From TruthOut.org :

 Washington - One day after the State Department announced that the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama will not sign the 10-year-old treaty banning anti-personnel landmines, it insisted that Washington’s policy on the issue was still being reviewed.Human rights and disarmament activists had reacted with outrage Wednesday to Tuesday’s announcement by State Department spokesman Ian Kelly that the review had concluded and that Washington “would not be able to meet our national defence needs, nor our security commitments to our friends and allies if we sign the [landmine] convention”.“The administration is committed to a comprehensive review of its landmine policy,” Kelly said in a written statement issued by the State Department press office Wednesday afternoon. “That review is still ongoing.”The statement did not make clear whether Tuesday’s announcement had been made in error or whether the anger provoked by it had persuaded the administration to reconsider. The fact that Kelly was reading from guidance prepared in advance and presumably cleared at higher levels, however, suggested that the latter explanation was more likely.The U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL), a coalition of scores of activist groups, had called the Tuesday’s announcement “shocking”, while Human Rights Watch (HRW) described it as “reprehensible”.“President Obama’s decision to cling to anti-personnel mines keeps the U.S. on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of humanity,” said Steve Goose, the director of HRW’s Arms Division, who also noted that Washington stood alone among its NATO allies in refusing to sign the treaty.“This decision lacks vision, compassion, and basic common sense, and contradicts the Obama administration’s professed emphasis on multilateralism, disarmament, and humanitarian affairs,” he added.

Thinking about going out today to buy that discounted big-screen TV, DVD player, or brand-new sandwich maker?  Before you rush out and buy, try taking the day off, staying at home, and thinking about what you really want to promote this holiday season with your hard-earned money.  We hope you’ll pick your Green Party - not Wal-Mart’s quarterly earnings - by planning to give your family and friends some Green Party merchandise. Click here to see our variety of items, including a special price on our Green Party hooded sweatshirts.We hope you will think about what you spend this year - perhaps shop at thrift stores or flea (or even “free”) markets.  Instead of buying new goods, think about making donations or providing services.  Instead of buying gifts, look for crafts and other hand-made objects, or make your own gifts for your friends.  Many people are refraining from buying anything today as a protest again constant advertisements and consumer culture.  The Green Party supports these efforts.  We hope, however, if you decide to buy something new for your friends and family, you will consider buying them some Green Party goods.  Here are a couple of reasons we think this is a good choice:Green Party goods support a good cause.  The Green Party and its candidates work throughout the year to represent Green Party values on City Councils, in your local newspaper, and to our representatives in Congress.  Purchases from our store directly fund the Green Party’s efforts.Green Party goods are made in the USA.  We support American workers so they can grow strong and take on the corporate management that threatens their wages, communities, and livelihoods.Green Party goods are all union-made.  When Americans are allowed to organize themselves at work, in their communities, and at the ballot box, we are all better off.Your Green Party sweatshirts, t-shirts, buttons, water bottles, and tote bags all promote your political party and your candidates. Whenever you or your friends take them out of the house, everyone sees who are supporting and learns more about their political options.

Check out our holiday specials!

Green Party sweatshirts are on sale for only $30!  That’s a savings of almost ten dollars.  These sweatshirts are 100% cotton and have a handy front pocket for your wallet, cell phone, or to keep your hands warm.Green Party buttons are back!  Due to overwhelming demand we sold out of these buttons over the summer, but they are back just in time for the holidays.  Each one proudly advertises the Green Party and our website,www.gp.org.Green Party water bottles, tote bags, magnets and jar openers make great stocking stuffers!We hope you will sit back, relax, and enjoy a day at home, not out at the mall or racing through the nearest big-box store.  When you do decide to buy, you can do it home through our online store, and you can do it knowing that your purchase won’t buy a corporate CEO a new mansion, but will help America’s largest anti-corporate, grassroots political party spread its message of economic justice and ecological wisdom.

Remember, the Green Party takes no money from real estate companies, private health insurance providers, or lobbyists.  In fact, we don’t take ANY corporate money because we think corporate money in politics is wrong.  If you agree, please help us today.  Your donation to the Green Party will help us make sure we have a strong Green Party today and into the future.You can help us reach the goal we set in July at our national meeting of funding our operations with the help of 500 sustainers giving $10,000 a month by the end of 2009.  In July we had 250 sustainers - currently we have 331.   Click here to become a sustaining donor to the Green Party today!Your gift of any amount will help to strengthen our voice so that we can make our vision a reality.  With your help we can provide support for candidates and spread the Green message.  If you have given recently, please consider giving more.  And, if you haven’t given in some time, please make today the day you give.Email: gpinfo@gp.org