New-217

Support Earth Charter

Be it resolved that the Green party endorses and supports passage of the Earth Charter on a local, state, federal and global level.

New 1:

Remove mental Illness statutes

We support the rights of patients in mental health systems to provide informed consent for their treatments
to the extent possible. We support the use of alternative and complementary therapies in the treatment of mental illness. We oppose compulsory medication of the mentally ill without judicial oversight and review.

New 51:

Authorize Platform Committee to edit

Be it resolved that the Platform Committee is authorized to edit the Platform for clarity and ease of comprehension.

New 84: Media

Amend R7 to include:

"We support small and locally-owned television and radio stations, newspapers, and other media to reflect diverse viewpoints, a broader range of debate, local content, and the free flow of information and ideas."

New 79:

Create platform Table of Contents

Be it resolved that the Platform Committee provide a Table of Contents for the platform for the ease of the
reader.

A 49 Human rights

We oppose holding US servicepersons beyond their terms of enlistment.

A 88

Ageism

We support a society that includes an intergenerational influence in its meaningful work and community activities.
We value the perspective of people of all ages and work to overturn the social, institutional and political
marginalization of young people and the elderly.

A 194

Family planning information

We believe individuals have the right to access voluntary family planning and counseling services, and to scientifically accurate information concerning human reproduction and sexuality.

A 233

Abortion in full confidentiality

We support full privacy for individuals who receive or give licensed provision of an abortion.

A 87

Addition to section A4: privacy

We support amendments to the state and national constitutions which provide an explicit right to personal privacy.

A 159

Waiting period for abortion

We oppose mandatory waiting periods for abortion servies.

B 167

Code for corporate responsibility

The Green Party of Minnesota supports legislation to amend the Minnesota state corporate charter. Charter
shall name the mission of corporations to make profits for shareholders but not at the expense of the environment, human rights, the public health and safety, the communities in which they operate, or the dignity of their employees.

B27

Corporate responsibility:

Greens reject the doctrine of corporate personhood. The corporation is a legal entity licensed to perform certain socially useful functions. When it departs from those functions or behaves in a manner that is harmful to the community or it’s workers, it should be liquidated. We advocate community based and community
owned industries. Greens suggest vigorous enforcement of anti- trust laws and policies. We demand a law
that requires each corporate board to have community and employees independent of corporate and board appointments. Such directors must evaluate and communicate the future impact on and justifications for board
decisions on their constituents.

B-238

Protect our Public Services

The Green party opposes privatization or outsourcing of public services.

B124

Right to unionize

The Green Party supports the right of working people to form or join labor unions.

The Green Party expects our endorsed candidates and elected officials to actively assist working people
to form or join labor unions, by advocating legislation to protect workers' organizing rights, opposing
the use of public funds to block organizing efforts, asking employers to maintain neutrality, walking on picket lines, and taking other supportive actions.

B139

Open source software

The Green Party advocates the use of open source software.

B99

Living wage jobs

Therefore be it resolved that we add (to section B. Economics) the following to our State Party Platform:

18) Living Wage Jobs

18a. Greens support living wage laws and ordinances requiring private businesses that benefit from public money to pay their workers enough so that they can support themselves and provide for their own basic needs. Public dollars should be reserved for those private sector employers who demonstrate a commitment to providing decent, family-supporting jobs in our local community.

18b. Greens support Living Wage policies that require companies receiving public money to honor the
rights of workers to organize, form or join unions if they so choose.

18c. Living Wage policies, ordinances and legislation that require the largest companies to provide living
wage jobs, even without receiving any public subsidy, should also be considered.

B106

Fair trade, not free trade

Amended to add to B8 as follows:
B8 Responsible globalization (new title)

Keep all current platform statement

a) remains as is in current platform.

Add

b) The Green Party only supports those trade agreements that set strong and fully enforceable protections for environmental, labor and food safety standards; protect democratic freedoms, and provide for dispute resolution processes that are open to citizens.Green Party demands the revocation of all trade agreements
that do not meet these requirements.

C-14

Coal gasification

Bet it resolved to add the following to our platform:

Greens oppose the siting of any coal gassification plants in Minnesota.

C-169

Changes in wording re Building code

Changes to section C-5

1. Strike "climatically appropriate"

2. replace "passive solar heating elements" with "the use of alternative energy sources"

D29:

Ban irradiation

The Greens oppose the use of irradiation on agricultural products.

D151

Marketing livestock

Resolved: that in order to enable farmers to get a fair price, federal and state law should prohibit meat
packers from owning livestock for more than 14 days before slaughter.

D154

Prohibit rBGH

Resolved: that administering bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to milk cows should be prohibited.

D205

Allow industrial hemp

Be it resolved that farmers be allowed to plant industrial hemp.

D150

Land use regulation

Resolved: that we oppose efforts to weaken or "streamline" environmental review of large development projects, including feedlot operations.

E-43

Mod E2,re.public forestry, delete G1b re energy

E2

Goal of Public Forestry will be amended to add the following statement:
We must stop destroying forests and adopt a policy of reforestration of marginal and open public lands
where feasible.

G1b to be deleted.

E-98

Land use and development

Therefore be it resolved that we amend section E. (Forestry) to Land Use and add the following new section
to our State Party Platform:

E. Land Use

1) Community and Economic Development Greens call for an end to poorly planned, sprawling and costly
land uses that threaten our environment, health, and quality of life. These include sprawling, scattered
strip malls, highways, and housing that increase traffic, sap local resources, increase air and water pollution, destroy parks, farms, wetlands and forests and increase the risk of flooding.

1a. We advocate for the revitalization of already developed areas by attracting new businesses, reducing crime and improving schools and for land use policies that direct development towards existing neighborhoods and the infrastructure and resources they offer.

1b. We call for the establishment of urban growth boundaries that preserve open space, farmland, parks,
forests, wetlands, flood plains and other natural resources and critical environmental areas on the urban
fringe.

1c. We support investment in alternate forms of transportation and the development of more "walkable" pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. We advocate land use and development strategies that provide a range of quality housing options for people of all income levels, the use of more compact building design as an alternative to conventional, land consumptive development and the integration of mixed land uses into communities.

1d. We support land use planning that encourages community and stakeholder collaboration where a vision
and standards for development and construction can be set that respond to each community’s own goals and values and one that makes development decisions predictable, fair and open so that land use plans can be embraced by the both the public and private sectors.

Make changes to old section F. as follows:

2) Forestry

2a. 1) Cost of timber

Greens advocate raising the price of publicly owned timber in Minnesota to reflect the true costs of managing virgin fiber. Detailed cost accounting must be instituted at the Dept. of Natural Resources, based on the model already in use by the U.S. Forest Service. All auctions of public timber must be public, and no bids below true timber price would be accepted.

2b

2) Goal of Public Forestry

The primary management goal of public forestry should shift from fiber production (commodities) to enhancing
biodiversity. Particular emphasis must be placed on preserving all remaining old growth forests in their natural state. This should be done in part by increasing the acreage of State Parks in a manner
that establishes contiguous corridors for the purpose of wildlife.
2c.
3) Recycled Fiber
We support the use of tax incentives to encourage the use of recycled fiber, and disincentives for using virgin fiber.

2d.

4) Community Greenlands

We support the creation of multiple use community forests on marginal farm land. The purpose would be to:
capture carbon, protect soils, moderate water runoff, produce fuel and food, provide recreation, cool the air, shelter human communities and to provide wildlife habitat.

2e.

5) We call for no off highway vehicle or snowmobile use on public lands, except for hunting and gathering
(no "recreational" use.)

J-46

Combine redundant paragraphs re Youth

Current sections 3F and 3G in section Families eliminated, this replaces it:

We oppose threats or use of corporal punishment, and we support the prohibition of corporal punishment in institutional settings. We support initiatives to teach alternative, nonviolent forms of discipline.

G163

State owned vehicles

Resolved to require that the state of Minnesota, through a replacement process, convert it’s vehicle fleet to a bio-fuel burning, low emission, or zero emission vehicle fleets which is to result in net energy conservation.

G107/143

Reduce mercury emissions

Be it resolved that the Green Party supports initiatives that install state of the art mercury control technologies for air emissions and ash waste on all existing coal fired power plants.

Second part remains the same approved with word modification.

Be it further resolved, that we urge the state of Minnesota to establish enforceable mercury reduction targets based on a 90% reduction by 2010, and virtual elimination by 2020.

G219

Oppose incinerate tires

Therefore be it resolved that the Green Party opposes the incineration of scrap tires due to the potential
health, economic and environmental impacts that would be caused;

Be it further resolved that the Green Party supports enacting legislation that any use of tire-derived fuel be subject to waste combustor regulations and that tire-derived fuel be considered a fossil fuel for major source review under Title V air permitting standards.

H-177

Plant and non-fossil based fuels

Greens support ecologically responsible and sustainable development of plant-based fuels and other non-fossil fuels.

H-236

Non-auto transit funding

The Green Party supports increased funding for non-auto transit over further expenditures for automobile
based infrastructure.

H-176

Taxes and fuel-efficiency

The Green Party supports tax incentives for purchase of fuel-efficient, carbon-neutral and/or alternativeenergy vehicles, and disincentives for vehicles that are not fuel-efficient.

I-13

Single payer health care

Be it resolved that we declare in favor of a national single-payer health program designed to serve all residents legally in the country other than those who come to the country to secure diagnosis or treatment of pre-existing conditions. Responsibility for such health care would be shared by the individual,
workplace, and government.

I-101

Delete subsection I1:
Healthful habits

Resolved that it be deleted from the Green Party platform.

I-102

Single payer health program

Resolved that In the absence of a national health care program we support legislation creating a universal
and comprehensive single-payer system within the state of Minnesota, including provisions for control of prescription drug prices, treatment of mental illness, home and community-based long-term care, and availability of proven alternative forms of medicine.

I-173

Extend smoking ban

Resolved: That the Green Party of Minnesota support extending the ban on cigarette smoking in the workplace
to include bars, restaurants, and coffee houses.

J-10

Support to families

Amend J-1A to read:

"We support family friendly policies including employer-paid leave for birth, adoption of a child, death of a family member, or to take care of any sick family members. Public funds shall be available to reduce the
burden on small businesses."

J-60

Protect family sanctity

We oppose the commercialization of private life. We oppose unsolicited commercial advertising and marketing.

J-214

Restore funding for Battered Women Programs

Move to Section O 13 Crime and Justice

Amended:

"We support full funding of programs to end sexual and domestic violence and assist its victims and survivors."

K 42:

Clarify text, Housing allowance

Be it resolved that the term MFIP-S be spelled out in section K6 of the platform.

K 65:

Broaden K9, delete G1e

Be it resolved that G1e be amended to read: "We support state legislation that addresses etc etc." that the
phrase "and the phase-out of toxic materials" in K1 be deleted; and that section K9 be modified to read "We
support state and local legislation that sets standards for building materials (including but not limited to
paints, adhesives, carpeting, composite materials and cabinetry) that reduces or eliminates toxicity. These
standards should apply to workplaces, residences, manufactured homes, and recreational vehicles."

K 209-249

Homes for all

We support comprehensive statewide efforts, plans and funding to reduce or eliminate homelessness in Minnesota by 2012 and to provide safe, decent and affordable housing to all Minnesotans.

L 251

No Stadium Tax

We strongly oppose any use of any public funding or financing for building or renovating sports stadiums in
Minnesota. We also oppose any new tax or extensions of existing taxes to subsidize professional sports leagues, teams or facilities.

M-89

General educational policies

Section 2 addition:

"Greens support a transition from an assessment system based on grades to a system of holistic, critical assessment practices within academic relationships.

In addition we support peer-directed processes of evaluation and growth.

"We call for a de-emphasis on standardized tests at all levels of education."

(2 - new plank)

"Recognizing that conventional classroom practices tend to maintain social inequality, we support practices
that encourage equal participation of all students. We support practices which build meaningful and nonhierarchical academic relationships."

Education 2. General policies

Replace 2b with the following two planks:

We call for a de-emphasis on standardized tests at all levels of education.

New plank: We recognize that students achieve success through varied and diverse styles of learning, and we
encourage programs that encompass a broad array of teaching and learning strategies.

New plank: Recognizing that education is essential to the functioning of a just society, we call for teachers' compensation to reflect their critical importance in the social and intellectual development of children.

M-190

No school vouchers

We oppose the use of educational vouchers.

M-90

K-12 education

New plank: State educational standards must have the flexibility to allow for individual communities and
classrooms to tailor curricula to fit their unique needs.

New plank: We call for a sexual education curriculum that offers information on sexual health and safety,
contraception, abstinence, and the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities. We oppose publicly funded abstinence-only sexual education programs.

N-82

Non-Human Animal Issues (retitled)

The Greens recognize that:

+ Non-human animals exist for their own reasons.

+ Non-human animals have the right to live on a healthy planet.

+ Non-human animals have the right to live freely and in harmony with their nature, rather than according to
human desires and exploitation.

+ Non-human animals have the right to not be treated as property.

+ Humans have a moral responsibility to uphold these rights and protect non-human animals from suffering
whenever possible.

1.) Conscientious Objection.
No person should for any reason be made to compromise their morals, values, beliefs or ethics concerning
the lives and well-being of nonhuman animals. For this reason the Greens believe that:

1a. Students, faculty, employees and volunteers of institutions and businesses should have a protected right
to refuse, without penalty, participating in or assisting others with animal experimentation, dissection, unnatural activities or other actions that would cause an animal pain, distress or death.

1b. Students, faculty, employees and volunteers of institutions and businesses should have a protected right
to refuse, without penalty, handling, transporting, or otherwise coming into contact with animals living or
dead when such handling is not explicitly part of their job description or program, and even when alternatives are not available.

2.) Education and Research.
Animal research and experimentation in education is all too common, often beginning in grade school and continuing through the graduate programs in the sciences. Other government-based institutions and private corporations continue to perform painful or unnatural research on nonhuman animals. The Greens believe
that:

2a. Education, especially in the life sciences should communicate an awareness of, a respect for and compassion towards all life on the planet.

2b. We should support the use of existing, alternative teaching techniques that enhance the learning of
anatomy and physiology while instilling greater respect and compassion for life.

2c. The development of non-animal models of human disease should be funded and pursued at least as vigorously as is the development of animal-based models, until such time as these models can be abolished.

2d. Non-animal in-vitro testing methods should be vigorously supported by our government, universities and
institutions.

2e. Product manufacturers and producers should be required to use ingredients or constituents recognized
to be safe for animals and people.

2f. Companies that need to perform product or ingredient testing should be required to use already-existing
alternative testing methods that do not use animals.

2g. Products which contain animal or animal-derived ingredients should clearly indicate to the consumer the
use of such ingredients on the label. In addition, products which were tested on animals or which contain
ingredients which were tested on animals should clearly indicate this on the label.

2h. Corporate and institutional animal use and care committees should include members other than those
with a vested interest in the continuation of animal experimentation and should publicly disclose all nonproprietary business.

3.) Entertainment Animals used for entertainment such as racing, gambling, zoos, circuses and the film industry are subject to abuses that are often hidden from the public. Forcing non-human animals to live lives that are unnatural or unhealthy to their species for the sake of entertainment is unjust.

3a. We support government regulations and funding that provide for the vigorous enforcement of minimum
acceptable conditions for animal use in entertainment.

3b. We support vigorous enforcement of all current laws and the enactment of new, tougher laws prohibiting
animal fights.

3c. Individuals using endangered species in entertainment should have their permits revoked and animals removed from their possession.

4.) Animal Agriculture. The current objective of corporate agri-business is to produce as much food as possible for the least expense, without regard to human or non-human animal life. The Greens believe that:

4a. Animal confinement systems that restrict an animal’s natural physical and social activity or those that cause physical or psychological pain or distress should be prohibited.

4b. The use of drugs and hormones to produce abnormally fast growth and/or production is both cruel, unnatural and unhealthy.

5.) Government Investment and Divestment.
Federal, state and local governments often have financial investments in corporations which do harm to animals in the course of their business practices. The Greens believe that:

5a. Governments should completely divest from corporations which harm animals, and the ethical treatment of
animals should be used as a criterion when selecting a corporation in which to invest.

6.) Wildlife and Habitat.
Recreational hunting and fishing does not primarily exist to provide food, government programs sometimes
favor recreational hunting and fishing over natural predatorprey relationships as means of controlling
populations, and the natural habitat of wildlife is in a state of crisis due to human interference and encroachment.

The Greens believe that:

6a. Whenever possible, non-lethal and educational approaches to human conflicts with wildlife should be used
in place of deadly or painful methods.

6b. Wildlife advocates, non-hunters/ anglers, and anti-hunters/anglers should receive proportional representation in the oversight of wildlife management agencies.

6c. Wildlife refuges should be established and maintained for the protection of both habitat and species, not for the production of game animals. These refuges should provide nonhuman animals the opportunity to
live a natural and healthy life, favor natural predator-prey relationships ahead of hunting by humans, and encourage biodiversity.

6d. Current laws hold that hunters may enter private land unless a landowner has posted prohibiting such
activity. These laws should be reversed, to require landowners’ permission to enter private property for
the purpose of hunting.

6e. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources should be prohibited from all attempts to promote "new game species" and no new hunting, trapping or fishing seasons should be established.

6f. Public funds should not be used to promote or subsidize recreational hunting or fishing.

6g. Public funds should not be used to promote or subsidize sport trapping, commercial trapping or fur ranching.

6h. The use of trapping devices which often result in non-fatal mutilation or otherwise prolonged suffering,
such as leghold traps, should be abolished.

7.) Companion Animals.

Overpopulation of companion animals has reached epidemic proportions in the country. The Greens believe
that:

7a. Governments should aggressively fund spay/neuter programs,

7b. Governments should provide financial assistance to local pounds and shelters, and encourage the development of no-kill shelters.

7c. There should be a moratorium on all companion-animal breeding until a balance can be achieved between
the number of animals and the number of available homes.

7d. The importation and trade of wild or non-domesticated species for companion animals should be abolished.

7e. The mutilation of companion animals for human aesthetics or convenience, such as tail docking or de-clawing, should be abolished.

8.) Vegetarianism/Veganism.

In addition to contributing to personal health and the health of the planet, a meatless or vegan diet is a valid expression of nonviolence, and it has a profoundly positive effect on reducing the suffering of non-human animals.

The Greens believe that:

8a. We should abandon our present reliance on animal agriculture in favor of a peaceful and compassionate
agri-system.

8b. The meat and dairy industry-funded nutritional information in schools must be replaced with scientifically-accurate materials from independent sources, and nutrition classes in schools should include information on meatless and vegan options.

8c. Government-funded organizations that provide meal programs, such as schools,prisons, hospitals
and the military, should always adequately provide for meatless and vegan options.

8d. All food meant for human consumption which contains animal ingredients, including genetically engineered
material from animal sources, should clearly indicate to the consumer such ingredients on the label.

[Recommend moving 9a to Platform Section I, Healthcare.]

[Recommend moving 9c to Platform Section I, Healthcare.]

O 108

Civil liberties

We oppose legislation which limits or abridges Constitutionally-guaranteed rights and liberties.

O-242

Legalize Medical Marijuana

Replace S2C with:

The United States must renounce the doctrine of preemptive war and support the rebuilding and maintenance
of a cooperative, international community to resolve serious international issues. Terrorism, genocide, nuclear proliferation, and tyrannical regimes must be addressed through the use of culturally sensitive diplomacy, focused, nonviolent intervention, peaceful conflict resolution, and the international court of justice.

R83

Amend MN constitution re resident aliens

We support amending the constitution of the state of Minnesota to enable local jurisdictions to provide resident aliens with the right to vote in local elections.

R91

Grassroots Democracy

New plank: Early Civic Engagement
Beginning at an early age, children should not only learn about democratic principles, but also participate
in political decision-making in their schools and in their communities. This will enrich the children's education, increase their motivation for being politically involved throughout their lives, and add new perspectives and insight to the debate in which they participate.

R211

Fair and clean elections

The Green Party supports a Fair campaign system finance which includes the following:

1. Candidates have the option of nearly full public financing if they agree to forego almost all private
contributions;

2. The size of contributions individuals and PACs can give to political parties and legislative caucuses is
limited;

3. The unfair advantages caused by independent expenditures are reduced; and

4. Grassroots participation in the political process is encouraged.

R170

Instant run-off voting

Instant runnoff voting/balloting should be used for all public elections in the state of Minnesota where
applicable.

R142

Protecting community and township rights

The Green Party supports intiatives that maintain community and township rights to enact ordinances and
rules, and opposes any attempt to weaken township, municipal or county rights.

S53

Amend Section S4 re military reductions

The following replaces the first part of the text in the current platform:

Our Military budget should be cut drastically. The annual United States budget monies should be reallocated
to programs crucial to human dignity, and personal, community, family, and social security.

The text starting with “The size of…” is kept.

S-118

Universal disarmament

The United States must lead global disarmament through its commitment to and implementation of nuclear and
conventional test ban and nonmilitarization space treaties