rapid pace in which technology evolves, voting systems may encounter an increase in operational problems causing potential hitches in higher stakes elections and an increase in fraud, said John Wack, a voting security researcher at NIST. VVPAT advocates have pushed their case before and since the November election, and with the January 1, 2006 HAVA deadline approaching to replace antiquated voting systems, 34 states have introduced, and in some cases passed, legislation to add paper trails to electronic machines. However, some say alternative methods to increase DRE security are still worth investigating. ?It appeared to some individuals that NIST was only providing requirements for VVPAT systems? that NIST was somehow promoting it,? Wack said. ?That was an unintended consequence of our work.? In October 2004, Democracy Systems, a Florida-based company, introduced the VoteGuard verification system which captures every image that a touch-screen voting system generates, including voted ballots, provisional ballots, write-ins, summary screens and vote totals and audio output from a DRE machine. According to Democracy Systems president John McLaurin, the VoteGuard is unique because of the independent nature of its capture as opposed to using software created by voting machine vendor software. In the 2004 election the system was put to the test in Virginia. Election officials in Caroline County made arrangements to outfit one precinct with one touch screen using the capture screen technology. ?If it is determined that a verification system should be used [VoteGuard] is certainly the way to go. It is like the video replay they use in football games. You can replay exactly how the voter intended to vote,? stated Park Dodd, county chairman of the board of elections. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at sbcglobal.net Thu Apr 28 21:03:47 2005 From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee) Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 18:03:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Greens in Office: a Winning Record Message-ID: <20050429010347.40167.qmail@web81107.mail.yahoo.com> Green Party of the United States wrote:Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 18:26:15 -0500 (CDT) From: Green Party of the United States To: timmckee at sbcglobal.net Subject: Greens in Office: a Winning Record April 28, 2005 Dear Green Party Supporter, Because of your support in the past, the Green Party has continued to elect quality people to offices around the country. Our Office-holders have had a positive impact on the quality of life of their constituents and are demonstrating and developing the Green message. We are building a Green legacy all around this country. Green Office-holder, David Conley was first elected to the Douglas County Board of Supervisors District 5 seat in Wisconsin in 1986. He has the distinction of having held office longer than any other Green in the U.S. In his more than 19 years, one of the most exciting and memorable successes occurred recently when he was one of 15 Douglas County Board supervisors who voted to stop a huge transmission line from wreaking a path of environmental destruction more than 30 miles long through his county. He was involved from the beginning and testified at many meetings and hearings. The transmission company threatened, bullied and spent huge amounts of advertising dollars manipulating the truth, but in the end they lost. David and hundreds of citizens attended the meeting where they stood up to the corporate bullies and said no. People ? affected land owners, farmers, hard-working citizens ? testified concerning possible health effects, the loss of their farms, their lands, their livelihoods and their connection to their beautiful north woods. When the final vote was taken the room exploded. It was an incredibly dramatic moment. Since then he has received dozens of letters from all over Wisconsin, Minnesota, and as far away as Texas and Arizona, thanking him for his vote, and talking to him about how what happened that night has given them hope that government will stand up for them. In 1992 Green Party candidate and pioneer Keiko Bonk was elected to the Hawaii County Council, District 6 blazing the way for what has become a legacy of service by Greens on the Council. In 1994 she was re-elected. In 1998 Julie Jacobson was elected to fill the same District 6 seat. In 2000 she was re-elected. In 2002, Julie?s husband Bob was elected to the District 6 seat and in 2004 he was re-elected. Greens have now held this seat for 10 of the last 12 years. The national party contributed to Bob?s recent re-election run. He won re-election outright with 60% of the vote in the primary. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Hawaii County Council, and is the Chair of the Environmental Management Committee He knows that this early help is what contributes to victory. In 2000 Matt Gonzalez was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. In 2003 he made what has become an historic run for Mayor. He decided to step down at the end of his term and start a Law Firm. In 2004 Ross Mirkarimi was recognized by Campaign and Elections Magazine for his campaign management in this historic run. Also, in 2004 Ross was elected to fill the seat vacated by Matt. The 2004 election was significant because it was the largest metropolitan area in the country to utilize Instant Run-off Voting otherwise know as Preference Voting or Ranked Choice Voting. It got the attention of many other municipalities who are interested in moving to a more representative form of Democracy. Ross is one of the highest ranking Greens and one of the highest ranking Iranian-Americans elected to office in the U.S. He also currently serves on the GPUS Coordinated Campaign Committee. Help us to continue to build the growing Green Party Legacy of Office-holders . Please make a generous donation to the Green Party of the United States. Please consider joining our Sustainer Program. Our sustainers are the ?financial backbone? of the Green Party of the United States. Your monthly donation of $5, $10, or $20 per month not only helps guarantee that that we have the resources to continue to strengthen our presence and build on our achievements; but also to help build new success stories in new places. Ross Mirkarimi (CA) Bob Jacobson (HI) San Francisco Board of Supervisors Hawaii County Council David Conley (WI) Douglas County Board of Supervisors --------------------------------- Paid for by the Green Party of the United States PO Box 57065 Washington, DC 20037 866-41GREEN or 202 319 7191 Click to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Fri Apr 29 20:53:32 2005 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2005 20:53:32 -0400 Subject: {news} minutes of 4/11/05 Executive Committee meeting Message-ID: <1ed301c54d27$20c23930$0cc2f504@edgn2b574u14bi> Minutes of 4/11/05 Executive Committee meeting Hartford office, 6:10-8:15pm Annual meeting: We discussed finding speakers for the annual meeting held April 17, 2005. Proposal on event endorsement: We revised the proposal on Executive Committee endorsement of events in light of discussions at the March 2005 SCC meeting. We will present the revised proposal to the April SCC meeting. Peace Action Committee delegates: We approved Elizabeth Brancato, Justine McCabe, and David Eliscu to serve on the national Green Party's Peace Action Committee. The March 2005 SCC meeting passed our proposal that let the Executive Committee approve these delegates. An agenda item to approve these three persons was on the March SCC agenda but was not reached due to lack of time. Elizabeth and Justine originally expressed interest in joining this committee; the Executive Committee put an inquiry on the News listerve and David Eliscu said that he, too, would like to serve. SCC agenda: The agenda for the April SCC meeting was worked out. As usual, it will be published to the News listserve one week before the meeting. (Prior to tonight's meeting, our committee had discussed the issue of whether the April SCC agenda should be prepared by us or by the incoming Executive Committee. We received a request, or suggestion, from the internal elections committee that it would be best if the outgoing Executive Committee prepared the agenda, since the annual meeting would be April 17 and the one-week-before-the-meeting target for publishing the agenda would be April 19, a mere two days later. The internal elections committee also pointed out that final results of the internal elections would, in all probability, not be able to be announced at the annual meeting because all mailed-out ballots would probably not have been returned.) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Ehscouts at aol.com Wed Apr 27 08:56:49 2005 From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com) Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 08:56:49 EDT Subject: {news} I am tired of the treatment Message-ID: <1df.3abd1572.2fa0e611@aol.com> I ask for all of you that are supporting me on my campaign to forgive me for the way I am expressing my self on this email but I am tired of the treatment giving to me by other members of the Green Party. When I join the Green I thought that this Party was different from the other Political Parties. First I feel that there are people that are discriminating against me. At first I thought the Green was about all White but by doing more research I found that the Green is opening to other race and countries. This is one of the reason I became Green. Now, You see me working very hard in establishing a name for the Party in New Britain. But I don't see the help and assistant. The other Parties they can be as corruptive as they can be but when it comes to been supportive they all come together. All I see in the Green is a fight again each other. People talking about unity but they don't practice what they say. On April 29th you are all invited to a FREE event. To hear me announce my candidacy for Mayor of New Britain. Most of the Green members have express to me that they are not going to be able to be there because of different reazons. Now I am asking my self, Do the Greens are supporting me or no? I am including instructions on how to get to the event and I hope that I will see all of you at this event. If I don't see the support instead of my announcement you will hear my step down of the race and from the Party. I am sorry to sound so hard but like other Candidates now or in the future will also like to see the same support. I am in the race for Mayor in New Britain but I am also willing 100% to help other Green candidates in everything I can >From New Haven: Start at 91 North toward Hartford, Merge onto 9 North via exit 22N toward New Britain, Take exit 26 toward Downtown New Britain, Stay straight to go onto Columbus Blvd. Turn right on to High Street, end at 152 High >From Waterbury: Start at 84E merge on to 72E via exit 35 on the left toward New Britain, Take exit 8 toward Columbus Blvd, Turn slight left onto Columbus Blvd, Left onto High Street, end at 152 High Street. >From Hartford: Start at 84W toward Waterbury, merge onto 9S via exit 39A toward Newington, Take exit 28A, Turn right onto E.Main Street, E. Main Street becomes Myrtle Street, Turn right onto High Street, end at 152 High Street. All of you that want to help with decoration or donating food need to be at 152 High Street by 6:00pm. Remember that for decoration we want to use the Green Colors. Miguel Angel Nieves New Britain Mayoral Candidate New Britain Green Party Co-Chairman _www.nieves.politicalgateway.com_ (http://www.nieves.politicalgateway.com/) _www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nievesformayor_ (http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nievesformayor) _www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nbgreen_ (http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nbgreen) Tel: (860) 832-8141 Paid by Nieves for Mayor Campaign, Annette Alicea -Treasurer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Ehscouts at aol.com Sat Apr 30 10:44:52 2005 From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com) Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 10:44:52 EDT Subject: {news} Let's take back New Britain! Message-ID: Last night at my announcement for Mayor of New Britain candidacy the Democratic Party send me a messenger asking me to back down from the race. They said that if I back down they will give me a commissioner job. Even with a great candidate they still are offraid of me winning this election. Let's face it: The Democrats and Republicans have controlled New Britain City for too long. We have made many of them rich and powerful...and they have allowed our great City to slip into mediocrity. Let's face it: Take a good look at New Britain. Have things really improved? Are our streets safer? Are our roads better? Are our taxes lower? Are our kids getting a better education? Are there enough jobs for our young people so they don't have to leave home? Can young families afford a home of their own? Are people able to save enough money so they can enjoy their retirement? The question is no longer if we are going to have a storn government in New Britain, but what kind of government we are going to have. No, the politics of the past is no longer enough. The time has come to take it to the streets. Are we going to reject the politics of the past? Are we going to prepare for the future? Are we going to work together to make New Britain a better place? Are we going to replace the tired, old leadership of our City with some fresh faces and ideas? It's time to put the poeple back in the driving seat. WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE WILL DO BETTER! Please walk with me to take back New Britain. Taking Back New Britain walk Saturday May 21, 2005 Time: 2:00 pm Miguel Angel Nieves New Britain Mayoral Candidate New Britain Green Party Co-Chairman _www.nieves.politicalgateway.com_ (http://www.nieves.politicalgateway.com/) _www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nievesformayor_ (http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nievesformayor) _www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nbgreen_ (http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nbgreen) Tel: (860) 832-8141 Paid by Nieves for Mayor Campaign, Annette Alicea -Treasurer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: