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March 2020
Working
toward a future where people and planet are valued, and our government
represents all of us.
ERA on the Eve of International Women’s Day
By Gayle Morrow, editor of
GREEN STAR.
“We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
What many Americans of this century
do not realize is that these words are not, nor have they ever been,
part of either our Constitution or our Bill of Rights, and therefore
do not carry the weight of the law. They are instead simply
a few words in the second paragraph of a five paragraph declaration,
plus a list of the king’s “injuries and usurpations” against the
colonies. The Declaration of Independence is intended as a battle cry
of sorts to both justify future actions and to announce the intent to
end the rule of George III over the colonies.
Why do we need the ERA when there’s
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits “employers
from discriminating against applicants and employees on the basis of
race, color, religion, sex, and national origin”? Is your work your
life? Wouldn’t you prefer that equal rights for you be a commitment in
the United States Constitution? “Equality of rights under the law
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state
on account of sex.” - Section 1, Equal Rights Amendment Read…under the
law.
Another thing Americans may not
realize are the words of Thomas Jefferson pertaining to those
inalienable rights of men, "[w]ere our state a pure democracy, there
would still be excluded from our deliberations . . . women, who, to
prevent deprivation of morals and ambiguity of issues, should not mix
promiscuously in gatherings of men."
 This unfortunate statement has never
been corrected so that the mindset behind it “…deprivation of
morals and ambiguity of issues should not mix promiscuously…” with men
have haunted any attempt women have made in 244 years to actually
receive equality in pay, equal treatment in divorce court, equal
assumptions in sexual harassment allegations/trials, even a true voice
in government. At this moment, the only legal right shared
equally by men and women embedded in the U.S. Constitution is the
right to vote. You will be wrong to assume that progress made
incrementally through labor laws and anti-discrimination laws are not
reversible. Think of the present state of Roe v Wade, changes in the
Voting Rights Act, and racial gerrymandering as just a few laws that a
conservative-majority SCOTUS is in the process of decimating. Compare
that to the time and effort required in the process of negating an
amendment to the Constitution and wonder, “Why not an ERA?”
Educate yourself [https://www.equalrightsamendment.org/] so that
you can present an informed argument. Be familiar with the
disagreement between those who believe that after Virginia, the
thirty-eighth state to ratify, the ERA automatically became law, and
those who believe that time has run out and the last three to ratify
do not count. Also know if your state has ratified and if you are in
one of the five states declaring that they now withdraw their
ratification and what that means in the final count. It is time that
women’s equal status to men in the U.S. be embedded in our
Constitution as the law of the land, not some piecemeal a little here,
a little there statutes that can be changed on the whim of a judge
appointed by politicians who have an agenda in mind. Amendments are
put forth by and approved by the people. Isn’t that the way it should
be?
Coming in April !!!!!
PA Green Party Presidential
Caucus
The PA Green Party Presidential Caucus will
take place during April at meetings around the state hosted by county
Green Parties. If you're a registered Green, come out and help us
choose our 2020 Presidential candidate! For a complete explanation or
to request an absentee ballot, visit https://www.gpofpa.org/2020_caucus
April
4, Lancaster Greens, time and location to be announced;
April 5,
Lackawanna Greens, 9 am to 5 pm at 1285 Reynolds Avenue, Taylor,
PA.
April 7, Allegheny Greens, 6 pm to 8 pm, Panera Bread, 3401
Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh;
April 21, Philadelphia Greens,
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, location to be announced;
April 25,
Susquehanna Valley Regional Greens, Harrisburg, time and location to
be announced;
April 29, Erie Greens, Tim Horton’s, 209 East 12th
Street, Erie PA.
GPPA
News Highlights
edited by Chris Robinson
PA
Green on Suffrage and the ERA By Emily
Cook
 Several anniversaries
acknowledging rights of women are coming up, most notably the
centenary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution which gave women the right to vote. One would think that
the beginning of suffrage would bring women equality, but in spite of
societal gains this last century women still remain underpaid, are
victims of violence and suffer from exploitation worldwide.
Also, the United Nations will soon remind us of
International Women’s Day (IWD), March 8, which originated when the
Socialist Party of America organized the first Women’s Day in 1909.
And it seems every generation or so, women attempt to revive the still
needed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which is often cleverly
extinguished by Washington’s legislative manipulation of ratification
deadlines and hijacked by conservatives. I, myself, naively thought
that the ERA was an initiative of the feminists of the 1970s. In fact,
it had been conceived by Pennsylvania suffragist, Alice Paul back in
1923 (and finally ratified in PA in 1972). (show all)
No Subsidies to Fracking and Petrochemicals
By
Garret Wassermann, Green Party Candidate, PA House District
45.
 We live in a time when
the climate crisis is worsening and accelerating, and reports are
growing about childhood cancer and other health impacts to communities
near oil/gas development. Voting now in favor of subsidies to the gas
industry is worse than being tone-deaf. It is flat-out climate denial.
It is siding with corporate profits over the health and safety of our
children. After the bipartisan vote in favor of HB 1100 on February 4,
we know for sure exactly where incumbent Anita A. Kulik stands. I
would have very proudly voted No on this bill if I was elected. [You
may read the rest right here, (show all)
A History of Deadly Meddling By Mel
Packer
On Feb 8, 1980, in my 35th
year, I stepped from a plane onto the tarmac of the airport in Tehran,
Iran, and into the Iranian Revolution and the simmering Iran Hostage
Crisis. . . . It felt like fantasy, unreal, there I was in Tehran
having never crossed an ocean before, defying my own government’s
travel ban to spend 10 days dialoguing with the students holding
hostage 52 U.S. Embassy staffers. Their demand? Return the Shah of
Iran to stand trial for his crimes.
[Mel Packer is a member of the
Green Party of Allegheny County. This article appeared in Vox Populi
on 2/9/’20. You may read the rest right here, (show all)
Allegheny Greens Welcome Exploited
Voters
PITTSBURGH -- The Green Party
of Allegheny County has witnessed the Democratic and Republican
establishment continue their gluttonous exploitation of the citizenry
and of our natural environment. As the current power structure drives
our society toward the destruction of democracy and ecological
collapse, we ask responsible residents to join with us and become a
democratic firewall to finally end the absolute violence inflicted
upon the people. (show all)
PA Green Assisted with NY Methane
Testing
ALLEGANY — The president of
Concerned Citizens of Cattaraugus County [CCCC], NY, announced that
the organization will no longer participate in home methane monitoring
at homes in the vicinity of an Allegany house explosion that occurred
in November. Rob Mrowka, president of CCCC, said residents who have
concerns “for high risk situations” with their water wells or air
quality are advised to contact the [NY] Department of Environmental
Conservation, which will respond to calls.
Mrowka and others who
had checked some Allegany properties for methane included West Branch
Road resident Bill Baxter, a retired licensed water treatment
operator; Barry Miller, vice president of CCCC; Barbara Laxon from the
Green Party of PA and a production assistant for the documentary
“Releasing Methane;” and Laurie Barr, co-founder of
http://saveourstreamspa.org and producer of “Releasing Methane.”
Barbara Laxon told GREEN STAR, “We tried to get the reporter to
correct the article to say that we will continue to test anyone's
water who asks us to come out as the DEC has NOT been testing for
methane. They send out the health dept who tests for metals, biotics,
etc. NOT methane (which caused the explosion on 11/18).” (show all)
Philly Greens welcome the new year of metal and the
rat
PHILADELPHIA -- On the second
new moon after the winter solstice, Saturday, January 25, the outgoing
yin year of earth pig begets the yang year of metal rat. This
transition is the beginning of the fourth 12 year zodiac cycle of the
sexagenary lunar calendar. The last year of yang metal rat was in
1960. The Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP) will mark the new year
with a protest against saber rattling and provocations toward war with
Iran. (show all)
Campaign Updates
edited by Chris Robinson
Petitioning has started! We have
8,000 to collect (5,000 are required plus 3,000 cushion for
challenges). 100 volunteers, with 80 signatures each will knock that
out quickly. The best day to get signatures is primary day, when you
have a captive audience who are all registered to vote. A great way
to engage voters and let them know who we are. To volunteer, sign up
at GreenWave under Team Updates.
Garret Wassermann for PA
Representative, District 45
Garret told GREEN STAR, “The bipartisan vote for
HB 1100, which would give billions of dollars in subsidies to gas and
petrochemical companies, is outrageous and shows that neither the
Democratic nor Republican Party has any interest in seriously
addressing toxic pollution and climate change. We don’t have to
sacrifice our health and environment for jobs. I completely reject the
idea that jobs must come from petrochemicals. We should be funding a
Green New Deal instead. But it's not really about jobs either. It's
about the political establishment continuing to give financial
handouts to corporations that lobby them.�” Garret’s campaign website
is https://votegarret.org and his Facebook is https://www.facebook.com/VoteGarret/
Jay Ting Walker for PA
Representative, District 23
Jay
told GREEN STAR, “My campaign for Pennsylvania House is getting it's
ducks in a row. Look out for an April kickoff.” Connect with Jay’s
campaign on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JayTingWalker. Jay’s
campaign website is https://jaytingwalker.com
Tim Runkle for PA
Treasurer
Tim told GREEN STAR, “We must create an
alternative to the two party system. That alternative will represent
people before profits and it will be socially conscious and future
focused. As a candidate for PA State Treasurer, I will advance our
popular messages like that of a Real Green New Deal and Economic
Democracy. My campaign will be clear that the present political system
cannot deliver those ideas and that building an alternative is
paramount." Tim is chair of the Green Party of Lancaster County and
treasurer of GPPA.
Richard L. Weiss, Esq. for
PA Attorney General
Richard told
GREEN STAR that he “supports criminal justice reforms including ending
cash bail, and decriminalizing drug use. This would reduce jail
population for nonviolent offenders and thereby save the taxpayers
money.” Richard, a PA attorney since 1992, is a delegate to GPPA from
the Green Party of Allegheny County.
Olivia Faison for PA Auditor
General
Olivia told GREEN STAR
that she is secretary of the board of directors for the Health Centers
of Philadelphia. She is also an elected Green, serving as minority
inspector at her polling precinct.
Team
Updates
GreenWave
Team by Garret Wassermann
Petitioning has started!! sign up
HERE to join us in getting our 2020
slate of candidates on the PA ballot!
Communications
Team by Chris Robinson
 The Communication
Team posted 3 interviews to GPPA’s YouTube channel during 2019. It
would be fantastic to do more during 2020, but we need someone to
organize this project. If you would like to join our team, If you
would like to join, please contact Chris at
chrisrecon-at-netzero-dot-net; for the phone number, visit our website
at https://www.gpofpa.org/, or to join online,
sign up HERE.
edited by Gayle
Morrow
Green Party of Virginia opposes new fossil fuel infrastructure;
calls for Real Green New Deal
 “At this time when we
must ban all new fossil fuel infrastructure including the Atlantic
Coast Pipeline, Mountain Valley Pipeline and Buckingham Compressor
Station in Union Hill, Democratically controlled Virginia is
threatening two new compressor stations, one in Prince William County
and one in the city of Chesapeake, and the expansion of the existing
Ladysmith compressor station in Caroline County.” (show all)
Rep. Delgado to face challenger from Green Party in New York’s
Congressional District 19 -- Steve
Greenfield
(show all)
Local Indiana Green Party candidate campaigns on education,
combating climate change. Go ahead, have a smile at his
name.
(show all)
Lower Voting Age To 16, Green Party Senate Candidate In NJ
Says
 Madelyn Hoffman, in tune
with the current trend both in the U.S. and Europe believes that it’s
time to lower the voting age, and backs up her argument with good
points. (show all)
The Lavender Greens of whom I’m guessing some of you are
unaware.
“We are the National Lavender Greens Caucus
(NLGC) of the Green Party of the United States. We are Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Green Party members
(LGBTQIA Lavenders) organized as a Caucus with the purpose of
promoting Lavender issues within the Green Party and promoting the
Green Party to the LGBTQIA community.” (show all)
Young Ecosocialists have a strong Green Mission Statement that
appeals to today’s activist youth and should be what all Greens strive
for
 “The Young Ecosocialists
(the Youth Caucus of the Green Party US) works to engage youth in
Green issues and gives its members a voice within GPUS. Membership is
open to anyone ages 14-35 in the United States who identifies as Green
and pays caucus dues.
In addition to using the Ten Key Values as
guiding principles, we declare ourselves to be an anti-oppression
caucus, actively dedicated to the work of ending capitalism and
dismantling white supremacy and cisheteropatriarchy. We emphasize
political independence from the corporate duopoly and working towards
an ecosocialist future.” (show all)
edited by Gayle
Morrow
The Maturing of Europe’s
Greens
This Voice of America
journalist puts forth the theory that Europe’s Green Parties are doing
better in elections because they are forming coalitions with the
center-right, rather than the left. What’s your opinion as an American
Green? Would you approve forming some kind of coalition/partnership
with say the Christian Democrats in order to get a Green in Congress?
(show all)
Just like Mayor Pete? Not really, this candidate won! Irish
Green Party candidate celebrates election victory with a defiant kiss
on live TV
(show all)
Green leadership hopeful wants to become the first black woman
to lead a national party
The 2020 Green Party of Canada
leadership election will take place on October 4, 2020, to replace
Elizabeth May, who resigned on November 4, 2019 after leading the
party for more than a decade. Next step? First Black woman leader?(show all)
edited by Chris
Robinson
Green Party events are in
GREEN. Other Movement events are
in RED.
March 2, 7:00 pm
Green Party of Chester County Virtual
Meeting
More information from: [email protected]
March 3
World Wildlife Day
More
information from: https://www.wildlifeday.org/content/get_involved
March 3, 6:00 pm
Green Party of Allegheny County General
Assembly
Panera Bread, 3401 Boulevard of the
Allies, Pittsburgh, PA.
More information from: [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/events/520148055241554/
March 6, 13, 20 and 27, 12:30 pm
Climate Crisis Awareness
Rally
Lincoln Square in Gettysburg (York Street
crossing)
Hosted by Adams County Green Party in solidarity with
Greta Thunburg's worldwide climate awareness movement.
More
information from: https://www.facebook.com/events/2206600726129147/
March 6, 11:30am
Stop Banking the Bomb
PNC Tower, 300 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.
Endorsed by
the Green Party of Allegheny County.
More information from: https://www.facebook.com/pg/StopBankingtheBomb
March 7, 4:00 pm
South Hills Greens Social Meetup
Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse, 329 Castle Shannon Blvd,
Mount Lebanon, PA.
More information from: https://www.facebook.com/events/561227017813799/
March 8, 11:00 am
International Women’s Strike
Philadelphia, PA
More information from: https://www.facebook.com/events/188842915694141/
March 9, 7:00 pm
Green Party of Lackawanna County Membership
Meeting
Hosted by the Green Party of Lackawanna
County, 2043 North Maine Avenue, Scranton, PA.
More information
from: [email protected]
March 13 thru March 15
International Action Against
Sanctions
One third of the world lives under U.S.
sanctions. Condemn economic warfare.
More information from: https://sanctionskill.org/
March 15, 1:00 pm
National Action to End Korean War
Lafayette Square, Pennsylvania Avenue NW at 16th Street
NW, Washington, DC
More information from: https://koreapeacenow.org/70-years-too-long-national-action-to-end-the-korean-war/
March 16, 7:00 pm
Green Party of Montgomery County Meeting
Rm. 347, Easton Hall, Arcadia University, 450
South Easton Road, Glenside, PA.
More information from: [email protected]
March 21, 11:00 am
Stop Banking the Bomb
PNC Tower, 2031 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.
Endorsed
by the Green Party of Allegheny County
More information from: https://www.facebook.com/events/2760416020704725/
March 21, noon
U.S. Troops Out of Iraq, Global Day of
Protest
Intersection of Penn and Highland
Avenues, Pittsburgh, PA
Endorsed by the Green Party of Allegheny
County
More information from: https://www.facebook.com/events/208573367178793/
March 21, 10:00 am, through March 22, 4:00 pm
GPPA Convention
GPPA will host a weekend
convention at the Historic Harrisburg Resource Center, 1230 North
Third Street, Harrisburg, PA
Please register here: https://www.gpofpa.org/2020_03_conv
March 22
World Water Day
More
information from: https://www.worldwaterday.org/
March 24, 7:00 pm
Green Party of Philadelphia Membership
Meeting
For the location, please contact: [email protected]
March 28, noon
Protest at Drone War Command
Air Guard Station, Easton Road (#611) at County Line
Road, Horsham, PA.
Brandywine Peace Community, Bucks County Green
Party, Montgomery County Green Party, Green Party of
Philadelphia
More information from: [email protected]
http://www.brandywinepeace.com/events/
March 30
Last Day for Green Party Candidates to Register
Green
Otherwise, a candidate will not be allowed
to run as a Green in November.
April 6, 7:00 pm
Green Party of Chester County Meeting
Interested parties should contact this link for
the location: [email protected]
April 7, 6:00 pm
Green Party of Allegheny County General
Assembly
Panera Bread, 3401 Boulevard of the
Allies, Pittsburgh, PA
More information from: [email protected]
GPPA Meeting Dates for 2020:
- March Convention (in-person) -
Saturday/Sunday March 21/22 at the Historic Harrisburg Resource Center
in Harrisburg. Go to https://www.gpofpa.org/2020_03_conv
for more information.
- June (virtual) - Sunday June
7
- September (in-person, retreat) -
Saturday/Sunday September 12/13
- November, Post-Election Day
(virtual) - Sunday November 15
Web
Conferences are online - RSVP to get connection information. The
locations for in-person conferences are to be determined. In-person
conferences can be hosted by counties, county groups or regions. These
events are fundraisers. When hosted locally, the host group receives
back half of the revenue after expenses. To apply for hosting, submit
your info to our Application for Local Hosting of GPPA State Meetings
or GPPA-Sponsored Events. We strive for geographic
diversity in reviewing applications, however, all submissions are
considered.
Green Party
of Pennsylvania Communications Team & Media
Committee
Issue
Credits:
EDITORS:
Chris Robinson & Gayle Morrow
CONTRIBUTORS: Chris Robinson, Gayle Morrow, Emily Cook,
Garret Wassermann & Mel Packer
LAYOUT: Sheri Miller, Dannee Schoepfer & Hal
Brown
GRAPHIC ARTS: Kevin
Richardson
Everything we do is
based on our Four Pillars and Ten Key
Values. If you find that you share these ideals,
come and join the movement.
You can support the Green
Party in many ways; however, a monthly sustaining donation
helps to fund a solid infrastructure to help local chapters coordinate
candidates and provide resources to make their campaigns successful.
As little as $3 per month can
have a significant impact!
Sustaining Donation Single Donation Purchase Green Merchandise
Join
us and help bring
about a future where people and planet are valued over profits. We
have a new, tiered membership structure that allows you to determine
your level of commitment and support. And if you want to get more
directly involved, consider joining an action
team. Work with other committed progressives and
activists in activities such as planning events, developing media
content, or helping with campaigns. Let's join together to make 2020
the year of progressives!
The Green Star is an official publication of the
Green Party of Pennsylvania Communications Team * 2020
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