Toward a Sustainable Future

[omega minimo]

"We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want."

Check out this thread on the Green Party:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1816697&mesg_id=1816697&page=

Several threads here lately address our unwillingness to keep "defending" reality against history-challenged disruptors and our will to move on to larger issues. The "10 Key Values" framework of the Green Party is an example of such a base to work from. Some things are a given-- where do we go from here?

Here are some unapologetic statements about the world we live in and what we need to do about it. (edited-- more on links)

Green Party Ten Key Values

--Grassroots Democracy
W 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 that expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.

--Ecological Wisdom
Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We support a sustainable society that utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation.

--Social Justice and Equal Opportunity
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.

--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 promote nonviolent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.

--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 that is controlled by and mostly benefits the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system.

--Community Based Economics
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.

--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.

--Respect for Diversity
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.

--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.

--Future Focus and Sustainability
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.

http://www.greenparty.org/values.html

:bounce::bounce:

[TaleWgnDg]

1. Yup. "Divide and conquer" (n/p) . . . hello? Uummm?

[omega minimo]

2. If you ain't part of the solution, you're part of the problem

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.

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.

Human values such as equity between the -sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience.

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 seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.
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.

[omega minimo]

3. Example: a base to work from; unapologetic statements and actions

:kick:

[bloom]

4. There is a lot of sense here.

I think it's possible to be Green and a Democrat.

In fact - I would encourage it.

:bounce:

[omega minimo]

5. Seems pretty basic

Hi Bloom

Alexander Cockburn said a couple weeks ago that the Green Party Platform is what the Democrats should be doing.

Funny you should respond on the day we celebrate creation of the Feminist's Group. I injected that discussion with some of the Green "unapologetic statements" about how the world is-- really. The assumption that discouraging sexist bigotry is somehow taboo is outdated. At least the Greens make it a priority to TRY.

The concepts are clearly articulated. I don't know where a list like this is available for Democrats.

There are probably a lot of folks straddling both Green and Democrat.

:kick: