January 20, 2004
SEGAL CREATES "FUEL-EFFICIENT" ORDINANCE WITH COALITION
Jan 15, 2004
HISTORIC GREEN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN PROVIDENCE
February 20, 2004
GREEN PARTY OF RI DENOUNCES RWU COLLEGE REPUBLICANS WHITES ONLY SCHOLARSHIP
February 23, 2004
GPRI RALLIES VOTERS FOR FIRST RI GREEN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY MARCH 2nd
March 3, 2004
GPRI ENJOYS 1ST GREEN PRIMARY DAY IN RHODE ISLAND HISTORY/ COBB WINS!
March 26, 2004
GPRI STATE MEETING: GREENS SELECT DELEGATES FOR NATIONAL CONVENTION
June 18, 2004
RI GREENS AT NATIONAL CONVENTION
Press Releases
Green Party of Rhode Island
HISTORIC GREEN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN PROVIDENCE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan 15, 2004
Contact:
Greg Gerritt - Secretary, GPRI (401) 331-0529
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
(Providence) The Green party of RI (GPRI) today announced its historic
Green Presidential debate. The GPRI will be hosting a live Green Presidential Candidates debate to benefit Rhode Island's first Green Party Presidential Primary ballot. The debate will take place on Wednesday evening Jan 28 at 7PM at the Synod Hall at 271 N Main St in Providence.
"What an excellent opportunity for voters to see the clear and defining differences from so called 'progressive democrats,' as well as see the much needed 'Green component' that pulls political discussion left-of-center in electoral politics," said Jeff Toste, Co-chair of the GPRI.
The debate will be the first in a series of such debates across the Northeastern United States between Cobb and Mesplay, with a Massachusetts debate set for Jan 29 and weekend appearances in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Green Party Secretary Greg Gerritt commented, "So often political debates are missing discussion on issues that are truly 'mainstream issues'. At this event voters will hear the many missing 'truly mainstream issues', as well as the 'nuance' of debate between two candidates who seek to address excessive militarism, who are equally strong on environment protection, and who are both outspoken on social justice issues. True leaders willing to discuss details of issues that very rarely see the light of day in US debates."
"This is a truly historic moment for the Green Party of Rhode Island," noted Green party Elections Committee member Larry Kern of Westerly. "David Cobb and Kent Mesplay, RI's first Green Presidential primary contenders, to give Greens and independents voting in the Green Primary the opportunity to evaluate truly 'populist' candidates face to face."
The public is encouraged to attend, and will have the opportunity to directly question the candidates. For additional GPRI information, please go to our web-site (www.greens.org/ri) or call the Green party at 401-490-7602.
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Green Party of Rhode Island
GPRI COUNCILMAN SEGAL CREATES "FUEL-EFFICIENT" ORDINANCE WITH COALITION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2004
Contact:
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
Linde Rachel- Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 226-4342
(Providence) Green Party Councilman David A. Segal, working with an unusual but important coalition of environmental and labor advocacy groups, sponsored an ordinance to require future purchases of the Providence City fleet of vehicles to give preference to fuel efficient and union made vehicles.
The ordinance was a consequence of Green Party Councilman Segal's collaboration with Clean Water Action, and the United Auto Worker's Union (UAW). The language of the ordinance ensures that as American union manufacturers produce more fuel-efficient vehicles, they will receive a preference in the purchasing process for the Providence fleet.
"The ordinance is about leading by example," said Linde Rachel Co-Chair of the Green Party of Rhode Island. "The city-owned fleet is small relative to the number of cars driven in the city, but these will be a permanent fixture, and will be easily noticed throughout our capital city."
A separate resolution requests that the State of Rhode Island mandate, in accord with legislation passed in California, that by 2007 a percentage of cars sold in RI follow strict emission standards. The resolution seeks to ensure that we have cars on the road that are better for our lungs and our environment.
"This is the type of legislation is long overdue, and it took a forward thinking Green official to get it done," said Rob Goldman, member of the GPRI elections committee. "It's not just about cost, it's about the future health of our community!"
In RI, there were 17 "ozone days" in 2002, which means our approximately
100,000 residents with asthma were told to stay inside. The number of ozone days in RI, and nationwide, continues to rise.
Cars and trucks emit 36% of air toxins, and 40% of the nitrogen that causes smog in RI's air. Exposure to benzene, and other toxins from vehicle emissions, can lead to the development of leukemia and other cancers. Providence has benzene levels in the air that are 11 times higher than the level that yields no increase cancer risk.
"With this ordinance, our Green Party councilman is not only looking out for the environmental health interests of our community," said Jeff Toste, Co-Chair of the GPRI. "By giving American union made vehicles a preference, he is working to ensure quality pay and American work standards are also a major part of the 'health' of our community."
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Green Party of Rhode Island
GREEN PARTY OF RI DENOUNCES RWU COLLEGE REPUBLICANS WHITES ONLY SCHOLARSHIP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2004
Contact:
Linde Rachel- Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 226-4342
Greg Gerritt Secretary, GPRI (401) 331-0529
Green Party of RI denounces RWU College Republicans Whites only scholarship.
The Green Party of RI joins with all members of the Rhode Island community in denouncing the Roger Williams University College Republicans for their creation of a "whites only" scholarship. Green Party Co chair Linde Rachel noted, "the Green Party appreciates that the Republican Party of Rhode Island has seen fit to acknowledge that the perpetrators of this deed are a discredit to Republicans, and that the leadership of Roger Wiliams University has in the past taken action against the outrageous racist and intolerant behavior of this small group of students."
The Green Party has always stood for real justice in the world and in Rhode Island. Campus Green Party leader Katherine Fisher commented on the fact that the same group of students that created the "scholarship" is the same group of students that created a stir with their comments relating homosexuality with violent behavior. "These kids need to wake up. It amazes me that members of my generation have such racist and homophobic views. Join the 21st century guys."
The Green Party of RI will continue to work for justice in conjunction with the Rhode Island community. On a daily basis we shall honor the Equality pillar of our work.
Green Party of Rhode Island
GPRI RALLIES VOTERS FOR FIRST RI GREEN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY MARCH 2nd
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2004
Contact:
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
Linde Rachel- Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 226-4342
(Providence) The Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI) is calling out to all registered Rhode Island voters for their participation in the Tuesday March 2 presidential preference primary. However, Greens and unaffiliated voters have a unique and historic opportunity to help choose the Green Party's presidential candidate in Rhode Island's first GPRI Presidential primary.
Green Party Co-chair Linde Rachel noted, "The Republican and Democratic nominations are already sewn up, so we are especially encouraging unaffiliated voters to vote in the one primary where the race is wide open, the Green Primary. Green Presidential candidates David Cobb and Kent Mesplay, both of whom campaigned and debated in Rhode Island, offer voters a real choice in their strategies for getting out a message of bottom up democracy."
"Voters need to realize elections are won state by state due to the US's antiquated Electoral College voting system", Said GPRI Co-Chair Jeff Toste. "Therefore, Bush can't win RI votes due to his lack of popular support. Voters in RI who want to build real democracy can vote Green, build a grassroots democratic Party, and not 're-elect' an extremist president."
Green Party Secretary Greg Gerritt commented, "We know many voters are turned off by the corporate parties and their support for the war with Iraq, the Patriot act, corporate globalization, and the big money campaigns. This is a great time to vote your conscience, so if you can not stand the thought of voting for a candidate who supported the war or the Patriot act, vote in the Green Primary. If you support Single Payer health care, vote in the Green primary."
Go to the GPRI website www.greens.org/ri for more information on the Green Party and our Electoral College voting system.
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Green Party of Rhode Island
GPRI ENJOYS 1ST GREEN PRIMARY DAY IN RHODE ISLAND HISTORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2004
(Providence) The Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI) greeted its first Presidential Preference Primary with great joy.
Green Party Secretary Greg Gerritt commented, "As this was our first presidential primary, it was a bit of a challenge to coordinate. However, the Green Party met the letter and the spirit of the law, distributed information on our candidates, and encouraged voter turnout."
GPRI Co Chair Linde Rachel noted that Green Party participation in the primary exceeded those of the other parties. "With more than 20% of registered Greens voting, a higher percentage than the republican or democratic primaries, it shows our commitment to building a political party focused on Green Values," Rachel said.
Co chair Jeff Toste was encouraged by the turnout in parts of Providence. Likely to run for public office this fall, Toste noted, "Our primary turnout gives us a leg up for our local races. Local candidates are ahead of the curve in where they were at this time in 2002, and in previous election cycles. Sometimes growth is slow and painful, but I'm proud to be part of the third largest political party in the United States."
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Green Party of Rhode Island
COBB WINS 1ST GREEN PRIMARY IN RHODE ISLAND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2004
(Providence) With more than 20% of Green Party registrants in Rhode Island voting in the primary, David Cobb received approximately 53% of the vote and took a rather handy victory in the first GPRI presidential preference primary.
Approximately 22% of voters voted to send uncommitted delegates to the June Green Party National Convention, while 13% of the vote went to Kent Mesplay. Write ins accounted for 12% of the vote.
Anecdotal reports came in that there were problems with Green registrants being changed from registered Green to registered unaffiliated in some cities and towns. The Green party is gratified that turnout was more than 20% of previously recognized registrants with 134 of 669 Greens voting in the primary. The Green Party of Rhode Island will now go to town officials and check voter registration files in the near future in response to these reports.
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Green Party of Rhode Island
GPRI STATE MEETING: GREENS SELECT DELEGATES FOR NATIONAL CONVENTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2004
Contact:
Linde Rachel- Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 226-4342
Greg Gerritt - Secretary, GPRI (401) 331-0529
http://www.greens.org/ri
The Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI) will be choosing its delegates to the Green Party National Presidential Nominating Convention at its biannual state meeting on Saturday April 3 at 10 AM at 807 Broad St in Providence.
On March 2, 2004, the GPRI held its first presidential primary with nearly 20% of the registered Greens in Rhode Island participating. David Cobb of Texas received about 53% of the vote, and the GPRI will be designating convention delegates for Cobb as well as other Green candidates at the April 3 meeting. In addition, some members of the GPRI delegation to the National Convention will serve as uncommitted delegates.
The Green Party of RI will also introduce its current slate of candidates for local office. Co-Chair Linde Rachel noted that we are currently recruiting candidates for the General Assembly and other local offices. "At this point in the election cycle we have more candidates lined up than ever, and our candidates are more qualified and experienced than any previous group of candidates. We look forward to expanding our roster of elected officials."
State Green Party Co-Chair Jeff Toste put out a wide invitation. "The Green
Party is the only party in the state that is actually growing, and we invite all registered Greens, and independents considering joining the Green Party, to join us and help shape Green campaigns in 2004 and beyond."
Anyone with questions is encouraged to call the Green Party of RI at
401-490-7602
For more information on the Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI), please visit our website at http://www.greens.org/ri
GPRI
Green Party of Rhode Island
RI GREENS AT NATIONAL CONVENTION
NEXT WEEK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2004
Contact:
Greg Gerritt - Secretary, GPRI (401) 331-0529
Tony Affigne - Nation Committee USGP - (401) 935-6558
* Green presidential and vice presidential candidates to be chosen
* Six candidates seek party's nod for President
* 2000 nominee Nader waits in wings for "endorsement"
http://greenpartyus.org/convention
PROVIDENCE (June 18) - Ten delegates from the Green Party of Rhode Island head to Milwaukee, Wisconsin next week, for the party's National Nominating Convention. Local Greens will join delegates from 48 states, to decide the party's 2004 presidential strategy.
In the 2000 election, Green nominee Ralph Nader earned 2.8 million votes, in a campaign that raised the Green Party's visibility, while drawing ire from Democrats who blame Nader for Al Gore's narrow loss in Florida.
This year, the party's strategy has pundits guessing: more than 40% of delegates are either uncommitted or pledged to "none of the above," an option the party gave voters in several Green primaries. As a result, Greens hold the only major convention whose outcome won't be known until delegates actually vote (on Saturday, June 26). Democratic nominee Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, and Republican nominee President George W. Bush of Texas, have been known for months.
NADER ASKS FOR "ENDORSEMENT," NOT NOMINATION
The Greens' best-known standard-bearer, consumer activist Ralph Nader, is running as an independent this year, and has been endorsed by the Reform Party USA, established by Ross Perot for two presidential bids. Nader has told Green leaders he also welcomes a non-binding "endorsement" from the Green Party, if next week's Convention deadlocks without a nominee.
RHODE ISLAND GREENS IN KEY CONVENTION ROLES
At the Milwaukee Convention -- the party's third -- Rhode Islanders will be at the center of the action. Providence Councilman David Segal, Rhode Island's first elected Green, and Jeff Toste, Green candidate for Providence's 5th State Senate seat, will speak at national press conferences. Two other General Assembly hopefuls, Larry Kern of Westerly and Brian Reynolds of Warren, will join Rhode Island's national Green delegation for the first time.
State party Co-Chair Linde Rachel, and the Greens' 2002 Providence mayoral candidate, Greg Gerritt, are also among Milwaukee-bound delegates. Gerritt serves as national party secretary, and holds the same spot for the local group; he'll be an emcee for the Convention's Saturday night rally.
Rhode Island's other four delegates include the local party's two national Committee persons, community activists Tony Affigne and Joe Buchanan of Providence; Richard Walton of Warwick, well-known peace activist and author; and student leader Katherine Fisher of Providence, a 2004 graduate of Brown University's environmental studies program.
2004 GREEN PLATFORM AND NOMINATION
The convention will vote on a national Green Platform for the 2004 campaign, in addition to choosing the party's Presidential candidate. Seven candidates have some delegates pledged to them for the nominating process, with the leading contenders being Peter Camejo of California, David Cobb of Texas, and Ralph Nader of Connecticut.
Other presidential hopefuls include Paul Glover and Lorna Salzman of New York, Carol Miller of New Mexico, and Kent Mesplay of California. Cobb, Nader, and Mesplay have already made campaign stops in Rhode Island this year.
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