|
|
|
eThekwini ECOPEACE Buhlakuleni uButhi, Yitshaleni iMithi Uproot Poisons, Grow Trees
eThekwini ECOPEACE is an environmental action collective based in Durban, South Africa.
Our primary objective is the re-establishment of a healthy environment, since without it there can be no healthy individual, no healthy society and therefore no healthy economy Open debate and co-operation, not
conflict, must be encouraged If you believe in a sustainable lifestyle and/or are frustrated with the state of local politics you may be interested in being represented by a councilor at Metro level. You can do this by voting for our candidates on 5 December 2000. We are standing in 100 wards in the Durban Metro and although we may not directly win these wards, we are hoping to get enough votes to get at least one person onto the Metro Council ( with the proportional representation we receive ). We realise that the main parties will win most of the wards and this is why we feel it is important for genuine participative democracy, that people with alternative viewpoints are also elected onto, and therefore represented at, Metro.
DOES OUR MANIFESTO FEEL RIGHT FOR YOU ? Below is a summary of our Manifesto :
We stand for : . Alternative fuels program - Usage of biodiesel, solar, wind, biogas, ethanol from hemp/sugarcane . Local Economic Trading Systems (LETS) - Options for exchanging skills, not money . Rates Reform - Remuneration for recycling and/or household generation of energy (solar, wind, biogas) . Creation of urban community gardens - Urban land for food growth and permaculture . Teacher training improvements - Providing access to alternative methods (Steiner, Montessori...) . Safe and diverse public transport - Allow people who want to use it, safe and reliable choices
. Drastic reduction in pollution - Zero waste policy involving dealing with waste at source . Food issues - Food labeling; a halt to genetically modified frankenfoods; implementing organic solutions . Diversity before monoculture - Rebates for people farming holistically; penalties for use of pesticides . Bicycle facilities -City cycle paths;workplace showers;bicycle lock-ups;trains/buses with free bike spaces . Banning importation of toxic waste - Ensuring safety of our workers and communities near factories/dumps . Debate on decriminalization of sex workers and hemp - Review all issues; open debate; end harassment . Participatory democracy - Creation of structures that will ensure collective decision making . Community feedback - Elected candidates to meet regularly with the communities they represent . Political integrity - Performance based salary not remuneration guaranteed positions; rotation on 1 year term . Non-violence - Resolving any conflict with Gandhian principles thereby increasing self-worth of all concerned . Exposing the HIV/AIDS genocide - Openly providing statistics and exposing the virus's results . Justice reforms - Short term program for overcoming backlogs; Meaningful offender rehabilitation . Demilitarization campaign - Criminalizing the arms trade; diverting military spending into the projects above
Our policies will be underpinned by the following viewpoints: . We have constantly changed our environment far beyond our needs until we now threaten our own survival and that of many other species. Political change is needed or we face extinction. . Force and wealth must be replaced by new symbols of power. A change from income and possession as measures of wealth, to a concern for health and well-being, is necessary for ecological rehabilitation. . Violence and factionalism must be overcome to create a better life for all. We need to nurture positive African values of solidarity, self-help, equity and organic relation to nature. Trust and caring are needed for self-reliance, co-operation, autonomy and responsibility. . Improvements in quality of life, vitality and well-being, and diversity of the natural environment are the foundations of future wealth. We have to choose life affirming, sustainable, long term solutions, and invest in long term research and development projects, rather than look for quick-fix cheap alternatives. We need to recognise and encourage environmental achievements, not views limited to a term of office.
If you decide to vote for us, then look out for this logo on the Durban Metro election ballot papers CANDIDATES for Durban Metro Elections of 5 / 12 / 2000
You might be interested to know that all pamphlets, posters, banners, web-page designs and election deposits are paid for personally by members of the collective
Karen Read 4640667 4645022(a/h) Michael Graaf 2010845 m_graaf@hotmail.com Alan Murphy 4657129 alan@julian.mantec.ac.za Are you interested in becoming a collective member and/or voting for us, or just finding out more about us ? If yes, then fill in the form below : CONTACT FORM
|
