Post on 12-Jul-2015
The Green PartyAn Introduction
1. A Potted History
A Potted History
• 1972: United Tasmania Group
1975: The Ecology Party
• 1985: Becomes the Green Party
Realos vs. Fundis
• Some members (realos) wanted to professionalise the party.
Others (fundis) wanted to keep to the fundamentals.
• The name of the debate is from Germany.
Regrouping
• 1999: Won two seats in the European Parliament
• 2000: Won three seats in the London Assembly
Scotland
• Amicable split in 1990
1999: Won a seat in the Scottish Parliament
• 2003: Increased to seven seats
2007: Gained eight councillors, but lost five MSPs
2. The Basic party Structures
democracy
• Based on direct democracy
• Most officer elections are by postal ballot.
"I was thinking what I might say in my speech and journalists were asking 'what new policy announcements are you going to make?' The point is it's not for the leader of the Green Party to suddenly come out with a new policy announcement. Policy is something which is much more grassroots. An inclusive process that comes from the local parties."Caroline Lucas, from an interview with Total Politics magazine.
The International level
• Green Co-ordination existed at European level
• Changed to the European Green Party
EGP Member
EGP Observer
Global Greens
• Meets every four years
• Promotes co-operation beyond continental level
3. Core principles
global greens charter
• Ecological wisdom
Social justice
• Participatory democracy
• Non-violence
Sustainability
• Respect for diversity
ecological wisdom
• Respect the values of all life-forms
• Humans are part of nature
• Respect indigenous wisdom
Live within the planet’s limits
• Use the precautionary principle
Social justice
• Promote an equitable global economy
Lift the debt-burden
• Eradicate poverty
Non-discriminatory view of citizenship
Participatory democracy
• Directly participate in decisions
Apply subsidiarity
• Adopt proportional representation
Non-violence
• Avoid security based on violent conflict
Remove the causes of conflict
• Pursue disarmament
Sustainability
• Fairly distribute resources
Redefine “wealth”
• ‘Ethic of sustainability’
respect for diversity
As written above
Global Greens Charter
• 2001: Global Greens Charter agreed upon
• Very diverse group of parties