| 1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY
Every human being deserves a say in the decisions
that affect their lives and not be subject to the
will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase
public participation at every level of government
and to ensure that our public representatives are
fully accountable to the people who elect them. We
will also work to create new types of political organizations
which expand the process of participatory democracy
by directly including citizens in the decision-making
process.
2. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
All persons should have the rights and opportunity
to benefit equally from the resources afforded us
by society and the environment. We must consciously
confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society
at large, barriers such as racism and class oppression,
sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which
act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under
the law.
3. ECOLOGICAL WISDOM
Human societies must operate with the understanding
that we are part of nature, not separate from nature.
We must maintain an ecological balance and live within
the ecological and resource limits of our communities
and our planet. We support a sustainable society which
utilizes resources in such a way that future generations
will benefit and not suffer from the practices of
our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture
which replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient
economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity
of natural systems.
4. NON-VIOLENCE
It is essential that we develop effective alternatives
to society’s current patterns of violence. We will
work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass
destruction, without being naive about the intentions
of other governments. We recognize the need
for self-defense and the defense of others who are
in helpless situations. We promote non-violent methods
to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree,
and will guide our actions toward lasting personal,
community and global peace.
5. DECENTRALIZATION
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to
social and economic injustice, environmental destruction,
and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring
of social, political and economic institutions away
from a system which is controlled by and mostly benefits
the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic
system. Decision-making should, as much as possible,
remain at the individual and local level, while assuring
that civil rights are protected for all citizens.
6. COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS AND
ECONOMIC JUSTICE
We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and
sustainable economic system, one that can create jobs
and provide a decent standard of living for all people
while maintaining a healthy ecological balance. A
successful economic system will offer meaningful work
with dignity, while paying a “living wage” which reflects
the real value of a person’s work.
Local communities must look to economic
development that assures protection of the environment
and workers’ rights; broad citizen participation in
planning; and enhancement of our “quality of life.”
We support independently owned and operated companies
which are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives
and public enterprises that distribute resources and
control to more people through democratic participation.
7. FEMINISM AND GENDER EQUITY
We have inherited a social system based on male domination
of politics and economics. We call for the replacement
of the cultural ethics of domination and control with
more cooperative ways of interacting that respect
differences of opinion and gender. Human values such
as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility,
and honesty must be developed with moral conscience.
We should remember that the process that determines
our decisions and actions is just as important as
achieving the outcome we want.
8. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic,
racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity,
and to promote the development of respectful relationships
across these lines.
We believe that the many diverse elements
of society should be reflected in our organizations
and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership
of people who have been traditionally closed out of
leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect
for other life forms than our own and the preservation
of biodiversity.
9. PERSONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY
We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal
well-being and, at the same time, to enhance ecological
balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people
and organizations around the world to foster peace,
economic justice, and the health of the planet.
10. FUTURE FOCUS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term
goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources,
safely disposing of or “unmaking” all waste we create,
while developing a sustainable economics that does
not depend on continual expansion for survival. We
must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits
by assuring that economic development, new technologies,
and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations
who will inherit the results of our actions.
Ten Key Values from other state and local Greens.
There is no authoritative version of the Ten Key Values
of the Greens. The Ten Key Values are guiding
principles that are adapted and defined to fit each
state and local chapter. |
