News release

Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Contact: Karen Young at 773-517-6433, chicagoareagreens (at) yahoo.com

Per Gahrton, member of the European Parliament and the Green Party of Sweden, will be speaking in Chicago Monday June 28 at 6PM. The event is sponsored by the Chicago Area Greens and will be held at Columbia College, 33 E. Congress (at Wabash) in downtown Chicago, Room 717. Admission is free. Gahrton will speak on the topic “Globalization: Disaster or Opportunity?”

Gahrton is visiting the U.S. as part of an international delegation to the Green Party of the United States (GPUS) national convention to be held at the Midwest Center and Hyatt Regency, Milwaukee, WI, June 23-28.

“Gahrton’s work building connections among Green Parties and progressive movements throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East is important and inspiring,” said Karen Young of the Chicago Area Greens. “I’m sure we will learn much from his talk to help us build connections among different communities and progressive movements. We also think it’s important for Americans to hear about the increased opportunity for political participation that comes with a multi-party system like the European Parliament’s.”

Delegates from as many as 48 states are expected at the Green Party convention, as well as an international delegation. The Green Party has ballot status in 23 states. There are approximately 300,000 registered Greens in the US, with more in states where voter registration does not specify a political party. More than 200 Greens in 27 states hold elected office. The convention will select a Presidential candidate, as well as hold various workshops and discussions for members. Speakers at a post-convention rally will include: Jason West, Mayor of New Paltz, NY; Matt Gonzalez, 2003 Green Party candidate for Mayor of San Francisco, CA; Dr. Agha Saeed, National Chairman of the American Muslim Alliance; and Medea Benjamin, 2000 Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate from California.

Further information on the GPUS convention is available at www.gpus.org.