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Ten key values of the Green movement Ecological wisdom Social and economic justice Grassroots democracy Nonviolence Respect for diversity Feminism Community economics Personal and global responsibility Decentralization Future focus

The Central Queens Greens condemns the terrorist attacks on America, but also seeks a non-military solution to the problem of terrorism. Here is a statement that was approved at our September 2001 meeting, one week after the September 11 attacks:

We, the members of the Central Queens Greens, are shocked and saddened at last Tuesday's attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In the midst of this disaster, we salute the brave firefighters, police officers and rescue workers who risked their lives to help others escape and who, in some cases, perished. Some of our friends have died, and we have not heard from others.

The criminals who planned, assisted and executed these acts of terror should be investigated, captured, tried, convicted and punished. There is no excuse for political violence.

To end the threat of terrorism, people around the world must redouble their efforts to achieve peace. Taking more security precautions, while necessary, cannot stop determined terrorists. And revenge, the exchange of one violent act for another, creates a never-ending cycle of violence. Just because thousands of New Yorkers have died does not mean that thousands of similarly innocent people in another country should be killed. We need justice, not revenge.

Although we are not certain where the terrorists are from, it is clear that as long as there are unresolved conflicts in the world, such as in the Middle East, terrorist organizations will be able to recruit soldiers and suicide bombers. The most important step we can take to stop terrorism is to increase the peace.

The four pillars of the Green Party are ecology, social and economic justice, grassroots democracy and nonviolence.

Most Greens are former Democrats (some are former Republicans) who have become disillusioned by the corrpution of the two major parties. Both parties are controlled by special interests. Their politicians chase after large campaign contributions and don't represent the people who vote for them. The two major parties are really two wings of the big business party.

The Green's core principles are ecology, social and economic justice, grassroots democracy and peace. We believe these issues are linked: you can't make progress on one of them if you ignore the others.

If you share some or all of our values, we need your help. As individuals, we're powerless. But together, we can fight the political machines and have a chance to win. For example in 1998, the Greens scored a major victory by earning a ballot line in NY State (due to Grandpa Al Lewis' success in the November 1998 elections). This success occurred because hundreds of Greens throughout NY State campaigned for Lewis. Even though the major parties outspent us by a factor of hundreds, they could not stop us.

Are you interested in finding out more? For a free copy of our newsletter, call me (David Levner) at 718-897-1448. You can also read the newsletter online. We encourage you to learn more about us by attending one of our regular meetings. To find out about our next meeting, call me.

Links to pages of interest:

• How to contact Queens' elected representatives
• Back to the Blanket (a Native American journal published by one of our members, Day Star Chou)
• Queens Gays and Lesbians United
• Flying Off Course, a report by the Natural Resource Defense Council on pollution caused by aircraft.
• History of the Central Queens Greens
• Green Party of N.Y. State home page
• Green Parties of North America