Thursday, May 15, 2014

Hebridean Women for Independence



So - after my silent appearance on Channel $ news a couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by a twitter friend who works in Stornoway, and we set up a meeting of local women interested in starting up a Yes campaign group. About a dozen of us turned up, and we had a great discussion. So - please welcome Hebridean Women for Independence to the debate.  This is a very exciting development and we are already planning our first stall - 23rd May at 7 pm in the town hall foyer.
We have a Facebook page that, in less than two weeks already has 623 likes, and is very active - clearly there is a  real need for information. Do check it out - here - and we are also on Twitter @HebWFI.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Snow Day




Channel 4 News came to Lewis last week. Acclaimed anchorman, Jon Snow said he wanted to get to the heart of what we, in this remote part of the country, really think of the Independence Referendum. He tweeted to the good folk of the Island to come along to Stornoway's inner pier and have a yarn about the issues. So, we duly pitched up, suitably attired, and indeed we had quite a laugh, as we waited under the gazebo in the pouring rain. My husband asked him how he would vote, if he lived in Scotland, and he said he would probably be very minded to vote yes. Then he passionately told us how much he would miss us if we went, and how diminished Britain would be without us, and did we have any idea what it was like to be English?

"It's alright" we said "We aren't going to float off - we'll still be friends and neighbours"
"Yes" said the bold Jon " But look at the neighbours we have now - the French!"

We wondered later if he was parodying the Prime Minister's speech at Mount Olympus, but having seen his film, I'm not so sure. It was rather a bizarre moment. I do think he was joking, really...

Then we were moved down to the broadcast location, where it became apparent that we had had our yarn, and that those who were to give their views had already been selected and "wired" up. You can watch the interview here I thought it was predictable and shallow, to be honest. The usual, pound, queen, Europe, all came up, as well as a rather aggressive accusation about "smoke and mirrors" (sigh).

Interestingly, the No voters interviewed were women, and their reasons for voting that way were based on fear. I know this is a big decision, and that we need to take our time to get as much information as we can. It's hard to find that, though, when there seems to be such a paucity of argument from the No campaign, and a reluctance to really engage in the debate. Later I asked one of the interviewees why they thought that independent Scotland would not be able to get into Europe and they looked 'astonished' and said "because they just wouldn't!" In fact they seemed offended that I had dared ask the question. It seems to me that the pro-union campaign has been a bit like that - offended that we are even considering making our own decisions. Jon Snow has since written about his two weeks in Scotland, saying how he found the quality of the No campaign's arguments to be very poor indeed, so I am guessing he did see through the real smoke and mirrors!



A lot has been said about the 'Women's Vote' in this referendum, and how we seem to be risk averse - more prone to vote No. The news media have picked up on this, and seem to go out of their way to reinforce that stereotype. I think it is wrong to lump women into some kind of homogeneous group of negative worriers. Anxious reporters constantly ask "What do women want?" Well, the answer is that women have many different views, hopes and concerns about this vote, depending on their background and circumstances. Each woman will have her own answer to that question. I can't speak for other women in Scotland, but I can tell you what this one would like.

I want:

::   To take this amazing opportunity to build a fairer and more sustainable country - one where
     equality for women is a reality, and not just a soundbite.    .

::   To have the assurance that we, in Scotland, can have the kind of government we vote for.

::   To begin work on eradicating poverty and hunger.
    (There was no mention on the news programme that we were almost in sight of the local
     foodbank. That one child in every four is hungry, and that people have to turn to foodbanks 
     to survive is an absolute disgrace. I want to see an end to them, yet the Child Poverty Action 
     Group say that the UK government's austerity programme will just make matters worse for 
     Scottish children.)   
       
::   To live in a country free from nuclear weapons 

::   To keep Scotland's NHS safe from the privatisation already happening in the rest of the UK


::   To be part of an outward looking progressive society.

::   To live in a country that puts its citizens first.


I could go on - there is so much to be excited about as we draw closer to the big day. There is a real buzz about the possibility that there will be a Yes vote. People are talking about it more and more - online, face to face and in public. Its happening, despite the lack of interest from the mainstream media, and the patronising attitudes of commentators who don't think we ordinary folk have the intellect to engage with the debate. We do - we are - just watch us grow. Vote yes. xx