As
a Scottish Green Party Politician, I am inspired by the possibilities
of Scottish Independence. Independence is a chance to change Scotland
for the better, not stick with business as usual. Scottish
Independence offers the opportunity to create a new political
landscape and to initiate genuine institutional renewal. We want increased influence of local government and communities in the decision-making affecting their lives.
With
its origins in the UK-wide Green Party, originally founded in 1973 as
‘People’, the Scottish Greens decided, in 1990, to establish
themselves as a separate entity. The separation was a logical
consequence of the green commitment to more decentralisation, and was
entirely amicable.
Scottish
Greens are not nationalists but believe it is best that decisions are
made closest to the people they affect. That way, local needs can
be taken into account better.Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city has a vital contribution to make. We can create our own bright future through the ideas and innovation of local businesses, entrepreneurs and community activists.
When
the population has a voice and gets the chance to talk about its own
destiny and development, people feel more able to take control of
their lives. The
Scottish Green Party is in favour of an autonomous and highly
decentralised Scotland with a written constitution and Bill of Rights to be in place before the transfer of powers from Westminster. We
are advocates for a participative and inclusive process for the
development and democratic adoption of a constitution.
More
than anything else we hope for Scotland to be nuclear free and a
peace loving nation. Scottish
Greens want to get rid of Nuclear Weapons. Voting
for Independence provides a way forward to remove the Trident nuclear
deterrent from Faslane and Coulport, and bring an end to submarines
with nuclear weapons in Scottish waters.
The
idea that we sign up to Nato, a nuclear alliance, as part of Scottish
Independence is nonsense. This is an organisation whose design is about the aggressive
projection of power around the world. It is an antique, outdated and
defunct organisation, in my view, and I think we should have nothing
to do with it. We
can decide what our foreign policy priorities are and avoid being
dragged into illegal wars. There is no other constitutional
settlement that offers these opportunities.
The
Greens are the first political movement born in the age of European
political and economic union, and we've always seen EU membership as
a positive opportunity to make progress on a host of social and
environmental objectives. Europe has improved working conditions for
millions of people, helped to control the use of toxic chemicals in
industry, and put pressure on all member states to live up to basic
standards of human rights and equality. We support an Independent
Scotland as a member of the European Community.
Scottish
Independence can be a means to fight poverty and achieve equality. By developing a
green, fair and inclusive economy, Scotland can provide a better
quality of life for all within the ecological limits of the planet. Scottish
Greens are urging a new approach to energy generation in a bid to
leave a clean source of public income for future generations. Our
renewable energy market is already worth several billion pounds to
the economy – just imagine what opportunities there would be if
more of that value could be directed for public good.Scotland
claims around a quarter of Europe's offshore wind and tidal energy
potential.
Scottish Greens
continue to call for more public or community ownership of
renewables, and for local authorities to be given the power to
create local energy companies. These publicly owned companies have
the potential to deliver much needed income to cash strapped local
communities.
We question the wisdom of the approach to Scotland's existing oil
reserves, claiming that if the world is to limit the rise in global
temperatures to 2°C up until 2050, then no more than 1/3rd of the
world's proven reserves of fossil fuels can be consumed. We advocate for an
independent country where there is a managed transition from reliance
on fossil fuels. The switch from oil
and gas to renewables can't be done overnight, and the remaining
revenues from oil and gas should be used to create a publicly owned
renewables company as many other countries have done.
We
believe that Scottish Independence can only add to our potential and
to release a whole new wave of creativity, ambition, confidence and
pride. An
independent Scotland could have a stronger Scottish music industry
which wasn’t so focused on London. We could support new artists giving them a better chance of success. Bands are making their mark through grassroots events and rapidly
expanding festivals at home. Staying out of London’s “rat race”
provides benefits, including “a lot more freedom” for the arts
community. We can help artists to promote Scottish culture, the
nation’s identity and its soul both locally and globally.
We
must enable Artists to play a lead role in our cultural life and
within the wider Scottish society, providing specific support to
develop their work. Through powers given to Scotland, Independence
can maximise tax incentives or provide a creative enterprise
allowance for artists.
Scottish
Greens support a vision for independence which breaks the addiction
to road-building. Moving to electric vehicles will help reduce
emissions directly, but unless we get a grip on traffic levels the
energy demand will be astronomical. Walking, cycling and public
transport will be given a far higher priority by an Independent
Scotland.
The
evidence is clear – we can become stronger economically, socially,
culturally and globally with Scottish Independence. The world is
waiting for us.
Useful link:
Yes Glasgow Launch - http://www.yesscotland.net/independence_only_way_to_protect_welfare_system_from_westminster_cuts
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