Greens outline election hopes

Greens outline election hopes

BBC News Online Scotland asked the main parties to set out their key pledges.

This is what Scottish Green Party leader Robin Harper said.

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The Scottish Green Party is fielding candidates for the second (regional list) vote only.

Opinion polls show that we have a real chance of getting the 7% or so of list votes necessary to elect one MSP from each of the eight regions, possibly more in some areas.

The Green vision of what our society could be is based on the key principles of environmental wisdom, non-violence, radical democracy, equality and social justice.

Journalists have called me "the conscience of the Scottish parliament", a role which I have been happy to fulfill.

Organic future

I believe I will be joined by several colleagues in May and the opportunities to take the green agenda forward will be that much greater.

During the first term of the Scottish Parliament the Greens put forward the Organic Farming Targets Bill which forced the executive to produce an Organic Action Plan.

We will continue to work for an organic future for our countryside and an end to growing GM crops in Scotland.

We have helped to secure legislation to make our streets safer for children and will work to tackle traffic congestion and improve public transport.

Our manifesto for the 2003 Scottish Parliament election will include fresh new ideas that are about a better quality of life in Scotland

It was the Greens who pressed the first minister to go to the world summit on sustainable development and to set targets for recycling and renewable energy.

We will continue to work for the phasing out of nuclear power and an increase in energy efficiency.

Along with Greens across Europe and beyond, we have campaigned for fair trade not free trade.

We will continue to support local jobs and oppose laws that favour multinational companies.

We always work for peaceful solutions and will continue to oppose war as a means of resolving conflict.

Our manifesto for the 2003 Scottish Parliament election will include fresh new ideas that are about a better quality of life in Scotland.

It will include proposals for a sustainable job-creation strategy and a greening of the tax system.

It will propose reforms of the benefits system and other measures to tackle poverty and promote social justice.

Think green

It will show how we can reinvigorate communities and address social issues.

It will commit Scotland to rigorous climate change reduction targets and the establishment of a Sustainable Energy Agency.

It will outline plans to protect our biodiversity and ensure the survival of fish stocks.

I believe that our policies will appeal to people throughout Scotland.

We are asking all those who think "green" to vote Green with their second vote on May 1st, and make a real difference.