tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28547889946305857212024-03-05T06:59:30.068-08:00Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branch Radical Indy EdinburghRadical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-54684362957304489292019-09-03T09:11:00.001-07:002019-09-09T05:40:54.907-07:00STOP THE BORIS 'COUP' DEMONSTRATIONS ON 31st AUGUST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Up until last thing on the night of Friday 30th, RIC-Edinburgh was going to be at the 'Stop Boris' Glasgow rally in Glasgow, the following day. Then we heard that following protests to be organised on Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Lerwick and Kirkwall, 'Another Europe Is Possible' was calling for a demonstration in Edinburgh. What to do? Some RIC-Edinburgh supporters went to the Glasgow demo, others went to the Edinburgh demo.<br />
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Allan Armstrong spoke for RIC-Edinburgh at the Edinburgh demo.<br />
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<b>RIC-Edinburgh banner behind the protesters at the Scottish parliament on 32.8.19</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px;">I am Allan Armstrong from the Edinburgh Radical Independence Campaign. If you turn round you will see our banner above you at the back. It reads:-</span><br />
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Another Scotland is Possible</div>
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Another Europe is Possible</div>
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Another World is Possible</div>
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I think these are sentiments which unite a lot people here today.</div>
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We have heard many politicians talking about the unconstitutional and illegal nature of Boris’s coup against Westminster. But Westminster quite constitutionally and legally presided over centuries of chattel slavery. When slavery was abolished, they compensated the slave owners not the slaves. When the City bankers helped to precipitate the 2008 Financial Crisis, Westminster ensured that, instead of these people facing jail sentences, they continued to receive massive bonuses. Their debts were offloaded on to us in an austerity offensive. When Westminster presided over the 2012-14 Scottish independence referendum campaign, it was quite consistent with their duplicity to make a ‘Vow’ sanctioned by David Cameron and Gordon Brown, which they had no intention of honouring. When Westminster presided over the 2016 EU referendum, it excluded EU residents and 16-18 year olds. They had been allowed to vote in the Scottish independence referendum. And in this year’s Euro-elections, Westminster presided over the removal of a large number of legally entitled EU voters from the electoral register.</div>
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And one of the key features of their anti-democratic Crown-in Westminster set up is the Union – the United Kingdom. This, along with the Crown Powers reinforces the forces of reaction. Therefore, a key part of our struggle for democracy is to break the Union. This would benefit not only the people of Scotland, Wales, a united Ireland, but yes, of England too. It is the unionist state that has given such power to slave-owners, landlords, bankers and bosses across the whole of the UK. The UK state unites them but divides us.</div>
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Our reply to their anti-democratic constitutional sovereignty of the Crown-in-Westminster is our republican democracy – the sovereignty of the people. Our reply to their legal attacks on our rights is the demand for social justice. Our reply to their imposed UK is our self-determination.<br />
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<b>Allan Armstrong addresses the protesters outside Holyrood</b></div>
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After the speakers, Luke Henderson asked the protesters if they wished to make their way from Holyrood up the High Street and down to the Mound. If so they should gather behind the RIC banner. About four fifths of those present did so.</div>
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<b>RIC-Edinburgh leads the impromptu march from Holyrood to the Mound</b></div>
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<br />Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-23104551009272966462019-09-03T08:32:00.002-07:002019-09-08T03:49:59.941-07:00EDINBURGH RIC AT THE ABERDEEN ALL UNDER ONE BANNER DEMONSTRATION, SATURDAY, AUGUST 17th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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RIC-Edinburgh took our banner to the 'All Under One Banner' demonstration in Aberdeen on 17th August. 12,000 people participated. RIC-Angus and the Mearns provided one of the platform speakers, Sandy Mathers.</div>
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<br />Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-7752478771866730042019-08-01T05:49:00.000-07:002019-08-01T05:49:41.658-07:00HOUSING CRISIS<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 21pt; margin: 0cm 9pt 0.0001pt 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"> EDINBURGH RIC ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY, 24.7.19 </span></b></div>
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<b>Speakers: Place Edinburgh: Deirdre Henderson</b></div>
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<b> Living Rent: Maddie Lou Barink<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Facilitator: Stephen McMurray</b></div>
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Steven McMurray, Edinburgh RIC - Huge increase in noise, rubbish, vandalism, litter, very negative impact in street<o:p></o:p></div>
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Catriona MacDonald, Common Weal Edinburgh South West, organise for that group, has been running a series of events for local residents, short term lets really affecting people in Gorgie, Dalry, Tollcross, New Town Area</div>
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Sam Foster Architects – ‘it’s all about the numbers - in terms of units of housing completed for government achievement purposes, but it’s not all about the numbers actually, it’s about the quality, and it’s not affordable and it doesn’t address our climate crisis. Recently helped organise a conference on Scotland’s Housing Conference<o:p></o:p></div>
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James McDonald Reed - occupies 1<sup>st</sup>Airbnb free tenement in Edinburgh, fought against black market hotels and got them shut down<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ariel Killick: Australian Gaelic Artist, Clearances Diaspora Returnee, heavy touring experience in Highlands & Islands, smallest schools in Scotland, rolls of only 8, 12 – ‘Now it’s not Sheep, it’s Short Term Lets’<o:p></o:p></div>
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Willie Black, Edinburgh RIC, Poverty Campaigner in Edinburgh, fighting for better outcomes for people who have been made homeless, women affected by rape clause, having more than 2 children, evicted, put into totally unsuitable BnB accommodation<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ian, recently lived in Berlin, good experience with what’s happened with Airbnb there<o:p></o:p></div>
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Janice Foster, from Glasgow School of Art, Researcher, researching building performance evaluations<o:p></o:p></div>
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Allan Armstrong, Edinburgh RIC, former chair of Lothians Anti-Poll Tax Federation, sees Living Rent campaign as the mist successful autonomous and democratic campaign to have emerged in Scotland recently<o:p></o:p></div>
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Murdo Ritchie, past chairman of his tenants’ association in Glasgow, and committee member of the campaign against Glasgow housing stock transfer, Living Rent member<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jean, Pensioners for Indy, WFI, place next to her turned into an Airbnb<o:p></o:p></div>
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Pat Smith, RIC Edinburgh, of a generation when lots of social housing was built, saw as a young person, the difference that made to people’s lives, their lives were transformed in every way,.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another 11 people arrived after the intros.</div>
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<b>Deirdre from Place Edinburgh<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Place Edinburgh came about 18 months ago from frustrated people living next to AirBnBs and struggling to get anywhere with the Council, so decided that they wanted to make a participation request, under community empowerment act, where people have a say on local services that impact them, trying to inform policies to deal with these changes. Put in participation request, not a constituted group, that caused a bit of a problem with the Council, has raised questions for Council about who group really represents, what they needed from group was to show that group represented different parts of Edinburgh, wanted to be able to work with group, group has put forward a document re what they wanted to change, but quite difficult for group to show that as a totally voluntary group – realised branding quite important, so did that, and they wanted to find out what other people thought, and wanted to get discussion going. Council then last August brought out a report about what they thought - 8<sup>th</sup>August Strategic Committee, recommending 45 day limit before having to get change of use for a commercial use. Changed complaints procedure so a bit quicker. Short Term Let Consultation from Scottish government, following on programme for government in September every year, commitments for year, since Place has been going around talking to community groups, and feeding back to MSP’s and Council, and trying to collate recommendations, didn’t want to stop people in Edinburgh from doing what they’ve always done, letting out flat or room for short period during fringe etc. while they went on holiday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wanted to stop black market hotels, where locals end up effectively being Concierges, and over tourism is a symptom of these properties being allowed to grow without enough regulation, massive escalation over last 5 to 10 years. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Looking at people’s human rights – couching this campaign in terminology of human rights terms. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Have been quite surprised about how much confusion around defining short term lets, <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Recommendations<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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People can get license, showing you have insurance – first tier<o:p></o:p></div>
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Second tier – looking at a limit of 28 days – more about the turnover of people, all these strangers in your personal space, most properties in Edinburgh are tenement properties, advocating much more stringent checks for 2<sup>nd</sup>tier. If someone wants an AirBnB/Short Term Lets business, have that in particular blocks, rather than located in residential blocks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You have to show AirBnBs causing hassle, sending evidence, onus on residents, can take a lot of work and time, 6 months for people to collate that evidence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Place want a simple online system, don’t want it to be a big a burden to report<o:p></o:p></div>
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Local Development Plan happened a few years ago <o:p></o:p></div>
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HOU6 taken out of 2010 Local Dev Plan, said that housing should be priorities for housing, Place is asking for that to be reinstated, without that, tested case law is based on those kinds of plans, so that has to be reinstated<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tourists will know they’re not disrupting the local community. Won’t face same overcrowding<o:p></o:p></div>
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Neighbours will feel safe and relaxed, will know who owner is as issues arise, people will be able to collect taxes, rubbish processed correctly and safely<o:p></o:p></div>
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Residents pay for homeless accommodation via Council tax, but homelessness also arises due to homes being taken out of long term resident accommodation in city, so this cost also incurred.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Case law available on Twitter, showing case law re recently a property in Riddles Court, wanting to let for 4 people for 40 days a year and for something like 3 days a week, turned down as too much, even 30 days turned down.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Enforcement so important, Council now have a webpage and can report problems with short terms lets much more easily.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Flat in Grassmarket Council took all the key safes off outside and said to landlords you shouldn’t be running this as a business, landlords tried to sue Council<o:p></o:p></div>
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If the government gives the powers to Councils to influence these things, <o:p></o:p></div>
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You’ll see keysafes on Council railings, they’re not supposed to be there, so you can report them. If you don’t report, Council won’t know. Even if they’re not causing you a problem, can report. And Council can check. <o:p></o:p></div>
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AirBnBs often don’t have addresses on websites, bit of detective work required sometimes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cockburn Association, very interested in last year re short term lets, report Our Unique City, highlighted price of rents going up, re 75% of properties bought in Edinburgh in last year estimated to have been bought from outside Scotland, suggests for investment primarily<o:p></o:p></div>
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Developer in Quartermile, before it goes on market, apparently sold 50% in Singapore – question about how this benefits city<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now consultation closed with Scottish Government, civil servants seem to be quite open to people sharing their views, when Councils do get some sort of powers eventually, Place want to be ready to show people support their recommendations - so support via social media support important. Journalists want people to do video diaries, but not always safe, people don’t always want to share because can invite issues or intimidation from owners etc<o:p></o:p></div>
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One tenant heard through walls a group singing a song about how happy they were their friend got out of prison, smeared material over Close, served enforcement notice, if tenants complain, will get often intimidating response getting into your stair from owner, your close, saying you’re threatening my business. This flat has also had the police in, and police have given tenant an emergency alarm if threatened by owner or short term let occupants. There are laws that Council can use , but don’t, but often down to funding, enforcement unfortunately doesn’t mean Council have power to make fines, to remove licensing from short term let owners etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If more than 6 people complain about a short term let, complaint goes to a different level of assessment. Reporting whenever you can, unless you give Council address and evidence or issues, difficult for them to act<o:p></o:p></div>
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Whilst tenants don’t like key safes, because even owner won’t meet them to assess who’s there, can cause insurance issues, don’t glue them up or remove them because sometimes they’re there for people receiving social care support – and Council can easily see who is getting social care<o:p></o:p></div>
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Can go onto Councils planning portal, and will see where people have planning permission for short term lets, very view visible, and Council will almost certainly not give you one in a tenement,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Landlords more likely to try and get front door accommodation for short term lets. However accessible accommodation, e.g. without stairs needed for an ageing population and more with disabilities so important that this is taken into consideration. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Losing a valuable accessible home for people<o:p></o:p></div>
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Has Airbnb engaged in the conversation?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Edinburgh has more than half of AirBnB properties in Scotland, most are for entire properties<o:p></o:p></div>
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Inside AirBnB Research site online – can show location of these all over Edinburgh ‘infecting entire community’<o:p></o:p></div>
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Airbnb have a very strong hold on this, partnered up with Edinburgh fringe, paid them £25,000, so they use very clever tactics, selling ‘live like a local’, but locals say <b>‘locking out locals’</b>out of the housing market, <b>‘locals can’t live locally’.</b>Airbnb have lobbied a lot of MSPs. Planning bill only come out every 10 years. Airbnb met with Conservative MSP ten times, amendment that has now said re setting up working group, seems like written by that MSP, when Andy Wightman’s proposals would have meant action could have been taken place sooner, now somewhat into the long grass<o:p></o:p></div>
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Vancouver, New Orleans – people in New Orleans, now regulations that people can’t own a property if they’re not going to live there<o:p></o:p></div>
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New Jersey – hollowing out centre of areas, and Airbnb trying to get owners to fight back – PR stories about how much money going into economy, how much generated, but a lot of restaurants closing down because more people doing self-catering, and affecting locals ability to have a community and talk to someone in community when something goes wrong.<o:p></o:p></div>
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ASSC – association of self caterings, Fiona likes to constantly spin it, saying it’s about housing, not about self catering, locals have to do what they can because journalists don’t often counter this, locals don’t have PR departments etc, Place looking to be a collective<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maddie from Living Rent<o:p></o:p></div>
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Housing crisis – how expensive it’s becoming for people to just live with a roof over their head<o:p></o:p></div>
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Years ago a small group of activists advocated for rent controls, that later became Living Rent, a Tenants’ Union really, really active part of how they get things sorted – democratic group<o:p></o:p></div>
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Homelessness – <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fear of losing your house traps people in situations where they shouldn’t be in like, in Amsterdam, people in abusive relationships not able to leave spouses because how are they going to afford somewhere else to live? Not irregular to hear about similar cases in Edinburgh, detrimental effect on people already in tough situations<o:p></o:p></div>
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How this intersects with independence, Alison Thewliss questions to home office, concerning Serco evictions, making 300 refugees homeless, key change evictions, not able to access stuff, often thrown away, Living Rent in Glasgow been organising against that, have been able to delay evictions so far, pushing MPs to push Home Office - their response – they didn’t even realise that this wasn’t a devolved issue! Really important that we get full control over housing situation, landlord class dominant Tories will not deliver this<o:p></o:p></div>
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Radical Independence Campaign trying to look at these issues more cohesively, shifting focus away from just Scottish exceptionalism, and housing one of those issues.<o:p></o:p></div>
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How we get successes with Living Rent – how this can be applied to housing activism<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the most important things we do when deciding whether worth running a campaign – what opportunities are there to change this situation, what manpower, what skills needed where, how long can we keep going on a certain campaign, set really clear targets when we want objective to be achieved. Mainly requires pre-research ahead of time, including mapping out areas and avenues that can be explored more fully later, meaning, researching what people are willing to do, what solution they want, having that lead where activism grows<o:p></o:p></div>
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Seen immense success with campaign to refurbish Muirhouse places, constantly trying to push Council for more and better options for tenants in those highrises, reports from 1960 about these highrises causing serious issues, vast volunteer led work, door knocking, raising awareness about possibilities to pressure Council to fix it, using a lot of discipline and perseverance<o:p></o:p></div>
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What could be useful – people often don’t know what’s going on in Council chambers or in Holyrood, but they know what’s affecting them, often desperate for avenues for being heard and change. Communicating that helpful knowledge is not necessarily arcane or inaccessible, investing time in communities in educating people to see what avenues they have for change.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another thing they’ve been doing with Living Rent in Edinburgh is addressing holiday lets – most pertinent issue just now is a lot of landlords are using them as a way to circumvent the rent controls Living Rent fought so hard to achieve – they’re renting them out to students who might not know their rights or holiday lets, they’ve signed contracts that are horribly exploitative and undermine rent controls passed – Living Rent want better and more exhaustive rent controls that put more of a cap on rents so it’s more affordable for normal people. Shambolic and typical way that people in power can circumvent people who don’t know their rights – Living Rent have been opposing that at every turn, petition to put a cap on holiday lets still growing, Council gives excuse re not implementing rent controls not meant to be implemented on a Council area basis, supposed to apply to each neighbourhood, then you have to prove that that area is much more expensive than areas around, so difficult to put together evidence, almost impossible to get those rent control zones implemented at all, so they need loads more members and money and resources to be able to put more pressure on Council and government to enact rent controls that will be more effective for people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rent controls so important to prevent landlord circumventing them, there’s just not the money to build more Council housing, without independence, not way for Scottish government to allocate budgets to build more housing, way devolution set up means SNP cannot spend that much unless they increase taxes across the board, cannot increase budget without that, that puts Living Rent in a very tough position when making any demands on government, just not a viable way, that’s why we have to advocate for private landlords to have some cap on what they’re earning from people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In studies done, says that millennials and downward have no chance of ever being able to buy a home in the communities that they grew up in if like in Edinburgh and other big cities where tourism and combination of gentrification that results from it, creating a situation that house prices are so high, requirements for getting mortgages so intense, so no hope of ever getting out of rent loop, for my generation and others stuck in rent, have to make the burden of rent less, they would have more to spend on other things, invest in economy rather than on rent, means that you’re limited in the jobs that you can take, the employers you can take, 1 month’s rent is enough to bankrupt most people. Rent controls the quickest way to decrease everyone’s monthly costs<o:p></o:p></div>
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Living Rent also well placed to fight against the Serco evictions and discrimination against tenant’s from other countries being told that they need to put more than 2 months deposit or pay 6 months ahead of time, is that even legal, reports of that, but it’s hard to prove that that’s what landlords are doing. Requires more people coming together to fight this. Believes a member led union the best way, having an organisation that has membership behind it scares politicians, don’t want 25 people showing up outside their constituency office, makes them wary but very receptive to talking – Living Rent has achieved some success for individual tenants, Glasgow – Wineford, Maryhill, more and more branches opening for living rent, what they need in Edinburgh is an increase in membership and volunteers and diversification of the kinds of people involved. Branch meetings 1<sup>st</sup>Monday of every month in Tollcross community centre, mobilise your neighbours, if you’re a homeowner, please support, single largest org able in Scotland to stick it to landlords.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Language – disturbing – homeless people and families – we need to change language about people living in homes as well, around people under a lot of pressure in their lives<o:p></o:p></div>
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Vested interests – MSPs have to put down their vested interests – Councillors - not sure if this is available about them – transparency about people involved in key decisions - we don’t know what’s also driving decisions of local decision makers<o:p></o:p></div>
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Monthly meetings of Living Rent in Edinburgh but not in August – last Wednesday of the month<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> HOUSING CRISIS</o:p></div>
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<b>Contributions from the meeting<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Serco – Living Rent have seen people with clearly visible disabilities<o:p></o:p></div>
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People with disabilities applying to get their home adapted face a mountain of paperwork, sometimes so much trouble, people would prefer to ask family to help out rather than go through paperwork.<o:p></o:p></div>
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People being refused tenancy because of disabilities? Landlords might give a different reason, but may be due to disability and adaptations needed – people can fight this under the Equality Act – reaching out better to disability organisations who are better at advocacy, often focussed on adaptations rather than accessing actual housing & tenancies (perhaps)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Landlord apparently had to pay 30% tax on his rents, passing it onto tenants, making him pay more, as his tenants were leaving his other flats, he’d turn it into an Airbnb – possibly landlord talking shite and making an excuse to raise rent. Landlords need to pay income tax, no way that they’re allowed to pass that back onto rent – possibly because he went over the tax threshold, and then had to pay more tax?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Place – Berlin experience – Edinburgh way behind, in most cities in Europe – it’s not that ‘is it an issue?’, where in most places, it’s clearly an issue and the question is how can we fight it? In discussions with civil servants, are they in touch with other European countries, in consultation, seemed to be some info out of date - why? – Airbnb have had closed door discussions with Council, but asked under freedom of information but couldn’t access that info – annex at end of Council report last August, Place tries to keep an eye on other countries with Airbnb and how they’re trying to circumvent laws. Place – tourism so important to Council, has a strategy re growth over next 15 years, some Councillors previously certainly have been dragging their feet, but seem to be changing their tune, but when constituents start writing to them, feels there has been a bit of change – initially Airbnb said they’d come up with proposals – 45 days ‘plus festivals’ – well Edinburgh is a festival city – <b>residents say they want a ‘restival’</b>! Many cuts have led to reluctance, but Council can no longer ignore, seeing a bit of a seachange.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Berlin – Ariel – City just bought back 600 flats from private landlord due to rapid rent rises, attempts to control this and provide more social housing<o:p></o:p></div>
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US – ‘engaging networks – a sort of petition tool, when anybody signs up to it, automatically sends an email to all their Councillors, MSPs etc, very effective because it clogs their emails, really gets their attention – has seen them overwhelmed by campaign – a really good tool<o:p></o:p></div>
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Edinburgh’s got a perfect storm of ingredients – victories important because they increase confidence that things can change. Edinburgh’s been built on a lack of building, 10 20 years of not building social housing, because they were seen as working class housing that failed, so disincentive to repeat those initiatives, Councillors arguing against what are now seen as ghettos – when system created mass unemployment, areas suffered. Not allowed to go to market to borrow on future building. <b>Council housing now called social housing – used to be 60,000 Council properties in Edinburgh, now only 16,000 – is population going down? No</b>– schools knocked down – political leadership in Edinburgh sees tourism as primary revenue stream, as well as student accommodation, where once were working class estates, now money to be made in student accommodation – students now moving to Muirhouse because it’s affordable. Put decking all over garden, now parties all night<o:p></o:p></div>
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Couchsurfing has morphed to big business – <o:p></o:p></div>
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Council is looking at as much quantity tourism as possible, trend developing through speaking with tourists, James MacDonald Reed, new trend from speaking to scores of tourists – city hopping, fly from NY to London, 1 night, selfie – 1 night in Edinburgh, food delivered on Uber, don’t spend any local money, several flats in Fountainbridge cater for that specifically, similar to issues on North Coast 500 with BnB’s struggling to cope with tourists seeking to do it as fast as possible and only staying one night, those BnB’s seeking to enact 2 night stay minimum<o:p></o:p></div>
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Derelict land – meeting with Land Commission Scotland – load of schemes available for derelict places that are not being used, there are various ways locals can contest that and apply to get Council can force a sell of these places to Council, or to sell to a local group seeking ownership – recently been launched, Land commission doing tours to raise awareness, but perhaps not to many places like Muirhouse – look into who owns derelict land, and call land Commission to look into options<o:p></o:p></div>
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Housing – a bit like trying to nail custard to a wall. Problem with most housing associations, such a big broad nebulous subject, start being not able to see wood for trees, opening other issues like housing finance. One simple starting point? We believe independence will come, and result in a written constitution, right now – no one has a right to a house – fundamental right that RIC should advocate for a right to proper housing – opens up a crucial question as to what is a house for – for accommodation or revenue – housing especially driven by prejudice – wilful and intentional creation of stigma to mobilise prejudice – phrase like ‘housing ladder’ , ‘an ‘asset’ or , start purging ourselves of these ways of speaking to bring about a paradigm shift in how we look at housing. Fights over stock transfer previously was done by tenants, RIC Living Rent now more led by young people<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tourism – Edinburgh over-dependent on tourism as its primary business model, concentration on city breaks – couple of days – completely unsustainable, Lothian transport guilty as well with Skylink, almost immediately as a route comes up, Airbnb’s spring up, more cruise ships. Airbnb where effectively the landlord is an absentee landlord, Airbnb cleaning companies, comes every morning. Social media driving this? Look at Airbnb’s posts – what they’re doing right now, obvious have saturation issues, now they’re targeting smaller towns and villages in more rural Scotland – asking internet, show us which of these four, where would you go – so basically asking internet where basically Airbnb investigating/promoting where they should develop next. Companies exist to run unlawful lets and not stopped effectively<o:p></o:p></div>
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Advocating for tourist tax – advocating £2/night, where actually it should be a percentage of what you pay, so progressive rather than regressive – hostels compared to staying in Balmoral. Took local an hour and a half to get to the beach during holidays, primarily because of tourists – quality of life versus quantity of tourists/income generated. Perception SNP bending over backwards to business and then wonder why some call them Tartan Tories.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Document on short term lets, consultation document – actually looks quite good – opinion from an Academic, Scottish Gov professes that it wants to empower local democracy – talk about making setting up a framework, range of tools different local authorities can effect or vary within their own locality. Danger when it gets to Scottish parliament, that lobbyists, already there, already got to them on planning bill – just ignored, genuine fear in SNP – tactical caution.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Academic – agrees social housing good – housing associations did play quite a constructive role in old tenement areas in ‘80s, ‘90s, in the past – Slateford Green – millennium project opened in 2000 – railway siding, Carnmore housing association, traditional Scottish tenement, Social Housing for future – Slateford Green a good model, pity it hasn’t been followed up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Misery and distortion of people’s lives that poor distribution of housing causes – market has profoundly distorted the way people live – the market is an entirely inappropriate way of dealing with and distributing housing. Housing has to be part of the climate emergency – climate campaigners need to think about housing, and housing activists need to think about climate emergency – avoid silo thinking, current housing build plans suggest they will be leaking heating, housing regulations need changing<o:p></o:p></div>
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People have normalised language of housing ladder, housing as assets, rather than normalising language of what the alternatives could look like, emissions passive housing – but people need choice – more existing houses – we need to be able to refurbish them properly, building performance evaluation, we find issues, do measurements and try to understand issues with houses to make them better, 100% of houses haven’t met design targets and we need to make sure they do and upskill workforce – Glasgow art college researcher<o:p></o:p></div>
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Interconnectedness of all these issues, tourism, climate<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Other Campaigns<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Scottish Ecological Design Association Convention</b>– looking at all these issues, a lot tied up with supply, which takes a while to come through, really good models from around Europe and down south, groups that run their own schemes, finding ways of financing it, developing new models of affordable housing, they’re putting together a summary of conference and a draft manifesto – new schemes shouldn’t be on the outskirts of town that only people with certain amounts of income can afford<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Our Unique City – Our past Our City, Our Future: The Cockburn Association</span></b><span style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">– a civic conversation on</span>our urban future<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Low Income Families Together <i>LIFT</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Homelessness campaign – women with more than two children being evicted and put in Bnbs inappropriate<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>LIFT</i>– now have 5 – 6 workers – <i>from a victim to an activist</i>, did workshops, got people from crisis. LIFT is proposing calling a forum in Muirhouse area, cosmetic changes, attacks on services – nae good turning up at 8pm at Council when all stitched up and we shout and yell and can’t do anything about budget restrictions – save our services campaign – what they’re going to do is call all traditional unions and campaigning groups, in Craigmillar has lost its funding and will no longer fund its breakfast clubs, Muirhouse had to cancel all its summer programmes, terrible impact on poorer people<o:p></o:p></div>
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Group called <b>Citizens</b>been forming in Edinburgh, reimagining city, one of their projects is to come up with a manifesto, Mike Small central advocate, hoping to have a conference about housing<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Poverty</b>– a consultation Edinburgh Council doing on impact of poverty re rent too high – anybody can feed into that, finishing quite soon though.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Language – disturbing – homeless people and families – we need to change language about people living in homes as well, around people under a lot of pressure in their lives<o:p></o:p></div>
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Vested interests – MSPs have to put down their vested interests – Councillors - not sure if this is available about them – transparency about people involved in key decisions - we don’t know what’s also driving decisions of local decision makers<o:p></o:p></div>
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Monthly meetings, but not in august – last Wednesday of the month<o:p></o:p></div>
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Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-9543785182997982782019-05-09T12:15:00.001-07:002019-05-09T13:21:29.471-07:00THE CARE CRISIS IN SCOTLAND<div style="text-align: center;">
EDINBURGH RIC ASSEMBLY, 24.4.19</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-Cji5yF0gSF_DUtIH7tKoZU7SCYc3eZpxjCRNCS9EmYAYmmt8ZJLahvyiFo2qqixkMZLlziFvVnbGJ3P-tJknjcMtfvuFWsFrV4zS_gRd_HGtfO_wDkE2-yWGu0zbmHARBi_vHhwfB0/s1600/th-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-Cji5yF0gSF_DUtIH7tKoZU7SCYc3eZpxjCRNCS9EmYAYmmt8ZJLahvyiFo2qqixkMZLlziFvVnbGJ3P-tJknjcMtfvuFWsFrV4zS_gRd_HGtfO_wDkE2-yWGu0zbmHARBi_vHhwfB0/s1600/th-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Speaker - Ian Hood - care worker<br />
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Facilitator - Pat Smith<br />
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Ian's contribution can be seen at:-<br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">This was followed by a discussion in which all present tool part.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">It was also agree to take the RIC-Edinburgh banner to the May Day demonstration on 4.5.19. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Assemble 11.30 at Johnston Terrace</span><br />
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<br />Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-22222801861357332222019-04-05T14:45:00.001-07:002019-04-05T14:50:35.112-07:00 70 YEARS OF NATO, 70 YEARS OF WAR<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>EDINBURGH RIC ASSEMBLY, 1.4.19</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> <b>Facilitator - </b>Eileen Cook<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> The meeting took the form of a round table discussion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> The following decisions were made<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> a) To see if it was possible to produce an updated <i>Fortress Scotland </i> online showing all Scotland's military facilities<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> b) Pete Cannell wrote an article for Common Space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> <i>On its 70 the anniversary, it's time to lay NATO to rest<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> see:- <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><o:p> <a href="https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/14061/pete-cannell-its-70th-anniversary-its-time-lay-nato-rest"> </a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><o:p><a href="https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/14061/pete-cannell-its-70th-anniversary-its-time-lay-nato-rest">https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/14061/pete-cannell-its-70th-anniversary-its-time-lay-nato-rest</a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> c) Demonstration on Thursday, April 4th, at 1.00p.m., </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">Castle Street/Princes Street</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><o:p> see:-</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> <a href="see:- https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/14071/no-nato-scotland-no-scotland-nato-edinburgh-and-glasgow-protests-70th-anniversary"> </a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><a href="see:- https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/14071/no-nato-scotland-no-scotland-nato-edinburgh-and-glasgow-protests-70th-anniversary">https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/14071/no-nato-scotland-no-scotland-nato-edinburgh-and-glasgow-protests-70th-anniversary<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> d) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "times new roman";">CND</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "times new roman";"> Briefing - No to NATO </span><br />
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<a href="https://cnduk.org/resources/no-to-nato/">https://cnduk.org/resources/no-to-nato/</a></div>
Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-44154493059330859282019-04-05T14:27:00.003-07:002019-04-05T14:51:15.907-07:00 IS THIS THE YEAR FOR INDYREF2?<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>EDINBURGH RIC ASSEMBLY, 27.2.19</b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> Speakers </span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">- Maggie Chapman, Scottish Green</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">Jonathon Shafi- - RIC</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><b> </b>- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">Alba Crespi - Coordinator, Assemblea National Catalana, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><o:p> Escocia</o:p></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #212121; text-align: center;"> Facilitator - </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; text-align: center;">Allan Armstrong</span></div>
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The speakers can be seen at:-</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_TH2zvVuhc&feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_TH2zvVuhc&feature=youtu.be</a></div>
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<br />Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-63440982303517089762019-04-05T12:44:00.002-07:002019-04-05T14:51:47.483-07:00 NO INDEPENDENCE ON A DYING PLANET<div align="center" class="xmsonormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b>EDINBURGH RIC ASSEMBLY, 31.1.19</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><b> Speakers </b>-<b>Matthew Crichton, Friends of the Earth</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> Linda Telford - Extinction Rebellion, Scotland<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> <b>Facilitator - Pat Smith<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The contributions form Matthew and Linda can be seen at:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><u><span style="border: 1pt none; color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.5pt; padding: 0cm;">https://youtu.be/p1lq7wpjjYc</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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This was followed by questions and answers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was agreed to support and promote the forthcoming Transition Edinburgh and Edinburgh Campaign Against the Arms Trade meeting, <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>Carbon Neutral Edinburgh</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Wednesday 13th February18.00-21.00<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-58145372386600428802018-12-04T08:22:00.000-08:002018-12-10T06:17:48.487-08:00COMMEMORATING JOHN MACLEAN'S RELEASE FROM PETERHEAD PRISON ON 3rd DECEMBER 1918<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
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RIC-Edinburgh banner in McPhater Street Glasgow</div>
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Gerry Mulvenna sings a song in support of the Catalan hunger strikers</div>
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Pauline Bradley and Gavin Paterson from johnmaclean100 sing</div>
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The legendary Arthur Johnstone songs<i> Freedom Come All Ye</i> and the<i> Internationale</i></div>
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The newly formed johnmaclean100lscot organised a series of events on Monday December 3rd to commemorate the exact centenary date of John Maclean's release from Peterhead Jail, his train journey to Aberdeen, and then on to Glasgow, where he received a hero's welcome from a waiting crowd, estimated to be 100,000 strong. Information about this can be seen at:-<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.war-times.org/revolutionaries-gorbals-one-hundred-years-red-clydeside">http://www.war-times.org/revolutionaries-gorbals-one-hundred-years-red-clydeside</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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The event began in Aberdeen, at 8.00 am, when a group from Aberdeen Trades Council celebrated the welcome given to John Maclean as he changed trains on his way to Glasgow. In Glasgow, about 80 people walked the exact route that John Maclean had followed from McPhater Street to Calton Place on the south bank of the River Clyde. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This was followed by a brief introduction from Alan Smart of johnmaclean100, in which he emphasised the significance of John Maclean in linking the National and Social Questions, and pointing to his relevance today. In particular, Alan highlighted the need to support those women in Glasgow who had taken strike action for equal pay against the now SNP controlled Glasgow council, after their let down by Labour in the previous administration. Alan also supported the pay claim being made by Scottish teachers in the EIS.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After Alan's introduction a number of performers played a variety of songs, many about John Maclean, as well as about various struggles from the Wobblies in the USA to the 1984-5 Miners' Strike. The performers included johnmaclean.100 members, Pauline Bradley, Shaun Moore, Gavin Paterson, and Alan Smart. RIC-Edinburgh's very own Gerry Mulvenna sang a song he had written about the current situation in Catalunya. He spoke of the significance of the current hunger strike to force the European Court of Justice to press for the release of the Catalan political prisoners held by the Spanish state. The legendary Glasgow traditional music performer, Arthur Johnstone finished off proceedings with <i>Freedom Come All Ye </i>and the <i>Internationale</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The RIC-Edinburgh banner was there. This went some way to make amends for the role of Edinburgh in John Maclean's life. It was in Edinburgh's Calton Jail that he was first imprisoned in 1916 for his opposition to the First World War. It was in Edinburgh's High Court on 9th May 1918, that John Maclean made his famous Speech from the Dock, before being sent to serve a punitive labour sentence in Peterhead Jail. Perhaps, not surprisingly, Maclean did not return to Glasgow via Edinburgh! <o:p></o:p></div>
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However, the great James Connolly has gone a considerable way to retrieve Edinburgh's reputation. He saw two Edinburghs - the one from below (quite literally from The Cowgate) - and the one from above - "the snobs, flunkeys, mashers, lawyers, students, middle class pensioners and dividend hunters". It was with the support of the latter that Edinburgh's High Court was able to jail John Maclean. Today, RIC-Edinburgh places itself in that other tradition - the city from below. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gavin Paterson also has a programme on the Celtic Music podcast. The most recent one had the following playlist:- </div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Come In Come In - Andy Stewart<br />The John MacLean March - Tonight At Noon <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tonight.atnoon.7?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDWVXGLqXCoPjn4Dx9qwEj4TIxMeo2DG31SbZULxtr3N1Ftw_7Bmn_tCa_SM2MuIV5mZn_uHWUEhjyj&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Gavin Livingstone</span></a><br />Oh, Freedom - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PeteSeegerMusic/?ref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARBkNta3udY9IprhzNOmnoZitZBkDUU2mEWfFsPPb6y3xWxhBG9S9Sa--2WIlOo6Ib0R3ulghk5JgCmT&fref=gs&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Pete Seeger</span></a><br />The Glesca Eskimos - Glasgow Song Guild (Josh MacRae)<br />Ding Dong Dollar - Glasgow Song Guild (Nigel Denver)<br />The Twa Corbies - Andy Hunter<br />If You're Black Get Back (Black Brown & White) - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DannyKyleMemorialPage/?ref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDWSrrWFBQdQhb0W4o71n-c_mDekGyfIpuhNoZU73YXEmf-KYBXFcmaRgSvE5D6kYBGTAsn8WCpAz_9&fref=gs&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Danny Kyle memorial page</span></a><br />Bearsden Breakdown - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/allan.tall?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAyFO2u1-KbVjuIJGdh76X1PCaFOvVwb5alLbYzdpvxoU9tf2uo0FkaCfjeRasvB_Bl7h9wNM6tSpZj&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Allan Tall</span></a><br />Maggie's Pit Ponies - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nancy.nicolson?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAeoHToNzM3IG7LZ_EH3b5Ubz44Npa1fezWjAdRHe3lOoReK5aEw7C6iU3YtucyNIuwpwLfsiFq2JOo&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Nancy Nicolson</span></a><br />Farewell To The Monty - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gerda.stevenson1?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAFZ3mdLdzFdEmJImhBdNSBHSpsjJZ5d5-JLwEHXlf4h8XazQhJ4isgJxdAyfFfswV-ZhzpCreeu1On&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Gerda Stevenson</span></a><br />In The Vale Of Aberfan - Freddie Anderson<br />When This Bloody War Is Over - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rab.noakes?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARCdzmt8D74PRIBsNcGe2BCHxDfbcFIiCS3pKbeNzEHzO2Zb5p9bSRpbzrtEuWt4QRuz56O_fn5tO28s&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Rab Noakes</span></a><br />The Red Clydesiders/Mrs Barbour's Army/Don't Sign Up For War - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlistairHulettMemorialTrust/?ref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARCi9bwc79ZBmzb6RnMunnqruXWFiAaj6XXZJ9S_4E70BeIbJkVER5NSBSgh9dOxzefUupUsw0e5WKWN&fref=gs&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Alistair Hulett Memorial Trust</span></a><br />The John MacLean March - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Arthur-Johnstone-191759520928415/?ref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARCTWQhlnY0cQsRzrYmDcBtrCSTrr0ednEK5Rb-4uUxAIQ0goPGgnyqtcs__eG-oOZhLJDHKJPwBGa4m&fref=gs&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Arthur Johnstone</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />The Eskimo Republic - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jimmy.ross.5074?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARD7mVh4pEq6UzKQUMVdflS_TWsze06uqD4Yq-xYmku-KyoYvaGL-Ii4XrJ43OyqJ8z8KZEMsYYTdv6Q&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Jimmy Ross</span></a><br />The Ballad of John Maclean - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/soundsinspiring?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDVbd1ftjUlxeSuzFsQspYGQ-REY3Av9J05K-QpgQhePvvQCUIxRn5jX11MMHxneOYI-1vtjw6T-091&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Pauline Bradley</span></a> & <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bernadette.collier?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAeKJOezmBRfm4_jCO9XcYQQD3U6BaqRfWizSAdotQXa4RsNKPIM6GSKYn_JJhoRia2LB14bRw9GH_5&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Bernadette Collier</span></a><br />The Man In Peterhead - Alastair McDonald & Gavin Paterson<br />The Freedom Train To Glasgow - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CitizenSmart?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARCTUY4OTpIVNZE7w3GsR2WA0_2-7RgCXUaI9fAlV16slF-iTUpXgzD4QXxyhFmcF1KPJZaem-3YyMrx&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Alan Smart</span></a><br />The Singing Dominies - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shaun.moore.9?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDAOc74xK73X2qy2-U05JxDe8t83D6JeiwU0Ooti5Ere4Iu4XAkIJYjpulVA_CI93SmRbXJe4i9hMWb&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Shaun Moore</span></a><br />Scottish Breakaway - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Liam-Clancy/105574829476432?ref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAW1_D4MjUhy-vmXIPY4OTvyIBL8haUwlNz6c1c43OOHo6mCoUBxqdwY0y0pdZYWyAPMMw-9a251knl&fref=gs&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Liam Clancy</span></a><br />When Dawns The Day - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sov90?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARCFhY56wCfUURcXyxqcXgj5gFb4xYYfb_vRu4Ongwe5wamRnjycQgUnb0uQ6s0VLIfaSG9oB_U5sqka&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Andrew MacDonald</span></a><br />Thomas Muir Of Huntershill - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dick-Gaughan/1135394656553197?ref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARBEMPjO9lmcix21dZCV63siKWlTiVQtZcdJMPjWZzXMjmN0wx8WZnPuqpiKZQ_OTaiML748_TmLkytq&fref=gs&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Dick Gaughan</span></a><br />We Shall Overcome - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PeteSeegerMusic/?ref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARBaRh-pvYfIdvKZdJRjNjFH2-rKyk41OuEUHOBP2QUAI6a1kbJABG9671UePBhgurFVNIpIV2U97Ryp&fref=gs&dti=159810597863334&hc_location=group"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">Pete Seeger</span></a><br />Freedom Come All Ye - Glasgow Song Guild (Jack O'Connor)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-13098304791523063982018-12-04T06:40:00.000-08:002019-08-01T05:57:43.067-07:00WHERE NOW FOR BREXIT?<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<b>Edinburgh-RIC Assembly, November 28th<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>WHERE NOW FOR BREXIT?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Speakers - Maggie Chapman Co-Convenor, Scottish Greens<o:p></o:p></div>
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Neil Davidson - RS21<o:p></o:p></div>
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Facilitator - Pete Cannell<o:p></o:p></div>
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The contributions from Maggie and Neil can be seen at:-<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/DcY-6s5xLq8"><span style="border: 1pt none; color: blue; padding: 0cm;">https://youtu.be/DcY-6s5xLq8</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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This was followed by questions and answers. Tony Martin of the Peoples Vote campaign spoke in favour of giving the people a new vote over Brexit. This followed the stalemate and inability of the government to put forward any unified Brexit option. Who should resolve this - May and her shrinking band of supporters, Westminster or the people? He talked about the Peoples Vote street campaign in East Lothian.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some were worried about the boost that any attempt to rerun the Brexit referendum would give to the hard Right, with their shouts of betrayal and taking to the streets. You can not write off all Brexit voters as racist and many held quite legitimate grievances over the EU. The conduct of the EU towards Greece should not be forgotten. There were real limitations on what a Left government could achieve within the EU. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Others argued that the hard Right would make advances, in both the dump Brexit and Brexit scenarios. In the dump Brexit scenario, though they would face a major defeat, since Brexit has been at the forefront of the Tory Right, UKIP, BNP and EDL agenda for some time. The Far Right would go ballistic, but they would not have become politically mainstreamed. In any Brexit scenario, the creation of a new border and the stepped up immigration laws, would provide the far Right with the scope for vigilante action to supplement the already very reactionary UK laws and state activities over immigration. Many of the hard Right's arguments would enter the political mainstream. Their position in relation to the UK state would more resemble that of Loyalists to the old Orange Stormont regime. There were also major limitations in what you could achieve in the UK, with its anti-democratic powers and subservience to The City. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The need to place an emphasis on the plight that EU migrants and asylum seekers now faced was agreed by all. The need to understand the reasons why many workers voted for Brexit, and not to dismiss them as the liberal elite did, was also agreed. As a consequence of Brexit, some of the middle class was now experiencing the economic blows for the first time that had fallen upon many of the working class for decades as a result of Thatcher's neo-liberal offensive. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There was a discussion about the need for new types of organisation to replace those that the neo-liberal offensive had broken up, and those still existing bureaucratised unions, which were no longer fit for purpose,. The possibilities of community-based unions were discussed. Although fewer young people were involved in trade unions, their willingness to become involved in campaigns, which challenged the current order, was also emphasised - Occupy, the Radical Independence Campaign, the Living Rent Campaign. MeToo, and now Extinction Rebellion. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On 27.11.18, <i>The National </i>published a piece, <i>Why the 'Lexit 'Campaign was a Huge Missed Opportunity </i>by Cat Boyd:-</div>
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<a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/17257077.why-the-lexit-campaign-was-a-huge-missed-opportunity">https://www.thenational.scot/news/17257077.why-the-lexit-campaign-was-a-huge-missed-opportunity</a></div>
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Cat has been a prominent member of RIC. T She has her own column in <i>The National </i>and the views she expresses are personal ones. Cat's article argued for a new Lexit or Left Leave campaign. RIC does not have a position on Brexit. We have Remainers, Leavers and Abstainers amongst our members and supporters. However, RIC has never been afraid of organising debates around this issue, as the discussion on 18.11.18 shows.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Allan Armstrong sent a reply to <i>The National </i>on 27.11.18, which, knowing space would be limited, only addressed one aspect of Cat's arguments. This letter was not published, so we are posting it below, as a further contribution to the debate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A letter to <i>The National</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Cat Boyd has provided a damning indictment of the Lexiters in and since the Brexit referendum campaign. Yet she still tries to offers her advice about how a Lexit campaign could be revived. In this Cat completely ignores the elephant in the room - the creation of a new border. This is fundamentally what Brexit is all about.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Lexiters and Right Brexiters both want a strengthened UK border to keep out the aspects of the EU membership they don't like - for the LexIters - the EUs neo-liberal constraints on public spending and nationalisation; for the Right Brexiters - the EU's workers', consumers' and environmental safeguards. However, they are united in accepting that Brexit means the ending the free movement of people within what has been the wider EU.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The EU, in relation to its citizens, guarantees free movement from which millions, including UK subjects, have benefitted. The EU, in relation to the outside world has the Schengen Wall, which has contributed to the deaths of thousands of asylum seekers and migrants. What has been the UK's attitude to Schengen? The same as its attitude to workers rights - it wanted exemptions to impose worse conditions. For successive UK governments, the 'walls' weren't high enough. This led to the degrading Calais camps. When asylum seekers and migrants were desperately trying to cross Mediterranean Sea, and drowning in their thousands, the British navy, stationed at Gibraltar and Cyprus, only rescued a handful. The navy's main task was getting involved in, or providing logistical support for, US bombing in the Near and Middle East. Yet it was these brutal attacks on Libya, Iraq and Syria that had mightily contributed to the exodus of millions, who were mainly absorbed by their neighbouring poor countries. Some did make it to the EU's shores. How did the UK address this massive humanitarian crisis it had helped to create? It took in 187 Syrians, compared to Germany, with no Mediterranean navy, taking in 30,000.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We now have the new UK/EU Deal. May is touring the country trying to sell it. What does she claim is its greatest benefit? She says that the UK can now control immigration. The human tragedy of detention centres like Dungavel and Campsfield, and the draconian 2015 and 2016 Immigration Acts, are not enough. Nobody is challenging this - certainly not Corbyn. This is because he also accepts the need for a new border. Both May and Corbyn want this border to be porous for commodities and profits. The makers of those commodities will be denied free movement, whereas the takers of those profits will retain free movement. There is already a glaring gap, whereby Saudi Arabian billionaires with their domestic slaves, and Russian oligarchs with their gangster entourages have free movement (paying Tory MPs handsomely to look after their interests), whilst the cruelly injured victims of British bombs and arms sales in Syria and Yemen are excluded. People as people get abandoned under any Brexit Deal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What Brexit in any form will lead to is a new harsher system of immigration control. Both May and Corbyn are moving towards a form of the old German gastarbeiter system, whereby employers decide upon the labour they want. The state will enforce a hierarchy of contractual rights. These will determine the length of stay, the level of pay and working conditions, and access from other countries by family members. This will involve vastly increased state surveillance, which the Far Right will supplement by vigilante activity and worse. The Tories will relish this new opportunity for divide-and-rule, Corbyn will be shamefaced about it. However, the racist politics reinforced by any Brexit will dominate, since if you try and set up a new border, these go with the terrain. Lexit had not been able to escape this in the past, and nor would its revival be able to do so in the future. <o:p></o:p><br />
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also see:-</div>
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1. Report of the Another Europe is Possible meeting held in Glasgow on 30.8.18<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/09/a-rreport-of-another-europe-is-possible.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/09/a-rreport-of-another-europe-is-possible.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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2. The case for an EU Ratification Referendum<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-case-for-eu-ratification-referendum.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-case-for-eu-ratification-referendum.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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3. RIC National Spring Conference, 10.3.18<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/04/radical-action-for-climate-change.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/04/radical-action-for-climate-change.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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4. The UK, Brexit and Self-Determination<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/04/radical-action-for-climate-change.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/04/radical-action-for-climate-change.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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5. The EU Referendum<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-eu-referendum.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-eu-referendum.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-42951321619226767462018-11-06T03:42:00.001-08:002018-11-06T04:36:29.125-08:00JOIN THE PROTEST AGAINST STEVE BANNON IN EDINBURGH, 14.11.18<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>PROTEST AGAINST STEVE BANNON AND THE FAR RIGHT</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiR_Wh2CoqtIe7FLDqITErge2RkhA_0kQy2wC4XYtRxMfb7J6h7am9yEgaSR1fVLN8V1b4rkJuv4U16PkOSKgVIJ9c1dyz1kCqK8dahRFqCM4t-bhSREAxHrluSFKYcUPZp6XpnP8OawU/s1600/th-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiR_Wh2CoqtIe7FLDqITErge2RkhA_0kQy2wC4XYtRxMfb7J6h7am9yEgaSR1fVLN8V1b4rkJuv4U16PkOSKgVIJ9c1dyz1kCqK8dahRFqCM4t-bhSREAxHrluSFKYcUPZp6XpnP8OawU/s1600/th-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Wednesday, November 14th, 9.00 - 12.30</b></div>
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<b>Edinburgh International Conference Centre,</b></div>
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<b>Morrison Street</b></div>
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see SUR statement on </div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_315251321"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/protest-14-nov-cancel-bannon-oppose-the-far-right-edinburgh">https://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/protest-14-nov-cancel-bannon-oppose-the-far-right-edinburgh</a></div>
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___________/</div>
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Nick Gott's of RIC-Edinburgh has also issued the following letter:-</div>
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I am writing to express my anger and disgust that the BBC and EBU are providing the far-right racist liar Steven Bannon a platform to repeat his lies at News Xchange 2018. The statements by the BBC and EBU defending this decision are not simply unconvincing, but dishonest. It is claimed that an invitation “is not an endorsement of any position or viewpoint”. But I don’t believe for a moment the BBC and EBU would extend an invitation to an apologist for ISIS, or an overt Nazi. The invitation to Bannon, therefore, is an implicit statement that his views and actions lie within the range of acceptable expression and rational debate; it clearly normalises those views and actions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That Bannon is both a racist and a liar is beyond honest dispute. His position in Trump’s inner circle both during and after the presidential campaign is sufficient evidence on its own, but more recently, he has told activists for the European far right to wear the labels of “racist” and “xenophobe” as a badge of pride, and while running the fake news website “Breitbart”, he was happy to propagate ridiculous and poisonous conspiracy theories and to play host to open white supremacists and holocaust deniers. He has declared, absurdly, that Donald Trump has never lied to the American public despite the copious and blatant falsehoods Trump repeats on a daily basis. He has described himself as an “anti-elitist” while being himself a multi-millionaire, and cheerleading for Trump’s cabinet of billionaires – a lie shamefully parroted by the BBC in describing him as “a powerful and influential figure… promoting an anti-elite movement”. He is a strong supported of “Tommy Robinson” – another racist liar (and in his case, convicted thug and fraudster) who the BBC has been only too happy to provide with a platform while he whines about being silenced.<o:p></o:p></div>
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News Xchange’s “statement of both philosophy and practice” claims that:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What is demanded of each session is that it will be competent and well-infomed, representing honest opinions seriously held and convincingly expressed.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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But it is abundantly clear from previous interviews, such as those with the <i>Financial Times</i>, the <i>Economist</i>, and <i>ABC News</i>, that Bannon is not interested in, and probably not capable of, a discussion held in good faith. His response to justified charges of racism and dishonesty is generally to repeat his lies, while accusing his interlocutor of being part of the “liberal elite”. No new information will be gained by providing him with yet another opportunity to reinforce his position as a “powerful and influential figure… promoting an anti-elite movement”. Why, indeed, would Bannon have accepted the invitation if he did not regard it as a useful step in his campaign of hatred? The invitation is the latest example of the disgraceful role the mass media have played in the rise of the far right, adopting a pose of studied neutrality as between facts and lies, while giving ample coverage to the latter, acting as megaphones for bigotry and “fake news”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The News Xchange programme includes the sentence “We know that there are problems with <span class="highlight">trust</span>in journalism.” There most certainly are – and your action in giving a platform to a racist liar shows that this lack of trust is abundantly justified.<o:p></o:p></div>
Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-58947033593354199772018-11-06T02:50:00.003-08:002018-11-06T03:14:40.061-08:00THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE FOR SELF-DETERMINATION AND THE IHRA STATEMENT ON ANTI-SEMITISM<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Edinburgh-RIC Assembly, 31st October</b></div>
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<b>The Palestinian Struggle and the IHRA Statement on Anti-Semitism</b></div>
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<b>Speaker - Sarah Glynn of Scottish Jews Against Zionism</b></div>
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<b>Facilitator - Pat Smith</b></div>
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Sarah's contribution can be seen at:-</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL0_6-mitnI&feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL0_6-mitnI&feature=youtu.be</a></div>
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This was followed by questions and contributions.<br />
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Three Labour Party members were present who talked about the impact of the IHRA in the Scottish Labour Party. Here it was the leaders of Momentum/Campaign for Socialism which had suspended members without any hearing or appeal!<br />
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John Swinney's removal of Scottish government backing for from the Israel-Palestine school resourced after lobbying by the Scottish Friends of Israel was also raised.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1480464749"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/13431/revealed-swinney-shuts-down-israel-palestine-school-resources-after-lobbying-pressure">https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/13431/revealed-swinney-shuts-down-israel-palestine-school-resources-after-lobbying-pressure</a><br />
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The Scottish government adhere to the the controversial IHRA Statement on Anti-Semitism.<br />
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Following the appearance of an organised Zionist group on a Scottish Stand Up to Racism march in Glasgow on March 17th, it was agreed to approach the STUC organisers of the St. Andrews Day match against racism, to ensure that any pro-apartheid Israeli Zionist group is excluded.<br />
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________</div>
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also see:-<a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/10/ric-edinburgh-statement-on-ihra.html"> http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/10/ric-edinburgh-statement-on-ihra.html</a>Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-20323569332832104132018-10-15T13:50:00.003-07:002018-10-15T14:06:46.127-07:00THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE FOR SELF DETERMINATION & THE IHRA STATEMENT ON ANTI-SEMITISM.<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #35393d; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #35393d; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">Wednesday, 31 October 2018, 19:00</span><span style="color: #35393d; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #35393d; font-size: 14pt;">Augustine United Church</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #35393d; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #35393d; font-size: 14pt;"><b>41 George IV Bridge<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #35393d; font-size: 14pt;"><b>EH1 1EL</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The UK is one of the first countries to use the definition of anti-semitism, as agreed last May at a conference of the Berlin-based International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).</div>
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A Downing Sreeet statement said that the intention of such a definition was to "ensure that the culprits will not be able to get away with being anti-semitic because the team is ill-defined, or because different organisations or bodies have different interpretations of it."</div>
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RIC-Edinburgh is hosting this event to explore how the IHRA statement may be used and how it could impact on the people of Palestine and their struggle for self-determination.</div>
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<b>We are delighted that Sarah Glynn of Scottish Jews Against Zionism will introduce our discussion.</b> </div>
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Please come along and participate in the discussion.</div>
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_____</div>
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<div>
also see:-<a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/10/ric-edinburgh-statement-on-ihra.html"> http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/10/ric-edinburgh-statement-on-ihra.html</a></div>
Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-80350438429508703382018-10-15T13:47:00.000-07:002018-10-19T02:55:25.894-07:00ALL UNDER ONE BANNER DEMO, OCTOBER 6th, EDINBURGH<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivC3WfVPRPqalnwzbzroDQg8vXxipvtxY-If_s6QZZV-o4un2DY_2ybrNEfdYD2CWNNnOJvDzMTicXsFnuiRPcUAGFMSWfD0exjb-wQ9Jt0c85uACpBcRtCuoOs4MZHK_rYoMau30vmqE/s1600/DSCN1947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivC3WfVPRPqalnwzbzroDQg8vXxipvtxY-If_s6QZZV-o4un2DY_2ybrNEfdYD2CWNNnOJvDzMTicXsFnuiRPcUAGFMSWfD0exjb-wQ9Jt0c85uACpBcRtCuoOs4MZHK_rYoMau30vmqE/s320/DSCN1947.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The new RIC-Edinburgh banners on Johnstone Terrace one and a half hours before the AUOB march starts off</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gVoZgRHevljnc2HJWC_usBAvbzHfKpJ8jOPBTx7zqSwswYXZjAQ-FXWfRj5RIvLMOMhXKiTfXu24J4W9csUItTLcW6IlKVoH7hwxo-OKJLfCEY7KGSLom5vy3g_eVcRSbfhyphenhyphenCPy5090/s1600/All+Under+One+Banner+Photo+Grant+Keir+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gVoZgRHevljnc2HJWC_usBAvbzHfKpJ8jOPBTx7zqSwswYXZjAQ-FXWfRj5RIvLMOMhXKiTfXu24J4W9csUItTLcW6IlKVoH7hwxo-OKJLfCEY7KGSLom5vy3g_eVcRSbfhyphenhyphenCPy5090/s320/All+Under+One+Banner+Photo+Grant+Keir+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__iQpBdmbsbHeIla88XGl-qYpRTgaCk1iFIlvuto0UtUvFbV-qfdjBpuI-wQsdBvvOS5Rus557V4_rQHXqZvdAR1O9lkwvDx5bTcuei4QDmTi1IUWrYKQuTmy-GkioIVPYwxB0KEyU5I/s1600/All+Under+One+Banner+Photo+Grant+Keir+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__iQpBdmbsbHeIla88XGl-qYpRTgaCk1iFIlvuto0UtUvFbV-qfdjBpuI-wQsdBvvOS5Rus557V4_rQHXqZvdAR1O9lkwvDx5bTcuei4QDmTi1IUWrYKQuTmy-GkioIVPYwxB0KEyU5I/s320/All+Under+One+Banner+Photo+Grant+Keir+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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RIC's red flag bedecked Edinburgh Castle banner and the real Edinburgh Castle not yet flying a red </div>
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flag!<br />
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Some well-kent RIC faces on the demo<br />
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Jonathon Shafi on the phone asking 'Where is Glasgow?"!<br />
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Palestinian and Catalan flags on the demo</div>
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Three photos of the RIC-led contingent on the Royal Mile - soon to become the Republican Mile!</div>
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Some of the queen's finest - AUOB stewards 'protect' 13 (unlucky) defenders of the 'White British' race</div>
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Two of the campaigns which joined the march - 'Trade Unionists for Independence' and 'NHS for Yes'</div>
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We're Scottish internationalist.....</div>
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... and we're young, nae feart and have hope and drive</div>
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<span id="goog_33655306"></span><span id="goog_33655307"></span>RIC banners taking a rest in Hollyrood Park at the end of the demo - not a police officer or helicopter to be seen - truly a historic event (Historic Environment Scotland please note and raise a monument!)</div>
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Thanks for the photographs from Allan Armstrong, Pete Cannell, Grant Keir and Craig Maclean</div>
Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-86237028678394675142018-10-04T04:52:00.001-07:002018-10-04T04:52:43.582-07:00ALL UNDER ONE BANNER, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6th<div class="_rp_t5" style="font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 9px; position: relative;">
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<strong>ALL UNDER ONE BANNER</strong></div>
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<strong>Saturday 6 October Assemble 12.30pm, </strong></div>
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<strong>Johnstone Terrace</strong></div>
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<strong>Edinburgh</strong></div>
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<strong>RIC Edinburgh has agreed to organise a contingent on the march to</strong></div>
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<strong>emphasise RIC's Scottish republicanism, internationalism and diversit</strong><b>y.</b></div>
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We have new banners for the event including - </div>
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<b>Another Scotland Is Possible,Another Europe Is Possible, Another World Is Possible </b></div>
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<b>For an Independent Scotland - Freedom Come All Ye - For Scottish internationalism</b></div>
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<b>For a Democratic, Secular, Inclusive, Sustainable, Social Scottish Republic </b></div>
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We will have Catalanflags and Palestine Flags and welcome others too. </div>
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Trade Unionists for Independence are marching with us </div>
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Other socialist, green and radical groups are invited to join us.</div>
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Also on the day YES EDINBURGH EAST HAVE ORGANISED A POST RALLY</div>
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<strong>FUNDRAISING GIG at the Teviot Building, Bristo Square.</strong></div>
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Perfotmers - Keving Gore, Bobby Nicholson, Amanda Brown and Whiterose</div>
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All proceeds going to the fight for Indy</div>
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Tickets are priced at £10.</div>
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Contact Derek for tickets. 07817 228 84</div>
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also see:- <a class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/10/catalonia-and-scotland-all-under-one.html" id="LPlnk48093" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/10/catalonia-and-scotland-all-under-one.html</a></div>
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Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-54959648532914633312018-10-03T11:30:00.004-07:002018-10-03T11:30:52.481-07:00CATALONIA AND SCOTLAND - ALL UNDER ONE BANNER DEMO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Massive demonstration in Barcelona in support of the Catalan Republic on October 1st.the anniversary of the independence </span></b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>referendum</b></span></div>
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<b>Wednesday, September 19th, Augustine Church<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Organising for the 'All Under One Banner' demo on October 6th <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Speakers - </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Alba Crespi - Coordinator for ANC Escocia, Assemblea Nacional Catalan </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> Allan Armstrong - RIC-Edinburgh <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Facilitator - </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Pat Smith<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>A report can be seen on youtube at:- </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-23849587037033708422018-10-03T11:16:00.000-07:002018-10-15T12:52:10.883-07:00RIC-EDINBURGH STATEMENT ON THE IHRA DEFINITION OF ANTI-SEMITISM <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">The Labour Party has accepted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-semitism. This represents a significant blow to anti-racists. The IHRA is an interstate organisation with a membership of only 31 out of the UN's 193 states. Several of these are allies and arms suppliers to Israel. Other IHRA member states with a past and current record of domestic anti-semitism, such as Hungary and Poland, use their international support for Israel as a cover for their own racism. This is something quite acceptable to the Israeli state. Israel's PM, Benjamin Netanyahu backs Hungary's PM, Victor Orban. He openly supports "a Christian Europe", to which the even further Right add a "White" prefix. </span></div>
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<b>Israel an apartheid-type racist state - the Palestinians an oppressed people<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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In the 1930s and '40s, many Jewish people living in Europe increasingly saw Palestine as a haven from the mounting anti-semitism that culminated in the holocaust and the death of 6 million Jews and many others in Nazi death camps. The UK and other governments' lack of concern for Jewish people was highlighted when it severely clamped down on Jewish asylum seekers fleeing Nazi Germany in the aftermath of Kristallnacht in 1938, the mass killings following the invasion of eastern Europe in 1941 and then the death camps set up after the Wannsee Conference in 1942. Not able to gain entry into the UK or the USA, some tried to make it to British-controlled Palestine, only to be drowned at sea. This is similar to the situation facing today's mainly Muslim refugees and migrants, who try to cross the Mediterranean. Many thousands have lost their lives. The UK has naval bases at Gibraltar and Cyprus, but these are there to back British military force in the region, not to rescue the victims of imperial actions and corporate greed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But the explicit aim of Israel's founders was to create a Jewish supremacist state, in complete disregard for the overwhelming majority of people already living in Palestine. That is racist to its core. The method adopted was colonial settlement, backed by force. In 1948, Israel was founded through terrorism and the mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians - the Naqba. Ever since Israel's foundation, Palestinians have been systematically discriminated against, expelled from their homes, imprisoned, shot at, tortured and killed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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All Israel's discriminatory actions, laws and now the latest nationality law, which gives state racism a constitutional status, highlight its reality as an apartheid-type state. The murder on one day this year, May 14th, of 60 demonstrators in Gaza has been termed the Palestinian 'Sharpeville'. This is in memory of the 69 black protestors killed by South African apartheid security forces in 1960. The parallels are only too clear. Would Labour have tolerated a Labour Friends of Apartheid South Africa? Yet the Israeli state was also one of the strongest supporters of Apartheid South Africa. This explains why, ever since the overthrow of Apartheid, South Africa has been to the forefront of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (BDS). This is designed to emulate the Boycott Apartheid South Africa campaign, which contributed to the ending of the old regime there. RIC-Edinburgh, on the basis of our Scottish internationalist principles, supports the BDS campaign.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By accepting the IHRA's definition of anti-semitism, rejected by 40 different Jewish organisations in 15 countries, a Labour Party member could now be expelled for declaring Israel to be what it is - a racist state. However, this is not just an issue for the Labour Party. It is part of the continuous Israeli state offensive to give it a free hand in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, or their confinement to the 'bantustan' of the much-reduced West Bank and the 'ghetto' or mass prison camp of Gaza. <o:p></o:p></div>
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People who have spoken up against Israeli state crimes have been targeted by various Jewish supremacist or Zionist organisations, which in the Labour Party include the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). Not all Zionists are Jews. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are prominent members of LFI. Non-Jewish Right-wingers find much to support in Israel. However, neither are all Jews Zionists, despite the claims of the Tory dominated Board of Deputies and the Labour Friends of Israel to speak for all Jews. We admire Scottish Jews against Zionism and other Jewish organisations, which have shown their opposition to the racist nature of the Israeli state and its many crimes against the Palestinian and neighbouring peoples.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Scottish unionist Lord Balfour's record of anti-semitism and the UK's handling of refugees fleeing repression <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Neither can we ignore the UK state's role in the founding of Israel. It was the Scottish Conservative and Unionist, Lord Balfour who drew up the Balfour Declaration 1917. This cynical exercise promised a 'Jewish Homeland' in a Palestine, which had already been promised to Arabs for their support in the First World War against the Ottoman Empire. Nobody consulted the people living in Palestine. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Balfour had a record, both when it came to clearing people off the land and promoting anti-semitism. In 1885 as Scottish Secretary he sent gunboats to Tiree to quell crofters seeking security on their land. The following year, Balfour became the Irish Secretary. Once again he used force, this time to quell Irish tenant farmers, earning the name 'Bloody Balfour'. In 1905, Balfour, as Home Secretary, introduced the Aliens Act, which targeted Jewish refugees fleeing pogroms in Tsarist Russia. British supporters of the Balfour Declaration often wanted poor Jews to leave the UK and settle in Palestine. Again the link between anti-semitism at home and support for a Jewish state elsewhere is clear.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today amongst the tens of thousands of refugees fleeing repression are Palestinians. Israel has created a 'hostile environment', which Theresa May can only envy. And the UK government remains a major supplier of arms to the Jewish supremacist state of Israel and the Islamic supremacist state of Saudi Arabia adding to the misery. We support the work of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which has Moslem, Jewish, Christian and non-religious members and promotes Palestinian self-determination on democratic, secular and anti-racist grounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>British racists welcome Israel's ethnic self-definition<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Racist loudmouth, Katie Hopkins, Islamophobic Tory MP, Zac Goldsmith, suspended DUP MP Ian Paisley Junior, and neo-fascist Tommy Robinson support Israel's self-definition as an ethnocracy. They clearly see this as a precedent for their own versions of an ethnic Britishness. Both Gordon Brown and Michael Gove worked on ethnic/cultural tests before migrants can become British. David Cameron's restricted franchise for the EU referendum revealed the extent of the UK's acceptance of ethnic criteria for British nationality. On 12th September, all but one of the Tory MEPs voted at Strasbourg against Orban's Hungarian government being sanctioned. Both Orban and May support apartheid Israel. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Defending a civic nation in Scotland <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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In Scotland we have another important reason for rejecting the IHRA's acceptance of racial or ethnic nationalism. During IndyRef1 the 'Yes' campaign championed a civic Scotland, open to all who choose to live here - including Muslims and Jews. The franchise for IndyRef 1 included all EU residents and 16-18 year olds. This was in marked contrast to the ethnic franchise for the Tories' 2015 EU referendum. On the 6th September, as the Labour Party accepted Israel's self-definition as a Jewish ethnocracy, Nicola Sturgeon announced that any future IndyRef2 will be open to all residents who choose Scotland as their home. We welcome this. In rejecting the IHRA and its apologists, we support the idea and reality of Scotland as a civic nation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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RIC-Edinburgh seeks to break free from the clutches of the UK state, its British imperialist delusions, and its support for ethnic or religious supramacist regimes. Another Scotland is possible; another Europe is possible; and another world is possible. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>RIC-Edinburgh 24.9.18<o:p></o:p></b></div>
Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-13323899791759439692018-09-11T03:25:00.002-07:002018-09-12T05:36:08.306-07:00ALL UNDER ONE BANNER DEMONSTRATION IN EDINBURGH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6th<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0cm -31.55pt 0.0001pt -1cm; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify;"> The RIC National Forum held in Edinburgh RIC on August 11th, undertook to</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Under Banner' demonstration in the city on October 6th. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> There will be three new banners. The first will read:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">For an Independent Scotland<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">FREEDOM COME ALL YE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">For Scottish Internationalism</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> The second will read:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">ANOTHER SCOTLAND IS POSSIBLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">ANOTHER EUROPE IS POSSIBLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><b> </b>The RIC-Edinburgh banner, with its red-flag capped Edinburgh Castle and its </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> call for a Democratic, Secular Scottish Republic, has been seen on </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> many demonstrations. However, following our work with Women's and </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> LBGTI groups, with the Scottish Greens and environmental groups, and with </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> social and economic campaigns and trade unionists, we are now updating this </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">FOR A DEMOCRATIC, SECULAR, INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">SOCIAL SCOTTISH REPUBLIC</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> We </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">are calling upon people to join us with their own organisation and </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> campaign contingents, and with their own banners and materials. We are </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> asking people to bring red flags, Scottish republican flags, Catalan Republic </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> flags and Palestinian flags.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Hope to see you all in Edinburgh on October 6th. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify;">For a fuller explanation of the background to the revived 'Yes' movement see:-</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.conter.co.uk/blog/2018/9/7/the-yes-movement-the-left">https://www.conter.co.uk/blog/2018/9/7/the-yes-movement-the-left</a><br />
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Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-85476824661913814902018-09-04T13:24:00.001-07:002018-09-04T13:26:36.160-07:00VIGIL AT SIKH GURDWARA IN LEITH, 30.8.18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Sikh Gurdwara in Leith was severely damaged in an arson attack on 28th August. Th police suspect it is a hate crime and have arrested somebody in relation to this attack.<br />
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A vigil was organised on the Thursday evening of 30th August. Several hundred people attended. They mainly came from the immediate area in Leith and from Edinburgh. The organisers were very pleased at the turnout. RIC-Edinburgh members attended, but kept tour banner under wraps in acknowledgement of the nature of the vigil.<br />
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also see:- <a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/05/solidarity-with-shabaz-ali-10518.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/05/solidarity-with-shabaz-ali-10518.html</a></div>
Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-74114546667537013452018-09-04T13:13:00.003-07:002018-11-24T14:39:18.020-08:00A REPORT OF THE ANOTHER EUROPE IS POSSIBLE MEETING HELD IN GLASGOW ON 30.8.18Allan Armstrong attended the meeting entitled organised by Another Europe Is Possible in Glasgow on 30th August. He was asked to write up his proposal for a Scottish-iniiated Ratification Referendum. This had been agreed at the RIC AGM on June 30th. (see <a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-case-for-eu-ratification-referendum.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-case-for-eu-ratification-referendum.html</a>)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">THE CASE FOR HOLYROOD TAKING THE LEAD <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">ON A BREXIT DEAL REFERENDUM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">On Wednesday 30th August, The Left Against Brexit organised its first meeting in Scotland. Kirsty Haigh (Another Europe Is Possible) chaired the meeting in Strathclyde University Union. Tommy Sheppard (SNP), Maggie Chapman (Scottish Greens), Liam McCabe (NUS-Scotland President) and Michael Chessum (Labour Party and Momentum) addressed the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The platform speakers were largely agreed upon the need for a Left campaign against any likely Brexit deal, or the prospect of no deal. The negotiations remain in the hands of the May's Tory government, with the main pressure coming from the further Right, led by Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson, and from Arlene Foster's DUP, dependent on the support of the Orange Order and the Loyalists. Thus, we all have an immediate interest in defending workers' pay and conditions, women's and minority rights, and environmental and consumer protection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">A number of contributors from the floor thought that the discrediting of Westminster politics meant priority should be given to winning independence for Scotland. Michael Chessum said that he appreciated that there were keen supporters of independence at the meeting, but he was not asking them to abandon or downplay this, anymore than he would his own support for a future Corbyn Labour government. However, opposition to a Tory Brexit deal or even No deal could still unite us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Some supporters of Scottish independence did not see difference between the political situation during IndyRef1 and that during any possible future IndyRef2. But both sides in Indy Ref1 wanted Scotland to remain in the EU. This also meant that, if Scotland had won its political independence, there would be much less economic disruption. The EU would ensure the continuation of the free movement of people and of free trade. If the UK leaves the EU, then any new Scottish independence campaign would have to deal with the arguments about the economic disruption resulting from Brexit <u>and </u>leaving the UK. Project Fear would move into overdrive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">However, one thing should be clear. May's government is not going to allow any referendum, whether over Brexit, any Brexit deal, Scottish independence, or a Border Poll in Northern Ireland. At the moment there appears to be only one way to break this logjam. Holyrood can hold a Brexit deal referendum. A potential parliamentary majority already exists in the SNP and Green MSPs, and if Momentum in Scotland could win over some Labour MSPs this would add to the political impact. It would also provide an immediate political focus for Another Europe Is Possible in Scotland. Furthermore, this would allow opponents of the Tories to take the initiative, instead of passively waiting for the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. This just leaves politics focussed upon Theresa May and her untenable Chequers Agreement, and Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnston putting forward their delusionary Empire 2, hard Brexit schemes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">It is important that such any referendum should be over a Brexit deal or no deal - a Ratification Referendum. Scotland has already voted to Remain. There was a 62% majority, far larger than for any No vote elsewhere in the UK. Furthermore, this was achieved despite the rigged franchise. Whatever, the limitations of the <i>White Paper</i>, which accompanied the Scottish government's official Yes campaign in 2014, it outlined the manner in which it saw independence being implemented. Neither of the two Brexit campaigns made any attempt to do this, and issued contradictory statements. Thus a Ratification Referendum would also allow us to win over those, who voted for Brexit, but not for the versions of Brexit now being pushed by various figures in the Tory government. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">But, even more importantly, a Holyrood Ratification Referendum can base itself on the civic national precedent set by IndyRef1. EU residents and all those between 16-18 would get the vote. The racist exclusion of migrants in the Brexit referendum was a disgrace. Prominent Brexiteers avoid taxation and salt away their incomes in overseas tax havens, whilst EU migrant workers pay UK taxes. A big majority of young people are hostile to Brexit, and the chauvinism and racism it has promoted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Holding a Holyrood Ratification Referendum would place Scotland once more to the forefront of democratic change in these islands. Providing a civic national and Scottish internationalist example of how to conduct a referendum would put pressure on Westminster. This could follow the collapse of the May's Tory government, because of her inability to get her Chequers deal through parliament. A general election would be a quite likely result. This would give renewed opportunity both for independence supporters and for Corbyn supporters to campaign. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">This would be the situation in which Michael Chessum's acknowledgement of the different politics of those involved in the Left Against Brexit would come to the fore. However, there could still be some political basis for further political cooperation. It seems very unlikely that Corbyn-led Labour could win an absolute majority of UK seats at Westminster. Therefore he would need to approach other parties to be able to form a government. The SNP actually has better record of voting with Corbyn for progressive legislation in Westminster, than the right wing of his own party! It would be a strong indication that Labour had at last broken with Right unionism, if it could seek support from SNP MPs to implement its manifesto commitments, in return for agreeing to Holyrood conducting IndyRef2. Indeed, for the forseeable future, this is the only likely way that such a referendum could gain legal backing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">There is a principled political basis for future cooperation in the Left Against Brexit campaign. This would mean opposing the strengthening of the UK's anti-democratic powers by upholding the right of self-determination. The Tories are even tearing up the limited Devolution deal brought forward under New Labour. Furthermore, continued cooperation would mean championing workers, women's and minority rights; and defending the free movement of people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Or as a celebrated Scottish internationalist, Hamish Henderson, once declared - 'Freedom Come All Ye!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Allan Armstrong, Radical Independence Campaign, 31.8.18<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 21.33333396911621px;">This </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: 21.33333396911621px;">was first posted at:<b>- </b></span></span><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.anothereurope.org/holyrood-must-take-the-lead/" id="LPlnk50716" previewinformation="1" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">https://www.anothereurope.org/holyrood-must-take-the-lead/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2. A Letter sent in reply to reply to Iain McWhirter's <i>Voices </i>article of 7.10.18</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />Iain MacWhirter's <i>Voices </i>article on 7.10.18 suggests that if Nicola Sturgeon backs a People's Vote at Westminster, this "would give her energetic but increasingly despondent troops something to do." One problem with this is that the SNP MPs do not control events at Westminster. So, such an eventuality depends on others - dissident Tories, uncertain Labour, the Lib-Dems, Plaid Cymru and the one Green. They are a far from coherent political force - which in some ways is just as well! Furthermore, the anti-democratic nature of Westminster, especially its first-past-the post system, gives the Tories a dominant position that does not reflect political reality in the UK at large, especially Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. This is made even worse with the Tories being in coalition with the pro-Brexit DUP. They do not even represent the view of the electorate in Northern Ireland, who voted to remain in the EU. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The net result of this lack of democracy at Westminster is that the only parliamentary forces currently determining the nature of Brexit are May and her backers on one hand, and Johnson and Rees Mogg backed by the DUP on the other. And as long as May can hold the Tories together, the government can ensure that the current political paralysis prevails and the options are confined to these two unpalatable alternatives. Even in England and Wales they represent a minority view. Many Brexit voters were originally persuaded that the UK could still remain in the customs union and free market. But Labour are as divided as the Tories, so if we accept that Westminster calls the shots, all we can do is sit and wait, whilst politics is dragged even further Right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sometimes, the argument is made that supporting another referendum on Brexit would leave the door open to the overthrow of any future IndyRef2 result. This analogy does not hold. Back in 2014, the SNP government offered a <i>White Paper </i>showing what they considered to be the consequences of voting for Scottish independence. In 2016, neither wing of the Brexiteers, the Tory Right nor UKIP, offered us anything. If there is an analogy, it is between a vote on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations and the vote the Scottish people would have to make over any new constitution following a successful independence referendum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This points the way to the nature of the new referendum needed and where it needs to be conducted. We do not want a rerun of the 2016 vote. After all, people in Scotland made it very clear where we stand - 62%, including every single council area, voted to Remain. What is required is a Ratification referendum over the proposed deal. Many who were drawn into voting for Brexit did not do so to complete the Thatcherite counter-revolution. Yet the only two positions now in contention at Westminster are variations on this. The aim of a Ratification referendum should be to get an even bigger majority against the current Brexit proposals than was won for Remain, by winning over some of those who were conned the last time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And the way to break this logjam is not for the SNP government to give backing to some putative Westminster People's Vote, but to get Holyrood to hold its own Ratification referendum. Such a referendum should ensure that all EU residents and 16-18 year olds are given the vote, as was the case in IndyRef1. The denial of the vote to these people in the Brexit referendum was a disgrace, and represented a pandering to ethnic British nationalism. Nicola Sturgeon's call for all residents to be given the vote in future Scottish referenda provides an even better example for democrats in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would be the result of holding such a referendum? A Holyrood Ratification referendum would place enormous pressure on Westminster to follow. Just as importantly it could provide an example the wider franchise needed, which included those most affected. It would also represent a defeat for May, who wants to avoid any democratic vote. The call of the Brexiteers to 'take back control' was never meant to increase popular democracy, but to allow the anti-democratic UK state to 'take back control'. We can see this in Scotland, where even the limited post-1998 devolution settlement is now under attack. And if Westminster was still unmoved, a decisive rejection of any Tory Brexit deal in Scotland could also provide a renewed impetus for the Scottish independence campaign. But any future Scottish vote on independence, if Brexit goes ahead, should still be separated from vote on EU membership. Democrats should not combine two separate issues in one vote. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Best of all, holding a Ratification referendum means that the political initiative would pass back to Scotland, and not just the SNP's "increasingly despondent" troops identified by Iain. After all, there were 85,000 far from despondent people on the streets of Edinburgh, including many SNP members, on October 6th. The loud singing of 'Freedom Come All Ye', as we marched past the assembled choir, represented the very best of the Scottish internationalist tradition needed to challenge the decaying UK political system fronted by a decadent Westminster. On September 18th, 2014 we saw not a defeated, but a thwarted democratic revolution. The need for its renewal is so much starker today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Allan Armstrong, 8.10.18<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">also see:<b>- </b></span><a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-case-for-eu-ratification-referendum.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-case-for-eu-ratification-referendum.html</a></div>
</div>
Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-52339024509256996822018-08-23T13:47:00.001-07:002018-08-25T12:11:28.327-07:00DUNDEE 'ALL UNDER ONE BANNER' DEMONSTRATION, 18.8.18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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RIC-Edinburgh joined the RIC-Dundee and Dundee Against Austerity contingents on the 'All Under One Banner' march held in Dundee on 18th August. There were flags from many countries, with Catalunya featuring prominently, as well from Ireland, Wales and England. The Lothians-based Trade Unionists for Independence banner was also there.<br />
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The march of 16,000 people went from Baxter Park to Magdalene Green. The local SNP MP, Chris Law, emphasised Dundee's radical links. William Wallace had been educated in Dundee, whilst Magdalene Green had been used by Chartist and Women's Suffrage campaigners.Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-70345679633653332692018-08-14T05:20:00.002-07:002018-08-14T05:20:21.644-07:00RIC- EDINBURGH REPORT TO NATIONAL FORUM IN EDINBURGH, 11.8.18<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444;">We have 123 members</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">a. RIC- Edinburgh Assemblies<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">i) 30.5.18 - Rail Nationalisation <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"> Speaker</span></b><b><span style="color: #444444;">- Craig Dalzell, Commonwealth Head of Policy & Research<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"> Facilitator - </span></b><b><span style="color: #444444;">Pat Smith<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> A report can be seen at:- <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/07/rail-nationalisation.html<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">ii) 30.6.18 - What Now for the Scottish Independence Movement?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"> Speaker - Jonathon Shafi, RIC National Convenor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"> Facilitator - Pat Smith<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> A report can be seen at:- <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/07/what-now-for-scottish-independence.html<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">iii) 25.7.18 The Resistable Rise of the Far Right - How do the Build the Resistance?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"> Speaker - Willie Black - Trade unionist, community activist and campaigner against the <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"> Far Right</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"> Facilitator - Eileen <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></b><span style="color: #444444;">A report can be seen at:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-resistible-rise-of-far-right-how-do.html<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">b) 30.6.18 - RIC National AGM - Glasgow<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> 5 people from Edinburgh attended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> A full report can be seen at:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> <a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/07/what-now-for-scottish-independence.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/07/what-now-for-scottish-independence.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> i) Action taken in support of motions;-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> <a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-case-for-eu-ratification-%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20referendum.html"> http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-case-for-eu-ratification- <o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-case-for-eu-ratification-%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20referendum.html"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444;">referendum.html</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> ii) Discussion on All Under One Banner events at National Forum, 1.8.18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">c. RIC-Edinburgh Organising Meetings<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> i) 30.4.18 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> ii) 4.6.18 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> iii) 3.7.18 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> iv) 31.7.18 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">d. Next RIC-Edinburgh Assembly<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"> 18.9.18, 19.00 - Organising for the All Under One Banner demo in Edinburgh on <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #444444;">Saturday, October 6th</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> Speakers from RIC, Catalan Solidarity Campaign and Scottish CND<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">e. Other events supported by RIC-Edinburgh<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">i) 10.5.18 - Solidarity with Shabaz Ali, Tollcross <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> see:- <a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/05/solidarity-with-shabaz-ali-10518.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/05/solidarity-with-shabaz-ali-10518.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">ii) 15.5.18 - The New Scottish Social Security Bill - What It Will Mean To You? 15.5.18, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Muirhouse Millennium Centre</span></b><b style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<b>iii) 25.5.18 - </b><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121;">Public Meeting to save Edinburgh Central Library, Central Hall<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121;">iv) </span><span style="color: #212121;">Connolly150 Event, Augustine Church, 2.6.18<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;"> Speakers:- <i>The Lives of Connolly</i>- 12.15-14.00 - Chair, Roisin </span></b><b><span style="color: #212121;">Mclaren</span></b><b><span style="color: #212121;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;"> Peter Buckingham - Professor of History, Linfield College, Oregon <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;"> Brian Hanley - Historian, Edinburgh University<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;"> Frankie Quinn - 1916 Society, County Tyrone<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;"> Chloe Alexander - Lecturer, Aberdeen University<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;"> <i>Connolly Lives</i>- Chair, David Maguire<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;"> Alan McCombes - Author and land campaignee <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;"> Donal Fallon - Dublin historian and broadcaster<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Times New Roman;"> Paul Mclaughlin - Community activist and Project, <span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Manager</span> of MOJO <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;"> Performance of James Connolly's play<i>Under Which Flag </i>- Spartaki Theatre Company<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;"> Musicians - Gerry Mulvenna, Stephen Dodds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;">v) 14.7.18 - Anti-Trump Protest, Edinburgh<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;"> see:- <a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/07/ric-edinburgh-at-anti-trump-demo-on.html">http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/07/ric-edinburgh-at-anti-trump-demo- <o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/07/ric-edinburgh-at-anti-trump-demo-on.html"><span style="color: #212121;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121;">on.html</span></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121;">iv) 30.7.18 - Where Now for Catalan Independence? Edinburgh University<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;"> A report can seen at:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;"> <a href="http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/where-now-for-catalan-independence.html"> http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.com/2018/08/where-now-for-catalan-independence.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-51102172006558751152018-08-04T13:08:00.001-07:002018-08-04T13:08:58.667-07:00WHERE NOW FOR CATALAN INDEPENDENCE?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">COMMONSPACE held a forum at the University of Edinburgh on 30 July on where now for Catalan independence, co-sponsored by Bella Caledonia and ANC Scotland. </strong></div>
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Speakers: SNP MP for Edinburgh West Joanna Cherry; co-authors of Catalonia Reborn George Kerevan and Chris Bambery; human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar; head of the Catalan National Assembly Elisenda Paluzie. There was also a surprise guest appearance from exiled Catalan former Education Minister and St Andrews University professor Clara Ponsati.</div>
A full report of this can be seen at:-<br />
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<a href="https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/13102/watch-where-now-catalan-independence">https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/13102/watch-where-now-catalan-independence</a></div>
Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-10822350359644860232018-08-01T13:49:00.000-07:002018-08-01T13:52:34.157-07:00THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF THE FAR RIGHT - HOW DO WE BUILD THE RESISTANCE? <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Speaker - Willie Black - Trade unionist, community activist and campaigner against the Far Right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Facilitator - Eileen <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Willie's introduction can be seen at:- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There was followed a discussion to which everyone contributed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The following issues were raised:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1. How much success can be claimed by the Left for the failure of the SDL again to mobilise significant forces in Glasgow on July 15th? Their poor showing was to be welcomed compared to the Football Lads Alliance's (FLA) 15,000 strong march in London in support of Tommy Robinson. However, the police had put a strict 100 maximum on the SDL, a half hour maximum presence and had then completely kettled them in. Although the Left again considerably outnumbered them SDL, the numbers were not enough considering the growing opportunities for the Right since the Brexit vote, and the support Trump has given to the Far Right, including Tommy Robinson. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Steve Hedley, the assistant general secretary of the RMT, had been physically attacked after the Far Right demo in England. There were RMT members at the Glasgow anti-Far Right demo, but certainly no large-scale mobilisation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">2. The world we now face is different from the past. Many young workers, who are on temporary or zero hours contracts, working in several jobs, are not members of unions. Not only has trade union membership declined, but where it can still be found, most members have relatively little contact with official union structures. Many young people are very suspicious of parties, seeing them only as a means to advance careers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A lot of the Far Right activity took place on-line, with widely read Alt-Right websites. For young people the motivating factor in opposing the Far Right is opposition to their sexism, homophobia and anti-trans activities. Most young people also have friends from abroad whom they work with, and they want to oppose the anti-migrant actions of the Far Right, following the stepped up physical attacks on migrants since the Brexit vote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The strength of UKIPs support, particularly in the North and Midlands of England, was due to its appeal to a fragmented, atomised and alienated working class, devastated by Thatcher's' de-industrialisation offensive. Atomised people look to saviours (Farage and Trump) and scapegoats (migrants and asylum seekers). However, the current teacher strikes in the Trump heartlands of West Virginia, Kentucky and Arizona showed the possibilities for a new type of organisation that extended beyond the traditional unions and involved their local communities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There had also been significant Left and related currents since 2008, including Syriza, Podemos, Corbyn in England, and Sanders in the USA. IndyRef1 had a very high mobilisation amongst the working class. The Catalan Republic independence vote also was a blow against the Spanish state, the Rajoy government and the Right <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">3. The continued deep cuts in local services in England has further broken up working class communities. However, the cuts have also provided an opportunity for community campaigning. This could sometimes bring the Left into contact with people who blamed migrants for particular problems, as Willie had found out with housing campaigners in north Edinburgh. However, drawing people into action, and showing the connections between those suffering the consequences of the cuts, and pointing to those really responsible, was a good method of overcoming racist attitudes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> It was also pointed out that although still not so advanced in Scotland as in England, Scottish local councils were also imposing punitive cuts now, as in the case of East Dunbartonshire local council. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">4. The difficulties of creating a wider anti-Far Right alliance were raised. Many SNP and Labour supporters were not prepared to undertake joint activities, which involved the presence of the other party. In addition, the Left was still suffering from the aftermath of Tommygate, with people boycotting events, which gave a platform to either side in the original dispute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">5. There had been a move to the Right in the SNP leadership, marked by their pushing of the Growth Commission report. Even, in the non-party Yes groups, there are people who oppose any public opposition to this neo-liberal, pro-austerity report, because they say it feeds into Labour's agenda, since the rise of Corbyn and Leonard. Robin MacAlpine of Commonweal has come under attack from the hard Scottish nationalists. Meanwhile, beyond the ranks of the SNP and independent Yes campaign organisers, an ethnic Scottish nationalism has resurfaced in the form of Soil nan Gaidheal. They have been trying to push anti-English feeling, under the cover of opposing "Tory scum" (the Tories in England control the government, therefore the English in Scotland are Tory agents).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">6. Those in the independent Yes groups who were opposed to the raising of other issues, like the Growth Commission, anti-austerity, the monarchy, etc, often shared an opposition to these with the Left. However they argued that all these issues should be set aside for now, and can be addressed after independence was gained. The Left can argue that if the current Scottish business owners and senior state managers are left in control, then possession is nine-tenths of the law, and their 'independent' Scotland would continue to be run in their interests. However, there was another argument, which could be taken into the Yes groups. The SNP leadership no longer has a viable strategy to bring about the independence they want. The defeat of IndyRef1 and the move to the Right, following the Brexit vote, means that the Tory/DUP coalition is not going to concede an IndyRef2. It is also unlikely the SNP leadership will take up the Catalan option. The organisers of the unofficial Catalan referendum, included republicans (Republican Left-EL) and socialists (Popular Unity Candidacy - CUP), are far more acutely aware of the Spanish monarchist semi-fascist legacy than the SNP or many independence supporters in Scotland are of the Crown Powers possessed by the UK state. So far these people have gone little beyond opposition to two aspects of the UK state - Westminster and the BBC. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">One of the things RIC should be doing in the independent Yes movement is to patiently explain the wider activities of the UK state. In one sense the present government is doing our job for us, highlighted by its rolling back of the Devolution-all-round settlement. This makes RIC’s republican arguments more relevant. Republicanism doesn't just consist of ending of the monarchy, after Scottish independence has been won, but opposing the state's Crown Powers now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">One possibility for RIC to counter Scottish ethnic nationalists anti-English racism would be to focus people's attention on the main political cause of the damage: the UK state; e.g. have a banner with 'The UK out of Scotland; Scotland out of the UK'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">7. As well as the Far Right beginning to attack trade unionists in England, in Scotland they see independence supporters as a major enemy. Corbyn and left leaning trade union leaders and the SNP are all within the sights of the Far Right. This could be seen in the Loyalist and triumphalism in Glasgow on the day IndyRef1 was defeated. The SNP is the subject of strong Loyalist antipathy, and this has extended to the Orange Order inviting the DUP's Arlene Foster to Scotland, in order to oppose Sturgeon, the SNP and IndyRef2, and to cement hard core unionism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Left needs to work hard to ensure that both Labour and SNP supporters can come together to build a wider anti-Far Right movement. In contributing to the building of this movement RIC can show the possibility of uniting Labour and SNP supporters. RIC had already shown the possibility of bringing such forces together in the successful conference held in Edinburgh in March:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2018/03/15/ric-spring-conference/"><span style="color: #4d469c; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none;">http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2018/03/15/ric-spring-conference/</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The shared basis for cooperation should include the recognition of the right of self-determination. This did not divide people between pro- and anti-independence.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If the right to hold IndyRef 2 was conceded, under a government of a different complexion (e.g. Corbyn Labour needing SNP support to get a majority), then pro- and anti-Scottish independence could be fought out in </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">IndyRef2.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">8. Willie added a cautionary note, saying that the Orange Order and the fascists were not identical. He saw the need to open up a divide between these two forces, drawing on a precedent from an earlier demonstration in Edinburgh where the Orange Order and the National Front were kept separate. He also said that work was afoot to try and create an anti-Far Right football alliance in Scotland, but he hoped it would be lads and lasses!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">9. There was general agreement at the meeting that the current anti-Far Right forces, including Unite Against Fascism, would need to bring new forces together, with specific appeals to Labour and SNP, to give their public support. RIC has never seen itself as an organisation, which attempts to set up new front organisations, but has always offered its support to bona fide campaigns, which advance the interests of the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">working class and oppressed groups. RIC would support such an initiative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-72241268439784871582018-08-01T02:13:00.002-07:002018-08-01T13:36:39.726-07:00THE CASE FOR AN EU RATIFICATION REFERENDUM<br />
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 14pt;">The following motion was passed at the RIC AGM on June 30th. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 14pt;">1. This meeting recognises that a majority of the Scottish people voted to remain in the European Union.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 14pt;">2. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We condemn the Tories imposing a hard anti-working class ‘all British Exit’ on Scotland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 14pt;">3. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We call on the Scottish government to hold a ratification referendum on the Tory deal.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 14pt;">4. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We note that if a majority of the Scottish people vote against the Tory deal this would be a justification to trigger a second Independence referendum.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt;">Allan Armstrong wrote a letter to </span><i><span style="color: #212121; font-size: 14pt;">The National </span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt;">in support of this, which was published on 24.7.18.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In <i>The National </i>of 23.7.18, Carolyn Leckie has raised the idea of the Scottish government holding a rerun of the 2016 EU referendum. Like Carolyn, and for similar reasons, I voted to Remain in 2016. I have even less illusions in the EU than Carolyn. I recognise that the EU, unlike the UK, is not a state with is own army or police force, but is a treaty organisation between existing member states. But therein lies the rub for neither Scotland nor Catalunya are states, so their national concerns are not recognised by the EU. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">However, the UK state has even more of a stranglehold over Scotland, and the purpose of those in charge of Brexit, is to further centralise state power to protect the rich and powerful. They want to undermine the employment and welfare conditions for both UK subjects and EU residents. Or as Nigel Lawson has put it, "Brexit will complete Margaret Thatcher's economic revolution", only this time not in alliance with Ronald Reagan, but with Donald Trump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I would suggest that better than a rerun of the 2016 EU referendum, would be a Ratification referendum. Brexiteers never provided any plans in the event of a Leave vote, and we are now witnessing the shambolic consequences. So a new referendum should be over the conditions of the proposed Brexit deal. It is highly unlikely that Yes voting Leavers, or indeed even some No voting Labour Leavers, are happy with the Brexit deal now being pushed by the Tory Right and DUP, mightily helped by the anti-democratic nature of the UK state. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Brexit vote did split the Yes movement, even if the Remain vote was not only overwhelming, but also formed a majority right across Scotland. Yet, a third of the original Yes supporters voted Leave. Thus, a Ratification referendum would provide the possibility for reuniting both Yes Remainers and Leavers. Both May, and sadly Corbyn, continue to hide behind the dubious 'democratic mandate' of the Leave vote, despite the rigged franchise, with the exclusion of EU residents and 16-18 year olds (in contrast to IndeyRef1) and, as Carolyn points out, "the daily exposure of breaches of electoral law." But a call for a rerun referendum would most likely strengthen the hard Right in England. However, many Brexiteers would find it much harder to oppose a Ratification referendum, bringing "power back to the people", than a rerun of the 2016 EU referendum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A successful Ratification referendum in Scotland would increase the pressure to hold a wider referendum, or to trigger a general election in the UK. Either of these could undermine the continuing slide to the Right in UK politics and lead to a break in the current political logjam, which is only aiding the Tory and further Right. However, any continued attempts by May and the Tory Right to obstruct the likely outcome of aRatification referendum in Scotland could also provide a more effective spur to either IndyRef2, or whatever form the next stage of the Scottish democratic movement takes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 14pt;">George Kerevan, SNP ex-MP, had also written the following article in <i>The National</i>, which had already been circulated to RIC supporters before the AGM.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">THERE is a general feeling of disorientation among <span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=SNP&topic_id=9019">SNP</a> </span>activists following the General <a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=Election&topic_id=9002"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Election</span></a>. I’m blaming no-one: politics is a rough business and after a decade in power at <span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=Holyrood&topic_id=9006">Holyrood</a> </span>the party could not hope to have everything permanently its own way. Or see our political opponents remain forever on the back foot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">However, in the month since the election there has been an uncharacteristic void regarding what we might call the party’s “project”. The First Minister is still talking about an independence referendum after the outcome of the <span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=Brexit&topic_id=8997">Brexit</a> </span>negotiations are clear. But the precise date for this has become opaque. Gone is the call for an independence vote some time between autumn 2018 and spring 2019.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Instead, the priority now is to get the best Brexit deal possible, defined as staying inside the single market and (more improbably if England quits the EU) staying inside the customs union. There is much to commend this strategy. <span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=Scotland&topic_id=9026">Scotland</a> </span>voted 62:38 for Remain, and leading on that issue puts pressure on the <span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=Ruth+Davidson&topic_id=9018">Ruth Davidson</a> </span>Party and the anti-Corbyn Scottish Labour Party. But this thrust also has a number of inherent weaknesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">For starters, unless Corbyn seriously takes up the fight, there is no effective majority in the <span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=Commons&topic_id=8998">Commons</a> </span>for staying in the single market. In fact, Corbyn whipped the majority of his MPs into abstaining on a Labour rebel motion backing this very policy. As a result, <span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=Theresa+May&topic_id=9022">Theresa May</a> </span>is off the hook. And the Tory government has set its face resolutely against remaining in the single market or the customs union and that won’t change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Of course, Ian Blackford and his doughty band of SNP MPs at Westminster will fight for Scottish inclusion in the Brexit negotiations. They will set down a lot of creative amendments and keep the Tories out of their beds by calling numerous late-night votes. But I can’t see the Conservatives taking heed unless we find a bigger political stick with which to threaten them. Yet we have abandoned <a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=indyref2&topic_id=9009"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">indyref2</span></a>, at least for the time being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">True, with the help of the SNP and dissident Labour MPs, the pro-City wing of the <span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=Conservative&topic_id=8999">Conservative</a> </span>Party (championed by Chancellor Philip Hammond) might win a lengthy transition period before the UK quits all EU economic institutions — perhaps five years, maybe a decade. However, such a tactical delay can hardly be represented as a major victory. And it clouds even further the decision over when (if ever) to call for a second independence referendum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">So can anything be done to recover the political initiative in Scotland? Here’s a suggestion: the SNP government at Holyrood should announce it will hold a unilateral referendum on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, circa the spring or early summer of 2019. Note: this is not an independence vote. It is designed purely to let the people of Scotland give their view on the Brexit deal, whatever it is. (The Scottish <span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.thenational.scot/search/?search=Government&topic_id=9004">Government</a> </span>should lobby the devolved parliaments and assemblies in Wales, Northern Ireland and London to follow suit – a combined electorate of around ten million.) This strategy has the advantage of putting matters squarely back in the hands of the Scottish electorate and away from the corridors of Westminster and the machinations of Oxbridge-educated civil servants. Of course, such a vote would be non-binding on the Tory government. But it would shift the dynamic of the EU debate to Scotland. Instead of the SNP government being a spectator in the Brexit negotiations, it would be in a position to determine public opinion. It also gives the SNP some muscle in demanding participation in the Brexit negotiations: David Davies and his team would know that the European Commission can look over their shoulders and appeal directly to Scottish voters when it comes to staying in the single market. Giving Scottish voters a direct voice makes it less easy for Davies and the Tories to ignore their opinions or that of the Scottish Government. I doubt if wobbly Theresa May will accede to handing negotiations over to a commission of the devolved nations – that’s a pipe dream. But a consultative referendum puts real pressure on her and Davies to come north to address directly Scottish concerns on Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">EVEN if the Tories reject the call for an independent negotiating commission, the Scottish Government can still establish its own, in order to feed into the Brexit discussions. This might consist of business people, representatives of EU citizens working and domiciled locally, local authorities, trades unions, the churches and civic Scotland. Such an independent EU Negotiations Commission north of the Border would make it more difficult for the Conservatives to dismiss Scottish demands to stay in the single market – at least without paying a political price.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">There’s more. Calling a Scottish referendum on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations would force Ruth Davidson and Kezia Dugdale to relate to Scottish voters directly, which limits their ability to prevaricate or dissemble on Europe and the economy. Of course, both are likely to dismiss a local referendum on the final Brexit deal as an SNP manoeuvre. Let them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">If we go ahead with such a vote – and we should – Davidson and Dugdale either have to get on board or risk becoming politically irrelevant on Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">A second EU vote – after we know the true facts on Brexit – also allows the SNP to reconnect with its supporters who have doubts on Europe, many of whom abstained at the General Election. We are not asking these folk to change their minds on Brexit as such. Instead, we are giving them a chance to make a considered judgment on the real economic outcome of quitting the EU. And yes, we have to consider the possibility that people will vote to accept the Brexit outcome. But it will be an SNP government that gives them that democratic choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">The bottom line on such an initiative is that Scotland might create a political momentum across the UK that keeps Britain in the single market. That would mitigate the worst of the economic fallout from the original Brexit vote in 2016. It would also be a political blow to the Tory and Farage right wing and would help split the Conservative Party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">But what of independence? To hold and win an independence referendum requires the SNP to recover national momentum. We do that by seizing control of the EU agenda from the Tories in London, by offering the Scottish people a deliberative vote on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. If London refuses for a second time to accept Scotland’s wish to stay in the single market, then the door opens to a second independence referendum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">In politics, there are no magic bullets. Calling a post-negotiation referendum is only part of the story. The SNP government has to show decisively it is has not succumbed to being part of the political establishment. We need radical measures on the economy, including the creation of an interventionist Scottish Investment Bank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">But equally, politics always abhors a vacuum. After the General Election, the SNP can’t simply revert to governing Scotland well and keeping its fingers crossed. We need to take control. A post-negotiation referendum allows us to do that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">This was originally posted at:- <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">http://www.thenational.scot/news/15399873.George_Kerevan__Scotland_should_hold_a_unilateral_referendum_on_the_outcome_of_Brexit_negotiations/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</style>Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854788994630585721.post-5019128324767450072018-07-28T07:15:00.000-07:002018-08-04T15:37:49.785-07:00RIC-EDINBURGH AT THE ANTI-TRUMP DEMO ON 14th JULY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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RIC-Edinburgh banner at Holyrood before the crowds assemble to march<br />
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One of the many humorous placards on the march<br />
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....and another<br />
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Trump baby blimp joins the rally on The Meadows after 20,000 strong march<br />
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<br />Radical Independence Campaign Edinburgh Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05971563487328322372noreply@blogger.com0