Ecological Humanism.
We envision a society of human liberty, equality, and solidarity, occupying its just place in the ecosystems of the Earth.
Actual Democracy.
We advocate a system in which decisions are made by the citizens, in face-to-face meetings. This system was historically known as Democracy. Confederal Municipalism.
We advocate the empowerment of communities throughout the land, and their governance by community assemblies.
The Cooperative Commonwealth.
We see democratic control of economic activity as a fundamental alternative to the corporate market system.
Labor Liberation.
We seek the transformation of both the formal and the household economies so that work itself might have intrinsic reward and pleasure.
Social Ecology.
We trace the ecological crisis to its systemic causes--capitalism in particular, hierarchy and domination in general.
Human Rights.
We support human rights according to one universal criterion--freedom--without regard for boundaries. We oppose racism of any sort, and are committed to the liberation of women and equal rights for people of all sexual preferences.
Independent Politics.
Understanding that elected officials do not have the power to bring about the changes necessary to make ours a free and just society, we view electoral work as only one strategy among many.
Strategic Nonviolence.
We are committed to the goal of nonviolent revolution, while affirming the right of self-defense.
Democratic Decentralism.
Within the LGN, we believe in the freedom to abstain from the implementation of majority decisions and to publicly dissent from them..
The LGN was founded in 1989 in response to a call by members of the Social Ecology Project (a libertarian municipalist group founded by Murray Bookchin).
The call stated that single-issue reformism was directing the green movement's energy into futile attempts to patch up capitalism with cosmetic regulations instead of replacing it with economic democracy. The call also reflected a social ecological understanding that struggles against elitism, racism, sexism, authoritarianism, and hierarchy and domination in all their forms are part of the struggle for an ecological society. To reharmonize society with nature, the call insisted, we must reharmonize humans with each other.
Left Greens launched an effort to educate themselves and others, to support developing community and workplace opposition to those forces in academia, the media, political movements (including the greens) and in political authority that support capital in all its deformation.
Most of the founding members of the LGN were also members of the Greens/Green Party USA (G/GPUSA), and held open caucus meetings during that organization's annual gatherings, discussing the Left Green response to proposals before the highest decisionmaking body, the Green Congress.
At Green gatherings and at a series of LGN conferences, we have exploredsuch topics as electoral politics, reformism, our conception of a nonmarket, postcapitalist society, and how Left Greens can help to achieve such a society.
The Left Green Network does not speak to or for its members. We publish a quarterly bulletin, in which members are encouraged to present ideas for critique by other members. Networking is also facilitated through a membership directory.
In the future, the bulletin will include suggested readings
in the hope of fostering Left Green study
groups. We hope that the discussion in such groups will give rise to articles
to be shared with the
members through LGN publications.
To join, write to
The Left Green Network
P. O. Box 913
Lyons, Colorado 80540
CAPITALISM, NATURE, SOCIALISM