2016-08-18
The Green Issue Editors
While we celebrate the return of Rachel and Scott to the Senate, this GI takes a peak into our rural scene. The Greens (WA) have a comprehensive agricultural policy, emphasizing the pursuit of sustainable agriculture, addressing the soil degradation and climate change challenges facing farming, better integrating the natural environment with farming, appropriate regulation of genetically modified (GM) crops and the social well-being of rural dwellers. We are well served in having our views represented in parliament with Senator Rachel Siewert being an agriculture graduate and, in the WA Legislative Council, Robin Chapple with the agriculture portfolio and Lynn Maclaren with several porfolios relevant to agriculture (e.g. animals, food, GM). Accordingly, each of our representatives have contributed articles herein on this agricultural theme.
Climate change poses particular challenges for agriculture. South-western WA is a globally notable example of climate change, with a clearly declining trend in rainfall over the last 50 years – a particular challenge for a predominantly rainfed farming system stretching out to the arid zone. The Climate Council has recently conveniently summarized the effects of climate change on Australian rural communities.
WA is also on the global stage with respect to the stand-off between GM and non-GM crops – Lynn MacLaren MLC updates on the case of contamination of the organic farm of Steve and Sue Marsh. Essentially, this issue boils down to a question of choice, of farmers being able to choose the type of crops they grow and of consumers the type of food they eat. We also present perspectives of Greens members resident in the countryside – of Adrian Price from Busselton and Ian James who stood as The Greens candidate for the federal seat of Durack, where The Greens vote increased by 3% (to 10%) to now approach that of the Nationals (16%), the traditional rural party.
This issue contains reviews of some recommended books, one enlightening us as to the agriculture practiced by our indigenous people before the Europeans came and another on the nexus between the food we eat and climate change.
In this issue we also present the results of an evaluation of The Greens election campaign in the hope that it will further guide us while embarking on the campaign for the next state election, to be held next March. To also help us get our bearings, please note the advertisement for our Greens (WA) AGM, scheduled for 29th October.
Photo: Farm landscape near Bruce Rock CSIRO