In January 2017, a politician, who headed the local Green Party during 11 years, will become a President of Austria. Alexander Van der Bellen won 51.7% of the votes and gained a victory in the second round of the presidential elections over the nationalist Norbert Hofer.
Ukrainian diplomats and experts made no secret of their satisfaction with the results of the elections, because Hofer was considered a ‘pro-Russian Eurosceptic.’ On the contrary, the journalist found Van der Bellen’s Ukrainian roots, and now they expect that Vienna’s attitude to our state will become more favourable.
I’ve told time and again about the intensification of influence of ultrarightist political forces in the modern world. It is deeply symbolic that it was an independent candidate, who embodied the Green Party for years, who managed to win a victory over the nationalist and conservative.
Perhaps, it will be a powerful impulse for the greens in European politics, because the problems they draw general attention to are still urgent. In the successful European democracies, the presence of the greens in the parliaments is a norm. And the number of the Greens group in the European Parliament increases with each electoral cycle: according to the results of 2014 elections they obtained 50 mandates (out of 751 possible) in 17 countries of the Union.
The party program of the Greens in Europe includes the provisions about environmental responsibility, struggle against discrimination and violence, social justice, and multiculturalism. In other words, it is not only ecology, it is a world view, and it is a paradigm of the correct treatment of both the nature and the society.
Isn’t it topical for Ukraine? I am surprised that our country made nothing more than just ironical comments like “visa-free for forest-free”, and says nothing about the necessity to adopt the environmental policy strategy. There are several parties with ‘green’ names in Ukraine, however, they are outside the parliament for 14 already years, and citizens know almost nothing about their activity.
It is nonsense for the country that went through Chernobyl. If we want to be a successful European state, it is time to live not only for the day. We must come to the model of sustainable development, which does not damage the next generations.
I try to implement my vision of the ‘green policy’ with the help of Feldman Ecopark. Every day, the number of our followers throughout the country increases. Again, the matter is not only in the treatment of animals and the love of nature. Green idea helps to harmonize own life with society, it familiarizes people with the values of tolerance, mutual assistance, and respect for diversity.
I am sure that at the level of state policy, the green values are much more useful than the total unification and the aggressive rejection of everything ‘different.’ Austria has already come to this. Maybe our society will be also ready for this soon?
