RADICAL INDEPENDENCE CAMPAIGN ASSERTS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE

The Scottish Parliament, elected by the people of Scotland, set October 19 2023 as the date for a referendum on independence. But, one year ago the unelected Supreme Court in Westminster ruled it was illegal, denying us our right to decide for ourselves.

So on the anniversary of this outrageous decision the Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) were outside the Westminster government’s Scottish outpost in Edinburgh (Queen Elizabeth House – BOSS, British Occupied Subject Scotland) to tell the British government – and his Majesty’s so-called “Opposition” to boot – that we will not accept this veto by an unelected sub-committee of the ruling class.

We will assert our right to self-determination.

RIC members and other came from all over Scotland to do this.

Banners were displayed, speeches were made and leafelts distributed to staff at QE house and passers by, whilst republican songs were sung.

Another Scotland is possible!

The ruling class through its Westmonster creatures would like to pretend independence has gone away. Not if we can help it!

THEY banned our referendum.

THEY impose assaults on our human rights.

THEY attack workers who are seeking to defend their livelihoods and their families.

THEY give unconditional support and arms to Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.

Whoever is in Number Ten, THEY are certain to continue this approach, so the dis-United Kingdom will sink ever deeper into crisis.

However this protest was just one of a rolling series of events highlighting the presence and role of the UK state in our towns, cities and countryside.

Our aim is to make these events more frequent, bigger and more effective.

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AFTER THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE AND THE US AND UK BACKED ISRAELI ATTEMPTED GENOCIDE IN GAZA THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF THE WEST BANK.

RIC has supported genuine movements for self-determination and attended solidarity demonstrations with the peoples of Ireland, Wales, Catalunya, Palestine, Kurdistan and Ukraine. We are opposed to all imperial powers, primarily in our own case, the UK, but also the USA, the Russian Federation, the Chinese Peoples Republic, the Republic of India and the Iranian Islamic Republic. Genuine republicanism is not merely the absence of a monarchy, but means the sovereignty of the people, something absent in all these states.

Sometimes peoples in particular oppressed states look to support from other imperial powers. This is inevitably leads to dead-end inter-imperial deals. Zelensky’s tailending Biden and the USA over Palestine to ensure an arms supply to counter Putin’s Russian imperial invasion of Ukraine provides an example.

The alternative is internationalism from below. The following statement issued by commons in Ukraine, offering solidarity with the people of Palestine is a good example .

UKRAINIAN LETTER OF SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

Ukrainian researchers, artists, political and labour activists, members of civil society stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine who for 75 years have been subjected and resisted Israeli military occupation, separation, settler colonial violence, ethnic cleansing, land dispossession and apartheid. We write this letter as people to people. The dominant discourse on the governmental level and even among solidarity groups that support the struggles of Ukrainians and Palestinians often creates separation. With this letter we reject these divisions, and affirm our solidarity with everyone who is oppressed and struggling for freedom.

As activists committed to freedom, human rights, democracy and social justice, and while fully acknowledging power differentials, we firmly condemn attacks on civilian populations – be they Israelis attacked by Hamas or Palestinians attacked by the Israeli occupation forces and armed settler gangs. Deliberate targeting of civilians is a war crime. Yet this is no justification for the collective punishment of Palestinian people, identifying all residents of Gaza with Hamas and the indiscriminate use of the term “terrorism” applied to the whole Palestinian resistance. Nor is this a justification of continuation of the ongoing occupation. Echoing multiple UN resolutions, we know that there will be no lasting peace without justice for the Palestinian people.

On October 7 we witnessed Hamas’ violence against the civilians in Israel, an event that is now singled out by many to demonize and dehumanize Palestinian resistance altogether. Hamas, a reactionary islamist organization, needs to be seen in a wider historical context and decades of Israel encroaching on Palestinian land, long before this organization came to exist in the late 1980s. During the Nakba (“catastrophe”) of 1948, more than 700,000 Palestinians were brutally displaced from their homes, with entire villages massacred and destroyed. Since its creation Israel has never stopped pursuing its colonial expansion. The Palestinians were forced to exile, fragmented and administered under different regimes. Some of them are Israeli citizens affected by structural discrimination and racism. Those living in the occupied West Bank are subjected to apartheid under decades of Israel’s military control. The people of the Gaza Strip have suffered from the blockade imposed by Israel since 2006, which restricted movement of people and goods, resulting in growing poverty and deprivation.

Since the 7th of October and at the time of writing the death toll in the Gaza Strip is more than 8,500 people. Women and children have made up more than 62 percent of the fatalities, while more than 21,048 people have been injured. In recent days, Israel has bombed schools, residential areas, Greek Orthodox Church and several hospitals. Israel has also cut all water, electricity, and fuel supply in the Gaza Strip. There is a severe shortage of food and medicine, causing a total collapse of a healthcare system.

Most of the Western and Israeli media justifies these deaths as mere collateral damage to fighting Hamas but is silent when it comes to Palestinian civilians targeted and killed in the Occupied West Bank. Since the beginning of 2023 alone, and before October 7, the death toll on the Palestinian side had already reached 227. Since the 7of October, 121 Palestinian civilians have been killed in the occupied West Bank. More than 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners are currently detained in Israeli prisons. Lasting peace and justice are only possible with the end of the ongoing occupation. Palestinians have the right to self-determination and resistance against Israeli’s occupation, just like Ukrainians have the right to resist Russian invasion.

Our solidarity comes from a place of anger at the injustice, and a place of deep pain of knowing the devastating impacts of occupation, shelling of civil infrastructure, and humanitarian blockade from experiences in our homeland. Parts of Ukraine have been occupied since 2014, and the international community failed to stop Russian aggression then, ignoring the imperial and colonial nature of the armed violence, which consequently escalated on the 24th of February 2022. Civilians in Ukraine are shelled daily, in their homes, in hospitals, on bus stops, in queues for bread. As a result of the Russian occupation, thousands of people in Ukraine live without access to water, electricity or heating, and it is the most vulnerable groups that are mostly affected by the destruction of critical infrastructure. In the months of the siege and heavy bombardment of Mariupol there was no humanitarian corridor. Watching the Israeli targeting the civilian infrastructure in Gaza, the Israeli humanitarian blockade and occupation of land resonates especially painfully with us. From this place of pain of experience and solidarity, we call on our fellow Ukrainians globally and all the people to raise their voices in support of the Palestinian people and condemn the ongoing Israeli mass ethnic cleansing.

We reject the Ukrainian government statements that express unconditional support for Israel’s military actions, and we consider the calls to avoid civilian casualties by Ukraine’s MFA belated and insufficient. This position is a retreat from the support of Palestinian rights and condemnation of the Israeli occupation, which Ukraine has followed for decades, including voting in the UN. Aware of the pragmatic geopolitical reasoning behind Ukraine’s decision to echo Western allies, on whom we are dependent for our survival, we see the current support of Israel and dismissing Palestinian right to self-determination as contradictory to Ukraine’s own commitment to human rights and fight for our land and freedom. We as Ukrainians should stand in solidarity not with the oppressors, but with those who experience and resist the oppression.

We strongly object to equating of Western military aid to Ukraine and Israel by some politicians. Ukraine doesn’t occupy the territories of other people, instead, it fights against the Russian occupation, and therefore international assistance serves a just cause and the protection of international law. Israel has occupied and annexed Palestinian and Syrian territories, and Western aid to it confirms an unjust order and demonstrates double standards in relation to international law.

We oppose the new wave of Islamophobia, such as the brutal murder of a Palestinian American 6-year old and assault on his family in Illinois, USA, and the equating of any criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. At the same time, we also oppose holding all Jewish people all over the world accountable for the politics of the state of Israel and we condemn anti-Semitic violence, such as the mob attack on the airplane in Daghestan, Russia. We also reject the revival of the “war on terror” rhetoric used by the US and EU to justify war crimes and violations of international law that have undermined the international security system, caused countless deaths, and has been borrowed by other states, including Russia for the war in Chechnya and China for the Uyghur genocide. Now Israel is using it to carry out ethnic cleansing.

Call to Action

We urge the implementation of the call to ceasefire, put forward by the UN General Assembly resolution.
We call on the Israeli government to immediately stop attacks on civilians, and provide humanitarian aid; we insist on an immediate and indefinite lifting of siege on Gaza and an urgent relief operation to restore civilian infrastructure. We also call on the Israeli government to put an end to the occupation and recognise the right of Palestinian displaced people to return to their lands.
We call on the Ukrainian government to condemn the use of state sanctioned terror and humanitarian blockade against the Gazan civilian population and reaffirm the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. We also call on the Ukrainian government to condemn deliberate assaults on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
We call on the international media to stop pitting Palestinians and Ukrainians against each other, where hierarchies of suffering perpetuate racist rhetoric and dehumanize those under attack.

We have witnessed the world uniting in solidarity for the people of Ukraine and we call on everyone to do the same for the people of Palestine.

Sign the letter (for Ukrainians)

Signatures (418 as of 2023/11/20) (https://commons.com.ua/en/ukrayinskij-list-solidarnosti/#:~:text=As%20activists%20committed%20to%20freedom,forces%20and%20armed%20settler%20gangs.

SUPPORTING A FREE PALESTINE WILL FREE US ALL

Report from Edinburgh and other Free Palestine demos on Saturday, October 28th – by Lauren Pyott, first posted on bella caledonia.

Up and down the country hundreds of thousands of us are joining the chant ‘from the river to the sea Palestine will be free’. Unsurprisingly from a government that has spent the last ten years trying to shut down any support for Palestine by labelling it anti-Semitic, Suella Braverman has made clear she wants this chant interpreted as a criminal offence by police in England and Wales. Indeed, she and others are insinuating that flying the Palestinian flag alone is an act of terrorism, and incitement to violence against Israeli civilians.

But this is a trick, and we will not fall for it. When we say ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’, we are not promoting the ethnic cleansing of Israel. Just as flying the Palestinian flag does not mean we condone the killing of Israeli civilians. We will not accept the terms of the debate set by an occupying force, supported by enabling Western states and parroted by a compliant media. We, the hundreds of thousands of us who will continue to stand with the people of Palestine, can read the room and we know that the only flag representing a state whose clear objectives are to ethnically cleanse a people – is the Israeli flag.

Time and again the Israeli state has tried to confuse the narrative. When the Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was murdered by a sniper whilst reporting in 2022, the Israeli army first claimed she was shot by Palestinians, before finally admitting she was killed by an Israeli soldier.

It’s hard to make sense of the figures we’re seeing, but over 7,000 Palestinian civilians have been murdered in Gaza over the past 3 weeks, with over 100 killed in the West Bank. And yet every single time we demand an end to the occupation – an occupation that has squeezed the life out of any political possibility for peace – or when we demand an end to the siege of Gaza — a siege that has squeezed the life out of any meaningful possibility of existence — or indeed when we demand a ceasefire – the bare minimum that we should be asking for in the face of this genocide -every time we ask for this we are told to first condemn Hamas.

What is the logic behind this twisted lack of empathy, in the face of such a well-documented act of ethnic cleansing? The logic is that in the eyes of the so-called civilised nations in which we live, Palestinians do not have the right to resist. It means that Palestinians can be given a trickle of aid now and again, and can receive our occasional thoughts and prayers, but only when they play the part of the perfect defenceless victim. The perfect defenceless victim which we, the West and historic colonial power, can swoop in and save. Yes, we need to show up for Palestine today, yes we need to support the work of organisations such as Medical Aid for Palestinians, who are doing vital firefighting work against the tsunami of slaughters, but no, Palestinians do not need us to save them, they are saving themselves. And indeed their liberation will save us all.

An activist in Egypt recently posted on social media ‘We are not freeing Palestine. Palestine is freeing us. Protests are completely banned in Egypt. It’s thanks to the people of Palestine and Gaza that we’re able to taste this bit of freedom. We owe them everything. Everything.”

We are in the fortunate position that protests are not banned in Scotland, though we shouldn’t take this for granted — just look at France where Palestinian protests have been made illegal and Westminster which has recently passed a draconian set of anti-protest laws. And yet here too, protesting in solidarity with Palestine is freeing us. Palestinians are teaching us what it means to see the majority of your homeland taken from you over the past 75 years and yet still believe in the right of return. They are teaching us what it means to live under military occupation for 56 years and yet still believe in the possibility of peace. And they are teaching us what it’s like to live through four wars in the space of ten years, and still call Gaza home with pride. There is an Arabic word sumuud which means steadfastness, perseverance, patience and resolve, staying put, and being rooted. Palestinians are teaching us the meaning of sumuud.

Palestinian resistance, in other words, needs to be defined as terrorism in the eyes of the Israeli state, because it is too powerful not to. When the 9 year old Ahed Tamimi raised her fist at an Israeli soldier in defiance, later slapping a heavily armed soldier at the age of 16, that was resistance. But she was labelled a terrorist and sent to prison because her power lies in shaming Israel for being the colonial power that it is.

In 2018 when thousands of Gazans staged the March of Return, peacefully approaching the separation fence that traps 2.2 million people in a land mass the size of the Black Isle, that was resistance — but they were shot at with live ammunition and killed in their hundreds because they were exposing the state of Israel for what it is, an apartheid regime breaking international law.

And when the poet Dareen Tatour posted a poem on social media describing the importance of Palestinian self-determination, that was resistance, but she was arrested because she was exposing the very myth that the Israeli state was founded on — that it is supposedly a land without a people, for a people without a land.

Don’t forget that Nelson Mandela, now the darling of the West and whose book ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ is a must-see on all liberal politician’s bookshelves, was himself labelled a terrorist in the heydey of South Africa’s apartheid regime, and when the African National Congress was staging their own resistance to it.

But despite these restrictions, and more, Palestinians continue to resist and will do so until they are free. That is what is meant by the phrase: ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’. It means that all people who live in the land that lies between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea will be free, regardless of their state, faith, nationality, sexuality, gender or world view. Indeed, Ahed Tamimi, who became a figure of Palestinian resistance at the age of 9, says: “We should extend our struggles to one another in order to end all the world’s injustices.”

A group of people holding signs

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This is why we stand for the people of Palestine. Not just because the genocide we are watching unfold today is truly the darkest hour this century has faced, but because their very reason for resistance — 75 years of colonial rule — is a poison that still infects the rest of the world, infects us, and is one from which we all need to be freed.

No better is this made clear than in the powerful statement issued by the Teachers & Employees of Birzeit University in Ramallah last week. They say:

“2023 will be recorded historically as the year that Palestinians stood boldly in the face of colonial fascism and screamed in defence of their homes, humanity and life. Palestinians as a people have endured over a century of settler colonial violence. We have thrived as a people and shall continue to do so. We do not need to speak of our right to resist, for it is not a right, but a way of being and survival for Palestinians. […] Resistance in all of its manifestations and forms does not need the pre-approval of static international laws and code. The oppressed do not need to claim authority over their own oppression, the ongoing events of history -our history – is what allows us this authority. […] It is our duty to record this moment not as its victim, but as the people who will remember, record, survive and resist it.”

This is why we will fly the Palestinian flag high and this is why we will continue to shout, alongside our Palestinian brothers and sisters: ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!’.

FROM EDINBURGH RIC ARCHIVE

E/DINBURGH RIC STATEMENT ON IHRA DEFINITION 30.8.18

THE CHARLIE HEBDO ATTACK – THE CAUSES, THE REACTION AND THE REPERCUSSIONS, 16.2.15

PROTEST FOR PALESTINE, 9.8.14

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PROTESTS AGAINST THE KING CHARLES’ SECOND CORONATION IN EDINBURGH, JULY 6th

Graham Campbell of the SNP Socialists speaking at the rally

Edinburgh RIC members participated in the protests against King Charles second coronation, the receiving of the Honours of Scotland on Wednesday 5th July. The prorest outside St. Gilecs was organised by Republic and the prorst outside Hilyroos was organised by Out Republic. The speakers at the Holyrood event were Patrick Harvie, for the Scottish Greens, Graham Campbell for the SNP Socialists and Myra Galletly for Edinburgh RIC.

Speech by Myra Galletly

Hi, I’m Myra Galletly, speaking for RIC on behalf of Allan Armstrong, who isn’t well enough to speak today.

RIC, The Radical Independence Campaign, initiated the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill, signed by almost 3000 people – and we co-sponsored with Our Republic the protest against the coronation on May 6^th.

We’re protesting again, this time against an event which is bizarrely being passed off as a people’s event, with The Church of Scotland claiming the theme of the ceremony is the diversity of Scotland! In reality, it’s yet another pompous extravagant event, surrounded by a massive security exercise, presumably with marksmen on top of St Giles and other buildings as they were when the Queen died. All this at a huge cost to public funds, to celebrate a monarch and family who enjoy obscene privileges, and who are exempt from laws – like environmental, animal welfare, workers’ rights and anti-discrimination legislation. The Guardian has revealed that the monarch has immunity from 160 laws. And if that wasn’t enough, The Crown has the right to veto laws that might affect its interests – public and private – before Parliament can approve them.

For RIC, the main reason for protesting today is that, because of the role of the monarchy in the UK constitution, we are subjects not citizens. Sovereignty doesn’t lie with the people but with The Crown in Parliament. A House of Commons document explains, and I quote, “The Royal Prerogative is one of the most significant elements of the UK constitution…. It allows Government Ministers to, among many other things, deploy armed forces, make and unmake international treaties, and dissolve parliament.

This undemocratic UK state is now denying Scotland’s right to determine our own future, by denying an independence vote. And it’s even rolling back the powers the Scottish Parliament has by blocking its legislation.

Nobody elected King Charles, just as we didn’t vote for Rishi Sunak to be Prime Minister. RIC believes that change is long, long overdue. We need to replace unelected leaders with our own democratically elected parliament, which owes its allegiance, and can swear its allegiance, not to the monarch and the Crown, but to the people who elected it.

Two leaflets were handed out:

JOIN THE EDINBURGH PROTEST AGAINST THE SECOND CORONATION ON JULY 5^th

The Radical Independence Campaign initiated the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill, signed by nearly 3000 people. 750 attended the rally co-sponsored by Our Republic on May 6^th to protest against the coronation, far more than those watching the official screening in Princes Street Gardens.

Today, we are protesting against Charles receiving the ‘Honours of Scotland’ at St. Giles Cathedral. This is part of the never-ending UK state-orchestrated ‘Britfest’. We have to pay for all this pomp and ceremony and have our streets and lives disrupted yet again. We are still not citizens but live under a constitutional monarchy where sovereignty lies with the Crown-in-Westminster. The royal family enjoys obscene privileges in terms of property, income and status. They certainly use their position to avoid taxes, line their pockets and get exemptions from the laws the rest of if us are expected to obey. But these are rewards given for their role in supporting and promoting the interests of a wider British ruling class.

So, in declaring our homage to this dysfunctional family, oozing arrogance and entitlement, we are also being asked by Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer to give sanction to the City of London, which helped bring about the 2008 Financial Crash; to corporate CEOs who have made super profits during Covid, whilst our employment and residential security, access to health and care are being decimated. We are being asked to approve the major attacks on democratic rights, whether as a striking worker, environmental demonstrator, asylum seeker, potential voters or just publicly critical of the BBC.

And in Scotland, the ceremony at St. Giles reinforces state-backed sectarianism, with its recognition of the privileged position of the Church of Scotland. And we have seen another deeply anti-democratic Crown institution, the Supreme Court deny our right to have IndyRef2, voted for by the Scottish people in the 2021 Holyrood election. But the government has gone further and is now rolling back the powers of Scottish parliament voted for by 74% in 1998. Nobody elected Charles Windsor to be king, or Sunak to be UK PM, whilst Starmer has broken every pledge he gave in the Labour leadership election.

Republicanism means upholding the sovereignty of the people and out right to self-determination

RIC’s flag for a Scottish Democratic Republic was displayed at the Holyrood rally and the following leaflet was also handed out.

THE FLAG FOR A SCOTTISH DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

Scotland’s radical history

Blue– the colour of the radical wing of the Covenanters.

Red– the colour of the Social Republic, whichappeared in the Naval Mutinies in 1797 and the MerthyrRising of 1831. In 1848 it became the symbol of the SocialRepublicanism of the Springtime of Peoples. The Paris Commune adopted their red banner. It was flown by the Red Clydesiders.

Green– the colour representing Scotland’s Irish community who have advanced republican and internationalist thought in these islands and contributed to the 2014 vote in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire to secede from the Union.

Symbolic

Blue – historically the generic colour representing a Scotland uniting the Lallans-speaking Lowlands with the Gaelic-speaking Highlands and Islands. Updated today to include all those living in Scotland, bringing their own languages, who wish to be Scottish citizens.

Red – linked with the role of early women in bringing about social change and the symbolism of red in ‘Blood Relations: Menstruation and the Origins of Culture’. It also represents a warm welcome to migrants.

Green–a concern for our environment.

Physical

Blue– the seas and skies of Scotland.

Red– the red soils of the Borders, the red shales of the Central Belt, the red rocks of the Highlands and Islands, e.g. Torridon and the Red Cuillin.

Green– the forests and fields of Scotland.

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EDINBURGH PRIDE, Saturday, 24th June

Edinburgh RIC attended the Edinburgh Pride rally on Saturday, June 24th, We handed out the Queers for Radical Independence leaflet which had already been handed out at the Dundee Pride rally.

Scotland has not escaped the global assault on LGBT+ rights, led by the far-right in alliance with evangelical Christian groups. A new reactionary movement is gaining ground and progress for queer people in Scotland will stall and even reverse course if we do not challenge it.

The Tories, following in the footsteps of Trump’s Republican Party in the US, have increasingly embraced ‘culture war’ politics in an opportunistic bid to shore up their dwindling support and divide their opponents.

Rishi Sunak has allied with this burgeoning reactionary movement to bring enormous pressure to bear against the Scottish Parliament, vetoing Scotland’s progressive gender recognition law in January and threatening to undermine plans to ban LGBT+ conversion practices.

Meanwhile, his government has abandoned its own plans for gender recognition reform, repeatedly watered down and delayed its own ban on conversion practices, turned the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) into a political mouthpiece and touted reforms to the 2010 Equality Act to strip transgender people of what little protection from discrimination they already have.

Disgracefully, some sections of the Scottish independence movement have either turned a blind eye to this backwards slide or have openly supported it. This amounts to a betrayal of all the thousands of LGBT+ people who have campaigned for independence for decades.

The Radical Independence Campaign argues that queer liberation and Scottish independence go hand-in-hand. Self-determination means the freedom to love who we want and be who we are just as much as it means the freedom to decide our own political future. The same government blocking our civil rights is blocking the road towards independence and attacking our democracy.

We want to play our part in building a mass movement from below to deliver an independent Scotland with LGBT+ rights firmly embedded in its constitution. Join us!

No pride in the British state! Radical independence now!

Reject culture war bullshit! Our civil rights are not a debate!

Defend Scotland’s gender recognition reform!

Ban conversion practices now!

End anti-LGBT violence

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RIC Stirling was also involved in the AUOB demonstration in Stirling on June 24th

and RIC Dundee and the SNP Socialists ar the SNP special conference in Dundee on June 24th

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WE ARE CITIZENS NOT SUBJECTS

The Radical Independence Campaign initiated the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill, signed by nearly 3000 people. We welcome those attending today’s rally organised by Our Republic. We are here to challenge Charles’ coronation – a UK state-orchestrated ‘Britfest’.

We are expected to give homage to Charles and all his heirs as if we still lived under a feudal monarchy. Under feudalism the state was ruled directly from above by kings and queens, backed by whatever level of force they thought necessary. Lords, ready to swear homage, were licensed to oppress their feudal ‘inferiors’. In return they provided military backing for the monarchy whenever required.

There have been significant changes since those days, but is it is revealing that the British ruling class still wants to impose a servile subject status upon us. We are not citizens but live in a state where sovereignty lies with the Crown-in-Westminster. This means Charles exerts little power in his own right. The Windsors enjoy obscene privileges in terms of property, income and status, but these are rewards given for their role in supporting and promoting the interests of today’s wider British ruling class.

So, anybody declaring their homage to the dysfunctional Windsor family, is also being asked by Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer to give sanction to the City of London (with its special UK constitutional protection) and the greed-driven corporate CEOs (hiding their cronyism behind a screen of Westminster-backed market confidentiality). Together they helped bring about the 2008 Financial Crash and have made massive profits during Covid. Meanwhile, any security of employment and domicile, access to health and social care are being decimated. We are also being asked to approve major attacks on our democratic rights, whether as striking workers, environmental demonstrators, asylum seekers, potential voters or critics of the BBC. And that now extends to the Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be – 500 miles from that anti-democratic cesspit in Westminster and Buckingham Palace. Nobody elected Sunak to be UK PM. And nobody voted for Charles Windsor.

And in Scotland, we now have another deeply anti-democratic Crown institution, the Supreme Court, denying our right to hold IndyRef2. Exercising this right was voted for by the Scottish people in the 2021 Holyrood election. But the Tories, with active complicity or little opposition from Labour, has gone further. They are now rolling back the powers of Scottish parliament voted for by 74% in 1998. Power is being transferred from Holyrood to the UK hub just off the Royal Mile. This is BOSS – British Occupied Subject Scotland.

We no longer have the constitutional means to achieve Scottish independence. Our protest today anticipates the organised withdrawal of participation in the UK state’s directly imposed institutions. And beyond that we look to extra-constitutional, non-violent, direct action until we have completed Scotland’s unfinished Democratic Revolution.

Nae tae BOSS – British Occupied Subject Scotland

Aye tae a Scottish Democratic Republic

Freedom come all ye

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EDINBURGH RIC IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE UK-WIDE DAY OF STRIKE ACTION ON MAY 15th

March 15^th saw one of the biggest days of strike action in recent years. In Scotland, the major groups of workers on strike were the civil servants, organised in the PCS and Prospect, and the university lecturers in the UCU. Large pickets were held at workplaces throughout Edinburgh. Edinburgh RIC attended the 70 strong RMT organised rally backed by Trade Union in Communities at the UK Hub (BOSS – British Occupied Subject Scotland) just off the Royal Mile. The speakers concentrated on the deadly impact of the Tories’ budget announced that day. We then the marched to the large PCS rally just off the Mound.

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EDINBURGH MAY DAY MARCH, SATURDAY 7th MAY

PUTIN’S WAR AND UKRAINE’S RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION

Wednesday, March 30^th, 7.00 – 8.30 pm

Speaker – Yuliya Yurchenko, directly from Ukraine
with back-up by Chris Ford of the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign

also see

WHY HAS PUTIN INVADED UKRAINE? – Allan Armstrong, bella caledonia

RIC Revived – article from

bella caledonia

On January 29th, the Radical Independence Campaign held its first AGM (on Zoom) since the dramatic events reported in B ella Caledonia a year ago. The RIC Revivers have reconstituted local groups and are setting up new ones. Delegates and individuals attended the AGM from the Borders, Clydebank, Dundee, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, North Lanarkshire and Stirling. Our Aberdeen contact was cut off by Storm Malik! Angus & Mearns, whilst unable to attend, sent in their support for the proposals, which had been circulated beforehand. Two new affiliated organisations, the Republican Socialist Platform and the SNP Socialists, also attended, whilst individual Scottish Green members were able to announce that their party’s emergency general meeting, held earlier that day, had just voted to look into reaffiliation.

Over the past year, RIC organised a very successful conference on June 12th with guest speakers, Blair Anderson, Graham Campbell, Brenda Eadie, Janet Fenton, Katie Galloghly-Swan and Annie Lane. This had breakout discussions and practical sessions. RIC also formed part of the Cop-26 Coalition last November. Our activities were favourably reported by Nan Spowart in the Sunday National. This article covered RIC’s special emphasis on the role of stateless nations and indigenous peoples throughout the world.

One of the key issues discussed at our AGM was a revised set of principles. The original 5 Principles were devised in the context of an official UK/Scottish government referendum. It soon became clear that even if the independence vote had been won on September 18th 2014, the likely outcome of the subsequent negotiations would have been decidedly Indy-Lite. The SNP even proposed to bring leading Scottish Unionists, including Gordon Brown, into their side of negotiations!

Today, we are no longer the same political situation. Johnson’s reactionary unionist government is prepared to resort to a wide range of the UK state’s anti-democratic Crown Powers, not only to prevent IndyRef2, but even to roll back the limited democracy conceded under the 1998 Devolution-all-round deal. And we need allies across these islands (and elsewhere, e.g. Catalunya), organised on an internationalism from below basis, to counter their anti-democratic ‘internationalism’ imposed from above, and their alliance with the USA, and any other power opposed to genuine national self-determination. Against all those who would seek to divide us, RIC also emphasises the principle of unity and solidarity in our diversity.

Therefore, it was unanimously agreed to adopt a new set of 6 Principles suitable for the changed conditions we face.

“The Radical Independence Campaign (Scotland) is a campaigning coalition which stands for and organises around the following Six Principles

1) For a democratic, secular, socially just and environmentally sustainable, Scottish Republic

2) Action based on the sovereignty of the people not the UK Crown, leading to the setting up of a Constituent Assembly

3) Action to establish universal health, care, education, housing, income, pensions, and trade union rights; and to win land reform and challenge environmental degradation

4) Equality and opposition to discrimination on grounds of sex, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion/belief, disability or age

5) Solidarity with the struggles for workers’ rights, democracy and self-determination, based on internationalism from below

6) Support for Scotland’s artistic and cultural revival and all its languages”

After a thorough discussion a new constitution was also agreed. This incorporates the best features of the old one but ditches those that did not work and left many individual members without regular contact. There is now a national membership, which is encouraged where possible to work in the Local Groups. Those members, not in Local Groups, can participate in the activities of the national Working Groups. The new constitution ensures that control rests with active Local Groups and affiliated organisations. There is no executive body. Elected office bearers are directly responsible to the bimonthly National Forum delegates. The Working Groups help RIC members to be active in a wide range of political, economic, social and cultural/artistic activities.

The AGM also discussed our next major conference, to be held in June, around the theme ‘For a democratic Scotland in an environmentally sustainable world’. As with last year’s conference, there will be a wide range of guest speakers, plenty of discussion and practical workshops as well. A Working Group is being set up to organise this.

Furthermore, now there is the real prospect of Covid-19 receding, RIC Local Groups and members will once more be more active in public events. These will include the All Under One Banner demos. We will also continue to involve ourselves in local, national and international campaigns, consistent with our Principle 3. We join these campaigns to offer our support, not to try to manipulate and dominate, as unfortunately some others have tried to do. We try to persuade people through our solidarity, printed and online media, and open meetings. In this way we seek to win support for the democratic principle of upholding the sovereignty of the people and for our vision of an independent Scotland.

Allan Armstrong, 5.2.22

RIC EDINBURGH REPORT FOR NATIONAL AGM ON 29.1.22

Edinburgh RIC Organising Meetings

a) 1.12.22 (doubled up with RIC National Forum

After consultation, it was decided the national RIC AGM would be held on Saturday, 29.1.22 from 13.00 – 16.00 by Zoom with the new Constitution and Principles the main items of discussion.

It was also decided to organise a RIC national conference (similar in format to the one held on 7.6.21) around the theme A Just Transition to a Sustainable World and a Just Transition to a Democratic Scotland.

It was suggested that this conference be held in March, but that there should be further discussion at the national AGM. The possibility of organising this as hybrid open/Zoom meeting, when Covid-19 conditions were clearer was also raised.

b) 10.1.22

Motions sand proposals submitted to national AGM (to be circulated by interim national Secretary). 4 delegates were elected.

It was also agreed to post a notice of the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Commission consultation meeting on the Edinburgh RIC blog

Events

c) Next Edinburgh OM – 7.2.22, 18.00

2. Edinburgh RIC Assemblies

None have been held over the holiday period

Next Edinburgh RIC Assembly – 23.2.22, 19.00

Scotland beyond the Pandemic? – A radical independence challenge)

Lead off – Simon Barrow (co-editor, with Gerry Hassan of

Scotland after the Virus)

3 ) Other activities

a) Protest against BP being invited to Holyrood, 1.12.21

Edinburgh RIC participated in this:

Reports

b) Scottish Government’s Just Transition Commission consultation, 25.1.22, 17.00

See 1b above

Allan Armstrong, Minutes Secretary, Edinburgh RIC, 14.1.22

_______________

PROTEST AGAINST BP BEING INVITED TO HOLYROOD, 1.12.21

Over 60 people attended the protest called by the Edinburgh Cop-26 Coalition on the evening of Wednesday 1st December (see https://edinburghric.wordpress.com/events/). This was called because of the invite given to BP the major fossil fuel and carbon producer to attend Holyrood to promote its greenwash proposals. Luke Henderson introduced the event for the Edinburgh Cop26 Coalition, and Penny Packham spoke for Extinction Rebellion. This was followed by some suitably amended Christmas carols including one to the tune of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Arrest these oily gentlemen

Let nothing you delay

For they have dried and spilled and kikked

And still do to this day

Corruption, greed and sponsorship

The planet pays the cost

And BP makes profits from oil

Profits from oil

And BP makes profits from oil

Profits from oil

This followed an earlier protest organises by Extinction Rebellion

_____________

RIC EDINBURGH REPORT for National Forum on 1.12.21

Edinburgh RIC Organising Meetings

a) 11.10.21

b) 15.11.21

Edinburgh RIC Assemblies

a) 11.10.21 – The SNP/Green alliance – Is it a Way Forward?

Speakers – Alex Stainforth, City of Edinburgh Green councillor, Tejas Mukerji, SNP Socialists

Both speakers were supportive of the alliance. It could be seen as the best political option that exists at present.

There was discussion over the Scottish Greens’ refusal to support the Labour proposed amendment, supporting a National Energy Public Company.

Th City of Edinburgh’s forthcoming Review of Effectiveness meeting was raised.

The continued issue of the power of the landed interest to thwart progress was raised.

An issue raised in which to look for forward movement is getting a date for the Indy Ref2.

Two areas were highlighted to examine the Scottish Greens’ ability to maintain their political independence.

a) support for continued opposition to the Cambo oilfield

b) Scottish Greens affiliation to RIC (this was due to come up at the party conference (7-10 October)

b) 29.10.21 – Planned joint assembly with Zapatista delegation,

Unfortunately, this had to be a closed meeting hosted by the Autonomous Centre Edinburgh. However Dundee RIC was involved in the meeting the previous evening in the Rad Apple Centre (which had similar non- wider advertising restrictions).

Other events

a) Cop26, 31.10.21-13.11.21

RIC was involved both nationally and locally in the Cop-26 Coalition.

For details of all Cop-26 Coalition activities nationally see –

COP26 Coalition

https://cop26coalition.org/embed/#?secret=2XFpfVFm2k

For final press statement see https://cop26coalition.org/cop26-coalition-final-press-statement/embed/#?secret=L4nIMVWLI0

RIC was asked to organise an official contingent on the November 6^th demo under the slogan ‘It’s Scotland’s Oil – Keep it in the Soil’ (new banner). RIC was also given responsibility for successful the Peoples Summit event on November 8^th ‘Climate Justice means Social Justice’, with speakers from Puerto Rico, Wales and Kabylia.

RIC placed a full page in The National on 31.10.21 (cost £600. Edinburgh RIC contributed £200). There was also a very supportive article, written by Nan Spowart in The National on 7.11.21.

A full report of RIC’s national activities will be given at the next Edinburgh RIC Assembly on 1.12.21.

Edinburgh RIC produced a new banner for the November 6^th demo (see photo – https://edinburghric.wordpress.com/1448-2/). Some Edinburgh members joined the national RIC contingent, but others joined the Scottish Greens and trade union contingents.

Edinburgh RIC members were concerned about the provocative police handling and kettling of the YCL contingent and joined the protest. The Edinburgh RIC Organising Meeting on 15.11.21 sent a message of solidarity. (see https://edinburghric.wordpress.com/1448-2/)

b) Pensioners for Independence (PfI), 19.11.21, 16.00

PfI invited Edinburgh RIC to provide a speaker for one f their national meetings. It I was agreed by Edinburgh RIC OM on 15.11.21 that Allan Armstrong should speak. This was a very good event, attended by 29 people, and PfI have posted this on their blog at:-

Another Scotland Is Possible

4. Future events

Next Edinburgh RIC Zoom meeting. 1.12.21, 19.00

It was agreed to have a Zoom meeting with the following topics

a) What we learned from COP 26

b) Thinking about a national RIC conference

c) Organising an Edinburgh RIC social early in the New Year, on a Saturday afternoon, probable venue Summerhall Centre, open to members from throughout Scotland

The Edinburgh RIC OM agreed with a request from RIC members in other areas that this meeting should double up as a RIC National Assembly to discuss items a) and b). This Assembly will be open to all RIC members, but each local RIC group and affiliated organisation should provide 2 voting delegates.

Allan Armstrong, Minutes Secretary, Edinburgh RIC, 23.11.21

_____________

Cop26 STATEMENT AFTER GLASGOW AGREEMENT

“This agreement is an utter betrayal of the people. It is hollow words on the climate emergency from the richest countries, with an utter disregard of science and justice. The UK Government greenwash and PR have spun us off course.

The rich refused to do their fair share, with more empty words on climate finance and turning their back on the poorest who are facing a crisis of covid coupled with economic and climate apartheid – all caused by the actions of the richest.

It’s immoral for the rich to sit there talking about their future children and grandchildren, when the children of the South are suffering now.

This COP has failed to keep 1.5c alive, and set us on a pathway to 2.5c. All while claiming to act as they set the planet on fire.

At COP26, the richest got what they came here for, and the poorest leave with nothing.

The people are rising up across the globe to hold our governments and corporations to account – and make them act.”

_____________

__________

MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY, 15.11.21

Edinburgh Radical Independence Campaign held its latest Organising Meeting on 15^th November. We unanimously expressed our solidarity with your YCL contingent harassed and kettled by the police in Glasgow on the massive Cop26 demonstration on Saturday, November 6^th. We joined the protest when our contingent reached the end of the street where you were kettled and remained until the last contingent had passed.

The YCL contingent was clearly targeted from early in the march. The behaviour of the police was apparently pre-planned, provocative and aggressive. There have been other instances of inappropriate police behaviour during Cop 26. On November 2^nd, women were prevented from returning to their homes and diverted through a dark park, so that a reception could be held for world leaders and royals out of sight of any of the people of Glasgow.

Yours in solidarity,

Allan Armstrong

for the Radical Independence Campaign – Edinburgh

EDINBURGH RIC AT THE COP26 DEMO IN GLASGOW ON NOVEMBER 6th

Edinburgh RIC attended the Cop26 demo in Glasgow on November 6th with our new banner (seen behind the national banner below)

Nan Spowart wrote the following article in the Sunday Herald about RIC”s activities around Cop26.

RADICAL INDEPENDENCE CAMPAIGN BUILDS BRIDGES WITH GROUPS AROUND THR WORLD

CAMPAIGNERS are calling for an independent Scotland to be founded on climate justice.

The call comes from the Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) which was originally set up in 2012 and is now forging more international links and ramping up activity ahead of a new referendum.

The group is taking part in COP26, with members joining protesters on the climate change march yesterday carrying banners emblazoned with the slogan “It’s Scotland’s oil, keep it in the soil”.

Tomorrow it is supporting two meetings, including one on self-determination, climate justice and democracy, featuring people from various countries around the world seeking independence. They will speak about their experience of climate change and their frustration at the lack of an official presence at COP26.

Group member Jack Ferguson said: “We are looking forward to hearing from our friends struggling for self-determination across three different continents at the People’s Summit for Climate Justice on Monday, where RIC has organised a session with activists from other stateless nations.”

Paul Figueroa of the Puerto Rican Independence Party, Joe Williams of the Welsh Underground Network and Anazar U Chavah of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia will help lead a discussion on how independence and climate justice go hand-in-hand.

It is the latest in a series of in-person meetings through which RIC has been strengthening its international links, having last week met privately with seven women from the Zapatista communities in southern Mexico to learn of, and offer solidarity with, their inspirational struggle for self-determination.

Ferguson said: “RIC sees international links as vital so that we can offer our support to people struggling around the world, but also so that Scotland can call on global help when demanding our own right to self-determination from Westminster.

We’re also seeking to build links with the Scottish diaspora globally, encouraging them to support the independence struggle here.”

Recently, RIC wrote to pro-independence organisations in Wales, Cornwall and the north of England as well as groups promoting the re-unification of the island of Ireland to propose an All Islands International group.

“We want to come together in alliance with all those throughout these islands who see breaking up the British state as the way to achieve major social progress, and work together to end the undemocratic rule of Westminster,” said Ferguson.

“We’re also seeking to build links with the Scottish diaspora globally, encouraging them to support the independence struggle here.”

Tomorrow, the RIC is also speaking at an event to discuss building a fairer, greener, nuclear-free Scotland.

Ferguson said: “This is the start – not the end – of our action as we will be looking at how we can ramp up protest and direct action in the New Year.

“Climate justice has to be central to independence now. Our slogan for the march yesterday played off the slogan of ‘It’s Scotland’s Oil’, which gave the SNP its big breakthrough, but this is a new time and we need to recognise the reality of climate change and our responsibility to take a lead in helping end the fossil fuel economy.

“It is Scotland’s oil and we want an independent Scotland to say we will do the responsible thing and keep it in the ground. The UK Government seems determined to press ahead with the Cambo oil field despite warnings against it from the IPCC and world scientists.

“We need the power in Scotland to regulate the energy industry and be able to say we are going to end oil extraction and put efforts towards a just transition that allows workers in these industries to get new jobs.”

___________

SAVE OUR CARE HOME DEMO, EDINBURGH CITY CHAMBERS, 28.9.21

ALL UNDER ONE BANNER DEMO, EDINBURGH,

Saturday 25th September

EDINBURGH RIC ASSEMBLY –18.8.21

ORGANISING FOR COP-26

An introduction by Mim Black, Press officer Cop 26 Coalition

Mim’s talk on Scottish Independence and the Path to Climate Justice can eb seen at:-https://edinburghric.wordpress.com/2021/04/23/scottish-independence-and-the-path-to-climate-justice/embed/#?secret=0B340z5sf5

In the discussion the following issues and links were made:-

The history of Cop

The proposed Cambo oilfield

https://scote3.net/2021/08/11/no-new-north-sea-development/)

There are now 30 local Cop-26 hubs and 28 countries have signed up.

Dave S. drew attention to the Edinburgh Net Zero 20390 Climate strategy public drop-in eventhttps://www.eventbrite.com/checkout-external?eid=158991205977&parent=https%3A%2F%2Fedinburghric.org%2F

Pete C drew attention to

how Glasgow trade unionists are organising for Cop-26

Glasgow Trade Unionists organise for COP26 and beyond

b) the Edinburgh TUC campaign on retrofittinghttps://www.youtube.com/embed/WgJIZptquQQ?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-gb&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Mim summarised by outlining the Cop-26 Coalition decision to organise an alternative People Summit. There would also be a demonstration in which a radical Scottish independence contingent would be asked to contribute. There would be people attending from outwith Scotland. Volunteers would be asked to provide accommodation (within relatively easy reach of Glasgow). A financial appeal would be made for Visa Support Service so people could attend from outside the UK.

Matters arising f or Edinburgh RIC

Mim asked Edinburgh RIC to get national RIC to organise a Scottish independence contingent at the Cop26 demo. We could approach others to organise a joint Left Independence contingent, e.g. RIC, SNP Socialists, Now Scotland, conter, SSP etc. (Nick thought that the Scottish Greens would organise its own contingent)
Mim invited RIC to provide a speaker for the Peoples Asdembly.

It was agreed that the Edinburgh RIC delegates would raise these two issues at the next RIC National Forum on 4.9.21.Posted byedinburghric 31st Aug 2021Posted in Uncategorized Leave a commenton EDINBURGH RIC ASSEMBLY –18.8.21

Rally for Independence

Faslane for a Nuclear Free Scotland

Saturday, 28.8.21, 13.00- 15.00

These weapons of mass destruction play no useful roll and they put all of us at risk. They only exist as a means of providing the UK Government with a seat at the table with other major imperialist powers who seek to control and dominate, both politically and economically, the world by military power.

The cost of replacing Trident is estimated to be in excess of £205bn, money that could be much better spent on bairns not bombs.

Only Independence can guarantee a nuclear free Scotland, as such All Under One Banner has called this static-rally at the Faslane Navel Base on Saturday 28th August at 1pm. This rally will be staged with due regard to the safety of those attending, and with close cooperation with Police Scotland.

Come along and show your support!

Alan Bell, Now Scotland

August 28, 2021 at 1:00pm – 3pm

Faslane Naval Base

Helensburgh,

Scotland

G84 8HL

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Helensburgh+G84+8HL/@56.0699265,-4.8290467,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4889a8597b3ec32f:0xf0c7a60c75964bbe!8m2!3d56.0667747!4d-4.817525Posted byedinburghric 22nd Aug 2021Posted in Uncategorized Leave a commenton Rally for Independence

Global Warming and Organising for COP 26

Edinburgh RIC Assembly Wednesday, August 18th, 7 pm

Mim Black (Press Officer, COP-26 Coalition)

for details of this Zoom meeting contact – edinburghric@gmail.com

see article on the impact of the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming

Code Red by Mike Small, bella caledonia

Code Red

and

Scottish Independence and the Path to Climate Justice by Mim Black

https://edinburghric.wordpress.com/2021/04/23/scottish-independence-and-the-path-to-climate-justice/Posted byedinburghric 13th Aug 2021Posted in Uncategorized Leave a commenton Global Warming and Organising for COP 26

RIC EDINBURGH REPORT, 24.7.21

The last Edinburgh RIC report was submitted to the abortive national AGM on 17.1.21.

Edinburgh RIC has continued to organise. No local group reports were taken at the relaunch national RIC conference on 6.2.21 or at the revived National Forum on 26.6.21. Therefore, this report will cover Edinburgh RIC activity since the abortive RIC AGM.

Edinburgh RIC Organising Meetings

11.2.21 – It was unanimously agreed that Edinburgh RIC should continue.

Future events were discussed.

8.3.21 – Agreement on Statement submitted by Stephen Murray.

Future events were discussed.

29.3.21 – Planning a Holyrood election hustings. Initially the SNP were supportive, but the emergence of Alba meant that neither party was prepared to put forward speaker, and Lesley Riddoch had diplomatically declined to chair such a line-up. The Scottish Greens remained supportive throughout, and after the failure of the hustings it was decided that their speaker should address the next Edinburgh RIC Assembly.

In the absence of an election debate links to articles by Allan Armstrong (RSP), Sean Bell, Terry Conway and rs21 were posted at end of report of next meeting

Other future events were also discussed.

26.4.21 – It was unanimously agreed that Allan Armstrong and Nick Gotts should be Edinburgh delegates to the relaunch national conference on

6.2.21.

Myra Galletly would step in temporarily to take over part of the Secretary’s job – the internal Mailchimp mailing.

Other future events were also discussed.

7.6.21 – Report back from relaunch RIC conference

160 signed up, 103 were maximum in attendance at any one point.

Other future events were also discussed

30.6.21 – The Edinburgh RIC Assembly took the form of an Open Organising Meeting. Jack Ferguson, one of the national RIC conference organisers, attended. It was agreed that he would collate a list of all those from Edinburgh, who attended this conference but were not yet members. For the next Edinburgh RIC Assembly on 11.8.21. This would discuss organising RIC activity under relaxed Covid-19 conditions, including participation in:-

Cop-26 events
Covid-19 Fightback
Furthering the campaign for Scottish independence (AUOB events? etc)

From this Assembly an Edinburgh RIC AGM should be organised to elect new office bearers.

In addition, Jack would invite those who signed up as new members (along with existing members) to join national RIC Working Groups. There was a special plea for involvement in the Cop-26 group.

Allan Armstrong and Nick Gotts would be delegates to the nest RIC National Forum on 24.7.21.

26.7.21 – Next O.M.

Edinburgh RIC Assemblies

24.2.21 – Working Our Way Forward

26.5.21 – After the Holyrood election – What now? -Kate Nevens, Scottish Green candidate

30.6.21 – This took the form of an open Organising Meeting (see above).

11.8.21 – Next Assembly (see O.M. report 30.6.21 above)

Other events

17.7.21 – Protest against the Nationality and Borders Bill – Glasgow

1.5.20 – Kill the Bill Protest

1.5.21 – Edinburgh May Day – The Peoples Recovery

Other postings

Scottish Independence and the Path to Climate Justice – Mim Black

Defending Kobane is not a crime – Sarah Glynn

Armstrong, Minutes Secretary, Edinburgh RIC, 22.7.21Posted byedinburghric 30th Jul 2021Posted inUncategorized Leave a commenton RIC EDINBURGH REPORT, 24.7.21

Glasgow protest against the Nationality and Borders Bill

The Edinburgh RIC banner was at the protest against the Nationality and Borders Bill in Glasgow on the 17th July. This protest was organised by the organised by the No Evictions Network.

A full report, written by Maria Elena Carpintero Torres-Corvedo by can be seen on bella caledonia.

How the No Evictions Network is fighting the Nationality and Borders Bill

The following poem by Ewan Girvan was read out on the Buchanan Street steps

THE NATIONALITY AND BORDERS BILL

This Immigration Bill is a spell

Cast by callous Johnston and inhumane Patel

Their logic is all tapsalteerie

They peddle truth most insincerely

We a’ want tae bring

Human smuggling tae an end

But what they want is

No welcome whatsoever and to send

Everyone back across the channel

Or imprison them for years

No this bill is concocted

Of veiled threats and tears

Ah mean, if your hoose wiz bombed tae bits

Or your sexuality wiz questioned

Or ye were raped and tortured

In a regime of repression

According tae this evil bill

What ye have to dae

Is tae pipe up here and then

We hiv just to say

And ask yer torturer” Could you be so kind

To describe your cruel mistreatment

And if you do not mind

Prepare my immigration documents

It’s for the UK government

I hope you understand

They won’t let me seek asylum

Unless I have my papers in hand”

No it appears to me that the only thing illegal here

Is this Bill that traumatises the traumatised with fear

Cast by the callous inhumanity of Johnston and Patel

We must deft this bill, Let’s break this spellPosted byedinburghric 22nd Jul 2021Posted inUncategorized Leave a commenton Glasgow protest against the Nationality and Borders Bill

Radical Independence Conference

Saturday, 12th June, 11.00-17.30

https://ric.scot/program/embed/#?secret=pyuDEpyjdSPosted byedinburghric 7th Jun 2021Posted inUncategorized Leave a commenton Radical Independence Conference

EDINBURGH RIC ASSEMBLY-26.5.21

AFTER THE MAY 6^th HOLYROOD ELECTION – WHAT NOW?

An introduction by Kate Nevens – Scottish Green Regional List candidate Lothians

What happens next?

All Green MSPs will campaign and vote for a referendum within this Parliamentary term
We will continue to build the Green YES movement and vision, and work with the broader independence movement and sister Green MEPs in the European Parliament
We will work with other parties in parliament on key priorities, laying the groundwork for a fairer, greener and independent Scotland eace

Our vision for an independent, fairer and greener Scotland

Investing in a green recovery and playing our part in global efforts to tackle the climate crisis
Reversing the politics of austerity, addressing social, gender and wealth inequalities, and valuing the role of care in the economy
Being a voice for peace and human rights on the global stage, and a sanctuary for those who need it

Voice & actions for peace

Nuclear-free world
AND end all support to conventional arms industry
Decolonising aid & trade; standing in solidarity with oppressed groups
Contribute to global roll out of COVID-19 vaccine

Abolish the Home Office (and Defund the Police)

End dehumanising asylum application process and end immigration detention / close Dungavel
Reunite families & provide safe passage
End outsourcing of asylum accommodation
End No Recourse To Public Funds
End Police Scotland support to Home Office

Climate Justice

Ending oil and gas extraction
Restorative climate justice and reparation funds
COP26
Collective global action

For further information contact

Kate Nevens

Kate.nevens@scottishgreens.org.uk Twitter: @katenevens

greens.scot/ourfuture

This was followed by contributions from those attending the meeting. Issues raised included the following:-

A Labour Party member said that many members in Scotland were becoming increasingly disillusioned with their party in Scotland and that some were likely to join the Scottish Green Party.

The significance of autonomous campaigns, such as those around Extinction Rebellion and Living Rent were raised. Others added the action taken at Kenmure Street in support of migrants threatened with deportation, and the Sisters Uncut demonstrations following the Sarah Everard murder, highlighted the growing willingness to take the sort of action which would be needed to defy the UK state in the forthcoming Scottish independence campaign.

Another contributor thought that the demand to defund the police, which made immediate sense in the USA and had been highlighted by the Black Lives Matter protests, would need to be rethought in the UK contest.

The issue of the political pressures on the Scottish Green Party arising from going into coalition with the more neo-liberal SNP needed to be considered.

The prospect of the Scottish Greens giving their backing to the Radical Independence campaign was raised. This could be brought up at the next Edinburgh and national meetings.Posted byedinburghric 6th Jun 2021Posted in Uncategorized Leave a commenton EDINBURGH RIC ASSEMBLY-26.5.21