Jonathon Porritt: Difference between revisions
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After the Greens achieved 15% of the European Parlimentary vote in 1989, he became a strong public advocate of change in the Green Party. In particular, he advocated a more professional organisation with identifiable leaders.<ref name=FT>'Porritt urges streamlining of leadership system', Financial Times, 23 September 1989</ref> |
After the Greens achieved 15% of the European Parlimentary vote in 1989, he became a strong public advocate of change in the Green Party. In particular, he advocated a more professional organisation with identifiable leaders.<ref name=FT>'Porritt urges streamlining of leadership system', Financial Times, 23 September 1989</ref> |
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He also backed the election of [[Cynog Dafis]], the joint [[Plaid Cymru]]-Green MP for [[Ceredigion]].<ref name=SynthesisRegeneration>[http://www.greens.org/s-r/13/13-07.html Article by John Morrisey]</ref> |
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With [[Sara Parkin]] and [[Paul Ekins]] he founded [[Forum for the Future]] in [[1996]], a [[sustainable development]] charity. |
With [[Sara Parkin]] and [[Paul Ekins]] he founded [[Forum for the Future]] in [[1996]], a [[sustainable development]] charity. |
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Revision as of 09:54, 24 April 2007
Introduction
Jonathon Espie Porritt, CBE (born 6 July 1950) is a British environmentalist and writer. Porritt appears frequently in the media, writing in magazines, newspapers and books, and appearing on radio and television regularly.
Early life and family background
He was born in London, and educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford. Despite training as a barrister, he decided to become an English teacher in 1975.
Porritt is the son of Lord Porritt, 11th Governor-General of New Zealand. As well as receiving a non-hereditary life peerage, Lord Porritt had previously been awarded a baronetcy. Jonathon Porritt may be entitled to claim the baronetcy, becoming Sir Jonathon Porritt, 2nd Baronet, but he has so far declined to do so. [1]. He has two children [citation needed].
Political and campaigning career
In the 1970s, Porritt was the driving force behind the Ecology Party. As chairman of the UK Ecology Party (now the Green Party) from 1978 to 1984, he presided over changes that made the party much more prominent in elections. Under his stewardship, membership grew from a few hundred to around 3,000.
In 1984 his first book, Seeing Green, was published. In this year he also gave up teaching to become a director of Friends of the Earth in Britain, a post he held until 1990.
After the Greens achieved 15% of the European Parlimentary vote in 1989, he became a strong public advocate of change in the Green Party. In particular, he advocated a more professional organisation with identifiable leaders.[2]
He also backed the election of Cynog Dafis, the joint Plaid Cymru-Green MP for Ceredigion.[3]
With Sara Parkin and Paul Ekins he founded Forum for the Future in 1996, a sustainable development charity.
Current activities
Porritt acts as advisor to many bodies on environmental matters, as well as to individuals including Prince Charles and Stuart Rose, the chief executive of Marks & Spencer, advising on that company's forward strategy. He is a board member of the South West of England Regional Development Agency and Wessex Water.[4]
Porritt is on the advisory board of BBC Wildlife magazine and the chairman on the UK Sustainable Development Commission.Since 2000, he has been chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, set up by the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. He has however been critical of the Labour government on its environmental record, including on its pro-nuclear stance.
Bibliography
- Porritt, Jonathon (1984). Seeing Green: the politics of ecology explained. ISBN 0-631-13893-5.
- Porritt, Jonathon (1994). The "Reader's Digest" Good Beach Guide.
- Porritt, Jonathon (1995). Liberty and Sustainability: Where One Person's Freedom is Another's Nuisance.
- Porritt, Jonathon (2000). Playing Safe: Science and the Environment (Prospects for Tomorrow).
- Porritt, Jonathon (2004). Making the Net Work: Sustainable Development in a Digital Society.
- Porritt, Jonathon (2006). Capitalism: As If the World Matters. ISBN 1-84407-192-8.
See also
External links
- Biography
- Sustainable Development Commission - profile of Jonathon Porritt.
References
- ^ Baronetage website
- ^ 'Porritt urges streamlining of leadership system', Financial Times, 23 September 1989
- ^ Article by John Morrisey
- ^ Board of South West RDA
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