The German Greens opened a theme box last week: with the claim ”ecological justice” they organized a conference in the Reichstag, German parliament. One of the goals was to connect the ecological questions with those concerning justice, even on the international level. Our pioneer Verena went to see what it is all about:

Verena's blog:The background:

 

The rich industrial nations use the majority of energy resources of our planet and are together responsible for approximately 80 percent of the greenhouse gases produced so far. Less strongly, but still very clear in their impact are the rising developing countries India and China, which made themselves (with reproduction) follow the bad example of the industrialized countries. In sharp contrast: wide parts of the southern hemisphere remain in deep darkness. In Africa, Latin America and Eastern Asia, where the majority of the 1.1 billion humans live (who must getting along with less than an euro per day) prevails poverty also at energy.

 

The conference:

 

Opening note was held by Susan George, vice-president of the transnational institute and co-foundress as well as ex- member of the board of „Attac“. First she defined the term “ecology” and “justice” in the context of the globalization debate. Then brought up a general critic of quantitative growth in capitalism, which is in conflict with ecology and sustainability. She also drew the attention to the fact that today's kind of food production not only damages the local agriculture, but also is responsible for 1/3 of greenhouse gases and 25% of CO2 emissions.

 

Afterwards Bärbel Höhn, former green minister of consumer safety, called to build a new green citizen movement. This citizen movement might not only be limited to political demands. Key is a life-style change. Each individual person can do something, f.e. ecological electricity and healthy food.
The question remains: is this enough for a citizen movement?! Especially since we know that even in the green roam it, again and again, costs conviction work to convince people of something as simple as switching to ecological electricity.

 

Another panel followed discussing “Ecological justice now! - Requirements of the German G8-Presidentship“. The discussion group consisted of the chairman of the German Green Party Claudia Roth; Professor Walden Bello (focus on global south); Jennifer Morgan (E3G-Third generation Environmentalism) and Olaf Tschimpke (NABU). The overall topic: the planned G8 conclusion document and its consequences.

 

Above all Jennifer Morgan spoke of the congruence of two models: Bush model versus European model. One disagreement was based on the question of the relationship between ecology and economics and the meaning of technical innovations for climatic protection.

 

I personally think that it must be both: on the one hand innovations, on the other hand in addition, renouncement and reduction of consumption. It was positively mentioned that George Bush does not stand for all Americans and that in America exists a civilian-social Initiative for more climate protection. Reinhard Bütikofer, leader of the German Greens, even spoke of an isolated president

 

 

The discussion in the afternoon between the former German secretary of the environment Klaus Töpfer and Reinhard Bütikofer generally ran very harmoniously. Contradictions were recognizable only about the question: can we supply our energy need in the future completely without coal power stations?

 

Töpfer spoke up for more pollution free power stations. He also pushes an „international contract for nature protection“ similar to the German „Vetragsnaturschutz“. Töpfer also made clear that town development policy would have to be an important component of international climate protection politics because over 70% of the emissions is made in urban environments (cities).

 

Claudia Roth, chairman of the German green partyAt the end of the day a nice quotation of Bärbel Höhn: Young Ladies go only out with young boys, who are coming with ecological cars
About Verena:Verena is a trained speech pathologist but also studied psychology and catholic theology. She took part in a working group for a "sustainable Germany" and was also member of two district parliaments for four years. 2002 she run for candidacy for the German federal parliament.