Green_Cutip's blog

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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