Greenwash Political Action Party and Urban Grassroots Movement for the Green Party

Monday, July 24, 2006

Where is the real criticism of the Greens?

The Greens bashing from Christian Kerr continued on Crikey recently. Here is my response, an edited version of which appeared in Crikey today. Scroll down to see Mr Kerr's original attack that appeared in Crikey on Friday 21 July 2006.

Where is the real criticism of the Greens?

It is a pity Christian Kerr didn't do his homework before his latest contribution to his ongoing tirade against the Greens.

He implies that the Greens strong denouncement of the Israeli Government's slaughter of innocent civilians hasn't also contained criticism of Hezbollah or Hamas. It is true that like Kofi Annan and the European Union (and unlike Howard and Beazley who have slavishly followed the George Bush line on Israel), the Greens have condemned Israel's actions as disproportionate. However, just one click to Greens leader Bob Brown's website shows the Greens first formal statement on the issue from July 17.

"Australia should take a lead in halting Israel's bombing of civilians and Hezbollah's bloody rocket strikes, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today. 'John Howard should call George W Bush and push for rapid UN intervention to obviate war, instead of leaving the civilian casualty toll to rise. The bombing by both Israel and Hezbollah is inhumane and not excusable,' Senator Brown said."

Another couple of clicks leads to the Greens policy on the Israel-Palestine issue. A robustly developed policy with input from all sides of the debate, it explicitly condemns terrorism - whether suicide bombing or the state sanctioned variety.

Kerr's latest Greens-bashing is symptomatic of a tone found too often in the mainstream media in Australia. There is very little substantive analysis of the party – with mostly right-wing commentators offering shrill dismal or ridicule with little – if any - considered discussion. It is a shame that Crikey, led by Kerr, so often does the same.

Whatever one thinks of the Australian Greens, it is a well established party with almost 10,000 members, upwards of 30,000 estimated supporters and nearly a million voters at the last federal election. With 15 state and federal members of parliament and 80 local councillors (some with executive power) - the party needs critical analysis, for all political parties need to be kept on their toes.

But the shallow derision so often dished up on the Greens doesn't do this. In fact, all it does is drive a rift between the media (Crikey included) and the elements of its audience who support the Greens or are interested in the party's ideas and actions.

Outside Tasmania, there seems to be a general lack of public constructive criticism of the Greens . Where is the analysis of where the party should go from here for example? A considered critique of its initiatives on climate change or West Papua? Or who the party's supporter base is or what the ideological battles of the future will be? The party should be subjected to the same kind of critique that other political parties cop.

Kerrs' attack is reminiscent not only of the worst kind of ill-informed over-simplification of the Middle East politics, but also the shrill ridicule of the Greens proffered by sections of the mainstream media. It simply sets Crikey up as a kind of Bolt/Akerman-lite.
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Any excuse to get the Greens logo on TV, by Christian Kerr
The Greens seem to be prepared to use any excuse to get their logo on TV, going by an email from NSW Greens political education worker James Diack:

"Dear Members and Supporters, In response to the growing crisis in Lebanon and Palestine an emergency rally has been called by The Australian Arabic Committee for Solidarity with Palestinian and Lebanese People, a group representing over 50 community organisations.

The Rally is this Saturday, details are below: 12noon Saturday 22 July, Hyde Park North, Sydney Greens triangles and placards will be provided – please meet on the east side of the fountain. Israel is continuing to inflict collective punishment on the Lebanese and Palestinian people, bombing apartment complexes, ports, bridges, roads leading out of Lebanon, water sanitation plants and power plants. Over 210 people have been killed in Lebanon alone, all but fourteen of them civilians. Much media commentary has focused on Australian nationals stuck in Lebanon, but little attention is being paid to the millions of Lebanese and Palestinians who are being forced to endure the indiscriminate Israeli military aggression. There have been protests throughout the world, including in Israel, against the attacks. Join with this international movement to demand an immediate end to the outrageous and flagrant breaches of human rights and the needless death and destruction.

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle issued a press release on this issue yesterday, which can be seen here. "

No-one can doubt that there's a humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. However, it might be nice for the Greens to admit that the Israelis have never said that their primary goal is wipe the Palestinians or the Lebanese from the face of the earth – unlike comments made by Hezbollah, Hamas or the countries that sponsor their terrorism about the Jewish state.

posted by Ben Oquist # 2:10 PM 0 comments