Green updates from around the world

Forwarded by Alex Surace through the GYG mail group

Greens run in historic Tunisian elections

The Green party of Tunisia, Tunisie Verte, ran candidates in the elections that took place in October following the democratic revolution. The party was formed in 2004 but struggled with harassment and oppression for many years. It was finally able to be registered in early 2011 in time for the elections. The party was not successful in winning a seat in the national parliament but intends to run candidates in the local government elections that will take place in the first half of 2012

Green Candidate for the United States President

Jill Stein, a doctor from Massachusetts has launched a campaign for President of the United States in 2012. Jill has been an active member of the State Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party since 2002 and run for Governor of the State twice. She hopes to build a national following by appealing to the people who have identified with the Occupy Wall Street protest movement. The main issues for her campaign are green jobs, universal health care, reversing student debt and pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

New rivals for Greens in Europe

In the recent Berlin State election the German Greens secured over 17% of the vote, but did not achieve the +20% that was predicted in the lead up to the poll. Some analysis shows that 17,000 former Green Party supporters switched their vote to the Pirate Party which some media have dubbed the ‘new Greens’. The Pirates won 15 seats in their first election by campaigning on internet freedoms and digital privacy, free public transport and a student-teacher ratio in public schools of 15 to 1.

African Green leader visits WA for CHOGM

Rwandan Greens President, Frank Habineza was in Perth last week to raise awareness about the Rwandan Greens around the Commonwealth Leaders meeting. Rwanda is the newest member of the Commonwealth but there is a cloud over the oppressive way it treats its media and opposition parties. Frank met with a number of WA Greens while he was in Perth and he lobbied Foreign Ministers, former Prime Ministers and Commonwealth organisations. He found new allies to help support the Rwandan Greens into the future as they work to get their party registered and run candidates in the 2013 election.

Denmark

New Green Ministers - Six Green Ministers were appointed in October as part of a new coalition government in Denmark. The Green Socialist Party, which is an observer party of the European Greens, is in government with two other parties.

Australia

Carbon tax : The Federal Government's controversial climate legislation has passed the Senate 36-32 and will now become law from mid-next year.

From July 2012, polluting industries will pay $23 per tonne of carbon emissions and households will be compensated for extra costs through tax cuts and increased benefits.

The vote was greeted with glee from the Government and Greens and dismay by Opposition members, who were first out of the Senate doors to voice their protests.