Launch of the Green Party Left
A new initiative was launched
on the 4th June by members of the Green Party, when 36 members including Green
Party of England and Wales Executive members and councillors came together to
agree the launch statement of Green Left, a socialist current within the Green
Party. The declaration (full version below) states that ‘Green Left’ hopes
“to raise Green Party politics to meet the demands of its radical policies.
Green politics needs to be based on dynamic campaigning and hard intellectual
groundwork to create workable alternatives. “
The New Labour government’s abandonment of the policies of the left has left
millions unrepresented in this country. Green Left feels that the Green
Party’s progressive agenda makes it the natural home for the left. As the
statement reads “[t]he time has come for drawing together forces that can
present a serious challenge to the disastrous neo-liberal project. We believe
that 'another world is possible', based on ecological and socialist values.”
The statement is supported by leading Green Party members including executive
members Richard Mallender (Chair), Peter Cranie (Elections), Sian Berry
(Campaigns), and Matthew Sellwood (Local Party Support Co-ordinator) as well
as former Party Chair Penny Kemp, Joseph Healey (Secretary of London Green
Party), Derek Wall, writer and former Green Party national speaker and Peter
Tatchell (human rights activist). Cllr Sarah Farrow and Cllr Matt Sellwood
were elected as the co-conveners of the new group.
Cllr Sarah Farrow said that "Activists in the Green Party have founded
Green Left because many Greens believe the only path to an ecological,
economic and socially just and peaceful society has to be based on an anti
capitalist political agenda.
“Green Left is where like minded people can get together to debate how to
bring about the transition to an ecologically sustainable society. It is only
the Green Party that has the policies and the political will to make these
changes and we urge all like minded people to join us."
Cllr Matt Sellwood added "The Green Party is the natural home for all of
those activists who have been abandoned by the Labour Party or alienated by
the sectarianism of the far left. Green Left will seek to promote the existing
radical policies of the Green Party, while continuing to emphasise the
importance of economic equality and social justice in a sustainable society.
At a time when the three largest parties are competing for reactionary and
right-wing votes, only the Green Party offers national momentum for the
politics of the left."
Green Left Founding Statement 04/06/2006
Green Left has been launched as a network for socialists and other radicals in
the Green Party of England and Wales. It will act as an outreach body that
will communicate the party's radical policies to socialists and other
anti-capitalists outside the party.
Green Left (GL) is based on the assumption that capitalism is a system that
wrecks the planet and promotes war. A green society must be based on economic,
political and social justice. GL in short works to promote ecosocialism as a
solution to our planetary ills.
GL supports the democratic structures in the party and encourages
transparency, accountability and engagement in all organs of the party. We
also see the Green Party as a 'bottom up' political organisation where the
principles of the membership are paramount and not a 'top down' one where a
self-designated political elite decide on policies and principles.
GL aims to increase and improve the international links of the Green Party,
building links with radical greens and ecosocialists across the planet. It
will work closely with members of other European Green Parties to reform the
workings of the European Green Party structures that must be democratised.
Green politics must realise the slogan 'think globally, act locally' by
linking practical local campaigns to global issues of ecology, democracy,
justice and liberation.
GL aims to act within the Green Party so as to raise Green Party politics to
meet the demands of its radical policies. Green politics needs to be based on
dynamic campaigning and hard intellectual groundwork to create workable
alternatives.
GL aims to build regional campaigns and contribute to coalition-building
through coherent alignments and open discussion with progressive
anti-capitalists. The movement that is required to address the issues across
Britain, Europe and the world will not be the sole preserve of one party. The
movement requires the development of united action by progressive forces
including organisations formed by working people to defend their interests in
the workplace. Within this diverse movement GL will stand firmly in favour of
the libertarian and democratic traditions of ecosocialism.
It is vitally important that the Green Party works to develop the continuing
peace, environmental and social movements. An orientation to organised working
people through the Green Party Trade Union Group (GPTU) also requires maximum
support from GL, with the emphasis on supporting radical and rank and file
currents in the unions. Likewise, GL should seek to promote organisation and
solidarity amongst currently unorganised and marginalised groups.
GL will work to enhance Green Party contributions to demonstrations, marches
and other solidarity events. Greens must be active on issues that affect
ordinary working people in their everyday lives and aim to be known as amongst
their strongest defenders.
While GL is keen to build links with members of faith communities, and to
fight alongside them against intolerance and discrimination, it will not
compromise on human rights - including issues concerning women, the lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender communities, and people with disabilities.
Since the activism of William Morris in the Social Democratic Federation and
Socialist League in the late nineteenth century, there has been an
ecosocialist tradition in Britain. Green Left believes that ecosocialism
provides an alternative to a society based on alienation, economic
exploitation, corporate rule, ecological destruction and wars. Our analysis
demands that in the best tradition of the historic left we 'agitate, educate
and organise' to build such an alternative.
The time has come for drawing together forces that can present a serious
challenge to the disastrous neo-liberal project. We believe that 'another
world is possible', based on ecological and socialist values. In conclusion,
Green Left would work to enable you to live in a society based on peace,
ecological balance, economic equality and inclusion. Come and join us!
Contact details
Email the co-convenors Matt Sellwood or Sarah Farrow
Link: website
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June 2006
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