[Peace-discuss] Fw: GP RELEASE US Greens congratulate Caroline Lucas, UK's first Green member of Parliament, on election victory

Sat May 8 22:15:42 CDT 2010

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From: David Sladky 
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Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 3:45 PM
Subject: GP RELEASE US Greens congratulate Caroline Lucas, UK's first Green member of Parliament, on election victory

 GP RELEASE US Greens congratulate Caroline Lucas, UK's first Green member of Parliament, on election victory

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

For Immediate Release:
Saturday, May 8, 2010

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, 
mclarty at greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene at gp.org

US Greens congratulate Caroline Lucas, the UK's first Green Party member of 
Parliament, on her election victory

• Colombian Green presidential candidate Antanas Mockus holds a strong lead in 
polls, may become the first Green Party head of a national government

• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on foreign policy 
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-foreign-policy.php

• 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, office at gp.org

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States congratulates Caroline 
Lucas and British Greens on Ms. Lucas' election to the House of Commons on May 
6.  Ms. Lucas, the first Green member of Parliament, will represent Brighton 
Pavilion.

"The election of the first Green to the British House of Commons is cause for 
celebration among Greens in the US and for everyone who wants to see a new 
direction in politics and an end to the stranglehold of the pro-war 
pro-corporate old parties," said Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party's 2008 
nominee for President of the United States and former member of the US House of 
Representatives from Georgia.  "If Greens can win a seat in the UK, we can win 
one or more seats in Congress here in America."

While Ms. Lucas is the only Green Member of Parliament, the Scottish Green Party 
holds two seats in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood and there are two Green 
members in the London Assembly.  13 Green city councillors serve in Brighton and 
Hove.

"Caroline's victory was not achieved by watering down the Green message, but by 
standing for it firmly by advocating economic fairness, social justice, and 
environmental well-being, showing that voters will support a truly Green 
alternative when presented with the option.  With this in mind, we support 
Caroline's call for a referendum on enacting proportional representation for the 
UK, so that the Green Party's true level of support can be realized," said Mike 
Feinstein, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.  Mr. Feinstein 
contributed a foreward to Ms. Lucas' book 'Green Alternatives to Globalisation' 
(Pluto Press, April 2004, http://www.plutobooks.com/display.asp?K=9780745319322&).

While the Green Party of England and Wales expressed elation over the victory, 
Ms. Lucas said, "[Brighton voters] have shown that they are prepared to put 
their trust in the Greens, despite the overwhelming national media focus on the 
three largest parties and a voting system that is fundamentally undemocratic. I 
feel humbled by their trust in me, and I am excited by this vote of confidence 
and I'm looking forward to the challenging task of fully representing the voters 
of Brighton." (http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2010-05-07-caroline-wins.html)

Videos of Caroline Lucas are posted on the web sites of the BBC 
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8667032.stm) and The 
Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2010/may/07/caroline-lucas-green-party).

US Green Party leaders also noted that polls in Colombia show Antanas Mockus, 
the Green Party presidential candidate, in the lead in the Colombian national 
election (http://www.mediacoop.ca/story/3345).  Since the beginning of the 
campaign in March, Mr. Mockus moved from 9% to 39% and now leads Juan Manuel 
Santos of the ruling 'U' Party by 12 percentage points going into Colombia's 
first ballot.

If Antanas Mockus maintains his lead, he will become the first ever Green Party 
head of a national government.  Mr. Mockus, former mayor of Bogota, is credited 
with leading the 'Bogota Miracle,' which revitalized a crime-ridden city with 
sprawling slums.

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

Caroline Lucas' web site http://www.carolinelucas.com/cl.html

Green Party of the United States: International Committee http://www.gp.org/committees/intl

"Historic win for Greens in tight Brighton race"
The Guardian (UK), May 7, 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/07/greens-historic-win-brighton

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, office at gp.org

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 ~

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