There will be a Green Party candidates training session in March. Whether you are considering running for office now, in the future, or are just interested in learning the skills to be an effective campaign volunteer, this is the event for you. It will be an all-day session, free of charge, on Sunday, March 19th at 215 Water Street in downtown Petaluma from 9 AM to 5 PM. If you have questions, please contact Bill at billpatterson@earthlink.net 838-3079 or Jared at jaredl@sbcglobal.net. Please come.

Note: we are still looking for candidates to run for GPSC County Council seats to ensure that the Green Party appears on our local ballots in June! In February two new Green candidates, Susan Chunco of Santa Rosa and Jim Sweeps of Sebastopol, declared their candidacies for the council. Please consider joining them--take the first step by attending the March 19th meeting! For more information on requirements for running for GPSC County Council, please see our February newsletter.

This is another of a continuing series of discussions on our 10 key values. These pieces are intended for discussion, so we greatly encourage our readers' participation. We have covered Ecological Wisdom, Grassroots Democracy and Decentralization in previous newsletters In this issue we will briefly discuss Community-Based Economics.

Community-based Economics: Of all of our core key values this one may be the most challenging. For it will represent a total transformation of our economic lives, if implemented, and because we will be calling for a societal paradigm shift in economic thought. It is challenging also, because, if we enter the corridors of power by getting elected to offices of fiduciary responsibility, we will be facing professional financial officers (graduates of Economic Schools) who will be led by tradition and an economic model over 225 yrs old begun by Adam Smith and his disciples at the dawn of the industrial age. An economic model which has come to be organized around a "grow-or-die" market system based upon rivalry, competition and never-ending expansion--a markedly destructive model to our natural world; a model which is turning soil into sand; polluting the atmosphere; changing the entire climatic pattern of the planet; and, if continued, possibly making the earth unsuitable for complex forms of life.

So, the discussion of this core value will have a 2-part approach. One, the green model centered on the community, the neighborhood, the town and the municipality. An approach which restores economic control back in the hands of the people. An approach which assumes that accumulation is not the only human aspiration. And two, the opposing, currently-practiced, approach which threatens the earth and it's inhabitants!

So, first, why do we hold that the community-based economic model is the correct, and rational, approach? Hazel Henderson, a green economist, has written: "Green economics is based on the scientific understanding of how eco-systems function to support human activities; stabilize carbon, oxygen and nitrogen balances; recycle wastes; and is based on meeting real human needs (not wants); not only for income, but health, education, nutritious food, adequate housing, meaningful cultural and spiritual lives and sharing the fruits of their labor in equitable, cohesive communities". And she adds: "the new economic view starts from the ground up and assumes that households are the basic units of production (rather than corporate enterprises) and that villages composed of these productive households can be viewed as enterprises in a system of community centered capitalism. The principle of "Subsidiarity", ie, problems that can be solved at a lower level of governance, need not concern higher levels, governs the plan."

Thus, greens mean by community-economics that a redesigning of our work structures is called for, a redefinition of "work", "jobs" and "income", that reflect a changing emerging new economy, together with a restriction on corporate power by strict local regulation. A "green" tax code should identify and include four (4) environmentally expensive activities: Pollution, waste, depletion of non-renewable resources and planned product obsolesence. A Community-based economic model would encourage ecologically sound and employee-owned or profit-sharing local businesses through the use of the local tax code. It would encourage neighborhood non-profit development corporations and community banks. It would utilize a script-currency system to retain money within the community, where and when feasible. And such communities would make cost-effective studies of the major departments in all local governments to control bloated bureaucracies.

The opposing currently-used economic model--global, national and local--is non-sustainable. It is led by and controlled by large central bankers and a class called "rentiers"; that is, wealthy people who live on income from investments (wall street). The same people served by the current president with the huge tax breaks on capital. This model has led to a society or culture that values greed, instant gratification, and avarice, over responsibility for future generations; and the earth's health. The consequences of such system was graphically displayed by the Katrina storm that devestated New Orleans and exposed the huge class divisions that exist in this wealthy nation.

The Democratic Party is and has been complicit in the maintenance of this culture. Writes Steve Fraser in his recent book "Every man a Speculator": "The ascendancy of the Democratic Leadership Council as the kingmaker within the Democratic Party affirmed the party's conversion to free-market orthodoxy and the vacating of its New Deal social conscience." The Green Party, in contradistinction, categorically reject this model as cruel and exploitative and support and will work for a community-based sustainable economy for the health, safety and welfare of all. The above represents just the "tip of the iceberg" on such a complex and important subject. If you have comments, questions or disagreements, please post them with our website by communicating with our newsletter editors, or contact me at billpatterson@earthlink.net.

COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS; How can we redesign our work structures to encourage employee ownership and workplace democracy? How can we develop new economic activities and institutions that will allow us to use our new technologies in ways that are humane, freeing, ecological and accountable, and responsive to communities? How can we establish some form of basic economic security, open to all? How can we move beyond the narrow "job ethic" to new definitions of "work", "jobs" and "income" that reflect the changing economy? How can we restructure our patterns of income distribution to reflect the wealth created by those outside the formal monetary economy: those who take responsibility for parenting, housekeeping, home gardens, community volunteer work, etc.? How can we restrict the size and concentrated power of corporations without discouraging superior efficiency or technological innovation?

bill patterson

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Bill Patterson is a County Council member of the Green Party of Sonoma County. He can be contacted at billpatterson@earthlink.net .

Arlington West-Sonoma County
A memorial week to recognize the 3rd anniversary of the war on Iraq and those who have died in it from Sunday, March 12 through Sunday, March, 19
Sebastopol Plaza, Sebastopol and other venues

Arlington West-Sonoma County is a week-long series of events, March 12-19, protesting the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and remembering the coalition forces members and the Iraqis who have died since March 19, 2003. On Sunday, March 12, a Support The Troops! Bring Them Home Now! Memorial will be held at Sebastopol Plaza at noon. There will be testimonies on why we should bring the troops home now from Veterans For Peace and Military Families Speak Out Against The War, along with music and poetry. A march will follow to establish a week long "Arlington West-Sonoma County" campsite on Highway 12. Marchers will carry tombstones, Crosses, Crescents with Stars, and Stars of David, which will establish a "cemetery" at the campsite honoring the war dead. The "cemetery" will last one week and will be secured 24 hours a day by volunteers from many local organizations. There will also be a blood drive at Sebastopol Plaza on the 12th in honor of those who have lost their lives in Iraq.

• Monday, March 13, KBBF 35th Anniversary fundraiser ($50)and Dolores Heurta Day at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building at 5:50 pm.
• Tuesday, March 14, films, art, and poetry in Court House Square, Santa Rosa from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 15, an Interfaith Dialogue on the war from 7 to 9 pm at a location to be announced.
• Thursday, March 16, Nonviolent Communication Workshop and Dialogue at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, 7 to 9 pm.
• Friday, March 17, Teens Speak Out Against The War, 6 pm at Court House Square in Santa Rosa.
• Saturday, March 18, West Coast march organized by others) to end the war in San Francisco with contingents from Sonoma County participating. Call the Peace & Justice Center to reserve a seat on one of the busses leaving from Santa Rosa.
• On Sunday, March 19 (the 3rd anniversary of the start of the war on Iraq) there will be a Stop The War Now! End The Occupation Now! gathering in Sebastopol Plaza beginning at noon. Speakers will include Norman Solomon, Peter Phillips, Stephanie Hiller, Dennis Kyne, and others. Music by Peace Warrior, Zenekar, Henry Moss and more. There will be poetry and an open mic.

Arlington West-Sonoma County joins 12 other "Arlingtons" across the nation that stand as testimony to U.S. personnel who have died in Iraq. The movement began in Santa Barbara. For more information, call the Peace & Justice Center: 707-575-8902 or Susan Lamont, peacenik@sonic.net, 707-889-3021

visit:
http://ww.peaceandjusticesonomaco.org
http://www.veteransforpeace.org
http://www.iraq-nationaldialogue.org
http://www.arlingtonwest-sonomacounty.org

These events are sponsored by Veterans For Peace Chapter 71-Sonoma County, the Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County, Women in Black, Sonoma Valley Peace and Justice, Pax Christi, Progressive Democrats of Sonoma County, Green Party of Sonoma County, Department of Peace, Petaluma Progressives and Bodega Go-pher Peace.

The Finance Standing Committee of the Green Party of California is seeking a part-time employee to perform administrative tasks as needed.

Hours per MONTH: 10

Duties: Administrative Tasks to include, but not limited to, writing "Thank You" notes to donors, arranging monthly teleconferences, taking notes on teleconferences, posting notes to relevant websites, other small administrative tasks as required.

Compensation: $ 15.00 - $ 20.00/hour, DPE

Duration of Employment: Through end of current fiscal year, with possibility of continuing beyond.

Please send a resume to finance-cmte@marla.cagreens.org by March 15, 2006

Greens,

Social justice is one of our party's 10 key values, and Greens have taken a lead role in organizing for higher wages for California workers. We should especially thank local Green Tim Smith who has spent years championing this cause within the state party. I am pleased to inform you of this effort, and urge you to join us and the state's lowest paid workers in struggle for better wages. This is also an excellent opportunity for us to let the public see Green values in action and register new members.

Californians for Fair Wages, a statewide coalition of Green and progressive activists, has come together to campaign for a higher statewide minimum wage, indexed yearly to inflation to keep up with cost of living increases. There are two versions of this initiative; one raises the minimum hourly wage to $7.75 over one year, with yearly adjustments for inflation thereafter. The other version raises the minimum hourly wage to $8.75 over two years, with yearly adjustments for inflation thereafter. By working to qualify both of these initiatives for the ballot, we preserve all of our options for winning something tangible for workers this November.

We now have petitions ready to circulate -- anyone eligible to register to vote in California may circulate these petitions. If you are interested in helping us gather the hundreds of thousands of signatures needed to bring millions of Californians closer to a living wage, or finding out more about what is involved, please contact us immediately. People are going to be eager to sign this petition, so the key is having enough volunteers to reach out to the overwhelmingly supportive public. You may contact myself, Jared Laiti, at 707-792-2381 or JaredL@sbcglobal.net regarding both initiatives, Tim Smith at 707-206-0260 or Rioryon@aol.com regarding the $7.75 initiative, and Cres Vellucci civillib@cwnet.com and Pat Driscoll pat@sonicfrog.com regarding the $8.75 initiative. If you can't gather signatures yourself (or even if you can!), please consider making a financial contribution to our efforts -- http://www.cafairwage.org/pages/contribute.html.

Together we can make a difference for California's workers!

Californians For Fair Wages
FPPC Number: 1276193
1710 Broadway #144, Sacramento CA 95818
Phone: (916) 484-5888 www.cafairwage.org

The following organizations are sponsors of the CFW campaign:

Green Party of California
Peace and Freedom Party ($8.75)
Mexican American Political Association ($8.75)
San Francisco Democratic Central Committee
Wellstone Democratic Club
Code Pink
Living Wage Coalition of Sonoma County
Sacramento UNITE People United for a Better Sacramento ($8.75)

If you know of, or participate in, an organization that might consider endorsing this effort, please see http://www.cafairwage.org/pages/endorse.html.

In Solidarity,
Jared Laiti

P.S. Though the CFW campaign is an all-volunteer effort, there are also paid petitions that can be circulated simultaneoulsy that we can give you information about.

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Jared Laiti is a member of Californians for Fair Wages (CFW) and
a County Council member of the Green Party of Sonoma County.

NOTES:
- Except where noted in item #3, some of the events listed below may have not been officially endorsed by the GPSC, but may be of interest to local Greens.
- To check for new events and schedule changes, visit our home page at http://www.sonomagreenparty.org

9  

(Thu) General Business Meeting
7-9 PM, 5513 Sebastopol Hwy 12 Sebastopol (north side of Highway 12. If you are heading toward Sebastopol, look for the Willie Bird Turkeys sign on the left, go about 100 yards and look on the right for xmas lights on a small shop)
The general meeting is usually held every 3rd Thursday of the month (this month is an exception). All interested Greens are welcome to attend!
Info: info@sonomagreenparty.org

12  

(Sun) A March to Honor those Killed in the Iraq War
12 - 5 PM, from the Sebastopol Plaza to a cemetery site.
This 1-1/2 mile march along Highway 12 is in honor of our soldiers and the Iraqi people who have died as a result of the Iraqi war. See newsletter item #3.

13  

(Mon) March with Dolores Huerta
Afternoon, from SRJC to downtown Santa Rosa. Dinner at the SR Veteran's Hall after the march.
March to empower Hispanic women in Sonoma County. Sponsored by MECHA Club and Puente Program at SRJC. See newsletter item #3.

14  

(Tue) Films, Art, and Poetry
4 - 9 PM, Court House Square, Santa Rosa
See newsletter item #3.

15  

(Wed) Deadline to Apply for Administrative Position within the GPCA
See newsletter item #4

15  

(Wed) Deadline for GPSC Newsletter Submissions for April
If you have a Green-related article or event that you want included in the next GPSC e-newsletter, email your draft or completed submission to pc@sonomagreenparty.org by 3/15. If you email a draft, please submit the completed article by Monday, 3/20.

16  

(Thu) Nonviolent Communication Workshop and Dialog
7 - 9 PM, Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, Santa Rosa
See newsletter item #3.

17  

(Fri) Teens Speak Out Against the War
6 PM, Court House Square, Santa Rosa
See newsletter item #3.

18  

(Sat) West Coast March to End the War
San Francisco
With contingents from Sonoma County participating. Call the Peace & Justice Center to reserve a seat on one of the busses leaving from Santa Rosa. See newsletter item #3.

19  

(Sun) Green Party Candidates Training Session
9 AM - 5 PM, 215 Water Street in downtown Petaluma.
See newsletter item #1

19  

(Sun) Peace Rally in Sebastopol
12 - 2 PM, Sebastopol Plaza.
On the 3rd anniversary of the start of the war on Iraq, there will be a Stop The War Now! End The Occupation Now! gathering in Sebastopol Plaza beginning at noon. Speakers will include Norman Solomon, Peter Phillips, Stephanie Hiller, Dennis Kyne, and others. Music by Peace Warrior, Zenekar, Henry Moss and more. There will be poetry and an open mic.
See newsletter item #3.

Bill of Rights Defense WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_bordc.shtml
Contact: bordc@sonomagreenparty.org

Bylaws WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_bylaws.shtml
Contact: bylaws@sonomagreenparty.org or 542-3037

Campaigns and Candidates WG
Contact: billpatterson@earthlink.net

Green Talk and Outreach WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_greentalk.shtml
Contact: greentalk@sonomagreenparty.org or 542-3037

IT (Information Technologies)WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_it.shtml
Contact: it@sonomagreenparty.org

PC (Public Communications) WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_pc.shtml
Contact: pc@sonomagreenparty.org

Campus Greens - Sonoma State University Chapter
Contact: fabrick@sonoma.edu
Listserve: http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/sonomacampusgreens

PO Box 15073 Santa Rosa, CA 95402
(707) 524-8818
Email: info@sonomagreenparty.org
Website: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org

https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/sonomagreens

Are you interested in participating in online discussions with other Sonoma Greens? The Sonoma Greens Open Forum is a free-for-all discussion list for Greens and the Green-curious in Sonoma County, for the purpose of advancing Green politics, activism, and debate. You can join by clicking the link above and then click on subscribe or email JaredL@sbcglobal.net for help or more information. Note: this list is not sponsored or maintained by the GPSC.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0218-23.htm

A look at the Miami-Dade Living Wage Ordinance