This charter was originally taken from the web-site of Senator Bob Brown.
Charter of the Australian Greens.
Reflecting an awareness of the interrelatedness of all ecological, social and economic processes, the general principles of The Greens are to:
Ecology
- ensure that human activity respects the integrity of ecosystems and does not impair biodiversity and the ecological resilience of life-supporting systems
- encourage the development of a consciousness that respects the value of all life
Democracy
- increase opportunities for public participation in political, social and economic decision making
- break down inequalities of wealth and power which inhibit participatory democracy
Social Justice
- eradicate poverty by developing initiatives that address the causes, as well as the symptoms of poverty
- provide affirmative action to eliminate discrimination based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, class, religion, disability, sexuality or membership of a minority group
- introduce measures that redress the imbalance between rich and poor
Peace
- adopt and promote a non-violent resolution of conflict
- develop an independent, nonaligned foreign policy
- develop a self-reliant, defensive, non-nuclear defence policy
An Ecologically Sustainable Economy
- develop economic policies which will ensure greater resource and energy efficiency as well as development and use of environmentally sustainable technologies
Global Responsibility
Promote equity between nations and peoples by:
- facilitating fair trading relationships
- providing for increased development assistance and concerted international action to abolish Third World debt
- providing increased green technology transfer and skills to developing countries
- opposing human rights abuses and politicaloppression
- ensuring that Australia plays an active role in promoting peace and ecological sustainability
Long-range Future Focus
- avoid action which might risk long-term or irreversible damage to the environment
- safeguard the planet’s ecological resources on behalf of future generations
- reduce dependence oil non-renewable resources and ensure sustainable use of renewable resources
- adopt more comprehensive social, environmental and technology assessment practices
- facilitate socially and ecologically responsible investment
Meaningful Work
- encourage, develop and assist work that is safe, fairly paid, socially useful, personally fulfilling and not harmful to the environment
- encourage and facilitate more flexible work arrangements, on-going education, training, and social welfare so that more people can engage in meaningful work
Culture
- respect and protect ethnic, religious and racial diversity
- recognise the Cultural requirements of the original Australians
- assist in ensuring the achievements of Aboriginal land rights and self-determination
Information
- Facilitate a free flow of information between citizens and all tiers of government
- ensure that Australians have the benefit of a locally responsible, diverse, democratically controlled, independent mass media
