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Currently, we see such incidents happening almost every day, which shows that this lofty ideal is not necessarily achievable.
our own Green Party The party has become deeply distracted as it stumbles from one PR disaster to another. Last weekend, the party held its annual conference. If there were any themes about improving the country, they were quickly drowned out by The noise of their peopletheir misdeeds and disagreements.
Since that meeting, there have been a constant stream of headlines. Few of them have been kind. The remnants that make up the New Zealand Green Party have perhaps strayed further from their roots than any political party in this country. Their departure from their roots, coupled with an inability to deal with internal problems, has replaced the constructive and outward-focused nature that once existed all those years ago.
There was a time when I considered voting for the Green Party. That was a long time ago, when I was young and stupid. But they seemed to care, be honest and determined. My pastimes were swimming and surfing. They talked about protecting the oceans. They really cared about the environment then. They were determined to make the world a better place for everyone.
They were also very real. I think that was the most relatable. Janet Fitzsimmons and Rod Donald, wearing hiking boots and wrapped in heavy parkas. Their press conferences were often held in the bush or on the coast, places they clearly cared deeply about. We thought they were different, even a little eccentric.
But even those of us who ultimately disagree with their politics can tell that they care about this country. The country they grew up in. With the Greens’ early success, they found a place, a platform, to discuss the things they care about. They don’t get sucked into other people’s arguments. They have their own opinions, values, and substance. They seem to care more about the future of the planet than they do about themselves. They are consistent, measured, and disciplined. Genuine.
Oh, times have changed. The Green Party is gone, and New Zealand is the poorer for it.
Whether it’s a business, school, sports group or political party, many organisations lose their way from time to time. In strategic planning reviews, we are often forced to consider the fact that our progress is not taking us towards our desired goals or objectives. Sometimes it’s because we’ve strayed off track. Alternatively, the destination or objectives may have changed without us noticing. In either case, a conscious change is usually required.
As far as the Greens are concerned, their goal is no longer the environment. Instead, their focus is on the poor, the Palestinians, the Maori and, more recently, each other. If these are the causes they wish to pursue, fine. But that is not the aspiration of the real Greens. It is easy to talk about misbehavior in the parliamentary chambers, shoplifting, migrant labour or temper tantrums in any assessment of their performance. But we don’t really need to, do we? Because there is a bigger picture.
In New Zealand, we don’t deserve to suffer as much as we do on the environment. While our environmental standards may not meet the expectations of a few protesters, the fact is that we do better than most countries.
We talk a lot about the environment. We do pretty well with recycling. We can do more of the obvious things. Eliminate waste. Recycle better. Think more clearly about plastics, old tires and forestry waste. Our farmers are among the greenest in the world.
But the reality is that the rest of the world doesn’t care about this problem as much as we do, and they don’t do as good a job as we do. We banned plastic bags from supermarkets. But after a few weeks in the US, I noticed the same plastic bags in every supermarket and other store.
While Congress tries to lower emissions and force us to give up our cars, cars are a way of life in the US. You can’t go anywhere without a car. The only difference is that the US realized this long ago and built roads before the environmentalists got involved. The roads are fantastic and it’s easier to get around than here despite a larger population.
Environmentally harmful items such as styrofoam cups and plastic cutlery are ubiquitous in cafes and hotels across North America. Plastic cutlery! Even if you just need a spoon, you get a plastic bag with a knife and fork. Milk comes in non-recyclable plastic containers. There is almost no “recycling” in cafes. When you are done, your plastic plate, paper napkin, and plastic cutlery go into a trash can along with the food waste.
Elsewhere, new coal-fired power stations continue to be built. The electric car boom, only recently hailed as an environmental revolution, is starting to fade. And the big car companies are upgrading their fossil fuel alternatives.
Some major polluters did not participate Paris Climate AgreementAt the same time, we blame ourselves for not meeting Our emissions reduction targets According to the agreement. According to this newspaper report, Our government is planning a ‘tree planting boom’ Let’s get our environmental protection work back on track. But we can’t change the environment by ourselves.
One of the reasons we’ve done better than most is that those ardent Green Party politicians of the 1990s, eccentric as they seemed at the time, gave us environmental awareness. And, although it took time, we slowly changed our habits. I’ve often wondered what Donald and Fitzsimmons would have achieved if they had the social media channels we have today.
Yet, at the moment the Greens show no sign of using these social media channels to guide the next generation towards a better environment. They don’t talk about the ocean or the jungle. They talk about Palestinians, indigenous rights and rainbow communities.
So they have to confront the strategic issues above. Have they gotten off track? Or have their goals changed? The Party Congress would have been a good place to address these issues. But, you know, they got distracted!
You see, the desire to be our environmental conscience has been replaced by a desire to defend those they see as the oppressed. I’m not saying that’s wrong. But I am saying that it’s inconsistent with their brand image.
Are they actively calling us to improve our environmental habits? Or are they passively supporting a minority group? If they are to become a socialist party, then this probably doesn’t fit with their green branding. Likewise, while this branding is powerful, they are not doing their cause any good by using this platform to send a different message.
Another problem they have is talent. James Shaw was a spokesman they had who was well liked by a large number of voters. But he left like the others and their reputation died with him. Although the Greens have 15 parliamentary seats, they have to deal with a dwindling talent pool. They have lost key people and the corruption has not stopped. With every new MP that comes in, their credibility seems to be waning.
Meanwhile, the environmental debate is changing, and it will continue to do so. Climate science is increasingly challenged. We thought electric cars were a trend. Now it looks like a fad, as sales slow and the big manufacturers pivot again. The big polluters won’t cooperate and show no signs of backing down. A small, well-meaning country like ours can’t make the progress some people would like to see on our own.
I like the idea of having real representation for environmental issues in Parliament. I want to see our communities have a proper, reasonable and constructive discussion about how we can do better. I want to see us take visible action on waste, our waterways and our oceans. I want to see us recognise the challenges we face in each area and develop a plan that will see us lead the world.
But people who use megaphones to blare out mixed messages about a range of unrelated topics without any logic are not the ones who should be leading the environmental debate for us.
So perhaps it’s time for the Green Party to undertake a strategic review to launch a new brand that more accurately reflects its focus areas and values. The Socialist Party of New Zealand sounds like a better fit for that label, and they are more likely to stick with it.
But of course they won’t do that, because doing so would cause them to lose their “green positioning,” the only real platform that has gotten them to where they are now.
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