Winter GREEN SCENE 2004 San Luis Obispo County Greens • Santa Barbara County Greens • Ventura County Greens

Green Politics and You—Together We Can Make a Difference! Special Issue on the March Primary Elections and Local Green Actions

What can be done at this time to save the planet and its people? How can we take part in the struggle for local and global justice?

Our party—the —is a magnificent source of ideas, and of hope. This edition of the Green Scene suggests ways we can live up to our promise.

❖ Did you know that simply register- In this issue of the Green Scene we provide you—the ing to vote as a Green does not auto- registered Greens of Santa Barbara County and all who matically make you a member of the would make common cause with us—with information Green Party? you won’t get anywhere else about the issues at stake in the March California primary elections and the Green ❖ In this Green Scene you can find out candidates who want to take them on. We also describe how to take your commitment and in this issue a variety of Green-initiated projects that passion for Green politics to the next are underway in our community—campaigns that you level by becoming full, active mem- can become part of. bers of our party. ❖ To become a member you have to for- mally sign up with your local organi- zation by filling out the membership form on the special insert (member- ship dues are on a sliding scale). We ask that you send the form together with your views on our straw poll in the insert—a poll that asks what We need everyone’s talents, your wonderfully creative you think our presidential strategy for 2004 should be. visions, and whatever funds you can spare in these hard Please mail the form and the poll by February 15 in times—in a word, we are seeking your personal com- the envelope provided. The results will be forwarded mitment to save the planet for those alive today and to the Green Party of California. those generations who will come after us.

We cannot do this without your help— we are appealing to you to join us in actions that will make a difference!

What we are doing… What you can do… Straw Poll: strategy for the ’04 Pres. Elections . . . . . Insert Presidential candidates’ statements...... 2 Join the Green Party of Santa Barbara County . . . . Insert County Council candidates’ statements ...... 4 Reining in corporate power ...... 6 March 20 Day of Action ...... 6 Presidential Candidate David Cobb to speak in Support the grocery workers ...... 7 Santa Barbara on February 13 ...... 6 Register to vote! ...... 8 Page 2 GREEN SCENE Winter 2004 The Presidential Race and the Greens The eyes of the country and the world greens04.htm) and Paul Glover of will be on the November 2004 presiden- New York (www.ithacanews.org/ David Cobb tial election in the US The razor-close greenpresident.html), will appear on Greetings Green Sisters and Brothers, nature of the 2000 elections, and the the ballots of other states. The March I have served as the general counsel for the controversies over its legality as well as 2 vote will inform the positions of the national Green Party since 1998. I helped to the role played by Green Party candidate 132 California Green Party delegates to co-found the Green Party in in 1999, in determining the outcome, the National Nominating Convention in and coordinated the Texas ballot access pe- are on the minds of many as we enter this Milwaukee on June 25–26 in Milwaukee. tition drive in 2000. (We collected 76,100 election. On December 22, 2003, Nader Santa Barbara County will be sending signatures in just 75 days!) I also managed declared that he will not try to become the three delegates to this convention. Ralph Nader’s Green Party’s candidate in 2004, leaving Much very useful information on the 2000 presiden- open the possibility that he may elect to candidates and platform positions of tial campaign run as an independent. the Green Party of the United States in Texas. In This section presents you with state- (GPUS) can be found at the website 2002 I ran for ments written specially for the Green www.gp.org/convention, and candidates’ attorney gen- Scene from each of the four Green bios can be found at www.politics1.com/ eral, helping Party candidates for President—Peter greens04.htm . to create local Miguel Camejo, David Cobb, Kent The strategy adopted by the Green Party Green Party Mesplay, and Lorna Salzman—who in the fall 2004 presidential decision is chapters across will appear on the March 2 primary also under consideration at all levels of the state. ballot in California. Other candidates, David Cobb the party, and we urge you to make your I propose that including Carol Miller of New Mexico views known by filling out the straw poll the Green Party run a strong, aggressive, and ([email protected] and bio- found on the insert, and returning it to us strategically smart presidential campaign in graphical info at www.politics1.com/ by February 15! 2004 that builds our party at the local, state, and national levels. My specific goals in 2004 are to increase Green Party registration, build and strength- We were unable to get a statement in time Afghanistan, and the inability of the US en our internal infrastructure, help elect local for this newsletter from Peter Camejo’s cam- media and government to prevent the world candidates and win initiatives, create state paign. Instead, we print below an excerpt from hearing the truth about these events, is and local chapters where they do not exist, from “The Avocado Declaration” which he weakening Bush’s standing…. and consistently articulate Instant Runoff has initiated with a group of Greens. The full There is nothing more threatening to the Voting and Proportional Representation as text can be found at www.gp.org/articles . rule of the corporations than the consolida- the response to Greens as “spoilers.” We are The Green Party is at a tion of a party of hundreds not going away. In fact, we are getting larger, crossroads. The 2004 elec- of thousands of citizens, es- stronger and better organized with every tions place before us a clear pecially young people, that election. We will exercise our fundamental and unavoidable choice…. fearlessly tell the truth to right to participate in elections. The difference is not over the American people. Only I have consistently and publicly said that I whether to “defeat Bush”— such a movement can in time will follow the national Green Party’s strate- understanding that to mean become millions, then tens of gy if the party develops one. I sincerely hope the program of corporate millions and eventually win. we are able to come to general consensus on globalization and the wars But it is also the best strategy a strategy. I believe any potential candidate and trampling of the Consti- for the short term, to force a owes it to the party membership to articulate tution that come with it—but shift away from the direction their personal preferred strategy, and mine is rather how to do it…. We be- being pursued today…. described in detail at http://www.gwu.edu/ lieve it is precisely by openly Peter Camejo Those Greens who agree ~action/2004/cobb.html and sharply confronting the with the Ten Key Values In a nutshell, I believe we can increase two major parties that the policies of the but have disagreements with this Avocado party membership, strengthen our infrastruc- corporate interests these parties represent Declaration need to be respected. We need ture, form new state and local parties and can be set back and defeated…. to allow an open and honest debate as an help unelect Bush. Opposition is rising against Bush. The essential part of our culture…. Email: [email protected] massive overwhelming majority of the The present discussion around the 2004 Web: www.votecobb.org world is against Bush’s war policies. The elections is one that will not end but will be resistance to the occupation in Iraq and with us for a long time. More candidates on next page Winter 2004 GREEN SCENE Page 3 Kent P. Mesplay, Ph.D. and indigenous rights. Coming Threat: Westly Email: [email protected] I uphold the following perspectives: Web: presidentkent.org Open Primary Initiative Recognition that intentional, conscious hu- phone: (858) 578-8506 by Joe Crompton, Green Party Los Ange- man behavior with concern for long term les County County Council co-coordinator consequences State Controller Steve Westly is behind is essential Lorna Salzman a proposed initiative that would radically to solving If nominated as the US Green Party presi- hinder our ballot access status. Backed by our problems dential candidate, my campaign will focus the California Chamber of Commerce, the of justice, on urgent global environmental issues, espe- initiative would establish a Louisiana- style employment, cially global warming. My top priority would open primary. All candidates from all parties health and be drastic reduction—at least sixty percent would appear on the primary ballot. The top relationship to over the next decade—in oil consumption natural envi- two vote getters, regardless of party, would through carbon taxes, whereby fossil fuels be the only names listed on the general ronments. are taxed proportionate to their carbon Awareness election ballot. content. I would earmark these revenues What that means to all of our hard work that, as con- for carbon-reducing projects such as public Kent P. Mesplay sumers, we in building the Green Party as an alternative transportation, to the two party duopoly, is that we would vote every day with our money. Personal weatherization choices matter, such as moving toward a be almost entirely shut out of the electoral for low-income process and debate. meat-free diet and utilizing energy efficient family homes, transportation. The proponents of the open primary initia- rehabilitation Optimism that there is yet room, even tive have hired a mercenary signature gather- and subsidiza- in this post-9/11 political climate of near- ing firm. The deadline to file the signatures tion of Amtrak paranoia and excessive government intru- is March 4 to qualify for the November 2004 to lower the sion, to organize and act politically for the ballot. Preliminary polls have reported that cost of travel, advancement of humanity and the preserva- uninformed voters just might go for it. We tion of other earth inhabitants. and spurring of must act now to educate the voters that third Insistence that the democratic process is renewable en- Lorna Salzman parties are not the threat. We are the solution. not well served by institutionalized bribery ergy technolo- Together, third parties polled eleven percent and corruption. We need meaningful cam- gies here and in poor foreign countries. of the November 2002 gubernatorial votes. paign finance reform and consistent access As part of my energy plan I favor full-cost In some places, our candidates beat one or to debates. pricing of goods and energy, wherein the the other of the major parties’ candidates. Concern that security issues are not ad- environmental and social costs are reflected The Greens believe that we all have a stake dressed by our naïve president: we are not in the consumer price, and an end to all cor- in ballot access and participatory democracy. more secure against the threat of terrorism. porate subsidies (energy, timber, agriculture, This initiative runs directly counter to the Terrorism is more than a military problem. fisheries, airlines, automotive sector, etc.) in Green Party’s electoral reform plank. We Our centralized control of water, food and order to achieve a true free market. support more names and more choices on energy renders us susceptible to disasters, Additionally, I favor a universal single the ballot. Let Californians vote for whom natural or man-made. payer health plan funded through a gradu- they believe in, without fear. A belief that the corporate bottom line ated income tax surcharge. I oppose NAFTA is not the bottom line: our planetary life and the WTO and would seek drastic reform support system is. Globalization that strips of the World Bank and IMF. We must protect families and governments of autonomy, women’s rights in religious states as well despoils natural resources and landscapes GREEN SCENE as here and should sign the biosafety and WINTER 2004 ISSUE and exploits and indebts the disenfranchised, other international protocols as well as the including indigenous people, is not a form Convention to End All Forms of Discrimina- Quarterly publication of the Green Party of advancement. tion Against Women and we must join the of Santa Barbara County P.O. Box 92141 We are running out of time to mitigate the International Criminal Court. Santa Barbara CA 93190-2141 effects of global climate change. My campaign is based on Ecology and I will press for Instant Runoff Voting Democracy, with vigorous protection of our (805) 884-8259 (IRV), health care reform, equitable payment Constitution and Bill of Rights and termina- email: [email protected] for the Iraq War (by petroleum companies), tion of the present Patriot Act. http://www.cagreens.org/santabarbara/ bringing the troops home, recognition of Editor: John Foran global climate change as a serious problem, Email: [email protected] [email protected] promoting national energy independence Web: lornasalzman.com Layout: Gary Shapiro based upon renewable energy, regional se- fax: (413) 410-1401 [email protected] curity (energy, food, water, transportation), phone: (718) 522-0253 Page 4 GREEN SCENE Winter 2004 Elections for County Council

The March 2 California primary election special attention. diversity of our population and to do Green will include the elections for the seven- The picture really became complete when politics in a far more sustained manner than person Council of the Green Party of Santa I learned about the Ten Key values. From with our 120 paid members (out of 4,000 Barbara County. There are eight candidates the beginning I felt they offered a complete registered Greens). My second focus is to on the ballot, and we present them here. guideline by which to live. And today I still create many more ways for Greens to be ac- You can hear the candidates speak in the find them the answer to an almost perfect tive, in political campaigns, environmental near future on both local TV and radio. world. To sum it all up, I’ve been hooked work, global justice, reining in corporations, Channel 17’s program, “The Next Step,” on the Greens and its values for a very long and others that you, the membership will will air two half hour forums featuring four time. It would be impossible for me to think determine with your wide-ranging interests of the candidates each time. The first will of a full life without the Green Party. and creativity! be shown on Saturday, February 7, at both Over the last 12 years I have worked hard 6 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and again on Monday, in many areas. I worked hard to get 100,000- Patricia Hiles February 9 at 5 p.m. The second will be plus registered voters for ballot status which I first became an activist in 1965 upon on the air at these same times on Saturday, we achieved in January 1992. From trea- joining the ACLU in Los Angeles where I February 14 and Monday, February 16. surer, data base, membership, facilitator, participated in all levels of the ACLU, end- KCSB-FM at 91.9 will do a similar weekly tabling, social chair, a member of ing as a vice president of the affiliate when I program in which the candidates will be each county council since its inception; I’ve moved to Santa Barbara in 1982. Since then interviewed on “Grassroots,” with Geoff done it all. As the party has developed and I have participated in various degrees and for Green. This program will be on the radio succeeded other people have taken on and differing amounts of time in the following on Tuesday, February 17, at 8 a.m. shared the many responsibilities. However, organizations: S. B. Women Lawyers, the I enjoy the work and it has been a big part Living Wage Coalition, the Pro-Choice Co- Elden ‘Bud’ Boothe: of my life and I would like to continue to alition (current), the Santa Barbara Chapter ‘Green from the Beginning…’ be on the county council. of the ACLU (current Vice-Chair), Con- scientious Objectors and their Supporters My “green values” predate the Green John Foran: (current, the Committee for Social Justice Party. When the Santa Barbara Green Party ‘Another World Is Possible!’ (current), and the Green Party of S. B. (cur- was organized ca. 1990. I was one of the rent County Council member). original members. One of the most appealing aspects about I worked on the Ralph Nader campaign for As is well known our local Green Party has the Green perspective is its broad, multi- President in 2000; on the Wallace vs. Cham- grown to the point where the voting Santa issued approach to the critical problems berlain election for County supervisor (for Barbara citizens are aware of the Green we face and their possible solutions. Over Wallace); and for the two recent Green City Party and our Ten Key values. the years, I have been involved in Central Council candidates. My primary activity in the peace endeavor American solidarity work, the anti-apartheid While being on the County Council I have is protesting at Vandenberg Air Force base movement, union organizing, the peace and organized forums presented by the Green in opposition to the space-based war-making anti-nuclear movements, the Rainbow Co- Party, represented the Green Party to other effort of our government. alition, and Amnesty International locally. organizations, and supported Green candi- I will continue to work for the Santa Bar- I teach on Third World development and dates with money and phoning. Currently I bara Green Party and participate in activities social change at UCSB. For the past year I am working to help grocery strikers—mak- such as Earth Day, Adopt-a-Highway, other have been throwing myself into building the ing signs, picketing, and donating and solic- environmental endeavors, and, of course, Green Party, locally and state-wide, because iting funds for them. working for Green Party political candidates only the Greens embrace all of the above and I wish to continue as a County Council at all levels of government. more. I am currently an appointed member member because I believe in the Ten Key of the County Council, and alternate repre- Nancy Broyles: ‘Being Green values. I feel that it is important to educate sentative for the Central Coast region to the the public, support and elect local candidates, and the Green Party’ Coordinating Committee of the Green Party and to function as third parties have histori- of California. My passion is the global jus- The Green Party began in Germany with cally done in this country—as a source of tice movement, and I am active on issues of Petra Kelly and company endeavoring to progressive ideas that are propagated to the war and peace, US foreign policy, and social stop the production of nuclear weapons. I populace and eventually adopted by the two movements against corporate globalization. believe the Green Party came to the United major parties and the public in general. I am very concerned for our future and that States in the early 1980’s. It started in Santa of the world if we have four more years of Barbara in my living room on June 8, 1988. the Bush administration. It was about that time we were becoming More County Council candidates Locally, my main focus is outreach—build- aware that the environment we loved and on next page ing our numbers, both to better represent the cherished would not continue without some Winter 2004 GREEN SCENE Page 5

Paul Kirsch Green Party, has never been more relevant canopy displaying handsome signs announc- than it is today. ing who we are and what we stand for. I seek your support to be a member of the And so, as we prepare to select a presiden- As Editor I’ve tried to make the Green County Council of the Green Party of Santa tial candidate, we’re being called spoilers Scene professional in appearance and con- Barbara in the March elections. again. These are trying times indeed, but tent. And I successfully urged the use of ke- Since I moved to Santa Barbara in April very important times for the Greens. naf paper for it, thereby avoiding destruction last year, I have been attending council In the best of possible worlds, a Green of trees for pulp and the use of chlorine in meetings regularly as a non-council member. presidential candidate would stand a chance. production. My salient accomplishments to date include In the meantime, ubiquitous media distortion I ask your support for County Council the following: I identified and invited Bob demands Green values for the nation more membership. Banner, editor of Hopedance, and David today than ever before. Fielding a candidate Adelson, former local advisory board chair is a key part of the necessary task of building Dave Wass: of KPFK and co-creator of the LA Sound a national Green network. ‘Right Here, Right Now’ Posse to “Reining in Corporate Power II.” Please remember to vote with your heart, These are exciting times to be alive. World My letter to the editor in support of the strik- and don’t forget, all are welcome at our and national conditions are in flux. The pace ing supermarket workers and on behalf of county council meetings! See the back page of change is extraordinary. At the same time the Santa Barbara Greens was published in of this issue for time, date, and place. the Independent. values that we took for granted are being The three most important issues I would subverted and stripped of their meaning work on if elected are 1) transportation, 2) and validity. How long will it take to reduce housing, and 3) enhanced democracy. In most of us to the status of serfs enslaved regards to transportation, I am interested in and ruled by monster corporate-government working with the Ventura and SLO Greens entities? to explore introducing a bill in Sacramento The Green Party has a special role to play, to purchase buses or introduce light rail for like the Populist and Progressive parties of this corridor. In terms of housing, I want to the nineteenth century—to develop and sup- make it clear to city hall via letters and local William Smithers ply the new solutions to the old problem of organizing that Greens stand for affordable I am a member of the County Council of excessive wealth in the control of the top housing and environmentally sensitive con- the Green Party of Santa Barbara County. two percent of the population and the atten- struction. In regards to enhancing democ- For two years I’ve edited the Green Scene, dant breakdown in a struggling, smothered racy I am interested in setting up bi-lingual its quarterly newsletter. I am Treasurer. I electoral process. computer voting kiosks for citizen feedback maintain records of our membership, each Right here, right now in Santa Barbara, your Green Party is helping to present on local issues and news. month mailing reminders of annual dues, educational programs, alerting the public In summary, based on my past accom- succeeded by follow-up letters two months to the dangers of rogue corporations and plishments and my continued involvement later to those who’ve not renewed. their threat to economic and electoral de- in council activities, I hope to receive your Until recently I maintained the GP email mocracy. vote. list, sending out news and announcements This is a movement which will spread all issued or approved by the Council. over the United States and the world. It is Leo Raabe: I came to the Green Party in the election a tool with which to begin making changes ‘Power to the People!’ year 2000 as part of my fervent support in many other areas of our political and Last year all but one national party lost for Ralph Nader. For several months that economic lives. registered voters, while the Green Party was year I tabled on State Street for him and The other right here-right now issue which gaining them! In this election year, we want the party. we can impact is electoral reform. Santa to continue to increase both party member- I have special interest in the issues of Barbara and California are an ideal place ship and activism among members. All the global warming and Instant Runoff Voting. to start Instant Runoff Voting, proportional Council candidates share these goals. For the newsletter, I wrote an extensive representation, and government-financed Since there are eight candidates for seven editorial, “Fiddling While Earth Burns” on elections. These measures will help bring positions, one of us won’t get elected, but the former. The already-evident occurrences the people back to the elections and weaken I’m not asking for your vote. I know that cited in that article have since accelerated the grip of corporate control over our elec- win or lose, all eight of us will continue to at a speed greater than was anticipated at tions. be active in Green politics. This is a truly the time. These two issues—corporate power and win-win race! I’ve marched with my compatriots in electoral reform—are the levers to meaning- Sure, each individual can pursue their the anti-war demonstrations here in Santa ful reform—right here, right now. special concerns more effectively as a vot- Barbara. As Council member, I initiated efforts ing Council member, but nothing is more This issue of the Green Scene is printed important to us as a community than our to “professionalize” our appearance at lo- on 30% kenaf chlorine-free paper. collective Green activism. Our party, the cal events by GP purchase of an attractive Page 6 GREEN SCENE Winter 2004

‘Reining in Corporate Power’: Green Clean: Help Wanted! A local Green project Several years ago the Santa Bar- bara Green Party committed itself to A group of six people, members of the Our next program will be March 16 at 7 participate in the California “Adopt-a- Green Party and the Women’s International p.m. at the Faulkner Gallery of the Santa Highway” program. In exchange for League for Peace and Freedom, are work- Barbara Public Library on Anacapa Street this good work, we have posted large ing together, with financial support from the at Anapamu. Subject: “The Flowering of signs for the Green Party at each end Green Party, to present forums and educate Corporations—Angels and Rogues.” of our two-mile stretch of Highway the public on the evils of corporate power On behalf of “Reining in Corporate Power,” 246 from the intersection of Highway and on what people can do to prevent, or we are in, alphabetical order: Nancy Broyles, 101 two miles towards Lompoc. We at least minimize, the malignant effects of Judith Evered, Patricia Hiles, Dorothy Hol- do this highway trash cleanup every irresponsible, greedy corporations. land, Sandy Stites, David Wass. two months, on the second Saturday of We use the word “rein,” as in “reining” in alternate months (January, March, May, a horse, as one would want to control and Green candidate for July, September, November). Our next use the power of a horse for good and not president David Cobb to cleanup is on Saturday, March 13. In let it run amok to harm those around it. So corporate power, as other forms of power, speak in Santa Barbara case of rain, we postpone for a week. We meet at 10 a.m. across from Pea Soup is neither good nor evil. It depends upon We are excited to announce that David how it is used. Cobb, Green Party candidate for president, Anderson’s restaurant on Avenue of the We object to the exploitation of workers will speak about his campaign in Santa Flags in Buellton, near the intersection and consumers, to the denigration of the Barbara on Friday, February 13, at 7 p.m. of 101 and 246. After the cleanup all environment and natural resources, and at the Louise Lowry Davis Recreation Cen- participants are invited to Bud and Dot- to greedy, grossly unequal distribution of ter, 1232 De la Vina Street (at the corner of tie Boothe’s for lunch. wealth between workers and top manage- Victoria Street) in Santa Barbara. For infor- With six participants it takes less than ment. mation on this event, you may email Dave an hour. However, in recent months we Part of our mission is to educate the public Wass at [email protected] have had four or less—so please con- about the bad practices of corporations. The “The Green Party is the electoral arm of sider joining us for this Green clean and other part is to facilitate ways members of the movement for social justice in America. social event. For further information, the public can take action to rein in corporate We the people are demanding control of our call Bud at 688-7610. malfeasance. government. We are building a democratic So far we have had two public forums, movement that will take this country back the first one with about 100 attendees, from the corporate hooligans who have hi- fornia has endorsed this “International Day the second with over 150 present. Part of jacked it from us.” —David Cobb of Action,” as has the General Assembly each program is time for the audience to of the Anti-War Movement that convened participate with questions and comments at the World Social Forum recently in from the floor. Mumbai, India, and organizations all over Beginning with the second one, we com- the world, including United for Peace and mit to have an action item as part of each Justice, “a coalition of more than 650 lo- program. The first action item was in support cal and national groups throughout the US of the grocery strikers and workers who have who have joined together to oppose our been locked out by their companies. We so- government’s policy of permanent warfare licited donations for hardship funds for those and empire-building.” workers (who have now been out of their There will be major events in New York jobs for over 100 days), and asked everyone March 20 and in San Francisco for the west coast of in the audience to sign a card to each of the the United States. But planning for an event three grocery chains involved, asking them International Day of Action here in Santa Barbara is also getting under- to settle the strike fairly (with a note that we On March 20, 2004, the first anniversary way, and our local Green Party will be part now know where we can obtain our grocer- of the US attack on Iraq, the global peace of it, just as we were throughout 2002–3 in ies elsewhere.) The individual members of movement will take to the streets of major the weekly Santa Barbara Peace March. If our group will now individually buy stamps cities on all continents, as it did on February you want to be involved in the planning, or and mail the 300 cards we obtained. 15, 2003, when an estimated ten million peo- wish to be informed of the details as they Though our efforts be may small on the ple turned out to try to prevent that war. emerge, please send an email to John Foran national scale, we feel that if many small The people of the world will show their ([email protected]), who will know more groups take action against corporations who solidarity with the Iraqi people on March 20 as the date approaches. For information on are harming, not helping our society, we can by calling for an end to the US occupation the world-wide activities for that day, go to cumulatively affect change. of their country. The Green Party of Cali- the website www.unitedforpeace.org . Winter 2004 GREEN SCENE Page 7 Greens Support the Along the bottom of envelopes on my nation is wrong? Since we in this area are Grocery Strike! outgoing mail I print the following: “Pro- so close to Vandenberg it is incumbent on Editor’s preface: The Green Party of Santa test ‘Star Wars’! us to protest the Barbara County has endorsed the strike that It prolongs the war-making that has been ongoing across southern Califor- arms race, is il- May the Force is going on there. nia since October 2003. We join the picket legal, won’t work The Vandenberg of the local workers who have been locked and is extremely Be With Us!? Action Coalition out at the Albertson’s store on the Mesa in expensive!” holds two major Santa Barbara at Carrillo Street and Cliff Star Wars is a protests a year. Drive every Sunday between noon and 4 generic terms for The first is on a p.m. We would like to expand our numbers, all space-based Saturday in May time, and forms of support at the store on weapons systems, to coincide with Sundays, so if you would like to join us, you whether they are the Armed Forces are more than welcome! An email to John offensive or sup- Day military P.R. Foran ([email protected]) indicating your posedly defensive at Vandenberg. interest would be the best way to get started in nature. Two The second is in articles in a recent October to coin- with us. For information on the strike, visit by Bud Boothe the website of the United Food and Com- Defense Monitor, cide with a world- mercial Workers at www.ufcw.org . the publication of wide protest A Statement from the Unions via the Center for Defense Information, bear organized by the Global Network Against John Pace, local organizer the headlines “Missile Defense: A Losing Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. In Game” and “Arms Race in Space—US Air addition, a small group of Vandenberg Ac- Dear Customer, Force Quietly Focuses on Space Control.” tion Coalition members stage a protest at the We want to clarify why we are still on It behooves all of us to take these two Vandenberg base’s main entrance on Route strike instead of serving you in our stores. admonitions seriously. The articles in this 1 on the first Tuesday of every month from Our Vons members went on strike because publication are scary and should be taken 4 to 5 p.m. their CEO is the main force behind the at- seriously. The intent of our government is to These protests are a way to let the general tempt to slash our health coverage, pensions, dominate the world economically and to use public know that some of the peace activists and the wages of all new employees. our immense industrial-military complex to in our area disapprove of the part Vanden- We wanted to minimize the inconve- achieve this domination. berg plays in our government’s plans for nience to you, our customers, by limiting What can we do to tell our government world domination. May we see you there. the strike to Vons/Pavilions; but Albertsons that we believe this proposed world domi- —In peace, Bud. and Ralphs locked out their employees in a show of corporate solidarity. That means that their employees are not being allowed to work. Of this 60 percent, less than 10 percent are coverage and that of our retirees in half and The companies are publicizing our wages. full-time, and more than 90 percent are to put new hires into a separate plan that They want you to believe that we are making part-time. covers even less. $17.99 to $19.18 per hour, as though we all The high ratio of part-timers is by the They are also proposing pension cuts so make that rate of pay. companies’ design, not ours. Many of us severe that we would not earn any additional The truth is, only one or two people in have second jobs to make ends meet. The pension credits. each store make the $19.18 Meat Cutter only reason that many of the jobs in our As if that weren’t enough, the companies rate. The rest of the Meat department make stores provide a decent living is the health are also trying to establish a “two-tier” wage only $7.61 to $12.17 per hour, and they are coverage we’re fighting to keep. system, creating a new “second class” of em- mostly part-time employees. And we do earn that coverage. It is part ployees whose wages and health care would Food Clerks (including Checkers) who of our pay for the work we do. Instead of be far less than their co-workers. These com- do make $17.90 per hour do so only after buying our health insurance separately as panies would then have an extremely strong years as lower-paid apprentices. Food Clerks many of you do, part of our compensation incentive to selectively “attrite” their loyal (both experienced and apprentice) make up is put into a group health plan. There is no longtime employees. only about 40 percent of the workforce. Only free lunch. What goes into the health plan We have been forced into a fight for decent, 25 percent of Food Clerks are full-time em- doesn’t go into our paychecks. livable wages, health care, and pensions. ployees. The other 75 are part-time and are If it were only a question of paying $5 We apologize for any inconvenience that guaranteed only 24 hours per week. or $15 per week, and making higher co- this dispute has caused, and we thank you for The other 60 percent of the store employ- payments for office visits or prescriptions, the tremendous support we have received. ees are not Food Clerks. They earn between we would not have a dispute. The problem —The Employees of Albertsons, Ralphs, $6.75 (minimum wage) and $12.17 an hour. is that the companies are trying to slash our and Vons/Pavilions Page 8 GREEN SCENE Winter 2004

Our thanks to Green ART’S PARTY! Scene Editor Bill Smithers! February films in Isla Vista at Friendship Manor For two years, Bill Smithers has edited Deconstructing Supper: Is Your Food Safe? • Feb. 15 • 8 p.m. • $5 the Green Scene with great passion, skill, Ripe tomato salad. Creamy chicken soup. Grilled West Coast salmon. Dinner is served! and punctuality. Along with our wonderful But what’s in our food, and how is it grown? layout artist Gary Shapiro, he has brought Renowned chef John Bishop leads viewers on an eye-opening and engaging journey into the appearance of the newsletter to a new the billion-dollar battle to control global food production. level of professionalism with a rich content “This illuminating film reminds us of the importance of knowing where our food comes of ideas, reports, graphics, and good humor. from, and it shows us how the choices we make everyday about the food we eat are some The Council thanks Bill for his excellent of the most important decisions we make.” work on this important means of building the —Alice Waters, Owner, Chez Panisse Restaurant Green Party in Santa Barbara County—his Doing Justice: The Life and Trials of Arthur Kinoy • Feb. 29 • 8 p.m. • $5 touch will be sorely missed as we try to The late Arthur Kinoy, prominent civil rights lawyer, was involved in some of the learn the ropes of producing the newsletter country’s most celebrated cases: the 1950s espionage trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg; together. We rely on his example, his input, the Chicago 8 Trial; he took on President Richard Nixon in 1972, arguing before the US and his detailed instructions for us! Supreme Court that the use of the wiretaps was a violation of constitutional protections against unreasonable searches; he defended the White Panther Party.... Register to vote (Green!) In these dire times of our government hacking away at our civil liberties, we need to see by Tuesday, February 17 a film of such power and inspiration! To vote in the California primary elections Films are shown at Friendship Manor on the cor- on Tuesday, March 2, you must be registered ner of El Colegio and Los Carneros, in the Theatre to vote in the party of your choice by Febru- upstairs. You MUST buy your ticket at the Isla Vista ary 17, 2004. You can get forms at public Food Coop (6575 Seville Road.) No money accepted libraries, or at the registries of voters at three at the door. Only 66 tickets will be sold. places in SB County: 1101 Anacapa Street, Park in the Manor Corner Parking Lot (SE corner of 2nd Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 ; 511 the empty lot at Camino Pescadero and El Colegio). East Lakeside Parkway, Suite 134, Santa Do not park in the underground parking structure! Maria, CA 93454; and 401 East Cypress Proceeds to HopeDance Media (www.hopedance Avenue, Lompoc, CA 93436. .org). Call Art for details at 968-1965. Registered Green voters in Santa Barbara We meet on 2nd & 4th County were 3,758 on April 21, 2003, 3,480 of California. Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at the on January 1, 2004, and 3,499 on February 2, California has almost half of all the registered Westside Community Center 2004. We believe that some of this decline Greens in the US and will have between a quarter is by Greens who wish to have an impact on and a third of the delegates in Milwaukee. Your vote 423 W. Victoria Street the Democratic primary and hope that those counts and your voices will be heard! Santa Barbara who have registered Democrat for March 2 will re-register as Greens right away! We need to have as many registered Green Party of Santa Barbara County Greens in the county as possible: for the PRESORTED obvious reason that this is a sign of our P.O. Box 92141 STANDARD US POSTAGE strength and relevance, and also for some Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2141 PAID practical reasons such as the number of del- SANTA BARBARA, CA egates we get to the Green State Plenaries of PERMIT NO. 302 the General Assembly held four times a year (currently this is two delegates out of 100 in all state-wide). The next two plenaries will take place in San Francisco on March 27–28 and in Sacramento on June 5–6; the General Assembly makes all policy decisions for the Green Party of California. The number of delegates we get to the Presidential Nomi- nating Convention (currently three delegates out of 132) is based on the calculation that our peak of 3,918 represents 2.4 percent of the 162,935 registered Greens in the state