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Newsletter of the Green Party of Ohio
Vol. III, No. 4 – April 23, 2003
(This newsletter distributed to 3,037)
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FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
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1) JOIN THE GREEN PARTY
2) EARTH THINGS FIRST
3) COUNTIES TO GET SAY IN VOTE SYSTEMS
4) FREE HOWARD ZINN LECTURES THIS THURSDAY
5) AS INVASION BECOMES OCCUPATION, GREENS CALL FOR SUSTAINED EFFORT TO ENSURE PEACE
6) OHIO EARTHDAY EVENTS COMPILED BY THE EARTH DAY NETWORK
7) BALLOTS CAN KEEP BULLETS FROM FLYING
8) RUN FOR OFFICE AS A GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE
9) UNMANAGED NEWS & VIEWS
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1) JOIN THE GREEN PARTY
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Join the Green Party of Ohio today by completing the form at:
http://www.ohiogreens.org/membership/register.html
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2) EARTH THINGS FIRST
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The Earth Day Coalition has another ally in its campaign to clean up the planet. Well, more like a mascot than an ally. And if a dog is man's best friend, then the "Fatty Wagon" may be mankind's best friend.
But to really appreciate this spunky little vehicle, you have to hear the hurrah in Scott Sanders' voice as the executive director of the coalition lays out the facts.
"Not many people know this," says Sanders, "but not only does the Great Lakes Brewing Co. send the byproduct of their brewing process to local farmers and bakers, but they also use their vegetable oil to fuel their bus that shuttles customers to Jacobs Field. So they named it the 'Fatty Wagon.'"
And that's how, after 14 full-tilt years of bringing to life EarthFest, the coalition's popular party for the planet, Sanders and his staff manage to generate their own internal energy, helping convince the community that anything's possible when it comes to helping the environment.
More: http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/friday/105005399380090.xml?ytogo
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3) COUNTIES TO GET SAY IN VOTE SYSTEMS
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Ohio county boards of elections will be able to select which electronic voting machine company they want to replace existing lever or punch-card systems.
However, the state will write all purchase contracts and the checks to buy them, according to a new state election reform plan introduced here yesterday.
The preliminary plan, issued yesterday by an election reform planning committee assembled by Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, puts to rest months of speculation among elections officials about whether all 88 Ohio counties would be forced to use machines selected by officials in Columbus, or whether they would have some choice in the matter.
The plan calls for Mr. Blackwell to establish "an authorized vendor list for deployment of new voting equipment [and] will require vendors to include, as part of their bid proposal, fund allocation that includes voter education, election official education and training, and poll worker training," the plan said.
More:
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?SearchID=73132670225875&Avis=TO&Dato=20030418&Kategori=NEWS09&Lopenr=104180118&Ref=AR
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4) FREE HOWARD ZINN LECTURES THIS THURSDAY
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3:00pm in COLUMBUS, OH -- Howard Zinn is presenting a lecture at Capital University Thursday, April 24, 3 p.m. Zinn is best known for his book "A People's History of the United States." His lecture, "Terrorism and War," will be in Mees Hall. Please check Capital University's web site for directions and parking. It is free and open to the public, no tickets needed. For more information, contact Reg Dyck, 236-6427 or rdyck@capital.edu.
7:30pm in GRANVILLE, OH -- The Denison Lecture Series presents renowned American historian Howard Zinn to discuss "A People's History of the United States: History that Embraces Humanity." This event, set for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (April 24) in Slayter Auditorium [see the directions to Denison University at <http://www.denison.edu/areainfo/gethere.shtml> and download the printable campus map at <http://www.denison.edu/campus/DenCampGde.pdf>], is the final Denison Lecture Series convocation of the spring semester and is free and open to the public.
<http://www.denison.edu/publicaffairs/pressreleases/zinn.shtml>
Professor, activist, as well as author, Zinn has dedicated his life to the belief that knowledge of our past can help create a better future. Zinn offers a fresh perspective on United States foreign policy, terrorism and the war against Iraq.
Zinn's reading of history keeps him optimistic about America's future. "I am hopeful," he says. "But hope rests on doing something. If you're not doing anything to change things, you have no right to be hopeful."
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5) AS INVASION BECOMES OCCUPATION, GREENS CALL FOR SUSTAINED EFFORT TO ENSURE PEACE
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Leaders of the Green Party of the United States urged Americans who oppose the war on Iraq to begin planning for electoral action and new steps to ensure global peace and democracy.
"With the imminent fall of the Saddam regime, we need to turn our attentions towards ensuring peace and democracy in Iraq and throughout the world," said Badili Jones, Georgia Green and co-chair of the national party. "For the Green Party, that means democratizing the U.S. political system, electing Greens to public office, and replacing our military economy with one based on peace, social justice, and ecology."
The Green Party supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) with the power to try Saddam Hussein (if captured instead of killed) for atrocities against his own people -- and also thepower to investigate the Bush Administration for launching an illegal, unprovoked attack on another nation on fabricated evidence of a threat.
"An effective ICC would be able to scrutinize the Pentagon's use of cluster bombs, depleted uranium, and other weapons that kill and maim civilians and damage the health of U.S. veterans; and investigate the slaughter of civilians and the apparent targeting of independent media, such as al-Jazeera and Reuters," said Mark Dunlea, co-chair of the Green Party of New York State. "Such a court must be fair and impartial, whether it targets murderous dictators like Saddam or acts done in the cause of global empire, as in the case of President Bush."
More: http://www.gp.org/press/pr_04_17_03.html
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6) OHIO EARTHDAY EVENTS COMPILED BY THE EARTH DAY NETWORK
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Earth Day Network is an alliance of 5,000 groups in 184 countries working to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful, just, sustainable world.
Each year, Earth Day inspires a groundswell of grassroots action in communities around the world. People from Peru to India, and from Ireland to the USA take part in Earth Day events and actions which educate, spread awareness and push for tangible change.
Every voice counts; every action matters. Earth Day is based on the simple philosophy that ordinary people, acting together, can achieve extraordinary things.
For the Earth Day events planned in Ohio, and for more information on the Earth Day Network, go to:
http://www.earthday.net/dir/state.asp?d=1&r=7&c=1&s=36
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7) BALLOTS CAN KEEP BULLETS FROM FLYING
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An irresponsible war of choice, launched by an arrogant administration with shifting justifications and heedless of world opinion, has sparked a new wave of activism in the United States.
Millions of Americans have hit the streets since last fall to protest George Bush's push for preemptive war against Iraq. But Mr. Bush wouldn't listen. He dismissed protestors and their concerns.
Would he listen any better if everyone who has attended a march pledged to vote in 2004? Or if, in addition, everyone who carried a sign, made a speech, sent an email, wrote a letter or lit a candle for peace committed to register one new American voter every month between now and the next presidential election? Would he get the message if a groundswell of new peace voters went to the polls in 2004 and showed how regime change can happen peacefully?
Do the math. Let's say that two million Americans participated in some way in protests against the war (there's no way of knowing, but we think this is a conservative estimate). Say each of them commits to registering one new voter every month between now and Election Day 2004. That would yield 36 million new voters registered for peace. (Some 56 million Americans are eligible to vote but are unregistered, according to the U.S. Census.)
Of course, that would be unprecedented. But a register-for-peace drive would be hugely significant if it signed up even three million new voters.
More important still would be a massive get-out-the-vote effort aimed at all peace-minded citizens, newly registered or otherwise. The same activists doing the registration might commit to phoning each of 10 or 20 peace voters once per month, and then weekly in the month before election day. A GOTV effort like that could increase turnout by millions in November 2004.
That would be one peace demonstration the president could not ignore.
More: http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=15693
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8) RUN FOR OFFICE AS A GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE
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The Green Party of Ohio Calls for Candidates for the 2003 & 2004 Elections.
The Green Party is looking for progressives to run for elected office. Across the US already, 178 Green office holders in 24 states are hard at work. They are creating public policy on important issues including civil rights, a living wage, affordable housing, alternative voting systems, and peace. They are advocating for peace and opposing urban sprawl and expansion of corporate power. Green office holders ran to make an immediate impact on their communities as town council members, county commissioners, school board members etc. These Greens reached out to voters of diverse backgrounds, brought together coalitions of community organizations and
individuals to begin to reclaim their local governments.
The growth and movement of the Green Party continues in 2003 and toward 2004. All across the country hundreds of Green Party candidates will be challenging the two establishment parties. Here in Ohio this year all kinds of local offices are up for election, from city councils to school boards to township trustees. In 2004, one of our US Senate seats, seats in the US Congress, the Ohio State Senate and House of Representatives and other local offices will be contended.
Two-thousand three and 2004 will be a great time for candidates to learn the art of running for office, and a smart, energetic candidate could win. You can run too. Please consider becoming a candidate for elective office this year. We especially encourage people who are under-represented in elective office to consider running: women, African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, gays and lesbians, people with disabilities, young people and other minorities. If you or someone you know is considering running, please contact The Green Party of Ohio Candidates Committee whose contact information can be found on The Green Party web page.
We are also looking for people to work with these candidates: campaign coordinators, managers and other campaign volunteers.
The Green Party is a grassroots activist party working for social change based on our Ten Key Values. To learn more please visit he Green Party of Ohio web page:
http://www.ohiogreens.org
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9) UNmanaged News & Views
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News, information, and commentary not generally featured in the managed media — Courtesy of Grant Lawrence
Wars and Rumors of Wars
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever."— George Orwell
Putin Explains the Obvious
Russian President Putin says that if the Iraqi leadership didn't use weapons of mass destruction then that means they didn't exist. Putin explains after a meeting with France and Germany that "If in the last moment of [the Iraqi regime's] existence it did not use them, it means they do not exist." This bit of reasoning has not been discussed here in this country, but someone needs to point this out. Perhaps the use of some reasoning by the American people could interfere with plans to attack Syria and Iran.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2941417.stm
"Fuc- Saddam, We are Taking Him Out"
President Bush declared "Fuc- Saddam, we are taking him out." during a meeting in March, 2002. According to Time magazine, Bush peaked his head into a meeting being held between Condoleezza Rice and 3 U.S. Senators when he made that statement about the future intentions of the American military industrial complex.
http://www.consortiumnews.com/Print/040803.html
Wow, our Christian President uses bad language (oops, there goes the image). Not only that, Bush lied to the world and the country about American intentions of working with the UN to seek a peaceful solution. Also, our Christian President didn't look to war as a last resort as he claimed; but looked forward to the War manymonths before America actually started it. If enough people hear about this, Bush will have to increase his prayer breakfast appearances.
But, it's a good thing for the Administration that the American people don't like to read or they might come across "The Project for a New American Century" in which Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and other elite players in the Military Industrial Complex have mapped out plans for an American global empire. Plans called for permanent military bases in the Middle East, and for a regime change in Iraq before Bush was elected President. http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/opinion/0902/29bookman.html
Hopefully, Bush was told about his empire building foreign policy plans after he was elected; or that means our Christian President was also lying to us during the campaign.
The Ripple Effects of War and Occupation.
The war is coming to a close, but the U.S. is gearing up for a long stay in Iraq. Perhaps the U.S. is planning for permanent military bases in that country (see previous story on "The Project For a New American Century"). Occupation has its rewards for the oil companies, certain mulit-national corporations, and the globalists; but there will be long term repercussions for America and the world. Although the American public has forgotten about Afghanistan, the U.S. still occupies that country and there are continued reports of fighting as Afghanis resist occupation.
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=3168576&startrow=1&date=2003-04-13&do_alert=0
The Americans will also likely have a resistance force to deal with in Iraq. Iraq is in chaos from looting and a lack of leadership backed by the people. Protests are occurring around the country, and recently the U.S. shot and killed Iraqis protesting the newly appointed governor in the northern city of Mosul
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6291696%5E1702,00.html
Moreover, the war has left the world divided in hatred and bitterness. The European/American alliance has been strained and damaged. Russia is warning the U.S. not toattack Syria under guise of exporting capitalism and democracy.
http://news.sify.com/cgi-bin/sifynews/news/content/news_fullstory_v2.jsp?article_oid=13006297&page_no=1
The Arab world was almost universally against the attack on Iraq. Syria and Iran are waiting to see if they are next. Bush has warned Syria that they must get rid of chemical weapons (that sounds familiar) or face the consequences.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=564&e=12&u=/nm/iraq_usa_syria_dc
North Korea says that it will not wait to be attacked.
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Asia/2003/04/07/1049697186.htm
China moves up the time table for its planned war with the U.S.
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/03/24/willy.column/index.html
Turkey is at odds with the U.S. over Northern Iraq.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=1514&e=18&u=/afp/iraq_war_us_turkey_kurds
Protesters took to the streets around the world, and here at home police used rubber bullets on demonstrators.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=564&e=4&u=/nm/iraq_protests_usa_dc
President Bush declared himself a "uniter not a divider" during the presidential campaign, but what we see is nothing but divisions and bloodshed caused by American leadership. Instead of a compassionate conservative, Bush turned out to be an "occupier not a liberator."
"Bush is an occupier and terrorist. He thought he was playing a video game. We hate Americans more than we hate Saddam now."
- - George Elnaber, Arab Christian and supermarket owner in Amman, Jordan.
Arab World has Reason to be Alarmed.
An alarmed Arab World believes that the U.S. may not want to stop at Iraq. Arab government officials and media warn America that they are extending their enemies and that they should not extend the conflict.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=XLFN4YWMZOWSQCRBAEKSFFA?type=worldNews&storyID=2494108
But, the Arabs have good reason to suspect the Bush Administration's true aims inthe Middle East.
Syria is being threatened by the U.S., and recently a senior American official has stated that after the Iraqi War, the U.S. will deal with Iran's nuclear threat. John Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms control, joined Condolezza Rice at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in warning that the U.S. views Iran and North Korea as equivalent threats. Things just keep getting bleaker and bleaker as the U.S. marches toward a possible World War III.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/5528947.htm
But, Ex-CIA Director says that the possible new World War is actually World War IV. The 3rd World War, according to the former head of the CIA James Woolsey, was the Cold War. The new World War involves a War against Iraq, Iran, Syria, and possibly the rest of the Middle East.
At any rate, these World Wars are getting confusing; but the Bush Administration is working on a new one whatever number it is. I am sure Bush has no idea what World War we are on either. Better check with Cheney.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/04/03/sprj.irq.woolseyworld.war/
"The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do."
- Samuel P. Huntington,
Prediction?
If George Bush [Jnr] decided he was going to turn the troops loose on Syria and Iran after that he would last in office for about 15 minutes.In fact if President Bush were to try that now even I would think that he ought to be impeached. You can't get away with that sort of thing in this democracy."
Lawrence Eagleburger, who was US Secretary of State under George Bush Snr, made the prediction to the BBC recently.
We may see if he is correct.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=397011
Nukes May Be the Answer.
The U.S. military may be stretched dangerously thin. Empire building may put America's security at risk considering that troops are stationed around the globe with a large presence needed for an occupied Iraq and a lesser presence still needed for Afghanistan. But If a war breaks out elsewhere, the U.S. may resort to using smaller tactical nuclear weapons to offset the shortage in troops.
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0315/ridgewar3.php
Other News.
Conyers is taking pulse on impeachment
If you want to support Rep. John Conyers on a possible impeachment of President George W. Bush, you can fax or e-mail your support. Congressman John Conyers on the Judicial Committee is asking you, through his legislative assistant Alexia, to let him know if you want Bush impeached.
Fax to
ATTN.: ALEXIA, assistant to Hon. John Conyers
John.Conyers@mail.house.gov
OR Fax: (313) 226-2085
Preparing for a Police State.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the foundations for martial law and internment camps in the U.S. are in place. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been planning for possible uprisings of the civilian population for many years. FEMA has supplies and land designated for possible internment camps. Recently, the U.S. military has created the Northern Command to help with Homeland Security. They will be used as support in law enforcement duties in cities throughout America if needed. This violates the Posse Commitatus Act of 1878 which had long been held as a ruling prohibiting troops from law enforcement on American citizens.
Hopefully public awareness may in some way interfere with plans for implementation. So, spread the word.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/27/1027497418339.html
The New Bankruptcy Law Abuses Workers.
The new bankruptcy law will probably be enacted in time to greet some of our soldiers as they return home. Many of those same soldiers who risked their lives for their country will face a debtors prison when they have to go bankrupt. According to Ralph Nader, the new bankruptcy law will have bankruptcy courts serve as a bill collector for debts with consumer protections stripped away in the process. Contrast that with Corporate bankruptcy laws which will remain the same. In one recent corporate bankruptcy, the executives of Pacific Gas and Electric received 34 million in bonuses while the company was deep in bankruptcy proceedings. Ain't that America.
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Articles3/Nader_Bankruptcy.htm
Bush's Environmental Strategy.
Bush's environmental strategy is simply to suppress, ignore, and preempt damaging information. Rather than having a real program to protect our nation's environment, the Bush Administration seeks to protect big business buddies by ignoring or delaying environmental impact statements and reports by the EPA. One example, an EPA report warning of mercury dangers to children from coal fired energy plants was not released for 9 months. Instead, the Administration released it only after coming up with a "Clear Sky" proposal which calls for less stricter regulations on power plants and increases mercury limits over what is allowed under full enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
http://www.envirolink.org/external.html?www=http%3A//www.alternet.org/story.html%3FStoryID%3D15534&itemid=200304011433100.859763
Kraft CEO Says GM Poses Threat.
Kraft Co-CEO, Betsey Holden, calls for stricter regulation for planting crops engineered to produce pharmaceuticals. Stating the obvious, Holden says that such crops along with GM foods pose a threat to the world's food supplies. Another Kraft spokesperson reiterates that if the federal government refuses to outlaw such crops then there should be stricter regulations. Perhaps the bad publicity and public outrage is making Kraft reconsider bio-engineering of foods. http://www.gefoodalert.org/News/news.cfm?News_ID=3530
Unfortunately, farmers will plant more bio-tech corn and soybeans this year, according to the Agriculture Department. It is estimated that the percentage of genetically modified corn will increase to 38% of the nation's corn supply this year. Also, it is estimated that the percentage of GM soybeans will increase to 80% of the America's harvested soybeans.
http://www.gefoodalert.org/News/news.cfm?News_ID=3525
A Better Way!
"A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depends on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the measure as I have received and am still receiving."
- Albert Einstein
Being Good to Workers is Good Business.
Research shows that workers who feel supported and valued feel less stress. Workers were asked to fill out a questionnaire, and their blood pressures were monitored;researchers found that greater social support resulted in less blood pressure and less stress levels.
Treating employees humanely is good business because workers would be more likely to show up for work, and take pride in their work and their company. Someone inform the bean counters that run the major corporations.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=571&e=16&u=/nm/heart_workplace_dc
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?"
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
"The Unexamined Life is not Worth Living."
-Socrates
The Examined Life is Worth Living.
Ask questions! It is a duty we owe to ourselves and to others. If the world is to break the cycle of greed, hatred, and violence; then the citizens of the world need to break their conditioning. We need to question our programming and our programmers. When we see deception and misinformation, then we need to point it out and ask why. Practice awareness and investigate. When we find that some condition or belief is causing suffering; question it, look at its roots, and see what can be done to change it. The simple act of questioning starts the process of awakening. This is not a luxury afforded to only the few and the brave, but it is demanded of all of us. When enough of us begin this process, the earth and it's inhabitants will take a deep sigh of relief.
Grant Lawrence
If you have any comments that you would like to address directly to me grantlaw@buckeye-express.com
Also, Please feel free to forward the newsletter or any of the stories. It is urgent that we increase awareness! Special Thanks to Terry Lodge, Mike Ferner, and John Bernard for their research.
Grant Lawrence
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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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To join the Green Party of Ohio, complete the form at
http://www.ohiogreensorg/membership/register.html
To see the membership list of the GPO, see
http://www.ohiogreens.org/membership/
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