Yesterday I visited the electorate of Bowman to stand in for Greens candidate David Keogh to speak at the Make Poverty History public forum. The Greens were the only party to support the Make Poverty History 2010 policy asks to increase the aid commitment to reach 0.7% of GNI.

I also learnt about Micah Challenge from visiting San Sisto College student (pictured left). Micah Challenge is a global campaign of Christians speaking out against poverty and injustice. Great work.

Cheers to Bowman residents for the great turn out and interest in the topic. Please find my speech below. I ended it telling the audience about the petition from the Australia-Eritrean community that the Greens are currently supporting, but I’ll blog more about that another time soon.

SPEECH TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY PUBLIC FORUM

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today. This week we celebrated NAIDOC week. Yesterday I was delighted at the opportunity to spend time with my Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander work colleagues, particularly given the theme of this year’s celebration ‘Closing the Gap by leading their way’. I’ve had the wonderful joy, in the last few months, of working together with my community sector colleagues to be part of this special week. I hope it’s been a great NAIDOC Week for everyone. Yesterday’s event at Musgrave Park certainly lifted my spirits.

Recently, I attended the Asia Pacific Greens Network congress in Taipai, Taiwan. It was fabulous to be there and receive a warm song and dance welcome from the Indigenous people of Taiwan. One of the most fabulous experiences when I attend these global events is the opportunity to learn and share with indigenous peoples of the world. In fact, at the Taipai Congress, we passed the following resolution:

The APGN demands mechanisms that take into account indigenous and local knowledge, sciences, ideologies and concepts. This would include conducting research of the causes and impacts of climate change and to create impact models at regional, national and global levels. We also support localised adaptation and mitigation techniques to address climate change and pressure all parties at all levels to facilitate indigenous and local solutions.

The Australian Greens is part of a global movement of green political parties that value ecological sustainability, social justice, peace & non violence and participatory democracy.

The Global Greens seeks to promote the Global Greens Charter among the Green Parties of the world, as well as kindred groups and society at-large. The network strives to stimulate and facilitate action on matters of global consequence and deepen communication among Green Parties and Federations.

The rationale for connecting with individuals and groups from all over the world that share our politic goals is that we see Australia and Australians as instrumental in taking leadership in making the world a fairer place for all.

My name is Elissa Jenkins. I am the Greens candidate over the way in Moreton, I’m on the board of an NGO called the Green Institute and I’m the Qld Representation on the Australian Greens Global Issues Group.

Please accept my green colleague David Keogh’s apologies. The message he sends is:

It is with much regret that I have been unable to attend today’s Make Poverty History forum. Unfortunately I have a long-standing family commitment which makes my presence impossible. I strongly believe that Australia has a responsibility to increase its commitment to both long-term development aimed at eliminating global poverty as well as reducing climate change vulnerability. Elissa Jenkins kindly offered to represent me here today and put forward the Greens case for Australia increasing foreign aid.

The Australian Greens believe that Australia has a responsibility to contribute to both long term development aimed at eliminating global poverty and reducing climate change vulnerability, and to humanitarian emergency relief where people become vulnerable and suffer because of natural disasters or social conflict.

We believe that it is in Australia’s interests, and the interests of the global community, to encourage positive and equitable change in the social, economic and environmental conditions for citizens of developing nations.

The Greens believe that long term poverty elimination programs should be economically and environmentally sustainable, promote local participation and gender equality, and enhance the political, economic and social rights of the recipient communities.

Aid should always be designed to directly benefit the poorest communities, rather than the wealthy elites in developing countries or donor governments and their aid-related commercial interests.

Long term aid should be directed towards enhancing self-reliance in developing nations. They should also be integrated with international trade, environmental and social policies in order to promote equity.

It’s always interesting sharing policy, isn’t it? It sounds so dry. However, in 2007 I went to a Global Young Greens Conference in Kenya. While I was there I had the unique opportunity of visiting Africa’s biggest slum, Kibera. I visited an environmental/social justice group and have, since then, become good friends with two of its members – Christopher and Anastasia. We get on like a house on fire, particularly after they visited Brisbane for the International River Foundation conference (one of my favourite NGOs). Anastasia and I keep in touch by text and Chris and I keep in touch on facebook. I told Chris I was speaking at this forum and told him he would be better at writing this speech than me. So he gave me some words to contribute. He said:

It’s time to open up for a fresh start, to bring in new dimensions, welcome active and effective community participation on meeting our challenges as a community. And that’s what you are offering, inclusion and participation, not a solution – as it lies with the community; it’s not a job for one person, but for all. Thank you and god bless you.

The Australian Greens want Australia’s aid program to focus on working with developing countries to realise the millennium development goals. We want the level of Australian overseas aid increased to a minimum of 0.7% of GNP by 2010, as mandated by the United Nations, with provision for greater increases should natural disasters or conflicts requiring major humanitarian interventions occur.

We want the purpose and impact of all aid programs to be transparent and fully accountable, both to the Australian government and the communities and countries they are designed to benefit.

We would like long term aid programs that combat climate change as an integral part of their poverty elimination strategy. We also want Australia to play a leading role in securing global contributions to UN and other international appeals for funding, expertise and logistical support to deal with humanitarian emergencies wherever they occur.