Being bad is not inevitable. It is a political choice! : Ramesh Shrestha

Greens, Youth and Environment
Being bad is not inevitable. It is a political choice!

Ramesh Shrestha


(Reading a naive idea?) First ever Green political party was established in Australian State of Tasmania in April 1972 followed by New Zealand in November 1972. Today, nearly half of a century later, 99 countries have established Green parties. Its main globally consistent political philosophy is based on social justice, respect for diversity, participatory democracy, nonviolence, sustainability and environmentalism.


When we listen to political leaders, anywhere in the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, we hear exact same sentiments of democracy, human rights, sustainability and environmental protection. Yet, Green parties established with the very same foundation remains on the fringes of political arena. Many countries with Green political parties do not even have representation in national parliament because of inability of securing enough votes. In United Kingdom it was only in 2010 that a Green party member was elected to the House of Commons. Even in Canada, generally known for its liberal social policy has only 3 members in the parliament out of 338. How is this possible?


Green party supporters tend to be mostly young, well-educated with progressive outlook and environmentally conscious and tend to be active against issues of social injustices. Yet, the link between Green parties and the youth, who are the major electorate of the Greens seems in a flux. A close partnership between the youth and the Green party has the potentials to solve many global environmental problems. This may be a wishful thinking given the political marginalization of Green parties everywhere.


The wave created by Greta Thunberg suggest that the alliance between the youth and the Green could possibly address the issue of political equity, economic disparity and environmental issue. But it will be a very strenuous uphill battle. Greta Thunberg’s generation represents a billion and half people. Their voices and actions can seriously dent national policies and actions globally. There are youth and adolescent programmes in all countries aiming mostly on adolescent health, education and employment. Can the local youth organisations broaden their engagement to attain a higher goal? Engagement of the youth will not only raise the profile of the Green but will provide strong base for works in protection of environment, economic and political equity. It will require at least one Greta Thunberg in every country!


Youth movements, when politically motivated are always threats to the governments everywhere, irrespective of political ideology. Youth movement with environmental issue together with Green parties will certainly be a serious threat to many governments. Given the fact that unelected individuals and private firms are dictating the national policies, the public also have to consider new alliances to protect broader public interest, which the governments are unable to or unwilling to address. Recent action by Facebook against Australian government and its’ marketplace allowing Brazilian Amazon rainforest plots to be sold shows how the unelected individuals, their cronies and their firms can destroy issues of public interest, all done legally. It is an issue of moral judgement. Being bad is not inevitable. It is a political choice!