Scottish Young Greens

We can’t just see childcare as an issue for poor working women

Dom — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:11:19 +0000

A report in today’s Guardian newspaper has suggested that the Labour Party are considering ‘Scandinavian style’ affordable childcare in order to help women back to work and to stop them from falling out of the labour market. Whilst this is to be applauded, Labour need to understand the Scandinavian model in full instead of picking and choosing elements they like.
Labour’s plans to help the poorest are admirable, but Greens believe that the same standards of care should be available to all, and that childcare is not just an issue for women but for both parents of a child. It is important that we do away with the sky-high private nursery care which many are forced to use in order to maintain their careers, but simultaneously we need to look to extend opportunities for men to actively participate in childcare and to appreciate that simply enabling women to be better mothers does nothing to combat the massive gender inequalities in Britain today.
The Scandinavian system is built on a foundation of comprehensive support from the government for all. Trouble shooting poor areas may make some differences, but affordable or free nursery education, more equal paternity and maternity leave and high-quality and moreover free education should not be the preserve of society’s poorest groups. If Labour are serious about tackling inequalities they should do what Greens have been discussing for years, namely the creation of a comprehensive system of affordable childcare in which men and women are equal partners and share responsibility and in which all of society can partake. We have the potential to make real strides in tackling poverty and creating a fairer and more feminist society. To do so will require more than firefighting by the welfare system.

Let Scotland decide

Dom — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:53:10 +0000

The news, as reported in the British media, that Prime Minister David Cameron plans to push for a simple one-question referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future shows a stunning lack of respect for Scottish democracy.

In Cameron’s referendum the people of Scotland would be deprived of the ability to choose an option acceptable to the majority of people, namely that Scotland should have radically extended devolved powers but should remain part of the United Kingdom.

The problem with the Westminster solution is that Scotland’s choice is not about righting an historical wrong and choosing statehood or UK membership, it is about having the right tools to significantly improve Scotland in a way which the current centralised organisation of the United Kingdom does not allow. That the people of Scotland should have the power to make a nuanced decision on how they are governed and by whom is the very essence of a healthy democracy. It is highly regrettable then that the current British government is unable to understand this, and it is just this mindset which creates an appetite for self determination. By holding a referendum on the status quo no problems will be solved and an awful lot of public money will be wasted on a piece of political spin.

The wording of any referendum should go to a committee of the Scottish Parliament and not be decided by the SNP, who lest we forget gained a narrow majority of seats with a narrow minority of votes, with all parties contributing. This referendum will be an opportunity for Scotland to look at itself and ask where it is going and what kind of country we want to be. It would be foolish to let Westminster’s failed and unrepresentative politics force many supporters of self determination into one corner or another.

DH.

New leader, same old party

Dom — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:15:17 +0000

The Scottish Young Greens strongly condemn the fact that members of the Scottish Conservative Party’s youth wing were seen burning an effigy of US President Barack Obama on a bonfire in St Andrews. Despite their recent election of an openly gay leader and much PR about the modern face of Conservatism, this just seems to be proof that the Conservative Party is still an open arena for bigotry, discrimination and those with a disdain for change. The full story as reported by the BBC can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-15847986

Meet Patrick Harvie in Edinburgh this Thursday

Dom — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:08:37 +0000

The Edinburgh Young Greens will be holding their first meeting of the year this coming Thursday, and they will be joined by Green leader in the Scottish Parliament Patrick Harvie MSP. This is a chance for new members or interested students and young people to find out more about the Young Greens in Edinburgh and to talk to Patrick about Green politics and how the Greens are committed to giving Scotland’s youth a voice in politics.

The initial meeting will take place at 7pm in the Potterow Chaplaincy in Bristo Square. Afterwards the group will decamp to one of the nearby pubs for drinks.

You’ve Been Trumped: A documentary featuring Young Greens, corruption in the Scottish Government and fantastic music

Dom — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:30:20 +0000

‘You’ve Been Trumped, an award winning film by the documentary maker Anthony Baxter is to be shown in both Edinburgh and Glasgow in the coming weeks.

The film, which documents the development of a multi-million pound golf resort on a pristine stretch of Aberdeenshire coastline by the flamboyant ‘Scottish-American’ Donald Trump, will be shown at the Glasgow Film Theatre on 30 September and the Edinburgh Filmhouse on October 2.

Following the development of Trump’s resort from 2005 to the present day, Anthony Baxter gathers evidence of police brutality, local corruption and big business influencing the Scottish National Party in a film which First Minister Alex Salmond has so far refused to view despite repeated invitations to do so. Included in the film is footage of Scottish Young Greens taking part in a protest against the golf course and interviews with people threatened with eviction from their homes by the Trump organisation. The soundtrack is composed by Icelandic sonngwriter Jonsi, lead singer in the post rock group Sigur Ros.

The Edinburgh and Glasgow screenings will be accompanied by a question and answer session with Anthony Baxter himself, whilst the Edinburgh screening will also feature a performance from stellar Scottish folk singer and Green Karine Polwart. The Edinburgh Young Greens will be organising a trip to watch the film, so look out for booking information. The full dates can be found here
Watch the trailer here