last modified 6/26/96 by Craig Harvey - Email: harvey@ic.net
The Green Party of Huron Valley is a group of local residents
working to make a new politics for Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County based
on ecology, peace, justice and grassroots democracy. We are a movement
that involves people like you and me in the political process on an
everyday basis. We're here to educate people about the system and
gather people together for a decentralized political and economic
democracy. We hope to create a new politics -- grassroots participation
in the electoral arena without forgetting our social movement character.
WHO ARE THE GREENS?
The Greens are, in essence, all people struggling for peace, civil
rights and economic justice, women's rights, anti-nuclear and worker
causes, environmental sustainability, gay rights, affordable housing,
community- based enterprises and progressive ideas of every kind. We
are part of the global Green movement. Our philosophy is summarized in
ten key values:
1) Ecological wisdom;
2) Grass-roots democracy;
3) Decentralization;
4) Community-based economics;
5) Non-violence;
6) Respect for diversity;
7) Feminism;
8) Personal and global responsibility;
9) Social justice; and
10) Future focus.
We think fundamental changes are needed in governments, economic
systems and personal lifestyles. But we recognize that these changes
can only happen through the wills and desires of free people. We
believe that the world's problems are all interconnected. Our mission
is to fight abuses, build positive alternatives, work to change the
current political structure, and keep a vigorous dialogue going in the
community. We work in alliances and coalitions, we train new activists,
we support other activist groups, we are involved in electoral politics,
we educate the public and we are building a community for the future.
That's who we are!
WHAT HAVE THE LOCAL GREENS DONE?
Here's a partial list:
* Sponsored a conference on community-based economics.
* Published the Greenpages, a guide to ecologically and socially
responsible local businesses.
* Supported the Homeless Action Committee's efforts to provide low-
income housing.
* Opposed "privatization" of municipal services.
* Testified before the Planning Commission and City Council against
further road widening, parking structures, and any added
infrastructure for automobiles.
* Supported improved bike and pedestrian paths, public transportation
and restoration of Ann Arbor's trolley system.
* Co-sponsored a conference on low-level radioactive waste disposal.
* Lobbied the Michigan legislature to oppose a nuclear dump.
* Opposed both the Detroit incinerator and the planned Envotech
incinerator in Milan.
* Testified at EPA hearings on incineration and waste reduction policy.
* Joined with Friends of Black Pond in their struggle to preserve Black
Pond Woods.
* Organized Greenfair and Huron Regional Town Meeting during Earth
Day 1990 activities.
* Helped keep the MX Rail Garrison out of Michigan.
* Opposed the Persian Gulf War and the Bush Administration's policies
in the Middle East by facilitating anti-Gulf War Coalition meetings.
* Supported resident management in public housing by UNITY.
TEXT OF THE PLATFORM
ECOLOGICAL WISDOM
The problem:
Environmental degradation may be the single greatest problem facing
us. Driven by 'growth', we are wasting the legacy of the future, both
globally and locally. Here in Washtenaw County, we face increased
pollution and unremitting traffic congestion while businesses clamor
for more parking and road expansions. Washtenaw County is being
swallowed up by suburban sprawl, destroying valuable farm land and
making people even more dependent on the car. The stresses of
big-city life, throw-away habits and endless development are invading
the community life that we value.
The alternative:
The future of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County must be guided by
the needs of all the people, not merely by the short-term profit needs
of some. If we are to preserve the environment for future generations,
we must make changes in our way of life that can be sustained
indefinitely. These will involve deep structural changes, not just a
quick checklist of 100 things an individual can do to save the Earth.
The following options meet this need:
* Passing a moratorium on development. We need to decide our future
democratically along ecological, humane and rational lines.
* Developing a bio-regional land use plan for the next century that
includes: preservation of family farms; preservation of wetlands and
wildlife habitat; a good, affordable public transit plan; and
restoration of the Huron River to its pre-industrial state of health.
* Working toward local energy independence based on renewable energy
sources such as water, wind and solar power. Making the most of
plentiful local resources, such as the methane escaping into the
atmosphere from our local landfill.
* Using new energy saving devices such as compact fluorescent lights in
all municipal buildings.
* Introducing stringent energy efficiency standards for all new
construction and renovations in the City building code.
* Municipally acquiring open land to be held in public trust.
* Creating a complete system of bike and pedestrian paths, including a
pedestrian mall on Main Street.
* Passing a packaging reduction ordinance and implementing city-wide
cardboard recycling for all businesses.
* Making Ann Arbor a "Toxic Free Zone", including a ban on the use of
chlorine compounds.
* Replacing the use of ecologically devastating salt on winter roads
with natural sand and gravel.
* Developing sister city relationships with cities in Eastern Europe for
technical assistance in ecological restoration.
* Requiring construction and maintenance guarantees on all municipal
road and infrastructural work.
ECONOMIC JUSTICE
The problem:
We live in a competitive grow-or-die economy that knows no moral
or ecological limits. The market economy must, by its very nature,
expand until it subsumes the entire planet. Not only is this insane
form of "growth" destroying the environment, it is also breaking apart
our human community. Our economy is not providing such basic needs as
decent housing, health care, or a livable income for many citizens. We
are witnessing the emergence of a new underclass of poor people, many of
them women and children, who suffer from poverty and homelessness amidst
affluence. Economic and social injustice has become a major factor in
the everyday life of our community.
The alternative:
The Greens believe that decent housing, health care, a livable
income and good working conditions are rights, not privileges. We
believe that all people have a natural right to live in a healthy
environment. A sustainable economy can meet human needs without
destroying the environment. Small-scale, locally owned, socially
responsible businesses and municipally owned public utilities can form
the foundation for a just economy. We need to convert from a
multinational / military economy to a human scale economy, beginning
right here at home. The downtown business district should be preserved
as a unique alternative to chain stores and shopping malls. By having a
broad mix of housing and access by walking, biking, and public
transportation, it can continue to be the vital center of our community.
The steps we propose are to:
* Amend the DDA charter to prohibit building of any more parking
structures and to make building energy-efficient housing for
low-income people a top priority.
* Convert the Ann Arbor Inn (an empty ex-hotel located in downtown
Ann Arbor) to low-cost housing.
* Institute a property tax freeze for Ann Arborites on fixed incomes
(who live in their own homes).
* Pass a genuine Tenant's Privacy Act, not a "landlord access act".
* Provide seed money for socially responsible local businesses using
affirmative action standards.
* Expand the network between local farmers and consumers to foster
local agriculture and prevent further loss of farm land to development.
* Establish a city-funded nonprofit health care clinic to provide basic
preventive and routine health care needs to the uninsured. Encourage
the University of Michigan to offer incentives to their health care
staff to volunteer their time.
* Encourage community development efforts as an alternative to bank
profiteering and disinterest.
* Convert public housing to a democratic system of resident management.
PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
The problem:
The cost of preparing for war is still the single largest item in
the Federal budget. Politicians have raised taxes, borrowed money and
gutted social programs to pay for it. The net result has been less
money available locally, a virtually permanent public debt, and reduced
social spending. Military research is the job of more than half of
America's scientists, including many at the University of Michigan.
Violence is now a fact of everyday life in America. We don't seek to
solve conflicts peacefully, but fall back on the old ways of anger and
violence. Our daily exposure to violence as "entertainment" on
television, our tolerance of the sale of violent toys to children, and
the ongoing problem of aggression against women, children, people of
color, and the gay community all point to the deeply ingrained belief
that violence is an acceptable solution. It is not.
The alternative:
We believe that Ann Arbor has both the people and the resources to
establish model programs to promote multi-cultural and international
understanding, as well as peace within the community.
Examples include:
* Making non-violent dispute resolution training available to all
citizens at the public schools and libraries, as well as summer
youth parks and recreation programs.
* Creating non-violent civilian based defense militia.
* Making Ann Arbor a nuclear-free zone.
* Ending tax abatements or subsidies to organizations accepting military
contracts, including the University of Michigan.
* Electing a citizen's police oversight board to investigate complaints
of police brutality, harassment, and other misconduct. Enhancing
police training programs on racism, sexism, and homophobia.
* Electing a citizen's commission on civil rights.
FEMINISM AND FUTURE FOCUS
The problem:
Women are still considered second-class citizens in America
despite the gains that they have made in the last thirty years. They
now make, on the average, 70% of the income that men make for comparable
worth jobs. Children are legally considered the property of their
parents until the age of majority and have no voice in the decisions
that will shape their futures.
The alternative:
We must focus on the future as well as the present when making
decisions. Everybody can have a role to play in creating a better
future. Only through co-operation can we solve the problems that plague
society. We must make sure that our children survive and thrive to live
in the world that we are striving to create.
We can do this through such measures as:
* Free and freely available pre-natal health care.
* The right of choice in all areas of life.
* Safe, community-based day care with fully funded Head Start
programs for all children.
* Gender-neutral pay equity at all levels of employment.
* Safe sex education and support services in our public schools.
GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY
The problem:
It is an unfortunate fact that here in Ann Arbor (as well as
state wide and nationally) corporate wealth buys a disproportionately
large voice in governmental decisions. Our centralized city government
is not structured to allow for genuine citizen input and dialogue.
Public speaking time at City Council meetings is limited and referred
to, patronizingly, as "audience participation". It is indeed a struggle
for the average tax-paying citizen to have his voice not only heard but
actually listened to.
The alternative:
We do not want to be merely an audience. Democracy demands
participation. We need to ensure that each person in our community can
have their ideas seriously considered. Thomas Jefferson envisioned
'ward republics' for this purpose. Decisions about the well-being and
future of our community can and should be debated and decided directly
by the people. City Council members and County Commissioners would then
perform the public service of making sure that these democratic
decisions were carried out. Citizens would have the right to recall
public servants who do not live up to their mandates. Ann Arbor can
also lead the way in establishing democratic county-wide confederations
with neighboring communities to deal with transportation, land use,
groundwater protection, and other regional concerns.
As steps toward more democratic self-government, we propose:
* Preferential voting in place of winner-take-all systems. Putting
together a system of proportional representation for all local
elective offices.
* Election, rather than political appointment, of
all boards and commissions.
* Closing the "revolving door" between city government and private
interests.
* Creating a "citizen's guide to local government".
* Establishing New England style town meetings.
* If and when a new city hall is built in Ann Arbor, having far more
space for public assembly.
NOW WHAT?
A platform, by itself, is only a collection of ideas. It takes will,
effort and dedication to turn those good ideas into a happy, self-aware
community. Won't you join with us and help to create the world that
could be for all of us? Call us at (313) 663-3555 and get involved!
[ http://www.ocean.ic.net/users/randym]
Green Party of Michigan
548 S Main St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
313-663-3555
Accesses since 6/26/96
last modified 6/26/96 by Craig Harvey - Email:
harvey@ic.net