1. General
We have 107 card
carrying members. We have monthly Assemblies and Organising Committee meetings.
Since the last National Forum
in Edinburgh on 21.1.17
a) RIC-
Edinburgh Assemblies
i) Wednesday, March 1st - Wednesday March
1st - After the Independence Convention
- Organising IndyRef 2
Jonathan Shafi (RIC) and Sarah Beattie Smith (Greens)
introduced the topic. Pat Smith facilitated. 30 people attended. This was
followed by a discussion with proposals.
ii) Wednesday, 29th March - The Struggle in
Kurdistan
A Kurdish speaker introduced the topic. Nick Gotts facilitated. 12 people attended. This was followed by
questions and discussion.
After this was round-the-table session, following on from
the previous meeting's discussions on IndyRef2, and in preparation for the RIC
AGM on 1.4.17.
iii) Future RIC-Assemblies
Wednesday April 26th - Organising
IndyRef 2
.
b) RIC-Edinburgh Organising Meetings
i) Monday,
23rd January
4 people attended
ii) Monday,
6th March
4 people attended
iii) Next
OC - Monday, 10th April
c) Activities
RIC-Edinburgh has been involved in since last National Forum
i) There
were 4 demonstrations in Edinburgh around the time of Trump's inauguration. RIC members were
at all of them from the demo on Monday
evening, the Women's protest at the US Consulate, the March to the Scottish Parliament on
the 4th of February and the National Demonstration
on the 11th.
ii) A
number of RIC folk went along to the Audacious Women Festival Scottish WILPF Event on Wednesday
22 February, 7pm. Sally Wainwright (RIC-Edinburgh
was an organiser)
Speaking up for Women
Internationally. Are Scottish women ready to act internationally?
iii) We
have been along to a number of events called by called by Gals for Gals calling for a woman's right to
choose and no repeal of abortion rights.
iv) On
International Women's Day some of attended an event called by International Women's Strike where
we gathered at the Mound, Princes Street from
5pm to build solidarity and raise awareness of gender inequality in Scotland and around the world.
v) Some
of us were at anti racism demos on three consecutive Saturdays, at the counter protest to the SDL demo in
Alloa, The Stand Up to Racism demo
in Glasgow and the Anti- "White Pride" protest in Edinburgh.
vi) On
a more uplifting note a number of us have been involved in the I Daniel Blake Community Screenings in
and around Edinburgh. There have been
25 in all. These have been very well attended everywhere. We are hopeful that there will be positive
outcomes from this initiative.
Allan Armstrong & Pat Smith, 31.3.17
