July 2021 Green Star

July 2021

Working toward a future where people and planet are valued, and our government represents all of us.

Green Party Women Respond to PA Attack on Reproductive Rights
By GPPA Co-chair Tina Olson

Since the beginning of Covid, the “Don’t Tread on Me” patriots have joked about masks, “Keep your laws off my body.” This bait-and-switch of a hijacked slogan took a turn for the worse on May 25 as a PA House committee passed three bills to legislate and incriminate people with uteruses. The offensive bills are, the Unborn Child Dignity Legislation (HB 118); the Heartbeat Bill (HB 904); and the Down Syndrome Protection Bill (HB 1500). Women of the Green Party responded in solidarity with protecting women’s right to choose.

Co-Chair of the Green Party of the U.S. Kristin Combs (Philadelphia) said, “I've grown to expect that even our most progressive state legislators only provide a levee between us and a dystopian future, but for three bills targeting reproductive rights to pass in one day is an extraordinarily reckless display of neglect.”

Co-chair of the GPPA Tina Olson (Lehigh Valley) said, “The Green Party stands with a person’s right to choose whether or not to sustain a pregnancy. In fact, we encourage our representatives to push past the patriarchy and to fund free birth control which would reduce unintended pregnancies. Unintended pregnancies and medically harmful pregnancies should not be forced to term. Doing so increases maternal morbidity, the overall well-being and balance of self determination.”

(show all)

GPPA News Highlights

edited by Chris Robinson

Montco Green Party chooses Henry Conoly for U.S. Congress in 2022 Election Members of the Green Party of Montgomery County, meeting virtually on June 21, unanimously recommended that Henry Conoly should be the Green Party candidate for U.S. Congress District 1 in the 2022 General Election. Alex Noyle said in his email to GPPA requesting nomination of Henry Conoly, “He brings in multiple new volunteers, policies, and perspectives. He is an incredible asset to our chapter. He demonstrates leadership and determination on key issues, which is badly needed on the national stage.”

GPPA Delegates Endorse 14 Candidates for Election

Meeting virtually on June 13, elected delegates from 11 counties to the GPPA State Meeting voted by consensus to endorse eight additional candidates for elected local office. These office-seekers will join the six candidates already endorsed at a previous meeting by the delegates. (For a full list of the 14 GPPA candidates now running for office in the 2021 General Election, please see “Campaign Updates” in this GREEN STAR.) There were 30 delegates and six observers present at the state meeting. They also appointed the following representatives to Green Party of the U.S. standing committees: Marci Henzi to Animal Rights Committee (ARC); Jubalyn ExWilliams to the Platform Committee (Platcom); Barbara Laxon to the Eco-Action Committee; and Jay Ting Walker to the Accreditation Committee (AC).

Green Party candidate hopes to shake up Pittsburgh council [This article by Tom Davidson first appeared in TribLive.]

A Green Party candidate for the Pittsburgh City Council seat held by Anthony Coghill is hoping to capitalize on a progressive movement that propelled State Rep. Ed Gainey to a win over Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto last week. “People in Pittsburgh and across the country are beginning to realize we need bold change and we can’t wait for the same old boys to do it for us. We are here to make it for ourselves,” Connor Mulvaney said Tuesday evening (5/25). He was speaking at a kickoff to his campaign, live-streamed from the war memorial cannon in the city’s Brookline neighborhood. (show all)

Green Party of Wayne County, PA, Opposes Fracking by Beverly Beers, chair of the Green Party of Wayne County

In response to your question about a concerning issue in my area, I would say that for some time it has been fracking in the Delaware River Basin. We just won a long-standing battle at the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). The DRBC voted on February 25 to ban fracking in the Delaware Basin. . . . I was dismayed, however, to see that the township supervisors of Dyberry, where I live, have joined a lawsuit against DRBC to protect land-owners rights. Similarly, the Wayne County Commissioners voted 2-to-1 to join the same lawsuit. . . . As a member of the Green Party and a constituent of Dyberry township, I do not feel the supervisors’ or the commissioners’ decision represents myself or others who wish to preserve the Delaware River Basin. (show all)

George Floyd Anniversary On the anniversary of George Floyd's death, here is a recent press release written by Green Party of Philadelphia City Committee Member Justin Bell reacting to the Derek Chauvin verdict.

I was sitting in traffic today on Roosevelt boulevard when the verdict came in: Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. When I heard it I had trouble processing it. It wasn’t until my wife called me crying because she couldn’t believe it was real, that I started to believe it was real. After I got off I looked around to see if any other cars were listening or having reactions. I was disappointed that everyone looked miserable and wasn’t honking. For a moment I felt victorious. Overwhelmed by the power of the people who refused to get out of the way when the police told them to move. I saw two older ladies flanked by the National Guard during the height of COVID. One pushing the other in a wheelchair. They had put themselves in a situation of great risk and they had won. (show all)

Campaign Updates

edited by Chris Robinson

GENERAL ELECTION, November 2

Kearni Warren, Chester City Council, Delaware County

Kearni told GREEN STAR, “I was born and raised in Chester, and I have always felt the pull toward something greater than myself. Following the social justice spirit of my mother, Rev. Bernice Warren and her passion for all life particularly the children of Chester, I have supported the youth in my local community as well as in Haiti. I am the founder of The Caregiving Society, an author, healthcare advocate, speaker, and former political organizer and lobbyist with SEIU Healthcare PA and United Home Care Workers of PA.”

Matthew Reitenauer, Brandywine Heights School Board, Berks County

Matt told GREEN STAR, “If elected, I would like to see three community gardens, one at each of our schools. Then the students and locals can start eating healthier. I’d like to start an after-school recycling club to clean up the school yard and to clean up the community. I’d like to see more organic foods offered at lunch to the children. I want to look into renewable energy for the school district, the more solar panels the better. I’d also like to look into electric busses to cut down on emissions to help with the climate crisis.”

Connor Mulvaney for Pittsburgh City Council District 4

For more information visit:
https://www.connor4pgh.com/get-involved
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Ward Allebach, Bradford Woods Borough Council, Allegheny County
Steven Martinez, Dormont Borough Council, Allegheny County
Lorianne Burgess, Mayor, Ambridge Borough, Beaver County
Jay Sweeney for Auditor, Falls Township, Wyoming County

Jay T. Walker, Judge of Elections Ward 7, District 6, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County

Jay told GREEN STAR, "I'm proud to be the Green Judge of Election nominee in my precinct this November! I've been serving as the judge on and off for years, after consecutive elections when the judge either showed up late or didn't show up. Since I became Judge we've opened our polling place on-time every single election. Although serving as a Judge of Election takes time away from campaigning for Green candidates, I love the opportunity to ensure a well run voting process and to meet all of my neighbors. I hope all Greens consider running for Judge of Election at their polling place."

Abigail “Abi” Hunter, Judge of Elections Ward 7, District 8, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Rachel Chen, Judge of Elections Ward 29, District 6, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Bill Pilkonis for Judge of Elections, Scranton, Lackawanna County

Ben Campman for Inspector of Elections, Lower Salford Ward 5, Montgomery County

Ben told GREEN STAR, “I’d like to thank the Green Party for accepting me so quickly and for all the help I’ve gotten already. I am happy to be a member and cannot wait for my opportunity to help the party grow.”

Karin Albert for Inspector of Elections, Exeter Borough Ward 2, Luzerne County
Barbara Laxon for Inspector of Elections, McKean County

Team Updates

Finance Team

The Finance Team manages GPPA’s budget and merchandise. Our 2021 goals include fundraisers for the GPPA, maintaining monthly sustainers, encouraging our locals to obtain one new sustaining donor each month, and supporting one targeted-issue fundraiser. This month we are focusing on updating merchandise and literature and working on a new donation drive. Do you have a good idea to raise funds for GPPA? Then pitch your idea to us -- we meet the second Thursday of every month at 8:30 pm via Zoom. We can be contacted HERE.

GreenWave Team by Tina Olson

GreenWave The Green Wave Team is working diligently to contact registered Greens in PA who might be interested in running for the many municipal and local offices for 2021, while keeping an eye on 2022. Have you considered running for your local council, school board, or county election board? Many offices are not full time commitments. New Co-Leads, Tina Olson and Carl Romanelli, are planning a speaker series and candidate training for our bi-monthly meetings.

To join the Green Wave Team and get invited to future organizing calls, please visit HERE to receive call info or email for more information!

Communications Team by Chris Robinson

Communications Team The ComTeam now has three openings for management volunteers and three openings for creative volunteers. If you are ready to join our winning Team, sign up HERE.

National Green News

edited by Noah Alter

[Welcome to Noah Alter, the new editor of National Green News. Noah has been an active member of the GPPA Communication Team since December 2020, and we hope he enjoys growing into his new job.]

Celebrate Juneteenth & Pride

Last month, Juneteenth was made a federal holiday; 156 years too late. We celebrated freedom and pride while recognizing the injustices that our Black brothers and sisters continue to live through every day, beyond the day of national celebration. We must commit to fighting those injustices and the oppressive capitalist system by putting people, the planet, and peace over profit. . . . In the same month as Juneteenth, we also celebrate LGBTQIA+ people of color, who are also disproportionately victims of abuse and murder across the country. Ever since the Stonewall Riots in NYC, where Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman activist and friend Sylvia Rivera, a Latina trans woman, courageously stood up to the police and sparked the gay liberation movement in the U.S., the Black and Brown transgender community has been continuously targeted, facing some of the highest levels of discrimination of all transgender people. . . . (show all)

Green Party of California stands against the brutal apartheid regime of Israel

The 11-day carpet bombing of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military from May 10 to May 21, 2021, killed 248 Palestinians, including 66 children, and injured over 1,700 people . More than 1,000 buildings, schools, hospitals, businesses and roads have been destroyed by devastating airstrikes leaving at least 6,000 residents homeless, displacing tens of thousands, and depriving almost half of the population of Gaza of access to water and electricity in the midst of a raging pandemic and without the protection of a vaccine. . . . In the United States, Democrats and Republicans alike usually do not question our nation’s backing of Israel’s institutionalized discrimination and disproportionate use of violence against Palestinians. . . . Ajamu Baraka, the national organizer of the Black Alliance for Peace and 2016 Green Party candidate for vice president wrote, “In the alternative world of Western liberalism, some lives are more equal and more valuable than others,” noting "the colonial/capitalist West is prepared to sacrifice everything and everyone in order to maintain its global dominance, even if it means destroying the planet and everyone on it." (show all)

Global Green News

edited by Hal Brown

Historic Chilean Elections on a Constitutional Convention and Municipal Green Victories

As the old constitution was never seen as “legitimized”, voting on scrapping it and writing a new one is historically significant. Augusto Pinochet was the embodiment of human rights violations. Years of inequality saw Chileans voting not only for a new constitution, but to also distance themselves from the Pinochet regime. . . . The Chilean Green Party (Partido Ecologista Verde) did not secure any seats in the constitutional convention. They did, however, significantly increase their city council positions going from 4 to 46. (show all)

B.C. Greens Introduce a Private Bill to Regulate Mental Health Care

[In Canada] British Columbia Green Party leader, Sonia Furstenau is tabling legislation that could lead to therapy, counselling, and social work being fully regulated in the province. . . . B.C. Greens have also created a petition calling for accessible, no-cost mental health care by incorporating psychologists into the primary care system. In a press release on June 2, Furstenau expressed the importance of having adequate mental health care, especially during a pandemic. “Anxiety, stress, fear, and loneliness are having significant impacts on our mental health. British Columbians have reported significant impacts to their mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruptions we’ve all faced to our lives. As we imagine a brighter future, we believe that access to safe, effective, and accessible mental healthcare is a critical part of that path forward for British Columbians.” (show all)

Hungarian Greens Oppose Nuclear Power Park Expansion

The Green Party of Hungary [Magyarország Zöld Pártja, LMP] is firmly opposed to the expansion of the Nuclear power station in Paks, Hungary. . . . At a press conference broadcast on Facebook, László Lóránt Keresztes, the leader of LMP stressed that there were serious problems with the Paks expansion program. The expansion of the power plant poses financial, environmental and potential health issues. None of which has received any substantive answers from the government. Being just 100 kilometres South of Budapest, a disaster at Paks could cause serious problems for the majority of the population in Hungary. (show all)

Australian Greens call for National Compensation for Stolen Generations Survivors

Ahead of National Sorry Day, the Australian Greens called on the Federal Government to adopt a national compensation package for survivors of the Stolen Generations. National Sorry Day is an annual event held in Australia on May 26 since 1998. On this day, Australia remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were removed from their families and communities. These people are now commonly known as ‘The Stolen Generations.’ In 1988, a national inquiry investigated past policies and other practices that forced removal of Indigenous children from their families. The resulting report known as Bringing Them Home marked a critical moment in the healing journey of many Stolen Generations members. . . . Now, Victorian Greens Senator and Djabwurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman Lidia Thorpe announced a plan for a nationally consistent scheme that will more adequately compensate Stolen Generations for the pain they endured. (show all)

GPPA Meeting Dates for 2021:

2021 Meetings will be held in January, March, June, September, November. All State Web Conferences will be 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m. September's meeting will be in-person, and it will take place in Bellefonte, PA, on Saturday, September 18. You can now register for the September meeting HERE.

Saturday, September 18, 2021
Sunday, November 14, 2021

Green Party of Pennsylvania Communications Team & Media Committee

Issue Credits:

EDITORS: Chris Robinson, Hal Brown, and Noah Alter
CONTRIBUTORS: Beverly Beers, Justin Bell, Ben Campman,Tina Olson, Matthew Reitenauer, Chris Robinson, Jay T. Walker, and Kearni Warren
LAYOUT: Tina Olson & Sheri Miller
GRAPHIC ARTS: Kevin Richardson

Everything we do is based on our Four Pillars and Ten Key Values. If you find that you share these ideals, come and join the movement.

You can support the Green Party in many ways; however, a monthly sustaining donation helps to fund a solid infrastructure to help local chapters coordinate candidates and provide resources to make their campaigns successful. As little as $3 per month can have a significant impact!

Sustaining Donation Single Donation Purchase Green Merchandise

Join us and help bring about a future where people and planet are valued over profits. We have a new, tiered membership structure that allows you to determine your level of commitment and support. And if you want to get more directly involved, consider joining an action team. Work with other committed progressives and activists in activities such as planning events, developing media content, or helping with campaigns. Let's join together to make 2020 the year of progressives!