A Christmas insult

GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release, Thursday 23 December, 2004

O?BRIEN ADDRESS TO MSPs USED TO INSULT GAYS – MSPs urged to condemn remarks and stand up for LGBT community

MSPs are being called on to condemn a recent address to the Scottish Parliament by Cardinal Keith O?Brien that was used to ?gratuitously insult? Scotland?s gay community. (1)

Green MSP Patrick Harvie argues that O?Brien?s decision to compare lesbian and gay people to criminals and to describe them as aberrations during yesterday?s Time for Reflection was an insult to the Parliament and amounted to promoting intolerance and bigotry. According to a newspaper report today, the Catholic Church has confirmed that the phrase was a reference to homosexuals. (2)

The phrase drew a comparison between the imprisonment of convicted criminals at Saughton, and sexual minorities as ?captives? to ?sexual aberration?. (3)

Harvie said, ?Cardinal O’Brien’s predecessor Cardinal Winning compared my community to the Nazis, so perhaps being compared to criminals is a step forward. But it is an insult to the Parliament that the Cardinal should choose to use Time for Reflection to be so needlessly offensive.

?Time for Reflection should remind us that we’re here to serve all of Scotland, and all the people in Scotland. Equality is one of the founding principles of the Scottish Parliament, and when the Cardinal comes to visit he should respect that.

?Homosexuality was declassified by the medical profession as a disorder decades ago, but the Cardinal clings to that notion through prejudice alone. The Catholic Church took a long time to accept reality on issues like evolution, and the shape of the universe – clearly they are also dragging their feet on human diversity.

?Sexual diversity is a completely normal and natural thing, and its expression adds to the richness of our society and our culture.?

ENDS

For further information call the Green MSP press office on 0131 348 6360/0771 761 8771.

1. Draft text of motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament:

That the Parliament condemns the use of the phrase ?captives . . . to sexual aberration? to describe Scotland?s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; values Scotland?s LGBT community and the contribution it makes to our society and our culture; deeply regrets that any speaker would chose to use the opportunity of Time for Reflection to make such a gratuitous insult to a section of the Scottish population; and hopes that the choice of speakers at Time for Reflection will grow to fully reflect the attitudes, values and beliefs which Scotland, as a modern society, encompasses.

2. A Catholic Church spokesperson is quoted on p6 of The Herald.

3. Cardinal O?Brien?s statement to Parliament

A Christmas message

Last year around this time, MSPs were being bombarded with letters and emails accusing us of banning Christmas. Humbug! Humbug I say!

The claim was that by sending out cards with messages like ?Season?s greetings? we were responsible for censoring any religious aspect from the life of Scotland.

Try as we might to explain the real situation, the complaints kept coming in. I found it pretty bizarre that people should care so much about what?s written on a greetings card to put together an organised letter writing campaign, but what struck me was how it compared with other issues. The same people were clearly untroubled by poverty, education, health, war, or the countless other issues people raise with their politicians. But try to wish people ?season?s greetings?? Now that?s serious.

The attempts to make political corrections to the Christmas message does get farcical at times. The idea from one local council in England that the whole season should be re-named ?Winterval? drew plenty of deserved derision. And I do agree that very few people who practice faiths other than Christianity are actually offended by references to shepherds, wise men, mangers or the rest.

But there is one serious aspect to this annual bout of angst over the meaning of Christmas. It?s about the transition we?re making from being a society shaped and structured by a religion to a more secular and, dare I say it, post-theistic society in which the vast majority people just don?t have religion high on the agenda. I think this holds even for most people who still tick one of the religious boxes on the census form, and end up being counted whenever people start comparing flock sizes.

The meaning of Christmas, like the meaning of all things in a complex and dynamic society, is different from person to person, from place to place, and from generation to generation. To many folk who practice one of the Christian faiths, it truly is about celebrating an event which took place 2000 years ago and which changed much of the world. To others, it is a much older tradition taken over by Christianity, just as religions have hijacked each others? gods, myths, rituals and festivals throughout history.

For me, the Christmas message is ?Brrr? it?s a bit chilly? let?s have some fun!? A big winter party needs no other justification, and I think the details are just trimmings. The gift-giving, the trees, the music, the cards, the office parties, the big guy in the red suit and the time off work have been added at different times and for different purposes over many years. We can add our own customs too if we like, so future generations will be able to bicker about how ?such-and-such isn?t really about Christmas, they just added it in the early 21st century because they wanted a laugh??

As a modern, diverse and eclectic mix of people, philosophies, and cultures we should try to enjoy the fact that we can celebrate different things at the same time of year, and in our different ways. The only bit I want to throw out is the Christmas message which reads ?Buy more stuff? buy more stuff? you must buy more stuff!!?

So whether it?s Merry Christmas, Season?s Greetings, Peace on Earth, Praise to the Saviour, or Pass me the Bottle, I hope you all have a wonderful and a fun time over the coming weeks.

NEWS RELEASE – Vanunu elected as Rector

GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release, Thursday 16 December, 2004

MSP CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW GLASGOW RECTOR TO VISIT UNIVERSITY

Green MSP Patrick Harvie today congratulated Mordechai Vanunu on his election as Rector of the University of Glasgow.

Mr Harvie said, ?By electing Vanunu as Rector, the students of the University of Glasgow have sent an important message both to the Palestinian people and to the British government. The message is clear: we will not stand back and watch the Palestinian people suffer and there is no place in the world for weapons of mass destruction. I am delighted that the students have used their votes to speak out for human rights.?

Mordechai Vanunu is a former Israeli nuclear technician who completed his entire 18-year sentence in prison in Israel on April, 2004, for blowing the whistle on his government’s secret nuclear weapons program. Captured by Israeli agents on September 30, 1986, he spent more than 11 years in solitary confinement.

Mr Harvie is seeking cross-party support for his appeal to the British government to exert pressure on their Israeli allies to lift the restrictions on Mr Vanunu’s freedom and allow him to visit the University (1).

Mr Harvie said, ?Vanunu is still not free – he remains in a very real sense a political prisoner. He has consistently been denied his democratic freedom of speech. His crime was to reject the notion that the world will be more secure with a proliferation of devices designed to cause mass loss of life. At a time when the UN is so concerned about Iran?s supposed nuclear programme, the British government should be welcoming Vanunu and congratulating him for exposing the extent of Israel?s nuclear arsenal.?

ENDS

For further information call the Green MSP press office on 0131 348 6360.

[1] Draft text of motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament:

That this Parliament congratulates Mordechai Vanunu on his election as the 119th Rector of the University of Glasgow, believes Vanunu?s election sends an important message to the Palestinian people expressing Scotland?s disgust at their treatment at the hands of the Israeli government, believes that there is no place in the Middle East or indeed the world for weapons of mass destruction and calls on the British government to exert pressure on Israel to release Mr Vanunu from Israel and allow him to visit the University of Glasgow.

NEWS RELEASE – Strong support for TPRA

GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release, Wednesday 15 December, 2004

PLANNING: EXECUTIVE MUST LISTEN TO OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR THIRD PARTY RIGHT

The results of the consultation on third party right of appeal (TPRA) has revealed an overwhelming 86% of respondents in favour of TPRA, and only 13% against. Greens argued today that this confirms that the existing planning system is unfair and bias towards big business and developers at the expense of communities and individuals.

Patrick Harvie MSP, Green Speaker on Communities, said, “I am delighted that members of the public did not let the Executive’s obvious lack of enthusiasm for this important policy put them off responding. There is clearly a demand for the lanning system to stop prioritising the profit motive ver the needs of people and the environment. First Minister Jack cConnell must deliver on his pledge to champion environmental justice.

“It has been claimed that the responses from individuals are of less value, and that the responses from business and planning professionals should be given more weight. However I would criticise the way the figures have been presented in the report (2). The tables seem to imply that none of the anti-TPRA responses are the result of active campaigning by the business lobby. It is clear that this has in fact been a hot topic for organisations like the CBI, and their members are as capable of writing a letter as anyone else.

“People have responded in support of TPRA because they overwhelmingly feel betrayed by a planning system which ignores their needs. The Executive should not seek to dismiss this as mere campaign group lobbying. Instead it should listen to the strength of feeling in communities and deliver a planning system that’s fair and sustainable as well as effective.”

Currently, developers have the right to appeal planning decisions, but local residents or groups do not have that same right. Greens argue that this makes the system inherently unfair and biased, and compromises public capacity for involvement in local planning.

Harvie said, ?Councils across Scotland are giving inappropriate developments the go-ahead for fear of being taken to appeal by developers. Only TPRA will help bridge the gulf between the resources private developers have, and those meagre resources the Executive makes available through planning aid so communities can access advice and information.

?With TPRA, developers will be forced to negotiate fairly with communities, and bring forward better quality applications for developments in appropriate places, otherwise they are the ones who will be taken to appeal. Environmental justice and community concerns should be at the heart of a reformed planning system.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. See
www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/planning/roap-00.asp
and
www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/planning/mdpdacr-00.asp
2. See table 3 of the introduction (p10 of the hard copy).

NEWS RELEASE – Air Pollution

GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release 12th December

MSP URGES PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN POLLUTION ACTION PLAN THAT WILL IMPACT ON US ALL

Green MSP Patrick Harvie is encouraging the public to have their say on a new European air pollution action plan which will have a direct influence on the day to day lives of Glaswegians. The European Commission is currently consulting on the plan which it aims to be in place by mid-2005.

It is estimated that each European citizen is losing about nine month?s life expectancy due to poor air quality [1]. Glasgow has the second worst levels of air pollution in the UK and Glasgow City Council has announced that it is still failing to meet government targets and will continue to do so next year [2].

Mr Harvie said, ?The European Commission’s air pollution action plan will affect us all. The way we move, the way we use energy and the air quality we want are all at stake. It is therefore important that as many people as possible put forward their views on the plan.?

He continued, ?As Glasgow City Council has repeatedly failed to curb the city?s dangerously high levels of nitrogen dioxide gas from vehicles, I am pleased that the European Commission is taking serious steps to clean up our air.?

The Council has produced its own Air Quality Action Plan which Mr Harvie believes is inadequate. He explained, ?The political will to resolve this issue is extremely weak in Scotland. The Council continuously backs away from effective measures which would reduce traffic levels through fear of being unpopular – yet I’m sure most people agree that clean air is essential. Having air that is safe to breathe is an aspiration that should not be beyond us.?

The European Commission’s internet consultation on the action plan is now open to the public. The consultation asks questions such as: What is the quality of the air in your neighbourhood? What are you as an individual prepared to do to improve air quality?

Stavros Dimas, Commissioner for the Environment at the European Commission said, ?The facts about the impact of air pollution on the human body are disturbing, but in order to react properly, we need to understand more about causes and effects. There are things we can do to improve air quality and we have to start now.?

ENDS

For more information contact Fiona Barnes on 07962 042474 or Green MSP Press Office on 0771 761 8771.

Notes to Editor

1. See: www.medicalnewstoday.com

2. See: www.sundayherald.com/45703

3. The consultation will run until January 31 2005 and the results will be published in March. It is available at:

http://europa.eu.int/yourvoice

Big issue column – Right to Buy

Local government representatives have been complaining about new rules passed by Parliament last week, which will prevent them from using Bed & Breakfast accommodation to house families with children.

This is the fulfilment of a promise made by the last Communities Minister a year ago, that no homeless family would be living in B&B by Christmas 2004. It?s one more step forward in the homelessness agenda, and there still remains much to do, but it threw up some interesting arguments.

Members of the Communities Committee took evidence on the new regulation, and heard from Shelter that councils have known that this change was on the agenda for some time, and that many have already stopped using B&B in this way. Only four councils in fact seem to be unprepared. However COSLA spoke up in their favour, saying that the measure had been sprung on them, and that some councils would have no choice but to break the law and continue to house families in B&B.

If this had just been a dispute about the appropriate timing for bringing a regulation into force, I wouldn?t be wasting your time with 600 words on the subject, but I think it goes deeper than that.

Some people have suggested that this was just a petty conflict between Labour councillors and Labour ministers. But the local government representatives came close to threatening a complete withdrawal of cooperation on the homelessness agenda, which would be an astonishing and outrageous way to conduct an internal party conflict. It would risk endangering the goal of ending homelessness by 2012. That goal is a radical one, and no level of government should consider it as optional.

No-one so far has expressed any doubt that the councils in question are telling the truth when they say that they are not ready for the regulation. But they argue convincingly that this is not down to lack of concern for the families involved. They don?t want to house families in unsuitable accommodation, any more than they want to continue paying the extremely expensive B&B bills.

So if the Executive doesn?t want it happening, the opposition doesn?t want it happening, the campaigners don?t want it happening and the councils don?t want it happening, why does the practice continue?

One important reason for the difficulties facing some councils in ending B&B is the lack of supply of suitable housing. Since the Conservatives introduced the Right to Buy in the 1980s, huge quantities of social rented housing have been lost to the private sector.

Indeed East Lothian Council, one of those complaining about the new regulation, has even indicated that it will have to buy back some of the houses it sold off under RTB, at huge cost. Once they are bought back, they can be used to house people who are currently on waiting lists, or who are homeless. Eventually, those new tenants will be entitled to their own discount under RTB, and the absurd cycle may begin all over again.

Right to Buy is not the only reason for this problem developing, but it is a huge factor. It also strikes me that its continued existence is more likely to be the cause of conflict between councillors and Ministers than how a consultation was handled, or whether a regulation comes into force now or next spring.

Many on the left consider RTB as nothing less than the privatisation of a public asset, which far from being reversed has been entrenched by the current Executive.

What use is building new social housing if it can only bet let once before disappearing for the private sector, and what will the continuation of Right to Buy mean for housing need in the decades that follow?

Opposition to Right to Buy is growing. Let?s hope it reaches critical mass before today?s investment becomes tomorrow?s problem.

NEWS RELEASE – Glasgow’s air pollution

GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release, Friday 3 December, 2004

GLASGOW AIR POLLUTION PLAN IS TOO LITTLE TOO LATE, SAYS MSP

Green MSP Patrick Harvie today hit out at Glasgow City Council for failing to meet Government targets on air pollution.

The MSP believes that the Council does not have the political resolve to address ever-increasing traffic levels and that as a result, public health will suffer.

Mr Harvie said: ?The Air Quality Action Plan which has just been adopted by the Council is a feeble piece of work. It has little ambition and is in parts nonsensical. Having air that is safe to breathe should not be beyond us.?

Mr Harvie is angry that the Council can only expect to achieve an 11% reduction in nitrogen oxides through interventional measures by 2005. This falls well short of Government targets and is only 1% beyond the reduction in emissions which will occur anyway as a result of increased vehicle fuel efficiency.

The Action Plan was accepted by Council leaders this week. The most contentious aspect is the proposal to extend the M74. Glasgow City Council claims it will lessen congestion around the city centre and therefore improve air quality.

The MSP dismissed this approach as nonsense and said he was amazed that the Air Quality Action Plan repeats facts which have been proven to be inaccurate.

He explained: ?At the Public Local Inquiry into the M74 Northern Extension, facts listed in the Environmental Statement were found to be misleading, incomplete and out-dated. So why is this same nonsense being regurgitated in the Air Quality Action Plan?

?It was shown at the Inquiry that the amount of traffic the road will generate is more than 10 times what the proponents had previously stated. The M74 Northern Extension will not lessen congestion in Glasgow ? building the motorway will instead add to traffic growth and therefore increase air pollution generally.?

Mr Harvie said he welcomed all of the measures contained in the Action Plan which will improve public transport but that the provision of better bus, rail, cycling and walking strategies alone will not reduce private car use.

He added, ?There is the urgent need to raise awareness of the social and environmental cost of car use. The Council has already ruled out congestion charging because, ?It is considered to be unpopular with the general public and businesses? and ?highly controversial?. Yet it is these kind of bold measures which would reduce traffic and lead to a broad range of health benefits.?

ENDS

For more information contact Fiona Barnes on 0141 332 6405 / 0131 348 6424 or Greens Press Office on 0131 348 6360/0771 761 8771.