Wednesday 28 June 2017

RIC NATIONAL FORUM, 21.6.17, DUNDEE



Present:-  Dave (Angus & Mearns), Doug (Aberdeen), Alistair, Stuart, Sarah (Dundee),  Allan, David (Edinburgh)

Apologies:- Jonathon (Glasgow)

1. Reports

Aberdeen

RIC-Aberdeen hasn't been holding specific RIC meetings but its members have been involved in a number of campaigns. RIC-Aberdeen was part of the Aberdeen CND contingent which went to Faslane on 23rd.

 Angus & Mearns

At the last RIC Angus meeting before this national forum, the group discussed seeking to re-launch, or re-vitalise, 'Yes Angus', as a regional part of a national 'YES' campaign. The intention being to seek to involve CommonWeal, the Green Party, and other pro-independence groupings, as well as those Yes supporters who are not members of any party or group. Not 'excluding' the SNP, of course, but not waiting for them to take the initiative, either. However, we decided to wait until after the election, to see what the situation was, before doing anything about this. We'll discuss this further at the RIC Angus meeting to be held on Monday, 19th June in the Fishermen's Inn in Arbroath.

(Update from Dave following that group meeting   -  the group feels we would like to have more of a sense of national direction re this. We decided if there's to be a 'Yes' campaign then there needs to be an actual target date for a new independence referendum. Yes, we are well aware that neither our local autonomous group, nor RIC nationally, can set a date; that's up to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament. Nevertheless, what we COULD do is to publicly state a date which we think should be aimed for. We decided we would push for this through RIC and through other groupings in which members are involved.)

RIC Angus has also been involved, in conjunction with UNITE Communities (some folks are members of both) in bringing showings of the film 'I Daniel Blake', followed by discussion of the implications of the film (all showings free to the unemployed etc) to Montrose, Arbroath, Kirriemuir, Brechin, Hillside, and Monifieth. Also, in conjunction with members of Unison, in street campaigning in Montrose and Brechin against Angus Council cuts to services.


Dundee

RIC-Dundee hasn't been holding specific RIC meetings but was involved in a post-General Election meeting on June 14th, where the current political situation was discussed. This meeting was one of a series of events organised by Women for Independence, who have been leading on cross-group activities in Dundee over the last year.

The issue of whether to concentrate on making the arguments for independence rather than IndyRef2, and whether rallies and marches helped to build wider support were discussed. New contacts were made from Forfar and Montrose.

The pro-Independence, Butterfly Cafe, involving Common Weal and Women for Independence, has been opened in Commercial Street.

Edinburgh

RIC-Edinburgh now has 112 card carrying members. A full written report of RIC-Edinburgh activities was submitted. This can be seen at:-

http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/edinburgh-ric-report.html

RIC-Edinburgh had also produced a statement for the General Election
http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/ric-edinburgh-statement-on-june-8th.html)

This was also posted on bella caledonia.


RIC-Edinburgh was sending 2 delegates, Allan A. and David S. to the National Forum on 17.6.17. It was agreed to suggest the following for national RIC:-

To meet the new situation, Edinburgh-RIC suggested that with the likelihood of an IndyRef referendum receding, the national body should be encouraged to organise quarterly events, for example modelled on the last joint conference with the Global Justice Movement and the Scotland's Radical History events. It was also thought that the organisation of an annual cultural event could be included. The first priority though was to encourage strategic discussion on the Left about the new political situation we face. Perhaps the next RIC-E Assembly could provide a dry run for such an event nationally.



2. Future Activities

a)         RIC Special Conference (Saturday 30th September provsionally)

It was felt that the situation after the June 8th General election meant that strategic discussion on the new political situation was required. RIC-Edinburgh was organising a meeting on Tuesday, 20th June, Independence, Corbyn and the Future with Sarah Collins (RISE), Hilary Horrocks (ETUC), George Kerevan (SNP ex-MP), Pete McColl, (Scottish Greens), Holly Rigby (London Momentum), Jonathon Shafi (RIC), and Women from Stop the Evictions in North Edinburgh.

It was thought that local RIC groups should organise their own meetings to discuss the new political situation. These local meetings could act as preparation for a RIC Special Conference to develop the thinking behind this year's AGM:-


This is to take into consideration the changed situation we now find ourselves in:-

The emphasis of the Special Conference should be member participation. Saturday, 30th September in Edinburgh has been suggested provisionally.





b)         Peoples' Assembly Demonstration, Saturday 1st July, London

c)         Next RIC National Forum, Saturday, 19th August, Glasgow

Allan Armstrong, 20.6.17



Friday 16 June 2017

EDINBURGH REPORT TO RIC NATIONAL FORUM IN DUNDEE ON JUNE 17th



1. General

            We have 112 card carrying members. We have monthly Assemblies and Organising Committee meetings.


2. Since the last National Forum in Glasgow on 1.4.17

a)         RIC- Edinburgh Assemblies

            i)         Wednesday, 26th April, Local Democracy - Going Beyond the Ballot Box

            In the run-up to the Scottish Local Council election, it was decided to organise this meeting. Maggie Chapman (Scottish Greens) and Brian Robertson (Cityof Edinburgh UNITE) introduced the topic. 14 people attended. This was followed by questions and discussions. See:-


            ii)         Monday, 5th May - Racism and the Rise of the Right in Europe

            Brendan McGeever introduced the topic. Luke Henderson facilitated. 20    people attended. This was followed by questions and discussions. See:-



b)         RIC-Edinburgh Organising Meetings

            i)         Monday, 13th April
                        4 people attended
        

            ii)        Tuesday, 9th May
                        3 people attended

            iii)       Monday, 12th June
                        5 people attended

It was agreed to send Allan A. and David S. to the RIC- National Forum on 17.6.17. It was agreed to suggest the following for future national organisation:- 


To meet the new situation, in which the likelihood of an IndyRef referendum had receded, the national body should be encouraged to organise quarterly events, for example modelled on the last joint conference with the Global Justice Movement ad the Scotland's Radical History events. It was also thought that the organisation of an annual cultural event could be included. The first priority though was to encourage strategic discussion on the Left about the new political situation we face. Perhaps the next RIC-E Assembly could provide a dry run for such an event nationally.

The discussions on maintaining organisation at the RIC-Scotland AGM held in Glasgow on 1.4.17 could also be followed up - see:-

http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/discussions-on-indyref2-at-ric-national.html

            iv)        Next OM is on Monday, 26th June


c)         Future RIC-E Assemblies

            i)         Tuesday, 20th June - GE2017: Independence, Corbyn and the Future

            Speakers:-  Sarah Collins (RISE) (George Kerevan (former SNP MP), Lynn            McCabe (Stop the Evictions Campaign), Pete McColl (Scottish Greens) Holly             Rigby (Momentum, London) Jonathon Shafi (RIC) . Facilitator - Eileen Cook

            ii)        The Independence Referendum in Catalunya

            To be organised at nest RIC-Edinburgh Organising Meeting


d)         Activities RIC-Edinburgh has been involved in since last National Forum

            i)         Saturday 29th April - The Life and Legacy of Antonio Gramsci  Event

            Instead of organising another Scottish Radical History event, it was decided to       support this event organised by the Edinburgh Peoples Festival. Among the speakers were RIC members - Ray Burnett and Hilary Wainwright. 135 people attended. See:-


            Ray's talk, Gramsci and Scotland Revisited, has been published in Scottish Left Review. See:-

            http://www.scottishleftreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SLR-Issue-99-      MayJune-2017-web-quality.pdf

            ii)        Edinburgh & Lothian May Day March and Rally, 6.5.17

            The RIC-Edinburgh banner was taken to this event.

            iii)       'We Are All Daniel Blake' report
            Since the first I Daniel screening on 26.11.16 in Edinburgh 24 screenings have been organised by individuals, organisations and community groups. Thousands have attended the screenings all over Edinburgh and beyond, including Tranent, Selkirk, Innerleithen, Dunblane and Stirling. 
            
The success of the screenings was largely due to the effort put in by local   groups but we were enormously helped by the support and funding from UNITE the Union who paid for all the venues and provided equipment where needed. 
            
Many who have attended the screenings want to go further and do something to address the issues raised in the film. 
            
On Saturday 13th May the first Advocacy training day was organised. 35 people crowded into the UNITE offices in York Place. The training was delivered by Mike Vallance and Gordon Donald from ECAP and by Sarah Glynn from the Scottish Unemployed Workers Campaign. 
            
There is further training in the pipeline. In June there is training for a group of Unison Health workers and local training coming up in Wester Hailes and in Innerleithen. 

            iv)        Yes2 Stall, Grassmarket, 13.5.17

            Produced the RIC-E promo leaflet, which was distributed at this stall.

            v)         Westminster General Election, 8.6.17

            A RIC- Edinburgh Statement was produced. This can be seen at:-


            This was also posted on the bella caledonia site.

            A shortened version was produced for the leaflet handed out at the RIC-Edinburgh Assembly on 28.5.17.


e)         Other Future activities for RIC Edinburgh

            i)         Hope Not Hate meeting, Saturday, 17th March, 14.00, Grassmarket Centre                                   

            This meeting is being held on the anniversary of the killing of Joe Cox MP.

            ii)        Rally in support of Women's March and Rally to Ban the Bomb,
                        (being held in New York) Saturday, 17th March, 16.00, The                             Mound


Allan Armstrong, 15.6.17