Green Campaigning Resolution submitted

The Green Campaigning resolution which was doing the rounds this last couple of weeks for signatures has been successfuly submitted by the due date. We now have to wait and see whether it makes it onto the Agenda for Brighton.

It was formally submitted in the name of Newark and Sherwood Constituency Party supported by Rushcliffe Constituency and also by over 50 individuals from all around the country. There were actually 53 names on the full list - so thanks to the signtories supporting this resolution to go forward.

Keith Melton from the Newark and Sherwood Constituency, and an executive committee member of the Green Liberal Democrats will move the resolution if accepted for Brighton and Sir Simon Hughes has agreed to be the Summator for the resolution, as well as signing to support it. There were one or two relatively minor drafting changes from the original, so the final copy is appended below.

Thanks again for all the support!!

Keith Melton

Green Campaigning - Local and National Elections

Conference notes the preamble to the Liberal Democrat constitution affirms our belief that "…each generation is responsible for the fate of our planet and, by safeguarding the balance of nature and the environment, for the long-term continuity of life in all its forms."

Conference reaffirms the centrality and importance of this credo to our purpose and campaigning objectives in local, national and international politics.

Conference recognises that the future health of the planet is in our hands and that the long-term continuity of life, in all its forms, is currently under clear, present and future danger resulting from anthropogenic (human-caused) pressures on the biosphere:

1. the continuing and unfolding climate catastrophe;
2. pollution and contamination of our oceans;
3. air pollution and its impact on human health as well as upon the earth`s fauna and flora ;
4. material waste generated by the squandering, reckless and irresponsible economic systems and philosophies promoted by UK and other governments over more than the past fifty years.

We believe that all individuals, communities and political entities can and should recognise that at least some responsibility for such anthropogenic pressures rests with them and with ourselves and calls for urgent action at all levels to counter these threats.

Conference therefore calls on Liberal Democrats to prioritise local and community environmental issues in all our campaigning before and during local elections in 2019 and years after that, always in conjunction with like-minded individuals and organisations prepared to work together in this crucial common cause.

Conference further calls for Liberal Democrats to place positive green campaigning at the heart of our political activity for the next General Election and, indeed, all elections in the foreseeable future.

Where appropriate we should be more open to developing closer links with the Green Party and others than has usually been the case up to now.

In all circumstances we should promote sustainable development and seek community solutions to environmental problems facing us. We should also concentrate on promoting and delivering a 'circular' economy` where all materials are treated as precious resources with nothing thrown away, in contrast to the wasteful `linear' economy where raw materials are used to make products after which waste such as packaging is thrown away.