cannabisnews.com: Hope Down Under Hope Down Under Posted by FoM on November 26, 2000 at 14:55:53 PT By Mark Detsky Source: E/The Environmental Magazine If you've felt frustration over the American Green Party's slow uphill battle for voter recognition, you may have registered in the wrong country. Seven members of the Green Party of Aotearoa, New Zealand were voted into office during the country's elections last November -- the first national election the Party had entered independently.The world's first Green Member of Parliament, Jeanette Fitzsimons, was directly elected in the Coromandel district, and because the Green Party also won more than five percent of the party vote, six more members also captured seats. These included Sue Bradford, officially banned from Parliament grounds for leading labor protests two years previously, and Nandor Tanczos, head of the direct action "Wild Greens," -- and the first Rastafarian member of any parliament, anywhere.The newly elected Green "team" got right to work, putting eco-politics at the forefront of the new administration. The first Green Party bill to recently pass in New Zealand, introduced by Fitzsimons, was also the country's first to address climate change, laying the foundation for a national policy on energy efficiency. Because the party holds swing votes for the majority coalition, "The government has to take the Greens seriously," says Press Coordinator Paul Bensemann. "And it has done so by embracing some of our key election planks -- stopping West Coast logging and setting up the Royal Commission on genetic engineering. "The yearly government budget in July included a $15 million stand-alone package negotiated by the Green Party," Bensemann adds. The package emphasizes energy conservation, organic certification, better environmental accounting and environmental legal aid. Leading the fight to legalize hemp cultivation and promote environmental justice, Nandor Tanczos was first mocked by the press, and then vilified by his opponents. He has been criticized for his religion and his dread-locked appearance, but since the election seems to have achieved new status as both sex symbol and respected intellectual figure. "I was elected by vote," the soft-spoken Rasta reminds his critics. "It doesn't matter if there is a law mandating recycling. Individuals change their own life habits. If anything, I might be in a position to make it easier for them."Nandor sums up his party's hard-won platform: "We favor simple ideas with big ramifications." New Zealand's Green Party membership has risen 60 percent since the 1999 November election -- a big ramification indeed. Related Articles & Web Site:The Green Party of Aotearoahttp://www.greens.org.nz/NewsHawks: Romeo & http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/y/greens.htm Source: E/The Environmental MagazineAuthor: Mark DetskyPublished: November-December 2000E/The Environmental Magazine & Denali Network, Inc. Copyright © 2000. CannabisNews Articles - Aotearoahttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=Aotearoa Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by eco on November 27, 2000 at 11:36:18 PT Greens have political seats in several nations I believe there is a webpage somewhere that lists all the Green elected politicians worldwide. Might find it by following the links in the webpage below. I believe there are elected Greens in national legislatures in several nations, not just New Zealand. Lots more in states, regions, and cities. *Greens and the Drug War. Worldwide. LINKS. Green Party candidates, positions, platforms, etc.. Concerning the Drug War, cannabis, marijuana, harm reduction, etc.. Ralph Nader info, links.http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/y/greens.htm and *9-00. MAP/DrugNews SEARCH SHORTCUT for many press articles about RALPH NADER's September 8, 2000 press conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he called for legalizing cannabis/marijuana, and for harm reduction drug reform. Ralph Nader "called for the legalization of marijuana as part of an overhaul of the nation's 'self-defeating and antiquated drug laws.' ... Legalizing marijuana, Nader said, would allow the government to regulate and potentially tax its use like tobacco products." -Albuquerque Journal, September 8, 2000.http://www.mapinc.org/find?BK=nader+johnson+santa&YY1=1997 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on November 26, 2000 at 22:47:42 PT: World's first??? Hey, I thought there has been a Green Party in Germany for many years, and they had gotten some folks elected to the Bundesrat or whatever they call it. Seem to recall that they were even courted as allies to create a majority for the so-called coalition ruling party.Could be wrong, but, I am Bavarian by birth and lived in Germany for total of seven years while a soldier.Oh, well, I'll check it out for myself ...Anyhow, congratulations Greens, sometimes I think they are a little too far to the left, but they are pretty good people , I think ...Peace ... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: