Green Party Meeting a Great Success!
by Claudia Ellquist, Green Party Meeting Coordinator, GP-US ANM, Tucson 2006
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The Green Party of the United States decided several months ago that it
would conduct its 2006 Annual National Meeting in Tucson, in a
non-corporate setting. The venue selected was the Historic YWCA
building, which is located half a mile from campus, half a mile from
downtown, and right off of the retro and lively 4th Av Merchant's
District. The Historic Y is home to a number of environmental and social
justice organizations, as well as to the Paolo Freiere Freedom School and
Zuzi Theatre.
Meeting in such a setting required healthy community backing in the form
of a volunteer corps, to replace typical corporate services, and also
required intentional thought about how to make conventioneers feel
welcome and comfortable. Coffeemakers and fair trade coffees, water
pitchers and borrowed cups, vegan/omni caterers, media sound equipment,
rides and parking all had to be provided, as did folders, tables,
accessibility services, housing (dorms and hotels), and bus route maps.
One theme that brought folks specifically to Tucson was Border Issues.
Green conventioneers informed themselves in a comprehensive workshop, but
Green planners preceded the workshop by making Border Issues the theme of
the local fundraiser, on Friday night. The Mexican food and music were
seasoned by discussion of the issues of deaths in the desert, and of
divided native peoples. This event ended with the reading of
representative names of the thousands of persons who have died crossing
the Tucson sector alone, in the decade since the building of the Wall.
Y, sin nombre, con la palabra "Desoconocido," for those who died
unidentified, and are buried in Tucson's potter's field.
Another theme ironically related to this, because of the ugly presence,
in each instance, of border militarization and a Wall. Violence in the
Middle East was the topic of several convention workshops, and it was
also the focus of the one action to which conventioneers were invited by
local Greens on Friday night-- the weekly local Women In Black vigil.
From 5-6pm, over 80 Greens stood in the scorching heat to protest the
ineffectiveness of war as a solution to differences between neighbors.
Sadly, this theme turned out to be more timely than anticipated, because
of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, which was ongoing during the
convention.
Which leads us to the Peace Candidates. As is typical of every Green
Party convention, candidate Campaign School was offered, in several
workshops, and Green Party candidates from all over the US were featured
in press events. Most Green business is conducted in local communities,
but the common theme of pragmatic and sensible solutions to the issues of
governance is the ongoing theme of all Green campaigns. Because we are
not over-represented on ballots, we pursue grassroots activities in our
campaigns, taking the issues right to the people. Meeting face to face,
in these conventions, allows us to compare and share information on
successful work.
Meanwhile, delegates to the National Committee of Green Party of the
United States met and conducted party business, receiving committee
reports, electing internal leadership, and discussing finances and plans
for party effectiveness and growth. These are functions that the
National Committee can, and does, conduct, year round, electronically.
But once a year, we see the face, hear the voice, make new connections,
overcome reservations, form opinions, learn perspectives, brainstorm
ideas, have a bit of fun, and experience hope and renewed determination,
coming together, rebuilding the lever upon which we stand to move the
world.
(Left to Right) Katey Culver, TN; Kat Swift, TX; Kathy Dopp, TX; Ann
Wilcox, DC;
Laura Wells, CA; Julia Willebrand, NY; Jill Bussiere, WI,
Deanna Taylor, UT;
Cynthia Morrison, NM and Nan Garrett, GA participated
in a press
conference for Green women candidates. Photo by Becky Weber.
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Ballot Access updates
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Little
Rock, AR - U.S.District Judge George Howard Junior said the state
signature requirement for new political parties is unconstitutional.
His decision places Green Party candidates for statewide office on the
Arkansas November7 ballot. If his decision stands the Green Party will
run former state representative Jim Lendall of Mabelvale for governor.
Other than Lendall, the party has nominated candidates for secretary
of state, attorney general, auditor and land commissioner. Lendall said
the party will hold a second nominating convention Saturday. He hopes
to field Green Party candidates for the Legislature and other statewide
races.
The judge said the state signature requirement for new political
parties is unconstitutional. The requirement says new parties must get
signatures equal to three percent of the number of voters who cast
ballots in the previous election for governor in order to get on the
state's ballot. The number of signatures turns out to be greater than
the number that independent candidates must get.
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Chicago, IL - Gov. Rod Blagojevich (Dem) of Illinois has been
working through his campaign trying to keep the Green Party off the
ballot in that state. A hearing officer found the Green Party slate had
more than the 25,000 signatures needed to be placed on the ballot.
The State Board of Elections must still certify the hearing officers
recommendation Which will clear the way for Green Party Candidates.
Rich Whitney, an attorney from Carbondale, is the Green Party's
candidate for governor. Others on the party's statewide ticket
include: Julie Samuels for lieutenant governor; David Black for
attorney general; Karen Young for secretary of state; Dan
Rodriguez-Schlorff for treasurer; and Alicia Snyder for comptroller.
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Democracy or Bust
After an amazing two weeks at Camp Casey III, we’re packing up the
Green Tent and hitting the road for Washington, DC to take part in Camp
Democracy – a month long event which will bring Camp Casey to DC, and
unite progressive organizations working against the war.
The event will include talks by well known authors, activists &
academics; music; workshops on lobbying, activism and political art.
Most importantly, it will be a forum to bring together the grassroots
leaders of the anti-war movement -veterans; war resisters, military
families, feminists, labor activists, climate crisis activists,
Hurricane Katrina survivors & anti-war
candidates. www.campdemocracy.org
Joyce Robinson-Paul, former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and
current DC Statehood Green Party Candidate for US Senate spoke at
Tuesday’s press conference promoting the event. She highlighted the
Green Party’s opposition to the war, support for DC Statehood, and the
work Green Party members have done to support justice for Hurricane
Katrina survivors. Malik Rahim from Common Ground Collective and former
Green Party candidate for Mayor of New Orleans also participated in the
press conference; along with MD Senate candidate Kevin Zeese. Watch for
the press conference, to be broadcast later this week on CSPAN.
New Green Party Outreach Handouts Available!
Due to popular demand, the Green Party of the
United States has created several new Outreach pieces of literature in
English and Spanish (and we're working on more, so let us know what you
need at office@gp.org) to get the Green word out in your community. Information about downloading or ordering in bulk follows the descriptions.
"Democracy
is Coming to the USA" is suitable for anybody who doesn't know the
Green Party from Greenpeace—perfect for distribution at any public
gathering or to leave in stacks where people can pick up a copy.
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Highlights include:
-Straightforward info about what the Green Party is all about
-Top 10 reasons to go Green
-Spanish-language article on immigration rights
-10 Key Values in both English and Spanish
-Cartoons, photos of Greens, overall dynamic layout
-Space for a sticker with local Green Party contact info
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To help cover costs of printing and shipping, bundles of 100 cost $15. Purchase copies at the online store at online
store, or please contact as at office@gp.org or (toll-free) 866-41GREEN to place an order.
You can also download copies at http://www.gp.org/committees/outreach/DemocracyIsComing.pdf
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Also available for download: Bilingual (English/Spanish) 10 Key Values
Download this simple but elegant version of the 10 Key Values, print
on both sides of the page, and cut into quarters—fabulous palm-size
handouts with the 10 Key Values in English on one side, Spanish on the
other. No waste—just print as many as you need. Download at http://www.gp.org/committees/outreach/10kvSpanishEnglish.pdf
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