tiRichard Oldfield, Editor i Green 5 Spring A Journal for Decentralist Greens Issue No. Four THE BIOREGIONAL WASH THAT'S GREENER THAN GREEN?

I was in San Francisco to attend the community politics. A supporter of the communicating the concept of bio- 6th Assembly of the Fourth World, the 4th World Foundation had kindly regions since 1974. Bioregionalism is 4th ,World being greatly concerned offered to help me with some of the sometimes called “The Politics of with issues of decentralisation, power travel-costs involved. However, more Place”, because it involves a deep relationships in society and radical of that Assembly and the 4th World commitment to living in, understand- (and indeed of the USA and the US. :t ing and becoming part of a speczfic Green movement) in another issue. and unique geographical area. Peter: This is the first of a two-part look at Fer whilst in the Bay Area, I also i “It means becoming native to places Bioregionalism. What is it? And called in to see Peter Berg, prominent again, to live in them as though you what is its relationship to the wider bioregionalist and a director of the were native to them to identify the Green movement? _ Planet Drum Foundation' (PDF). And native plants and animals, water- thereby hangs this tale. sheds, climates, soils, and to carry on Along the way, the criticisms made of your life in such a way as to relate to bioregionalists - and the criticisms WHAT IS BiOREGIONALISM? those things, to get work in those they make of the Green movement - The PDF has been developing and fields, to restore salmon streams as a will be brought together and assessed. way of life, to be engaged in perma- What positive lessons can Greens culture as a way of life. It’s defi- learn from bioregionalism, and what ~ NUCLEAR POWER ,No THANKS! nitely the case that the ecolOgical is best rejected as extravagant, mis- Almost half the population context is paramount for bioregional- taken or even dangerous bioregional is pre-‘ pared to pay more for electricity in ists.” hype? order to phase out nuclear power, according to an internal opinion “Reinhabitation” is a word coined .by The article stems from a recent visit by survey commissioned by the nuclear bioregionalists to describe this ap- Richard Oldfield to California and a meet- _ industry and leaked to Greenpeace. proach. People not actively involved ing there with bioregionalist Peter Berg of For the first time, the number of people with that which is ecologically sus- the Planet Drum Foundation. prepared to pay extra to get rid of tainable in their area are considered nuclear energy is greater than those tourists, just visiting. In his book, who favour it as a way of keeping Dwellers in the Land - The Bio— electricity prices down. Between regional Vision" (1985), Kirkpatrick THIS, ISSUE 1985 and 1987, the proportion of Continued on page 3 * THE BIOREGIONAL WASH those in favour of nuclear power THAT‘S GREENER THAN dropped by 10 percentage points to GREEN? - Part I. 43%, equalling the number who oppose nuclear energy. The number of those willing - * VIEWPOINT a comprehenisve to pay more rose by 10 points to 46%. Pro-nuclear support is weakest amongst strategy to radicalise the Green women, only 32% compared to 53% of men. Party - Mark Kinzley. * WHAT KIND OF DECENTRALI- SATION? - Adrian Atkinson. Without prompting, 31% of those questioned nominated nuclear power as the * IVYBRJDGE GREEN GROUP. nation’s worst environmental offender, and two—thirds think a Chernobyl-type PLUS LETTERS, NEWS—SHORTS accident could happen in Britain despite assurances from the industry. & "CONNECTIONS". Source: , Feb. 29th ’88.

Based In Glastonbury Six issues per year Green Options 1 ITALIAN NUCLEAR NO SWISS DEMOCRACY

Italians were recently asked in a national Switzerland to follow suit in a forthcoming The people of Switzerland can directly referendum whether their existing and referendum next year. influence policy directions by conducting planned nuclear power stations should be an ”initiative”. 100,000 citizens have to abolished. It was held after Italy’s Green So in theory, the referendum means that sign a petition asking for a referendum on Party launched a petition in the wake of the Italy must shelve plans to build“ more a particular question (within one and a Chernobyl disaster. Two of the three main domestic nuclear power plants and with- half years). It must be witnessed by the parties, the Socialists and the Commu- draw from Europe’ 5 fast breeder reactor authorities. The proposed bill is then pre- nists, backed the referendum as well. programme. However, some believe that in sented to Parliament which must submit it practice the only casualty may be Europe's to the people’s vote in a referendum. This The public voted to abolish three laws that fast breeders. is a very costly and exhaustive (but com- have until now governed the country’5 Source: New Scientist, Nov. 12th; FoE. mon) process in Switzerland. A forthcom- Supporter’s activities in nuclear power. One of these Newsletter, Winter ‘87 ing referendum' asks whether Switzer- allowed the national electricity utility land should be constitutionally forbidden (ENEL) to build power plants without to have armed forces of any kind whatso~ obtaining approval from regional govern- ever. It has little chance of a majority vote, ments. Local authorities will now be given GREENHAM WANDERERS I but is being used as a consciousness- a power of veto. A second law allowed MoD 0 raiser. A referendum on nuclear power is ENEL to pay ”compensation” to commu- planned for 1988, when there will be nities with nuclear plants. Parliament Women camped around Greenham Com- strong pressure on the Swiss to follow the mon are wandering freely into and around must now write new laws to replace these, ””non-nuclear example of Italy, Austria, V the US air base following a court with officials saying these should reflect judgement which ruled they were not trespassing be- Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, the voter’ 5 wish to reject nuclear power. cause the Government’5 bylaws forbidding Greece and Portugal. _ them access had been invalid since their Source: Peace Magazine (via Simply Living Although Italy only has 3 commercial introduction by Michael Heseltine in magazine). reactors, supplying just 1% of its power 1981 . Judge Lait made his ruling because the ' needs, 80% of its energy is im- Détails from: Gruppe fur eine Schweiz ported, much more than other ohneArmee,Postbox221, Ch-8307Effre- European countries. So although tikon, Switzerland. _ all three major parties backed abolition of these laws, they may reen WOMANCHIEF engineer replacements that could arias]... ' allow domestic nuclear plans to proceed. 1892 Military Lands Act states that no bylaw Turkey, an overwhelmingly male-led, Muslim made under the act shall authorise the Sec- country, has appointed its first woman head of a The 3rd law voted down permitted ENEL retary of State to take away or prejudice any districtpolice station. SuperintendentNazliSenlik to common land. is in charge of three deputy superintendents to participate in foreign nuclear program- right and 48 officers. mes. At stake here is Italy’5 one third stake The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is deciding Source: Guardian, Dec. 12th ’86 in Superphoenix, the world’s largest fast whether to appeal to the Divisional Court. breeder reactor, at Creys-Malville in Hundreds of women havebeen convicted of France. Italy was also to contribute a third trespassing on the base. If the ruling is not FATHER FACILITY of the cost of SNRZ, W.Germany’s pro- overturned, theycouldhave their convictions quashed and could claim damages, A special father and baby room has been opened posed fast breeder, espe- whose future was al- cially since some women were sent to prison in a men’slavatory in Birmingham citycentre after ready uncertain. _ The future of the next for refusing to pay the fines imposed. requests by the council’s Women's Committee. generation of fast breeders in Europe is Source: The Guardian, March 3rd. ’88. Two similar rooms have already been opened at also in question after the vote. women’s public toilets. Source: Guardian, Nov. 27th '87

However, the legal nightmare of extricat- NUCLEAR POWER FROZEN OUT ing Italy from Superpheonix - involving complex patent-sharing agreements with @reenQDptions The World Resources Institute in the USA France and other partners in the project - reports that if all the US fridge-freezers Editor: Richard Oldfield could lead Italian politicians to give ENEL were replaced with the more efficient Ira-house critics: Stephanie Leland, David back its foreign nuclear projects in replace- Taylor & Mark Kinzley models availablein the market, the energy ment legislation to be drafted next year. Published by Green Options, Lockyer’s Farm, saved from this alone would equal the Dundon, Somerton. Somerset. output of 18 large nuclear power stations. Subscription rates: see back page. If the Printed 01110096 recycled politicians stick to the referendum Energy efficient technologies paper by Jimas Print, result, Italy would thus join Austria, Swe- '~ Unit 8, Morlands Ind. Pk., Highbiidge, Somerset. could halve the demand for power in Computer typeset by GRIP - Glastonbury Re- den, Denmark, Greece, Norway, Portugal Western countries. sources & Information Project, The Assembly and Luxembourg as ”non-nuclear” na- Source: “Challenge” - Newsletter of the Liberal Rooms, High St., Glastonbury. Tel. 0458-34677 tions, adding to the strong pressure for Ecology Group and SDP Greens - Winter ’87.

2 Green Options Bioregionalism washes greener than Green?

Continued from page 1' the more academic thinkers and Sale writes of bioregionalism in es- “paradigm shifts” theorists of the sence as a bid to “know the earth Green political world: “Bioregionalists fully”. are pe0ple who work at it, they’re engaged in it.” “ two distinct perhaps even - .~:’;-‘a . rival ecological movements By 1987, according to a survey carried seem to be shaping up in the out by the PDF, there were at least 70 USA.” - different bioregional groupings in N.America (plus bioregional publica- FOUNDATION A bioregion can be defined as “a geo- tions and individuals). A map of their graphical terrain and a terrain . in various locations and the bioregional consciousness”. As a. physical area, it areas involved was published under clearly intended (see the quotes given is distinguishable from other areas by the banner headline “Emerging above and below, together with those natural features such as rivers, hills, States” (Spring ’87 issue of the PDF’s to appear in Part II of this article), as soil-types, the particular attributes of Review Raise. the Stakes). both distinct from, and highly critical flora and fauna, and by ethnic hu- towards, the Green movement. In- man settlement patterns. Bioregions BIOREGIONALISTS VS GREENS? deed, Peter told me that most bio- of course vary in size (in fact up to the It is relatively easy to understand regionalists “... don’t see themselves planetary biospheric level), and even what bioregionalism is. What is less as being involved ‘with the broader the smallest usually contains several understandable is the way in which Green movement.” FurthermOre, in water-shed areas - each seen as form- two distinct (albeit over-lapping) - an article entitled Growing A Life— ing its own natural “political” unit. As perhaps even rival - ecological move- .Place Politics (”Raise the Stakes” No. a “terrain in consciousness”, a bio- ments seem to be shaping up in the 11, Summer ’86), he has written that region encompasses the ideas that USA. “Some .bioregionalists who are also have developed about how to live in it, aetive in "’ feel that they and includes such things as the dia- The first of these explicitly flys the can reach members of that movement lect, culture and history that a par- bioregional banner and mostly rejects and change its direction. No doubt ticular area has given rise to. It also the Green label. It tends to. dismiss the s0me will be persuaded, but wishful includes the need for a new politics ecological concerns of Greens as mere evangelism isn’t a good foundation for and culture that emerges from the environmentalism and to accuse them building coalitions. Truly relevant land itself, and for the evolution of of mixing ecological politics with a life-place pelitics will originate from regional identities without regard to “grab-bag of left-liberal principles” water-shed councils, bioregional conventional political boundaries. (Kirkpatrick Sale - see later). It’s larg- groups and the NABC.” est forums are the North American Bioregionalism, like the associated Bioregional Congresses (NABC), The other ecological movement ideas of “Deep Ecology”, claims a bio- which, according to Peter Berg, “can (though most bioregionalists would centric (as opposed to an anthropo- eventually stand as the main voice for apparently deny its ecological creden- centric) viewpoint: seeing humans as a large continent-wide movement.” tials), is better known, partly through a part of the natural web of life, rather He sees the NABC as the “North the activities of Charlene 'Spretnak, than apart from it or as the most American bioregional political body”, Fritjof Capra, Murray Bookchin etc. It important life-form (or even, for some, which “will grow and become more is larger, covers a much greater as protective stewards of nature). It is so.” Peter himself is certainly inter- spread of issues and is more akin to contrasted with “shallow ecology”, ested in “creating a new political the European Green movements. It whose adherents are classed as mere framework”. explicitly flies the Green banner and environmentalists. Bioregionalists is co-ordinated thrOugh the “COmmit- are also concerned with creating the “Many U.S. Greens are hostile to tees of Correspondence” (CoC’s). positive alternatives (to consumer bioregionalism, or don’t under- and industrial society) in specific 10- stand it all, or don’t. care to.” On That a sense of rivalry is indeed a cales now, bypassing the old system the other hand “some bioregion- growing factor in relationShips be- rather than trying to reform it by alists don’t relate to Green poli- tween the CoC’s and bioregionalists is engaging with “power politics” on the tics, or are hostile to it, for any apparent from the writings (see lateI) national stage. They consider them- number of reasons.” (David of well-known bioregionalist Kirkpat- ‘ selves practical do-ers, working for Haenke) rick Sale, who sees the general run of specific goals in specific places - an Green politics “as a part of bioregion- attitude which Peter contrasted with This “new political framework” is alism, and a potentially important

Green Options 3 Bioregionalism washes greener than Green?

part”. He goes on to comment: “Most Greens, however, and “Some of the words are the same, but the sense of them is some ,explicity, think of bioregionalism as a part of Green very different. Bioregionalists have a specific direction for ’ politics”. ‘ecological wisdom’: they want to restore and maintain water-sheds and bioregions. Those are the places to which David Haenke,” author of a pamphlet entitled Ecological want to decentralise and practice self-determination. Politics and Bioregionalism, was a key figure in the Their ‘personal and social responsibility’ is to meet basic organisation of NABC I (the 1St Bioregional Congress, human needs and create sustainable ways to support held in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1984). He has written that individuals in life-places. As for extending their goals to “most of the 63 people who formed the CoC’s in St. Paul, ‘global security cooperative world order’, bioregional- and who are in it today, don’t know much about bioregion- ists may well choose to ally with groups and movements alism, or the true ecological foundations of political ecol- which develop effective ways to apply that sentiment, but ogy: Green Politics. We could not educate them in St. Paul, their own primary effort is to solve problems where they and cannot today. Many U.S.— Greens are hostile to live. (And that may be the best locale for rooting a bioregionalism, or don’t understand it all, or don’t care to.” planetary perspective, after all.)” ,On the other hand “some bioregionalists don’t relate to Green politics, or are hostile to it, for any number of “What has amazed me most about the emerging reasons.” (US) Green movement is that it has so slavishly clung to the umbrella values of the Green Party in Even so, according to Haenke, “There are parts of Germany and has so clumsily avoided basing its N.America where bioregionalists do not see a real differ— politics on the one thing that the word, the idea, ence between what they believe and Green politics. This is ‘Green’, should represent - that is ecology.” (Kirkpa- particularly true in Cascadia: the Pacific North West of the trick Sale) U.S., and the British Columbia Greens and bioregional- ists.” For his own part, Haenke believes “that Green “The first NABC recognised this distinction by declaring, Politics should be a strategic, transitional, ecologically- ‘If the emerging Green political organisation does indeed based arm of bioregionalism, which has the deepest Green reflect these bioregional concerns, we urge support from vision of any non-native/indigenous movement on Earth. bioregional groups and individuals from around the Very few Greens or bioregionalists agree with this how- continent.’ If it does, and at this point no unified accep- ever, or understand it.” Even so, he is “still working and tance of bioregional goals by ‘greens’ has been stated.” organising with both movements, though it’s hard with Greens because they understand so little of ecological “Another distinction is evident in the way ‘green politics’ is foundations.” developing structurally. At the Green Organising Plan— ning Meeting in August, 1984, committees were formed to BIOREGIONALIST CRITICISMS OF GREENS represent mega-regions based on the compass points in Peter Berg considers the differences and distinctions be- the US: Northeast. South, Midwest, West and Northwest. tween bioregionalists and Greens to be very important. In Isn’t this the old centralised way of describing territory? the article cited above he wrote: “There has been some All of these regions have several bioregions within them. confusion between life-place concerns and ‘green politics’ People have been identifying and seeking to fit into these ever since NABC I. A few participants have even stated unique life-places for some time. Do they really need that there is no difference between the two. The distinct- another arbitarily defined political district? The ‘green’ ions are very clear, however, and should be understood so structure seems to be orientated form the top down. that genuine bioregional goals can be realised.” Bioregional movement groups originate on the watershed , level and move up to join in naturally-scaled continental “First of all, ‘green politics’ attempts to cover a more assemblies.” extensive range of areas, but where there are similarities, bioregional directions are much more specific. This is “The most critical difference between the movements may obvious in a statement of definition from the intitial Green lie with their actual ecological orientation. How . much Organising Planning Meeting: ‘ecological wisdom’ are they really prepared to accept? Bioregionalists answer, ‘All we can get!’ They see their “‘Green’ politics interweaves ecological wisdom, decent- lives as interwined with ongoing natural processes, part of ralisation of economic and political power whenever prac- the life of a place? From their biocentric viewpoint, human tical, personal and social responsibility, global security, society is ultimately based on interdependence with other and community self—determination within the context of forms of life. They follow that conviction to make choices respect for diversity of heritage and religion. It advocates about which kinds of work to undertake and to oppose "Late nonviolent action, cooperative world order and self-reli- Industrial depradations. It is not established that ‘green ancef’ politics’ followers are similarly committed, and question-

4 Green Options _. Bieregionalism washes greener than Green?

able as to whether they will become so.” However, “ When support for the positions of these naturally-scaled “Green should mean that one’s positions on vio- groups is sought, ‘greens’ may yet prove to be very strong lence, say, or housing, or social justice, or what— allies regardless of their different emphasis and direction.” ever, are determined not happenstantially, not according to this leftwing whim or that liberal ECOLOGICAL VALUES ghabit, but strictly according to what we can judge The central values of bioregionalism are ecological values,— would be ecological - i.e., would be best for the or ‘deep’ ecological values if you prefer. Indeed, some restoration and perpetuation-of the systems. of might say that bioregionalists are only concerned with nature.” (Kirkpatrick Sale) - ecological values. Kirkpatrick Sale, for example, in an article entitled Bioregional Vision and Green Politics “Green should mean a deep-seated feeling for biocentric values, a rejection of the industrial society and the anthro po'centric assumptions it makes, an assertion of the primacy of the Earth above all else. Green should dggpfipfl an - n, . ‘ 9 . mean that one S posrtlons on v101ence, say, or figfgtéggg,fifi‘firg‘éwm”gold?” housing, or social justice, or whatever, are deter- 1a ..§%VP£ZW%&;§M$§Q§§3X§ mined not happenstantially, not according to this 333*, $3”%§3§%%9’ia {fitfiaea’gfi‘g leftwing whim or that liberal habit, but «ififégggfisgm .gege’éxfigtiwggfl, strictly according to what we can judge §§395*i§é§.§pifiafi$§§%w駔®lf would, be ecological - i.e., would be best gfigflt‘d’wi aggggéfigagg 4&5“:n ‘fi’w‘a fi’aefiffifigg‘gw‘g' figig}; for the restoration and perpetuation of are ‘t' ’. .v . > "' ' -‘ fifefiefigflg igiégmay...Faggteg’"£4 fiéitégfifi?8W§§§§§x§§§. . the systems of . nature.,, “gig eggggg emerge ‘ ”seesaw-s55?tatit‘itgtgegegtsé W ”‘8h , e Wh3‘ G if... are; figgfia... fig‘g.o«e%§e‘§$"‘§’§%’éi'lgi¥*‘“’3‘realest-e"fixfiag gag: if if, f? fifeesfiafimw {figtfiw has so far come to mean. ”t“And are»( .g fig' ' “refit, J? 3,333 ;"&“.i.& a“k .‘j‘ ‘%‘¥h“§’§€v é§;6§:aa 3' 3.6%923‘32 {57" . . " t. fi’?.€f?flé} afifi‘g‘ $39.53? fiat/g eggfigsggg ”.35.,"{A therein lies the central differ- efirteraetrrttwggflgvfifigéflfi ~ .. " g. e...“$5,155 " ewe between t... ”fifwfifigfigfighfié, tg...,g_,_-,;...g.gji:'4 weguflgigw Green movement and the dfieféggg fif d 33‘ 5 ‘ __,_ agizgeecew’” only slightly more long— 5'3 $5€4§§S§§£ .t't.

{ Dis/new customs

LU/ watershed and _ energy planning

m/sustainable communities

(Vol. 43, No.3, 1986 issue of “Green Revolution”),"t' writes: lived bioregionalist movement. Therein lies the tension “What has amazed me most about the emerging (US) that has existed between the two movements from the Green movement is that it has so slavishly clung to the start - tensions that have not abated in the intervening umbrella values of the Green Party in Germany and has years in spite of the good will and good works of many who so clumsily avoided basing its politics on the one thing that see the affinity of the two groups and would like to make ‘ the word, the idea, ‘Green’, should represent - that is them allies.” — ecology. But I mean ecolOgy not as just One of four, or two, or 52 values, but the central value, the all-encompassing “Bioregionalism has its differences and confusions, to, but value, the value that determines how you stand on all is united at least in a central commitment to ecological ’ ' other issues.” - values - that is not ‘one’ of anything, it is central to, all. It

Green Options 5 Bioregionolism washes greener than Green? is imbued with the principles of Deep give it any life at all. Coalitionist poli- Greens are largely fairly straight, Ecology and ecophilosophy and bio- tics, as Jesse Jackson is only the latest professional people. When I ask them spirituality and the like, all of which ‘- to find out, at least the kind whose if these have a fairly deep ecological guide ideas and actions specifically in common denominator is so broad as to consciousness, they say not at all. the direction of respect for, humility in include almost anything and anyone, They have a very new, barely awak- the face of, the patterns and systems will not bring about radical change in ened environmental consciousness. of nature. It takes all its positions on this society and in the end will only They have a clutch of issues, They’re other social issues — education, cul— serve to confuse and disillusion those anti-nuclear, they’re against Acid ture, arts, food - from its basic under- who try it.” Rain, whatever.” standing of what an ecological per-- “ spective would be. GREENS - JUST MAINSTREAM “Our goal in 1972 was to put human ENVIRONMENTALISTS? social ideas and ecological realities Sale views the ecological awareness of I-asked Peter Berg how many bio- together. And the way to do to do that most Greens as simply that of old regionalists make a distinction be— was through the idea of a bioregion, fashioned environmentalists, though tween themselves and Greens. He seeing where people lived as being the he does see the general run of Green replied, “Some. Not all. But I’ve got a life that contained their lives - literally politics “as a part of bioregionalism, real history of experience with the putting people back into nature.» Die' and a potentially important part”. He bioregional movement - we’ve been Grunen never did that, didn’t have goes on to comment: “Most Greens, doing it for a dozen years. So I know the same quest. And the Greens in the however, and some explicity, think of what the concordances and dissimilar US were by and large mostly envi- “ bioregionalism as a part of Green aspects are. Everyone was thrilled by ronmentalist .. politics — just one more ideology from the German Greens. When I found the grab-bag of left-liberal principles out more about them I was less V“ . Most Greens I’ve run into don’t that canybe run up the Green flagpole. thrilled, simply because I realised know a damn thing about the places Sure, it’s a good idea, and we’ll put it there was something going on that where they live. Charlene Spretnak, right up there along with social justice was very similar to something that for example, is a paragon of non— and, inonviolence and feminism - our had already gone on here. In that information abOut Northern Califor- umbrella is very broad, it can take in sense, the ecology movement came’ nia. I don’t think she has a particular almost anything. Sure, we welcome very late to Germany. “ handle on where she lives. . She you bioregionalists if that’s how you knows a lot about the University of want to identify yourselves, come “Most Greens I’ve run into don’t Berkeley, academic procedure, but along and join our coalition, the more know a damn thing about the she doesn’t know much about North- the merrier, and let’s not be any to places where they live. Charlene ern California. Even the leadership of precise about what we mean/say/be- Spretnak, for example, is a para- the Greens in the U.S. is like that.” lieve/do/practice.” gon of non-information about Northern California.” (Peter “A lot of people that call them- “That way, I am sure, will mean the Berg) selves Greens don’t know what death of the Green movement within bunch-grass is. Cowboys do just a few more years. It will fail here G‘ There was not an environmental know what bunch-grass is be- as a coalitionist movement just as it is period (in W.Germany), beforehand. cause cows love it ..” (Peter Berg) being torn apart in Germany, and for There was an anti-nuclear period and the same reason — though here the whatever, but there wasn’t a strong, UNITY IN DIVERSITY? failure will be far greater because we Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, Aldo Peter re-emphasised an earlier point, don’t have a proportional system to Leopold kind of reaction which had namely that some bioregionalists quite a history in the US by the time “don’t see themselves as being in- Die Grunen broke out in Germany. So volved with the broader Green move-. HEINZ U.S IO OUTLAW DIRTY DOZEN I realised then that to a certain extent ment in the U.S. They are more , Heinz USis to stop using ingredients which Die Grunen Was the German environ- . numerous. Is it important that some of have been sprayed with the so-called "dirty mental movement, and not that ecol- them are and some of them aren’t? It’s dozen” pesticides. These include dieldrin, DDT, 2,4,5—T and paraquat. All are under ogically orientated.” not to me, but apparently it is to you.” investigation by US authorities. The Pesti- cide Action Network (PAN) has called for “... I have met Germans who are very R0: .“In a way I think it is. I know theirproduction, trade and use tobebanned ecologically orientated. And I ask there are differences, but from my worldwide. Sources: New Intemationalist, May ’87; Interna-_ them to describe to me who are the , perspective they are differences tional Agricultural Development Vol. 7 No.1 ’87 German Green movement people. within what is broadly part of the -. ' all via The Environment Digest (June '87). From their point of view the German same movement.”

' Green Options 6 Bioregionali’sm washes greener than Green?

PB: “Movement Schusment. People come up with a new Part II of this article, appearing in the next issue, will examine the other movement every 14 minutes.” side of the coin, namely the Green criticism that are made of bioregion- alism- (and the associated —.:ideas of “Deep Ecology”). It will feature comments from eco-feminist Janet Biehl, social ecologist Murray R0: .“... all these different types of individuals and group- Bookchin and the editor of the Fourth World Review, John Papworth. In ing - bioregionalists, “Deep EcolOgists”, Social Ecologists, addition to such criticism, Part II will also look at the positive lessons environmentalists — ought, despite differences, and some the Green movement might learn from bioregionalism. ' cases very deep differenbes, ought to be attempting to The Planet Drum Foundation (and Peter Berg) can be contacted via: PO Box work with each other Because for me the old adage of 31251, San Francisco, CA 94131, USA. Their' tri-annual review, Raise the Stakes, is $20 per year outside the USA. United We Stand, Divided We " - - Fall is a true one. I’m in Dwellers in the Land the BioregionaIVision $14.95 fi'om Sierra Club Books,I favour of locally-based, bioregionally-based organisat- 730 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109, USA. "“David Haenke can be contacted via: NABC, Box 3, Brixey, Missouri 65618, USA. ions, "" people, working together for change but whatever Green Revolution: School of Living, R.D.1, Spring Grove, Pa. 17362, USA. it is we’re working for, we’re up against very powerful forces.” "If you're involved in PB: “... There are bioregionalists (the majority) who are so education, and even half- suspicious of the basically “Political” intent, meaning way then 'GT‘ is getting involved with a cause for the sake of getting green, involved with a cause They may be anti-nuclear. They a must for you!‘ll - probably definitely would be if you talked about putting a [Jonathon Porritt; Director, nuke where they live. No question about that. They may Friends of the Earth] be against US intervention in Central America. They may not. They may not have an opinion about it. They may not be for World Peace. They may not think that any formula f0r World Peace has been derived yet.”

“We are the post-environmentalists, this a new furthering. The name of (the PDF) Newspaper is “Raise the Stakes”. This is a raising of the stakes. This is saying we want more than that.” (Peter Berg)

R0: “May they be red-baiting, virulent ‘ anti-communists as well?”

PB: “I’ve heard anti-communist expressions from all SOrts of people. I’m not into caricature. They may be cowboys. They might know what bunch-grass is. A lot of people that call themselves Greens don’t know what bunch-grass is. Cowboys do know what bunch-grass is because cows love it - they’ll destroy it in fact. A lot of loggers are fishermen. They know that what they do destroys the streams. On the third beer they’ll start Crying about it. I don’t have stereo— types about people. I know a logger that has committed v he must, himself to do whatever he has to do to prevent logging in read a certain area. That’s very important to me and number of . Green Teacherl! people working on that prOject. And if you t think that’s red- \ \ . e \'/ neckery your completely misunderstanding what I’m V" , '\ ' it“ saying.” We’d-'2'!”HJJHN‘

We are the post-environmentalists, this ,a new further- ing. The name of (the PDF) Newspaper is “Raise the 6 issues per year, by subscription. Stakes”. This is a raising of the stakes. This is saying we want more than that. What bioregionalists want more of £10 cheque [to Green teacher], is a locally-based, ecologically orientated perspective relat- ive to basic human needs, natural systems and re-inhab- to: GREEN TEACHER, MACHYNLLEIH, itory systems. PONYS, SYZO 8DN.

- Green Options 7 - 6:2] EW®HW MARK KINZLEY , f What is the green movement’s current state of health? ' Where is it going? Where should it be going? How can the movement develop real “bite”? What. strategies should we adopt? What kinds of political and organisational structures should we seek to develop? This is the second in our “View- point” series: a political forum where various people can. express their thoughts on some or all of these questions. k J

writing this article I am allowing myself the luxury of taking for granted That does not neceSsarily mean keep- Inthat readers of Green Options already believe in the merits of a small-scale ing it all, but setting its own capitation strategy, one more locally-based than anything we have yet seen. To begin at rate. this point really is a luxury, since in other magazines you have to spend time putting a case for the decentralist approach before ending with, at most, one 0 Be the only administrator of its specific proposal. HereI am going to launch immediately into specific ideas. Few membership. of them are new, but putting them all together they make for a comprehensive strategy to radicalise the Green Party, locally, regionally, and at the national LOCAL MAGAZINE level. In the London borough of Redbridge, Is it outrageous to think in terms of a local magazine was established THE LOCAL BRANCH Local Parties setting their own capita- when Redbridge Green Party app- ln latter years, the Green Party has tion rates? In the Conservative Party, roached all local environmental, taken to calling its branches “Local of all places, the local ward parties peace, women’s, Third World and Parties”, and also by area name, as in administer their own membership, animal rights groups. The party “Hackney Green Party”. This is little and out of this subscription money pointed out that each group was pro— more than playing with words, in they pass on to the national party ducing a newsletter for its own mem~ order to convey that a branCh is some- what they can afford. The Scottish bers. Why not produce one newsletter how not a branch. It was the same Green Party, which has gone autono- in which each group had its own with efforts of the Work- mous, has changed the capitation it pages? This would be cheaper, and ing. Group to get a more radical pays to London to £2 per member. require less effort from less people. It constitution adopted by the 1986 Other areas pay £7 Ont of a £10 sub- would result in a magazine which Green Party Conference in Malvem. scripticin. would contain all local news and The result was merely a form of words events. Subscriptions could be sold to in the Constitution saying: So the question is how to manage a local ~peOple not in any group. Sale of real transition from a branch of nat- advertising could reduce subscription “Membership. shall be of the smallest ional party to a genuine local Party. rates. It made sense, and Redbridge appropriate party. Such membership What is required? A Local Party must: “Green Umbrella” came to be.‘ shall - automatically (impart member- ship of the Green Party". 0 Have a share in a local magazine MANIFESTO in which some pages can be used for Having established a local magazine, Yet in reality, to become a member" of communication of Party business to it becomes possible to think of an- the UKVParty, subscription money the membership and communication nouncing a local conference whose must still go to the UK Party as before, between the membership. theme will be the sustainability 'of the so what is the meaning of the words? local area. Local groups submit mo- As an official at the Party’s national 0 Have it’s own manifesto: compre- tions fer voting on, just as in any office told me on the phone, they are hensive; credible because arrived at _ Party Conference. Conference .papers just a form of words to suggest the by proper policy-making procedures can be circulated in the magazine. importance of branch autonomy. He involving significant numbers of local Over a period _ of time a comprehensive still required my capitation money people. manifesto, which refers throughout to before he could send me a member- the local area, will have accumulated. ship card. . Gain control over its own money._ Later conferences might start projects

8 Green Options Viewpoint to put the policies into practice and transition be effected from this Situ- Why not develop this idea to‘ its fullest actually transform the local economy. ation to one where the local Party sets extent? Set the local-“branch subscrip- The Conference policies could be used its own capitation rates? tion at £2 or £3 lower than the UK to lobby candidates of all Parties, but subscription to make it more attrac- a Green Party could adopt them as its' Local parties have made use of two— tive. Perhaps buy a group subscrip- manifesto. tier membership. People can either tion to the local magazine for local become members of the UK Party, or members to receive. Print Local Party MONEY 8: MEMBERSHIP simply join the local branch:" The leaflets. In the leaflets give out the A local party passes much of its money constitution says: ‘loCal subscription rate, and leave the UK rate unstated, rather than the up to the UK Green Party. When it “A Local Party may institute any form of other. way around. Because Local gets a subscription of £10 it may keep local associate membership ' and encour- the £2, gives £1 to the Area Party and £7 age associates to participate in its busi— Party can keep the whole of a local to the UK party. How can a gradual ness. ” subscription, it will double or treble its income. No more jumble sales. The Local Party is still free to set itself capitation rates in accor- dance with its own' needs and (; $6 @(ficélQ with the priority it places on the

y . I TTTT¢T; Area party and on the UK Party. '

PARTY STRUCTURE A local Green Party may seem too small an organisation to become an independent party, but we have been under esti- mating its potential size. The ‘ é: IHULISTIC EDUCATION FOR A BETTER FUTURE Green party is missing an entire tier of party structure - BELTANE EARTH HYSTERIES the ward CAAP April 29th/30th to lay 8th. Near Totnes, Devon. The earth is fully awakened in blossom and the promise of summer is on the party. In a borough like Redbr- horizon. Come and join us in the celebration of this very ancient cross-quarter idge, the Green Party has one fire festival. £23 + donations. Kids free. branch. But the Conservative HUSIC AND DANCE CAHP’ lay 27th/28th to June 5th. party has a committee in every Drums, flutes, whistles, violins. voices, guitars, circle dance,‘ African dance, contemporary ward, each with regular meet- dance, Universal Peace dance, your dance, my dance, all of ours dance. The joy of expressing our energy together in harmonious blending of ings, membership administra- sound, form and rhythm. ‘,_ tion, fund-raising, an election Sliding scale of charges: £30 - £100. ,Kids free. machine. At the next level up GREEN LIFE STYLES AND CRAFTS CARP July 22nd/23rd to Blst July. Near Suindon. they have a committee of people Exploring ways to live in peace and harmony with the Earth, our beautiful planetary home. from ward parties. Why should Sliding scale of.charges: £30 - £100. Kids free. Redbridge Green Party limit

' itself to a single group? What- ASTROLOGY AND SELF-DISCOVERY CAMP ,August 5th or 12th to August 14th or 21st. Astrolbgy can lead us to our hidden depths, show us unsuspected talents and help happens is that a borough us use our energy positively. Experiential processes bring alive the planetary Green Party holds a, public symbolism for beginners and seasoned astrologers have the opportunity to compare meeting to attract new notes and swap ideas. This year the astrology camp widens its scope to include mem- all processes of self~discovery. bers, gains them, only to find Sliding scale of charges: £30 - £100. Kids free. members dr0pping away again,

CELEBRATION OF LIFE CARP August 26th/27th to Septe-ber 4th or Septelber 11th or becoming passive supporters. A veritable shindig to end the season' All previous camps will be represented The group can only grow up to a here, together dith others that we‘re planning for the future. A chance to dip into a wide spectrum of alternative themes. limit, and beyond that extra Sliding scale of charges: Not yet decided. Kids free. members feel like outsiders to the more intimate inner circle. Nor is there anything between BOOKINGS IHFDRHATION elections for extra members Barbara Davies to Lyn Lovell 01d Stables do. They drop away. Five years 18c Frognal Lane Lescrou London NM3 7DT on, another public re-launch _ .- _ Fouey PL23 01-794 7093 135 .5. I. . 3- 072683 3465. meeting is held, and the cycle is repeated.

Green Options 9 Viewpoint

I think branch membership is more ELECTORAL DEALS NATIONALLY limited by the-natural limits of a group If you can get into a position in a Nationally I simply don’t believe its than by a lack of interested people. regional Green Party where your possible to have a radical party. But Instead, each public meeting should voice is heard, there is another idea since a UK Green Party exists we be held at different points in the bor- worth suggesting for discussion. That must consider what we can do to keep ough, and new recruits used to estab- is electoral deals with Parties stand- it as radical as possible, if only to lish a ward branch. The original bor— ing for the autonomy of a region. preserve enough time for regional ough-level Party would gradually These parties are: The Cornish Na— party autonomy to come about. transform itself into an upper tier tionalist Party (), made up of delegates and observers The Wessex Regiona‘lists, Plaid “The anarchist wing has never from ward parties. In the beginning, . Cymru, the Orkney Movement, the organised itself as such, except the original borough party can lend Shetland 'Movement.” when a few pe0ple came together support to the 'newly established Ward briefly to put a motion on devolu- parties by rotating its venue to hold “Nationally I simply don’t believe tion to the Party Conference.” joint meetings with each of them in its possible to have a radical‘ turn. party. But since a UKwGreen Party, exists we must consider In the Green Party as I see it there are REGIONAL PARTY AUTONOMY what we can do to keep it as radi- broadly two points of view: on the one There are signs that various regional cal as possible, if only to preserve hand the party decentralists, plus the Green parties might opt to go autono- enough time for regional party spiritually inclined; and on the other, mous. A precedent has been set by the autonomy to come about.” the pragmatists, and the Green So- Scottish Green Party, which went cialists, who are the keenest on the autonomous in 1986 (see issue No.3 of Parliamentary route The distinction G0 for an interview-report on this Most, if not all, of these Parties are is only barely there, and exists more in process - Editor). The Welsh Green already sympathetic to green ideas. my mind than in reality. The anar- Party is the most likely to follow suit, Nor should a Green Party have any chist wing has never organised itself followed by the North West Area problem in striking a deal by agreeing as such, except when a few people Green Party. As has been reported in to policies of these Parties to promote came together briefly to put a motion Green Options, there seem to be the autonomy of their regions. Seats on devolution to the Party Confer- straws in the wind that the South to be contested could be shared be- ence. Pragmatists have made a highly West Area Green Party might also tween Parties, and ballot sheets could conscious effort to organise, calling move in this direction. read, for example: “MebyOn Kernow themselves “Main Green”, declaring supported by the Green Party”, or in (leaked) secret papers against What does regional autonomy actu- “Green Party supported by Mebyon hippy members of the Party, and ally mean? For the Scottish Green Kernow”. Whilst this would strength- putting up a slate of candidates party it means, firstly, a change in en electoral work on the ground, it (mostly unsuccessful) to take over the their financial relationship to the UK would also have the effect of promot- Party Council. But again it was a Green Party. Now the Scots are pay— ing the autOnomy of Area Green Par— handful of people, and the vast major- ing less money per member to the UK ties engaged in negotiations under ity of members don’t align themselves Green Party than other regions pay. their own initiative. It would lead in any way. Nevertheless I feel that London no longer administers Scot— Area Green Parties to think more in the Party contains both tendencies in tish membership. The Scots now ~re- terms of the autonomy/independence latent form, and at this stage would gard EcoNews, the UK Party’s news- of their area, and perhaps about the feel no conscious jolt in developing in _ paper, as a “service” which they buy autonomy of their party. either direction. from the UK Party. The Scottish Green Party Conference debates pol- Whilst we hear occasional rumours of icy, and is developing a comprehen- m to ‘. moves in the regional Green parties sive manifeSto. Obviously a regional towards autonomy, there is simulta- CV J - party will not go autonomous until AV neously an opposite development a‘ 3 TISH L like-minded people organise together. Tm: RNnT10"” which threatens to set the Party on a In the regions listed above there is ’ /‘ ’ TITMTE centralist strategy, and in time bring . g ,3. MEGA r6.191} already a degree of support for auton- ..;Il.Ij-i_ GF it to a left-wing position back on the Ear: ALL ASPECTS THE mATERlAL AND omy. Therefore, if you live in one of SPIK‘t‘TWiL UNIVERSES old left-right spectrum. At this point these regions there is every reason to regional autonomy would go by the be active in the Green party to be in a board, as an impediment to efficient position to lend your vote or voice in national campaigning, an irrele- favour of autonomy. vancy in the pursuit of power.

10 Green Options Viewpoint In the short to medium term there are ment, the other Parties would have to THE RISE OF INNER- the Liberals. Greens in the Liberal move in a green direction to try and Party have previously scored suc- recapture seats lost to the Green DIRECTEDNESS cesses. Now that a merger is going Party. In such a situation, Greens in The idea of ”Inner Directedness” may seem through, they look margi- completely major Parties would enjoy great influ- a bit vague to some. However, it’s a veryreal nalised, and some are already talking ence within their parties. and definite concept to the hard-headed about joining the Green Party. It is market researchers of the Taylor Nelson hard to see what can follow from the The prospects look interesting in the monitor. They investigate changes and atti- inter-party dialogue now in vogue Labour Party. At the Party Confer- tudes in society, comparing different coun- other than an influx of Liberals to the ence after the General Election tries, and giving advice on the goods and Green Party. These people will be enough motions were received on services that people are likely to want in the relatively pragmatist and centralist, Proportional Representation (PR) to future. They describe three stages of human development: and will pull the centre of gravity of get it debated. The motion was only Party in that direction. I the Green defeated because it is not clear that 1) The agricultural era - producing ”suste- Labour can never win again under nance driven” values. In the long term, by which I mean 10 the present system. But for this very 2) The industrial era - producing ”outer years hence, the problem might be reason, a further election defeat for directed” values. Labour. The big question looming in Labour, after its great policy review, 3) The post-industrial era - producing ”in- the background is: has Labour gone would mean unprecedented support ner-directed” values. into terminal decline or hasn’t it? in the Labour Party for PR. The So- Labour is trying to save itself by cialist Environment Resources Asso’ According. to Taylor Nelson, modern day moving to the centre. An effect of this ciation (SERA) already supports CategoryOnes are notjust the unwaged and would be to further marginalise green AMS, as does Ken Livingstone, who the poor, they are people motivated by secu- rity. Category Two people are motivated by Socialists in a Party which was furi- sees that under STV, where a three esteem and status. They are ambitiousand ously selling economic growth. More would party system prevail, Labour measure their success in material terms. dramatically, Labour might have would have to move right to compete They hold the key jobs in Britdin today. gone into obvious terminal decline, in with the Alliance. Category Three people reject the rat—race which case some green SOcialists conformity era of the industrial era and might desert to the young and up- The day after a further election win choose their jobs other than for purely finan- and-coming Green Party. This would by the Conservatives would be an cial gain and status. They may choose re— result in a centralist Green Party. excellent day for pro-AMS protest search because it is interesting, or reject a marches. If Libaal or Socialist greens promotion because it involves moving. Most surprisingly, this Ideally, the Green Party should bene- don’t want to participate, whilst being group in Britain represented 36% of the population1n 1985 fit from the support of green Liberals so eager for “inter-party dialogue”, and Socialists, yet green Liberals (compared with 33%m Category 2 and 31 % they should be asked whether “inter- in Category 3), and Taylor Nelson predict would stay in their party and dialogue” really means keeping they will grow to 55% by the year 2010. Socialists would in stay theirs. One the Green Party out of Parliament Source: Mike Bell, Director of SDP Greens, Oct. possibility to have our cake and eat it and recruiting Green Party members ’87. might be to persuade them of the to their own Parties. mutual advantage in starting cam- paigns inside their own parties in GREEN OPTIONS favour of the Additional Member Finally, Green Options itself. This is System (AMS) of electoral representa- GREATER CO-OPERATION the first time decentralist Greens tion. The have had a magazine of their own.‘ supported by the Alliance would The number of worker co-operatives and Here they can share ideas, gather into community businesses in the UK in- screen out the Green Party, with a a network. In other magazines, de- creased by nearly two-thirds- from 911 to hurdle of 15% of first preference votes centralist points of view are either not 1,476 - in an '85-'87 two year period, in says a 6—member' constituency. Under voiced, or completely ignored when the latest edition of the bi-ennial directory AMS, with the Green Party in Parlia- they are. We should each promote published by the Co-operative Develop- Green Options in any way we can. ment Agency (CDA). The number of REDU NDAN'I' REACTOR enquiries they received trebled to 2,500 Austria’s Zwentdorf reactor, costing $645 million ' A sample copy of Green Umbrella can be over that period. The new co-operative and never used, is to be dismantled. Austria obtained by sending two 2nd class stamps to 30 " now employs abandoned its nuclear power programme after a Bathurst Rd., ILford, Essex IG1 4LA — please ask sector "about 14,000 people, national referendum in 1978. The owners of the for a back issue. most of whom are also members of their plant hope to make $20—30 million its ** The regional Parties listed are networked by respective businesses. parts. selling Source: The Wall Street Journal. lst June. ’87 via a magazine called “The Regionalist”, subscrip- The Environment Digest (Sept) tions from David Robyns, Flat 3, Asquith Court, CDA, Broadmead Hse, 21 Panton St, London Eaton Crescent, Swansea, Cymru SAl 4DN SW1 4DR, price £5.50

Green Options 1 l ...... —......

-.w._.-_.._.M..

Mad... ' - fr x a “34;. This is the first of two related WHAT KIND OF DECENTRALISATION? Adrian Atkinson. .-_.._‘..t.l...... -:;'....“ articles by By Adrian Atkinson ._- The second, “Decentralising “AL—.42.”. the Energy Economy” will ap- JJ. hatever differences there might be betWeen various)" branches of the Green pear in issue No. 5. k 4 Movement, one concept remains virtually universal: the call for “decen- WM“

tralisation”. Nevertheless, the meaning of this remains vague or encapsulated in a few images Aclamn‘ of community living and local self-sufficiency. Very little hard thought has gOne into practical proposals and how we might get from here

mu.:_r_...... _u. to there. Inside the Green Party there have been apparent “practical debates” about decentralisation through redivision of administrative I.

l_.t__..‘.... boundaries and changing electoral procedures to allow greater representation, as a move towards getting theParty elected so itcan implement u' decentralisation.

ment has extended an ideological The author Jeremy Seabrook - then a “... many countries already have umbrella which might inspire the committed Socialist, now a committed the desired election system. and development of practical projects in Green - wrote a book about the expe» all kinds of alternative adminis- the direction of this sort of decentrali- rience entitled “The Idea of Neigh- trative systems exist, without sation, but it has done little by itself to bourhood”. Since then, a substantial any very Green Society yet hav- move towards this goal. On the other number 0f urban Councils have initi- ing emerged.” hand, numbers of initiatives have ated some kind of decentralisation of arisen within existing local authori- housing management, many setting However, many countries already ties, carried out by people who con; up local Area Committees that have a have the desired election system and sider themselves to be Liberals, or, significant say in how housing budg- all kinds of alternative administrative more often, Socialists. ets should be spent. And this experi- systems exist, without any very mentation has over-flowed into the Green Society yet having emerged. Back in the mid 70’s, Peter Hain. and management and generation of other Obviously" what is meant by decen- numbers of Young Liberals propa- local services including welfare bene— tralisation, as the heart of the Ecologi- gandised for the revitalisation of local fits, environmental health and plan- cal Society, must be a good deal more communities, through the transfor- ning. The process has been far from than that. mation 0f local’ services. Subse- smooth and many people remain quently, Hain migrated to the Labour wary of the intention of, the Councils In fact we might say that the core Party and it has been Labour, at the involved and cynical of the results. concept involves a bringing back to- local lbvel, that has spearheaded But these attempts at decentralisa- gether of production and consump- practical efforts in this direction. tion cannot be lightly dismissed. tion, so that we can see what is actu- ally going on between the use of na- In 1979 Walsall Council decided to More radical than this have been at- ture and the satisfaction of human decentralise its housing management tempts by some Councils to analyse, needs. However, it is not just a matter in order to become more responsive to and. intervene in, the local economy. of being able to see and understand, the needs of tenants and to involve Before abolition, the but also for all to participate - and not them in the process of management. Council was employing well over a only if we wish, but as necessary re- hundred people working on alterna- sponsibility. In other words, decen- " tive economic work and disseminating tralised politics is not just aboUt .redi- "' OLDEST PARLIAMENT this, and attempting to initiate proj- viding up what we already have, but Is ANTI-NUCLEAR ects, through the “Popular Planning how we change the whole interaction Unit”. Financial support. for projects of society and its use of nature. The Cornish Stannary Parliament, a tin- was provided by the Greater London minersparliament firstrecognisedbyKing Enterprise Board, encompassing the John in 1201, was granted a writ of pos- ‘ London Co-operative Enterprise “It is true to say that the Green session on a former Cornish slate quarry _ at Reskajeage, near . Theaim Board. Mavement has. extended an ideo— is to stop the government nuclear-waste logical umbrella which might agency (NIREX) from further investigat- “What is striking, is that the inspire the development of prac- ing the mine as a possible dump for nuclear-waste. The writ was granted by Green Movement has on the tical projects in the direction of the Parliament’s own legal arm, the Stan- whole failed to. see these initia- this sort of decentralisation, but . nary Court. The Court believes its laws tives as being potential begin- has little by itself to move pre-date and outrank Westminster law, it done , nings of the kind of decentralisa- towards this goal.” but NIREXis takinglegal advice as to how they can stop the ”trespass” by Stannary tion that it is ostensibly. calling Parliament members. for.” ' It is true to say that the Green Move-

12 Green Options What Kind of Decentralisotion?

Many other Councils around the One might have expected it to put its country initiated similar or related weight ‘behind these initiatives, to lWBRI—DGE activities and between them funded a become involved and attempt to push servicing organisation. called the them further and sharpen up Green GREEN GROUP Centre for Local Economic Strategies thinking in them. That it has so far (CLES) in Manchester. A number of failed to do this does not, however, local authorities in south east Eng- preclude it from doing so now. Indeed, land have recently formed the South my suggestion would be: go to it, now, East Economic Strategy Association with a will. (SEEDS, get it?) to develop local. eco- nomic activities and push for in- If you want to know more about decentralisation of Council services, send £6.95 (cheques to ' creased regional and local contrOl over University of Bristol) to: School of Advanced economic affairs, involving increased Urban Studies, Rodney Lodge, Grange Rd., local participation in decisions and at Bristol BSS 4EA) and ask for “Decentralisation the same time pushing for racial and and Democracy" by Paul Hoggett & Robin Hambleton; alternatively, ask your local The Green Group is relatively new to gender equality. library to order it. Ivybridge, though in its two years of existence it has achieved a lot. As with Although Greens (particularly of the If you want to know more about SEEDS, write all new things, we have been greeted SERA persuasion) have been in- to: SEEDS, Daneshill House, Danestrete, Ste- with a mixed reaction by the other volved in many of these initiatives, venage, Hens SGl 1HN, , , _ and ask for a inhabitants of Ivybndge. Some see us nevertheless, they remain predomi- as a collection of political radicals, nantly Socialist in flavour: that is to while others agree with our ecological say they are primarily orientated and social concern. towards redressing the problems of the working classes and more gen- As collection of individuals, we came erally the disadvantaged, which is together in March 1986 in re- important certainly an part of the sponse to a Greenpeace call for a Green Programme. However, Street Collection. This first ev- when it comes to ecological prob- ent brought tOgether about 25 - lems strategic problems of pollu- people who decided to make a - thinking tion and resources the regular thing of meeting to ex - is much less cogent. press their concern in positive ways. Our original meetings were striking, is that Green What is the a little haphazard as we were still Movement has the failed to on whole finding our feet as a group. Members see these initiatives as being potential came from a variety of backgrounds, beginnings of the kind of decentrali- copy of ranging from doctors to unwaged to South Divide” sation that it is ostensibly calling for. businesspeople. Collectively we de- cided that we would exist as a Green— peace support group, raising money and increasing membership for national Greenpeace.

Throughout the following summer the group had a high With such a diverse membership we wanted to find a way profile organising many fundraising events and stalls at for everyone. to feel that they were important and for their local markets and fayres. However, towards the end of ideas and concerns to be expressed. We didn’t want any September, many 7, of the more active members felt re- formal leaders, but rather for those most able to emerge strained by the “Greenpeace contract”. We felt that as a and undertake projects. We have been successful in this to Group many other projects of a local nature could be some extent. At meetings there is no voting or “ruling started. The main trouble seemed to be that Greenpeace majority”. Instead, t0pics and ideas are raised and dis- tackled national problems from a national viewpoint. cussed, with agreement being mutually arrived at. They gave little credit to local groups and allowed no local In practice this can lead to the most vocal members initiatives. From October we dropped the name Green- becoming de facto leaders since they become identified as peace and emerged as the Ivybridge‘ Green Group. “knowledgeable over certain t0pics. In addition, those not “Internally the Group is like a restless amoeba, in paid employment have been able to commit more time with individuals continually coming together over to the co-ordination of group activities such as our News- common interests and dividing over differences.”> letter, fundraising and events. To date we have been unable to find a way round this problem. But it is

Green Options 13 only grow from the rbots, and this We have all been nurtured in a power- growth has to be encouraged. centred society, and to kick the habit we need to take a day at a time, little In my “Viewpoint" article I attacked by little. No issue is too trivial. Each the reverence for science because I see ofi‘ers an opportunity to find out more the cult of the expert as an obstacle to about our locality, and to establish this growth. The scientific method is common ground with our neigh- not a magic way of discovering truth. bours. And I have found that when Insight, discov and innovation you meet with success, it is surprising still arrive in a variety of quirky, how far the waves of encouragement irrational ways, as they have always spread. dane. The scientific attitude gets used more for authenticating truth, and so {Yours sincerely, becomes another authority. Then, in no time, it is used to cast aside com- mon sense with pronouncements like Q’am 'Woodin Dear G0, “We can’t, stand in the way of prog- 2 Castle Lane, ress", and “We have no evidence of Warwick, I remain much moreh cynical than untoward effects". Warickshire C‘V34 49311 Brian Green (Letters, Issue 3) who prescribes a mixture of insight and If I am not mistaken, Brian Green goodwill to cure our ills. .IIis “leaders advances yet another, which ' I para- 0f vision” are akin to the‘Nietszchean phrase as “Before we start to put mat- concept of superman, and that was the ters right, we must find out all about forerunner of Nazism. the causes”. This is not atc all how we behave in our day-to~day life, where I cannot see decentralisation being we sort things out first, and ask quest- granted by edict. I believe that it can ions later.

Continued from over page generally felt that all those concerned are open to constructive through our newsletters. Currently, the Green Group is criticism, and the group will last as long as all members are preparing for our 2nd Conservation Fayre (last year around realising their personal and Group goals. Internally the Group 3000 people came and a beautiful atmosphere was generated). is like a restless amoeba, with individuals continually Coming together over common interests and dividing over differences. The other major event in the life of the Group was that five of our members became local councillors at the Parish Elections last year. This gave us one-third of the seats on the council and “... five 'of our members became local councillors at the a good platform from which to promote our ideas on commu- Parish Elections last year... So far we have raised many nity development. We are just emerging as a local power, and issues in the Council chamber. Each time we are con- at times feel very uneasy with the structure of local politics. frOnted by the lack of real power to affect local commu- To hardened local politicians we must appear very naive with nity decisions taken by the District Council. However, our concerns, but we are attracting a lot of interest and half the battle is raising awareness of this within the support from the people of ,Ivybridge. So far we have raised local community...” many issues in the Council chamber. Each time we are confronted by the lack of real power to affect local community decisions taken by the District Council. However, In terms of local activity the Group has been highly successful half the battle is raising awareness of this with a number of projects. We have had awareness campaigns within the local community, so perhaps things will lchange at the next election. on issues such as waste and recycling, air pollution and local Negatives aside, there is plenty that local councillors can do. From our amenities. Group undertakings have included a visit to _ the limited experience we would strongly recommend National Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, a that other Groups consider putting Conservation Fayre (which attracted a grant from the BBC) up candidates at the next local elections.‘ Many parishes are and several practical conservation tasks at local nature re- suffering from apathy and may not even hold elections seIVes. At meetings we discuss current social and ecological due to a lack of candidates! concerns and sometimes show videos. Such gatherings seem Ivybridge Green Group can be contacted via Stephen Soames, Beacon to act as an arena for empowerment, since sharing a fear or House, Beacon Rd, Ivybridge, SDevon P121 GAB concern gives us a greater ability to deal with it. We have links ' At least 65 people have been elected to local councils on a Green ticket in with several other local Groups from the Peace and Green Great Britain (about 43 men and 22 women). Of these, about 53 are Parish Movement, and support each other’s events both in person and Councillors or their Welsh and Scottish Community Council equivalent.

14 Green Options I...IIIOIOOIOOOOOOO'IOCOOOIIOOOIOIOOOOOOOIO INROADS Inroads will be an occasional feature in Green Options. It will cover ideas for (and experiences of) effective ways of spreading the green message to ”ordinary” people and new areas of society. How do we make green politics far more relevant Future issues of Green Options may to the everyday lives of most people? What are the. attractive, constructive carry a maximum alternatives which can begin to engage genuinely popular support and involve- of one page (side) of ment? Perhaps the answers are more difficult than simply opposing unpopular display adverts. For camera-ready or un-green policies; they certainly relate to a very neglected aspect of green artwork, a full page (print area = 192 politics. Get1n touch if you have information or ideas- minor snippets or major mm- wide by 243 mm) will cost only schemes - along these lines. £45, smaller sizes pro rata, with a ser- .aeeeoeoeeoeeeoe ‘oeeeoooooueeooo' ano.onoooeoceoooeooeeeoooococoa-000,000.00. ies (two or more) discount of 15%. If wanted, we can typeset text RECLAIMING POLITICS according to your design (incorporat— ing any logos etc .) for an extra £5-10 ‘ What does ”politics” actually mean? How has this become corrupted, a term of abuse? depending on advert size. Inserts of How do we reclaim a politics which many regard as hijacked by the central government leaflets etc. cost £25 per thousand (i.e machine/Parliamentary process (the grotesque centralisation, party ”whips”, 2.5p each). Whitehall dictat, the adversarial structures etc.)? Future issues of Green Options will Classified advertscost 8p per contain occasional contributions on the theme of ”Reclaiming Politics”. Please write if this word, with a series discount of 15%. might include something from you. Send artwork to the back-page add- ress (telephone Somerton 74130). VIEWPOINT. f N BACK ISSUES What is the green movement’s current state ,. of health? Where is it going? Where should Issue No. 1 - In stock GREEN OPTIONS SALES- it be going? How can the movement dev- Issue No.2 - Sold out. elop real ”bite”? What strategies should Issue No. 3 - In stock. Help Green Options to grow. We we adopt? What kinds of political and or- are looking for people to pro- ganisational structures should we seek to Send 50p (includes postage) per develop? Green Options will contain occa- mote or sell copies in their area. sional contributions to a "Viewpoint” ser- \COpy. , J All offers of assistance with ies: a political forum where various people can express their thoughts on some or all of sales promotion (leaflets and MAIN ARTICLES IN BACK ISSUES these questions. sample copies available), as well (Check if an issue is still available from the list above this item) as the addresses of possible sales outlets - bookshops, community Issue No.1: Democracy ~~w..-n.- — centres, cafes /restaurants etc. — ' 3"}‘ A in America a description first published in 1835. Plus The gratefully received. Greening of Christianity; Not or take a minimum of Back to the Sixties ButPorward to five copies, and keep 20p per the Revolution (Green copy sold in your street/neigh- mtg" students); Today, /. and Setting the Scene for the bourhood/group/meetings. Strategy Debate. . Issue No.2: The Green- ing of Australia - a report from GREY WOLVES BACK IN THE U.S.A Down Under. Plus Viewpoint by Pam Woodin;Cross-Party Half a century ago the grey wolf was Links - The Green Alliance; almost eradicated from the andThe Chance for a New Begin- N.American West. Now, since 12 ning. wolves wandered south from British Issue No.3: Going for Columbia, Canada, - three years ago, Independence - the inside story Glacier Park in N W. Montana has its of the Scotti-sh Green Party’s bid for autonomy. Plus On Being a Green Councillor; - own Wolf pack. Indra’s Iewelled Net the Buddhist contribution to Greening, and Reclaiming the Source: The International Herald Tribune, 23rd Town Halls - ideas for an effective political action programme. Sept. ’87 via The Environmental Digest (Oct. ‘87) ‘\ Green Options 15 ll

Eunaeetians

In each issue the addresses of various kinds of groups and organisations will be listed. Where large numbers are involved, they will be spread over more than one issue. This time around we focus on the arts!

Artists Network 'Society for Wildlife SHAPE Free Form Arts .Trust 21 Foulser Rd. Art (SWAN) 9 Fitzroy Square 38 Dalston Lane London SW17 SUE Dumbles Cottage London WlP 6AE London E8 3AZ 01—767-1081 Woodend Lane, Awre 01-388-9622/9744 01-249-3394 Newnham, Glos. Concord Festivals Grapevine (Magazine) E a r t h w o r k s W O M A D Connections 31 Castle Rd. 9 Cherwell St. Ford House, Hartland 1 South View, Borrowby Colchester Oxford OX4 1BG B ideford, Dev on Thirsk YO7 4QR Essex C01 1UW 0845-537505 The Leaveners Circle Dance Network Easterhouse Festival Leaveners Arts Base 45 Little Parks Cahoots (Arts magazine) Society Legard Works, Legard Rd. Holts, Trowbridge 163 Palatine Rd. PO Box 297, Glasgow Highbury, London N5 lDE Wilts. BA14 6QR Manchester Scotland G33 4NG 01-226-8026

New Age Global Arts Missing Link National Poetry New Milestones Project Assoc. Assembly Rooms Secretariat Common Ground Eurogallery, High St., Glastonbury 21 Earls Court Square 50 Kings Rd.,Dorchester Broadhurst Gdns. Somerset BA6 9DU London SW5 9BY Dorset DT1 1N] London NW6 Tel. 0458-34677 01-370-6929 01-435-1012 Common Ground Green Party Arts Council of Regional Iota Pictures London Ecology Centre Working Group Arts Associations May Cottage, Calstock 45 Shelton St. 3 Thorngarth Lane Litton Lodge PL18 9QN London WC2H 9H] Barrow-on-Humber 13A Clifton Rd. 0822-833—692 01-379-3109 S.Humberside DN19 7AW Winchester, Hants.

Please send in any up-dates or additions to this listing - NB. Copies of the listings from previous issues Issue 1: Green Groups; issue 2: Animal Rights; Issue 3: Trees - are available for 20p each plus an SAE

------( N DESIGN FOR NEED SUBSCRIPTION FORM - FOR YOU, OR A SURPRISE GIFT FOR “Design for Need” is the title of the 1987/ 88 YOUR FRIENDS! Leonardo da Vinci school lecture series, with For one venues in England, Scotland and Wales. year’s subscription (6 issues) please send £4.90‘ (Institutionsor Sponsored jointly by the Institute of Me- Groups £9) to Green Options, Lockyer’s Farm, Dundon, Som- chanical Engineers and Intermediate Tech- nology, it aims to encourage future genera- erton, Somerset TA11 6PE. OR, please send a sample copy to a tions of engineers to take a responsible atti- friend - I enclose 70p. tude toward the environment and the people for whom they will work. Source: European Year of the Environment press release, NAME 24th '87 ...... ADDRESS ...... \Nov. J ...... ' (d) For the more affluent or enthusiastic there is a special Supporters Subscription rate of £10 (Groups £15) to help the finances of Green Options. RECYCLING Airmail rates: Europe (inc. Eire) £7; Aus/NZ £9; USA/Canada £9; Elsewhere - write in. Surface mail rates (write in for details) are cheaper, but take several weeks for delivery. Please send overseas monies We encourage the recycling of any material in either local currency cash (pounds sterling equivalent) or International Money Orders (made out in in Green Options, though an acknowledge- Pounds Sterling), but not in local currency cheques since most of this ' would be taken by the bank in ment of the source(s) would be appreciated. commission and administrative charges. ______J r______J

16 Green Options