http://www.gpofpa.org/ Green Party of Pennsylvania en-us http://www.gpofpa.org/images/logo.gif http://www.gpofpa.org/ webmaster@gpofpa.org http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=286 Greens congratulate Cynthia McKinney, recipient of the 'Peace through Conscience' award from the Munich American Peace Committee • McKinney will accept the award at a peace conference in the same city as NATO's Munich Security Conference, which will address the war on Afghanistan; Greens contrast McKinney's 'deserved' award with Obama's Nobel Peace Prize • Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on peace, foreign policy, and other related issues: http://www.gp.org/speakers WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States congratulated former US Representative Cynthia McKinney after an announcement that she will receive the 'Peace through Conscience' award from the Munich American Peace Committee (MAPC / http://www.mapc-web.de). Ms. McKinney was the Green Party's 2008 nominee for President of the United States. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=285 GREENS CALL PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE START OF VEON TRIAL TO ADDRESS PENNSYLVANIA'S CULTURE OF CORRUPTION • Party and its 2006 US Senate candidate were the object of Bonusgate abuses • Encourages deeper investigation by Attorney General and media. The Green Party of Pennsylvania has called a press conference for today, Monday, February 1, at noon in the lobby area outside of Courtroom 1 at the Dauphin County Courthouse. The conference is set to coincide with the first day of the trial of former Democratic State Representative, Michael Veon, and three legislative staffers. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=284 GREEN PARTY PRESS CONFERENCE ON BONUSGATE At the Dauphin County Courthouse at noon on Monday, February 1, Green Party of PA member Carl Romanelli, along with Steve Baker and Blyden Potts, spoke to members of the press about the implications of the bonusgate scandal for Romanelli's case and ballot access generally. The event was timed to coincide with opening arguments in the bonusgate trial of Former Democratic Party Whip Mike Veon and his staffers. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=283 Greens: Obama, in his State of the Union speech, must reverse his failed policies on health, war, climate change, fiscal responsibility, jobs • Online (audio/video) Green Party discussion and response to Obama's State of the Union speech TONIGHT, featuring 2008 Green presidential nominee and former US Rep. Cynthia McKinney, Green candidates, and Green Party leaders, 6 pm to 9 pm PT, 9 pm to midnight ET: http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus • Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on various issues: http://www.gp.org/speakers WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party candidates and leaders called on President Obama to announce a reversal in his administration's current actions and policies when he delivers his 2010 State of the Union address on Wednesday, January 27. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=282 Greens: Make peace, political self-determination, and economic self-sufficiency part of the US aid for post-earthquake Haiti Green Party leaders assert that aid to Haiti must not be delivered under the barrel of a US machine gun; Greens thank Obama for granting long overdue Temporary Protected Status to Haitians in the US Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on peace, human rights, foreign policy, and other related issues: http://www.gp.org/speakers Green Party Black Caucus contacts: http://www.gp.org/committees/black WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders expressed sympathy and solidarity with the people of Haiti in the wake of Tuesday's catastrophic earthquake, and urged President Obama to make peace, political self-determination, and economic self-sufficiency part of US relief efforts for Haiti. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=281 Today the Green Party of Pennsylvania learned that the League of Women Voters of Lackawanna County added a pro-environment speaker to its line-up for Wednesday's panel on gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. A member of Damascus Citizens, a noted anti-drilling group, has been invited to send a representative to the event scheduled to take place at the University of Scranton. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=280 Green Party notes pro-drilling stance of Shale panel Asks League of Women Voters to invite real environmental proponents and people from affected communities • The League of Women Voters of Lackawanna County is hosting a forum on Marcellus Share, Wednesday, January 20 at the University of Scranton • All three panelists are known to support natural gas extraction The League of Women Voters, in partnership with Scranton University's Task Force on Sustainability, invited speakers from the natural gas industry, the state Department of Environmental Protection (sic) and Penn-Future. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=279 Oral arguments for Green leader's Electoral College Mal-Apportionment civil action (Gordon v. Biden), earlier set for Jan. 14, have been canceled Greens support Asa Gordon's action, calling it a demand for fair elections, voters' rights, and racial justice Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on electoral reform and democracy: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-democratic.php WASHINGTON, DC -- Oral arguments for a major voting rights civil action filed by Green Party leader Asa Gordon, originally scheduled to take place in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (No. 09-5142) on Thursday, January 14, 2010, has been canceled. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=278 Mel Packer, long-time peace activist, and member of the Green Party of Allegheny County, will be in Philadelphia the weekend of January 16-17. We have invited him to give a brief talk to the Green Party of Philadelphia about the future of the peace movement in the age of Obama. Save the date! http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=277 Green Party leaders: US negotiators at the Copenhagen summit helped kill necessary measures against global warming, replacing them with vague vows on greenhouse gas emissions • Green Party Speakers Bureau: US Greens available to speak on ecological sustainability and global warming http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-ecological.php WASHINGTON, DC -- US Green Party leaders expressed their dismay with the failure of the UN summit in Copenhagen to reach an agreement on international action to curb climate change. Greens have been especially critical of the grossly inadequate emissions reduction proposals that the US and other rich countries brought to Copenhagen, the lockout of NGOs from the Bella Center while oil company executives were welcomed, the brutal treatment of protesters in Copenhagen, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's announcement by that concrete measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would be replaced by vows of transparency and good intentions. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=276 Oral arguments for Green leader's Electoral College Mal-Apportionment civil action (Gordon v. Biden) to be heard in court on Jan. 14, 2010 • Greens call Asa Gordon's action a demand for fair elections, voters' rights, and racial justice • Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on electoral reform and democracy: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-democratic.php WASHINGTON, DC -- A major voting rights civil action filed by Green Party leader Asa Gordon is scheduled for oral argument in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (No. 09-5142) on Thursday, January 14, 2010. The civil action seeks enforcement of the US Constitution's 'Mal-Apportionment Penalty' (14th Amendment, Section 2), which mandates a reduction of a state's presidential electors and congressional representatives ("the basis of representation therein shall be reduced") if "the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States... is denied... or in any way abridged." http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=275 Green Party Endorses House Bill 1994 to Outlaw Juvenile Life Sentences without Parole • Eight other states already ban juvenile life sentences without parole • Pennsylvania has highest number of juveniles serving life sentences without parole in nation Last night, the Steering Committee of the Green Party of Pennsylvania votes to endorse PA House Bill 1994 to outlaw juvenile life sentences without parole. This comes as a follow-up to its earlier call for an investigation into the privatization of juvenile detention facilities (http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=209). Eight other States have already prohibited the sentencing of minors without parole, including Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico, New York and West Virginia in addition to the District of Columbia. With House Bill 1994, Pennsylvania could add its proud name to this growing list. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=274 (Distributed by the Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org) Global Greens call for honest, scientifically sound climate agreement GLOBAL GREENS Media release: Copenhagen, Sunday 13 December 2009 Posted: 06:50AM Published: 12.14.2009 As the Copenhagen COP enters its second week, the Global Greens today called for an honest climate agreement, based on science not tricky accounting. The Global Greens are concerned that rich nations are building loopholes into the agreement to give the appearance of strong targets without the reality. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=273 (Forwarded by the DC Statehood Green Party (http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org). End US Wars is a nonpartisan coalition.) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE End US Wars http://www.enduswars.org "No You Can't!" Rally at the White House on December 12 Unity among Peace Movement Groups against Obama War Escalation -- Warning of Reprisals to Troop Surge WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 12, 11 am to 4 pm WHERE: Lafayette Park in Washington, DC CONTACT: Laurie Dobson, 207-604-8988, contact@enduswars.org http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=272 Want to get involved with community media? There's a new chance to start two community radio stations in north central PA! http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=271 Green Party opposes escalation, urges Obama to announce US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in his Dec. 1 speech • 2008 Green presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney and 2010 Maine Green gubernatorial candidate Lynne Williams will speak at Dec. 12 Emergency Anti-Escalation Rally outside the White House (http://www.enduswars.org) • Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on foreign policy and peace: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-foreign-policy.php / http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-peace.php WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders called on President Obama to reverse his Afghanistan policy by pledging an immediate cease-fire in the Afghanistan war and a complete withdrawal of US troops and military contractors, when he addresses the nation on Tuesday, December 1. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=269 Greens blast the anti-choice Stupak Amendment in the Democrats' health care bill, predict voter anger and defections from the Democratic Party over the amendment • Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on women's rights: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-womens-rights.php / on health care reform: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders today called the Stupak Amendment in the recently passed US House bill on health care reform a disaster for women's reproductive rights and a betrayal of the Democrats' stated support for women's rights and well-being. Many Greens foresee growing anger among Democratic voters, especially women, and possible defections from the Democratic Party over the amendment. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=268 Greens urge defeat of the Democrats' "insurance industry life-support" bill in the US Senate and call for a rally of efforts to enact Single-Payer/Medicare For All • The US House bill passed on Saturday favors the insurance industry over Americans who need medical care; no heath care reform bill should be enacted that doesn't allow states to enact Single-Payer, say Greens, who slam House Democrats for killing a vote on Single-Payer last week • Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on health care reform: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php WASHINGTON, DC -- In the wake of a US House vote passing a Democratic health care bill (HR 3962), Green Party leaders and health care activists are calling for a defeat of the bill, calling it little more than a program to subsidize the insurance industry. Greens are urging supporters of real universal health care to intensify efforts to win Capitol Hill support for Single-Payer/Medicare For All national health care. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=270 Greens make gains in city council races across the US on Election Day 2009, with a 35% victory rate in municipal elections • Green Party beachhead in California: Greens take a majority of seats on Fairfax Town Council; see Preliminary Election Day results for Greens at http://www.gp.org/elections/2009-videos/november-results.html • 'Send a Green to Congress in 2010': Greens will reach out to voters who are disappointed by Obama and Dems but haven't forgotten eight years of GOP misrule under Bush WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party made a strong showing in city council races across the US on Election Day, November 3, 2009. Greens now make up a majority on the Fairfax Town Council in Marin County, California, where first-place finisher Pam Hartwell-Herrero joins incumbents Lew Tremaine and Larry Bragman. Fairfax becomes the fourth municipality in the US to have a Green majority, following Arcata and Sebastopol in California and New Paltz in New York. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=267 Greens in the US protest attempts by the government of Rwanda to suppress the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda • Statement from party founder Frank Habineza; government officials use obstructions, security forces use violence to prevent Rwandan Greens from meeting; breaking news posted at http://www.gp.org/campaigns/international/rwanda/index.php WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States today expressed solidarity with the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR, http://rwandagreendemocrats.org) and condemned attempts by Rwandan government security forces to sabotage the party and prevent it from holding its historic first national congress. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=266 US Senate Candidate Arrested in Health Care for All Sit-In Inside Senator Lieberman's DC Office November 5th, 2009 Washington DC - Thursday morning in the Dirksen Senate office building, nine peaceful protesters refused to leave Joseph Lieberman's office until the senator agreed that he would stop taking campaign contributions from the insurance industry. Among those arrested was Midge Potts, Green/Progressive Party candidate for US Senate in Missouri in 2010. The demonstration was organized by Mobilization for Health Care for All, a nonviolent campaign to end private health insurance abuse. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=265 Greens Make a Difference in November 3 Elections The Green Party made some big new moves and proved that it has earned the voter's support in Tuesday's local elections. Greens in California made history again by winning, for the fourth time in American history, a majority on a town council. Pam Hartwell-Herrero finished first of seven candidates to join Lew Treamine and Larry Bragman on the majority-Green Fairfax Town Council. Greens also earned majorities on the Arcata, CA council in the late 90s and in Sebastopol, CA and the village of New Paltz, NY earlier in this decade. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=264 Jay Sweeney Elected as Auditor of Falls Township Jay Sweeney, long-time Green Party member and three-time candidate, won his race for Auditory of Falls Township in yesterday's general election. He ran unopposed and won the seat with 99% of the vote. Sweeney will join Leif Winter, Auditor of Franklin Township in Susquehanna County, as the only other Green Party elected official in Northeast PA. Previously, Sweeney has run for State Representative and Congress, gaining momentum and support with each successive race. http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=263 Election results of all Green Party candidates: Jay Sweeney won Auditor of Falls Township (Wyoming Co.) with 99% of the vote. Steve Baker lost Auditor of Springettsburgy Township (York Co.) with 21% of the vote to a Republican challenger. The Green ticket of Martin Boksenbaum and Juanita Carra-Budzek lost their bids for the two Town Supervisor positions, Lehigh Township (Northampton Co). with 13% and 12% of the vote respectively in a 5-way race. A Dem and Rep won the two seats with 25% and 31% respectively. Albert "Bert" Taylor lost City Council, 6th District, Erie (Erie Co). with 2% of the vote in a four way race with a Dem, Rep, and Ind. The Dem won with 32%. Other candidates of interest: Bill Smedley won Constable of Nippenose Twp (Lycoming Co.) with 92% of the vote. He was first elected as a Green, but was forced to seek re-election as a Republican (only because of a technical glitch). http://www.gpofpa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=262 Green Party candidates to watch on Election Day 2009 WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party highlighted several Green candidates running strong campaigns in the 2009 races, with some likely victories on Election Day, November 3. 158 Green Party candidates have announced runs in local and state races. Below are profiles of some of the more promising and prominent candidates, with campaign web site links and some quotes. For information about more Green candidates and information about Green electoral efforts, see: