Montgomery County, MD Green Party Blog

The DC Green Festival returns to the Washington D.C. Convention Center September 24 and 25. I went last year and I highly recommend it. There will be a wide variety of exhibits, all supporting a sustainable future. In addition, there will be speakers, including Lester Brown, Dennis Kucinch, and our own Medea Benjamin.

This is a wonderful convention. It far exceeded my expectations last year. I would recommend anyone who is able to attend.

“At the end of my career, I get to document the destruction of the species I’ve been documenting for 20 years,” [S. H. Gruber] lamented as he watched the bulldozers. “Wonderful.”

Gruber’s sentiments have become increasingly common in recent years among a growing number of marine biologists, who find themselves studying species in danger of disappearing. For years, many scientists and regulators believed the oceans were so vast there was little risk of marine species dying out. Now, some suspect the world is on the cusp of what Ellen K. Pikitch, executive director of the Pew Institute for Ocean Science, calls “a gathering wave of ocean extinctions.” Dozens of biologists believe the seas have reached a tipping point, with scores of species of ocean-dwelling fish, birds and mammals edging toward extinction. In the past 300 years, researchers have documented the global extinction of just 21 marine species — and 16 have occurred since 1972.

Click here for link.

Colin Campbell, a 40 year veteran presents an overview of the geology of oil, the state of oil reserves, and the coming decline of oil production. This is a very good talk to get a quick overview of the issue. This presentation also includes the slides Campbell used in his talk.

A 1981 U.S. Supreme Court decision requires law enforcement officers to stop questioning a suspect the moment he or she asks for an attorney, several legal experts said. The concept has become part of popular culture, with television police dramas often showing scenes in which detectives stop questioning suspects the moment they “lawyer up.”

“This isn’t particularly complicated. I think most police agents know that when someone wants a lawyer, you cease all interrogation,” said Washington lawyer Aitan Goelman, a former federal prosecutor who now represents white-collar defendants.

A suspect could change his mind and waive the right to an attorney, provided there’s no prodding by an officer, Goelman said.

Defense attorneys said they were troubled that a veteran homicide detective would ignore a basic legal principle.

“I think the leadership of the police department tries to divorce itself from what is going on in interrogation rooms,” said Joseph M. Niland, the chief public defender in Prince George’s. “If the leadership cracked down on this, it would be stopped.”

Click here for link.

The airline will find that maintaining its schedule will be tougher as the work week begins, said Scott Hamilton, an airline consultant for Leeham Co. in Sammamish, Wash. “Sooner or later if the replacement mechanics can’t keep on top of it, it’s going to start causing cancellations,” he said.

Click here for link.

On Saturday, I attended a house party/fundraiser for Kevin Zeese’s Senate campaign exploratory committee held at the home of Bill Barry, Baltimore professor, labor and political activist. Kevin is an articulate, passionate spokesman who is on the right side of every issue that he is concentrating on.

Kevin has managed to ruffle a few Green feathers in the past, largely (as I understand it) stemming from his support for the Nader campaign in 2004 when he helped found the Maryland Populist Party to put Nader on the ballot. My impression is that Kevin has not developed the politician’s skill for pleasing all people at all times–which is not a bad thing. I found his enthusiasm refreshing, even when I disagreed with him.

The main issues of the Zeese campaign will revolve around “peace, justice and democracy;” ending the Iraq War and occupation; election reforms, including a paper voting trail for computerized voting, debates that include all ballot-approved candidates, instant run-off voting, universal registration, same day registration, clean money campaigns; ending the failed war on drugs, ending the rich poor divide, corporate welfare for national and international businesses that create unfair competition for local entrepreneurs and big business control of government.

Kevin has been active in all of these areas, working with Democracy Rising, Linda Schade’s TruevoteMd, and the Treatment not Incarceration Coalition. He also served on Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke’s Working Group for Drug Policy Reform.

My only qualm comes from my own personal political leanings. I consider myself the radical green wing of the Green Party. I am not liberal, progressive, socialist, leftist or any other of the traditional labels; I am Green. I believe that the world is already in a population overshoot, with disastrous consequences. Rivers and lakes are drying up from overuse, aquifers shrinking, deserts advancing. Food production has not kept up with consumption in recent years. Oil production will peak within a matter of years (at best), then roll over into decline which will drasticly change our suburban living/mall shopping lifestyle.

I believe that 50 years from now we will be living in a sustainable society. The only question will be whether we take the measures needed to build that society ourselves or whether we simply go into free fall until our appetites get back within the limits the biosphere will allow.

All other issues pale when compared with the calamities involved in doing nothing on this issue. So naturally, I’d like to hear a Green candidate make it more central to his campaign.

Having said that, I fully support Kevin’s candidacy. It is important for the party to run candidates in major races; I believe it is vital to build the party. As I said, Kevin is on the right side of every issue. As the radical green wing of the party, I intend to use his campaign and any other that comes along as an education tool to get my view of our predicament across.

Amid rising casualties and falling public support for the war, Democrats of all stripes have grown more vocal this summer in criticizing Bush’s handling of the war. A growing chorus of Democrats, however, has [sic] said this criticism should be harnessed to a consistent message and alternative policy — something most Democratic lawmakers have refused to offer.

Click here for link.

New documents discovered in a landmark human rights suit by EarthRights International against oil giant Chevron Corp. reveal that Chevron’s Nigerian subsidiary paid Nigerian soldiers who attacked the Nigerian villages of Opia and Ikenyan, killing several people and burning the villages to the ground. The new evidence comes as Chevron moves to take over Unocal Corp., whose Yadana pipeline project in Burma has been the subject of similar human rights lawsuits.

On the morning of January 4, 1999, villagers from Opia visited a Chevron facility seeking compensation for environmental damage caused by Chevron’s oil development, including harm to their fishing catch and drinking water. They were met by soldiers who fired warning shots and warned them not to return. Later that day, soldiers in helicopters leased by Chevron, accompanied by a Chevron employee, came to Opia and the nearby village of Ikenyan, shooting unarmed villagers and burning the villages.

Although Chevron had for years denied any role in the attacks, the new documents show that Chevron paid the Nigerian soldiers who carried out the attacks: a receipt shows a payment of 15,000 Nigerian naira for;

Services carried out by Capt. [redacted] and 22 Soldiers whom left from Escravos/Madangho to [illegible] attacks from Opia village on January 4, 1999.

Escravos is a Chevron facility. The document is available on ERI’s website.

Cindy Cohn of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, co-counsel on the case declared that,

We now have evidence from Chevron’s own records that in response to claims for compensation for environmental damage, Chevron paid soldiers to attack and destroy two villages, provided the helicopter and boats used and had its own security personnel participate.

Corporations who commit murder for economic gain are beneath contempt and must be brought to justice. If we haven’t got criminal laws to punish them in this country, we ought to get them.

Ok, Ok, it’s more of a note than a letter, but hey — it got published!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/17/AR2005081701106_3.html?sub=AR

At last night’s MCGP meeting we spent an hour and a half discussing the outcomes of the Tulsa meeting and debating the merits of the defeated GDI proposals and the continuing rift between ardent supporters for Nader/Camejo and Cobb. We spent about 30 minutes discussing topics such as support for the Maryland GP, outreach, membership, brochures and the development of the state platform. At one point in the meeting someone said that the MCGP still didn’t have anyone who had stepped forward to run for county council or any county office next year.

Our facilitator introduced the discussion on Steve Kramer’s report on Tulsa by saying that airing of the frustrations about the leadership of the GP and the past presidential nominations process are important and need to be discussed. I agree with that and appreciated learning from many of the comments that people shared. But I was distressed to see how little concern or attention is being given to the local party’s organization or capacity-building for participation in local elections.

To me, calling myself Green and arguing for Nader or Cobb doesn’t mean a thing if I don’t participate in decisionmaking bodies in my local area. People won’t join the MCGP if they don’t know what it stands for, and they won’t know that if we don’t take on leadership roles. Not many of us can afford (or want) to run for President, but many of us can begin educationg people about the value of the Green Party and common sense politics by joining a board or commission and demonstrating some green leadership.

Here are some current, local opportunities (for info, call Julie Pruett 240 777-2535, or go to the County Executives boards and commissions page):

Long Branch Advisory Committee of Silver Spring
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is seeking applicants to fill 15 vacancies on the newly created Long Branch Advisory Committee of East Silver Spring. Members will serve a two year term. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to continue the work of the Long Branch Task Force. The committee will advise the county staff on implementation of the residential and commercial revitalization of the Long Branch community. The committee will annually report to the County Executive and County Council on the progress of the revitalization. The Task Force will be composed of 15 members, including homeowners, educational, faith-based and/or civic association members, commercial property or business owners, renters, and representatives of non-profit organizations serving the Long Branch community. It is expected that the Advisory Committee will meet at least quarterly and work groups will also meet on specific projects as needed. Applicants should write by September 19 to County Executive Douglas M. Duncan at the Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, Maryland 20850 or send an e-mail to Douglas.Duncan@montgomerycountymd.gov. A brief resume including home and work telephone numbers should be enclosed.

Five Regional Recreation Advisory Boards
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is seeking applicants to fill several vacancies on the Regional Recreation Advisory Boards in the Upcounty (four vacancies; three incumbents are eligible to reapply), Mid-County (four vacancies, two incumbents are eligible to reapply), Silver Spring (five vacancies, two incumbents are eligible to reapply), East County (two vacancies, the incumbents are eligible to reapply), and the Western area (four vacancies, four incumbents are eligible to reapply). Some of the positions are for alternates; and some of the positions are for partial terms. The regional recreation boards advise the County Executive, County Council, the director of the Department of Recreation and the Planning Board on regional recreation needs, encourages the development of desirable parks and recreational opportunities, and advises and makes recommendations to appropriate officials on matters concerning budgets, recreation programs, services, and facilities. Membership on the regional boards includes nine regular members and two alternates. Members must reside in one of the five regions of Montgomery County. Residents who live within the city limits of Rockville, Gaithersburg or Washington Grove are not eligible for appointment. Members serve three-year terms without compensation. Meetings are usually held the once a month in the evening in the respective geographic areas. To determine the region where you reside or for more specific information on the evening that the regional boards meet, please call 240-777-2535. Deadline: September 2.

Human Rights Commission
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is seeking applicants to fill five vacancies on the Montgomery County Human Rights Commission. Two members are eligible for reappointment.
The 15-member commission promotes equal rights and opportunities for all persons. Commissioners are expected to serve on special or standing committees and participate in activities requiring involvement in the community. Commissioners serve on case review boards consisting of three individuals that consider and decide each complaint that the Director certifies to the Commission. Regular meetings are held the fourth Monday evening of each month in Rockville. Members serve 3 year terms without compensation. Appointed members are required to file a confidential financial disclosure statement within fifteen days of Council confirmation and annually thereafter. Deadline: September 12.

Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is seeking applicants to fill two public-at-large vacancies on the Montgomery County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission. The incumbents are eligible to apply for reappointment. The 30-member Commission includes representatives of criminal justice agencies, local municipalities, judges, elected officials and the public-at-large. The Commission must evaluate the organization and adequacy of law enforcement and the administration of justice in the County. Members of the Commission serve without compensation. Meetings must be held at least four times per year and are typically held on Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m. in Rockville. Members are also asked to serve on subcommittees. Deadline: September 2.

Cable Communications Advisory Committee
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is seeking applicants to fill six vacancies on the Cable Communications Advisory Committee. One vacancy is for a partial term expiring in November 2006. Five members are eligible to apply for reappointment.
The Committee advises the County Executive and Council on franchise agreements between the County government and providers of cable television service. It also advises on the use of funds provided by cable operators to support local television programming and other cable related activities. Meetings are held the third Wednesday evening of each month in Rockville. Members serve three-year terms without compensation. Individuals selected for appointment must file a confidential financial disclosure statements within fifteen days of appointment and annually thereafter. Deadline: September 2.

Information on applying for the Merit System Protection Board (which is compensated about $6,000 a year) is available at the County Council site.