August 13, 2023

Green Party US – Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
Date: Sunday, August 13, 2023
Time: 8:00 pm ET

AGENDA

Observers are asked to remain muted and refrain from using the chat function.  If someone wishes to speak to an agenda item, please respond to this address, above. 

  1. Setup and Background — 10 min
  2.   Facilitator: Tamar Yager
  3.   Steering Committee Roll Call:
  4.     Craig Cayetano (co-chair) – present
  5.     Margaret Elisabeth (co-chair) – reported absence
  6.     Darryl! Moch (co-chair() – present
  7.     Alfred Molison (co-chair) – joined later in the meeting
  8.     Joseph Naham (co-chair) – present
  9.     Tony Ndege (co-chair) – present
  10.     Tamar Yager (co-chair) – present
  11.     Holly Hart (secretary) – present
  12.     Bob Stuller (treasurer) – present

 

Observers: Scott Laugenour, WA (CCC co-chair); Cassandra Lems, NY; Sandy Pryzbylak, NY; Starlene Rankin, WA; David Mulinix, HI; Maureen Doyle, MA; Theron Gilliland jr. PA

 

Observers (remain muted and refrain from using the chat feature):

Establish Quorum (9 current members, quorum is 5)

Approve Agenda (changes require majority, new items require ⅔)

  1.     Craig C:  would like to add to the agenda discussion about the Global Greens and where we are ahead of 2024. If it’s too late for this meeting then let’s schedule the Co-chairs of the IC to come on and any delegates to lead in this conversation.  SC AGREED  to take up r in this call.

 

  1. New Business   30
  2. Apportionment Tabulation Committee – Tamar

See https://gpus.org/committees/apportionment-tabulation/

and https://gpus.org/rules-procedures/#08

This involves calculating and implementing the delegate apportionment formula to the current apportionment of the National Committee. The most recent update to the committee should have been in Nov-Dec, 2022.  To avoid running into schedule and logistical conflicts with the presidential nominating process, PNC credentialing and convention planning, it is reasonable to reactivate the committee as soon as possible.  So far, a couple past members have offered to serve on the committee again. See Rules & Procedures, Article VIII. 8.2-3 for details on how the committee is established and the work involved. https://gpus.org/rules-procedures/#membership

 

Tamar is looking over the delegates list.  Tamar asks that names are available to the SC by Wednesday, 8/23, before the next SC meeting, so the SC can vote on the call

  1. Forum Managers – Holly

 See Rules & Procedures, Article IX and Proposal ID #1112 https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=1112

Holly has followed up with the current forum managers, per request from a past SC meeting.  At this time, Samuel Chance and Shannel Pittman are willing to serve another term.

 

SC is asked to submit names of potential forum managers by Wednesday, 8/23, as above

 

  1.  Request for $1700 for staff bonuses for work during the ANM. 

Approved online.

  1. Request from CCC for candidate grant funds – See Addendum A.1 & 2

 CCC is asking for $300 tor Tara Yaney campaign. Apptoved, consensus

 

  1. ANM   Report, if one is ready – Tamar

About 500 registration.  Tamar will loo over number sto see how many showed up, attendances, eetc.

 

III.         Standing Business  10 min.

  1. Recap of Listserv Decisions – 
  2.   Approved request from ANMCom for $500 for Zeynab Day for ANM tech training and support.

 

  1.   Approved request for $250 reimbursement to Holly Hart for payment to bullfrog films for “Ithaca” screening at ANM. Already in ANM budget.

 

  1.   Approved $1700 for staff bonuses for work during the ANM. 

 

 

  1.             The Laptop

Darryl! and Bob have been checking the account to see if a refund comes in, not sure where an update would be coming from. Darryl! is not sure they have all the data to be able to track this. If they get information like a serial number and where it was sent to, they may be able to get more answers.  The laptop was supposedly returned because it was broken, but there is no information, no paperwork on this end, no information on the malfunction if there was one.

 

Darryl! recommended going back to the FinCom and see what Charles Ostdiek found out, then see if it’s possible to go forward. There were warnings at the time that something like this might happen.  Letting things go can be a problem; we should continue to follow the trail until it hits a dead end.

 

 

  1. IV. Reports — 30 min 

        1.Reports

               Treasurer (Bob)

               Income Report (Tamar and Bob): Income from January-June 2023 total.xlsx

         Tamar reported a new large sustaining donor.  It looks good, but finances are still not doing great. Report forthcoming.

 

Bob now has access to the accounts and presented a report:

Basic $11,989

$119.584

Paypal $4450

Bob reiterated Tamar’s comment about GPUS financial conditions. There will be a FinCom meeting this Wednesday. There will be a big budget, but Bob hopes someone with a handle on [ballot] petitioning costs will “triage”  with estimating costs and what can be raised and spent for ballot access.

Bob had been blocked from Paypal for awhile until he was able to change the former treasurer’s personal profile in the bank information.  He is now able to work with Paypal to acquire funds.

 

 

                Secretary (Holly)

 Created basic Zoom Tutorial, which David Doonan made into a slide deck. Noticed that there are numerous Zoom folders and documents throughout the Google Folders, and will ask staff to help track them down so they can be collected in one place.

         Has a voting page floor  manager tutorial.  Will follow up with new SC members to go over the steps.

         Reviewing newer bylaws and rules proposals to go back and make sure new updates are updated on the website, starting with the most recent (WVA Proposal on Article X).

         Joseph had suggested a text message or messenger group for the SC for things like quick responses to media press release approvals, etc. Will be contacting Sc members for preferred contact info.

         Discovered a way to (efficiently without crashing the computer and/or transferring hundreds or thousands of files  one by one) move Google Folders nd Docs under the GPUS “umbrella.”  First experiment with the FinCom folder caused some concern when someone tried to access the old folder and it wasn’t there.  Nothing has been removed, however.  FinCom members are being asked to check the new folder to make sure everything is there.  If this worked, each committee will be contacted and asked to review their material and confirm membership, after which their folder can be moved to/back to GPUS.  There will likely never be a complete transferal, but this will ensure that GPUS documents are really housed with GPUS and those who need access will have it.

 

 

                Staff Report

Tamar reported staff did an awesome job and extra work during the ANM.

Staff meets on the  last Thursday of the month. 

 

             Craig: Media; Merchandise, Presidential Campaign Support Committee

Media has Streamyard in place, now can stream more events live.  PCSC will be meeting with Jasmine Sherman this week and with Cornel West in September. 

 

                Alfred: Fundraising, Green Peace Action Committee

Direct mail was delayed, but will be going out soon  FundCom will be touch with some committees to get an updates on recent successes.

 

                Joseph: Banking and Monetary Reform, EcoAction,  Green Pages, International

EcoAction will hold a webinar on climate action culture Monday, 8/14. Looking forward to vote to endorse the “March to End Fossil Fuels” rally in front of the UN 9/17. 

Reaching out to International Committee; hearing they would like to have more meetings, more productive/

 Green Pages on hiatus/

 BMRC – not heard anything/

 

 

                

                Tamar: Apportionment Tabulation, Credentials, Election Tabulation, Staff Supervisor

Credentials Committee has met, set up a databse and tineline.  They are on the way to doing their job.

 

     

  1.         Voting Queue – 
  2.   Received for the Queue     
  3. Green Party Hawaii Proposal For Peace In Ukraine – See Addendum A

                     SC will review this week for “findings” before the next meeting.

 

  1. Proposal: Floor Manager Settings for Ranked Choice Votes – SEE Addendum B

Green Party of Washington

 

 

  1. In the Queue

Voting

 

 Discussion

Completed

#1154 – Proposal to Amend Diversity Committee – Sponsor: GPUS Diversity Committee

 

#1153 GPUS Endorsement of March to End Fossil Fuels

Sponsor: EcoAction Committee

 

  1.         Old Business —

 International Committee – Craig asked if we could invite the IC to the next meeting for an update on Global Greens membership.  Co-chair Austin Bshore had emailed the SC in regards the Global Greens.  SC agreed to have IC co-chairs or representatives at the next meeting for discussion.

VII.         Executive Session — None

 

 

TOTAL TIME –1 hr, 30 min

==================~~~~~~~~~++++++++++================

ADDENDUM A.1

Dear GPUS Steering Committee,

 

I would like for the Steering Committee to have on the agenda for its Aug 13 meeting a decision approval for disbursement of either a $300 or $500 grant to Tara Yaney’s campaign for re-election to the Edgewood Borough Council in Pennsylvania.

 

The Coordinated Campaign Committee is in the final days of voting on this grant application.  I expect to be able to call the final decision on Saturday evening.  This decision will be one of the following options:

Award a $500 grant

Award a $300 grant

No award

Delay decision (in which case this request will be moved to the following SC meeting

 

Because I feel that there is more than a 50% chance that CCC will decide to make an award on Saturday evening, and out of a desire to have that award arrive to the candidate sooner rather than later, I make this provisional agenda request.

 

I expect to be in attendance at the SC meeting as an observer and will be available to answer any questions that SC members have for me in relation to this matter.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Scott Laugenour, Co-Chair

GPUS Coordinated Campaign Committee

ccc@gp.org

 

==========

ADDENDUM A.1

Dear GPUS Steering Committee:

 

Following up on this request, the CCC has made a final decision on this grant.  CCC has approved $300 to be awarded to Tara Yaney’s campaign.

 

Please note the following campaign committee name, address, and phone number:

Friends of Tara Yaney 5806 Howe St. Apt 7R Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412-523-9194

 

Please consider disbursing this award at your Aug 13 meeting.

 

Thank you!

 

Scott Laugenour, Co-Chair

GPUS Coordinated Campaign Committee

ccc@gp.org

 

==================~~~~~~~~~++++++++++================

==================~~~~~~~~~++++++++++================

ADDENDUM B

PROPOSALS to the GREEN PARTY US

 

Contact

 

Dave Mulinix, GPH, Co-Chair & GPUS Delegate

DavidRayMulinix@GMail.Com

 

Susan Roberts Emery, GPH, Co-Chair & GPUS Alternate Delegate

homohabulous@gmail.com

 

Subject / Title

GPUS CALL FOR CEASEFIRE AND NEGOTIATIONS TO END UKRAINE WAR.

 

Type of Proposal, Expected Approval Threshold


 We expect the threshold to be a Simple Majority, because there is no intention to alter bylaws or rules.

 

Requested Proposal Decision-Making Timeline


 We request a 1 to 2 week discussion periods; followed by a 1 week voting period.

 

Background and Purpose 

 

GPUS must stand by its Pillar of Peace, Key Value of Non-Violence, and Party Platform of Peace & Disarmament.  If the GPUS doesn’t stand by it’s Pillars, Values, and Platform, then it stands for nothing.

 

Green Party Pillar: Peace – Our country’s long wars and worldwide military presence are immoral and unsustainable. Our military budget must be cut dramatically.

 

(Note: Biden and Zelensky had many opportunities to prevent and end the Ukraine War, but at every opportunity they rejected a negotiated peace (1&2). Dec. 2021 Putin offered a draft “Treaty between the USA and the Russian Federation on Security Guarantees,” based on non-enlargement of NATO and limitations on the deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles. Jan. 2022 US replied that the US and NATO wont negotiate with Russia over NATO enlargement. Mar. 16, 2022 Russia and Ukraine announce significant progress towards a peace agreement mediated by Turkey and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The basis of the agreement included: “a ceasefire and Russian withdrawal if Kyiv declares neutrality and accepts limits on its armed forces.” Mar. 28, 2022 Zelensky publicly declares that Ukraine is ready for neutrality combined with security guarantees as part of a peace agreement with Russia. “Security guarantees and neutrality, the non-nuclear status of our state — we’re ready to do that. That’s the most important point … they started the war because of it.” Apr. 2022 Zelensky rejects previously agreed upon peace proposal. When asked if Western powers blocked the agreement, Bennett answered: “Basically, yes. They blocked it,” he added that the West decided “to crush Putin rather than to negotiate.” Biden has the responsibility, power, and ability to stop his proxy war, just by calling for a ceasefire and negotiations, unfortunately he wont do that until he sees public resistance to his non-negotiating policy, therefore GPUS must publicly stand by its Pillar of Peace.)

 

Green Party US Key Value: Non-Violence

 

(Note: The GPUS can’t stand for Non-Violence and also support sending cluster bombs to Ukraine that kill more civilians than they do combatants, with up to 30% of victims killed being children.)

 

Green US Party Platform – D. 1. Foreign Policy—Peace and Disarmament

 

  1. Our defense budget has increased out of all proportion to any military threat to the United States, and to our domestic social, economic and environmental needs. The United States government must reduce our defense budget to half of its current size. The 2012 defense budget exceeded $700 billion, and that does not take into account military expenditures not placed under the defense budget. 

 

(Note: Support for the Ukraine War breaks with GPUS platform plank to stand for cutting the US military budget. The cost of the US Empire’s Proxy War in Ukraine has dramatically increased the US military budget by $115 billion so far, and has raised the total military budget in FY2021 from $753.5 billion to $842+ billion for FY2024, and is on track to go as high as a trillion dollars.)

 

  1. The U.S. is the largest arms seller and dealer in the world. We urge our government to prohibit all arms sales to foreign nations and likewise prohibit grants to impoverished and undemocratic nations unless the money is targeted on domestic, non-military needs. In addition, grants to other nations may not be used to release their own funds for military purposes.

 

(Note: Zelensky’s government is undemocratic and authoritarian. See the US State Department’s Human Rights annual reports on the Zelensky regime’s ongoing and extensive human rights violations (3). The following is directly from the USSD 2019 Executive Summary on Ukraine – Significant human rights issues include: unlawful or arbitrary killings; torture and other abuse of detainees by law enforcement personnel; harsh and life threatening conditions in prisons and detention centers; arbitrary arrest and detention; substantial problems with the independence of the judiciary; restrictions on freedom of expression, the press, and the internet, including violence against journalists, censorship, and blocking of websites; refoulement; widespread government corruption; and crimes involving violence or threat of violence targeting persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. The government generally failed to take adequate steps to prosecute or punish most officials who committed abuses, resulting in a climate of impunity. Human rights groups and the United Nations noted significant deficiencies in investigations into alleged human rights abuses committed by government security forces.

 

Zelensky has recently increased his authoritarian rule (4). Zelensky’s most recent move was to suspend democratic elections in Ukraine until the war is won. Military experts assert that the war will go on for many years, thus Zelensky has ensured that he will rule Ukraine indefinitely. Using presidential degree, Zelensky also banned opposition political parties, and imprisoned political opponents. A year prior to Russia moving troops into the Donbass, Zelensky closed down all opposition news agency, now all news reported in and about Ukraine is controlled by Zelensky’s propaganda machine. He has also imprisoned Ukrainian journalists who write critically about his regime, including US journalist Gonzalo Lira for reporting on the Zelensky government’s corruption and on Ukraine’s significant Nazi Movement. Zelensky has also banned churches where ethnic Russian Ukrainian’s worship.

 

Nazi influence in Ukraine and on Zelensky’s government (5&6). The Biden regime asserts that there is no Nazi problem in Ukraine because Nazis only got 2% of the vote, however Nazis don’t take control by winning elections, they take control through violent force. The 2014 US Empire orchestrated violent coup that deposed the legally elected president of Ukraine was led by Ukrainian Nazis who took control of the government after the coup. In a recent VOX poll 43% of respondents in Ukraine and 36% abroad agreed that Nazi ideology is widespread in Ukraine (7). The national hero of Ukraine, is Stepan Bandera the founder of the Ukrainian Nazi Movement, his photo is displayed in government offices. Bandera’s ideology was influenced by German Nazism and Italian Fascism; combining extreme nationalism with terrorism, corporatism, and antisemitism. Banderites are devoted to the independence of Ukraine, a single-party fascist totalitarian state free of national minorities. The goal of Banderites is to establish an independent and “ethnically pure Ukrainian state.” Annually thousands of Ukrainians fill the streets in a torch light parade on January 1st to celebrate the birthday of Bandera. There are also 100 streets named after and statues honoring Ukrainian’s Nazi heroes. Banderite Nazis in Zelensky’s government include: Serhiy Pashynskyi, Chairman of the Committee on National Security & Defense Council, the state agency that develops and coordinates policy of national security on domestic and international matters in advising President Zelensky. Dmytro Yarosh, Advisor to the Armed Forces of Ukraine Commander-In-Chief, President Zelensky. Finally prior to Russia entering the Donbass Western Media repeatedly reported on the Ukrainian Nazi Movement, that has Nazi Youth Camps, an international PR representative, and Nazi vigilantes who work directly with the police to arrest those suspected of being disloyal. The day after Russia moved troops into the Donbass, the Western Media magically transformed Ukraine’s Banderite Nazis into nationalists. BTW Hitler was also a nationalist.)

  1. The U.S. must not be a conduit for defense contractors to market their products abroad and must shift our export market from arms to peaceful technology, industrial and agricultural products, and education.

 

(Note: Support for the Ukraine War breaks with the GPUS platform plank regarding the US not being a conduit for military contractors profits. With over $115 billion in arms sales, the war profiteers of the US Congressional Military Industrial Complex are literally making a killing off of Biden’s US Empire Proxy War in Ukraine. BTW Lloyd Austin, US Defense Secretary is a former board member of Raytheon Technologies, a war profiteer, that has doubled it’s profits due to weapons contracts for the US Empire’s Proxy War in Ukraine.)

 

  1. The U.S. must prohibit all covert actions used to influence, destabilize or usurp the governments of other nations, and likewise prohibit the assassination of, or assistance in any form for the assassination of, foreign government officials.

 

(Note: The US Empire’s Proxy War in Ukraine did not start in February 2022, it started in 2014 (1,2&8) because of the US Empire orchestrated coup that deposed the legally elected pro-Russian president of Ukraine, to install a pro-US government, which directly precipitated a civil war that has been raging for the past nine years, that eventually brought Russia into the conflict in February 2022.) 

 

Proposal

 

We call upon the Green Party US to make a public statement, and sign onto the Peace In Ukraine Coalition Petition that is supported by over 180 organization worldwide that calls for Biden, Putin and Zelensky to engage in an Immediate Ceasefire, Peace Negotiations, and No More Weapons to Ukraine.

 

This call for immediate ceasefire, peace negotiations, and an end to sending weapons to Ukraine is in line with the Green Party US Pillar of Peace, Key Value of Non-Violence, and Party Platform of Peace and Disarmament.

 

Link to Peace In Ukraine Coalition Petition:  https://www.peaceinukraine.org/

 

Thank you,

Green Party of Hawai’i Coordinating Committee

Susan Roberts Emery, Co-Chair

Dave Mulinix, Co-Chair

 

Implementation / Timeline / Resources

 

We ask that the Green Party US to publicly assert that it will stand by its Pillar of Peace, Key Value of Non-Violence, and Party Platform of Peace and Disarmament and call for an immediate ceasefire, peace negotiations, and no more weapons to Ukraine as soon as possible. We don’t expect there is any need for personnel, meetings, work hours, finances, or a sunset clause.

 

References 


  1. (1) Eminent Green, Dimitri Lascaris Webinar: Making Peace with Russia, One Handshake at a Time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7fqJxcycfY&t=3439s


  1.             (2) The Real History Of The War In Ukraine: A Chronology Of Events And Case For Diplomacy. By Jeffry Sachs, distinguished US Public Policy Analyst and Adviser to three UN Secretary Generals. https://www.jeffsachs.org/newspaper-articles/history-of-war-in-ukraine

 

(3) United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor 

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2019 

https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/UKRAINE-2019-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf


  1.             (4) Autocrat: Zelensky Suspends Elections In Ukraine | System Update with George Polk Award Winning Journalist, Glenn Greenwald. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fmmp8X5a


  1.             (5) Patrick Lawrence: Neo-Nazis in Ukraine? No, Yes, No–Yes. A York Times’ reporter’s job this week is to persuade us that all those Ukrainian soldiers wearing Nazi insignia and marching through Kiev in Klan-like torch parades are not what you think. 

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/06/07/patrick-lawrence-neo-nazis-in-ukraine-no-yes-no-yes/


  1.             (6)  Ukrainian Nazis in the western media – pre 2022. https://birrion.substack.com/p/ukrainian-nazism


  1.             (7) Ukrainian Journalist “Shocked” by New Poll. With Award Winning Journalist, Lev Golinkin.
  2.           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frD1bk9tRX4

 

(8) Russia-Ukraine war: How the US paved the way to Moscow’s invasion. 

https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/russia-ukraine-us-invasion-paved-how





 

 

 

 

  1.   Approved request for $250 reimbursement to Holly Hart for payment to bullfrog films for “Ithaca” screening at ANM. Already in ANM budget.

 

  1.             Laptop

Darryl! and Bob have been checking the account to see if a refund comes, not sure where an update would be coming from. Darryl! is not sure they have all the data to be able to track this. If they get information like serial number and where it was sent to, they may be able to get more answers. 

The laptop was supposedly returned because it was broken, but there is no information, no paperwork on this end, no information on the malfunction if there was one.

 

Darryl! recommended going back to the FinCom and see what Charles Ostdiek found out, then see if it’s possible to go forward. There were warnings at the time that something like this might happen.  Letting things go can be a problem; we should continue to follow the trail until it hits a dead end.

 

 

  1. Reports — 30 min 

        1.Reports

               Treasurer (Bob)

               Income Report (Tamar and Bob): Income from January-June 2023 total.xlsx

         Tamar reported a new large sustaining donor.  It looks good, but finances are still not doing great. Report forthcoming.

 

Bob now has access to the accounts and presented a report:

Basic $11,989

$119.584

Paypal $4450

Bob reiterated Tamar’s comment about GPUS financial conditions. There will be a FinCom meeting this Wednesday. There will be a big budget, but Bob hopes someone with a handle on [ballot] petitioning costs will “triage”  with estimating costs and what can be raised and spent for ballot access.

Bob had been blocked from Paypal for awhile and had to changed former treasurer’s personal profile in the bank information.  He is now able to work with Paypal to acquire funds.

 

 

                Secretary (Holly)

 

Created basic Zoom Tutorial, which David Doonan made into a slide deck. Noticed that there are numerous Zoom foldrs and documents throughout the Google Folders, and will ask staff to help track them down so they can be collected in one place.

         Has a voting page floor  manager tutorial.  Will follow up with new SC members to go over the steps.

         Reviewing newer bylaws and rules proposals to go back and make sure new updates are updated on the website, starting with the most recent (WVA Proposal on Article X).

         Joseph had suggested a text message or messenger group for the SC for things like quick responses to media press release approvals, etc. Will be contacting Sc members for preferred contact info.

         Discovered a way to (efficiently without crashing the computer and/or transferring hundreds or thousands of fiels one by one) move Google Folders nd Docs under the GPUS “umbrella.”  First experiment with the FinCom folder caused some concern when someone tried to access the old folder and it wasn’t there.  Nothing has been removed, however.  FinCom members are being asked to check the new folder to make sure everything is there.  If this worked, each committee will be contacted and asked to review their material and confirm membership, after which their folder can be moved to/back to GPUS.  There will likely never be a compelte transferal, but this will ensure that GUPS documents are really housed with GPUS and those who need access will have it.

 

 

                Staff Report

Tamar reported staff did an awesome job and extra work during the ANM.

Staff meets on the  last Thursday of the month. 

 

             Craig: Media; Merchandise, Presidential Campaign Support Committee

Media has Streamyard in place, now can stream more events live.  PCSC will be meeting with Jasmine Sherman this week and with Cornel West in September. 

 

                Alfred: Fundraising, Green Peace Action Committee

Direct mail was delayed, but will be going out soon  FundCom will be touch with some committees to get an updates on recent successes

 

                Joseph: Banking and Monetary Reform, EcoAction,  Green Pages, International

EcoAction will hold a webinar on climate action culture Monday, 8/14. Looking forward to vote to endorse the “March to End Fossil Fuels” rally in front of the UN 9/17. 

–                              Reaching out to International Committee; hearing they would like to have more meetings, more productive

 Green Pages on hiatus

 BMRC – not heard anything

 

 

                

                Tamar: Apportionment Tabulation, Credentials, Election Tabulation, Staff Supervisor

Credentials Committee has met, set up a databse and tineline.  They are on the way to doing their job,

 

     

  1.         Voting Queue – 
  2.   Received for the Queue     
  3. Green Party Hawaii Proposal For Peace In Ukraine – See Addendum B

                     SC will review this week for “findings” beforeethe next meeting.

 

  1. In the Queue

Voting

#1153 GPUS Endorsement of March to End Fossil Fuels

Voting period through 8/13/2023

 

Discussion

#1154 – Proposal to Amend Diversity Committee

Sponsor: GPUS Diversity Committee

Floor Manager: Holly Hart

Discussion through 8/13/2023

Voting period: 78/14 0 8/20/2023

 

         Completed

#1148  Proposal to Amend Rules Procedures Article X: Recognition of Declared Candidates for 

                   President 

Sponsor: Mountain Party of West Virginia; Green Parties of Delaware, New Jersey, YES

         PASSED

                                                          

#1151 Election of 2024 PNC Credentials Committee, second round –

Sponsor: Steering Committee

         ALL CANDIDATES ELECTED

 

#1152 Election of 2024 PNC Credentials Committee, third round

Sponsor: Steering Committee

         ALL CANDIDATES ELECTED

 

  1.         Old Business —

 International Committee – Craig asked if we could invite the IC to the next meeting for an update on Global Greens membership.  Co-chair Austin Bshore had emailed the SC in regards the Global Greens.  SC agreed to have IC co-chairs or representatives at the next meeting for discussion.

VII.         Executive Session — None

 

 

TOTAL TIME –1 hr, 30 min

==================~~~~~~~~~++++++++++================

ADDENDUM A.1

Dear GPUS Steering Committee,

 

I would like for the Steering Committee to have on the agenda for its Aug 13 meeting a decision approval for disbursement of either a $300 or $500 grant to Tara Yaney’s campaign for re-election to the Edgewood Borough Council in Pennsylvania.

 

The Coordinated Campaign Committee is in the final days of voting on this grant application.  I expect to be able to call the final decision on Saturday evening.  This decision will be one of the following options:

Award a $500 grant

Award a $300 grant

No award

Delay decision (in which case this request will be moved to the following SC meeting

 

Because I feel that there is more than a 50% chance that CCC will decide to make an award on Saturday evening, and out of a desire to have that award arrive to the candidate sooner rather than later, I make this provisional agenda request.

 

I expect to be in attendance at the SC meeting as an observer and will be available to answer any questions that SC members have for me in relation to this matter.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Scott Laugenour, Co-Chair

GPUS Coordinated Campaign Committee

ccc@gp.org

 

==========

ADDENDUM A.1

Dear GPUS Steering Committee:

 

Following up on this request, the CCC has made a final decision on this grant.  CCC has approved $300 to be awarded to Tara Yaney’s campaign.

 

Please note the following campaign committee name, address, and phone number:

Friends of Tara Yaney 5806 Howe St. Apt 7R Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412-523-9194

 

Please consider disbursing this award at your Aug 13 meeting.

 

Thank you!

 

Scott Laugenour, Co-Chair

GPUS Coordinated Campaign Committee

ccc@gp.org

 

==================~~~~~~~~~++++++++++================

==================~~~~~~~~~++++++++++================

ADDENDUM B

PROPOSALS to the GREEN PARTY US

 

Contact

 

Dave Mulinix, GPH, Co-Chair & GPUS Delegate

DavidRayMulinix@GMail.Com

 

Susan Roberts Emery, GPH, Co-Chair & GPUS Alternate Delegate

homohabulous@gmail.com

 

Subject / Title

GPUS CALL FOR CEASEFIRE AND NEGOTIATIONS TO END UKRAINE WAR.

 

Type of Proposal, Expected Approval Threshold


 We expect the threshold to be a Simple Majority, because there is no intention to alter bylaws or rules.

 

Requested Proposal Decision-Making Timeline


 We request a 1 to 2 week discussion periods; followed by a 1 week voting period.

 

Background and Purpose 

 

GPUS must stand by its Pillar of Peace, Key Value of Non-Violence, and Party Platform of Peace & Disarmament.  If the GPUS doesn’t stand by it’s Pillars, Values, and Platform, then it stands for nothing.

 

Green Party Pillar: Peace – Our country’s long wars and worldwide military presence are immoral and unsustainable. Our military budget must be cut dramatically.

 

(Note: Biden and Zelensky had many opportunities to prevent and end the Ukraine War, but at every opportunity they rejected a negotiated peace (1&2). Dec. 2021 Putin offered a draft “Treaty between the USA and the Russian Federation on Security Guarantees,” based on non-enlargement of NATO and limitations on the deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles. Jan. 2022 US replied that the US and NATO wont negotiate with Russia over NATO enlargement. Mar. 16, 2022 Russia and Ukraine announce significant progress towards a peace agreement mediated by Turkey and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The basis of the agreement included: “a ceasefire and Russian withdrawal if Kyiv declares neutrality and accepts limits on its armed forces.” Mar. 28, 2022 Zelensky publicly declares that Ukraine is ready for neutrality combined with security guarantees as part of a peace agreement with Russia. “Security guarantees and neutrality, the non-nuclear status of our state — we’re ready to do that. That’s the most important point … they started the war because of it.” Apr. 2022 Zelensky rejects previously agreed upon peace proposal. When asked if Western powers blocked the agreement, Bennett answered: “Basically, yes. They blocked it,” he added that the West decided “to crush Putin rather than to negotiate.” Biden has the responsibility, power, and ability to stop his proxy war, just by calling for a ceasefire and negotiations, unfortunately he wont do that until he sees public resistance to his non-negotiating policy, therefore GPUS must publicly stand by its Pillar of Peace.)

 

Green Party US Key Value: Non-Violence

 

(Note: The GPUS can’t stand for Non-Violence and also support sending cluster bombs to Ukraine that kill more civilians than they do combatants, with up to 30% of victims killed being children.)

 

Green US Party Platform – D. 1. Foreign Policy—Peace and Disarmament

 

  1. Our defense budget has increased out of all proportion to any military threat to the United States, and to our domestic social, economic and environmental needs. The United States government must reduce our defense budget to half of its current size. The 2012 defense budget exceeded $700 billion, and that does not take into account military expenditures not placed under the defense budget. 

 

(Note: Support for the Ukraine War breaks with GPUS platform plank to stand for cutting the US military budget. The cost of the US Empire’s Proxy War in Ukraine has dramatically increased the US military budget by $115 billion so far, and has raised the total military budget in FY2021 from $753.5 billion to $842+ billion for FY2024, and is on track to go as high as a trillion dollars.)

 

  1. The U.S. is the largest arms seller and dealer in the world. We urge our government to prohibit all arms sales to foreign nations and likewise prohibit grants to impoverished and undemocratic nations unless the money is targeted on domestic, non-military needs. In addition, grants to other nations may not be used to release their own funds for military purposes.

 

(Note: Zelensky’s government is undemocratic and authoritarian. See the US State Department’s Human Rights annual reports on the Zelensky regime’s ongoing and extensive human rights violations (3). The following is directly from the USSD 2019 Executive Summary on Ukraine – Significant human rights issues include: unlawful or arbitrary killings; torture and other abuse of detainees by law enforcement personnel; harsh and life threatening conditions in prisons and detention centers; arbitrary arrest and detention; substantial problems with the independence of the judiciary; restrictions on freedom of expression, the press, and the internet, including violence against journalists, censorship, and blocking of websites; refoulement; widespread government corruption; and crimes involving violence or threat of violence targeting persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. The government generally failed to take adequate steps to prosecute or punish most officials who committed abuses, resulting in a climate of impunity. Human rights groups and the United Nations noted significant deficiencies in investigations into alleged human rights abuses committed by government security forces.

 

Zelensky has recently increased his authoritarian rule (4). Zelensky’s most recent move was to suspend democratic elections in Ukraine until the war is won. Military experts assert that the war will go on for many years, thus Zelensky has ensured that he will rule Ukraine indefinitely. Using presidential degree, Zelensky also banned opposition political parties, and imprisoned political opponents. A year prior to Russia moving troops into the Donbass, Zelensky closed down all opposition news agency, now all news reported in and about Ukraine is controlled by Zelensky’s propaganda machine. He has also imprisoned Ukrainian journalists who write critically about his regime, including US journalist Gonzalo Lira for reporting on the Zelensky government’s corruption and on Ukraine’s significant Nazi Movement. Zelensky has also banned churches where ethnic Russian Ukrainian’s worship.

 

Nazi influence in Ukraine and on Zelensky’s government (5&6). The Biden regime asserts that there is no Nazi problem in Ukraine because Nazis only got 2% of the vote, however Nazis don’t take control by winning elections, they take control through violent force. The 2014 US Empire orchestrated violent coup that deposed the legally elected president of Ukraine was led by Ukrainian Nazis who took control of the government after the coup. In a recent VOX poll 43% of respondents in Ukraine and 36% abroad agreed that Nazi ideology is widespread in Ukraine (7). The national hero of Ukraine, is Stepan Bandera the founder of the Ukrainian Nazi Movement, his photo is displayed in government offices. Bandera’s ideology was influenced by German Nazism and Italian Fascism; combining extreme nationalism with terrorism, corporatism, and antisemitism. Banderites are devoted to the independence of Ukraine, a single-party fascist totalitarian state free of national minorities. The goal of Banderites is to establish an independent and “ethnically pure Ukrainian state.” Annually thousands of Ukrainians fill the streets in a torch light parade on January 1st to celebrate the birthday of Bandera. There are also 100 streets named after and statues honoring Ukrainian’s Nazi heroes. Banderite Nazis in Zelensky’s government include: Serhiy Pashynskyi, Chairman of the Committee on National Security & Defense Council, the state agency that develops and coordinates policy of national security on domestic and international matters in advising President Zelensky. Dmytro Yarosh, Advisor to the Armed Forces of Ukraine Commander-In-Chief, President Zelensky. Finally prior to Russia entering the Donbass Western Media repeatedly reported on the Ukrainian Nazi Movement, that has Nazi Youth Camps, an international PR representative, and Nazi vigilantes who work directly with the police to arrest those suspected of being disloyal. The day after Russia moved troops into the Donbass, the Western Media magically transformed Ukraine’s Banderite Nazis into nationalists. BTW Hitler was also a nationalist.)

  1. The U.S. must not be a conduit for defense contractors to market their products abroad and must shift our export market from arms to peaceful technology, industrial and agricultural products, and education.

 

(Note: Support for the Ukraine War breaks with the GPUS platform plank regarding the US not being a conduit for military contractors profits. With over $115 billion in arms sales, the war profiteers of the US Congressional Military Industrial Complex are literally making a killing off of Biden’s US Empire Proxy War in Ukraine. BTW Lloyd Austin, US Defense Secretary is a former board member of Raytheon Technologies, a war profiteer, that has doubled it’s profits due to weapons contracts for the US Empire’s Proxy War in Ukraine.)

 

  1. The U.S. must prohibit all covert actions used to influence, destabilize or usurp the governments of other nations, and likewise prohibit the assassination of, or assistance in any form for the assassination of, foreign government officials.

 

(Note: The US Empire’s Proxy War in Ukraine did not start in February 2022, it started in 2014 (1,2&8) because of the US Empire orchestrated coup that deposed the legally elected pro-Russian president of Ukraine, to install a pro-US government, which directly precipitated a civil war that has been raging for the past nine years, that eventually brought Russia into the conflict in February 2022.) 

 

Proposal

 

We call upon the Green Party US to make a public statement, and sign onto the Peace In Ukraine Coalition Petition that is supported by over 180 organization worldwide that calls for Biden, Putin and Zelensky to engage in an Immediate Ceasefire, Peace Negotiations, and No More Weapons to Ukraine.

 

This call for immediate ceasefire, peace negotiations, and an end to sending weapons to Ukraine is in line with the Green Party US Pillar of Peace, Key Value of Non-Violence, and Party Platform of Peace and Disarmament.

 

Link to Peace In Ukraine Coalition Petition:  https://www.peaceinukraine.org/

 

Thank you,

Green Party of Hawai’i Coordinating Committee

Susan Roberts Emery, Co-Chair

Dave Mulinix, Co-Chair

 

Implementation / Timeline / Resources

 

We ask that the Green Party US to publicly assert that it will stand by its Pillar of Peace, Key Value of Non-Violence, and Party Platform of Peace and Disarmament and call for an immediate ceasefire, peace negotiations, and no more weapons to Ukraine as soon as possible. We don’t expect there is any need for personnel, meetings, work hours, finances, or a sunset clause.

 

References 


  1. (1) Eminent Green, Dimitri Lascaris Webinar: Making Peace with Russia, One Handshake at a Time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7fqJxcycfY&t=3439s


  1.             (2) The Real History Of The War In Ukraine: A Chronology Of Events And Case For Diplomacy. By Jeffry Sachs, distinguished US Public Policy Analyst and Adviser to three UN Secretary Generals. https://www.jeffsachs.org/newspaper-articles/history-of-war-in-ukraine

 

(3) United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor 

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2019 

https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/UKRAINE-2019-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf


  1.             (4) Autocrat: Zelensky Suspends Elections In Ukraine | System Update with George Polk Award Winning Journalist, Glenn Greenwald. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fmmp8X5a


  1.             (5) Patrick Lawrence: Neo-Nazis in Ukraine? No, Yes, No–Yes. A York Times’ reporter’s job this week is to persuade us that all those Ukrainian soldiers wearing Nazi insignia and marching through Kiev in Klan-like torch parades are not what you think. 

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/06/07/patrick-lawrence-neo-nazis-in-ukraine-no-yes-no-yes/


  1.             (6)  Ukrainian Nazis in the western media – pre 2022. https://birrion.substack.com/p/ukrainian-nazism


  1.             (7) Ukrainian Journalist “Shocked” by New Poll. With Award Winning Journalist, Lev Golinkin.
  2.           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frD1bk9tRX4

 

(8) Russia-Ukraine war: How the US paved the way to Moscow’s invasion. 

https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/russia-ukraine-us-invasion-paved-how