You are browsing the archive for 2011 September.

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by Dave Schwab

New York Green Party rolls out list of 2011 candidates

September 30, 2011 in Local Elections

The New York Green Party has published a list of Green candidates running in this year’s general election on November 8th. The 18 candidates on the list are running for a range of local offices, including town/city council, school board, and county legislature, in locations from Syracuse and Rochester to Suffolk County. For the details, check out the Green Party of New York State website and GPW’s own list of 2011 Green candidates.

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Avatar of Dave Schwab

by Dave Schwab

Green Parties sponsor “No Nukes Tour: Organize the South!”

September 30, 2011 in Ecological Wisdom & the Environment

Hot Indie News reports:

Green Parties in several states are co-sponsoring and hosting a ‘No Nukes Tour’ of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida from Monday, October 3, to Saturday, October 8.The No Nukes Tour, with the slogan “Organize the South!”, will feature Green activist and candidate Howie Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins has been an organizer in movements for peace, justice, labor, the environment, and independent politics and against nuclear power since the late 1960s.

The tour will kick off with a press conference at 10 am at the Raleigh Old State House in North Carolina.

For more information and a schedule of tour events, read the article at Hot Indie News.

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by Edy

Green Party Watch’s Ross Levin arrested in Wall Street Protest!

September 28, 2011 in General

Ross belongs to the Philadelphia Green Party, and if any of you follow Green Party happenings across the country, he’s a regular poster throughout the Facebook world.
He is also a contributor to Greenpartywatch and Independent Political Report.
Comments from Ross Levin, GPW contributor:
“I was there wearing a Green Party shirt, as well! You can see some photos of me online if you look around…”
“I’ve got some nice big brown curly hair. It’s a Green Party of Philadelphia shirt. I got arrested Saturday, so you might see some photos of that. It’s the only green shirt that says “Green” in the Green Party font that I saw.”

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Avatar of Gregg Jocoy

by Gregg Jocoy

Green Party of the US endorses, joins ‘October 2011’ protest against the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and 2012 austerity budget

September 27, 2011 in National Greens, Press Release

OCTOBER2011.orgIn a press release sent to Green Party Watch, the Green Party of the United States endorsed plans to engage in a long term protest in Washington DC. Echoing the call from October2011.org, the press release quotes Sanda Everette of California.

“In making this endorsement, we’re challenging the dangerous political direction of the US. We also challenge others who support ‘October 2011′ to recognize the Green Party’s leadership on the issues these events will address, such as endless wars, the demand for Medicare For All universal health care and millions of new jobs, and the need to end the control of top corporations over our political system,” said Sanda Everette, member of the Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of California and former co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. Ms. Everette will participate in the October 6 event.

Greens and others interested in supporting the party and the occupation of Freedom Plaza can check for local leadership at the October 2011 website. The full text of the press release is below the fold. Read the rest of this entry →

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Avatar of Gregg Jocoy

by Gregg Jocoy

Wangari Muta Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement, Mazingira Green Party of Kenya, Nobel Peace Prize winner, dead of cancer at age 71

September 26, 2011 in obituaries

Wangari MaathaiIn a statement posted at their website, The Greenbelt Movement announced the death of Wangari Muta Maathai, the founder of the organization.

Prof. Wangari Muta Maathai started the Green Belt Movement in 1977, working with women to improve their livelihoods by increasing their access to resources like firewood for cooking and clean water. She became a great advocate for better management of natural resources and for sustainability, equity, and justice. A synopsis of her life and work can be read here.

In addition to her work with the Greenbelt Movement, Maathai founded the Mazingira Green Party of Kenya. The Daily Nation in Nairobi gives an interesting perspective on her brave efforts and extensive accomplishments. Greens and others of good will across the globe will miss her deeply.

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Avatar of Dave Schwab

by Dave Schwab

Mass Alliance endorses Mark Miller for MA State Rep

September 23, 2011 in Local Elections

The Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party has announced another endorsement for Mark Miller, the Green candidate for MA State Representative in the 3rd Berkshire District:

Breaking News! Mark just today received the endorsement of the Mass Alliance, the foremost coalition of progressive organizations in Massachusetts,  including economic and social justice, labor, immigrant, environmental, womens, gblt and progressive Democratic organizations.

This is their first ever endorsement for a Green-Rainbow candidate.  If ever there was a sign that the political landscape is changing, this is it. With endorsements from the UAW, Mass Nurses Association, and the Mass Alliances, it’s clear that Mark Miller is breaking through the Beacon Hill sound barrier, and his message – our message – is getting heard. Read the rest of this entry →

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Avatar of Dave Schwab

by Dave Schwab

Interview with Bob Henry Baber, WV Mountain Party gubernatorial candidate

September 22, 2011 in State Wide Elections

Over at Alternet, Jeff Biggers has published a detailed interview with Bob Henry Baber, the West Virginia Mountain Party’s candidate for governor in an October 4th special election:

In a blatant genuflect to the coal industry’s stranglehold over state politics, the West Virginia Broadcasters Association blocked the participation of popular Mountain Party gubernatorial candidate Dr. Bob Henry Baber last week, as it hosted a widely denounced debate between the two climate-change-denying, Big-Coal-bankrolled candidates.

Never has West Virginia seemed more like an embarrassing 19th-century throwback to dirty politics and absentee corporation control over the very heart of democratic elections than in the upcoming gubernatorial race.

Never has Baber’s inspiring and heartfelt campaign platform for a just transition to a sustainable and clean energy economy in ailing coal country seemed more timely — and threatening to the Democratic and Republican Parties.

Read Biggers’ interview with Bob Henry Baber at Alternet.

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Avatar of Dave Schwab

by Dave Schwab

KALW News interview with Terry Baum, Green for San Francisco Mayor

September 21, 2011 in Local Elections

KALW News has published an interview with Terry Baum, Green Party candidate for Mayor of San Francisco, at SFGate.com:

This year’s SF mayoral election is ranked choice, meaning San Franciscans can all vote for more than one candidate. If the frontrunner doesn’t get a majority of first place votes, the second place votes kick in. And that process is going to make for a lot of contenders – 16 of them, in fact. And one is Terry Baum.

Baum worked on the congressional campaign of famed feminist Bella Abzug back in 1970. She then moved to the Bay Area and started working with a lesbian theater company. In 2004 she ran as a Green candidate against Representative Nancy Pelosi for her seat in the House. And now, Baum is taking her thoughts back to the people of San Francisco by running for mayor.

Read the interview at SFGate.com.

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Avatar of Dave Schwab

by Dave Schwab

Utica man announces Green mayoral run

September 21, 2011 in Local Elections

The Utica Observer-Dispatch reports from Utica, New York:

UTICA — The city mayoral race is going green. Robert Clemente, 53, on Tuesday announced he will be running for mayor on the Green Party line – meaning five people are in contention for the position. Clemente acknowledged he is starting late in the race, but in the remaining time before the election, he plans to talk about issues, solutions and a vision for improving Utica, he said.

During his announcement Tuesday at F.T. Proctor Park, Clemente spoke about various goals for saving the city money, and many ideas had an environmental focus. One of his main initiatives would be to take over street-lighting from National Grid and build toward medium-scale municipal power generation using methods such as solar panels, he said. “We will think green, live green and save green,” he said.

Read the full article at the Utica Observer-Dispatch.

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Avatar of Dave Schwab

by Dave Schwab

Allwine: Baltimore press ignoring Green candidates

September 21, 2011 in Local Elections

Maria Allwine, former Maryland Green Party gubernatorial candidate, recently had a letter published in the Baltimore Sun decrying the newspaper’s failure to cover Green Party candidates in local elections:

As usual, The Sun does a grave disservice to its readers and Baltimore City voters by refusing to acknowledge that there are Green Party candidates running in the general election. No mention is made of Doug Armstrong, running for City Council in the 14th District and Bill Barry, running for City Council in the 3rd. Both Bill and Doug are long-time community organizers and are exactly what Baltimore needs to break the stranglehold the Democratic party machine has had for decades as well as the pay-to-play system that benefits wealthy developers and political insiders and leaves the citizens of this city out in the cold. Mr. Barry received 27 percent of the vote in his previous run against Councilman Robert Curran, and with unbiased coverage from The Sun, he could well win this time. No doubt the possibility of Green Party candidates winning is why The Sun refuses to cover them. Read the rest of this entry →

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by Gregg Jocoy

Rev. Billy occupies Wall Street

September 19, 2011 in Grassroots Democracy, Social & Economic Justice

Changeallulia!

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Avatar of Dave Schwab

by Dave Schwab

Arlington Green Party candidate to speak at solar event

September 19, 2011 in Local Elections

The Arlington Sun Gazette reports:

Green Party candidate for County Board Audrey Clement will be the featured speaker at a discussion of solar options for Arlington County on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Northside Social Restaurant and Cafe, 3211 Wilson Blvd.

For information, see the Web site at www.audreyclement.org or call (571) 830-8889.

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Avatar of Dave Schwab

by Dave Schwab

Memorial bike ride honors Natasha Pettigrew, 2010 MD Green Party US Senate candidate

September 19, 2011 in obituaries

Gazette.net reports on a bike ride held in memory of Natasha Pettigrew, the Maryland Green Party’s 2010 US Senate candidate who was killed by a motorist while riding her bike last year:

Sophie Chan-Wood didn’t know Natasha Pettigrew, but when the avid cyclist heard about a Saturday morning memorial ride honoring the Cheverly woman, she saw an opportunity to ride to Prince George’s County via the Watts Branch Trail from Washington, D.C.

However, it wasn’t until the Rockville woman was hundreds of feet from the site of the Sept. 19, 2010, hit and run that claimed cyclist Pettigrew’s life that the car honking began, a reminder that both motorists and bicycles should be able to share the road. Read the rest of this entry →

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Avatar of Dave Schwab

by Dave Schwab

German Greens gain in Berlin state election

September 19, 2011 in International Greens

The German Green Party has gained support in another state election, this time in Berlin. From BBC News coverage:

The SPD – who have been in opposition nationally since 2009 – won around 29% of the vote, down from 30.8% in 2006. Mrs Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union gained just over 23%, up slightly from 21.3% in 2006, while the Greens won 18%, up from 13.1%. The Left party vote fell from 13.4% in 2006 to 11.5%. Meanwhile, the little-known Pirate Party, a libertarian party whose programme includes greater personal data protection and the legalising of cannabis, garnered more than 8% of the vote.

The Social Democrats already held control of the government of Berlin, but they are now expected to replace their current partners, the Left party, with the Greens.

Read the full article at BBC News.

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Avatar of Ronald Hardy

by Ronald Hardy

Anita Rios Advances in Toledo Primary

September 16, 2011 in Local Elections

Anita Rios is running for Toledo City Council. On Tuesday she finished second of three candidates. Although the race is non-partisan, Rios proudly portrays herself as a Green, and the other two candidates are well known as a Democrat and a Republican. From the Lucas County Green Party:

Friends and family of Anita Rios and Sean Nestor excitedly waited for the results of the primaries last night at the Attic on Adams. This was one the few times that more than one Green Party candidate was on the ballot in Toledo. Nestor finished with 147 votes, bumping him out of the race with 8.48% of the District 6 votes. Rios came in second in District 4 with 15.49% of the votes and will go on to the general election in November.

“Fundamentally, I am running for the Toledo City council because I love this city which has always been my home.” says Rios.

Rios continues, “Like the rest of the rust belt, we are experiencing very hard times. But we must not let that be an excuse for eroding the foundations of our community, with living wage public sector jobs being a vital part of our infrastructure. We must not allow a plea of poverty to be the excuse for privatizing those functions that we all depend on or for diminishing workers rights, nor must it be an excuse for eroding our educational system or under staffing our police and fire departments.”

It is extremely challenging running as a minor party, whether here in Toledo or anywhere else in the U.S. The two main parties have been in control for so long, and so many people vote based solely on party and not on the actual candidate. Yet many other people are disenfranchised and don’t vote because of this system. House bill 194, that is being challenged would put in place restrictive ballot access rules that make it harder for third parties to gain recognition by the state.
Read the rest of this entry →

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