watermelon
Conference
Newsletter of Green Left Autumn 2016
GREEN LEFT AND ECOLOGY: - is the Green Party an ecosocialist
party?
by Malcolm Bailey
Dunstable Downs, home of the
Duke of Burgundy Butterfly (photo: M.Bailey)
Green Left is an association of Green Party members,
open to all members of the Party. As
socialists and radicals we campaign for the radical policies of the Green Party
and support the Green Party Trade Union Group, explaining and discussing these
policies both within the Party and with socialists, other radicals and trade
unionists beyond. Ecosocialism brings together social justice and environmental
issues seamlessly, within a rational, coherent framework. I will explain
briefly how Green Left understands this ecosocialist framework, which includes
and integrates many aspects of ecology.
From Ecology to Green
The Green Party was named the Ecology Party for a
short period in its early life, from 1975 to 1985. The Ecology Party’s general
election manifesto in 1979 was entitled ‘The Real Alternative’. In answer to
the question ‘Why Ecology?’ the manifesto explained: ‘It’s not an easy word.
But it is the only word that expresses exactly what this new political
initiative will mean. Ecology is the study
of all living things, where they live, and how they live together.’
The Ecology Party became the Green Party in 1985.
Growing scientific evidence of global warming due to human activities,
releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere at an increasing rate, became a
key issue of Green Party policies into the 1990’s and beyond 2000. The impact
of global warming on the biosphere was endangering many species of plants and
animals, together with the effects of pollution and contamination and the
degradation of natural habits including the oceans and rain forests.
Green Party policies became more focussed on social
justice issues, rampant privatisation and the neo-liberal onslaught on public
services including the NHS, with increasing levels of inequality not only in
UK, but globally, the rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer. Climate
change was set to hit the poorer nations hardest. The Green Party 2010 general
election manifesto was a powerful green policy document, delivering our first
MP.
Green Left and Ecosocialism
Green Left was founded in June 2006 by activists in
the Green Party, because many Greens believe the only path to an
environmentally, economically and socially just and peaceful society has to be
based on an ecosocialist and anti-capitalist political agenda.
For the past ten years Green Left members have
successfully contributed to the work of the Green Party in various ways and
helped shape many of the current social justice and other aspects of policy.
A key element of ecosocialism is an analysis which
shows that the prevalent economic system, capitalism, is at the heart of the
problem. Capitalism is predicated on continual growth, which conflicts with
available resources of a finite planet Earth. A way has to be found not just to
restrain or greenwash capitalism, but to oppose and replace it with a new
economic system capable of solving the global crisis.
Ecology and Biodiversity: Global & Local
Recognition of the fundamental importance
of sustaining biodiversity for life on Earth is a basis of ecosocialism, which
draws among many sources on the scientific evidence of ecology. Global support
is vital for many endangered species and their habitats; rhinos, whales,
African elephants, tigers, Ethiopian wolves, orang-utans, snow leopards and
many others. However, the ecology-fixated viewpoint sometimes advanced by ‘true
Greens’ often fails to recognise a basic cause of the problem - global
corporatism and the capitalist economic system. It is a limited and inadequate
response to the crisis.
Support is important at global, local and
personal levels. There is much that can be done to understand and help
biodiversity, through education and in practical ways. Like many Greens, I am
involved in organisations such as the RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts. I am a keen
wildlife gardener. Conservation volunteering can be hard work but is fun.
Whether it is spotting migratory birds on Blows Downs in Dunstable; identifying
bats, moths and glow-worms at Totternhoe
Knolls in Bedfordshire; pond-dipping at Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire, or
bird-watching at Grafham Water in Northants, there are many activities that can
provide an insight into threatened species and the local impact of climate
change.
'Moth
Trapping at Midnight on Totternhoe
Knolls'.
(photo: M.Bailey)
In terms of the local and the particular,
there are few finer voices than the radical ecological poet John Clare
(1793-1864). Clare was deeply opposed to the forced enclosures of common land.
His trespassing has later echoes in the Right-to-Roam and Occupy movements. He
was perceptively observant of his local wild life:
‘&
weeds that bloomed in summer hours
I
thought they should be reckoned flowers
They
made a garden free for all
&
so I loved them great & small
& sung of some that pleased my eye
Nor
could I pass the thistle by… ’ [1]
John Clare's
cottage garden (photo: M.Bailey)
The Enemy of Nature
Other sciences apart from ecology,
including physics, inform our understanding of the natural world. Brian Cox’s
recent TV series ‘Forces of Nature’ illustrated the significance of the basic
laws of physics in nature. The series title led me to recall and reflect on
‘The Enemy of Nature’, a seminal book by Joel Kovel [2], originally published
in 2002, which indicts the capitalist economic system, predicated on endless
growth and exploitation of natural resources, global power of corporations and
relentless pressure towards overconsumption, as the ultimate enemy of life on
Earth. Kovel’s view is that capital is
incorrigibly eco-destructive, expansive and unreformable. This recognition of
the role of capitalism has led to the ecosocialist viewpoint, defining
ecosocialism as that society in which production is carried out by freely
associated labour and with consciously ecocentric ends and means. Progress towards an ecosocialist future
will include enhancement of the Commons; that is reclaiming the Commons from
enclosure. Derek Wall has written extensively on the theme of the Commons, in
his ‘The Commons in History’ (2014) and ‘Economics after Capitalism (2015).
The answer to the question ‘is the Green Party an
ecosocialist party? is ‘no, but it ought to be’. It’s work in progress.
1 ‘John
Clare, The Trespasser’, John Goodridge & R.K.R.Thornton, p 56, Five Leaves, (2016)
2 ‘The
Enemy of Nature’, Joel Kovel, Zed Books, (2007)
Malcolm Bailey is
Deputy Chair of Green Left
Being an EU citizen in the UK after Brexit
By Joseph Healy: Left Unity Principal Speaker.
The day after the Brexit referendum I had called
together a group of friends from Italy, Spain, Germany and Ireland to chew over
the referendum result. I had organised the social before we knew the outcome.
One friend was so shocked she felt hurt and rejected and unable to meet other
people. Another, a longstanding academic from Germany spent the whole day
crying at home and also felt unable to meet others. The feeling of having
received a collective slap in the face and having been rejected by the people
of a country in which we had spent decades and felt was home was overwhelming.
I had played an active part in the Remain
campaign and had appeared in a video showing the views of a collection of EU
citizens organised by Another Europe is Possible, the left wing pro Remain
group, which was backed by the Green Party, Left Unity, Momentum and others. As
an Irish citizen I was the only one appearing in the video who had a vote. My
Spanish partner, who has lived in London for nearly 20 years, was denied any
say whatsoever in his future and that of the country in which he had based his
life.
Since the referendum, I have met many friends
from various EU countries all of whom feel angry and rejected over the outcome.
Some are planning to leave the UK, others are confused and don't know what
their future holds. I recently attended a packed event organised by the
Migrants Rights Network where many young EU citizens worriedly asked a
professor of EU Law and a migration lawyer questions about their future in this
country. The lawyer advised them all to apply ASAP for a long term residency
permit, saying that this was the only legal security they would have. The EU
law professor said that nobody knew what the rights of EU citizens in the UK
would be until the info withdrawal agreement was signed with the EU. Would
these people who have lived for years in the UK be able to access the NHS, be
able to apply for jobs or keep them - nobody knew. This is the uncertainty with
which 3 million people 5% of the population are living.
For me one of the basic demands of any
progressive political movement must be the guarantee to the EU citizens living
here that they will retain the rights they have always had. Furthermore, any
agreement with the EU must continue to protect the right of free movement
between the EU and the UK. This is one of the most basic rights which is in
danger of being lost after Brexit. Finally, we must fight together to oppose
all signs of xenophobia and racism against EU citizens living here. Despite
Brexit the UK must remain a tolerant and inclusive country and make its EU
citizens feel welcome and included.
TOWARDS A PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE AND A 20/20 VISION.
BY PETER ALLEN
Credit should be given to the Green Party
Leaders for taking the initiative by proposing talks about a Progressive
Alliance to other party leaders.
A positive response from Jeremy Corbyn is
crucial. Recently Owen Jones asked him about PR and a PA. Responding to the
first question only he valued retaining the direct link between MPs and their
constituents, suggesting a willingness to consider PR based on an Additional
Member system ( AV+) which Greens recommend. He also said that Labour was
committed to holding a constitutional convention, also Green Party policy. If
Corbyn seems luke warm, others in Labour, including John McDonnell and Chuka
Umuna, are strong supporters of PR.
Labour is hopelessly divided at present and the
prospect of being able to unite around PR or a Progressive Alliance may seem
remote. However Paul Mason, formerly of Channel 4 News, now part of Corbyn and McDonnell’s ‘ inner
circle', believes that PR and a broader Progressive Alliance could hold Labour
together, offering the prospect of a general election victory. "The
mainstream of the PLP, (…) are winnable. (Corbyn) needs a clear and effective
political strategy. (...) building a progressive political coalition. This will
include Labour, the left-wing nationalists, the Greens, and the Liberal
Democrats (….)If Corbyn can find a way to put this coalition together he can
certainly win an election, and that prospect is likely to be enough for many of
the social democrats in the centre of the Labour Party to accept his leadership
" ( Jacobin online 12/07/16 )
What of the other parties? The Liberal Democrats who favour PR, portray themselves as
progressive and although diminished in electoral strength, they retain support
in parts of the country. It is an opportune moment for them to reaffirm their
commitment to a fairer Britain and it was right that they be invited to
participate. .Plaid Cymru (PC) and the Scottish National Party (SNP) are
already working in Parliament with Caroline Lucas in a Progressive Alliance
opposing austerity. Both are committed to PR and although the SNP were not
included in the invitation to talk (the Scottish Green Party may make their own
invitation) they supported Caroline Lucas's recent attempt to secure a
parliamentary vote for PR
What is in it for the Green Party?
• a realistic prospect of defeating this
government at the next election
• the chance to introduce proportional
representation, so that Greens would be better represented in Parliament.
• the possibility of having real power and
influence in a future government, supporting Labour's renewed commitment to social justice and insisting on
a commitment to climate and ecological justice too.
• a bigger platform to promote our wider vision
of a different economic and social model, challenging notions of endless growth
on a fragile planet.
What might a Progressive Alliance involve?
-an agreement to stand
a single candidate against the Tories and UKIP at the next general election,
either in ' marginal seats or across England and Wales, the principal aim being
the elect ion of a government committed to introducing electoral reform.
- a new politics, which Corbyn has pledged and
Greens have been advocating for many years, based on cooperation across parties
to achieve common goals.
An immediate goal
might be to reverse the ongoing attack on the welfare state and local
government services Councils are about
to impose a reduced Benefit Cap, which will have disastrous consequences for some of their most vulnerable families,
and face further reductions in already
chronically inadequate social care budgets. Local Green Parties could try and
initiate discussions with other parties in the coming weeks, to consider how
best to create local campaigns to resist further austerity and cuts.
By Roy Sandison – Rugby Green Party
It’s clear to
many that building viable progressive alliances at the local level is a
priority and not in a month before an election.
In a positive
change Green Party members are starting to come across local Labour Party
members old and new who feel emancipated in free thought by the social movement
that is the Corbyn surge - not unlike it should be noted with our own Green
surge.
As the motion below suggests it’s important that
engagement starts to take place between the Green Party and ‘new’ Labour Party
not in a ‘doff your cap way’ but by equal parties that have a substantial
membership and voters support.
It’s always difficult given tribalism to identify co
thinkers in other parties so perhaps we need to start to identify those parties
who nominated Corbyn and Councilors and well as Councilors who have come out in
support – these can be found here http://labourlist.org/2016/06/hundreds-of-councillors-sign-pro-corbyn-letter/ I understand there are about 400 so far and 133
local parties have nominated Corbyn at time of writing.
Now they are careerists or love burning coal or
anti PR – but are they all? And can we build up cross party and non-party local
progressive alliances committed to PR for future election? I see no reason why
not and we gained even more Green Councilors and MP’s?
Green Left has a very well respected Facebook site
that is able to reach across the left as well as providing a much needed left
ear for the Green Party – Visit it today to be part of the debate
The following
Motion was passed by Green Left Meeting on 02/07/2016 on Electoral Left Alliances
Green Left
welcomes the move to discuss campaigning and electoral left alliances leading
up to the next General Election.
Green Left has
always promoted the idea that where we share values that the left should work
together as much as possible including with the Green Party lending our support
and endorsing Eco socialists who happen to be members of other parties as we
did with the excellent Salma Yaqoob at the 2010 parliamentary election.
This needs
further discussion with members and we welcome the consultation that will be
taking place.
Green Left
members with our positive standing amongst others on the left are able to
positively engage people outside the GPEW who share our values and therefore
should take the initiative locally in promoting discussion with individuals,
anti-austerity groups and other left parties such as a Jeremy Corbyn led Labour
Party. The idea of the ‘Best Placed Left Candidate’ should be a consideration
in marginal seats. Also any proposed left alliance must be committed to PR in
further elections.
THE
BEST WAY TO IMPROVE WORKERS’ RIGHTS IS TO HELP THEM GET ORGANISED
Kieron Merrett, Secretary
of The Green Party Trade Union Group
One of the reasons I joined
the Green Party was its policies for workers. Greens can be proud of our record
on proposing new legislation to make working people’s lives better – such as a
£10 minimum wage, or a 35-hour working week. But adding more laws doesn’t help
unless they are enforced them. Whilst union members can enforce their legal
rights, workers in non-unionised workplaces can suffer from breaches of the law
every day without knowing it – from working illegally long hours to being gender
or race discrimination.
Even if the law is enforced,
we can’t rely on legislation as the main way of improving working people’s
lives. Rather than becoming dependent on the Government to grant minimal
improvements in pay or conditions, we need workers to join together in unions
to make their own demands. Not only does this put power in their hands, but
it’s also more likely to be sustained. Legislation can be rolled back by future
governments, but organised workplaces can’t.
But as things stand,
organising the worst exploited workers is easier said than done. Many workers
now work in new kinds of workplace which have no history of unionisation - the
Sports Directs, the Amazons and the Nexts of the UK. This affects young workers
in particular. Unions such as Unite and GMB have tried to unionise them, not
always completely successfully
.
One problem is the precarious
situation many workers, with employers making use of zero-hours contracts or
dubious in-house “agencies” to allow them to victimise their employees. With
this level of fear, the barriers to joining a union and standing up to the boss
are high. But a more immediate problem is access: unions can’t even get in.
Many workers are unaware that they have rights which can be enforced, and of
course companies like Amazon prefer to keep it that way. Other countries such
as New Zealand or Sweden have laws which allow Trade Union representatives to
access the workplace. In the UK, however, if the employer doesn’t want the
union to enter, there’s no redress.
The Green Party Trade Union
Group (GPTU) has proposed two motions to this year’s Autumn Conference, voted
first and fifth priority by members in the policy motions section – putting
these issues at the top of this Conference’s policy agenda. One of these
motions calls for legislation to give unions a statutory right of access to
workplaces. We’re calling on Greens at Conference to support this to call
attention to the situation of the UK’s most exploited workers, and ultimately
put the power into their hands.
GPTU will be proposing more
changes like this at future Conferences – and perhaps even pave the way for a full
review of the Green Party’s policy on workers’ rights. As Greens, when we think
about improving working people’s lives or making society more equal, we need to
stop thinking just about how new legislation would help – and start thinking
more about how we can help workers join unions and achieve it for themselves.
Support Motions C
1.Opposition to the Conservatives’ Trade Union Act & C 5. Statutory right of access to workplaces for
Trade Unions
MURRAY
BOOKCHIN
Great News! U.S greens have adopted a
motion forwarding a Bookchinesque style program of communalism/Libertarian
Municipalism and anti-capitalism. 78% voted in favour and the amendment will be
put to conference for ratification in August. See the full text of the motions
at http://www.martinobeirne.co.uk/blog/us-greens-adopt-ecosocialismcommunalism
Please add any thoughts in the comments section. see also http://londongreenleft.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/us-green-party-convention-adopts.html
Why we need to “Reform Conference Voting” by
supporting Motion D1 By
Nicole Haydock, Bury Green Party Co-ordinator
Conference is the supreme body of the Green Party
of England and Wales (GPEW) and as such, it literally “can do anything it
likes”, as a SOC Convenor once explained. This is where members debate, adopt
reports, make policies and amend our constitution, plus there is the networking
and socialising we all need and enjoy.What conference cannot do is represent
the views and the democratic will of the majority of our 60,000 members, most
of whom will not and often cannot attend. Greens rejected the concept of a
delegates’ conference - deleted from our Constitution at the 2015 Autumn
Conference –nonetheless members who attend conference are self-selected. The
cost of attending leads to a disproportionate number of better off people making all the key
decisions on behalf of the wider membership maybe without being accountable to
anyone else. Addressing this democratic deficit should be a major concern for
our party which treasures its democratic principles. Embracing the digital
revolution by adopting motion D1 “Reform of Conference Voting “ may however
offer a solution - The current implementation of “ A step towards digital democracy “ approved at the 2016 Spring
Conference will soon enable members to take part in the indicative voting of Conference
workshops via the members’ website.
Motion D 1 “Reform
of Conference Voting “proposes that GPEW moves cautiously one step further to consider new ways to enable members to vote
on Conference motions and thus take part fully in our decision making
process.As one of the proposers of this motion, -I strongly believe is that D1
- if approved - will lay the foundation for the necessary
engagement of a much larger number of individual members and Local Party
activists in shaping the political direction of the GPEW and directly holding our leaders into account.
The Green Party Trade Union Group
The Green Party
Trade Union Group is part of the Green Party of England & Wales, FREE
Membership of GPTU is open to any current members of GPEW. Contact Noel Lynch:noellynch@tiscali.co.uk or join at the GPTU conference stall.
GREEN LEFT ONLINE
Green left facebook
Green left website
Green left blog
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Green Left
defines Eco socialism based on its founding statement “the Headcorn
Declaration” and 2nd draft of the Ecosocialist Manifesto .GL knows that other
definitions exist. Moreover many who identify as Ecosocialist, and some
who don’t, choose this label, might belong to organisations which do not
identify as such, or to no political organization at all. The proposal
is an attempt to work constructively and co-operatively with other Ecosocialists, because human
caused climate change is accelerating and threatening disastrous consequences
and there is no adequate political response to it. Proposing that individuals
from different organisations and none form a loose network has no preset agenda. An ES Network will
develop its own one. The next step is to collect contacts who might be
interested to start setting up the Network.
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CONTACT:P.Murry email:yrrumuk@googlemail.com
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Refs: Headcorn
Declaration” (http://greenleftblog.blogspot.co.uk/p/green-left-green-left-has-been-launched.html), and 2nd draft the Ecosocialist Manifesto (http://www.thegreenleft.co.uk/the-second-ecosocialist-manifesto.html).
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LONG LIVE THE SUICIDAL WEASEL
The weasel that bit through the cable
At the great hadron collider
And died, fried,
Was a heroic guerrilla fighter,
Trying to make the world righter
And stop humans playing
At being gods
Since we, being silly sods,
Full to the brim with
Vanity and insanity
Will wreck this planet
And make it unfit for all to live on
The weasel, the human or the gannet
Or orcas either,
Or even the beaver
If capitalism gets its way
We’re going to inhabit a huge ashtray.
So let’s raise our hand, our beaks, fins and paws
To the weasel who died, fried
For a
noble cause.-
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