Wednesday night saw the first local Stroud District Green party meeting in our new venue - Star Anise on first Wednesday of the month - a chance to also get coffee and cake - very nice indeed - it also could accommodate the numbers we are now getting at this business meeting - this week we had 30 people there - in the first hour or so there are various bits of business like feedbacks on press, finances, Parish, Town and District councillors plus other key issues - and also feedback from some of the other local meetings.
Photo: break in meeting for more coffeeThe second half of the meeting sees a discussion topic - this week we looked at how we could take forward ideas that Professor Heinberg raised in his visit - there was also lots re Transition Stroud - TS is not party political and is completely separate from Councils or political parties - but the issues it raises have clearly attracted many Green party members and indeed at least 8 people in the room were participating in TS in some way. We also heard that on Tuesday night Transition Wotton-under-Edge had their second meeting in two week - 15 people turned up and much enthusiasm.
There was also a discussion about the need for political change - and roles of pressure groups and political parties - here's something I helped write 4 years ago about why people might want to join the Green Party of England and Wales....it could do with an update in the light of all the main parties claiming to be green but basically it still makes the case...
Voting Green is not enough
Voting for the Greens is essential, but not enough. We need members and strong, active local branches in order to stand increasing numbers of candidates at each election. Without candidates it is impossible to register a vote for green politics and therefore impossible to keep the pressure on the Grey Parties - Tory, Labour and Liberal Democrat - to become green.
The power of a full slate of candidates combined with a strong Green vote cannot be understated. In the 1989 European Elections we fought every seat and won two and a quarter million votes. Immediately afterwards the Grey parties drafted emergency tranches of 'green' policy to attract the Green vote in future elections. Even Margaret Thatcher declared 'I am Green' and replaced her then Environment minister Nicholas Ridley with the supposedly more eco-friendly Chris Patten.
Supporting a Green pressure group is not enough
Supporting organisations like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace is important, but not enough. The Establishment encourages pressure groups because they divert dissenting skills, energy and money from the political sector. To change the structure of society - the cause of the present environmental and social crisis - it is essential to also put pressure where it has most impact - within the electoral system.
Grey fraudsters
The 'green' policies of the Grey Parties are a sham. Representing at most 5% of their policies overall they will be totally obliterated by their 95% of Grey profit- based policies. It is essential that Greens continue to fight elections at both national and local level to expose this deceit. The long term strategic approach of Green politics putting people and planet before profits - can guarantee a future for our children. Their future depends on us. If we want air we can breathe, food we can eat and water we can drink - for all the world's people - we must act now.
Giving Green politics authority
Green politics is not just about fighting elections. Successful national and local campaigns to make all of our lives better continue throughout the year. The more members we have the more campaigns we can run and the more elections we can fight. But more than that. The more members we have the more authority Green politics has with both the Government and the media.
Each of us must act and decide
Each of us can make a difference. It is no good waiting for someone else to act or decide for us. That attitude - encouraged by those in power - is what has kept us controlled and exploited throughout history. Each one or us must take responsibility for the future, for our children and our children's children. We believe that the best way is to join the Green Party and fight to change the system from within.
Work with like-minded people
When you join the Green Party you are joining a global community of people - people with vision, people with principles - who believe, like you, that people and planet must come before profits. The sense of belonging, of purpose and of being part of a global movement for change, is exhilarating, and empowering.
Making your mark
The Greens have no leaders and no hierarchy. No closed doors. No whips. No smoke-filled rooms. Policy and strategy are formulated by the members and agreed in open conference. Local branches are autonomous. Members can work within their local branch or within the national party to make their mark. On their town or village, and on the country.
Where do you sit?
An interesting test to see where people sit politically is available at: http://www.politicalcompass.org/
It is by no means comprehensive but is a fun way of looking roughly at how our views fit with the political scene.
Indeed other parties claims to be 'green' can seem laughable when looked at closely: Tories and Labour both supporting more road building, doubling airports, Trident, the war in Iraq and nuclear power and even blocking EU Environmental legislation. Indeed Scottish Friends of the Earth earlier this year said the Tories have the least firm commitment to environmental policies and that only Greens have policies to address the issues.
In fact just today I've seen a Green Party news release calling on Cameron to bring his Cllrs actions into line with his Green rhetoric, after Conservative-run South Cambridgeshire Council rejected plans for a wind farm on 'visual grounds.'
Green Party Principal Speaker Siân Berry said: "Approval rates for onshore wind- farms have plummeted in recent months to the lowest level ever, with two in every three projects turned down by Labour, Tory and Lib Dem councillors. At the same time, these councillors are backing new roads and supporting the government’s plans to double aviation over the next
two decades."
Siân went on to talk about how failure to back renewables was damaging our economy: "It is not just the climate that is losing out from this approach to tackling climate change. There are also thousands of potential jobs at stake - especially in the energy generation sector. To date, over 4,000 jobs are sustained by companies working in the wind sector, and the Department of Trade and Industry has estimated that the next round of wind farm developments could bring a further 20,000 jobs for Britain. But this needs councils like Cambridge to adopt a fresh approach to renewables. Green councillors around the country are already delivering climate change solutions at a local level - such as renewable and energy efficiency schemes. Thanks to Greens councillors, Huddersfield in Kirklees is now responsible for generating 5% of the UK's total solar energy. Action on climate change is achievable, can make life fairer for everyone, and can generate hundreds of thousands of jobs. Only Greens are consistently delivering the real changes we need on the ground."
That is not to say that others are not a little bit greener than others green - and in terms of 'green' the District's Tory administration along with Council Officers are to be given enormous credit for the new Environment strategy which as I've noted before, they consulted over in an exemplar fashion. The fact that they were willing to take on board Green party and others recommendations is hugely welcomed and democracy at it's best. However without Greens on the Council it would not be the policy it is now.
Furthermore the challenges are still ahead. We need more Greens to ensure the policies are delivered and continually improved: this is only the first small step to taking seriously the threat of climate change and dwindling oil supplies. Sadly there still seems to be a lack of urgency and understanding about what we face. Other parties need to realise this is not 'just' the environment we are talking about this is about our economic future, social justice and much more.
GREEN Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas is ‘politician of the year’
The MEP, who serves on the Parliament’s Environment, International Trade and Climate Change committees, was chosen ahead of the other two shortlisted politicians by readers of the Observer. She was presented with the award last night at a central London ceremony hosted by TV presenter Simon Amstell.
Dr Lucas, who is also a Vice President of the RSPCA, said: “I am delighted to have been named ethical politician of the year – but of course this award isn’t really about me. It’s about the Green Party, its policies and its fresh approach to politics. People are increasingly disillusioned with the three main parties and are looking for a progressive alternative which genuinely has social and environmental justice at its heart. While the other parties might be beginning to wake up, to the issue of climate change, for example, only the Greens have both the radical policies needed and the political commitment to deliver them. Cameron and Brown may talk green – but its only the Green Party that’s doing green, as an increasing number of people up and down the country are realising.”
For a full list of winners see www.observer.co.uk/ethicalawards from Sunday, June 10th.
Update- here is Observer report on the awards.
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