[SFGP] SF Green Party Weekly 3/14-3/20
Announcement list for SF Green Party, updated weekly
announce at sfgreens.org
Wed Mar 14 01:16:56 PDT 2007
SF GREEN PARTY WEEKLY 3/14/07-3/20/07
NEWS:
- San Francisco resolution calls on Congress to secure immediate
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq
http://tinyurl.com/39ge95
- From ABC News: War Protestors - Including Code Pink - Camp Out At
Nancy Pelosi's SF Home (Camp Pelosi)
http://tinyurl.com/2aj9b5
- Democrats Back Out From Limiting President Bush's Authority for
Taking Military Action Against Iran
http://tinyurl.com/336snp
EVENTS:
This week:
- 3/15: National Health Care Plans of the 2008 Presidential candidate
- 3/18: Table with SFGP at Anti-War march and protest
- 3/19: Protest Chevron World Headquarters
- 3/19: Stop Funding the War in Iraq! Protest with Greens.
- 3/22: Sustainability (formerly Energy) Working Group
- 4/22: Celebrate Earth Day at Green Apple Music and Arts Festival
ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTION ALERTS:
- Protestors Needed at Camp Pelosi Until Congress Decides War Funding!
- Green Activists Needed for Campaign Demanding that Congress Bring
Troops Home
- URGENT: Help Get Conscientious Objector Agustin Aguayo Out of Jail!
See www.aguayodefense.org for details.
For details on how to write to Agustin, and donate to his legal
defense fund, see Helga Aguayo's letter below
IN EVERY ISSUE:
- Nancy Pelosi Watch, newly designed by Micheas Herman!
(www.pelosiwatch.us)
- Gavin Newsom Watch (http://tinyurl.com/23v3gp)
- Car-Free Talk with Green Party Activist Sue Vaughan
- Discuss Instant Runoff Voting in Green Party Activist Jim
Dorenkott's Blog (http://tinyurl.com/y2j2gs)
- Take Action!
- Earn A Living Making San Francisco A More Green and Progressive City!
- Support the San Francisco Green Party by Becoming a Sustainer
JOKE OF THE WEEK:
- Stupid Americans? (http://tinyurl.com/2bwzdc)
************************************************************
EVENTS:
3/15: National Health Care Plans of the 2008 Presidential candidate
WHEN:
Thursday, March 15th, 2007
7:00PM
WHERE:
626 Pacheco, near 10th, San Francisco
DETAILS:
Dr. Quentin Young, MD president of CaPA and PNHP (California
Physicians Alliance/Physicians for National Health Care). Come hear
a critical review of the candidates and their health care plans.
---------
3/18: Table with SFGP at Anti-War march and protest
WHEN:
Sunday, March 18, 12 noon
WHERE:
Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco
March to Civic Center, San Francisco
DETAILS:
The SFGP will be tabling at the Civic Center.
---------
3/19: Protest Chevron World Headquarters
WHEN:
Monday, March 19, 2007
7:00AM - 11:00AM
WHERE:
6001 Bollinger Canyon Road at Sunset, just east of Hwy 680, San Ramon
HOW TO GET THERE:
From Walnut Creek BART: a short ride on County Connection shuttle
121, or flat 12 mile bike ride.
We're also working on providing transportation.
INFORMATION:
For nonviolent direct action preparation, transportation, to get
involved and for more info: www.MySpace.com/ProtestChevron
DETAILS:
Why protest Chevron?
1: OIL. EXPOSE THE OIL AGENDA BEHIND THE WAR.
It's simple: Before the war U.S. and British oil companies were all
but shut out of Iraq's oil. Now, they're getting ready to take
control of it and Chevron's at the front of the pack. Within a year
of the invasion, Chevron's profits nearly doubled, and each year
since then, Chevron has set new record profits, with 2006 the
company's most profitable year ever. Those profits have been driven
by Iraqi oil, which Chevron refines in Richmond.
We join activists from across Europe and the U.S. who, on March 18 &
19, will demand that Big Oil and our governments get their "Hands Off
Iraqi Oil!" We will expose the Iraqi Oil Theft Law that would turn
Iraq's oil over to foreign oil companies including Chevron.
What is the "the Iraq Oil Theft Law?" The brainchild of the Bush
administration and U.S. oil companies, a new oil law nearing passage
in Iraq would radically transform Iraq from a nationalized oil system
all but closed to U.S. oil companies, to a commercialized system, all-
but-privatized, and open to private foreign corporate control.
See “Iraqi Trade Unions Unite to Oppose Undemocratic Oil Law In a
joint statement” (http://tinyurl.com/2jbymy)
Support real democracy in Iraq. End the US occupation of Iraq. Defeat
the oil theft law. Hands off Iraqi oil.
2: CLIMATE. WE DEMAND CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW!
With just 4% of the world's population, we in the US release 25% of
all global carbon emissions. Oil and oil-driven consumption are a
primary cause of greenhouse gas pollutants which fuel climate crisis.
Chevron is the 2nd largest oil company in the U.S. and the 5th
largest in the world.
Chevron sabotages domestic efforts to transition to a green economy
and refuses to invest in any significant way in alternative forms of
green energy.
WE DEMAND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NOW! Chevron poisons local
communities from Richmond, to Ecuador and Nigeria. The Chevron
refinery in Richmond spews a deadly array of toxins into the air,
water, and land, including cancer-causing dioxins, on the largely
African American, South East Asian, and Latino communities. The
refinery and plant have had hundreds of accidents, including fires,
spills, leaks, explosions, toxic gas releases, flaring, and air
contaminations causing severe illness, including asthma and deadly
cancers, for the people of Richmond. The people of Richmond are
fighting back and demanding that Chevron clean up or get out.
We need to imagine a world without Chevron, its oil, and its climate
chaos.
3: EMPIRE. WE RECOGNIZE THAT TO STOP WAR, WE MUST END EMPIRE.
To end current and future U.S. wars and occupations, to stop climate
chaos, to increase democracy and human rights at home, to redirect
resources to urgent human and environmental needs, to take apart a
global economic and political system that benefits mega corporations
at the expense of the planet, we must change the underlying U.S.
government policies of empire.
"Empire" is now used by both critics and advocates to describe the
unparalleled U.S. system of economic, political, cultural, and
military domination. We pay a high price to live in an Empire,
including $441 billion a year on a military of over 2 1/2 million
soldiers with more than 700 bases spread across 130 countries
fighting ever-increasing wars to feed the Empire and expand its control.
To Stop Wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, etc. we must end Empire!
PLEASE JOIN US!
---------
3/19: Stop Funding the War in Iraq! Protest with Greens
WHEN:
Monday, March 19, 2007
12 noon - 1:30PM
WHERE:
Nancy Pelosi’s office, 450 Golden Gate @ Polk, San Francisco
INFORMATION:
www.stopfundingthewar.com
DETAILS:
On the Fourth anniversary of Iraq War, demand Nancy Pelosi to stop
funding it. Speakers include: Matt Gonzalez, Peter Camejo, Ross
Mirkarimi, Aimee Allison and Krissy Keefer; Endorsers include SF
Green Party, Labor Council, UFPJ, Voters for Peace, Iraq War
Veterans, Gold Star Mothers.
---------
3/22: Sustainability (formerly Energy) Working Group
WHEN:
Thursday, March 22
7:30PM
WHERE:
San Francisco Green Party office, 1028 A Howard St (between 6th St.
and 7th St.), San Francisco 94103
DETAILS:
Among topics of discussion will be an upcoming seminar on halting the
mad rush to biofuels, a new update on the Community Choice Renewable
Energy project, discussion of recent deceptive PG&E/Mayor Newsom
solar energy promises and more..."
---------
4/22: Celebrate Earth Day at Green Apple Music and Arts Festival
WHEN:
Sunday, April 22
10:00AM-4:30PM
WHERE:
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
CONTACT:
Call Sue at (415) 668-3119 if you want to help table
DETAILS:
Celebrate Earth Day with a day of tabling in Golden Gate Park.
Promoters are expecting 30,000 people.
==============================
ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTION ALERTS:
Protestors Needed at Camp Pelosi Until Congress Decides War Funding!
San Francisco CODE*PINK* has been camped outside of Cong. Nancy
Pelosi's house since this weekend, when we created "Camp Pelosi" (see
ABC news article about Camp Pelosi http://tinyurl.com/2aj9b5) to
encourage the Speaker to be a leader and stop funding Bush's war. We
hope to keep this vigil going until the vote on the war funds
sometime next week.
Right now the small group needs your support, people to relieve them
for an hour break, people to bring food (wine and cheese
appreciated!), umbrellas for shade, more people to stay overnight,
music and encouragement.
The vigil is at Pelosi's house at 2640 Broadway (between Scott &
Divisadero) in San Francisco. Call (415) 260-1120 to reach activists
Leslie and Toby at the camp.
*Help us keep Camp Pelosi going day and night until Congress votes on
the funding! Join us for an hour or a night!
---------
Green Activists Needed for Campaign Demanding that Congress Bring
Troops Home
On Monday, February 5, 2007, a national campaign began to occupy
congressional offices asking them to vote for bills which pull the
troops out immediately, and cut the funding for the occupation of
Iraq. The Green Party seeks volunteers to establish a Green Party
presence in this campaign, and participate in it. Our voices
especially need to be heard by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, since she
is speaker of the house and thus in a position of big influence. If
you want to make a stronger statement than just emails, get involved!
Please contact Jim Dorenkott at jimdorenkott2 at yahoo.com if you'd like
to find out how.
---------
URGENT: Help Get Conscientious Objector Agustin Aguayo Out of Jail!
See letter from Helga Aguayo:
Dear Friends,
Some important dates for us:
January 13th, 2007 was Augie’s, original ETS (end term of service)
date. But instead he was stop-lossed ( "STOP LOSS" means preventing
a soldier leaving the military, even though the required term of
service is completed).
December 17th was Augie's 35th birthday, spent of course in military
prison. THANK YOU to everyone who sent him a card.
On December 12th, Augie had his Article 32 hearing (a formal
military hearing that determines if there is enough evidence to
conduct a court martial, similar to a grand jury investigation).
His arraignment is currently scheduled for January 22nd; according
to Dave Court, our new lawyer in Germany, this is "merely to
establish dates for trial, motions, exchange of witness lists, etc."
Nothing substantive will occur. Augie will be formally charged with
desertion and missing movement in a General Court Martial set to
occur in late February or March. A General Court-Martial is the most
serious criminal proceeding that can be brought against a member of
the military. A conviction by this Court is considered a federal
felony and creates a criminal record for life. FOR WHAT?! Not
wanting to kill, not wanting to contribute to the missions that kill,
for being against war! I feel SO SAD!
Meanwhile our case in civilian court is still pending. On November
21st, 2006 the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard Augie’s petition.
The ruling can take between 6 weeks to 6 months. There is still hope
that he might get exonerated! Please keep Augie in your prayers.
Should the court martial go ahead, I wish to testify. I want the
court to realize that his family mourns Augie's absence every second
of every day. I hope the courtroom will be filled with supporters so
the Army will know the world is watching. For those of you based in
Europe, please consider attending if you can! Whatever happens, I
will carry your strength, support, and solidarity with me in my
heart. Our voices will unite. WE WILL BE HEARD!
Here in L.A., our twin daughters, Raquel and Rebecca have seen better
days. They are struggling in school and may not pass 6th grade.
Last year at the U.S. base school in Germany, the girls were on the
honor role! The turmoil has been hard on them. I tell them every
day, “this will pass”.
Money issues -- I just sent our German-based lawyer, David Court,
the next installment on his fees: 1000 €. I had to borrow some of
it. The next installment of 2000€ is due two weeks before the court-
martial.
Tax deductible donations to the Legal Defense Fund can be made via
<www.couragetoresist.org>. More direct donations (without a tax
deduction) can be made via <www.aguayodefense.org>. I need funds to
travel to Germany for the court martial too.
Right now I am fund-raising with Courage to Resist and Iraq Veteran's
Against the War. I hope to see results soon. I continue to do
interviews with various news organizations, including one today for
National Public Radio. I think it went well.
Next week I start speaking at California high schools about the OTHER
SIDE of enlisting in the military. It's called "counter-
recruitment". As far as I understand, California is the only state
that MANDATES high school seniors hear both sides of military
recruitment. This is a project that is dear to my heart! Los
Angeles is the Number ONE recruitment city of high school seniors. I
want to work to change that.
Meanwhile I attend rallies to publicize Augie's situation. Many of
Augie's family members take part.
Some good news: I have struggled to keep up the website:
<www.aguayodefense.org>. Now a PROFESSIONAL web designer has
volunteered to take over. Hurrah! Improvements should be visible soon.
I THANK YOU all for working so hard and diligently to support Augie
and the family!
With all my love,
Helga P. Aguayo
36838 57th Street East
Palmdale, CA 93552
USA
To write to Agustin:
SPC Agustín Aguayo
Unit 29723
Box LL
APO, AE 09028-3810
USA
---------
Car-Free Talk with Green Party Activist Sue Vaughan
Keep an eye out for "Car-Free Talk" on San Francisco's public access
tv station, Channel 29. In the next show, David Fridley, staff
scientist at Lawrence Berkeley and member of San Francisco Oil
Awareness, discusses the myth of biofuels.
Date and time to be announced.
==============================
IN EVERY ISSUE:
Take Action!
Find out about opportunities to help our elected Greens (writing
letters, attending hearings, etc) -- subscribe to the SF Green Party
Action list! The Action list is a low-traffic list (approximately one
message per week in addition to our newsletter) telling you what you
can do to help: https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/
action
---------
Earn A Living Making San Francisco A More Green and Progressive City!
Three years ago, former organizers for the Matt Gonzalez for Mayor
campaign decided it was time to stop getting 'close but not close
enough' to progressive victories like public power and Matt as Mayor,
and to begin a city wide, year round, grassroots campaign that would
start helping us win such victories!
So in January 2004, the organization Our City was born. Since then we
have helped to:
- Pass the ban on old polluting diesel buses
- Pass Matt Gonzalez's anti chain store law
- Get the downtown hotel workers back on the job, and
- Get the Police and Planning Commissions put back on SF Government
TV after the City tried to pull them off.
Now we are campaigning to end PG&E's monopoly and run the City on
renewable energy like solar and wind power, and to stop corporations
from taking private monopoly control of the new public internet and
cable system being built for San Francisco.
We have just begun hiring and training new grassroots organizers to
help us win these campaigns.
No experience necessary.
Earn $280 to $400 each four day work week learning to be a strong
progressive organizer.
To apply, call Eric at 415-756-8844 from noon to 2pm any weekday, or
send an email to jobs at our-city.org
For more information, see our web site at http://our-city.org
---------
Support the San Francisco Green Party by Becoming a Sustainer
The San Francisco Green Party needs donations for rent on the office,
mailings, signs, and many other expenditures in order to wage
effective political campaigns.
We are especially interested in building up our base of "sustaining
members," those who agree to contribute a certain amount each month
by credit card. By becoming a sustaining member you save us money and
time that we can then devote to our political work. It is a method of
donation that is perfect for a grassroots organization like the Green
Party as it allows us to thrive off of many, many small and medium
size donations instead of depending on a few large donors.
For more information, please visit the MAKE A DONATION page on the
website at http://www.sfgreenparty.org/makeadonation/makeadonation.html
For questions about the sustaining member program contact
treasurer at sfgreens.org
To make a one-time donation by mail please send a check made out to
The San Francisco Green Party to:
San Francisco Green Party
1028A Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
************************************************************
For more info on our activities, please see our website,
http://www.sfgreenparty.org. You can also email us questions at
info at sfgreens.org. To send us news items (short blurb please, plain
text only) for possible inclusion in the newsletter, email
news at sfgreens.org. Please don't put these addresses on mailing lists;
messages not specifically addressed to us won't go through.
More information about the announce
mailing list