Archive for The six principles of the global Greens

The Green Party of Canada calls for an end to smear campaigns and attack ads.  Let’s run an election trying to win hearts and minds on the strength of our own policies and principles.

View their attack ad on attack ads and ask representatives of all parties to stop the negative campaigning.

Tim’s action to block the sale of federal lands for mining rights to the fossil fuel industry was one of those pure, spontaneous and beautiful expressions of nonviolent public opposition to monstrous policy. The publicity raised by his actions led directly to the withdrawal of the mining leases by the incoming Obama administration. Nonetheless, yesterday Tim DeChristopher was convicted and faces prison time.  He is a hero.

A clever site called People for Corporate Tax Cuts does a brilliant job of highlighting the impact on Canadians of a corporate tax cut.  Although it’s designed for an Ontario audience, it works well at all levels of government.  Governments only have so much money.  If they cut the corporate tax rate, either they have to increase the tax burden on individuals, or they have to cut services.  This might make sense if we had outrageous corporate tax rates that made it difficult for businesses to compete in a global economy, but that’s not the case.  Corporate tax cuts are just welfare for the rich.

A few years ago, Elizabeth May said that we need to plan cities around the child, instead of around the car.  There’s now a movement around 8-80 cities that calls on cities to be planned with two groups of people in mind – 8 year olds and 80 year olds.  The theory is that if you take care of the young and old, the able-bodied in between will be able to look after themselves.  It’s a compassionate approach to community building with the goal of safe streets, local economies and cohesive neighbourhoods, rather than maximum mobility.  And it’s very much at the heart of what the Green Party is all about.

2011 March 6 – 10

Leadnow’s (Re)Generation: Voices for Canada is a cross-country event that will bring generations of Canadians together to share ideas and goals for our country and our future, and help draft a Declaration for Change — a commitment to create a better future for all Canadians.  Leadnow will challenge Canadian politicians to work together for progress on the Declaration’s goals, and will call on people to commit to take action and vote for the politicians who will rise to the challenge.     Read more »