Left Renewal: since when has taxing the rich and saving the planet been so controversial?

‘There is no question that we can build the 21st
 century public solar and windfarms we need
 to end our reliance on coal.’

If you believe that unrestrained capitalism is the solution to our planet’s environmental and social challenges, or that democracy is enhanced by two major parties bickering about personality and management style, then you are currently well served by the Liberal, National and Labor parties and might choose not to read on. If you think there might be better ways to make the planet more sustainable, just, peaceful and democratic, then there is certainly a place for you in the Green.

The Greens party was founded on four broad principles of ecological sustainability, social justice, participatory democracy, and peace and nonviolence. Over the past 20 years those principles have guided the party in campaigns as diverse as ending the logging of native forests, defending and participating in local government, tackling climate change, opposing war and promoting more progressive policies on public education, industrial relations, taxation and welfare.

However the principles don’t answer every political issue by themselves. They don’t tell us the best way to reduce carbon emissions, they don’t endorse or condemn capitalism, they don’t say if we should have an inheritance tax and they don’t tell us how to end animal cruelty. These are all issues where there is room for debate within the Greens. From forest defenders to middle-class doctors and student activists, the Greens party is a broad and accepting social movement that has always celebrated its diversity.

Read the opinion piece on The Guardian by David Shoebridge and Lee Rhiannon -“Left Renewal:since when has taxing the rich and saving the planet been so controversial?