LABOUR'S Richard Newman Thompson wants me to explain the Green Party's position on population.

Cllr Emily Heath has already done so, but here are my views on the matter.

Firstly, the most important thing is the size of the 'footprint' (amount of resources, waste, pollution etc.) created by human populations.

It is evident that the footprint in this country is not sustainable or fair in that we are using resources from elsewhere (particularly the third world) to sustain our lifestyles.

The most commonly quoted statistic is that we would need three planets worth of resources if every country consumed the same amount as we do.

There are clearly two ways that green campaigners might seek to reduce this 'footprint'.

One is to argue for voluntarily reduction of the population and the other is to reduce the average consumption and pollution caused by members of our society.

This latter approach is the one that I have always sought to achieve with my work in the Green Party.

The Green Party's current population policy does talk about reducing numbers but it is absolutely clear that this should be voluntary and that what is important is the overall level and not the particular sizes of anybody's family.

Some people have no children and some people have lots.

The Green Party's population policy is to be debated and re-written at the National Conference - this year to be held at St.

Martins College in Lancaster.

If Mr Newman-Thompson wants to engage in the debate, he is welcome to tear up his Labour membership card and join the Green Party (unlikely, I know!).

I do not agree with all Green Party policies but I do like the way that they are democratically decided by the membership and that they are openly available to all (including Mr Newman-Thompson).

Jon Barry

Cromwell Road

Lancaster