Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty (at) greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene (at) gp.org
Ruth Weill, National Convention Coordinator, 414-350-2107, ruthweill (at) gmail.com
Patrick Kelly, Illinois Green Party Media Coordinator, 773-203-9631, media (at) ilgp.org

- Schedule of news conferences and other media events, media credentialing, bios of featured speakers, other essential details

- Key links:
2008 Green National Convention: Live Green, Vote Green www.greenparty2008.org
Media credentialing www.gp.org/forms/media

- Video of Green presidential candidates www.gp.org/2008-elections/presidential-videos.php

- Links to Green Presidential Candidates' web sites www.gp.org/committees/pcsc/index.shtml
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page www.gp.org/2008-elections

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States has released an updated schedule for the party's national nominating convention, at which the Green presidential ticket will be chosen by Green delegates.

The convention, titled "Live Green, Vote Green," will take place July 10-13 in Chicago (www.greenparty2008.org). The schedule of news conferences and other media events and a list of guest speakers are appended below. The nomination will take place on Saturday, July 12 at the Chicago Symphony Center.

Jesse Johnson, Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay, and Kat Swift are the four contenders for the Green presidential nomination. Information on the apportionment of the party's 836 state and caucus delegates is being compiled at "2008 Green Party Presidential Nomination Delegate Count" (www.gp.org/2008-elections/Delegate-Vote-Count.php).

Organizers of the Green National Convention are encouraging journalists who intend to cover the event to register at the Media Credentialing web page: www.gp.org/forms/media (onsite registration is also possible, but pre-convention registration is encouraged)

The Green Party encourages live blogging from the convention. The Chicago Symphony Center, convention site, will provide Internet access for registered media.

- For video clips of Green presidential candidates: www.gp.org/2008-elections/presidential-videos.php

- For further information, including details on lodging at the Palmer House Hilton: www.greenparty2008.org

- More on Green candidates running for various offices in 2008:
www.gp.org/elections.shtml
www.gp.org/elections/candidates/index.php

- MEDIA EVENTS
Schedule for the Chicago Convention, July 10-13 (subject to change)

THURSDAY, JULY 10
Location: Palmer House Hilton, 17 East Monroe Street
Media Room and Media Check-in: Clark 9, 7th floor
The Media Registration table hours: Noon - 5 pm
Press Conference Room: Clark 5, 7th floor

4 pm: Introductory news conference
Featuring Steering Committee members, Honorary Co-chairs, Illinois Green leaders, some Illinois candidates

6 pm: Welcome reception featuring international Greens

FRIDAY, JULY 11
Location: Palmer House Hilton, 17 East Monroe Street
Media Room and Media Check-in: Clark 9, 7th floor
The Media Registration table hours: 8 am - 8 pm
Press Conference Room: Clark 5, 7th floor

9 am: News conference featuring Green candidates for Congress

11 am: News conference featuring candidates for other public offices

Possible afternoon press conferences (to be announced) and press availability for Green presidential and other candidates

7-9 pm: Presidential Candidates' Forum
Moderator: Rich Whitney, 2006 candidate for Governor of Illinois

SATURDAY, JULY 12
Location: Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S Michigan Avenue
Media Check-In: Mezzanine
The Media Registration table hours: 8 am - 5 pm (flexible)
Press Conference Room: Grainger Ballroom, Mezzanine Level

9 am: Press briefing and news conference with Green presidential candidates; on-stage program begins

9:30 am: Keynote speaker Cliff Thornton

9:45 am: Adoption of the 2008 Green Party Platform

10:45 am: Keynote speakers Kathy Kelly, Malik Rahim

11:15 am: Speeches by the four Presidential Candidates

12 noon: Lunch

1 pm: Keynote speakers Omar Lopez, Dr. Jill Stein

1:30 pm: Voting, state roll call

(Times for events after this are tentative, depending on how long it takes to complete the nomination process)

2:30 pm: Vice Presidential acceptance speech (nominee will be introduced by Pat LaMarche, 2004 Green nominee for Vice President)

3 pm: Presidential acceptance speech (nominee will be introduced by David Cobb, 2004 Green nominee for President), followed by photo op for all Green candidates and the nominees

4 pm: Press conference featuring Green nominees for President and Vice President

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Malik Rahim, former Black Panther and Green Party candidate, co-founder of Common Ground Collective/Relief, an organization that provides short-term relief to victims of hurricane disasters in the gulf region. Visit www.commongroundrelief.org

Kathy Kelly, co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness, an organization that worked to end sanctions in Iraq beginning in 1996. Visit www.vcnv.org

Omar Lopez, teacher and Green candidate for the US House in Illinois' 4th District, principal convenor and a leader of the historic mega-marches of March 10 and May 1, 2006, in defense of the rights of undocumented immigrant workers and constitutional rights under attack by the Sensenbrenner House Bill 4437. Mr. L0pez has co-founded numerous labor, tenant, immigrants' rights, and bilingual education organizations, and is director of C.A.L.O.R., which provides services to Latinos affected by HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Visit www.omarlopez2008.org

Dr. Jill Stein, physician and founder of the Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities. Dr. Stein ran for Secretary of the Commonwealth in 2006 with the Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party, garnering 351,495 votes (18%). Visit www.masschc.org

Cliff Thornton, Jr., a long-time social justice and drug policy reform activist and Green candidate for Governor of Connecticut in 2006. Mr. Thornton is co-founder of Efficacy, which works for the reform of drug laws and criminal justice policies. Visit www.efficacy-online.org

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

2008 Green National Convention: Live Green, Vote Green www.greenparty2008.org
Media credentialing www.gp.org/forms/media
Video of Green presidential candidates www.gp.org/2008-elections/presidential-videos.php
Links to Green Presidential Candidates' web sites www.gp.org/committees/pcsc/index.shtml
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page www.gp.org/2008-elections