Global Greens Congress

EARTH DAY - Green Party of Manitoba Leader, Andrew Basham, announced his trip to attend the Global Greens Congress, where all the Green Parties of the planet (around 70) will get together for the second time ever to work out a 21 point agenda for 21st century Green politics. At the first Global Greens Congress, in Canberra, Australia, 2001, the Global Greens Principles Charter1 was adopted, to which all Green parties in the world subscribe.

“This is a very important event for all Greens and I am honoured to represent the Green Party of Canada as a national delegate”. “Andrew will make a excellent delegate, and the party looks forward to the networks and information that Andrew will gain at the Congress”, said Green Party of Manitoba President, James Beddome.

The Global Greens Network only recognizes national parties, but Basham will be bringing 10 copies of the Manitoba Greens’ 2007 election platform, Rethinking Progress: Well-Being NOT Growth. This platform contains many of the policies that Basham will be promoting at the global level, including: localization of economies, citizens’ income2, and ecological agriculture3. “Why hasn’t the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change mentioned localized organic agriculture and food systems in any of its reports, since they are so vital to dealing with global warming?” asked Basham, who has resolved to make agriculture and food central issues to Green politics in Manitoba.

The Global Greens Congress will be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 1st-4th, 2008. The Congress will be preceded by a conference hosted by the Heinrich Boell Foundation, whose focus will be drafting a “sustainable cities charter”, which Basham will bring back and present to Winnipeg City Council.