New Year Message
Wed., December 31, 2008. 17:24.
Scottish Greens issue new year message.
Patrick Harvie MSP, co-convenor of the Scottish Greens, today put out the party's new year message, looking back on the last year's events and ahead to 2009.
Patrick Harvie MSP said:
"New year messages from politicians rarely see out such an extraordinary year, nor anticipate such a crucial moment in world affairs.
"2008 has seen unprecedented events in the economy, with impacts in every country as well as in every high street and household in Scotland. Many would have called these events unpredicted, but for years there have been clear Green criticisms of the way global markets are run, based on ever-increasing debt and ever-growing consumption of finite resources, like oil, with no regard for the impact on people or on the world we depend on.
"Instead we have sought to present an alternative vision, based on sustainable values and the careful use of limited resources. At the same time we have challenged the dominance of a debt culture which sets young people out in life already saddled with huge overdrafts, and which allows global traders to pursue their short term interests by endlessly trading non-existent assets which bear no relation to anything actually produced.
"This crisis in capitalism is described by most simply as a 'downturn'. In fact it's a symptom of the broken politics and economics which has been so dominant in Scotland, the UK and the world for decades.
"2008 has also seen dramatic changes in the global response to climate change. Despite ever-clearer scientific evidence that we're risking the future of our civilisation itself, most politicians are still demonstrating breathtaking inaction, or worse still the kind of hypocrisy which presents climate-wrecking policies with an eco-friendly spin. Europe, once perceived as a world leader on climate change, has turned on its heel and made formal policy of this kind of hypocrisy. Meanwhile the world waits to see whether President-elect Obama makes good on his promise to be the human embodiment of Change. The US does have the opportunity to re-write the rules of the game, and it's essential that other countries, including our own, set high expectations.
"Those who serve the interests of unfettered free-market capitalism used to openly oppose environmental policies as 'climate sceptics'. In 2009 we face the danger that they succeed with a new strategy by arguing that the environmental threat must be ignored because times are hard economically. But a moment's thought should tell us that when finances are tight in households, in business and in the public purse, there's no better time to stop wasting our resources. When energy prices are high there's no better time to break our dependency on expensive fossil fuels. This transition can be achieved, and there's much that the Scottish Parliament can do about it, like insulating Scottish homes and creating 'green collar jobs' in the process. There's much to do to begin the transition to a low-carbon, low-energy, low-waste society, and in 2009 Scotland must learn national lessons from the communities which are starting this work locally.
"In 2008, we have shown what just two Green MSPs can do, like creating the Climate Challenge Fund to empower those visionary communities and begin that transition. In 2009 we must see what the whole Scottish Parliament can do to make that transition nationally. The Scottish Green Party will continue to make the case for a shift to true sustainability and a better quality of life, in the interests of Scottish people, our economy and society, and the environment we all depend on for survival."
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.