THE GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release:
Thursday, February 13, 2003
Contacts:
Annie Goeke, Co-chair of the U.S. Green Party's
International Committee, 301-439-6226,
ajgoeke@igc.org
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576,
nallen@acadia.net
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624,
scottmclarty@yahoo.com
Press conference contacts:
Anita Rios, CoChair, Green Party of the United
States, 419-297-3719,
arios@gp-us.org
Mark Dunlea, Chair of the Green Party of New York
State, 518-286-3411,
Dunleamark@aol.com
U.S. GREENS ENCOURAGE EUROPEAN AND OTHER NATIONS
TO MAINTAIN THEIR RESISTANCE TO BUSH'S WAR PLANS
European Greens lead their nations' official and popular
opposition to an invasion of Iraq; Greens note that a
'Uniting for Peace' vote in the U.N.'s General Assembly
would isolate the Bush-Blair pro-war faction; U.S. Greens
will hold a press conference on February 14 to present
national and international Green positions
WASHINGTON, DC -- American Greens are praising the
influence of Greens in European parliaments and other
Greens in public office around the
world in the efforts by their governments to avert an
invasion of Iraq led by the U.S.
"Under the influence of Greens and other opponents of war,
France, Germany, and their supporters have maintained the
only hope for a responsible U.N. response to Bush's threat
of war," said Nathalie Paravacini, Texas Green and
Secretary of the Green Party of the United States. "Bush
has repeatedly called for the U.N. must live up to its
responsibility, that it must back an invasion of Iraq, or
it will prove itself irrelevant. But the U.N.'s stated
mission is to
avert wars, including preemptive attacks, not to bless
military aggression. If the U.N. caves in and endorses
Bush's invasion plans, then it will truly have betrayed
its responsibility."
The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament adopted a
resolution against unilateral preemptive military action
in Iraq on January 30, and on February 6 issued a
statement asserting that war in Iraq will trigger a
humanitarian catastrophe. In Australia, Green
Senator Bob Brown persuaded fellow Senators to pass a 'no
confidence' vote against Prime Minister John Howard
because of his pro-war position.
"We are very proud that Belgium -- mainly thanks to Green
pressure -- continues to resist NATO's request for further
military involvement in the
preparations for a possible war in Iraq," said Peter
Vanhoutte, Belgian Minister of the Parliament and a
Green. "War is not an option, it's no solution, because
every war is the basis for future conflicts. The solution
for the ongoing problems in the Middle East is not another
war, but a negotiated agreement."
The international Green response will be presented
formally at a press conference called by the Green Party
of the United States and the Green Party of New York State
on Friday, February 14. The press conference will take
place 12:00 noon on the 7th Floor of 777 U.N. Plaza in New
York City.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, a member of the
German Green Party in ChancellorSchroeder's coalition
government, has forcefully
rejected U.S. Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld's
insistent demands that European nations support an
invasion. In a recent speech, Fischer said, "I am not
convinced. That is my problem. I cannot go the public
and say that
these are the reasons [to invade] because I won't believe
in them.... We shouldn't just follow the logic of a
military attack."
Germany, France, and Belgium have undertaken strategic
efforts to avert the invasion, including threat of a veto
in the U.N.'s Security Council by France. Germany,
France, and Belgium are blocking NATO from offering Turkey
military protection in the event of as a strategy for
discouraging the invasion. Germany has maintained its
opposition in the face of threatened economic retaliation
by the Bush Administration.
Several Greens have called for a U.N. General Assembly
vote on the Bush Administration's invasion plans. Under
the U.N.'s 'Uniting for Peace' procedure passed in 1950, a
majority vote of the countries of the world could require
that no military action be taken against Iraq without an
explicit stamp of approval from the Security Council.
Such a vote can be called by a majority
of the U.N.'s General Assembly or by seven members of the
Security Council.
"The Bush Administration has called Germany, France,
Belgium, Russia, China, and other nations 'isolated'
because they won't back the U.S. and
Britain," said Annie Goeke, Co-chair of the U.S. Green
Party's International Committee. "This is patently
ludicrous. Such remarks from Bush officials have only
persuaded the people in these nations to regard Rumsfeld
and his colleagues in the White House as fanatics and
international gangsters. A vote in the U.N.'s General
Assembly will show which side is really isolated."
"If the peace-loving people of the world call on their
governments to demand a 'United for Peace' vote in the
U.N., it would help block Bush's war," Goeke added.
"Secretary of State Powell says that the tape of Osama bin
Laden's voice [sent to al-Jazeera on February 11] proves
that Saddam and al-Qaeda are in league, but what Powell's
claim really proves is how desperate, dishonest, and
insupportable the Bush position has become. In fact, Bin
Laden denounced Saddam as an infidel on the tape. It's
obvious that nothing would serve bin Laden's purposes
better than a war by the U.S. on Iraq."
This coming weekend, Greens will participate in rallies,
marches, and other actions against the war on Iraq, in New
Yorka and other cities throughout the United States, as
well as in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Athens, Bangkok, Barcelona,
Belfast, Berlin, Berme, Brussels, Cairo, Copenhagen,
Dublin, Glasgow, Helsinki, Istanbul, London, Manila, Oslo,
Paris, Ramallah, Rome,
Skopje, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tokyo, Vienna, and Warsaw.
Under the leadership of Rep. John Eder of Portland, one of
two Green state legislators in the U.S., Maine is expected
to become the first state in the U.S. to pass a resolution
opposing the war, joining at least 90 cities and counties
that have passed such statements.
"The European Federation of Green Parties fully endorses
the stance for peace taken by the United States Green
Party," said Arnold Cassola, Secretary General of the
European Federation of Green Parties. "The 32 member
parties of the European Federation of Green Parties are
against
any U.S.-U.K. led war, without any U.N. mandate. Let
us give peace a chance. Let us support the German-French
initiative for peace. Let us work
together for life rather than for death and suffering."
THE GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
THE GREEN PARTY OF NEW YORK STATE
MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release:
Friday, February 14, 2003
GREENS CALL ON THE U.N. TO AVERT BUSH'S WAR WITH
IRAQ
Defend the Constitution -- take action against an illegal
war, Greens tell Congress at today's press conference
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Green Party of the United States
joined with the Green Party in New York today in calling
on the United Nations to enforce
its charter provisions against the U.S. and other member
countries planning to launch a preemptive war. Greens,
speaking at today's press conference at 777 U.N. Plaza in
New York, said that the U.N. faced becoming irrelevant if
it
failed to enforce its charter against such a war.
The Green Party demanded that Congress fulfill its
constitutional responsibility to provide critical
oversight of the President's efforts to initiate war.
Greens criticized the Democratic Party and individual
Congressional members for
not doing more to halt the war, such as forcing a
Congressional vote against the war, and for acquiescing to
the increasing curtailment of civil liberties and right to
protest at all levels.
The Green Party, the world's only international peace
party, with parties in more than 90 countries, is helping
to mobilize Greens and party supporters for the worldwide
demonstrations on February 15 in opposition to the war on
Iraq.
"Greens all over the world are standing in solidarity
demanding that the UN Security Council must remain in
charge of the situation," stated Annie Goeke, co-chair of
the International Committee and delegate to the Global
Greens
Coordination.
Speaking to reporters, Goeke outlined the efforts of Green
Parties throughout the world to prevent the war. "There
is no time limit on the mandate for the inspections and so
far the inspectors have not brought forth any reason for
military intervention against Iraq. There is a worldwide
consensus by the Greens that we are opposed to this war.
Green Parties such as Germany, France, Belgium, Australia,
Brazil and the Green Members of the European Parliament
have been instrumental in shifting their governments'
support away from the US position."
"The United Nations charter, which the United States
helped draft, is designed to prevent war and allows such
attacks only in self-defense to respond to an attack by
foreign forces," stated John Halle, a Green member on the
New Haven, Connecticut City Council, which recently passed
a resolution against war with Iraq. "The United States
has no authority under international law
to launch a war against Iraq without a formal mandate from
the U.N. Security Council under Chapter VII of the U.N.
Charter. It is critical that the U.N. Security Council
fulfills its mission to ensure that this crisis is
resolved without any party, including the United States,
resorting to military force."
The Green Party called upon the U.N. to halt the illegal
bombings in Iraq by the U.S. and Britain in the so-called
no-fly zone, which have killed hundreds of Iraqi citizens,
and to end the embargo upon Iraq that has led to deaths of
hundreds of thousands of civilians. Greens warned that an
invasion may result in the mass death of Iraqi civilians,
as well as high casualties among American troops and
Iraqis defending their homeland against a foreign
aggressor.
"President Bush and Congress have failed to supply either
to the U.N. Security Council or the American people
convincing evidence that the Iraqi government has chemical
and biological weapons, that it intends to use them
against the
United States and that they are linked to Al Qaeda," said
Prof. Stanley Aronowitz. Aronowitz, the 2002 Green Party
candidate for Governor of
New York, was the chief New York organizer for the
Independent Committee to End the War in Vietnam. "We call
for the hundreds of billions of dollars that would be
wasted in this war to instead be devoted to pressing
domestic concerns, including investing in a sustainable
energy policy that promotes renewable, clean energy such
as solar and wind; energy conservation and
efficiency; and increased gas mileage for automobiles and
other vehicles."
"We believe that the United States' drive for a war with
Iraq is primarily driven by economic considerations such
as control of oil in the Middle East and promotion of
economic interests of multinational corporations rather
than any
concerns about the security of the American people or
respect for human rights or democracy in the Middle East,"
said Anita Rios, co-chair of the Green Party of the Untied
States. "We particularly urge the Democratic members of
Congress who have voiced concerns about a possible war to
require that a new resolution be voted upon before the
Bush administration be allowed to attack Iraq or any other
country."
Greens called upon the American government to promote
international security by taking unilateral action to
begin to eliminate our own weapons of mass destruction.
"The Green Party believes that the best way to provide
security for American citizens is a commitment to
collective global security which protects us all from the
threat to violence, and seeks to promote justice and peace
for all inhabitants of the planet," stated Medea Benjamin,
former Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in
California. Ms. Benjamin, a founder of
Global Exchange, recently returned from a peace trip to
Iraq. "This incredible increase of expenditure and focus
on militarizing the oceans, the skies, the space above and
around us, has given us a less secure world and a greater
risk
toward the creation of a world war. It carries the
fertile ground of breeding violence as the world plunges
into more poverty, more disparities in living conditions
and over consumption of our delicate environment."
Green speakers also urged the U.N. to begin proceedings to
prosecute those who are responsible for the actions of
September 11, 200 for crimes against humanity.
THE GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release:
Monday, February 10, 2003
Contacts:
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576,
nallen@acadia.net
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624,
scottmclarty@yahoo.com
Mark Dunlea, Chair of the Green Party of New York
State, 518-286-3411,
Dunleamark@aol.com
THE GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release:
Monday, February 10, 2003
GREENS CHALLENGE POWELL'S SPEECH AT THE U.N.
Powell offered no evidence that proves the need for
invasion, say Greens; Powell speech shows that the U.S.
illegally concealed information from the U.N. inspectors;
British intelligence cited by Powell is now discredited
Green antiwar events in New York planned for February 14
will urge the U.N. to oppose Bush's war; Greens to join
antiwar rallies across the US on February 15
WASHINGTON, DC -- "Nothing in Powell's speech proved that
the U.S. needs to launch an invasion of Iraq," said John
Halle, Green member of the
New Haven, Connecticut Board of Aldermen. "It's not news
that Saddam is a lying dictator. What Powell presented
was evidence that Iraq must be
watched and contained by the U.S. in cooperation with
other nations under the U.N. umbrella, with sustained U.N.
inspections."
Greens say that Secretary of State Colin Powell presented
no proof to the U.N. that Iraq was an imminent threat to
the U.S. or any other nation, or that Iraq even has the
means to deliver any weapons of mass destruction that
Powell insists he possesses.
"Saddam already knows any attack he makes will draw
massive retaliation on Iraq," added Santa Monica,
California Mayor pro tem Kevin McKeown, a
member of the national committee of the Green Party of the
United States. "He has no motivation to use his weapons
unless he is invaded, leaving him nothing to lose. U.S.
military intervention for a regime change not only exposes
our soldiers to desperate Iraqi retaliations, it threatens
increased anti-American terrorism worldwide and unneeded
burdens on a domestic economy already struggling with
challenges in education and social justice."
McKeown has placed an item against the war on the Santa
Monica City Council agenda, and will carry the Green
position against the war to a 'Peace on the Beach' rally
on Saturday, February 15, one of many antiwar events
planned by United for Peace and Justice and other groups
for the Los Angeles
area, New York, and other cities that day. The Green
Party of New York State and the national party have
planned the following events for February 14 in New York :
==> Green Party press conference: Friday,
February 14, noon to 1 p.m. in the Presbyterian
Conference Room on the 7th floor at 777 UN Plaza,
SW corner at East 44th Street and First Avenue.
Speakers, other details to be announced.
==> Green Speakout Against the War in Iraq:
Friday, February 14, 7 to 10 p.m. at St. Mary's
Church in Harlem, 514 West 126 Street (at
Amsterdam Avenue).
At the press conference, Green Party officials will
present the national and global Green positions against
the war and will call for the U.N. to oppose Bush's
preemptive invasion. Party members cite troubling
questions raised by
Powell's speech before the U.N. on February 5:
*** The evidence presented by Powell of Saddam's alleged
development of weapons was withheld from the U.N.
inspectors when it was first uncovered a
few months ago. U.N. Resolution 1441 required that this
intelligence should have been shared and supplied to the
inspectors so they could carry out their mission.
"The U.S., in violation of the resolution, may have held
this information under wraps for later use in order to
discredit the inspections and justify an invasion," said
Beth Moore Haines, Media Coordinator for the Green Party
of California.
*** Some of Powell's credibility has been undermined by
revelations that the British intelligence dossier he
praised and cited was based on information that has long
been publicly available, with intelligence as much as 12
years old. 11 pages of the 19-page dossier reproduce
material plagiarized from an article by Ibrahim al-Marashi,
an American grad student, and published in September, 2002
in the Middle East Review of International Affairs, and
articles by
Sean Boyne and Ken Gause that appeared in Jane's
Intelligence Review in 1997 and in November, 2002. Some
of the original language has allegedly been altered to
suggest that Iraq has been assisting terrorist groups.
"The plagiarism scandal suggests that, like the British
dossier, the Powell speech was a cut-and-paste propaganda
job," said Jim Maceda, Treasurer for the Green Party of
New York State. "It's possible that the growing
embarrassment to the Blair government might lead Bush to
launch the invasion earlier, in order to knock criticism
of Powell's presentation out of the news."
*** Powell noted that Ansar al-Islam, the armed
Islamists linked with al-Qaeda, hold territory in Iraq.
But Ansar al-Islam is located in a
U.S.-protected, autonomous Kurdish zone in northern Iraq,
outside of Saddam's authority. "If Abu Musab
Zarqawi's camps in Iraq are
connected to al-Qaeda, why didn't the U.S. already attack
them as part of the War on
Terrorism after September 11, 2001?," asked Carl Romanelli
of the Green Party of Pennsylvania. "It's as if the
U.S. preserved Ansar al-Islam for
later use for leverage over Iraq and an excuse for an
invasion."
"Powell offered no proof that Baghdad has had any control
over or involvement with Zarqawi's network, or over any
transfer of funds or weapons
to Ansar al-Islam," added Texas Green Robbie Franklin and
former Treasurer of the national party. "Ansar al-Islam's
stated mission is to overthrow Saddam's secular government
and replace it with a Muslim theocracy, not to make
friends with Saddam. Powell also neglected to mention
that some U.S. allies, such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia,
have also harbored al-Qaeda leaders.
This so-called evidence, along with reports from anonymous
and unverifiable sources and some vague aerial photographs
and recorded conversations
that can be subject to various interpretations, amounts to
a possible 'Gulf of Tonkin' excuse for an invasion."
(In the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the Johnson
Administration fabricated a report of an attack
on U.S. vessels in order to expand the Vietnam
War in 1964.)
Other Green news:
*** Led by newly elected Green member DavidB Segal, the
City Council of Providence, Rhode Island joined the list
of cities, now numbering 69, that have passed resolutions
against the war on Iraq.
*** Greens are urging President Bush and Congress to
repudiate Rep. Howard Coble, chair of the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and
Homeland Security, for his remarks justifying internment
of Americans based on their ethnicity, specifically the
confinement of Japanese Americans during World War II.
"Coble's comments are especially troubling at a time of
increased ethnic profiling, such as the F.B.I.'s plan to
count mosques," said Brandon Campos Lacy, chair of the
Lavender Caucus of the Green Party of the United States.
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