From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Mon Jan 5 17:34:20 2009 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:34:20 -0500 Subject: {news} Fw: French Greens response to Israeli attacks on Gaza; Message-ID: <0ce501c96f85$c0aebb60$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> Re: GP RELEASE Greens condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza; McKinney on relief vessel rammed by Israeli gunboats ----- Original Message ----- From: Justine McCabe To: USGP International Committee Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 5:32 PM Subject: French Greens response to Israeli attacks on Gaza; Dear IC, French Green Catherine Greze, representative of the European Federation to the Global Green Coordination, sent their party's response to the horror in Gaza after receiving our press release.. Here's a rough translation from the French (which follows) Please offer any corrections and comments! I appreciate their outrage to what's happening, though I disagree with their apparent view that Hamas is only a terrorist group ("inhabitants of Gaza, taken hostage by Hamas as well as by the Israeli army"). BTW, I assume that the statement refers to the passage of the EU-Israel Association Agreement on 12/4/08. According to the anti-apartheid campaign, this agreement "will enable far greater Israeli participation in European Community programs. Originally, the EU had stated that the vote on this issue would not take place until 2009, but it seems clear that the EU and Israel are attempting to minimize the voice of international civil society by suddenly announcing that it has been moved up to December 4. The proposed agreement offers to Israel full access to the EU scientific, academic, research and technical programmes, and will significantly deepen EU-Israeli cooperation and integration in many important sectors. It ignores the fact that these sorts of cooperation agreements that increase Israel's relationships with the international community are one of Israel's primary means of its ongoing occupation, the displacement of and systematic racial discrimination against the Palestinian people. By engaging in this agreement, the EU sends the message that it effectively condones the Israeli apartheid regime, and that it will not challenge Israel on its massive violations of Palestinian rights." Peace? Justine -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stop the Israeli Aggression Against the Inhabitants of Gaza! The enormous military resources employed by the Israeli army against Gaza are disproportionate to the rocket fire of Hamas. After having suffered the blockade imposed by the Israeli government, and the violation of the terms of the Road Map (halt the establishment of new colonies, freedom of movement for people . . ), the inhabitants of Gaza, taken hostage by Hamas as well as by the Israeli army, are now being bombarded. The victims, the vast majority civilians, are already numerous. This disproportionate response of the Israeli government diminishes the hope of a solution to this conflict. One must ask why (wonder?) the Israeli offensive is taking place on the eve of the general elections. One must ask (wonder?) whether the new European policy with respect to Israel hasn't given free reign to the Israeli government on Gaza. The Greens Demand: An immediate end to the military operation; A reconsideration of the economic accord between the EU and Israel if that nation does not maintain its commitments: A resumption of the peace process under the aegis of the internatational community and the recognition of the Palestinian Authority. The Greens call for continuing demonstrations against this new aggression and demand a firm reaction from the French government, the European community, and from the UN in order to halt this aggression and the bombardment of Gaza. Djamila Sonzogni, Jean-Louis Roum?gas Spokespersons ----- Original Message ----- From: Catherine Gr ? ze To: Justine Mc Cabe Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 5:51 PM Subject: Re: GP RELEASE Greens condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza; McKinney on relief vessel rammed by Israeli gunboats Dear Justine, Please find in return our press release All the best and happy new year to you Catherine Gr?ze, Les Verts D?l?gu?e ? L'Europe, l'International et l'Outremer Stop ? l'agression isra?lienne contre les habitants de Gaza ! Les moyens militaires ?normes employ?s par l'arm?e isra?lienne contre Gaza sont sans commune mesure avec les tirs de roquette du Hamas. Apr?s avoir souffert du blocus instaur? par le gouvernement isra?lien, du non respect de la feuille de route (arr?t des implantations de nouvelles colonies, libre circulation des personnes.) les habitants de Gaza pris en otage par le Hamas comme par l'arm?e isra?lienne sont bombard?s. Les victimes, des civils en grande majorit?, sont d?j? nombreuses. Cette r?plique disproportionn?e du gouvernement isra?lien ?loigne encore plus l'espoir d'une solution ? ce conflit. On peut se demander pourquoi l'offensive Isra?lienne survient ? la veille les l?gislatives. On peut aussi se demander si la nouvelle politique europ?enne vis ? vis d'Isra?l n'a pas laiss? les mains libres au gouvernement isra?lien ? Gaza ? Les Verts demandent : l' arr?t imm?diat de l'op?ration militaire ; la remise en cause de l'accord commercial de l'Union Europ?enne avec Isra?l si ce pays ne tient pas ses engagements ; la remise en route du processus de paix sous l'?gide de la communaut? internationale et la reconnaissance de l'autorit? palestinienne. Les Verts appellent ? soutenir toutes les manifestations contre cette nouvelle agression et exigent une r?action ferme du gouvernement fran?ais, de la communaut? europ?enne et de l'ONU pour faire cesser cette agression et le blocus de Gaza. Djamila Sonzogni, Jean-Louis Roum?gas Portes paroles le 30/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: cp gaza_27_12_08.doc Type: application/msword Size: 96256 bytes Desc: not available URL: From timmckee at mail.com Mon Jan 5 21:08:52 2009 From: timmckee at mail.com (Tim McKee) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:08:52 -0500 Subject: {news} MLK day with Cynthia McKinney in nearby Northhampton, MA Message-ID: <20090106020852.3A05E32675E@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> ANYONE CARE TO CAR POOL TO NEARBY NORTHHAMPTON, MASS? 4. Cynthia McKinney @ Community Gathering honoring the life and work of MLK Jr. What: Cynthia McKinney - Keynote Speaker - Martin Luther King event When: January 19, 2009 7:00 PM Where: Northampton, MA - First Churches Meetup Description: I Have A Dream Of Unity: A Change Embraced A Community Gathering honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY Please see files to download a flyer PDF at www.allthingspass.com/journalism.php?catid=73 Northampton, MA, December 23, 2009 ? On Monday, January 19, 2009, a full day of community events are planned to celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Involving special guests, including Juanita Nelson, Lee Stringer and Cynthia McKinney, the daylong events are sponsored by organizations working locally, nationally and internationally. Everyone is invited to a special MLK lunch (12:00 noon) followed by an afternoon Community Celebration (1:00-5:00 pm) both at the Northampton High School, 380 Elm Street, involving special guests, including Juanita Nelson. This interactive program will focus on racism, unity and community, and it will include youth generated video and dance, and workshops for "I have a dream" Dream Creation?where all participants' expressions of their contemporary hopes and dreams will be video recorded and edited by community youth and later sent to President Obama. The daytime events are free, accessible and open to all. The Evening Benefit (7:00-9:30 pm) at the First Churches of Northampton, 129 Main Street, will feature former U.S. Congresswoman and recent Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia A. McKinney ( www2.runcynthiarun.org) as keynote speaker. Special guests include renowned New York City author Lee Stringer (www.leestringer.net) and anthropologist and race studies scholar Dr. Enoch Page. There will be a multimedia presentation by photojournalist keith harmon snow (www.allthingspass.com) and music by singer/songwriter Tom Neilson (www.tomneilsonmusic.com). The Master of Ceremonies will be Julius Ford, a local community youth organizer, lawyer and performer. The evening program is by suggested donation. Tickets sold in advance at: Food For Thought Books (106 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst); Blue House Caf? (147 Main Street, Haydenville); the Old Creamery, (445 Berkshire Trail Cummington). ****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From apbrison at hotmail.com Tue Jan 6 11:50:57 2009 From: apbrison at hotmail.com (allan brison) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 11:50:57 -0500 Subject: {news} MLK day with Cynthia McKinney in nearby Northhampton, MA In-Reply-To: <20090106020852.3A05E32675E@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> References: <20090106020852.3A05E32675E@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> Message-ID: I would like to go. From: timmckee at mail.comTo: Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:08:52 -0500Subject: {news} MLK day with Cynthia McKinney in nearby Northhampton, MA ANYONE CARE TO CAR POOL TO NEARBY NORTHHAMPTON, MASS? 4. Cynthia McKinney @ Community Gathering honoring the life and work of MLKJr.What: Cynthia McKinney - Keynote Speaker - Martin Luther King eventWhen: January 19, 2009 7:00 PMWhere: Northampton, MA - First ChurchesMeetup Description: I Have A Dream Of Unity: A Change EmbracedA Community Gathering honoring the life and work ofDr. Martin Luther King, Jr.MARTIN LUTHER KING DAYPlease see files to download a flyer PDF atwww.allthingspass.com/journalism.php?catid=73Northampton, MA, December 23, 2009 ? On Monday, January 19, 2009,a full day of community events are planned to celebrate the life and workof Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Involving special guests, including JuanitaNelson,Lee Stringer and Cynthia McKinney, the daylong events are sponsored byorganizations working locally, nationally and internationally.Everyone is invited to a special MLK lunch (12:00 noon) followed byan afternoon Community Celebration (1:00-5:00 pm) both at theNorthampton High School, 380 Elm Street, involving special guests,including Juanita Nelson. This interactive program will focus on racism,unity and community, and it will include youth generated video and dance,and workshops for "I have a dream" Dream Creation?where all participants'expressions of their contemporary hopes and dreams will be video recordedand edited by community youth and later sent to President Obama.The daytime events are free, accessible and open to all.The Evening Benefit (7:00-9:30 pm) at the First Churches of Northampton,129 Main Street, will feature former U.S. Congresswoman and recentGreen Party Presidential candidate Cynthia A. McKinney (www2.runcynthiarun.org)as keynote speaker. Special guests include renowned New York City authorLee Stringer (www.leestringer.net) and anthropologist and race studiesscholarDr. Enoch Page. There will be a multimedia presentation by photojournalistkeith harmon snow (www.allthingspass.com) and music by singer/songwriterTom Neilson (www.tomneilsonmusic.com). The Master of Ceremonies will beJulius Ford, a local community youth organizer, lawyer and performer.The evening program is by suggested donation. Tickets sold in advance at:Food For Thought Books (106 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst); Blue House Caf?(147 Main Street, Haydenville); the Old Creamery, (445 Berkshire TrailCummington).****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com!Choose From 200+ Email AddressesGet a Free Account at www.mail.com! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Sun Jan 11 12:09:52 2009 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:09:52 -0500 Subject: {news} Oped published: The myth of balance in conflict over Gaza Message-ID: (Danbury CT) News-Times http://www.newstimes.com/opinion/ci_11424163 The myth of balance in conflict over Gaza Newstimes Updated: 01/10/2009 05:19:13 PM EST We hear in response to Israel's ongoing massacre in Gaza that Israel has the right to defend itself from the Hamas government. While both sides had previously violated a truce begun in June 2008, Israel's massive attack inside Gaza on Nov. 4 predictably elicited Hamas rockets. Already blockading Gaza since June 2007, Israel sealed it off completely on Nov. 5, causing life-threatening shortages of basic necessities -- food, fuel and medical supplies. Under international law, neither Israel killing Palestinian civilians nor Gazans targeting Israeli civilians is justified. But as Americans we need to understand that the true root of this violence is an illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing. Until we, Israel's main supporter, stand up for international law by refusing to aid Israel until it complies with international law, we are guilty of aiding genocidal bullying. We are on the wrong side of history. Our politicians and press divert us from this reality. They lead us to believe that Israelis and Palestinians are equal combatants, that Israel must defend itself from a terrorizing, inherently anti-Semitic enemy. Israel buries the facts belying this myth as surely as its pilots buried Palestinian children under Gaza's Imad Aqel Mosque. In fact, Israel is a bully -- nuclear-powered and the fourth largest military in the world -- who plays victim while terrorizing its neighborhood with billions of your tax dollars and mine. Even before the current Gaza assault, Israel blockaded 1.5 million Gazans. Two-thirds of them are refugees from Israel; 80 percent live on less than $2 a day. Unemployment hovers at 60 percent. In 2005, there were 3,900 factories; today, there are 195. There is little water, food, electricity, fuel and medicine. Israel denies the delivery of United Nations relief. All of this is collective punishment under the Geneva Conventions, Article 33. Sound familiar? Think of the Iraq siege in the 1990s before the United States invaded that country on the pretext of an existential threat to Americans. Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, allowing the slaughter of hundreds of unarmed refugees in Sabra and Shatila. It then occupied a huge swath of Lebanon for 18 years. In 2006, Israel invaded Lebanon again. It killed and injured thousands of civilians, leaving much of southern Lebanon uninhabitable because of unexploded cluster bomblets. The fundamental source of the conflict is the expulsion of Palestinians from Palestine-Israel because they are not Jews. In 1948 -- echoing our own national formative acts -- Israel ethnically cleansed 75 percent of the natives of historic Palestine, more than 750,000 Palestinian Christians and Muslims, all documented by Israeli historians like Ilan Pappe and Benny Morris. In further violation of international law and scores of United Nations resolutions, Israel prevents refugees from returning home. Moreover, Israel maintains an apartheid South Africa-like system for its non-Jewish citizens, particularly the 20 percent who are Palestinian-Israelis. In 1967, Israel seized the Syrian Golan Heights, Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. Again violating international law, including scores of Security Council resolutions and Geneva Conventions, Israel continues a belligerent occupation with ongoing colonization of Palestinian land by 400,000 Jewish-Israelis, 50 percent of whom settled during the Oslo "peace" process under President George H..W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. These are offensive actions that only defend racist Israeli policies toward non-Jews. If this were happening to you, wouldn't you experience an existential threat and resist, as most Palestinians do, by trying to stay on your land? This conflict is David and Goliath in reverse. Palestinian Kassem rockets -- uncontrollable slingshots -- are little match for American F-16s, Apache attack helicopters and land and sea assaults. Gazans, among the densest populations on earth, have no escape, no bomb shelters like Israelis of Sderot, who can get away from danger. Just compare Israeli and Palestinian child deaths between the start of the Al-Aqsa intifada in September 2000 and August 2008 -- before Israel tightened its blockade in November, before the current massacre. While each death is unequivocally tragic, these data reveal that more than 8.5 times as many Palestinian children (1,050) had been killed compared to the number of Israeli children (123). This child death disparity is another heartbreaking touchstone for the vastly disproportionate power of two peoples inextricably linked by one homeland -- availability of relief services when people are injured, homes destroyed and gross imbalance in vital U.S. support and application of law. Still, this imbalance points the way out: consistent enforcement of international law. As anthropologist Talal Asad observes: "In the long perspective of human history, massacres are not new. But there is something special about the fact that the West, having set up international law, then finds reasons why it cannot be followed in particular circumstances." Israel's assault on Palestinians -- with support from President George W. Bush and silence from President-elect Barack Obama -- is not only deeply disturbing and criminal but profoundly self-defeating. How can peace come when myths rule, and law and justice are buried along with Palestinian and Israeli bodies? Justine McCabe lives in New Milford. She is co-chair of the International Committee of the Green Party of the United States. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Mon Jan 12 02:07:55 2009 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:07:55 +0000 Subject: {news} Schaghticoke to rally against state neglect 1/29 in Hartford In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I hiked the Appalachian Trail through the Schaghticoke Reservation in Kent, CT, last summer. Most of the land is mountain wilderness, and the tribe inhabits a narrow strip along a dirt road, with fishing rights on the Housatonic River across the road. Please sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/STN129 to protect CT woodlands and indigenous rights. David Bedell http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/northeast/37332954.html Indian Country Today Schaghticoke to rally against state neglect Destruction on reservation is healing tribal rift By Gale Courey Toensing Story Published: Jan 9, 2009 SCHAGHTICOKE RESERVATION, Conn. ? The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation will march on the state capitol on the fifth anniversary of its reversed federal acknowledgement to protest the refusal to protect the tribe?s reservation land. The tribe has put out a call to its 300-plus members, to the communities of northeastern tribes and any non-tribal supporters to gather on the south side of the state capitol building and the legislative office building Jan. 29 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to protest the state?s refusal to stop Michael Rost, a non-Schaghticoke trespasser, from cutting down trees, bulldozing roads and desecrating sacred burial sites on the tribe?s 400-acre reservation on Schaghticoke Mountain in Kent, Conn., said tribal member Katherine Saunders. The state claims its hands are tied because of a ?leadership conflict.? ?Jan. 29 is a very significant date for the Schaghticoke. That?s the day we were federally recognized in 2004 before the Connecticut politicians got to work and influenced the BIA to reverse it,? Saunders said. She is the chair of the tribe?s Preservation Committee and an organizer of the rally. In a notorious decision that rocked Indian country, the BIA reversed the tribe?s federal acknowledgment in 2005 after an intensely organized campaign of political opposition by state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and other elected officials. For more than a year now, tribal members? requests for help have been rebuffed. ?Rost was arrested in 2004 for the very same thing he?s doing now, however, now the state will not intervene in assisting Schaghticoke with a cease and desist order. We?ve asked through e-mail, snail mails, phone calls and they basically say they won?t help,? Saunders said. Why is the state refusing to help? ?Part of me believes that through the attorney general the state doesn?t want to recognize the Schaghticoke as a state tribe any longer and I think they?re trying to basically take away any rights we have by committing cultural genocide to our tribe.? Tribal members have turned to each other, and technology for support. They wrote and posted a petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/STN129/petition.html which they intend to present to Gov. Jodi Rell at the rally. The petition calls on the governor ?to investigate and order an immediate halt to the hate crimes, destruction, desecration of sacred lands and encroachment? that continues despite the tribe?s requests for help. ?We are deeply concerned about the overwhelming, negative environmental impact affecting our ancestral lands,? the petition states. ?Much of this devastation includes: severing, ripping and cutting down trees which cause the unnecessary fragmentation of forest blocks, selling timber off an Indian reservation, quarrying large boulders, destroying endangered species and their habitats, and purposely inflicting irreparable harm to sacred land.? Blumenthal said the situation on the reservation is being monitored. ?My understanding is that DEP [Department of Environmental Protection] has investigated potential violations of environmental law and will continue to review evidence. We are prepared to take any enforcement action that the DEP considers appropriate in light of the facts that it finds. If members of the tribal groups claim there have been potential criminal law violations, they should contact the state police.? But Saunders and other tribal members said the state police have refused to take their complaints. ?We?re asking everyone everywhere to go online and sign our petition,? Saunders said. Saunders, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1984 to 1989, is the daughter of the late Pauline Crone Morange, an almost legendary figure among the Schaghticoke and other Native communities in the state for her tenacity and advocacy for American Indians. She was lead chairman of the Connecticut Indian Affairs Council and led the Schaghticoke to federal acknowledgment. Crone Morange died in March 2004, just two months after the tribe received federal acknowledgment. ?Our family took her ashes to rest as she had requested on Schaghticoke Mountain. I buried her in three places in addition to the rattlesnake den, because with my disability I knew I wouldn?t be able to make it up to the top of the mountain on a regular basis,? Saunders, who suffers from back problems, said. The endangered timber rattlesnake is the tribe?s emblematic protector. ?When I visited recently I found the sites desecrated and disturbed in two areas. The objects that we buried with her have disappeared.? Rost could not be reached for comment. In a recent issue of the local Lakeville Journal, Rost said he is the ?executive coordinator of the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe,? and that he is building ?The Great American Freedom Pyramid? on Schaghticoke land, a $30 million project. The article did not report the source of the funding. ?STN stands for ?socially transmitted neurosis? while SIT stands for ?strength, integrity and truth,?? Rost said. ?We have not recognized STN, ever, and we don?t plan on recognizing them now. The STN is a country within a country. We are sovereign to the United States and sovereign as far as federal law. We do not fall under any DEP rules.? But the unresolved conflict has resulted in a positive unintended consequence. It has started to heal a rift between STN Chief Richard Velky and his cousin Alan Russell who heads the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe faction, a position Russell?s sister also claims. ?Yes, we?ve talked and I just told Rich, do you think we can get along and share the land and share the pavilion and I guess we are so far. It?s about time that we?re at least on a talking basis. We need unity,? Russell said. Russell, who lives on the reservation, expressed his love for the beautiful tract of undeveloped northeastern woodlands on Schaghticoke Mountain, a place that is home to herds of deer, vernal pools, mountain streams and a stopover for migrating birds in the spring. ?This place really is my life. I?ve been her all my life and my father before me, nine generations. I love the place. I love being here and I?m going to defend it to my last breath,? Russell said. He plans to attend the rally. Schaghticoke chief condemns state for failure to abide by laws Since the BIA federally acknowledged the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation in January 2004, then reversed its decision in October 2005, the State of Connecticut has allowed a non-Schaghticoke trespasser to destroy areas of the tribe?s 400-acre reservation under the pretext of a ?leadership conflict,? Chief Richard Velky told Indian Country Today in the first interview he has given since then. Soon after the 300-plus member STN received federal recognition, Alan Russell, who leads a faction called Schaghticoke Indian Tribe (SIT) and Michael Rost, a non-Schaghticoke, were arrested for placing massive boulders on and around the reservation pavilion where meetings and social events take place. The court dropped charges against Russell, but charged Rost with reckless endangerment and disturbing the peace, and ordered him to stay off the reservation for 18 months. In the fall of 2007, Rost returned to the reservation and began cutting down trees and bulldozing the land. He said he had permission from Gail Harrison, Russell?s sister, who claimed she had recently ?deposed? her brother and was now the chief of SIT, according to documents filed with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). STN members have tried for more than a year to stop Rost from damaging the archeologically sensitive land and desecrating burial sites. The DEP, which holds the land in trust for the tribe, has refused to issue a cease and desist order. The Connecticut State Police have refused to take members? complaints. STN?s appeal of the reversal of its federal acknowledgment was dismissed last August and a further appeal is pending in the 2nd Circuit Court in New York. Meanwhile, the tribe has organized a protest march at the Capitol in Hartford Jan. 29, the fifth anniversary of the tribe?s stolen federal acknowledgement. Indian Country Today: Are you going to the march? Richard Velky: Of course. We?ll protest the state?s lack of responsibility toward the Schaghticoke reservation. ICT: What do you hope will come out of it? RV: We hope there will finally be an understanding that our land is being destroyed and that needs to be stopped. It should never have gotten to this point. The state statutes clearly say that the Schaghticoke people control the practice and usage of our land, not non-Schaghticoke people. But since our fight for federal recognition and the state?s successful political opposition to reverse it, the state has taken a different position. They pretend they can?t do anything to stop the destruction because they don?t know who the tribe?s leader is. There is a formal, legal protocol to challenge a chief?s leadership through the Connecticut Indian Affairs Council. No one has challenged my leadership according to that protocol. The DEP?s coordinator of Indian Affairs confirmed that as recently as last summer. ICT: I understand Schaghticoke Indian Tribe (SIT) was the tribe?s original name. RV: We changed it from SIT to STN formally in 1991. Later Alan claimed he was chief of SIT and now his sister Gail Harrison claims she?s the chief. ICT: But what actually does the tribal leadership have to do with protecting the land, which is the DEP?s responsibility? RV: Exactly. Tribal leadership directed by members decides what happens on the reservation, otherwise you have what the state is claiming exists by refusing to recognize my leadership ? a bunch of different people doing whatever they want and claiming they are chiefs of tribes. There are approximately seven people in the Alan/Gail group who qualify for recognition as Schaghticoke as compared to more than 300 STN members. So how can the state possibly be confused over leadership, or give weight to seven people against 300? It?s simple. In our ongoing fight for federal recognition, the state?s position is they don?t recognize the Schaghticoke people, they recognize the land. If they went ahead and recognized me as chief, it would contradict that position, they?d have to recognize that a leader leads people. ICT: Where is this coming from? RV: Attorney General Richard Blumenthal without a doubt is orchestrating this among the state agencies. Our reservation is considered an archeological site. When the damage was done in 2004 the state stepped in and stopped it under pressure from us and the state archeologist who said Rost?s activities were threatening our land and artifacts and endangering our children. The same situation exists today, plus he?s created a hostile and dangerous atmosphere for all tribal members who are now deprived of their use of the land. ICT: Why doesn?t the tribe kick him and the other non-Schaghticoke people out? RV: How? If we kick them out, we?d be taking the law into our own hands. We don?t have our own police force and there?s no way this tribe wants to go to court when the state can?t even enforce the statutes on the books that require them to act against this person who is breaking both civil and criminal laws. We don?t trust the state. The state keeps telling us to take it to court. Why? The laws are already there that say this land is for the Schaghticoke people?s benefit. Has the state asked these trespassers who they are? We just went through a rigorous recognition process that affirmed who we are and these 100 people that Gail Harrison has supposedly put on a ?tribal list? ? where were they and how come they weren?t on the STN list or even Alan Russell?s list. Because they?re phony names with phony backgrounds and the state is allowing it. ICT: What changed after 2004? RV: The state picked up the momentum to reverse our federal recognition and its position became, ?Well, if we can make five tribal leaders up there and create chaos, let?s do that.? ICT: Sounds like the colonial tactic of divide and conquer. RV: So far they?ve been successful ICT: Do you think the state is after the land? RV: We know they?ve taken a great deal of land away from us. Has that stopped? No, I don?t think so. ICT: The attorney general said in a statement that if ?tribal groups? ? apparently he refuses to call STN a tribe ? think there?s criminal activities going on they should contact the state police. RV: The AG is right ? that should be the way to go, but the state police won?t take our complaints, because he won?t let the state police take them and turn it into a criminal offense, which is what it should be, because then it would be out of his hands. Where else can you go to destroy thousands of dollars worth of acreage and desecrate sacred places with impunity? When does it stop being civil and start being criminal? The AG is fueling the fire and waiting for something to explode on our reservation so he can try to show a different reflection of the Schaghticoke people. ICT: Will you march to his office? RV: I wouldn?t waste my time. There?s only one person who can do anything about this and that?s Gov. (Jodi) Rell. According to the statutes, the only people I should be talking with are the governor and the DEP commissioner. ICT: It?s an election year for the governor. If Rell turns a deaf ear on Schaghticoke will you consider talking to her opponent? RV: Our elected officials all told us to play by the rules for federal recognition and they would support us. Well, we played by the rules and they stabbed us in the back. If our governor is not going to act on behalf of all the people of Connecticut including the Schaghticoke, yes, we?ll go to other people. We?re not asking the state for help. We don?t need help in running our tribe. We?re asking them to enforce the laws that are on the books that were put there by state legislators. We didn?t put them there, they did. But they don?t have the right to pick and choose when and where to enforce them. Find this article at: http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/northeast/37332954.html ? 1998 - 2008 Indian Country Today. All Rights Reserved _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_hm_justgotbetter_explore_012009 From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Mon Jan 12 11:17:19 2009 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:17:19 -0500 Subject: {news} Fw: Upcoming CT events for peace and justice[AFSC] Message-ID: <8FDCAB8A484D4E809F3990648C0E2B23@edgn2b574u14bi> 6-Story Newsletter Template + Images(Some of these already happened.) --Ed ----- Original Message ----- From: AFSC Connecticut To: edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 10:45 PM Subject: Upcoming Connecticut events for peace and justice American Friends Service Committee Connecticut In This Issue: Jan 8 2009 . Jan 9 New Haven: Let Gaza Live March and Rally . CALL CONGRESS NOW! Demand an end to the siege of Gaza! . Jan 12: Aiding Iraqi Refugees: the Prophetic Work of Healing and Reconciliation Jan 9 New Haven: Let Gaza Live March and Rally Let Gaza Live, a march and rally for an end to the violence in Gaza Assemble 5 p.m. Friday, January 9 Center Church on the Green, 250 Temple St. New Haven (midway between Chapel and Elm Sts.) March in downtown New Haven Rally in the Center Church at 7 p.m. . Sponsors: Council on American Islamic Relations, the Palestinian American Congress, the Middle East Crisis Committee, ANSWER, People of Faith CT, Queers Without Borders, the CT Coalition for Peace and Justice, We Refuse to Be Enemies, International Socialist Organization-New Haven. Call 203-934-2761 for information thestruggle.org CALL CONGRESS NOW! Demand an end to the siege of Gaza! From United for Peace and Justice CALL CONGRESS NOW! DEMAND ACTION TO END THE SIEGE OF GAZA Earlier today, Thursday, Jan 8th the Senate unanimously passed a one-sided resolution supporting Israel for 'defending itself' from Hamas. Outrageous as this is, the House of Representatives will most likely do the same tomorrow, Friday. Call your Representative NOW! to tell them to vote 'NO' on any resolution that fails to call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire -- as well as for unimpeded access for humanitarian aid into Gaza and a lifting of Israel's illegal siege. United For Peace and Justice -- working with member groups such as the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Peace Action, the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Progressive Democrats for America, and Code Pink -- is organizing this national Congressional call-in day. We must let our Congressional representatives know that we will not stand for an unfair and unbalanced resolution that supports Israel's continued assault on Gaza, with no clear path for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. There are several biased resolutions on the table, most of which applaud Israel for being a 'strong ally' in the 'War on Terror'; falsely blame Hamas for breaking the ceasefire; fail to recognize the legitimacy of Palestinian elections; and say nothing about Israel's responsibility for the killing and injuring of Palestinians and imposing collective punishment on them through a brutal siege -- all with U.S. weapons. If you don't know who represents you in Congress, then you can find out at Congress.org http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ (enter your zip code in the upper right corner of the website). Once you know who represents you call 202-224-3121 and the operator will connect you to your Representative. You can also call this Congressional switchboard number at 1-800-828-0498. When you are connected to your Representative's office, keep your message short and to the point. Tell them: * Congress should be calling for an immediate, unconditional, comprehensive ceasefire. Israel has killed more than an estimated 700 Palestinians and injured more than 3,000 since December 27. Resolutions that condition a ceasefire will only lead to more needless death and destruction, and biased resolutions that enable Israel to continue killing and injuring Palestinians are unacceptable. We are also critical of Hamas for launching rockets aimed at and killing civilians in Israel. * Congress should be calling for unrestricted access for humanitarian aid. Israel is allowing through only a trickle of humanitarian aid into Gaza. As the Occupying Power of the Gaza Strip, Israel is legally obligated by the 4th Geneva Convention to ensure that Palestinians receive adequate supplies of food, medical supplies, and other necessities of life. Israel's siege on the Gaza Strip imposes an illegal collective punishment on 1.5 million civilians by denying them access to these vital supplies in violation of international law. Israel must lift its siege of the Gaza Strip to comply with its Geneva Convention obligations and humanitarian aid deliveries must be allowed to enter without restrictions. * Israel is misusing U.S. weapons to attack a civilian population. Instead of placing blame for Israel's war on and siege of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on the victims, Members of Congress should join with Rep. Dennis Kucinich in demanding from the Secretary of State an investigation into Israel's violations of the Arms Export Control Act. Members of Congress must hold Israel accountable for its misuse of U.S. weapons to kill Palestinian civilians in violation of U.S. and international law, not vote for resolutions which justify these illegal killings. It is vitally important to make sure Congress hears from us! As few as 20 phone calls from their constituents can prevent Representatives from supporting these atrocious resolutions cheerleading Israel. Your call WILL make a difference -- call 202.224.3121 NOW to join our national movement. After calling your Representatives and urging them to vote NO on any one-sided, biased resolution, we hope you will also call your Senators and let them know how upset you are with their vote today blaming Gazans for the current crisis. Call 202-234-3121 to be connected to the offices of your elected officials in Washington, D.C. Don't forget to amplify your voice in Congress by having your friends call-in. Be sure to forward this message as widely as you can and encourage others to make these calls. For more background information, organizing resources, ideas for action and a calendar that lists public protests all around the country, check the website of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. http://www.endtheoccupation.org/ UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545 PO Box 607; Times Square Station; New York, NY 10108 www.unitedforpeace.org Jan 12: Aiding Iraqi Refugees: the Prophetic Work of Healing and Reconciliation Aiding Iraqi Refugees: the Prophetic Work of Healing and Reconciliation Presentation by Noah Baker Merrill of Direct Aid Iraq Monday, January 12 at 7:30pm Quaker Meeting House 144 S. Quaker Lane West Hartford As 2009 begins, and without much fanfare, all three major US news networks have withdrawn their full-time correspondents from Iraq in the belief that events in Iraq no longer warrant this commitment of resources. On the day this story appeared in the New York Times, more than 30 people were killed in a car bombing in Iraq. As many as 5.2 million Iraqis remain displaced from their homes, more than 900,000 Iraqi children are orphans, and there are 1.5 million widows. The situation in Iraq remains desperate. This is a time to remember what has happened and is happening in Iraq, and to recommit ourselves to the cause of peace, even when many in the world and in our country are turning away. ---- Noah Baker Merrill, a member of Putney Friends Meeting in Vermont, will give a presentation on the work of Direct Aid Iraq (DAI), an Iraqi-American aid, advocacy, and peacebuilding organization for which he is the program manager. Direct Aid Iraq's work in the Middle East is conducted by Iraqis who are refugees themselves, in partnership with Americans who see support for direct humanitarian assistance as an act of reparations with the Iraqi people. The presentation will include a description of how Direct Aid Iraq works, the current humanitarian and political context for Iraqis (in brief), and stories of some of the Iraqi partners and aid recipients involved in DAI's work. A discussion following the presentation will offer opportunities for more in-depth exploration of specific aspects of DAI's work and how we as Americans can help transform the Iraqi-American relationship toward healing, peace, and reconciliation. Noah has served as staff with the American Friends Service Committee, as a consultant to AFSC and other nongovernmental organizations on the Iraqi displacement crisis, and frequently speaks in both secular and religious contexts around the United States on the Iraqi-American relationship, the Iraqi displacement crisis, and the connection between religious experience and prophetic service. He travels regularly in the Middle East among Iraqi refugees, and is in daily contact with Iraqis and others in the region. ---- Here is a link to video of a ten-minute presentation Noah gave in Des Moines, Iowa in October of 2008.http://www.directaidiraq.org/new-video-of-dai-event-in-des-moines-iowa/ For more information about the work of Direct Aid Iraq, visit www.directaidiraq.org, or call 802.659.4281. For information on the event: John Humphries Hartford Friends Meeting Quaker Peacebuilder Camp 860/236-5175; jhumphries at igc.org www.directaidirag.org American Friends Service Committee Connecticut Area Office 56 Arbor Street, Suite 213 Hartford, CT 06106 Phone: 860.523.1534 Fax: 860.523.1705 Email: connecticut at afsc.org Visit AFSC CT Online Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Confirm | Forward -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Mon Jan 12 20:12:24 2009 From: efficacy at msn.com (Clifford Thornton) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:12:24 -0500 Subject: {news} Media Spotlight on Criminal Justice Reform Message-ID: Jim Webb's Website | Constituent Services | Newsroom | Photos | Contact | Subscribe | Unsubscribe Dear Friend, As you may know, I am committed to initiating a serious dialogue and raising public awareness about the U.S. criminal justice system and incarceration policies. Over the past two years, I have held a number of Senate hearings, hosted a symposium of experts at George Mason University and delivered the keynote address for a Brookings Institute panel at the National Press Club on this pressing issue. This year I plan to introduce legislation to launch a comprehensive review of our criminal justice system. It is imperative that a national commission take an overarching look at where the system is broken and how we fix it. To start, focus must be placed on locking up the most dangerous people instead of diverting time and money to incarcerate the wrong people. This means making sharp distinctions between offenders of violent crimes and those incarcerated for non-violent crimes, drug abuse and mental illness. This challenge of criminal justice reform demands dedicated attention and viable solutions. More and more Americans are expressing concern over our criminal justice system and I wanted to inform you of the following recent media attention on this important issue. For more resources on my work to study and reform the U.S. criminal justice system, please go to: http://webb.senate.gov/email/incarceration.html For more resources on my work to study and reform the U.S. criminal justice system, please go to: http://webb.senate.gov/email/incarceration.html Thank you for your interest, Jim Webb RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM Sen. Webb's Call for Prison Reform The New York Times Editorial January 1, 2008 This country puts too many people behind bars for too long. Most elected officials, afraid of being tarred as soft on crime, ignore these problems. Sen. Jim Webb, a Democrat of Virginia, is now courageously stepping into the void, calling for a national commission to re-assess criminal justice policy. Other members of Congress should show the same courage and rally to the cause. To read the entire article, please click here ? Webb Sets His Sights On Prison Reform By: Sandhya Somashekhar, Washington Post December 29, 2008 Somewhere along the meandering career path that led James Webb to the U.S. Senate, he found himself in the frigid interior of a Japanese prison. A journalist at the time, he was working on an article about Ed Arnett, an American who had spent two years in Fuchu Prison for possession of marijuana. In a January 1984 Parade magazine piece, Webb described the harsh conditions imposed on Arnett, who had frostbite and sometimes labored in solitary confinement making paper bags. To read the entire article, please click here ? James Webb Shows Leadership Regarding Prison Reform By: John Aloysius Farrell Thomas Jefferson Street blog, U.S. News & World Report January 02, 2009 Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia has never been afraid to march to the beat of his own drum. The decorated Vietnam War veteran who served as Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, then got elected to the Senate as a Democrat in 2006, has his own views on things, and his own way of stating them. To read the entire article, please click here ? Time to Rethink Goals of Prison The Virginian Pilot Editorial January 5, 2009 In prosperous times, state and federal lawmakers wanting to polish their get-tough-on-crime image pass bills putting more people in prison and keeping them longer for offenses such as drunken driving, drug possession and dog fighting. When the economy tanks, those mandatory sentencing laws stay in place, and budget cuts instead dig into drug treatment and job-training programs. To read the entire article, please click here ? The Criminal Justice System Needs Help Sen. Jim Webb demonstrates political courage in his push to reform a system that 'tough-on-crime' politicians have made expensive and ineffective. Roanoke Times Editorial January 5, 2009 Sen. Jim Webb is not a typical politician, and he wants to bring an atypical approach to criminal justice reform in America. The typical political fashion of treating crime and punishment has created an America that imprisons a larger percentage of its population than any other nation. It has created a justice system that is erratic, arbitrary and, well, unjust. Webb plans to introduce legislation in the spring that would create a national panel to recommend ways to overhaul the criminal justice system. To read the entire article, please click here ? Alternative to Jail for Addicts Gains New Supporter Peter Dujardin, The Daily Press December 28, 2008 Drug courts have a prominent supporter on Capitol Hill. U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., voiced strong support for drug courts in a speech to a Washington think tank this month. He said he's "very impressed with what I've seen" regarding the carrot-and-stick approach to keeping nonviolent drug offenders out of prison. To read the entire article, please click here ? Senator Elevates Debate on Failed Drug, Prison Policies Roger Chesley, The Virginian-Pilot October 18, 2008 Jim Webb has far-reaching ideas about reforming the country's harsh drug laws, reducing the swollen prison population and spending more to rehabilitate substance abusers who truly want help. But Virginia's junior senator faces a challenge: How many federal lawmakers will join a quest that could amount to political suicide? To read the entire article, please click here ? Voice for Broken Prisons Virginia senator points to statistics in saying reforms are long overdue Las Vegas Sun Editorial January 3, 2009 Sen. Jim Webb is a decorated Marine and former Navy secretary under President Ronald Reagan. He will need the kind of determination and mental toughness stressed in the military to shepherd through Congress a bill addressing his long-standing passion--prison reform. Even officials in his own state of Virginia say he is in for a tough fight on the issue of prisons, which most politicians use to stress their law-and-order, tough-on-crime credentials, as in "lock 'em up and throw away the key." To read the entire article, please click here ? Please feel free to forward this page to friends and family and invite them to do the same! Jim Webb's Website | Constituent Services | Newsroom | Photos | Contact | Subscribe | Unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 158224 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 116 bytes Desc: not available URL: From apbrison at hotmail.com Mon Jan 12 22:06:45 2009 From: apbrison at hotmail.com (allan brison) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:06:45 -0500 Subject: {news} I will be on stage at the Criterion tomorrow In-Reply-To: References: <16510852.1231431357413.JavaMail.www@app18> <91579ccd0901081934q17f6479eo5cd41d617cd9c40e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Greens and others, As most of you probably know there is a current feature movie starring Sean Penn on the life of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician to have won an election in the US. Harvey was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, served 10 months until his tragic assassination by fellow freshmen supervisor, Dan White. It is an absolutely superb movie, something that every political activist should see. Love Makes a Family is having a special screening of the movie tomorrow Tues, Jan 13, at the Criterion in New Haven, 76 Temple Street, at 7:15 pm. The cost to those who say they are there for the LMF screening is $5.50. As an extra bonus, there will be a discussion after the movie of political and faith leaders. I have been asked to participate on stage in that discussion. Come and join me at this event. Below is the flyer for the event plus a piece I wrote recently on Harvey Milk. Best, Allan Allan Brison Alderman, Ward 10 New Haven Green Party Harvey Milk I lived in SF when Harvey was elected to the SF Board of Supervisors (City Council). What a moment that was, and what an inspiring person! A radical who not only obtained elected office but was able to build coalitions with other groups to work for the betterment of all. A real role model for me today. I met with Harvey on at least one occasion. It was in his photo shop on Castro Street. I was campaigning for an anti-nuke proposition, he was running his 3rd and ultimately successful campaign for supervisor. He invited me into the back room where his campaign was being run. He admonished me to get out of the Castro where everybody already agreed on the subject of nuclear power and into some of the more conservative districts of the city. I remember afterward feeling how incredibly gracious it was of him to spend time with me on my little campaign when he had so much work in front of him. I was visiting in Hawaii in Dec 78 when the assassinations occurred. I remember seeing the front page headline, "Mayor of San Francisco Assassinated". That didn't particularly bother me. I had no particular emotional investment in the Mayor, George Moscone, but I did read the article. Down a few paragraphs, almost as an afterthought, it was mentioned that one of the supervisors had also been killed. I remember the flood of emotion as I read Harvey's name. Not Harvey, please, please, not Harvey. Harvey's election was made possible by the passing of a charter amendment to provide for the district election of supervisors that had occurred, I believe, in Nov '76. Previously Supervisors were all elected at-large which gave monied interests, like the SF Chamber of Commerce, better control over the candidates who were more dependent on large contributions for media exposure to win elections. But with the City carved up into 11 separate districts, it was much more difficult for big money to control things. Citizen activists were able mobilize followings and get out door-to-door and win. In that first election by district there were 5 freshman supervisors elected out of a total of 11. An amazing statistic given that incumbents win over 95% of elections nationwide. Among those five were several firsts in the history of SF: -the first unwed mother, Carol Ruth Silver, ever elected,-the first black woman, Ella Hill Hutch, ever elected,-the first Chinese American, Gordon Lau, ever elected, and, of course,-Harvey, the first openly gay elected official not only in SF but in the entire nation. Four milestones out of a total of 11 supervisors is pretty good in one election. And there was a fifth milestone as well, also made possible by the district elections of supervisors. A right-wing, blue collar, firefighter, a charming, every-mother's-son, the eventual assassin, Dan White. I was in LA when Dan White was sentenced. What an outrage that he wasn't convicted of Murder One! That he could have committed what was so obviously a premeditated murder of two elected officials and be let off on a charge of manslaughter was absolutely infuriating! If I had been in SF that night, I'm afraid that my anger would have propelled me out into the streets with the rest of the outraged mob, turning over and burning police cars all night long with a vengeance. So Dan White went off for 5 years in a minimum security prison, where he and his wife conceived 2 of their 3 children. While Dan was in prison, I met one of his sisters. I was at a meeting where a group of folks involved in an intentional community were doing outreach to gain new perspective members. The subject of politics came up and one of the leaders started talking about how she didn't believe in political involvements because, she said, politics corrupted. She had a brother, she said, a nice guy, who ran for political office once, won, and ended up committing a terrible crime. I asked her after if her brother was Dan White. She said, "Yes." Dan was released after 5 years in prison. A year and a half later he took his own life. He never expressed remorse for his crime, only for the difficulty that his actions had caused his family. Here is a link to the New York Times article of his suicide: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E2DE1039F931A15753C1A963948260&sec=health&spon=&pagewanted=1 I do have to see this movie. The advertisement pictures of Sean Penn sitting on top of a car in the Castro look so much like Harvey.Best, Allan Allan BrisonAlderman, Ward 10New Haven CT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After seeing the movie I sent out this note to my constituents: Personal Note - Movie Tip: MILK For me the highlight of the holidays, besides some wonderful family times, has been seeing the movie, Milk, which I highly recommend. It is the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the US, how he won election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, his eleven months of serving on the Board, and his tragic assassination by fellow freshman supervisor, Dan White. As someone who lived in SF during that time, and who had the privilege of meeting with Harvey on at least one occasion, I feel that the movie does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of the times; and that Sean Penn's portrayal of Harvey is superb, most certainly worthy of an Oscar nomination. Milk is playing currently at the Criterion in New Haven. Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 10:15:45 -0600From: Obadiah at lmfct.orgTo: apbrison at hotmail.comSubject: Special screenings of "Milk" and forums with Anne Stanback "My name is Harvey Milk and I'm here to Recruit you!" Dear Allan, Have you seen the movie everyone's talking about? You won't want to miss these special screenings of "Milk" in your area! Come see the movie about the man who changed the lives of LGBT Americans forever! Or come see it again before it leaves theaters! MADISON DETAILS: Monday January 12th, at Madison Art Cinemas (761 Boston Post Road, Madison), show starting at 7:30pm. Click here for directions. General admission tickets are $9.50, while senior (over 62) tickets are $7.50. NEW HAVEN DETAILS: Tuesday January 13th, at Criterion Cinemas (86 Temple St, New Haven), show starting at 7:15pm. Click here for directions. Special event tickets are $5.50. Please mention that you are with the Love Makes a Family group. To RSVP, please email obadiah at lmfct.org. Join LMF supporters to watch the film together, and stay afterward for for a lively discussion with local clergy and political leaders. The event is organized by FaithAction, a Love Makes a Family initiative for people of faith. Please join us! Thanks for being a part of our campaign. Hope to see you at the show! Sincerely, Oby BallingerReligious OrganizerLove Makes a Family P.S. We need to hear from you! Join Anne Stanback, our Executive Director for a Town Hall Forum on the future of Love Makes a Family and our campaign toward equality. Meet with Anne in New Haven, New London, or Norwalk, Hartford, or Storrs. Share your ideas, get the scoop on our 2009 legislative priorities, and help us continue to build a culture of inclusion and fairness for all Connecticut families. For more information, call Matt Blinstrubas at 860-525-7777 x304 or email matt at lmfct.org. Love Makes a Family is a statewide non-profit working for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples in Connecticut. We carry out our mission through community education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy and lobbying. View this message as HTML in your browser. Forward this message. Change your email preferences. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Tue Jan 13 14:55:00 2009 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:55:00 -0500 Subject: {news} Re: complaint to SOTS on McKinney write-in votes Message-ID: The SOTS has an updated election report at http://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3179&q=392194 There is some improvement, but it is still inaccurate: Bridgeport: 0 (vs. 1 we have documented) Cornwall: 1 (vs. 3 documented) Killingly: 0 (vs. 1 documented) Manchester: 3 New Haven:12 New London:1 (vs. 7 documented) Norwich: 0 (where officials said there were no write-in candidates) Stamford: 2 Wethersfield: 0 (vs. 2? documented) Windham: 5 (where officials said there were no write-in candidates) In the case of Cornwall and New London, it seems that they counted the single absentee ballot that we know of in each town, but not the votes cast at the polls. This suggests that if you want your write-in vote to count, you're better off voting absentee. Hartford reports only 2 votes, which I suspect are likewise the absentee ballots only. Do we know of more than 2 McKinney votes in Hartford? (Disclaimer: In Stamford, I confess to having voted for Nader. After some deliberation, I decided I wanted to make sure the Independent Party got 1% and kept ballot access for 2012, just so we have an alternative on the ballot.) David Bedell ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Bedell" To: Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 6:20 PM Subject: complaint to SOTS on McKinney write-in votes ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Fournier To: 'David Bedell' Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 12:22 PM Subject: complaint Here's the complaint I mailed today to Bysiewicz. For practical reasons, I decided to confine this complaint to the presidential election. We can make further complaints about other contests after we see what sort of response we get to this one. Stephen Fournier Attorney at Law 74 Tremont Street Hartford, Connecticut 06105 Tel: 860 794 6718 Fax: 860 233 3044 stepfour at stepfour.com December 4, 2008 Secretary of the State of Connecticut ATTN: Administrative Offices PO Box 150470 Hartford, CT 06115-0470 Dear Secretary Bysiewicz: Please take notice of this complaint on behalf of the Green Party of Connecticut. The final tally of votes for President recorded in your office indicates that the Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney, a write-in, received no votes in 140 towns, including Bridgeport, Killingly, Manchester, New Haven, New London, Stamford and Wethersfield. We have collected statements from voters in these towns who wrote in Cynthia McKinney's name and from voters in Windham and Norwich (which also recorded no write-in votes) who were told by election officials that there were no write-in candidates for President. We understand that the Green Party ticket did not receive enough votes to win the election, but the law requires that write-in votes be counted even when the write-in candidate has no chance of winning. Like-minded voters, even if they vote on the losing side, are entitled to know their numbers and their distribution. Contrary to conventional political wisdom, elections involve more than just selecting winners. They mark regular debates on issues of public importance, and the results of an election are a gauge of public opinion and give insight into the future of public policy. Abolitionist candidates never won an election, and neither did women's suffrage candidates, but their candidacies over generations of struggle were a key element in the success of these movements for human rights. We have no way of knowing how many write-in votes went uncounted, but we are satisfied that the selections of voters in at least seven towns were never recorded and that officials were misinformed about write-ins in at least two polling places. We ask that you initiate an inspection of the "paper-trail" in the towns that recorded no write-in votes for Cynthia McKinney to determine whether her vote was excluded from the tally for each such town. We ask that you investigate discrepancies between the number of write-in ballots cast and the number of write-in votes recorded. We ask that you remind registrars of voters that they have a legal obligation to count and record write-in votes. Finally, we ask that you instruct registrars to recount the number of write-in ballots cast for Cynthia McKinney and that you publish the corrected totals. Yours truly, Stephen Fournier Green Party of Connecticut Co-Chair From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Wed Jan 14 12:29:04 2009 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:29:04 -0500 Subject: {news} Fw: Jan 14 '09: Upcoming CT events for peace/social justice-GAZA, PEOPLE'S BAILOUT Message-ID: <71E9C08B1A284292A8C8BB436DDA15EC@edgn2b574u14bi> 6-Story Newsletter Template + Images ----- Original Message ----- From: AFSC Connecticut To: edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:48 PM Subject: Jan 14 2009: Upcoming Connecticut events for peace and social justice American Friends Service Committee Connecticut In This Issue: Jan 14 2009 . Jan 16: End the Violence in Gaza- March & Vigil at Congressman Larson's Hartford office . Jan 19th: Interfaith Prayer Hour for Gaza and Israel . Feb 7: Community meeting for a People's Bail Out Jan 16: End the Violence in Gaza- March & Vigil at Congressman Larson's Hartford office End the Violence in Gaza!" March & Vigil to Rep. Larson's Office, 1/16, 3PM Start: Jan 16 2009 - 3:00pm March & Vigil to Rep. John Larson's Hartford Office. Friday, January 16, 2009 3 PM Gather at Federal Building 450 Main Street Bring Signs, Props, Photos of the Israeli Massacre of Gaza. March and Process to Rep. Larson's Office 221 Main Street 2nd Floor Deliver Open Letter to CT's Congressional Delegation (currently in process) Set up meeting with Rep. Larson We Refuse to Be Enemies is calling for a mass nonviolent protest march and vigil from the federal building in Hartford to Rep. John Larson's office on Friday, 1/16 from 3-4PM. Larson was the house co-sponsor of the "AIPAC Resolution" passed Jan. 9 that blames Hamas and justifies the overwhelming use of military and force and collective punishment by Israel in Gaza. When our entire Connecticut Congressional Delegation co-signs the Massacre, we must refuse to be silent, we must refuse to allow this heinous propaganda to go unanswered. Sponsored by: We Refuse to be Enemies Co-Sponsored by: Middle East Crisis Committee Council on American Islamic Relations -CT Islamic Center of New London ANSWER CT Socialist Action Queers Without Borders American Friends Service Committee Hartford Catholic Worker People of Faith CT Other co-sponsors in formation. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=44646493349 Press Release Below: On Friday, January 16, We Refuse to Be Enemies and other groups opposed to the attacks on Gaza, and to last week's US government full and unconditional support of Israel in this adventure, will conduct a non-violent demonstration and march from the Federal Building on Main St. in Hartford to Congressman John Larson's Hartford office. We Refuse to Be Enemies is a locally-based coalition of Jews, Muslims, and Christians working for peace and justice in the Middle East. Our three goals are as follows: 1) To speak against the totally uneven situation of violence in Gaza, and against the 18-month humanitarian crisis there, about which almost all the world's leaders except our own have expressed outrage. 2) To educate the public about the fact that both houses of Congress, including our entire CT delegation, voted last week, with no debate, and hardly any media coverage, strongly and without question to take Israel's side, refusing to even consider that there could be a Palestinian perspective that also needs to be taken into account. In fact, Rep. John Larson was a co-sponsor of the House version of the bill, which some congressional staffers are referring to as "the AIPAC bill." 3) To affirm our commitment to refusing to be enemies, and to urge our government to demand an immediate cease-fire on both sides, including the release of Gaza from the strangling blockade it has endured for 18 months. Jan 19th: Interfaith Prayer Hour for Gaza and Israel Please join Christians, Muslims and Jews in an hour of prayer for the People of Gaza and Israel, and a lasting, just resolution to the violence between Palestinians and Israelis. This event is taking place on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 19 at 7 PM at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. It is appropriate for all ages and all faiths. A goodwill collection will be taken up to provide emergency relief for the victims of violence in Gaza. As of January 14th, over 071 Palestinians have been killed, more than three hundred of the dead are children and women. Over 4200 have been wounded and they are trying to survive without adequate access to food, medicine, doctors and shelter. 10 Israelis have been killed, including 7 soldiers and 1 woman. Over 100 Israeli soldiers and civilians have been injured. What better way to honor the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. than to pray for peace? Please come and invite your family and friends. Three Quick Resources on the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis: B'Tselem, an Israeli Human Rights Group: http://www.btselem.org/English/ Fellowship of Reconciliation (Martin Luther King was a member of this international peace group) http://www.forusa.org/ American Friends Service Committee (the Quakers) http://www.afsc.org/ www.afsc.org Feb 7: Community meeting for a People's Bail Out COMMUNITY MEETING FOR A PEOPLE'S BAIL OUT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 FROM 1pm - 4pm HARTFORD CITY HALL, 550 Main Street No Cutbacks - No Lay offs - No Foreclosures - No Evictions Make the Wealthy and the Corporations Pay Wall Street Got One TRILLION Dollars of Our Tax Money When do WE get bailed out? That's the question that people everywhere are asking. In the Hartford area, the recession means that the real unemployment rate of 12% could double in 2009, while thousands of people lose their homes and the state slashes social services, education and health care. The federal government spent a cool trillion dollars bailing out the big corporations. Now Governor Rell plans to slash jobs and social programs instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share. Who's looking out for OUR interests? Come to a community meeting, speak-out and strategy session to talk about what we can do to fight for our survival. Peoples's Economic Justice Coalition 860-570-0782 peoplesbailoutct at yahoo.com www.peoplesbailoutct.wordpress.com www.peoplesbailoutct.wordpress.com American Friends Service Committee Connecticut Area Office 56 Arbor Street, Suite 213 Hartford, CT 06106 Phone: 860.523.1534 Fax: 860.523.1705 Email: connecticut at afsc.org Visit AFSC CT Online Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Confirm | Forward -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Sun Jan 18 19:53:32 2009 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:53:32 -0500 Subject: {news} 7PM 1-19-09 EC meeting of the CTGP at 74 Tremont Street, Hartford, CT Message-ID: <20090119005334.HQTT26835.eastrmmtao101.cox.net@eastrmimpo03.cox.net> **EC meeting is at the home of Stephen Fournier. Discuss potential short and long term goals of the Green Party of CT Develop the agenda for the 1-27-09 SCC meeting as indicated below: Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Location: Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT 06480 Facilitator: To Be Determined A. Preliminaries: 1. (1 minute): Introductions of voting/non-voting attendees; chapters; if quorum was met; timekeeper; ground rules. 2. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight?s proposed agenda, any deletions or additions. 3. (2-4 minutes): Review and approval of minutes of 12-30-09 SCC meeting. 4. (2 minutes): Review and acceptance of the minutes of the 1-19-09 EC meeting. 5. (2-4 minutes): Treasurer?s report from treasurer: Christopher Reilly. B. Any proposals/referendums by chapters, committee. C. Reports: 1. (10-15 minutes): GPUS reports from: a) Cliff Thornton, National Co-chairperson of the GPUS; b) CTGP representatives: Tim McKee and Charlie Pillsbury; c) National Committee Members: Steve Fournier, Richard Duffee and S. Michael DeRosa. 2. (20 minutes): CTGP 1-21-09 meeting with CT State Legislative Government and Election Committee Co-chairpersons. 3. (20 minutes): Possible visit by the ACLU lawyers regarding our present lawsuit against the State of CT regarding the 2005 State of CT Campaign Finance Reform Laws. 4. (15 minutes): CTGP concerns regarding the Elections Department of the CT. Secretary of State during the 11-08 election: a) votes not counted for write-in candidates for president; b) voting problems found by independent election auditors but not by the Secretary of State. 5. (5-10minutes): CTGP literature. 6. (5-10 minutes): Fundraising Dinner for CTGP: at 6pm on Tuesday, 2-17-09 at the French Social Circle, 373 Main Street, East Hartford. Spaghetti dinner, cash bar, trivia games and door prizes. 7. (5-10 minutes): CTGP potential goals for 2009: a) legislative goals for petitioning; b) electric rates; c) universal health care. 8. (2-5 minutes, each): Chapter reports. 9. (2-5 minutes): CTGP Road Show at 7Pm on Wednesday, 1-28-09 at Wrench in the Works, 861 Main Street, Willimantic, CT. 10. Date and place for the 2-24-09, Tuesday SCC meeting. Date, place and time of next EC meeting in 1-09: to be determined. 11. Any additions Green Party Key Values: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and gender No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.9/1900 - Release Date: 1/18/2009 12:11 PM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From smderosa at cox.net Sun Jan 18 20:47:38 2009 From: smderosa at cox.net (Mike DeRosa) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:47:38 -0500 Subject: {news} 1ST GREEN PARTY ROAD SHOW 1/28/09 WILLIMANTIC 861 MAIN ST 7PM Message-ID: <002501c979d7$e8cda2d0$ba68e870$@net> Participate in the 1st Green Party Road Show 2009: http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:2OaLB4IiQbWRdM:http://www.thepulse.co.th /images/roadshow.jpg What: Green Party Road Show 2009 - Green Local and State candidates and Green elected officials tell the unique story of the Green Party in CT. The true narrative of CT's fastest growing third Party (including literature and refreshments served)(More Road Shows Planned) When: WED 1/28/08 7PM-9PM WHERE: The Wrench In The Works coffee house at 861 Main ST. WILLIMANTIC CT. http://wrenchintheworks.org/images/sign.jpg Why: To expose new people to the unique narrative of the CT Green Party and facilitate preferred solution based outcomes that promote social and environmental justice. http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/06/13/cmWIND_LARGE_wideweb__430x286,0.jp g FOR MORE INFO OR TO SET UP A ANOTHER ROAD SHOW VENUE: 860-919-4042 Contacts: westerfield at sysmatrix.net hecate at crows.ner smderosa at cox.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3958 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 6233 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image005.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 6613 bytes Desc: not available URL: From smderosa at cox.net Sun Jan 18 20:50:37 2009 From: smderosa at cox.net (Mike DeRosa) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:50:37 -0500 Subject: {news} 1ST GREEN PARTY ROAD SHOW 1/28/09 WILLIMANTIC 861 MAIN ST 7PM In-Reply-To: <002501c979d7$e8cda2d0$ba68e870$@net> References: <002501c979d7$e8cda2d0$ba68e870$@net> Message-ID: <003401c979d8$5386f4a0$fa94dde0$@net> Participate in the 1st Green Party Road Show 2009: http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:2OaLB4IiQbWRdM:http://www.thepulse.co.th /images/roadshow.jpg What: Green Party Road Show 2009 - Green Local and State candidates and Green elected officials tell the unique story of the Green Party in CT. The true narrative of CT's fastest growing third Party (including literature and refreshments served)(More Road Shows Planned) When: WED 1/28/08 7PM-9PM WHERE: The Wrench In The Works coffee house at 861 Main ST. WILLIMANTIC CT. http://wrenchintheworks.org/images/sign.jpg Why: To expose new people to the unique narrative of the CT Green Party and facilitate preferred solution based outcomes that promote social and environmental justice. http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/06/13/cmWIND_LARGE_wideweb__430x286,0.jp g FOR MORE INFO OR TO SET UP ANOTHER ROAD SHOW VENUE: 860-919-4042 Contacts: westerfield at sysmatrix.net hecate at crows.ner smderosa at cox.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3958 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 6233 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 6613 bytes Desc: not available URL: From smderosa at cox.net Sun Jan 18 20:57:30 2009 From: smderosa at cox.net (Mike DeRosa) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:57:30 -0500 Subject: {news} revised: 1ST GREEN PARTY ROAD SHOW 1/28/09 WILLIMANTIC 861 MAIN ST 7 PM In-Reply-To: <003401c979d8$5386f4a0$fa94dde0$@net> References: <002501c979d7$e8cda2d0$ba68e870$@net> <003401c979d8$5386f4a0$fa94dde0$@net> Message-ID: <004001c979d9$497e06f0$dc7a14d0$@net> Participate in the 1st Green Party Road Show 2009: http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:2OaLB4IiQbWRdM:http://www.thepulse.co.th /images/roadshow.jpg What: Green Party Road Show 2009 - Green Local and State candidates and Green elected officials tell the unique story of the Green Party in CT. The true narrative of CT's fastest growing third Party (including literature and refreshments served)(More Road Shows Planned) When: WED 1/28/09 7PM-9PM WHERE: The Wrench In The Works coffee house at 861 Main ST. WILLIMANTIC CT. http://wrenchintheworks.org/images/sign.jpg Why: To expose new people to the unique narrative of the CT Green Party and facilitate preferred solution based outcomes that promote social and environmental justice. http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/06/13/cmWIND_LARGE_wideweb__430x286,0.jp g FOR MORE INFO OR TO SET UP ANOTHER ROAD SHOW VENUE: 860-919-4042 Contacts: westerfield at sysmatrix.net hecate at crows.ner smderosa at cox.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3958 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 6233 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 6613 bytes Desc: not available URL: From smderosa at cox.net Mon Jan 19 16:52:29 2009 From: smderosa at cox.net (Mike DeRosa) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:52:29 -0500 Subject: {news} Meeting With Co-Chairs of Legislature's Government And Elections Committee Wed 1/21/09 2PM LOB 2200 Message-ID: <000901c97a80$399776c0$acc66440$@net> The Co-Chairs of the CT legislature's Government and Elections committee have agreed to meet with the Green Party on Wed. 1/21/09 at 2PM at the Legislative Office Building RM 2200. http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:1p_ismJeqGj_GM:http://bp0.blogger.com/_f KjCZyqaAaU/R7uyb3j4kJI/AAAAAAAABbU/kwCkY0GMJmg/s400/100_1705.JPG All issues related to ballot access, petitioning, vote counting, audits, and campaign finance requirements are on the table. I have included a set of concerns in the attachment to this e-mail and would like some feedback from people before we go into the meeting. We would like the GAE committee to support and raise bills that will address our concerns, experience, and narrative. http://www.blackboxvoting.org/accuvote-unscrew-case.jpg A priority for me would be changes in ballot access law that reduces the number of signatures required to obtain ballot access. I think we should also ask for oversight from the committee on the recent actions of the CT Sec. Of The State in relationship to write-in votes and audits(write-in votes are not counted in audits). Several Green congressional candidates will be at the meeting to testify as to their experiences during the last election with ballot access requirements. Everyone is invited to attend. They are giving us 45 minutes to present our ideas. We will meet at the LOB cafeteria at 1:30PM on WED to have a quick meeting before our encounter with the GAE Co-Chairs. http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:jREvlH_ZdA6oUM:http://www.thecornerrepor t.com/media/ferrucci%2520small_01.JPG http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:UkgoOFokrLCN5M:http://www.sourcewatch.or g/images/c/cc/Haroldburbank.jpg http://www.ctgreens.org/images/elections2008/deshefy.jpg http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/thumb/c/cd/Stephenfournier.jpg/180px-Steph enfournier.jpg See full size image http://www.democracyforamerica.com/uploads/group_photos/960g638.jpg http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:JUvJ1N4blMKnRM:http://brotherpeacemaker. files.wordpress.com/2008/07/cynthia_mckinney.jpg AND OTHERS... Sincerely, Mike DeRosa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: Recomendations for changing ballot access laws 2009 Green Party of CT.docx Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document Size: 15950 bytes Desc: not available URL: From smderosa at cox.net Mon Jan 19 18:16:19 2009 From: smderosa at cox.net (Mike DeRosa) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:16:19 -0500 Subject: {news} RE: Meeting With Co-Chairs of Legislature's Government And Elections Committee Wed 1/21/09 2PM LOB 2200 In-Reply-To: <407864.32375.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <000901c97a80$399776c0$acc66440$@net> <407864.32375.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <000301c97a8b$efcb2300$cf616900$@net> John: Thanks for your input. I hope that we can have another meeting after this one that will include other minor political parties. What I hope we can accomplish during this meeting is to start the ball rolling. It's sort of like biting the hand that starves us. You have to take small bites until they get the message. If we get one bill out this meeting that's progress. If we can get another meeting with minor parties in attendance (that agree with our narrative) than even better. If we can get a dialog going with the committee (where there is real give and take) that produces transformation rather than translation of the ballot access and other laws that starve us, that is a success. So we have to present to them our unique narrative on what we experienced in 2008 and hope that they will understand that we need a re-vision of the major party dominant narrative that is not an accurate or realistic representation of what is really going on during elections in CT. That's my take on it. Sincerely, Mike DeRosa From: john magnesi [mailto:magnesij2003 at yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 5:48 PM To: smderosa at cox.net Subject: Meeting With Co-Chairs of Legislature's Government And Elections Committee Wed 1/21/09 2PM LOB 2200 Hello Mike, Just wondering if the Government and Election Committee will also be inviting other third parties to share their experiences at some point. Seems to me that this may be significant because other groups, in all likelihood, had similar experiences to ours. As a consequence (and assuming that those other third parties did have similar experiences to ours), the Green Party's presentation would be less likely to be seen in isolation and would not be viewed as unique or unusual. Best JM --- On Mon, 1/19/09, Mike DeRosa wrote: From: Mike DeRosa Subject: [newhavengreens] Meeting With Co-Chairs of Legislature's Government And Elections Committee Wed 1/21/09 2PM LOB 2200 To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org, "'2a-CTgreensForum'" , newhavengreens at yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, January 19, 2009, 4:52 PM The Co-Chairs of the CT legislature's Government and Elections committee have agreed to meet with the Green Party on Wed. 1/21/09 at 2PM at the Legislative Office Building RM 2200. http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:1p_ismJeqGj_GM:http://bp0.blogger.com/_f KjCZyqaAaU/R7uyb3j4kJI/AAAAAAAABbU/kwCkY0GMJmg/s400/100_1705.JPG All issues related to ballot access, petitioning, vote counting, audits, and campaign finance requirements are on the table. I have included a set of concerns in the attachment to this e-mail and would like some feedback from people before we go into the meeting. We would like the GAE committee to support and raise bills that will address our concerns, experience, and narrative. http://www.blackboxvoting.org/accuvote-unscrew-case.jpg A priority for me would be changes in ballot access law that reduces the number of signatures required to obtain ballot access. I think we should also ask for oversight from the committee on the recent actions of the CT Sec. Of The State in relationship to write-in votes and audits(write-in votes are not counted in audits). Several Green congressional candidates will be at the meeting to testify as to their experiences during the last election with ballot access requirements. Everyone is invited to attend. They are giving us 45 minutes to present our ideas. We will meet at the LOB cafeteria at 1:30PM on WED to have a quick meeting before our encounter with the GAE Co-Chairs. http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:jREvlH_ZdA6oUM:http://www.thecornerrepor t.com/media/ferrucci%2520small_01.JPG http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:UkgoOFokrLCN5M:http://www.sourcewatch.or g/images/c/cc/Haroldburbank.jpg http://www.ctgreens.org/images/elections2008/deshefy.jpg http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/thumb/c/cd/Stephenfournier.jpg/180px-Steph enfournier.jpg See full size image http://www.democracyforamerica.com/uploads/group_photos/960g638.jpg http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:JUvJ1N4blMKnRM:http://brotherpeacemaker. files.wordpress.com/2008/07/cynthia_mckinney.jpg AND OTHERS... Sincerely, Mike DeRosa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: image007.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3887 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image008.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3928 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image009.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3998 bytes Desc: not available URL: From efficacy at msn.com Tue Jan 20 12:45:48 2009 From: efficacy at msn.com (Clifford Thornton) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:45:48 -0500 Subject: {news} editorial in Connecticut Law Tribune Message-ID: This was sent to me by an editor of a paper in Connecticut. I don't have the url. This in anticipation of future conference and past as well. Drugs And Racial Disparity Connecticut Law Tribune Monday, January 16, 2009 One purpose of a recent conference (FEB.4th) at Central Connecticut State University sponsored by the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Criminal Justice System was to identify solutions to the disparities that exist within our system. One does not have to examine the problem too closely to realize that this nation?s and this state?s drug policies and enforcement practices are a major cause of the racial imbalance that exists within our prisons and jails. A conference workshop on the impact of the "War on Drugs" on minority communities clearly revealed this: Although whites and blacks use illicit drugs at roughly the same rates (the rate is actually slightly higher for whites), and there are more than six times as many whites as blacks, blacks constitute more than 50 percent of all persons in prison in the U.S. for drug offenses. They are also 10 times more likely than whites to be incarcerated for a drug offense. This disparity originates with unequal enforcement in the local communities and continues in the courts where the sentencing decisions are made. While the "War on Drugs" and the policy of prohibition may have a good purpose, they clearly have failed to prevent the influx of illegal drugs into this country or to stop the use of drugs itself. Notwithstanding the availability of alternative policy models, we plow ahead under the delusion that somehow the massive infusion of resources and money on this "war" will eventually solve the problem. It is time to seriously consider a different policy approach based upon prevention and treatment, rather than arrest and incarceration. Viable alternatives such as public health and harm reduction models, along with decriminalization of less serious possessory offenses, should be debated. The potential reduction in violence that would result from decriminalization should also be taken into account. Change will be difficult to achieve, as evidence by the fact that Connecticut was unable to even legalize the medical use of marijuana in 2007 due to the governor?s veto of a bill that had passed the General Assembly and enjoyed broad public support. On the other hand, the citizens of Massachusetts showed their openness to an alternative approach in the recent election by passing a ballot initiative which makes possession of less than one ounce of marijuana non-criminal and punishable by a civil fine of $100. It retains existing penalties for growing, trafficking, or driving under the influence of marijuana, but avoids the taint of a criminal record for those found in possession of less than an ounce. Although Connecticut has a variety of pretrial programs that provide several opportunities to avoid a criminal conviction, possession of marijuana remains a crime under our penal code that carries a penalty of up to one year in jail. Laws similar to that of Massachusetts already exist in 12 other states that have adopted some form of decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana, and it is a good model for experimentation with an alternative approach for possession of other types of substances. Nevertheless, states are not able to adopt a straight public health model for dealing with the problem of drug use by decriminalizing possession of other substances without similar changes in federal law, which otherwise would still subject citizens to criminal prosecution. The United States spends more than $40 billion per year on the "War on Drugs," including the costs of incarceration, and yet the use of illegal drugs continues. Not to mention the toll that incarceration takes on individuals, families and particularly minority communities. Incarceration is not the only answer and surely much of that money could be better spent on prevention, treatment and even higher education. An October 2008 Zogby public opinion poll indicated that three-quarters of Americans believe that the "War on Drugs" is a failure. Yet politicians are reluctant to address it or even talk about it, as evidenced by the lack of any serious discussion of drug policy in the just concluded presidential campaign. It is time for political leaders to initiate a national discussion of our policies and a serious debate about whether to continue on the same course or try a non-criminal approach for some drug offenses. In addition to being more realistic and productive, it would go a long way toward reducing the racial and ethnic disparity that infects our criminal justice system. -END- Efficacy PO Box 1234 860 657 8438 Hartford, CT 06143 efficacy at msn.com www.Efficacy-online.org "THE DRUG WAR IS MEANT TO BE WAGED NOT WON" Working to end race and class drug war injustice, Efficacy is a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1997. Your gifts and donations are tax deductible -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From chapillsbury at igc.org Tue Jan 20 17:53:49 2009 From: chapillsbury at igc.org (Charlie Pillsbury) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:53:49 -0500 Subject: {news} next NHGP meeting @7:30pm Tues. 2/3 Book Trader Cafe 1140 Chapel St. In-Reply-To: <006b01c95358$e36081f0$aa2185d0$@org> References: <006b01c95358$e36081f0$aa2185d0$@org> Message-ID: <009101c97b51$f6cd8000$e4688000$@org> We congratulate our new President Barack Obama and wish him well. We know, however, from experience that no matter good he is, he?s still a Democrat who?s going to need some progressive pushing from his Green friends. Therefore, borrowing the inaugural words of a former President, ?Ask not what the Green Party can do for you; ask what you can do for the Green Party.? One thing you can do is join us at our next NHGP chapter meeting just 2 weeks from tonight: 7:30pm Tues. 2/3, Book Trader Caf?, 1140 Chapel St. We will end no later than 9pm, because that?s when the caf? closes. Please send me or Jerry Martin any agenda items you have to discuss. And please feel free to circulate this meeting notice to other networks that you may have. Thanks, Charlie 247 Saint Ronan Street New Haven CT 06511 203-640-3889 chapillsbury at igc.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Fri Jan 23 00:10:40 2009 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:10:40 -0500 Subject: {news} Raise the Age CT update Message-ID: The CT Green Party was a member of this coalition, which was ultimately successful. After one more year, CT will stop locking up juvenile offenders together with adults. David Bedell http://www.raisetheagect.org/1narr1.html Connecticut is one of only three states to set the age of adulthood at 16 for criminal prosecution ? even for minor, non-violent crimes. A coalition of activists, parents, state agency professionals and youth known as the Raise the Age campaign, successfully advocated for a sweeping policy change to return those children to juvenile jurisdiction. A law passed in 2007 will Raise the Age of adulthood to 18 effective January 1, 2010. http://www.raisetheagect.org/2narr1.html A Land of Contrasts and Steady Habits Nothing one can say about Connecticut is 100 percent true. And, yes, that statement itself is a paradox. But then, so is Connecticut. For a major policy change to be effected here, it must engage vastly different groups who often have diametrically opposed interests. Step one in organizing is assessing the landscape. Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states in the nation and contains some of its poorest communities. Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie summered in Darien, Connecticut. Even without Carnegie in the mix anymore, Darien, like many Connecticut suburbs, is doing well for itself. It boasts five private clubs, resident-only beaches and a median family income of $101,583. Cross the border into neighboring Norwalk, and family income dips to $55,269. Yet Norwalk is far more fortunate than many Connecticut cities. In Hartford, median family income is just $24,774. The number of Connecticut workers earning a wage that puts their families beneath the Federal Poverty Level is rising. It was 16.8 percent in 2006. Economic disparity in Connecticut is largely an urban/suburban divide, with the cities bearing the lion?s share of economic hardship with all its associated ills. The urban/suburban divide is often a minority/white divide as well, as people of color are concentrated in Connecticut cities and as a group do not begin to share in the state?s prosperity. Connecticut Politics All this is compounded by a growing gap in political power as cities in Connecticut are losing population. A successful campaign in Connecticut is increasingly one that wins the hearts and minds of suburbanites. Children of color from cities are disproportionately represented in the system and once inside are treated more severely than their white, suburban peers. Juvenile justice reform, therefore, could have become a quixotic appeal to invest in ?somebody else?s kid.? The Raise the Age campaign aimed to take Connecticut from having one of the worst records on incarcerating children as adults to becoming one of the most progressive states in funding evidence-based services for troubled teens. The change was radical. Connecticut is not. The state is often called ?The Land of Steady Habits,? a tribute to the moral fiber of its Puritan founders. Connecticut is conservative, in the classical sense of ?tending to oppose change,? though not in the sense of a political extreme. The state has a solidly Democratic legislature and ? as it has since 1995 ? a Republican governor. The session during which Raise the Age legislation passed was marked by conflict along party lines and no small amount of gridlock. To further complicate Connecticut?s political landscape, the previous governor, John Rowland, recently completed a federal prison term for corruption charges. One of the largest reminders of Rowland corruption is the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, built at a cost of $57 million by a company with close ties to Rowland. It was not a great time to ask the state to invest more money in juvenile justice. Making the Case So to review, the Raise the Age campaign had to: * Convince white, affluent suburbanites, whose children rarely ended up in the system, that juvenile justice reform was in their best interest and worth a significant taxpayer investment. * Appeal to Republican and Democratic policy makers. * Make sweeping, fundamental changes without appearing radical to a change-resistant state. Fortunately, the facts presented us with ready responses to each of these challenges: Convince white, affluent suburbanites, whose children rarely ended up behind bars, that juvenile justice reform was in their best interest and worth a significant taxpayer investment. Even privileged children, who are treated more leniently by the system, can be hurt by acquiring an adult record. Data overwhelmingly prove that incarcerating minors in adult prisons increases the odds they will reoffend and escalate in violence. Raising the Age would decrease crime and in the long-run save money by producing productive citizens rather than career criminals. Appeal to Republican and Democratic policy makers. By emphasizing the public safety and cost-saving angles, we created a mainstream issue that appealed equally to both parties. Make sweeping, fundamental changes without appearing radical to a change-resistant state. Only three states put the age of adulthood at 16, making Connecticut?s policy ?radical.? We were suggesting a move to the mainstream. Furthermore, we appealed to ?Main Street? idea that 16- and 17-year-olds are still children in need of adult protection and guidance. Drawing on new science around adolescent brain development strengthened this argument. From efficacy at msn.com Fri Jan 23 12:46:12 2009 From: efficacy at msn.com (Clifford Thornton) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:46:12 -0500 Subject: {news} Drug Policy for the 21st Century--Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 9:00-4:30-Alumni Hall of the Student Center--Central Connecticut State University Message-ID: This is the final notice for this conference. The url below has the registration form as well as the schedule. It is free and open to the public. Drug Policy for the 21st Century Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 9:00-4:30 In Alumni Hall of the Student Center Central Connecticut State University http://www.ccsu.edu/imrp/dp21/information.htm Efficacy PO Box 1234 860 657 8438 Hartford, CT 06143 efficacy at msn.com www.Efficacy-online.org "THE DRUG WAR IS MEANT TO BE WAGED NOT WON" Working to end race and class drug war injustice, Efficacy is a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1997. Your gifts and donations are tax deductible -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Fri Jan 23 13:07:56 2009 From: efficacy at msn.com (Clifford Thornton) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:07:56 -0500 Subject: {news} Video: Feds threaten El Paso, Texas city council for discussing drug legalization Message-ID: Listen to this powerful video of the crisis that is now facing us. "A politicians' stance on the the drug war is a true test of the their character or lack thereof".---Clifford Wallace Thornton, Jr. https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/ssdp/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=4454&t=ElPasoDonate.dwt Efficacy PO Box 1234 860 657 8438 Hartford, CT 06143 efficacy at msn.com www.Efficacy-online.org "THE DRUG WAR IS MEANT TO BE WAGED NOT WON" Working to end race and class drug war injustice, Efficacy is a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1997. Your gifts and donations are tax deductible -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Sat Jan 24 18:17:19 2009 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:17:19 -0500 Subject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Message-ID: <20090124231713.FBUT4139.eastrmmtao105.cox.net@eastrmimpo01.cox.net> Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Location: Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT 06480 Facilitator: To Be Determined A. Preliminaries: 1. (1 minute): Introductions of voting/non-voting attendees; chapters; if quorum was met; timekeeper; ground rules. 2. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight?s proposed agenda, any deletions or additions. 3. (2-4 minutes): Review and approval of minutes of 12-30-09 SCC meeting. 4. (2 minutes): Review and acceptance of the minutes of the 1-19-09 EC meeting. 5. (2-4 minutes): Treasurer?s report from treasurer: Christopher Reilly. B. Any proposals/referendums by chapters, committee. C. Reports: 1. (10-15 minutes): GPUS reports from: a) Cliff Thornton, National Co-chairperson of the GPUS; b) CTGP representatives: Tim McKee and Charlie Pillsbury; c) National Committee Members: Steve Fournier, Richard Duffee and S. Michael DeRosa. 2. (20 minutes): CTGP 1-21-09 meeting with CT State Legislative Government and Election Committee Co-chairpersons. 3. (10 minutes): Update regarding CTGP lawsuit with the ACLU against the State of CT regarding the 2005 State of CT Campaign Finance Reform Laws. Report from Steve Fournier. 4. (15 minutes): CTGP concerns regarding the Elections Department of the CT. Secretary of State during the 11-08 election: a) votes not counted for write-in candidates for president; b) voting problems found by independent election auditors but not by the Secretary of State. 5. (5-10minutes): CTGP literature. 6. (5-10 minutes): Fundraising Dinner for CTGP: at 6pm on Tuesday, 2-17-09 at the French Social Circle, 373 Main Street, East Hartford. $15 for spaghetti dinner, cash bar, trivia games and door prizes. 7. (5-10 minutes): CTGP potential goals for 2009: a) legislative goals for petitioning; b) electric rates; c) universal health care. 8. (5 minutes): Authorization of money to get the state-wide list of registered Green Party voters. 9. (2-5 minutes, each): Chapter reports. 10. (2-5 minutes): CTGP Road Show at 7Pm on Wednesday, 1-28-09 at Wrench in the Works, 861 Main Street, Willimantic, CT. 11. Date and place for the 2-24-09, Tuesday SCC meeting. Date, place and time of next EC meeting in 1-09: to be determined. 12. Any additions Green Party Key Values: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and gender No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13/1912 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 6:54 PM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at mail.com Sun Jan 25 14:49:21 2009 From: timmckee at mail.com (Tim McKee) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:49:21 -0500 Subject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Message-ID: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> I invite all people who serve on ANY National Committees (on any way) to submit any reports and news about these committee to either the News Listserve or in writing to the State Central Committee meeting on Tuesday night. We should get into the habit of telling each other what is going on and the actions by these committees. if you have questions please ask these people who are on the committee to also keep us informed. IF YOU ARE ON THESE COMMITTEES, and have questions, problems or any anything at all we should be aware of please let the Co- Chairs or others of your concerns. best wishes,Tim McKeenational committee ----- Original Message ----- From: "B Barry" To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Cc: "'Phoebe Godfrey'" , phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu Subject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:17:19 -0500 Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Location: Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT 06480 Facilitator: To Be Determined A. Preliminaries: 1. (1 minute): Introductions of voting/non-voting attendees; chapters; if quorum was met; timekeeper; ground rules. 2. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight?s proposed agenda, any deletions or additions. 3. (2-4 minutes): Review and approval of minutes of 12-30-09 SCC meeting. 4. (2 minutes): Review and acceptance of the minutes of the 1-19-09 EC meeting. 5. (2-4 minutes): Treasurer?s report from treasurer: Christopher Reilly. B. Any proposals/referendums by chapters, committee. C. Reports: 1. (10-15 minutes): GPUS reports from: a) Cliff Thornton, National Co-chairperson of the GPUS; b) CTGP representatives: Tim McKee and Charlie Pillsbury; c) National Committee Members: Steve Fournier, Richard Duffee and S. Michael DeRosa. 2. (20 minutes): CTGP 1-21-09 meeting with CT State Legislative Government and Election Committee Co-chairpersons. 3. (10 minutes): Update regarding CTGP lawsuit with the ACLU against the State of CT regarding the 2005 State of CT Campaign Finance Reform Laws. Report from Steve Fournier. 4. (15 minutes): CTGP concerns regarding the Elections Department of the CT. Secretary of State during the 11-08 election: a) votes not counted for write-in candidates for president; b) voting problems found by independent election auditors but not by the Secretary of State. 5. (5-10minutes): CTGP literature. 6. (5-10 minutes): Fundraising Dinner for CTGP: at 6pm on Tuesday, 2-17-09 at the French Social Circle, 373 Main Street, East Hartford. $15 for spaghetti dinner, cash bar, trivia games and door prizes. 7. (5-10 minutes): CTGP potential goals for 2009: a) legislative goals for petitioning; b) electric rates; c) universal health care. 8. (5 minutes): Authorization of money to get the state-wide list of registered Green Party voters. 9. (2-5 minutes, each): Chapter reports. 10. (2-5 minutes): CTGP Road Show at 7Pm on Wednesday, 1-28-09 at Wrench in the Works, 861 Main Street, Willimantic, CT. 11. Date and place for the 2-24-09, Tuesday SCC meeting. Date, place and time of next EC meeting in 1-09: to be determined. 12. Any additions Green Party Key Values: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and gender No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13/1912 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 6:54 PM To be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org ****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From phoebe.godfrey at uconn.edu Sun Jan 25 16:09:03 2009 From: phoebe.godfrey at uconn.edu (Godfrey, Phoebe) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:09:03 -0500 Subject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center References: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> Message-ID: Hi ALl- I know I haven't been to any meetings but just letting you know I have class on Tues. nights..I will be at the road show in Willi on wed. thanks phoebe Phoebe C. Godfrey, Ph.D. Assistant Professor-in-Residence Department of Sociology University of Connecticut Manchester Hall 344 Mansfield Road Unit 2068 Storrs, CT 06269-2068 (860)486-4279 -----Original Message----- From: Tim McKee [mailto:timmckee at mail.com] Sent: Sun 1/25/2009 2:49 PM To: B Barry; ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Cc: Godfrey, Phoebe; phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu Subject: Re: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center I invite all people who serve on ANY National Committees (on any way) to submit any reports and news about these committee to either the News Listserve or in writing to the State Central Committee meeting on Tuesday night. We should get into the habit of telling each other what is going on and the actions by these committees. if you have questions please ask these people who are on the committee to also keep us informed. IF YOU ARE ON THESE COMMITTEES, and have questions, problems or any anything at all we should be aware of please let the Co- Chairs or others of your concerns. best wishes,Tim McKeenational committee ----- Original Message ----- From: "B Barry" To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Cc: "'Phoebe Godfrey'" , phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu Subject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:17:19 -0500 Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Location: Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT 06480 Facilitator: To Be Determined A. Preliminaries: 1. (1 minute): Introductions of voting/non-voting attendees; chapters; if quorum was met; timekeeper; ground rules. 2. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight's proposed agenda, any deletions or additions. 3. (2-4 minutes): Review and approval of minutes of 12-30-09 SCC meeting. 4. (2 minutes): Review and acceptance of the minutes of the 1-19-09 EC meeting. 5. (2-4 minutes): Treasurer's report from treasurer: Christopher Reilly. B. Any proposals/referendums by chapters, committee. C. Reports: 1. (10-15 minutes): GPUS reports from: a) Cliff Thornton, National Co-chairperson of the GPUS; b) CTGP representatives: Tim McKee and Charlie Pillsbury; c) National Committee Members: Steve Fournier, Richard Duffee and S. Michael DeRosa. 2. (20 minutes): CTGP 1-21-09 meeting with CT State Legislative Government and Election Committee Co-chairpersons. 3. (10 minutes): Update regarding CTGP lawsuit with the ACLU against the State of CT regarding the 2005 State of CT Campaign Finance Reform Laws. Report from Steve Fournier. 4. (15 minutes): CTGP concerns regarding the Elections Department of the CT. Secretary of State during the 11-08 election: a) votes not counted for write-in candidates for president; b) voting problems found by independent election auditors but not by the Secretary of State. 5. (5-10minutes): CTGP literature. 6. (5-10 minutes): Fundraising Dinner for CTGP: at 6pm on Tuesday, 2-17-09 at the French Social Circle, 373 Main Street, East Hartford. $15 for spaghetti dinner, cash bar, trivia games and door prizes. 7. (5-10 minutes): CTGP potential goals for 2009: a) legislative goals for petitioning; b) electric rates; c) universal health care. 8. (5 minutes): Authorization of money to get the state-wide list of registered Green Party voters. 9. (2-5 minutes, each): Chapter reports. 10. (2-5 minutes): CTGP Road Show at 7Pm on Wednesday, 1-28-09 at Wrench in the Works, 861 Main Street, Willimantic, CT. 11. Date and place for the 2-24-09, Tuesday SCC meeting. Date, place and time of next EC meeting in 1-09: to be determined. 12. Any additions Green Party Key Values: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and gender No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13/1912 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 6:54 PM To be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org ****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com From chapillsbury at igc.org Sun Jan 25 20:59:01 2009 From: chapillsbury at igc.org (Charlie Pillsbury) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:59:01 -0500 Subject: {news} report from the GPUS Dispute Resolution Committee In-Reply-To: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> References: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> Message-ID: <004001c97f59$aa9554e0$ffbffea0$@org> Tim/CTGP: I currently have church council meetings on the last Tuesday of the month, which conflict with CTGP meetings. But, I can report that as co-chair of the GPUS Dispute Resolution Committee, I've been facilitating about one GPUS Steering Committee call per month (I was originally recruited by Cliff Thornton to help the SC in this way). Otherwise, the DRC works on conflicts that are brought to its attention. In this way, we've been addressing (not always resolving) about one issue every 3-4 months, so the demand for our services is not great. As an added note, David Eliscu continues to serve on the GPUS DRC, and my co-chair is Alison Duncan from the NYGP. Charlie 203-640-3889 chapillsbury at igc.org From: ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org [mailto:ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org] On Behalf Of Tim McKee Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 2:49 PM To: B Barry; ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Cc: 'Phoebe Godfrey'; phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu Subject: Re: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center I invite all people who serve on ANY National Committees (on any way) to submit any reports and news about these committee to either the News Listserve or in writing to the State Central Committee meeting on Tuesday night. We should get into the habit of telling each other what is going on and the actions by these committees. if you have questions please ask these people who are on the committee to also keep us informed. IF YOU ARE ON THESE COMMITTEES, and have questions, problems or any anything at all we should be aware of please let the Co- Chairs or others of your concerns. best wishes, Tim McKee national committee -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Mon Jan 26 11:24:35 2009 From: efficacy at msn.com (Clifford Thornton) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:24:35 -0500 Subject: {news} US CT: State Budget Deficit May Aid Marijuana Reform Effort Message-ID: Newshawk: JimmyG Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 Source: Hartford Courant (CT) Copyright: 2009 The Hartford Courant Contact: http://www.courant.com/about/custom/thc/thc-letters,0,86431.customform Website: http://www.courant.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/183 Author: Daniela Altimari Cited: A Better Way Foundation http://www.abwf-ct.org/ Cited: Efficacy http://www.efficacy-online.org/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) STATE BUDGET DEFICIT MAY AID MARIJUANA REFORM EFFORT Two prominent lawmakers pushing for reform of the state's marijuana laws have a potent new ally: the budget deficit. Sen. Toni Harp, chairwoman of the powerful appropriations committee, and Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney hope economics will succeed where other arguments have failed in convincing their colleagues that the costs of prosecuting and punishing pot smokers is an expense Connecticut can no longer afford. "We've got to take a strong look at what we want to pay for as a state," said Harp, D- New Haven, who with Looney is co-sponsoring a bill that would punish low-level marijuana users with a fine, not a criminal charge. "To waste our resources on this small problem is not a good use of the people's money." No one is proposing that marijuana be legalized, but Harp and Looney want to see possession of small amounts - 1 ounce or less - decriminalized, just as it was in Massachusetts in November. If the bill is approved, offenders would be given tickets and assessed fines instead of facing criminal penalties. Getting caught with a joint would be akin to getting nabbed for speeding. "The experience in Massachusetts is indicative that the public may be ahead of elected officials in this one," said Looney, D-New Haven. A Harvard study found that Massachusetts police spend about $30 million a year on arresting and investigating low-level marijuana users. Connecticut legislators also will consider a measure that would reduce the size of drug-free school zones. Under state law, any drug activity is subject to harsher criminal penalties if it takes place within 1,500 feet of a school, housing project or day-care center. Critics say such laws unfairly discriminate against residents of cities and densely populated suburbs. Such steps, though small in scale, represent a new focus in the drug war. Calls for tougher penalties have traditionally dominated the conversation while the case for less restrictive laws was rooted in libertarian philosophy or concerns about racial bias. "In the past, it was more of a racial justice issue," said LaResse Harvey, policy director for the Hartford-based A Better Way Foundation, which advocates treatment instead of incarceration for drug offenders. "This year, it's a fiscal issue." "The economic crisis is a real opportunity for drug reform," added Clifford Thornton, president of Efficacy, a nonprofit group dedicated to solving social problems. "The costs are astronomical." Calculating those costs can be difficult. According to a report produced in August by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Research, there were about 10,000 prosecutions in 2007 for possession of controlled substances, including less than 4 ounces of marijuana. About 35 percent of the cases resulted in convictions. First-time offenders face up to a year in prison, as much as a $1,000 fine or both; subsequent offenses can result in up to five years in prison, a fine of as much as $3,000 or both. But critics say there's more at stake than money. "We're starting down a slippery slope," said Anthony Salvatore, police chief in Cromwell and legislative liaison for the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. "If they're looking to legalize marijuana, they should come out with that . and we can have a debate about that." Twenty-two states have passed some form of marijuana decriminalization. Among the most recent is Massachusetts, where instead of criminal penalties, offenders are assessed a civil fine of $100. "We've been trying to deal with drug abuse for 30 years now by using our prison system, and it does not seem to be very effective when it comes to low-level drug use," said state Rep. Michael Lawlor, D- East Haven, chairman of the legislature's judiciary committee. In fact, Connecticut legislators have taken a number of steps through the years to find more appropriate ways to punish small-scale pot offenders, Lawlor said. The reality, he said, is that few people charged with possession of small amounts of marijuana wind up in prison. Many are sent to community court, where they are required to perform public service and submit to regular drug tests. "We have drug court, we have diversionary programs, we have community court," Lawlor said. "For at least 10 years in Connecticut ... most thoughtful legislators in both parties have understood it's important to shift the focus for nonviolent crimes from prison to accountability, plus rehabilitation." But even community court costs money. Then there's the cost of investigating all those low-level marijuana cases. "We still have to pay the cop to write that report. We still have to pay to adjudicate the case," said Lorenzo Jones, executive director of A Better Way. "I would rather see local law enforcement spend their resources on unsolved crimes or crimes against persons." Anything that eases the pressures on an already burdened court system is a plus, Harp said. Police, prosecutors, public defenders and probation officers ought to spend their time focusing on violent criminals and drug dealers, she said. Harp said she hopes the issue will gain support at the legislature, although it likely will face a hurdle with Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who two years ago vetoed a medical marijuana bill. "We've looked at this issue many different ways over the years," Harp said. "By and large, most people agree that these low-level marijuana users are not criminals who are selling it. ... My feeling as appropriations chair is that we just can't afford [criminal penalties] anymore." Efficacy is sponsoring a forum on drug policy Feb. 4 at Central Connecticut State University. Speakers include state legislators, academics and activists. Efficacy PO Box 1234 860 657 8438 Hartford, CT 06143 efficacy at msn.com www.Efficacy-online.org "THE DRUG WAR IS MEANT TO BE WAGED NOT WON" Working to end race and class drug war injustice, Efficacy is a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1997. Your gifts and donations are tax deductible -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Mon Jan 26 12:44:48 2009 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:44:48 -0500 Subject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting atPortland Senior Center References: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> Message-ID: Dear CT Greens, RE: The International Committee In the past month, the main topic of concern among IC members has been the Israeli assault on Gaza, eliciting lots of discussion and action including: sending a letter to the Greek Greens (with whom we have no personal contact as yet) encouraging them to protest the use of their country to ship arms to Israel; and ideas about organizing GP efforts in the BDS campaign against Israel which GPUS endorsed in response to a call from Palestinian civil society. http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2005_11_28.shtml Also, as a regular part of the IC's mission, we helped draft two GPUS press releases on the situation: Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely to resume . Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely to resume Finally, we are about to consider a draft statement on the conflict to circulate among other Green parties for endorsement, about which I or the other CT reps to the IC will keep you posted. Justine McCabe Co-Chair, International Committee, GPUS ----- Original Message ----- From: Tim McKee To: B Barry ; ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Cc: 'Phoebe Godfrey' ; phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 2:49 PM Subject: Re: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting atPortland Senior Center Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I invite all people who serve on ANY National Committees (on any way) to submit any reports and news about these committee to either the News Listserve or in writing to the State Central Committee meeting on Tuesday night. We should get into the habit of telling each other what is going on and the actions by these committees. if you have questions please ask these people who are on the committee to also keep us informed. IF YOU ARE ON THESE COMMITTEES, and have questions, problems or any anything at all we should be aware of please let the Co- Chairs or others of your concerns. best wishes, Tim McKee national committee ----- Original Message ----- From: "B Barry" To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Cc: "'Phoebe Godfrey'" , phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu Subject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:17:19 -0500 Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Location: Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT 06480 Facilitator: To Be Determined A. Preliminaries: 1. (1 minute): Introductions of voting/non-voting attendees; chapters; if quorum was met; timekeeper; ground rules. 2. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight's proposed agenda, any deletions or additions. 3. (2-4 minutes): Review and approval of minutes of 12-30-09 SCC meeting. 4. (2 minutes): Review and acceptance of the minutes of the 1-19-09 EC meeting. 5. (2-4 minutes): Treasurer's report from treasurer: Christopher Reilly. B. Any proposals/referendums by chapters, committee. C. Reports: 1. (10-15 minutes): GPUS reports from: a) Cliff Thornton, National Co-chairperson of the GPUS; b) CTGP representatives: Tim McKee and Charlie Pillsbury; c) National Committee Members: Steve Fournier, Richard Duffee and S. Michael DeRosa. 2. (20 minutes): CTGP 1-21-09 meeting with CT State Legislative Government and Election Committee Co-chairpersons. 3. (10 minutes): Update regarding CTGP lawsuit with the ACLU against the State of CT regarding the 2005 State of CT Campaign Finance Reform Laws. Report from Steve Fournier. 4. (15 minutes): CTGP concerns regarding the Elections Department of the CT. Secretary of State during the 11-08 election: a) votes not counted for write-in candidates for president; b) voting problems found by independent election auditors but not by the Secretary of State. 5. (5-10minutes): CTGP literature. 6. (5-10 minutes): Fundraising Dinner for CTGP: at 6pm on Tuesday, 2-17-09 at the French Social Circle, 373 Main Street, East Hartford. $15 for spaghetti dinner, cash bar, trivia games and door prizes. 7. (5-10 minutes): CTGP potential goals for 2009: a) legislative goals for petitioning; b) electric rates; c) universal health care. 8. (5 minutes): Authorization of money to get the state-wide list of registered Green Party voters. 9. (2-5 minutes, each): Chapter reports. 10. (2-5 minutes): CTGP Road Show at 7Pm on Wednesday, 1-28-09 at Wrench in the Works, 861 Main Street, Willimantic, CT. 11. Date and place for the 2-24-09, Tuesday SCC meeting. Date, place and time of next EC meeting in 1-09: to be determined. 12. Any additions Green Party Key Values: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and gender No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13/1912 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 6:54 PM To be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org ****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13/1914 - Release Date: 1/24/2009 8:40 PM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at mail.com Mon Jan 26 13:21:08 2009 From: timmckee at mail.com (Tim McKee) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:21:08 -0500 Subject: {news} From Cynthia McKinney: Mr. President, Give Us a Clean Break from War" Message-ID: <20090126182108.EB54E105CE@ws1-3.us4.outblaze.com> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brent McMillan" To: "national comm affairs" Subject: [usgp-dx] From Cynthia McKinney: Mr. President, Give Us a Clean Break from War" Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:01:08 -0500 Cynthia McKinney Statement on Obama Actions Thus Far re Gaza "Mr. President: Give Us a Clean Break from War" In a message to President Obama today, former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney wrote: "It is time that the United States negotiate in good faith with Hamas, the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. It is also time that the U.S. government tell Israel to release the Hamas Parliamentarians it illegally arrested. President Obama, please say something about Gaza. You have been roundly condemned for your continued silence in the face of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza. Silence is complicity. Not one more bomb for Israel." Israeli action in Gaza has outraged the world. Starting with Israel's inhumane blockade of Gaza when it didn't like the 2006 election results that put Hamas officially into power. In September 2007, Israel declared Gaza an "enemy entity." Of course, Israeli efforts to isolate the Gaza Strip can be traced back to Ariel Sharon as early as 2005. In carrying out its military Operation Cast Lead, Israel not only committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, it also carried out a long-standing goal of Gaza isolation. The President's continued silence on Gaza and the Palestinian right of self-determination is unacceptable. I would like to commend President Obama for recognizing that peace is the imperative and that the United States can play a constructive role in its attainment. However, placing a phone call to an irrelevant "leader" in an attempt to revive his political standing is not a route to peace: it is a journey down the same road that we're already on, that is massacres, genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture--all with U.S. weapons, paid for by U.S. taxpayers. The President must call the elected representatives of the Palestinian people and that means dealing with Hamas. President Obama has already spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. George Mitchell, the President's Middle East Envoy, is reportedly scheduled to visit the region, but is expected to meet only with Egyptian, Israeli, Saudi, and Jordanian leaders, and the West Bank's Abbas. Unfortunately, despite worldwide revulsion and United Nations outrage at Israeli actions in Gaza, Gaza has not been reported to be one of the Presidential Envoy's destinations. Even worse, one of the first officials that Obama called on his first day in office was Palestinian Mahmood Abbas. Abbas, however, is no longer President, heading a government that has no opportunity to govern, from a state that exists only as a construct not made by the Palestinian people. For the United States to embark upon the path of peace, it must recognize and act on the fact that Mahmood Abbas is now irrelevant. I believe that the call to Abbas occurred because of pressure on President Obama from outraged activists around the country and around the world calling for him to do something. But Abbas is irrelevant if the goal is peace. If the goal, however, is to appear to be doing something while all the time doing nothing but allowing the violence of U.S.-sponsored military action to spread including saber rattling against Syria and Iran, then the President is on the right path. The American people voted for change and peace. President Obama's current path will produce neither. I have implored President Obama to say something about Gaza. He has been roundly condemned for his continued silence in the face of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza. Silence in the face of such criminal behavior is complicity. President Obama must urgently place a call to the elected government of the Palestinian people. President Obama can send a strong message to the warmongers inside his own party and present them "a clean break" from war. I encourage him to do so. We will not be fooled by actions that have the appearance of putting us on a path for peace, but that are public relations projects that buy time for more war. To activists and human rights lawyers around the world I say: Now is not the time to let up. We must be unrelenting in our pressure for justice and recognition of the rights of all peoples embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Those rights include the right not to be occupied. And the right to resist occupation. This is the embodiment of self-determination. And the Palestinian people are holders of these rights. It is time that the United States negotiate in good faith with Hamas, because it is the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. It is also time that the U.S. government tell Israel to release the Hamas Parliamentarians it illegally arrested. While the United States Government spends precious resources to imprison Palestinians in the United States who attempted to ameliorate the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, I will attempt another trip to Gaza to assess the depth of the worsened humanitarian catastrophe now there. I have repeatedly called on the President to ask for and the Congress to vote not one more bomb, not one more dime for the Israeli war machine. # # # # _______________________________________________ Natlcomaffairs mailing list To send a message to the list, write to: Natlcomaffairs at green.gpus.org To unsubscribe or change your list options, go to: http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/natlcomaffairs You must know your password to do this. If you can't figure out how to unsubscribe, as a last resort only, send a message OFF LIST to steveh at olypen.com If your state delegation changes, please see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/documents/delegate_change.html To report violations of listserv protocol, write to forummanagers at lists.gp-us.org For other information about the National Committee, see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/ ****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From amyvasnunes at hotmail.com Mon Jan 26 15:09:59 2009 From: amyvasnunes at hotmail.com (Amy Vas Nunes) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:09:59 -0500 Subject: {news} USWGP and IC committee reports per McKee request Portland Senior Center In-Reply-To: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> References: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> Message-ID: This message was requested by McKey yet he censored it to CTGP list serve. I was legally elected to these committees as a balance and have a Civil Free speech right to give my report Check my sourceslisted at end of email. McKey has no right or athority to censor list serve reports From: amyvasnunes at hotmail.comTo: timmckee at mail.comSubject: USWGP and IC committee reports per McKee request Portland Senior CenterDate: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:04:10 -0500 I think there are open slots on Platform for more CT GP people and we need to be reapproved ALL comittee members. I would hope they would be asked to attend SCC IN PERSON and sernd in FULL reports and or questioned by phone and email by ANY CTGP members who wish. I was appointed to the USGP International Committee and the Platform committees about a year ago by SCC and get all emails to these committees. I have not posted on either list but have emailed people on these committees for information. 1}Platform-There are not enough active people on Platform to deal with their work and various people have come and gone.Platform Committee rules state all submitted platform must be approved before submission by State of origin SCC. The committee assumes this has been done and does not check with submitter or State SCC. Individual submissions are not "allowed" Last convention Drug Policy language was submitted by Cliff Thorton without CTGP awareness or the SCC approvel per Platform rules. I had no qualms with content just process. In 2004 and 2008 Mid East Platform language co written by Justine McCabe{ as told me per IC members and Platform coch} This was submitted by a D.C. IC member both times and voted up by Georgia GP with dissenting votes. CTGP was circumvented in tjis process and never informed McCabe had written any Platform,SCC did not approve either submission. The language is very one sided.2} Justine McCabe has been on IC 6 yrs and is about to run for cochair again 2nd term with out informing CTGP either time. She has never in 6yrs come to report to SCC or written quarterly reports on her work.,writtings . editorials or visits to meetings Worldwide in our name often as a speaker. I have tried to come to SCC and have come up until I was told not to drive by eye Dr and wrecked car about 6>9 mos ago.No one comes from NE except Scott from Montville CTGP only gets some IC mails they are censored by content including bid to run for cochair. Currently the IC wants Isreal tried as War crimminals wants to boycott ALL Isreal trade and wants a Secular Isreali State. There is no mention of two State solution or rockets in Isreal or Hamas using civuiilian shields, suicide bombers or War resistance in Isreal or by their Army. I feel this is all a one sided views that does not promote an equal Peace. If any one doubts these facts herein please refer to GPUS Platform., archives and Georgia GP votes. Richard Duffee is on IC and gets all that email too. Amy From: timmckee at mail.comTo: roseberry3 at cox.net; ctgp-news at ml.greens.orgDate: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:49:21 -0500Subject: Re: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior CenterCC: phoebe.godfrey at uconn.edu; phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu I invite all people who serve on ANY National Committees (on any way) to submit any reports and news about these committee to either the News Listserve or in writing to the State Central Committee meeting on Tuesday night. We should get into the habit of telling each other what is going on and the actions by these committees. if you have questions please ask these people who are on the committee to also keep us informed. IF YOU ARE ON THESE COMMITTEES, and have questions, problems or any anything at all we should be aware of please let the Co- Chairs or others of your concerns. best wishes, Tim McKee national committee ----- Original Message -----From: "B Barry" To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.orgCc: "'Phoebe Godfrey'" , phoebegodfrey at uconn.eduSubject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior CenterDate: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:17:19 -0500Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUShttp://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/to unsubscribe click heremailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Location: Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT 06480 Facilitator: To Be Determined A. Preliminaries: 1. (1 minute): Introductions of voting/non-voting attendees; chapters; if quorum was met; timekeeper; ground rules. 2. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight?s proposed agenda, any deletions or additions. 3. (2-4 minutes): Review and approval of minutes of 12-30-09 SCC meeting. 4. (2 minutes): Review and acceptance of the minutes of the 1-19-09 EC meeting. 5. (2-4 minutes): Treasurer?s report from treasurer: Christopher Reilly. B. Any proposals/referendums by chapters, committee. C. Reports: 1. (10-15 minutes): GPUS reports from: a) Cliff Thornton, National Co-chairperson of the GPUS; b) CTGP representatives: Tim McKee and Charlie Pillsbury; c) National Committee Members: Steve Fournier, Richard Duffee and S. Michael DeRosa. 2. (20 minutes): CTGP 1-21-09 meeting with CT State Legislative Government and Election Committee Co-chairpersons. 3. (10 minutes): Update regarding CTGP lawsuit with the ACLU against the State of CT regarding the 2005 State of CT Campaign Finance Reform Laws. Report from Steve Fournier. 4. (15 minutes): CTGP concerns regarding the Elections Department of the CT. Secretary of State during the 11-08 election: a) votes not counted for write-in candidates for president; b) voting problems found by independent election auditors but not by the Secretary of State. 5. (5-10minutes): CTGP literature. 6. (5-10 minutes): Fundraising Dinner for CTGP: at 6pm on Tuesday, 2-17-09 at the French Social Circle, 373 Main Street, East Hartford. $15 for spaghetti dinner, cash bar, trivia games and door prizes. 7. (5-10 minutes): CTGP potential goals for 2009: a) legislative goals for petitioning; b) electric rates; c) universal health care. 8. (5 minutes): Authorization of money to get the state-wide list of registered Green Party voters. 9. (2-5 minutes, each): Chapter reports. 10. (2-5 minutes): CTGP Road Show at 7Pm on Wednesday, 1-28-09 at Wrench in the Works, 861 Main Street, Willimantic, CT. 11. Date and place for the 2-24-09, Tuesday SCC meeting. Date, place and time of next EC meeting in 1-09: to be determined. 12. Any additions Green Party Key Values: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and gender No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG.Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13/1912 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 6:54 PMTo be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org_______________________________________________CTGP-news mailing listCTGP-news at ml.greens.orghttp://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-newsATTENTION!The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members.NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief.CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance.To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com!Choose From 200+ Email AddressesGet a Free Account at www.mail.com! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Tue Jan 27 10:35:18 2009 From: efficacy at msn.com (Clifford Thornton) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:35:18 -0500 Subject: {news} USWGP and IC committee reports per McKee request Portland Senior Center In-Reply-To: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> References: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> Message-ID: I beg to differ about submitting drug policy stuff. I sent this to the list and asked approval. This drug policy stuff was submitted two or three times with no one getting back and no one said in anything when it was in the que. its like the reflections I wrote after the run for Gov. no one seems to remember. What is wrong here? Matter of fact since I have been in the CT Green Party I have seen very few if any documents flowing from the leadership or anyone else. Cliff ----- Original Message ----- From: Amy Vas Nunes To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org ; B Barry ; phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu ; smderosa at erols.com ; smderosa at cox.net Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 3:09 PM Subject: {news} USWGP and IC committee reports per McKee request Portland Senior Center Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org This message was requested by McKey yet he censored it to CTGP list serve. I was legally elected to these committees as a balance and have a Civil Free speech right to give my report Check my sourceslisted at end of email. McKey has no right or athority to censor list serve reports ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: amyvasnunes at hotmail.com To: timmckee at mail.com Subject: USWGP and IC committee reports per McKee request Portland Senior Center Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:04:10 -0500 I think there are open slots on Platform for more CT GP people and we need to be reapproved ALL comittee members. I would hope they would be asked to attend SCC IN PERSON and sernd in FULL reports and or questioned by phone and email by ANY CTGP members who wish. I was appointed to the USGP International Committee and the Platform committees about a year ago by SCC and get all emails to these committees. I have not posted on either list but have emailed people on these committees for information. 1}Platform-There are not enough active people on Platform to deal with their work and various people have come and gone.Platform Committee rules state all submitted platform must be approved before submission by State of origin SCC. The committee assumes this has been done and does not check with submitter or State SCC. Individual submissions are not "allowed" Last convention Drug Policy language was submitted by Cliff Thorton without CTGP awareness or the SCC approvel per Platform rules. I had no qualms with content just process. In 2004 and 2008 Mid East Platform language co written by Justine McCabe{ as told me per IC members and Platform coch} This was submitted by a D.C. IC member both times and voted up by Georgia GP with dissenting votes. CTGP was circumvented in tjis process and never informed McCabe had written any Platform,SCC did not approve either submission. The language is very one sided.2} Justine McCabe has been on IC 6 yrs and is about to run for cochair again 2nd term with out informing CTGP either time. She has never in 6yrs come to report to SCC or written quarterly reports on her work.,writtings . editorials or visits to meetings Worldwide in our name often as a speaker. I have tried to come to SCC and have come up until I was told not to drive by eye Dr and wrecked car about 6>9 mos ago.No one comes from NE except Scott from Montville CTGP only gets some IC mails they are censored by content including bid to run for cochair. Currently the IC wants Isreal tried as War crimminals wants to boycott ALL Isreal trade and wants a Secular Isreali State. There is no mention of two State solution or rockets in Isreal or Hamas using civuiilian shields, suicide bombers or War resistance in Isreal or by their Army. I feel this is all a one sided views that does not promote an equal Peace. If any one doubts these facts herein please refer to GPUS Platform., archives and Georgia GP votes. Richard Duffee is on IC and gets all that email too. Amy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: timmckee at mail.com To: roseberry3 at cox.net; ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:49:21 -0500 Subject: Re: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center CC: phoebe.godfrey at uconn.edu; phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu I invite all people who serve on ANY National Committees (on any way) to submit any reports and news about these committee to either the News Listserve or in writing to the State Central Committee meeting on Tuesday night. We should get into the habit of telling each other what is going on and the actions by these committees. if you have questions please ask these people who are on the committee to also keep us informed. IF YOU ARE ON THESE COMMITTEES, and have questions, problems or any anything at all we should be aware of please let the Co- Chairs or others of your concerns. best wishes, Tim McKee national committee ----- Original Message ----- From: "B Barry" To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Cc: "'Phoebe Godfrey'" , phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu Subject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:17:19 -0500 Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center Location: Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT 06480 Facilitator: To Be Determined A. Preliminaries: 1. (1 minute): Introductions of voting/non-voting attendees; chapters; if quorum was met; timekeeper; ground rules. 2. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight's proposed agenda, any deletions or additions. 3. (2-4 minutes): Review and approval of minutes of 12-30-09 SCC meeting. 4. (2 minutes): Review and acceptance of the minutes of the 1-19-09 EC meeting. 5. (2-4 minutes): Treasurer's report from treasurer: Christopher Reilly. B. Any proposals/referendums by chapters, committee. C. Reports: 1. (10-15 minutes): GPUS reports from: a) Cliff Thornton, National Co-chairperson of the GPUS; b) CTGP representatives: Tim McKee and Charlie Pillsbury; c) National Committee Members: Steve Fournier, Richard Duffee and S. Michael DeRosa. 2. (20 minutes): CTGP 1-21-09 meeting with CT State Legislative Government and Election Committee Co-chairpersons. 3. (10 minutes): Update regarding CTGP lawsuit with the ACLU against the State of CT regarding the 2005 State of CT Campaign Finance Reform Laws. Report from Steve Fournier. 4. (15 minutes): CTGP concerns regarding the Elections Department of the CT. Secretary of State during the 11-08 election: a) votes not counted for write-in candidates for president; b) voting problems found by independent election auditors but not by the Secretary of State. 5. (5-10minutes): CTGP literature. 6. (5-10 minutes): Fundraising Dinner for CTGP: at 6pm on Tuesday, 2-17-09 at the French Social Circle, 373 Main Street, East Hartford. $15 for spaghetti dinner, cash bar, trivia games and door prizes. 7. (5-10 minutes): CTGP potential goals for 2009: a) legislative goals for petitioning; b) electric rates; c) universal health care. 8. (5 minutes): Authorization of money to get the state-wide list of registered Green Party voters. 9. (2-5 minutes, each): Chapter reports. 10. (2-5 minutes): CTGP Road Show at 7Pm on Wednesday, 1-28-09 at Wrench in the Works, 861 Main Street, Willimantic, CT. 11. Date and place for the 2-24-09, Tuesday SCC meeting. Date, place and time of next EC meeting in 1-09: to be determined. 12. Any additions Green Party Key Values: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and gender No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13/1912 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 6:54 PM To be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org ****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com! To be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From smderosa at cox.net Tue Jan 27 11:18:25 2009 From: smderosa at cox.net (Mike DeRosa) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:18:25 -0500 Subject: {news} BAD WEATHER:Maybe We Should Cancel The Road Show In Willimantic And Set Up Another Date Message-ID: <002901c9809a$e1c283b0$a5478b10$@net> Maybe We Should Cancel The Road Show In Willimantic And Set Up Another Date: Please give me some feedback: Here is the Nat. Weather Service Forecast for This WED: Wednesday: Snow and sleet before 2pm, then rain, possibly mixed with sleet. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 36. East wind between 6 and 8 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible. Wednesday Night: Rain before 1am, then a slight chance of snow and sleet between 1am and 3am. Low around 24. North wind between 9 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Sleet does not sound good. Please let me know what you think. Sincerely, Mike Derosa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From smderosa at cox.net Tue Jan 27 13:14:05 2009 From: smderosa at cox.net (Mike DeRosa) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:14:05 -0500 Subject: {news} ROAD SHOW CANCELLED WILL HAVE NEW DATE SOON In-Reply-To: <002901c9809a$e1c283b0$a5478b10$@net> References: <002901c9809a$e1c283b0$a5478b10$@net> Message-ID: <002501c980ab$0a6c6a50$1f453ef0$@net> Greens: After getting feedback from 5 people we have decided that the Green Road Show has Been Cancelled for his WED because of the forecast of snow and sleet on Wed. night. I have a call in to set up a new time for the Road Show in Willimantic CT. The regular SCC meeting is on for tonight. Here is the Nat. Weather Service Forecast for Tues(today): This Afternoon: Partly sunny, with a high near 29. North wind around 7 mph. Tonight: Snow likely, mainly after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 19. Calm wind becoming east between 4 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Hope to see some of you tonight. Sincerely, Mike Derosa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From richard.duffee at gmail.com Tue Jan 27 15:03:21 2009 From: richard.duffee at gmail.com (Richard Duffee) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:03:21 -0500 Subject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior Center In-Reply-To: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> References: <20090125194921.D8C8B326774@ws1-8.us4.outblaze.com> Message-ID: <21f4f7390901271203t48267839n308d5d7dd5a4917d@mail.gmail.com> Tim, Please post this appropriately or tell me what to do so that my posting doesn't disappear or bouncew back to me. Also, could you please change the format?: to read each line I have to move the bar at the bottom of the screen quite far beore I get to the next line. This makes for extremely slow reading. Thanks, Richard USGP-INT report for January, 2009 Between January 1 and January 27, 2009, the International Committee's business has been conducted in a series of 240 email exchanges on its listserve. Most of the activity on the site is the circulation of articles available from other sources, (albeit sources hard to find in the morass of US media garbage), and discussions of the veracity, bias, and significance of various sources and statements. In this brief report I'm trying to give a representative sampling of the activity. If you want specific emails or more exact summaries of particular areas, please ask me. Most active members: Julia Willebrand, Scott McLarty, Aimee Smith, Antony Gronowicz, Tony Affigne, D Alexander Murville, and Romi Elnagar pretty reliably post interesting articles, mostly on US relations with the Middle East. Justine McCabe sends in interesting news from European contacts, primarily about the Middle East. Vivek Ananthan delivers the best reporting on Sri Lanka as well as much on Israel, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Israel & Palestine: On Jan 1, Prof. Francis Boyle has asked us to support the Palestinian invocation of the Uniting for Peace Resolution at the UN. The Palestinian resolution cites breaches of the 4th Geneva Convention. I believe we should demand UN intervention. In the next week a dozen emails essentially supported this position, supplying historical background from such places as Global Research and raising various related issues, such as Obama's position and Democratic positions. First Bill Thomson argued there is a concerted effort to get Congress to vote supporting Israel in the first days of the Administration, then several supporting articles followed. Thomson asked us to call our Reps. US troops are helping Egypt prevent arms smuggling into Gaza. There are requests to write letters to editors and exhortations to march and demonstrate. As Israeli attacks on Gaza escalated, the email discussion increased, so by the second week of January, Gaza was the primary issue. Justine McCabe forwarded an op-ed article of hers, "The Myth of Balance in the Conflict in Gaza." EU: In Europe the German government has been uniquely supportive of Israel and uniquely critical of Hamas and Hizbollah. The German Greens have sided with the German government. French Greens have a resolution opposing the EU's economic offers to Israel as these facilitate the oppression of Palestinians. Justine McCabe passes on efforts to get a general Green boycott and divestment movement in Europe: Greens in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, and France favor this. McKinney: There have been reports (from daily to every 4 days) from and about McKinney, particularly her effort to bring aid to Gaza. The upcoming Feb 1 International Committee election for co-chairs: Justine McCabe and Steve Herrick have been nominated and have accepted the nomination. Tony Gronowicz was nominated but declined and asked for the election of Justine and Steve by acclimation. Marnie (?) and Derek Grigsby have also been nominated. The majority of emails are informational and have not themselves resulted in International Committee decisions or official resolutions. Most inform members of the committee of developing international situations that it may be good for the Committee to act on. I'll give a small sample: Hawaii: There is a report on the "ceded lands" issue in Hawaii: the Green Party is organizing to get the government of Hawaii to recognize that Clinton's 1993 Apology Act acknowledges that the 29% of the Hawaiian land mass that was never legally surrendered to the government by the native population in 1994. The Supreme Court of Hawaii has ruled in favor of Native Hawaiians but the Lingle Administration has appealed to the US Supreme Court. Hawaiian Greens want the state to drop the appeal. EU: The European Green Party agreed to change the date of its meeting to the end of March to avoid conflict with Obama's trip to Europe in the beginning of April. Inauguration: There was information and advice about attending the inauguration, Mexico: The Mexican Green Party favors the death penalty. Sri Lanka: We need to write up an official position on Sri Lanka and get it passed. I am obligated to do this with Vivek Ananthan. India: A Green Party is forming there: see Jan 9 Feinstein email. Puerto Rico: I am obligated to work on a position statement on Puerto Rican independence with Hector Lopez. Please contact me if you want more information. Richard Duffee 2009/1/25 Tim McKee > Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS > http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ > > to unsubscribe click here > mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org > > I invite all people who serve on ANY National Committees (on any way) to > submit any reports and news about these committee to either the News > Listserve or in writing to the State Central Committee meeting on Tuesday > night. > > We should get into the habit of telling each other what is going on and > the actions by these committees. if you have questions please ask these > people who are on the committee to also keep us informed. > > IF YOU ARE ON THESE COMMITTEES, and have questions, problems or any > anything at all we should be aware of please let the Co- Chairs or others of > your concerns. > > > best wishes, > Tim McKee > national committee > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "B Barry" > To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org > Cc: "'Phoebe Godfrey'" , phoebegodfrey at uconn.edu > Subject: {news} Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at > Portland Senior Center > Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:17:19 -0500 > > > Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS > http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ > > to unsubscribe click here > mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org > > Proposed agenda for the 7PM 1-27-09 SCC CTGP meeting at Portland Senior > Center > > Location: Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT 06480 > > Facilitator: To Be Determined > > > > A. Preliminaries: > > 1. (1 minute): Introductions of voting/non-voting attendees; > chapters; if quorum was met; timekeeper; ground rules. > > 2. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight's proposed agenda, any > deletions or additions. > > 3. (2-4 minutes): Review and approval of minutes of 12-30-09 SCC > meeting. > > 4. (2 minutes): Review and acceptance of the minutes of the 1-19-09 EC > meeting. > > 5. (2-4 minutes): Treasurer's report from treasurer: Christopher > Reilly. > > > > B. Any proposals/referendums by chapters, committee. > > > > C. Reports: > > 1. (10-15 minutes): *GPUS reports from*: a) Cliff Thornton, National > Co-chairperson of the GPUS; b) CTGP representatives: Tim McKee and Charlie > Pillsbury; c) National Committee Members: Steve Fournier, Richard Duffee and > S. Michael DeRosa. > > > > 2. (20 minutes): *CTGP 1-21-09 meeting with CT State Legislative > Government and Election Committee Co-chairpersons.* > > > > 3. (10 minutes): Update regarding *CTGP *lawsuit with the *ACLU *against > the State of CT regarding the 2005 State of CT Campaign Finance Reform Laws. > Report from Steve Fournier. > > > > 4. (15 minutes): *CTGP concerns regarding the Elections Department of the > CT. Secretary of State during the 11-08 election:* a) votes not counted > for write-in candidates for president; b) voting problems found by > independent election auditors but not by the Secretary of State. > > > > 5. (5-10minutes): *CTGP literature.* > > * * > > 6. (5-10 minutes): *Fundraising Dinner for CTGP: *at 6pm on Tuesday, > 2-17-09 at the French Social Circle, 373 Main Street, East Hartford. $15 > for spaghetti dinner, cash bar, trivia games and door prizes. > ** > > * * > > 7. (5-10 minutes): *CTGP potential goals for 2009: a) legislative goals > for petitioning; b) electric rates; c) universal health care.* > > * * > > *8. (5 minutes): *Authorization of* money *to get the state-wide list of > registered Green Party voters. > > > > 9. (2-5 minutes, each): *Chapter* reports. > > > > 10. (2-5 minutes): *CTGP Road Show *at 7Pm on Wednesday, 1-28-09 at > Wrench in the Works, 861 Main Street, Willimantic, CT. > > > > 11. Date and place for *the 2-24-09, Tuesday SCC meeting*. Date, place > and time of next EC meeting in 1-09: to be determined. > > > > 12. Any additions > > > > Green Party *Key Values: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots > democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, > decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future > focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and > gender * > > > > > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13/1912 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 > 6:54 PM > > To be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org > _______________________________________________ > CTGP-news mailing list > CTGP-news at ml.greens.org > http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news > > ATTENTION! > The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential > and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have > received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately > by email and delete the original message. The text of this email > is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not > reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which > would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not > constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. > The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of > the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby > leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. > > NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post > confidential messages and always realize that your address can be > faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain > individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail > sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for > purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. > > CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, > please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address > shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential > information. This information is intended only for the use of the > individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed > incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the > intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. > > To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org > > > > ****************************************** > Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 > National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. > BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com > > > -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! > Choose From 200+ Email Addresses > Get a *Free* Account at www.mail.com ! > > > To be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org > _______________________________________________ > CTGP-news mailing list > CTGP-news at ml.greens.org > http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news > > ATTENTION! > The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and > intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this > transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the > original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or > face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or > legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal > legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of > the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is > solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party > hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. > > NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential > messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a > message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible > that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally > assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general > mischief. > > CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please > immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail > transmission may contain confidential information. This information is > intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is > intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if > you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. > > To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Wed Jan 28 01:30:26 2009 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:30:26 -0500 Subject: {news} Justice of the Peace Message-ID: Congratulations to all our new Green Justices of the Peace, sworn in this month for 4-year terms: Hector Lopez, New Canaan Judy Peluso, New Haven Ron Suresha, New London Leif Smith, Redding Matt Loter, Stamford Laurel Freeman, Windham Phoebe Godfrey, Windham (Windham now has FOUR Green JPs!) And a special congratulations to Ken Cornet and Joe Mustich, Green JPs who celebrated their own wedding on November 12, the first day it became legal in Connecticut! I've posted a full list at http://www.ctgreens.org/elected.shtml with links: some JPs have created their own webpages, some are listed on their town websites, and most are listed in the directories of the Justice of the Peace Association (http://www.findajp.com ) or Love Makes a Family (http://www.lmfct.org/site/PageServer?pagename=clergy_civilunion ) If you would like to become a JP, or if you are a JP and would like to advertise your services more widely, I'd be glad to help. Commonly used powers of the Justices of the Peace include: a.. Administration of General Oaths b.. Authority to take the acknowledgement in the conveyance of real estate c.. Acknowledgement of primary and nomination petitions d.. Issuance of a subpoena in a civil action or probate proceeding e.. Performance of marriages f.. Performance of Civil Unions David Bedell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Wed Jan 28 14:21:15 2009 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:21:15 -0500 Subject: {news} Fw: Post-Election Audit Observation Report Message-ID: There's still a lot of room for improvement in CT's election procedures. David Bedell ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 1:49 PM Subject: Post-Election Audit Observation Report Dear Coalition Observer, Today we released the fourth Coalition Observation Report. This one covering the November 2008 post-election audits, based on your observations and the official reports submitted by election officials. The text of the press release follows. The press release, full report, and excerpts are available at http://www.ctelectionaudit.org/?p=40 Without your time and commitment to democracy, nobody but a few election officials in each town would know how the audits were conducted. Thank you, Luther Weeks Luther@ CTVotersCount.org 860-918-2115 **************************************** Press Release **************************************** Connecticut Citizen Election Audit Coalition Connecticut's November 2008 Post-Election Audits Report Large Differences From Optical Scanner Totals Coalition Calls On Legislature To Act Hartford, Connecticut -Today, the Connecticut Citizen Election Audit Coalition released its report on the November 2008 post-election audits. The Coalition noted large differences between reported results by electronic voting equipment and the hand count of ballots by election officials across Connecticut. In some cases as many as twenty-four (24) fewer ballots were counted by hand than recorded by optical scanners. For individual candidate races, vote counts between hand counts and scanner tapes varied by as much as three-hundred-sixty-six (366) votes in one race or as much as 46% in another. Most officials attributed the widespread differences to the inability to count votes accurately by hand. Coalition spokesperson Luther Weeks noted, "Given the variation in the counting procedures used, there is no way to distinguish when officials or machines counted accurately or inaccurately. When differences are dismissed as human counting errors, it is unlikely that an audit would identify an election error or fraud should that occur." >From the report: We conclude, based on our observations and analysis of audit reports submitted to the Secretary of the State that the November post-election audits still do not inspire confidence.Among our greatest concerns are the discrepancies between machine counts and hand-counts reported to the Secretary of the State by several municipalities. In many cases, these discrepancies are not thoroughly and reasonably explained. We believe that the ad-hoc counting procedures used by many municipalities were not sufficient to count ballots accurately and efficiently. Cheryl Dunson, League of Women Voters of Connecticut's Vice President of Public Issues, stated, "We have reorganized our recommendations to the Secretary of the State and the Legislature. Along with improvements to laws, and audit procedures, we recommend that an Independent Audit Board be established." Cheri Quickmire, Executive Director, Connecticut Common Cause said, "Gaps in ballot chain-of-custody, election accounting, and the post-election audits must be addressed to assure integrity and provide confidence to the voters of Connecticut" Tom Swan, Executive Director, Connecticut Citizen Action Group, said "This is our fourth report showing similar weaknesses in the post-election audits. After these reports and five public hearings around the state, it is time for the Legislature to act." Observers came from the membership ranks of the coalition partners -- The League of Women Voters of Connecticut, The Connecticut Citizen Action Group, Common Cause Connecticut, and Connecticut Voters Count. The coalition's reports are available online at: http://www.CTElectionAudit.org ***** From smderosa at cox.net Wed Jan 28 16:12:19 2009 From: smderosa at cox.net (Mike DeRosa) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:12:19 -0500 Subject: {news} Fw: Post-Election Audit Observation Report In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <007001c9818d$1af4c330$50de4990$@net> Greens: The non-counting of our write-in votes for President are not mentioned in this report because write-in votes are not audited under present CT law. Three Greens (Richard Duffee, Scott Deshefy, Mike DeRosa) and a Libertarian officer (Andy Rule) met with the two co-chairs of the Government and Elections committee( a week ago) about changing the law so that write-in votes would be included in the audit. We also presented them with other proposals to make ballot access law fairer (see attachment). We have not heard anything back from them yet, but two other members of the GAE committee are interested in meeting with us next week. If you would like to attend, let me know and you can come and tell them why: All political parties are equal in CT, But some political parties are more equal than others. See attachment for details(See bill 4-Bullet #2) Sincerely, Mike DeRosa -----Original Message----- From: ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org [mailto:ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org] On Behalf Of David Bedell Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:21 PM To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org; ctgp-elections at yahoogroups.com; CTVOTER at yahoogroups.com; RecountTheVotes at yahoogroups.com Subject: {news} Fw: Post-Election Audit Observation Report Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org There's still a lot of room for improvement in CT's election procedures. David Bedell ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 1:49 PM Subject: Post-Election Audit Observation Report Dear Coalition Observer, Today we released the fourth Coalition Observation Report. This one covering the November 2008 post-election audits, based on your observations and the official reports submitted by election officials. The text of the press release follows. The press release, full report, and excerpts are available at http://www.ctelectionaudit.org/?p=40 Without your time and commitment to democracy, nobody but a few election officials in each town would know how the audits were conducted. Thank you, Luther Weeks Luther@ CTVotersCount.org 860-918-2115 **************************************** Press Release **************************************** Connecticut Citizen Election Audit Coalition Connecticut's November 2008 Post-Election Audits Report Large Differences From Optical Scanner Totals Coalition Calls On Legislature To Act Hartford, Connecticut -Today, the Connecticut Citizen Election Audit Coalition released its report on the November 2008 post-election audits. The Coalition noted large differences between reported results by electronic voting equipment and the hand count of ballots by election officials across Connecticut. In some cases as many as twenty-four (24) fewer ballots were counted by hand than recorded by optical scanners. For individual candidate races, vote counts between hand counts and scanner tapes varied by as much as three-hundred-sixty-six (366) votes in one race or as much as 46% in another. Most officials attributed the widespread differences to the inability to count votes accurately by hand. Coalition spokesperson Luther Weeks noted, "Given the variation in the counting procedures used, there is no way to distinguish when officials or machines counted accurately or inaccurately. When differences are dismissed as human counting errors, it is unlikely that an audit would identify an election error or fraud should that occur." >From the report: We conclude, based on our observations and analysis of audit reports submitted to the Secretary of the State that the November post-election audits still do not inspire confidence.Among our greatest concerns are the discrepancies between machine counts and hand-counts reported to the Secretary of the State by several municipalities. In many cases, these discrepancies are not thoroughly and reasonably explained. We believe that the ad-hoc counting procedures used by many municipalities were not sufficient to count ballots accurately and efficiently. Cheryl Dunson, League of Women Voters of Connecticut's Vice President of Public Issues, stated, "We have reorganized our recommendations to the Secretary of the State and the Legislature. Along with improvements to laws, and audit procedures, we recommend that an Independent Audit Board be established." Cheri Quickmire, Executive Director, Connecticut Common Cause said, "Gaps in ballot chain-of-custody, election accounting, and the post-election audits must be addressed to assure integrity and provide confidence to the voters of Connecticut" Tom Swan, Executive Director, Connecticut Citizen Action Group, said "This is our fourth report showing similar weaknesses in the post-election audits. After these reports and five public hearings around the state, it is time for the Legislature to act." Observers came from the membership ranks of the coalition partners -- The League of Women Voters of Connecticut, The Connecticut Citizen Action Group, Common Cause Connecticut, and Connecticut Voters Count. The coalition's reports are available online at: http://www.CTElectionAudit.org ***** To be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Recomendations for changing ballot access laws 2009 Green Party of CT 2.docx Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document Size: 15976 bytes Desc: not available URL: From smderosa at cox.net Wed Jan 28 22:20:47 2009 From: smderosa at cox.net (Mike DeRosa) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:20:47 -0500 Subject: [CTGP-elections] RE: {news} Fw: Post-Election Audit Observation Report In-Reply-To: <007001c9818d$1af4c330$50de4990$@net> References: <007001c9818d$1af4c330$50de4990$@net> Message-ID: <000901c981c0$944084d0$bcc18e70$@net> From: CTGP-elections at yahoogroups.com [mailto:CTGP-elections at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mike DeRosa Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:12 PM To: 'David Bedell'; ctgp-news at ml.greens.org; ctgp-elections at yahoogroups.com; CTVOTER at yahoogroups.com; RecountTheVotes at yahoogroups.com Subject: [CTGP-elections] RE: {news} Fw: Post-Election Audit Observation Report Greens: The non-counting of our write-in votes for President are not mentioned in this report because write-in votes are not audited under present CT law. Three Greens (Richard Duffee, Scott Deshefy, Mike DeRosa) and a Libertarian officer (Andy Rule) met with the two co-chairs of the Government and Elections committee( a week ago) about changing the law so that write-in votes would be included in the audit. We also presented them with other proposals to make ballot access law fairer (see attachment). We have not heard anything back from them yet, but two other members of the GAE committee are interested in meeting with us next week. If you would like to attend, let me know and you can come and tell them why: All political parties are equal in CT, But some political parties are more equal than others. See attachment for details(See bill 4-Bullet #2) Sincerely, Mike DeRosa Here is the attachment, just in case you can't open the above attachment. SUGGESTIONS FOR BALLOT ACCESS BILLS SUBMITTED BY THE GREEN PARTY OF CT TO GOVERNMENT AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE 1/21/09 MIKE DE ROSA 860-919-4042 Bill Number 1 -Reduce the number of signatures required for entry on to the ballot. We suggest that the legislature reduce the number of signatures required for ballot access for state wide office, congressional districts, and for President. Presently the number of raw signatures required for state wide office and president is 7500 valid signatures on 169 separate petition forms (one for each town and city in CT). The real raw signature requirement is really closer to 15,000 signatures because between 40-50% are rejected for various reasons by town and city clerks. We suggest that the legislature reduce the number of required signatures for state wide office to 1000 valid signatures for state wide office and president. We further suggest that the legislature reduce the number of required signatures for U.S. Congress or U.S. Senate to 500 and 1000 respectively. This would apply to all minor parties and all independent candidacies. We suggest that the state legislature reduce petitioning requirements for all other offices from 1% to .5%. Many states in New England and the state of N.J. have similar reduced signature requirements for ballot access. Bill Number 2-All signatures on ballot access petitions should be checked by CT SOTS not city or town officials. We suggest that all signatures be checked by the CT SOTS not by 169 different town clerks and other people in 169 different towns. The present procedure creates 169 standards for what is accepted as a valid signature for ballot access. The SOTS requirement that a voter include their date of birth should make it easier for the SOTS to use computer records to identify and validate names on petitions. Both the Libertarian and the Green Parties of CT have encountered 50% drop off rates in many towns in CT in 2008. These rejection rates are the highest we have ever encountered in 30 years of petitioning. Something unusual happened in 2008 with the petitions and the process of checking those petitions. Bill Number 3-Ballot Access petitions should consist of one petition form for each office not different forms for each town or city Petitions should not be collected on 169 different forms but should be done on one petition form for each office. The CT SOTS requires that the date of birth to be recorded on all petition sheets. The SOTS has a master computer list that includes the dates of birth for all registered voters. This should make it fairly easy for the SOTS office to validate or reject signatures on one sheet. Bill Number 4-Other Important Issues: . Legislation that would require the CT SOTS to post the names of officially recognized write-in candidates at every polling place. . Require that CT SOTS include write-in votes in required audits. . Require that an official appeals process for rejected signatures on petitions be put in place to allow minor parties due process when names are rejected by ballot access officials. . Legislation establishing a system that would allow minor parties a procedure by which they would be able to obtain permanent ballot access without having to get 20% of the vote for Governor or 20% of the registered voters to join their party. . Clarify the nature of Provisional Ballots and how they will be officially recognized. . Create reasonable, fair, and uniform standards for minor parties that will legalize their existence for the purposes of ballot access, registration, and access to the polls. . Require all party voter registration forms to list all "minor parties" by name on registration forms in the same fashion as "major parties" . Study Instant Runoff Voting and Proportional Representation(blue ribbon commission?) -----Original Message----- From: ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org [mailto:ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org ] On Behalf Of David Bedell Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:21 PM To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org ; ctgp-elections at yahoogroups.com ; CTVOTER at yahoogroups.com ; RecountTheVotes at yahoogroups.com Subject: {news} Fw: Post-Election Audit Observation Report Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org There's still a lot of room for improvement in CT's election procedures. David Bedell ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 1:49 PM Subject: Post-Election Audit Observation Report Dear Coalition Observer, Today we released the fourth Coalition Observation Report. This one covering the November 2008 post-election audits, based on your observations and the official reports submitted by election officials. The text of the press release follows. The press release, full report, and excerpts are available at http://www.ctelectionaudit.org/?p=40 Without your time and commitment to democracy, nobody but a few election officials in each town would know how the audits were conducted. Thank you, Luther Weeks Luther@ CTVotersCount.org 860-918-2115 **************************************** Press Release **************************************** Connecticut Citizen Election Audit Coalition Connecticut's November 2008 Post-Election Audits Report Large Differences From Optical Scanner Totals Coalition Calls On Legislature To Act Hartford, Connecticut -Today, the Connecticut Citizen Election Audit Coalition released its report on the November 2008 post-election audits. The Coalition noted large differences between reported results by electronic voting equipment and the hand count of ballots by election officials across Connecticut. In some cases as many as twenty-four (24) fewer ballots were counted by hand than recorded by optical scanners. For individual candidate races, vote counts between hand counts and scanner tapes varied by as much as three-hundred-sixty-six (366) votes in one race or as much as 46% in another. Most officials attributed the widespread differences to the inability to count votes accurately by hand. Coalition spokesperson Luther Weeks noted, "Given the variation in the counting procedures used, there is no way to distinguish when officials or machines counted accurately or inaccurately. When differences are dismissed as human counting errors, it is unlikely that an audit would identify an election error or fraud should that occur." >From the report: We conclude, based on our observations and analysis of audit reports submitted to the Secretary of the State that the November post-election audits still do not inspire confidence.Among our greatest concerns are the discrepancies between machine counts and hand-counts reported to the Secretary of the State by several municipalities. In many cases, these discrepancies are not thoroughly and reasonably explained. We believe that the ad-hoc counting procedures used by many municipalities were not sufficient to count ballots accurately and efficiently. Cheryl Dunson, League of Women Voters of Connecticut's Vice President of Public Issues, stated, "We have reorganized our recommendations to the Secretary of the State and the Legislature. Along with improvements to laws, and audit procedures, we recommend that an Independent Audit Board be established." Cheri Quickmire, Executive Director, Connecticut Common Cause said, "Gaps in ballot chain-of-custody, election accounting, and the post-election audits must be addressed to assure integrity and provide confidence to the voters of Connecticut" Tom Swan, Executive Director, Connecticut Citizen Action Group, said "This is our fourth report showing similar weaknesses in the post-election audits. After these reports and five public hearings around the state, it is time for the Legislature to act." Observers came from the membership ranks of the coalition partners -- The League of Women Voters of Connecticut, The Connecticut Citizen Action Group, Common Cause Connecticut, and Connecticut Voters Count. The coalition's reports are available online at: http://www.CTElectionAudit.org ***** To be removed please mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. 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URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Thu Jan 29 09:01:29 2009 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:01:29 -0500 Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT Green Party of Canada Economic Stimulus Package Message-ID: <169D6942F1CA45509273100C3E76E108@JUSTINE> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Feinstein" To: "GP-US International Committee" Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 3:17 AM Subject: USGP-INT Green Party of Canada Economic Stimulus Package http://www.greenparty.ca/stimulus-package Green Party Economic Stimulus Package Executive Summary The current financial crisis and attendant economic downturn is a grave concern. Nevertheless, it creates, as do all moments of crisis, an opportunity for innovation and creativity. It is clear we must not allow speculative bubbles to threaten the real economy. Real jobs building real things in Canada should be favoured over short-term, speculative and largely imaginary, economic activity, such as, hedge funds, and pyramid schemes. A "made in Canada" policy should apply to all government purchases--military equipment, Coast Guard vessels, etc. Shipping government contracts overseas or down south is unacceptable while thousands of manufacturing jobs are being lost here in Canada. A consensus has emerged among governments around the world that policies aimed to balance budgets will only deepen and protract the economic crisis, and so, many countries are now embracing deficits and government spending. Canada should embrace this new approach, but the pendulum must not be allowed to swing so far as to allow for structural deficits that will keep Canada in a weakened position long-term. The stimulus spending should stay within the International Monetary Fund guideline of 2% of GDP to kick-start the slowing economy. The new economic climate should not be used as an excuse for ideologically driven measures such as those promoted in the November Economic Statement, or to unnecessarily weaken Canada?s environmental regulations and legislation. Canada anticipates much of what will be in President-elect Barak Obama's stimulus package. His call for a Green New Deal has been endorsed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Such a Green New Deal will do more than bail out failed industries and will not just throw money at all of our problems. A Green New Deal will stimulate economic activity while shifting the economy to a more sustainable path. In the Green Economic Stimulus Plan, government spending will be an investment in the future of Canada. Every dollar spent must benefit Canadians today and tomorrow. This Green Economic Plan will create jobs that are sustainable, increase the health and quality of life for future generations, and help create an economy that is resilient against sudden shocks. Guiding Criteria for Economic Stimulus Package 1. Create new jobs and stimulate the economy within Canada, emphasizing local and regional economies; 2. Capitalize on the opportunity to build long-lasting infrastructure; 3. Invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency and help shift Canada's economy for the low-carbon demands of the future; 4. Extend Canada?s Social Safety Net and Provide Tax Relief. Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada Green Party Economic Stimulus Package The Opportunity Before Us The economic crisis that started in the United States has permeated most countries of the globe including Canada. Economic experts tell us it is likely to affect us for at least the next 3 to 5 years-- more if we don't react quickly and intelligently. We face a great challenge, but with every great challenge comes a great opportunity. The Green Party believes this is Canada's opportunity to shift from an economic model based on the unsustainable exploitation of our resources to a sustainable and resilient economic model based on conservation and renewable resources, a model that advances the common good and ensures quality of life for all Canadians. Canada can meet this challenge by investing in innovative solutions that are part of a comprehensive vision for our country - a vision rooted in Canadian values. Responsible budgeting, forward-looking investing, and a concern for those who are least fortunate among us are the principles that guide our economic planning. Therefore, under the Green Economic Stimulus Plan government spending will be an investment in the future of Canada. Every dollar spent must benefit Canadians today and tomorrow. This Green Economic Plan will create jobs that are sustainable, increase the health and quality of life for future generations, and help create an economy that is resilient against sudden shocks. Investing Wisely Although the Conservative government was handed a surplus when it took office, it has managed to create a deficit in a very short time. This government has led Canada back into deficits through irresponsible spending increases and ineffective tax-cuts in an attempt to gain partisan advantage. Canada deserves a more responsible government. Canada deserves a government that plans for the future and budgets accordingly. Just as the Green Party believes in living within our ecological limits, we believe in a government that will operate within fiscal limits. The Green Party is dedicated to balancing the federal budget, but we also understand that the current economic situation requires immediate investment. We are committed, however, to refraining from participating in massive corporate bailouts and we are opposed to drastic measures that would involve swinging between heavy economic intervention and widespread deregulation. The Green Party will reduce government waste, increase efficiency, and provide tax relief. It will also ensure every dollar invested today provides jobs, helps diversify the Canadian economy, and protects our common wealth: the environment. The Green Economic Plan will ensure a better quality of life for all Canadians. Costs and Benefits Canada cannot afford to continue giving out corporate handouts while depleting its resources. It is time to invest in rebuilding resources and industries in a way that leads to a resilient economy. Canada's stimulus spending should stay within the IMF, OECD, G20 and APEC recommendations that governments apply 2% of their GDP to kick-starting the slowing economy. A successful economic stimulus should result in long term benefits and move Canada forward into the low-carbon future. It should help repair our degraded environment to improve the opportunities of future generations and ensure they have access to the resources needed to meet the challenges they will face. It should improve the quality of life of all Canadians and should help redress the inequities faced by First Nations people. The Green Economic Plan will: 1. Create Jobs in a new sustainable economy, ensuring our domestic economy thrives at the local and regional levels throughout Canada 2. Build Sustainable Infrastructure geared to a low-carbon future 3. Invest in renewable energy production and Initiate a Canada Energy Efficiency Plan 4. Advance Education and Technology for a new economy 5. Extend Canada's social safety net to help those most in need 6. Lower Taxes to redress inequities The Green Economic Plan will NOT: 1. Bail out the failed industries 2. Depend mainly on depletion of Canada's primary resources 3. Build more roads 4. Expand the tar sands or its related MacKenzie gas pipeline 5. Continue to hand out corporate subsidies to the oil, gas and nuclear sectors 6. Use deficit financing to entrench an old economy 1. Create Jobs in a New Sustainable Economy Canada anticipates much of what will be in President-elect Barak Obama's stimulus package. His call for a Green New Deal has been endorsed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Such a Green New Deal will do more than bail out failed industries and will not just throw money at all of our problems. A Green New Deal will stimulate economic activity while shifting the economy to a more sustainable path. Our plan for Canada is an immediate economic stimulus package that creates jobs to compensate for the steady loss of the old economy's jobs. To do this there needs to be many small programs and projects delivered at the local community level that can begin in the next few months and be up and fully running by this summer. The Green Party will: 1.1 Support Small Business * Establish a federally funded Small Cities Green Venture Capital Fund to support viable local green business start-ups. 1.2 Increase First Nations Participation in Canada's Economy * Facilitate First Nations participation as partners in projects to create sustainable, long-term economic benefits based on real consultation and accommodation. 1.3 Invest in New Forestry The forest industry is one of Canada's largest employers, operating in over 300 communities and providing nearly 900,000 direct and indirect jobs across the country. Canada needs smart spending and decisive economic policies if we are to make sure our forest industry is able to capitalize on the investments it has already made - modernizing its mills, diversifying its markets, and greening its product. * Extend the EI Work-Sharing Program and extend EI benefits for seasonally unemployed workers * Reform federal tax structures to ensure competitive value-added industries. 1.4 Invest in Agriculture and Local Food Economies Agriculture and local food economies are needed to ensure Canada's food security. With growing concerns over economic and climatic instability, a reliable domestic food supply is essential. Family owned and operated farms of small to medium size constitute the most reliable, high quality and economical food production system. According to a 2006 report by the University of Essex, organic farming in the UK provides 32 per cent more jobs per farm than comparable non-organic farms. Interestingly, the report also concluded that the higher employment observed could not be replicated in non-organic farming through initiatives such as local marketing. Instead, the majority (81 per cent) of total employment on organic farms was created by the organic production system itself. The report estimates that 93,000 new jobs would be created if all farming in the UK were to convert to organic. * Provide $500 million in a fund to farmers to transition to organic agriculture (funded through eliminated the GST exemption for agricultural pesticides) * Provide $50 million for local farmers markets * Provide assistance to family farms so they can supply supermarket chains by supporting companies or co-operatives which will offer warehousing, refrigeration, packaging, marketing and selling to enable small farms to compete with large farms. * Shift government-supported research away from biotechnology and energy-intensive research and development farming and towards research into making organic food production commercially viable. * Invest in wild fisheries and large scale rehabilitation of habitat and spawning rivers. 1.5 Invest in Manufacturing Our generation has the potential to capitalize on the single biggest business opportunity in human history: the shift to a low-carbon economy. Whether this is driven by high energy prices, dwindling oil supplies, or the climate crisis, the country that mobilizes resources to develop and commercialize low carbon products and technologies will survive price shocks and emerge with a thriving economy. Canada can be that country. We can diversify our economy with increased value-added manufacturing. We can increase our ability to compete on the world markets. We can ensure our economy is second to none. The Green Party will stimulate Canadian manufacturing by: * Earmark $1 billion of "bailout money" for the auto industry to retool one or more of the closing auto assembly plants to plants that manufacture hybrid, low emission or electric cars. * Help capitalize establishment of photo voltaic cell, solar hot water and wind turbine manufacturing plants in Canada. * Support new capital investment in updated manufacturing equipment, waste reduction, and the production of biofuel from wood waste and new manufacturing to transition the forest industry into modern value-added industry as opposed to a focus on low value products and raw log exports. 1.6 Arts & Culture have a very high economic multiplier in terms of dollars returned to the economy and jobs created. Arts and Culture also give us a sense of who we are and what our role is in the world. Already in 2003-2004, with an investment of $7.7 billion from three levels of government, the arts and culture sector directly employed 600,000 people and generated $40 billion for the Canadian economy. Further, exports of Canadian cultural products increased by 80% between 1996 and 2005, reaching $2.4 billion, with great potential for further growth. The Green Party will: * Increase funding to all of Canada's Arts and Culture organizations including The Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm Canada, orchestras, theatres and publishers. The goal will be to make increases in this sector commensurate with increases in support over the years for other sectors of the economy such as the auto industry, health care, and the oil and gas sector. * Increasing funding to $300 million for cultural festivals, arts programs and supervised youth amateur sports programs starting in summer 2009 to employ people in the arts and culture field. 2. Build Sustainable Infrastructures geared to a low-carbon future Canada's infrastructure needs urgent attention if we are to reduce GHG, ensure delivery of utility services, protect our water, and clear up our clogged and dangerous highways by improving non-vehicular transport options. Therefore, the Green Party will work with provincial and territorial partners to immediately prioritize investments in infrastructure across the country. The Green Party will: * Address the current infrastructure crisis in First Nations communities, with a particular focus on housing and water systems through the Kelowna Accord * Facilitate First Nations participation as partners in projects to create sustainable, long term economic benefits based on real consultation and accommodation. * Change Canada's tax policy to create a new pool of secure, long term municipal infrastructure funding by allowing municipalities to issue new Municipal Registered Retirement Savings Plans Bonds (MRRSPsBs) which can be held in RRSPs and self-directed RRSPs. * Allocate one cent from GST on an approximate per capita basis to municipal governments for "Green Cities" initiatives, ensuring that the funding is used to reduce sprawl and greenhouse gas emissions, conserve electricity and water, increase densification, expand public transit, and build cycling and walking paths. * Improve rail infrastructure and intermodal connections, increasing joint federal-municipal light rail investments, as well as improving VIA rail service nationwide. Build separate passenger rail lines where needed from coast to coast in addition to the existing freight rail line and install high speed commuter trains between Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa to reduce air travel and assist an efficient workforce. The stimulus incentive for rail will be $1 billion/year for the next three years. * Upgrade the electrical grid so it can accommodate green electricity production. Commit to better east-west connectivity with a Ontario-Manitoba transmission line. * Develop broadband throughout Canada will enable rural Canadians everywhere to prepare for jobs by using the Canadian Virtual University (CVR) so that distance education will become increasingly widespread. 3. Invest in Renewable Energy Production and Initiate a Canada Energy Efficiency Plan The biggest challenge facing our generation is to revitalize our economy in ways that simultaneously combats climate change by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and cutting our greenhouse gas emissions. Countries that improve their energy efficiency and reduce their demand for fossil fuels by utilizing renewable sources of energy will prosper for generations to come. Buildings in Canada currently waste up to 50% of energy in inefficient heating and cooling. Therefore, the Green Party will initiate a Canada Energy Efficiency Plan to coordinate efficiency measures across all provinces, territories, and municipalities, in agreement with the standards established by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). The new administration in Washington plans to invest $15 billion annually over the next decade in renewable energy production. Canada should be investing an additional $1.5 billlion to deploy renewable energy in Canada with the goal of eliminating coal and nuclear generation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Further energy investments must be much more diverse than the traditional mega project approach and be designed to help homeowners, businesses and industry become much more energy efficient and far less polluting. The Canada Energy Efficiency Plan will include: * Establishing a nation-wide program to retrofit all low-income rental housing by 2025. * Provide matching funds to upgrade new and renovated buildings to RAIC standards 60% higher than the 1997 Model National Energy Code as long as verification is provided. * Shifting electricity generation to renewable energy sources by expanding the ecoEnergy Program for Renewable Power to cover all forms of renewable electricity production (with the exception of large scale hydro), providing greater incentives provinces that have established renewable energy standards and /or feed in tarrifs and for northern communities and creating new incentives for industrial co-generation. * For home owners, expanding the present home renovation program by creating a revolving fund to provide loans to pay the full costs of energy retro-fits including insulation, windows, solar hot water, geothermal and other technologies that reduce energy use, incorporate renewable or extremely low emission technologies. The loans are to be repaid based on energy savings, making them in effect no cost to the homeowner. * Providing homeowners with free energy audits performed by qualified auditors. * Creating a national solar roof program to promote the installation of installation on homes across Canada similar to the California and British Columbia programs. 4. Advance Education, Technology and Training for a New Economy An educated citizenry is essential for a healthy economy in the 21st century. This is particularly important now, in a time of economic and environmental change. Our post-secondary educational institutions - universities, colleges, trade schools, etc. - are key to our long-term prosperity. While education is primarily a provincial matter, the federal government can, through earmarked transfer payments, provide educational funding that is needed to meet the challenges we face. The Green Party will invest in training and education for a new economy: * Earmark $200 million to establish additional spaces in technical schools for retraining workers in the installation of solar voltaic systems, geo-exchange home heating and cooling systems, and solar hot water systems and conducting general energy audits and performing minor energy efficiency upgrades. * A new national environmental service program for youth to voluntarily enroll in to receive training and provide 6 months of service in repairing environmental damage, restoring natural habitats (including, for example, salmon habitat), building park and recreation infrastructure. * Invest $250 million in an enhanced student summer jobs programme ($ to businesses as well as non-profit organizations who hire and train students in summer jobs) * Increase to $250 million on-site apprenticeship and coop skills training programs The Green Party will also launch a comprehensive Access to Education Plan that includes: * Increasing funding for a needs-based Canadian National Student Loan and Bursary Program with low interest rates and reasonable repayment schedules. This loan program will replace the Millennium Scholarship Foundation. * Forgiving 50% of a student's federal loan when they complete a degree or certificate program. * Expand the availability of broadband internet services which can be used with the Canadian Virtual University (CVU) and colleges for education and job training throughout Canada. 5. Extend Canada's Social Safety Net to Help those Most in Need * Extend Employment Insurance benefits from 1 year to 2 years contingent on recipient entering new job skills training programme or other education programme. Provide full scholarships to those who have lost their jobs in traditional industries which have a poor chance of being revived to enrol in one of these retraining programs. * When unemployment levels nationally are above 6%, extend EI benefits to start the day after lay-off. * Establish a fund to provide emergency bridging distress loans to help people avoid foreclosure on their mortgages and enable them to restructure their mortgages. * Protection for pension and retirement savings 6. Lower Taxes to redress inequities A responsible federal government will ensure the Canadian economy is stimulated not only through targeted spending, but through targeted tax relief. The Green Party believes it is important to focus not only upon how many taxes are being paid, but also upon what kind of taxes are being paid. It makes sense to lower taxes on things we want - income and employment - and put an end to corporate welfare and big business bailouts. The Green Party will: Lower Taxes * Eliminate personal income taxes below the poverty line $1.9 billion * Reduce EI and CPP Contributions by 33% $16 billion * Introduce Income Splitting for Adults $5 billion End Corporate Welfare * End subsidies to the Mining Sector $36 million * Eliminate subsidies for Fossil Fuels $1.4 billion * Put an end to subsidies for nuclear energy $104 million Revenues lost through these tax cuts will be re-couped through charges placed on carbon emissions. _______________________________________________ usgp-int mailing list usgp-int at gp-us.org http://forum.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/usgp-int -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 12:00 AM From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Thu Jan 29 09:03:03 2009 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:03:03 -0500 Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT MUST READ: Behind the Bloodbath in Gaza: Foiling anotherPalestinian "Peace Offensive" Message-ID: <9F2AAFBA01A047ADABA2021D3F42AB73@JUSTINE> ----- Original Message ----- From: Romi Elnagar To: GREEN PARTY GPUS International Committee IC Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 9:51 PM Subject: USGP-INT MUST READ: Behind the Bloodbath in Gaza: Foiling anotherPalestinian "Peace Offensive" This article by Norman Finkelstein is IMHO one of the best recent articles on what is happening in Gaza. It is quite lengthy, but appears to have a considerable amount of research to back it up. I hope people here will not hold it against me that I inflicted this weighty reading assignment on them! Hajja Romi Behind the Bloodbath in Gaza Foiling Another Palestinian "Peace Offensive" By NORMAN FINKELSTEIN Early speculation on the motive behind Israel?s slaughter in Gaza that began on 27 December 2008 and continued till 18 January 2009 centered on the upcoming elections in Israel. The jockeying for votes was no doubt a factor in this Sparta-like society consumed by ?revenge and the thirst for blood,? where killing Arabs is a sure crowd-pleaser. (Polls during the war showed that 80-90 percent of Israeli Jews supported it.) But as Israeli journalist Gideon Levy pointed out on Democracy Now!, ?Israel went through a very similar war?two-and-a- half years ago [in Lebanon], when there were no elections.? When crucial state interests are at stake, Israeli ruling elites seldom launch major operations for narrowly electoral gains. It is true that Prime Minister Menachem Begin?s decision to bomb the Iraqi OSIRAK reactor in 1981 was an electoral ploy, but the strategic stakes in the strike on Iraq were puny; contrary to widespread belief, Saddam Hussein had not embarked on a nuclear weapons program prior to the bombing. The fundamental motives behind the latest Israeli attack on Gaza lie elsewhere: (1) in the need to restore Israel?s ?deterrence capacity,? and (2) in the threat posed by a new Palestinian ?peace offensive.? Israel?s ?larger concern? in the current offensive, New York Times Middle East correspondent Ethan Bronner reported, quoting Israeli sources, was to ?re-establish Israeli deterrence,? because ?its enemies are less afraid of it than they once were, or should be.? Preserving its deterrence capacity has always loomed large in Israeli strategic doctrine. Indeed, it was the main impetus behind Israel?s first-strike against Egypt in June 1967 that resulted in Israel?s occupation of Gaza (and the West Bank). To justify the onslaught on Gaza, Israeli historian Benny Morris wrote that ?[m]any Israelis feel that the walls?are closing in?much as they felt in early June 1967.? Ordinary Israelis no doubt felt threatened in June 1967, but?as Morris surely knows?the Israeli leadership experienced no such trepidation. After Israel threatened and laid plans to attack Syria, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser declared the Straits of Tiran closed to Israeli shipping, but Israel made almost no use of the Straits (apart from the passage of oil, of which Israel then had ample stocks) and, anyhow, Nasser did not in practice enforce the blockade, vessels passing freely through the Straits within days of his announcement. In addition, multiple U.S. intelligence agencies had concluded that the Egyptians did not intend to attack Israel and that, in the improbable case that they did, alone or in concert with other Arab countries, Israel would?in President Lyndon Johnson?s words??whip the hell out of them.? The head of the Mossad told senior American officials on 1 June 1967 that ?there were no differences between the U.S. and the Israelis on the military intelligence picture or its interpretation.? The predicament for Israel was rather the growing perception in the Arab world, spurred by Nasser?s radical nationalism and climaxing in his defiant gestures in May 1967, that it would no longer have to follow Israeli orders. Thus, Divisional Commander Ariel Sharon admonished those in the Israeli cabinet hesitant to launch a first-strike that Israel was losing its ?deterrence capability?our main weapon?the fear of us.? Israel unleashed the June 1967 war ?to restore the credibility of Israeli deterrence? (Israeli strategic analyst Zeev Maoz). The expulsion of the Israeli occupying army by Hezbollah in May 2000 posed a major new challenge to Israel?s deterrence capacity. The fact that Israel suffered a humiliating defeat, one celebrated throughout the Arab world, made another war well-nigh inevitable. Israel almost immediately began planning for the next round, and in summer 2006 found a pretext when Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers (several others were killed in the firefight) and demanded in exchange the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel. Although Israel unleashed the fury of its air force and geared up for a ground invasion, it suffered yet another ignominious defeat. A respected American military analyst despite being partial to Israel nonetheless concluded, ?the IAF, the arm of the Israel military that had once destroyed whole air forces in a few days, not only proved unable to stop Hezbollah rocket strikes but even to do enough damage to prevent Hezbollah?s rapid recovery?; that ?once ground forces did cross into Lebanon?, they failed to overtake Hezbollah strongholds, even those close to the border?; that ?in terms of Israel?s objectives, the kidnapped Israeli soldiers were neither rescued nor released; Hezbollah?s rocket fire was never suppressed, not even its long-range fire?; and Israeli ground forces were badly shaken and bogged down by a well-equipped and capable foe?; and that ?more troops and a massive ground invasion would indeed have produced a different outcome, but the notion that somehow that effort would have resulted in a more decisive victory over Hezbollah?has no basis in historical example or logic.? The juxtaposition of several figures further highlights the magnitude of the setback: Israel deployed 30,000 troops as against 2,000 regular Hezbollah fighters and 4,000 irregular Hezbollah and non-Hezbollah fighters; Israel delivered and fired 162,000 weapons whereas Hezbollah fired 5,000 weapons (4,000 rockets and projectiles at Israel and 1,000 antitank missiles inside Lebanon). Moreover, ?the vast majority of the fighters who defended villages such as Ayta ash Shab, Bint Jbeil, and Maroun al-Ras were not, in fact, regular Hezbollah fighters and in some cases were not even members of Hezbollah,? and ?many of Hezbollah?s best and most skilled fighters never saw action, lying in wait along the Litani River with the expectation that the IDF assault would be much deeper and arrive much faster than it did.? Yet another indication of Israel?s reversal of fortune was that, unlike any of its previous armed conflicts, in the final stages of the 2006 war it fought not in defiance of a U.N. ceasefire resolution but in the hope of a U.N. resolution to rescue it. After the 2006 Lebanon war Israel was itching to take on Hezbollah again, but did not yet have a military option against it. In mid-2008 Israel desperately sought to conscript the U.S. for an attack on Iran, which would also decapitate Hezbollah, and thereby humble the main challengers to its regional hegemony. Israel and its quasi-official emissaries such as Benny Morris threatened that if the U.S. did not go along ?then non-conventional weaponry will have to be used,? and ?many innocent Iranians will die.? To Israel?s chagrin and humiliation, the attack never materialized and Iran has gone its merry way, while the credibility of Israel?s capacity to terrorize slipped another notch. It was high time to find a defenseless target to annihilate. Enter Gaza, Israel?s favorite shooting gallery. Even there the feebly armed Islamic movement Hamas had defiantly resisted Israeli diktat, in June 2008 even compelling Israel to agree to a ceasefire. During the 2006 Lebanon war Israel flattened the southern suburb of Beirut known as the Dahiya, where Hezbollah commanded much popular support. In the war?s aftermath Israeli military officers began referring to the ?Dahiya strategy?: ?We shall pulverize the 160 Shiite villages [in Lebanon] that have turned into Shiite army bases,? the IDF Northern Command Chief explained, ?and we shall not show mercy when it comes to hitting the national infrastructure of a state that, in practice, is controlled by Hezbollah.? In the event of hostilities, a reserve Colonel at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies chimed in, Israel needs ?to act immediately, decisively, and with force that is disproportionate? .Such a response aims at inflicting damage and meting out punishment to an extent that will demand long and expensive reconstruction processes.? The new strategy was to be used against all of Israel?s regional adversaries who had waxed defiant??the Palestinians in Gaza are all Khaled Mashaal, the Lebanese are all Nasrallah, and the Iranians are all Ahmadinejad??but Gaza was the prime target for this blitzkrieg-cum- bloodbath strategy. ?Too bad it did not take hold immediately after the ?disengagement? from Gaza and the first rocket barrages,? a respected Israeli columnist lamented. ?Had we immediately adopted the Dahiya strategy, we would have likely spared ourselves much trouble.? After a Palestinian rocket attack, Israel?s Interior Minister urged in late September 2008, ?the IDF should?decide on a neighborhood in Gaza and level it.? And, insofar as the Dahiya strategy could not be inflicted just yet on Lebanon and Iran, it was predictably pre-tested in Gaza. The operative plan for the Gaza bloodbath can be gleaned from authoritative statements after the war got underway: ?What we have to do is act systematically with the aim of punishing all the organizations that are firing the rockets and mortars, as well as the civilians who are enabling them to fire and hide? (reserve Major-General) ; ?After this operation there will not be one Hamas building left standing in Gaza? (Deputy IDF Chief of Staff); ?Anything affiliated with Hamas is a legitimate target? (IDF Spokesperson? s Office). Whereas Israel killed a mere 55 Lebanese during the first two days of the 2006 war, the Israeli media exulted at Israel?s ?shock and awe? (Maariv) as it killed more than 300 Palestinians in the first two days of the attack on Gaza. Several days into the slaughter an informed Israeli strategic analyst observed, ?The IDF, which planned to attack buildings and sites populated by hundreds of people, did not warn them in advance to leave, but intended to kill a great many of them, and succeeded.? Morris could barely contain his pride at ?Israel?s highly efficient air assault on Hamas.? The Israeli columnist B. Michael was less impressed by the dispatch of helicopter gunships and jet planes ?over a giant prison and firing at its people? ?for example, ?70?traffic cops at their graduation ceremony, young men in desperate search of a livelihood who thought they?d found it in the police and instead found death from the skies.? As Israel targeted schools, mosques, hospitals, ambulances, and U.N. sanctuaries, as it slaughtered and incinerated Gaza?s defenseless civilian population (one-third of the 1,200 reported casualties were children), Israeli commentators gloated that ?Gaza is to Lebanon as the second sitting for an exam is to the first?a second chance to get it right,? and that this time around Israel had ?hurled [Gaza] back,? not 20 years as it promised to do in Lebanon, but ?into the 1940s. Electricity is available only for a few hours a day?; that ?Israel regained its deterrence capabilities? because ?the war in Gaza has compensated for the shortcomings of the [2006] Second Lebanon War?; and that ?There is no doubt that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is upset these days?.There will no longer be anyone in the Arab world who can claim that Israel is weak.? New York Times foreign affairs expert Thomas Friedman joined in the chorus of hallelujahs. Israel in fact won the 2006 Lebanon war, according to Friedman, because it had inflicted ?substantial property damage and collateral casualties on Lebanon at large,? thereby administering an ?education? to Hezbollah: fearing the Lebanese people?s wrath, Hezbollah would ?think three times next time? before defying Israel. He expressed hope that Israel was likewise ?trying to ?educate? Hamas by inflicting a heavy death toll on Hamas militants and heavy pain on the Gaza population.? To justify the targeting of Lebanese civilians and civilian infrastructure Friedman asserted that Israel had no other option because ?Hezbollah created a very ?flat? military network?deeply embedded in the local towns and villages,? and that because ?Hezbollah nested among civilians, the only long-term source of deterrence was to exact enough pain on the civilians?to restrain Hezbollah in the future.? Leaving aside Friedman?s hollow coinages?what does ?flat? mean??and leaving aside that he alleged that the killing of civilians was unavoidable but also recommends targeting civilians as a ?deterrence? strategy: is it even true that Hezbollah was ?embedded in,? ?nested among,? and ?intertwined? with the Lebanese civilian population? Here?s what Human Rights Watch concluded after an exhaustive investigation: ?we found strong evidence that Hezbollah stored most of its rockets in bunkers and weapon storage facilities located in uninhabited fields and valleys, that in the vast majority of cases Hezbollah fighters left populated civilian areas as soon as the fighting started, and that Hezbollah fired the vast majority of its rockets from pre-prepared positions outside villages.? And again, ?in all but a few of the cases of civilian deaths we investigated, Hezbollah fighters had not mixed with the civilian population or taken other actions to contribute to the targeting of a particular home or vehicle by Israeli forces.? Indeed, ?Israel?s own firing patterns in Lebanon support the conclusion that Hezbollah fired large numbers of its rockets from tobacco fields, banana, olive and citrus groves, and more remote, unpopulated valleys.? A U.S. Army War College study based largely on interviews with Israeli participants in the Lebanon war similarly found that ?the key battlefields in the land campaign south of the Litani River were mostly devoid of civilians, and IDF participants consistently report little or no meaningful intermingling of Hezbollah fighters and noncombatants. Nor is there any systematic reporting of Hezbollah using civilians in the combat zone as shields.? On a related note, the authors report that ?the great majority of Hezbollah?s fighters wore uniforms. In fact, their equipment and clothing were remarkably similar to many state militaries??desert or green fatigues, helmets, web vests, body armor, dog tags, and rank insignia.? Friedman further asserted that, ?rather than confronting Israel?s Army head-on,? Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel?s civilian population to provoke Israeli retaliatory strikes, inevitably killing Lebanese civilians and ?inflaming the Arab-Muslim street.? Yet, numerous studies have shown, and Israeli officials themselves conceded that, during its guerrilla war against the Israeli occupying army, Hezbollah only targeted Israeli civilians after Israel targeted Lebanese civilians. In conformity with past practice Hezbollah started firing rockets toward Israeli civilian concentrations during the 2006 war only after Israel inflicted heavy casualties on Lebanese civilians, while Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah avowed that it would target Israeli civilians ?as long as the enemy undertakes its aggression without limits or red lines.? If Israel targeted the Lebanese civilian population and infrastructure during the 2006 war, it was not because it had no choice, and not because Hezbollah had provoked it, but because terrorizing the civilian population was a relatively cost-free method of ?education,? much to be preferred over fighting a real foe and suffering heavy casualties, although Hezbollah?s unexpectedly fierce resistance prevented Israel from achieving a victory on the battlefield. In the case of Gaza it was able both to ?educate? the population and achieve a military victory because?in the words of Gideon Levy?the ?fighting in Gaza? was ?war deluxe.? Compared with previous wars, it is child?s play?pilots bombing unimpeded as if on practice runs, tank and artillery soldiers shelling houses and civilians from their armored vehicles, combat engineering troops destroying entire streets in their ominous protected vehicles without facing serious opposition. A large, broad army is fighting against a helpless population and a weak, ragged organization that has fled the conflict zones and is barely putting up a fight. The justification put forth by Friedman in the pages of the Times for targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure amounted to apologetics for state terrorism. It might be recalled that although Hitler had stripped Nazi propagandist Julius Streicher of all his political power by 1940, and his newspaper Der St?rmer had a circulation of only some 15,000 during the war, the International Tribunal at Nuremberg nonetheless sentenced him to death for his murderous incitement. Beyond restoring its deterrence capacity, Israel?s main goal in the Gaza slaughter was to fend off the latest threat posed by Palestinian moderation. For the past three decades the international community has consistently supported a settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict that calls for two states based on a full Israeli withdrawal to its June 1967 border, and a ?just resolution? of the refugee question based on the right of return and compensation. The vote on the annual U.N. General Assembly resolution, ?Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine,? supporting these terms for resolving the conflict in 2008 was 164 in favor, 7 against (Israel, United States, Australia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau), and 3 abstentions. At the regional level the Arab League in March 2002 unanimously put forth a peace initiative on this basis, which it has subsequently reaffirmed. In recent times Hamas has repeatedly signaled its own acceptance of such a settlement. For example, in March 2008 Khalid Mishal, head of Hamas?s Political Bureau, stated in an interview: There is an opportunity to deal with this conflict in a manner different than Israel and, behind it, the U.S. is dealing with it today. There is an opportunity to achieve a Palestinian national consensus on a political program based on the 1967 borders, and this is an exceptional circumstance, in which most Palestinian forces, including Hamas, accept a state on the 1967 borders?.There is also an Arab consensus on this demand, and this is a historic situation. But no one is taking advantage of this opportunity. No one is moving to cooperate with this opportunity. Even this minimum that has been accepted by the Palestinians and the Arabs has been rejected by Israel and by the U.S. Israel is fully cognizant that the Hamas Charter is not an insurmountable obstacle to a two-state settlement on the June 1967 border. ?[T]he Hamas leadership has recognized that its ideological goal is not attainable and will not be in the foreseeable future,? a former Mossad head recently observed. ?[T]hey are ready and willing to see the establishment of a Palestinian state in the temporary borders of 1967?.They know that the moment a Palestinian state is established with their cooperation, they will be obligated to change the rules of the game: They will have to adopt a path that could lead them far from their original ideological goals.? In addition, Hamas was ?careful to maintain the ceasefire? it entered into with Israel in June 2008, according to an official Israeli publication, despite Israel?s reneging on the crucial component of the truce that it ease the economic siege of Gaza. ?The lull was sporadically violated by rocket and mortar shell fire, carried out by rogue terrorist organizations,? the source continues. ?At the same time, the [Hamas] movement tried to enforce the terms of the arrangement on the other terrorist organizations and to prevent them from violating it.? Moreover, Hamas was ?interested in renewing the relative calm with Israel? (Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin). The Islamic movement could thus be trusted to stand by its word, making it a credible negotiating partner, while its apparent ability to extract concessions from Israel, unlike the hapless Palestinian Authority doing Israel?s bidding but getting no returns, enhanced Hamas?s stature among Palestinians. For Israel these developments constituted a veritable disaster. It could no longer justify shunning Hamas, and it would be only a matter of time before international pressure in particular from the Europeans would be exerted on it to negotiate. The prospect of an incoming U.S. administration negotiating with Iran and Hamas, and moving closer to the international consensus for settling the Israel-Palestine conflict, which some U.S. policymakers now advocate, would have further highlighted Israel?s intransigence. In an alternative scenario, speculated on by Nasrallah, the incoming American administration plans to convene an international peace conference of ?Americans, Israelis, Europeans and so-called Arab moderates? to impose a settlement. The one obstacle is ?Palestinian resistance and the Hamas government in Gaza,? and ?getting rid of this stumbling block is?the true goal of the war.? In either case, Israel needed to provoke Hamas into breaking the truce, and then radicalize or destroy it, thereby eliminating it as a legitimate negotiating partner. It is not the first time Israel confronted such a diabolical threat?an Arab League peace initiative, Palestinian support for a two-state settlement and a Palestinian ceasefire?and not the first time it embarked on provocation and war to overcome it. In the mid-1970s the PLO mainstream began supporting a two-state settlement on the June 1967 border. In addition, the PLO, headquartered in Lebanon, was strictly adhering to a truce with Israel that had been negotiated in July 1981. In August 1981 Saudi Arabia unveiled, and the Arab League subsequently approved, a peace plan based on the two-state settlement. Israel reacted in September 1981 by stepping up preparations to destroy the PLO. In his analysis of the buildup to the 1982 Lebanon war, Israeli strategic analyst Avner Yaniv reported that Yasser Arafat was contemplating a historic compromise with the ?Zionist state,? whereas ?all Israeli cabinets since 1967? as well as ?leading mainstream doves? opposed a Palestinian state. Fearing diplomatic pressures, Israel maneuvered to sabotage the two-state settlement. It conducted punitive military raids ?deliberately out of proportion? against ?Palestinian and Lebanese civilians? in order to weaken ?PLO moderates,? strengthen the hand of Arafat?s ?radical rivals,? and guarantee the PLO?s ?inflexibility.? However, Israel eventually had to choose between a pair of stark options: ?a political move leading to a historic compromise with the PLO, or preemptive military action against it.? To fend off Arafat?s ?peace offensive??Yaniv?s telling phrase?Israel embarked on military action in June 1982. The Israeli invasion ?had been preceded by more than a year of effective ceasefire with the PLO,? but after murderous Israeli provocations, the last of which left as many as 200 civilians dead (including 60 occupants of a Palestinian children?s hospital), the PLO finally retaliated, causing a single Israeli casualty. Although Israel used the PLO?s resumption of attacks as the pretext for its invasion, Yaniv concluded that the ?raison d??tre of the entire operation? was ?destroying the PLO as a political force capable of claiming a Palestinian state on the West Bank.? It deserves passing notice that in his new history of the ?peace process,? Martin Indyk, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, provides this capsule summary of the sequence of events just narrated: ?In 1982, Arafat?s terrorist activities eventually provoked the Israeli government of Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon into a full-scale invasion of Lebanon.? Fast forward to 2008. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni stated in early December 2008 that although Israel wanted to create a temporary period of calm with Hamas, an extended truce ?harms the Israeli strategic goal, empowers Hamas, and gives the impression that Israel recognizes the movement.? Translation: a protracted ceasefire that enhanced Hamas?s credibility would have undermined Israel?s strategic goal of retaining control of the West Bank. As far back as March 2007 Israel had decided on attacking Hamas, and only negotiated the June truce because ?the Israeli army needed time to prepare.? Once all the pieces were in place, Israel only lacked a pretext. On 4 November, while the American media were riveted on election day, Israel broke the ceasefire by killing seven Palestinian militants, on the flimsy excuse that Hamas was digging a tunnel to abduct Israeli soldiers, and knowing full well that its operation would provoke Hamas into hitting back. ?Last week?s ?ticking tunnel,? dug ostensibly to facilitate the abduction of Israeli soldiers,? Haaretz reported in mid-November was not a clear and present danger: Its existence was always known and its use could have been prevented on the Israeli side, or at least the soldiers stationed beside it removed from harm?s way. It is impossible to claim that those who decided to blow up the tunnel were simply being thoughtless. The military establishment was aware of the immediate implications of the measure, as well as of the fact that the policy of ?controlled entry? into a narrow area of the Strip leads to the same place: an end to the lull. That is policy?not a tactical decision by a commander on the ground. After Hamas predictably resumed its rocket attacks ?[i]n retaliation? (Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center), Israel could embark on yet another murderous invasion in order to foil yet another Palestinian peace offensive. Norman Finkelstein is author of five books, including Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict, Beyond Chutzpah and The Holocaust Industry, which have been translated into more than 40 foreign editions. He is the son of Holocaust survivors. This article is an edited extract of the views of Finkelstein given at DemocracyNow. org. His website is www.NormanFinkelste in.com Notes. Gideon Levy, ?The Time of the Righteous,? Haaretz (9 January 2009). Ethan Bronner, ?In Israel, A Consensus That Gaza War Is a Just One,? New York Times (13 January 2009). 29 December 2008; www.democracynow. org/2008/ 12/29/israeli_ attacks_kill_ over_310_ in. Richard Wilson, ?Incomplete or Inaccurate Information Can Lead to Tragically Incorrect Decisions to Preempt: The example of OSIRAK,? paper presented at Erice, Sicily (18 May 2007; updated 9 February 2008; www.normanfinkelste in.com/article. php?pg=11&ar=1589). Ethan Bronner, ?Israel Reminds Foes That It Has Teeth,? New York Times (29 December 2008). Benny Morris, ?Why Israel Feels Threatened,? New York Times (30 December 2008). ?Memorandum for the Record? (1 June 1967), Foreign Relations of the United States, vol. XIX, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1967 (Washington, DC: 2004). Tom Segev, 1967: Israel, the war, and the year that transformed the Middle East (New York: 2007), p. 293, my emphasis. Zeev Maoz, Defending the Holy Land: A critical analysis of Israel?s security and foreign policy (Ann Arbor: 2006), p. 89. William Arkin, Divining Victory: Airpower in the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war (Maxwell Air Force Base, AL: 2007), pp. xxi, xxv-xxvi, 25, 54, 64, 135, 147-48. Andrew Exum, Hizballah at War: A military assessment (Washington Institute for Near East Policy: December 2006), pp. 9, 11-12. Benny Morris, ?A Second Holocaust? The Threat to Israel? (2 May 2008; www.mideastfreedomf orum.org/ de/node/66) . Yaron London, ?The Dahiya Strategy? (6 October 2008; www.ynetnews. com/articles/ 0,7340,L- 3605863,00. html); Gabriel Siboni, ?Disproportionate Force: Israel?s concept of response in light of the Second Lebanon War,? Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), 2 October 2008. Attila Somfalvi, ?Sheetrit: We should level Gaza neighborhoods? (2 October 2008; www.ynetnews. com/articles/ 0,7340,L- 3504922,00. html). ?Israeli General Says Hamas Must Not Be the Only Target in Gaza,? IDF Radio, Tel Aviv, in Hebrew 0600 gmt (26 December 2008), BBC Monitoring Middle East; Tova Dadon, ?Deputy Chief of Staff: Worst still ahead? (29 December 2008; http://www.ynetnews .com/articles/ 0,7340,L- 36466558, 00.html); www.btselem. org/English/ Gaza_Strip/ 20081231_ Gaza_Letter_ to_Mazuz. asp. Seumas Milne, ?Israel?s Onslaught on Gaza is a Crime That Cannot Succeed,? Guardian (30 December 2008). Reuven Pedatzur, ?The Mistakes of Cast Lead,? Haaretz (8 January 2009). Morris, ?Why Israel Feels Threatened.? B. Michael, ?D?j? Vu in Gaza? (29 December 2008; www.ynetnews. com/articles/ 0,7340,L- 3646558,00. html). Gideon Levy, ?Twilight Zone/Trumpeting for War,? Haaretz (2 January 2009). Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, ?Israel and Hamas Are Both Paying a Steep Price in Gaza,? Haaretz (10 January 2009); Ari Shavit, ?Analysis: Israel?s victories in Gaza make up for its failures in Lebanon,? Haaretz (12 January 2009); Guy Bechor, ?A Dangerous Victory? (12 January 2009; www.ynetnews. com/articles/ 0,7340,L- 3654505,00. html). Thomas L. Friedman, ?Israel?s Goals in Gaza?,? New York Times (14 January 2009). Human Rights Watch, Why They Died: Civilian casualties in Lebanon during the 2006 war (New York: 2007), pp. 5, 14, 40-41, 45-46, 48, 51, 53. Stephen Biddle and Jeffrey A. Friedman, The 2006 Lebanon Campaign and the Future of Warfare: Implications for army and defense policy (Carlisle, PA: 2008), pp. 43-44, 45. Human Rights Watch, Civilian Pawns: Laws of war violations and the use of weapons on the Israel-Lebanon border (New York: 1996); Maoz, Defending the Holy Land, pp. 213-14, 224-25, 252; Augustus Richard Norton, Hezbollah: A short history (Princeton: 2007), pp. 77, 86. Judith Palmer Harik, Hezbollah: The changing face of terrorism (London: 2004), pp. 167-68. Human Rights Watch, Civilians Under Attack: Hezbollah?s rocket assault on Israel in the 2006 war (New York: 2007), p. 100. HRW asserts that Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israeli civilians were not retaliatory but provides no supporting evidence. Gideon Levy, ?The IDF Has No Mercy for the Children in Gaza Nursery Schools,? Haaretz (15 January 2009). Glenn Greenwald, ?Tom Friedman Offers a Perfect Definition of ?Terrorism?? (14 January 2009; www.salon.com/ opinion/greenwal d/2009/01/ 14/friedman/). Mouin Rabbani, ?A Hamas Perspective on the Movement?s Evolving Role: An interview with Khalid Mishal, Part II,? Journal of Palestine Studies (Summer 2008). ?What Hamas Wants,? Mideast Mirror (22 December 2008). Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center, The Six Months of the Lull Arrangement (December 2008), pp. 2, 6, 7. ?Hamas Wants Better Terms for Truce,? Jerusalem Post (21 December 2008). Diskin told the Israeli cabinet that Hamas would renew the truce if Israel lifted the siege of Gaza, stopped military attacks and extended the truce to the West Bank. Richard N. Haass and Martin Indyk, ?Beyond Iraq: A new U.S. strategy for the Middle East,? and Walter Russell Mead, ?Change They Can Believe In: To make Israel safe, give Palestinians their due,? in Foreign Affairs, January-February 2009. Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah?s Speech Delivered at the Central Ashura Council, 31 December 2008. Noam Chomsky, The Fateful Triangle: the United States, Israel and the Palestinians (Boston: 1983), chaps. 3, 5. Yehuda Lukacs (ed), The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: a documentary record, 1967-1990 (Cambridge: 1992), pp. 477-79. Yehoshaphat Harkabi, Israel?s Fateful Hour (New York: 1988), p. 101. Robert Fisk, Pity the Nation: The abduction of Lebanon (New York: 1990), pp. 197, 232. Avner Yaniv, Dilemmas of Security: Politics, strategy and the Israeli experience in Lebanon (Oxford: 1987), pp. 20-23, 50-54, 67-70, 87-89, 100-1, 105-6, 113, 143. Martin Indyk, Innocent Abroad: An intimate account of American peace diplomacy in the Middle East (New York: 2009), p. 75. Saed Bannoura, ?Livni Calls for a Large Scale Military Offensive in Gaza,? IMEMC & Agencies (10 December 2008; www.imemc.org/ article/57960). Uri Blau, ?IDF Sources: Conditions not yet optimal for Gaza exit,? Haaretz (8 January 2009); Barak Ravid, ?Disinformation, Secrecy, and Lies: How the Gaza offensive came about,? Haaretz (28 December 2008). Zvi Bar?el, ?Crushing the Tahadiyeh,? Haaretz (16 November 2008). Cf. Uri Avnery, ?The Calculations behind Israel?s Slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza? (2 January 2009; www.redress. cc/palestine/ uavnery20080102). The Six Months of the Lull Arrangement, p. 3. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ usgp-int mailing list usgp-int at gp-us.org http://forum.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/usgp-int -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 12:00 AM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Thu Jan 29 09:18:39 2009 From: efficacy at msn.com (Clifford Thornton) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:18:39 -0500 Subject: {news} Lamont Pledges Neutrality in Moderating Upcoming Drug Legalization Forum Message-ID: This forum has created a ton of news articles and is well on its way on becoming a media gift for drug reformers. This also shows what it takes with time and commitment to get something like this off the ground. http://www.the40yearplan.com/article_012809_Lamont_Pledges_Neutrality.php January 28, 2009 Lamont Pledges Neutrality in Moderating Upcoming Drug Legalization Forum Story By Ken Krayeske . 4:40 PM EST Ned Lamont at a campaign event in 2006. The war on drugs has claimed another politician: Ned Lamont will moderate a forum at the "Drug Policy for the 21st Century" conference at Central Connecticut State University, Wednesday, February 4, 2009. National legalization experts like keynote speaker Ethan Nadelmann from the Drug Policy Alliance, and panelist Jack Cole, from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition will lead the conference, co-sponsored by CCSU's Peace Studies Department and its Institute for the Study of Criminal Justice. Tickets are still available for the conference here. Give Lamont some credit for guiding the afternoon's premier panel, featuring Connecticut anti-prohibitionists like Cliff Thornton, whose 2006 Green Party campaign for governor I managed, former Hartford City Councilman Bob Painter and A Better Way's Lorenzo Jones. But surrounded by activists openly touting legalization, with no one on the panel to argue for the drug war, you think that Lamont, who enjoys a part-time professorship in the Peace Studies Department at CCSU, would be forthcoming about his opinions and history with illegal drugs. "No, I am not answering any of those questions," Lamont said when I asked him if he had ever done any illegal drugs. Nor would he go on the record to analyze prohibition. "It is a long overdue debate for the state of Connecticut," Lamont would only say. "As a moderator I am going to do everything I can to be neutral. I am going to be a provocateur." So Ned is playing his participation like a man who is running for office in 2010. And frankly, I tire of leadership - or those who purport to want to lead society via electoral office - equivocating on the most intense, important issues of our day. Lamont did not make the war on drugs an issue in his Senate campaign. So when did he have this epiphany that the war on drugs was bad? Or does he think by lending his world-famous, Lieberman-slaying name to a conference that endorses legalization, he can still straddle this fault line of an issue? "A leading indicator of a politician's character is their stance on the drug war, or lack thereof," Thornton said. While President Barack Obama has not touched the devastating side effects of the war on some drugs, has at least admitted to smoking marijuana and experimenting with cocaine. So what gives, Ned? When I called him for the interview, I told his secretary who I was, and indicated that I wanted to interview Ned. And I swore that at the beginning of the conversation with Ned, I told him this was for my website and myleftnutmeg.com. But I apparently didn't. Yet he knows I am a journalist. The first time I met him was to interview him at his office in Greenwich in January 2006. He impressed me enough that I eventually worked for his campaign for two months in spring 2006 before joining Thornton's efforts. And to complete disclosure, I remember introducing Thornton and Lamont at a Saturday night debate fanfare at CCSU during the 2006 election. This time, on the phone, we made small talk for a minute - I updated him on the civil rights lawsuit surrounding my false arrest, and I mentioned that I read the case for law school that his Uncle Corliss won against the U.S. Postal Service for reading his Communist-themed mail. Then I asked Lamont how he decided to participate in the CCSU conference. "Cliff had contacted me a year or so ago to do something on drug policy," Lamont said. "It took a year or so to get it together." When I moved to ask him about his history with illegal drugs, he suddenly inquired if was typing this, and if the conversation was on the record? I said yes, and he said no, he thought we were talking as friends, and it was off the record. Friends, I thought, as if Ned and I trade chocolate chip cookie recipes or swill beers at Kenney's Red Rock Tavern on Tuesday nights? And if we were talking as friends, why be so defensive? To respect the reporter's tool of off the record, we negotiated what parts of the conversation I could print, and what stayed off the record. Ned is no dummy, and I bet he wants to run for office in 2010, although he isn't jumping in the race now. So he seeks to protect himself from the vulnerability of taking a courageous stance. Harbor no doubt that past drug use for those who advocate change remains a political liability. Why else would the opposing lawyer who deposed me in my federal civil rights suit open by asking about my LSD use? I've never made a secret of my usage of psychoactive substances. People who want your vote, though, do want to hide things. But it is dishonest to hold a view privately which could free thousands of people from jail then vote on a budget that funds those jails. "That is the way of politicians," Thornton said. "He might try to go the back door, doing things like he is doing now and not give one way or the other where he stands. Politicians are scared to death of this issue." The economic and infrastructural implications of ending the war on drugs frightens politicians, Thornton said. It's not just what are we going to do with the thousands of people jailed in the criminal justice system, but what about the lawyers, prison guards, cops, and even drug test technicians who would lose their jobs if we declared a truce in the war on some drugs? "We have to use the infrastructure that is in place," Thornton said. "It is a shift in priorities." People will have to be re-trained to help ramp down and unbuild the infrastructure of the prison-industrial complex. But before we end the age of incarceration, we need a baseline honesty about who has participated in this failed set of laws, a kind of truth and reconciliation approach to it. Obviously, we need to know what drug-dealing black operations the CIA, the White House (like George H. W. Bush) and any other branch of government has been involved in. And for those who plan to help us change the policy, we also need to know where they stand and how long they have felt this way. Until everyone is frank about their position and past, drug use will remain a vulnerability for those of us who espouse changing the position, and it will remain an activity that jails people - particularly those of color - by the score. Obviously, Thornton agrees that Lamont and others who seek to make policy decisions regarding the war on drugs must come out of the closet. "Anyone that is for this policy has to be directly responsible for the result," Thornton said. "Anyone that is against it, no, they don't have to be accountable for their use. Those in the middle, going along to get along makes one complicit. Ned Lamont is complicit in this." Thornton has never been known to mince words. Lamont, on the other hand, refused to condemn Israel in July 2006 for using banned white phosphorous munitions on Lebanese civilians. If his campaign hadn't shown me the door before that, I would've walked away then. Why try to out-warmonger Lieberman? More recently, Lamont showed exactly what kind of a lightweight he is when in September 2008 he said the financial crisis was Greenwich's Katrina. Christopher Keating of the Hartford Courant reported Lamont's the quote, and even the Wall Street Journal found it so absurd as to highlight it. And there's still time to check out the Feb. 4 conference at CCSU. Registration is open. Contact CCSU's Lyndsay Ruffalo at 860-832-1872. Efficacy PO Box 1234 860 657 8438 Hartford, CT 06143 efficacy at msn.com www.Efficacy-online.org "THE DRUG WAR IS MEANT TO BE WAGED NOT WON" Working to end race and class drug war injustice, Efficacy is a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1997. Your gifts and donations are tax deductible -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Ned-Lamont.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 5105 bytes Desc: not available URL: From efficacy at msn.com Thu Jan 29 12:34:41 2009 From: efficacy at msn.com (Clifford Thornton) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:34:41 -0500 Subject: {news} Re: RE: Lamont Pledges Neutrality in Moderating Upcoming Drug Legalization Forum In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Thanks Kevin; How many people have written letters about this? How many are willing to go to this blog and make comments? http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=11018 This conference and the articles are in every paper in this state and reform orgs in Connecticut are inundated with calls and emails. Just look at the message boards with these articles and you will see. Most and I mean most are in our corner. We look for a tidbit about Obama's stance on MM and drug policy in general and hope that he will come around. He won't, at least not this term and maybe not next. I want to be wrong about this but as Rev. Jeremiah Wright said "politicians do what politicians do" is what I believe. Let's do what Eric S. suggested in his new year address, instead of thinking what Obama or his appointees will do. We have yet another opportunity here, lets take advantage of it. Map are you on the case? Cliff S. are you on the case? ----- Original Message ----- From: Kevin Zeese To: 'Clifford Thornton' ; 'aro' ; 'ctgp-news' Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 9:27 AM Subject: ARO: RE: Lamont Pledges Neutrality in Moderating Upcoming Drug Legalization Forum Cliff Congratulations on sticking with this for a year, working through it and pulling it off. KZ -----Original Message----- From: owner-aro at drugsense.org [mailto:owner-aro at drugsense.org] On Behalf Of Clifford Thornton Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 9:18 AM To: aro; ctgp-news Subject: ARO: Lamont Pledges Neutrality in Moderating Upcoming Drug Legalization Forum --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This forum has created a ton of news articles and is well on its way on becoming a media gift for drug reformers. This also shows what it takes with time and commitment to get something like this off the ground. http://www.the40yearplan.com/article_012809_Lamont_Pledges_Neutrality.php tp://www.the40yearplan.com/article_012809_Lamont_Pledges_Neutrality.php> January 28, 2009 Lamont Pledges Neutrality in Moderating Upcoming Drug Legalization Forum > Story By Ken Krayeske . 4:40 PM EST Ned Lamont at a campaign event in 2006. The war on drugs has claimed another politician: Ned Lamont will moderate a forum at the "Drug Policy for the 21st Century" conference at Central Connecticut State University, Wednesday, February 4, 2009. National legalization experts like keynote speaker Ethan Nadelmann from the Drug Policy Alliance, and panelist Jack Cole, from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition will lead the conference, co-sponsored by CCSU's Peace Studies Department and its Institute for the Study of Criminal Justice. Tickets are still available for the conference here>. Give Lamont some credit for guiding the afternoon's premier panel, featuring Connecticut anti-prohibitionists like Cliff Thornton, whose 2006 Green Party campaign for governor I managed, former Hartford City Councilman Bob Painter and A Better Way's Lorenzo Jones. But surrounded by activists openly touting legalization, with no one on the panel to argue for the drug war, you think that Lamont, who enjoys a part-time professorship in the Peace Studies Department at CCSU, would be forthcoming about his opinions and history with illegal drugs. "No, I am not answering any of those questions," Lamont said when I asked him if he had ever done any illegal drugs. Nor would he go on the record to analyze prohibition. "It is a long overdue debate for the state of Connecticut," Lamont would only say. "As a moderator I am going to do everything I can to be neutral. I am going to be a provocateur." So Ned is playing his participation like a man who is running for office in 2010. And frankly, I tire of leadership - or those who purport to want to lead society via electoral office - equivocating on the most intense, important issues of our day. Lamont did not make the war on drugs an issue in his Senate campaign. So when did he have this epiphany that the war on drugs was bad? Or does he think by lending his world-famous, Lieberman-slaying name to a conference that endorses legalization, he can still straddle this fault line of an issue? "A leading indicator of a politician's character is their stance on the drug war, or lack thereof," Thornton said. While President Barack Obama has not touched the devastating side effects of the war on some drugs, has at least admitted to smoking marijuana and experimenting with cocaine. So what gives, Ned? When I called him for the interview, I told his secretary who I was, and indicated that I wanted to interview Ned. And I swore that at the beginning of the conversation with Ned, I told him this was for my website and myleftnutmeg.com>. But I apparently didn't. Yet he knows I am a journalist. The first time I met him was to interview> him at his office in Greenwich in January 2006. He impressed me enough that I eventually worked for his campaign for two months in spring 2006 before joining Thornton's efforts. And to complete disclosure, I remember introducing Thornton and Lamont at a Saturday night debate fanfare at CCSU during the 2006 election. This time, on the phone, we made small talk for a minute - I updated him on the civil rights lawsuit surrounding my false arrest, and I mentioned that I read the case for law school that his Uncle Corliss won> against the U.S. Postal Service for reading his Communist-themed mail. Then I asked Lamont how he decided to participate in the CCSU conference. "Cliff had contacted me a year or so ago to do something on drug policy," Lamont said. "It took a year or so to get it together." When I moved to ask him about his history with illegal drugs, he suddenly inquired if was typing this, and if the conversation was on the record? I said yes, and he said no, he thought we were talking as friends, and it was off the record. Friends, I thought, as if Ned and I trade chocolate chip cookie recipes or swill beers at Kenney's Red Rock Tavern on Tuesday nights? And if we were talking as friends, why be so defensive? To respect the reporter's tool of off the record, we negotiated what parts of the conversation I could print, and what stayed off the record. Ned is no dummy, and I bet he wants to run for office in 2010, although he isn't jumping in the race now. So he seeks to protect himself from the vulnerability of taking a courageous stance. Harbor no doubt that past drug use for those who advocate change remains a political liability. Why else would the opposing lawyer who deposed me in my federal civil rights suit open by asking about my LSD use? I've never made a secret of my usage of psychoactive substances. People who want your vote, though, do want to hide things. But it is dishonest to hold a view privately which could free thousands of people from jail then vote on a budget that funds those jails. "That is the way of politicians," Thornton said. "He might try to go the back door, doing things like he is doing now and not give one way or the other where he stands. Politicians are scared to death of this issue." The economic and infrastructural implications of ending the war on drugs frightens politicians, Thornton said. It's not just what are we going to do with the thousands of people jailed in the criminal justice system, but what about the lawyers, prison guards, cops, and even drug test technicians who would lose their jobs if we declared a truce in the war on some drugs? "We have to use the infrastructure that is in place," Thornton said. "It is a shift in priorities." People will have to be re-trained to help ramp down and unbuild the infrastructure of the prison-industrial complex. But before we end the age of incarceration, we need a baseline honesty about who has participated in this failed set of laws, a kind of truth and reconciliation approach to it. Obviously, we need to know what drug-dealing black operations the CIA, the White House (like George H. W. Bush) and any other branch of government has been involved in. And for those who plan to help us change the policy, we also need to know where they stand and how long they have felt this way. Until everyone is frank about their position and past, drug use will remain a vulnerability for those of us who espouse changing the position, and it will remain an activity that jails people - particularly those of color - by the score. Obviously, Thornton agrees that Lamont and others who seek to make policy decisions regarding the war on drugs must come out of the closet. "Anyone that is for this policy has to be directly responsible for the result," Thornton said. "Anyone that is against it, no, they don't have to be accountable for their use. Those in the middle, going along to get along makes one complicit. Ned Lamont is complicit in this." Thornton has never been known to mince words. Lamont, on the other hand, refused to condemn Israel in July 2006 for using banned white phosphorous munitions on Lebanese civilians. If his campaign hadn't shown me the door before that, I would've walked away then. Why try to out-warmonger Lieberman? More recently, Lamont showed exactly what kind of a lightweight he is when in September 2008 he said the financial crisis was Greenwich's Katrina. Christopher Keating of the Hartford Courant reported Lamont's the quote, and even the Wall Street Journal rina/> found it so absurd as to highlight it. And there's still time to check out the Feb. 4 conference at CCSU. Registration is open. Contact CCSU's Lyndsay Ruffalo at 860-832-1872. Efficacy PO Box 1234 860 657 8438 Hartford, CT 06143 efficacy at msn.com> www.Efficacy-online.org> "THE DRUG WAR IS MEANT TO BE WAGED NOT WON" Working to end race and class drug war injustice, Efficacy is a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1997. Your gifts and donations are tax deductible --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attachment: http://drugsense.org/temp/W0bJc1GOecTh.html Attachment: http://drugsense.org/temp/Ned-Lamont.jpg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Thu Jan 29 14:07:30 2009 From: efficacy at msn.com (Clifford Thornton) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:07:30 -0500 Subject: {news} Re: [CTGP-candidates] Justice of the Peace In-Reply-To: <827535.4186.qm@web63603.mail.re1.yahoo.com> References: <827535.4186.qm@web63603.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Congrates to everyone for a splendid job ----- Original Message ----- From: Harold Burbank II To: CTGP-candidates at yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 1:24 PM Subject: Re: [CTGP-candidates] Justice of the Peace Yes, congrats. Does anyone know the status of GP USA? I have multiple emails from the midwest that the national DC office will close in part due to misappropriations of funds raised at the 2008 national convention. Comments appreciated. HB Attorney Harold H. Burbank, II 84 N. Mountain Rd. Canton, CT 06019 860.693.2687 email haroldburbank at comcast.net ----- Original Message ----- From: G. Scott Deshefy To: CTGP-candidates at yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 12:45 PM Subject: Re: [CTGP-candidates] Justice of the Peace David, I also was sworn in as Justice of the Peace in Lebanon. Scott --- On Wed, 1/28/09, David Bedell > wrote: From: David Bedell > Subject: [CTGP-candidates] Justice of the Peace To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org, ctlavendergreens at yahoogroups.com, ctgp-candidates at yahoogroups.com Cc: "Hector Lopez" >, "Judy Peluso" >, ronsureshajp at yahoo.com, justleif at yahoo.com, "Matt Loter" >, "Godfrey, Phoebe" > Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 1:30 AM Congratulations to all our new Green Justices of the Peace, sworn in this month for 4-year terms: Hector Lopez, New Canaan Judy Peluso, New Haven Ron Suresha, New London Leif Smith, Redding Matt Loter, Stamford Laurel Freeman, Windham Phoebe Godfrey, Windham (Windham now has FOUR Green JPs!) And a special congratulations to Ken Cornet and Joe Mustich, Green JPs who celebrated their own wedding on November 12, the first day it became legal in Connecticut! I've posted a full list at http://www.ctgreens .org/elected. shtml with links: some JPs have created their own webpages, some are listed on their town websites, and most are listed in the directories of the Justice of the Peace Association (http://www.findajp. com ) or Love Makes a Family (http://www.lmfct. org/site/ PageServer? pagename= clergy_civilunio n ) If you would like to become a JP, or if you are a JP and would like to advertise your services more widely, I'd be glad to help. Commonly used powers of the Justices of the Peace include: a.. Administration of General Oaths b.. Authority to take the acknowledgement in the conveyance of real estate c.. Acknowledgement of primary and nomination petitions d.. Issuance of a subpoena in a civil action or probate proceeding e.. Performance of marriages f.. Performance of Civil Unions David Bedell [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (3) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar MARKETPLACE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From kitchen basics to easy recipes - join the Group from Kraft Foods Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity Visit Your Group Yahoo! News Odd News You won't believe it, but it's true Health Groups for people over 40 Join people who are staying in shape. Yahoo! Groups Special K Challenge Join others who are losing pounds. . __,_._,___ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sat Jan 31 00:25:11 2009 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:25:11 -0500 Subject: {news} Fw: Upcoming Economic Justice Events in CT:(1)Republic Windows; (2)Israeli walls; (3)People's Bailout Message-ID: 6-Story Newsletter Template + Images ----- Original Message ----- From: AFSC Connecticut To: edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 3:56 PM Subject: Upcoming Economic Justice Events in Connecticut American Friends Service Committee Connecticut In This Issue: Jan 29 2009 . Feb 2: Resistance & Recovery: Republic Windows & Doors Victory Tour . Feb 6: Screening of video Iron Wall followed by discussion . February 7:Community Meeting in Hartford for a People's Bailout Feb 2: Resistance & Recovery: Republic Windows & Doors Victory Tour Monday, February 2 9:00 - 10:30 am Press Conference and "Meet and Greet" Legislative Office Building, Hearing Room 1C 210 Capital Ave., Hartford 6:30 - 8:00 pm Labor/Community Forum First and Summerfield United Methodist Church 425 College St. (Corner of College and Elm), New Haven REPUBLIC WINDOWS & DOORS VICTORY TOUR! Monday, February 2 In December, 260 workers at Chicago's Republic Windows & Doors factory occupied their plant for six days, a sit-in strike launched in response to the closing of their plant with only 3 days notice. Jobs with Justice coalitions along with other community, faith and labor activists from across the country mobilized in support of these courageous members of UE Local 1110, helping them win a settlement from Bank of America and Republic owners including severance pay and compensation for unpaid earnings. As the economic crisis deepens, millions of workers face job losses, foreclosures on their homes, and other economic hardships. Join Jobs with Justice and other groups in celebrating the successful resistance at Republic and launch the broader campaign for an economic recovery that puts Main Street before Wall Street. For more information or to add your organization as an endorser contact UE Organizer, Ashaki Binta, (cell) 203-379-7711 abinta at jflm.org sponsored by the United Electrical Workers Union (UE) and Jobs with Justice Endorsed by the Connecticut American Friends Service Committee Feb 6: Screening of video Iron Wall followed by discussion Friday, February 6 at 7:00pm Storrs, CT Friends (Quaker) Meeting House 57 Hunting Lodge Rd, Storrs, CT 06268 Meeting house is located at the intersection of Hunting Lodge and North Eagleville Roads For dirrections: www.storrsfriendsmeeting.org/directions/html For more information please call: 860-423-8245 There will be a showing of the film the "Iron Wall", a documentary film about Israel's construction of system of walls that divides Palestinian land. It is directed by Mohammed Alatar and produced by the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees and Palestinians for Peace and Democracy. After the screening there will be a question and answer session facilitated by AFSC Connecticut Program Coordinator David Amdur and including presentations by members of the Middle East Crisis Committee and We Refuse to be Enemies. February 7:Community Meeting in Hartford for a People's Bailout Community meeting for a People's Bail Out Saturday, February 7 from 1 pm - 4 pm Hartford City Hall, 550 Main St. No Cutbacks - No Lay offs - No Foreclosures - No Evictions Make the Wealthy and the Corporations Pay Wall Street Got One TRILLION Dollars of Our Tax Money When do WE get bailed out? That's the question that people everywhere are asking. In the Hartford area, the recession means that the real unemployment rate of 12% could double in 2009, while thousands of people lose their homes and the state slashes social services, education and health care. The federal government spent a cool trillion dollars bailing out the big corporations. Now Governor Rell plans to slash jobs and social programs instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share. Who's looking out for OUR interests? Come to a community meeting, speak-out and strategy session to talk about what we can do to fight for our survival. Peoples's Economic Justice Coalition 860-570-0782 peoplesbailoutct at yahoo.com More Information: http://www.peoplesbailoutct.wordpress.com American Friends Service Committee Connecticut Area Office 56 Arbor Street, Suite 213 Hartford, CT 06106 Phone: 860.523.1534 Fax: 860.523.1705 Email: connecticut at afsc.org Visit AFSC CT Online Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Confirm | Forward -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From edubrule at sbcglobal.net Sat Jan 31 01:26:01 2009 From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 01:26:01 -0500 Subject: {news} Univ. of New Haven professor wants person to speak to class(in person or over telephone) about Green Party Message-ID: The e-mail below was sent to the Connecticut Green Party website. I respond to inquiries to the website. If you might be interested in speaking to Professor Fetzer's class (in person or by phone) please e-mail me and I'll forward to you his e-mail address (and ask you to let me know if you'll be speaking). I will re-post to the News listserve (and also the New Haven listserve) when a Green has agreed to do the talk, so that Greens will know that a speaker has been arranged. (Perhaps this is not the best way to select a speaker. Perhaps this is a matter for the Executive Committee, or one of the co-chairs. To co-chairs or whoever: e-mail me or call me on my cell at 860-869-7631 if you'd like to discuss this aspect of this request.) (As the procedure now stands I will use my discretion in giving out the professor's e-mail address--I would not give it out to a Green I didn't feel could represent the Party effectively. If I had questions about particular Greens I'd confer with Green[s] I trust.) --Ed ----- Original Message ----- From: [e-mail address deleted] To: greens at ctgreens.org Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 11:06 PM Subject: Request for information I am looking for a represenative of the Green Party to talk to my class on Political Parties at the Universty of New Haven. We would like to understand a little better about the goals of your party and ask questions. The class runs on Wednesday nights from 5:30pm until 10:00. The talk would be about a half hour and we could do it over the phone.The dates I have open are Feb 4th, Feb 11th, Feb 25th, March 4th and March 11th. Again it would be over the phone and would take about half an hour. Thank you Professor Gary Fetzer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at mail.com Sat Jan 31 12:11:40 2009 From: timmckee at mail.com (Tim McKee) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:11:40 -0500 Subject: {news} W.F. and Inden. Parties paid relatives to poll watch, work on campaigns Message-ID: <20090131171140.D0F52606861@ws1-4.us4.outblaze.com> [IMAGE] Saturday, January 24, 2009 3:15 AM EST ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Independents shared wealth $125,000 from state went to more than signs BY PENELOPE OVERTON REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN WATERBURY ? The state gave almost $125,000 in public money to local Independent politicians running for the state legislature last year, giving the cash-strapped third party a shot at a financially level playing field. So what did they do with the taxpayers' money? Recently filed state campaign finance reports show Independent candidates bought their fair share of slogan-splattered campaign pens, T-shirts and lawn signs, but they also paid their friends, relatives of friends, and each other. Mike Telesca, an Independent candidate for the 73rd House District, earned $6,000 from fellow Independent candidates Cicero B. Booker Jr., Frank A. Burgio Sr. and Arthur J. Denze Sr. for shooting their TV ads. The four men also serve together on the city's Board of Aldermen. Lawrence DePillo, the founder of the Independent Party and a former candidate for mayor, earned $11,000 from Booker, Burgio and Denze in consulting fees for serving as their campaign treasurer. He served as the town committee treasurer for free. And they paid 55 of their friends and fellow party members, including relatives of one another, to stand at the polls on Election Day handing out their campaign pens and fliers to voters. The poll standers earned anywhere from $50 to $140. "As a third party, we have never had the resources to compensate the people on our campaigns, but now, thanks to the public financing law, we finally have a shot at the level playing field we've always wanted," DePillo said. "It's about time." The finance law was not without its downside, however. The amount of time required to document a candidate's eligibility ? candidates had to raise enough money from individual contributions to get the state cash ? was incredible, DePillo said. "It wasn't a matter of hours, or even days, but weeks," DePillo said. "Every dime had to be traced, documented and defended. I have donated my time to the party in the past, but I knew the new reporting requirements made this almost a full-time job." DePillo defended the payment of poll standers. The Working Families Party pays its poll standers, and a number of them were in Waterbury working on behalf of the Booker campaign, which Working Families cross-endorsed, DePillo said. The leaders of the local Independent Party felt it would be unfair to have their people standing next to the Working Families volunteers, drinking the same cold coffee as they did, knowing that one group was getting paid while another was not, DePillo said. "Poll standing is hard work," DePillo said. "You are out there in the cold on your feet with barely enough time to eat a sandwich or run to the bathroom for 14 hours. I wish we could have paid people in the past, but we couldn't. Now we can." "Poll standing is hard work," DePillo said. "You are out there in the cold on your feet with barely enough time to eat a sandwich or run to the bathroom for 14 hours. I wish we could have paid people in the past, but we couldn't. Now we can." No Independent candidate who got public money paid a relative to be a poll stander, DePillo said. However, some paid each other's relatives to stand, and in some cases, due to overlapping districts, it might have been at the same polling place. For example, Booker, the party candidate in the 15th Senate District, paid Denze's niece, Brenda, $125 for standing at the polls, while Denze, the party's candidate for the 71st House District seat, paid Cicero's relative, Conrad, the same for standing for him. Some local political insiders say it is unusual to pay poll standers. The former chairman of the Democratic Party, Ron Napoli, said the local Democratic Party does not have to pay poll standers because they have plenty of people willing to volunteer their time. DePillo said his party hasn't had trouble finding volunteer poll standers for past city races, but it is more difficult for a state legislative race. Public financing might have changed the campaign rules for major parties, too. Republican incumbent Selim Noujaim, who beat Burgio in the 74th House District with the help of public financing, paid for poll standing, as did Joan Hartley, the incumbent Democrat who defeated Booker in the 15th Senate District, records show. [IMAGE] [IMAGE] ****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at mail.com Sat Jan 31 10:53:41 2009 From: timmckee at mail.com (Tim McKee) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 10:53:41 -0500 Subject: {news} Arkansas elected Green, Richard Carroll Message-ID: <20090131155341.ABAE0BE407B@ws1-9.us4.outblaze.com> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay Parks" To: "The natlcomaffairs (aka USGP-DX) listserv is used to discuss issues related to coordinated national actions and current issues." Subject: [usgp-dx] Arkansas Green, Richard Carroll Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:12:23 -0500 I found the following story about Richard Carroll very interesting. I had thought Carroll was a Green who the Democrats were trying to convince to convert. The article certainly portrays him in a different light. http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/print.aspx?ArticleID=bf458f35-158e-4226-982 6-1f2e1ffb209f Mr. Carroll goes to Little Rock NLR rep is America?s highest ranking Green. Published 1/29/2009 With his silver hair, sunglasses, and crisp black suit, Richard Carroll certainly looks the part of a state legislator. A resident of the Baring Cross neighborhood near Fort Roots in North Little Rock, Carroll was elected on the Green Party ticket to represent District 39 back in November, winning more than 80 percent of the vote. Currently, he's the highest-ranking Green in the United States. Though he cleans up well, his button-down work as a legislator is a far cry from what he really does for a living: a dirty, dangerous job as a boilermaker for the Union Pacific Railroad, Thanks to what he calls his very ?civic minded? employer, Carroll has been allowed to work the night shift at the Union Pacific yards in North Little Rock part time so he can come to the legislature during the day. From 11 p.m. to around 3 in the morning, he helps rebuild locomotives that have been damaged in derailments and accidents. He catches a few catnaps before and after work, and sleeps a lot on weekends. ?I get a couple hours sleep before I go in to the Capitol,? he said. ?I may stay until 7 o'clock, go home, get a couple more hours sleep, then go to work.? Since the replacement of steam locomotives with boilerless diesels, Carroll said, railroad boilermakers have become the ?support craft? of the engine shop. ?We uncover and take the component parts off the locomotive so the machinists can work on the engine or air compressor or radiator section. We expose it, they work on it.? When he's at his night job, Carroll said, he's typically in jeans, a T-shirt, a welding cap. A bandana keeps grit and grime from going down his neck. Prior to being elected, he already owned one weddings-and-funerals suit, but he recently bought another for the Ledge. ?I'll try to shuffle enough shirts between the suits,? Carroll said. ?And Jim Lendall, the ex-Representative from the Green Party, he gave me some jackets, but he was a 48 and I'm a 42. Some of them I can maybe get altered.? Carroll's route to the statehouse was a bit out of the way. A former chairman with North Little Rock's International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local No. 66, he said he'd never even considered running for public office until what he usually refers to as the ?situation? involving Dwayne Dobbins. The former District 39 Representative, Dobbins resigned from the House in 2005 as part of a plea bargain that reduced a felony sexual assault charge to a misdemeanor harassment charge after allegations that Dobbins improperly touched a 17-year-old girl. Dobbins' wife Sharon Dobbins subsequently won a special election after her husband resigned. Though the Democratic Party expected her to run again in 2008, her husband filed for the race an hour and a half before the deadline. The Democrats refused to support Dobbins' candidacy, and went looking for write-in candidates. ?I felt like I needed to step up,? Carroll said. ?It's the way he went about filing. If he had given the opportunity for others to know that he was the one filing, there would have been ample time for someone to step forward and run.? Once he decided to make a try for the seat, Carroll knew he had an uphill climb. His district is majority black, and though his wife is African-American, more than one person flatly told him that a white person could never get elected. After he decided to run, he contacted both the Democratic Party and the Green Party. With the Democrats, he was told his only option was to run as a write-in candidate. With the Green Party, his name would actually be on the ballot. He went with the Greens, even though polling suggested he couldn't win. ?The polls showed than a write-in candidate would end up getting more votes that a Green Party candidate on the ballot,? he said. ?I proved that wrong.? While technically a Green Party representative, Carroll admits he's not ?hardcore Green.? ?I may not agree with their platform 100 percent, but as long as I don't come out publicly in opposition to their platform, they don't have a problem with me. I respect them for that. They gave me the opportunity to run on the ballot, and I will represent the Green Party.? A staunch union man, Carroll said he would be a strong friend of labor as a legislator. The biggest items on his agenda, however, all have to do with improving life in urban communities like his own. There have been eight murders within a mile radius of his home in two years. Driving to work, he often sees the results of teen pregnancy, drugs and unemployment, and working people who don't make enough to survive. ?I see all those things every day,? Carroll said. ?People having to walk to the bus line and then walk back carrying their groceries because they don't have the money for gasoline or a car, a lot of young, high school-age mothers pushing strollers around.? Carroll said he'd like to see legislation to hold slumlords more accountable, and improved communication between local police departments and the State Police. ?Individuals don't just do crime in one neighborhood,? he said. ?They're doing crime in multiple areas, and a weapon that's used in one city might be used in another city. They could end up discovering that things are tied together.? To help convicted felons avoid the lure of criminal life, Carroll said he plans to lobby local union shops to assist in the creation of training programs, and to talk to local companies about hiring graduates of those programs ? including those who are trying to go straight. ?I feel like the unions are willing to train individuals if we're able to find companies to employ them. If [convicts] come out and get a routine, they don't have to go back to their old habits when trying to provide income ? ? For now, however, Carroll is just trying to find time between his night job, his day job, and his family life (he has two young sons at home, one of whom is disabled) to get a little sleep, all while keeping the checkbook balanced. While he's excited about the new session, he said the long-haul rigors of life as a nighttime boilermaker and daytime legislator will decide whether his name is on the ballot again. ?That's probably going to be the biggest factor that determines what I decide to do. It's not as simple as showing up and passing some bills and making up some laws. It's very in-depth decision making. The main thing is how I'm going to fare working 24 hours a week at night.? _______________________________________________ Natlcomaffairs mailing list To send a message to the list, write to: Natlcomaffairs at green.gpus.org To unsubscribe or change your list options, go to: http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/natlcomaffairs You must know your password to do this. If you can't figure out how to unsubscribe, as a last resort only, send a message OFF LIST to steveh at olypen.com If your state delegation changes, please see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/documents/delegate_change.html To report violations of listserv protocol, write to forummanagers at lists.gp-us.org For other information about the National Committee, see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/ ****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at mail.com Sat Jan 31 10:55:24 2009 From: timmckee at mail.com (Tim McKee) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 10:55:24 -0500 Subject: {news} Iceland Left-Greens say govt announcement due Sat (Reuters) Message-ID: <20090131155524.DA960BE407B@ws1-9.us4.outblaze.com> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Feinstein" To: "The natlcomaffairs (aka USGP-DX) listserv is used to discuss issues related to coordinated national actions and current issues." Subject: Re: [usgp-dx] Iceland Left-Greens say govt announcement due Sat (Reuters) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:31:05 -0800 http://www.vg.is/tungumal/english/ The Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin - gr?nt frambo?) The party was founded on February 6th 1999 after a few months work, aiming to unite socialist and conservationist groups for the elections held on May 8th. The prelude was a structural reorganisation on the left wing of Icelandic politics. On the one hand there were those who prepared the unification of three existing parties, The Social democrats (Al???uflokkur), The People's Alliance (Al???ubandalagi?) and The Women's Party (Samt?k um kvennalista) in one social-democratic party. On the other side there were those who fought for the unification of social-, environmental and feminist politics into one party. These were to be found in the above mentioned parties, especially in the Peoples Alliance and the Women's Party and in an open leftwing forum newly founded, Stefna - a forum for left politics. This movement joined forces with four MP's from The People's Alliance and The Women's Party who had the same views and had for some months formed an independent group within the parliament. In due time a new political party The Left-Green Movement was founded as a choice to the left of The Alliance (Samfylkingin). The cornerstones of it?s policy are the following: Conservation of the environment All natural resources shall be public property and utilized without reducing them and in a careful manner. So-called green economics must be used to estimate the value of untouched nature and green taxes shall be applied to encourage protection of the environment. From our point of view, it is of great importance that Icelanders can produce all the energy they need in the future. We reject further building of power plants for the use of polluting large scale industry and demand conservation of the highland. We emphasize powerful, international co-operation and conventions concerning environmental matters. Equality and social justice All individuals shall have equal rights and no discrimination can be tolerated. We demand full equality concerning education, all social service, public information and freedom of speech. It is the duty of the Icelandic state to guarantee the welfare of every citizen, especially the elderly and the disabled. The Left-Green Movement supports the strenghtening of the rural areas of Iceland by means of good social service, education, prosperous culture and various economy. Privatization in public areas is of great danger in these matters, since it usually leads to a more expensive service in rural areas. It is a project of high priority to guarantee that wages paid for 40 hours' work a week will be sufficient for a normal cost of living. Fair and prosperous economy The Left-Green Movement is willing to strengthen the position of wage earners to influence the development of our society. The party is willing to support the development of Icelandic economy to a state of more diversity and encourage the use of environment-friendly technology. It is necessary to prevent monopoly and centralization of capital, enable the conventional industries of Iceland to develop themselves and make use of Iceland's special status to create jobs of all kinds for all the inhabitants. Independent foreign policy The Left-Green Movement fights for an independent, Icelandic foreign policy that maintains the sovereignty of Iceland and supports all means of establishing global peace. The party opposes participation in military organizations such as NATO and WEU. It also rejects participation in the European Union and emphasizes simple, bilateral treaties concerning trade and co-operation. The Left-Green Movement is willing to strenghten the co-operation of all nations based on mutual respect for different opinons and different culture. The party supports and wants to strenghten the participation in democratical organizations such as the United Nations, the European Council and the Nordic Council. Iceland shall support the goals of the UN and the Declaration of Human Rights by making a contribution to the abolition of poverty and hunger, social injustice, unequal division of wealth, racial discrimination, violation of human rights and militarism. Members of the Left-Green Movement are approximately 3000 by now. The chairman is Steingr?mur J. Sigf?sson, MP, and vice-chairman is Katr?n Jakobsd?ttir MP. The secretary-general of the party is Dr?fa Sn?dal. The party got 14,3% of votes cast in the elections of May 12th 2007 and has by now 9 representatives in the parliament. They are:Atli G?slason, ?lfhei?ur Ingad?ttir, ?rni ??r Sigur?sson, J?n Bjarnason, Katr?n Jakobsd?ttir, Kolbr?n Halld?rsd?ttir, Steingr?mur J. Sigf?sson, ?ur??ur Backman and ?gmundur J?nasson. Address: The Left-Green Movement Su?urg?tu 3 Box 175 121 Reykjav?k ICELAND Website: www.vg.is E-mail: vg at vg.is Tel.: +354 552-8872 Fundamental Policies of the Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin ? gr?nt frambod) The Left-Green Movement seeks to promote radical social improvements for the benefit of the public, to promote the respect and protection of nature and the environment of Iceland and to strengthen rural areas all over Iceland. The Movement is a forum and campaign tool for those who wish to eliminate gender discrimination and ensure equal rights, women?s freedom and increased equality in society. The Left-Green Movement seeks to develop a democratic and fair society founded on the active participation of the public. The Movement rejects the autocracy of capitalism and seeks to protect the independence of the nation and its sovereignty over its own natural resources. The Left-Green Movement wishes to resign membership in military alliances. The Movement places emphasis on positive and peaceful co-operation with all nations, protecting nature and the environment of Iceland and ensuring the sustainable development of the society. The Left-Green Movement believes that the classic points of emphasis of the left movement as regards equality and social justice, radical environmental protection views and demands for sustainable development, should and must be integrated. Neither can survive on its own when looking to the future. The standards of living and welfare of the current generations cannot be based on damaging natural resources and thus curtailing the rights of the generations that follow. In the same manner this means that in a sound environmental policy, short-term interests, consumerism and greed must be replaced by the protection of the environment and the preservation of natural resources. The work at hand is to elevate the values of the real qualities of life and create a society where justice and equality are in harmony with Nature in its entirety and with Mother Earth. Fundamental Policies in Immigration Issues o All persons living in Iceland shall be equal before the law and, therefore, have the same rights and obligations. Immigrants shall be shown the same respect as any other resident of Iceland. o It is impossible to regard matters concerning immigrants as a delimited subject. Realistic policies in these matters must touch on most or all fields of politics and be indivisible from overall policy formulation for the future. o Immigrants must participate in the development of Icelandic society in all respects. To this end, mutual adaptation and integration of immigrants and Icelandic society is necessary. o Municipalities shall establish multicultural policies and continue to develop them. All such work must be undertaken in consultation with immigrants. _______________________________________________ Natlcomaffairs mailing list To send a message to the list, write to: Natlcomaffairs at green.gpus.org To unsubscribe or change your list options, go to: http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/natlcomaffairs You must know your password to do this. If you can't figure out how to unsubscribe, as a last resort only, send a message OFF LIST to steveh at olypen.com If your state delegation changes, please see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/documents/delegate_change.html To report violations of listserv protocol, write to forummanagers at lists.gp-us.org For other information about the National Committee, see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/ ****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timmckee at mail.com Sat Jan 31 12:28:55 2009 From: timmckee at mail.com (Tim McKee) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:28:55 -0500 Subject: {news} The First 100 Days of a Green Party Administration Message-ID: <20090131172855.4D88511581F@ws1-7.us4.outblaze.com> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Rensenbrink" To: natlcomaffairs Subject: [usgp-dx] The First 100 Days of a Green Party Administration Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:55:49 -0500 Hi, This op ed appeared today in the midcoast Maine daily, the Times Record. John R Maine Friday, Jan. 30, 2009 The First 100 days of a Green Party Administration letters at TimesRecord.Com 01/30/2009 By John Rensenbrink I wrote this piece the weekend before Obama's inauguration. It is partly a fantasy but it is also meant as a practical vision of what a Green president-elect might/could proclaim to the country and the world at this moment. I do not mean thereby to downplay Obama's historic moment. I was full of joy on Obama's inauguration day and very glad to hear his brave and inspiring words. He may be able to ameliorate some of the terrible problems vexing our people, so much of them caused and/or exacerbated by eight years of mendacious, unlawful and incompetent leadership. He may even be able to go at least some distance to satisfy the great expectations aroused among the people by his charismatic appeals to hope and "a better life." At the very least, his administration may give us a reprieve in which to gather our wits and create momentum for meeting successfully the multiple crises that now loom over us. With a view, then, toward staking out a practical vision that is adequate to the crises we face, I offer this sketch of what a Green administration should set about to do. You will see that it takes a different approach from the one being taken by Obama. Note also that it is based on the principle of community self-reliance and community empowerment both here and abroad. The Green Party's president-elect is about to take office in Washington, D.C. She will be joined by Green Party majorities in both Houses of Congress. Their program for their first 100 days in office includes the following highlights for both domestic and foreign policy. Domestic policy ? Initiate a $1 trillion community-based grant-in-aid program from the national government to local communities. These funds will be channeled though collaborative arrangements between state and local governments and require maximum feasible participation in governance by all parts of each local community receiving these grants. Also required is a 5 percent matching grant from each participating local community. The purposes of the grants are for sustainable community development and empowerment. The grants include funds for renewable energy, conservation, work-force housing, small business development coupled with apprenticeship programs to hire the unskilled, open space, extra support for teachers and for ecologically informed education, college scholarships, food and water security, public works, public transportation, regional cooperative projects, support for neighborhood policing programs, and support for the arts. This replaces the "bailout from the top" scheme initiated in late 2008 called the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). ? Substantially lower the income tax and combine this with a carbon tax of $250 per ton to be phased in at the rate of $25 per year from 2009 to 2020 ? the carbon tax to be offset at each step of the way with a matching reduction in income tax. This is advocated by Lester Brown of "State of the World" fame and is designed to discourage fossil fuel use and to stimulate investment of renewable sources of energy. ? Extend Medicare to the entire population; in other words, a single- payer health-care program for all. ? Establish a financial transactions fee. Economist Dean Baker (co- director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C.) estimates that a very small fee ? ranging up to, say, 0.25 percent will yield $100 billion or more annually. The fee would be placed on the sale or transfer of stocks, bonds, and other financial assets, including the great variety of exotic and speculator-driven financial instruments so much in the news lately. ? Initiate a "reparations program" for dispossessed African American and Native American peoples. ? Initiate a constitutional amendment for the election of president and vice president by popular vote. ? Pressure state and local governments to institute "instant run-off voting" in elections and to develop pilot programs for proportional representation. ? Push for laws and administrative rules in military and civilian life that provide support for gay marriage and gay families. ? End the "War on Drugs," decriminalize cannabis and support growing hemp for industrial use. Foreign policy ? Initiate, through collaborative diplomacy, "Peace," "Justice" and "Sustainability" summits, starting with summits engaging respectively the governments in the Americas, in Europe, in Africa, in the Middle East and in the Asia-Pacific region, leading to a World Summit on Peace, Justice, and Sustainability within two years. ? Promote in these summits a worldwide program for collective security; renewable energy; and community-based sustainability programs in food, water, energy development, education, transportation, and local self-reliance, with guaranteed participation by all sections of the local community. ? Promote in these summits plans and provisions to end the trade in arms, the trafficking of women, and the militarization of space. ? End the war and the military occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. ? Promote equally the security and rights of both Israel and Palestine. ? Develop a plan to close American military bases throughout the world, phasing out the bases in step with collaborative actions to provide the affected countries with alternative collective security arrangements. ? Take leadership in promoting a worldwide financial transactions fee, the funds raised to be directed primarily to solar power development in developing countries. ? Institute a worldwide carbon tax, proceeds to be used to lower taxes that burden small businesses. ? Create a World Environmental and Labor Protection Organization alongside the World Trade Organization (WTO) ... Or expand the WTO to include protection of the environment and labor. John Rensenbrink lives in Topsham. He is a founding member of the Green Party of the United States and founder of the Maine Green Independent Party. He was the 1996 Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate from Maine. Top of Story _______________________________________________ Natlcomaffairs mailing list To send a message to the list, write to: Natlcomaffairs at green.gpus.org To unsubscribe or change your list options, go to: http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/natlcomaffairs You must know your password to do this. If you can't figure out how to unsubscribe, as a last resort only, send a message OFF LIST to steveh at olypen.com If your state delegation changes, please see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/documents/delegate_change.html To report violations of listserv protocol, write to forummanagers at lists.gp-us.org For other information about the National Committee, see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/ ****************************************** Tim McKee, Manchester CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-643-2282 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT. BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From chapillsbury at igc.org Sat Jan 31 15:51:45 2009 From: chapillsbury at igc.org (Charlie Pillsbury) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:51:45 -0500 Subject: {news} REMINDER: next NHGP meeting @7:30pm Tues. 2/3 Book Trader Cafe 1140 Chapel St. In-Reply-To: References: <006b01c95358$e36081f0$aa2185d0$@org> <009101c97b51$f6cd8000$e4688000$@org> Message-ID: <005a01c983e5$bbbe7360$333b5a20$@org> NHGP chapter meeting: 7:30pm Tues. 2/3, Book Trader Caf?, 1140 Chapel St. We will end no later than 9pm, when the caf? closes. Please send me chapillsbury at igc.org or Jerry Martin gtmart345 at yahoo.com any agenda items you have to discuss. See Allan?s suggestions below. We also have a speaking request from the University of New Haven. Thanks, Charlie From: newhavengreens at yahoogroups.com [mailto:newhavengreens at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of allan brison Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 12:25 PM To: 2a-newhavengreens Subject: RE: [newhavengreens] next NHGP meeting @7:30pm Tues. 2/3 Book Trader Cafe 1140 Chapel St. Agenda items: -How can we revive the New Haven Greens? -report on the Road Show on Jan 28 in Willimantic. I am planning to attend this and, hopefully, get together for a few moments with my fellow elected Green official, Jean DeSmet. Allan _____ To: newhavengreens at yahoogroups.com; nhgreensannouncements at yahoogroups.com CC: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org; gtmart345 at yahoo.com From: chapillsbury at igc.org Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:53:49 -0500 Subject: [newhavengreens] next NHGP meeting @7:30pm Tues. 2/3 Book Trader Cafe 1140 Chapel St. We congratulate our new President Barack Obama and wish him well. We know, however, from experience that no matter good he is, he?s still a Democrat who?s going to need some progressive pushing from his Green friends. Therefore, borrowing the inaugural words of a former President, ?Ask not what the Green Party can do for you; ask what you can do for the Green Party.? One thing you can do is join us at our next NHGP chapter meeting just 2 weeks from tonight: 7:30pm Tues. 2/3, Book Trader Caf?, 1140 Chapel St. We will end no later than 9pm, because that?s when the caf? closes. Please send me or Jerry Martin any agenda items you have to discuss. And please feel free to circulate this meeting notice to other networks that you may have. Thanks, Charlie 247 Saint Ronan Street New Haven CT 06511 203-640-3889 chapillsbury at igc.org __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (3) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar MARKETPLACE _____ From kitchen basics to easy recipes - join the Group from Kraft Foods Image removed by sender. Yahoo! Groups Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity Visit Your Group Yahoo! News Fashion News What's the word on fashion and style? Group Charity i-SAFE Keep your kids safer online Check out the Y! Groups blog Stay up to speed on all things Groups! . Image removed by sender. __,_._,___ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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