Green Principles

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Introduction Present economic systems, requiring unbridled consumption of raw materials and land and the subjugation of human cultures and Nature, are neither sustainable nor just. A growing number of people, disillusioned by traditional political alignments, frightened by incursions upon democracy, self-determination and personal freedoms, and angry at the refusal of political leaders to confront ecological reality, are coming together to start a transition to an ecological society. Such a society would be characterized by ecological balance, equity, non-violence, appropriate scale, diversity, interdependence, self-regulation and decentralization - a harmonic partnership with the rest of Nature that is based on cooperation, not exploitation. To bring this about requires local citizen action in a global context, where individuals, communities and bioregions shape and control civic, political and economic life rather than letting them be dictated by remote planners, corporations and bureaucrats. The rehabilitation of local democracy is a prerequisite for achieving an ecological society. Greens seek to restore balance through recognizing that our planet and all of life are unique aspects of an integrated whole, and also through affirming the significant inherent values and contribution of each part of that whole. We declare on behalf of humankind that every generation has responsibilities towards future generations not to misuse resources that are the common heritage of all. Instead of exploiting fellow humans and the Earth, Greens embrace an attitude of love, compassion and humility. It is an evolving, flexible, and reciprocal process of healing, a process that brings us back to our center, back into balance with ourselves and our community and nature. The Government by the People Green Party program is intended to spark thought and action to start the transition to a truly democratic and ecological society.
Peace and Nonviolence This category of our political program addresses a broad spectrum of the causes and effects of violence: from individual acts of violence to institutionalized acts of violence, and beyond, into our foreign policies that could lead to armed conflict. The Green Party advocates a fundamental change in the way we socialize our citizens, structure our institutions, and relate to the planet and its people. Means and ends are not inseparable. If a nation, and a people, prepared for violence, they will create a violent world. Conversely, if they prepare for peace, that is what they will achieve. Peace is not just the absence of violence, it is a willingness to resolve conflict in a constructive manner with a spirit of good will and respect. Examples of issues in this category: Crime Prevention, Nonviolence
A RENEWED COMMUNITY LIFE Our nation's history of colonialism, oppression and apartheid, combined with urbanisation, overdevelopment, overcommercialization, the influx of outside values, and the building of sprawling suburbs and dense high-rises, have significantly eroded the spirit of Ubuntu ("Oneness") of the South African people. True communities are places where people know each other, treat each other as friends, and share values and traditions. Communities give meaning and richness to life. The community's history, landmarks and landscapes afford a sense of belonging and identity. Greens favour social policies that reinvigorate community life. Neighbourhood and community have traditionally been a basic unit of politics, a natural forum for discussion, decisions, and actions. Greens strongly believe that ordinary citizens should make decisions directly affecting their communities. (See Grassroots democracy) Schools should be co-managed by parents, teachers, and students. The GREEN PARTY believes that: The community (not distant bureaucracies and professionals) is the best provider of social services. Creating, strengthening, and transforming community-based associations and mutual-aid groups is the best way to care for our fellow humans. Small businesses and co-operatives should form the vibrant basis of the community's economic activities, not mass consumer-oriented facilities owned by offshore corporations who drain off major profits. (see Economic policy) Neighbourhoods and towns need to be redesigned to encourage neighbourliness and community. Cities and towns need not be car-centred and congested. Properly planned, they can include many places for strolling, shopping, sidewalk cafes, public gatherings and festivities. This sense of green community extends to the environment. Just as the individual is incomplete without a healthy community, so is the human race dependent on its supporting ecosystem.
Ecology and Earth Stewardship As Greens we understand humans are but one part of the ecosystem with a unique responsibility. That responsibility is to develop an understanding of environmental sustainability and to live and promote those practices which support it. Ecologically sound principles of living can guarantee protection for the Earth and its entire people.. We are all one. All things are connected. Anything that affects other people (including unborn generations), our flora and fauna, our soil, air or water, affects us. For our very survival, decisions from now on must take this into consideration and decisions must be taken in caring and consideration for the quality of life of the living species of this planet. Our commitment to ecological wisdom leads us to take natural systems as a model for human interaction. The interconnectedness of all things has helped us to realize that our practices of generating "waste" separate us from natural systems; in nature degraded matter is decomposed and returned to the web of life as nutrients. Our commitment to environmental justice has helped us to understand that in a closed system we all live downstream and downwind. JHB Greens
Social Justice and Liveable Communities The society Greens are creating sees an intimate connection between our rights as individuals and our responsibilities to our neighbors, our communities and the Earth. The balance between our rights and responsibilities grows out of processes that promote the maximum participation of everyone in the decisions that affect our well-being, our economic security, our social and international policies, and the way we live our lives. While much must be done in many areas to provide a decent and secure life for everyone, the key to these improvements lies in creating real social justice for all in a manner that will endure. We are committed to establishing relationships that honor diversity and that support the self-definition and self-determination of people. We will work to confront the barriers of racism, sexism, heterosexism, class oppression, ageism, and the many ways our culture separates us from working together to define and solve the common dangers we face. .
Democracy and Electoral Reform We are committed to a green party that eliminates the need for representative government, and empowers all people to make a difference through their participation in decision-making on an ongoing basis. Grassroots democracy, one of the Green Party's core values, is a type of democracy in which we, as individuals and as communities, create our own futures, design our own lives, determine our own priorities and, thereby, exercise the fullness of our humanity. Our goal is direct, participatory, grassroots democracy centered around a deeply democratic community and neighbourhood assemblies, and bioregional confederations. The abolition of the centralised Parliamentary form of "Government" is our ultimate goal. People must stop giving away their power of choice and their right to make decisions that vitally affect their own lives. All ideas must be run past their own intelligence. The planet needs the initiative and ideas and responsibility of each one of us. Each person must understand and believe in his or her power to use his or her own ideas on behalf of himself and all of us to change the planet for the better. Group issues would be decided by debate on the media and voted upon in referendum style, like in most of Switzerland's decisions.. The First Truly Democratic Governmental System In The World:
Community-based / Ecologically Sustainable Economics The keystone of the Green Party's economic program is community-based economics. As an alternative to an economy owned by either government or gigantic corporations, Greens favour a community-based model with ownership and control spread as widely as possible among locals. Another key value for establishing our economics program is ecological wisdom. We stand in contrast to the dominant political perception that our nation can have either economic vitality or ecological sanity. It is our firm belief that these entities are not mutually exclusive. We Are For... # More decision-making at Community level. # Open government. # A basic income for all citizens. # Renewable energy and Recycling. # Neutral peace-keeping. # Workers' Co-ops and small family businesses. # Emphasis on public transport. # Non-violent direct action. # People growing their own food. # Community-involvement in building homes We Are Against... # Pollution of air, sea and land. # The depopulation of the countryside and over-crowding in the cities. # Control of industry by large national and multinational companies. # Nuclear weapons and nuclear power. # Land and property speculation. # Both state and paramilitary violence. # The exploitation of the third world. # Exploitation of animals