In 3 days time the people of Scotland will be voting in a referendum on whether Scotland should be an independent country. A year ago most people and the polls said the YES side (those wanting full independence) had not a hope, but a week ago the YES group went ahead in the polls for the first time. Now it seems as if it is going to be a very close call, on friday morning we will know what is Scotland’s destiny..
Im hoping Scotland will vote YES and with that, break away from the Union of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This democratically elected act would act as a catalyst to further political change in the “British Isles”… Perhaps soon we might see the statelet of “Northern Ireland” also leaving the UK and joining its southern chunk of landmass, the “Republic of Ireland” to form a United Ireland. Also, If Scotland votes yes, it prompts very interesting questions for Spain, will it lead to Catalunya and the Basque country leaving the Spanish union? To Britains democratic credit, at least they are allowing the Scots to make up their own minds on the matter, back in Spain there is no such openess with Madrid still forbiding the Catalans to carry out a similar referendum on the 9th of November. Interesting times in Europe.
A week ago (Saturday 6th September) the YES side edged ahead in the polls for the first time, following its continued rise… in the excellent documentary “Scotland Yet: a film about independence” one can see why this is the case… On the YES side an amazing culture is growing, including art, dialogue, dreaming and vision… it has opened up a collective dialogue about what sort of country the people really wish to live in. It seems to have been a spark, far more than what has been portrayed by the other side… It seems more people are swinging to YES, they have hope and have dropped fear, they are PARTICIPATING in the collective process… This is what democracy should be about, an open invitation for all to share in the processs of making the world they wish to live in… Great to see.
More and more of the radical / progressive groups from England, Ireland, Wales and further afield are also supporting YES, in the hope that if and when it happens, that the spirit of HOPE bursts beyond Scotland, that the passion takes hold in more communities, where normal people start to take control of their own lives and destiny… That they start to engage in the creative process of making spaces and systems that allows their dreams to shape the reality..
This is a very special time, perhaps even the end of a very dark chapter in British and European history, that of moving from the politics of fear and apathy to one of passion, creativity and hope….
Alba abu (come on scotland, in gaelic)
LINKS: Radical Independence Campaign – Yes Scotland – National Collective – Women for Independence – Srsp Alba – James Connolly Society – Celts for independence – Celtic Fans for Scottish Independence – Rangers Supporters for an Independent Scotland – English people for Scottish independence
TWITTER: #IndyRef #ScotlandYes #VoteYes #Scotland