"Dignity" Delivers Her Green Message

2008 Green Party Presidential Candidate, Cynthia McKinney was held by the Israeli government when the humanitarian boat she was on was detained.

Here is a link to freegazat.org from where McKinney, a former Democratic Congresswoman of Georgia, reports on the Dignity’s mission and the message of political action she hopes to bring to the Middle East.

The oldest, most prestigious Israeli paper, Haaretz also reports on the detention. American Press has been slow to cover this story.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Final Candidate’s Forum for IL 5th District Highlights Wholistic Differences

Article and Photo by Kevin Gosztola

On February 23, 2009, the 5th District of Illinois held its final candidate’s forum which included more than 20 people vying for the Congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel who took the post as President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff early this year. This special election has been a circus, with Democrats, Greens and Republicans eagerly jockeying for the coveted office. And while Democrats presumed to battle between themselves, it was the “fringe candidates” who offered a breath of fresh air from the conventional wisdom.

Organizers separated the forum into two segments: the first featured only Democrats; the second included Republicans and Greens. Despite this segregation of parties, it proved suprisingly effective in highlighting the key issues and solutions that differentiate them from one another.

It was Green Party candidate Matt Reichel’s response to a question on Section 8 housing during which the forum took a spontaneous turn. Reichel suggested that domestic issues could be solved once we end the wars and cut the military budget. This was the first time that the Middle East Wars had been brought up. The audience broke out in uproarious applause while the moderator struggled to regain control by asking Reichel to “answer the question.”

Fellow Green Party candidate Deb Gordils seconded Reichel’s answer and added that it was time that people suspend their loyalties to the Democratic Party and vote Green. She too was told by the moderator to “answer the question.”

During the course of the forum, the independent Republican Jon Stewart (no relation to Comedy Central), had surprised listeners with his support for untraditional Republican solutions, including amnesty for illegals and single-payer health care. When he also agreed with Reichel and said you can take care of domestic problems by ending the killing of people, the crowd applauded loudly. Ironically, the moderator’s efforts to gain control and stifle the enthusiasm only instigated further laughter.

Other Green candidates in attendance were Matt Fredrickson and Simon Ribeiro; other Republican candidates included Greg Bedell, Tom Hanson, and Daniel S. Kay.

Kevin Gosztola studies documentary filmmaking at Columbia College in Chicago and is a YP4 2009 Fellow. He is an At-Large Senator for the Student Government Association at Columbia College where he is working to create a Student Civic Collective and increase funding and resources for political and social student organizations on campus. He has also served as a researcher and Production Assistant on several documentaries during the course of the 2008 election, including Polidoc Productions’ “Seriously Green.”

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

Final Candidate’s Forum for IL 5th District Highlights Wholistic Differences

Article and Photo by Kevin Gosztola

On February 23, 2009, the 5th District of Illinois held its final candidate’s forum which included more than 20 people vying for the Congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel who took the post as President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff early this year. This special election has been a circus, with Democrats, Greens and Republicans eagerly jockeying for the coveted office. And while Democrats presumed to battle between themselves, it was the “fringe candidates” who offered a breath of fresh air from the conventional wisdom.

Organizers separated the forum into two segments: the first featured only Democrats; the second included Republicans and Greens. Despite this segregation of parties, it proved suprisingly effective in highlighting the key issues and solutions that differentiate them from one another.

It was Green Party candidate Matt Reichel’s response to a question on Section 8 housing during which the forum took a spontaneous turn. Reichel suggested that domestic issues could be solved once we end the wars and cut the military budget. This was the first time that the Middle East Wars had been brought up. The audience broke out in uproarious applause while the moderator struggled to regain control by asking Reichel to “answer the question.”

Fellow Green Party candidate Deb Gordils seconded Reichel’s answer and added that it was time that people suspend their loyalties to the Democratic Party and vote Green. She too was told by the moderator to “answer the question.”

During the course of the forum, the independent Republican Jon Stewart (no relation to Comedy Central), had surprised listeners with his support for untraditional Republican solutions, including amnesty for illegals and single-payer health care. When he also agreed with Reichel and said you can take care of domestic problems by ending the killing of people, the crowd applauded loudly. Ironically, the moderator’s efforts to gain control and stifle the enthusiasm only instigated further laughter.

Other Green candidates in attendance were Matt Fredrickson and Simon Ribeiro; other Republican candidates included Greg Bedell, Tom Hanson, and Daniel S. Kay.

Kevin Gosztola studies documentary filmmaking at Columbia College in Chicago and is a YP4 2009 Fellow. He is an At-Large Senator for the Student Government Association at Columbia College where he is working to create a Student Civic Collective and increase funding and resources for political and social student organizations on campus. He has also served as a researcher and Production Assistant on several documentaries during the course of the 2008 election, including Polidoc Productions’ “Seriously Green.”

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Final Candidate’s Forum for IL 5th District Highlights Wholistic Differences

Article and Photo by Kevin Gosztola

On February 23, 2009, the 5th District of Illinois held its final candidate’s forum which included more than 20 people vying for the Congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel who took the post as President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff early this year. This special election has been a circus, with Democrats, Greens and Republicans eagerly jockeying for the coveted office. And while Democrats presumed to battle between themselves, it was the “fringe candidates” who offered a breath of fresh air from the conventional wisdom.

Organizers separated the forum into two segments: the first featured only Democrats; the second included Republicans and Greens. Despite this segregation of parties, it proved suprisingly effective in highlighting the key issues and solutions that differentiate them from one another.

It was Green Party candidate Matt Reichel’s response to a question on Section 8 housing during which the forum took a spontaneous turn. Reichel suggested that domestic issues could be solved once we end the wars and cut the military budget. This was the first time that the Middle East Wars had been brought up. The audience broke out in uproarious applause while the moderator struggled to regain control by asking Reichel to “answer the question.”

Fellow Green Party candidate Deb Gordils seconded Reichel’s answer and added that it was time that people suspend their loyalties to the Democratic Party and vote Green. She too was told by the moderator to “answer the question.”

During the course of the forum, the independent Republican Jon Stewart (no relation to Comedy Central), had surprised listeners with his support for untraditional Republican solutions, including amnesty for illegals and single-payer health care. When he also agreed with Reichel and said you can take care of domestic problems by ending the killing of people, the crowd applauded loudly. Ironically, the moderator’s efforts to gain control and stifle the enthusiasm only instigated further laughter.

Other Green candidates in attendance were Matt Fredrickson and Simon Ribeiro; other Republican candidates included Greg Bedell, Tom Hanson, and Daniel S. Kay.

Kevin Gosztola studies documentary filmmaking at Columbia College in Chicago and is a YP4 2009 Fellow. He is an At-Large Senator for the Student Government Association at Columbia College where he is working to create a Student Civic Collective and increase funding and resources for political and social student organizations on campus. He has also served as a researcher and Production Assistant on several documentaries during the course of the 2008 election, including Polidoc Productions’ “Seriously Green.”

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Green Party Mourns the Loss of Texas Organizer Bill Holloway

January 10, 2009

The Green Party of Texas mourns the tragic loss of Bill Holloway. Bill was a dedicated leader who was currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Travis County Green Party in Austin, TX. He will be missed as a mentor and a friend.

Through his kind-hearted activism, Bill touched the lives of so many people. He was an active Green Party contributor at the local, state and national levels. Bill served on numerous committees in the Green Party and in other organizations as well.

Bill Holloway passed away unexpectedly last weekend at his home in Austin, Texas. Given the unexpected nature of his death, we know many will have questions regarding details. Out of respect for
Bill, his family, and his lengthy legacy of community service, we hope you understand our reluctance to speculate and request that others will also be circumspect in their communication.

Our heart-felt condolences go out to all of Bill’s friends and family. Bill was a very special person who will be sorely missed.

There will be a memorial service in Austin, TX, on Friday, January 16, and his funeral will be in Oklahoma City, OK, on Wednesday, January 14.

For the memorial, a book is being compiled for his parents. If you would like to contribute, please write down a story or memory of Bill, with a photo if you have one and send it to Sondra – lonestarsondra at gmail.com by January 15th. His family never met most of his friends and, we suspect, had no idea of the difference he made in so many lives. The book is being put together to let them know how many people were touched by and loved him. If the photo and the text can be pasted onto one page, that would be ideal, but whatever people can contribute would be appreciated.

Whatever your beliefs, please keep Bill and his family and vast network of friends in your thoughts, prayers, and/or rituals.

In solidarity,

kat swift
co-chair
Green Party of Texas
210.471.1791 – txt okay
kat at txgreens.org

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

Green Party Mourns the Loss of Texas Organizer Bill Holloway

January 10, 2009

The Green Party of Texas mourns the tragic loss of Bill Holloway. Bill was a dedicated leader who was currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Travis County Green Party in Austin, TX. He will be missed as a mentor and a friend.

Through his kind-hearted activism, Bill touched the lives of so many people. He was an active Green Party contributor at the local, state and national levels. Bill served on numerous committees in the Green Party and in other organizations as well.

Bill Holloway passed away unexpectedly last weekend at his home in Austin, Texas. Given the unexpected nature of his death, we know many will have questions regarding details. Out of respect for
Bill, his family, and his lengthy legacy of community service, we hope you understand our reluctance to speculate and request that others will also be circumspect in their communication.

Our heart-felt condolences go out to all of Bill’s friends and family. Bill was a very special person who will be sorely missed.

There will be a memorial service in Austin, TX, on Friday, January 16, and his funeral will be in Oklahoma City, OK, on Wednesday, January 14.

For the memorial, a book is being compiled for his parents. If you would like to contribute, please write down a story or memory of Bill, with a photo if you have one and send it to Sondra – lonestarsondra at gmail.com by January 15th. His family never met most of his friends and, we suspect, had no idea of the difference he made in so many lives. The book is being put together to let them know how many people were touched by and loved him. If the photo and the text can be pasted onto one page, that would be ideal, but whatever people can contribute would be appreciated.

Whatever your beliefs, please keep Bill and his family and vast network of friends in your thoughts, prayers, and/or rituals.

In solidarity,

kat swift
co-chair
Green Party of Texas
210.471.1791 – txt okay
kat at txgreens.org

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Democracy Now Discusses Significance of Historic Run with Green Party Presidential Candidate McKinney

This video, while two weeks old, is still timely, given the concern of little media attention provided to a third party villified for having “spoiled” the election in 2000. Green Party Presidential Candidate Cynthia McKinney speaks with Amy Goodman about the international significance of the Green Party and the responsibility the Party has to state its case and be heard. Vice-Presidential Running Mate, Rosa Clemente, who is a hip-hop activist and journalist, also spoke to Goodman about the media “whiteout”, a term used to describe the perceived suppression of the voices of people of color by media gatekeepers .

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Democracy Now Discusses Significance of Historic Run with Green Party Presidential Candidate McKinney

This video, while two weeks old, is still timely, given the concern of little media attention provided to a third party villified for having “spoiled” the election in 2000. Green Party Presidential Candidate Cynthia McKinney speaks with Amy Goodman about the international significance of the Green Party and the responsibility the Party has to state its case and be heard. Vice-Presidential Running Mate, Rosa Clemente, who is a hip-hop activist and journalist, also spoke to Goodman about the media “whiteout”, a term used to describe the perceived suppression of the voices of people of color by media gatekeepers .

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

Rosa Clemente, Green Party VP, Reaches Out to Crowd for Media Focus

Video courtesy of Craig Seeman, New York

Rosa Clemente, political activist and Vice-Presidential candidate for Cynthia McKinney on the Green Party ticket, calls out for constituents to pressure the mainstream media to give McKinney some airtime. She also calls for independent and progressive media to open up their coverage to Green Party politics.

Few media outlets showed up for the Green Party Convention, that despite it being in a state where the Green Party is an established player in this election. Though NPR was there for most of the convention, reporting was reduced to a few paragraphs and some sound clips, missing some of the elemental progressive messages abundant throughout the events. Even C-Span failed to provide the level of coverage extended to the Libertarians, airing only McKinney’s and Clemente’s acceptance speeches (1hr. 18 min.), in contrast to the coverage offered the Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate Debates, nomination and speeches (9+ hrs.). So, the fact that the media is not covering the Green Party is evident. What is not as clear is whether McKinney is in favor of those mainstream media opportunities that might come her way.

McKinney, who has been the target of repeated media attacks in the past, recently told Polidoc that she will not allow herself to be set-up for abuse by mainstream media. The cancellations of interviews cited by Clemente in the provided video may be from either side. Savvy media for candidates includes minimizing potential damage control. Look at Obama and his limitation of debates, clearly a move to minimize swiftboat opportunities. McKinney knows she is in a precarious position as she sets the stage for the Green Party to attract new communities of color, suspicious of liberal rhetoric without action.

Broadcast media, offered the privilege of using our public airwaves through government licensing, should be providing fair coverage to all the established candidates. Before deregulation in the ’80′s, it was a mandate. Any respectable reporter would refrain from artificially flaming a candidate; likewise, every candidate needs to be prepared for the attack if, and when, it does happen.

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

Rosa Clemente, Green Party VP, Reaches Out to Crowd for Media Focus

Video courtesy of Craig Seeman, New York

Rosa Clemente, political activist and Vice-Presidential candidate for Cynthia McKinney on the Green Party ticket, calls out for constituents to pressure the mainstream media to give McKinney some airtime. She also calls for independent and progressive media to open up their coverage to Green Party politics.

Few media outlets showed up for the Green Party Convention, that despite it being in a state where the Green Party is an established player in this election. Though NPR was there for most of the convention, reporting was reduced to a few paragraphs and some sound clips, missing some of the elemental progressive messages abundant throughout the events. Even C-Span failed to provide the level of coverage extended to the Libertarians, airing only McKinney’s and Clemente’s acceptance speeches (1hr. 18 min.), in contrast to the coverage offered the Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate Debates, nomination and speeches (9+ hrs.). So, the fact that the media is not covering the Green Party is evident. What is not as clear is whether McKinney is in favor of those mainstream media opportunities that might come her way.

McKinney, who has been the target of repeated media attacks in the past, recently told Polidoc that she will not allow herself to be set-up for abuse by mainstream media. The cancellations of interviews cited by Clemente in the provided video may be from either side. Savvy media for candidates includes minimizing potential damage control. Look at Obama and his limitation of debates, clearly a move to minimize swiftboat opportunities. McKinney knows she is in a precarious position as she sets the stage for the Green Party to attract new communities of color, suspicious of liberal rhetoric without action.

Broadcast media, offered the privilege of using our public airwaves through government licensing, should be providing fair coverage to all the established candidates. Before deregulation in the ’80′s, it was a mandate. Any respectable reporter would refrain from artificially flaming a candidate; likewise, every candidate needs to be prepared for the attack if, and when, it does happen.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.