Exciting news coming out of the Green-Rainbow Party, generating serious momentum towards local initiatives. Check out this note from GRP Co-Chairs Jill Stein and John Andrews:
Wow. There was electricity in the air from the start. And by the end of the day, we knew for certain that something new and exciting had appeared on the scene.
Thirty-five activists met Saturday at the Green-Rainbow Party’s “Initiatives Summit” in Worcester to plan a new future for Massachusetts and beyond. One by one they rose to tell of their experiences, their hopes, and their vision. They were tired of the betrayals of a government in which politicians routinely sold out to special interests and big money. Tired of seeing our men and women – and civilians in far off lands – maimed and killed in wars for oil while arms merchants grew rich. They were tired seeing their neighborhoods ravaged by unemployment and foreclosures while a well-placed few grew ever richer through financial manipulation. And they were tired of seeing their democratic rights eroded by insider deals cut by the Democratic and Republican Parties.
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These activists were convinced that Massachusetts and the nation can do better – and that we the people deserve better. They talked of the solutions within reach if only people could be empowered instead of corporate lobbyists. They talked about creating secure, community-based green jobs. They talked about healthy food and clean air. They talked about immigrant rights as human rights, and putting our national wealth to work to create accessible health care and quality schools instead of spending it on foreign military adventures, Wall Street bailouts, tax breaks for the wealthy and a racist prison-industrial complex. They said that the thing that is preventing our problems from being solved is not a lack of money or skills or knowledge. It is the fact that public policy is in the service of exploitation instead of ensuring the welfare of people and planet. They vowed to fight the corrupt Beacon Hill system that is dragging Massachusetts down. And they issued a call for people to stand up and assert their right to have a government that truly serves the public interest. By the end of the day, the era of lowered expectations had come to an end. A new chapter in the fight for a just and sustainable future had begun.
Through a process of ranked-choice voting, the Initiatives Summit selected four principal statewide initiatives for immediate launch. They were: building a green and just economy, achieving universal single-payer health care, winning a better budget with fairer taxes, and bringing our troops and war dollars home from Obama’s expanding war for oil. The Party will continue to pursue many other concerns through its state committees, national connections, and local chapters. Facilitators were identified for a number of issue areas beyond the four selected initiatives, including immigrant human/civil rights, fighting foreclosures, voting reform, and student/education issues.
Margaret Mead said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” On Saturday, in Worcester, we met with 35 such thoughtful citizens. And after experiencing their commitment, their intelligence, and their contagious vision, we left with this feeling: Together we can change the world. Together, we have already begun.
As Co-chairs of the Green-Rainbow Party, we offer our sincere thanks to everyone who attended the Initiatives Summit in Worcester. And to those who were unable to attend, we urge you to get connected as soon as possible. A new day is dawning in Massachusetts. Stay tuned.
– Jill Stein and John Andrews
Co-chairs, Green-Rainbow PartyP.S. If you want to participate in one of the GRP initiatives, send your name and email address to office@green-rainbow.org or call Jill or Patrick (617-418-3756). We’ll send you information on how to get involved.
GRP Summit attendees gathered in front of the Friends Meeting House in Worcester, Sat., April 16, 2011.