Ex-Congresswoman urges third-party support

Cynthia McKinney, who last month appeared at the GPUS Annual Meeting, urged African-American voters to abandon the Democratic Party and support the Greens.

Let's hope she takes her own advice and runs in 2006 as a Green.

Act against the Detroit Incinerator

Hello concerned residents of Detroit,

The City of Detroit is at a critical time to determine the future of its solid waste options. As you may be aware, most of our trash is burned in an incinerator which creates countless health issues and there are very few options for recycling. A report has recently been published that summarizes a couple of options that the City can take when the bonds on the incinerator expire. Public comments on this report must be sent in hard copy by August 31. Many in the environmental community question the validity and comprehensiveness of the report and feel that our city deserves better.

This is a very complex topic and I apologize that there is not more time to adequately convey how important and complex it is. However, there are two VERY simple things you can do that may very well have a large impact if we do it collectively. However, you must act now.

1. Go to this website: http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/greaterresource and click on "Strategic Planning & Solid Waste Disposal Alternatives Report" in the left hand column and register to look at the report. It is 301 pages long with a near 50 page Executive Summary. Its unlikely you will get through the whole thing, but by registering you are indicating interest in this important topic.

2. Much more importantly: Make a public comment. Comments need to be sent in hard copy by Aug 31 which means they really need to be put in the mail no later than Monday. I am attaching a sample letter that Margaret Weber of Rosedale Recycles has drafted with input from a number of others. Please feel free to make changes. If you aren't comfortable with the letter but care about this topic it is still important that you say SOMETHING, whether it is that you are concerned about the level of asthma rates in our city due to the incinerator or that you don't believe that a comprehensive recycling program is realistic as long as the incinerator exists since they are competing for the same products...there are countless arguments that can be made against the incinerator, so please consider making at least one!

Below is a message from Margaret:

Here, attached is a version of some comments that could be submitted to GDRRA (Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority) about the Report on alternatives for the future of solid waste management in Detroit.

Feel free to use any of the points we make here, but emphasize what you think most important.

The most important thing is that your comments be submitted, in hard copy through the U.S. mail, and that they be received before the deadline of Aug. 31.

Mail to:

Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority
ATTN: Angela Ireland
5700 Russell St.
Detroit, MI 48211

That they hear from people may be more important than precisely what people say.

Please mail your comments today.

If you have the energy, make a copy of your comments and send to:

President Kenneth J. Cockrel, Jr.
Detroit City Council
Coleman A. Young Municipal Building
2 Woodward Ave,
Detroit, MI 48226

And also please email me a copy of your letter!

Thank you!

Margaret Weber
Coordinator
Rosedale Recycles

[link to letter to GDDRA]

Crunch time for Arkansas petition drive

Hi all,

In my role on the Green Senatorial Campaign Committee, I've been talking with Mark Swaney, organizer of the Green Party of Arkansas petition drive. They have professional backup for the petition drive on the ground, and had a beautiful plan laid out for getting at least 15,000 signatures. They need 10,000 valid, but each signature expires after 60 days.

The volunteers have been coming through better than expected. An unforeseen problem occured though: one of the pro petitioners, who is being counted on for about 6000 signatures, has had a medical emergency that is going to take him off the drive completely.

Mark informs me that GPAR needs more help, and needs it now. The signatures they spent a lot of good money on will start expiring September 28, with no money in the Green Party of Arkansas coffers left to hire any petitioning pros to replace those signatures after that.

If they don't get sufficient signatures to make the turn-in on September 28, the valid signature count will probably start heading irreversibly downward, due to the 60-day rule.

My involvement in the GPAR petition drive stems from the candidacy of Rebekah Kennedy (www.kennedy2008.org), who is challenging Mark Pryor, the most hawkish and most pro-corporate Democrat senator up for re-election in 2008. Sen. Pryor is also one of the three most vulnerable Democrat senators in the country next year. It would be a tragedy of global proportions if the Green Party of Arkansas petition drive fizzles.

So, I am begging for help to make sure the Green Party of Arkansas has at least 15,000 signatures to turn in on September 28. Checks can be made out to "Green Party of Arkansas" and mailed to:

Mark Swaney
466 Madison 6092
Huntsville, AR 72740

Thanks for your attention to this message. Let's get some work accomplished!

--Brent White
Delegate, WA
Secretary, GSCC

California Green Candidate in special election needs your help

From Drew (JamBoi@Greens.org):

Your help is needed NOW! Daniel Brezenoff is a fantastic Green candidate running for Congress in the Aug 21st special election in CD37 in the Longbeach/Compton area of LA California. If he got an outpouring of your support there's no telling how big of a splash he could make. He is the major competitor to the Democrat running, so please show him your support by donating

To contribute:
http://www.danielforcongress.com/donate.html

Here's an inspiring video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7R8Rzz2Jw4

More video and info and donation opportunities here:
http://www.danielforcongress.com


Green Solidarity! Together we can!

Drew

Thanks for checking back in.

Ok, its been a while since I've put anything up on the Detroit Greens blog.

But with the GPUS Annual National Meeting in Reading and preparing the Detroit proposal to host next years nominating convention, I've been a little busy lately.

Fortunately, Gregg Jocoy has been busy over at Green News and Opinion and the premier GP blog Green Commons always has something of interest.

In fact, cast your vote for Detroit in their poll.

Evidence of Global Warming?

Though scientists aren't positive and some residents blame diversion, the lowering of Great Lake levels and the rising temperature of the waters seem to be a clear indicator of climate change.