SFGP WEEKLY For The Week of 8/11/05 - 8/18/05 This Week: ********************************************************** ************************************************** News: 8/3: Greens Meet In Tulsa For The Party’s Annual National Meeting 8/4: CAFTA Will Cause Widespread Harm to Workers in the U.S. & Central America 8/6: Local Green Writer/Activist Publishes Book 8/8: Mirkarimi wants more officers walking the streets 8/9: Hundreds Turn Out To Protest Nuclear Weapons In Livermore 8/10: Greens Support Cindy Sheehan's Protest Vigil in Crawford, TX. ********************************************************** Events: - 8/13: Green Party Northern Cal. Strategy Session - 8/16: Stop Comcast Action Item - 8/17: SFGP Endorsement Meeting ********************************************************** Announcements: - Joke of the Week - Become A Sustainer! ********************************************************** ********************************************************** News ***************************************** ****************************************************** 8/3: Greens Meet In Tulsa For The Party’s Annual National Meeting By Deborah Benjamin Some myths about the so-called “red state” of Oklahoma may have been dispelled when the Green Party held its annual national meeting in Tulsa. Delegates from around the nation converged on the University of Tulsa campus for a host of seminars and issue sessions, as well as discussions on the Green Party's potential presidential candidate. And current Oklahoma Green Party Co-chair Rachel Jackson, who also coordinated the meeting, came prepared with a civics lesson about the Sooner State. “In our welcome letter that I wrote up, I mentioned the fact that when Oklahoma became a state, The Nation (the magazine) wrote a huge article on how Oklahoma’s constitution was an example of progressive ideology in action and called it the most progressive constitution in the country,” Jackson said. Read more at: http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1361 ****************************************************** 8/4: CAFTA Will Cause Widespread Harm to Workers in the U.S. & Central America Green Party of the United States Citing CAFTA's NAFTA-like provisions, Greens warn of damage from water privatization, lost jobs and depressed wages, and blocked access to medicine. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders called the House's recent passage of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) a disaster for working people in the U.S., Central America, and the Dominican Republic and the environmental health and safety in the signatory nations. "CAFTA will extend NAFTA's job loss, workers' rights abuses, and environmental damage throughout Central America," said Nan Garrett, Georgia Green and Spokesperson for the National Women's Caucus of the Green Party. "It will prohibit governments in the region from ensuring that foreign investment serves national development goals. Instead, it'll enable further schemes for the profit of U.S.-based corporations." CAFTA encourages nations to privatize and deregulate services such as education, health care, postal service, construction, transportation, and the provision of water. Read more at: http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1362 ****************************************************** 8/6: Local Green Writer/Activist Publishes Book SF Green activist, jazz singer and writer judy b. has just published her first book of short stories, "Stories for Airports". SF Green poster boy and arts-lover Matt Gonzalez recently interviewed judy for his Art & Politics series at Cafe Bazaar (8/1/05) A professional writer and editor and amateur jazz musician, judy b. is also active in civic issues. Read more at http://onzeproductions.com CRITICS RAVE ABOUT JUDY B'S JAZZY DEBUT BOOK--"STORIES FOR AIRPORTS"! "judy b. writes with great intelligence, urbane wit and jazzy charm. Her stories are unpredictable, often rather sexy, her characters intriguing. My current favorite from her new collection is 'Reasons.' Very clever, funny riff on therapy. It would be quite at home in the pages of the Atlantic or the New Yorker. In fact, why the hell haven't they published it yet?" --S.M. Peters, writer, activist, cohort ****************************************************** 8/8: Mirkarimi wants more officers walking the streets By Jo Stanley Staff Writer One city supervisor wants officials to be held more accountable for lowering the crime rate in the Western Addition neighborhood, where a spike in violent crime recently claimed three lives. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who represents the district containing the Western Addition, wants community policing — which has been hailed by politicians and public safety officials as one of the solutions — to move beyond rhetoric. "We have yet to have a comprehensive strategy," said Mirkarimi at the start of an hours-long hearing before the Government Audit and Oversight Committee. He said he hears from his constituents in the neighborhood that they're "yearning" to see more officers walking the streets and for greater efforts to cut down on repeat offenses. Read more at: http://www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/08/09/news/20050809_ne03_crimewave.t ****************************************************** 8/9: Hundreds Turn Out To Protest Nuclear Weapons In Livermore By: Paul Burgarino, STAFF WRITER Source: San Mateo County Times LIVERMORE — Hundreds of protesters took part in a rally and processions outside of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Saturday to protest the use of nuclear weapons. The Livermore event was one of four nationally coordinated major rallies at active nuclear weapon sites on the 60th anniversary of the American bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Other protest sites were in Las Vegas, near the Nevada Test Site; Y-12 Production Plant in Oak Ridge, Tenn.; and Los Alamos Lab in New Mexico. At the site many consider the brain of the nuclear weapons complex in the United States, the Seeds of Change: No Nukes! No Wars! rally began with a pot-luck family picnic, where organizers used sharing and coming together to show their aspirations for a nuclear-free world. It is important for us to be here to keep the memories of the horror of Hiroshima alive, said Jeffrey Schurtleff of the San Mateo County Green Party. There is a need for activism. If everyone just says no and does not act, then nothing happens. Read more at: http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1363 *********************************************************** 8/10: Greens Support Cindy Sheehan's Protest Vigil in Crawford, TX Contacts: Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, mclarty@greens.org WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Peace Action Committee of theGreen Party of the United States (GPAX) has issued astatement of support for Cindy Sheehan, co-founder ofGold Star Families For Peace, in her vigil near the vacation home of President George W. Bush inCrawford, Texas. The text of the statement follows below. Ms. Sheehan is the mother of Casey Sheehan, who was killed in combat in Sadr City in 2004, a few days after arriving in Iraq. Over 1,800 U.S. troops and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians have been killed in the U.S. invasion and occupation. Greens called Ms. Sheehan's protest a unique challenge to all Americans to speak out against the Bush Administration's betrayal of the trust of the American people and reckless disregard for American and Iraqi lives. "The Bush Administration betrayed the trust of the American people, especially those serving in the armed forces in Iraq, when it launched a war based on fraudulent premises: WMDs that didn't exist, forged evidence of nuclear weapons deals, deceptive claims that Saddam Hussein colluded with al-Qaeda," said Jody Grage Haug, Peace Action Committee member and co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. "We must also hold Democrats responsible, since many of them supported the war and who joined with Republicans in surrendering Congress's constitutional power to declare war to the White House in October,2002." Text of the GPAX statement: The Peace Action Committee of the Green Party of the United States applauds and supports the brave protest vigil taking place at the vacation home of President George W. Bush in Crawford, Texas by Cindy Sheehan, mother of Casey Sheehan who was killed in combat on 4/4/04 in Sadr City five days after arriving in Iraq. We insist that President Bush meet with Ms. Sheehan and other individuals who have firsthand experienced the pain of a profound loss resulting from the current invasion and occupation of Iraq. Our leaders should not hide from the reality of these grave losses resulting from a war based on unsubstantiated pretenses. The Peace Action Committee agrees with Cindy's quote: "Bring Our Troops Home IMMEDIATELY." MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 ************************************* Events ************************************* Green Party Northern Cal. Strategy Session Saturday, August 13th 10:00am-3:30pm SF Green Party offices, 1028 A Howard Street, between 6th and 7th. Join Green Party activists from northern California as we discuss strategies for the 2006 election cycle. Session will include discussions on: local races (Supervisors, City Council, School Board, etc.), Assembly, State Senate, US Congress, US Senate and statewide constitutional offices (Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Controller, Treasurer). Lunch will be provided, donations are requested but not required. for more info call: 415-386-5464. *********************************************************** Stop Comcast Action Item Tuesday, August 16th Ongoing Green Supervisor Ross Mirkirimi talks about why the Comcast deal should be improved on KPFA's Morning Show, and it looks like it wont be unless we all put pressure on the Board of Supervisors. Topic starts about 30 min into show: http://www.kpfa.org/archives/archives.php?id=24 Community organizations are opposed to the settlement and 4-year contract extension, which would leave SF with 4 more years of a bad 40 year-old agreement in exchange for a measly $3.5 million dollars from Comcast. To learn more about what's wrong with the settlement go to: http://www.media-alliance.org/article.php?story=20050617130532428 ACT NOW -- CALL YOUR SUPERVISOR Especially Sup. Maxwell, a swing vote Ask them to VOTE AGAINST the Comcast settlement & franchise extension. It is a bad deal for San Francisco. Go back to the negotiating table for a bette deal. If the City signs this deal now: *** Will there be sufficient funds for public, educational, and government access operations? No. *** Will there be any enforceable costumer service standards? No. *** Will Comcast workers be protected? No. *** Are any digital channels guaranteed after TV digital conversion? No. Ask Supervisors to continue negotiating for a better agreement: Comcast can afford it, plus a one year extension is standard practice. We want to see a public report of the Community Needs Assessment meetings the City held on the cable franchise before a vote takes place. With questions or suggestions, please call Sydney Levy at Media Alliance: (510) 832-9000 x303 *********************************************************** SFGP Endorsement Meeting Wednesday, August 17th 7:30pm-9:30pm 1028A Howard St. (SFGP Office) This is the first major endorsement meeting for the SF Green Party. We will consider remaining state initiatives, local measures, Green candidates. Active members (members of certified working groups) may vote. Non active Greens may seek active membership at the beginning of the meeting by approval of the General Membership. Here is the endorsement schedule Aug GM Aug 17 State Props 78, 79- consent calendar State Prop 80 (30 min discussion) Local initiatives: Firehouse- consent calendar or 10 min max discussion Candidates: Green candidate endorsements Poll on endorsement meetings (one four hour or two two hour meetings) 10 min Sept. GM Sept 21 Local initiatives: GG Park, MLK Drive Resurface Bond, Gun Ban, Healthcare tax Candidates: Ranked Choice for Treasurer, City Attorney, Assessor *********************************************************** ***************************************** Announcements: ********************** ************************************************************ Joke of the Week One Liners ... What's the difference between George W. Bush and the New York Giants? Nobody thinks the Giants won. What major goal does George W. Bush still dream of accomplishing? Being elected president. How do you tell the first Bush administration from the second Bush administration? This time the stupid one's in charge. What's the difference between George W. Bush and Koko, the gorilla who understands approximately 2,000 words of spoken English? Nobody thinks Koko is president. What's the difference between George W. Bush and Mussolini? Mussolini was elected. What do you call Bush voters who aren't millionaires? Suckers. ************************************************************ 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@sfgreens.org. To send us news items (short blurb please, plain text only) for possible inclusion in the newsletter, email news@sfgreens.org. Please don't put these addresses on mailing lists; messages not specifically addressed to us won't go through. Submissions for Joke of the Week, or comments and questions on the content of the newsletter are welcomed by the editor at ladypest@hotmail.com