View source for ECOPEACE Party

{{Short description|Political party in South Africa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| country       = South Africa
| colorcode     = {{party color|Africa Moral Party}}
|name           = ECOPEACE Party
| native_name   =
|logo           = ECOPEACE Party logo.svg
|logo_size      = 150px
| leader        =
| seats1_title  =
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| foundation    = 1995
| founder       =
| headquarters  = 101 Queen City, 54 Queen Street, [[Durban]], [[South Africa]]
| position      = [[Left-wing]]
| ideology      = [[Environmentalism]]
| regional      = [[Federation of Green Parties of Africa]] <small>(Observer)</small>
| international =
| colours       =
| youth_wing    =
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}}
[[File:ECOPEACE Protest.jpg|thumb|right|ECOPEACE participating in an [[anti-war]] protest outside the American [[Consul (representative)#Consulates and embassies|consulate]] in [[Durban]] on 16 October 2002, the United Nations [[Food Security]] Day and global Anti–[[McDonald's]] Day<ref>{{cite web |url=http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2003/09/4659.php |title=16 OCTOBER IS "THE UN WORLD FOOD SECURITY DAY" AND ALSO "GLOBAL ANTI-MCD : IMC-SA |publisher=Southafrica.indymedia.org |access-date=17 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929210754/http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2003/09/4659.php |archive-date=29 September 2011}}</ref>]]
{{South African Environment}}

The '''ECOPEACE Party''' is a national [[Environmentalism|environmentalist]] [[political party]] in [[South Africa]] founded in 1995. The party was formerly known as '''eThekwini ECOPEACE''' and '''eThekwini Ecoparty'''—eThekwini is the [[Zulu language|Zulu]] name for [[Durban]], where the party is based. The Zulu party motto is {{Lang|zu|Buhlakuleni uButhi, Yitshaleni iMithi}}, which translates to "Uproot Poisons, Replant Trees (or Medicine)".

==History==
ECOPEACE entered municipal elections in 1996 but failed to win a seat. In 2000 it won one seat in the eThekwini Municipal Council;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.org.za/content/Default.aspx |title=IEC (Electoral Commission of South Africa) |publisher=Elections.org.za |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref> this was the only [[Green party|Green]] seat in South Africa. ECOPEACE was not re-elected in the 2006 local elections,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecopeace.co.za/members.html |title=Ecopeace |publisher=Ecopeace |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref> but its sister organisation Operation Khanyisa Movement (OKM), a fellow member of the [[Socialism|Socialist]] Green Coalition (SGC) gained a seat in the [[Johannesburg]] City Council that year.

Although ECOPEACE is environmentalist in the broadest meaning of seeking sustainability of natural, built, social, economic, and political aspects etc. Global climate disruption and renewable energy production are major concerns.

==Ideology==

===Core beliefs===
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2012}}

====Peace====
As implied by its name, the party is [[Anti-war movement|anti-war]], and supports peace based on freedom, equality, and justice for humans and the environment.

====Sustainability====
ECOPEACE is dedicated to environmental [[sustainability]] in areas such as [[economics]], [[land development]], and [[energy policy]].

====Consensus====
The party supports [[consensus decision making]], as expressed in practices such as parliamentary reforms and [[Participatory democracy|participatory]], [[Direct democracy|direct]], and [[consensus democracy]]. In order to strengthen voter influence and accountability of public officials, ECOPEACE supports the [[recall election|right of recall]] of elected officials and transparency in [[campaign finance]].

====Science====
The party sees [[Rationalism|rational]] science as a necessary component of informing political action and finding remedies for dangers to society and the environment, though it opposes the abuse of science to advance specific political goals.

===Energy policy===
The party opposes attempts by the [[African National Congress|ANC]] government and the [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|DA]] [[Opposition (parliamentary)|opposition]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.energy.gov.za/IRP/irp%20files/ECOPEACE.pdf|title=Current trends and policies|website=energy.gov.za|access-date=25 June 2023}}</ref> to continue financing of fossil carbon exploration and extraction, such as [[fracking]] in the [[Karoo]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE72G0EZ20110317 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905185944/http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE72G0EZ20110317 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 September 2012 |title=S.Africa farmers seek halt on shale gas exploration &#124; Reuters |publisher=Af.reuters.com |date=17 March 2011 |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/Columnists/AndreasSpath/Fracking-up-the-Karoo-20100915 |title=Fracking up the Karoo: News24: Columnists: Andreas Späth |publisher=News24 |date=15 September 2010 |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref> [[offshore drilling]], and creation of new [[Coal mining|coal mines]], even near the [[Cradle of Humankind]] where the danger of [[acid mine drainage]] exists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cer.org.za/news/media-release-civil-society-organisations-appeal-to-parliament-to-intervene-in-acid-mine-drainage/ |title=Media Release: Civil society organisations appeal to Parliament to intervene in acid mine drainage |publisher=Cer.org.za |date=9 February 2011 |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref> ECOPEACE contends that these parties dedicate only token sums to [[renewable energy]] and support policies which worsen [[Climate change|global climate disruptions]].<ref>[http://irp2.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/amurphy_ecopeace.ppt EcoPeace] {{User-generated source|date=August 2022}}</ref>

As an alternative, ECOPEACE supports changes in environmental policy and challenges against [[wealth concentration]], such as the [[Great Transition]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://democraticleft.za.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76:transcapitalism&catid=37:conference-proposals&Itemid=60 |title=Transcapitalism |publisher=Democraticleft.za.net |date=17 January 2011 |access-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814121712/http://democraticleft.za.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76:transcapitalism&catid=37:conference-proposals&Itemid=60 |archive-date=14 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neweconomics.org/projects/the-great-transition |title=The Great Transition &#124; the new economics foundation |publisher=Neweconomics.org |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gtinitiative.org/ |title=Great Transition Initiative |publisher=Gtinitiative.org |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref> The party's ideal energy policy would involve a distributed mix of [[Wind power|wind]] and [[solar power]], with storage on a [[smart grid]]. Other renewable technologies would supplement these primary sources, such as [[biogas]], [[Marine energy|ocean power]], and [[tidal power]]. In particular, ECOPEACE supports [[ocean thermal energy conversion]] (OTEC), a renewable energy technique with the potential to mitigate global climate disruption and [[Extinction event|mass extinction]] of marine life by taking heat directly out of oceans.<ref name="scienced">{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081020171454.htm |title=Earth in Midst of Sixth Mass Extinction: 50% Of All Species Disappearing |publisher=Sciencedaily.com |date=21 October 2008 |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="extinction">{{cite web|url=http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html |title=Mass Extinction Underway &#124; Biodiversity Crisis &#124; Global Species Loss |publisher=Well.com |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="extinct">{{cite web |url=http://extinct.petermaas.nl/ |title=PeterMaas.nl |publisher=Extinct.petermaas.nl |access-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013123736/http://extinct.petermaas.nl/ |archive-date=13 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Criticism==
The ANC government has threatened to revoke the electoral position of the ECOPEACE Party for protesting against the eThekwini Municipal Council, together with community members from Merebank; ECOPEACE helped elect Merebank local councillor Raja Naidoo, who was later [[Assassination|assassinated]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Independent Newspapers Online |url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/raja-naidoo-murder-still-a-mystery-1.375562 |title=Raja Naidoo murder still a mystery – South Africa &#124; IOL News |publisher=IOL.co.za |date=19 October 2007 |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-170065803.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105201848/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-170065803.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|title=Raja Naidoo murder still a mystery.(News)|date=19 October 2007}}</ref>

==Affiliations==
ECOPEACE is a member of the Socialist Green Coalition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.iafrica.com/news/290123.html |title=iafrica.com &#124; business &#124; business news &#124; Good, bad and broke |publisher=Business.iafrica.com |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Global Warming|Environment|Politics}}
* [[Democratic Left Front]]
* [[Environmental governance]]
* [[Green movement in South Africa]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160406220903/https://sites.google.com/site/ohpre2030/ 100% Renewable Energy Campaign]
* [http://www.sgcdurban.wordpress.com/ SGC eThekwini]

{{green politics}}
{{anti-war}}
{{South African political parties}}
{{Human impact on the environment|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ethekwini Ecopeace}}
[[Category:1995 establishments in South Africa]]
[[Category:Green political parties in South Africa]]
[[Category:Non-interventionist parties]]
[[Category:Pacifist parties]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1995]]
[[Category:Political parties in South Africa]]