February 2014

Henry Lawrence talks to our schools for Project Democracy 2014

— submitted by Henry Lawrence and Kelly Duncan
February 25, 2014

Project Democracy 2014 is a unique project run by Mark Anderson, Supervisor of Elections in Bay County, Florida. Anderson not only encourages young people to exercise their right to vote, but also encourages the various political parties in the county to participate by visiting area high schools with him.

henry_school — Henry Lawrence pictured at right.
image courtesy of the Bay County Supervisor of Elections

Thanks to Anderson for allowing the Green Party to participate this year, along with the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties. Green Party leaders Kelly Duncan and Henry Lawrence had the opportunity to speak with juniors and seniors in local high schools about the Green Party and the political process.

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South Miami Mayor Stoddard Wins 3rd Term in a “Mudslide”!

They called it a “mudslide” because of the exceptionally dirty attacks that had been leveled against incumbent South Miami Mayor Phil Stoddard. But those smears only gave the hoots and cheers from the exuberant gathering of neighbors, supporters and volunteers (including a contingent of Greens) at Stoddard’s victory party a more special meaning. Commission meetings have been notorious for divisive bickering, with some factions being backed by special interests. In a more positive vein, the city is also noted for intense citizen engagement at its commission meetings. With Stoddard’s progressive majority growing from 3-1 to 4-1, they now have a mandate to build on that work of moving the city ahead, independent of special interests. Stoddard now plans on holding a series of public workshops to develop a strong agenda for the city.

— Submitted by Steve Showen
Miami Green, and Co-Chair of the Green Party of Florida
February 15, 2014

SOUTH MIAMI, FL, February 15, 2014 — They called it a “mudslide” because of the exceptionally dirty attacks that had been leveled against incumbent South Miami Mayor Phil Stoddard. But those smears only gave the hoots and cheers from the exuberant gathering of neighbors, supporters and volunteers (including a contingent of Greens) at Stoddard’s victory party a more special meaning.

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Big Oil moves against Florida panther habitat

Many on this list are aware that an oil boom is rapidly taking shape in the southwest corner of Florida. Media attention began with a surprise notice sent to residents in May of 2013, advising them of an evacuation plan in the event of a hydrogen sulfide gas release. The source for that gas would be a proposed oil well located approximately three-quarters of a mile west of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. Here are a couple of things you might want to do. First, please consider a donation to the South Florida Wildlands Association to enable us to continue this fight. In my own capacity, I have filed an administrative petition (pro se) challenging the Hughes permit to drill next to the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. That petition will be heard later this month in Ft. Myers.

— submitted by Matt Schwartz
Executive Director, South Florida Wildlands Association

[We are proud to present this article by Executive Director Matt Schwartz of the South Florida Wildlands Association. It outlines corporate plans for the destruction of some of our most precious wildlife habitats, and offers ways that you can fight back against those plans. Note that the organization Preserve Our Paradise (whose Vice President Dr. Don Loritz is a leading Green in Collier County) has engaged legal counsel and scientific experts in the fight to preserve people’s homes and their very health in the targeted area. Both organizations are up against the same corporate powerhouses, Collier Resources and the Dan A. Hughes Company. The fight for the people of Southwest Florida and the fight for the Florida panther is the same fight. — JR, Managing Editor]

Dear Friends,

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