Joan Elizabeth Russow is a noted Canadian peace activist and former leader of the Green Party of Canada. The Green Party of Canada is a minor federal political party in Canada. ...

Dr. Russow first gained public attention when for her court case which resulted in the banning of school prayer in public schools in British Columbia. She was also active in the environmentalist movement, using injunction law to prevent the use of pesticide 2-4D in Lake Okanagan. School prayer is an issue that has been controversial in the United States since the early 20th century. ... Environmentalism is the support or involvement with the environmental movement by environmentalists. ... An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that either prohibits or compels (enjoins or restrains) a party from continuing a particular activity. ... Okanagan Lake is a lake in the Okanagan Valley. ...

Russow joined the Green Party in 1993 and became leader in 1997, beating out two other candidates. She ran for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons in the 1997 and 2000 federal elections in the riding of Victoria, British Columbia, and in a by-election in September 2000 against Stockwell Day of the Canadian Alliance. 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An old SEAT 600 The two-door SEAT Ibiza. SEAT is one of the leading car makers in Spain. ... The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, which also includes the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. ... 36th Parliament The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons. ... The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000. ... Victoria is a Canadian city, and the provincial capital of British Columbia. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Stockwell Day Stockwell Burt Day, MP (born August 16, 1950), is a Canadian politician. ... The Canadian Alliance (in full, the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance) was a Canadian right_of_centre conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. ...

Under the leadership of Dr. Russow, policies were developed in a consensus format and reflected a direction which promoted social justice, human rights, and peace, as well as the more traditional concerns with environment. However, this was often, paradoxically, combined with a highly dictatorial leadership style. Heavily reliant on the numerical strength of BC Green members, Russow, in an attempt to chart a middle course, lost support from both of the factions in the provincial Green Party in BC in 1999-2000, thereby significantly weakening her grip on the federal party and her capacity to control internal appointments.

Russow resigned as leader of the Green Party of Canada in 2001 after the German Green Party became more militaristic and compromised on crucial environmental issues. She was concerned about the direction of the Green Party in Canada, its acceptance of corporate donations, and its willingness to compromise despite having no powers. She joined the New Democratic Party in 2003 after Jack Layton was elected leader. She believed that the NDP had been revitalized under his leadership, and was also disillusioned by the perceived rightward drift of the Green Party under her successor, Jim Harris, a management consultant and eco-capitalist. The New Democratic Party (French: Nouveau Parti démocratique) is a social democratic political party in Canada. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jack Layton The Honourable John Gilbert Jack Layton, P.C., MP, (born July 18, 1950, Hudson, Québec) is a social democratic Canadian politician, a former Toronto, Ontario city councillor, deputy mayor, and the current leader of Canadas New Democratic Party. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the Right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ... Jim Harris. ... Eco-capitalism is one of several strategies of the green movement and Green Parties. ...

Since leaving the Green Party, she has been involved in several lawsuits against the federal government, including both a constitutional challenge to the first past the post system and the government's placing activists on lists. System of government Canada is a constitutional monarchy as a Commonwealth Realm (see Monarchy in Canada) with a federal system of parliamentary government, and strong democratic traditions. ... The first-past-the-post electoral system is a voting system for single-member districts, variously called first-past-the-post (FPTP or FPP), winner-take-all, plurality voting, or relative majority. ...

Russow holds a Master’s degree in Education and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies, and is a co-founder of the Ecological Rights Association and the Global Compliance Research Society.

The Green Party of Canada is a minor federal political party in Canada. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Christopher John (Chris) Bradshaw (born 1944 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a Canadian politician. ...