Green Party or Greenwashing Party?

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 4:52pm #1

How can the Green Party continue to support a government failing so badly on it's environmental targets?

https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-climate-targets-6083779-Jun2023/

I think the general consensus among environmentalists is that calling oneself, or one's business, green or eco-friendly must be backed up with concrete evidence or action. Otherwise the label of Greenwashing is assigned for those only willing to maintain the status quo or profit while waving a green flag.

Surely that tag now fits this political party?

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MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 6:10pm

Aren't they a bit like a human rights party supporting an apartheid government?

Brussels Sprout · 15-06-2023 6:25pm

There's already a long running thread for bashing the Green Party on the front page of this forum. could you not have added this there?

elperello · 15-06-2023 6:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120719303#Comment_120719303

No, not at all.

In other news politics is a difficult business.

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 7:23pm

That thread looks to be about environmental policy in general.

This thread is asking whether the current government party, calling itself the Green party, is deserving of the title considering how out of line in seems to be with the broader Green movement.

It's like asking if the austerity supporting Labour were a legitimate Labour party.

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 7:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120719441#Comment_120719441

I don't think that sort of attitude really holds with environmentalists any more.

It looks like the consensus is major change is required immediately. Supporting a government clearly failing to make those changes, while waving the green flag, just doesn't cut it as far as I can see.

Overheal · 15-06-2023 7:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120719367#Comment_120719367

Im gonna be honest and opine the thread title leaves that open to be far more broad in scope, could be green policy from anywhere, not just the Irish registered Green Party.

Furze99 · 15-06-2023 8:03pm

I was a member of the Green Party once and canvassed for candidates. They were concerned about the Irish environment then.

Now, they seem to be a Green Tech Party promoting Green Industry.

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 8:19pm

They support a government basically coming out and saying they're going to do as little as they can possibly get away with in terms of rewetting and biodiversity.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/government-criticises-scaremongering-over-peatland-restoration-1489698.html

How can you call yourself a Green party and support that?

Kermit.de.frog · 15-06-2023 8:21pm

They can leave government. Very few will shed any tears.

200mg · 15-06-2023 8:38pm

They are a "No" co2 production in Ireland party that's all. Stop producing in Ireland import everything that seems their only mantra. From food to power. Import Green tech made from coal energy. Get rid of cows let the wolves have the fields. No holiday for you but we can fly off with 12 odd people half way around the world for a meeting. I could go on. 🤪

Coolcormack1979 · 15-06-2023 8:39pm

Irish Green Party and their fanatics are absolutely dangerous.and some of their followers who are in the media non stop are pissing off the general public no end.

take this evening on the last word and in his weekly farmer bashing rants John gibbons was able to justify the slashing/puncturing of people’s cars tyres by some eco crowd.they according to him are the modern day suffragettes.

elperello · 15-06-2023 9:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120719585#Comment_120719585

So are you saying you support Green Party policies but you want them out of Government ?

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 9:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120719962#Comment_120719962

Their policies??? Which policy is it that says let's miss climate targets by a country mile?

Or are they a Green party that doesn't think keeping to 1.5 degrees warming is such a big deal?

elperello · 15-06-2023 10:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720190#Comment_120720190

https://www.greenparty.ie/policies

Here fill your boots, this is their list of policies.

You said this is about policy.

If they are out of government what happens with the new government of civil war parties propped up by independents ?

Water John · 15-06-2023 10:22pm

OP, perfection is the enemy of excellent, excellent is the enemy of competent.... (I could go on). I take it you're going for perfection.

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 10:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720266#Comment_120720266

I'm well aware it's not actually one of their policies to miss climate targets by as much as we will.

I'm guessing that didn't go over your head and in fact you're just trying to show how eco-friendly their policies are.

But in that is the essence of greenwashing, all these lovely policies on paper but actions which in fact support the status quo.

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 10:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720290#Comment_120720290

In many cases taking a little by little approach might be legitimate and acceptable.

Amongst environmentalists it's recognised major transformative changes are required immediately.

I don't see how that can be ignored from a so-called Green party.

magicbastarder · 15-06-2023 10:54pm

'third largest government party has not turned ireland 180 degrees on its carbon goals' shocker.

FF, FG and SF have shockingly poor environmental policies. (i.e. none)

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 10:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720266#Comment_120720266

Were they to leave government I doubt the net effect on whether we meet climate targets would be significant.

I don't believe they will do so anyway, though it might highlight the immediacy of the problem.

Too busy greenwashing aren't they?

elperello · 15-06-2023 10:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720391#Comment_120720391

I'm just showing what their actual policies are.

Do you want them out of government for failing to get all their policies adopted ?

magicbastarder · 15-06-2023 11:04pm

i remember years ago listening to (i think) eamonn gilmore being interviewed on the radio; the radio presenter basically asked him was he going to apologise for not getting all the labour election manifesto items into government policy. his response was (i am summarising here) 'you want me to apologise? okay, i apologise for not having won the election outright, for that is what it takes to implement all the policies you have outlined in your manifesto'.

the same applies here. the GP is IIRC one seventh of the government by seat count. if ireland is failing to meet targets, is it the fault of one seventh of the government, or six sevenths of the government?

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 11:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720425#Comment_120720425

I want them to do what a genuine environmental party would do.

As I've said already, taking a slowly, slowly approach can be a legitimate approach for some political causes.

Given what we know about climate change, supporting a government which is broadly ignoring it, does not fit with a genuine Green agenda.

It's not that I'm representing some hardcore faction. I would say the consensus amongst environmentalists is that it's no longer acceptable to support the status quo.

magicbastarder · 15-06-2023 11:13pm

so let's say they leave government. what will that do to achieve their aims?

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 11:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720449#Comment_120720449

You're comparing apples to oranges.

For a Labour party there's an argument that bringing some protection to workers and the poor as a minority partner is a legitimate approach.

Given the immediacy of climate change, the argument is far weaker that a Green Party would support a government effectively ignoring climate change, for what, a few more bicycle lanes?

15-06-2023 11:22pm

The worst "Green Party" on earth. A thorough disgrace.

MegamanBoo · 15-06-2023 11:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720478#Comment_120720478

I don't really know what their aims actually are!

I don't think them leaving government makes it any less likely we meet the climate targets.

It would make space for a genuine environmental approach to be brought to the table.

Whether they could take that mantle I'm not so sure. They certainly lack credibility right now.

magicbastarder · 16-06-2023 7:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720514#Comment_120720514

How would you rank the green parties worldwide so?

WheelieKing · 16-06-2023 7:33am

They'll do what they have to do to stay in power, just like any other political party. The most useless Green party on the planet.

16-06-2023 7:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720905#Comment_120720905

Just above the USA.

Donkey years behind the rest of Europe.

magicbastarder · 16-06-2023 7:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120720526#Comment_120720526

It would make space for a genuine environmental approach to be brought to the table.

How? FF, FG and SF don't give a **** about the environment. Who do you expect will bring this approach to the table?

Green Party or Greenwashing Party?

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