Green Party of California releases 2004 ‘Top 10 Green Events' list; Includes Nobel Peace Prize winner, election gains
GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Friday, Dec. 31, 2004
Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, State Press Office, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Kevin McKeown, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-393-3639,
Sara Amir, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-270-7106,
SACRAMENTO (Dec. 31, 2004) – The "Top 10 Green Events for 2004" list was released by the Green Party of California today, and it included the Nobel Peace Prize for a Green and major election gains by the Green Party in California and across the U.S.
The Greens also listed Green Party influence in European politics and policies, a Green mayor in New York who presided over gay marriages despite threats of jail, a Latino leader urging other Latinos to turn their backs on Democrats and vote Green – and even the fight by D.C. Greens to unveil fraud in bringing major baseball to the nation's capital.
The "Top 10 Green Events for 2004":
1. The Nobel Peace Prize for Kenya Green Party leader. Green leader Wangari Maathai is at the front of the fight to promote ecologically viable social, economic and cultural development in Kenya and in Africa, winning the coveted Nobel Peace Prize for 2004.
2. California Green Candidates Win Big. Greens grab 67 seats statewide, winning in more than 20 percent of the elections entered. In San Francisco, longtime Green campaign consultant Ross Mirkarimi won the supervisor seat vacated by popular Green Matt Gonzalez, who chose not to seek re-election. Elsewhere, 11 Greens won city council seats, and hold a majority on at least two city councils in the state. Green Congressional candidates make gains against incumbents.
3. National Green Party Registration Sets Record. Green Party registration sets record in U.S. and Greens navigate minefield of 2004 election, nominating a registered Green, David Cobb, as their own presidential candidate.
4. Green New Paltz Mayor Jason West. Green presides over Gay Marriages in New Paltz, NY, risking arrest to do the right thing.
5. Latino Leader Turns Green. Nativo Lopez, president of the Mexican American Political Association, a well-established and influential Latino organization, charges Democrats have betrayed Latinos, changes his registration to Green Party and publicly urges other Latinos to do the same. He calls for forming "Green/MAPA" chapters statewide.
6. Greens Force Recount/Election Accountability in Presidential Election. Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb forces recount, election accountability in crucial state of Ohio when even Democrats fail to complain about voter irregularities. California Green Peter Camejo, continuing his firebrand-style oratory and fresh off a strong finish in the California gubernatorial recall election, is picked as vice president candidate on Ralph Nader's independent party presidential ticket.
7. Instant Runoff Voting Works in San Francisco. Green-backed IRV voting is a winner in San Francisco elections, and is slated for other areas (like Santa Clara County, Berkeley).
8. U.S. Greens Gain in Diversity. Green Party-US receives Malcolm X Award from American Muslim Alliance. GPUS also accredits Black Caucus and Women's Caucus, and picks a woman, Pat LaMarche, for its vice-president on the 2004 presidential ticket.
9. Greens Stir Change in EU. The growing strength of Greens helps the European Union challenge corporate power, setting environmental regulation, food safety, accounting standards, telecommunications policy and oversight of corporate mergers. Germany's commitment to solar power has also led to a remarkable boom for its solar industry.
10. Greens Challenge Corporate Giveaway - DC Baseball. Opposition to the District of Columbia's massive giveaway to secure the Washington Nationals baseball team includes the DC Statehood Green Party; Statehood Green Party member Adam Eidinger disrupted the press conference announcing the new team to expose the scandal of using taxpayers money to support a billionaire, and not the needs of the disadvantaged.
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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org