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OH Green Party Candidates Promise to Confront Great Moral Dilemmas of the Day
Columbus, OH — The Ohio Green Party voted to endorse Bob Fitrakis and Anita Rios for Governor/Lt governor during their convention on Saturday in Columbus. Bob Fitrakis is an attorney, an award-winning journalist, and a professor of political science. He earned his law degree at the Ohio State University Moritz School of Law and his Phd in Political Science from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan.
"We want to tell our children and grandchildren that we were the ones who fought for sustainability against the fossil fuel economy, we stood up and took to the streets over verifiable elections, and we promoted real solutions when faced with global warming." — Bob Fitrakis |
Anita Rios is a longtime union activist and community organizer with a background in mental health. Anita is the former chair of the Green Party National Committee. She grew up one of eight children to parents who were Mexican American migrant farm workers.
Fitrakis received a thundering approval as he outlined his vision for Ohio. He promised to form a rainbow coalition of Greens by creating an alliance of the Green Party faithful with independent progressive people of color. The Green Party offers a true alternative to the corporate influenced two party system. "We want to tell our children and grandchildren that we were the ones who fought for sustainability against the fossil fuel economy, we stood up and took to the streets over verifiable elections, and we promoted real solutions when faced with global warming."
Fitrakis laid out his plan by invoking what he termed the "3 E's" of the Green Party Platform:
Enduring an Endless War
Fitrakis says it's time to challenge the military industrial complex. "This must be our final war for fossil fuels". The current policies have caused the proliferation of terrorists and has made the world much less stable. We must use compromise and respect for other cultures to bring stability to the world. He will demand the withdrawal of the Ohio National Guard from Iraq and that they be returned to Ohio soil. This war is about increasing the wealth of the President's cronies. It's time to bring our brave men and women home to serve where they are needed in our own state.Economy
Fitrakis intends to emphasize the other side of free trade — fair trade. He will create new Ohio jobs by focusing on jobs of the future in "green trade". He promises no state contracts unless companies agree to livable wages and healthcare benefits for workers. It's time to end thepay-to-play corruption that permeates government.Environment
We have the ability to make the state of Ohio a shining example for others to follow. We can act locally to influence the future of our planet. Ohio should promote wind and solar energy, geothermal technology and biomass fuels. We can develop cars that can achieve 100 miles per gallon. It is time to rebuild our infrastructure to support rail transportation to connect our cities. We can move our stagnant economy into the future while promoting a cleaner, greener environment.
