[SFGP] SF Green Party Weekly 3/21-3/27

Announcement list for SF Green Party, updated weekly announce at sfgreens.org
Wed Mar 21 01:31:29 PDT 2007


SF GREEN PARTY WEEKLY 3/21/07-3/27/07

NEWS:
- Pelosi's Disastrous Misstep on Iran
	http://tinyurl.com/2h5g9j
- San Francisco Resolution Calls On Congress To Secure Immediate  
Withdrawal Of U.S. Troops From Iraq
	http://tinyurl.com/2z8vtc

EVENTS:
This week:
- 3/21: Press Conference at Camp Pelosi - De-Fund the War Now and  
Bring the Troops Home
- 3/21: SFGP General Meeting
- 3/21-22: Last 2 days to see Ralph Nader Documentary at Opera Plaza
- 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:
- Introducing...the Apple iRack (http://tinyurl.com/3ymdls)

************************************************************

EVENTS:

3/21: Press Conference at Camp Pelosi - De-Fund the War Now and Bring  
the Troops Home

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

TIME:
12:00 noon

WHERE:
Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco

CONTACT:
Vicki Leidner
CODEPINK WOMEN FOR PEACE
415-290-0722
vleidner at rcn.com
http://www.bayareacodepink.org

2008 is too late; we say NOW.  $120+ billion more is not chicken  
feed.  And thousands of lives will not be forgotten.    The voters  
sent a mandate in the November election.  Congress is now responsible  
to end the war and if they pay for it, they own it. It is no longer  
only Bush’s war. The people have spoken.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the resolution to De- 
Fund the War and Bring the Troops Home Now.  They have heard the  
voice of the people. Supervisors Daly, Ammiano and Mirkarimi will be  
at the Federal Building with community representatives including  
Janet Weil, CODEPINK; Bill Simpich, Declaration of Peace; Susan King,  
spokesperson for the California Green Party;  Robert Haaland, DCCC;  
John Avalos, the San Francisco Peoples Organization; Krissy Keefer,  
former congressional candidate; Commissioner Jazzie Collins, and  
others.  Supervisor Daly reminds us “over $1.37 billion of San  
Francisco’s hard-earned tax dollars have been spent on this war.”   
Join us on the day before the House of Representatives, the people’s  
house, votes on the supplemental appropriations bill and say “No More  
Funding, No More War, Bring Our Troops Home Now.”
To be followed by Occupation Project, teach-in at the office of  
Speaker Pelosi.

---------

3/21: SFGP General Meeting

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
7:30PM - 9:30PM

WHERE:
San Francisco Green Party office, 1028 A Howard St (between 6th St.  
and 7th St.), San Francisco 94103

DETAILS:
This is the monthly meeting for all San Francisco Greens. The agenda  
is set the week before by the county council, but may be changed at  
the beginning of each meeting by the active members. New members are  
welcome!
Agenda:

Facilitators: Jim and Jazzie

Notetaker: JMC

Timekeeper:

1) Intro/consensus process/accreditation - 5

2) Sonoma updates (JMC, Jim) - 10

3) GPCA plenary update, call for volunteers (Susan) - 10

4) choose GPCA delegates (JMC) - 5

5) Proposal: recall GPCA CC rep/alt (JMC) - 2

6) Elect GPCA CC rep/alt (if the latter passes) (JMC) - 3

7) Presentation on environmental justice (Marie Harrison) or on  
immigration (Renee Saucedo) - 30

8) Presentation on volunteer corps (Dwayne Hunt) - 10

9) 2nd reading of Locals/Caucus bylaws (JMC) - 10

10) WG updates - 10

11) Announcements - 10

---------

3/21-22: Last 2 days to see Ralph Nader Documentary at Opera Plaza

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
(1:30 4:10) 8:30

WHERE:
Opera Plaza Cinema
601 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 267-4893

INFORMATION:
Official website:
http://www.anunreasonableman.com/
Mick LaSalle's San Francisco Chronicle review:
http://tinyurl.com/yolt7z

DETAILS:
The undisputed leader of the modern Consumer Movement, Ralph Nader  
built a legislative record that rivals any contemporary president,  
all without ever holding public office. Many things we take for  
granted—seat belts, airbags, product labeling, no nukes, even the  
free ticket you get after being bumped from an overbooked flight—are  
largely due to the efforts of Nader and his citizen groups. Yet  
today, when most people hear his name, they think of the man who cost  
the Democrats the Presidential election. Directors Henriette Mantel  
and Steve Skrovan trace the life and career of one of the most  
unique, important and controversial political figures of our time.

---------

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
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