The Oregon Pacific Green Party opposes attempts by the Trump administration to foment a coup in Venezuela.  This destabilization of Venezuela follows more than a century of North American interference to gain control of natural resources, exploitable land and labor to benefit USA corporations in Latin America.  Since Hugo Chavez's election in 1999, USA administrations have attacked the Venezuelan people through economic sabotage, propaganda and direct support of anti-government "resistance" groups.  Most recently the USA administration urged Juan Guaido, the conservative Speaker ofVenezuela's parliament, to declare himself President, akin to Nancy Pelosi declaring herself the President of the United States at the urging of a foreign power.  There is no constitutional basis for Guaido's claim, nor popular support for the regime change sought by Wall Street and international oil companies.  If regime change is supported by the majority ofVenezuelan voters, let Venezuelans decide that in the next Presidential election.

The Pacific Green Party of Oregon today called for a "Real Green New Deal" that addresses not only the climate crisis but also the corporate control of our government and economy.

While Democrat presidential candidates and Senators Jeff Merkley and Cory Booker, along with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, this week announced their support for a Green New Deal, based on language and issues the Green Party has been promoting for almost twenty five years, the Democrats' version ignores the economic inequity and rampant corporatism at the heart of our current environmental crisis.

The Green New Deal is a four part program for moving America quickly out of crisis into a secure, sustainable future. Inspired by the New Deal programs that helped us out of the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Green New Deal will provide similar relief and create an economy that makes our communities sustainable, healthy, and just.

Part of a platform that has been crafted in dialogue among environmental activists, deep ecologists, urban planners, social justice activists, and committed reformers the ideas at the core of the Green New Deal have been at the heart of Green Party politics for more than a quarter century.

The results in the past elections have been a breath of fresh air. The collective voice that came together, placing communities at the heart of its priorities, was incredibly encouraging.

The Pacific Green Party sincerely thanks all those who were involved collecting signatures, calling, and especially running for office or organizing campaigns, for their extraordinary collective work. THANK YOU FOR SO MANY HOURS OF DEDICATED LABOR. We know what it takes for common folk to volunteer in adition to the daily grind.

BUT THE LABOR HAS JUST STARTED. We cannot stop now. The past few years have simply demonstrated that WE NEED TO KEEP ON PRESSING FOR OUR OWN AGENDA WITH WELL RUN CAMPAIGNS.

At the upcoming Green Party convention, Salem Dec 1 and 2, the Women's Caucus will be strategizing and organizing ambitious campaigns for 2020. Please register in these pages and indicate your interest in these campaigns so we can contact you directly.

In the plans are a POPULAR EDUCATION CAMPAIGN that will start with a LISTENING TOUR. Please register in these pages so we can contact you. Please list any skills you bring to the table.

Let's remember those who are suffering and dying in so many places in the world, including non-humans. Let us bring understanding, peace and cooperation in our immediate communities.

We need to be able to fund the campaigns and pay the organizers. Please become a sustaining donor HERE.

Happy Thanksgiving and holidays
State Coordinating Committee
Pacific Green Party

Nathalie Paravicini
Pacific Green Party of Oregon
facebook.com/pacificgreens
Pacificgreens.org

The Good News: the Oregon legislature passed HB 5201 which allocates the exact amount specified in the Benton County voter-approved Ballot Measure to implement RCV in Benton County. The funds will be used to certify the new voting system and to conduct voter education and outreach about the switch to RCV.

However: we have been informed by the County Clerk that the County will NOT use RCV in 2018. The Clerk wants more time to do the education and implementation and believes that trying to get it all done by November would be too much of a push. The Clerk was also concerned that changing the system this late in the election cycle would not be fair to some of the candidates and parties who would not be prepared for campaigning under the new system.

We look forward to working with the County over the next 2 years for a stellar roll-out of Benton County's historic switch to this more democratic form of voting.

Do you want more choices in our elections?

Do you want representatives that share your views on things like gun control, immigration, healthcare and education? RCV PDX is an organization working to bring Ranked Choice Voting to Portland in 2020. Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank all candidates in order of preference rather than the current system of plurality voting that fails to require a majority of votes. RCV is the most popular alternative to our current system. We can have a more fair democracy right here where we live. Change comes from grassroots organizations like ours working from the ground up with the local community and we need you!

Come learn and get involved in a fun, relaxing, networking style event at Cider Riot! Sunday, March 4th from 3-6pm, voting begins at 4. No political affiliation necessary, this is a non-partisan issue. Flights will be half off! Four 4oz. ciders for only $10 PLUS 10% of group proceeds go to RCV PDX to continue the fight for a democracy that represents us all.

Come learn more about Ranked Choice Voting and enjoy some exceptional, locally-brewed, artisan cider!

Sunday, March 4
3:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Cider Riot!

807 NE Couch St. Portland, OR 97232

The Pacific Green Party stands for healthcare as a right and extends its thanks to all the voters in Oregon who overwhelmingly approved ballot measure 101 to impose hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes on hospitals, health insurers, and managed care companies to cover the costs of expanding Medicaid in the state.  Nonetheless, this is a short term fix and we continue to press for a single-payer healthcare system covering everyone with no restrictions or qualifications.

So the FCC voted to kill #NetNeutrality admitting they care more about enriching their corporate sponsors than listening to 83% of Americans.

This isn't over. BOMBARD Congress with calls & tell them to defend the free & open internet OR ELSE. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121

It's not enough just to fight for reversal of the FCC's decision. We demand public ownership of services that provide Internet access... We should all be enjoying the benefits of a free and open Internet.

Your donation to Pacific Green Party by December 31, 2017 may qualify for Oregon's Political Contribution Tax Credit! Find out here!

Donate Today!