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First and foremost the role is to work with other green parties in the world to achieve common goals and further the objectives of the Green Party of England and Wales. The role represents the Party members and furthers the achievement of the Green Party’s objectives generally and specifically through bringing an international perspective to the discussions.
The Candidates
Peter Allen
My primary objective in standing for this role is to work with other Green Parties to contribute to a strong and strident global movement demanding radical and urgent action to address the Global Climate and Ecological Emergency.
We are all agreed that growing climate change and ecological destruction requires an international response. Carbon emissions, rising sea levels and forest fires don’t recognise national boundaries. The severity of the situation requires co-ordinated action by national governments prepared to enforce international agreements.
We cannot wait for Green Governments to be elected anywhere and everywhere. The urgency of the situation and the lack of time the world has in which to take necessary measures means that it is existing world leaders or their immediate successors who are required to act. Heavily influenced by short term ‘national interests’ and electoral considerations and under constant and enormous pressure from corporate lobbying, by fossil fuel companies and others, they will not take anything like the action required without being subject to overwhelming pressure from a global popular movement.
The Global Greens, made up of Green Parties from over 100 countries, are uniquely placed to contribute to building the movement that is required. Greens need to organise internationally around this goal and the GPEW should make this a primary political priority, including providing campaign resources. It would be appropriate for the GPEW to take a lead in this, as the Green Party of the oldest industrial polluter.
Last year I proposed a Conference Motion based on the above. I intend to propose it again this year (see website link) and hope that you will rank it highly in the forthcoming Prioritisation Ballot.
The global migration crisis is increasingly linked to climate change and ecological destruction as the number of climate refugees grows exponentially. Greens here and across the globe must come together to defend the rights of migrants and to counter the racist and xenophobic narrative expounded by many of our opponents. I would regard this as another priority should I be elected.
As International Co-ordinator I would also work to promote the GPEW’s wider international agenda, including justice for Palestine and Ukraine and the protection and expansion of the UK’s aid budget, which at present is scandalously being siphoned off to pay for accommodation for asylum seekers who are wrongly denied the right to support themselves through paid employment.
Regarding my suitability for the role, I been a member of International Committee for two years and have participated in online meetings of the Global Greens Climate Working Group. I have had various Green Party roles. I helped set up High Peak Green Party and was a founding Co-Coordinator. I have also been the Chair of East Midlands Green Party. I have always believed in collaborative working and believe I could make an effective contribution to GPEX.
Thomas Atkin-Withers
Hi, I’m Thomas Atkin-Withers, and I’m running to be your International Officer on GPEx.
A bit about me, For the last 3 years, I have been the International Officer for the LGBTIQA+ Greens, I have served two terms on the Young Greens International Committee, and for the last year, I have been a conference-elected member of the national party’s International Committee.
I have met with Greens from across Europe, and worked with Greens the world over, including at a European Green Party meeting at Europride 2023 in Malta, including members of the European Parliament and the Deputy-PM of Belgium.
We need someone with experience of International Work, who isn’t afraid to have honest and frank conversations when they’re needed. I am that person.
I plan to work with the International Committee and GPEx to make our international work more democratic and accessible, make it easier to find out what our elected International Committee have been doing, and include those with lived experience in our work.
We are at a critical juncture, Greens across the world are gearing up for a fight with fascism, and it’s a fight we cannot lose. Whether we’re fighting against fascism in Germany, France, Australia or here in the UK, we have a lot to learn from one another, and it is vital we do just that.
As part of the role, if elected, I will work to set up training opportunities with Greens from across Europe, so we can learn from one another, and fight harder together. We need to learn both from our triumphs and our defeats.
On GPEx, I will demand more accountability and transparency, we serve at the pleasure of our members and it is only right that they are given the information needed to hold us accountable. And I will work with our Elections Coordinator to learn from our foreign siblings, and weave what they have learnt into how we campaign.
To win this fight, to defeat fascism, we need all hands on deck, we need to be working across communities and across borders, working with our siblings abroad has never been more important, and we need someone who knows how their systems work at the helm. So please, elect me to GPEx as International Officer.
Fesl Reza-Khan
Why this role?
The International Coordinator, and the Committee, represents GPEW globally and is especially active in Europe. You and I can decide to oppose genocide, climate denial or fascism, but unless we take our fight beyond our borders and coordinate with our international partners and sister parties, we lose. Make no mistake, we are engaged in a struggle between two very different, competing versions of our world and our future in it. Ours is a vision of hope and fairness.
Why me?
In a word, delivery. A vote for me means a step-by-step, ‘delivery-focused’ international engagement approach, not just a talking shop. Our committee will push for the best policy and actions at all levels to deliver for and unite Greens in Europe and around the world.
I was elected to the International Committee in September 2024. Three months later, I was part of the GPEW team that negotiated with our European partners to deliver the historical motion on Palestine at the European Green Party (EGP) congress in Dublin 2024. I spent hours listening to, discussing with and understanding the perspectives of our diverse European family to build solidarity, respect and a common vision. GPEW is very much respected, more so than we realise, and I want to build on that for a stronger international Green movement.
About me:
I’m from a working-class community in Manchester, became an International Relations expert and am quadrilingual. I’ve worked in banking and local government, as well as with NATO, OECD (Brussels) and UNICEF. I am a British Army veteran and am the Current Co-Chair of Manchester Green Party as well as Muslim Greens. I am married with a little baby daughter. My motivation is to give her, and all her future friends, a world better than I was born into. That’s why I’m a Green. That’s why I’m asking for your vote as International Coordinator.
My vision:
I want to see the International Committee connected and relevant to the ordinary members on the ground, like myself, who campaign and door-knock tirelessly because they care and want to change the world. I do not want it to be a niche, abstract group that you hear about once a year. I see our role and links within Global Greens and the wider Green community to be a loud, clear voice on gender apartheid, LGBTQ+ issues, immigration, conflict, and human rights. I also want to work with our partners within EGP to ensure GPEW is a prominent part of a balanced and inclusive agenda.
My promise
If elected, I plan to work with the International Committee and GPEX to:
- Deliver our first minority network in EGP.
- Deliver EGP reforms, such as one member-one vote, to create a balanced, inclusive organisation where all voices are heard, including smaller sister parties.
- Deliver the strongest possible EGP position on Palestine and the Middle East, with our partners, in the context of achieving justice and peace.
We are part of an international Green movement, a global family, and this role is about ensuring our Party’s international presence is principled, effective, and inclusive. I bring experience, vision, and a commitment to justice. I would be honoured to serve our Party in this role, and for this I ask for your vote and trust. If you have any questions, or want to know more, please reach out or connect with me on social media.”