3rd Apr 2007
National Assembly Elections
The Greens are standing a full regional list in the Assembly Elections. Click here to read our elections FAQ, or 'Elections' above for more information.
Could the Green Party really help run Mid and West Wales, or be a strong Green voice in the Welsh Assembly?
Yes - We believe that we are capable of creating a democratic sustainable society with the consent of the majority. If our ideas are so wrong why are other parties across the political spectrum trying to copy them?
Is climate change really happening and if so is it really caused by human action?
Since 1987 the Green Party has been calling for the UK Government and Industry to stop polluting the Atmosphere with CO2. Where Greens have been elected at they have forced the local and regional government agencies on behalf of their constituents to reduce emissions often in the teeth of opposition from the same mainstream parties who now play up their 'green' credentials. The Green Party believes that climate change is caused largely by human action and will act accordingly. There is a huge and overwhelming body of scientific evidence to show that this is so. Those who deny climate change or its human causes have a right to their opinion but we believe they are simply showing a very dangerous complacency when faced with a potentially catastrophic set of events that could lead to the extinction of our species. It should be noted that many (though not all) often receive financial backing from Oil companies and other heavy industries that make large profits from dangerous emissions.
Isn't the Green Party trying to create a 'stay at home' society?
No - We believe in eliminating the need for unnecessary travel. Rather than have our cities increasingly clogged by more and more cars emitting more and more greenhouse gases we will through our economic policies strengthen and boost the local economy so that people can walk or cycle to work wherever possible. We would enhance investment in the public transport network so people needed to use their cars less as happens in other European countries. We believe that air travellers should pay the true cost of their flights not ban them. These are often subsidised to alarming degree by Governments and do not take account of the ecological consequences of air travel. We would follow the example of France and Germany where excellent rail services and infrastructure has meant internal flights have been greatly reduced.
What about issues such as Local Government Finance, Immigration, Community, Healthcare and Equality? Does the Green Party have anything to offer on these issues?
The Green Party will be publishing it's a Manifesto: 'One Vote, One chance, One Wales' on April 12th 2007. This will contain our entire programme on these issues. As mentioned above we are confident we could help to run Wales and have a strong voice in the Assembly and therefore have holistic, integrated and proven policies on all these issues.
How would the Green Party pay for its social programme? Surely a Green Council or Assembly would mean vast rises in taxes?
Unlike other parties the Green Party does not shy away from progressive taxation nor does it pretend that we can carry on lowering taxes and spending more on vital public services. Wherever possible we would use the tax system to ensure that those who lived sustainably were eligible for tax credits or allowances and that those who don't are taxed accordingly'.
At the moment the Assembly Government pours large sums into largely unused aviation flights and an increasingly clogged and unviable road system. The Green Party would redirect this money using it to bolster the local economy of Mid and West Wales. We would also work to make more sustainable economic systems such as LETS (local economic transfer system) and credit unions a viable alternative to the current banking system. The Green Party can't pretend that a realigning of the tax system is going to be easy but think of how many times you have heard politicians from other parties say they are going to cut taxes and then when elected do the exact opposite...
The Green Party would cover Mid Wales with windfarms!
No - the Green Party believes in renewable energy but also recognises the value of certain landscapes so any Wind Turbine developments would be sensitively sited. The Green Party would put forward a mixed package of renewable energy sources so as well as Windfarms we would construct Tidal Lagoons and Solar panel arrays. Along with Energy saving measures, these would create sustainable energy supplies. It should be noted that those who make spurious claims such as the one above rarely if ever offer any alternatives to windfarms and that there is a vociferous minority who regularly bombard the media with scare stories about wind turbines and other renewable energy generation methods simply to try and demonise them when it is increasingly obvious that we need to move away from fossil fuel use.
The Green Party is 'unelectable'
This statement is normally uttered by those who don't want the Green Party elected! In the European Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, The London Assembly and UK Cities such as Brighton, Oxford and Norwich Greens have been elected and helped renew and transform their communities. Owing to the list system in Welsh Assembly you can help bring about a socially just sustainable society in Mid and West Wales, and throughout the Nation, by voting in Green AM's on May 3rd this year!
