Time to get real about Green Politics

"This years Wellington council election forums are turning into a bad copy of 'Live Earth' without the music" Says Nick Kelly, Wellington Workers' Party Mayoral candidate. "Unlike in previous elections suddenly every candidate talks about Green politics and how they have been environmentalists all their lives - which most candidates weren't saying 3 years ago".

Many mayoral candidates have been quick to give examples of them helping to upgrade a council park, or taking their kids to the south coast of Wellington to clean up the beach. Even conservative Mayor Prendergast has talked of making Wellington the 'first green capital', explaining that this would be economically viable.

"What these candidates are talking about is Green capitalism" says Nick. "This new found environmentalism is often coupled with support for increased user-pay charges such as water metering or similar attacks on people's living standards."

The Workers Party see the real environmental problem being the fault of capitalism where capitalists produce commodities at a level which is most profitable, rather than at a level that equates with humans real need of that commodity or with the least negative impact on the environment.

"Working people who struggle to live on low wages are told to consume less, whilst business is allowed to carry on destroying the environment and exploiting workers for profit" say Nick.

The Workers Party is also critical the capitalist Green Party who is standing candidates in a number of council wards in Wellington this year.

"Green Party candidates are coming out opposing the construction Transmission Gully to replace the dangerous and inadequate stretch of State Highway one from Wellington to the Kapiti Coast" says Nick. "All this party offers the people of Wellington instead is an empty slogan about 'Fresh thinking'".

"What's needed is a new political movement that fights to end capitalist destruction of the environment, not Green slogans from capitalist politicians" says Nick.

ENDS

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