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Newsletter of the Green Party of Ohio
Vol. II, No. 3 -- January 26, 2002
(This newsletter distributed to 2,825)
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FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
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 1) NATIONAL GREENS SPEAK OUT AGAINST VIOLATIONS
 2) PENNSYLVANIA GREENS NOMINATE STATE CANDIDATES
 3) GREEN PARTY LAUNCHING IN KOREA IN MARCH
 4) OHIO CAMPUS GREENS CONVENTION
 5) GERMAN GOVERNMENT BEGINS WAGE SUBSIDIES
 6) FARSACI’S CAMPAIGN TO FOCUS ON PEACE, PEOPLE
 7) ALLIANCE FOR A CORPORATE-FREE UN
 8) ASSURING CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN HEALTH CARE
 9) NY TIMES: THE UNITED STATES OF ENRON
10) ONGOING EFFECTS OF 1989 EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL
11) CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
12) GERRITT TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE RI
13) OLYMPICS GIVE PROTESTERS CHANCE AT LIMELIGHT
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***************************************************
 1) NATIONAL GREENS SPEAK OUT AGAINST VIOLATIONS
***************************************************
The U.S. may be violating international rules in the
inhumane treatment of Afghan soldiers taken prisoner
in the war against Afghanistan, said members of the
Green Party of the United States. According to reports,
prisoners have been shackled, shaved in violation of
their religion, blindfolded, held in open-air cages
exposed to the elements, subjected to intense interro-
gation that borders on torture, all of which violate
the international Geneva Convention on the treatment
of war prisoners.

"Prisoners may also face execution after a secret trial
by military tribunal -- which would make the Bush Admini-
stration comparable to the regimes of Saddam Hussein and
other despots," said Tom Sevigny, a Connecticut Green
activist and a member of the party's national steering
committee.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who promises "a
legal decision soon" on the status of prisoners (Pentagon
briefing, Thursday, January 24), has claimed that the
prisoners aren't soldiers, but civilian "unlawful comba-
tants." According to Rumsfeld, this disqualifies them
from the protections of the 1949 Geneva Convention rules
and the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, ratified by the U.S. in 1992, on the treatment of
prisoners of war.

But Greens, the Bar Association of Great Britain, and other
human rights defenders argue that if the captured Taliban
and al Qaeda aren't soldiers, they must be tried according
to guarantees of due process, since the Fifth Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution makes no distinction between civilians
and foreigners.

"There is no justification for treating the prisoners as
subhuman because the Taliban didn't give them uniforms,"
added Sevigny. "The arguments from Rumsfeld that the U.S.
is exempt from the Geneva Convention on the treatment of
prisoners is sophistry of the worst kind."

The Green Party cites U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights
Mary Robinson, who said, "The armed conflict in Afghanistan
is of an international nature and the law of international
armed conflict applies. That means the Geneva Conventions."

"Article 5 of the Third Geneva Convention provides that
should there be doubt as to whether an individual enjoys
PoW status, they shall be treated as such until their status
has been determined by a competent judicial tribunal."
(See <http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=115264>.)

Greens also note that the Bush Administration isn't
likely to rescind its order for secret military tribunals.
"More and more, the only pacts the U.S. considers itself
bound to honor are the free trade treaties designed to
benefit major corporations," said Jane Hunter, vice chair
of the Green Party of New Jersey and an international
management consultant. "The result is international
instability and a blow to our valued international
reputation on matters of democracy and human rights."

For more information, see:
http://www.greenpartyus.org

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 2) PENNSYLVANIA GREENS NOMINATE STATE CANDIDATES
***************************************************
At its 2002 statewide nominating convention, held
Sunday, Jan. 13 in Harrisburg, the Green Party of
Pennsylvania nominated Michael Morrill for governor
and Vicki Smedley for lieutenant governor. Early
nominations were also given to Ben Price for U.S.
Representative, District 19; Eric Wolfe for State
Representative, District 101; and Jonathan Gallup
for State Representative, District 103.

Visit the Green Party of Pennsylvania at:
http://www.pagreenparty.org

Visit Michael Morrill for Governor at:
http://www.michaelmorrill.org

Visit Vicki Smedley for Lieutenant Governor at:
http://www.vickismedley.com/

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 3) GREEN PARTY LAUNCHING IN KOREA IN MARCH
***************************************************
South Korean civic activists are poised to clean up
the polluted political environment by forming the
nation's first Green Party in March.

"We have decided to take a big step forward to launch
green politics that can give hope and trust to the
people," said the preparatory committee of the new
party, tentatively titled "Green Party Korea" (GPK).

Im Sam-jin, a former environmental activist who is
one of the founders of the GPK, said, "Our party will
be based on grass-roots democracy, ecological values,
non-violence and protecting minority rights." For the
past two years, Im had served as the secretary-general
of Green Korea United, one of the most influential en-
vironmental organizations in Korea. "Reform of the poli-
tical sector is a pressing task of our time, which only
the civic sector has the power to do," said Im. Other
preparatory members include civic activists, professors
and experts, mostly from the environmental field.

After officially launching the party around mid-March,
the GPK will field about 20 to 30 candidates for the
June 13 local elections as well as the presidential
elections slated for December, he said.

There are about 80 green parties around the world, parti-
cularly active in Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

Visit the GPK at:
http://www.greenparty.or.kr

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 4) OHIO CAMPUS GREENS CONVENTION
***************************************************
February 15th & 16th, 2002
Columbus, Ohio (OSU Campus)

This Statewide Convention will allow Campus Green
chapters, individuals, and interested folks to get
to know each other, talk about accomplishments and
difficulties, learn organizing skills, and decide on
what campaigns to focus on, statewide and locally,
in the coming year.

For more info, contact Hillary Tinapple at:
tinapple.4@osu.edu.

Pre-register at: http://www.osu.edu/students/CGP/OH

***************************************************
 5) GERMAN GOVERNMENT BEGINS WAGE SUBSIDIES
***************************************************
From the Financial Times Information, 1/14/02

"BERLIN -- Germany's Social Democratic Party looks
set to prevail in its dispute with its junior coali-
tion partner, the environmentalist Greens, over the
use of low-wage subsidies are to be used as a weapon
in the fight against unemployment.

"Chancellor Gerhard Schrouder will on Monday take the
first steps towards the nationwide introduction of the
model favored by the SPD, his party. With German unem-
ployment set to top four million, both the SPD and
the Greens agree on the need to use wage subsidies as
a way of broadening the low-wage sector and encouraging
unskilled people to take low-paid jobs. The two parties
that form Germany's governing coalition are divided over
the best way of tackling the country's ailing jobs market.
But they disagree on the extent to which the subsidies
should be used.

"Of the two, the Greens favor the more extensive, and
costly, program. At a conference of the parliamentary
party in Wourlitz on Thursday, the party unveiled a
scheme – ; which it called Labor Market Plus – ; that
would extend state subsidies to all low-paid workers,
not just welfare recipients and the long-term unemployed.

"From the SPD's point of view, the problem with the
Greens' program is that it would involve high costs,
estimated at one billion euros. Schrouder at the weekend
described the Greens' proposals as going too far. At a
meeting of its parliamentary party, the SPD challenged
the Greens to say how it would fund the program. This was
not an issue on which a compromise was to be reached at
any price, said the party's general secretary....

"Earlier, SPD parliamentary floor leader Peter Struck
had promised the leaders of the parliamentary Greens
that his party would examine their proposals. The two
parliamentary leaderships had agreed that the use of
government subsidies for those who take low-paid jobs,
which has so far been restricted to trial programs in
some federal states, should be introduced nationwide.

"Meanwhile, the Greens received implicit support from
Germany's employers. The president of the BDA employers'
federation, Dieter Hundt, unveiled a five-point program,
which included a more extensive use of subsidies, as
favored by the Greens.

"But one of Germany's leading economic research insti-
tutes, the DIW, expressed skepticism on the likely ef-
fects of programs of this kind on unemployment.
According to DIW estimates, such programs are likely
to bring about a reduction in the jobless total in
the order of 10,000–20,000."

***************************************************
 6) FARSACI’S CAMPAIGN TO FOCUS ON PEACE, PEOPLE
***************************************************
From the Bangor Daily News, January 5, 2002
by A. Jay Higgins, Of the NEWS Staff

"AUGUSTA — As a naval officer, Steven Farsaci opposed
the use of nuclear weapons. Several years later, he
worked to arrange sanctuary for illegal aliens fleeing
the American-backed war in El Salvador. In 1991, he
told a federal court judge that the 1991 Persian Gulf
War was unconstitutional.

"So Maine residents shouldn't be too surprised to learn
that one of their potential gubernatorial candidates
believes that United States' foreign policy is at least
partially to blame for the terrorist attacks on the
Pentagon and the World Trade Center. An opponent of the
current military operations in Afghanistan, Farsaci has
made peace activism the cornerstone of his bid to become
the Green Independent Party’s nominee for governor.

"The 46-year-old Baptist minister from Farmington knows
he has no legislative track record. So in his campaign
kickoff presentations Friday in Bangor, Augusta and Port-
land, he chose to distinguish himself from a continually
evolving slate of opponents by outlining his views on
nonviolence, social democracy and political conscience.
Although his positions are unlikely to win over those
favoring military responses to acts of domestic terrorism,
Farsaci maintains that his will to stand up for nonviolent
choices that are morally right, instead of politically
wrong, sets him apart from the other challengers.

"'Since World War II, it has to be appreciated that
American interests have been pursued with vigor across
the globe using both military and economic means and that
the results of those policies have not always been helpful
to the countries involved,' he said. While those who com-
mitted the acts of terrorism are the ones to be held
personally responsible for it and to merit their just
punishment, it happened in a context that made it under-
standable.'

"Farsaci (pronounced FAR-sosh) is expected to run against
Jonathan Carter of Lexington Township, creating the first
Green Party gubernatorial primary in the country. Both
men are trying to run as publicly funded candidates under
Maine's Clean Elections Law.

"Also vying for the governor's office is a large field of
candidates: 2nd District U.S. Rep. John Baldacci, a Bangor
Democrat; former Republican state legislators Peter Cian-
chette of South Portland and James Libby of Buxton; and
independents David Flanagan of Manchester, a former Democrat
and CEO of Central Maine Power; John Jenkins, a former
Democratic state senator from Lewiston; and Stephen F.
Kenney of Scarborough, a former financial officer with
the Open Society Institute.

"Promoting policies that would impose a higher tax on
Maine's wealthier residents, establish a universal single-
payer health care system, and give Maine workers a greater
say over working conditions, Farsaci won't likely get any
business endorsements. But he concedes those kind of sac-
rifices are an expected consequence for a candidate who
might simultaneously be labeled a maverick and innovator.

"'I've questioned the status quo at times when it was
less convenient to question it than to have just stayed
silent,' he said. 'When I become governor, [people] can
count on me to be concerned about the well-being of every
Mainer, particularly the 200,000 without health care and
the 300,000 without dental care and the homeless. They
can also count on me to question the status quo that too
easily accepts concentrations of economic power.'

"Farsaci moved to Maine 14 years ago to attend Bangor
Theological Seminary and has served as pastor at Congre-
gational, Quaker and American Baptist churches in the
state for the last decade. His message of nonviolence and
peace activism appear to be resonating with at least some
of the state's 8,700 Green Independent Party members such
as Kevin Holmes of Brewer. Although he has not yet decided
which Green gubernatorial candidate he will support,
Holmes said Friday that Farsaci's global views are consis-
tent with his own. He also expressed some concerns over
Carter's history of advancing statewide referendums on
forest harvesting practices.

"'I think either would be a good candidate, but I have
some concerns over the baggage that Jonathan brings to
race,' Holmes said. 'It will probably prompt some
attacks that we will have to spend a lot of time and
money to counter.'"

***************************************************
 7) ALLIANCE FOR A CORPORATE-FREE UN
***************************************************
Greenwash + 10: The UN's Global Compact, Corporate
Accountability and the Johannesburg Earth Summit

This new report documents corporate influence on the
United Nations and calls on the UN to implement mea-
sures for accountability. It looks at some of the
Global Compact companies and finds evidence that they
have engaged in human rights and environmental abuses.
The report also offers specific steps the UN can take
to hold these corporations accountable.

It is being released just days before the UN begins
its first substantive preparatory meetings for the
Rio + 10 Earth Summit in Johannesburg.

The 16-page report is available at:
http://www.corpwatch.org/campaigns/PCD.jsp?articleid=1348

***************************************************
 8) ASSURING CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN HEALTH CARE
***************************************************
Delivering health care to a diverse population is a
new challenge for many mainstream providers. In this
recently released report from the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS), the importance of meeting a
patient's cultural and linguistic needs is recognized.
In the report, "National Standards for Cultural and
Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health
Care," HHS offers recommendations and guidance for
culturally appropriate health services based on laws,
legal contracts, regulations and other and standards
currently in use by federal and state agencies and
other national organizations.

To read the full report, see:
http://www.omhrc.gov/CLAS/

***************************************************
 9) NY TIMES: THE UNITED STATES OF ENRON
***************************************************
From the New York Times (1/19/02):

"As the world knows now, George W. Bush told two lies
when first asked about his ties to the top guy in what
may prove the largest corporate flimflam in history.
The president said (1) that he only 'got to know' Mr.
Lay in 1994, when in fact their relationship goes back
at least to 1992; and (2) that Mr. Lay 'was a supporter'
of Governor Richards, when in fact Mr. Lay told TV's
'Frontline' last year that he 'did support' Mr. Bush
over Ms. Richards in their Texas race....

"The Washington wisdom that Enron has no legs — that
it's not a political scandal, merely a financial one
— is based on the premise that the Bush administration
didn't ride to Ken Lay's rescue once disaster struck.
But what about the favors performed for Enron before
the meltdown? That's as political as you can get, par-
ticularly since, unlike Whitewater, this scandal impli-
cates both parties and the corrupt campaign finance
system that makes them look like interchangeable vend-
ing machines for their often overlapping patrons."

To read the entire NY Times article of Jan. 19, see:
http://query1.nytimes.com/search/abstract?res=F70D16FC3C5F0C7A8DDDA80894DA404482
or http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0119-06.htm

***************************************************
10) ONGOING EFFECTS OF 1989 EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL
***************************************************
From The Anchorage Daily News (1/23/02):

"Sea otters have evidence of liver damage. Harlequin
ducks have metabolized fresh hydrocarbons.
And certain beaches in Prince William Sound have far
more oil than anyone thought possible a dozen years
after the Exxon Valdez tanker struck Bligh Reef,
according to a rigorous survey conducted last summer.

"Much of that oiled sediment underlies flat productive
shore of the western Sound, homeland to mussels and
clams and other intertidal life, said federal chemist
Jeff Short of Auke Bay Laboratory in Juneau.

"'It's more than it looks,'" he said.

"Other studies done as part of a continuing scientific
review of the oil spill have documented problems among
certain species that forage on the nearby sea floor.

"The findings were presented Tuesday by scientists
during the opening session of the state-federal Exxon
Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council's annual workshop.
They suggest that lingering oil is leaching into the
food chain, where it hurts local populations of sea
otters and harlequin ducks.

"'We did indeed find quite a lot more oil than we
expected to see,' Short said. 'Most of the subsurface
oil was in the fresh oil category, and by fresh oil I
mean chemically, compositionally; it hasn't really
changed very much since late in the summer of 1989.'...

"In the end, Short and his team estimated that about
10,000 gallons of Exxon Valdez crude remains buried
under 26 to 28 acres spread along about 4.3 miles of
shoreline scattered throughout the area, according to
preliminary figures released on Monday. It appeared to
be declining at 26 percent per year."

To read the entire article, visit:
http://nandotimes.com/healthscience/v-text/story/227522p-2187506c.html

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11) CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
***************************************************
Air pollution, lead poisoning and contaminated foods
all pose health risks to children. Connect for
Kids offers resources to help adults protect kids
from environmental risks and teach them to enjoy the
wonders of nature.

Visit Connect for Kids at:
http://www.connectforkids.org

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12) GERRITT TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE RI
***************************************************
Greg Gerritt will announce that he is running for
Mayor on the Green Party ticket on Monday, January 28
at 6 PM in the Blackstone Room of the Providence
Westin Hotel. Gerritt is the first Green to run for
this position.

A long time activist on justice, economic, and environ-
mental issues, Gerritt is also an experienced campaigner
and campaign coordinator. Gerritt has worked on neighbor-
hood issues all over the city, with members of many of
the communities that make up the city. He said "Provi-
dence has not seen a grass roots progressive populist
campaign for mayor in a long time, and the time is ripe."

Gerritt notes "As I go around the city it is more and
more obvious that people want a change. They want a new
vision of the city and they want a government that re-
sponds fairly and equitably to the residents. Getting
a pothole fixed should not require political muscle.
City expenditures should be for what the city needs,
not what makes the politicians look good. Tax breaks
should encourage neighborhood development, not luxury
apartments. "

Gerritt noted that of almost 42,000 total votes for
President in Providence, Ralph Nader and the Green
Party received 3,364 votes, compared to the Republi-
cans 7,669 votes. While noting that no Republican has
run for Providence mayor in several elections, Gerritt
said "We have a great opportunity for a new political
force in the city, with the Green Party.

"While the campaign is announcing that it is on the
road downtown, it will really be a campaign of the
neighborhoods." Gerritt stated. He added, "The focus
will be grass roots, on the streets and door to door
campaigning."

Gerritt was Secretary of the Association of State Green
Parties (now the Green Party of the United States)
in 2000-01.

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13) OLYMPICS GIVE PROTESTERS CHANCE AT LIMELIGHT
***************************************************
From the Daily Utah Chronicle (1/7/02)

"The Student Green Party thought it found the perfect
place to make a statement about the Olympics.

"The strip of grass near University of Utah's Carlson
Hall laid out the perfect course for a mock Olympic
torch run.

"According to the Greens' plans, a six-pack of Coke,
a Happy Meal, running shoes and other products would
weigh down an activist-torchbearer. The run would sym-
bolize the corporate interests that the Greens feel
have overcome the lofty ideals of the Games. But U
officials quibbled with the groups' choice of location.

"Intended for a high-traffic area near Rice-Eccles
Stadium, the demonstration could pose a safety hazard
for protesters and spectators, the administration said.
So the Greens relocated to Presidents Circle.

"After some initial frustration, Amy Hines, a Student
Green Party member, feels Presidents Circle will provide
an adequate venue for the mock torch run.

"'We felt Carlson Hall would have been the premium area,
but the Presidents Circle area does have international
media shuttles and it can accommodate more people,' she
said. 'I feel that it is a compromise, certainly. But it
is not a compromise of freedom of speech.'

"The Greens and other activists want their voices heard.
And the thousands of spectators and international media
attending the Olympics create an irresistible arena.
For many groups, plans are still crystallizing against
the potentially daunting application procedures.

To read the original article, see:
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/main.cfm?include=detail&storyid=161695

***************************************************
The views expressed in this newsletter are those
of the author or organization noted and do not
necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Party
of Ohio.
***************************************************
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Email: secretary@ohiogreens.org
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