by Taylor Luck | July 29, 2013

AMMAN — Activists have officially petitioned to establish the country’s first “green party” in a bid to bring environmental issues to the forefront of the national policy debate.

According to the fledgling Green Party of Jordan, founding member and human rights activist Ghandi Abu Sharar officially petitioned the Interior Ministry to license the group — a coalition of environmental and leftist activists.

The party, under establishment since 2000, disbanded briefly in 2008 after failing to meet revamped requirements in the then-temporary political parties law.

Activists say they now meet the requirements of the current Political Parties Law, which requires 500 founding members representing at least seven of the country’s governorates, with women accounting for over 10 per cent of its membership base.

Activists say they expect the party to be licensed within the next six months.

Should the government approve its establishment, the Green Party of Jordan would become the country’s first political organisation devoted to environmental issues.

In addition to incorporating environmental awareness in government decision-making, the party also opposes the country’s nuclear programme, calls for social justice, economic reform and boosting employment among young Jordanians outside the capital.

http://jordantimes.com/activists-to-form-jordans-first-green-party