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September 19, 2005

Key Issues

Earlier in 2005, the participants in the ruralgreens discussion list brought forward suggestions for a list of issues that were key to rural America. Linda Cree pulled the input together and came up with the following list. Then, there were two other topic areas which were suggested to be added: Energy and other resources (water, forests, fisheries). It is all about how we use our resources.

I forsee that we can eventually utilize the comments area of this blog to work each of these into a potition document for the national Green Party.


LAND USE PLANNING conserving rural areas, rural revitalization, pros and
cons of Smart Growth movement, suburban sprawl, rural gentrification,
corporate colonization of rural areas, promotion of bio-regional thinking,
population issues

ORGANIC FARMING
support for small-scale, labor-intensive, organic
farming, local production, farmers' markets, seed-saving, opposition to
agri-business, genetically engineered crops, corporate control of the global
food supply

ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION
sustainable forest management, better env'l laws
to stop pollution, support for more wilderness areas and wilderness
corridors, water issues, support for alternative energy, pros and cons of
some alternative energy proposals such as large windfarms, global warming,
voluntary simplicity, and also including "Speaking for Wolf" concept and
support for the Seventh Generation Amendment

TAXATION ISSUES
geonomics, a "luxury" energy tax, pros and cons of
various kinds of property taxes, tax breaks for small mom and pop businesses

RURAL POVERTY
support for living minimum wage, universal health care,
strengthening social security, affordable rural housing, making small
parcels of land more available to would-be organic farmers, orchardists,
etc.

PROMOTING RURAL PERSPECTIVES WITHIN THE GPUS
gaining official caucus
status, being a voice for the rural viewpoint

EDUCATION
in the schools, the use of local Green "experts," outreach to
promote our stands on all of the above

Posted by Wes at September 19, 2005 07:28 AM

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