Michael Coffey: candidate statement
July 31, 2008
My experience: local and international
Having my own consulting business in international water and renewables issues allows me freedom for Green and social justice activities.
I speak Italian, French and German, and have spent most of my career overseas, in energy and water.
As Campaigns Manager in Islington Green Party I ran our successful 2008 GLA election campaign, and also act as GPEW’s water affairs expert.
I worked with refugees in London’s detention centres before becoming volunteer manager of a charity helping victims of drugs and homelessness among London’s Italian community.
Real Green politics
The 21st Century will be a Green Century, or it won’t be a Century at all. While other political parties might nod to that these days, their superficial definition of “Green” means they avoid the real questions and the radical solutions. The role of International Co-ordinator is for me at the heart of that real Green message in all its revolutionary, exciting and challenging senses.
So many conventional political solutions to critical issues facing us now – food prices and fuel sources, refugees and drugs, Palestine and terrorism, and above all climate change – will fail, even worsen matters, because they are driven solely by the short-term interests of the West.
The Green message is international
The Green message, in contrast, is fundamentally international: our long-term health, safety and happiness can only come from recognising our responsibilities to other peoples.
Biofuels that suck food and water from farmers are no answer to climate change; tightening border controls at Dover while shipping arms to Nigeria is not a refugee policy; turning a blind eye to the slaughter in Chechnya will not give us energy security.
Working with other Green Parties for global peace
Only local justice can guarantee global peace, and as International Co-ordinator I would work with other Green parties to drive that message home, and promote policies to deliver it.
The EU, and the Green Group in the Parliament, are vital to this. The EU is increasingly looking inwards as its economy falters. There is no sense of what Europe is “for”.
The Greens have a huge opportunity now to fight back and make the Green Agenda the European agenda on the world stage. Jean and Caroline work tirelessly to do just that, and I look forwarding to supporting them as we all battle to make our Europe, and our century, truly Green.
Hi Michael
Nice statement. I like your emphasis on the role of the EU and the & on “The Green message is international”
It is not only our message that is international, it is the solutions to climate change, etc. They require international collaborations -building links- and solidarity, at all levels, from individuals, communities, scientists, to policy makers and governments. In the fragmented and violent world in which we live, it is a rather tremendous challenge. As you mention, the EU could play a key role, and it is our best chance to have some influence on the international stage as Green Party members/as a political party.
Also, one aspect, which, it seems to me, is specific of “Green” politics is to recognize and deal with complexity. Situation of conflicts, wherever, are complex, in terms of their causes, responsabilities, and resolutions. Just calling for “Justice”, or attributing all the faults to “the West”, does not help either understanding or resolution. In a situation of global crisis, people are more likely to turn to simplistic ideologies/descriptions and this is something we must certainly avoid to encourage.
It looks like the election is not contested so I wish you good luck in your future role.
Raphael
Dear Raphael
Thanks for your remarks – I agree with and like your characterisation of Green politics as dealing with complexity, not labels, and I don’t think the west has a monopoly on short-term, self-interested politics.
I still believe that Justice is as good a basis as any as a starting point for international politics, not least because it is a more international concept than say “democracy” or “freedom”. It allows for a local interpretation that at least gets people round the table. Doesn’t make resolution easy, I grant you.
cheers
michael