Green Left (UK)
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Green Left is an anti-capitalist and eco-socialist grouping within the Green Party of England and Wales. It seeks to constitute a network for socialists and other like minded invividuals in the Green Party, whilst acting as an outreach body that will communicate the party's left wing policies to other socialists and anti-capitalists outside the party. It includes some prominent members of the Green Party of England and Wales and held its first meeting on 4 June 2006.[1] Like members of the Alliance for Green Socialism (who choose to organize separately from the Green Party of England and Wales), Green Left members were early supporters of the Ecosocialist International Network (EIN).
Formation
Green Left was launched on 4 June 2006 by members of the Green Party of England and Wales. Those who supported the group included various members of the Green Party of England and Wales Executive, including Richard Mallender (Chair), Peter Cranie (elections co-ordinator) and Siân Berry (at that time one of the two principal speakers, and campaigns co-ordinator), as well as Penny Kemp (former party chair), Joseph Healy (Secretary, London Green Party), Derek Wall (writer, and at that time the other principal speaker) and Peter Tatchell (human rights activist). Cllr Sarah Farrow and Cllr Matt Sellwood were elected as the co-conveners of the new group.[1]
Aims and Beliefs
Green Left formulated its beliefs, agreed on at the meeting, in the Headcorn Statement (below), a declaration stating that Green Left hopes "to raise Green Party politics to meet the demands of its radical policies". The statement criticised the "New Labour government's abandonment of the policies of the left" and claimed "that the Green Party's progressive agenda makes it the natural home for the left".[1]
The Headcorn Declaration
In June 2006, 36 members of the Green Party agreed to the core beliefs and policies of the Headcorn declaration which became a launch statement of the Green left. The launch statement included the following points:[1]
- Green Left is critical of capitalism, and sees capitalism as incompatible with ideals like sustainability, peace and social justice. As such it places itself in the tradition of William Morris, the British eco-socialist who operated within the Marxist Social Democratic Federation and Socialist League.
- It seeks to unite all socialists, anti-capitalists and radicals, within the Green Party and outside of it.
- It welcomes and wishes to continue the grassroots democracy within the Green Party of England and Wales, which should remain a "bottom-up" organisation.
- Green Left wants to apply the slogan Think global, act local to its own party, by increasing international contacts, while also seeking to create local coalitions, made up of various groups such as trade unions, faith communities and other minority groups.
See also
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