Former US Congresswoman from Georgia, Cynthia McKinney, holds up food packet and cluster bomb, both of which were being dropped on Afghanistan by the American military in late 2001. She ran as the Green Party Presidential candidate in 2008.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
McKinney will accept the award at a peace conference in the same city as NATO's Munich Security Conference, which will address the war on Afghanistan; Greens contrast McKinney's 'deserved' award with Obama's Nobel Peace Prize
Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on peace, foreign policy, and other related issues: http://www.gp.org/speakers
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States congratulated former US Representative Cynthia McKinney after an announcement that she will receive the 'Peace through Conscience' award from the Munich American Peace Committee (MAPC / http://www.mapc-web.de). Ms. McKinney was the Green Party's 2008 nominee for President of the United States.
Ms. McKinney has been invited to participate in an International Peace Conference scheduled to take place in Munich, Germany, from February 6 to 7, coinciding with the Munich Security Conference, which will address NATO strategy towards Afghanistan, including President Obama's planned troop escalation. A long-time proponent of abolishing NATO, Ms. McKinney is scheduled to speak on February 6 at a rally in protest of the NATO conference. After the rally, she will participate in the conference.
MAPC will present the award to Cynthia McKinney during ceremonies of the Munich Peace Conference on the evening of February 6, 2010. The MAPC Peace Prize is normally awarded by the previous year's winner. In Ms. McKinney's case, the award will be presented by Andre Shepherd, a US Army Specialist who applied for asylum in Germany after objecting to the wars in Iraq.
"I am humbled to be so recognized," said Cynthia McKinney. "Clearly, the MAPC gave more thought to the significance of those whose struggle for peace is based on principle and an unshakeable commitment, despite the personal sacrificies required, than did the Nobel Peace Committee that rewarded our President for war."
Commenting on the decision to grant President Obama the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, Ms. McKinney said, "In this way of thinking, peace is now war, lies are now truth, and ignorance is strength."
Ms. McKinney has urged Americans across Germany to gather in Munich and protest US and NATO war policies, noting that Germany has sent its own troops to Afghanistan. She will meet with American expatriates while in Munich.
"We are very proud of Cynthia McKinney's work for peace and human rights in the US and internationally," said Dr. Justine McCabe, co-chair of the Green Party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl). "Ms. McKinney has led the demand for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and strongly criticized President Obama's announcement of a troop surge in Afghanistan. She has challenged NATO's global expansion of military operations and demanded its abolition. Last June, after President Obama urged humanitarian aid for people in Gaza, Ms. McKinney and other Free Gaza activists tried to deliver medical and construction supplies and other relief. They were illegally intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters and jailed, while the White House remained silent. Unlike our President, Cynthia McKinney deserves a peace prize."
In a presentation at the 8. Internationale Muenchner Friedenskonferenz (Eighth Munich International Peace Conference), Ms. McKinney will discuss chances for a civil and nonviolent US foreign policy, the need to end the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, US policies regarding Colombia and its neighbours, and efforts toward a nuclear-free world. She will pose the question "What should governments and the politicians at the Security Conference do to promote peace and justice?"
MORE INFORMATION
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