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June 2021
Working
toward a future where people and planet are valued, and our government
represents all of us.
PA Green Party Denounces Israeli Violence by
GPPA
by
GPPA Co-chair Tina Olson
In response to the Israeli killing
spree in the Gaza Strip, many Green Party activists came forward to
stand with Palestinians in their continued struggle for the right to
exist. Members of the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA,
www.gpofpa.org) joined in pro-Palestinian rallies that were held
throughout the state on May 15. The Green Party joined other activist
organizations such as Black Lives Matter; Boycott, Divestment,
Sanctions (BDS) Coalition; Drexel Students for Justice in Palestine;
New Afrikan Independence Party; Pittsburgh Anti-Imperialist League;
and Jewish Voice for Peace, in solidarity to end the suffering of the
Palestinian people . . . .
One of the Ten Key Values of the
Green Party calls for nonviolent methods of resolving conflicts while
respecting the right for people to defend themselves. In particular,
the decades-long conflict in the Israeli-Palestine region has been
unfairly financed and supported by countries like the U.S. From the
Green Party Platform we learn, “Our Green values oblige us to support
popular movements for peace and demilitarization in Israel-Palestine,
especially those that reach across the lines of conflict to engage
both Palestinians and Israelis of good will.”(show all)
GPPA
News Highlights
edited by Chris Robinson
PA Green Party Immigrant Rights Update
by
Jenny Isaacs
 Since 2019, the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA,
www.gpofpa.org) has been on record calling for the closing of the
Berks County Detention Center. Many people were shocked to learn that
Berks had been housing immigrant families (including children) since
2014. They were unaware that family detention and mass deportation as
tools of immigration enforcement did not originate with the Trump
administration. (show all)
Walk For Our Grandchildren and Mother Earth, June 20 -- June
28 by Michael Bagdes-Canning
 I hope you will consider walking with us. This isn’t just
any stroll. We aim to pressure President Biden and his administration
to do everything in their power to end fossil fuel extraction and
burning, the making of nerdles for the dead-end plastic industry. We
want them to transition immediately to renewables, especially wind and
solar, energy efficiency and battery storage. We aim to take the fight
directly to Biden – the march will start in Scranton, PA, the
birthplace of “Scrappy Joe” and end in Wilmington, DE, where he has
made his adult home. But “Uncle Joe” is not our only target. (show all)
Phila. Green Party Has Cure for Gun Violence
by
Justin Bell
 Our local officials are baffled. They propose the same old
ideas: curfews, more police, etc. The tactics they propose would seem
to show a complete misunderstanding of the cause. Do they really not
get it or is this system they designed working?
. . . . Fortunately, the Green Party
has political proposals that will reverse that disinvestment and
contribute to a massive lessening of gun violence. The Green Party has
called for reparations, a universal basic income, and single-payer
health care for all. The Green Party program for a Green New Deal
calls for an Economic Bill of Rights, which would employ everyone at a
living wage. These measures address systemic problems that contribute
to gun violence. (show all)
Campaign Updates
edited by Chris Robinson
Jay Sweeney for Auditor,
Falls Township, Wyoming County
Jay told GREEN STAR, “I will be seeking a third
term as Falls Township Auditor. Even in the lowest level of
government, Greens can have an impact. On the other hand, I have found
much agreement, regardless of party affiliation. I have been working
for openness and transparency. My fellow auditors have been
supportive, but there is still work to be done.”
Connor Mulvaney for
Pittsburgh City Council District 4
Connor told GREEN STAR, “My
campaign is focused on expanding public transit, ensuring equitable
access to basic needs and services, and advocating a Pittsburgh Green
New Deal initiative.” Follow Connor’s campaign on Facebook, For more
information visit his website https://www.connor4pgh.com/get-involved
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/connorforpgh
Twitter https://twitter.com/ConnorMulvaneyInstagram
https://www.instagram.com/connorforcouncil/
Ben Campman for Inspector of
Elections, Lower Salford Ward 5, Montgomery County
Ben told GREEN STAR,
“Helping with an election for my good friend last summer really helped
me see the importance of third parties in America. After looking
through all the different options for what party I wanted to run as, I
decided the Green Party was the one I felt a connection to. I’m hoping
to learn so much this year, and hopefully this can lead to even bigger
things in the future.”
Bill Pilkonis for Judge of
Elections, Scranton, Lackawanna County
Karin Albert for Inspector
of Elections, Exeter Borough Ward 2, Luzerne County
Barbara Laxon for Inspector
of Elections, McKean County
Team
Updates
Finance Team
by Tre Schumacher
 The Finance Team manages
GPPA’s budget and merchandise. Our 2021 goals include fundraisers for
the GPPA, maintaining monthly sustainers, encouraging our locals to
obtain one new sustaining donor each month, and supporting one
targeted-issue fundraiser. This month we are focusing on updating
merchandise and literature and beginning a donation drive. Consider
becoming a sustaining donor for as little as $3/month and receive
benefits such as free guest event passes, a membership card, and free
and discounted merchandise. Please volunteer HERE.
Communications
Team by Chris Robinson and Tina Olson
 The ComTeam is
searching for writers, editors, and videographers. We also need
volunteers to manage some exciting Social Media programs. If you would
like to join our team, please volunteer here, To join our team, please
sign up HERE.
edited by Hal
Brown
Japanese
Greens protest decision to release contaminated water from Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
 On April 13, the Japanese government decided at a
ministerial meeting to release contaminated water from the Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant where a partial meltdown took place
following a tsunami in 2011. The Japanese Green Party was formed in
the wake of this unprecedented accident. They are strongly
anti-nuclear and are strongly opposed to the release of radioactive
water into the Pacific ocean. Following the controversial announcement
they released the following statement. (show all)
New Zealand Greens help reduce Public Service Workers’ Pay
Freeze The Green
Party of New Zealand has successfully overturned the pay freeze set to
affect public service workers. The fields affected include nurses,
teachers, and Directors of Care (DOC.)This victory follows the Greens
launching a petition calling for a reversal of the announcement by NZ
Public Service Minister Chris Hipkins to extend wage suppression to a
three-year term. Following an outcry from both unions and the Green
Party, the Government has agreed to review the freeze next year, as
opposed to 2023. The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) president Richard
Wagstaff called this a win for public sector employees. “From our
point of view, it worked,” he stated in an interview with the New
Zealand Herald when asked about the negotiation results. (show all)
German Greens dominate the polls for the 2021 Elections
In Germany, the
elections for the next chancellor are taking a turn to favour the
Greens at the expense of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union
(CDU). Merkel, the current German chancellor with four consecutive
terms since 2005, announced in October 2018 that she would not run for
office after the end of her term in 2021. However, since the beginning
of March 2021, the Green Party of Germany, the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen,
is growing in the polls, and presented Annalena Baerbock as a
candidate for the chancellorship. Since April, the CDU (Christian
Democratic Union, or Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands) has
been outpaced in the polls by the Green Party of Germany. Support for
the [CDU] party declined . . . [to] a level not seen since March 2020,
while support for the Green Party is at its highest level in two
years. (show all)
Canadian Green Party Leader meets with the Prime Minister to
discuss Pandemic Crisis, Climate Change, and PEI Basic Income
Pilot
 According to Annamie Paul, leader of the Canadian Green
Party, Canada has not once met its greenhouse gas emissions targets.
The Green Party of Canada has proposed that Canada and the U.S.
cooperate in order to formulate a “Canada/U.S. Carbon Border
Adjustment.” The goal would be to encourage other countries to reduce
their GHG emissions all while ensuring that Canadian and American
businesses are protected. “The Green Party has been very clear: Canada
needs a post-pandemic Green Recovery. It is how we will simultaneously
create the jobs we need now; secure our economic future; and do our
fair share to combat the climate emergency,” said Annamie Paul. (show all)
edited by Chris
Robinson
Green Party
events are in GREEN. Other
Movement events are in RED.
June 4 thru June 6
#NoWar2021 Virtual Conference
World Beyond War
Register here: https://hopin.com/events/nowar2021-virtual-global-conference
June 7, 8:00 pm
GPPA Welcomes New Members
RSVP here: https://www.gpofpa.org/2021_06_new_member_meeting
June 11, 6:00 pm
Green Party of Lebanon County Virtual
Meeting
For contact information, please RSVP
here: https://www.gpofpa.org/lebanon_county_20210611
June 12, 6:00 pm
YES PA Monthly Game Night
Young EcoSocialists of PA virtual game night.
Please
register here: https://www.gpofpa.org/yes_pa_game_night_20210612
June 13, 11:30 am
Lackawanna Green Party Spring Meeting
Clean Green Ridge with the Green Party. Meet at
Green Ridge & Blakely Streets.
More information from: https://www.facebook.com/events/444213160252484
June 13, noon
GPPA State Virtual Meeting
Everyone is welcome.
Please RSVP to receive Zoom
contact information: https://www.gpofpa.org/2021_06_conf
June 18 thru June 20
Juneteenth Celebrations
Lehigh Valley Juneteenth
More information
from:
https://juneteenthlv.org/schedule/
Philadelphia Juneteenth March & Festival
More information
from: http://juneteenthphilly.org/juneteenth-freedom-day-march/
Reading Juneteenth online
More information from: https://www.facebook.com/events/778096306470664
Western PA Juneteenth
More information from: https://www.facebook.com/WPAJuneteenth/events/
June 21, 7:00 pm
Green Party of Montgomery County Virtual
Meeting
More information from: [email protected]
June 22, 6:00 pm
South Hills Green Party Virtual Meeting
More information from:
[email protected]
June 22, 7:00 pm
Green Party of Philadelphia Virtual Meeting
More information from:
[email protected]
https://www.gpop.org/general_membership_meeting_jan2021_20210622
June 26, 3:00 pm
Green Party of Wayne County Meeting
At 984 Bethany Turnpike, Honesdale.
More information
from: [email protected]
June 30, noon
People Over Petro Coalition (POPC))
Monthly virtual meeting endorsed by the Green Party of
Allegheny County
More information from:
[email protected]
GPPA Meeting
Dates for 2021:
2021 Meetings will
be held the second weekend of: January, March, June, September,
November. September's meeting will be in-person, and it will take
place in Bellefonte, PA, on Saturday, September 18. All State Web
Conferences will be 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday, June 13, 2021
- Saturday, September 18,
2021
- Sunday, November 14,
2021
Green Party
of Pennsylvania Communications Team & Media
Committee
Issue
Credits:
EDITORS:
Chris Robinson, Hal Brown
CONTRIBUTORS:Jenny Isaacs, Michael Bagdes-Canning, Justin
Bell, and Tina Olson
LAYOUT:
Tina Olson & Sheri Miller
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 * 2021
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