- Green conservatism
Green conservatism is a term used to refer to conservatives who have incorporated green concerns into their
ideology .Variants
Canada
In Canada the term was popularized in 2006 by
Preston Manning , former federal opposition leader and founder of theReform Party of Canada . [ [http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=a5700803-8d41-438c-95e6-7cd025eb5fa4 "Saskatoon Star-Phoenix"] ] Specifically Manning has argued thatWestern Canadian Conservatism with its strong rural roots andpopulist rhetoric will eventually have to reconcile the desire for strong growth with protection of the environment. He has specifically talked about using water pricing in theAthabasca Oil Sands to prevent a "tragedy of the commons " scenario.United Kingdom
The Conservative Party in the United Kingdom under
David Cameron has embraced a green agenda which includes proposals designed to impose a tax on workplace car parking spaces, a halt to airport growth, a tax on gas-guzzling 4x4s and restrictions on car advertising. The measures were suggested by The Quality of Life Policy Group, which was set up by Cameron to help fight climate change. [ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml;jsessionid=ND2RNWDNYBJL3QFIQMGCFFOAVCBQUIV0?xml=/earth/2007/09/14/eacameron114.xml Daily Telegraph online "David Cameron pledges radical green shake-up" September 14, 2007.]Cameron has enthusiastically embraced "green" issues, and has made
climate change a key component of his speeches. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=PHYKHXUF15AT1QFIQMFSFF4AVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2005/12/10/ntory10.xml Daily Telegraph online, "Cameron pledges tough measures on climate change." October 12, 2005.] He has called for an independent climate change commission to ensure that emissions reductions targets are met. [ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6084958.stm BBC online "Cameron urges climate change law" Oct. 25, 2006.]United States
It is believed that the term was first used in the United States by former U.S. Republican congressman
Newt Gingrich in a debate on environmental issues withJohn Kerry [ [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=20393&c=1&tb=1&pb=1&gd=04232007 We Can Have Green Conservatism - And We Should - HUMAN EVENTS ] ] [ [http://www.redstate.com/blogs/newt_gingrich/2007/apr/18/the_case_for_green_conservatism The Case for Green Conservatism | Redstate ] ] .Green conservatism has manifested itself as a movement in groups such as
Republicans for Environmental Protection , which seeks to strengthen the Republican Party's stance on environmental issues and support efforts to conserve natural resources and protect human and environmental health.Japan
In Japan, the
Environmental Green Political Assembly , or Midori no Kaigi, emerged out of the conservative reformistSakigake Party . It combined a conservative ideology with an ecologist platform, forcing out a number of non-ecologist members to join the Democratic Party's "Ryoun-kai" faction. It showed poor performance at the polls, and was dissolved in 2004.Germany
In Germany, the
Ecological Democratic Party was formed by more right-wing defectors from Die Grünen in 1982. It combined a focus on environmental protection with a promotion of theright to life (opposition toabortion ,euthanasia andcapital punishment ); it differs from The Greens by being less supportive of immigration and restrictions on state powers in criminal justice issues, not focusing on gay and lesbian rights, and having a differing view of feminism.While having never gained seats in federal or state legislatures in Germany, it made a name for itself by its involvement in the opposition to a Czech nuclear reactor in
Temelin , across the border fromBavaria . It is still active in the present day.References
ee also
*
Eco-capitalism External links
* [http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/07/green-conservat.html Green Conservatism Article] by
Andrew Sullivan , Retrieved August 21, 2008.
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