Green Party leaders participate in American Citizens’ Summit organized by the Transpartisan Alliance in Denver

Green Party press release sent to [email protected] and posted to GP.org. Posted to IPR by Paulie.

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:

Friday, February 13, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, [email protected]
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, [email protected]
On-site contact in Denver: Brent McMillan, Executive Director, 202-276-6482 (cell), [email protected]

Live web-cast of events at the Summit: http://www.republicmedia.tv/live/acs.html

On-site blog coverage of the Summit: http://www.greencommons.org/blog/63

“The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?” (video and text) http://www.gp.org/first100

WASHINGTON, DC — Several Green Party leaders are attending the ‘American Citizens’ Summit’ organized by the Transpartisan Alliance (http://www.transpartisan.net) in Denver, Colorado. The Summit began on February 11 and continues until Sunday, February 15.

Among the Green leaders participating and speaking at the Summit are Kent Mesplay, environmentalist and contender for the 2004 and 2008 Green presidential nomination; Carol Brouillet (http://communitycurrency.org), 2006 California Green candidate for Congress (District 14); Green Party executive director Brent McMillan; Green Party co-chair Craig Thorsen; Drew Johnson, California Green activist and blogger covering the Summit (http://www.greencommons.org/blog/63); DC Statehood Green and Basic Income Guarantee advocate Steve Shafarman (http://IncomeSecurityForAll.org); and Paul Krumm, Kansas delegate to the Green Party’s National Committee.

Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party’s 2008 candidate for President of the United States, participated in the Interim Transpartisan Sunshine Cabinet on Thursday, February 12. The Sunshine Cabinet “serve[s] as the voice of over 110 million Americans seeking to Reunite America while ensuring that the voices not heard during the recent national elections are included in the national policy dialogue.” Ms. McKinney can be reached through her media director, John Judge, at 202-584-1021.

Greens at the American Citizens’ Summit are emphasing the importance of independent organizing, multiparty democracy, and election campaigns outside of a political establishment dominated by corporate money and the two major political parties.

“At this time of global crisis, it is imperative that we empower people and citizens to discover solutions that work for all on the personal, local, regional, national levels. The processes, tools that we are sharing at the Summit should help us to solve problems created by an outdated mentality,” said Carol Brouillet.

The Transpartisan Alliance calls itself “an informal network of networks facilitating cooperation among individuals and organizations from all political points of view” whose is to “engage the passion, brilliance and creativity of average citizens in a search for solutions to our most pressing challenges” and “empower a unified political voice capable of restoring a balance of power between the government, corporations, and the American people.” According to the Alliance, “Transpartisanship acknowledges the validity of truths across a range of political perspectives and seeks to synthesize them into an inclusive, pragmatic whole beyond typical political dualities.”

Along with Cynthia McKinney, other members of the Sunshine Cabinet included 2008 Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader (participating by video), monetary reform leader Ron Paul (by video), MoveOn.org co-founder Joan Blades, conservative activist Grover Norquist, of the Liberty Coalition co-founder Michael Ostrolenk (by video), Competitive Enterprise Institute President Fred Smith, human potential movement visionary Barbara Marx Hubbard, humorist Steve Bhaerman, and Committee for a Unified Independent Party director Jackie Salit.

“It has been exciting to witness the formation of an interim sunshine cabinet representing the people. We are putting tools in the toolbox of American citizens to break from the matrix and to regain our voice,” said Brent McMillan.

The American Citizens’ Summit, which coincides with Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, is being held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place). The Transpartisan Alliance has held leadership retreats from 2004 to 2008, bringing together over 140 leaders of organizations as politically diverse as MoveOn.org, Christian Coalition, Common Cause, Code Pink, Americans for Tax Reform and American Conservative Union.

Media contact for the Summit is Jobie McCormick (541-535-5775, [email protected]).

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN

Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers

Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

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