2011 elections.

Well, it had to happen - the next municipal vote approaches; the undead remains of EcoPeace lurch into the fray.

Realising its image problem after the scandal which in 2006 cost its council seat and deposit, it now shelters under the cloak of the Socialist Green Coalition (SGC - nice logo, if a tad butch). From what I know of other coalition members, I have nothing but warmth towards them. But I lament their naïveté in taking the Murphyist entity at face value. The consensus seems to be, let's not let issues arising from individuals get in the way of presenting the right set of principles to the public.

Of course I broadly support the principles espoused by the rump of EcoPeace - I helped formulate them! The old Ecoparty only emerged from the navel-gazing-in-jacuzzi stage which lost it its deposit in the '96 elections, after the influx of seasoned activists including myself gave it a new platform and name. Within a few months of relaunching as EcoPeace in 2000 it won a seat. The pity is, none of us are left in the group - those not purged, have departed in disgust and/or despair.

The question then, to be answered by other SGC members, is whether they want to associate with EcoPeace's good rhetorical stance, when its current proponents' track record drastically contradicts that stance. What is the value of a call for resources to be diverted from fatcat councillor lifestyles to community projects, when those very community funds are grossly misappropriated? What use calling for participatory democracy, when the caller has not only excluded his critics from meetings by means of armed security guards, but furtively amended the constitution of the organisation to lend spurious legitimacy to his actions, and to grant himself permanent control of membership?

Surely the most important political principle of all is "practise what you preach"!