Support Democracy Scotland initiative

Support this campaign and progressive initiative click on the website here http://www.democracyscotland.co.nr/

Read below and sign up for the campaign:

I am unsure at this moment in time as to how I would vote in a referendum, but what I do know is this; the people of Scotland want and deserve a chance to do so.

It is very difficult to get polling data on the particular area that I am interested in, which is the % of the population who want a referendum. I would be grateful if others could point me in the direction of data regarding this.

The only poll data I can find on this issue is from Independence First, which gives details of the ICM polls from the late 1990s. In this instance, whether a majority support Independence or the current devolution arrangement is irrelevant, the figure I'm interested in is the 'For a Referendum' column. This shows that 5 polls asked the question of the respondent of whether they think there should be a referendum held on this issue. The results of the 5 separate polls, held between June 1998 and February 1999, were as follows (FOR a referendum); 69%, 79%, 69%, 74% and 74%. The average of these polls show that 73% of respondents believe there SHOULD be a referendum held on Scotland's constitutional future.
This is why attention needs to be drawn to this democratic deficit...

HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS? - To collectively act in ways which require very little time or effort, but which catches media attention in a 'Flash Mob' style. For example, getting a large group of people to put a large 'X' on a blank piece of paper, adding the web address to it (http://www.democracyscotland.co.nr/), then posting it to the same person/address (First Minister/Labour Leader?) on the same date.

Each campaign should raise the profile of the campaign and thus help it grow exponentially. 2 minutes of your time at home, every couple of months is all I'm asking for in return. 'Stage 1' will be acted upon once 50 'pledges' have signed up to the campaign. If we get more than much more than 50, great, by all means keep adding your respective names to the list once the magical number of 50 has been breached.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO - Pledge to join the campaign, by CLICKING HERE and adding you name to the list (a pseudonym if you so wish), using the format; '1. name1', '2. name2', '3. name3' and so on, so each new person adding to the list is keeping a running tally of the total involved. Keep checking the site every few days to see whether we have breached the 'Stage 1' number, and we'll take it from there!

Spreading the word is the oxygen of any campaign, and we need YOUR help to do so. So, if you, like most people in Scotland, are 'Pro-Referendum' and have a blog or website, a mention of the campaign and/or a link to the site would be much appreciated. If not, then just tell people you know via email or good old-fashioned word of mouth!

Thanks in advance,

DS

Celtic League give support for Noel Maguire

Support repatriation of Noel Maguire

The Celtic League have posted the following on an Irish website

A new website providing information about jailed political prisoner Noel Maguire, has been created by several members of the Kernow (Cornish)Branch of the Celtic League.

The website provides details of the campaign to repatriate Noel Maguire, who was arrested and convicted in 2003 as part of the investigation into the Real IRA bombing campaign in London in 2001. In addition, the website is also intended to provide information to supporters and campaigners about Mr Maguire's background and includes resources that can be utilised by supporters to further the campaign.

The General Secretary of the League, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot said:

"This website is a useful tool, because it brings together different strands of information about efforts to-date to repatriate Noel Maguire. Moreover the website gives a more detailed picture of Mr Maguire's life and his efforts to be repatriated. Previously, information about the campaign was spread throughout the internet, which had been posted up by the different organisations involved in the campaign.

The website creators have been in contact with Mr Maguire, who has said he is happy with the idea of setting up such a site." The Celtic League has been campaigning for Mr Maguire's repatriation to Portlaoise Prison in Ireland for a number of years and at the 2007 AGM in CYMRU passed the following resolution:

"The Celtic League seeks the repatriation of Noel Maguire to a prison in Eire, in consideration of the physical and psychological stress that the prisoner has been under over the last year and being the last of sic co-defendants to remain in a prison in England."

Mr Maguire has applied for repatriation to Portlaoise Prison on four separate occasions, the last time being in June 2008, However, in each case his applications have been rejected by different Irish Ministers of Justice, on the grounds that he does not have "sufficient family support" in Eire and that his links to the country are not strong enough to support his case.

However, Mr Maguires only family live in Eire, including his wife (from whom he is currently separated) and his two young children. Mr Maguire also hold a current Republic of Ireland passport and is therefore an Irish citizen. Mr Maguire has recently made another application for repatriation and is awaiting the results.

Website link: www.noel-maguire.info

See related articles on Celtic News at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celticleague/message/2707

A new group to discuss Scottish independence

A new Yahoo Group has been set up to discuss the importance of constitutional change taking place in Scotland. While the group recognises that it is necessary to to achieve Independence on the road to a socialist society we should still discuss the importance of what is happening in Scottish politics for the here and now.

The group is described as below:

This group supports the establishment of an independent Scottish republic that is socialist and egalitarian. We reject that there exists a parliamentary solution for revolutionary and constitutional change for Scotland. At the present time there should be support for an independence referendum and measures that support liberation of the Scots from Westminster rule while debating the best way forward for revolutionary change.

Hopefully we can get a list of members keen to debate the changes taking place or constitutional matters and revolutionary ideas between now and a possible referendum around or after 2010.

The group recognises that debate on constitutional change for Scotland is not the preserve of the SNP in the independence movement. Other views such as socialist opinions have to be considered.

Click here to join

Scottish Socialist Freedom Group Founding Principles

SSFG Founding Principles

Solidarity Launch Glasgow East Campaign

Solidarity Launch Glasgow East Campaign

Glasgow Solidarity members have selected their candidate for the Glasgow East by-election on 24 July. Tricia McLeish, of the party's Shettleston branch, was appointed unopposed with the unianimous support of the Glasgow region of Scotland's largest socialist party.

Tricia said:"I am honoured to be selected as Solidarity's candidate.

Living in the area and working for the council, I see the results of New Labour's failed agenda first hand. The SNP offer no answers for the people of the East end, just more of the same under a different flag. The East End will not be saved by shopping centes or by a Donald Trump.

We need real jobs and real futures. "Solidarity are AGAINST the renewal of trident, but FOR spending the billions on houses and pensioners instead.

We stand AGAINST the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and FOR the withdrawal of British and all other foreign troops.

Tricia McLeish is a founding member of Solidarity and has been an active socialist for over 20 years. She is 44, and works as a technical officer for Glasgow City Council's Land and Environmantal Services and was a Unison (and previously NALGO) shop steward in the council's housing department for 15 years.

Tricia was born, bred and still lives in Shettleston, the eldest of six children, all of whom still live in the East end of Glasgow, as do her parents.

She was educated at St Andrews in Greenfield. Tricia joined the Labour Party Young Socialists and then Militant in the early 1980's when she was on a youth opportunities scheme and since then has been at the forefront of many political campaigns in Scotland.

After being suspended from the Labour Party for her involvement in the Anti-Poll Tax Federation, she went to be a founder member of The Scottish Socialist Alliance, the Scottish Socialist Party and then Solidarity.

She is a member of the party's National Steering Committee and still an active trade unionist, leading campaigns against privatisation of services, most notably the back-door privatisation of housing stock through the GHA.

For further details or to speak to Solidarity's candidate call Jim Monaghan on 07944 217938
http://www.solidarityscotland.org/

Tricia McLeish - Glasgow East Solidarity Candidate

TRICIA McLEISH, SOLIDARITY

Tricia McLeish, 44, from the party's Shettleston branch, has been an active socialist for more than 20 years.

She was born and lives in Shettleston and was educated at St Andrews in Greenfield.

Ms McLeish works as a technical officer for Glasgow City Council's land and environmental services and was a Unison (and previously Nalgo) shop steward in the council's housing department for 15 years. After being suspended from the Labour Party for her involvement in the Anti-Poll Tax Federation, she went on to become a founder member of the Scottish Socialist Alliance, the Scottish Socialist Party and then Solidarity.

She is a member of the party's national steering committee and has taken a leading role in campaigns against the privatisation of public services.

Join the Scottish Socalist Freedom Discussion Group

uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/scotsocialistfreedom/

The Scottish Socialist Freedom Group are looking for interested individuals to join the discussion group to debate matters of interest in Scottish socialist politics and cultural matters. Click on the link above and blue join button and tell us about yourself very briefly eg: political interests and your real name.
Membership welcome from Scotland and elsewhere in the International community
Regards
Larry SSFG/Solidarity

Scottish Red Star to launch this week

Scottish Red Star project is to launch this week with publicity in the community through leafleting future scottish events publicising the website and aims of direct political action in the community. The website will keep updated news of Scottish political socialist events and encourage political activity in the community.
Scottish Red Star Website up and running

Cuba: Present and future

Cuba: Present and future

listen to and question

Teresita Trujillo

Official of the Foreign Relations Department of the

Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party

7.30pm, Thurs 22nd May

Lecture Theatre 1, Appleton Tower, Crichton Street,

University of Edinburgh,

George Square

Edinburgh

Blog Change: Scottish Political Events

I think it is time to get this blog going again after 2 or 3 months in hibernation. I will keep content varied but introduce some political material. Also intend to advertise Scottish political events here. For a full list of Scottish events in the socialist political world go to Scottish Red Star and click on the page for the Events Calender