[SFGP] SF Green Party Weekly

[announce at sfgreens.org]

SFGP WEEKLY

For The Week of 10/27/05 - 11/03/05
This Week:
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News:
10/26: SF Green Party Endorsements for Sierra Club
10/26: Greens Mark the 2,000th Death of US Servicepeople in Iraq
10/27: Supervisor Mirkarimi releases final study from San Francisco State 
University exit poll
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Events:
10/29: Fundraiser for College Not Combat
10/30: "The Soul of Democracy: Integrating Spiritual Vision with Active 
Citizenship"
11/01: Countering Repression With Organizing and Alternatives
11/01: Housing and Land Use Working Group Meeting
11/03: Animal Rights Working Group Meeting
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Announcements:
Joke of the Week
New Orleans Reconstruction Project
Become A Sustainer!
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News
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10/26: SF Green Party Endorsements for Sierra Club

The San Francisco Green Party endorses the following people for the San 
Francisco group:
Rick Galbreath
John Rizzo
Ahimsa Sumchai
Sue Vaughan
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10/26: Greens Mark the 2,000th Death of US Servicepeople in Iraq
Source: U.S. Green Party
(article reprinted in full)

Greens press for immediate withdrawal and call for
political action to remove pro-war politicians;
Wisconsin Greens campaign for state referendum to
return U.S. troops.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Parties across the U.S. are
marking the announcement that 2,000 members of the
U.S. Armed Forces have been killed in Iraq, with
vigils, protest rallies against the continued
occupation, and other events.

"We're remembering the 2,000 dead American troops,
thousands more injured, and also the tens of thousands
of Iraqi civilians killed as a result of the U.S.
invasion and occupation," said Rebecca Rotzler,
co-chair of the Green Party of the United States,
co-chair of the party's Peace Action Committee, and
Deputy Mayor of New Paltz, New York.  "'Occupation'
has become a euphemism for continued war."

Greens noted that the number of estimated civilian
Iraqi casualties -- uncounted by the U.S. Department
of Defense -- ranges from 24,000 to more than 100,000,
and that U.S. military deaths which occur outsidea a
war zone from injuries sustained within a war zone are
not counted within the Defense Department's 2,000
figure.

Green Party leaders emphasized the need for concerted
political action to follow up on the September 24
protests in Washington, D.C. and other cities against
the war.

"Unless Americans appalled by the direction of our
country take steps to remove the Bush Administration
and the Republicans and Democrats who supported the
war, the September 24 demos will have limited effect,"
said Steve Kramer, co-chair of the Green Party.

In Wisconsin, Greens have initiated a ballot
referendum which, if approved by voters in an April
2006 election, will authorize the state to demand the
complete and immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.

The Green Party called for the impeachment of
President Bush in July, 2003, citing the numerous
deceptions and violations of U.S. constitutional and
international law behind the invasion.  The party has
also strongly criticized Democrats and Republicans who
surrendered Congress's constitutionally mandated power
to declare war to President Bush, and has condemned
the requests from some Democratic leaders to increase
troop numbers, especially Sen. Hillary Clinton's
(N.Y.) call for 80,000 more troops.

In calling for a White House order to begin the
withdrawal of U.S. troops immediately, the Green Party
has rejected the position of Democrats who ask for a
plan to withdraw troops by the end of 2006.

"Every day the occupation is prolonged, more American
troops and Iraqi civilians will be killed and maimed,
we're no closer to stability in Iraq, and are possibly
nearer to a civil war there," said Jody Grage Haug,
Green Party co-chair and GPAX member.  "The thousands
of dead soldiers and civilians, nonexistent WMDs,
forged evidence of an Iraqi nuclear threat
(highlighted by the Plame scandal), torture in Abu
Ghraib, and realization that a radical political
ideology has motivated a massive abuse of power have
resulted in majority opposition to the war, according
to recent polls."

"On this sad day, we also remember the servicemembers
who are still risking their lives in Iraq and
Afghanistan, and we remember the families who have
lost loved ones and who fear news of a lost loved one.
And we thank people like Cindy Sheehan and all the
veterans, families of fallen soldiers, and
organizations supporting them for calling America back
to sanity," added Marc Sanson, party co-chair.

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
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10/27: Supervisor Mirkarimi releases final study from San Francisco State 
University exit poll
Source: The Center for Voting and Democracy

SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 25, 2005)- The Public Research Institute at San 
Francisco State University has released the FINAL REPORT from an exit poll 
study about voter¹s attitudes regarding ranked choice voting in the November 
2004 election (previously the Public Research Institute had released a 
preliminary report). This final report, which was commissioned by the City 
and County of San Francisco and paid for by the City and County and SFSU 
College one of Behavioral and Social Sciences, includes information from 
absentee voters as well as voters who cast their ballots in precincts.

View the final report at
http://pri.sfsu.edu/reports/SFSU-PRI_RCV_final_report_June_30.pdf
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Events
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10/29: College Not Combat Fundraiser
Saturday, October 29th
7-10 p.m.
245 Whitney Street, S.F.
near Church and 30th Streets, off Chenery St.
Public transportation options: J Church Streetcar, #26 Valencia bus, Glen 
Park BART
Donation $5.00 (or more) for the College Not Combat Campaign
RSVP: 415 282-1079
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10/30: "The Soul of Democracy: Integrating Spiritual Vision with Active 
Citizenship"
Sunday, October 30th
9:30am- 6:00pm
5000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Woodacre (Spirit Rock Meditation Center)
Tickets: $100. - includes vegetarian lunch

Format for the day: Speakers and Break-out group meetings
SPEAKERS: Jack Kornfield, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Tom Hayden,
Sylvia Boorstein, Matt Gonzalez, Pam Torliatt, and Swami Beyondananda
(for levity)
Special presentation by
Mayors Larry Barnett (Sonoma) and Larry Robinson (Sebastopol).
Moderators: Georgia Kelly and James Baraz

TO REGISTER:  Call Spirit Rock at 415-488-0164, ext. 234 on Friday.
OR, You can also register at Spirit Rock on Sunday morning before 9:30
a.m.
For program information, please contact Praxis Peace Institute -
info at praxispeace.org or phone 707-939-2973.
Online registration is now closed, but you can register onsite Sunday
morning or by calling Spirit Rock at
415-488-0164, ext. 234 any time on Friday.
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11/01: Countering Repression With Organizing and Alternatives
Tuesday, November 1st
5pm
474 Valencia St. (El Centro De Pueblo)

The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El
Salvador (CISPES) invites you to the presentation of
Wilfredo Berrios, a union leader from El Salvador who
is going to talk about the resistence of the
salvadorean social movement before the
implementationof CAFTA, the Law Enforcement Academy
(ILEA), growing represion against leaders of the
social movement, national debt, and the US
intervention in the salvadorean elections.
We will have music, food, and an exposition of photos
and posters of CISPES's history.
Bay Area CISPES
3382 26th St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 648-8222
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11/01: Housing and Land Use Working Group Meeting
Tuesday, Noverber 1st
7:00-9:00pm
1028A Howard St. (SFGP Office)

Our tenative agenda includes:
* End of year party
* Piers 27-32 (Mills Corp.)
* Treasure Island
All are welcome to attend!
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11/03: Animal Rights Working Group Meeting

The San Francisco Green Party now has an animal working group, which meets 
every first Thursday of the month at 6PM. Come get involved in issues that 
involve acting on behalf of animals, just like you would in any animal 
advocacy group; only work closer with Green public officials and have a 
greater influence on legislation. For more information, email Rosalind Lord 
at rclord at seaserpent.com.
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Announcements
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Jokes of the Week
(Submitted by Susan King)

The Top Ten Stupidest Things President George W. Bush Has Ever Said

10) "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream." 
‹LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000
9) "I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." ‹Greater 
Nashua, N.H., Jan. 27, 2000
8) "I hear there's rumors on the Internets that we're going to have a 
draft." ‹second presidential debate, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 8, 2004
7) "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy 
test.'' ‹Townsend, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2001
6) "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs 
aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." 
‹Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004 (Watch video clip)
5) "There's an old saying in Tennessee ‹ I know it's in Texas, probably in 
Tennessee ‹ that says, fool me once, shame on ‹ shame on you. Fool me ‹ you 
can't get fooled again." ‹Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002 (Watch video 
clip)
4) "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." ‹Saginaw, 
Mich., Sept. 29, 2000
3) "They misunderestimated me." ‹Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000
2) "Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" ‹Florence, 
S.C., Jan. 11, 2000
1) "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never 
stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither 
do we." ‹Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004 (Watch video clip)

Just For Halloween

A cabbie picks up a Nun. She gets into the cab and the cab driver won't stop
staring at her.
She asks him why he is staring.  He replies "I have a question to ask you,
but I don't want to offend you".
She answers, "My son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and
have been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just
about everything.  I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I
would find offensive."
"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."
She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that:
1.   You have to be single and
2.   You must be Catholic."
The cab driver is very excited and says "Yes, I'm single and Catholic!"
"Okay" the nun says. "Pull into the next alley"
The nun fulfils his fantasy with a kiss that would make a hooker blush.
But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying.
"My dear child"   said the nun, "Why are you crying?"
"Forgive me, but I have sinned." sobbed the cab driver, "I lied and I must
confess, I'm married and I'm Jewish."
The nun said "That's okay, my name is Kevin and I'm going to a Halloween
Party."
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JOIN THE ROADTRIP FOR RELIEF!!
CLEAN-UP, REPAIR, REBUILD IN THE
9TH WARD WITH COMMON GROUND COLLECTIVE
November 20-27

Common Ground Collective has called a National Caravan to arrive in New 
Orleans on November 20th and work over the week of Thanksgiving until 
November 27th. In the meantime, we are having regular planning meetings to 
build up to this event, and we need people to join our organizing efforts.

Please contact Susan King at funking at mindspring.com to find out how you can 
be a part of this vital effort.

Why: The concentrated efforts of this caravan will bring hope to the 
displaced people of New Orleans so they see that it is possible to clean-up 
their neighborhoods and rebuild their lives. The work of the caravan will be 
a demonstration of what is possible.

Who: You. Your organization. Self-sustained groups that can organize 
themselves. We also need volunteers with specific skills: electricians, 
mechanics, plumbers, mold abaters, roofers, construction workers, 
carpenters, tree workers, lawyers, cooks and people who can train other 
volunteers and residents in these skills.

When: We need organizers to help right now! We're asking folks in the 
caravan to arrive in New Orleans on November 20th and work through the 
Thanksgiving week until Novemeber 27th. Of course, volunteers are needed 
continuously and can arrive anytime.

How you can help: Get on the bus. Donate a bus. Organize a bus. Donate $$$$. 
Donate supplies . Help raise funds, plan a fundraiser, ask your network to 
donate. Help spread the word.

www.sfgreenparty.org
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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
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For more info on our activities, please see our website, 
http://www.sfgreenparty.org. You can also email us questions, comments, 
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items (short blurb please, plain text only), email news at sfgreens.org.  
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