Green Party Conference September 6, 2008
Posted by CamdenKiwi in : Green in the City,Politics , trackbackMy head is full after a day at the Green Party conference. Its the first time I’ve ever been to a large Green meeting in the UK, and I’m not quite sure what to expect. Lots of consensus decision making and very very long speeches?
I start worried. Some people are getting very hung up on the data protection act and policy about campaigning for internal elections. That’s not going to save the planet, now is it? It gets better with a workshop on housing policy and free school meals. Surviving climate change will need a strong dose of social justice in with the environmental policies, which is why a Green Party is so much more than just another environmental pressure group. Later, a motion was passed to set the minimum wage at 60% of the average, which is close to the NZ Values Party idea of a minimum income for all, and would go a long way towards improving social equity.
The treasurers report sparks more interest than I would have expected. Apparently they’ve hired a professional fundraiser to raise money for election campaigning, which seems sensible enough but doesn’t quite sit comfortably with Green ways of doing things.
Its all remarkably well organised. Sessions start on time, with effective chairing making sure everyone keeps to the point and noone rambles on for too long. At the start of each session they have a minutes silence in ‘attunement’ when you’re supposed to focus yourself to the task at hand. A bit hippy perhaps, but it seems to get everyone quiet and concentrating.
The highlight of the day is Caroline Lucas, the new (and first ever) Leader. She’s a credible, charismatic speaker, who sounds like she could run the country but still has a touch of the radical about her. Many of the elected politicians are impressive – Caroline Lucas, but also the other MEP, Jean Lambert, and the two GLA members Darren Johnson and Jenny Jones. The place is full of articulate, interesting councillors from all over the country.
More plenary sessions, then a break because I couldn’t be bothered with hustings for the election of party officers. For me, the last session of the day was the launch of Jean Lambert’s new report on how employment will be affected by climate change, including speakers from the TUC and British Wind Energy Assocation. The BWEA speaker, Dr Gordon Edge, attracted the most interest, talking about the effect of nimbyism on the industry and the problems with the planning process. He seemed much more interested in industrial scale windfarms than smallscale microgeneration, probably reflecting his organisation and the limits of the technology. The UK is hoping to be a major player in offshore wind energy, and may still have a chance to be involved in the manufacture of offshore turbines. The onshore market has been lost to Germany and Denmark.
Prof Tom Thomas, on the same panel, mentioned that Boris has cut funding for the London Energy Partnership, another example of Tory ideas of being green.
The real blog of the conference, with a lot more detail, is over here. Tomorrow, we’ve got voting reform, Green Party Women, and, I hope, the chance to meet one of my favourite bloggers, Tom Reynolds of Random Acts of Reality. It’s odd, not a lot about climate change or the environment.
Comments»
Hello! Are you coming to the Green bloggers fringe on Sunday? If so, look forward to meeting you there!
I enjoyed reading this entry. I am an active Green Party member in South Carolina, USA, and write at http://www.GreenPartyWatch.org, which is pretty much 100% domestic GP news.
I must say, this sounds a good deal like a Green Party meeting in the US. I also must say that you, Camden Kiwi, sound as if you should be doing more of this. You seem to understand and enjoy Greens and green politics. Have you stood for office yet as a Green? (Here in the US we “run” for the offices you Brits “stand” for.)
@Sue – definitely, and it was great to meet you!
@Gregg – I did stand for Parliament a long time ago, but its not likely now. Though my friend is trying hard to persuade me! Running is a much better term for it, given the amount of effort involved.