Green Left statement

Green Left Press Release: Thursday, 8th June, 2006

Launch of the Green Party Left

A new initative 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
councilors
came together to agree the launch statement of Green Left, a socialist current
within the Green Party. The declaration (full version attached) 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), Peter Tatchell and Derek Wall,
writer and former Green Party national speaker. 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."

Notes for journalists

Cllr Matt Sellwood is Deputy Leader of Oxford City Council Green Group, National
Secretary of the Association of Green Councillors, and a member of the GPEW
National
Executive

Cllr Sarah Farrow is a Headcorn Parish Councillor, Chair Of Headcorn
Sustainability Group

**********************************************************

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!