Week Beginning Monday 8th May
2006
So, back into
Holyrood first thing Monday morning for the second day of the "Our
Voice on Europe" Youth Forum. Again, a super day with great
contributions from the 8 schools involved - interactive workshops on
"Engaging with the People" and "Scottish Engagement and Scottish
Identify in Europe", and my favourite when I had to chair the "Chat
Show" and get to be Dimbleby for a while - I'm sure Alyn Smith MEP
is going to get his own back on me at some point for directing so
many difficult questions to him! Much easer to be able to say
"answer the question please!" than actually have to answer it! I
found it interesting doing some straw-polling with the audience of
teenagers - whilst there was certainly a huge commitment to Europe
coming through in the questions/discussions and contributions when
it actually came to the straight votes on whether we should join the
Euro or open our borders as have other countries the response was
divided; as in our society generally I suspect.
The day closed with
contributions from each school - a view on how useful the two day
event had been, and their views on European integration in general.
These closing contributions were excellent, and I reproduce below
one which I thought was particularly well thought out - from Mintlaw
Academy in the North East, presented by Ailsa Wallace:-
"I would
like to take this opportunity of thanking the presiding officer and
his staff for their hard work and professionalism in
hosting this youth forum.
Along with my fellow students I have learnt a lot about the issues
affecting Europe. Most importantly we were impressed
by both the diversity in issues and similarity of ideas raised by
schools during debates. Therefore we consider
that engagement with Europe and European issues
could be catered for through an expanded Scottish
curriculum. This could be done through greater awareness of Europe
by the teaching of modern languages in primary
schools and greater focus on political citizenship and basic
European geography for young children going onto
secondary school. However at the moment the Scottish education
systems commitment to teaching two foreign
languages has been undermined by the decisions of the Scottish
executive.
Sometimes we become bogged down in individual issues
that we forget the overall vision why European nations decided to
work more closely in the first place.
Starting as an idea in the 1950's to control iron, steel and coal
production, Western Europe grew into an economic
community in the 1960's and 1970's. Today we
look forward to a wider vision of European state being able
to compete economically with countries such as the
USA and China. But there is also another
vision we should look forward to. The question was posed by one of
the speakers yesterday: "European Enlargement, where will it end?" I
say why should it stop! With the entry of Turkey our union
will border Syria and Iraq. We have the capacity
thereafter to foster both trade and cultural links, which will help
create indigenous Arab democracies.
Also, through fair trade, Europe can help create agricultural
expansion for Sub-Saharan Africa. We can therefore help to create
the industrial growth necessary for the
expansion of literacy, health and higher education which are needed
for a participatory democracy, that will allow African
states to thrive.
We Europeans helped create the first
participatory democracy in ancient Athens. We Europeans created the
first nation state in France. The first banking system in Holland.
Nor should we forget Scotland's contribution through the philosophy
of Hume and Economics of Adam Smith. Yet
this is a continent of contrasts. Yes we helped foster the art of
Leonardo, the music of Mozart and works of Molere and
Shakespeare. But, we are also the continent that created global
slavery, the mass destruction of non European peoples and cultures,
as well as genocide on an industrial scale in
the 20th century.
Over the centuries Europeans have conquered many
frontiers in politics, philosophy, the arts and even in sport. Now
we have the ability to conquer the last frontier-the human
frontiers, that divides individuals along
religious, ethnic and ideological boundaries.
These can be overcome gradually as long as the youth of Europe come
together and build a new world, not only based on
economic progress, but also reason,
integration and internationalism. Thankyou."
Whether we agree or
disagree with the sentiments expressed, we're surely proud of the
young people who think so deeply and thoughtfully about our
country's future. The language issue is a particular one I've been
probing the Scottish Government about, because I think our
commitment to modern languages (not just European) in this country -
at school and business level - is woeful, and I intend to use the
fact that unanimously our young contributors noted this to exert
further pressure.
Strathaven Academy
visited my office before going home - as one of them said
'absolutely whacked', but feeling that they really had made a useful
contribution over the two days. Well done to them:
Scottish Council for Development and Industry
reception in the evening, and then off home.
And so to Tuesday, and my first meeting of the
day with a Brazilian student who is going to be doing some voluntary
research work with me over the summer recess. Adriano has already
had placements in the European Parliament and in Westminster, doing
research on International Development and how this is administered
by different states across the world. Should make interesting
reading.
European and External Relations Committee in the
afternoon, with ongoing enquiry into the dispersal of structural
funds, and hearing from the Minister about how the Malawi/Scotland
Partnership is progressing. Things seem to be moving here, but I was
glad to hear that a database is being set up for all groups in
Scotland who have links with Malawi - one of the concerns I had when
I visited was that so many things seem to be going on that we are in
danger of duplication and not targetting properly. This does seem to
have been taken on board by all concerned, so that's good news.
A humorous moment at the start of the meeting
when I mischieviously asked Mr. Gallie of the Tories (an arch EU
critic) to lead us off in the European Anthem as it was Europe Day
(Beethoven's Ode to Joy). Mr. Gallie obliged by singing "Scots wha
hae"! And on the Official Report too - he just might get into
trouble from his Whip!
An extremely interesting experience for me on
Wednesday when I was a guest at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow for
lunch and an audience with President Bill Clinton (do former USA
presidents keep the title?). Fascinating to listen to him. I was a
fan of Clinton - purely biased as he was the first major Western
leader to speak out on behalf of East Timor while the atrocities of
Indonesia were being perpetrated on the population. On Wednesday he
was speaking about world poverty, globalisation and climate change -
no notes, but spoke with fluency and ease on subjects about which he
certainly came across as hugely knowledgeable. It was in answering
questions that he most impressed me though - I do know the old
saying that "if you can fake sincerity you've got it made", but I am
convinced that he spoke from the heart, both about his own
upbringing and his political regrets. I could have listened for
double the time or more.
Back to reality when I hit the desk and computer
back in my office on Wednesday evening - enjoyable time out is fine
but the work doesn't stop coming in, and a heavy day on Thursday.
Heavy day with the Chamber, catching up with work
and further meetings on structural funds etc., but certainly made
enjoyable when St. Patrick's Primary School, Primary 7 came to call.
What a smashing class that is - Calum and I were run ragged with
their questioning, on everything under the sun (even politics!). So
much so that I've agreed to go up to the school again in a couple of
weeks so that those which weren't answered before their bus turned
up, can be. They're doing a project on the parliament and boy-oh-boy
are they getting right into it! Some budding MSPs there too:
I know I say it over and over again, but our
schoolchildren who are growing up with the knowledge of how they can
influence what goes on in the world are our Nation's future.
A quick visit to the Royal College of Nurses
information session about School Nurses, a quick chat with the local
Red Cross representatives, and a show of support for the Students
demonstrating against the introduction that afternoon of variable
university fees for medical students (shame on the Labour/Lib-Dem
coalition), and then back to Strathaven for the Annual Fair Trade
Dinner in Mario's Trattoria. The Fair Trade Group is going from
strength to strength, (as is Mario's pasta), with new members and
loads of new ideas. It really is great how Strathaven has led the
way in Lanarkshire and Scotland on fair trade towns and schools.
Dashing around on Friday - students doing
dissertations, talking with constituents who need a bit of a help,
and dropping off raffle prizes for events which I was unfortunately
unable to attend over the weekend as I headed off to a pal's wedding
in Fife - all good luck to Pauline and Ali.
Linda Fabiani
17.5.06
Email Linda at
Linda.fabiani.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
