St'nDrknss

Independence - the Bruce, The Scotsman - and Jim Sillars

Mon, 16 May 2011 23:32:17 +0100

Independence - the Bruce, The Scotsman - and Jim Sillars

Donald Trump says he’s an environmentalist; others beg to differ - The Washington Post

Mon, 16 May 2011 17:02:06 +0100

Donald Trump says he’s an environmentalist; others beg to differ - The Washington Post

Why Jim Sillars is dead wrong about "independence-lite" - Thoughtland

Mon, 16 May 2011 15:00:05 +0100

Why Jim Sillars is dead wrong about "independence-lite" - Thoughtland:

The next trouble-zone is Sillars’ check-list of “cross-Border functions”. This is one area which requires detailed and vigorous debate among independence supporters, and certainly not some imposed fiat from the high command of the SNP. I guess I’m revealing myself as a “fundi” - and maybe a Green fundi - in this debate, as I find myself unwilling to think that there are any of these functions that wouldn’t benefit from a maximum degree of Scottish control.

On what would seem like a minor matter of the DVLA: of course we can organise European-continent-style, cross-border ease of mobility and registration - we have the systems to make that easy and possible. But in a low-carbon era when the regulation of personal transport will become a big issue - and where incentives to cleaner kinds of vehicles might need to be applied - again, do we leave this entirely to Westminster which is, cross-party, environmentally static, if not regressive? Why should we surrender our governmental imagination here?

More wishes for the Holyrood fairy « A Burdz Eye View

Mon, 16 May 2011 14:00:06 +0100

More wishes for the Holyrood fairy « A Burdz Eye View

Hearts and mines: Council Tax freeze and local democracy

Mon, 16 May 2011 13:00:06 +0100

Hearts and mines: Council Tax freeze and local democracy:

Firstly look at the figures. It’s estimated that the current saving for a Band D householder is around £1.20 per week. Those with bigger houses save more and those with smaller houses or on housing benefits a lot less. That’s not the way I like to see tax changes to apply.

Compare this to other changes to household budgets. A teacher or other public service employee on around £30,000 a year and with inflation running at around 5% will lose over £40 a week following a 2-year pay freeze. Yet I wonder how many voted SNP for £1.20 a week saving?

A Beginner’s Guide to Scottish Independence and Britain

Mon, 16 May 2011 12:00:06 +0100

A Beginner’s Guide to Scottish Independence and Britain

What does the election result mean for Scotland’s third sector? | Caledonian Mercury - Business and Technology

Mon, 16 May 2011 11:00:05 +0100

What does the election result mean for Scotland’s third sector? | Caledonian Mercury - Business and Technology:

After the majority government that was supposed to be an electoral impossibility, Scots are starting to get their head round what the new SNP administration means for them. In the third sector – Scotland’s charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises – we are watching intently as the newly elected MSPs take their seats.

Guest blog: The social cost of big biomass - Greener Leith News - Greener Leith | Community Involvement | Sustainable Development | Better Public Spaces | Leith, Edinburgh

Sun, 15 May 2011 11:00:06 +0100

Guest blog: The social cost of big biomass - Greener Leith News - Greener Leith | Community Involvement | Sustainable Development | Better Public Spaces | Leith, Edinburgh:

I saw that Greener Leith is dealing with the proposed biomass plant in Leith. Another is proposed for Grangemouth near where I live. I am glad that the sanity of growing trees abroad for import to run a power station is being questioned. It’s a lunacy which just compounds the problems caused by our over consumption, the pillaging of third world resources and the removal of land from habitat protection and agriculture for a spurious use. It’s certainly not ‘green’ because trees are technically a renewable resource.

Scots Whay Hae!: You Have Been Watching...Trainspotting

Fri, 13 May 2011 18:00:05 +0100

Scots Whay Hae!: You Have Been Watching...Trainspotting

Oil’d (by Chris Harmon)

Fri, 13 May 2011 17:00:05 +0100

Oil’d (by Chris Harmon)

How I became a poster boy for Lib Dem misery « Strange Thoughts

Fri, 13 May 2011 15:00:06 +0100

How I became a poster boy for Lib Dem misery « Strange Thoughts

Revealed: how the Yes2AV campaign malfunctioned behind the scenes | Liberal Conspiracy

Fri, 13 May 2011 14:00:06 +0100

Revealed: how the Yes2AV campaign malfunctioned behind the scenes | Liberal Conspiracy

First days as a new Green MSP

Fri, 13 May 2011 13:00:05 +0100

First days as a new Green MSP

The Poor Still Have No Lawyers Land » Land Matters

Fri, 13 May 2011 12:00:06 +0100

The Poor Still Have No Lawyers Land » Land Matters

Donald Dewar’s Glasses

Fri, 13 May 2011 11:00:05 +0100

Donald Dewar’s Glasses

The SNP won through faith; now they must make it real | Bright Green

Thu, 12 May 2011 17:00:06 +0100

The SNP won through faith; now they must make it real | Bright Green

Suitably Despairing: Edinburgh A Step Closer To Banning Plastic Bags

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:00:06 +0100

Suitably Despairing: Edinburgh A Step Closer To Banning Plastic Bags

"Asked if Scotland or England & Wales benefited more from the Union, Scottish respondents tended..."

Thu, 12 May 2011 12:00:06 +0100

“Asked if Scotland or England & Wales benefited more from the Union, Scottish respondents tended to think it was quite even – 40% thought both partners benefitted equally, 32% that England and Wales benefitted more, 21% that Scotland benefits more. Scots also tended to think that both sides of the Union would be worse off if Scotland was independent. 43% thought England & Wales would be financially worse off without Scotland (only 14% thought they’d be better off), and 47% thought Scotland would be financially worse off if it became independent (28% thought Scotland would be better off). In Scotland, while a large minority support independence and think Scotland would be better off independent, the general view seems to be that the Union is a partnership that benefits both sides, roughly evenly.”

- UK Polling Report

Gaian Economics: Will the UK Abandon its Climate Targets?

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:00:06 +0100

Gaian Economics: Will the UK Abandon its Climate Targets?

Why selling off allotments is not localism | the new economics foundation

Wed, 11 May 2011 12:00:06 +0100

Why selling off allotments is not localism | the new economics foundation