Manifesto of the Union of Greens of Russia ("Green Russia")
This Summary of the Party Platform was first published at rus-green.ru.
Our country is in trouble. The reforms we had hoped for have become reforms aimed at enriching the few, whilst the quality of life and welfare of the majority worsens.
Today, the majority of Russian citizens are deprived of their natural human rights - to breathe unpolluted air, to drink clean water, to eat healthy food and to have healthy children. As a result, life expectancy declines, mortality increases and the number of sick children grows. Environmental problems have already hampered the socio-political development of Russia.
Russia is being governed without taking into account long-term national interests - the country has become a supplier of raw materials to developed countries as well as a world dump for garbage, dangerous technologies and poor quality products and goods. The natural resources of the country are being used ineffectively, the gap between the rich and the poor widens and the principles of democracy are being neglected. Citizens feel less and less protected against corruption and criminality and the bureaucrats and oligarchs who usurped the country. We declare that a society of irresponsible consumption, where success in life is measured only by the access to and the quantity of material welfare, has no future.
The Union of Greens of Russia is a political wing of Russia's environmental movement. Our priority aim is to guarantee the rights of citizens to a decent life in a healthy environment and to ensure their equitable and responsible participation in the management of the natural and cultural heritage of our country.
Democracy and the Rights of Citizens
We strive for the development of direct forms of democracy and self-governance, the accountability of the government to the public, the restoration of independent representation and judicial authority, the de-bureaucratization of executive power and the elimination of corruption in all of its forms.
We strive for equal social, economic and political rights for all Russian citizens, regardless of religion, nationality, gender or other attributes, the social responsibility of the State towards its citizens and for the rights of all nations within Russia to pursue their own traditional culture and way-of-life.
We strive for the development of a new political and economic system that would equitably take into account environmental and social issues and interests at regional, national and global levels.
We strive for freedom of speech, for a diverse and independent mass-media, for liberty of conscience and the non-interference of the church in matters-of-state.
Man, Nature and the Economy
We strive for a society where natural resources are being used to increase the prosperity of people and where the benefits from natural resources are distributed equitably.
We strive for state and public jurisdiction over the conservation and augmentation of Russian national property, but we are against the depletive or unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and uncontrolled and socially-irresponsible privatization.
We strive for setting true value to our natural resources, favoring the export of value-added products, developing environmentally sustainable, resource-saving and high-tech industries and promoting environmentally and socially responsible businesses.
Health and Responsibility for the Future
We strive for the full state support of family, mothers and children, establishing favorable conditions for raising physically and morally healthy generations, helping realise the creative potential of our youth and promoting a healthier way-of-life for all our citizens.
We strive for improving food safety, using natural resources in a holistic and sustainable manner, maintaining soil fertility and promoting organic farming and the non-use of pesticides and genetically modified food products.
We strive for an introduction of a ban on importing hazardous technologies, products and wastes.
We strive for the gradual but determined abolition of nuclear power, a transition to environmentally-sensitive energy production and the promotion of energy-saving and efficient technologies and wider use of recycled resources.
Dignity and Justice
We strive for reducing the gap between the rich and the poor, using state profits and resource rent for the benefit of Society, restructuring the economy by promoting adequate and just remuneration of labor and stimulating demand for domestically-produced products and technologies.
We strive for the restoration of the state social assistance function, including the provision of high-quality and free education and medical services, support for low-income groups and the provision of an adequate welfare system for senior citizens.
We strive for guarantees of environmental and social justice and the equitable access to the natural resources and cultural and spiritual values of the country for all Russian citizens.
We strive for the provision of adequate environmental and social standards of living regardless of where citizens live.
We strive for preventing the construction of buildings in cities that favors the few while disadvantaging the many and for supporting the development of eco-settlements by the state.
We oppose the construction of environmentally hazardous facilities and require all large-scale projects that may lead to significant changes in the environment to commence only after being supported by a referendum.
Personal and Public Safety and State Security
We strive for a strong democratic Russia that is able to effectively defend its national integrity and security.
We strive for guaranteeing personal and public safety and state security and for realizing the rights of citizens to a healthy environment, compensation for damages caused by violations of environmental law and participation in decision-making relating to environmental matters and quality of life.
We strive for the transition of the armed forces to a professional service, for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Chechnya and for banning the use of the armed forces against the civilian population.
Our party is being created through the initiative of ordinary people in order to defend the right of everyone to live a decent life in good health and in a clean and healthy environment. Having united to achieve harmony between Man and Nature, to seek guaranteed rights and liberties and principles of democracy and social justice for all citizens, we will convince state authorities to take serious consideration of us. In cooperation with other environmentally and socially-oriented parties and public movements, and by all means possible, we will promote the building of a Russia in which the prosperity and power of our country are being used for the well-being of its citizens and where health care and the conservation of our natural resources and national heritage are unconditional priorities.
If we lose, who will win?
The Union of Greens of Russia (Green Russia") was officially established on 5th June 2005 in the town of Korolev. A year previously, representatives of more than 60 leading environmental NGOs signed a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding in which they recognized the strong need in Russia for a green power in politics. This initiative was officially registered on 20th September 2004. An organizational committee was established and headed by Alexey Yablokov, the well-known environmentalist and public figure.
The founding conference, which took place in Korolev, was attended by more than 200 delegates from 59 regions in the Russian Federation. Participants adopted the Party's Charter and Program and elected an executive body to lead the Party and an auditing commission.
In order to comply with the new federal law on political parties, a party has to have at least 45 regional branches totaling at least 50,000 individuals by the end of 2005. As of 20th September 2005, regional branches have been established in 41 regions.