Green Party launches online Compassionate Economy project

The Green Party has today launched an online project exploring New Zealand women’s visions of a “compassionate economy.”

“The Green party has a vision of a smart, green, compassionate economy that works for everyone,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said.

“That’s a big step from where we are now, and to help us get there, we’re exploring what a compassionate economy might look like.”

The Green Party has invited several New Zealand women, prominent in their fields and communities, to share their visions of a compassionate economy in a series of short opinion pieces. The results will be published online in coming weeks, starting with a contribution from former Green MP Sue Bradford on the needs and rights of children in a compassionate economy on Sunday 7 August.

“Sue’s contribution on children in a compassionate economy is timely, with news this week that one quarter of all New Zealand children are growing up in poverty,” Mrs Turei said.

The Green Party this week launched a plan to bring 100,000 children out of poverty by 2014.

‘While the contributors to this project do not necessarily share all the views of the Green Party, and vice versa, we do all share a vision for a more compassionate economy and a strong desire to find ways to get there,” Mrs Turei said.

Green MP Catherine Delahunty, whose introduction to the Green Party’s Compassionate Economy project has been published online today, said the project was a contribution to the national debate on economics from a fresh and necessary perspective.

“With inequality becoming entrenched, and one quarter of all New Zealand children living in poverty, it’s high time we started listening to the voices of those who value caring, empathy, and compassion in our economic decision-making,” Ms Delahunty said.

The Green Party’s Compassionate Economy project can be found online at www.greens.org.nz/compassionateeconomy

Sue Bradford’s piece on the needs of children in a compassionate economy will go online on Sunday 7 August.