Tanana-Yukon Bioregion Blog

Fairbanks Recycling Task Force report

2008-12-31T03:18:00.003-09:00

The Recycling Task Force's Report to the Mayor has been completed, and was submitted to the borough mayor, Jim Whitaker, on December 30. The report is only eight pages long, but has a solid list of recommendations in five categories, along with thirteen principles. The principles include identifying stakeholders (all of us) and creating a Recycling Commission, enlisting political support and getting a budget, commencing a marketing campaign, developing a business plan, using source separation, promoting partnerships, and so forth.

Categories:

1. Stakeholders
2. Recyclable materials
3. Education
4. Logistics
5. Business/Financial plan

Here's the link (PDF) to the report, at Recycle Fairbanks.

Recycling at the Tanana Valley State Fair

2008-07-28T06:57:00.003-08:00

Interior Alaska Green Star is partnering with the Tanana Valley State Fair, Wal-Mart, K&K Recycling, and SCAN Fairbanks to coordinate recycling of beverage containers (plastic and aluminum) at the fair in August, according to an alert sent out by Andrea Miller recently. Here's a copy of Interior Green Star's solicitation:

Are you tired of seeing recyclable items like aluminum cans and plastic bottles get thrown away? Would you like to know that aluminum and plastic are properly disposed of and NOT filling up the precious space we have left in our local landfill? You can make a difference this August but volunteering at the Tanana Valley State Fair. This year at the Tanana Valley State Fair several businesses and community organizations are teaming up to recycle plastic and aluminum during the Fair. To make this a successful effort we need a volunteer team to empty aluminum and plastic recycling containers on the fair grounds and take the bags to the dumpsters located at the back of the fair grounds. This is a large effort lasting 9 days which means we need at least 135 volunteers starting August 1st through August 9th.

Time: 3:00pm to 10:00pm (open until 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday)

Shifts: 3:00-6:00pm; 6:00-8:00pm; 8:00-10:00pm (August 1-2 and August 8-9 Friday/Saturday last shift of the day is 8:00-11:00pm)

Materials provided: gloves, wagons and plastic bags.

We will need your name as early as possible to provide you with a day pass to the fair on the day of your shift. Please respond to Darcie Warden at 978-9889 or darcie@iagreenstar.org.

Solar North Cooperative

2008-07-25T10:25:00.007-08:00

As recently reported in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, a group of neighbors on Spinach Creek Road have started up a power cooperative that will generate electricity from the sun.

In an update e-mail sent out on Monday, Solar North described the results of their July 18 meeting. The group hopes to get more pledges for shares in the cooperative ($500 a share):

We are close to the final decision of building the largest solar panel (photovoltaic) system in Alaska.... A land lease is prepared, an ideal site is selected, permits are in hand, borough support is strong, an operating agreement has been prepared with the help of a lawyer, a management team is in place, 5 bids are in, the most appropriate materials are selected, etc. Under current assumptions (which are full of variables difficult to predict), the revenue for the share holders will not be very high (partly due to the increased number of producers in the SNAP program) and there may be years with a bit of a minus initially. However, this - we feel - is a very timely project and a great example of alternative energy in the land of oil.

For more information, contact the organizers at solarnorth@yahoo.com or call Franziska Kohl at 452 2916.

One of the problems the organizers are having is that if they build this year, then a 30% solar tax credit is available--until the end of 2008. This means that they have to raise the money AND build in a very short time frame. The tax credit was not renewed for 2009. This has Greens, the Solar Energy Industries Association, and sensible people everywhere hopping mad. The Solar Energy Industries Association breaking news page has information on an extension bill and other legislation that will help keep tax incentives to invest in solar power.

(cross-posted at The Ester Republic blog)

Sustainability Roundtables

2008-02-28T13:49:00.004-09:00

SCAN Fairbanks has been sponsoring a series of community roundtables on sustainability in the Fairbanks area. The next one is in Ester, at the Ester Volunteer Fire Department on the evening of March 1, Saturday, at 6 pm, I think. (I'll check and amend this later tonight if need be.)

Mike Musick will be presenting The Natural Step for Communities.

ADDENDA: the meeting starts at 5 pm!

Dahr Jamail coming to Fairbanks!

2008-02-08T18:28:00.000-09:00

Independent Journalist Dahr Jamail extends his national book tour to Alaska
Sunday, March 9
UAF's Bunnell Auditorium
Book Signing and Snacks at 7pm
Presentation at 8pm

Sponsored by
UAF Fairbanks Coalition for Peace and Justice
Alaska Peace Center

Last Frontier Locavores

2008-02-07T19:06:00.000-09:00

I discovered this interesting website the other day: Last Frontier Locavores, a Wetpaint wiki for those attempting to eat locally. It's just started up, about two-three weeks ago, and seems so far to be focused on the Fairbanks area. I'm not sure how widespread they want to go with it--Tanana Valley or all of Alaska?

At any rate, this effort fits right in with community economics and sustainable agriculture, and I thought it might be of interest to Greens in the Interior.

International Day of Action to Shut Down GITMO

2008-01-10T15:56:00.000-09:00

This press release just in from the Fairbanks Coalition for Peace and Justice:

Friday January 11, 2008
Farthest North Candle Light Vigil
Cushman Street Bridge
4:30 – 5:30 pm
contact: anna.godduhn@gmail.com

People around the world will act together to demand an end to torture and the indefinite, illegal, and immoral detention of men and boys at U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Actions will be taken in more than 40 cities around the world, with Fairbanks being the Farthest North. The Fairbanks event is sponsored by the UAFairbanks Coalition for Peace and Justice, the Alaska Peace Center, No Nukes North, and the UAF Chapter of Amnesty International.

Six years after the first hooded, shackled men were brought to the U.S. prison at Guantánamo, not a single prisoner has been convicted of a charge of terrorism. Many have been released because no evidence was found against them. Yet nearly 300 men remain in indefinite detention without hope of release. Today, thousands will stand up on behalf of the victims of the war on terrorism and for law and justice.

In Washington, DC, Witness Against Torture joins Amnesty USA, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, and other advocates at a rally on The National Mall. They will then march to the Supreme Court wearing orange jumpsuits and black hoods, symbolically bringing Guantanamo's detainees to the high court.

At the Supreme Court, advocates will formally appeal to the nine Justices to affirm in Al Odah v. United States and Boumediene v. Bush what all the rest of the world knows: that torture and the suspension of Habeas Corpus are not only immoral and unconstitutional, but are war crimes for which U.S. officials must be held accountable. Creatively, we will also make the torture and immorality of Guantánamo visible while asserting the humanity of the men imprisoned there. Outside the Court, human rights advocates will read testimonies and names of prisoners, perform street theater, and hand out information.

With these actions throughout the world, people of conscience and justice call on the U.S. government to:
• Repeal the Military Commissions Act and restore Habeas Corpus
• Charge and try or release all detainees,
• Clearly and unequivocally forbid torture and all other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, by the military, the CIA, prison guards, civilian contractors, or anyone else,
• Pay reparations to current and former detainees and their families for violations of their human rights, and
• Shut down Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib, Bagram, and all other U.S. prisons overseas, including secret CIA detention facilities.

The International Day of Action launches a concerted campaign to Shut Down Guantánamo. For more information on the International Day of Action, please visit www.witnesstorture.org.

A presidential debate that matters

2008-01-09T15:11:00.000-09:00

The Green Party of Alameda County, California, is sponsoring a presidential debate with Green and Green-leaning candidates: Jared Ball, Jesse Johnson, Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay, Ralph Nader, and Kat Swift. The debate will take place January 13, at 2 pm California time (Pacific?) at the Herbst Theater in the Veterans Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness, San Francisco. Elaine Brown has withdrawn from the race.

Recycling groups meet!

2008-01-05T17:52:00.000-09:00

The Fairbanks Recycling Task Force next meets at the FNSB Assembly Chambers on Friday, January 11 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.

The Sustainable Community Round Table will meet on Sunday, January 13 from 1 to 6 pm at UAF in Gruening Building room 208 (that's in the basement). Parking is free on the weekends, remember. The discussion will be based on the Natural Step for Communities.

The borough will be hosting a recycling round table at the Wood Center Ballroom on February 2, from 1 to 4 pm for a community-wide discussion on recycling in the borough. The Recycling Task Force has started a blog at Recycle Fairbanks.

Green Party presidential hopefuls

2007-12-20T15:24:00.000-09:00

From a recent news release at www.gp.org:

Jared Ball, independent journalist; radio host (WPFW 89.3 FM Pacifica Radio in Washington, DC), hip-hop scholar, assistant professor of communications studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland
JaredBall.com

Elaine Brown, 2005 Green candidate for Mayor of Brunswick, Georgia; former leader of the Black Panther Party; organizer of Mothers Advocating Juvenile Justice and National Alliance for Radical Prison Reform
ElaineBrown.org

Jesse Johnson, 2006 US Senate candidate and 2004 gubernatorial candidate for the Mountain Party in West Virginia (now affiliate state party of the Green Party of the United States); filmmaker
YouTube declaration

Cynthia McKinney, former member of the US House of Representatives (Georgia), 1993 to 2003, 2005 to 2007; former member of the Georgia House of Representatives, 1988-1992
Run, Cynthia, Run

Kent Mesplay, 2004 candidate for the Green presidential nomination; former president of Turtle Island Institute; environmental engineer, alternative energy activist; California Green organizer
Mesplay.org

Ralph Nader, 1996 and 2000 Green candidate for President; 2004 independent candidate for President; consumer advocate (Howie Hawkins of the Green Party of New York State has consented to serve as a 'placeholder' candidate until Mr. Nader announces his intentions for the 2008 election)
Draft Nader.org

Kat Swift, Texas Green organizer; former Campus Greens leader; activist with Clean Money San Antonio and San Antonio Democracy Now
Kat for Prez

There's life in the old party yet!

2007-12-11T13:58:00.000-09:00

Check out the new statewide website! We have a new webmaster, a new design, and are looking for feedback from Green Party members: what should we have on the site? Did you find any broken links or typos? Let us know!

the SNAP program

2007-08-16T20:48:00.000-08:00

Garrison Collette, who works as an energy extension agent at the Cooperative Extension Service, sent around a message via e-mail exhorting people to help support the Sustainable Natural Alternative Power program at GVEA. It's a good idea, in my mind, and like him, I just hadn't gotten around to it yet (I've been looking into producing alternative energy, but the Republic is not there yet, alas). Here's what he said about the program:

[It] is the way our local utility gauges interest in renewable energy, and is also how it pays renewable producers. Right now, SNAP has less than one thousand members.

I can't really complain about this small number, since until today, I wasn't a member of SNAP. Many of us don't get an electric bill, or have it on autopay, or pay our electric bill to a landlord. So we don't see a box that says "check here to become a member of SNAP." Since I am one of those, I had to actually hunt down the link to become a SNAP member, and after I found the web page, it was really easy. So, I'm including the link to the web page to sign up to be a SNAP member. It's https://www.gvea.com/secure/snap.php. If every one of you signs up for SNAP as a result of this email, which is really just a reminder, then we will have doubled the number of SNAP members. Think about that--Fairbanks' main renewable energy program could grow by 100% in the next few hours if you just click on the link below.

I signed up to donate $5 a month. The minimum is $2. I know we can all afford that. It's more of a statement that, yes, the Interior cares about energy. That's really all we can do right now; make a statement. But I assure you that its a loud statement, and that there are a lot of people working to make sure that this statement doesn't go unnoticed.

Good on you, Garrison, and I think I'll take your advice.

Kevin Morford in deep trouble

2007-08-14T11:20:00.000-08:00

This is one for the Green Party Gone Bad blog, I think. Kevin Morford, a writer, community activist, and legal beagle for the Green Party of Alaska on many occasions, has been arrested and charged with child pornography. The Anchorage Daily News interviewed Jim Sykes about the arrest:

Jim Sykes, a consumer advocate from Palmer and a former Green Party candidate for Alaska governor and U.S. senator, said he was completely surprised to hear of the charges against Morford.

"I find the accusation quite shocking and hope it's not true," Sykes said Monday night. "He's contributed a lot to the community." .... "One of the principles of the Green Party is taking personal responsibility, and I'm sure ... he'll take personal responsibility for them" if the accusations prove to be true, Sykes said.

Shocking is right. Morford has done wonderful things for Alaska, and if this is true, it shows how a person can be both admirable and despicable at the same time. If it's not true, it will still cloud his reputation and probably ruin his life for years to come, that being the depth of revulsion which any taint of this kind of crime induces in people.

You just never know.

The first key value

2007-08-09T13:51:00.000-08:00

The first of the Ten Key Values of the Green Party of the United States is Grassroots Democracy:

Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives and not be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.

Alaskans for Clean Elections is doing something about corruption in Alaska politics with its Clean Elections initiative. Money, as has become apparent, can have a corrosive effect on the moral fiber of our representatives.

Go check out this initiative, and add your name to the list of supporters!

Green business caucus

2007-08-08T16:17:00.000-08:00

Check out the article in Green Pages, "Walking the walk: Green business owners positioned to make a difference":

As a caucus within the party, Green business owners could start a meaningful discussion about how best to utilize the skills and resources we bring to the Party. We can set an example of what "business" can be, and what it looks like when a moral compass and a little vision are added to the mix. We all talked about our desire to see a network form that would unite Green business owners nationwide and help Greens communicate with each other to help grow the party.

If you are interested in helping to form such a group or caucus, please contact mattfuniciello@earthlink.net

For a while, the TY-Green website had a Green Business page, with lots of information on community-based economics. Here's some information from Synthesis/Regeneration on the topic, in two articles by Steve Welzer. The journal also has a page of links to articles on Green economics.

For some local writing on this, there's my own recent editorial on community currency, and two articles by Phil Loring over at The Fireweed on local agriculture.

GPAK website redesign

2007-07-30T22:51:00.000-08:00

Well, folks, I am redesigning the Green Party of Alaska website, but at the moment I am wrestling with uploading to the server. I'm using Fugu, and learning as I go, and so far am flummoxed. But we should have a nice shiny (but short) new website up in a week or so. Stay tuned!

51 ballot lines by 2008

2007-07-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

The national Green Party wants to get every state and the District of Columbia on the ballot by the November 2008 election, which will be a tall order here in Alaska. The only way we can do it here is with a registration drive, since we're off the ballot for this year.

I suppose the first order of business is getting our statewide website back up and running.

Fairbanks Critical Mass Bike Ride

2007-06-27T19:37:00.000-08:00

It's summertime, and the critical mass bike rides are on again! On the last Friday of the month,

Fairbanks Critical Mass will celebrate the midnight sun while promoting awareness of bicycles and bicycle safety on the road. Critical Mass is a national program where cyclists exercise their right to ride on the road. Cycling is the most efficient, least carbon-emitting form of transportation known to man. Come show your personality by dressing up in this month's midnight sun theme, and show your commitment to a healthy world.

Bring a helmet, and meet at Beaver sports at 5:30 this Friday, or call Garrison at 474-2402 for more information.

The Critical Mass Bike Rides are on:

June 29
July 27
August 31

and go from Beaver Sports east on College Road. Dress up in costume, bring banners, horns, bells, and a smile!

Rules:

Don't just blindly follow the person in front of you--you are responsible for your own actions.
Wear a helmet (Alaska has helmet laws)
Ride in the road and obey all trafffic laws (STOP on YELLOW as well as red!)
Stay in the far right lane (don't take up two lanes)
Be friendly to motorists.

Clean Campaigns

2007-06-23T17:47:00.000-08:00

The disgust level has finally risen across the nation to the point that clean campaign initiatives are popping up all over, even here in Alaska. The Publc Campaign Action Fund has an Alaska campaign, Alaska Public Interest Research Group is supporting a clean campaigns initiative, about which the Anchorage Daily News wrote a story in May. Interestingly, in that article, the reporter quoted Randy Reuderich, that paragon of probity and trustworthiness, as saying:

"Equal funding is an incumbent-protection policy," Ruedrich said. Sitting lawmakers have the advantage of name recognition, giving them an edge over challengers even if they are equally funded as clean-election candidates, he said.

"I'm more for a system of no limits to funding and full, immediate disclosure, so voters know right away who is backing a candidate," he said.

Uh, right. So is he claiming that it's not easier right now for incumbents to get oodles of cash for their campaigns? So when big money owns a legislator, they aren't going to back 'em? Naah. I'd say it's a better bet that clean campaign laws will return those incumbents who AREN'T BEHOLDEN TO BIG MONEY, but will throw out the bums who are in the pockets of lobbyists.

Nice try, Randy.

The Green Party of Alaska has long supported clean campaign and election legislation, but I guess preventitive measures didn't sink in. It takes really slimy dealings before everybody else gets on the bandwagon. Anyway, this Green is for endorsing the clean campaign initiatve AkPIRG's supporting.

Wednesday peace walks

2007-02-22T12:53:00.000-09:00

Every Wednesday on the UAF campus, there is a peace walk from noon to 1, starting at the UA Museum of the North. Bring your own signs if you can, and exercize for peace! Contact Abel Bult-Ito for more info, ffab [ at] uaf.edu or 474-7158.

Bristol Bay oil/gas leasing

2007-01-11T09:35:00.000-09:00

George W. has lifted the ban on oil and gas drilling in Bristol Bay, which is causing one heck of a lot of controversy in the area. Fish vs. oil? hmmmm. Here's what the LA Times had to say about the cons on that:

The area is a major fishing ground for North Pacific fleets, including many crab, salmon, pollock and cod vessels that are based in Puget Sound. The bay also supports an abundance of wildlife, including major seabird populations and marine mammals that include the endangered North Pacific right whale.

The bay is a part of the Bering Sea, notorious for winter storms with high winds and high seas that could increase the risks of a major oil spill.

Ted Stevens thinks it's a good idea, as does Palin, but both have expressed a little worry about the fisheries and the usual platitudes about responsible development.

Given the oil industry's track record on spill cleanup and compensation (think Exxon, folks), I am VERY skeptical.

Folding the website

2006-12-28T13:33:00.000-09:00

I'm going to let the domain name, tygreens.org, lapse, basically because there doesn't seem to be a regional party any more, and no one seems to be using it. I've been paying for the domain and the hosting service, and I'm no longer interested in doing either without help or compensation, since it doesn't seem to do much. I will maintain the website on file on my computer, so if something does resurrect itself, we'll have a starter for a website again (or we can just pop the old one up and start where we left off).

I'll also keep this blog going, although it would be nice to have other people participating...sigh.

Greens organizing in Juneau!

2006-10-27T12:42:00.000-08:00

Jeremy Dodson and a few other Greens in Juneau are organizing, and I'm helping them set up a blog. It's pretty minimal at the moment, but should be a nice starter. Here's the link.

Braun's withdrawn

2006-10-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

Oh, well.

Senate district D candidate

2006-10-24T11:18:00.000-08:00

David Braun, it turns out, has a website. Braun is the Green Party candidate for Senate district D, running against Democrat Joe Thomas and Republican Ralph Seekins. He hails from Healy. He is, however, a federal employee, and so may not run for state office, evidently. He's been told by the US Office of Special Counsel that he has to either quit his job or withdraw his candidacy. Braun's got until Oct. 27 to decide what he'll do, but his name is already on the ballot.

Green policy database

2006-10-15T07:39:00.000-08:00

GreenPRO is the Green Policy, Resolutions, and Ordinance Database, a project of the Green Institute, a Green think tank. The database is a resource of various policies, resolutions, regulations, and ordinances enacted by Green and other progressive bodies and officeholders. The database is small at the moment (it was only put on line Oct. 12), but already covers such topics as corporate accountability, election reform, peace initiatives, and sustainability policies.

Green assemblyman in Fairbanks

2006-10-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

Mike Musick has been elected to Seat G on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly, by a whopping 61.66 percent! (7005 votes)

The News-Miner has an article about the election results. What strikes me about this is that people with such divergent views as Charlie Rex and Nadine Hargesheimer or Luke Hopkins agree that Musick will make a good assemblyman. When both conservatives and liberals can postively agree on the quality of a person, that's a good sign. We certainly don't need the divisiveness that was evident on the assembly during Rick Solie's tenure...

Mike Musick for borough assembly

2006-08-22T20:06:00.000-08:00

Here's an announcement from Richard Seifert:

Mike Musick, known to most, grandfather, Green builder, former local building Association president, once an Alaska Craftsman Home Instructor, business owner and log builder, author of the Alaska Log Building Manual, arbor day hero, and mild mannered, good-humored, civil fellow, is running for borough assembly. It is our good community fortune that he is he is willing to do this now. He can use your support and is especially hoping some of you will offer a venue for local meetings where Mike can get to know our community better and you, him.
So if you can manage a house party, please let Mike or I know. Mike will be an excellent assemblyman and his values will help us achieve a more sustainable future. But only if you vote for him, and help him get elected. His challenger is Bonnie Williams.
It's too rare that someone like Mike is courageous enough to run, but here is a chance to actually vote FOR someone for a change, instead of against the other person.

The borough electon is October 3. Help get Mike Musick elected.

I gather that Mike is running against Bonnie Williams (gack) for Guy Sattley's seat. I can definitely get behind Mike's campaign. Go, Mike!

Ranked Choice Voting initiative

2006-07-25T22:57:00.000-08:00

Across the country, electoral reform initiatives are being put on the ballot. City and county-level measures are being brought forth or passing, because not only do they encourage voter participation and discourage negative campaigning, they save money when an election is close (you don't have to finance a run-off election). Here's how the Center for Voting and Democracy describes the problem with our current first-past-the-post method of plurality voting:

Three is a crowd in our current voting system. Plurality voting, where the candidate with the most votes wins, is dysfunctional when more than two candidates run. It promotes zero-sum politics that discourage new candidates, suppress new ideas and encourage negative campaigns rather than inclusive efforts to build consensus.

In contrast, instant runoff voting (IRV) elects candidates who have majority support, accommodates voters having better choices and encourages winning candidates to reach out to more people.

More cities, counties, and states are turning to ranked choice voting methods.

On July 19, the North Carolina state senate passed bipartisan legislation (H1024) to use instant runoff voting (IRV) for statewide elections for judicial office vacancies and to let 10 cities and 10 counties try IRV in 2007-2008. The bill now heads back to the House, which passed a similar bill in 2005 and must accept various amendments.

More information is available at FairVote, including an analysis of why the 2002 Alaska measure failed. An Alaskan listserve to get a method of ranked choice voting on the ballot is available for signup here.

State accepts Massie anyway?

2006-06-30T13:35:00.000-08:00

Apparently, our request to the Office of Elections to remove Massie as candidate for governor has been ignored. He's on the list, and as a Green. This man has no history with the Green Party, did not contact the Greens, signed up as a Green at the same time he filed for office, and wasn't terribly responsive when Jim Sykes tried to contact him repeatedly after his name appeared on the Elections website.

Personally, I don't think that Dae Miles should be running on our ticket, either (the man is actively asking people NOT to vote for him, but to vote for David Guttenberg). I like Guttenberg, but if Miles wants people to support Guttenberg, he should have volunteered for his campaign, not run against him. Miles doesn't have a history with the Greens, either, and also signed with the party on the day of filing. He is hurting both the Green Party and Guttenberg's campaign with this stunt.

This is a serious problem for small parties: every nutcase and wingnut thinks they can simply use the ballot line to get public recognition. This hurts our actual candidates and gives the party a bad name. I see this kind of invasive candidacy as hostile to the Greens, and counter to our values: diverse viewpoints and grassroots participation are very important, but those ten values need to be respected. Candidates such as this do not uphold those values, and by not working with the party, show themselves to scorn accountability from the get-go.

Documents sent to statewide

2006-06-21T09:51:00.000-08:00

The State of Alaska, in yet another attempt to get us off the ballot and restrict the voters' choices, has sent us Discovery Requests for just about every document we've ever produced...I suppose to prove that we are indeed an organized political party, as per state law. So I've shipped off a box of minutes, convention notes, flyers, etc. obtained from former secretary Marilyn Russell to our legal beagle, Kevin Morford. I have to go through the many boxes o' stuff and send off more, too. Jim Sykes is doing likewise, and I suppose the other bioregions are digging things up here and there.

The postage is adding up.

Massie to be removed from ballot

2006-06-12T22:24:00.000-08:00

The Green Party of Alaska statewide council has sent letter to the Division of Elections requesting Massie's removal from the primary ballot:

The Green Party of Alaska requests that David Massie be removed as a candidate for Governor from the primary ballot pursuant to AS 15.25.042.

The Statewide Council of the Green Party of Alaska has met and reviewed the circumstances of Mr. Massie's filing. Based on information available to the Statewide Council, we find that David Massie has not met the minimum requirement of being registered as a Green Party of Alaska member for 180 days prior to the June 1 filing date.

Under the Green Party of Alaska Bylaws which have been submitted to the Alaska Division of Elections and approved by the US Department of Justice, the Statewide Council is requesting the removal of Mr. Massie under bylaw Article VI, Candidate Endorsement/Challenge, Section 1b as follows:

"Section 1b) Disqualification of Candidates for Public Office and Public

Officials From Holding Party Offices.

A candidate may be removed if, in the judgment of the Statewide Council, she/he appears to be in clear violation of Green Party of Alaska principles and platform, have no previous history with the Green Party of Alaska, or appears to promote ideas and platform positions substantially different from Green Party of Alaska.

A Green Party of Alaska candidate may also be removed from the ballot for the following reasons:

1. If a candidate was not a registered member of the Green Party of Alaska 180 days prior to the Alaska Division of Elections filing deadline, the candidate may be removed from the ballot by the Statewide Council."

Once again since Mr. Massie has not been a registered member of the Green Party for 180 days we asked that he be removed from the primary ballot.

Green candidates in Alaska

2006-06-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

I made an entry about this earlier on the Ester Republic blog, but here's an update. Note that a couple of these candidates are simply registered Green, and have not contacted the Green Party (at least not yet) about their candidacies.

State Senate District D:
David P. Braun (Green) - NOT CERTIFIED P.O. Box 222 Healy, AK 99743 Phone: (907) 683-2654

State Representative District 7:
Mark A. Ames (Green) AFC - P.O. Box 71693 Fairbanks, AK 99707 Phone: (907) 457-5096
[Ames has registered recently as a Green, but not recently enough per Green Party rules. I've never seen him at a Green party meeting.]

State Representative District 8:
Dae Miles (Green) - NOT CERTIFIED 2849 Mello Lane Fairbanks, AK 99709 Phone: (907) 457-3236. His website is www.votedae.com
[Miles is an experienced candidate in the Fairbanks area, but I've not seen him at a Green party meeting. I don't think he's served in pubic office.]

United States Representative:
Eva L. Ince (Green) P.O. Box 111426 Anchorage, AK 99511 Phone: (907) 522-1059. Her website is www.evaforcongress.us

Governor:
David M. Massie (Green)- NOT CERTIFIED P.O. Box 240921, Anchorage, AK 99524 Phone: (907) 333-0555

More on Eva & Ralph

2006-05-31T15:05:00.001-08:00

Eva Ince is just getting her campaign going, has ordered stickers and buttons, and now needs people to get the word out. Since no meeting place was designated in time, she's not coming to Fairbanks on the 5th of June as originally planned; instead, she'll be at the Anchorage Barnes & Noble, and is calling on Chicks with Sticks and other Green knitters to come and meet her there.

Ralph may have some competition, after all--but still not from the Democrats. Rumor has it that there's a Green who may run for Senate District D: Ester, UAF, Fairbanks, Ferry, Denali, Healy, Nenana, and Cantwell areas. (It is utterly astonishing to me that Seekins ever got elected to this district in the first place. I can see Cantwell, but elsewhere? I'm boggled.)

But there's still today and tomorrow left...

More to come!

Eva Ince, candidate for U.S. House

2006-05-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

Eva Ince, who declared last Tuesday for U.S. Representative is planning on coming to Fairbanks to meet with the Tanana-Yukon Greens June 5.

No Dem in District D

2006-05-18T04:49:00.000-08:00

So far, the Alaska Greens have only one or two possible candidates, both for U.S. Congress. However, there are several important races at state level in which the Democrats have as yet been unable to find candidates, among them Ralph Seekins' district, Senate District D, right here in River City.

One would think, with Seekins' track record, that a Democrat would be a shoo-in.

Still, nobody seems to have time. I spoke with a certain to-remain-anonymous Democratic organizer, who said that they might be willing to work with us if they can't find a candidate, so long as we have a reasonable candidate. A viable, reasonable candidate would have to be someone well known, articulate, respected in the community, business-savvy, politically astute, and willing to work his or her buns off in a campaign.

So, any takers out there?

Statewide convention doings

2006-04-01T10:11:00.000-09:00

I'm blogging the convention as it happens: first are reports. A couple of us called in, Soren Wuerth calling out of Chevak and me out of Ester. The connection was good, but faint, so it was hard to hear people in the room unless they were right next to the phone.

The legal report concerns our lawsuits; we won the ballot access case, but the state appealed, it looks like we're going to do okay on that. Activities report: not much. The Anchorage Greens revived: campaign finance reform was an active issue, clean water project (sewage is only given primary treatment before being dumped into Cook Inlet).

The new statewide PO Box is 112947, Anchorage, AK 99511, phone number is 907.745.6962. A new e-mail listserve was created by Tom Macchia for statewide. The Fairbanks-area Greens started a new website and this blog, but lost their legal standing as a political party due to lack of officers and reporting.

Next was the nomination and election of officers. The issue of who is a spokesman for the party came up; this should be the party chair. Sykes has been sort of the public face of the party, which is the role of the co-chair. The two busiest officers are the secretary and the treasurer (in terms of paperwork). Since this is an election year, there is more reporting for the treasurer to do. Judy Moss was nominated and unanimously approved for treasurer.

Soren suggested combining two positions and creating a secretary/treasurer position, but we've not done that before, according to Jim Sykes. Greg Nothstine was nominated but not present yet, so nominations were held open.

Nominations for co-chair were opened, Soren Wuerth and Steve Cleary were nominated. Cleary declined, but nominated Diane Benson. Benson also declined. Tom Macchia was nominated by Wuerth; Shirley Buchholtz was nominated but she declined. So now Soren Wuerth and Tom Macchia are our new co-chairs.

Next on the agenda was the listserve. Tom Macchia is our new listmaster, and those who wish to sign up can contact him at tommacchia [at] yahoo.com to sign up. This discussion segued into outreach using the web and blogs, and going to speak at schools.

Diane Benson spoke; she's considering running for US Congress against Don Young. I hope she does. She's an articulate, principled woman who would be an improvement in any race. There was quite the discussion about running candidates for various offices and strategies being used in other states. We discussed the merits of running lots of candidates in as many offices as possible, versus concentrating on only a few, high-profile races. I prefer the shotgun approach myself, aiming for many small races, as I think that one is more likely to gain a small office and then be able to build on that experience later on for bigger races.

I signed off after this discussion; my poor ear was beginning to hurt after an hour and a half on the phone.

Statewide convention!

2006-03-24T08:46:00.000-09:00

The Green Party of Alaska is holding its statewide convention April 1 & 2 on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus in the Rasmuson Building (Business Education), room 220. Events begin at 9 a.m. on the 1st and at 10 a.m. on the 2nd.

Impeach Bush! Win Prizes!

2006-03-05T10:46:00.000-09:00

The Merchandising Committee is holding a contest for the best slogan for our new "Impeach Bush" bumper sticker. Deadline is March 18th. Send your best slogans to contest@gp.org. Grand prize winner receives a "Green Party Survival Kit": T-Shirt, Peace Flag, CD, Button & Magnet. First Prize: Green Party T-Shirt. All contestants will receive a "Bring them Home Now!" peace ribbon magnet and 2004 Green Party Platform.

Contact them at contest [ at ]gp.org!

We're back!

2006-02-12T02:04:00.000-09:00

One important thing GPAK has been doing is working with the Republican Moderates to ensure fair election laws in this state. Ballot access has been getting jimmied around by the legislature, and so we've had to challenge certain laws in court--but Superior Court Judge Stephanie Joannides can tell folderol from common sense, and this month granted the Green Party a preliminary injunction that will prevent the State of Alaska from denying us ballot access in 2006.

The law requires that to retain ballot access, a party has to get 3% in the governor's race. If there isn't a governor's race, then 3% in the U.S. Senate race; if no senate race, then 3% in the U.S. House race. Stupid, no? in 1998 the governor's race had the fewest number voting of three statewide races, so it's not necessarily the most representative race.

Since we've gotten better than 3% in at least one statewide race every general election since we started up in 1990 (one year we beat the Democrats by a considerable margin), this ruling makes good sense. It's pretty clear that our PrevoRepublican legislative majority passed this law in order to keep the Libertarians and the Republican Moderates from making any headway, but it benefitted the Democrats too, thereby providing them motivation to ignore democratic principles in favor of moving toward the two-headed monster that has become the Republocratic Party of the Lower 48.

Fortunately Alaska Democrats aren't quite that bad yet...but for how long? At least now the minor parties in this state can keep the major parties honest. Or closer to it, anyway.

Anybody out there recall that one of the tyrannical features of the old Soviet Union was that there was only one political party? Effectively, that's what we're getting on the national scene...

New statewide mailing list

2006-02-10T13:03:00.000-09:00

The old discuss list had died a miserable death, apparently, abandoned by the listmaster, who is nowhere to be found. So, a new one, at yahoogroups.com, has been started by Tom Macchia: AlaskaGreens!

Sign up today!

Southcentral Greens hold press conference on reform

2006-02-03T09:37:00.000-09:00

The Southcentral Green Bioregion held a press conference on the 1st about campaign finance and lobbying reform. A couple of stories are out there on it right now:

Green Party leader seeks reform in political funding
CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Jim Sykes asks residents to speak up for new laws.
By RICHARD MAUER, Anchorage Daily News, Published: February 2, 2006 (more on the ADN's webpage...)

The leader of Alaska's Green Party said Wednesday the response to the scandals in Washington should go beyond lobbying reform to rewriting the laws on campaign finance.

In a mid-morning news conference in Anchorage, Jim Sykes called on Alaskans to pressure their three-member congressional delegation to strip special-interest money from politics.

Sykes, who rejected out-of-state contributions as a third-party candidate for U.S. Senate in 2004, said Congress should make such a ban a permanent feature of American politics. He also called for public financing of elections, free broadcast time for federal candidates, an end to contributions from PACs and organizations, and sharp restrictions on the use of earmarks in legislation.

"Lobbying is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of money in Washington," Sykes said. "The real money is from the lobbyists and special interests that bankroll campaigns. They have made it so that people in Congress may have a closer relationship with a group of lobbyists than they have with their constituents."

Sykes said his suggestions are similar to those made by citizen groups in Washington and around the country. Earmarks and riders have come under heavy criticism of late.

Both techniques are used to create special programs or funnel money to specific causes, often with minimal scrutiny. They are tools most readily employed by committee chairs or legislators with advanced seniority -- a description that includes two-thirds of Alaska's representation, Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young.

Political advocate pushes for campaign finance reform
KTUU-TV
Wednesday, February 1, 2006 - by Sean Doogan Anchorage, Alaska -

An Alaska political activist says now is the time to make big changes in Washington, D.C.

Jim Sykes of the Green Party says the Abramoff influence peddling scandal is highlighting the need for campaign finance reform. Sykes, a former candidate for U.S. Senate, says during the 2004 Senate race all of the major candidates received a majority of their campaign funding from Outside donors.

Sykes wants changes made to U.S. code that would require all campaign contributions for federal office to come from within the candidate's home state. But Sykes says his idea will require people to pressure their congressmen.

"The legislators themselves are not interested in making these changes because they got there on the gravy train, and they want to keep the gravy train rolling," said Sykes.

Sykes says he wrote the Alaska delegation in Washington asking them to work on a campaign finance reform bill.

Who will be the peace candidate in 2008?

2006-02-03T09:10:00.000-09:00

Who will be the peace candidate in 2008?
Z magazine, Feb. 3, 2006
by Ben Manski and Dean Myerson

Who will be the peace candidate in 2008? In a desperate era, that is the question on many lips. The answer flows from another question: Are anti-war Americans ready to support a peace candidate? In 2004, most did not. Prominent progressives pledged support to a candidate who did not represent them. Now, that choice seems to have left a bad taste.

This week, Molly Ivins declared she'd had enough, warning that she, "will not support Hillary Clinton for president." Arianna Huffington asked, rhetorically and in all caps, "What The Hell Are They Thinking?" And in November, The Nation pledged that it would, "not support any candidate for national office who does not make a speedy end to the war in Iraq a major issue of his or her campaign."

These statements are understandable. The Democratic leadership has been nothing if not consistent. They abandoned their voters a month after the 2000 elections; they held out for just six hours in 2004. They voted for the "PATRIOT Act." They voted for the invasion of Iraq. They voted for John Roberts. They voted additional funds for the occupation of Iraq, and against an immediate withdrawal. They knew of Bush's wiretapping, and did nothing. They have undercut efforts to filibuster Alito. And they have stalled the drive for impeachment.

Millions of American progressives knew better, know better. A few dozen members of Congress knew better, know better. And what's worse, recent developments within the Democratic Party all but guarantee that it will not back anti-war candidates in 2006 or 2008. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is withholding support from local and state-level ant-war candidates. The D-triple-C would rather support a losing pro-war Democrat than a winning peace candidate. No wonder there is a shift within the progressive community.

Backing peace candidates is a matter of principle. It is also a matter of practicality. Rodham Clinton this week called for sanctions, and possible preemptive strikes, against Iran. The failed politics of "Anybody But Bush" have produced a Democratic presidential frontrunner running to Bush's right. No wonder progressives are pining to get their surrendered
independence back. No wonder so many have vowed to reclaim it.

Having vowed their independence, some in 2008 may yet look to a candidate running in the Democratic presidential primaries, the theory being that what failed for Kucinich in 2004 may yet work for Feingold in 2008. Reasonable people, however, will remember the history of the Democratic presidential primaries, littered with the gravestones of Jackson, Harkin, Sharpton, Dean, and Kucinich, among others. Reasonable people will expect that after the primaries, the pressure to close ranks will come to bear; the once insurgent candidate will become the party loyalist and back the pro-war nominee. Will those now vowing their independence do the reasonable thing? Will they make their anti-war pledge matter?

In the wake of over 100,000 Iraqi dead, 2,200 American dead, nearly 20,000 walking wounded, and $2 trillion on route to the dump, a majority of Americans are in the anti-war camp. And according to Zogby International, 52% say Bush's warrantless wiretapping is grounds for impeachment. With the Democratic leadership demonstrating that once again, it is an obstacle to popular sentiment, anti-war Americans must look elsewhere. And what alternative will there be, but that offered by the Green Party?

The Green Party is the only significant progressive party that is united against the war and for immediate withdrawal. The Green Party need not make any pledges to back only anti-war candidates; running anti-war candidates is the party's bread and butter.

But if the Green Party is to run a strong anti-war presidential candidate, an end-the-war candidate, it must have the support of the broader anti-war movement. The Greens may not be a party of the political establishment, but they field state party organizations in most every state, hundreds of elected officials, and hard-won experience with restrictive ballot access laws. There is no need for the anti-war movement to start from scratch.

There is not yet a clear standard bearer for the Green presidential nomination, but party activists are committed to recruiting a candidate. Support from the anti-war movement will make that recruitment effort much more likely to succeed. The Greens are a base for organizing; but it will be up to the broader anti-war movement to call forth a serious anti-war candidate.

Anti-war activists are recognizing that they cannot again back a pro-war candidate. But being against something is not enough. There must be an alternative for there to be an effective opposition. Light a fire, spread the word, begin to beat the drum for a peace campaign. Pledge not only to withhold your vote. Let those who could potentially top that peace ticket know that if they build it, you will come.

Ben Manski is a former Co-Chair of the Green Party of the United States. He currently serves as a Fellow with the Liberty Tree Foundation for the Democratic Revolution.

Dean Myerson is a former Political Director of the Green Party of the United States. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Green Institute.

Green speakers

2006-01-22T10:40:00.000-09:00

A note from the Outreach Committee of the GPUS:

Have you ever watched a Green speaker who was so inspiring it made you think, "If only more people heard this message..."

Well, you can help make it happen.

The ad-hoc Outreach committee is working on developing a Green Speakers Bureau, and we are looking for enthusiastic, articulate Greens who can inspire audiences and represent the Green Party and its platform to diverse audiences. Maybe you know of a Green who would be a perfect for the speaker's bureau, or maybe you would like to volunteer yourself.

Just send your info to: speakers@gp.org

If you are nominating another individual, please send us the sugested speaker's name and as much contact information as you can. Also, any additional information you find helpful would be wonderful.

If you are volunteering yourself, please send the following information: name, contact info, areas of expertise, travel limitations or requirements, fee or fee structure requested (if any), and other pertinent information regarding scheduling or speaking.

Thanks for helping us build the Green Party.

Peace,
Ad Hoc Outreach Committee

P.S. Please remember to send all correspondence regarding the Speakers Bureau to speakers@gp.org

The Green 'Rush Limbaugh'?

2006-01-20T02:17:00.000-09:00

Whoa. Gregg Jocoy, self-professed Gonzo writer, South Carolinian, wrote an article for the American Chronicle in which he says "the Green Party has something to say to Limbaugh's listeners." He says:

This is the essential lesson of the Green Party. America. The America that believes in love, not in torture. The America that believes women hold up half the sky. The America that makes your throat swell even when its President lets you down...again. The America that we are proud of. Not the America of Coke vs Pepsi, but the America of the powerful defending the weak. Not the America of “Do you want fries with that?” but the America of real promise.

Yeah!

draft state logo?

2006-01-12T23:34:00.000-09:00

Greens, please leave comments. I know the hooves on the caribou look a little funny...too many colors on him, too, but those things can be fixed.

Green Pages Editorial Board

2006-01-12T19:27:00.000-09:00

Green Pages is seeking volunteers to serve on the editorial board, as well as Green Party photographers and writers who might wish to submit something but aren't ready to serve on a national committee. To apply for membership to the board, you need to provide an application to greenpages [at] greens.org. An important note: Please contact your state/caucus (you can call toll-free 866-41GREEN, too) PRIOR to submitting your application to the Green Pages editorial board to get approval from your party to serve on the editorial board. Please include details in your application about whom you contacted (name, position) from your state or caucus to obtain approval to the editorial board; when contact was made; phone/e-mail contact info; and any info you have about the status of your request.

EcoAction Committee seeking volunteers

2006-01-11T13:29:00.000-09:00

Local to worldwide, the Green Party has a tradition and deep roots in Ecological and Environmental wisdom and justice. Unique from other political parties in this way, we understand that humanity is not separate from nature, and we are not separate from each other. We understand the necessity of living in concert with nature and that we must minimize our negative impact, and indeed, maximize our positive impact on the human and natural environment. Ecological Wisdom is a pillar and key value of our party.

In this spirit, the GPUS National Committee recently approved the formation of the GPUS Eco Action Committee. This will be a standing committee of the GPUS. Our focus will be Ecological Wisdom and Environmental Justice. Our purpose will be to facilitate the planning and achievement of eco-justice action proposals adopted by the Green Party, to support and promote the Green Party's candidates, eco-justice platform and agenda, and to promote and lobby for responsible government stewardship of the Earth and its inhabitants.

United States citizens are concerned with environmental and ecological degradation, and the negative effects of the poor environmental practices employed by the government and corporations. What is missing is political pressure and action towards restoring our natural resources and quality of life. The GPUS Eco Action Committee intends to provide education, action, support for local candidates, and, political pressure, as well as being instrumental in forming and promoting environmentally sustainable and wise ecological policy.

As a standing committee of the Green Party of the United States, each state or caucus is entitled to name representatives to this committee. We hope to have representatives from each state and caucus join us to employ the broad range of talent, passion, and vision that Greens in this country share. To connect communities nationwide, that we may have a broad view of environmental concerns, and the ability to help one another in having a positive impact on our environment. Much of the work on this committee will be done over e-mail and by teleconference meetings.

Examples of how committee members might contribute to these goals could be to contribute or organize research on political aspects of environmental problems, guide local green party candidates to committee developed resources that can benefit their campaigns, bring national party attention to local environmental issues such as relaxing environmental standards where communities are already weakened by social injustice, or helping to organize mass protests on environmental issues.

We expect the work to be fairly intense given the magnitude of the ecological imbalance we face and the uniqueness of the Green Party in holding Ecological Wisdom as a Key Value. This is really an invitation to try to accomplish what seems an impossibly large task: to bring our whole country into harmony with its environment. A'ohe hana nui ka alu'ia: No task is too big when done together.

If this letter resonates with you, please consider contacting your state party or caucus about joining the committee. Further information about the committee can be had from the committee contact person:
Kristen Olson at 651-210-0789, or kristenolson@mngreens.org