Greens join Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions on March 30 to end the Israeli occupation

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, March 26, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on foreign policy http://www.gp.org/speakers

"The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?" (video and text) http://www.gp.org/first100


WASHINGTON, DC -- On Monday, March 30, the Green Party of the United States will join other advocates for an end to the Israeli occupation, for full human rights and equality for all in Israel-Palestine, and for a nonviolent resolution to the Middle East conflict by observing the Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).

The Green Party has endorsed BDS as a means to place international pressure on Israel, with special emphasis on ending US military aid to Israel (http://www.gp.org/position/st_2005_11_21.shtml). Greens have strongly criticized the Bush and Obama administrations and Democrats and Republicans in Congress for unconditionally supporting the occuption, Israel's military actions (including the recent invasion of Gaza), expulsion of Palestinians from their homes, and the Israeli apartheid system.

The Green Party has also signed on to a petition, sponsored by Peace Cycle, to suspend the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel until Israel respects human rights and International Law (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Suspend-EU-Israel-Trade-Agreement).

"The withdrawal of Charles Freeman from his appointment to a top intelligence post, after he came under fire for criticizing Israel, laid to rest any doubt about the influence of pro-Israel lobbies over US policy in the Middle East," said Hajja Romi Elnagar, Louisiana Green and member of the Green Party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl). "The attacks on Mr. Freeman were led by Stephen J. Rosen, who is currently under federal indictment for alleged violations of the Espionage Act based on his actions on behalf of Israel as an AIPAC official."

Organizers of the Global Day of Action, which was launched at the World Social Forum 2009 in Belém, Brazil, are encouraging several actions: boycotts and divestment from Israeli corporations and international corporations that sustain Israeli apartheid and occupation; legal action to end Israel's impunity and prosecute Israeli war criminals; blocking free trade and other preferential agreements with Israel and imposing an arms embargo (http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/314). The Global Day of Action coincides with Land Day, which marks an Israeli military attack on Palestinians protesting peacefully in Israel in 1976, resulting in six Palestinians killed and about 100 injured.

In January, the Green Party's 2008 presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney participated in an effort to deliver medical supplies to besieged Palestinians in Gaza until the delivery boat she was traveling on was surrounded by Israeli gunboats and rammed by one of them (http://www.gp.org/cynthia/index.shtml).

"The Gaza invasion should end illusions about Israeli democracy. During the assault, Palestinian-Israelis were banned from nonviolently protesting their government's actions. In over 200 demonstrations, some 800 protestors, including nearly 300 children, were arrested while others were interrogated by the authorities, placed under house arrest, and prohibited from traveling to certain Israeli cities," said Justine McCabe, co-chair of the Green Party's International Committee (Speakers Bureau page: http://www.gp.org/speakers/detail.php?ID=35).

The Green Party supports an immediate UN-sponsored, multinational peacekeeping force to protect civilians and to oversee implementation of all relevant UN resolutions and the dismantling of the occupation. The party endorses full human rights, democracy, equality under the law, and security for Palestinians and Israelis; efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict; dismantling of the separation wall; and the Palestinian right of return (http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/democracy.html#307394).

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

International Committee of the Green Party http://www.gp.org/committees/intl

"Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely to resume"
Green Party press release, January 19, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=169

US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?list=type&type=264

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

Cynthia McKinney - From London‏

Hello! I'm currently in London, invited by the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War, to participate in a Forum for Palestine sponsored by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event is taking place at the Marriott Grosvenor Hotel on March 31, 2009. This one-day Forum will feature the Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Serri Rais Yatim giving the opening address and former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Mahathir presenting the keynote address. I will speak for about 20 minutes on the Genocide in Palestine and, of course, what happened to me in international waters while on a boat carrying medical supplies, attempting to reach the beseiged people of Gaza.

Of course, it is right here in London that George Galloway's triumph must be marked of reaching Gaza by land in a convoy of vehicles. Even in triumph, M.P. Galloway acknowledged that they still had to ask Israel's permission for some of the vehicles to enter Gaza. Nonetheless, what Galloway did was absolutely phenomenal and those of us who tried to reach Gaza by sea, through the territorial waters of the Gaza remained committed to that goal. However, we must deal with the issue of impunity. Right now, we see that justice is blind--meaning that those most in need of justice are the ones to whom the system of justice constructed in our country and internationally, is blind. We must change that.

For those of you who are, or who have friends who are in London, please pass this message along. It would be great if we could have a better-than-expected turnout of our Power to the People friends who are "across the pond."

I am in the process of putting a message together on the current economic morass into which Obama's economic team, following Bush's, is leading us. In short, what Washington, D.C. is doing is devoid of all sense, unless the objective is to aid and abet those who want to rob the taxpayer. During our Power to the People campaign, we put forward some principles that would ensure that the economy of the United States was one that worked for the people. In the time since then, I've met some wonderful "people's economists" who point the way with practical policy recommendations that are being ignored. Heck, even David Walker, the US former Comptroller, is still being ignored. It's not rocket science--although those in charge would want you to believe it is. And the it's not being done because those in charge don't want us to be the arbiters of our economic destiny. More on that later. In the meantime, enjoy this Bendib cartoon:

Green Talking Points: Obama should reverse course and reject Bush-Cheney policies

Green Talking Points: Obama should reverse course and reject Bush-Cheney policies on the drug war, illegal surveillance, executive power, and Social Security cuts

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Monday, March 16, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


"The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?"
(video and text) http://www.gp.org/first100

Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on these and other major issues http://www.gp.org/speakers


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders challenged the Obama Administration to reverse the failed policies and reject the agenda of the Bush Administration, citing as examples the war on drugs; torture, illegal surveillance, and other Bush-Cheney abuses of power; and cuts in Social Security.

"The Clinton Administration accomplished what the Republicans had tried to enact but failed -- welfare 'reform', NAFTA and other antidemocratic international trade authorities, deregulation of credit markets and telecommunications giants. Will Barack Obama deliver what George W. Bush promised?" asked Budd Dickinson, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

Greens said that the Democratic Party's retreats, betrayals, and capitulations on so many major issues proved the failure of the two-party status quo and the need for the Green Party's emergence.


WAR ON DRUGS
The bipartisan war on drugs has proven disastrous on two fronts, said Greens. Domestically, it has resulted in the incarceration of record numbers of Americans, especially young African Americans, Latinos, and poor people on nonviolent drug charges, with one in 31 Americans now in prison or on parole. South of the border, US drug prohibition has led to the breakdown of civil order, with powerful drug cartels, corrupt law enforcement, and a spike in killings most recently in Mexico, and similar long-term effects in Colombia and other Latin American countries where drug production serves a US market.

"The Obama Administration and new Congress could put drug-related organized crime out of business very quickly and drastically reduce America's burgeoning prison population by ending the war on drugs, by legalizing virtually harmless drugs like marijuana, and by treating addiction to harder drugs as a medical and social problem rather than by locking people up. A politician's stance on the drug war is a true test of character -- or lack thereof," said Cliff Thornton, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States and co-founder of the drug law reform organization Efficacy, Inc. (http://www.Efficacy-online.org) (Speakers Bureau page for Mr. Thornton: http://www.gp.org/speakers/detail.php?ID=12).

"Unfortunately, both Democrats and Republicans are themselves addicted to 'tough on crime' rhetoric and failed ideas about drugs as a law enforcement issue. Politicians from the two parties have also surrendered to the demands of the expanding private prison industry, whose profits depend on more and more inmates filling up cells," added Nan Garrett, former co-chair of Georgia Green Party, and one of the founders of Georgians Opposed to Prohibition, an organization founded toward changing the prohibition aspects of the War on Drugs, as well as co-chair of the National Women's Caucus (http://www.gp.org/committees/women) (Ms. Garrett's Speakers Bureau Page: http://gp.org/speakers/detail.php?ID=28).


WHITE HOUSE ABUSES OF POWER
Greens, like millions of other Americans, have been dismayed by the Obama Administration's adoption of many Bush-Cheney policies that patently violate the US Constitution: immunity for telecomm firms that allowed illegal surveillance of US citizens; domestic torture and the rendition of suspects to other countries for torture; denial of habeas corpus; secretly held prisoners at US bases in Bagram and possibly other locations; missile strikes inside Pakistan; workplace immigration raids; and the expansion of executive power in defiance of constitutional checks and balances.

The Green Party repeatedly called for investigation, impeachment, and prosecution of all White House officials, including Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney, who participated in or enabled such abuses. Greens asserted that the end of the Bush Administration is no reason not to demand accountability from Bush officials, beginning with former Justice Department counsel John Yoo, who provided legal opinions justifying torture, warrantless wiretapping, and other crimes.

"President Obama's adoption of illegal Bush Administration policies proves why impeachment was so important. When Congress refused to hold Bush officials accountable for their abuses of power, they set the stage for future administrations -- regardless of party -- to maintain unconstitutional policies and repeat such abuses," said Ben Manski, an attorney specializing in issues of federalism and the rule of law and a former national co-chair of the Green Party (Speakers Bureau page: http://gp.org/speakers/detail.php?ID=44).

"Nor should we ignore the collusion of Democratic leaders who were informed of illegal actions, manipulated intelligence, and attempts to deceive the public. The Democratic rubberstamp for so many illegal Bush-Cheney policies and actions shows the breakdown of democracy and the rule of law," said Mr. Manski.


SOCIAL SECURITY
Green Party leaders expressed alarm at reports that President Obama was considering cuts to Social Security and Medicare. (The Green Party supports expansion of Medicare to cover every American, in a Single-Payer national health care program.)

"President Obama should resist demands that Social Security benefits be slashed for any group of Americans, or that it should be privatized even partially," said Ron Forthofer, 2002 Green Party candidate for Governor of Colorado (Speakers Bureau page: http://gp.org/speakers/detail.php?ID=42). "Any cuts in Social Security will further undermine the finances and economic confidence of working people already suffering from loss of income and job security during the recession. Taking away benefits for which people have already paid is a breach of contract with the American people and a theft of their retirement income. The White House and Congress should resist pressure from greedy financial corporations, free-market ideologues, and billionaire bankers like Peter Peterson to cut or privatize our benefits.

"Imagine what would have happened to Social Security benefits if they had been privatized and invested in the Stock Market before the economy tanked," added Dr. Forthofer.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

Spotlight on a founding member: Greg Gerritt reflects on his life as a Green and his new direction

Greg Gerritt reflects on his life as a Green and his new direction

by Greg Gerritt, Green Party of Rhode Island and founding member of the Green Party in the United States

Green Pages
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog/?p=984
2009 Winter/Spring Features


After 25 years of actively working within the Green Party apparatus in the United States, I have decided to step out of the bureaucracy and devote all of my Green Party time to working with Green candidates. My colleagues have asked me to reflect a bit on my work as a Green over those years, so here is the very short version.

I first heard about the Green Party when I learned of the initial success of the German Green Party in 1980. I immediately noted we needed a Green Party in the U.S. Early in 1984, John Rensenbrink and a few colleagues called the first Green Party (GP) meeting in the U.S. in Augusta, Maine. I did not know about that first meeting, but I went to the second meeting in February 1984, and until November 2008 I have been continually involved in some sort of Green Party bureaucracy.


In 1986, I was the first Green in the U.S. to run for state legislature. It was the right-sized district for a shoe leather campaign, about 8200 people, and after knocking on about 90 percent of the doors in the district, I received 16 percent of the vote in a three party race, nearly winning in my own community and coming within 6 percent of placing second. To this day I maintain that state representative races, especially in states with relatively small districts, are excellent for Greens to win with shoe leather campaigns.

In my campaign, I focused on bad forest practices, a bad economy, and credibility on economic issues. The ability to demonstrate that a Green economy can lead to prosperity is what will determine our long-term success. Unless Americans believe a green economy works and can provide a decent living for them and their neighbors; we do not get elected. Good candidates address this daily.

In 1991, the Green National Gathering in Elkins, West Virginia, was a tumultuous affair. I was chosen to lead a committee coming out of this event that would explore what type of structure the GP should use for its national committee. In 1992 each committee member wrote an essay on what they thought would be best. I compiled the essays and submitted them. My suggestion was that we become a federation of state parties, with each state party being fairly autonomous. I maintained this was useful because it could partly compensate for the ridiculous array of election laws we face and would prevent a small number of state parties from controlling the whole party.

To this day, I maintain state representative races, especially in states with relatively small districts, are excellent for Greens to win with shoe leather campaigns.

The federation approach was continued when we transformed from the Association of State Green Parties to the Green Party of the United States. Although some Greens still advocate for individual membership, which would give California dominance, the association of state parties has proven to be a viable structure.

While the GP caught a wave with Ralph Nader in 2000, the world and the party has changed, and for 2008 we needed a candidate dedicated to the party. As a member of the Presidential Campaign Support Committee, I led efforts to educate the state parties and the potential candidates about the nomination process, and helped them prepare for a crazy year.

I was proud of the four candidates who made it to the convention, Jesse Johnson, Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay, and Kat Swift, all of whom used their campaigns to build the party. I am also proud that my last major action for the Green Party was to lead the workshop at the national committee meeting the morning after the nomination to help our nominee, Cynthia McKinney, integrate her campaign into the party structure.

As I step away from the bureaucracy, my next Green project will be to create a consulting business called the Green Party Candidates and Campaign Resource Center. It will be a small network of experienced Green campaigners and former candidates who will work with Green candidates, campaign teams, and state parties to help them run better campaigns. I have already lined up a number of cooperators for this project, and, now that I no longer have any official positions, I am moving swiftly on the project, recruiting Green campaign consultants, and publicizing it so by the time the 2010 election season rolls around, many months from now for winter elections, we shall have a team in place, ready and able to help every Green candidate who can use it. It will have no bureaucracy and no nay-sayers and, after 25 years in the bureaucracy, I am really going to enjoy that.

Anyone who wants to be involved, drop me a line at gerritt@mindspring.com.

Greens note victory for the universal health care movement after the White House, in a reversal, invites Single-payer advocates to health summit

Greens note victory for the universal health care movement after the White House, in a reversal, invites Single-payer advocates to its March 5 health summit

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Friday, March 6, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org

Issues & Answers for the media on Single-payer universal health care


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders called the White House's reversal on excluding Single-payer advocates from a March 5 health care policy summit a modest but important victory for universal health care.

The Green Party of the United States is one of several organizations supporting Single-payer health care that urged its members and the public to demand an invitation for advocates of Single-payer/Medicare For All, who until Wednesday evening had been barred from the summit (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=188).

"The Obama Administration's reversal proves that if enough Americans speak out for real universal health care, we won't be ignored. Unfortunately, President Obama's welcoming remarks on Thursday showed that he won't stand up to the insurance lobby. He won't admit that the private insurance industry adds nothing of value to our health care system, while greatly increasing health care costs and impeding the delivery of health care," said Mark Dunlea, former chair of Green Party of New York State, currently co-chair of Single Payer New York.

"One of our greatest obstacles is the lack of media coverage for Single-payer, because too many in the media have been subject to pressure by politicians and the HMO-insurance industry, which exercises leverage through advertising contracts and underwriting," added Mr. Dunlea.

On Thursday morning, Green Party members learned that the White House had relented after receiving numerous complaints, and invited two Single-payer advocates: Dr. Oliver Fein, president of Physicians for a National Health Program (http://www.pnhp.org) and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the author and main sponsor of HR 676, legislation for Single-payer program (http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc110/h676_ih.xml).

Until Dr. Fein and Rep. Conyers were invited, the 120 guests at the meeting included lobbyists for the for-profit insurance industry, as well as members of Congress, including Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus, who has declared the Single-payer "off the table." Physicians for a National Health Program, other members of the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care, and the National Single Payer Alliance led the call for President Obama to invite Single-payer leaders.


Issues & Answers for the media: facts about Single-payer national health care (also called Medicare For All)

How Single-payer works:


* Everybody in, nobody out: Single-payer covers every American regardless of employment, income, ability to pay, age, and prior medical condition. Right now, about 48 million Americans have no health coverage at all and millions more have inadequate coverage. Under Single-payer, they will all enjoy guaranteed quality health care, including prescriptions.


* In a Single-payer system, no American will face financial ruin because of illness or injury. Private HMOs and health insurance companies raise their profit margin by denying treatment to people with medical emergencies and by denying coverage to those they consider 'high-risk' because of existing health problems, age, low income, etc. In other words, private health insurance is designed to fail people who need health care the most.


* Single-payer will allow Americans to choose which physician, health care provider, and health care facility will treat them.


* Single-payer will cut national health care costs by as much as a third and reduce what working Americans pay for health coverage. Single-payer will be funded at the federal level and administered at the state level. Americans will pay for Single-payer the way we now pay for Social Security, but the amount working Americans will pay will be far less than for private health coverage, because Single-payer eliminates the profit-making insurance and HMO 'middle-men.'


* Single-payer reduces paperwork for physicians and other health professionals, one reason why thousands of MDs, other people working in the health care industry, and medical students have endorsed Single-payer.


* Under Single-payer, physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers would compete to serve the public, raising the quality of health care. Single-payer is a health insurance payment mechanism, not a health care delivery system.


* Health care rationing? All health care plans ration care to some extent. Under private insurance programs, treatment is rationed according to ability to pay for coverage. Under Single-payer, the insurance company profit motive is removed and health care is rationed according to need, with medical emergencies and serious illnesses receiving top priority.



Single-payer and the economy:


* Single-payer makes economic sense. At 3% administrative cost, Medicare (which would be made universal under Single-payer) is highly efficient compared to the 15-30% administrative costs of for-profit insurance.


* Single-payer will boost the ailing US economy and provide relief for businesses large and small, since it will cancel the high expense and administrative burden of employer-based health care benefits (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=158).


* Single-payer will relieve municipalities and school boards from having to bear the cost of providing health insurance to employees, allowing responsible officials to reduce their budgets and lower local property taxes.


* Single-payer gives government (and therefore taxpayers) a stake in preventive medicine and promotion of good health habits to keep costs down.



The politics of Single-payer:


* Polls have demonstrated popular support for a national health care program that guarantees universal coverage (http://www.wpasinglepayer.org/PollResults.html). In 2008, the US Conference of Mayors endorsed Single-payer (http://www.usmayors.org/resolutions/76th_conference/chhs_03.asp).


* The US is the only industrial democracy that does not guarantee every citizen health care. Compared to other nations, America has the best medical technology but poor access to medical treatment. Single-payer will correct this scandal.


* The Center for Responsive Politics has documented the millions in campaign money that the insurance industry has given to Democrats and Republicans to maintain their control over health care (http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=F09), with a total of $46,002,881 in insurance lobby contributions in 2008.


* The Green Party endorses Single-payer in its national platform. The Democratic Party endorsed national health insurance in 1948, but removed it from the Democratic platform during the Clinton Administration. The Democratic and Republican parties continue to embrace failed 'market solutions.'


* Barack Obama, before he launched his bid for president, supported Single-payer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpAyan1fXCE&feature=player_embedded). Al Gore opposed Single-payer when he ran for president in 2000, but admitted two years later that Single-payer is the best plan (http://www.pnhp.org/news/2002/november/gore_favors_single.php). Dennis Kucinich was the only Democratic presidential candidate in 2008 to support Single-payer.


* "Single-payer health care is socialism!" By the same standard, so are public streets, sidewalks, parks, schools, libraries, fire departments, police forces, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and bailouts for ailing Wall Street firms. The principle behind Single-payer is that health care should be a human right, not a commodity that allows powerful corporations that don't actually provide health care (HMOs and insurance companies) to make money.



See also "Single-Payer FAQ" at the Physicians for a National Health Program web site (http://www.pnhp.org/facts/singlepayer_faq.php).


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

"The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?" (video and text) http://www.gp.org/first100

Green Party information page on Single-Payer http://www.gp.org/organize/sicko.html

"President Obama can either work to enact health care for all Americans or he can support insurance and HMO industry profits, say Greens"
Green Party press release, January 29, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=174

"An International Perspective on Health Care Reform"
By Connecticut Green Party member John R. Battista, MD
http://www.gp.org/first100/?p=119
(Published on the Green Party's web site as part of "The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?" http://www.gp.org/first100)

Video clips:
2008 Green presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney speaks on Single-Player health care and racial health care disparities http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEHd4lRVUuU
More on health care: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEHd4lRVUuU
Health, the environment, and the economy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVNTOa8owQQ

"Talking Points: Why the mandate plans won't work, and why Single-Payer 'Medicare for All' is what we need"
By Len Rodberg, PhD, Physicians for a National Health Program
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/december/talking_points_why_.php

"Albany Med chief [CEO of the Albany Medical Center] calls for hospital reform and single-payer system"
The Business Review (Albany, New York), September 8, 2006
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2006/september/albany_med_chief_cal.php

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

The Little Theater presents " IRAQ: WAR OF CHOICE " film by Deborah Magone

local filmmaker and Green Party of Monroe County Co-Chair, Debora Magone's hour long documentary "Iraq: War of Choice" was first shown on Rochester Cable Television RCTV12 in 2006, and has since had over a half a million viewers online. On April 27, 2009 "Iraq: War of Choice" will make it's big screen debut in a condensed half hour version as part of the Little Theater's Emerging Filmmakers Series.

30 min. documentary film - Part 1 of the 100 yr old story that no one will talk about & everyone needs to know involving Iraq, the Bushes, the Rockefellars, Evangelicals & their desire for profits over human life, greed above the law, & opportunity from death and destruction.

Date: Monday, April 27, 2009
Time: 9:15pm - 9:45pm
Location: The Little Theater
Street: 240 East Ave.
City/Town: Rochester, NY

Greens urge widespread protest over President Obama's exclusion of Single-Payer/Medicare For All advocates from the March 5 health care reform summit

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org

Two protests scheduled: (1) in front of the White House on Thursday, March 5, organized by Physicians for a National Health Program and other single-payer groups; (2) "Burn Your Health Insurance Bill Day" outside of a health insurance lobby meeting in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, March 11

"The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?" (video and text) http://www.gp.org/first100


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders said today that Americans should be furious over President Obama's barring of advocates for single-payer (also called Medicare For All) from his March 5 health care summit.

Greens urged widespread protest, including rallies and phone calls to the White House and to Congress members, over the exclusion. Polls have demonstrated consistent popular support for a national health care program that guarantees universal coverage (http://www.wpasinglepayer.org/PollResults.html).

The 120 guests invited to the White House meeting include lobbyists for the for-profit insurance industry, as well as members of Congress, including Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus, who has declared the single-payer "off the table." The Center for Responsive Politics has documented the campaign money that the insurance industry has given to Democrats and Republicans for their leverage over health care and other policies (http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=F09), with a total of $46,002,881 in insurance lobby contributions in 2008.

Green Party leaders encourraged support for and attendance at two protest actions in Washington, DC over President Obama's exclusion of single-payer voices from the summit:

Physicians for a National Health Program (http://www.pnhp.org) and other members of the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care and the National Single Payer Alliance, will demonstrate on Thursday, March 5 from noon to 1:00 pm at Lafayette Square in front of the White House. Health care providers are encouraged to bring their white coats. More information: Danielle Alexander, 202-662-0614, danielle@pnhp.org

Single-payer supporters will hold a "Burn Your Health Insurance Bill Day" demonstration (http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/03/03) on Wednesday, March 11, 10 am in front of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in downtown Washington, DC. The address is 1150 22nd Street, NW, near the Dupont Circle and GWU/Foggy Bottom Metro stations. Inside the Ritz-Carlton, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the main Washington lobbying group for health insurance corporations, will meet to discuss plans to derail single-payer (http://www.ahip.org/links/policy2009/).

"President Obama, along with most Democrats and Republicans in Congress, has chosen the demands of the for-profit health insurance industry over America's need for universal health care. The Green Party supports the single-payer national health plan, which covers all Americans and would rescue those who now face financial ruin because they lack insurance or have inadequate coverage," said David Doonan, Village Mayor of Greenwich, New York and a member of the Green Party.

"Single-payer will cut national health care costs by as much as a third, significantly reduce what working Americans pay for health coverage, and provide everyone with guaranteed quality care regardless of ability to pay, income, age, or prior medical condition. Furthermore, single-payer will give everyone full choice of health care provider and drastically cut the paperwork that plagues physicians and other health professionals," added Jody Grage, treasurer of the Green Party of the United States.

Greens note that enactment of a Single-Payer program would boost the ailing US economy and provide relief for businesses large and small, since it would cancel the high expense and administrative burden of employer-based health care benefits (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=158). Rep. John Conyers' (D-Mich.) bill for Single-Payer (HR 676, http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc110/h676_ih.xml) has strong Green Party support.

Read "An International Perspective on Health Care Reform" by Connecticut Green Party member John R. Battista, MD (http://www.gp.org/first100/?p=119), published on the Green Party's web site as part of "The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?" (http://www.gp.org/first100)

For a comparison of mandate plans and Single-Payer , see "Talking Points: Why the mandate plans won't work, and why Single-Payer 'Medicare for All' is what we need" by Len Rodberg, PhD, published by Physicians for a National Health Program (http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/december/talking_points_why_.php).

See also:

Green Party information page on Single-Payer: http://www.gp.org/organize/sicko.html

"President Obama can either work to enact health care for all Americans or he can support insurance and HMO industry profits, say Greens"
Green Party press release, January 29, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=174

Video clips:
2008 Green presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney speaks on Single-Player health care and racial health care disparities http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEHd4lRVUuU
More on health care: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEHd4lRVUuU
Health, the environment, and the economy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVNTOa8owQQ


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

Green Talking Points: Greens speak out on Obama's plans for carbon emissions trading, US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org

The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?" (video and text) http://www.gp.org/first100


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders today offered critical comments on President Obama's recently announced plans for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, and escalation of troop levels in Afghanistan.

CAP-AND-TRADE ENERGY PLAN
After the Clinton and Bush administrations refused to take minimal steps to confront climate change, at least the Obama administration has offered modest plans and intends to seek a new post-Kyoto international treaty. However, given scientists' recent warnings of accelerated warming, Greens oppose carbon emissions trading schemes such as the one proposed by President Obama, asserting that permits for polluting companies to trade emission permits are ineffective at curbing global climate change.

"The failure of emissions trading in Europe over the past three years proves cap-and-trade plans are full of loopholes, are vulnerable to widespread abuse, and threaten the air quality in communities near industries that buy credits. The solution must involve drastic cuts in greenhouse gases, reduction of fossil fuel consumption (especially car traffic), carbon taxes, energy conservation, and new jobs in conservation, retrofitting, and cultivation of safe, clean energy sources. There is no way to solve the global warming crisis without profound changes to our economy and way of life," said Budd Dickinson, energy engineer and co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

The Green Party has offered a set of 'First 100 Days' action for the new administration (http://www.gp.org/committees/ecoaction/documents/First_100_Days.pdf). Green Parties throughout the world have urged developed countries to commit to domestic reductions of at least 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, in comparison with 1990 emission levels, and support conversion to a "low or zero carbon society." ("Global Greens, representing 70 Green Parties and Green groups, issue declaration on reduction of greenhouse gases," Green Party press release, December 7, 2007, http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_12_07.shtml).

See also: "Britain's big polluters accused of abusing EU's carbon trading scheme," The Guardian, 27 January 2009 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jan/27/industry-abusing-ets-carbon-trading), and "Smoke alarm: EU shows carbon trading is not cutting emissions," The Guardian, April 3, 2007 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/apr/03/carbonemissions.environment).

TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ
The Green Party called Mr. Obama's plan to call home many (not all) US troops from Iraq by August 31, 2010 a minimal and probably ineffectual step towards ending the war.

"President Obama's intention to leave a residual force of between 35,000 and 50,000 troops and permanent US bases in Iraq indicates that the occupation won't really end, and that the Obama White House, like the last administration, wants to protect US corporate interests in Iraq, namely oil," said Mark Dunlea, former chair of the Green Party of New York State.

"The illegal US invasion of Iraq, based on a litany of deceptions, has resulted in the destruction of the country and deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians, as well as over 4,000 US troops. The only acceptable order from President Obama is one calling home all US military personnel and contractors immediately, to give the Iraqi people the chance to rebuild without interference," added Jody Grage, founder of Seattle's Nonviolent Peacekeeper Pool and treasurer of the Green Party of the United States.

Green Party leaders said that a quick withdrawal of US troops, combined with a reduction in military funding, would also free up hundreds of billions of dollars in funding that could help jumpstart the suffering US economy.

MORE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN
The Green Party opposes President Obama's plan to send 17,000 more US troops to Afghanistan and his request for increased military spending.

The results of the US invasion and occupation of Afghanistan have so far been widespread civilian casualties from air attacks, massive physical destruction, the fracturing of the country under different ethnic and religious leaders, and the reemergence of the Taliban. Greens said that the troop escalation would very likely lead to greater anti-American sentiment and less chance for security and a better life for the Afghan people. Green Party leaders said that regional problems were more likely to be resolved through diplomacy and international cooperation, and that the 9/11 attacks required international investigation and prosecution, given numerous unanswered questions about the attacks (http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2006_09_11.shtml).

See also "Greens call for US troop withdrawal on the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan," press release, October 15, 2007 (http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_10_15.shtml).

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog