yesiller -
greens of turkey 
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yesiller -
greens of turkey |
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To get information about Greens of Turkey click. Green Room Istiklal Cad Kurabiye Sok No 13/3 Beyoglu / Istanbul - Turkey Fax: + 90 212 243 83 33 Phone: +90 533 362 02 13 Open in Monday, Thuesday, Wednesday 11:00 -19:00 Green Point Osmanaga Mah. Kirtasiyeci Sok. Yesil Apt. No 23/2 Altiyol - Kadikoy / Istanbul - Turkey Phone: + 90 538 546 35 02 Open in Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11.00 - 19.00 |
1. PARTY PROFILE: Yeşiller (Greens of Turkey) is a political movement and group that works for foundation of an ecological, just, and pluralistic society. Yeşiller considers that the industrial consumer society is driving the nature and society through devastation. Not only the foods we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe; the social life is also being polluted. Poverty, inequalities and discrimination are increasing. Violence is spreading to all the fields of society, women are being oppressed more, and our world is being driven to another war spiral. Corporate globalism, which ignores the poors, the farmers, the subsistence communities are pushing all the countries to the same way. Economic relationships are being the only criterion of the social life; the ecosystem, human relationships and our future are being threatened for the sake of profit. The Greens are defending the green politics against this system that aggravate the poverty, the ecological destruction and inequalities. Direct democracy, anti-violence, struggle against the patriarchy, recognizing the differences and diversity in the society are among the basic principles the green politics based on. Green political movements in Turkey have been struggling for ecology and democracy since the 1980's. Greens in Turkey had been getting together around many groups, associations, publications, citizen initiatives, including the Green Party between 1988 and 1994. Greens in Turkey decided to strengthen their political activities in the beginning of 2002, and improving the political activities and establishing a new Green Party in Turkey had become the major targets. Since 2002, there has been taken the very crucial organizational and political steps, including the works on the basic principles and the political program, and other practical works such as journal, web site, e-mail network, and press releases and so on. The political organizational structure is being formed, with the main national body, namely Coordination, the basic functional and representative bodies, such as Coordination Committee and the working groups, also with the local groups. Today there are four local groups in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kadıköy three local group initiatives in and Bursa, Alanya and Bodrum. Individuals from other cities and towns are also among the active members of Coordination. Coordination Committee consists of the coordinators from the working groups (program, organization, international relations, press-publication, energy, climate change) and the local groups, as well as general coordinator. Coordination committee has been elected in 12 December 2004 in the general Coordination meeting.
Secretariat:
office (yeşil oda):
Istiklal Cad. Kurabiye Sok. No: 13/3 Beyoğlu - Istanbul
General Coordinator Male:
General Coordinator Female:
Press Bureau Coordinator:
+90 535 843 95 43 – enginberk@yesiller.org
International Relations
Coordinator:
Program Working Group
Coordinator:
Organization Working Group
Coordinator:
Energy Working Group
Coordinator: +90 537 348 89 49 - nerminsaatioglu@yesiller.org
Climate Change and Global
Ecology Working Group Coordinator:
Animal Rights Working Group
Coordinator: +90 533 468 67 54 - dilaverdemirag@yesiller.org
Europe Union Monitoring Working
Group Coordinator:
+90 535 695 12 01 - alperakyuz@yesiller.org
Yeşiller Ankara Group:
Yeşiller Istanbul Group:
Yeşiller Izmir Group:
Ayşen Erdoğan
+90 532 442 22 55 -
aysenerdogan@yesiller.org +90 542 424 56 58 – ilkervarli@yesiller.org
Yeşiller Kadikoy Group:
Coordinators: Hüseyin Güngör +90 532 474 03 74 - huseyingungor@yesiller.org Raziye Anlı +90 532 225 31 25
Yeşiller Bursa Group Initiative
Representative:
Ten basic principles are discussed and adopted in Bodrum meeting in 20-23 April 2002 to be improved. These are recognized as the baseline for building up the green policies and green organizations. The principle is being discussed and improved currently. Ten basic principles with more detail will be adopted and announced in the coming months. Yeşiller also considers Global Green Charter and the Guiding Principles of the European Greens are the major international green documents for its political works. 1- Harmony with nature and ecological wisdom. 2- Ecological, just and pluralistic society against the industrialist consumer society. 3- Global struggle against capitalism and neoliberalism. 4- Resistance to patriarchy. 5- Antimilitarism and peace against militarism and war. 6- Direct democracy. 7- Decentralized organizational structure based on local groups and networks. 8- Social justice and improved individual liberation and autonomy. 9- Resistance against authoritarian and domineering structures. 10- Recognizing cultural, religious, ethnic, sexual, and philosophical differences and diverse societies.
4. YEŞİLLER - ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES (STATUTE)1. Introduction 2. Definitions 3. Basic Organizational Units 4. Greens of Turkey’s Coordination Group (Coordination) 5. Working Groups 6. Coordination Committee 7. Communication 8. International Relations 9. Cooperation Funds 10. Representation 11. Decision Process 12. Campaigns and Activities 13. Press Releases 14. Self control 15. Sanctions
1. Introduction: 1.1. Green is a democratic and anti-violent political movement which struggles for rebuilding the ecological and pluralist society. 1.2. This text has been prepared to bring together the common working methods and organizational principles of the Greens of Turkey as a written document and it was adopted in 12 December 2004 in the ‘Greens of Turkey Coordination Group Meeting’ after discussed in 11 December 2004 in the ‘Greens of Turkey pre-conference’. 1.3. “Decentralized organizational structure based on local groups and networks” principle (see Basic Principles Article 7) is the main organizational principle this text based on. 1.4. The principles in this text are open to discuss and improve.
2. Definitions: 2.1. Yeşiller- Greens of Turkey (briefly The Greens): A political group formed by the individuals, the initiatives and the local groups who come together in the various places of Turkey to make politics around the green principles, who carry out their work from local, to national and international scopes, and who have the adopted organizational principles and a common working methods. 2.2. Network: A non-central and horizontal communication structure formed by the local groups, initiatives and individuals from the Greens of Turkey, of which every included unit is principally at the same distance to each other. 2.3. Greens of Turkey Coordination Group (briefly Coordination): It’s the national organizational structure formed by the active members of the Greens of Turkey. 2.4. Local Green Group and Initiative: Locally organized Green units which are the elements of the Greens of Turkey. 2.5. Secretariat of the Greens of Turkey Coordination Group (briefly Secretariat): A professional or half professional unit which carries out the Coordination works with a physical domain and communication infrastructure. 2.6. Press-Publication, Communication and Internet Bureau (briefly Press Bureau): It’s a working unit set up by the Coordination to organize the internal and the external communication of Greens, to make publications, to carry out contact with press and to prepare printed and audio-visual documents. 2.7. The Coordination Committee of the Greens of Turkey Coordination Group (briefly Coordination Committee): A sub-committee elected by the Coordination in order to manage and harmonize the works of Greens. 2.8. Working group: Units set up by the Coordination or the local groups to carry out the practical works which are formed in terms of the managerial and/or political themes. 2.9. Basic principals of the Greens of Turkey (briefly Basic Principles): They are 10 principals reflecting the key political and organizational values of the Greens of Turkey. Its basics were accepted in 20-23 April 2002 at the Bodrum meeting to be improved subsequently and its widened second version were opened for discussions in 11-12 December at the Greens of Turkey pre-conference and the Coordination meetings. It’s the main basic document of which the participants and supporters of the Greens of Turkey acknowledged. 2.10. The Sign: Greens of Turkey use the ‘Sunflower’ as their sign which is also accepted as a symbol of the Green movement in most parts of the world and which also has a special meaning in Turkey’s culture and geography.
3. Basic Organisational Units: 3.1. The Greens is a political structure formed by the individuals who have accepted the common basic principles and who also accept these basic principles, the organisational principles and the common working methods as a meeting ground. The smallest basic unit of the organisation is the individual. The Green movement has been relying on democracy, civil initiatives and civil society since the first day it occurred. The Civil Society and the Democratic Social Organisations those have respect to the nature, those defend ecology, democracy, anti-violence, human and social rights, have been the main democratic structures the Greens have arise from and have aimed to struggle together. However, The Greens is an autonomous political structure and it can not be defined as a platform or an umbrella organisation which brings the different structures or organisations together. 3.2. Local Green groups: 3.2.1. They are the locally organised groups, primarily aimed to get organised and work in their local area without being considered with the size or with the administrative status of the area (city, town, village, etc…). A new local group could be set up by the suggestion of the locally organised initiatives or groups and should be approved by the Coordination. 3.2.2. A local group should meet periodically, should have a coordinator, a communication address, telephone, fax and e-mail, should have a cooperation fund to carry out their work, should join the Greens of Turkey Coordination actively and should let all the Greens of Turkey know about their work. 3.2.3. To become a member of the local group, one should accept the common basic principals, live in the local area where the group settles, participate in the group works, take part in the communication network of the local group and contribute to the cooperation fund of the local group. A local group can decide and add some additional criteria for membership acceptance or member discharging. These criteria can not be contradicted with the Greens’ basic and organisational principals. 3.2.4. Any of the local group members who want to be a member of the Coordination are accepted as natural Coordination members, but only if they contribute to the Coordination’s Cooperation Fund. 3.2.5. The way of the election and rotation of the local group Coordinators is determined by the local group. The local group Coordinator has to be a member of the Coordination. 3.2.6. The local group Coordinators are the natural members of the Coordination Committee. 3.2.7. The formation of the Cooperation Fund and the contribution amount is decided by the local group. 3.2.8. The local groups decide the decisional process they use and how to implement their decisions. 3.2.9. The local groups can set up new working groups locally. These working groups work independent from the Coordination working groups. The local working group members can also participate in any of the Coordination working groups. 3.2.10. All the local groups are equal participators of the network without considering the size of their local area or the amount of their members. There can not be developed any mid-organisational levels or degrees in terms of cities or regions. 3.2.11. A local group is named as: Greens - [the local area name] - Group (eg. Green Group of Izmir), unless it is given any other name by the group. 3.3. Local Green Initiatives: 3.3.1. They are the small units set up in the local areas by which more than one Green person coming together. 3.3.2. One person from an initiative must be chosen to carry out the communication and s/he should give a telephone number, a postal address and/or an e-mail address to the network. 3.3.3. The special conditions of the membership rules can be decided by the initiatives. These conditions cannot be contradicted with the Greens’ basic and organisational principals. 3.3.4. An initiative works locally. 3.3.5. Any of the initiative members can be a member of the Coordination after s/he attends at least one Coordination meeting and contributes to the Cooperation Fund. The initiative members can participate in the Coordination working groups and the Coordination Committee. 3.3.6. A local initiative can change to a local group status with the decision of Coordination, after it completes the necessary terms, conditions and organisational structure. 3.3.7. All the local initiatives are equal participators of the network without considering the size of their local area or the amount of their members. There can not be developed any mid-organisational levels or degrees in terms of cities or regions. 3.3.8. A local initiative is named as: Greens - [the local area name] - Initiative (eg. Green Initiative of Kadikoy), unless it is given any other name by the group. 3.4. Individuals: 3.4.1. The persons who want to get active role in the Greens and live in the regions where there is no Green group or an initiative can join the Greens individually. 3.4.2. The individual participants of the Greens can be Coordination members if they attend at least one meeting and contribute to the Cooperation fund. 3.4.3. The individual Green participants can attend the Coordination working groups and the Coordinators Committee. 3.4.4. The persons who live in the regions where there are local Green groups or initiatives, however can/do not join them because of any reason, could participate to the Coordination individually, only if the local group or initiative in the place s/he lives approve. 3.5. Supporters: 3.5.1. The individuals who can not get active role in the works of Greens, however who accept the basic Green principals and want to support these works, could be supporters by signing a supporting paper. 3.5.2. The supporters have the priority to be informed about the works of Greens. 3.5.3. The supporters could join the working groups as the advisors with the approval of the Coordination. 3.5.4. The supporters can attend the Coordination meetings and have rights to speak in the discussions as much as the Coordination members, however they don’t have voting or veto rights. 3.5.4. The supporters can contribute to the local groups’ or to the Coordination Cooperation funds regularly or irregularly according to their will.
4. Greens of Turkey Coordination Group (Coordination): 4.1. The Coordination is the widest decision making and the organisational structure work at the national level and formed by the active members of the Greens of Turkey nationwide. The Coordination consists of the members, the working groups and the Coordination Committee. Necessary steps have to be taken to get the highest possible level of participation to the Coordination works. 4.2. Coordination membership: 4.2.1. To be a member of the Coordination, it’s necessary to be a member of a local group and/or attend at least one Coordination meeting and to contribute to the Cooperation funds regularly. 4.2.2. The Coordination members participate in the Coordination working groups; they get active roles in the decision process of working groups and the Coordination. 4.2.3. Coordination members can attend meetings and carry on campaigns on behalf of the Greens only when they are authorised by the Coordination, limited with time and subject frame. 4.2.4. The members of the Coordination committee are elected out of the Coordination members by the Coordination. 4.2.5. The Coordination has the rights to end one’s membership who behaves in contradiction to the basic principles and who doesn’t honour his/her responsibilities, unanimously. 4.3. Coordination meetings: 4.3.1. The Coordination works are planned and organised in the Coordination meetings. The Coordination determines the number and frequency of the meetings which can not be less than two in a year. The call for a meeting can be done by the Coordination committee or by at least three Coordination members. The Coordination committee is responsible for calling for a meeting at least two times in a year. 4.3.2. The location of a meeting is suggested by the ones who call and decided by the Coordination. Meetings should not be in the same towns or regions. 4.3.3. The agenda of a meeting is suggested by the ones who call and is developed by the Coordination. The national and the international works of the Greens are discussed primarily and the local subjects are secondarily in the meetings. 4.3.4. Two moderators and one secretary conduct the meeting. The moderators are responsible for keeping and covering the agenda. The summary report of a meeting is prepared by the moderators and the secretary and should be submitted to the Coordination in the following week after the meeting. 4.3.5. There is no need to have an attendance of the majority for the Coordination meetings. However, one local group or an initiative can not make a Coordination meeting only with their own members. Also, there must be at least one Coordination Committee member (general coordinator or his/her deputy) in the Coordination meeting. 4.3.6. The working groups present an oral or a written report in every Coordination meeting about their works and activities. The working group coordinators or their deputies must join the meetings in which their subjects are being discussed. 4.3.7. Apart from the Coordination members, the supporters, the people who want to know more about the Greens and some other invited people can attend the Coordination meetings. The speaking rights of these people are specially considered in the meetings. 4.4. The duties of the Coordination: 4.4.1. The Coordination represents the Greens, runs the political decisions and publicly speaks. 4.4.2. The Coordination is responsible for working on the political strategies of the Greens, determining the agenda, controlling the works, setting up and developing the working groups, approving the new local groups and the initiatives, electing and discharging the Coordination committee. 4.5. Secretariat: 4.5.1. The Coordination establishes a secretariat with an office, and the basic equipment with at least one volunteer or a professional secretary or a general administrator working at least part-time a day. The expenses of this secretariat are subsidised from the Coordination fund. 4.5.2. Location of the secretariat should change between the regions periodically, when the appropriate conditions occur. Necessary conditions are at least one room with a computer, a telephone and a fax. It’s a preferable that a local group exists in the same place. Also, at least two members of the Coordination committee (a general coordinator and at least one of the spokespersons) should live in that city. 4.5.3. The secretariat is independent from the local groups or the initiatives. However, it may use the location or the utilities of the local group. 4.5.4. The works of the secretariat is planned, administered and controlled by the general coordinator and the press bureau coordinator. 4.6. Press-publication, communication and internet bureau: 4.6.1. It’s a working unit established by the Coordination to work together with the secretariat. 4.6.2. It organizes the internal and external communication publishes the newspaper, bulletin and magazines, broadcasting the web site and the e-news, carry out the relations with the press, prepares the visual documents and posters, films, brochures, leaflets, etc… 4.6.3. The bureau is responsible for the press releases. 4.6.4. The Coordination appoints at least three of its members to be responsible for the works of the bureau. This group chooses the responsible people for the following sub-units: a- Communication and press relations b-Internet c- Printed publications. One of the members takes part in the Coordination committee as the press bureau coordinator. 4.6.5. Volunteerism is essential in the works of the bureau; however Coordination can employ professional workers in the office apart from the secretary, if necessary.
5. Working Groups: 5.4. Local working groups: 5.4.1. Local groups can set up work groups according to the division and delegation of tasks and/or on the basis of fields of work. The activities of local work groups are limited to their local area. 5.4.2. Local working groups are independent of the working groups of the coordination. However working group members can also be members of the working groups of the coordination in the same field or on the same activity. 5.4.3. The local group determines who will take part in the activities of the local group and how these activities will be carried out. 5.5. Coordination working groups 5.5.1. Specific working groups are set up to carry out coordination activities according to the division and delegation of tasks and on the basis of fields of work. Obligatory working groups on the division and delegation of tasks are listed below: 5.5.1.1. Program and Campaign working group: Works with the aim of developing the political program of the Greens. Campaigns organised by the Greens are carried out by this group unless there is another working group working specifically on campaigning. Greens stay informed on and encourage participation in other campaigns relevant to the Greens or having Green participation. 5.5.1.2. Organisation working group: Works on the development and dissemination of the organisation of the Greens. The form of organisation and the implementation of the work principles is monitored and developed by this group. It is desirable that the coordinator of this working group becomes a member of the coordination as a general coordinator, but the working group can choose to elect another person as coordinator or a person can be a general coordinator without taking part in this working group. 5.5.1.3. International Relations working group: Follows affairs of international policies and the development and organisation of the international relations of the Greens. Dividing tasks, the group elects one person responsible of relations with the international organisations listed below: 1. EGP and EFGP 2. Greens/EFA Group of EP 3. GEWD 4. Mediterranean Greens Network 5. Balkan Greens Network 6. Black Sea Greens Network The priority of this working group is to follow international meetings and send a delegation or a representative. One of its members must also be a member of the coordination committee. 5.5.1.4. Social Activities working group: organises social activities like meetings, dinners, trips, concerts, festivities, or festivals and is responsible of the participation and the coordination of group members.
6. Coordination Committee: 6.1. The Coordination elects a coordination committee out of its members to carry out tasks and enable the continuity of policies. Even if the coordinators does not take over the function of the coordination and is not a political decision body, it is responsible of carrying out the tasks delegated to it by the coordination and of ensuring the continuity of Green policies, under the condition that it permanently informs the coordination on its activities. 6.2. The coordination committee can make announcements on the condition that the coordination is informed. 6.3. The coordination committee uses the secretarial utilities. 6.4. The coordination committee is composed of the members listed below: 1. The coordinator (or representative) of the program and campaign working group 2. The coordinator (or representative) of the international relations working group 3. Coordinator of the Press-Publication, Communications and Internet Bureau 4. The general coordinator 5. Co-Spokespersons (two persons) The coordination decides on the election of co-spokespersons depending on the circumstances. 6.5. The coordinators of the local groups are natural members of the coordination committee. Thus the coordination committee consists of members in the number of: 6 + number of local groups. 6.6. The members of the coordination committee are elected by the coordination. The elections are made by the coordination once a year but can be made more often in case the coordination decides accordingly. The method of the election (compromise or voting) is determined during the meeting of the coordination. 6.7. If spokespersons are elected, two spokespersons of different sexes are elected. The duties of the spokespersons are to make announcements within the knowledge of the coordination committee and the coordination, to take part in the meetings the Greens are invited to, to develop and advocate the policies of the Greens in the press and the public arena. In special cases, the spokespersons can make announcements without the knowledge of the coordination committee and the coordination. However, they must inform the coordination committee and the coordination about these announcements as soon as possible. 6.8. The general coordinator has the following duties: the coordination of the general functioning of the coordination and the coordinators, make short- and long termed planning, ensure the adherent during activities to the work and organisation principles, coordinate the cooperation fund of the coordination and research further funding opportunities, plan, direct and monitor secretarial work, take part in the coordination meetings, call the coordination committee regularly to meetings and report on the activities. As is the case with other members of the coordinators, the general coordinator is elected by the coordination however in necessary cases; a member of the coordination committee can be elected as deputy of the general coordinator. 6.9. The coordination committee meets regularly at least once a month. The general coordinator reports the results of the meeting to the coordination in the week following the meeting. 6.10. It is expected that all the members of the coordination committee take part in the coordination meetings. The coordination meetings will not take place, unless at least one coordination committee member takes part. The coordination committee presents a report on their work in the coordination meetings. 6.11. In the elections of coordination committee and basically for all the duties and posts, electing the equal number of women and men is the main principle and should be implemented when possible. 6.12. For all the duties and posts including coordination committee membership and spokespersons, rotation is the basic principle and should be implemented when possible.
7. Communication: 7.1. The basic principle of communication among the Greens is transparency. Communication among the members, decision making processes and information about activities are all made openly and transparent to all members. 7.2. The basic and preferred mode of communication among the Greens is face to face communication, forums, meetings and talks. Other modes of communication are used widely and transparently, if considerations of time and space make it necessary. 7.3. Since communication via the internet (e-mail) is cheap and fast, it is used widely. The coordination and local groups can establish e-mail lists with closed membership to enable their internal communications. 7.4. Even though e-mailing is one of the main modes preferred by the local groups or initiatives, persons not able or not willing to use the internet have the right to demand alternative communication methods. Similarly, persons with an e-mail adress, who are nevertheless unable to use it regularly, may demand to be informed via other mediums. On the level of local groups, the group decides on this alternative mode of communication. Members of the coordination who demand alternative communication modes are informed by the secretariat at least once a month and via telephone or fax in urgent cases. When necessary, the secretariat can send letters, faxes or SMS to all members to call for meetings. 7.5. In order to inform the public on the activities of the Greens, publications like bulletins, newspapers, magazines, books, e-bulletins, the internet site or e-mail are used. Local groups choose the mode and find the means of communication. The main principle is to manage communication with the public and the media in the broadest possible sense. However, if necessary, it can be preferable to communicate with a more limited group. The coordinators, the media-press group, the communication group, the internet office and the secretariat are responsible of the communication of the Greens with the public. The coordination is regularly informed of the developments on the field of communication. 7.6. The Press and communication bureau is responsible of the healthy flow of communication.
8. International Relations: 8.1. The Greens of Turkey, commit themselves to working and supporting Greens and alternative globalisation movements on the global level. The Greens of Turkey build special relations with the Greens of Europe. The Greens join in the Social Forum processes and other global social movements, which accord with their main principles. 8.2. The Greens of Turkey are members, supporters or participans of following global or regional unions. The Greens send representatives, spokespersons or delegates to the meetings of these organisations. They can organise joint campaigns or activities with these organisations. 1. EGP and EFGP 2. Mediterannean Greens Network 3. Balkan Greens Network 4. GEWD 5. Greens/EFA Group of EP 6. Black Sea Greens Network 7. Global Greens 8.3. Participation in international meetings 8.3.1. It is expected that persons to participate in the meetings of international green organisations or international meetings where the Greens participate in, have following qualities and responsibilities (the following conditions are not valid for second or third persons participation in the meetings at their own costs) 8.3.1.1. To be master of at least one of the languages used in the meetings to follow and join the discussions and make a presentation if necessary (this condition is not valid for meetings with Turkish translation) 8.3.1.2. To take part in the whole of the meetings official parts, to take part in at least those of the other meetings or working group meetings that concern Turkey. 8.3.1.3. To inform and if necessary take the views of the international relations working group immediately in case of important developments during the meeting. 8.3.1.4. To report to the international relations working group in detail and to the coordination in a summarised form. 8.3.1.5. To give the handouts of the meeting to the international relations working group and give those, which have been marked out as important by the working group to the coordination in Turkish translation.
9. Cooperation Funds: 9.1. The Greens conduct their activities using funds collected from members and/or supporters. The cooperation funds thus established can find further funding by activities of the group (dinners, trips etc.), by the income of the sale of newspapers, magazines and books produced by the group and by other funding means. Funds stemming from sources other than the group can not be accepted unless the funders can be acceptable along the Greens principles. 9.2. Local Group Cooperation Funds 9.2.1. Every local group sets up a cooperation fund to cover their own expenses. 9.2.2. The local group decides how high and how often the contributions to the cooperation fund must be. Every member of the local group must pay the minimum amount of contribution at the determined frequency. The contribution to the local group cooperation fund is independent of the contribution to the coordination cooperation fund. In special cases, the local group can decide to exempt some members from contributing to the cooperation fund. 9.2.3. The cooperation fund is coordinated by a person elected by the local group. 9.3. The Coordination Cooperation Fund 9.3.1. The coordination establishes a cooperation fund to conduct activities and support the secretariat. 9.3.2. Members of the coordination must contribute to the cooperation fund in the determined amount and frequency. As long as there no other decision has been taken, the contributions are paid on a monthly basis. The coordination determines the minimal and maximal amounts that can be contributed. A coordination member, who commits himself to giving a specific amount above the determined minimal amount, is expected to pay this amount regularly. Members of the coordination can change the amount of their monthly contribution, on condition that they inform the general coordinator in the preceding month and the amount does not fall behind the minimal amount. 9.3.3. The general coordinator directs the cooperation fund.
10. Representation: 10.1. The coordination group represents the Greens. Personal representation at different meetings, campaigns or towards the public is possible, if the coordination is informed and in the thematic and time-bound limits set by the Coordination. 10.2. Personal representation of the Greens is possible in the following forms and under following conditions: 10.2.1. Press declarations: Only the spokespersons have the right to make press declarations. Other than the spokespersons and in cases where there are no spokespersons elected, only the secretariat or the media-press office can make press declarations on behalf of the Coordination. 10.2.2. Participation in the meetings: The members of the Coordination can represent the Greens in meetings under condition that they are authorised by the Coordination, limited to time and subject. The persons taking part in meetings take informative brochures and similar material and publications by the Greens with them. 10.2.3. The Program and Campaigns Working group authorize coordination members to represent the Greens regularly and continously in campaigns and platforms. These members are obliged to inform the Coordination regularly on their activities. 10.3. It is a basic principle to ensure the equality of representation of women and men. Similarly, the equality of the number of men and women participants in working groups and committees is a basic concern.
11. Decision Making Process: 11.1. In decision making processes by the Greens, all decisions are taken transparently for all the members by the Coordination. It is a basic principle that the decision making process is shared as much as possible with the supporters and other groupings near to the Greens. 11.2. It is a basic principle that decisions are maken via compromise after open discussions. However the coordination can decide on a voting process if necessary. In cases when the decision will be made via compromise, it is necessary that all present members either speak out for the decision or abstain. The decision will not be made if one person puts his veto on it. In cases when the decision will be based on votes, at least absolute majority will be necessary for the decision to be valid.
12. Campaigns and Activities: 12.1. To disseminate their policies and work on specific matters, apart from meetings and publications the Greens use methods like petitions, establishing or taking parts in platforms, organise or take part in activities and organise social activities. The program and campaigns working group is responsible for these campaigns and activities. However, special working groups on specific matters can be established. 12.2. Another working method is informative and campaign stands. The social activities working group decides on setting up an informative stand in meetings, conventions or similar organisations and informs the coordination and the coordinators. The social activities working group consults the media-press office to determine which materials will be used and who will work in the stand. 12.3. All possible measures are taken to enable physically disabled persons to take part in the activities and the meetings.
13. Press Releases: 13.1. The basic method of expressing the Greens attitude and reactions to current affairs are press releases. 13.2. Every Coordination member can make a suggestion and take responsibility on the subject to be taken in hand in a press release, on the drafting of the text and its discussion. For a regular press release the draft has to be discussed in the Coordination sufficiently. In matters where the basic policies of the Greens are clear, the Coordination committee can make a short press release without waiting for the consent of the whole Coordination so as not to loose time, under condition that they put the draft to the attention of the Coordination and make the suggested changes. 13.3. The press bureau is responsible of making the draft ready for publication and the publication itself.
14. Self-Control: 14.1. The Greens is an organisation in which the self-control of all participants regarding the adherence to the basic principles, the principles of organisation and working methods are taken for granted. 14.2. Regarding problems in the groups, open communication, endeavours to mutually convince one another and if necessary, the mediation of other group members in personal problems will be used.
15. Sanctions: 15.1. Mutual trust is the basis of cooperation. 15.2. In case of one or more members acting repeatedly against the basic principles and organisational principles, the coordination can take this matter in the agenda and decide on a sanction. The rights of the person accused will be protected at the highest level. In order to expel a member from group membership, a unanimous agreement is necessary. Voting is not used as a decision making process in this matter.
5. OUTLINES AND PRIORITIES FOR THE POLITICAL PLATFORM As the decision taken in Bodrum meeting on 20-23 April 2002, political platform of Green Party is supposed to be a multidimensional and detailed program, which embraces all the fields of society. Works on a new and detailed political platform is being made by the program working group. Works on political platform will be made under four titles and in the following topics: 1- Macropolitics: World, Turkey, foreign politics, human rights, women liberation, Kurdish question; 2- Economy politics: Economic system, industry, agriculture, energy, mining, tourism, trade, technology, transport, communication; 3- Ecology politics: Global ecological destruction, natural life, protection of historical environment, rural and urban places, energy production, industries, mass tourism, transport, industrial agriculture, mining; 4- Social politics: Science and education, health, labour and social security, justice, residences, life styles, social support, art, sport…
It is proposed to improve the main framework and details by further meetings and working groups. However platform should reflect the priorities of the party. According to the discussions in Bodrum meeting, it is proposed that the following topics will be the priorities of the political program and of the further activities of Green Party.:
o Anti-war activities o Human Rights o Balkans o EU o Energy policies o Agriculture policies o Global warming o Struggle Against Polluting Industries o Animal Rights o Green Mesopotamia o Protection of Historical Environment o Tourism o Transport o Clean Water o Mining o Genetics
6. GREENS - MANİFESTO-[5 June 1999 – Istanbul]
This manifesto has been adopted in 1999. The Green manifesto is considered as one of the main political documents accepted by Yeşiller. The new political platform will update some outdated parts of the manifesto. Greens, environmentalists, conservationists and ecologists, who met in Izmir (February 20 –21, 1999), in Bodrum (March 27-30, 1999), in Ankara (May 8, 1999) and in İstanbul (May 19, 1999), have set the basic principles of the green movement in Turkey. With this manifesto they are aiming at announcing their existence both locally and worldwide. This text is open to any kind of debate and/or further development. ACCORDING TO WE, GREENS Our planet is under the threat of mankind’s interference in the natural balance. The giant technology created and used by industrial systems in the fields of transport and communication, mass production and consumption, industrialized agriculture and military are putting the future of human race, of all the other species and of the planet as a whole at risk. The new world order is drawing individual and cultural identity, promoting extreme nationalism, racism, hostility towards other ethnic groups and fundamentalism with its globalization policy. Turkey has been dragged into a very serious ecological crisis as a result of the bad and controlled policies of its governments. There has been a terrible environmental destruction in the last 20 years. The assassins are not unknown by the public. Those who keep poisoning our air, water and soil and the ones who overlook this destruction are fearlessly continuing to threaten our future. Killers of the environment, with incredible shamelessness, keep founding their supposed environmental organizations and destroying nature with the support of the state. The 80-billion-dollar budget, mainly collected as taxes is spent on highways, power plants, mass tourism and the like investments, which kill nature. Protection of the environment, human rights, education and social health are regarded as sectors of minor significance. GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES Cooperation-oriented guiding principles of the GREENS, who separately participate in NGOs and democratic organizations on voluntary basis, have been determined as follows: GREENS of Turkey have formed cooperation against national and international organizations or persons who are systematically giving harm to nature and mankind’s future. For this purpose they established a secretariat and a communication network to keep watch on threats and attacks especially against nature and to form and apply necessary action plans. The GREENS will try to provide unity among NGOs, greens groups and ecologists on the basis of purpose and action. The only way to resist ecological, economic and social crisis is to let those who are affected decide our destiny. We shall carry out an organized fight against a world order pushing our planet towards death in every phase of life. We long for a government shared and utilized by everyone. The Earth provides enough for everyone’s needs, not to satisfy their greed. Threats against our planet oblige greens of Turkey to show solidarity with greens throughout the world and to establish common action plans. There shall be international solidarity, global consideration and local actions. Greens are for cooperation and solidarity, not rivalry, among countries and their economies. Development should be based upon equality of genders, freedom of expression, the right to take part in the process of decision-making and easy access to any kind of knowledge/information. The objectives of green economy are ecological sustainability, equality and social justice. Green economy is respectful towards eco-systems, sources of life. It develops and implements plans, programs and projects in order to achieve equal rights for all people in terms of health, education and shelter. Armament and nuclear energy and any expenditure on these sectors must be stopped. Saving energy, renewable energy sources and public transportation must be encouraged. All biological species and their habitats must be under protection. The size and number of cultural, archeological, natural and urban sites must be increased. Natural parks and natural sites must be carefully looked after. At least 20% of Turkey’s budget must be spared for the protection of the natural environment. In order to prevent the ethical and social disadvantages stemming from developments in genetic technology, the European Declaration of Human Rights and the bio-Medicine agreement already signed by Turkey should be ratified as soon as possible. Besides, the UN Bio Security agreement should be implemented immediately. Effective actions will be taken in order to prevent the access of nuclear power plants and nuclear wastes abandoned by the developed world into Turkey. Part of Turkey’s budged spared for energy production must be invested in energy saving and alternative energy sources like wind, solar, water, geothermal and wave energy. Clean and healthy public transport must be encouraged. While abandoning investments in highways, preferences must be for railways. Town centers must be cleared from the invasion of cars and trams, trolleys and underground systems must be extended. Karayolları Genel Müdürlüğü must be connected to the Ministry of Transport. Marine transport, railways and cycling routes must receive the attention they deserve. Sacrificing agricultural land to housing and industrial policies must be prevented. Excessive use of agrichemicals and other causes of soil pollution must be stopped. The budget spared for agriculture must be mainly used for ecological agriculture. Mass tourism and five-star hotels must be abandoned. Soft tourism and pensions must be encouraged instead. “Polluters pay principle” in the Environmental Law should be abolished and be replac |