www.NebraskaGreens.org

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WASHINGTON, DC — Members of the Green Party of the United States, outraged at the murder of American peace activist Rachel Corrie and disruption by the Israeli military of a memorial service for her, demanded an investigation and decisive measures by the U.S. government to stop the Sharon government's violent treatment of Palestinian civilians, destruction of Palestinian homes and infrastructure, and illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories.

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WASHINGTON, DC — “While President Bush declares that the goal of his war is “liberty and peace” for the Iraqi people, there's a terrible danger that the breakdown of Iraqi society in the wake of the invasion will place women in special peril,” said Jo Chamberlain, California Green and member of the steering committee of the Green Party of the United States.

During Monday's speech, the President announced his intention “to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free.” Similarly, during the U.S. war on Afghanistan, Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice, and Laura Bush promoted the war as benefiting women: “Because of our recent military gains in much of Afghanistan, women are no longer imprisoned in their homes. They can listen to music and teach their daughters without fear of punishment.” (Radio Address by Laura Bush to the Nation, November 17, 2001)

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WASHINGTON, DC — “Greens fully support U.S. troops — we demand that they be removed from harm's way,” said Beth Ingalls, member of the Truckee, California, Town Council. “One of the reasons for our opposition to President Bush's planned invasion of Iraq is the heavy casualty rate expected, not just among Iraqi civilians, but among American soldiers and their families.”

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The Green Party of the United States remains adamantly opposed to the war. Despite the latest U.N. Security Council resolution on November 8 requiring further discussion if Iraq fails to meet weapons inspections criteria, the Bush administration continues troop and weapons deployment that point toward war regardless. Defense Department advisor Richard Perle has stated that nothing Saddam Hussein does will convince the U.S. that there's no danger coming from Iraq, and that the U.S. is on a clear path to war.

ExxonMobil Buys U.S. Foreign Policy

With four of the biggest oil companies based in the U.S. and the U.K., the effect of lobbying and political contributions by oil companies on these two nations who have taken the lead in preparing for war against Iraq cannot be discounted. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw conceded in a Commons debate on November 25 that British lawmakers may be denied a vote on military action in Iraq, giving Prime Minister Tony Blair the final say.

Greens are targeting ExxonMobil, the second biggest corporation in the U.S., as a prime example of corporate governance through buying government influence. In the past five years, ExxonMobil has spent $47 million lobbying officeholders. Their investment was recouped this year when they won a $47.8 million contract to supply gasoline, diesel fuel and motor oil to U.S. and NATO forces.

“For this company, there's no doubt that the war on Iraq will let them gain immensely, putting them in the lead as the largest oil company in the world. ExxonMobil is the most compelling example of a corporation getting away with outrageous activities - from practices of environmental destruction to human rights violations to pushing for war for their own economic gains,” said Annie Goeke, Co-Chair of the International Committee of the Green Party of the United States. *ldquo;Groups such as PressurePoint have founded the Stop ExxonMobil Alliance, a coalition of environmental, human rights, social justice, and pro-democracy groups, to pressure ExxonMobil to change its policies,” she added.

“All around the world, people are standing up to ExxonMobil and its increasingly severe corporate abuses,” said PressurePoint Campaigns Director Chris Doran. “In the U.S. alone, there have been hundreds of protests over the past year and a half, with many more planned for the new year. And now people are making the connection between ExxonMobil, its very close ties to the Bush Administration, and the imminent invasion of Iraq.”

Bush, Congress Rewrite Constitution to Prepare for War

The Bush policy of preemptive military action against any nation perceived to be a threat is a direct violation of Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution. In a joint resolution, both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have handed over their power to the President “to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq.” (Representative Nancy Pelosi and Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman have recently stated that they will support military action without U.N. approval if necessary.

“Our elected officials are egregiously failing to represent our interests and needs, while they cater to major corporate campaign donors,” said Barbara Payne, a Green Party Co-Chair. “Experts of all political affiliations have questioned the 'proof' being presented of an imminent threat from Iraq. There is no substantial movement in Congress to avoid war and demand the U.S. complies with U.N. resolutions - the majority of U.S. citizens have no one to speak for them,” concluded Payne.

The controversy stems from policies of the League of Women Voters and the KMTV television station which require candidates to garner at least 5% support from an independent poll. Paterson's name has not been part of any polls that have occured and therefore could not have received support from those polls.

The Paterson campaign has appealed to the League and KMTV several times. They site the support of over 70 volunteers, several thousand dollars donated and the Constitutional legitimacy of their candidate. In recent weeks, Paterson for Congress yard signs have sprouted all over the district and it appears a three way race is occurring.

A protest in front of KMTV is scheduled by Paterson for Congress organizers on October 21st at 4:30pm. KMTV is located at 10714 Mockingbird Dr. in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Green Party of the United States is adamantly opposed to President George W. Bush's plans to continue and expand military operations against Iraq. The Bush administration claims the invasion of Iraq would improve the security of citizens of the United States, but it would do just the opposite. A U.S. war on Iraq would undo decades of progress in international conflict resolution and make the world a more dangerous place for everyone.

The United States should not undertake military operations against Iraq for the following reasons:

An attack on Iraq would be illegal. The United States must hold to the highest standards and abide by international law if it expects other nations to do so. The United Nations Security Council has not authorized any military attacks on Iraq for its failure to cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors. In fact, no UN Security Council resolutions concerning Iraq, including SC Resolution 688 of 1991, have ever authorized the “no-fly zones” over Iraq, declared unilaterally by the U.S. and Britain. Yet these two countries have bombed Iraq in these zones nearly daily for a decade.

Peaceful means for addressing the possibility that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction have hardly been exhausted. The threat posed by Iraq must be confronted through multilateral action by the United Nations, and not by the U.S. acting alone.

Allies in the region of Iraq are opposed to the U.S. plans for an invasion. Anti-Americanism would be fueled further by U.S. military action. Terrorist activity against U.S. citizens would increase. Islamic countries would be less likely to cooperate with the U.S. in anti-terrorism strategies.

The overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime through a U.S. invasion is unlikely to lead to a democratic government there. Iraqis, already suffering for a decade from the effects of UN sanctions, would be likely to suffer more in the ensuing chaos.

There is no evidence that the security and safety of the United States are directly threatened by Iraq. Iraq has not been linked to Al Qaeda or other currently active anti-American terrorists. Even if such evidence were to be presented, unilateral attacks by the U.S. on Iraq would not be the most effective, legal or moral option available.

A war against Iraq would be immensely costly at a time when resources are desperately needed for the eradication of poverty both domestically and globally.

We therefore urge our fellow citizens of the United States to raise their voices against the U.S. invasion of Iraq. We must encourage the President and Congress to build a true foundation for peace and security in these ways:

· Act in concert with the United Nations to address any potential security risks posed by the regime of Saddam Hussein. Support arms control initiatives in the entire Persian Gulf region, as already specified in UN Security Council Resolution 687.

· Take substantial steps to free our foreign policy from distortion by U.S. economic dependency on energy from non-renewable fossil fuels. Encourage energy conservation and invest heavily in the development of renewable energy.

· Shift investment from military spending to address the basic needs of humanity, both within the United States and around the globe: clean air and water, access to education and health care, adequate housing and transportation, and civil liberties.

In sum, the Green Party's key value of non-violence implies that war is neither an effective nor justifiable means for resolving disputes between nations. The United States is in a position of unprecedented economic and military power in the global scene. We should use that power to work towards security and peace through justice, rather than through intimidation and military destruction.

Prepared by the International Committee of the Green Party of the United States www.gp-us.org/committees/intl

WASHINGTON, D.C. — New statistics compiled by the non-partisan Ballot Access News in its September issue www.ballot-access.org show that in the last two years the Green Party is the only national political party in the U.S. to gain registered members.

All other parties lost members, ranging from an 18% loss for the Reform Party to a 0.03% loss for the Republican Party. During this time, the Green Party gained a whopping 27.7%. The only other nationwide category to gain was unaffiliated voters, which grew by 6.7%.

“These statistics show that among political parties, only the Green Party speaks to the great disaffection that so many Americans have with big-money politics as usual,” said Green Party Political Coordinator Dean Myerson. “While disenchantment and cynicism drives citizens to the unaffiliated category or even out of the voting booth, only the Green Party is flourishing.”

Since the 2000 election, the Green Party has been recognized by the Federal Election Commission as a National Committee, giving Greens the same status as the Democratic and Republican parties. In 2002, the Green Party is running nearly 500 candidates nationwide, almost twice its previous high. These include 15 candidates for governor and many more for Senate, House, state legislature, and over 200 for local office. 152 Greens hold local office throughout the United States.

The Nebraska Green Party's platform states that it is in favor of the “Brady Bill” and “thoughtful, carefully considered gun control” legislation. While the Nebraska Democratic Party recently softened their stance on gun control, the NGP remains committed to protecting Nebraska citizens by speaking for those who favor stronger laws or keeping the laws as they stand. The Nebraska Green Party does not support a total ban on handguns or taking guns away from responsible owners. It does support waiting periods, background checks and gun locks. It is opposed to legalizing concealed weapons for the general public. The NGP's firm stance on gun control fills a void on this issue. The Nebraska Green Party is the only state party that proudly stands by its belief in gun control.