The Left-Green Movement
(Vinstrihreyfingin - grænt framboð)
The party was founded on February 6th 1999 after a few months work, aiming to unite socialist and conservationist groups for the elections held on May 8th.
The prelude was a structural reorganisation on the left wing of Icelandic politics. On the one hand there were those who prepared the unification of three existing parties, The Social democrats (Alþýðuflokkur), The People's Alliance (Alþýðubandalagið) and The Women's Party (Samtök um kvennalista) in one social-democratic party. On the other side there were those who fought for the unification of social-, environmental and feminist politics into one party. These were to be found in the above mentioned parties, especially in the Peoples Alliance and the Women's Party and in an open leftwing forum newly founded, Stefna - a forum for left politics.
This movement joined forces with four MP's from The People's Alliance and The Women's Party who had the same views and had for some months formed an independent group within the parliament. In due time a new political party The Left-Green Movement was founded as a choice to the left of The Alliance (Samfylkingin).
The cornerstones of it´s policy are the following:
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Conservation of the environment
All natural resources shall be public property and utilized without reducing them and in a careful manner. So-called green economics must be used to estimate the value of untouched nature and green taxes shall be applied to encourage protection of the environment. From our point of view, it is of great importance that Icelanders can produce all the energy they need in the future. We reject further building of power plants for the use of polluting large scale industry and demand conservation of the highland. We emphasize powerful, international co-operation and conventions concerning environmental matters. -
Equality and social justice
All individuals shall have equal rights and no discrimination can be tolerated. We demand full equality concerning education, all social service, public information and freedom of speech. It is the duty of the Icelandic state to guarantee the welfare of every citizen, especially the elderly and the disabled.
The Left-Green Movement supports the strenghtening of the rural areas of Iceland by means of good social service, education, prosperous culture and various economy. Privatization in public areas is of great danger in these matters, since it usually leads to a more expensive service in rural areas.
It is a project of high priority to guarantee that wages paid for 40 hours' work a week will be sufficient for a normal cost of living. -
Fair and prosperous economy
The Left-Green Movement is willing to strengthen the position of wage earners to influence the development of our society. The party is willing to support the development of Icelandic economy to a state of more diversity and encourage the use of environment-friendly technology. It is necessary to prevent monopoly and centralization of capital, enable the conventional industries of Iceland to develop themselves and make use of Iceland's special status to create jobs of all kinds for all the inhabitants. -
Independent foreign policy
The Left-Green Movement fights for an independent, Icelandic foreign policy that maintains the sovereignty of Iceland and supports all means of establishing global peace. The party opposes participation in military organizations such as NATO and WEU. It also rejects participation in the European Union and emphasizes simple, bilateral treaties concerning trade and co-operation.
The Left-Green Movement is willing to strenghten the co-operation of all nations based on mutual respect for different opinons and different culture. The party supports and wants to strenghten the participation in democratical organizations such as the United Nations, the European Council and the Nordic Council. Iceland shall support the goals of the UN and the Declaration of Human Rights by making a contribution to the abolition of poverty and hunger, social injustice, unequal division of wealth, racial discrimination, violation of human rights and militarism.
Members of the Left-Green Movement are approximately 5000 by now. The chairman is Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, MP, and vice-chairman is Katrín Jakobsdóttir MP. The secretary-general of the party is Drífa Snædal. The party got 21% of votes cast in the elections of April 25th 2009 and has by now 14 representatives in the parliament, of them 5 has chairs in the government. The MPs are: Atli Gíslason, Álfheiður Ingadóttir, Árni Þór Sigurðsson, Ásmundur Einar Daðason, Björn Valur Gíslason, Guðfríður Lilja Grétarsdóttir, Jón Bjarnason (also the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture), Katrín Jakobsdóttir (also the Minister of Education, Science and Culture), Lilja Mósesdóttir, Lilja Rafney Magnúsdóttir, Steingrímur J. Sigfússon (also the Minister of Finance), Svandís Svavarsdóttir (also the Minister of the Environment), Þuríður Backman and Ögmundur Jónasson (also the Minister of Health).
Address:
The Left-Green Movement
Suðurgötu 3
Box 175
121 Reykjavík
ICELAND
Website: www.vg.is
E-mail: vg@vg.is
Tel.: +354 552-8872
Fundamental Policies of the Left-Green Movement
(Vinstrihreyfingin – grænt frambod)
The Left-Green Movement seeks to promote radical social improvements for the benefit of the public, to promote the respect and protection of nature and the environment of Iceland and to strengthen rural areas all over Iceland. The Movement is a forum and campaign tool for those who wish to eliminate gender discrimination and ensure equal rights, women’;s freedom and increased equality in society.
The Left-Green Movement seeks to develop a democratic and fair society founded on the active participation of the public. The Movement rejects the autocracy of capitalism and seeks to protect the independence of the nation and its sovereignty over its own natural resources. The Left-Green Movement wishes to resign membership in military alliances. The Movement places emphasis on positive and peaceful co-operation with all nations, protecting nature and the environment of Iceland and ensuring the sustainable development of the society.
The Left-Green Movement believes that the classic points of emphasis of the left movement as regards equality and social justice, radical environmental protection views and demands for sustainable development, should and must be integrated. Neither can survive on its own when looking to the future. The standards of living and welfare of the current generations cannot be based on damaging natural resources and thus curtailing the rights of the generations that follow. In the same manner this means that in a sound environmental policy, short-term interests, consumerism and greed must be replaced by the protection of the environment and the preservation of natural resources. The work at hand is to elevate the values of the real qualities of life and create a society where justice and equality are in harmony with Nature in its entirety and with Mother Earth.
Fundamental Policies in Immigration Issues
o All persons living in Iceland shall be equal before the law and, therefore, have the same rights and obligations. Immigrants shall be shown the same respect as any other resident of Iceland.
o It is impossible to regard matters concerning immigrants as a delimited subject. Realistic policies in these matters must touch on most or all fields of politics and be indivisible from overall policy formulation for the future.
o Immigrants must participate in the development of Icelandic society in all respects. To this end, mutual adaptation and integration of immigrants and Icelandic society is necessary.
o Municipalities shall establish multicultural policies and continue to develop them. All such work must be undertaken in consultation with immigrants.