California Green/presidential candidate/former member of Congress Cynthia McKinney safe after Israeli gunboat rams humanitarian aid ship headed to Gaza

SACRAMENTO (December 30, 2008) - The Green Party's 2008 presidential candidate - former Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who resides in Berkeley - was reported safe after an Israeli gunboat rammed and severely damaged a humanitarian relief ship headed to the Gaza with medical supplies.

The Green Party of California released a statement Tuesday condemning the attack on McKinney's boat - which held more than three tons of medical supplies - and called for Israel, and other parties, to cease attacks in Gaza and search for a peaceful solution.

State Green Party demands Obama un-invite California pastor Rick Warren to inauguration, suggests President-elect, Democratic Party 'ambiguity' may have helped passage of Prop. 8

SACRAMENTO (December 22, 2008) - The Green Party of California - noting the Democratic Party's national platform does not support same sex marriage - is demanding that President-elect Obama un-invite pro-Prop 8 pastor Rick Warren to perform the invocation for the Obama inauguration.

Further, Greens charged, it quite possibly was the mixed message sent from the Democratic Party, and the President-elect himself that contributed to the passage of Prop. 8 in California - which bans same sex marriage - despite Obama's landslide victory here.

State's 'Green' political party cautiously optimistic about Air Resources Board smog plan, but warns ARB could backslide, killing thousands in state

SACRAMENTO (December 15, 2008) - The Green Party of California, the state's only "Green" political party, cautiously applauded a bold plan by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) last week to reduce greenhouse-gases and curb death-dealing diesel fumes - but warned that the state in the past has failed to follow through on similar promises.

"The costs of not acting quickly and decisively are un-imaginably huge. These rules will eventually provide needed protections for the public. But the ARB has shown it is all too willing to modify requirements when asked to so by business interests. It is a shame that many of the people hit hardest by diesel fumes are not able to testify, as corporations can, because they're dead from the bad air," said the Green Party of California.

Richmond Mayor, Ralph Nader and international dignitaries among those speaking at Public Memorial for Peter Camejo, former Green Party candidate, longtime activist on Sunday

Berkeley, CA (November 20, 2008) - A long list of political activists and international dignitaries will be among those speaking at a public memorial celebrating the life of former gubernatorial, presidential and vice-presidential candidate Peter Camejo SUNDAY, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. at the International House on the University of California at Berkeley campus (2299 Piedmont Ave), according to an announcement by family and friends.

Mr. Camejo died Sept. 13 at home in Folsom, CA after a lengthy fight with cancer.

Schwarzenegger's glitzy eco-conferences, even Obama's video talk may not mean real change; big first step would be to fire ARB chair, suggest Greens

BEVERLY HILLS (November 19, 2008) - Glitzy eco-conferences like the Global Climate Summit hosted by Gov. Schwarzenegger this week here - punctuated by a video talk by President-Elect Obama - are a welcome sign attitudes about climate change are changing, but they often don't translate to real change, said a Green Party environmental expert today.

In fact, Wes Rolley, a California resident and co-chair of the U.S. Green Party EcoAction Committee, charges that one of the best things Schwarzenegger could do to help the environment would be to fire the chair of the Air Resources Board.

Green Party of California endorses mass protests Saturday across the nation, and the state against Prop. 8, says it rejects legislation that legalizes a 'hate crime'

SACRAMENTO (November 14, 2008) - The Green Party of California endorsed mass, worldwide demonstrations this Saturday (November 15) in every state in the nation, including California, protesting the passage of Proposition 8, California's anti-gay marriage amendment, as well as other anti-gay ballot initiatives in Arkansas, Arizona and Florida.

More than 1 million people are expected to participate. In California, demonstrations are being planned in at least 65 cities, including Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Oakland/Berkeley, Fresno, Long Beach and Bakersfield, according to JoinTheImpact.com, which is organizing the national protests.

Public Memorial for Peter Camejo, former Green Party gubernatorial candidate, activist, planned for Sunday, Nov. 23

Berkeley, CA - A public memorial celebrating the life of former gubernatorial, presidential and vice-presidential candidate Peter Camejo will be held Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. at the International House on the University of California at Berkeley campus (2299 Piedmont Ave), according to an announcement by family and friends.

Mr. Camejo died Sept. 13 at home in Folsom, CA after a lengthy fight with cancer.

Governor's tax plan called 'regressive' by Green Party, another hit on working women & men; upping vehicle tax would bring in more money from Arnold's Humvees alone

SACRAMENTO (November 7, 2008) - The Green Party of California called Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed sales tax increase and his plan to force state employees to work holidays without holiday pay "regressive" - and another example of a refusal by the wealthy to really pitch in to help solve the state's budget mess.

"Sales taxes are inherently regressive, disproportionately relying upon the limited resources of the working poor to balance a prison-heavy budget," said Paul Franklin, a Green Party official on the Live Oak School District (Santa Cruz County) Board. Proposed cuts to public primary education would be "devastating on the morale of already over-worked and underpaid teachers," he added.