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May 2020
Working
toward a future where people and planet are valued, and our government
represents all of us.
May Day 2020, Emerge-Agency
by GPPA Co-chair Alan Smith
 The first of May is celebrated all over the
world as May Day, a day to celebrate the power of laborers and the
rights won by labor movements. Anarchists and socialists in the United
States fought and died at the end of the 19th century and the
beginning of the 20th century winning all kinds of protections for
workers against the seemingly invincible foes of capitalism and
industrialization. Learn more about the origins of May Day here:(Link)
Today those same forces are trying
to hang on even as a global pandemic reveals their weaknesses. One can
easily argue that May Day 2020 is an SOS call for help. Many of my
friends and family have grown weary from all the "bad" news. However,
instead of thinking that things are hopeless, we must EMERGE from this
with a new sense of our own AGENCY.
I'll never forget that time I had
a knife to my throat. Fueled by endorphins, time slowed and a sense of
calm washed over me. I will forever remember the adrenaline rush that
has pushed me through six marathons and hundreds of smaller races.
With our backs against the wall, we tap into our superpowers. Science
has shown that since the rush of chemicals causes the brain to retain
richer, more detailed, more focused memories of what's happening.
Since the brain estimates passage of time by how much information is
stored within a given interval, richer memories make it feel like more
time has passed. This explains the "slow-motion" effect when we
encounter something new or threatening. (link)
My dad always says learn to love
the unpredictability of life and this pandemic has helped me do this
as I face new and threatening things sending a rush of chemicals to my
brain every day as an "essential worker." It has shown me that we have
powers to imagine and bring about incredible changes.
Let's examine ten things that our
x-ray vision, bionic hearing, and telepathic minds have discovered
during this pandemic:
1) That money can be pulled out of
thin air.
2) That the capitalist treadmill that we're on can be
stopped immediately, meaning we can never again use that excuse that,
"Oh but change takes time."
3) Earth's other life forms can thrive
WITH US if we change our way of life
4) That the cages we have
created for prisoners or the boxes we inhabit in densely populated
areas are not healthy. Physical distancing becoming a norm will bring
about a need for everyone to have access to land, flora, and fauna.
5) It is now quite clear that in the United States we have a
wealthcare industry, not a healthcare system, and the demand to change
this is overwhelming.
6) A debt forgiveness jubilee is imaginable
and feasible.
7) Most of our jobs are deemed "non-essential" and
that the ones being paid the most money hold the least essential
positions. We are discovering that capitalism just keeps us busy and
away from quality time with ourselves and our loved ones and the
planet.
8) We can and should slow down and show care and attention
in our interactions with others. The lost art of patience is making a
comeback as we stand six feet apart and deliveries are delayed meaning
we are not able to get what we want immediately. 24-hour stores have
disappeared meaning our consumerist tendencies can be shifted.
9)
Creating a world that is accessible to all has become imperative.
10) Paying to live in a home is not essential and can and should
be stopped. It's never been more clear that as we have shelter-at-home
orders that housing is a human right.
Let's continue to add to this list
and EMERGE with AGENCY from this crisis. This emergency has succeeded
in showing us that we CAN and MUST prioritize people, planet, and
peace. People of the world unite and IMPROVE-ize!
Painting by Alan Smith titled:
"improve-i-sing!"
GPPA
News Highlights
edited by Chris Robinson
Allegheny National Forest:
What goes on behind the scenes By Barbara
Laxon
 On a recent visit to ANF, we found oil and gas wells, tanks
of all sorts, hoses draining who knows what into the soil and air.
Large cleared areas for well pads. Roads all through -- some
relatively safe, some very much not. We found wells actively pumping,
and wells long abandoned. Once a fossil fuel company is no longer able
to get enough gas and/or oil from a well, they will either plug the
well (more about this later), or they will just walk away and leave it
as is. (show
all)
PA Greens support Lavender
Greens on Gender Affirmation By Tre
Schumacher
 On March 22, delegates to the Green Party of Pennsylvania
spring convention voted to support the Lavender Greens’ objection to
the recent actions of the Georgia Green Party (GGP). This support had
been requested by Vice-chair Garret Wassermann of the Green Party of
Allegheny County, who had objected to homophobic language in a GGP
statement. (show
all)
PA Greens Welcome Bernie
Supporters By Tre Schumacher
 Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced the suspension of
his presidential campaign on April 8. Sanders had run an innovative
campaign, largely self-organized by a diverse network of local
activists. The campaign allowed Sanders to bring issues to a national
stage from a different perspective than other major candidates and
inspired millions of voters. Joe Biden and the Democratic Party have
fundamentally different values than Sanders. The Green Party of
Pennsylvania (GPPA, www.gpofpa.org) offers a new home for
registered Democrats who are now disenfranchised by the Democratic
Party but would like to continue the progressive activism that
Sanders’ campaign engaged with.
(show all)
Earth Day, Birthday: The
Conception of a New World By Alan Smith
 Earth Day is now celebrated in every corner of the planet by
billions of people. I can't help but think that the energy of the
first Earth day had a role to play in shaping my life's purpose, to
learn about and educate people about honoring the diversity of this
planet. From the Black Hills of South Dakota to the Himalayas, from
the bayous of Louisiana to the Great Barrier Reef, from the Australian
Outback to Antarctica, I have traveled the Earth learning to
appreciate its wonders, its inhabitants, and its biodiversity.
(show all)
PA Greens Demand Relief from
Candidate Nomination Procedures
 On Monday, March 30, the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA,
www.gpofpa.org) Steering
Committee and statewide candidates demanded relief from the
Pennsylvania candidate nomination procedures. In a letter to
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and legislative leaders, the Green
Party asked that “the [nomination paper] signature requirement for the
statewide ballot be waived or suspended for the current election
cycle” for Green Party candidates in response to emergency
circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
(show all)
Campaign Updates
edited by Chris Robinson
Garret Wassermann for PA
Representative, District 45
Garret told GREEN STAR, “Senate Bill 613
originally tweaked some rules on what government employees were
allowed access to private tax data for various legal purposes.
However, this bill was amended to overrule Governor Wolf’s
stay-at-home COVID-19 orders. This method of amending bills is used to
keep things secret, as well as shaming someone into voting for the
bill because of one aspect, while another aspect may be bad. Should I
become State Representative, I would have zero tolerance for these
types of legislative tricks and would call them out whenever I saw
them. For more information visit his website https://votegarret.org
Or his Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VoteGarret/
Jay Ting Walker for PA
Representative, District 23
Jay
told GREEN STAR, “My campaign has been endorsed by Our Revolution PA,
Mark Dixon (NoPetroPA), Green Party of Allegheny County and Green
Party of PA.” Connect with Jay’s campaign on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JayTingWalker
Jay’s campaign website is https://jaytingwalker.com
Three State-wide Green Party
Candidates
For more information visit https://www.greenslate2020.org/
Tim Runkle for PA
Treasurer
Richard L. Weiss, Esq. for
PA Attorney General
Olivia Faison for PA Auditor
General
Team
Updates
Finance Team
by Tim Runkle
 Join HERE.
GreenWave
Team by Garret Wassermann
sign up HERE to receive call info or email for
more information!
Communications
Team by Chris Robinson
 During April 2020,
the Communication Team sent four news releases to the media. This was
the same number as April 2018 and April 2019, if you add those two
months together. We still need a volunteer to lead Green Star Live,
our YouTube channel. 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.
Core Team by
Charles Sherrouse
 If you are interested in
helping, sign up HERE.
edited by Gayle
Morrow
Statements regarding
COVID-19
 US Green Party’s and state Green Parties’ statements on COVID-19 (show
all)
Voting in the US, or not. National problem for US
Greens—prohibitive & discriminatory ballot access
New
Jersey
(show
all)
More of the same in Illinois
…
Greens are not only considered a “new” [not established]
party requiring 25,000 petition signatures to the Democrats’ and
Republicans’ 5,000 signature requirements but also have to “establish”
themselves over and over. i.e. once is not enough(show
all)
New
York
Getting on the ballot just became even more difficult for
3rd parties in New York(show
all)
NJ Young Ecosolcialist [YES]
Caucus
 Officially recognized by the Green Party of NJ. Press
release.
(show all)
PA deadlines and information
for vote-by-mail and absentee ballots.
(show
all)
All states vote-by-mail
information
(show
all)
edited by Gayle
Morrow
UK Greens going above and
beyond
Medway UK is a city of 270k and sits just south of London.
They are very lucky to have their local Green
Party who have created and implemented a very inspired program,
titled Road Reps, to get help to people in their town and surrounding
towns who are self-isolating and need someone there. Kate Belmont,
Medway Green Party Press Officer, has created materials to aid those
who would like to volunteer and be responsible for a specific road in
their neighborhood. Volunteers place "calling cards" on each door.
Residents reply with their needs and place the card back on the door
to be picked up by the “Road Rep” of their street; Road Reps will do
things like shop, post mail, bring urgent supplies, or simply talk on
the phone. Supplies are delivered "no contact style" Kudos to Medway
Greens. Greens everywhere should be this creative and involved in the
health of their communities during this pandemic. And it seems the
Harrogate Greens have volunteered to help their community through as
well(show
all)
“calling
cards”
“no
contact style.”
Welcome to Europe’s greenest
lands
Fears about climate change are translating into serious
political gains for Green parties in German-speaking countries
Austria, Switzerland, and Germany(show
all)
Watch out for
Luke
We've heard of this young green many times in his quest to
unseat Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand. He makes certain
his name and the Green Party goals stay in the news, and he is very
good at it. Future Green PM? (show
all)
South Korea becoming more
Green
“South Korea to implement Green New Deal after ruling party
election win. Seoul is to set a 2050 net-zero emissions goal and end
coal financing, after the Democratic Party’s landslide victory in one
of the world’s first Covid-19 elections.”(show
all)
edited by Chris
Robinson
Green Party
events are in GREEN. Other
Movement events are in RED.
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
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 movement.
More information from:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2206600726129147/
May 1, 11:30 am
Lunchtime slack social with Green Party of
Allegheny County
More information from: (Email [email protected]
for a slack invite.)
May 5, 6:00 pm
Green Party of Allegheny County Virtual
General Assembly
Zoom contact and more information
from: [email protected]
May 8, 11:30 am
Lunchtime slack social with Green Party of
Allegheny County
More information from: (Email [email protected]
for a slack invite.)
May 15, 11:30 am
Lunchtime slack social with Green Party of
Allegheny County
More information from: (Email [email protected]
for a slack invite.)
May 16
NE PA Green Fair and 5K
POSTPONED UNTIL A LATER DATE. Endorsed by Green Party of
Lackawanna County.
More information from: https://www.facebook.com/events/187618042445480/
May 18, 7:00 pm
Green Party of Montgomery County Virtual
Meeting
Virtual business meeting. Please email [email protected]
to receive details.
May 26, 7:00 pm
Green Party of Philadelphia Membership
Meeting
Location and more information from: [email protected]
May 29 -- May 31
Left Forum
POSTPONED
UNTIL A LATER DATE.
More information from: https://2020.leftforum.org/
May 31, 1:00 pm
Green Party of Chester County Virtual
Meeting
Interested parties should contact [email protected]
for a link.
June 2, 6:00 pm
Green Party of Allegheny County Virtual
General Assembly
Zoom contact and more information
from [email protected]
GPPA Meeting Dates for
2020:
- 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: Tim Runkle, Barbara Laxon, Tre Schumacher,
Alan Smith & Chris Robinson
LAYOUT: Sheri Miller, Hal Brown & Dannee
Schoepfer
GRAPHIC ARTS: Kevin
Richardson
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Alan Smith
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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