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Sian Berry - Greater London
2024 British Local Government Election - London Assembly Member Candidate - May, 2, 2024
Electorate of Greater London - City Hall Greens - United Kingdom
Who is Sian Berry?
Siân Rebecca Berry, born on July 9, 1974, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, is a prominent Green Party politician known for her extensive career in politics and activism. Berry's educational journey led her to Trinity College, Oxford, where she graduated with a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree.
Her move to London in 1997 marked the beginning of her active participation in politics and community service. Berry's political career includes serving as the Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales alongside Jonathan Bartley from 2018 to 2021, and briefly as its sole leader in 2021.
She has been a Member of the London Assembly for Londonwide since 2016 and was a councillor for Camden's Highgate ward until October 2023. Berry's commitment to social issues, particularly the rights of renters, sustainable transport, and youth services, has been a constant throughout her time in the Assembly.
Before entering politics, Berry's career was diverse, involving roles such as a medical copywriter, PA, website manager, and author. Her activism began early, catalyzed by her work for large pharmaceutical companies, which she felt conflicted with her principles.
This led her to join the Green Party at the age of 27. Berry has since been involved in numerous campaigns, notably against the renewal of Britain's Trident nuclear weapons and for low carbon, non-nuclear energy solutions.
Despite unsuccessful bids for the London mayoralty in 2008, 2016, and 2021, Berry has made significant contributions to London's governance, particularly in her advocacy for sustainable urban development and transport policies. She has been selected as the Green Party's candidate for the Brighton Pavilion constituency, a testament to her continuing influence in Green politics.
Berry's non-political activism includes founding the Alliance against Urban 4×4s and campaigning on issues ranging from the Iraq war to genetically modified foods and air quality in Camden. A known humanist, she advocates for a rational, evidence-based approach to societal problems and is a patron of Humanists UK.
As an author, Berry has written on a variety of environmental and sustainable living topics, demonstrating her commitment to green principles in both her political and personal life. Her work on the London Assembly for the 2023-24 term spans several committees, including Transport, Housing, and Planning and Regeneration, reflecting her ongoing commitment to making London a more sustainable and equitable city.
What are Sian Berry's Political Values?
The Green Party stands as a unique political entity that emphasizes an interconnected approach to social, environmental, and economic issues. This manifesto outlines the party’s commitment to transforming society for the betterment of both the planet and its inhabitants.
Social and Environmental Justice:
The party views social, economic, and environmental challenges as interconnected and believes that resolving one requires addressing them all together. Success is not solely measured by economic indicators but also by the quality of life, including personal freedom, social equity, health, and ecosystem health.
Biodiversity and Resource Conservation:
Humanity's survival is dependent on biodiversity and the sustainable use of finite physical resources. Every individual, including future generations and other species, has a right to basic material security.
Voluntary Cooperation:
A healthy society is built on voluntary cooperation among empowered individuals, without discrimination. Decisions should be made as close as possible to the affected individuals to promote accountability and participatory democracy.
Non-violent Conflict Resolution:
The party seeks non-violent solutions that consider minority and future generation interests. Change can be achieved through various methods, including lifestyle changes and direct action, as long as they align with core principles.
Interdependence with Nature:
Humans are part of and depend on the natural world, which has suffered significantly from human activities. Traditional political and economic approaches are seen as destructive, emphasizing the need for a shift from growth-driven policies to those focusing on sustainable well-being.
Diversity and Inclusivity:
Proposes a society where individuals coexist with nature and each other in mutually beneficial ways, stressing empowerment over dominance. Values the diversity of human relationships with each other and the environment, advocating for a balance of various life-enhancing processes.
Sustainable Society:
All policies and actions should aim for sustainability, ensuring that resource use and environmental impacts are within the planet’s capacity to handle indefinitely. Calls for urgent action to address climate change and biodiversity loss, emphasizing ecological and egalitarian solutions.
Economic Restructuring:
Advocates for replacing GDP with indicators that reflect true progress towards ecological sustainability and human well-being.Supports the enhancement of rights and freedoms, balancing individual actions with the health of society and the planet.
Democratic Reform:
Promotes more democratic processes at all levels of government and society to ensure fair and inclusive decision-making. Supports measures to address inequality and ensure all citizens have access to necessary resources without compromising ecological integrity.
Cultural Change:
Encourages a shift in cultural values towards sustainability, cooperation, and respect for diversity. Engages in both global initiatives and local actions to implement its principles, aiming for a broad-based transformation across all sectors of society.
The Green Party's manifesto presents a radical rethinking of political, social, and economic systems, aiming to create a fair, sustainable society that respects the interconnected nature of global challenges. Through a combination of policy reform, cultural change, and grassroots action, the party seeks to redefine progress and ensure a viable future for all inhabitants of the planet.
