Hello:
I have now been informed that I am a member of the "shadow cabinet" for the
Green Party of Canada, as the spokesperson for deep ecology.  Below is what
I submitted on this issue in my application for consideration. It is fine
by me to
reproduce it should anyone want to do this.

Best and for the Earth, David
*******

	Deep Ecology Shadow Cabinet Spokesperson

I would like to be considered for the position of deep ecology shadow
cabinet spokesperson for the Green Party of Canada. In its 2004 platform,
the federal party said that it supported deep ecology. (The Ontario Green
Party, in a "First Principles" pamphlet, lists the actual eight points of
the deep ecology platform.) Although it is quite a daunting task, I think
it is important to have someone who is relatively knowledgable about deep
ecology, when called upon, to interpret a deep ecology perspective both for
the membership of the party and, when necessary, for the public at large.
The following are some reasons which might be considered in assessing this
request to be such a spokesperson. I would be pleased to try and submit any
additional information which may be considered relevant.

As regards the Green Party: I only joined the federal Green Party in May of
2005, although I have considered myself a movement Green since 1983. I
declared this publicly in Nova Scotia at that time. I did write in the past
for Green party publications in Ontario (Frank de Jong and Ian Whyte would
know of this); I organized for Nova Scotia the tour of the Swedish Green MP
Per Gahrton in 1990; and I spoke to the Ottawa 2000 federal Green Party
convention on the topic "Is Left Biocentrism Relevant to Green Parties?"
(Left biocentrism is a "left" tendency within deep ecology with which I have
been associated.) I am now the party candidate for Central Nova. It is only
fair to point out that I have been a friendly critic of what I saw as the
shortcomings of green electoral politics and have expressed this in a
number of articles, some of which can be seen on our web site:
http://home.ca.inter.net/~greenweb/

As regards deep ecology: By 1985 I had come to accept the ecocentric
philosophy of deep ecology. In the Maritimes where I live, as an
environmental activist I began promoting this philosophy to others and also
began applying deep ecology to actual environmental issues with which I was
involved. In addition, I participated in the theoretical debate within deep
ecology by writing articles and reviewing books written by deep ecologists.
Should this be necessary, I can supply names of known deep ecologists who
would be willing to testify to my involvement in these theoretical and
philosophical discussions. I have given lectures on deep ecology at various
universities in the Maritimes. I am also a catalyst for a deep
ecology-based internet discussion group, which has been running for over
eight years, bringing together activists both within and outside the
universities. 

It should be understood by whoever is considering this request, that deep
ecology, as well as having become extremely influential in the
environmental and green movements, is also contested, both as to what it
exactly means and as to its validity. I am part of this debate which is
ongoing. So I am a supporter of deep ecology but also a friendly critic. I
consider it extremely significant and hopeful for the Earth that the
federal Green Party has said that it supports deep ecology. This is why I
am willing to put my name forward for consideration as Shadow Cabinet Deep
Ecology Spokesperson for the federal Green Party of Canada.

David Orton, August 1, 2005

 

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