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Friends--
June 2023
Green Party Members Rebuff PA School
Censorship
Members of the Green Party of
Pennsylvania (GPPA) have been shocked by the use of official
censorship sweeping public schools in our Commonwealth. Right now,
Pennsylvania has the third most books banned from school libraries
(behind Texas and Florida). Chris Robinson (Philadelphia), co-leader
of the GPPA Communication Team, said, “Every member of the Green Party
should rebuff the rampant censorship poisoning Pennsylvania’s
classrooms.”
“Bigoted actions by school boards in PA
have now become public policy; an outright, reactionary suppression of
ideas complete with punishment for violators of those bans,” continued
Robinson. “PA school districts in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Crawford,
Erie, Lancaster, Monroe, Montgomery and Westmoreland Counties have
censored their library’s books or the language used by teachers in an
attempt to prevent an understanding of modern politics by the next
generation.”
The Green Party Platform says,
“Independent, critical media are essential to an informed and healthy
democracy. Citizens must have ready access to news and information to
make responsible informed choices as voters and to carry out their
other duties of citizenship . . . . Since governments too often have
an interest in controlling the flow of information, we must constantly
guard against official censorship.” READ
THE FULL STORY HERE
PA Green News
By Chris Robinson
Green Party Endorses Michael
Bagdes-Canning for Mayor of Cherry Valley, PA
Meeting virtually on May 7, the Steering
Committee of the Green Party of PA (GPPA) endorsed Michael
Bagdes-Canning for Mayor of Cherry Valley, PA. Badges-Canning has been
an energetic campaigner for the Green Party, especially in 2022 when
he ran for PA Lieutenant Governor. He has been the Mayor of Cherry
Valley, PA, and a committed campaigner for climate sanity and for
ending legalized "gifts" to PA legislators, which always seem to
benefit special interests (fracking) more than public health. The
endorsement for re-election was passed by consensus. READ
THE FULL STORY HERE
Green Party of
Allegheny County Endorses Liv Bennett for County
Executive
Meeting virtually on May 2, the Green
Party of Allegheny County endorsed Olivia “Liv” Bennett for Allegheny
County Executive. Bennett, an independent, has been an elected member
of the Allegheny Council. She told the media, “I believe I am
perfectly suited to address these issues with empathy, compassion and
understanding, I also believe that my life experience will help to
shape a more livable county, that is truly more livable for all of
us.” Her website is, https://www.voteliv.com/
READ THE LIV BENNETT STORY
HERE
Campaign
Updates
Edited by Chris Robinson
Below are the three candidates
who have already contacted GREEN STAR at [email protected]
2023 Election, November 7
Tara Yaney for Re-Election to
Edgewood Borough
Council
Allegheny
County
Tara told GREEN
STAR, “I want to thank the Green Party of Allegheny County for
trusting me on May 2 with their endorsement for re-election to the
Edgewood Borough Council. I think having a
representative of the Green Party is important in Edgewood. I've been
able to advocate for better library funding, a new low income living
facility for seniors, improved communication of borough day-to-day
business in our newsletter to residents, joining Edgewood with a solar
co-op to help residents afford solar panel installation, a map-based
tool for residents to be able to estimate the efficiency of their roof
insulation, and a ban on plastic carryout bags, straws and styrofoam
containers used by borough businesses. I plan to continue fighting for
Green Party principles in a second term in
office.”
Michael Bagdes-Canning for
Re-Election to Mayor of Cherry Valley
Borough
Butler
County
Michael told GREEN
STAR, “So, it's now official. I'll be on the ballot
in November. Thanks for the Green Party endorsement - the power of the
GPPA endorsement was enough to create a groundswell of support for my
petition/candidacy and, no doubt, will lead to an overwhelming victory
in November.”
2024 Election,
November 5
Richard Maopolski for PA Representative District
113
Lackawanna County
Team Reports
Edited by Patrick O. McNally
 Communication Team by Chris
Robinson and David Ochmanowicz Jr.
Unfortunately, the ComTeam has not had a leader for its Social
Media Team since June 2021. As expected, the results have been
relatively disastrous. GPPA has had two Facebook pages since 2010:
"Green Party of PA Supporters and Members," which now has 530 members
and "Green Party of Pennsylvania," which now has 4,900 followers (both
at their lowest point in three years). The GPPA Twitter account now
has 3,499 followers (its lowest point in two years). The GPPA
Instagram account is doing slightly better with 528 followers (an
all-time high). The ComTeam is still searching for two people to lead
our Social Media Team: a content creator and a growth manager. If you
are interested, please contact [email protected].
Please join the Communication Team right
here.
www.gpofpa.org/team_communications_join
 Finance Team by Tre Schumacher
My term as GPPA Treasurer will soon be at
its end. Between being a full-time law student and juggling other
responsibilities, I will not run for re-election. As GPPA Treasurer, I
have learned basic and universal skills about finance, accounting, and
law. I have truly gained a lot from being Treasurer, and I can
recommend the role, as a way to learn essential skills like
bookkeeping and financial reporting (which are technical, but not
difficult), and as a resume builder. These are skills that are good to
have for any career. If you are interested in being the next
Treasurer, I will train you -- ideally starting ASAP. If you know
someone who may be interested in being the next GPPA Treasurer, please
reach out to them and share this opportunity.
Among the Finance Team’s goals for 2023
are the hosting of two in-person fundraisers and six phone banks to
urge Greens to become dues-paying members. The Finance Team is also
debating whether the GPPA should become a Dues Paying organization,
and if so, what such a dues system should look like. The Finance Team
does not meet on a regular basis, but rather on an ad hoc basis. If
you would like to participate on the Finance Team by debating a Dues
Paying system, fundraising, organizing a phone banking drive, or
assisting in duties such as managing the merchandise, drafting the
annual budget, bookkeeping, or compliance and reporting, please sign
up at the link below.
Please join the Finance Team
right here.
https://www.gpofpa.org/team_finance_join
Global Green News
Edited by Hal Brown
Victoria Greens of Australia
introduce Tolerance Amendment
The Victorian Greens introduced their
Racial and Religious Tolerance (Anti-Vilification) Amendment Bill 2023
to the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday, May 16 . . . . The bill .
. . would amend the state’s anti-libel laws – which currently only
protect Victorians from racial and religious vilification – to include
vilification on the basis of sexuality, gender and gender
expression.
READ
THE FULL STORY HERE
Green Party of England &
Wales calls for water companies to be brought into public
ownership
The Racing Minister’s decision to push
back on questions about the future of greyhound racing has the New
Zealand Green Party worried. The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
believe the Racing Minister is gambling with dogs’ lives in
unnecessary and self-imposed delay. Because for the party, greyhound
racing does not meet animal welfare standards... READ THE FULL STORY
HERE
Green Party of Aotearoa New
Zealand rails against Racing Minister Issues
The Racing Minister’s decision to push back on questions about the
future of greyhound racing has the New Zealand Green Party worried.
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand believe the Racing Minister is
gambling with dogs’ lives in unnecessary and self-imposed delay.
Because for the party, greyhound racing does not meet animal welfare
standards... READ THE FULL STORY
HERE
GPPA Meeting Dates for 2023
All State Web Conferences will begin promptly at
noon.
Sunday,
June 11. Please RSVP here, https://www.gpofpa.org/gppa_state_meeting_june_2023
Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10, location
to be announced.
Sunday,
November 12, via Zoom.
GPPA Communications
Team
Issue Credits
Editors: Hal Brown, David Ochmanowicz Jr., Patrick O.
McNally and Chris Robinson
Contributors: Michael Bagdes-Canning, Jocolyn
Bowser-Bostick, Christina “PK” DiGiulio, Jubalyn ExWilliams, Riley
Mahon, Joseph E. Murray, Jay Ting Walker and Tara Yaney
Layout: Hal Brown, Sherri Miller, and David Ochmanowicz
Jr.
Graphic Arts: Kevin Richardson
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The GREEN STAR is an official publication of the Green
Party of Pennsylvania Communications Team * 2023.
Green Party of Pennsylvania
http://www.gpofpa.org/
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