Posted by Dave Schwab at Green Party Watch:
An article at Belief.net describing the Dalai Lama’s press conference at the start of his recent visit to New York reports that the Tibetan spiritual leader is still interested in joining the Green Party:
He was quite energized about ecology; he said humanity seemed to be growing up. And he noted, “Oh, you don’t have a Green Party here [actually, the USA does], but if you did, maybe I would join the Green Party!”
The Dalai Lama previously expressed support for Greens at a University of Michigan lecture in 2008, when he said “If you have a Green Party, I want to join.” Video:
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Friday, May 21, 2010
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614,
[email protected]
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, [email protected]
Confidential to the Dalai Lama: Yes, Your Holiness, the US has a Green Party
• The Dalai Lama, speaking in New York, says he’d join the Green Party
if the US had one; US Greens are ready to welcome him
• The Green Party’s 2010 Annual National Meeting, Detroit, Michigan,
June 24-27 http://greenpartymeeting2010.wordpress.com
Media credentialing page: http://www.gp.org/forms/media
More information: 1-866-41-GREEN, [email protected]
WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party leaders responded today to the Dalai
Lama’s statement on Thursday that the US has no Green Party, but he
would join if one were started.
“We’d be thrilled to welcome the Dalai Lama as an honorary member of
the Green Party,” said Farheen Hakeem, co-chair of the Green Party of
the United States.
Speaking in Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Thursday, May
20, the Dalai Lama said, “America still, no Green Party. But,
actually you should start one. Then, I may join.”
“We’re honored that the Dalai Lama said he’d be willing to join us.
In the context of his speech at Radio City, he clearly recognized that
the Green Party is the party of nonviolence, ecology, human rights and
freedoms, and basic values of social justice and economic fairness.
These values include democracy and self-determination for people
around the world, including Tibetans,” said Mike Feinstein, co-chair
of the Green Party of the United States.
“The Dalai Lama apparently doesn’t know that we have a growing Green
Party here in the United States. And perhaps for some good reasons,
such as the media’s tendency to limit political coverage to the narrow
choice between Democrat and Republican. Or because of the prohibitive
and antidemocratic ballot access rules enacted in many states to
hinder third parties and third party candidates,” Mr. Feinstein added.
The Dalai Lama delivered his speech in New York, where Green candidate
Howie Hawkins was nominated for Governor by the Green Party of New
York State on May 15, along with a slate of other candidates for
statewide office (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=316
).
“The Dalai Lama is a shining example of nonviolence, compassion, and
recognition of the need of humanity to evolve and change towards a new
direction as we all potentially face the abyss. He, as representative
of his people, forgives attack and truly turns the other cheek. He
has encouraged cooperation and collaboration on many fronts, including
between the medicines of the East and West. He is the type of person
we need more of right now,” said Cecile Lawrence, New York Green
nominee for the US Senate. Dr. Lawrence witnessed the Dalai Lama
speak at Constitutional Hall in Washington, DC, at an international
conference on Tibetan medicine.
The Dalai Lama’s comments were made in a month of Green Party
advancements around the world
(http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=315
).
In the UK, Caroline Lucas became the first Green Party member ever
elected to Parliament, representing Brighton Pavilion. And in
Colombia, Green presidential candidate Antanas Mockus holds a strong
lead in polls and may become the first Green Party head of a national
government. The Colombian election will take place on May 30.
The Green Party of the United States will hold its 2010 Annual
National Meeting in Detroit, Michigan, from June 24 to June 27. The
meeting will highlight Green candidates running for public office in
2010, including 48 candidates for Congress and 11 for Governor of
their respective states.
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and 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
• Green Party Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
Speech by Tsewang Phuntso (Tibet), the Dalai Lama’s Liaison Officer
for Latin America, at the 2008 Global Greens Congress, São Paulo,
Brazil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9O7HXz2q40
The Green Party’s 2010 Annual National Meeting, Detroit, Michigan,
June 24-27 http://greenpartymeeting2010.wordpress.com
Media credentialing page: http://www.gp.org/forms/media
More information: 1-866-41-GREEN, [email protected]
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of
the United States
Winter 2010 issue now online
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
~ END ~
May 21, 2010 at 12:26 pm
I am not sure it exists in California ….
I am not sure it exists and I am a member.
DL: “Maybe I would join the Green Party . . . if I knew it existed”