[gpga-news] PrsRls: Greens congratulate '08 Presidential Nominee, recipient of the 'Peace through Conscience' award

[Hugh Esco]

Greens congratulate Cynthia McKinney,=20
recipient of the 'Peace through Conscience' award=20
from the Munich American Peace Committee

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, February 4, 2010

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator,=20
202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614,
mclarty@greens.org=20

Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator,=20
916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org

McKinney will accept the award at a peace conference in the same city
as NATO's Munich Security Conference, which will address the war on
Afghanistan; Greens contrast McKinney's 'deserved' award with Obama's
Nobel Peace Prize

Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on peace,
foreign policy, and other related issues: http://www.gp.org/speakers


WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States congratulated
former US Representative Cynthia McKinney after an announcement that
she will receive the 'Peace through Conscience' award from the Munich
American Peace Committee (MAPC / http://www.mapc-web.de). Ms. McKinney
was the Green Party's 2008 nominee for President of the United States.

Ms. McKinney has been invited to participate in an International Peace
Conference scheduled to take place in Munich, Germany, from February 6
to 7, coinciding with the Munich Security Conference, which will
address NATO strategy towards Afghanistan, including President Obama's
planned troop escalation. A long-time proponent of abolishing NATO, Ms.
McKinney is scheduled to speak on February 6 at a rally in protest of
the NATO conference. After the rally, she will participate in the
conference.

MAPC will present the award to Cynthia McKinney during ceremonies of
the Munich Peace Conference on the evening of February 6, 2010. The
MAPC Peace Prize is normally awarded by the previous year's winner. In
Ms. McKinney's case, the award will be presented by Andr=C3=A9 Shepherd, a
US Army Specialist who applied for asylum in Germany after objecting to
the wars in Iraq.

"I am humbled to be so recognized," said Cynthia McKinney. "Clearly,
the MAPC gave more thought to the significance of those whose struggle
for peace is based on principle and an unshakeable commitment, despite
the personal sacrificies required, than did the Nobel Peace Committee
that rewarded our President for war."

Commenting on the decision to grant President Obama the 2009 Nobel
Peace Prize, Ms. McKinney said, "In this way of thinking, peace is now
war, lies are now truth, and ignorance is strength."

Ms. McKinney has urged Americans across Germany to gather in Munich and
protest US and NATO war policies, noting that Germany has sent its own
troops to Afghanistan. She will meet with American expatriates while in
Munich.

"We are very proud of Cynthia McKinney's work for peace and human
rights in the US and internationally," said Dr. Justine McCabe,
co-chair of the Green Party's International Committee
(http://www.gp.org/committees/intl). "Ms. McKinney has led the demand
for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and strongly
criticized President Obama's announcement of a troop surge in
Afghanistan. She has challenged NATO's global expansion of military
operations and demanded its abolition. Last June, after President Obama
urged humanitarian aid for people in Gaza, Ms. McKinney and other Free
Gaza activists tried to deliver medical and construction supplies and
other relief. They were illegally intercepted by the Israeli navy in
international waters and jailed, while the White House remained silent.
Unlike our President, Cynthia McKinney deserves a peace prize."

In a presentation at the 8. Internationale Muenchner Friedenskonferenz
(Eighth Munich International Peace Conference), Ms. McKinney will
discuss chances for a civil and nonviolent US foreign policy, the need
to end the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, US policies regarding
Colombia and its neighbours, and efforts toward a nuclear-free world.
She will pose the question "What should governments and the politicians
at the Security Conference do to promote peace and justice?"


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States=20
http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN

Green candidate database and campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
Green Party Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus

Green Pages:=20
The official publication of record of the=20
Green Party of the United States
Fall 2009 issue now online
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

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--=20
Hugh Esco=20
http://GeorgiaGreenParty.org