CHARLOTTE AREA GREEN PARTY MEETING MINUTES / AUGUST 10, 2002


Members Present: Kathryn Kuppers, Richard Hornsby, Alan Burns, Gray Newman, Michael Sharpe, Harry Phillips, and Chris Peigler

Guests: Mary Olson, Peter Sipp, and Becky Thorne Tin

• It was noted that July meeting minutes are posted on the CAGP web site, and Harry Phillips suggested that they need not be read at this meeting.
  
  
• As Mark Ortiz was not able to attend, Kathryn Kuppers reported that we have $503.78 in our treasury, which includes $20 in cash and reflects a recent expenditure of $13.95 to keep our domain name on the web site.
  
  
• Labor Day Parade posters were distributed. Alan, Mark, Harry, Gregg, Richard, and Kathryn will maintain a booth and sell beer after the parade. Gray will maintain an information table. Gregg noted that we’ll receive either cash or pre-purchased tickets as folks buy beer. Richard or Kathryn will post on our listserve when and where we are to gather prior to the parade.
  
  
• Gray reported on the GPUS Convention in Philadelphia in July. Delegates were encouraged that Green Party ideas are making their way into North Carolina and into the South generally. It was felt that the Green Party is doing much better than Dem’s and Rep’s in defending the Constitution. Candidate workshops were helpful. Gray attended a meeting of the presidential exploratory committee. Ralph Nader won’t join the GP and this has caused some frustration among members. Cynthia McKinney sent her greetings, as did Noam Chomsky and others. Gray expressed honor at being the only NC Green attending. Next year’s convention will be in Houston, and in 2004 the convention will be held either in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, or Washington, DC.
  
  
• Mary Olson, of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) Southeast, addressed our membership. She noted that our region is, disturbingly, the nuclear reactor capitol of the world. NIRS, founded in 1978, states that although more than 400 nuclear reactors were planned, only 120 were built, and this was due to citizen protest in areas outside our region. NIRS is focused on phasing out nuclear power, and the present project is fighting the production and movement of MOX-fuel. There is strong need for community-based advocacy groups against a nuclear presence. Peter Sipp, hydroelectric engineer and inventor, is working to harness electricity from flowing, not dammed, water. Mary explained that “bombs in space” is the reason for plutonium research. For more information on NIRS activities, we can visit their website: www.nirs.org. The issue of concern for our area is making nuclear material into weapons in South Carolina, with assembly in Oak Ridge, TN. Uranium being dumped into the environment is the primary problem. Chernobyl, Mary explained, was not a local event. In time, three million people could be killed from Chernobyl fallout, which can cause cancer and genetic defects. This effect is doubled when MOX-fuel is dumped. Our tax money pays for this program. Duke Energy’s hegemonic control over this region is at the center of this issue. In essence, the purification of weapons-grade fuel to “designer-grade plutonium” is the issue. Currently, there is an energy bill on the books for tax money to build nuclear power reactors to charge the public for electricity. We need to look closely at the health effects of nuclear reactors. A conference addressing these issues is planned for Oct. 11-13. Mary urged us to lead in the effort to stop this production.
  
  
• Becky Thorne Tin, candidate for District Judge, made a brief presentation and stressed her experience in representing labor concerns, her involvement in race- and gender-based discrimination cases, and her representation of children as an attorney. She seeks our endorsement.
  
  
• Chris Cole, Libertarian candidate for public office, explained briefly his position on a few issues. An exchange followed, with some minimal overlapping as third parties being established. Chris mentioned that he would surely vote “Green,” provided a Libertarian was not running, in an election as a way to endorse third-party politics.
  
  
• Gregg, Kathryn, and Alan managed two tables at a recent Bonnie Raitt concert in Charlotte and got 30 signatures toward state ballot access. It was suggested that in the future we should learn of Green entertainers who will perform in our area and contact them for possible endorsement. Chris mentioned that Pearl Jam, Greens, will perform in Charlotte next year.
  
  
• Gray, Kathryn, Michael, and Gregg agreed to appear on “Charlotte Talks” should Alan’s request for a chance to appear on the show be granted. Alan will contact Wendy Bratz, the show’s producer. Gregg suggested that we arrange for a prominent Green or two to call into the show during our appearance.
  
  
• Regarding the informal Green gathering in Raleigh during the weekend of September 21-23, Alan, Michael, Harry, and Richard plan to attend. Alan will post an announcement with details on our listserve.
  
  
• Gray, Alan, and Harry campaigned for Gray at the Dilworth Jubilee on Aug. 10. Gray’s intention is to also focus on city, not only county, concerns in his bid for a seat on the Soil and Water Conservation Board. He noted that he will campaign at the Hidden Valley Festival on Sept. 14 and will speak at the Altera Senior Citizen Center on Monday, Aug. 12. We should also make sure that Gray speaks at League of Women Voters candidate activities in the fall. Contributions to Gray’s campaign can be mailed to him at: 6701 Lynmont Dr., Charlotte 28212
  
  

Respectfully Submitted,

Harry Phillips
August 24, 2002