Green Party congressional candidates "applaud" ILWU work stoppage at SF & West Coast ports on May 1 to protest wars in Iraq, Afghanistan

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca. (April 30, 2008) - Green Party congressional candidates said today they "applaud" the ILWU work stoppage scheduled May 1 here and at other California ports to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

ILWU West Coast longshore workers vow to stop work May 1, and have called on the AFL-CIO, Change to Win and other labor organizations to join them May Day against the war and to commemorate International Workers Holiday. Dock workers were brutalized by police in a similar protest in Oakland in 2003.

EARTH DAY: Green Party elected supervisor, mayor, city councilor, lead battle opposing $74 million state plan to spray pesticides to kill Light Brown Apple Moth

BERKELEY, Ca. (April 22, 2008) - Green Party elected officials in Bay Area cities are helping oppose a $74 million plan by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to conduct aerial spraying of a pheromone pesticide to eradicate the Light Brown Apple Moth, scheduled to start this summer.

Greens have authored resolutions against the spray and are participating in lawsuits against it. More than 30 cities have now officially opposed the spraying that Greens describe as "a hazard to human health."

Green Party candidate's bid for congressional seat falls short, but he says the war, health care and education are still in play

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca. (April 9, 2008) - Green Party candidate Barry Hermanson's bid to replace the late Rep. Tom Lantos in Congress (CD 12, San Francisco/San Mateo) fell short Tuesday, but Hermanson came within a few hundred votes of beating a Republican, and said the issues he ran on - the war, health care and education - are still in play.

Speier, a career Democratic Party politician, won the Special Election with 77.93 percent, followed by fellow Democrat Michelle T. McMurry. Republicans Greg Conlon and Mike Moloney were next, just ahead of Hermanson.

Green Party State Convention delegates side with "Grandma's house," and not developers in eminent domain duel on June ballot

BERKELEY, Ca. (April 7, 2008) - The Green Party of California - meeting here Saturday and Sunday at its State Convention - voted to side with homeowners and local governments to prohibit eminent domain abuse by approving resolutions opposing Prop. 98 and supporting Prop. 99 on the June ballot.

Greens also approved resolutions calling for bans on cloned animals and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), and the support of "Green Chemistry" to help the environment.

Green Party State Convention set for Berkeley Saturday & Sunday; party candidates reveal "Green Answer" to current economic crisis

BERKELEY, Ca. (April 4, 2008) - There will be debates on cloned animals and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), but Green candidates will opine on the current economic crisis in the state and nationally at the Green Party of California State Convention April 5-6, Saturday and Sunday, at Dwinelle Hall (Room 145) at the University of California, Berkeley.

A news conference will be held SATURDAY, April 5, at 12 Noon (Room 215) where the state of the economy (local, state and national) and the "Green Answer" will be presented by Green candidates for state, federal and local offices.

Green Party holds state convention in Berkeley, will consider "Green Chemistry," and a total ban on all GMOs, cloned animals

BERKELEY, Ca. (April 2, 2008) - A total ban on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and cloned animals, and the implementation of "Green Chemistry" will be among the platform planks to be debated here at the Green Party of California State Convention April 5-6.

One-hundred delegates representing Green Party counties throughout the state will attend the two-day convention Saturday and Sunday, to be held at Dwinelle Hall at the University of California, Berkeley.

Green Party of California co-founder Kent Smith dies in Nevada City; Greens mourn his loss

NEVADA CITY, Ca. - Kent Smith, one of the founders of the Green Party of California, has died - and as is fitting his legacy, a major peace protest will be held at the same time as a celebration of his life on Sunday, March 16, according to family and friends.

Mr. Smith, who was 66 when he passed away at his home Feb. 18, is recognized as one of the founders of the Green Party of California. He attended the first state meeting of Greens in Fresno in 1989 with about two dozen others, and was one of the organizers of a meeting in Sacramento in 1990 where Greens decided to found the official Green Party of California.

California Greens wish Matt Gonzalez well as he leaves Green Party to fight for ballot access as VP on Nader independent ticket

SAN FRANCISCO - Greens here reacted favorably today to reports that former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors - favorite son Matt Gonzalez, who narrowly lost a 2003 mayoral race here - has left the Green Party to run as vice president on the Ralph Nader for President ticket.

"We wish Matt well. He has made it clear that he is leaving the party because of restrictive ballot access rules in many states, including Idaho, Delaware and Oregon, that prevent members of political parties to run as independents. We look at Matt's decision as a practical one, a sabbatical or leave of absence, to continue the fight the Green Party has been waging for free and fair elections for all, and ballot access," said San Francisco Green Party spokesperson Erika McDonald.