The Greens are changing the world to help ensure that life on Earth can flourish
The Greens statement of principles 2020–2028
Approved by the party conference on 20 September 2020
This programme replaces the party’s previous statement of principles adopted at the 2012 party conference.
The Greens’ statement of principles is designed to envision the kind of world we want to achieve, and how this can be done. It presents the core values and principles that guide the Greens’ political decision-making and action at all levels. The political target programme and other party programmes contain more detail than the principles set out here.
1. THE GREENS ARE CHANGING THE WORLD TO HELP ENSURE THAT LIFE ON EARTH CAN FLOURISH
We are working to stop climate change and the sixth wave of extinction so as to ensure a liveable planet for future generations. We are fighting for an equal, safe and fair future. We defend nature and people against greed and short-sightedness. We make policy on the basis of our principles and established facts, not on the basis of interest groups. We give a voice to those who are otherwise not heard – animals and nature as a whole, and future generations – and ensure that those who are in a vulnerable position are also heard.
The Greens are a party for the future and a social movement that brings together people from diverse backgrounds to change the world. We are helping to ensure a better everyday life and a better tomorrow for everyone. We are working for a world that is resilient in all situations, and where we can face the unexpected by joining forces across borders of all kinds.
2. A SUSTAINABLE WORLD
2.1 We will help to solve the climate crisis and defend animals and nature as a whole
Humans are part of nature, and totally dependent on it. Nature is dear to Finns, and it must be possible to enjoy it both in the countryside and in cities and towns. It has an intrinsic value that is independent of human needs. The Saimaa ringed seal, mountain birch, and all the millions of other species that exist have an inalienable right to life on this planet. Old groves with their towering oaks, fens dotted with hare’s-tail cottongrass, wild meadows in bloom, and free-flowing streams are valuable not only to humans, but also in themselves. Together, we must take action to improve the condition of rivers that have been dammed for the production of hydroelectric power, logged forests, drained swamps and bodies of water spoiled with blue-green algal blooms. The environment sets limits on human activity, and exceeding the planet’s carrying capacity is not sustainable over the long term. Despite this, for decades now we have been living beyond nature’s capacity to regenerate. If life on Earth is to continue in all its diversity, we urgently need to change course. The Greens aim to find ways for people and the whole kaleidoscope of nature to live together in a sustainable way.
Climate change and the sixth wave of extinction that is underway threaten the future of humanity and many other species, and jeopardise our planet’s ecosystems. There is no time to waste in deciding how to respond to these emergencies. We need to find solutions before climate change and mass extinction of species spiral out of control. Tomorrow may be too late – we need to start working on a sustainable society now.
We want to make Finland the world’s first carbon-neutral welfare state, and soon afterwards a carbon-negative one. We must make ambitious decisions to fight climate change and adapt to its various impacts. The Greens aim for a fair transition that keeps everyone on board and distributes the costs in a socially just way.
To solve the climate crisis, we need to make society carbon-negative – more carbon must be sequestered than is released into the atmosphere. The built environment and human activities such as electricity and heat production, transport, industry and agriculture must be made as low-emission as possible in terms of greenhouse gases. The energy economy must be efficient, based on forms of energy that produce low or even zero amounts of harmful emissions, and must be brought about using all sustainable solutions that reduce the use of fossil fuels. The shift towards sustainable food production will help maintain biodiversity, improve animal welfare, reduce waste and cut harmful emissions. Carbon sequestration and biodiversity enhancement measures need to become established and made profitable for rural industries also.
The sixth wave of extinction and the depletion of biodiversity must be halted. Through conservation of nature, we must protect and restore valuable and threatened habitats. Forested land and agricultural land must be used in ecologically sustainable ways. To maintain the genetic diversity and richness of species, protected areas must be linked together and expanded. Wild animals, including predatory species, must be treated as important parts of ecosystems. Endangered species must be protected. In Finland, we have a special responsibility for our old-growth forests, wetlands and meadows, the migratory fish in our rivers, the Baltic Sea, and the unique nature of the Arctic. And it must be remembered that preserving the rainforests, reversing marine pollution and preventing glaciers from melting are necessary to our own continued existence as well.
Animals have a value that is independent of people, and no price can be put on it. Animals must be valued as individuals for what they are, not just for what they mean to people. The interests and individual needs of animals must be taken into account in all public and private activities that have a significant impact on their living conditions. Humans have a special responsibility towards other animal species, as we have the power to exert control over them, and we also have the power to assess the morality of our actions. Our current way of life is based on unprecedented animal exploitation and intensive production, and it is both ecologically and ethically unsustainable.
We must urgently reduce the use of products of animal origin. We must put a stop to intensive farming and other cruel exploitation of animals – and fur farming, for one thing, must be banned. We want that every animal can live the kind of life that is typical of their species, as is their right. Animals also have a right to die without being made to suffer at the hands of humans. Decisions affecting animals should be based on up-to-date scientific knowledge about animal welfare and, where possible, also on knowledge about the needs and habits of the individual animal. Cruelty to animals must be taken seriously and must be tackled using both legally punitive and preventive measures.
Environmental problems know no borders, so the world needs shared rules and agreements to deal with them. In line with the principle of climate justice, wealthy countries have a greater responsibility to tackle the climate crisis because of their wealth and their large historical role in creating the bulk of the harmful emissions. Developing countries must be given the support they need in becoming carbon-negative in their industrial and other activities. Thanks to our expertise and advanced technology, Finland has not only the obligation but also the opportunity to show the way in combating climate change and protecting the environment.
2.2 We are making the economy fair and sustainable
The Greens contribute to bringing about a sustainable global economy that is based on safeguarding everyone’s wellbeing, good working conditions, respect for human rights and the stability of societies, and the eradication of poverty. We have a responsibility to future generations. We want environmentally harmful emissions and environmental degradation to be controlled, and for the polluters to always bear the cost. We want to create better conditions for doing business in a way that promotes environmental and climate protection and respects human rights. We want an end to overconsumption of natural resources. In the future, economic growth must be socially just and environmentally sustainable.
The current economic system feeds global inequality and increased harmful emissions, and this is why we must change it. The assumptions and models on which economic growth and our societies’ concept of prosperity have long been based no longer work. The material wellbeing that comes from overconsumption of natural resources is temporary at best – it is not viable over the longer term. We need to reduce our consumption of natural resources and move on from a fossil fuel-driven economic system that is destroying the planet to a carbon-negative circular economy that is also based on responsible sharing and services. These changes need to be made fast, but at the same time we need to make sure that no one is left behind. Sustainable development can support entrepreneurship and job creation, and this will continue to be the case.
Overhauling the global economy will also make it possible to correct and make amends for historical injustices. It is not right that the wealthiest keep getting richer while there are huge numbers of people all over the world who cannot afford even the bare necessities. The current distribution of wealth and income inequality are not laws of nature – they must be balanced out through political action. Tax evasion must be prevented, and taxes collected according to the ability to pay and the harms caused by particular activities. The well-off have both the opportunity and the obligation to contribute more to society than others, for example through progressive taxation. Financial markets must also be subject to fair taxation.
The economy must operate in such a way as to ensure human wellbeing and social justice, and to stay within the limits of the environment and the natural world as a whole. For the Greens, economic growth is not an end in itself. The market economy and public finances are tools for the Greens to effectively promote our goals. It requires a democratically developed framework for how markets operate. An important part of green economic policies is the taxation of forms of consumption and production that create pollution. The price of negative environmental impacts must be fully incorporated in the prices of products and services, but in a way that involves a fair distribution of the burden among people according to their differing circumstances.
2.3 We are all citizens of the same world
For the Greens, people are first and foremost world citizens, of a shared world. National borders must not be allowed to put limits on what we care about. People everywhere have the right to live free from misery and want, and Finland and other wealthy countries have a duty to ensure that this right is respected. Finland must promote global justice, and work with developing countries to bring about and maintain peace and stability, as well as promoting equality and provide assistance in combating and adapting to climate change and structural change in the economy.
We want to promote human rights, peace and democracy worldwide through foreign policy and international collaboration. We want Finland to play a greater role in the international community in its capacities as a member of the United Nations and the European Union, and as a promoter of development cooperation and supporter of the international rules-based system. A sustainable, just, feminist foreign policy is founded on human rights and a holistic approach to security.
We promote freedom of movement for all people. Cross-border solutions to cross-border problems such as global warming, loss of biodiversity, air and marine pollution and security threats are increasingly needed alongside national action. At their best, international agreements and solidarity prevent problems from materialising and worsening, and help in carving a path towards an open, stable and free world.
The international community has a duty to intervene when a state is unable or unwilling to protect the lives of its citizens or to respect the rule of law. The actions of free riders in the climate crisis must also be addressed.
The Greens are part of the peace movement, and strive for a world free of weapons. For example, we do not accept the existence of weapons of mass destruction or autonomous robotic weaponry. Finland must ratify the international Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We will build an effective and nationwide defence system based on voluntarism and non-discrimination.
Various dividing lines, confrontational attitudes and the return of power politics make the defence and development of a rules-based international system and international law difficult, but at the same time more important than ever. Finland must support the activities of international organisations and work with others to develop the UN and the EU to meet future as well as present needs.
Deepening international collaboration, strengthening democratic structures and clarifying common rules are necessary to achieve goals such as honouring the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, other human rights treaties, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
3. A GOOD LIFE FOR ALL
3.1 Human rights and other fundamental rights are central to our way of thinking
Human rights are everyone’s rights – they are universal, inalienable and fundamental. All social action must be based on respect for human rights. For the Greens, equality and non-discrimination are vital values. No single characteristic should be allowed to dictate an individual’s worth or humanity in any society.
We want to help develop a society in which everyone has equal rights and opportunities to participate, regardless of age, ethnicity, nationality, language, religion or other belief system, opinion, political activity, trade union membership, family status, place of residence, health, disability, sexual or gender orientation, or any other personal factor.
The Greens is a feminist, anti-racist and pro-equality party. Feminism is a matter of seeking freedom for everyone to be themselves, and active dismantling of power structures that create inequalities in society. Green feminism is intersectional – that is, it takes into account not only sex and gender but also other factors affecting equality, such as ethnicity, sexual and gender orientation, disability, age, class or socio-economic status, as well as the many different manifestations of discrimination.
Equality does not happen by itself – changing attitudes and the structures of society requires conscious, concentrated effort. In particular, we must support people whose life opportunities are restricted by prejudice, difficult circumstances of various kinds, low socio-economic status or other factors related to background. Where appropriate, equality should be promoted through quotas and comprehensive measures to compensate for unfair treatment in the past.
Public authorities must take people’s individual needs into account. Ensuring accessibility and the availability of support services are important prerequisites for upholding everyone’s right to equal opportunities to participate fully in all aspects of life. Services must be accessible to all in all official national languages, in plain language and sign language, and in minority languages insofar as is possible.
Finland and the whole world must be an equal and welcoming place for all sexualities and genders, regardless of how these different orientations have been treated historically and regardless of differences in bodily and other aspects of sexual and gendered identity. We must consciously and consistently acknowledge and break down discriminatory structures that prevent the full participation of different genders in working, family or social life. The Greens aim for a fairer society for all, which also entails the elimination of discrimination and narrow roles related to sex and gender. Everyone must have the right to define their gender and sexual orientation and express these without fear of stigmatisation and marginalisation.
Partnerships and family relationships must be treated equally before the law, regardless of the sex or gender of the persons themselves. All this means that the Greens also recognise the diversity of intimate relationships. We strive for a society where children’s aspirations can be fulfilled regardless of the form of family they are raised in. The diversity of families has intrinsic value and enriches the world, and people or families should not be forced into narrow categories. We also recognise the needs of the growing number of people who live alone.
Eradicating racism requires not only tackling everyday racism, but also advancing social change and anti-racist policies. Structures and attitudes that perpetuate racism and other forms of prejudice must be vigorously dismantled. Organised racist activities must be banned – racist and fascist organisations have no place in any society founded upon the rule of law. Finland must recognise its own oppressive policies towards various minorities, such as the Sámi peoples, Roma, Karelians and disabled people, and take steps to correct and redress such policies and practices.
We must ensure fair treatment for those who seek refuge in this country. Finland must help people in need and implement an asylum policy that respects human rights. We also want to promote a coherent EU-wide asylum policy that respects human rights. A key component of integration is allowing the families of newcomers to also move to the country. In any society that genuinely upholds the rule of law, no one would be forcibly returned to a place where they face the death penalty, torture, persecution or other inhuman or degrading treatment.
The Greens respect religious freedom and other freedom of belief, and we want to promote fair treatment in these regards also. Interfaith cooperation should be supported and promoted, as should other means of bringing about and maintaining peace. Different worldviews, including non-denominational worldviews, must have equal status in relation to the state.
3.2 Education and culture: the heart and soul of society
For the Greens, education and culture are things of immeasurable value. They are a guarantee of freedom for both individuals and society. They entail much more than the accumulation of knowledge and skills. They are a matter of shaping a person’s worldview, furthering their personal development, creating something new, and becoming independent in one’s thinking. Education and culture provide perspectives and perhaps even answers to the big questions of life, and equip people to ask new questions. That is why the Greens are uncompromising in our defence of equal education, science and culture in all its diversity.
A high standard of education and equal opportunities for self-development are the future of society and the road to equality. Equal rights and access to education, from early childhood education onwards, are essential for overcoming the disparities in life opportunities between people of different family and socioeconomic backgrounds.
As working life continues to change and become increasingly international, skills, science and research are important assets for Finland and give a competitive advantage for sustainable development. Research in the sciences and humanities is valuable because it helps us understand the world and create solutions to meet the challenges of the future.
Everyone has a right to education and learning throughout life, and this must be respected regardless of background or life situation. Access to education must never be limited to those from more privileged backgrounds. Education, from early childhood education to higher education and lifelong learning, must be equal and equitable, accessible, of high pedagogical quality and free of charge. Everyone should have the freedom to choose the educational path that suits them best. Freedom includes the possibility to make mistakes from time to time, and to choose a new path after a misstep. As the world changes, education and training must be updated accordingly to meet evolving needs and prepare people for the future. This is essential to ensure that people do not become victims of change but can instead be agents of it.
Education should support people in becoming active, informed citizens who are capable of participating fully in society. Among other things, learning how to learn, the ability to critically evaluate information from different sources, emotional intelligence and other interactional skills, and the ability to work in digital environments are indispensable to modern citizenship. They should be the cornerstones of education throughout the educational pathway.
The aim is to educate and support the development of a personal worldview, environmental awareness, global responsibility, the ability to respect and accommodate differences, linguistic and cultural diversity, and internationalism. Universities and other providers of education and training also have an important role to play in supporting industry, the tertiary sector and the public sector in adapting to global change, for example in making progress towards a carbon-negative circular economy.
Quality education and research require stable, adequate and reliable funding at all levels of education. Teachers and educators must be given the support they need to ensure that they can thrive in their work, and empowered to continuously develop their skills so that our society can continue to be at the forefront of education and culture. Local and regional inequalities in schools must be tackled.
The Greens want education, science and the arts and culture to flourish in Finland. We are committed to defending the freedom, intrinsic value and diversity of the arts, and to ensuring the accessibility of cultural services. There must be an equally low threshold for everyone for enjoying all that libraries, theatres, concerts, museums, galleries and the like have to offer. Children in particular must have access to cultural activities regardless of their background, place of residence or socioeconomic status. Adequate support in this area means opportunities for everyone for self-fulfilment and enjoyment of the arts and culture. Artists and researchers must be able to devote themselves to fearlessly advancing the boundaries of their respective fields.
3.3 United we stand, one and all
The Greens want to promote every person’s right to a good life and happiness, and to give everyone the means of pursuing these. Wellbeing is a fundamental right for people of all ages, sexual and gender orientations, place of origin background, socioeconomic status or individual characteristics. The success of our welfare state depends on how evenly welfare is distributed and how the most vulnerable are treated. Poverty does not come out of nowhere – it is the outcome of political choices that have been made or not made. For the Greens, the fight against poverty is one of the most important political missions.
In a just society, everyone is guaranteed an adequate income, the right to a home, quality public services and the opportunity to work and fulfil themselves. We uphold the principle that every person is valuable and no one is marginalised. Everyone should be able to receive support and assistance when things get tough – no one should have to fight for the services they need. Support and help must be available as early as possible, and preventing problems is as important as solving problems that have already materialised.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to fulfil and develop themselves and enjoy life. Society’s role is not to determine what makes someone happy, but instead to provide a framework fostering wellbeing, promoting health and maintaining everyone’s functional capacity. No one should be left unwillingly alone or to bear an unreasonable burden.
In a balanced society, everyone has access to the forms of togetherness and recreation that suit them best, and to adequate rest. Basic services that help people take care of their physical, mental and social health should be accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status or place of residence. Fulfilling leisure time is also an important part of wellbeing, and a wide range of leisure activities should be available to all.
Work is not a measure of human worth. However, everyone should have the opportunity to work according to their ability and to receive fair pay. For individuals, work is the primary means of achieving economic independence. At its best, work is also a meaningful part of life, a source of wellbeing and an opportunity for self-fulfilment. Reconciling work and other areas of life must be possible in a variety of family and life situations. For example, work must be flexible for a worker if there is an addition to the family or the person falls ill or loses a loved one. Society also needs to take better account of the value of unpaid work, which is often done in the home, and actively address its gendered distribution.
The Finnish social security system is a shared safety net for all of society, and access to it should be automatic and accessible. There should be no stigma attached to availing of it. No person’s worth as a human being should be called into question by their economic status or how they earn their living. It is therefore vital to remove bureaucratic and barriers and change attitudes that stand in the way of those who are seeking support. The Greens want to do away with the excessive bureaucracy that hampers the social security system to create a simpler and more supportive system based on a universal basic income. This would provide security to casual workers, part-time workers, low-income earners and entrepreneurs alike, and would free people to make important choices about their own lives.
If is important for the sustainability and financing of the welfare state that as many people as possible can get paid work. Working life must be fair and equal in terms of pay, and a reasonable amount of work must guarantee adequate pay. Discrimination has absolutely no place in the workplace in any form. Barriers to employment for people with disabilities and differently abled people need to be removed so that working life is genuinely open to all. Young people’s access to the labour market must be guaranteed.
Modern technology enables many of the services that are important to the welfare state to be provided conveniently to large numbers of people, including by digital means. However, the rapid development of digitalisation can also marginalise particular individuals and groups. This must be prevented by providing advice and assistance, including the possibility for others to act on a person’s behalf when the person themselves are unable to do so.
3.4 Everyone must have the freedom to live as they wish, insofar as this does not restrict the right of others to do the same.
Respecting and promoting human freedom is central to green thinking. Everyone has the right to live as they wish, as long as they do not restrict the right of others to do the same. With freedom comes responsibility. Everyone must have the right and the freedom to define themselves and how they want to live. At the same time, both as individuals and as a society we have a collective responsibility towards each other and our environment. And this will not change. Our wellbeing is based on supporting each other and sharing responsibility.
When weighing up individual freedoms and their limitations, the starting point must always be freedom. However, for serious and justified reasons, individual liberties may be restricted. If an acute emergency situation requires the state to restrict citizens’ rights in order to protect everyone’s right to health and life, for instance, such restrictions must always be proportionate to the situation at hand. Even in the face of unexpected developments, the exercise of power must be transparent and remain under democratic control. Individuals have a responsibility to respect the rules and limits of society, and those who make the rules in society have an obligation to justify these rules and limits in a clear and understandable way.
The role of society is to create opportunities for freedom. True freedom requires support: information about options, education to make informed choices, and financial security to avoid being trapped in poverty. Economic deprivation severely limits people’s choices. Freedom is also a matter of self-determination and autonomy, for example freedom from unjustifiable conformity and prejudices. People do not have to be like their neighbours or to conform to what is considered proper in their communities, but each person has the right to choose their own path in life.
Everyone has the right to bodily integrity and to make their own decisions regarding it. These include the right to abortion on the person’s own initiative. A person’s own will must be heard and respected to the fullest, whether in curative care, palliative care, hospice care or in the face of death. People have the right not only to a good life, but also to a dignified death, if necessary with good hospice care, or with assistance if they wish.
In a democratic state that respects human rights, everyone has a duty to obey the law or accept the punishment for breaking it. The purpose of the criminal justice system is to reduce and prevent crime and to help offenders regain control of their lives. Punishments for crimes must be humanely justified and in accordance with respect for human rights, and must under no circumstances be designed or applied with the aim of humiliating the person who is found guilty. No one should become homeless because of an addiction or debt, for example. There must never be a situation from which there is no way out.
In a humane society, failure is nothing to be ashamed of. We want to encourage everyone to see their own and others’ individual qualities as strengths and to actualise an inclusive society.
A good society is also one that makes it possible to do business in a sustainable way. Environmentally sustainable companies compensate for the negative effects of their operations in their business model from the start. Economically sustainable companies must be able to enter the market unhindered by individual big players and structural corruption. Socially sustainable companies respect employees as individuals and foster a sustainable work culture.
Global economic inequalities must be reduced through trade policy and development cooperation. The rules of trade policy must be equal for all, and western countries must not prevent countries in the global south from having equal access to global markets. However, regulation and trade policy can be used to steer dictatorships towards respecting universally recognised human rights, the eradication of child labour, promoting equality and upholding the rights or minorities, democratisation and environmental protection. In a world of competition and cooperation, acting in accordance with commonly agreed rules is essential.
Technological progress and the growth of knowledge are changing our world at an accelerating pace. At the same time, evolving information technologies are endowing people with the freedom to decide on the direction their own lives should take, and to pursue it. The Greens want to support the development of technologies that help bring about a more sustainable world. However, the rapid development of technology can present new ethical difficulties when individual and collective freedoms and rights come into conflict in different ways. Regulation must keep pace with technological developments, and amongst other things must ensure that sustainable development, corporate responsibility and fundamental human rights are respected.
4. DEMOCRACY MATTERS
4.1 The Greens work to strengthen a free, open and democratic society
Simply put, democracy is the best and most sustainable way of deciding on common issues. In a free, open and democratic society, everyone has a genuine say in things that affect them and to make their views and needs known. In a society founded on the rule of law, everyone is treated with dignity and equality, regardless of their background or life circumstances. We want a state that trusts the individual and is worthy of every individual’s trust. Democracy must be a pervasive principle that guides decision-making at all levels, and decisions must be taken as close as possible to the people whose lives they affect.
Democracy requires free debate, genuine dialogue, commonly agreed policies and equal opportunities to participate in decision-making. In a healthy democracy, power is exercised openly. In addition to values, policy-making must be based on scientific research and the best available expert knowledge. The cornerstone of democracy is that decision-makers can always be replaced through free and fair elections in accordance with the rule of law. Key to this is a sufficiently transparent society in which people have easy access to truthful, reliable information.
In a functioning democracy, people can have faith in the integrity and value of the political system as a means to influence and create positive change in society. Direct channels of influence, such as citizens’ initiatives and participatory budgeting, are needed to strengthen inclusion and mutual trust. New forms of social participation should be boldly tried out, and those that work well should be permanently adopted, including within political parties.
Children and young people must be consulted in all decision-making and in the development of services, and age must not be a barrier to participation in society. The voting age must be lowered, and those below the voting age must also be given real opportunities to participate and influence society.
In a free society, organisations and citizens’ movements alike play a vital role. They support representative democracy and provide low-threshold channels for people to influence and participate. These conditions must be safeguarded, because the practice of dictating decisions from the top down is not compatible with meaningful participation. The essence of civic participation is always at the level of the individual.
Information is essential to inclusion, and helps to safeguard individual rights. Therefore, transparency of information and clarity of communication must be ensured and increased at all levels of society. Information on public policy must be provided where people are: online, in schools and workplaces, and in public fora of all kinds. Information generated in the course of state and municipal activities must be freely and accessibly available to citizens. Instead of bureaucratic jargon, we need plain language. Every individual’s right to clear public information is also a question of accessibility.
A free society is characterised by freedom of speech, not a culture of silence. Freedom of expression ensures that those in power can be criticised without fear of reprisal, and that free civil debate can flourish. However, freedom of expression cannot be exercised without restriction to silence or exclude others. Hate speech and victimisation only serve to deny people their freedom of expression. We cannot accept that. It must be permissible to express strong opinions and humour without in the process committing a crime or offending the human dignity of others.
Freedom and democracy cannot be taken for granted, nor can established democracies afford to rest on their laurels. Sustaining democracy requires constant vigilance. Fake news and manipulation of information undermine trust in democratic society and established institutions. Inequalities, deep-seated racism and unregulated modern communication technologies, among other things, create breeding grounds for fear and hatred, organised reactionary forces and extremist populism. Finland is by no means immune to these disturbing international trends. We are doing everything we can to combat these phenomena.
A free and democratic society must be fought for by drawing on its strengths: by fighting inequality and prejudice, by promoting education, culture and equality, and above all by uncompromisingly upholding human rights and truth. A key requirement for maintaining the rule of law is an independent and efficient justice system where everyone has a genuine opportunity to seek and obtain justice. The conditions for a free media that adheres to high journalistic standards must be safeguarded so that social debate can be founded on truth and honesty.
4.2 The Greens are a social movement committed to openness and equality
Everyone is welcome to participate in the Greens as they are. We are an open and low-hierarchy party, and strive for inclusive decision-making. Even newcomers are given a fair chance to influence things – what matters is enthusiasm and know-know. The Greens do not accept the notion that leaders are irreplaceable, and it is on the basis of that conviction that we share power and responsibilities. People are welcome to participate in our activities even without becoming party members.
We recognise the importance of equality and providing safe spaces in all our activities. We make sure that disability or low income are not obstacles to participation in our activities. When recruiting new employees, our aim is to attract people from diverse backgrounds.
We are committed to transparency in all our activities and negotiate agreements that will stand the test of time. We are pushing for even greater transparency in all areas of decision-making – in our own activities, in the various sectors of society, in municipalities, in Parliament, in the European Union and in the United Nations.
Although we hold firm to our goals, we understand that they can be achieved in many different ways. We look for and try new things with an open mind, and do not allow ourselves to become attached to ways of thinking and acting that don’t work. And if we are mistaken, we acknowledge it and change course. For us, drawing on research as a basis for decision-making is not only a noble principle, but also an established, practical way of working.
Instead of party discipline, the Greens foster broad-ranging freedom of opinion. We foster an open and honest atmosphere where everyone can have their say and where no issues are taboo. We trust each other, in the confidence that consensus can be found through discussion. Alongside wide-ranging debate on issues within the party, we engage in active dialogue with experts and people outside the party.
The Greens are committed to absolute non-violence in all our activities. We accept only policies that are in line with our principles and that we would welcome even from those who disagree with us. We actively work against hate speech and victimisation, and always endeavour to promote a respectful atmosphere for discussion.
The Greens cannot shape the future alone – we need to collaborate with others, both in Finland and globally. We seek balance and fairness in our decision-making in order to avoid making policies that only benefit particular groups. We give our support to workable solutions, regardless of who they come from or who ultimately takes credit for them. For us, the most important thing is that the world is being changed for the better.
5. FORGING THE FUTURE TOGETHER
In a global world and in the midst of momentous changes, we are not alone. Everyone needs intimacy, emotional contact, peer support and to feel like they belong. Over the course of more than a century of independence, Finns have created a society that is highly successful by many standards, and in which people can look to the future with confidence. Creating this society did not come easy. It requires dedication and love, and must be defended and further developed all the time. By upholding the principles of this programme, we will forge the future together.
The 2020s is the decade of the climate crisis and global collaboration. More than ever, we need global collaboration to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. At the same time, we must prepare for a future in which refugee crises due to climate change and epidemics, among other developments, become more common.
Not only is the world currently in the throes of an acute climate crisis, but the coronavirus pandemic continues to take its toll. The spread of the virus has shown how quickly local problems can become global, and how global problems affect the daily lives of people everywhere. Of course, the coronavirus crisis is not the first time that the whole world faces the same problem. Nor will it be the last. Crises affect different countries and groups of people in different ways, and tend to worsen existing global inequalities. Solving crises together and supporting each other is in everyone’s interest.
The Greens are needed in times of crisis, where global rules and agreements are under threat and the way forward is clouded with uncertainty. The Greens are needed to ensure that human rights and sustainable development are upheld even when times are tough. The Greens are needed to help make the world a better, fairer place even for those who have little. And we Greens want to change the world so that life on Earth can flourish.
Vihreät - De Gröna