Climate & Environment Culture Wars Democracy Disability Rights Elections Human Rights Immigration Industry Israel-Gaza Labour Poverty Privilege Scotland Scottish Independence Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

Dreaming in Green by Val Waldron

Not a week goes by in Scottish politics when the decision to vote No in 2014 does not rear its ugly head. November 2023, the Scottish Broadcasting Company reports growing unrest south of the border. Massive crowds are gathering daily outside Westminster, demanding an end to Tory rule, following emergency legislation allowing the  General Election […]

Brian Finlay Connor Beaton Elections Holyrude Immigration Labour Ungagged Podcasts

Holyrude Ungagged – Season 6 Ep7

Host Brian Findlay @WeeSociologist with Kat Cary @Kat_Cary and Connor Beaton @cdbeaton. This week’s topic starters:- 1. Rutherglen & HW by-election, 2. Red Cross warns 28-day ‘move-on’ process is not enough time for asylum seekers to find new accommodation, 3. Not all Police Scotland officers have vetting files, 4. Unhinged content from the Tory Party […]

Human Rights Immigration International Media Mhairi Hunter Privilege Racial Justice Racism Ungagged Writing

Anonymity and Tragedy: why telling stories of the asylum seeker is so important by Mhairi Hunter

We knew their names, their faces, their stories. That made us feel connected to them. And that’s a key difference with coverage of refugees, who usually remain a nameless and faceless mass to us.   There has been much commentary in the past few days about the difference in media/public perception of the Titan tragedy […]

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Talking Sense Podcast – Season 3 – Episode 1

Kat and Erin return for Season 3 after a busy summer to talk about the cost-of-living crisis, the death of Mahsa Amini and protests in Iran, and anti-immigrant actions in politics worldwide. Further info Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/edinburghslaverycolonialism Glasgow Slavery Audit: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=29117 Iran: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/28/podcasts/the-daily/iran-protests-women.html Reverse Freedom Rides: https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/02/29/809740346/the-cruel-story-behind-the-reverse-freedom-rides Recommended Reading: https://www.versobooks.com/books/3785-abolition-geography

Brexit Campaigns Climate & Environment Democracy Elections Fascism Immigration Politics of Hate Scotland Scottish Independence Tory Party Trade Unions Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

As Close to Federalism As The Moon

If the federalism shills couldn’t see this coming, they really weren’t looking. This move essentially leaves Labour without even the pretence of argument for the reformable UK that we’ve been promised since 2014. We’re as close to federalism as we are to the moon, and thus concludes the centre ground arguments against independence.  Take time […]

Brexit Climate & Environment Conspiracy Theories Equality & Inclusion Fascism Human Rights Immigration Media Politics of Hate Scottish Independence Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

Bad Hair and Bad Faith by Val Waldron

Populism is all pervasive. It’s amusing…has bad hair and tin-foil hats. It has the Flat Earth Society, Covid Deniers and Chemtrails. It also radicalises people to think that transphobia is about women’s rights, that the pandemic is over, that vicious deportation policies are about targeting people smugglers, that the French and other foreigners are responsible […]