CHARTER OF THE TASMANIAN GREENS

Reflecting an awareness of the interrelatedness of all ecological, social and economic processes, the general principles of The Greens are to:

Ecology
• Ensure that human activity respects the integrity of ecosystems and does not impair biodiversity and the ecological resilience of life-supporting systems
• Encourage the development of a consciousness that respects the value of all life.

Democracy
• Increase opportunities for public participation in political, social and economic decision making
• Break down inequalities of wealth and power which inhibit participatory democracy.

Social Justice
• Eradicate poverty by developing initiatives that address the causes as well as the symptoms of poverty
• Provide affirmative action to eliminate discrimination based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, class, religion, disability, sexuality or membership of a minority group
• Introduce measures that redress the imbalance between rich and poor.

Peace
• Adopt and promote a non-violent resolution of conflict
• Develop an independent, non-aligned foreign policy
• Develop a self-reliant, defensive, non-nuclear defence policy.

An Ecologically Sustainable Economy
• Develop economic policies which will ensure greater resource and energy efficiency as well as development and use of environmentally sustainable technologies.
• Reduce dependence on non-renewable resources and ensure sustainable use of renewable resources
• Adopt more comprehensive social, environmental and technology assessment practices
• Facilitate socially and ecologically responsible investment

Meaningful Work
• Encourage, develop and assist work that is safe, fairly paid, socially useful, personally fulfilling and not harmful to the environment
• Encourage and facilitate more flexible work arrangements, on-going education, training and social welfare so that more people can engage in meaningful work.

Culture
• Respect and protect ethnic, religious and racial diversity
• Recognise the cultural requirements of the original Australians
• Assist in ensuring the achievements of Aboriginal land rights and self-determination.

Information
• Facilitate a free flow of information between citizens and all tiers of government
• Ensure that Australians have the benefit of a locally responsible, diverse, democratically controlled, independent mass media.

Global Responsibility
Promote equity between nations and peoples by:
• Facilitating fair trading relationships
• Providing for increased development assistance and concerted international action to abolish Third World debt
• Providing increased green technology transfer and skills to developing countries
• Opposing human rights abuses and political oppression
• Ensuring that Australia plays an active role in promoting peace and ecological sustainability.

Long-range Future Focus
• Avoid action which might risk long-term or irreversible damage to the environment
• Safeguard the planet's ecological resources on behalf of future generations