Greens first organized as an anti-nuclear, pro-peace movement at the height of the Cold War, the progressive New Values Party in the South Pacific, and the sixties/seventies student and environmental movement. The late Petra Kelly, a founder of the German Greens, attended American University in Washington, D.C., and was greatly influenced by the U.S. environmental movement of the early 1970s. In 1984, the first U.S. Green organizing meetings were convened. These meetings eventually led to the formation of a national membership organization of Green locals and individuals. By 1992, state parties had organized and gained ballot access. In 1996 Greens became the majority party of the Arcata, California city council, claiming three office seats. In August 1996, State Green parties held their first national nominating convention in Los Angeles. Earlier, in November 1995, as a result of Green national organizing efforts, Ralph Nader had set in motion the Green Party's first presidential campaign by officially announcing he would enter the California Green Primary. His decision sparked a reaction from Greens across the conntry. By election eve, Greens had placed Ralph Nader on 22 ballots nationwide, with another 23 states qualifying him as a write-in candidate. Nader was joined on the ticket by Native American Winona LaDuke. When the results were in, Nader came in fourth place, behind Bill Clinton, Bob Dole and Ross Perot, polling nearly 700,000 votes, approximately 1 percent of the vote nationwide. The third-party candidates denied Bill Clinton a clear majority. Nader surpassed third-party candidates who appeared on all 50 states ballots. The Nader/LaDuke vote in Oregon was the best nationwide - more than 4 percent. Greens spent about a penny a vote, which was the best return per vote in the election. Greens are now organized on all the inhabited continents of this planet, with elected officials working for a future based on our 10 Key Values. copyleft free 2000 - print and distribute. | |
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