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August 2020
Working
toward a future where people and planet are valued, and our government
represents all of us.
ECO-COMPASSIONISM: Going Green Will Make the World Less
Mean
by
GPPA Co-chair Alan Smith
The cold impersonal text message
pierces the darkroom reminding me of my place in the social order. "We
are terminating your lease effective September 1st please see our
email to you for more details." The email explains how the couple that
owns our house is prioritizing their financial well being for their
retirement and is selling the house that we rent from them. Pouring
salt on a gaping wound they wish us well and thank us for
understanding. This cold-hearted reality is indicative of the times as
the moratoriums on evictions are expiring all around the US and as
landlords look to shore up their financial portfolio. An avalanche of
homelessness and displacement is just beginning. My husband and I with
our 500 credit scores and thousands of dollars in debt along with
millions of others are deemed unworthy of being housed.
Housing should be a human right.
Student loan forgiveness and an overall debt jubilee should be
happening. Free universal healthcare should be in place. The trillions
of dollars in economic stimulus that was given to Wall Street should
have been given to Main Street.
Can it be any clearer that we need
a new social order, one governed not by profit? Greens are working
tirelessly around the world to bring about this change. Our work is
especially difficult here in the US as we face onerous ballot
restrictions, keeping us from holding elected office and a corporate
monopoly on media keeping us and our message out of sight and unheard.
Here in Pennsylvania Greens have
gone to court to fight these voting restrictions and the election
fraud perpetrated by the corporate political duopoly. Great work in
this legal fight has been done by Greens such as Carl Romanelli, Emily
Cook, Tim Runkle, and many others. Some success has occurred in the
past with our legal action resulting in the courts reducing signature
requirements and requiring new voting machines. But currently, during
this pandemic the current administration and the courts have argued
that Greens need to be out in the streets risking their lives and the
lives of others gathering signatures to get on the ballot, while State
offices remain closed and courts operate virtually through webcasting.
A healthier, fairer, more just
world is possible with Greens in office. A Green government would have
not just put a temporary moratorium on evictions and bill payments. A
Green government makes housing a human right, and ushers in a world
where heating, water, food, and other living amenities are not
commodities for corporate profit. The average worker in the US
contributes over $100 an hour to the US economy but does not reap the
benefits of that labor. A Green government would change that.
We need housing and financial
relief NOW. Please vote Green and encourage others to do so. Please
donate any time, talent, or treasure no matter how small to the
efforts Greens are making to bring about a reality that doesn't
feature cold, impersonal text messages reminding us to pay up in so
many days or face ruin. Help Greens bring about a reality
characterized by eco-compassionism, where people, planet, and peace
are prioritized.
GPPA
News Highlights
edited by Chris Robinson
PA Green Party Fights Against Election
Fraud
 On July 14, the U.S. Court for the Eastern District of PA
ruled against the Green Party’s request for a temporary waiver of some
ballot access requirements. The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA, https://www.gpofpa.org/) Steering Committee is
calling for volunteers and launching a two-week flurry of petition
activity to place Green candidates on the ballot. The Green Party had
sought relief from the Court before the August 3 deadline for
nominating petitions . . . . GPPA is working with the Hawkins/Walker
campaign, the 2020 Green Party nominees for president and vice
president, to develop a strategy for meeting the ballot access
requirements as safely as possible. The effort includes outfitting
volunteers with face masks, gloves, and sanitizing equipment, as well
as utilizing phone banking and other media methods to reach voters to
let them know when a petitioner is in their area or how to mail a
petition in to keep face-to-face contact to a minimum. (show all)
Howie Hawkins and Angela Walker for President/Vice
President
 On July 11, the Green Party of the U.S. held its
Presidential Nominating Convention. While the world watched online,
Howie Hawkins and his running mate Angela Walker received 210 of the
355 votes on the first ballot to win the nomination for president and
vice president. The convention was held online due to the COVID-19
pandemic . . . . Among those voting online, the Green Party of
Pennsylvania (GPPA,www.gpofpa.org) had elected 19 delegates and
alternate delegates. Of that total, eight were from the Green Party of
Allegheny County (GPOAC, https://www.alleghenygreens.org/). Here is what
three of them thought of the Nominating Convention . . . .(show all)
Philadelphia Green Party Joins Call to Defund Police
 Members of the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP,/https://www.gpop.org) announced their endorsement
of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement as well as the protests that
are a response to the murder of George Floyd. They encouraged people
to get in the street and make their voices heard. However, they also
asked participants to take precautions . . . . The Green Party will
not let the movement for justice lapse when the hashtag stops
trending. In order to implement the systemic changes needed, GPOP will
continue to support honest officials who are not beholden to police
unions or big business. Electing Green Party candidates is one
sure-fire way to get our initiatives passed. Greens do not accept
corporate contributions and are completely grassroots funded. This
allows Green candidates to stand up for what they believe in and to
vote with their hearts. (show all)
PA Green Candidate, “The COVID-19 Emergency Is Not
Over”
by Garret Wassermann
It is pretty outrageous and reckless that PA state
legislators voted on a concurrent resolution to end the COVID-19
emergency declaration put out by Governor Tom Wolf. While the
Republicans led the effort, most Democrats in the Senate along with
several Democrats in the House joined them to make this a bipartisan
bill. My opponent, current PA Representative Anita A. Kulik was one of
the Yes votes, as was my PA Senator Wayne Fontana . . . . According to
the Pennsylvania Constitution, the governor has the authority to
declare an emergency and exercise special authority and powers, which
is what Wolf was using to regulate business and order a lock-down. The
Constitution also states that the state legislature may at any time
revoke the emergency by passing a concurrent resolution bill. This
bill does not require the governor’s signature, since it is a
resolution and not a typical bill. That is, it’s just a statement, and
it doesn’t become law; so the governor has nothing to veto. There are
two huge problems with this resolution: its effect on public health,
and its effect on workers and families . . . (show all)
Campaign Updates
edited by Chris Robinson
Jay Ting Walker for PA
Representative, District 23
Jay
told GREEN STAR, “We need to end occupations at home AND occupations
abroad. It's all tied together. Imperialism and racial capitalism go
hand in hand.”
Connect with Jay’s campaign on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JayTingWalker
Jay’s
campaign website is https://jaytingwalker.com
Garret Wassermann for PA
Representative, District 45
Garret told GREEN STAR, “Shell Oil doesn’t care
about its workers. Shell doesn’t care about your children. Shell
doesn’t care about the planet. It is all about their profits at all
cost. Both my Republican and Democrats opponents in this race have
already said they want more oil and gas jobs. What we really need is a
#GreenNewDeal so we can create good jobs while also improving our
health and saving the planet.” Garret’s campaign website is https://votegarret.org
and his Facebook is https://www.facebook.com/VoteGarret/
Michael Bagdes-Canning for
PA Representative, District 64
Michael told GREEN STAR, “For the past 10 years,
I have been involved as a frontline organizer in the climate and
anti-fracking fight. I served on the Planning Group of Marcellus
Outreach Butler and the Better Path Coalition. I have also served on
the Coordinating Committee of the PA Poor People’s Campaign
(statewide) and a direct action campaigner with Beyond Extreme Energy
(national).”
Noel Antonio Rivera for PA
Representative, District 127
Tired of elected officials siding with big money
over the needs of the people? We all are! Noel told GREEN STAR,
“People are worth more than corporations. Human life is more important
than money." Noel’s Facebook is https://www.facebook.com/Noel-Antonio-Rivera-For-State-Representitive-105284094595859
and he can be reached at [email protected].
Three State-wide Green Party
Candidates
https://www.greenslate2020.org/
Tim Runkle for PA
Treasurer
Tim agrees the statue of Christopher
Columbus should be removed. He told GREEN STAR, “Columbus has always
been a contentious figure. When Columbus came over he immediately
started to look for resources, and he took advantage of people that
were here and exploited them.” Runkle said, “Violence by policing an
oppressed people started Day 1, as soon as Columbus landed on these
shores.” Tim’s Facebook page can be found right here, https://www.facebook.com/Tim4ElectedOffice/
Olivia Faison for PA Auditor
General
Olivia told GREEN STAR, "I don’t really
think removing Confederate monuments is going to change the fabric of
what is wrong with our country: the legacy of slavery and the fact
that reparations have not been addressed. I truly believe that
reparations will begin our country's healing process. Let's start with
the debt that is owed, and a promise that was made: a promise of 40
acres and a mule. At today's prices and with accrued interest, that's
one heck-of-a step towards economic parity for our most senior African
Americans, those who have lived the longest with America's injustices
towards the descendants of slaves.
“Many Americans are now finding
it quite distasteful to accept the vicious acts of police violence and
murder from yesteryear's legacy, carried out in today's modern time.
So sure, take down those monuments, and move them to the museums. But
will hiding those artifacts make us forget a world and a time, in that
dark part of our American history, that ignored and hid the full truth
and accuracy of an economic system built on the horrors of slavery and
slave labor? Nah! It's been over 400 years, and we still
remember!"
Olivia told GREEN STAR, “I don’t really think removing
Confederate monuments is going to change the fabric of what is wrong:
the legacy of slavery and the fact that reparations have not been
addressed. Take them down, move them to the museum because represent a
world and a legacy that we have questioned and many of us don’t
accept,”
Team
Updates
Finance Team
by Tim Runkle
 HERE.
GreenWave
Team by Garret Wassermann
 To join the Green Wave Team,
please visit.
To receive an
invitation to the next Green Wave virtual meeting, please
contact: HERE to receive call info or email for
more information!
Communications
Team by Chris Robinson
 If you would like to
join our team online, sign up HERE.
Core Team by
Charles Sherrouse
 If you are interested in
helping, sign up HERE.
edited by Hal
Brown
Amelia Womack leads campaign for universal basic income to
support arts workers
Chris Jarvis 21 July 2020
 Green Party of England and Wales deputy leader Amelia Womack
this week wrote to chancellor Rishi Sunak demanding the introduction
of a universal...(show all)
Green Party international coordinators must challenge the
Mexican Greens
Derek Wall 10 July 2020
 The International Coordinator position is one of the most
hotly contested posts on the Green Party of England and Wales
executive. This time around members have four...(show all)
Green Party of Canada
Greens call for charges against Meng Wanzhou to be
dropped
OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada is calling on the federal
government...(show all)
Reforming land use is crucial to a sustainable society
Peter Sims and Anne Gayfer
 Rewilding, vegan farming, new social housing, energy crops,
more urban green space, solar Farms, nature reserves, growing more
fruit and vegetables, bio-dynamic...(show all)
edited by Chris
Robinson
Green Party
events are in GREEN. Other
Movement events are in RED.
August 3
Last day for Green Party candidates to circulate and
file nomination papers.
BE SURE NOMINATION
PAPERS HAVE BEEN FILED BEFORE THIS DATE.
August 4, 6:00 pm
Green Party of Allegheny County Virtual
General Assembly
Zoom contact and more
information from
More information from: [email protected]
August 6, noon
Hiroshima Day 75th Anniversary: Remembrance
& Nonviolent Resistance
Lockheed Martin
(world’s #1 war profiteer, U.S.' #1 nuclear weapons contractor) behind
King of Prussia Mall, Mall and Goddard Blvds in King of Prussia,
PA.
Sponsored by Brandywine Peace Community. Endorsed by the Green
Party of Philadelphia
more information: Here
August 9, 6:00 pm
Nagasaki Day 75th Anniversary: Plea for
Peace
Saints Peter & Paul Cathedral Basilica,
18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA.
Sponsored by Brandywine Peace Community. Endorsed by the Green
Party of Philadelphia.
More information: Here
August 17, 7:00 pm
Green Party of Montgomery County Virtual
Meeting
Virtual business meeting. Please email:
[email protected]
August 25, 7:00pm
Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP) Virtual
Meeting
For more information, please
contact:
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/events/260828868556405/
August 29, Noon
Protest at Drone War Command
Air Guard Station, Easton Road (#611) at County Line
Road, Horsham, PA.
Brandywine Peace Community with Bucks County
Green Party, Montgomery County Green Party, Green Party of
Philadelphia,
More information from: [email protected]
or:
[email protected]
or:
Brandywine Peace Community with Bucks County
Green Party, Montgomery County Green Party, Green Party of
Philadelphia,
August 30, 1:00 PM
Green Party of Chester County Virtual
Meeting
For more information, please contact: [email protected]
September 1, 6:00 PM
Green Party of Allegheny
County Virtual General Assembly
Zoom contact and
more information from: [email protected]
GPPA Meeting Dates for 2020:
- 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, Dave Ochman, &Hal Brown
CONTRIBUTORS: Tim Runkle, Chris Robinson,
Garret Wassermann, & Jay Sweeney
LAYOUT: 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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