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Greens challenging water charges Greens challenging water charges
(1 day later)
The Green Party is mounting a European challenge to the new water charges on the grounds they "do not provide an incentive" to conserve water.The Green Party is mounting a European challenge to the new water charges on the grounds they "do not provide an incentive" to conserve water.
Launching its election manifesto, the party said this breaches the European Water Framework Directive.Launching its election manifesto, the party said this breaches the European Water Framework Directive.
Protecting the environment is an integral part of its message as it tries to win its first assembly seat.Protecting the environment is an integral part of its message as it tries to win its first assembly seat.
Another key component of the manifesto is equality and the abolition of tuition fees.Another key component of the manifesto is equality and the abolition of tuition fees.
"We believe the most efficient way of providing quality of life for all is to minimise the gap between rich and poor and improve accessibility to community services," the party said."We believe the most efficient way of providing quality of life for all is to minimise the gap between rich and poor and improve accessibility to community services," the party said.
"Social justice is a cornerstone of the peace building process in our communities.""Social justice is a cornerstone of the peace building process in our communities."
The party believes there is a need for a new politics to counter low voter turnout and young people's apathy towards politics.The party believes there is a need for a new politics to counter low voter turnout and young people's apathy towards politics.
The key points of the manifesto include:The key points of the manifesto include:
  • Tackling the long-term side effects of dumping and pollution.
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  • Tackling the long-term side effects of dumping and pollution
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  • Initiating research and development which contributes to sustainability, such as organic farming, recycling technology and alternative energy sources
    • Initiate research and development which contributes to sustainability, such as organic farming, recycling technology and alternative energy sources
  • Converting 30% of agricultural land to organic use
  • Converting 30% of agricultural land to organic use
  • Supporting the proposed abolition of the 11-plus education and the associated system of secondary and grammar education
  • Supporting the abolition of the 11-Plus
  • Abolish tuition fees
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  • Abolishing tuition fees
  • Promote wind, wave, biomass and solar energy, expand R&D into all renewable sources of energy
  • Promoting wind, wave, biomass and solar energy, expand R&D into all renewable sources of energy
  • Aim     to achieve 20% of electricity production through renewable sources by 2010
  • Aiming     to achieve 20% of electricity production through renewable sources by 2010
  • New disability legislation that incorporates the principle of needs and rights and the removal of mental illness as a taboo subject
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  • Seeking new disability legislation
  • Improving public transport and implementing traffic reduction measures and promote taxi schemes in rural areas
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  • Improving public transport and implementing traffic reduction measures
  • Improving prisons to respect the dignity and human rights of detainees. Focus on alternatives to prison for convicted offenders
  • Improving prisons to respect the dignity and human rights of detainees. Focus on alternatives to prison for convicted offenders
  • Favours the strong use of anti-discrimination legislation to remove remaining discrimination against the gay and lesbian communities
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  • Favours the strong use of anti-discrimination legislation