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To Nader or Not to Nader?: A Green Party Debate
Rap on Politics: First National Hip-Hop Convention Calls
for Change
Sudan Facing Worst Humanitarian Disaster in the World
To Nader or Not to Nader?: A Green Party Debate
The Democratic and Republican national conventions this
summer will be little more than coronation ceremonies. But
the Green Party convention, which kicks off today in Milwaukee,
promises drama as delegates debate whether to support independent
presidential candidate Ralph Nader. We host a debate between
Nader's running mate Peter Camejo and the leading Green Party
candidate David Cobb.
Today in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Green Party national
convention kicks off in what will likely prove the most dramatic
of this year's political conventions. That is largely due
to an announcement earlier this week by independent presidential
candidate Ralph Nader that he had selected Peter Camejo as
his running mate. Camejo was the Green Party's candidate for
governor of California in the 2003 total recall election and
up until now had been seeking the party's nomination himself.
Camejo was running second in delegates to Texas lawyer David
Cobb, who has spent months campaigning across the country.
In the 2000 election, Ralph Nader ran as the official Green
Party candidate and received more than 2.8 million votes.
This time around, Nader has said he will not accept the Green
Party nomination, asking instead for their endorsement. Nader
already has the official support of the Reform Party.
An official nod from the Greens could give Nader a spot on
the presidential ballot representing the Green Party in at
least 23 and possibly as many as 35 states.
While the Democrats and Republicans prepare for what are
essentially coronation ceremonies at their national conventions
this Summer, the next several days in Milwaukee promise to
bring some of the most vibrant debate in recent Green Party
history.
- Peter Camejo, has just been selected as Ralph Nader's
running mate in the 2004 presidential race. He was the Green
Party candidate for governor of California in 2003.
- David Cobb, seeking the Green Party nomination for president
this week in Milwaukee. He was the General Counsel for the
Green Party of the United States until declaring his candidacy
and was the Green Party of Texas candidate for Attorney
General in 2002.
Rap on Politics: First National Hip-Hop Convention
Calls for Change
The first-ever National Hip-Hop Political Convention came
to a close last Saturday in Newark, New Jersey. The four-day
gathering was attended by activists, elected officials, political
pundits and hip-hop artists from all over the country. We
hear a speech by New York City council member Charles Barron.
We move from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Newark, New Jersey -
from one political convention to another.
The first-ever National Hip-Hop Political Convention came
to a close last Saturday in Newark, New Jersey. The four-day
gathering drew an estimated 3,000-4,000 people and was attended
by activists, elected officials, political pundits and hip-hop
artists from all over the country.
The dialogue included topics such as new challenges in electoral
politics, rethinking grassroots activism, art and responsibility,
and mobilizing the religious community.
Delegates earned their convention seats by registering at
least 50 people to vote. The four-day convention included
concerts, film screenings, workshops, panel discussion and
a platform to vote on which organizers hope will be incorporated
into the platforms of political parties across the spectrum.
Numerous speakers took to the stage on the final day of the
convention. This is New York City Council member Charles Barron.
- Charles Barron, New York City council member speaking
at the National
Hip-Hop Convention in Newark on June 19, 2004. He is
currently running for mayor of New York City.
Sudan Facing Worst Humanitarian Disaster in the World
Tens of thousands of black Africans have been slaughtered
and some one million have fled their homes in Sudan's western
Darfur region after attacks by Arab militias armed by the
Sudanese government. We speak with independent journalist
Julie Flint who recently published a report on Sudan for Human
Rights Watch and we go to Darfur to speak with UNICEF worker
James Elder.
The US-occupation of Iraq is daily headline news around the
world. But one conflict that is rarely mentioned, especially
by the US media, is Sudan which faces the worst humanitarian
disaster anywhere in the world.
In what the United Nations calls "a campaign of ethnic
cleansing" tens of thousands of black Africans have been
slaughtered and some one million have fled their homes in
Sudan's western Darfur region after attacks by Arab militias
armed by the Sudanese government.
On Saturday, Sudanese president Omar Hassan Bashir finally
agreed to mobilize the country's military to disarm all illegal
armed groups in Darfur, including the Arab militias - known
locally as Janjaweed. The announcement came amid mounting
pressure from the international community. Last week, the
US State Department threatened the Sudanese government in
Khartoum with possible economic sanctions and visa denials
unless it took steps to stop the killing in Darfur. The current
conflict began in February 2003, when two different groups
of black rebels took up arms against the Sudanese government
in an effort to gain political power. In response, the government
reportedly gave the Janjaweed free reign to retaliate against
black villagers in Darfur. These militias have killed between
10,000 and 30,000 people and displaced more than 1 million
refugees, many fleeing to neighboring Chad.
A ceasefire was agreed in April, but attacks on villages
continue and refugees are facing a devastating shortage of
humanitarian assistance.
- James Elder, UNICEF Communications Officer in Darfur,
Sudan.
- Julie Flint, independent journalist who led a recent Human
Rights Watch trip to Sudan. Her report for Human Rights
Watch, "Darfur
Destroyed" was published in May. She
testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
last week.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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