Green Party Watch

WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party leaders expressed puzzlement and outrage over the decision to award President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize, and urged widespread demonstrations against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to take place in Oslo, Washington, and other cities on the day Mr. Obama picks up his prize in Oslo.

“The chief difference between President Obama and President Bush on war policy is one of salesmanship. The international cooperation that the Nobel Committee praises means only that Mr. Obama has had more success in selling aggressive war policies — maintaining the Afghanistan and Iraq occupations, with plans to increase troop levels in Afghanistan,” said Jody Grage, treasurer of the Green Party of the United States (and a Norwegian-American).

“We hope that those who support the Nobel Committee’s decision and are proud of President Obama will join antiwar protests and urge Mr. Obama to honor the Peace Prize by ending the occupations,” Ms. Grage added.
read more »

In a message today, the Reverend Billy Talen, who is running for Mayor of New York City on the Green Party line, had this to say about Barack Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize:

Now we have to change all our words around.

I never thought of Peace as a word that was moveable. All our words have been shifted by Consumerism and Militarism. Democracy is gone, America and Freedom are gone. Peace always stayed there in one place.

Peace patiently waited for us to notice the best things about ourselves. Peace always stayed with us. Peace was ignored by the governments and the powerful but it was still there – the monument that is made of the sky and the wind, our memories of a face and our loving touch. But now we have to change our words around. They have taken the word Peace and we’ll have to make up a new word, a secret signal.

Predator drones will be released tonight destroying the word we always depended on. The flying bomb will go out over the villages, sailing over the sleeping children and prayers and friends stopping for a laugh. The bombs will float and hesitate and change direction from computers in Florida and Missouri and the soldiers at the computers will know that Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. And so they will be consumers of a war that is now being marketed as a product named Peace.

So – it has come to this. War has finally captured Peace.

From Green Change:

This morning, President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” the Nobel Committee said.

Why?

Did Obama bring peace to Iraq?

No. He has retained 124,000 U.S. troops there, with tens of thousands deployed perhaps indefinitely.

Did he bring peace to Afghanistan?

No. He has escalated the Afghan war, and is part responsible for the scores of civilian deaths that have occurred there. He has done this despite that most Americans believe that the war is “not worth fighting.”

Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the Nobel committee said in an interview that “Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics.” Has Obama done anything singular to stop the worldwide crisis of climate change?

No. He has spent little or no political capital on the climate crisis, and still refuses to commit the U.S. to strong actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And there are widespread reports that he is trying to weaken the Copenhagen global climate treaty.

Jagland said that “The Nobel Committee has in particular looked at Obama’s vision and work toward a world without atomic weapons.” But on this issue, Obama is merely implementing the ideas of the more conservative foreign policy minds of our nation, including Henry Kissinger.

Did he beat the swords of the giant U.S. defense budget into plowshares of peace?

No. In fact, he will soon sign into law the largest defense bill in our nation’s history.

Has he brought home the troops scattered across the world stationed to maintain our empire?

No. We still have an estimated 1,000 military bases in foreign lands worldwide.

Has he stopped our nation’s scandalous weapons trade?

No. The U.S. has expanded its weapons trade. We now supply 2/3rds of the world’s foreign armaments.

Did Obama sign the cluster munitions treaty to ban cluster bombs, because 98% of cluster bomb casualties are children?

No. The U.S. has not signed the cluster munitions treaty.

Has Obama brought home the army of mercenaries we have stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan?

No. He has expanded the ranks of these mercenaries to 250,000.

There are millions of people across our world who spend their blood and sweat every day for peace — real peace. Every one of them deserves the Nobel Peace Prize far more than Barack Obama.

U.S. President Barack Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

“for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”

Obama joins Wangari Muta Maathai, founder of Africa’s Green Belt Movement and Kenya’s Green Party. Hopefully Obama will find opportunities to discuss future steps in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with Maathai and other Peace Prize recipients before committing to more destruction and violence.

Short tidbits of information about the Peace Prize and it’s winners can be found here.

WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party leaders, activists, and members across the US plan to participate in mass rallies, marches, coordinated local and regional demonstrations, and other forms of protest to take place on and around Saturday, October 17 calling for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The National Assembly to End the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars (https://www.natassembly.org/Home_Page.html) is coordinating the nationwide mid-October protests. October 2009 marks the eighth year of the US war in Afghanistan and seven years since Congress passed a resolution authorizing an invasion of Iraq.

Check the list of October 17th anti-war protests for an action near you, make arrangements with fellow Greens to attend, and convince our friends in the peace movement to join the Green Party – the only national peace party. read more »

Green Party candidate for NYC Mayor Rev. Billy Talen recently made national news by rallying protesters at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh. His post-G20 reflection is well worth a read:

September 26, 2009

We’re flying home for a labor rally in front of Goldman Sachs as G-20 continues Friday afternoon. The last 24 hours in Pittsburgh leave me with a shudder. The miles of concrete and steel fencing, and the thousands of Robo-Cop imitators have come into all of us. We deal with the lock-down in Pittsburg with a mix of awe and comedy. And sadness: President Obama’s turn away from the leadership of peace has accelerated in these last days. He makes his graceful entrances, but he has disappeared into his 20 nations, throwing up hard walls as he retreats. read more »

From GPUS:

Today members of the Green Party of the United States and our state Green
Parties reflect on a number of personal tragedies resulting from the events of September 11, 2001, and continue to work to prevent further tragedies resulting from these events.

We note the importance of remembering those who died eight years ago and those survivors who work today for justice, peace, and the stability of a sustainable, democratic society.

We urge the Obama administration to fulfill the promises made to reverse the Bush administration policy of waging war in Iraq and Afghanistan in response to 9/11. We challenge President Obama to abandon his plans to commit another 20,000 American troops to the occupation of Afghanistan and demand that he withdraw all troops from Iraq, as he had promised during his Presidential campaign.

We believe that building a strong base of Green officeholders will increase pressure on the local, state, and federal level for more peaceful alternatives to occupation and war. We need your support to run more candidates.

On September 20th, 2001, the Green Party of the United States noted that a military response to the events of September 11, 2001 would lead to “a protracted war [that] will result in thousands, perhaps millions more civilian casualties, including many Americans, leading to further attacks against the U.S. and other nations and to possible destabilization of a region that includes Pakistan, which owns nuclear weapons…”

The Green Party notes that although a major incident has yet to occur in the United States, the U.S.-led response to the events of September 11, 2001 has resulted in 5,130 American deaths, over 30,000 injuries to American soldiers, an unknown number of civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan – listed in published reports as anywhere between 100,000 and one million people – major bombings in Madrid in March of 2004 and London in July of 2005, and continued instability through the Middle East.
The Green Party continues to work toward its goal, also stated on September 20, 2001, of “peace with justice: peace which preserves the human rights and stability for all people in the Middle East, the U.S., and the rest of the world, and justice for those who have suffered death, injury, and loss”.

Today we remember the losses of September 11, 2001, and re-commit ourselves to building a nation of peace, justice, human rights, and stability through our continued growth as an alternative to two administrations of war. We hope you will continue to support the Green Party of the United States.

Remember, the Green Party takes no money from real estate companies, private health insurance providers, or lobbyists. In fact, we don’t take ANY corporate money because we think corporate money in politics is wrong. If you agree, please help us today. Your donation to the Green Party will help us make sure we have a strong Green Party today and into the future.

I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who said “When I make my enemy into my friend, have I not destroyed my enemy utterly?” I may have that more than a bit off, but I think it’s fairly close.

If the Green Party is to grow into a force capable of electing enough people to reverse the destruction industrial society has wrought on the planet and it’s people, we are going to have to turn a lot of enemies into friends. We won’t do that by saying “Democrats suck” or “Republicans suck”, for when we do that we are telling the voters, almost all of whom have only voted for Democrats and Republicans, that they have been fools every time they have voted. Most people don’t appreciate being told that they have been behaving foolishly.

It seems to me that we in the Green Party need examples from real life who have the skills to reach out to those who believe they are our enemies and turn them into friends. As an example I point to the amazing Joan Baez.

In an article at Waging Peace writer Eric Stoner tells the tale of Ms. Baez and a recent concert in Idaho Falls. Four veterans were outside her venue holding signs that accused her of being a traitor and of being responsible for killing babies. Instead of ignoring them, she went to them. Instead of trying to argue with them, she listened. I was not there, but I don’t imagine they convinced Baez that she was wrong to openly oppose the war in Vietnam. I also doubt she convinced them that she was right to do so. But something was accomplished that would not have been accomplished had she been too proud or scared to reach out. Some level of friendship was established.

I’d encourage you to read this story about a woman who has served humanity and our higher purpose almost her entire life as best I can tell. Perhaps that will help us understand why she supports Rev. Billy Talen, what we can do to be more effective in our own personal interactions, and what good can come from loving and caring for our enemies.

Elston McCowan, a Baptist minister and SEIU union official who ran for mayor of St. Louis in 2009 on the Green Party line, was attacked at an 8/6 town hall forum on healthcare reform outside St. Louis in Mehlville, MO. As reported by Patrick M. O’Connell of the St. Louis Dispatch, both tea party protesters and SEIU counter-protesters blame each other for instigating the violence.

Among the injured was Kenneth Gladney, 38, of St. Louis. He said he was with the Tea Party, handing out yellow flags with “Don’t tread on me” printed on them, when he was assaulted. He said he sought hospital treatment for injuries to his knee, back, elbow, shoulder and face.

“I was attacked for something I believe in,” he said.

But Elston McCowan, an SEIU staffer, said Gladney was actually an instigator. McCowan accused Gladney of attacking him as he walked to his car. McCowan said he suffered a dislocated shoulder.

“Out of nowhere, the guy just assaults me,” said McCowan, 47, of St. Louis.

This Youtube video of the incident gives a better idea of what happened. read more »

Some people say that there’s no difference between Democrats and Republicans. I don’t think it’s fair, or for that matter, plausible, to make that claim. The problem with the Democratic Party is that there isn’t as much of a difference between Republican politicians and Democratic politicians as there ought to be – certainly not as much of a difference as Democratic voters like to believe that there is.

Those of us who are in the Green Party need to remember that most Democrats truly believe that there is a great deal of difference between their leaders and the leaders of the Republican Party. What Green Party candidates need to do is to walk a balanced line, acknowledging the differences that really do exist between Republicans and Democrats, while showing Democrats the ways in which the distinction between the two dominant parties is insufficient.

A timely example of this balanced approach is the issue of nuclear weapons. Tomorrow is the 64th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. A poll of Republicans, Democrats and political independents (not members of the Independent Party) about the Hiroshima bombing, by Quinnipiac University, was released just yesterday.

The results: Republicans were strongly in favor of the nuclear attack, 74 percent supporting the decision to drop the atom bomb, and only 13 percent against. Democrats were different. The largest group of Democrats, 49 percent, expressed support for the nuclear attack. Only 29 percent of Democrats said they disagreed with the attack, and 22 percent said they were unsure.

Let’s not make the mistake of thinking that political independents are more likely to reject the Hiroshima attack than Democrats. 65 percent of independents expressed support for the nuclear attack against Hiroshima, and 23 percent being unsure.

What about Green Party members? Where did they stand in the poll? Well, they didn’t stand in the poll. They weren’t counted as Green Party members. However, it’s a safe bet that a strong majority of Green Party members would express rejection of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. After all, the Green Party has non-violence as one of its 10 key values. The Democratic Party doesn’t even have the word “non-violence” in its platform.

What do we do with this information?

It’s clear that the Democratic Party is not a party of non-violence. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any Democrats who support non-violence. There are many who do. In fact, of the three political groups considered by this poll, the Democratic Party had the most non-violent members. With only the information contained in the poll, many voters might conclude that the best way to support non-violence. Of course, if the Green Party is added to the consideration, the Democratic Party’s support for non-violence looks downright weak.

There are 29 percent of Democrats who expressed a strong belief in non-violence in this poll. They aren’t being represented well by their own political party. They ought to be open to considering the Green Party, but that consideration won’t take place unless they perceive the Green Party as being a politically viable option.

We need to woo these Democrats, not assault them with generalizations that they know aren’t true. They know that there’s a difference between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, and they also know that there is a great deal of diversity within the Democratic Party. When we acknowledge that diversity, we encourage non-violent Democrats to differentiate themselves from their political party as a whole. When that differentiation is accomplished, these Democrats can begin to see that their ideals aren’t being promoted by the Democratic Party leadership, and the Green Party option, reasonably communicated, becomes a lot more attractive.

You’ve got to recognize the sheep as an individual separate from the flock before it will have the courage to start acting like a goat.

The Mahoning Valley Green Party (Youngstown, Ohio) will be participating in the National Night Out 2009 Movement by parading around Wick Park In Youngstown, Ohio to speak out against crime and drugs. “It’s our way of reaching out to the inner city that the Green Party is the alternative party for inner city residents,” said co-founder Dennis Spisak.

If your group would like to find at National Nights Out event in your area, go to the National Night Out 2009 Web-site  http://www.nationalnightout.org/nno/

Rice N Peas has an interview with Cynthia McKinney posted followed by what is described as a video smuggled out of Israel taken on board the Dignity as the Israeli Navy was intercepting it. Definitely worth watching.

From the Interview:

Last year in the midst of the Israeli onslaught against the people of Gaza, you attempted to break the Israeli siege by entering by boat. What happened?

We were rammed by the Israelis. There I got a chance to see the complicity of the media. We had CNN on board and the CNN reporter was literally arguing in the midst of a tragedy; he was arguing with headquarters because they didn’t believe what he was telling them. They would have rather run the story as the Israelis told them. I have seen how the media self-censor, twist, contort themselves to report misleading stories and then they report outright lies.

Thanks to Jacqui for the link!

A note from Cynthia McKinney circulating on the e-mail lists:

The Viva Palestina convoy, led by George Galloway, is about to leave Gaza after having been permitted to enter for a period of 24 hours after waiting 11 days in Cairo for permission to enter Gaza. That in and of itself is a major story when expanded to include the inability of Gazans to exit The Strip–even if only to enter another part of their country, the West Bank or to move about freely in the fictional “Palestinian State.” I say fictional because it continues to dwindle even while peace talks are underway. Fictional, because Palestinian elections deemed by international observers to be free and fair, don’t count if the US- and Israel-approved party loses, and the winners get to sit for years in an Israeli jail. Fictional, because they use Israel’s currency here, the shekel, and the international roaming on our US cell phones indicates calls are from Israel.

Gaza is beautiful. Gaza is full of life, despite Israel’s Operation Cast Lead. And now, I have seen, Gaza has been bombed to smithereens. I think I’ve mastered my video camera enough to share some images with you. I’ll post them on the sites below when I return. In the meantime, my fellow Americans and citizens of the world, we have a lot to do to put right all the wrong things done in our name. Much love to all of you who helped me, guided me, prayed for me, to make this successful entry into Gaza happen.

Viva Palestina!!
Free Gaza!!

–
http://www.livestream.com/dignity
http://dignity.ning.com/
http://www.twitter.com/dignityaction
http://www.myspace.com/dignityaction
http://www.myspace.com/runcynthiarun
http://www.twitter.com/cynthiamckinney
http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaMcKinney

As many of you have noted, Green Party Watch has been a source of both original reporting on this breaking story, and a source of news first developed by others. With only volunteers and no cash resources we have been able to keep you, our valued readers, as up-to-date as we could.

Even so, the corporate media, with their larger budgets and better access, have gotten a good deal of information to which we can only link.

This story from Irish Times covers Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maireád Maguire, who was on board the Spirit of Humanity when it and all crew were taken by the Israeli Defense Force. The article says Maguire remains incommunicado in an Israeli prison
read more »

Fox News, the first of the corporate media to begin covering the saga of the Spirit of Humanity, carries a piece by David Lewkowict titled “Cynthia Mckinney Does it Again”. Fox News is also carrying a legitimate news piece which points out, as reported here earlier today, that McKinney and the rest are free to leave if they sign a statement that they violated Israeli territorial waters.

Former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney and several other human rights activists remain in an Israeli prison after refusing to sign a deportation form that they claim is self-incriminating.

An article by Kent A. Miles at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution quotes a Washington DC based Israeli spokesman Jonathan Peled saying that preparations are being made to deport the activists.

“It is taking slightly longer. Former congresswoman McKinney is not cooperating with the authorities” and refusing to sign a document acknowledging deportation, he said.

“It’ll take a couple more days before she is put on a plane and flown out of Israel,”