What The Greens Want: Ten Key Values

Green Party of New York State Statement of Purpose

A global society of hope and true prosperity must today be founded on the four Green principles of ecology, social justice, democracy and non-violence. We come from and make common cause with all of those involved in the grassroots movements for the protection of the environment and all species, peace, safe energy, sustainable communities, international solidarity and democracy, and rights for all peoples and groups: workers, women, gays, disabled, people of color, indigenous peoples, and all minorities, regardless of spiritual belief. We support the full array of nonviolent means to establish a just society including rallies, demonstrations, boycotts, citizen initiatives, civil disobedience, building alternative institutions, and electoral politics. We will, in pursuit of our goals, seek the support of all of the people. Our shared purpose is to find the path to an evolving and sustainable society.

THE TEN KEY VALUES

1) GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY

Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that effect their lives; no one should be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.

The powerless suffer the most from resource depletion and toxic pollution. Greens believe in direct participation by all people in the environmental, political, and ecomonic decisions that affect their lives.

2)SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society at large, barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and heterosexism, ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under the law.

Greens want to replace the worldwide system of poverty and injustice with a world free of all oppression.

3)ECOLOGICAL WISDOM

Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet.

We support a sustainable society which utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture which replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.

The Greens recognize that the Earth sustains all life processes. Green ecology moves beyond environmentalism by understanding the common roots of the abuse of nature and the abuse of people. Whatever we do to the web of life, we do to ourselves.

4)NONVIOLENCE

It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to our current patterns of violence at all levels, from the family and the streets, to nations and the world.

We will work to demilitarize our society and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We recognize the need for self-defense and the defense of others who are in helpless situations. We promote nonviolent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.

Greens reject violence as a way of settling disputes, it is shortsighted, morally wrong, and ultimately self-defeating. We are working to create a world where war is obsolete.

5)DECENTRALIZATION

Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system which is controlled by, and mostly benefits, the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system.

Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.

Power and responsibility must be restored to local communities within an overall framework of ecologically sound and socially just values and lifestyles.

6)COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE

We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living, for all people, while maintaining a healthy ecological balance.

A successful economic system will offer meaningful work with dignity, while paying a "living wage" which reflects the real value of a person's work. Local communities must look to economic development that assures protection of the environment and workers' rights, broad citizen participation in planning, and enhancement of our "quality of life".

We support independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives and public enterprises that spread out resources and control to more people through democratic participation.

Greens seek a new economics based upon the natural limits of the Earth, which meets the basic needs of everyone on the planet, under democratic, localized community control.

7)GENDER EQUITY AND FEMINISM

We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control, with more cooperative ways of interacting which respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want.

The Green movement is profoundly inspired by feminist values. The ethics of cooperation and understanding must replace the values of domination and control over others.

8)RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY

We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines.

We believe the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for other life forms and the preservation of biodiversity.

Greens honor the biological diversity of the Earth and the cultural, sexual and spiritual diversity of Earth's people. We aim to reclaim this country's finest ideals; popular democracy, the dignity of the individual, and liberty and justice for all.

9) PERSONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY

We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well-being and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.

10)FUTURE FOCUS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or "unmaking" all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival.

We must counter-balance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions.

Greens demonstrate a commitment to global sustainability and international justice through political solidarity, and in personal lifestyles, based on sufficiency and living lightly.

Like the Iroquois, Greens seek a society where the interests of the seventh generation are considered equal to the interests of the present. We must reclaim the future for ourselves and our children.