Manifesto for a
Green Society
The
Green Party of the United Kingdom is guided by ten core principles:
We realise that
humans are not alone on the planet Earth, but must work in concert with and
respect other species to achieve sustainability. We furthermore recognise that the resources are limited on the
planet and that we need to use these resources wisely. Greens acknowledge the basic rights of
everyone regardless of factors such as age, gender, religion, race, etc. In light of this, Greens encourage
democratic participation for all people with more emphasis put on local
governments to take care of local problems.
We want to establish deep meaningful change in our society in a
non-violent manner. Lastly, to make
this kind of a change possible, Greens are willing to move beyond mere politics
that win elections and find real solutions to real problems.1
There
are six issues that have come up in this election cycle that the Greens have
firm and unique positions on. These
issues consist of the following: Iranian nuclear proliferation, Immigration and
asylum, Pension reform, the Euro, the Gasoline tax, and Gay marriage. Each of these stances on these issues is in
line with the ten core principles of the Green Party.
The
state of the immigration and asylum policies in the United Kingdom is
atrocious. The Green Party calls for an
end to xenophobia in the United Kingdom.
Greens are unwavering in our stance of openness and equality. A staunchly nationalistic and restrictive
immigration and asylum policy can only breed racism and more troubles for
minorities already living in the United Kingdom. An exclusive immigration policy also downplays the large impact
immigrants have had and currently bring into the United Kingdom. Immigrants are an integral part of the
workforce, but as in much of the developed world, they are underpaid and
mistreated by their employers.
Immigrants and asylum seekers deserve the basic rights which we should
endow any citizen of the United Kingdom.
Their influence is not only seen in pounds and pence, but also in a
spread of cultural diversity. Greens
are cognisant of the fact that the recent increase in asylum applications is a
direct reflection of the policies of powerful governments. The answer to the asylum problem lies in
fixing these policies of unequal trade and weapons trade.3
In
regards to Pension Reform, the main purpose of the Green Party is to put an end
to means testing. Means testing is an
unfair policy that affects over half of the pensioners in the United Kingdom. State pensioners can be penalised under
means testing for having savings or personal pensions. We propose that the
means testing program is dropped and that we simplify the process by having, “every local authority to set up a Benefits Rights Unit to
work with pensioners and pensioners groups.”
We believe that “Means testing is extremely unpopular…and a lot
of people find it intimidating or humiliating.”4
Because of the means testing, many citizens then find it difficult and a hassle
to claim the pension that is rightfully theirs. We also propose that citizens should
have the right to work as long as they please.
They should not be forced into retirement at a specific age. Greens mandate that if a pensioner continues
to work that their pension still be given to them. Also, the council tax paid by pensioners must not exceed the rate
of inflation.5
The Green Party of the
United Kingdom is highly opposed to the single currency of the Euro. Greens are unambiguously pro-Europe, while
being vehemently against the direction of the European Union and its proposed
constitution.6 European Union immersion
is sanctioned when the aims are about co-operation on ecology standards, human
rights norms, and the promotion of more equitable sharing of wealth with
Eastern Europe. However, central tenets of the Green movement include
local/regional autonomy, the abolishment of the “unsustainable” free-trade
apparatus, and movement away from a European super state or global power bloc.7 These aims make it clear to Greens that
the Euro would not be workable within the United Kingdom.
Expanding on the precepts of
regional autonomy, trade regulation, and anti-power bloc mentality, the
preference by Greens is for devolution over centralisation. Devolution will
supposedly produce smaller, more self-reliant economies that can address the
needs of fewer constituents more effectively. A large, rigid, and
depersonalised institution that imposes economic quotas in blanket coverage
will simply squeeze too many out. The Euro denotes eventual loss of British
control over everything from interest rates to inflation to trade standards.
For this reason, above all, the Greens will cast a “No” vote on any referendum.8
With
today’s rampant use of petrol, the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
has drastically increased, resulting in global warming, an increase in severe
weather phenomena, and health threats to all living organisms. In response to
this pressing issue, the Green Party supports taking immediate and strong measures
to combat the ill effects of pollution. The Green Party of the United Kingdom
believes that the current gasoline tax, while high, must remain so. This tax is
currently at 76.2 pence per litre, which accounts for approximately 75 % of the
cost of a litre of petrol.9 There
are several advantages of this high tax.
For instance, such a measure reminds motorists to be more mileage
conscious and to opt for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. With a high tax on petrol, the need and
importance of public transit becomes very apparent.
British citizens must
realise that the effects of the pollution created by high consumption of petrol
are not limited to autos. Despite the
usefulness of the petrol tax, the Green Party realises that this measure alone
cannot curb petrol usage to the minimal, desired level. Currently, the aviation sector is immune to
such taxes. As air transport requires large amounts of petrol, thereby
resulting in much pollution, we favour extending this tax to air transport and
instituting fees for emissions and higher aircraft landing fees#TR063). The
Green Party also supports a resources tax that would increase the costs of
fossil fuels.10
The Green party believes
that not allowing homosexuals the right to marry is a direct violation of basic
human rights. We feel that an important step toward equal human rights is
granting homosexual couples the same rights as heterosexual couples. Our life peer in the House of Lords, Lord
Tim Beaumont of Whitley states, “As a Green I would like to see full
partnership recognition, including equal pension, employment and housing rights
for homosexual couples.”11
Homosexuals are a minority and in keeping with our policy of promoting social
justice, it is our duty as Greens to speak and act on their behalf. We defend homosexual rights as adamantly as
we defend other rights. Greens stand
against any policy that would deny homosexuals the basic dignity that all people
deserve. Moreover, if homosexuals are
not allowed to marry into the same rights as heterosexual couples, the
discrimination and persecution of homosexuals will be more easily
promulgated. If we want a peaceful
society for our children and the generations after them, we have to learn to
accept and appreciate diversity.
In summation, the Green
Party of the United Kingdom is the true progressive political party in the
United Kingdom. The Green Party is the party for the present and the future of
the United Kingdom. We are the party
that tells the truth about a looming ecological crisis and that we have a plan
to stop such a crisis. We are the party
for increased democracy and rights in the United Kingdom. Greens wish to put an end to senseless warfare
across the globe. Indeed, the Green
Party wants to squelch all hatred based on misconceptions of human
diversity. Vote Green for a better
today and a better tomorrow.
1 Adapted from “Statement of Core Principles” www.policy.greenparty.org.uk/values.html
2 7 February, 2005 BBC.co.uk’s “Q&A: Iran’s nuclear stand-off”
3 “Greens Condemn Labour and Tory approach to immigration” http://www.greenparty.org.uk/index.php?nav=news&n=1785
4 “Pride and Progress: The Green Party’s Pledge to Pensioners” http://www.greenparty.org.uk/files/reports/2004/EU%20Pensioner%20Pledge.htm
5 “Pensioners go for Green Pledge” http://www.greenparty.org.uk/index.php?nav=news&n=1403
7 “Greens crucial to the ‘No’ campaign” http://www.greenparty.org.uk/index.php?nav=news&n=11
8 “Europe, but no Euro” http://www.greenparty.org.uk/index.php?nav=articles&n=184
9 “Petrol ‘stealth tax claims” http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3125634.stm
10 Manifesto for a Sustainable Society: “Transport, Charges and Taxes” http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/mfss/transprt.html
11 “Gay Rights Victory a step in the right direction” www.greenparty.org.uk/index.php?nav=comment&n=361&l=8