Archive for the ‘Scottish Independence’ Category
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Racism and the British State
01 Jun 2013
Looking back to the start of the Month, UKIP had just taken third place in the local elections in England with an estimated 26% share of the vote, and Farange was being lauded as the champion of the little guy, with the ear of the government and considerable sympathy on …
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Lets go Beyond UK-OK
17 May 2013
Guest Post from Kirsty McAlpine Reproduced with thanks from Women for Independence, via Bella Caledonia. The mission statement for Women for Independence states: "“We will ensure that there will be a space for women’s voices and interests in the campaign. Independence will create opportunities for women to engage in developing …
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Scottish Independence: A Step on the Road to Socialism
10 May 2013
First published in "Scotland’s Road to Socialism – Time to Choose", edited by Gregor Gall and published by SLR Press, this article from the collection of 22 perspectives of a diverse range of people on the left towards the future of Scotland in the run up to the Independence Referendum …
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For A Balanced and Inclusive Independence Debate
09 May 2013
In case you hadn't noticed, the BBC's coverage of the Scottish Independence debate is dire. When they are not comparing our democratically elected First Minister to genocidal dictators, they are warning us about about all the risks and dangers we face in such uncharted territory. "Here be monsters!", they shout, …
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Trident: Paternalism, Power and Pilfering
09 Mar 2013
Next month, there will be three days of activism at Faslane Naval Base, calling for an end to Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Clyde. The current fleet of trident submarines are due to be decomissioned in the late 2020s, an ideal opportunity to rid our little corner of the …
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Independence: Media and Masculinity
04 Mar 2013
Living in exile in Greece at the moment, I watch the struggle for Scottish Independence from afar. Mainstream sources are almost universally crap - giving the British propaganda a bit of seasoning then vomiting it out through their mass channels. It is new technology that will win Independence. Because …
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Scaremongering at the Shipyards
30 Jan 2013
Last week the UK Government's Select Committee on Scottish Affairs, the arm of the British State which informs us of what's good for us, published "Seperation Shuts Shipyards". Lets take a closer look at this investigation into the effects of the forthcoming referendum on Scottish Independence and its effects on …
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More on settlers and colonisers
26 Dec 2012
Alasdair Gray has caused quite a lot of ripples with his article, eh? Culture and the arts, are major battlegrounds for consciousness and identity. Yet at present, writings in the Scots Leid undergo a "negrofication". An understanding that works such as Kelmans or Welsh's are quirky, cross-overs from parochial culture - …
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The Roots of Sectarianism in Scotland
17 Dec 2012
Guest Post by Davy Marzella. One of the difficulties of addressing the issue of sectarianism in Scotland is agreeing on a definition. Two common definitions are – i) Religious bigotry. ii) Anti-Irish prejudice or "racism" The origins and definitions of the terms “race” and “racism”are also relevant - particularly …
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Trouble in Northern Ireland; Resonances in Scotland
16 Dec 2012
Yesterday, a demonstration in Glasgow, in support of those who want to keep the British flag flying at all times over Belfast city hall saw a number of people gather in George Square flying mini British flags. Seeing the British flag in such alarming numbers, it seemed at first sight …
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Radical Independence: Roundup and Review
02 Dec 2012
Its now been a week since Radical Independence Conference was held, bringing together voices for independence from all over the country. Trending on Twitter it was clear that this was a decisive moment. Mid-conference, during an interview with NorthSound Radio Alex Salmond, the SNP First Minister stated that he welcomed …
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Dancing between Cuba and Scotland
16 Sep 2012
Aleida Guavara was in Glasgow on Friday, talking about the current situation in Cuba, Cuba's place in the world and its vision for a society which prioritised people over capital. As the daughter of the famous revolutionary, I wasn't sure what to expect - perhaps someone glamorous or flamboyant, definitely striking in some way, …
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BritNats say “Scotland says No”
27 Jun 2012
So the "No" campaign was launched on Monday. Well, well, well, well, well. For the first time ever, I am now confident of independence. Its coming, the union is history. Talking of history, one of the first entries on the Bitter Together blog is one of the most bastardised historical …
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The Art of Britsplaining
16 Jun 2012
Feminists are only too familiar with the concept of "mansplaining". Its always gone on, but until recently we didn't have an actual word for it. For the uninitiated, mansplaining - a derivative of the verb "to explain" - is when a man explains something to a woman, because he is …
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A Woman’s Place is in the Independence Movement
03 Jun 2012
As the independence debate progresses, it is becoming critical for the left not only to put forward the argument for independence but also to define and influence its nature. Independence is a critical opportunity to look carefully at the kind of country that we want Scotland to be and work …
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For an Independent Radical Scotland
26 Apr 2012
Yesterday saw the launch of the Radical Independence Conference to be held on 24th November 2012. This gathering has been eagerly anticipated on the left for a long time. We are going into a remarkable period in Scottish history, one where we have the opportunity to shape the destiny so …
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The BBC are beyond a joke
10 Feb 2012
I've had it with the BBC for a very long while, but my TV is in serious danger of getting a foot put through it and not just because I cant work the remote control. Yes, yes, I know they make good drama, Eastenders is pretty good and hell historical …
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The Destruction of the Metropole
03 Feb 2012
It is an odd situation that Scotland finds herself in at the moment. A bit like a teenager, yearning for the freedom which is only a few years away but seems like a lifetime is to be lived until the magic date which will denote the beginning of our independence. …
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Rising to the Unionist Challenge
14 Jan 2012
The last few days have been a remarkable display of kack-handedness, arrogance and sheer stupidity on the part of Unionist politicians. Attempting to seize the initiative on the Scottish Independence Referendum, Cameron set out a range of parameters under which he was prepared to consider allowing the kind of question that …
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Scottish Identity – Visions & Mirages
03 Oct 2011
Over on Bella Caledonia, David Tobin writes on Post-Colonial Scotland, examining the "national identity politics" which are shaping us on our course to independence. This is indeed a key question for us as a nation as we forge an identity of ourselves in the world - what narratives and images …
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Internationalism in One Small Island
17 Jun 2011
I attended the launch of Coalition of Resistance in Glasgow last week, a fantastic event with a participative format, which was a refreshing change - a few short speeches were followed by lots of practical group discussions among a wide range of activists. It was a great launch, and to help us on our …
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Cuts & the Independence Movement
05 Jun 2011They say that nothing is certain in life but death and taxes. Over the next five years, if the UK government has its way, public sector spending cuts can be added to that unhappy list of certainties. While the Scottish Government may have a level of control over where the …
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Independence: The issues
27 May 2011
My excitement at the implications of the national election result on May 5th, has been tempered over the last few weeks with the realisation that, despite a majority in Holyrood being from a party whose principal raison d’etre is to obtain Independence for Scotland, it looks likely that Salmond will …