Kent P. Mesplay, PhD, to attend Green Party's 2011 Annual National Meeting

Kent P. Mesplay, PhD, will join other Green Party leaders, candidates, and state party delegates in Alfred, New York, for the party's 2011 Annual National Meeting at Alfred University from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7.

The theme of the meeting is "Building a Green Economy -- No War. No Coal. No Gas. No Nukes."

This year's meeting site was chosen in part to recognize the Green Party's achievement of major party status in New York, a result of Howie Hawkins' gubernatorial candidacy in the 2010 election.

The meeting will take place at the fourth biennial New York Green Fest, "a gathering of folks interested in exploring the politics and practices that will help enable us to live in a sustainable world, and sharing a weekend of good discussions, good food, and good music". Greens will discuss this year's elections and prepare for Election Year 2012, including the presidential race.

Many of the events, including the forums, press conferences, and workshops, will be broadcast online via the Green Party's Livestream Channel for public viewing.

Alfred is about 80 miles from Rochester and 90 miles from Buffalo. For directions to Alfred University and Green Fest, see: http://nygreenfest.org/directions.html.

Dr. Mesplay will speak at the following events, both of which can be viewed on GreenStream:

Friday, August 5 at 9:00 AM -- Press Conference
Location: Kenyon-Allen Davis Suite, Powell Campus Center
Welcome from the Green Party of New York State and the Green Party of the United States.
Green officeholder: David Doonan, Mayor of Greenwich, NY
Green candidates:

• Audrey Clement, for Arlington County Board, Va. (http://www.AudreyClement.org), co-chair of the Green Party of the United States
• Joe Duffy, for Alderman of Hornell, NY; chair of the Steuben County Green Party (http://www.steubengreens.org)
• Howie Hawkins, for Common Councillor of Syracuse, NY; 2010 candidate for Governor of New York
• Jay Sweeney, for Supervisor in Falls Township, PA
• Green presidential candidate Kent Mesplay (http://www.mesplay.org)

Moderator: Scott McLarty

Saturday, August 6 from 6:45 to 8:45 PM -- Forum on Campaigning for Local Economies and Clean Energy
Location: Nevins Theater, Powell Campus Center
Participants: Elizabeth May, Green Member of Parliament in Canada, (via Skype), Cheri Honkala, Kent Mesplay, and other US Green candidates and officeholders
Moderator: David Cobb, 2004 Green Party presidential nominee

Some details of events may be subject to change.

MORE INFORMATION

• All events and more details: http://nygreenfest.org/2011schedule.html
• Speakers' bios: http://nygreenfest.org/presenterbios11.html
• Green Party Livestream channel (GreenStream): http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Green Party of the United States: http://www.gp.org
• Green Party of the U.S. Video Page: http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
• Green Party of the U.S. Press Release: http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=437
• Green Party's 2011 Annual National Meeting / New York Green Fest http://nygreenfest.org
• Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-Green-Fest/71141014224
• Alfred University: http://www.alfred.edu
• Green Party of New York State: http://www.web.gpnys.com

GREENSTREAM SCHEDULE as of August 4, 2011. Events at which Dr. Mesplay is scheduled to appear are in bold. All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Streams will also be archived so you can check back later and see what you missed.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5

• 9:00 am - 10:00 am: Green Party Candidates and Officeholders Press Conference
• 11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Green Party Women's Caucus Press Conference
• 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm: Building a Mass Movement to Criminalize Corporate Hydrofracking: Workshop 1, Richard Grossman with Sherry Fleming et al.
• 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm: Green Party Media Workshop, Part 1, Scott McLarty et al.
• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Green Party Media Workshop, Part 2, Scott McLarty
• 6:45 pm - 8:45 pm: Building Local Economies, David Korten et al.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6

• 8:45 am - 9:45 am: Ecological Socialism vs. Capitalist Exterminism, Howie Hawkins
• 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Third Parties as Real Change, Tony Gronowicz
• 11:15 am - 12:15 pm: Abolish Corporate "Personhood," David Cobb and Virginia Rasmussen
• 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm: Welcoming Muslims to the Green Movement: Fighting Islamophobia, Farheen Hakeem
• 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm: Forum on Asserting Local Sovereignty over Fossil Fuel Extraction: Richard Grossman, Virginia Rasmussen, David Cobb, Mary Jo Long, Jay Sweeney. Opening poetry: Michael Czarnecki
• 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm: Malapportionment vs. The National Popular Vote: Initiatives to Reform the Electoral College, Asa Gordon
• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Leveraging Privilege to Transform Oppression and Build Power, George Friday and David Cobb
• 6:45 pm - 8:45 pm: Forum on Campaigning for Local Economies and Clean Energy, Elizabeth May (via Skype), Green Candidates and Office Holders, Opening music: Crow Weaver

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7

• 8:45 am - 9:45 am: The Bias of Temperament in American Politics, William Kreml
• 8:45 am - 9:45 am: Building a Mass Movement to Criminalize Corporate Hydrofracking: Workshop 3, Richard Grossman et al.
• 10:00 am - 11:00 am: The Principle of Green Political Independence, or Why Progressive Democrats Reinforce Corporate Rule, Howie Hawkins et al.
• 11:15 am - 12:45 pm: Forum on the Future of Sustainable Politics, John Resenbrinck, Greg Gerritt, Howie Hawkins, Colia Clark, Jill Stein, Opening music: Carl Lundgren