Proposed GPOC Peace Platform Revisions

[Gary Swing <gwswing@yahoo.com>]

The following are proposed Green Party of Colorado
platform revisions I drafted in 1996. Capitalized text
represents proposed additions. Proposed deletions have
been edited out. To see what has been deleted, you can
check this against a copy of the existing state
platform. 

I am advancing two proposals here:

A) Revise the Green Party of Colorado's peace platform
to advocate nonviolence; or

B) Remove the term nonviolence from the Green Party of
Colorado's list of Ten Key Values.
  
Gary Swing

Green Party of Colorado Platform 
NONVIOLENCE and Peace 

Mission - IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE DEVELOP EFFECTIVE
ALTERNATIVES TO OUR CURRENT PATTERNS OF VIOLENCE AT 
ALL LEVELS, FROM THE FAMILIES AND THE STREETS, TO
NATIONS AND THE WORLD. WE WILL WORK TO DEMILITARIZE 
OUR SOCIETY AND ELIMINATE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION,
WITHOUT BEING NAIVE ABOUT THE INTENTIONS OF OTHER
GOVERNMENTS. WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR SELF-DEFENSE 
AND THE DEFENSE OF OTHERS WHO ARE IN DIRE SITUATIONS.
WE ADVOCATE NONVIOLENT METHODS TO OPPOSE SOCIAL AND
POLITICAL OPPRESSION, AND WILL GUIDE OUR ACTIONS 
TOWARD LASTING PERSONAL, COMMUNITY, AND GLOBAL PEACE. 

Short Term 

1. ABOLISH NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS. 

2. HONOR THE KELLOGG-BRIAND PACT WHICH RENOUNCED WAR 
AS AN INSTRUMENT OF NATIONAL POLICY AND PLEDGED THAT
THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD WOULD RESOLVE CONFLICTS ONLY
BY PACIFIC MEANS. THIS 1928 TREATY WAS SIGNED BY THE
UNITED STATES AND MOST OTHER NATIONS. 

3. TERMINATE ALL FOREIGN MILITARY AID IMMEDIATELY.
HUMANITARIAN FOREIGN AID SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD
HELPING THE POOR TO MEET THEIR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS AND
BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT. 

4. PROHIBIT THE PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND USE OF
LAND MINES. 

5. ABOLISH THE SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM. MILITARY
CONSCRIPTION IS A FORM OF SLAVERY WHICH VIOLATES THE
13TH AMENDMENT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. 

6. Promote NONVIOLENCE TRAINING, PRINCIPLED
NEGOTIATION, mediation, and peace education programs. 

7. Learn consensus process AND teach IT to others to
avoid confrontational decision making. 

8. SUPPORT Artistic grants towards artists that work 
to lessen violence in the home, streets, on media, 
etc. 

9. Support shelters/domestic violence centers and
related educational programs. 

10. Support education to combat sexism, ageism,
homophobia, racism, etc., as a means of reducing
hostility, injustice and possible resulting violence
and to enhance mutual understanding. 

11. Promote self-defense training for high school
students, especially girls. 

Medium Term 

1. REPLACE THE UNITED STATES MILITARY FORCES WITH A
"MERCY FORCE" UNARMED SERVICE CORPS TRAINED IN
STRATEGIC NONVIOLENT DEFENSE AND EQUIPPED FOR
MOBILIZATION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. DEVELOP A
NONVIOLENT CIVILIAN-BASED DEFENSE SYSTEM TO PRESERVE
NATIONAL SECURITY AGAINST THE THREAT OF MILITARY
ATTACKS OR COUP ATTEMPTS. TRANSFORM THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF NONVIOLENT ACTION. 

2. ESTABLISH A MULTINATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ALLIANCE TO
CARRY OUT A WIDE RANGE OF MERCY FORCE MISSIONS
INCLUDING NONVIOLENT DEFENSE TRAINING, PEACEKEEPING
EFFORTS, NONVIOLENT INTERVENTION, DISASTER RELIEF AND 
RESCUE OPERATIONS, CONSTRUCTIVE SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL
PROJECTS AND A CAMPAIGN TO ELIMINATE WORLD HUNGER. 

3. SUPPORT LEGITIMATE, NONVIOLENT SOCIAL CHANGE
MOVEMENTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS
AND POLITICAL FREEDOM. 

4. RESTRICT "INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS" TO PROTECT CIVIL
LIBERTIES AND ELIMINATE U.S. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. 

5. SUPPORT A Tax credit for voluntary non-military
public service as an incentive for peaceful service to
community. 

6. SUPPORT ESTABLISHMENT OF A Peace conversion plan. 

Long Term 

1. REDUCE VIOLENT CONTENT AND IMPROVE HARMONY IN ART
AND ENTERTAINMENT BY RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS OF ARTISTS,
NOT THROUGH CENSORSHIP. 

2. EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY IN CONSENSUS
DECISION MAKING PROCESSES.



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