Letters / Islands but not insular
As the incoming co-convenor of, what Robert Smith sees as, the Orkney branch of the “anti-human cult” I thought I should respond to a few things arising from his ramblings which graced your letters page [see link below].
Maybe Robert was too feart to attend the hustings in Shetland (and Orkney) where his views would have been challenged.
We know all too well in Shetland and Orkney the damage caused by the ending of European freedom of movement resulting in staff shortages in every sector – particularly in care and hospitality.
Instead of Robert’s party wanting to freeze all ‘non-essential’ immigration, the Scottish Greens want an independent Scotland to retake our place in Europe allowing the flow of ideas and people to mutually enrich our societies.
In the face of changing weather patterns with rising seas and rapid global warming, Reform wants to row back from net zero. Instead, the Scottish Greens wish to move us to 100 per cent renewables (Shetland and Orkney are leading the way here), to restore our natural environment and enable a just transition away from fossil fuels.
Robert’s party stoke the culture wars as they aspire to make it harder for trans people to live with dignity. They want to replace the Equality Act which protects us all, and leave the European Convention on Human Rights – drafted by Churchill’s government as one of their noblest legacies.
Anyone fancy living in a land where Mr Farage and his ilk decide who is protected? As a gay man, that thought fills me with dread; instead, the Scottish Greens work for a society that values equality, human rights, and non-discrimination (hardly the acts of an anti-human cult!).
This week in your news website Robert pitted himself as an anti-globalist. The Scottish Greens are proud to be globalists!
Shetland and Orkney have always been places which are open to the world. We are islands but are not insular in our thinking. The support shown to Palestinians each week at the Lerwick vigils and the way in which many opened their homes to Ukrainian refugees shows we are open-hearted and open-minded communities.
Robert promotes policies which are damaging, divisive, and dangerous. Instead, I urge us all to vote like our future depends on it – because it does.
The Revd Andy Braunston
Incoming co-convenor
Orkney Greens
Harray
