Borders and Maps

Old Map of Europe with far fewer countries

The UN states – ‘peoples have the right to self-determination. There is no reason for a majority in a country to subjugate an unwilling minority. ‘The UN had 51 seats in 1945 and in 2017 now has 193. Change has been towards the smaller nation states.

The Kurds were divided up by Britain and France – as spoils of the Ottoman empire and the Provinces after WW1. This year both the Kurds and Catalonians were recently voting for their independence. Shockingly the Spanish government used brute force to try to prevent the Catalan vote. The BBC was not reporting on this either. The difference between a "made-up country" and an "authentic nation state" is that the real nation is like a centuries old tree with deep roots and many branches.  

A century ago a map of Europe in 1914 before WW1, there were far fewer countries in Europe – when three huge empires were shrunk in size - Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia. Germany had then included parts of Poland, France, Denmark, Belgium and Lithuania. 

Dutch tycoon Freddy Heineken in 1990 wrote of a ‘Eurotopia’ of small countries of between 10m and 5m.

In todays Internet world of fast media and connections and improved communications (radio, tv) and fast travel – and we don’t need centralized control anymore.

Do we need empires anymore? The direction of travel today is towards the smaller nation states in a bigger trading block and away from `empire building. 

Europe today with far more nation states

Excellent letter in the National - saying the difference in Catalonia is that they have control of their media, a truly devolved region unlike Scotland. Compared to the problem here in the '2014 Scottish Referendum' - when Westminster controlled all the media, all th print  press here and all the unionist parties too. What hope had we? I remember my son saying, how could we have self determination without any media? I met a Norwegian film maker in Edinburgh, and I was explaining to him that Scotland, unlike Norway, has no oil fund. He asked where did the money go - he may well ask!? I told him Shetland has an oil fund though...

http://www.maps-of-europe.net/old-maps-of-europe/

PS 

Is 'take back control' really about - take back control to Westminster from the devolved governments

Blue Rose Code Milngavie folk club

It was a thrill to hear this exciting Scottish talent

Ross charmed and beguiled us with his soul-filled voice and songs from his 2017 album, Water of Leith along with some of his best loved songs as fans filled the intimate MFC setting

He performed along with his quality band that included Andy Lucas on keys who also played the opening support, and is a strong singer songwriter in his own right, and with accomplished guitarist Wild Lyle Watt. Its encouraging to see such outstanding younger talent when so many on the folk circuit are not so young anymore and are well into their sixties.

SET

His set ranged from blues ballads Nashville Blues to the upbeat rhythms of One Day at a Time, and Ebb and Flow. He sang his older favourites – Rebecca O, One Day at a Time, In the morning, My Heart The Sun, Where the Westlin Winds do Carry Me, Silent Drums,

I was particularly impressed with his new songs, such as Passing Places, Sandaig, 

He sang his very moving interpretation of Davie Stewart’s Scotland Yet.

We were treated to top vocals on Edina, followed by an impassioned Child and a jazzy I am Grateful. And for his encore he sang a welcome version of John Martyn’s, ‘I don’t know about Evil I only want to know about love’. (Martyn’s renowned double bass player Danny Thompson played on BRC’s album the Ballads of Peckham Rye.)

He sang of the cries of freedom all along the west coast.

His sound mixes Celtic soul with smooth rhythms – clearly informed by the blues of Van Morrison and other guitar legends such as Paul Simon or John Martyn – and as he says left alone with some Motown records! No wonder I’m a fan then! (While I might also choose to hear a little of bob Dylan in there too.)

I first heard Ross on his previous sold out visit to the club last December and was heartily impressed with both his strong performance and music and also with the enthusiasm of the fans.  

I met him before the gig when we spoke of the legend Dick Gaughan, who has been unwell.

I thought of his chat between songs. He told stories of the songs he sung – of the injustices he wanted to shine lights on.  His "What You Do With What You'e Got, The Yew Tree and of course his Westlin Winds. 

Celtic Connections 2018 are holding a concert for Dick Gaughan.

https://bluerosecode.com

On his new album Water of Leith BRC is joined by Julie Fowli and Kathleen McInnes.

Ross’s voice enriched our souls and I’m grateful too for his gift of music! Ross sings of how to love, the soul of Scotia, how to reach new horizons. 

Irelands Road to Freedom

Act of Union between Ireland and England 1801.

Easter Rising 1916, Irish Free State.

Thirty Years of Troubles Northern Ireland with a great deal of violence  - 1960s – 1990s.

Northern Irish Peace Agreement - (1998) - The Good Friday Agreement Belfast April 1998. (Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta) –  Northern Ireland system of devolved government is based on the agreement - created a number of institutions between Northern Ireland and Ireland - and between the Ireland and the UK.  
It was clear to me, having Irish parents, that during the Brexit debates that no attention was paid to the Irish dilemma over the EU customs and trading union. Just like Scotland, Ireland was a mere after thought. No one in Ireland wants a return to a hard border – there are always nutters on either side just looking for an excuse. Why should Ireland give up its peace and prosperity? Ireland is crucially split on ancient religious grounds

Scotland too has opposite needs to England – our farming is mostly hill rather than arable; our fishing rather than cars is a major concern; we want to welcome young immigrant workers to grow our economy and support an older population; Scotland wants to pursue progressive socialist policies to work for a more socially inclusive nation – where England wants to be a low regulated, low wage economy like a new Singapore. (which is unacceptable for the EU).

AND on a personal note. My parents were from Co Down and Belfast and I visited there every summer from Scotland. I understand the deep divisions and problems there (unlike many London politicians). These divisions will not be easily healed. And I feel extremely angry at the thought that some feel a hard border is an answer there – just because of this crazy Brexit. Brexit is about looking backward.  While my husband's father came form Kilkenny in southern Ireland.

A hundred years ago Ireland embraced its rich heritage and culture – and developed its own identity again. Many had to die so Ireland could achieve self government. I hope Scotland can achieve this dream too – peacefully and through informed debate for a healthier partnership with its larger partner England. Scotland is often an after thought. 

England has pursued a policy of over-centralised government for more than a century, particularly during the wars and then complains of too many immigrants! By contrast European parliament encourages healthy regionalization and encouraging regional language. Why is wanting more local government against the national interest? In fact the UK is the most lop-sided geographically unbalanced major country in the world!

The great poet WB Yeats, was persuaded to write on the old Irish  songs, heritage and ballads, at the same time he lived in London and was before this part of the Anglo-Irish group who dominated Irish politics.

After the hangings of the Irish rebels in the Easter rising Yeats wrote -

his poem 'Easter 1916' 

I write it out in a verse -

MacDonagh and MacBride

And Connolly and Pearse

Now and in time to be,

Wherever green is worn,

Are changed, changed utterly: (YB Yeats)

The Northern Ireland peace process is often considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 Provisional Irish Republican Army ( IRA) ceasefire and the end of the violence Troubles, and the Good Friday Agreement 1998.

Issues relating to Sovereignty, civil and cultural rights, decommissioning of weapons, justice and policing. The agreement was approved by voters across the island of Ireland in two referendums held on 22 May 1998. The British-Irish Agreement came into force on 2 December 1999.  The DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) was the only major political group in Northern Ireland to oppose the Good Friday Agreement.

Ultimately between Scotland and England - a good partnership for trade, security, environment. and defence.. rather than control from Westminster

The European countries are committed firstly to Peace and Prosperity – any other consideration is secondary. Ireland exemplifies and tells us the real UK conflict. Also that harmful over centralization in the south east.

Why should Peace and Prosperity be sacrificed by Scotland, the EU or Ireland just to suit some backward looking Tory politicians we have not voted for?