Green_Cutip's blog

The Illinois Green Party is excited to announce that it will hold its statewide meeting in Champaign-Urbana July 17th-19th at the Amtrak Station in Champaign. At this meeting attendees will have the chance to participate in the recognizing of the Green Party statewide candidates in 2010, including candidates for Governor and U.S. Senate. In addition, a number of interesting workshops will be held on a variety of Green issues, values, and campaigning.

Registration is now open. For registration, meeting agenda, transportation, housing, etc go here: http://ilgp.org/groups/meetings/next-membership-meeting/

I encourage Champaign-Urbana residents to attend! There should be a number of issue workshops along with a campaign school for Green candidates.
Please join us for this HISTORIC event and help build the Green Party here in Illinois!

**Note if you are low-income or a student, you can pay what you can or you can mark yourself down as needing the fee waived

Here is the agenda for the meeting:

Friday, Crane Alley

6:30pm  Green Party mixer

10pm  End time

Saturday, Illinois Terminal

9am   Registration
10am  Welcome, Introductions, Agenda Approval
10:30am  Nominations and Speeches
12:30pm  Lunch (on your own)
2:00pm  Voting for Candidate Recognition
3:30pm  Press Conference
4pm   Electoral Strategy Session
7pm   Fundraising Dinner
10pm  End Time

Workshops will also be held concurrently from 2:30pm through 6:30pm.  A complete workshop schedule is available below.

Sunday, Eastland Suites

9am   Breakfast
10am  Plenary
11:30am  Lunch (included)

1pm  Workshops

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Workshops

Saturday Workshop Schedule

Issues
2:30pm - Gardening and Local Foods: Practices and Politics
3:30pm - The Coop Alternative
4:30 pm - Transition Towns
5:30pm - Green Health Care Solutions, with Rich Whitney

Campaign School
2:30pm - Putting Together a Campaign Team
3:30pm - Public Speaking and Debates
4:30pm - Fundraising for Fun and Progress
5:30pm - Beyond the Mainstream Media

Sunday Workshops

Party Building –

1pm Membership Recruitment/Retention

Campaign School/Issues

1pm - Petitioning the Charlie Howe Way

2pm - Safe Haven: Champaign's Tent City

3pm - Home Energy Efficiency Basics

The News-Gazette has a story about the meeting on their front page.

Don't blame me; I voted Whitney for Governor!

The following is the official statement from the Illinois Green Party
on the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich:

We in the Illinois Green Party are deeply troubled by the arrest of
Governor Rod Blagojevich and his chief-of-staff John Harris.  The
Governor is charged with attempting to personally profit from his
power to appoint a person to the U.S. Senate.  While we recognize that
the accused are innocent until proven guilty, we must also admit that
we are not surprised by these allegations.  We have seen a long
pattern of pay-to-play from Blagojevich, and indeed, a long pattern of
pay-to-play throughout Illinois politics for years.  The long sordid
history of corruption in Illinois must finally come to an end.

The Green Party has always stood for accountability, transparency, and
clean government through clean elections.  We reject all corporate
campaign contributions, advocate for public financing, and have long
pushed for at least caps on individual contributions, so that our
elections will no longer be pay-to-play.

We call on the Illinois General Assembly to hold an emergency session to:

1) Develop legislation to give the people of Illinois the ability to
recall their public officials;

2) Consider the impeachment of Governor Blagojevich;

3) Amend Illinois statute to provide for an open process for filling
this and future U.S. Senate seats, preferably through a special
election, as the process for filling the current vacancy has been
irrevocably tainted;

4) Reform the campaign finance system, banning all corporate campaign
contributions, and installing caps on individual contributions;

5) Further reform the campaign finance system to eliminate
pay-for-play, by barring or severely limiting contributions from
political appointees, and mandating that political committees return
donations made from individuals subsequently appointed to public
office, boards, or commissions.

These are the first steps which need to be taken to help instill
integrity, transparency, and accountability to our state government.

Phil Huckelberry
Chair, Illinois Green Party

Party to the People!

What: Green Party Fall Fundraiser
Where: The UC-IMC, 202 S. Broadway, Urbana
When: Sunday, September 28, 2008 from 4-8 PM

Come on out for a night filled with food, fun, music and games to show your support for the Prairie Green Party! There is no fee to enter, but there will be a sliding scale donation at the door.

Refreshments will include vegan and vegetarian selections.

Musical Acts will include:
* "Jazz Looping" with guitarist Mark Smart, 5-6PM
* Singer/songwriter Paul Kotheimer, 7-8PM

Silent Auction!

This year’s event will also be boasting a tremendous silent auction! Items will include fine art, hand made jewelry, private yoga and pilates instruction, massage
therapy and homemade treats just to name a few!

Meet the Candidates!

Walter Pituc for County Board District 7
http://votewalter.org/

Joe Futrelle for County Board District 8
http://joefutrelle.org/

Mike Lehman for County Board District 9
http://lehmanforagreencounty.org/

For more information contact info@prairiegreens.org

Curbing Urban Sprawl: What, Why, and How

Presentation and Discussion with Professor Brian Deal

Monday, September 15th at 7:30pm
Urbana Free Library Auditorium
210 W Green St

Land development has been increasing rapidly on the fringes of Champaign-Urbana, encroaching on some of the richest farmland in the world. Consequences include lost natural resources, increased transportation time and energy, and inadequate services. However, there are ways to reverse this trend and improve the quality of life for the citizens of our community, while preserving our resources. Learn more about urban sprawl, why we must deal with it, and how we can tackle this pressing issue.

Dr. Brian Deal is an Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Illinois. His research interests include the study of sustainability and urban land use transformation. He is the Director of the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center at UI, the Director of Research at Robert Allerton Park, and the Director of the Land use Evolution and impact Assessment Modeling (LEAM) Laboratory, an interdisciplinary laboratory dedicated to the study of the spatio-temporal dynamics of land-use change and their social, economic, and environmental consequences.

Green Tea Discussions
Sponsored by the Prairie Green Party

A different topic every third Monday of the month - same time and location. Membership meetings are on the first Monday of the month at 7:30pm in the Family Room of the Independent Media Center at 202 S Broadway in Urbana. Learn more and join the party at www.prairiegreens.org

Your 2008 Green County Board Candidates:

• Walter Pituc, District 7 - votewalter.org
• Joe Futrelle, District 8 - joefutrelle.org
• Mike Lehman, District 9 - lehmanforagreencounty.org

Please consider the environment when attending this event: Bike, Walk, Use the MTD, or Carpool

Hey all, I'm in the middle of a big fundraising push and we're begining to canvass, please consider a donation to the Walter Pituc for Champaign County campaign.

Dear Family, Friends, and Supporters,

I am writing to you because I have a vision for Champaign County. I envision a tight-knit community where healthy people have clean air and water, locally owned businesses thrive, and the government actually engages its citizens rather than ignores them. It is my honor to be a Green Party candidate for Champaign County Board.  As your Green Party candidate, I am committed to sound sustainable public policy and will always act in the best interests of my constituents.

I am committed to running a grassroots campaign that does not accept corporate contributions, which can often cloud the judgment of other politicians. It is everyday citizens such as you that truly drive our campaign and keep us going. It is the student, the part-time clerk, the average union worker, and many others like you that we are counting on to bring us to victory in November.

I truly believe that we can achieve victory in November; I have felt it on the campaign trail. I can see it in the faces of the many residents who are yearning for genuine change. Yes, my opponents may have their corporate donors and massive machine politics behind them, but what we have is more valuable. We have the strength of very dedicated volunteers and the rock that is our principled policy positions. I am serious about a return to the basics of local government which is about meeting with real people and talking about the issues that affect them.

That is why I need your help. I need funds to effectively get my message out in order to win. Please consider making a donation of $10, $20, $25, or any amount that you can afford to the campaign. You can make an online donation or donate by mail by visiting http://www.votewalter.org/donate.php. Your contribution will enable our campaign to purchase literature and yard signs that will immensely help our campaign. If you can't make a monetary donation – I understand that not everyone can – you can help out the campaign by dropping literature, requesting a yard sign, designing graphics, etc. Whatever your talent and comfort level is, we can work out a way for you to get involved. Please send me an email at votewalter@gmail.com if you are interested in getting involved in the campaign.

Also, please feel free to visit my campaign website at http://www.votewalter.org to find my policy positions and make a donation online via Paypal.

Victory is within reach. Push us over the top and make a donation at http://www.votewalter.org/donate.php!

Humbly yours,

Walter Pituc

Green Party Candidate for Champaign County Board, District 7

I'm running for Champaign County Board in District 7 and I have my website up at: http://www.votewalter.org.

I still have additions and changes to the website (inluding expanding on the issues and a seperate campaign blog), but feel free to browse around and make comments. 

The Green Party national convention is taking place Chicago this weekend. I might be live-blogging from the event so stay tuned!

Edit: I should also mention that Green Party Congressional Candidate (19th district) Vic Roberts passed away last weekend. He was 75 years old.

Here is a PR put out by the state party:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Patrick Kelly
IL Green Party Media Coordinator
773-203-9631

GREEN PARTY MOURNS VIC ROBERTS

Vic Roberts, Green Party candidate for 19th Congressional District, passed away Friday night or early Saturday morning. The cause of death is unknown.

"Apparently, Vic participated in a parade just yesterday and seemed fine. He went to bed last night and died peacefully in his sleep," said Rich Whitney, 2006 Green Party candidate for governor, who spoke to Roberts' wife Carolyn on Saturday morning. Roberts was born Nov. 19, 1932. He was 75 years old.

Roberts, who had run previously as a Democratic candidate before running unopposed in the Green Party primary in 2008, was a retired coal miner known for wearing his distinctive coal miner's helmet on the campaign trail.

Whitney described Roberts, of Taylorville, as a "staunch advocate for the Green Party and long-time advocate for working people."

Cards and condolences can be sent to his wife:

Carolyn Roberts, 1022 N 1250 E Rd, Taylorville, IL 62568

Recent photos of Vic Roberts may be found at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ILGPmedia/VicRoberts

2002 Columbian Green Party Presidential Candidate, Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other FARC hostages were free today! Thankfully, no one was hurt in the rescue mission!! Three Americans were among those freed. Yippee!

NPR: Colombia Rescues Betancourt, U.S. Hostages

CNN: Betancourt, U.S. contractors rescued from FARC

The Prairie Green Party is running four candidates for Champaign County Board this year, and we want to hear from you, the public, about what you would like to see from your county government. Join our candidates and members this coming Monday at 7:30 PM at the Urbana Free Library for an open, public exchange of ideas as we shape our local platform and develop policy priorities for our exciting campaigns.

Greens believe in grassroots democracy, and grassroots democracy is about you. So bring yourself, your issues and concerns, and your willingness to share your ideas with others.

The meeting will be held in the Auditorium of the Urbana Free Library, which is in the basement across from the elevator, at 7:30 PM on Monday, April 21. We hope to see you there!

The Prairie Green Party

I just watched a documentary by PBS's Frontline on the different health care systems around the world. I thought the program to be very informative and a little less reductionist than Michael Moore's Sicko. It is reductionist to call all healthcare systems in European industralized countries "socialized medicine" as each one is different with many even having private delivery and insurance options. Let's not play that game.

I think this Frontline program would be a bit more palatable for everyone across the spectrum. Though the reporter is unmistakably critical of the America's system, he includes the pitfalls of the non-American systems too. And I'm sure he chose to omit some things. As critical consumers of media - as I sure everyone is ;) - everything should be taken with a grain of salt.

It's important to recognize that no health care system is perfect and that every system has many facets to it. What's important is to have an open, rational dicussion about it.

You can watch the full program online here.

Frontline also breaks down the four main health care systems here.

Update: I updated my poor grammer and spelling! I thought there was a spell check on this blog.

Rob Wildeboer of the local Chicago NPR affiliate did two EXCELLENT stories on what the Illinois Greens are doing.

This is probably the most detailed and well written story about us ever. He really nailed down all the things that we wanna hear. He mentioned the 4 pillars (ecological wisdom, social justice, nonviolence, and grassroots democracy), that we strive to remove corporate money from government, and he absolutely nailed down why we want people to pull a Green Party ballot this coming February primary.

You can find a short story here and a longer podcast on what the Illinois Greens are up to on here.

Please thank Rob Wildeboerfor this fair and generous story at rwildeboer@chicagopublicradio.org

Hello all,

You are cordially invited to join the Prairie Green Party and our 2008 candidates for a mixer and fundraising event at 8pm on December 8th, 2007 at 1205 S. Race St., Urbana. Meet current and former candidates, enjoy local organic food, and help raise money to support Green values and multi-party politics in East Central Illinois. Please RSVP at futrelle@prairiegreens.org.

Should be some fun!

-Walter

The Prairie Green Party has been sponsoring informal discussion events called "Green Teas" that revolve around many community and Green issues. There's usually a speaker brought in and discussion follows afterward. These are great and informative events that everyone is encouraged to come to!

This week's topic: Local food. The Green Tea will be on Monday October 15th, 7:30pm  at the Urbana Free Library Auditorium. Details are below. The Green Party has always believed that purchasing local food (or anything local for that matter) is usually the most ecologically and sustainable approach to living one's life. People are now paying attention to what's in their food and what goes into their bodies. The recent organic boom is evidence of this. (Note to self: buy Whole Foods stock.)

Reasons to eat locally:

Short distance from farm to dinner plate = less fossil fuel usage

Taste a whole lot better and is good for you!

Support local farmers and businesses

Come out and learn about the benefits of eating locally!

Here is the text of the flyer that we're posting around the community:

The Benefits of Eating Locally
Eric Wilson and Julie Zielinski
recently completed a month long
experiment of only eating food
grown within 100 miles of Champaign-
Urbana.  At this month's Green Tea, they
will be discussing their  experience and
where to find local ingredients.  Come and
learn how eating locally can benefit the
environment, economy, and your health.

Local snacks, drinks , and discussion
will be served.

Monday, October 15th at 7:30pm
Urbana Free Library Auditorium

Green Tea Discussions Sponsored by the
Prairie Green Party of East Central Illinois.

A different topic every third Monday of the
month - same time and location.  Membership
meetings are on the first Monday of the month
at 7:30pm in the Family Room of the Independent
Media Center.  All are welcome.

For more information, visit:
www.prairiegreens.org

I have just been informed that Chicago has been selected as the site for the 2008 Green Party National Convention!

http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/irvresult?pid=310

Congrats to Partrick Kelly who spearheaded the Chicago proposal bid and all those who helped out!

 Ballot Access News is also reporting it as well as one Minnesotan newspaper.

Here is the official press release from the national Green Party via the Chicago bid website:

GP RELEASE Green Party chooses Chicago for 2008 national convention
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Patrick Kelly, Media Coordinator for the Illinois Green Party, 773-203-9631, media@ilgp.org

Green Party chooses Chicago for 2008 national convention

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States will hold its 2008 national nominating
convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Delegates from state Green Parties and caucuses in the party's National Committee completed their vote
yesterday, with Chicago taking the lead over Detroit, Minneapolis, and Oakland.

Greens from all four cities had submitted proposals for the 2008 convention. The National Committee
chose the site using ranked choice voting (also called instant run-off voting) <http://www.fairvote.org>, a
voting reform the party also recommends for single seat offices like governor or mayor.

Chicago's proposal can be read at <http://www.greenconvention2008.com>. The convention will take
place July 10 to 13, 2008.

"We're very proud that Greens will choose our 2008 presidential nominee in Chicago," said Patrick Kelly,
media coordinator for the Illinois Green Party and coordinator for the Chicago bid. "Our Green candidate
for Governor of Illinois, Rich Whitney, drew over 10% in the 2006 election -- after Gov. Blagojevich spent
$800,000 in taxpayers money trying to keep the Green Party off the ballot. The 2008 convention will show
Chicago that we're here to stay."

"Our intention is to run a strong presidential campaign with our nominee on every ballot line in the
country," added Phil Huckelberry, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States and Chicagoan.
Green leaders are planning a press conference in Chicago next week, at which they will discuss the
convention site and the Green Party's plans for 2008 in greater detail. Press conference details will be
announced soon.

"We were quite impressed with the presentations from all four cities, and we know Greens faced a hard
choice," said Ruth Weill, co-chair of the Green Party's Annual National Meeting Committee. "We thank
all of them and congratulate Chicago, and we look forward to seeing everyone -- and the media too -- in
Chicago next summer."

The Green Party held its 2007 national meeting in Reading, Pennsylvania, in July. Several candidates for
the Green presidential nomination introduced themselves to the party during the meeting, and more
candidates are expected to announce soon.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• 2007 national Green Party meeting in Reading, Pa.: video footage, blog and media coverage
http://www.gp.org/meeting2007/

'Open Letter to Michael Moore' from the Green Party on 'Sicko,' health care reform
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_07_09.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0710-03.htm
http://www.gp.org/organize/sicko.html

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