I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy St Andrews Day.
Today, on Scotland's special day, we can reflect on all things that Scotland has achieved as a Nation that have changed the world. I would also like to extend my best wishes to Scotland's friends across the globe and invite you to visit the country for our Winter Festival Celebrations.
For me, St Andrew's day is about celebrating all things that are great about Scotland and looking back at the remarkable things Scotland has contributed in the past as well as looking and celebrate what we can offer for the future. Things like Science and innovation, literature, as well as the great Scottish discovery of anaesthetics.
Scotland has received praise for all of these things that I have listed above and much more, but more importantly we are recognised as some of the most friendly peoples in the globe and our famous warm welcome to visitors.
We have lots to be proud of, so have a wonderful day and be proud of our Nation.
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Thursday, 25 November 2010
London listens to Gambia Campaigners
In a whirlwind day in London, representatives of the Scottish Campaign for Human Rights in the Gambia made ‘useful progress’, according to Vice Chair Austin Sheridan MSYP.
Through Westminster MP Anas Sarwar, who has kept his pre-election promise to support the Campaign, Austin Sheridan MSYP and committee members Alieu Ceesay and Grace Franklin met with Parliamentary coordinator for Human Rights, Nicole Piche, Paul Welch who is team leader for the West Africa desk and Agnes Annels from the Foreign Commonwealth Office Human Rights department.
The Campaign updated the officials on their events, past and future, to tell people in Scotland about the increasing number of Gambians ‘disappearing’ in the Gambia, or who are imprisoned and tortured because they say something which offends the President. They include journalists, opposition party leaders and many ordinary citizens.
The Scottish Campaign is backed by the National Union of Journalists and Amnesty International which has published a report on the situation in the West Africa country which is a popular holiday destination.
A further meeting in the offices of Amnesty International enabled the Scottish Campaign to see where their work fitted into the 17 cities around the world which are also active in pressing for Human Rights to be restored in the Gambia. Until recently, Gambia had a Constitution and a Legislature which protected its citizens. But increasingly draconian laws and edicts from the President’s Palace – including the activating of the death penalty this month – have brought fear to the nation. The legal system has been corrupted with mercenary judges from Nigeria hired by the President to impose his will.
Currently the President Yahya Jammeh, is encouraging hereditary Chiefs to campaign for him to be made King of Gambia.
The Scottish Campaign’s next public meeting will be in Edinburgh on Thursday 16 December at the Justice and Peace Centre and hosted by that organisation.
In the Scottish Parliament, Patrick Harvie MSP has put forward a motion condemning the catalogue of human rights abuses in Gambia including the case of the missing journalist Ebrima Manneh and urges government pressure to be put on the Gambian Government in defence of human rights. By Thursday 18 November, fifteen MSPs had signed the motion.
This blog article was adapted using a YAM publication (Local News Glasgow) http://www.localnewsglasgow.co.uk/2010/11/london-listens-to-gambia-campaigners/
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP.
Through Westminster MP Anas Sarwar, who has kept his pre-election promise to support the Campaign, Austin Sheridan MSYP and committee members Alieu Ceesay and Grace Franklin met with Parliamentary coordinator for Human Rights, Nicole Piche, Paul Welch who is team leader for the West Africa desk and Agnes Annels from the Foreign Commonwealth Office Human Rights department.
The Campaign updated the officials on their events, past and future, to tell people in Scotland about the increasing number of Gambians ‘disappearing’ in the Gambia, or who are imprisoned and tortured because they say something which offends the President. They include journalists, opposition party leaders and many ordinary citizens.
The Scottish Campaign is backed by the National Union of Journalists and Amnesty International which has published a report on the situation in the West Africa country which is a popular holiday destination.
A further meeting in the offices of Amnesty International enabled the Scottish Campaign to see where their work fitted into the 17 cities around the world which are also active in pressing for Human Rights to be restored in the Gambia. Until recently, Gambia had a Constitution and a Legislature which protected its citizens. But increasingly draconian laws and edicts from the President’s Palace – including the activating of the death penalty this month – have brought fear to the nation. The legal system has been corrupted with mercenary judges from Nigeria hired by the President to impose his will.
Currently the President Yahya Jammeh, is encouraging hereditary Chiefs to campaign for him to be made King of Gambia.
The Scottish Campaign’s next public meeting will be in Edinburgh on Thursday 16 December at the Justice and Peace Centre and hosted by that organisation.
In the Scottish Parliament, Patrick Harvie MSP has put forward a motion condemning the catalogue of human rights abuses in Gambia including the case of the missing journalist Ebrima Manneh and urges government pressure to be put on the Gambian Government in defence of human rights. By Thursday 18 November, fifteen MSPs had signed the motion.
This blog article was adapted using a YAM publication (Local News Glasgow) http://www.localnewsglasgow.co.uk/2010/11/london-listens-to-gambia-campaigners/
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Austin Sheridan MSYP Wins Vote Against Big Society and NCS
The Scottish Youth Parliament this Saturday debated the Big Society and National Citizens Service in the Scottish Parliament.John Beaton MSYP, Edinburgh West, lead the FOR debate. He said that National Citizens Service was vital for young people across Scotland.
I lead the AGAINST debate saying that "I think that the money that is being put in to this NCS scheme should be spent on things like Education, Apprenticeships and Job Opportunities...things that will actually benefit young people" I went on to say "we can not expect young people to fill the public sector jobs when the UK Government target them. It is unfair to use young people for slave labour. If we targeted woman or an ethnic minority group in the same way NCS targets young people, it would be frowned upon and would most likely be against the Law"
This is how MSYPs voted:
•“Following plans for a Big Society by the UK Government, all young people in Scotland should have to take part in a National Citizen Service, requiring them to work for a voluntary organisation for six months.”
Agree: 9.3%
Disagree: 89.5%
Abstain: 1.2%
This is a fantastic result in my opinion. This sends a clear message to the UK Government that the young people of Scotland do not support these ageist measures that the UK Government have planned for us.
If you have any questions please email me at: austin.sheridan.msyp@sypmail.org.uk
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP.
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This Article can be found at: http://www.austinmsyp.co.nr/ (Blog Section)
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