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CAMPAIGNING FOR SCOTLAND
(Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland since November
1926)
"Promoting all that is best in Scottish
Nationalism and all that is best in Scotland."
[Issue 137 - 17th
January 2003] |
Compiled by Allison Hunter |
Here we are into a new year. I think there
should be a mandatory cut off date for wishing folk a Happy New Year. I’m
still meeting people I have not seen for a while who say "Have I seen you
since the New Year? No? Well, a Happy New Year then!" Anyway I hope you and
yours will have a good year in 2003 and, since it’s an important election
year, I hope all those putting themselves forward as candidates for the SNP,
for the Parliament and for their local Council, will have an exceptionally
good year.
A GOOD DAY FOR THE
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT AND FOR SCOTTISH DEMOCRACY
While
most folk were on the Christmas/New Year break the Scottish Executive
slipped in an amendment to the Local Government Bill due to be debated on
January 8. If successful it could mean, among other things, that significant
changes to the Fire Service could be made without Parliamentary scrutiny.
Now that might be all right if it means the moving of certain items of
equipment from station A to station B but not if it means that fire stations
can be run down or even closed down without due notice and debate.
When challenged by the media
about proper procedures and the way in which this amendment had been tabled
Executive Ministers waffled and really failed to give satisfactory answers.
When it came to the vote the
amendment was defeated on the casting vote of the Presiding Officer. A
number of MSPs from other parties were unhappy enough with the situation to
vote with the SNP and defeat the amendment.
John Swinney, Shadow First
Minister, called it a huge day for the Scottish Parliament and Scottish
Democracy and a humiliation for Jack McConnell. He said,
"This
vote only confirms that Labour has been in power for so long that they think
that they can get away with anything. Today it was taught by Parliament that
those days are coming to an end.
What we need is a proper
debate on the future of the Fire Service in Scotland, not a shoddy attempt
by a discredited Executive to railroad new amendments through without proper
scrutiny."
IRAQ
While on the
matter of the Scottish Parliament. We all know that defence is a matter
reserved for decision making to the Westminster Parliament but I am very
proud that it was the Scottish National Party who put down a motion on Iraq
for debate in the Scottish Parliament. It’s a matter high on the agenda for
very many people and they want to hear their elected representatives give
their views on this most serious of matters, even if it’s not MSPs who make
the final decision.
Most of the folk I being
carried along on the coat tails of George Bush. Most reasonable people have
trusted the United Nations Security Council thus far and are solidly behind
resolution 1441. As a result of this resolution the UN Weapons Inspectors
are currently in Iraq and, so far, have little to report.
The SNP endorses UN
resolution 1441 and believes that it does not provide authorisation for
military action in Iraq. The UN Weapons Inspectors must have total freedom
of access in Iraq –and be given access to information held by other states –
and have enough time to produce a comprehensive report for the United
Nations Security Council on the state of Iraqi compliance with resolution
1441. For there to be military action in Iraq there must be a specific
mandate in the form of a further United Nations Resolution based on clear
and compelling evidence presented by the Weapons Inspectors.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED
CROPS
On
Tuesday the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Community Care Committee
published their Report on the growing of GM crops. It is a very strong
report suggesting that safety procedures to ensure that public health is
being protected from the possible effects of GM crops are simply not in
place.
The Parliamentary Committee
considers that the approach of the Scottish Executive has not been as good
as it might have been and effectively calls for a moratorium on the planting
of GM crops in Scotland.
Bruce Crawford, MSP, the
SNP’s Shadow Minister for the Environment, said,
"The Executive must take
immediate action to bring these trials to an end until they can be proved to
be completely safe and no risk to public health.
We have argued that GM crops
contravene the ‘precautionary principle’ and that is the conclusion of the
Committee. They are not satisfied that the existing risk assessment
procedure is robust enough to assess all potential human health risks and
this strengthens our call for an immediate moratorium."
I hope that Ross Finnie, the
Executive Minister in charge of environmental matters, will spend some time
dealing with this Report. He really must take on board all the
recommendations and enforce a moratorium, at least until all the concerns
raised have been addressed. I wonder also about the global aspect of this
whole thing. If it’s not safe in Scotland, is it safe anywhere else in the
world?
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SCOTTISH
FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS
(if you have any suggestions on what you'd like us to include
email peter@scotsindependent.org
We near one of the major dates in the Scottish calendar which is enjoyed
by Scots, at home and abroad, the annual celebration of the birth of our
National Bard, Robert Burns, on 25 January 1759. At countless Burns
Suppers, worldwide, his life and work will be marked as 'The Immortal
Memory of Robert Burns' is proposed by a myriad of speakers. Available
within The Flag, under Features, is a splendid
Immortal Memory by one of
Scotland's finest orators, former Scottish National Party National
Chairman, James Halliday.
The first Burns Club was set up in Greenock in 1801 and the honour of the
first Burns Supper goes jointly to the Greenock Burns Club and a group of
the Bard's friends from Ayr who met in Alloway (his birthplace) in January
1802. These friends sat down to 'a comfortable dinner of which sheep's
head and Haggis formed an interesting part.' It is the first mention of
Haggis which is now regarded as an essential part of the meal at all Burns
Suppers. After all Robert Burns did write 'Address to the Haggis' which
you can also hear recited on The Flag.
At some Burns Suppers a sweet is included on the menu such as Tipsy Laird,
and that is the perfect recipe for this week in the run-up to the start of
the Burns season.
Tipsy Laird
Ingredients : 1 unfilled sponge roll; 1/4 lb apricot jam; 1 tablespoon
caster sugar; 1/2 pint Madeira; 1/2 gill Brandy; 1/2 gill Curacao; 1 oz
ratafias; 2 oz blanched almonds; 1 pint rich custard sauce; 1/2 pint
whipped cream
Cut the roll in 5 equal-thick slices crosswise. Remove top slice. Spread
one side of remaining slices with apricot jam. Stir the sugar into the
Madeira, then stir in Brandy and Cuacao. Place the ratafias flat in a
glass trifle dish. Lay the bottom slice of cake on top. Sprinkle with a
little of the wine. Build the cake together in this way until the cake is
finished and the wine is used. Spike with the almonds, split in two. Add 1
teaspoon vanilla essence to the custard. Pour custard round. If preferred
cover with custard before spiking with almonds. Decorate with 1/2 pint
whipped cream. Serves 5.
See our
Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs in our Features section
DATES IN
HISTORY
18 January 2002
A record £1 million fine imposed on multi national oil company BP for '
a gross dereliction of duties' at its Grangemouth plant. At Falkirk
Sheriff Court the company admitted two charges relating to breaches of
the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) that occurred on 7 and 10 June
2000.
19 January 825
Iona raided for second time by Norsemen.
21 January 1264
A son and heir, Prince Alexander, was born to Alexander III, King of
Scots, at Jedburgh.
See Dates in History in our
Features Section
SING
A SANG AT LEAST
(compiled by Peter D Wright)
"That I for poor auld
Scotland's sake
Some useful plan or book could make
Or sing a sang at least ........"
- Robert Burns
AY WAUKIN O
Robert Burns
Simmer 's a pleasant time,
Flowers of every colour;
The water rins o'er the heugh,
And I long for my true lover!
Chorus:
Ay waukin, Oh,
Waukin still and weary:
Sleep I can get nane,
For thinking on my Dearie. -
When I sleep I dream,
When I wauk I'm irie;
Sleep I can get nane,
For thinking on my Dearie. -
Ay waukin, Oh...
Lanely night comes on,
A' the lave are sleepin:
I think on my bonie lad,
And I bleer my een wi' greetin. -
Ay waukin, Oh...
Footnote : An old song which was rejuvenated by the master hand of
Robert Burns. The opening stanza is entirely his but he gave the rest of
the song a complete revision and new life.
See the
SING A SANG AT LEAST in our
features section
A KIST O
FERLIES
A Keek at the Guid Scots
Tung
By Peter & Marilyn Wright
(Note: All words underlined in
this section are RealAudio links)
Auld chuckie
Reekies sair distrest,
Down droops her ance weel burnish't crest,
Nae joy her bonie buskit nest
Can yield ava,
Her darling bird that she lo'es best,
Willie's awa !
COMPLETE POEM
Second Epistle to
Davie
by Robert Burns
See Scots Language in
our Features Section
for other poems, stories, songs, sayings, jokes and words in the Scots language
SCOT WIT
Enjoy a Scottish Joke every week and
listen to it as well
THE MONTHLY PRIZE
CROSSWORD
Each month the Scots Independent Newspaper
offers a prize crossword and we're now offering this online in the Flag in the Wind as
well. Should you complete the crossword by the deadline you can fax it over to
the SI and the first correct one opened on the closing date will win a £10.00 book token.
SI Prize Crossword No.
37 JANUARY 2003
[Click here to bring up the crosswords]
AND
AS WE CONTINUE...
If you read our first issue of The Flag in the Wind you will know that
this is a weekly Internet commentary on the Scottish political scene; if you desire
further erudition click on Archives.
SOME OF OUR FEATURE
SECTIONS....
About Us
Our mission is to fight for an Independent Scotland and to promote its history,
heritage and culture. Learn all about us here.
Events
A running event guide to what's on in Scotland.
The Scots Language
A great introduction to the Scots Language, produced by Peter and Marilyn Wright,
and added to each week both in text and RealAudio. Enjoy listening to words, poems and
stories told in a real Scots accent!
The Rebels Ceilidh Songbook
An excellent introduction to traditional songs from Scotland.
Sing A Sang At Least
Our collection of Scottish songs. A new song is added to the collection each week.
Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs
Enjoy our collections of recipes and our comments on them.
The Prize
Crossword
Each month the newspaper edition produces the Prize Crossword and you can now try it for
yourself with this online edition. We carry previous copies here as well.
Notable
Dates in History
Each week we add three new notable dates in history building this into an historic
timeline for Scottish history.
Features
Lots more stories, recipes, historical articles and even whole books are added here on a
regular basis.
The Oliver Brown Award
An annual award given to an outstanding Scot(s) each year. Also included picture
galleries from the annual lunch.
THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY
The Scots Independent Newspaper is independent of the Scottish
National Party, but we support the Party in its drive for Independence; while space
precludes us commenting on all the issues raised by the 35 MSPs, 5 MPS and 2 MEPs, also
the Party Office Bearers, we have provided a link to the SNP Website.
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
The above was the title of a book written in the early Fifties by John
MacDonald MacCormick, one of the founder members of the Scottish National Party in 1934.
The sub-title was "The Story of the National Movement in Scotland". His comment
in the book said "It is perhaps in the symbols which men use that their deepest
sentiments are most readily expressed. Flags as well as straws show which way the wind is
blowing". A fuller account appears under
Features.
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