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Australian Green leader introduced new Bill for election reform

Australian Green Party leader Bob Brown introduces a new Bill in the Senate tomorrow to increase voter democracy. The Above The Line Bill will mean that voters can choose parties in order of preference, rather than the more compelx choosing of individuals.

Says Bob, "This Bill will strengthen our democracy by ensuring that all voters can choose their own line-up of parties, rather than being locked into choices made in back room preference deals between parties. It empowers voters over parties".

Latest Canada election polls

The latest CanWest News Service and Global National Poll in Canada for 1000 adults puts Greens on 9%, (Quebec Greens on 8%).

Iraq war veteran runs for Green Party in congress

When you think of a Green Party congress candidate in Chicago, a veteran who served two terms in Iraq does not spring to mind, but 25-year old Robert Hill is just that, hoping that his grass roots campaign will gain the trust over his million-spending Republican and Democrat opponents.

Advocating state-run health schemes ("the advantage with having 50 health care programs is that the best ones will rise to the top,and the worst ones will fail and be replaced"), he says of the voters "We will try to combat them with a positive message".

Cynthia McKinney going strong as Presidential candidate

Many US Green Parties are voting for former Democratic Cynthia McKinney (she served six terms as the first African-American Georgian congresswomen, before going Green), as their nomination for President.

Carl Romanelli, Luzerne County Chairman (who presided over the latest vote for Cynthia), says, "There is a lot of greeness of thought out there. We support anything that will advance the issues and want to be part of the debate with the other parties.. Our goal is to get 5% of the national vote, which will enable the party to receive matching funds".

With 300,000 registered Greens in the US (a third of them in California), one of the interested attendees to Luzerne was teacher of Energy Policy Richard Aston, impressed that the Greens were the only party who had the foresight not to approve the use of ethanol as fuel, which is partly causing the world's present food shortages.

Green Presidential candidate visits Detroit

Green Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney has been touring Detroit this week, raising funds, talking to locals and appearing on local media. A former Senator, with excitement over the prospect of a black or female president, she gives more "bang for your buck", as she is both!

Greens win third Camden council ward

A huge surprise last week was the election of Alex Goodman, to become the third Green Camden councllor in London. Winning by nearly 300 votes, Group Leader Adrian Oliver said, "It was a great result and has come after a lot of hard work. We said we would be good councillors when we came in and we have been. I think the support in time will spread across the borough and we will see results like this elsewhere. I think Highgate Ward has a lot of caring professionals that were moved to vote for us. There are also people who have chosen to live close to Hampstead Heath and so are more likely to have a Green lifestyle and support what we are saying in the community".

Green candidate for by-election announced

Robert Smith is just 23 and has been selected as Green Party candidate for the upcoming Crewe and Nantwich by-election on May 22nd. With a background in transport and town planning, he was the former north-west co-ordinator for the Young Greens and says, "Younger voters are disillusioned with politics and it's understandable why. Labour called a by-election before the former MP died, the Conservatives have a millionaire standing and the Liberal Democrats have been criticised for replacing their originally selected candidate, who must not have suited the party leadership. It is vital at every election people get an opportunity to vote for the only genuine Green Party. Only Green votes will lead to action on social and environmental issues. I want to run a positive campaign and focus on the transport issues around Crewe and Nantwich. Privatisation of rail has failed to deliver the local services that people need. Only the Greens have got the political courage to recognise this policy has ailed and to argue that public run services will be better for local people and better for the environment".

More Green Party candidates in Victoria

Back in 2005, nurse Sonya Chandler was the only Green voice on Canada's Victoria council, but this year they are fielding far more candidates. Campaign Manager Steven Burtch says, "We just want to make sure that candidates who run under The Green Party banner are knowledgeable, that they're supported by research, and that they're supported by acts".

Liberal candidate in Canada goes Green

In Canada, a Liberal candidate in the Simcoe-Grey elections has switched support to The Green Party candidate. Steven Fishman says they have a lot of good ideas and a strong leader in Elizabeth May, believing the Greens' time has come, with a strong possibility of getting their first Green seat in the area, judging by recent election results.

NC Greens carry on with court case

More on the North Carolina court case, where Greens are challenging unfair voting rules. With the high percentages of signatures needed (set mostly by Democrats and Republicans), The Green Party cannot get enough signatures to get on the ballot, as they will not pay for professional canvassers on ethical and financial grounds, so "people don't know we exist" (co-chair Elena Everett).

The Libertarians are also on the same side, with both plaintiffs saying, "generally we like each other, it's fun to be in this fight with them".