http://www.patrickharviemsp.com Green MSP for Glasgow Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:40:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en How amusing to see the very silly post from John Prescott this afternoon, trying to persuade us all that high speed rail "can only be delivered" by Labour. This follows of course from the publication of a proposal for a high speed route which will stretch all the way ... http://www.patrickharviemsp.com/2010/03/high-speed-rail-hits-the-buffers-in-brum/ As I mentioned recently I've been increasingly aware that I need a comments policy, now that I'm (occasionally) blogging. My blog posts and other updates do generally accept comments, but I’ve no intention of allowing the site to become yet another online repository for conspiracy, nonsensical argument, personal insults, or ... http://www.patrickharviemsp.com/2010/03/comments-policy/ The Scottish Greens today called on Alex Salmond to withdraw his party's threat to the BBC's public service broadcasting. Revelations today that his party may use decisions around party leaders' debates to justify such a move will cause serious public concern about both the future of the BBC and the ... http://www.patrickharviemsp.com/2010/03/news-release-greens-slam-snp-over-threat-to-bbc/ Anyone who attended the social media dinner last week can vouch for at least one admission I made - that I'm far from being a compulsive blogger. While Tom Harris spoke of finding it almost impossible to go through a day with a bloppost or three, my own updates are ... http://www.patrickharviemsp.com/2010/02/758/ The advice to Scottish Ministers published today by the UK Climate Change Committee (1) was rejected by the Scottish Green Party as a flawed and misguided effort which risks undermining the 42% climate target approved by the Scottish Parliament last year. (2) Patrick Harvie MSP said: "Parliament was unanimous last year - ... http://www.patrickharviemsp.com/2010/02/news-release-climate-committee-must-not-subvert-will-of-parliament/ The Scottish Green Party today warned that the Scottish Parliament should not approve the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) until complaints against the proposed new road relating to the Aarhus Convention and European Habitats Directive have been resolved. This afternoon's meeting of the Scottish Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee ... http://www.patrickharviemsp.com/2010/02/news-release-greens-warn-against-bypass-plan/ In a tightly balanced parliament, it's normal that many minor details of our weekly business divide opinion. In the usual course of events these little differences of opinion don't attract much comment and rarely impinge on the public consciousness. This week, two issues of procedure were decided which are worth ... http://www.patrickharviemsp.com/2010/02/shenanigans/ While trying to snap the very talented blackbird who sings outside our window most evenings, I took this picture. Our blackbird is only just visible if you can zoom in, but regardless I found it a pleasing image of the Holyrood building as the sun went down. http://www.patrickharviemsp.com/2010/02/blackbird-blackbird/ OK, so I'll blog on this week's gossip a little later, but for now here's the motion I've put down in support of the very marvellous Robin Hood Tax - a cracking good campaign backed by a huge number of organisations who good umpteen other flavours of good stuff in ... http://www.patrickharviemsp.com/2010/02/robin-hood-tax/ Greens welcomed today's concessions by SNP Ministers over a boiler scrappage scheme for Scotland and the start of a new home insulation programme. The party has pressed Ministers to improve coordination between the various funds already available, including funding to replace old and inefficient boilers, and to offer free loft ... http://www.patrickharviemsp.com/2010/02/news-release-greens-back-moves-on-insulation-and-boiler-scrappage/