OntheWilderSide

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.

Cynthia McKinney said:

I am humbled to be so recognized.  Clearly, the MAPC gave more thought to the significance of those whose struggle for peace is based on principle and an unshakable commitment, despite the personal sacrifices 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.

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?

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 André Shepherd, a US Army Specialist who applied for asylum in Germany after objecting to the wars in Iraq.

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.”

Filed under: 3rd party, activism, Anti-War, Barack Obama, cynthia mckinney, democrat, Election 2008, green, Green Party, Green Presidential Campaign 2008, international politics, Iraq, News, Peace, politics, progressive politics, third party, US Politics, war Tagged: | afghanistan, Andre Shepherd, cynthia mckinney, Gaza, GPUS, Green Party, Iraq, Justine McCabe, Muenchner, Munich, Nobel Peace Prize, Obama, Peace Through Conscience