June 2005 - announce - example.com

SF Green Party Weekly
by announce＠sfgreens.org 30 Jun '05

30 Jun '05

SFGP WEEKLY For The Week of 6/30/05 - 7/7/05 Welcome to All Our New Subscribers From SF Pride 2005! This Week: ********************************************************** ************************************************** News: 6/13: Keep on Reforming 6/29: Against All Enemies 6/30: Spain Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage 6/30: Ethics Commission Charter Amendment From Sup. Ross Mirkarimi ********************************************************** Events: - 7/2: Voter Reg at SF Mime Troupe - 7/6: Support Immigrant's Rights - 7/7: Register New Citizens - 7/7: FIG Meeting ********************************************************** More Events: - Walk San Francisco's Peak to Peak Walk ********************************************************** Announcements: - Pride Pics - Joke of the Week - Become A Sustainer! ********************************************************** ********************************************************** News ***************************************** Keep On Reforming Steven Hill Salon.com June 13, 2005 Politics involves the art of achieving the possible. Rarely do you get what you want, so you take what you can get. But when it comes to electoral reform, reformers run the risk of overpromising in trying to gain attention for their particular issue -- and can end up underdelivering, increasing voters' cynicism. Two of the most talked-about electoral reforms in the past decade have been the public financing of election campaigns and the use of independent commissions to redraw legislative district lines. While reformers have had limited success passing those two reforms -- to date, only a handful of states use either public financing or independent commissions, and even fewer use both -- when enacted, the reforms have been accompanied by great fanfare and hope. Yet the impact of the two reforms has been disappointing, and it may be time to extend our efforts at reform to the primary culprit in our broken democracy: our winner-take-all elections. Read the full article at http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/06/13/electoral_reform/print.html *********************************************************** Against All Enemies (this article on Arlene Ackerman mentions prominant local Greens such as Mark Sanchez, Sarah Lipson, Matt Gonzalez, Whitney Leigh, and Bruce Wolfe) Tali Woodward and Steven T. Jones SUPT. ARLENE Ackerman's long pattern of treating those who disagree with her as enemies has destroyed her relationships with key schools stakeholders and seriously restricted the district's ability to function. Ackerman's battles with the elected San Francisco Board of Education have grabbed headlines for years, but this year she has simply stopped coming to many meetings, offering her recommendations on complicated and controversial issues, or engaging in more than cursory conversations with board members. ....... Sarah Lipson has been the most soft-spoken of Ackerman's critics on the school board. For some time now, she's been the one who has been able to meet with the superintendent, the one who has tried to keep lines of communication open. But over the past four months, Ackerman has cut off her regular monthly meeting with Lipson. "She's canceled every meeting without rescheduling," Lipson told us. "We've always had disagreements, but we've always managed to work it out," Lipson continued. "Now she doesn't even look at me. It's worse than it's ever been." Read the full article at: http://www.sfbg.com/39/39/cover_ackerman.html *********************************************************** 6/30: Spainish Parliment Legalizes Gay Marriage- Bill also lets same-sex couples adopt children, inheret property Associated Press MADRID, Spain - Spain became the third country to legalize gay marriage Thursday in a parliament vote that left gay activists blowing kisses to lawmakers and the powerful Catholic Church issuing veiled calls for defiance. The new law increases the chances of happiness for "our neighbors, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives," said Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The 50-seat Congress of Deputies, by a vote of 187-147 with four abstentions, approved the measure to give homosexual couples the same rights as heterosexual ones, including the right to adopt children. Read the full article at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8413036/ *********************************************************** 6/30: Important Ethics Commission Charter Amendment The Office of Sup. Ross Mirkarimi The proposed Charter Amendment would require the Ethics Commission to undertake a study, in conjunction with the Controller, of comparable agencies in other jurisdictions and to determine an appropriate level of staffing for the level of work the Ethics Commission has historically undertaken. Based on this study, the Commission shall develop a baseline budget that provides for a minimum level of staffing. Using the baseline budget, the Ethics Commission will submit to the Mayor a budget that estimates its financial needs for the next fiscal year, which may not be less than the baseline budget. The Mayor must submit the budget to the Board as proposed by the Ethics Commission, with such recommendations as the Mayor deems appropriate. The budget may be amended and adopted in accordance with the Article 9 of the Charter except that the Mayor may not reduce or reject any expenditure authorized by the Board of Supervisors related to the Commission. In addition, the Commission must establish a process for updating its baseline budget determination every three years. The first baseline budget determination may be in effect for fewer than three years in order to implement the three-year cycle in a manner that comports with the City's budget process. The Commission must establish a timeline, not to exceed three years, for bringing its staffing in line with any baseline budget. The proposed amendment would also provide the Commission authority to decide, by vote of a majority of its members, to retain outside counsel for any audit, the assessment of a fine or penalty or complaint when the City Attorney or a current employee of the City Attorney's office is the subject of the audit, fine or penalty, or complaint. *********************************************************** **************************************************** Events ************************************* Voter Reg at SF Mime Troupe Saturday, July 2 12:00 noon Music 1:30pm, Show 2:00pm Dolores Park, 18th & Dolores - San Francisco See a free show sponsored by the SF Mime Troupe and register voters with the SF Green Party before and after the show. This year's production will be "Doing Good" inspired by the book "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man." For more information, contact Mark Barnes mwbsf(a)riseup.net ********************************************************** Support Immigrant's Rights Wednesday July 6 11:00am- 12:00 noon (leave SF at 7L00am) Sacramento, CA Immigrants from various cities in Northern California will convene in Sacramento on July 6 to demand that California offer unmarked drivers licenses to undocumented residents and keep the border vigilantes out of the state ! This is a critical moment for immigrant communities to assert their agenda in statewide politics ! Please join us in this effort ! WHAT: Immigrants go to Sacramento to demand licenses and no Minutemen. WHEN: Wednesday, July 6, leave San Francisco at 7 am. WHERE: To leave from San Francisco, a bus will pick up participants in front of Centro del Pueblo, 474 Valencia St. #295 (at 16th St.), San Francisco. SCHEDULE: 7:00 am Depart from Centro del Pueblo (474 Valencia St., San Francisco) on bus. 9:00 am Arrive at State Capital, in Sacramento 10:00 am Meeting with Assemblyperson Gil Cedillo to discuss his drivers license legislation (We want UNMARKED licenses!) 11:00 am Press Conference on front steps of the State Capital and rally against Governor Swarzenegger's mean spirited proposals and his support of the vigilante minutemen who terrorize immigrants at the US Border. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Renee Saucedo (415) 553-3404. ********************************************************** Register New Citizens Thursday, July 7 8:30am- 12:00 noon Masonic Auditorium, Nob Hill, California at Jones, San Francisco We need Greens to be there by 8:30am to get out the word that there is another choice (or come later just to register after swearing in). No longer do citizens have to choose the lesser of two evils! Mark your calendar to register new citizens and inform the public about who we are and what we value. For more information, contact Pat Gray patgray.green(a)att.net ********************************************************** FIG (Feminist Issues Group) Meeting Thursday, July 7 6:30pm 1028A Howard St. (SFGP Office) Agenda items so far...until you all email more... --Vicki Leidner on her candidacy for City Assessor (Herself) --Recap/debrief on SF People's Organization Kickoff event (Erika, or others who were there, can you speak about this?) --Welfare to Work Mom's--how are they doing now? (Irene) Please email more items and if you plan to attend. Thank you, Maureen & Irene ********************************************************** ********************************************************** More Events: ************************************************* ************************************* Walk San Franciscos Peak to Peak Walk Saturday, July 23 Walk San Francisco will be holding their first annual Peak to Peak Walk, a 12-mile challenge that will inspire even the most avid walker. Walkers will get a unique view of San Franciscos skyline, stairways, paths, parks, and monuments all while raising money for WalkSFs vital pedestrian safety and advocacy work. Visit www.walksf.org to download a registration form and for more information. REGISTRATION DEADLINE - July 15. Current WalkSF member: $65 New WalkSF member: $75 (415) 431-WALK www.walksf.org director(a)walksf.org *********************************** ********************************************************** Announcements: ********************** Pride Pics See pictures of the Green Party contingent at the 2005 SF Pride Parade at: http://photos.sfsurvey.com/gaypride/index314.asp ************************************************************ Joke of the Week Proud to Be a Green A first grade teacher in the Midwest is explaining to her class that she is a Republican and how nice it is that a new Republican president has taken office. She asks her students to raise their hands if they, too, are Republicans and support George Bush. Everyone in class raises their hands except one little girl. "Mary," says the teacher with surprise, "why didn't you raise your hand?" Because I'm not a Republican," says Mary. "Well, what are you?" asks the teacher. "I'm a Green and proud of it," replies the little girl. The teacher cannot believe her ears. "My goodness, Mary, why are you a Green?" she asks. "Well, my momma and papa are Greens, so I'm a Green, too." "Well," says the teacher in an annoyed tone, "that's no reason for you to be a Green. You don't always have to be like your parents. What if your momma was a criminal and your papa was a criminal, too, what would you be then?" Mary smiled. "Then we'd be Republicans." ************************************************************ Become a Green Party Sustainer! As you may know, the SFGP is supported by our wonderful sustaining donors -- 175 and growing. In the next 12 months we hope to double that figure, and you can help us achieve our goal by signing up to make a regular contribution to the Green Party. Our sustainer program nearly pays all of our basic monthly operating expenses, including rent and utilities on the office, and drastically reduces the amount of work needed to raise money. Our sustainers free us up to do what we're really here for - to pursue Green values through the democratic system. Sustainers also ensure that we are able to keep our office, which has hosted numerous campaigns' headquarters including the successful Prop A, Instant Runoff Voting initiative. Becoming a Green Party sustainer is easy, fun, and secure! Online: http://www.sfgreenparty.org/makeadonation/makeadonation.html Phone: 415-701-7090 ************************************************************ For more info on our activities, please see our website, http://www.sfgreenparty.org. You can also email us questions at info(a)sfgreens.org. To send us news items (short blurb please, plain text only) for possible inclusion in the newsletter, email news(a)sfgreens.org. Please don't put these addresses on mailing lists; messages not specifically addressed to us won't go through.

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FW: SF Green Party Weekly
by announce＠sfgreens.org 23 Jun '05

23 Jun '05

SFGP WEEKLY For The Week of 6/23/05 - 6/30/05 Welcome to All Our New Subscribers From the Juneteenth Fair! Happy Gay Pride Weekend!! This Week: ********************************************************** ************************************************** SFGP Weekly Staff Presents: Joke of The Week When It's Time To Get A New Life: Your job requires you to wear a paper hat. You consider professional wrestling a sport. You know all the words to the Brady Bunch theme. You don't buy National Enquirer at the checkout....you subscribe. You get unnecessary haircuts, just to have someone run their fingers through your hair. You believe Oswald acted alone, except for the aliens behind the grassy knoll. ********************************************************** ********************************************************** News: 6/16: Green Party of California Applauds Passage of Universal Health Care Bill 6/17: Record House Vote for Medical Marijuana 161-264 Vote to Stop Raids 6/20: Republican National Convention Protester Goes to Trial 6/21: SF Green Party Election Timeline ********************************************************** Events: - 6/23: Seminar For Activists - 6/25: Sign-Making Party - 6/26: San Francisco Pride Weekend ********************************************************** More Events: - 6/25: Budget Town Hall Meeting ********************************************************** Announcements: - Become A Sustainer! ********************************************************** ********************************************************** News: ************** ********************************************************** 6/16: Green Party of California Applauds Passage of Universal Health Care Bill 06/16/05 Source: http://www.cagreens.org Urges Assembly, Governor to Ignore Special Iinterests SACRAMENTO (June 1, 2005) The Green Party of California today urged the state Assembly and governor to ignore the influence of special interests, and approve legislation to create a universal health care system to provide health care coverage for all Californians. SB840, authored by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) was passed in the upper house late Tuesday on a 24-14 vote and now moves to the Assembly. The only question now, said a GPCA spokesperson, is whether the Assembly and governor have enough compassion to follow the Senate's vote. "As Greens, and as Californians, we have urged for many years that the state adopt such a measure to relieve our citizens of the worry over whether they will receive the medical treatment they deserve as a right," said Larry Cafiero, GPCA liaison to the Secretary of State's office. Get the full story at http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1346 ********************************************************** 06/17: Record House Vote for Medical Marijuana 161-264 Vote to Stop Raids Source: Common Dreams.org & MPP Patients, Allies Vow to Fight On WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. House of Representatives today voted down an amendment that would have placed a one-year moratorium on federal raids against medical marijuana patients, but patients and their supporters were cheered by an all-time record vote in support of the proposal. The amendment, supported by a broad array of organizations, including the American Nurses Association and the United Methodist Church, was defeated 161-264, receiving 13 more votes than an identical proposal received last year. The bipartisan amendment, introduced by U.S. Reps. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), sought to prohibit the U.S. Justice Department -- which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration -- from spending taxpayer money to arrest or prosecute medical marijuana patients in the 10 states where medical marijuana is legal: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Get the full story at http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1347 ********************************************************** 6/20: Republican National Convention Protester Goes to Trial By: daryl Khan Source: NY Newsday Opening statements are expected Tuesday in the trial of a protester arrested after unfurling an anti-Bush banner at last summer's Republican National Convention. On the evening of Sept. 2, during President George W. Bush's acceptance speech, June Brashares, 41, stood on top of a chair in the California delegation and held up a banner that read, "Bush Lies, People Die." In response she was escorted out of Madison Square Garden by security to a chorus of "Four more years," forcing Bush to stop his speech. She is charged with kicking one of the guards, Shawn Flannigan, while she was dragged out, causing a cut to his shin. "It's a fabrication," said Brashares' lawyer, Robert Gottlieb. "It's a made up lie. They grabbed her and removed her." Get the full story at http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1349 ********************************************************** SF Green Party Election Timeline By: Campaigns and Issues Working Group Source: SF Green Party Here is the timeline for the SF Green Party's election endorsements. If you are a candidate or are promoting an issue that will appear on the SF November ballot, please contact Campaigns and Issues co-chairs to request time on our agenda. Marc Salomon: marc(a)cybre.net Susan King: funking(a)mindspring.com Charlene Smythe- leave msg at 701-7090 Get the full schedule at http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1350 ********************************************************** ********************************************************** Events ************************************* Tools For Activists Seminar Thursday, June 23 7-9pm. Come and learn about how you can use the "Tools for Activists"-the Freedom of Information and Sunshine Ordinance with Tim Redmond, editor of the Bay Guardian; School Board Commissioner Sarah Lipson; David Greene of the First Amendment Project; Rick Knee, Sunshine Ordinance Comissioner and Oliver Luby, specialist on the city's campaign laws. This free seminar will be on Thursday, June 23 from 7-9 p.m. at Northern Police Station, 1125 Fillmore. For more information, call (415) 290-2708. ********************************************************** Sing-Making Party Saturday, June 25th 10am- noon 1028A Howard St. (SFGP office) Come and help us make signs for the Gay Pride Parade! Bring balloons, paints, sing-making tools, or just your creativity! Then join our contingent the next day at the Pride Parade to show off our creations. Reminder: Green Party pride contingent meets at 11 am on Beale between Folsom on Harrison, on Sunday. See you there! ********************************************************** San Francisco Pride 2005 Sunday, June 26th 11:00AM- 8:00PM The Lavender Greens and The San Francisco Green Party will be marching in the SF Pride 2005 parade and will have a booth at the celebration afterwards. The Green Party has never waivered in its support of equal rights for queers: domestic partner rights, same-sex marriage, fighting discrimination against queers in the military, equal rights for transgendered and intersexed people, and immigration rights for queers and their partners. Green parties around the world have made this an international effort. Please join our contingent and march proudly with us and visit our booth. Parade: Our contingent assembles no later than 11:00 a.m. on Beale Street between Folsom St. and Harrison St., Area M. We will begin marching after noon. Look for the Green Party banner. All are invited to march and help with creative ideas for the contingent. Parade Contingent Contact: Terry Baum lilitheater(a)hotmail.com Booth (10:00am-7:00pm): Our booth will be located on Larkin Street between McAllister Street and Golden Gate Avenue. Volunteers needed to staff the booth -- this is probably the most fun volunteer event of the year. Food and beverages provided for volunteers. Contact Mark Barnes mwbsf(a)riseup.net See you there! ********************************************************** ******************************** More Events! *********************** Budget Town Hall Meeting Saturday, June 25th 10am, City Hall, room 250 Come share your concerns about this year's budget with the Budget Committee of the Board of Supervisors and representatives of other various city departments and the Mayor's Office. The meeting will take place at City Hall in the Board Chambers. ********************************************************** Announcements: ********************** ************************* Become a Green Party sustainer! As you may know, the SFGP is supported by our wonderful sustaining donors -- 175 and growing. In the next 12 months we hope to double that figure, and you can help us achieve our goal by signing up to make a regular contribution to the Green Party. Our sustainer program nearly pays all of our basic monthly operating expenses, including rent and utilities on the office, and drastically reduces the amount of work needed to raise money. Our sustainers free us up to do what we're really here for - to pursue Green values through the democratic system. Sustainers also ensure that we are able to keep our office, which has hosted numerous campaigns' headquarters including the successful Prop A, Instant Runoff Voting initiative. Becoming a Green Party sustainer is easy, fun, and secure! Online: http://www.sfgreenparty.org/makeadonation/makeadonation.html Phone: 415-701-7090 ************************************************************ For more info on our activities, please see our website, http://www.sfgreenparty.org. You can also email us questions at info(a)sfgreens.org. To send us news items (short blurb please, plain text only) for possible inclusion in the newsletter, email news(a)sfgreens.org. Please don't put these addresses on mailing lists; messages not specifically addressed to us won't go through.

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SF Green Party Weekly
by announce＠sfgreens.org 16 Jun '05

16 Jun '05

SFGP WEEKLY For The Week of 6/16/05 - 6/23/05 (Cause we're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy!) Welcome to All Our New Subscribers From the Haight Street Fair! This Week: ********************************************************** ************************************************** NEW!!!! SFGP Weekly Staff Presents: Joke of The Week The Donkey Auction A city boy, Kenny, moved to the country and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100.00. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry son, but I have some bad news, the donkey died." Kenny replied, "Well then, just give me my money back." The farmer said, "Can't do that. I went and spent it already." Kenny said, "OK then, just unload the donkey." The farmer asked, "What ya gonna do with him?" Kenny, "I'm going to raffle him off." Farmer, " You can't raffle off a dead donkey!" Kenny, "Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he is dead." A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, "What happened with that dead donkey?" Kenny, "I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars a piece and made a profit of $898.00." Farmer, "Didn't anyone complain?" Kenny, " Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two dollars back." Kenny grew up and eventually became the chairman of Enron. ********************************************************** ********************************************************** News: 6/10: City Close To Finalizing Power-Buying Plan ********************************************************** Events: - 6/18: Juneteenth in the Fillmore - 6/22: Envisioning a Green Future in Nepal ********************************************************** Announcements: - Congratulations to our new SFGCC Members - Formation of Youth Working Group Update - Become A Sustainer! ********************************************************** ********************************************************** 6/10: City close to finalizing power-buying plan By: Justin Jouvenal Source: SF Examiner Green Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi leads City Hall effort for public power: San Francisco is poised to move forward with a plan to begin pooling the buying power of its electricity customers in the hopes of obtaining cheaper rates, cleaner power and developing energy independence. After a long planning process, The City is hammering out the final details on a plan for "Community Choice Aggregation," which is expected to be approved by a Board of Supervisors committee today and has a strong chance of being approved by the full board. Instead of purchasing power from PG&E, the plan would allow San Francisco to shop around for power from various suppliers. Proponents says a CCA will insulate ratepayers from the volatility of the electricity market, give it more leverage over power contracts and the ability to choose "green" energy sources. "It gives San Franciscan ratepayer energy independence. We can shop for better prices and reliability. It also gives us a chance to walk the walk," said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, referring to The City's green principles. Read the rest at: http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1345 ********************************************************** ********************************************************** Events ************************************* Juneteenth in the Fillmore Saturday, June 18th, and Sunday, June 19th 9:00am - 5:00pm Join the San Francisco Green Party and San Francisco & Bay area African American Communities to enjoy with friends and family the 55th Annual San Francisco Juneteenth Celebration under the leadership of The San Francisco Juneteenth Committee and it's sponsoring partners. We need volunteers to staff the booth and to provide transportation of materials to and from the Green Party office (for Saturday and Sunday). Contact Mark Barnes mwbsf(a)riseup.net if you can help. Enjoy the great local food, music and mellow crowd. Lots of activities for kids too. The San Francisco Juneteenth Festival is the oldest and largest Juneteenth Celebration outside of Texas, where Juneteenth originated on June 19, 1865 when the last slaves held in bondage received word of the Emancipation Proclamation from Union General Gordon Granger. This was almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Proclamation (Jan. 1863). This date became known as Juneteenth and thereafter celebrated by the African American Community as the date when slavery ended in the United States. ********************************************************** Envisioning a Green Future in Nepal Wednesday, June 22nd 6:30pm - 9:00pm Maitalal Gurung, a founding member of the Green Nepal Party, and descendant of the Ghurka ethnic group , is touring the US with his presentation on the current crisis in Nepal and possible non violent solutions. The current state of emergency in Nepal reached a critical stage in February 2005, when the King declared martial law, imprisoned political opponents, disbanded the Parliament, suspended many constitutional rights, blocked communications with the outside world, and expanded military attacks against the Maoist insurgents in the countryside. Presentation is Free and open to the public. Where: SF Green Party office, 1028 A Howard St. for more info, call 701-7090 ********************************************************** ********************************************************** Announcements: ********************** Congratulations to our three newly appointed SFGCC members! Appointed by consensus at Wednesday's GM were: Sue Vaughn Charlene Smythe Jazzie Collins ************************************************************ STUDENTS, TEENS, ALL YOUNG PEOPLE! Under 30? Feeling left out of the decision-making process? Have some really cool ideas? Want to talk about issues that matter to you? Want to have fun and be heard? Now is your chance! Did you know that one of the Green Party's goals is *promoting* youth empowerment? It's time to speak up and tell us what *you* want! We are looking for more young people to take part in active membership in the San Francisco Green Party. Not 18 yet? Not a problem- all you need to do is say that you identify with us, and you're in! We plan to meet one night a month somewhere in the city, hang out, have fun, and talk about issues important to youth today. We're still looking for people, so e-mail your suggestions to Nicole (ladypest(a)hotmail.com) with the subject "Youth WG" in the title. This week's topics: Writing Our Charter! ************************************************************ Become a Green Party sustainer! As you may know, the SFGP is supported by our wonderful sustaining donors -- 175 and growing. In the next 12 months we hope to double that figure, and you can help us achieve our goal by signing up to make a regular contribution to the Green Party. Our sustainer program nearly pays all of our basic monthly operating expenses, including rent and utilities on the office, and drastically reduces the amount of work needed to raise money. Our sustainers free us up to do what we're really here for - to pursue Green values through the democratic system. Sustainers also ensure that we are able to keep our office, which has hosted numerous campaigns' headquarters including the successful Prop A, Instant Runoff Voting initiative. Becoming a Green Party sustainer is easy, fun, and secure! Online: http://www.sfgreenparty.org/makeadonation/makeadonation.html Phone: 415-701-7090 ************************************************************ For more info on our activities, please see our website, http://www.sfgreenparty.org. You can also email us questions at info(a)sfgreens.org. To send us news items (short blurb please, plain text only) for possible inclusion in the newsletter, email news(a)sfgreens.org. Please don't put these addresses on mailing lists; messages not specifically addressed to us won't go through.

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San Francisco Green Party Weekly DRAFT
by announce＠sfgreens.org 09 Jun '05

09 Jun '05

SFGP WEEKLY For The Week of 6/9/05 - 6/16/05 (Cause we're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy!) This Week: ********************************************************** ************************************************** BRAND NEW!!!! SFGP Weekly Staff Presents: Joke of The Week Cheney and the Bushes on a Plane Dick Cheney, President Bush and his father are flying on Air Force One. Dick looks at Dubya, chuckles and says, "You know, I could throw a $100.00 bill out the window right now and make one person very happy." Dubya shrugs his shoulders and says, "Well, I could throw ten $10.00 bills out the window and make 10 people very happy." George Bush Senior says, "Of course then, I could throw one-hundred $1.00 bills out the window and make a hundred people very happy." The pilot rolls her eyes, looks at all of them and says, "I could throw all of you out the window and make the whole country happy." Bonus Joke!! California's Letter of Secession http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/jokes/bljokecaliforniasecession.htm ********************************************************** ********************************************************** News: 6/7: Federal IRV Bill in Congress 6/3: Green Party Presents Real Vision For World Environment Day 5/31: Bayview Gears Up For World Environment Day 5/31: NY Mayor Jason West Back In Court ********************************************************** Events: - 6/11: S.F. People's Convention - 6/12: Haight/Ashbury Street Fair - 6/13: Press Conference with School Board Members - 6/15: General Membership Meeting ********************************************************** Announcements: - Welcome new official SFGP Weekly Editor Nicole Walter - Formation of Animal Rights Working Group - Formation of Youth Working Group - Become A Sustainer! ********************************************************** ********************************************************** 6/7: Federal IRV Bill In Congress- It's Lobbyin' Time! Courtesy of GPUS Youth Caucus (article reprinted in full) From: Mike Gillis Guys, as you know, I'm a huge supporter of Instant Run-Off Voting ( http://www.chrisgates.net/irv/ )and Proportional Representation (if 40% of the vote is Democratic, 40% of the seats go to Democrats, if 10% of the vote is Green, Greens get 10% of the seats...etc.).. and there's a bill in Congress right now called the Voter Choice Act (HB 2690) sponsored by Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia that would require that all federal elections would be using Instant Run-Off Voting by the 2008 Election. This would also provide the funds necessary for states to switch over to IRV technology, which isn't a giant change, since you can still use paper optical scan ballots. HB 2690 would also allow states to use proportional voting systems for Congress indeed restoring a power states held as recently as 1967, when New Mexico and Hawaii elected House members from multi-seat districts. More info here: http://www.fairvote.org/index.php?page=1055 On the link above, you can read the entire language of the bill.... I'm going to provide you guys with all of the links and phone numbers to the House switch board to make this as painless as possible for you. IRV gives voters more power, eliminates the "spoiler" effect, makes elected officials more accountable to voters, makes elections more competitive and encourages more people to vote. It's a system that's been used by Australia, Ireland, the Utah Republican Party for primaries, The Heisman Trophy, the American Political Science Association, the Academy Awards and was just used to huge success in San Fransisco for citiwide elections, where 85% of people said they understood it, 60% said they preferred it and only 13% didn't like (the rest didn't care). It's supported by people like Howard Dean, Ralph Nader and Senator John McCain. It's a non-partisan reform that benefits all voters of all political stripes. It breaks the glass ceiling for third parties and independent candidates and gives voters more power over bad representatives who face worse opposition and allows the voter to leverage them into being better officials. Please, write and call your Congressmen and Senators about this, tell them to support the Voter Choice Act (HB 2690) because it makes elections more competitive, fairer, guarantees majority consent of the electorate and would increase voter turn out. Also tell them you will watch how they vote and remember it in 2006. Be sure to mention the name of the bill. You needn't write them a massive letter or talk their ear off.. Brief and to the point is best. I promise you you'll only be on the phone for like a minute. Here's how to find your Congressmen: You can find them below. Click in your zip code and your state and you'll get their email address and phone number for their office. http://www.house.gov/writerep If you can, both call and write a brief email. But it's the phone calls that really make an impact. Contact DNC Chair Howard Dean and remind him of his open support of IRV and encourage him to tell the Democratic Party to support it. http://www.democrats.org/contact/ Contact Senator John McCain and tell him to remember his past support for IRV (he did a radio ad for an IRV bill for Alaska) and telll him to work on a Senate version of the bill. http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Contact.Home Please let me know if you're written or called, it's nice to know if there's movement on this... Thanks guys! ********************************************************** 6/3: Green Party Presents Real Vision for World Environment Day By: Casey Mills Source: BeyondChron.org Across the street from the World Environmental Day (WED) celebration at City Hall, where a variety of $100,000-plus hydrogen cars, displays sponsored by the likes of Shell and Coca-Cola, and a supposedly environmental-friendly Hummer sat, the San Francisco Green Party issued a call for real environmental justice in our city and the world. Rallying in front of the public library, a diverse array of Green Party members spoke on issues ranging from local to global. Green representatives from a variety of campaigns attended, including activists working to shut down a PG&E plant, improve public transportation, and to stop clear-cutting. Susan King, who helped organize the event, tied the high level of Green Party activism in city and national campaigns to the group's founding values. Read the whole article at http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1344 ********************************************************** 5/31: Mayor Will Face Trial For Marrying Gay Couples A top N.Y. court acts after protests By Michael Gormley, Associated Press | May 28, 2005 ALBANY, N.Y. -- The village mayor who challenged New York law by marrying gay couples last year will face trial, the state's highest court ruled yesterday. Jason West, mayor of New Paltz, N.Y., faces 24 misdemeanor counts of violating the state's domestic relations law by marrying couples without licenses in late February 2004. He faces fines and up to a year in jail if convicted. Read the whole article at http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/05/28/a_mayor_will_face_tri… ********************************************************** 5/31: Bayview gears up for World Environment Day By: Marie Harrison Source: Bay View Newspaper As a week of activities for United Nations World Environment Day approaches, Bayview Hunters Point continues its fight for environmental justice. In the midst of feel-good, look-good events at posh venues like the Metreon Theater in San Francisco, grassroots organizations and residents are gearing up for the largest environmental justice rally in San Franciscos history. Planned for the front steps of San Francisco City Hall on Saturday, June 4, at 11 a.m., the rally is sponsored by 48 groups so far, with more signing on daily. Its entitled From Bayview Hunters Point to Communities around the World. We should feel tremendous pride that organizations from across the United States will be standing in solidarity with our struggles against the PG&E Hunters Point Power Plant and other polluters that foul our air, water and soil. We need to put those folks on the endangered species list as they have for many residents in our community. Read the whole article at http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1342 ********************************************************** ********************************************************** Events ************************************* S.F. People's Convention Saturday, June 11 8:30am- 5:00pm St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough Come to the San Francisco Peoples' Organization's founding convention and be a part of this burgeoning progressive coalition! Speakers for this event include Medea Benjamin, Michael Franti, Sup. Ross Mirkarimi,Matt Gonzalez, and Sup. Chris Daly. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (415) 546-1342, www.sfpeople.org. ********************************************************** Haight Ashbury Street Fair Sunday, June 12 11:00am-5:30pm Haight Street from Stanyan to Masonic Join your fellow Greens to register voters, socialize, shop, hear great music, and just have fun! Look for the Green Party booth staffed by members of our own GROW Working Group! We always have a party at our Haight booth (between Ashbury & Clayton on Haight) and there will be food and drink for volunteers. This is the ideal location to start our summer voter registration drive. More details to follow. If you can help with transportation from the SFGP office or back, food or tabling, contact Mark Barnes: mwbsf(a)riseup.net Great local artists, progressive groups, and musicians. ********************************************************** School Board Press Conference Monday, June 13 4pm. 1088 Harrison St. Press Conference on the School District's budget cuts with President Eric Mar, Mark Sanchez and Sarah Lipson. ********************************************************** Green Party General Membership Meeting Wednesday, June 15 7:30pm- 9:30pm 1028A Howard St. (in SOMA between 6th and 7th Sts.) This is our regularly scheduled GM meeting. Agenda TBA, please contact the county council if you have an item you would like to see the SF Green Party discuss. contact Susan King at funking(a)mindspring.com ********************************************************** ********************************************************** Announcements: ********************** NEW SFGP EDITOR CONFIRMED A big welcome to the new official SFGP Weekly Editor Nicole Walter, confirmed by the SFGCC on Wednesday, June 8! Send her your suggestions about how to improve the Weekly to nicolewalter42(a)yahoo.com ********************************************************** ATTENTION ANIMAL-LOVING GREEN PARTY MEMBERS I am seeking people to start an animal working group with in the San Francisco Green Party. The mission of this group would be to become a voice for animals in the Green Party, and support, work with, and represent animal advocacy groups such as In Defense of Animals (www.idausa.org) Ecological wisdom is one of the Green Party's Ten Key Values. According to the Green Party of California's platform on ecology and earth stewardship, this also includes treating animals well and respecting their needs (http://cagreens.org/platform/ecology.htm#ethical) Let's live up to this promise! Of course, I'm open any kind of ideas and suggestions on how we can make this happen. To contact me, I can be emailed at rclord(a)seaserpent.com - Rosalind Lord ************************************************************ STUDENTS, TEENS, ALL YOUNG PEOPLE! Under 30? Feeling left out of the decision-making process? Have some really cool ideas? Want to talk about issues that matter to you? Want to have fun and be heard? Now is your chance! Did you know that one of the Green Party's goals is *promoting* youth empowerment? It's time to speak up and tell us what *you* want! We are looking for more young people to take part in active membership in the San Francisco Green Party. Not 18 yet? Not a problem- all you need to do is say that you identify with us, and you're in! We plan to meet one night a month somewhere in the city, hang out, have fun, and talk about issues important to youth today. We're still looking for people, so e-mail your suggestions to Nicole (ladypest(a)hotmail.com) with the subject "Youth WG" in the title. This week's topics: Writing Our Charter! ************************************************************ Become a Green Party sustainer! As you may know, the SFGP is supported by our wonderful sustaining donors -- 175 and growing. In the next 12 months we hope to double that figure, and you can help us achieve our goal by signing up to make a regular contribution to the Green Party. Our sustainer program nearly pays all of our basic monthly operating expenses, including rent and utilities on the office, and drastically reduces the amount of work needed to raise money. Our sustainers free us up to do what we're really here for - to pursue Green values through the democratic system. Sustainers also ensure that we are able to keep our office, which has hosted numerous campaigns' headquarters including the successful Prop A, Instant Runoff Voting initiative. Becoming a Green Party sustainer is easy and secure. Online: http://www.sfgreenparty.org/makeadonation/makeadonation.html Phone: 415-701-7090 ************************************************************ For more info on our activities, please see our website, http://www.sfgreenparty.org. You can also email us questions at info(a)sfgreens.org. To send us news items (short blurb please, plain text only) for possible inclusion in the newsletter, email news(a)sfgreens.org. Please don't put these addresses on mailing lists; messages not specifically addressed to us won't go through. _______________________________________________ San Francisco Green Party Announcement List To unsubscribe, go here: https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/announce

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SF Green Party Weekly - World Environment Day events
by announce＠sfgreens.org 01 Jun '05

01 Jun '05

****************** Special Edition!!**************** ********************** Special Edition!!*************** ****************** Special Edition!!**************** The Staff of The San Francisco Green Party Weekly Is Proud To Present: The SFGP Guide to WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY June 1- June 5 Here are the up-to-the-minute World Environment Day events! Please plan on attending and participating as much as possible during this historic 5 day celebration! (Cause we're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy!) Pre-WED Events: Banner-Making Party Date: May 31, 7-9 pm Location: Greenpeace Warehouse at 698 Indiana, cross street and entrance is on 19th. What: Banner making party for World Environmental Day events. Come show your creativity and support! Day One: Banner Drops Date: June 1 6:15 am (Yes, that is 6:15 in the MORNING!) Location: 16th and Bryant Streets, Peet's Coffee parking lot What: Meet with activists from Coalition to Shutdown PG & E to hang banners in off high visibility overpasses. Meet at 6:15, teams will leave by 6:45 to locations to hold banners for the morning commute. Day Two: World Environment Day Opening Ceremonies followed by festival at the Civic Center Date: June 2, 9 am Location: Civic Center, across from City Hall What: Kick off event for World Environment Day and the International Conference of Mayors. This event will be an opportunity for activists to bring their own message to compliment the official World Environment Day events and sponsors. Look for activists representing efforts to shutdown the dirty power plant in Hunter's Point, stop the proposed Muni fare hikes and service cuts, preserve Hetch Hetchy, implement public power in San Francisco and stop wars for oil. The Green Party will be doing voter registration at the event, please contact Susan King for more info: 823-5524. Protest With the Green Party and the Coalition for Transit Justice Date: June 2, 9am What: We will be greeting mayors from around the world who are attending the UN World Environment Day events. Our protest will demonstrate the irony of Gavin Newsom as an environmental host, among other things. We hope to have signs from last week's Coalition for Transit Justice press conference on the steps of City Hall as well as signs and fliers indicating Newsom's Sierra Club environmental scorecard (a "D"). Please feel free to bring your own sign. San Francisco Green Party Press Conference Date: June 2 1:00 pm Location: In front of the Main Library, Larkin St. (moved from steps of City Hall) What: The SF Green Party will be presenting our vision for a Green Future with Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, former Oakland City Council Candidate Aimee Allision, New Paltz, New York Mayor Jason West, School Board Member Sarah Lipson, and many other Green elected officials and leaders. We will discuss the Green Party vision for the future, our history present policy papers on a range of issues including sustainable transportation, public power, electoral reform and how that impacts our environment, the environmental impact of war, reducing solid waste, and land use. Green Institute Reception Date: June 2, 5:30-7:30 pm Location: Soluna Cafe, 272 McAllister St, SF (across from the Asian Art Museum) What: Bay Area Greens are cordially invited to a reception hosted by the Green Institute, Please join Executive Director Dean Myerson and Senior Fellow Charlene Spretnak for an informal presentation of the projects and activities of the Green Institute, the first national-level institute dedicated to explicitly Green policy studies and initiatives. Appetizers and wine will be provided. A special guest will be the Green mayor of New Paltz, New York: Jason West, whose attendance the Green Institute is sponsoring at the UN World Environment Day conference that week. Also attending will be Peter Camejo, Matt Gonzalez, Jo Chamberlain (GPUS Co-Chair), Mark Sanchez (San Francisco School Board), and others. Day Three: Demonstration with the Coalition to Shutdown PG & E Date: June 3, 2:00 Location: Metreon, 4th and Mission Streets What: The Green Party is working in solidarity with activists working to shut down the polluting power plant in Hunter's Point. The official event is the "Our Reality Tour" showcasing some of SF's worst environmental issues, sponsored by Greenaction and other Environmental Justice organizations. The baby clothes project (baby clothes on a clothes line to graphically remind our leaders of the 11% infant mortality rate for babies born in Bay View Hunter's Point) will be displayed, along with banners and signs urging the shutdown of the power plants. Street theater and creative forms of action encouraged!! For more info, contact Greenaction at: 248-5010. Day Four: Rally for Environmental Justice Date: June 4, 11 am Location: Steps of City Hall What: Environmental Justice grassroots community groups, organizations and individuals from Bayview Hunters Point to communities around the world-the people demand environmental justice! Sponsored by over 40 Environmental Justice Grassroots Community Groups and Organizations-Street Theater by the Coalition to Evict PG&E. San Francisco Ecological History Tour By Bicycle Date: June 4 12-4pm Location: Reservations required. Please RSVP to 626-2060 What: Local historian and director of Shaping San Francisco Chris Carlsson will lead a four-hour bicycle tour of San Francisco?s ecological history. On bicycles we will reconnect to the subterranean flows of water that percolate beneath us, see where towering sand dunes once stood, learn about the first-ever citizen?s environmental movement (that saved Telegraph Hill from quarrying), discuss the changing flora and fauna of the city and explore the concept of ?nature? as it applies to San Francisco (and how San Francisco was built on its rapacious exploitation). Wild parrots make their home on what was once a deep garbage dump and is now one of the most beautiful gardens in the city. Today?s shoreline obscures a long history of ?making land?, which includes a fascinating story of saving the bay from San Francisco's own garbage; that same garbage in turn helped to ?save? one of the last ecological treasures of the SF peninsula. Donations to CounterPULSE requested but not required. Benefit for Environmental Justice Date: June 4 7pm Location: St Boniface Church, 133 Golden Gate Ave (between Leavenworth and Jones) What: join Greenaction and other residents from Bayview Hunters Point for a celebration of the struggles and victories for Environmental Justice at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening. An amazing lineup of entertainment, including our own Malcolm X Polynesian Dancers and the Huntersview Youth Choir will headline the event! It will be a fun evening with raffles, food and cultural presentations by the Mohave Bird Singers, Aztec Dancers and community environmental justice leaders. Proceeds will go to fund the struggle to close the PG&E Hunters Point Power Plant. Day Five: Eco-Parade to Celebrate the Environment Date: June 5, noon Location: City Hall (meet in front of City Hall at noon) What: Everybody loves a parade! Join Code Pink, the Green Party, Greenaction and others for a parade around City Hall to celebrate environmental successes, observe (and protest) the failures and plan our future! This is a kid-friendly event, and all are encouraged to bring banners, signs, floats (non-motorized only) to participate as we march around City Hall to commemorate the Mayor's signing of the new environmental accords inside. Costumes, decorated bikes, strollers, and all kinds of fun creativity encouraged! Celebrating Women's Leadership in Sustainable Development Date: June 5, 2-5 pm Location: Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, San Francisco, CA What: A United Nations World Environment Day 2005 Event Convened by the Women?s Global Green Action Network and Local Partners. Come listen to inspiring speakers, & amazing musicians! Learn about local initiatives in the Bay Area, & hear the stories of grassroots environmental women leaders working tirelessly for positive change! Confirmed Speakers Include: Marta Benavides, Rev. Sally Grover Bingham, Sharon Fuller, Julia Butterfly Hilland, others. $15 (Sliding Scale) at the door.

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