I'm on social media quite a lot and since Green Party Leaders made public statements recently (Jonathan's resignation then Sian's public statement about not standing again) the other parties have been relishing sharing what looks like a breakdown of our Party.
A busy decade of climate campaigning means I didn't pay as much attention to the discussions on sex & gender that now seem to have reached an intolerable level; involving abuse and harm from/to members of our party – and we are of course losing support - just when planet and politics needed us most (as Greta says: "the house is on fire" - and we're the ones with the fire extinguisher!)
IF we can't resolve this internal issue, then it is impossible to expect to be trusted with all the others.
Perhaps it's that we need to change HOW we discuss and resolve divisive subjects? I had thought/trusted/hoped we had procedures in place that would facilitate this but can't see evidence.
This must be so difficult for hard-working Councillors, MP & Lords to manage the messaging coming out. I think consideration for them is being lost along with our standing.
A reconcilliation needs to happen or this will go on causing further harm and taking more energy from members who all share at least one goal: dealing with the climate and ecological crisis. Time is running out and right now we need to put everything we’ve got into making change actually happen and we CAN do that if we took all of the energy, time and commitment we are clearly capable of – and work on what unifies us rather than what divides us.
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*picture of one of our 'Green Monday' events that happened EVERY week at the anti-fracking site: Preston New Road Rolling Roadside Protest. Countless members trecked the country to come in support every Monday for nearly 3 years. We are amazing