GreenerPolitics

This video, I think, really lays it on the line about what the underlying theme of the democratic leadership race is all about. Still, as political satires go, this is pretty funny.

by Mark MacGillivray

 In a move that mirrors the exclusion of the Green Party from Leadership Debates in Canada, MSNBC in the United States made a last-minute change in its Las Vegas Democrat Debate format to exclude candidate Dennis Kucinich, noted for his opposition to nuclear power and the War in Iraq.

 Initially, MSNBC had planned on holding the debate with the top four Democratic candidates, but when candidate Bill Richardson dropped out of the race, they changed their format to include only 3 top candidates.

The Kucinich campaign took MSNBC to court, arguing, “The exclusion of Kucinich undermines the purposes of the Federal Communications Act and is a blatant violation of the Act because of the media’s obligation to operate in the public interest… NBC revised its criteria to specifically exclude the diverse and anti-war voice of Kucinich and his grass-roots supporters.” The lawsuit went on to say, “The debate is not a true presidential primary debate without including all credible candidates, but instead is effectively an endorsement of the candidates selected by NBC.”

NBC, who incidentally is owned by General Electric, claimed: “Mr. Kucinich’s claim is nothing more than an illegitimate private cause of action designed to impose an equal access requirement that entirely undermines the wide journalistic freedoms enjoyed by news organizations under the First Amendment.” Attorneys for NBC also argued, “A television station does not have to grant unlimited access to a candidate debate. If anyone’s First Amendment rights are being infringed, they are MSNBC’s.”

But, thanks to the internet and the efforts of Democracy Now!, we can get a measure of the man who was excluded.

Listen here!

The most serious allegation Kucinich makes is …

(more…)

Jane Sterk, a 60-year old city counsellor, was elected Leader of the Green Party of British Columbia on Sunday October 21.  During her acceptance speech, she said that she intended to run only for one term and keep up with her duties on city council in Esquimault.

Her priorities over her term include are:

1.  Within six months to have a full-time, staffed office in Victoria that is capable of providing support to the leader, provincial council, regions, constituency associations and members.

2. Within three months, to have a fully functioning database so we can better retain our members and a website that is compelling and robust.

3. To increase our predictable funding from Evergreen donations and individuals donations to fund our internal operations and to help finance the 2009 campaign.

4. To bring the BC Green Party message to business groups, public service sector representatives, civil society groups, service clubs, environmental organizations, seniors’ groups so they agree that we need to have MLAs in Victoria to improve the governing of the province.

5. To have an election strategy by May 2008 and to be election-ready by the fall of 2008.

Among her supporter she singled out for thanks, she mentioned Ian Gregson for facebook and internet support, the number of endorsements from mayors and city counselors throughout British Columbia.

The election for Leader in British Columbia is very much about ideas and direction. In this debate, the candidates are asked 5 questions and are given 3 minutes to respond with a 30 second rebuttal afterwards.

…
The Green Party of British Columbia site is also hosting a live streaming debate which you can watch by clicking the link

…
Comment below for general questions and observations about the the Leadership Race. To direct specific questions or comments to a particular candidate, use the links here:

Join the Jack Etkin Discussion

Join the Sylvaine Zimmermann Discussion

Join the Damian Kettlewell Discussion

Join the Jane Sterk Discussion

Join the Ben West Discussion

From Green Party USA

WASHINGTON, DC/OTTAWA, ONT. — Green Party leaders in Canada and the US are alerting their respective parties and the public about the ‘Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America’ (SPP), a secretive deal between President Bush (US), Prime Minister Harper (Canada), and President Calderón (Mexico).

Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May stated, “The SPP is integrating the military, security, trade, economic, regulatory, and foreign polices of Canada, the US, and Mexico without public input or Parliamentary or Congressional scrutiny. The threat of widespread surveillance of citizens, greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands development and ’super-corridors,’ increased fossil fuel dependence, privatization of water, erosion of food safety and environmental regulations, and expanded corporate power at the expense of economic stability for working people — these are some of the reasons we oppose the SPP.”

North American Green Parties are calling for transnational opposition, beginning with a ‘Counter Summit’ teach-in and strategy session August 20 in Ottawa to coincide with a meeting of the leaders of Canada, the US, and Mexico at the third annual summit in Montebello in nearby Quebec. The Green Party of the United States has endorsed the Counter Summit and will send representatives. Greens will also participate in civil society opposition to the Montebello Summit, with two days of activites planned for August 19 and 20.

Read the rest of the article