Green Party Leader throws hat into Concordia

After announcing his intention to challenge Gary Doer and run for election in Concordia, Andrew Basham had this to say about his party’s platform:

“The Green Party of Manitoba is calling on all Manitobans to rethink progress and define what a sustainable society might look like from the bottom up. We should take our cue from nature and use its self-sustaining systems as our model. “Rethinking Progress: Well-being NOT Growth,” is the theme of the Green Party of Manitoba’s 2007 Platform.

What does that mean?

To break it down, infinite growth is impossible on a finite planet. Growth means spending more money regardless of what you spend it on or why.

The government relies heavily on growth in gross domestic product (GDP) statistics to justify its policies. But GDP makes no distinction between good production and bad production… a perfect example is investing in opportunities that create unwanted by-products such as cancercausing toxins. This is bad production, but if it contributes to GDP it is considered ‘good.’

GDP is not even considered a measure of well-being. The economy is a means to an end, not the end in itself. Most people would agree that their ultimate goal is their personal wellbeing, and the well-being of those to whom they are closest.

Six Pillars in Four Weeks

Over the next four weeks, the Green Party of Manitoba will release more details on its six platform pillars:

1. Improving ecological literacy – nature has sustained itself for billions of years. Society needs to learn how we can mimic natural systems to make human systems sustainable.
2. Rebuilding democracy – the problem of low voter turn-outs and public cynicism isn’t new. It is a predictable outcome when the majority of people do not feel represented by the government for decades. Proportional representation and new forms of participation are needed to engage citizens.
3. Creating ecological communities – are diverse, healthy and focus on cooperative relationships. Ensuring access to education, preventative healthcare, public transit, and housing are part of an ecological community. Restorative justice: justice as healing and learning, with a focus on prevention, is critical to sustainable communities.
4. Protecting the Commons – just as air, water, health and the great wonders of our province (such as Lake Winnipeg) belong to us all, so do our cities, towns, schools and communities. It is the job of our government to protect and enhance public access to and enjoyment of these wonders.
5. Bringing the economy home – meeting our needs for diverse goods and services, as close to home as possible. This reduces our need for expensive, extensive and polluting supply chains.
6. Establishing a sustainable energy future – Fossil fuels account for 74% of Manitoba’s ecological footprint. It is a known fact that fossil fuel production will peak and decline. Real solutions require reducing our energy consumption not just relying on finding new energy supplies. We cannot continue to infinitely consume more energy, but we can find workable solutions to cap demand and meet our needs without damaging the Earth.