GREEN NEWS

RISING UP GREEN #12 Greens/Green Party USA e-Newsletter

November 21, 2003

Join GPUSA or donate online at www.greenparty.org or via snail-mail

1-866-GREENS-2 Annual national dues are $60. Additional contributions are much needed

Join our members' discussion list at strategy@greenparty.org

If you'd like Green Party USA's national committee members to come to your area, speak there, and help you establish your local, please

contact the office at info@greenparty.org . *** We are soon to launch an interactive part of the Greens/GreenParty USA website, where members can post comments on what the Greens should do concerning the 2004 Presidential elections. Stay tuned, still trying to work out the kinks.*** Grow the Greens. Give Peas a Chance!

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FROM CALIFORNIA

chuckr@pe.net Greens, Our Southwest Chapter of the Green Party of Riverside County, California, will host a fundraiser party to celebrate the life of Petra Kelly who is the founder of our Green Party on Saturday, November 22, 2003. The party will start at 2pm and we will have a band, Killer Sheep, a spaghetti dinner, salad, garlic bread, drinks and a birthday cake. In addition, we will have speakers and a workshop or two and show videos. We will ask for a donation of $5.00 for the dinner, salad, garlic bread, and a slice of the birthday cake. We will ask for a donation of $1.00 for a bottle of sparkling or plain water, soda, and power drinks. Please let me know if you will plan to attend this party so we can have enough food and drinks for you by sending an e-mail to chuckr@pe.net . The address is 23139 Gertrude Ave, Perris. It's about 1/8 mile off of highway 74 W. Turn left at the Sophie St. SIGN and you'll see our two story-like house straight ahead. Look for the earth flag.

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FROM NEW YORK

JKthecat666@aol.com

JK here in New York, asking you to sign onto two things.

1. WOLF HUNTING The wolf killing is horrendous. 7,000 gray wolves in Alaska, one of their last strongholds on earth, and the governor wants to kill them so he can have more moose and caribou forhis hunting lobby, but the number of moose and caribou killed by wolves is really small, it's all such an obscene waste ofthese sonoble and majestic and wild souls. Despite the fact that Alaskans have twice voted to ban the practice of aerial killing of wolves, the Alaska Board of Game, appointed by Governor Frank Murkowski, last week approved permits that will allow people to shoot wolves from aircraft. Under the plan, hunters and trappers can shoot wolves either directly from planes or helicopters, or after chasing the animals to the point of exhaustion and then landing the aircraft to kill them on the ground. The areas approved for aerial wolf control include almost two thousand square miles in interior Alaska where all the wolves in that area will be eliminated. Learn more and sign a petition stating your opposition to this plan, at http://www.savealaskawolves.org/ .

  2. WETLANDS The other one asks that you take a little effort: register with Defenders of Wildlife and then go into the archives to find the alert, #251. It is a stand against the destruction of 1/5 of our wetlands by the you-know-who. Sign on at: http://den.defenders.org/. A Bush administration draft of regulations, leaked by a senior government official, could lead to the destruction of 20 million acres of wetlands, which equals 20 percent of all wetlands outside of Alaska. If finalized, the rule would exempt these wetlands and streams, found throughout the U.S., from Clean Water Act protections. In California and the arid Southwest alone, 80-90 percent of streams with crucial wildlife habitat would be unprotected because they flow seasonally. In addition, withdrawal of federal protection from wetlands and streams could undercut efforts to protect the water supplies on which millions of Americans depend. A large number of groups, including hunting, fishing, and conservation organizations have spoken out against this disastrous plan. Please send a fax to your U.S. representative and Senators urging them to send a strong message to the Bush administration that they should not move forward with the proposed changes to the Clean Water Act,and that it must not help corporate polluters turn back 30 years of progress made under it. Fax numbers for New York Senators:

Schumer: 202-228-3027 or 212-486-7693

Clinton: 202-228-0282 or 212-688-7444

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TWO FROM ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

Contact the Gateway Greens

Office: 3026 Cherokee Street (Open M-Th, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Phone: 314-664-1199

Email: mrallen@mprsnd.org (Michael Allen, MOGreenAction editor)  

1. FLYING RUTABAGA BICYCLE CIRCUS RETURNS! When: Saturday, November 22, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. Where: Rowan Community Center, 1401 Rowan (unconfirmed - please email or call the Greens first!)

What: The Flying Rutabaga Bicycle Circus returns to St. Louis for their trial on charges related to their participation in the protest against the World Agricultural Forum May 16-18, 2003. They have asked the Gateway Greens to host an evening of puppetry, circus antics and updates on the trial.

Contact: Michael Allen, 314-664-1199 or 314-353-8176.  

2. GREEN PARTY STRATEGY FOR 2004 & 2005 Calling all Green Party members, potential members and activists: Come out and play a part in firming up the platform, defining the issues and begin selecting Green candidates for positions in government. Be there. Be Green. We'll follow up on last month's meeting. If you want to be a Green Party candidate in 2004, you need to come to this meeting. What: Monthly Gateway Greens First Wednesday Meeting

When: Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.

Where: Genesis House, 6018 Delmar Boulevard

For directions, agenda item suggestions or other questions, contact Co-Coordinator Kim Jayne at 314-531-1009. GGA meetings usually end by 9:00 p.m.

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LEONARD PELTIER

http://www.leonardpeltier.org

Harvey Arden writes:

Leonard Peltier is now serving his 28th year in prison for the crime of being an Indian. To learn more, please check out the website of the

Leonard Peltier Defense Committee-- www.leonardpeltier.org Also please check out HaveYouThought.com--the companion website for the new book ~HAVE YOU HEARD OF LEONARD PELTIER LATELY?~ a follow-up to Leonard's inspiring ~PRISON WRITINGS: MY LIFE IS MY SUN DANCE~

(available at www.leonardpeltier.org) Right now my main task--in addition to creating the new book--is trying to contact ALL Peltier supporters on the planet! I'm trying to establish this network to accomplish that--and if you can help, wonderful! We need to be networked! I welcome hearing from every individual who wants to be part of this ~HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF LEONARD PELTIER LATELY?~ network. EACH of us can reach thousands of others! NO MASTER LIST. Just individuals reaching out to individuals!

Please ask friends to check out this website www.HaveYouThought.com and pre-order the new book--HAVE YOU HEARD OF LEONARD PELTIER LATELY?. That'll help us bypass the corporate publishing chokehold and reach Leonard's supporters around the world.

Also please check out Leonard's own LPDC website: www.leonardpeltier.org You'll also find great info at www.dreamkeepers.net

Leonard's freedom is a personal responsibility for EACH of us. We CAN reach the whole world! And we WILL get Leonard out!!

Blessings on you & yours,

Harvey Arden

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MICHAEL GREGORY TRIAL: UPDATE

Info: MichaelGregoryDF@cableone.net In the last issue we wrote of the upcoming trial of Michael Gregory, long-time environmental activist and award-winning poet, who was arrested for aggravated assault on a federal officer after asking a Border Patrol (BP) agent to leave his property in rural McNeal, Arizona. The government claims that Michael verbally threatened the life of the BP agent, but has offered no evidence other than the agent's statement to that effect and the agent's claim that he then heard a gunshot near Michael's house. Michael was incarcerated for 6 days and released on his own recognizance.

We just received word that the trial date has been changed again.The trial will start on Dec. 15th in Federal court in Tucson and is expected to run 3-4 days. If you would like to attend the trial please write back to GPUSA and we will forward your email to folks in Tucson who will send you times and directions. There is some space available in peoplesí homes in Tucson for out-of-towners and we can help with car pooling. If the jury decides against him, Michael faces a sentence of 4 years in prison.

Michael says that what actually happened was that he came upon a man walking on his property in a militia-type outfit and greeted him cordially. The man not only refused to identify himself, but ignored him. Michael then told the man he was trespassing on private property and asked him to leave and again insisted that he leave. The man continued to ignore him. Michael's neighbors all say they heard no gunshots that morning, and the Sheriff's deputies who were called to the scene by the BP found no grounds for an arrest and filed no charges. The BP then called the FBI, who arrested Michael. Please send your letters to:

The Honorable Jim Kolbe

2266 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

(202) 225-2542

http://www.house.gov/kolbe/

Honorable John McCain

241 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20501

(202) 224-2235

http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Contact.Home

David V. Aguilar, Chief Agent

US Border Patrol, Tucson Sector

1970 West Ajo Way

Tucson, AZ 85713-5698

(520) 670-6871

One day, any of us could need a letter writing campaign.

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Representative Kolbe,

I am writing to request your assistance in a federal case that is scheduled to go to trial in Tucson on December 15, 2003. Over a year ago, Michael Gregory of McNeal, Arizona was arrested and charged for assault on a federal officer. A Border Patrol agent claimed that Michael threatened him verbally and with a weapon. The agency called the Sheriff's Department, and the responding officers found no evidence of a crime, so the Border Patrol called in the FBI, and those agents made an arrest even though Michael explained that he had not fired a gun. In addition, none of his neighbors heard a gunshot.

Michael has been unfairly arrested and jailed. This is a case of one man's word against another's, and there is no evidence to support the prosecution's case. Michael has lived on his property for over thirty years and has no record of violence. In fact, he is known for living peacefully in the area. He is a man who is respected by his colleagues, and known throughout the country and the world for his environmental work and his award winning poetry.

I believe it is a terrible waste of taxpayer money for the Border Patrol to pursue this case with no evidence. In addition, it has caused Michael over a year of stress, and he has had to live under probation-like restrictions although he has not even been to trial. I ask that you please contact the Border Patrol to request that they drop their charges against Michael, so that he can continue with his important work and so that our thinly stretched tax dollars can be better spent.

Sincerely,

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OPPOSE CANNED LION HUNTING IN SOUTH AFRICA

In response to an article against canned hunting in NY in the last edition of Rising Up Green, we received the following letter from folks fighting against canned hunting in South Africa.

Hello from the Kalahari in South Africa,

We are in the process of putting together a Pan-African group of animal welfare orgs with a view to making a unified approach to European and North American wildlife orgs, asking them to support our call to get canned lion hunting - this has recently been extended by the SA government to all predators - banned. We would ask all first world orgs to lobby their own governments to ban the import of African trophies, in order to complement our own efforts. Ideally, there should be a unified, co-ordinated campaign, using whatever methods and strategies the welfare orgs consider appropriate to their own circumstances.

This email is to notify you of what is happening, and to enquire if you would like to assist. Below are some of our reasons for taking up this cause.

Kind Regards Chris Mercer and Bev Pervan Kalahari Raptor Centre http://www.raptor.co.za

Tel: 053 712 3576 "First They Ignore You; Then They Laugh at You; Then They Fight You; Then You Win.

-Mahatma Gandhi

CANNED HUNTING IN SOUTH AFRICA Canned predator hunting is not an event, but a whole process. It is a process where animals are taken out of their natural environment and placed in factory farms to be grown out like broiler chickens for slaughter. It is a process whereby the publicís wildlife heritage is transferred out of the public domain into the hands of hunters for business purposes. It is the privatization of our national heritage for cruel profiteering. This is theft on a grand scale.

Consider the website of one captive breeder and canned hunter, www.africancats-hounds.co.za In accordance with the new adopted policy, JS Safaris will hunt any predators, large and small, with dogs. Photos show a leopard being savaged by dogs. Photos also show lions who have been shot with bow and arrow - after being hunted with dogs. What has conservation come to when tame lions can be turned out after a life of imprisonment to be set upon by a dog pack and then used for archery purposes? And why are our lawyers content to let time drift by so carelessly.

Look at canned trophy hunting. Chucking a few dollars at local landowners in order to pillage our wildlife heritage is not conservation, it is colonialism. When organisations such as Safari Club International in U.S.A. patronise this industry, they export US dollars and colonialism to Africa, and they import misery and bloodshed in the form of trophies. Their dollars are a corrupting influence in the third world, perverting conservation policies away from preservation towards the cruel exploitation of wildlife.

Nor are the colonizers all rich whites. The forests of Indo Asia were looted to procure tiger bones for the Chinese traditional medicine trade. The genetically similar lion is already being used for the same purpose. The fate of the tiger will be the fate of the African lion if we do not act now to stop it. The axis of evil of wildlife exploitation now presents a global challenge to our wildlife.

The hopes for a better life for millions of Southern Africans may eventually be held to ransom in this way by a small group of foreigners and the corrupted soldiers of fortune in South Africa who supply them with their living targets and/or body parts. And we allow our treasures to be looted because of the ethical illiteracy of those in conservation who could stop it all tomorrow. Our views cannot be disregarded as white elitism. Take Credo Mutwa, one of the leading African philosophers and authors. Talking about lions, he writes:

"No one in their right mind would ever travel to India, and massacre the white Brahmin cattle that roam the crowded streets of India's cities. No one in their right mind would travel to Siam and there murder the rare white elephants that we find in that country. But people come to my motherland, people come to South Africa, to brutally murder Ölions in the name of manliness and in the name of sport. The sacred icons of other races and nations in this world are respected, revered and protected. But the icons of Africa are massacred with cold impunity, sometimes with the connivance of some Africa's own children."

"Kalahari Raptor Center" krc@spg.co.za

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U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft was visiting an elementary school.

After speaking for 15 minutes, he said, "I will now answer any questions you have."

Bobby stood up and said: "I have four questions":

1. How did Bush win the election with fewer votes than Gore?

2. Why haven't you caught Osama bin Laden?

3. Why are you using the American Patriot Act to destroy civil liberties?

4. Where are the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?

Just then the bell went off and the kids were sent out to play. Upon returning, Mr. Ashcroft said: "I am sorry we were interrupted. I will now answer any questions you have."

A little girl named Julie stood up and said: "I have six questions":

1. How did Bush win the election with fewer votes than Gore?

2. Why haven't you caught Osama bin Laden?

3. Why are you using the American Patriot Act to destroy civil liberties?

4. Where are the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?

5. Why did the bell ring 20 minutes early?

6. Where is Bobby?

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Next issue:

Reports from the anti-FTAA demonstration in Miami, antiwar demonstrations in England, the Gonzalez campaign for Green Mayor of San Francisco, new initiatives by the Greens/Green Party USA decided at our national meeting and candidates' forum last week in New York City, and more.