Australian+Greens

 ** The Greens **  ** History ** The concern for the environment began in the 1900's among bush walking groups who aimed to preserve natural sites, and the creation of natural parks. This soon formed the United Tasmania Group in 1972. This was the first ever group to be completely dedicated to the environment and was formed to protect Lake Pedder.  The fight to form a political party focussing on the environment began in 1990. By the end of 1992, both the Australian Greens and a Victorian Greens party were established. In the national parliament, Jo Vallentine retired in 1992 and Christobel Chamarette filled her WA Greens Senate seat. In the 1993 federal election another WA Greens senator, Dee Margetts, was elected to the Senate, and she and Christobel Chamarette held the balance of power.  Currently the Greens have 23 elected members of parliament: five in Tasmania, four in New South Wales, four in the ACT, three in Victoria, five in Western Australia, and two in South Australia. More than 80 Greens have been elected to local councils around the country.  ** Philosophy ** The Greens Party stand for what is right not just what is easy or what polls well unlike the two older parties they have a proud history The Greens are much more than an environmental party. While promoting meaningful and smart solutions to ensure future generations of Australians have clean air, clean water and clean soil – the Greens are also working in many other areas to champion integrity, decency and fairness. As well as representing constituents, **the Greens speak on behalf of those who wouldn’t otherwise get much of a say inside parliament: ** children, refugees, students, individuals and families living in poverty and, of course, our natural environment. **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Greens’ core beliefs **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">: <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> · //<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;">Ecological sustainability //<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> · //<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;">Grassroots participatory democracy //<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> · //<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;">Social justice //<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;">Peace and non-violence //<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Policies ** <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Greens Policies are divided into a number of categories including: Agriculture & Natural Resources, Care for People, Climate Change and Energy, Environment, Human Rights & Democracy and Sustainable Economy. Within these categories are sub-categories that state the Greens' solutions for a wide range of issues and these cover all the essential basic needs of a country such as health. However, the Greens specifically tend to base or focus their policies on environmentally safe, sustainable and resourceful solutions, as well as justice within Australia. <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The basis of their Environmental Principles state that above all, human beings are part of the natural world, and all forms of life on Earth deserve our respect and human society depends upon the ecological resources of the planet, and we therefore must protect and maintain the integrity of its ecosystems. These represent many of their policies: <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Animals · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Biological Diversity · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Children and Young People · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Climate Change and Energy · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Immigration and Refugees · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Indigenous Australians · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Justice · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Multiculturalism · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Natural Resources · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Science and Technology · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Sexuality and Gender Identity · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Sustainable Agriculture · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Sustainable Planning and Transport · <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Waste