The News Where You Are
The News Where You Are as read by James Robertson, from the Bus Party (Kingskettle)
In 1997, William McIlvanney led a group of fellow artists on a bus tour round Scotland in the run up to the referendum on the Scottish Parliament. They were listening to local people’s views on the kind of Scotland they wanted to live in after the referendum, whether they were voting Yes or No. Now the bus is back, riding towards the referendum on September 18, asking the same question, “What kind of Scotland do you want?” Our “Listening Lugs” tour runs from May 24 to May 31.
As a non-partisan civic arts tour, we are listening to local communities in community centres, art centres, libraries, churches and book shops from Stromness to Stirling, opening up the conversation on the sort of society local communities want in music and song, poetry and readings from the artists on the bus.
A great initiative. Reminds me of the Omnibus for Direct Democracy (cf. ww.democracy-in-motion.eu and click on EN for the English version) which has been travelling backwards and forwards across the length and breadth of Europe for 12 years, spreading the idea that the popular sovereignty stated as a first principle in most European constitutions is not implemented in practice until the direct-democratic rights of initiative and referendum are guaranteed – as they are now in every German federal state, though not yet at the national level.
The website states: “The work of the OMNIBUS is grounded in the Extended Definition of Art, which,
oriented toward the essence of freedom, enables people to throw off the structures of outside domination”. The Omnibus is financed from the money it receives from the roughly 3,000 members of its sponsors’ association. It receives no money from government or business.
Bavaria is a great example of the impact the introduction of direct democracy can have on a society. Direct democracy was introduced into the state of Bavaria (via a citizens’ initiative) in October 1995. By the end of August 2010 there had been 1,694 citizens’ initiatives, 903 of which resulted in a referendum – clear evidence that when the people are given a chance to co-decide what kind of society they want to live in they grasp the opportunity with both hands. This is how real democracy (the people’s right to co-determine policy within what is still primarily a representative system) can unleash vast creative energies for the whole of society. I recall a Swedish parliamentarian at a conference on direct democracy admitting that in his experience the people come up with better solutions to problems than the professional politicians (no surprise there).
Now that was funny
From Stromness to Stirling. Such a pity people in the Borders didn’t get an opportunity to be part of it. We tend to be forgotten, but have a vote too.
Perhaps it’s via Selkirk?
Ah, major, I suspect there is a feeling us folk in the Borders are beyond help, in a no-mans land between Scotland proper and rUK.
A second leg of the Bus Party tour is scheduled for September, and the hope is to visit communities in Inverclyde, Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and Midlothian. However, this is not yet guaranteed to happen for various reasons – including finance, pressures of time and work, the amount of organisation required and so on. Whether it happens or not, you are not forgotten.
I saw the word poetry in the intro and got inspired.
Bruised Heads
Divide and conquer, it’s the English way
Then you are made to pay and pay
Pretty soon they’ll have the clothes off your back
Then will return for your shoes and your dacks
One thing is clear for it couldn’t be clearer
Your in the hands of an expert shearer
The Empire’s wealth from the many for the few
At this the English have earned their due
If Scotland can’t learn from historic example
Then on their heads they deserve a good trample
Great piece with really brilliant delivery! Have recently cancelled my Weekend FT sub due to poor Opinion pieces ex Iain Martin and Simon Schama on the Union
Have looked again at my BBC NEWS App in the light of this video……….just realised how many Scotland articles there are every day about crashes and violent crimes and how little about the current unprecedented level of public discourse and engagement around the Referendum
Some more free space on my machine for Bella and Aye! Talks…………….
Reblogged this on Are We Really Better Together? and commented:
The BBC news ‘where you are’.
classic bit of banter this is absolute quality