WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders, candidates, officeholders, and state party delegates are heading to Alfred, in western New York State, this week for the party's 2011 Annual National Meeting at Alfred University from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7.
This year's meeting site was chosen in part to recognize the Green Party's achievement of major party status in New York, a result of Howie Hawkins' gubernatorial candidacy in the 2010 election.
The meeting will take place at the fourth biennial New York Green Fest, "a gathering of folks interested in exploring the politics and practices that will help enable us to live in a sustainable world, and sharing a weekend of good discussions, good food, and good music" (http://nygreenfest.org). Greens will discuss this year's elections and prepare for Election Year 2012, including the presidential race.
The party will hold several events open to journalists during the meeting. A schedule is appended below. Journalists are encouraged to register ahead of time, at the Green Party's media credentialing page (http://www.gp.org/forms/media). Registration for media will also take place on site during the meeting. Scott McLarty, media coordinator for the Green Party, will be on site and can be reached at 202-904-7614 (cell).
Press conferences will feature Green candidates for public office from across the US, with a special press conference on Friday, August 6, for women candidates hosted by the party's National Women Caucus (http://www.gp.org/caucuses/women/index.php).
Many of the events, including the forums, press conferences, and workshops, will be broadcast online via the Green Party's Livestream Channel for public viewing (http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus).
Alfred is about 80 miles from Rochester and 90 miles from Buffalo. For directions to Alfred University and Green Fest, see: http://nygreenfest.org/directions.html
Elizabeth May, Canada's first elected Green Party member of Parliament, will speak to Greens at the meeting by Skype. David C. Korten, economist, co-founder and board chair of YES! Magazine, and author of 'When Corporations Rule the World' and other books (http://livingeconomiesforum.org/author-bio), will also address the meeting by Skype.
Appearing in person will be Richard Grossman, co-author of 'Defying Corporations, Defining Democracy' (2001), author of 'Taking Care of Business: Citizenship & the Charter of Incorporation' (1993); Revoking the Corporation (1996), 'The WTO, the US Constitution & Self-Government' (1999); active with Frack Free Catskills (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frack-Free-Catskills/160846107298815) in Ulster and Green counties, New York.
Cheri Honkala, Green candidate for Sheriff of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (http://www.cherihonkala.com), will also speak at the meeting. Ms. Honkala founded the Kensington Welfare Rights Union and the national Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign. She was included in Philadelphia Magazine’s list of 100 Most Powerful Philadelphians and was named Philadelphia Weekly’s “Woman of the Year†in 1997. She was featured in the award-winning documentary 'Poverty Outlaw' (http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-11-21/news/poverty-outlaws/1/).
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS for the Media
For all events and more details, see http://nygreenfest.org/2011schedule.html
Speakers' bios: http://nygreenfest.org/presenterbios11.html
Green Party Livestream channel: http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5
9:00 am
Press conference
Welcome from the Green Party of New York State and the Green Party of the United States
Green officeholder: David Doonan, Mayor of Greenwich, NY
Green candidates:
Audrey Clement, for Arlington County Board, Va. (http://www.AudreyClement.org), co-chair of the Green Party of the United States
Joe Duffy, for Alderman of Hornell, NY; chair of the Steuben County Green Party (http://www.steubengreens.org)
Howie Hawkins, for Common Councillor of Syracuse, NY; 2010 candidate for Governor or NY
Jay Sweeney, for Supervisor in Falls Township, Pa.
Green presidential candidate Kent Mesplay (http://www.mesplay.org)
Moderator: Scott McLarty
Location: Kenyon-Allen Davis Suite, Powell Campus Center
11:00 am
Press conference
Hosted by the National Women's Caucus (http://www.gp.org/caucuses/women/index.php)
Green candidates:
Colia Clark, for US Senator from New York (2012 election)
Cheri Honkala, for Sheriff of Philadelphia, Pa. (http://www.cherihonkala.com)
Cecile Lawrence, candidate for the Tioga County Legislature (District 3), NY
Moderator: George Friday, National Women's Caucus
Location: Kenyon-Allen Davis Suite, Powell Campus Center
6:45 to 8:45 pm
Forum on Building Local Economies
David Korten, economist, (via Skype) on "Agenda for a Local Economy"; Tina Clarke and David Doonan on the Transition Town Movement
Moderator: Virginia Rasmussen, Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy (http://www.poclad.org), Women's International League for Peace and Freedom: Corporations v. Democracy campaign (http://www.wilpf.org/cvd), trustee of the Village of Alfred
Location: Nevins Theater, Powell Campus Center
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6
1:15 to 2:30 pm
Forum on Asserting Local Sovereignty over Fossil Fuel Extraction
Richard Grossman, democracy and anti-fracking activist; and various Green Party speakers.
Moderator: Kate Bartholomew, Coalition to Protect New York (http://www.coalitiontoprotectnewyork.org)
Location: Solar Stage
6:45 to 8:45 pm
Forum on Campaigning for Local Economies and Clean Energy
Elizabeth May, Green Member of Parliament in Canada, (via Skype), Cheri Honkala, Kent Mesplay, and other US Green candidates and officeholders
Moderator: David Cobb, 2004 Green Party presidential nominee
Location: Nevins Theater, Powell Campus Center
Some details of the above events may be subject to change.
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