Standing up for nature

During the Scottish Parliament's Election Campaign, I have received numerous emails from people highlighting their concern for nature conservation and the environment. They ask for endorsement of a campaign for nature led by a red squirrel named Bob.

I have given by backing to Bob and support his calls for a Food and Farming and Health Bill; the creation of an Environmental Court; for all children to have access to nature and the outdoors; and to ensure Scotland's ongoing commitment to nature. I am supporting the need for the next Scottish Government to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 42% by the year 2020 via the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. Also, we need to protect and restore biodiversity on land and at seas and to support healthier ecosystems via the 2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity Strategy, and enforce penalties for wildlife crime.

Useful links: 

Vote for Bob - https://www.voteforbob.co.uk

Scottish Green Party's Manifesto 2016: Scotland Can Be An Environmental Leader -https://www.greens.scot/scotland-can/be-an-environmental-leader

Support for independent music shops

On Saturday, 16th April, I supported "Record Store Day" by attending activities taking place at local independent music shops.

LP Records flyer and shopfront on Park Road.

I visited the music shop, LP Records, on Park Road, in Woodlands. There was also an event at the Oxfam Music Shop on Byres Road. These music shops are committed to independent record labels and promotion of local musical talents. They are a vital part of our local high streets.

Byres Road's Oxfam Music Shop

Second hand records bought at Oxfam Music.

Information about Record Store Day is available at: 
http://recordstoreday.co.uk/home/

We Walk, We Cycle.

This week, I have provided my support for active travel and backed the call for the following:-

• Investment: Provide sustained, long term investment in both cycling and walking, reaching 10% of Scotland's transport budget
• Infrastructure: Build and maintain dedicated cycling infrastructure, enabling people aged 8-80 to cycle
• Safety: Promote and deliver safer roads for both walking and cycling

An allocation of 10% of the total transport budget would improve existing routes and making them safer. This level of funding would bring Scotland more into line with other northern European countries, where there are more trips made on foot or by bike and also, help to reduce air pollution. The promotion of safety on our roads is vital to encouraging more people to cycle. We can give every child in Scotland the opportunity to undertake on-road cycle training and work with cycling groups to do this.

On the 23rd of April, cyclists will be gathering in Edinburgh to call for investment in active travel. 

Maintenance of Kelvingrove Park

In the last few weeks, I have visited Kelvingrove Park to find out about the repairs and maintenance work undertaken along the riverbank. 

Between the Tom Honeyman Garden and the Sunlight Cottages, there has been tarmac resurfacing of the footpath and repairs to the fencing. This is welcomed as part of the ongoing investment in the park.

View of Tom Honeyman Memorial Garden

Fencing and footpath improvements.

On some parts of the riverbank, opposite the Art Gallery and Museum, trees and shrubs have been cut back to expose the soil. Further enquiries are being made about this work and its impact.

Glasgow Climate Festival

Yesterday, I attended the community event in George Square which celebrated the work of Climate Challenge Funded projects from Glasgow and Clyde Valley. 

Poster for the Climate Festival.

Several community projects based in Hillhead have received funding to help local communities to reduce their carbon footprint. I was impressed to hear about the work of CEMVO Scotland in supporting Ethnic Minority groups to apply for the fund and implement a project. 

My pledge to plant a tree this year.

I understand that this is the first year of this joint celebration event for Climate Challenge Funded projects. Hopefully, the projects involved will continue to meet up and plan to have annual gathering to bring diverse Scottish communities together.

Stand up to Racism Gathering

On UN anti-racism day on 19th March, people across the world take a stand. Together we show unity in the face of racism. The racist tide will only be driven back by you and me standing up and confronting it. 

Across Scotland, people are outraged at the Islamophobic and anti-Semitic backlash after the Copenhagen and Paris attacks. Immigrant communities are fed up with being wrongly blamed for an economic crisis they did not create. Scotland can be proud of progress that has been made to enhance equality, protect diversity and strengthen access to justice. However, we do not yet live in a country where everyone has equal access to security and opportunities.

The Scottish Green Party stands for zero tolerance against all forms of discrimination. We are focused on tackling barriers to services, employment and participation in society, and defending access to justice for all as a fundamental human right. Racial discrimination remains a crucial issue in Scotland, for UK-born individuals, as well as for refugees and first generation migrants. People from Scotland’s minority ethnic communities are significantly more likely to live in poverty, and employment and political representation rates are unacceptably low compared with white ethnic groups. Greens support full implementation of the Racial Equality Framework for Scotland 2016-2030 in order to tackle pervasive racism across our society.

Scottish Greens support groups across Scotland who assist refugees and asylum seekers fleeing horrendous situations in the Middle East and Africa. We are a welcoming nation, and there is a strong voice across Scottish society determined to offer asylum and create safe routes for travel.Scottish Greens are members of the European Green Party and this provides opportunities to support efforts to address the refugee crisis at an EU level.

Stand Up to Racism Rally in George Square.

On Saturday, at Glasgow's Stand up to Racism Rally and March, we showed solidarity with efforts to welcome and support integration of refugees across Europe, celebrating human unity and the diversity of the human race. it was a chance to reaffirm our commitment to eliminate all forms of discrimination and help create communities and societies where all citizens can live in dignity, equality and peace. 

Pavement at Hughenden

This week, the pavement between Devonshire Terrace and Lismore Road, next to Hillhead Sports Club was resurfaced using tarmac. This improvement work by the Council was requested as the existing slabs were an uneven trip hazard.

View of resurfaced pavement.

Further to the request from the local community, the Council has clarified ownership and agreed to adopt this stretch of pavement. This is welcome news for many pedestrians who use this route to get to and from Gartnavel Hospital. The ongoing maintenance of the pavement will be provided by the Council in the years to come.