Ten Key Values

GREEN-RAINBOW PARTY www.green-rainbow.org

Ten Key Values

These Ten Key Values serve as the philosophical foundation for political action for Green parties worldwide, each of which adapts and defines them according to the needs of their national, regional, and local chapters. Grassroots Democracy: Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect his or her life. 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 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 and not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the environmental and resource limits of our communities and our planet. 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. To this end, we must have agricultural practices that replenish the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.

Grassroots Democracy:

Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect his or her life. 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 that expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.

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, all of 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 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.

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

Community Based Economics:

We recognize that it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one creating enough jobs and providing 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 each person's labor. 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.

Feminism:

We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for replacing 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. 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 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 traditionally been closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for other life forms and the preservation of biodiversity.

Personal and Global Responsibility:

We encourage individuals to improve their personal well being while enhancing 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:

Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing or "unmaking" the 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 beneficial to the future generations who will inherit the results of our actions. Our overall goal is not merely to survive, but to share lives that are truly worth living. We believe the quality of our individual lives is enriched by the quality of all of our lives. We encourage everyone to see the dignity and intrinsic worth in all of life, and to take the time to understand and appreciate themselves, their community, and the magnificent beauty of this world.