It is urgently vital form a new vibrant immaginative and radical Green Party

national | politics / elections | opinion/analysis

Wednesday March 31, 2010 15:43

by Angry Green

It is now time to form a new more left of centre Green Party as Traditional Green policies such as Climate Change, emissions reduction and renewable energy, while I agree with them are no longer enough. We don’t just want to save the planet. We want to make life so much better for the people living on it. The current Green Party has not delivered ( with the notable exception of power points for non currently existent electric cars!) and has no new ideas of any note whatsoever. They are no different than the other parties out there at the moment.

It is with great sadness that as a lifelong but disillusioned member of the green party I now call for a new Green Party to be formed. The main reason i choose this time to call for this is the betrayal by hypocrites such as De Burca etc on anti democratic decision to force the people to vote repeatedly for the Lisbon treaty until it was bullied through and passed and the fact that the Green Party has not delivered any radical changes in policy while in government such as workplace equality, economic security, wealth inequality, Corporation Tax inequality, A maximum wage as well as a minimum one, mental health or full Workers' Rights.

Traditional Green policies such as Climate Change, emissions reduction and renewable energy, while I agree with them are no longer enough. We don’t just want to save the planet. We want to make life so much better for the people living on it. Unfortunately are no longer the cutting edge of new policies in Ireland so why should young people join us rather than any of the other parties out there? Why are we not setting the debate on issues which are taboo to parties such as labour and sinn fein such as having a radical stance on drugs which would help the party reach a broader youth audience, instead of being afraid of real but 'taboo' issues that exist is all communities in this country. The Norwegian Green party for example has held policy discussions on drugs decriminalization of use and possession of illegal drugs, and legalization of cannabis. Instead of meekly following Harneys USA type health inequalities we should be looking at illness prevention, Wealth redistribution, quality of life and even Citizen's Incomes. We should actively oppose EU weak compromises which passes for policy on climate change, control of Dangerous chemicals etc.

As Peter Tatchell said in the UK: the Greens are now the only credible radical left-wing alternative and the best hope for advancing a progressive political agenda! and as the Current Irish Green Party has utterly failed to do this it, it is vitally necessary to form a new Green Party as there is no party that offers the Irish people the policies that are needed and some of which are outlined above.