Bartu Kaleagasi

Why you should vote European Green Party for EU elections 2014

Policy Details What does this mean?
Science funding
Protecting the freedom and the funding of
scientific, social, and arts research, free from the
interference of the state and of the profit
motive.
This represents an opportunity for society to
accelerate research in all areas of study, without
funding being tied to corporate interests or
political and economic circumstances. Better
technology means more efficient production
and lower prices.

Robin Hood tax
In order to discourage short-term speculative
trading, a small tax will be levied on the value of
all stocks, shares, gilts, bonds, commodities and
currency transactions.
This tax will limit the amount of speculative
stock trading that causes price fluctuations and
destabilises the economy. This will encourage
investments to go into real projects that benefit
human beings rather than short-term profits for
large investment banks and wealthy owners.

Public healthcare
The National Health Service must provide
healthcare, free at the point of need, funded
through taxation. It must be a public service
funded by, run by and accountable to local and
national government and devoid of all
privatisation

Public healthcare is one of the most important
components of any society. The ability for all
citizens to rely on this service provides a social
safety net and reduces both crime rates and
poverty levels.

Bartu Kaleagasi
Living wage
We are demanding the introduction of a 'Living
Wage'. This will help ensure low paid workers
earn enough to provide for themselves and their
families and eradicate poverty.

In capitalist economies, workers are controlled
by corporations through low wages. This policy
will allow our workers to live a life free of wage
slavery and earn enough to support their family
needs.

Taxing the rich
Tax rates will be banded and will increase
progressively so that those on higher incomes
are paying higher marginal rates of tax. In
particular, rates higher than 40% will be
introduced for those on the highest incomes.

At the moment, society is dominated and
controlled by those who own the largest
businesses and inherit the largest amounts of
money. Their interests often unfairly affect
political decisions, and this is a threat to
functioning democracy.

Renewable energy
A programme of Government and Local
Authority investment in publicly-owned
renewable energy projects to be introduced
immediately, with an initial focus on onshore and
offshore wind projects.

With pollution levels, climate change, and loss
of biodiversity reaching their highest levels since
the formation of our planet Earth, a switch away
from fossil fuels and toxic pollutants is crucial.
This policy will encourage not only greener
energy, but also cleaner air, rivers, and forests.

LGBT rights
We support making LGBT rights a core European
competency. Granting LGBT individuals their
human rights should be a condition of being in
the European Union.

Human rights do not only mean protection from
physical harm, they also mean protection from
discrimination. It is time to fully include LGBT
individuals in our society as equal humans with
equal civil rights and social respect.

Bartu Kaleagasi
Anti-austerity
Extensive investment is required to repair the
damaged natural environment; to restore
infrastructure; and to develop re-skilling and
retraining in socially- and environmentally-
friendly production and services.
Austerity was and still is a massive failure.
Almost all politicians, including the conservative
leader of the EPP, have admitted that austerity
during recession simply does not work. This
policy ensures that the public will be prioritised
before large commercial banks or investors.

Drug law reform
The possession, trade and cultivation of
cannabis would be immediately decriminalised.
Small-scale possession of drugs for personal use
would be decriminalised. A commission would be
established to review currently controlled drug
classifications.

The ideological war on drugs has proven time
and time again to be destructive for society.
Now that states such as Colorado and Uruguay
have shown the success of a legalised,
regulated, and taxed market for soft drugs, it
should be implemented across all of Europe.

Air pollution
We will fight to ensure that no one is made sick
by the air they breathe, that there are clear
ceilings in place for air pollution levels by 2020
and 2025, and that there is action against air
pollution from major sources such as power
plants, agriculture, shipping, construction and
domestic heating.

Air pollution in many cities is at dangerous
levels and is a cause of serious health problems,
including premature death. Our atmosphere is
one of the only reasons we are alive, and no
economic or political motive can justify
destroying this limited and vital resource of life.
Free education
Education is a right and an entitlement and
should be free at the point of delivery to people
of all ages.

Education is the basic structure of advanced
society, and should be available to all citizens in
order to promote human wellbeing.
Bartu Kaleagasi
Other policies of the European Green Party:
o Anti-racism
o Free movement of labour
o Promoting walking, cycling and public transport
o Against unnecessary military intervention
o Reducing toxic waste
o Internet rights
o Stopping tax evasion
o Animal welfare
o Maternity/paternity leave
o Tenants rights
o Reducing the power of private banks

If you were thinking of voting European Socialists or European Liberals, consider the benefits that the European Greens
would offer. They are the only party that is explicitly against allowing big corporations to influence politics, for drug law
reform, and for better investments into science and renewable energy for a brighter and cleaner future. They are not
just a party for those who care about the environment; they are a party for those who care about human rights.

For a more complete list of policies, visit: http://www.reasonstovotegreen.org.uk/