Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice * Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence
>> Green Party of Michigan <<
http://www.migreens.org
>>> ---------------- <<<
>>> News Release <<<
>>> ---------------- <<<
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
---------------------
March 8, 2005
For More Information Contact:
----------------------------
Sylvia Inwood, Chair/Green Party of Michigan
chair@migreens.org
John Anthony La Pietra, Media Committee/GPMI
jalp@internet1.com
>> National, Michigan Greens Celebrate International Women's Day <<
>> ============================================================= <<
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) and its chair Sylvia Inwood
join the national Green Party of the United States (GPUS) in solemn
celebration of International Women's Day today -- and re-dedication
to the causes of peace, justice, and equal rights.
GPMI and GPUS both recognize March 8 as the day set aside by
people worldwide for honoring the sacrifices of women in the past
to leave their descendants a just, peaceful, and democratic world.
GPUS has issued a call to the nation to make things better for the
women of today and tomorrow; GPMI seconds the statement, and joins
GPUS in calling for the U.S. to get back on the road to progress.
The March 8 date is the anniversary of several notable actions
by women for equal rights (including the right to vote), social
justice, and peace. The first March 8 event was a strike by garment
workers in New York City in 1857, protesting low wages, twelve-hour
workdays, and increased workloads without compensation.
The date of this early protest was marked over 50 years later
by anniversary strikes, expanding across the country and around the
world. And the range of "women's issues" has also expanded over
the years -- to include advocacy for peace and the right to vote,
reproductive choice and the disproportionate impacts of any number
of economic and social policies.
"Today marks 30 years since the United Nations first took on the
responsibility of worldwide sponsorship of International Women's Day,"
observes John La Pietra of GPMI's Media Committee. "But, as the
national party's statement points out, our country has been falling
behind in providing equal rights and opportunities for women.
"Feminism and gender equity are one of our Ten Key Values.
Michigan Greens are committed to helping our state recognize that
value, and put it into practice throughout people's everyday lives."
And GPMI is living up to its principles in its own organization.
The party recently selected Inwood of Detroit as state chair -- a
first for the party, within its first five years on the ballot in
Michigan -- and has instituted rules to make sure women's and men's
voices are both heard in all discussions of party policy and business.
State Greens are also working to help GPUS invite Nobel Peace
Prize winner Dr. Wangari Maathai to the United States and arrange
a speaking and appearance tour for her -- to include Michigan.
Dr. Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement in Africa,
won the 2004 Peace Prize "for her contribution to sustainable
development, democracy and peace". She is a member of the Kenyan
parliament, and Assistant Minister of Environment, Natural
Resources & Wildlife.
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For more information on the Green Party of Michigan, local
Green groups and contacts in your area, and GPMI's public
positions on the issues, please visit the GPMI Web site:
http://www.migreens.org
# # #
created/distributed using donated labor
Green Party of Michigan * 548 South Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 * 734-663-3555
---------------------------------------------------------
GPMI was formed in 1987 to address environmental issues in Michigan
politics. Greens are organized in all 50 states and the District
of Columbia. Each state Green Party sets its own goals and creates
its own structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:
Ecological Wisdom
Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice
Non-Violence
Community Economics
Decentralization
Feminism
Respect for Diversity
Personal/Global Responsibility
Future Focus/Sustainability
*===========**===========**===========**===========**===========*
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
---------------------
Monday, March 7, 2005
Contacts:
--------
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator
202-518-5624 (cell 202-487-0693)
mclarty@greens.org
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator
207-326-4576
nallen@acadia.net
Nan Garrett, Spokesperson/National Women's Caucus
770-216-8632
ngarrett@greens.org
GREENS MARK INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY ON MARCH 8
================================================
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party members are marking
International Women's Day March 8 by affirming the party's
dedication to women's rights and protections in the U.S.
and around the world.
"The rights and conditions of women, which have never
been good, are declining worldwide," said Morgen D'Arc,
co-founder and co-chair of the Green Party's National Women's
Caucus. "Without the most basic rights protections, the
decline will continue.
"The U.S. has never passed ERA [the Equal Rights Amendment],
and is one of just a few countries that refuses to ratify CEDAW
[the Convention to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women]. We
must create the pressure necessary to get them passed."
"With Green Parties in over one hundred countries, we are in
a unique position to organize for women beyond the borders of
the U.S.," Ms. D'Arc continued. "Globalization has resulted in
sweatshop labor, trafficking of women, and many other abuses.
It is vital to keep awareness for women alive here and around
the world."
Many Greens are supporting the Global Women's Strike:
http://www.globalwomenstrike.net
on March 8 and its demand for an end to poverty and to war, a call
to "invest in caring not killing," and support for "A Living Wage
for All Women's Work & Pay Equity in the Global Market."
Greens have spoken out recently on several issues affecting
women:
==> American women still on average make 75.5¢ for every
dollar made by men, down from 77¢ in 2002. Welfare
reform under the Clinton and Bush administrations has
blamed and penalized poor women and single mothers for
their economic difficulties.
"This 'new economy' represents a decline for women
who are working longer hours for less pay," said Starlene
Rankin, Lavender Green Caucus delegate to the national
party and National Women's Caucus co-founder. "Judging
economic success by a Wal-Mart profit-and-loss statement
misses the point. The Green Party welcomes the challenge
to implement economic policies that will produce creative,
meaningful and fairly compensated employment in a
sustainable economy."
Pat LaMarche, the Green Party's 2004 Vice Presidential
nominee, undertook a two-week national tour of homeless
shelters during her campaign in order to draw attention
to the homeless, the uninsured, and the poor, especially
women, whose problems were ignored by the Democratic and
Republican candidates.
==> Without Social Security, 53% of senior women would live
in poverty. Under President Bush's Social Security
privatization scheme, women -- who have lower salaries
and longer lifespans than men -- would be forced to
stretch their smaller private accounts. Greens have
called on Congress to reject the Bush plan.
==> Women in Iraq now face a future under repressive Sharia
law, if Iraq reverts to a theocracy as a result of the
U.S. invasion. Women who live under theocratic
governments and oppressive religious laws around the
world are denied basic human rights and protection
from violence.
"The invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and Israel's
treatment of Palestinians have had a devastating effect
on the lives of women in those areas -- and suffering
will spread if President Bush makes good his threats
against Syria and Iran," said Julia Willebrand, co-chair
of the Green Party's International Committee and member
of the National Women's Caucus. "With American troop
casualties now surpassing 1,500, the Iraq war has also
killed at least 31 women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces."
==> Recent news of increased HIV infection rates among women of
color in the U.S. has paralleled skyrocketing rates among
women in Africa, Asia, eastern Europe, and other developing
areas around the world. Greens urge Congress and inter-
national bodies to reject the Bush Administration's attempt
to limit women's access to HIV prevention education.
Greens call for comprehensive sex education, needle
exchange, assistance for poor women, and access to AIDS
medicines at minimal or no cost, as well as full repro-
ductive rights for women.
"The Bush Administration deserved the jeers that
greeted U.S. delegate Ellen Sauerbrey when she pressed
the U.N. to delete access to abortion during the global
women's conference on March 4," said Nan Garrett, spokes-
person for the National Women's Caucus. "We urge all
Americans, especially legislatures and the courts, to
rebuff the Bush Administration's efforts at home and
abroad to repeal reproductive rights.
"Our priority must be to restore access to abortion,
contraception, and family planning assistance for young
women and women of limited financial means. This is
especially important among Greens now, since it has
become acceptable for Democratic Party leaders not to
support reproductive rights."
MORE INFORMATION
----------------
The Green Party of the United States (GPUS)
http://www.gp.org
1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404
Washington, DC 20009
202-319-7191 * 866-41GREEN
202-319-7193 fax
National Women's Caucus of GPUS
http://www.gp.org/committees/women/index.html
GPUS platform plank on Women's Rights
http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/socjustice.html#998980
International Women's Day:
March 8th commemorates women's rights and peace
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womensday1.html
2004 Cobb/LaMarche Campaign:
News on the recount efforts
http://www.votecobb.org
~ END ~
# # #
created/distributed using donated labor
Green Party of Michigan * 548 South Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 * 734-663-3555
---------------------------------------------------------
GPMI was formed in 1987 to address environmental issues in Michigan
politics. Greens are organized in all 50 states and the District
of Columbia. Each state Green Party sets its own goals and creates
its own structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:
Ecological Wisdom
Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice
Non-Violence
Community Economics
Decentralization
Feminism
Respect for Diversity
Personal/Global Responsibility
Future Focus/Sustainability
[=============================================]
Other Contacts:
Green Party of Michigan
548 S Main St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-663-3555
info@migreens.org
posted to web 14 Mar 2005