Building on our previous response to the Land Reform Consultation, a group of Scottish Friends with interest and expertise in land reform issues have collaborated on a response to the Call for Views on the new Land Reform Bill. 

While we were fully supportive of the intention of ending Scotland's highly concentrated pattern of land ownership, and ensuring that land is used in ways that respond to the climate and ecological crises that we face, overall we noted concerns that the Bill does not go far enough to generate real land reform.

General Meeting for Scotland has joined over 250+ humanitarian and human rights organizations in the global call to #StopSending Arms and arms transfers to Israel and Palestinian armed groups.  By clicking on the link you can read the statement and the list of signatories, which will continue to be updated online.

The climate crisis is a health crisis – and climate solutions are health solutions too!

Transforming domestic heating in Scotland

in autumn 2023 we submitted a response to a consultation on the proposed new Human Rights Bill, which you can see on the 'Rights' page under 'Actions'. This followed discernment by Friends on the issue of rights, and the consultation is part of a long process of working towards a Scottish Human Rights Bill. There are limits Scotland's legislative remit on rights, but we are watching this ongoing process with interest.

On 21 September a group of P7 children from Oakgrove school, led by Friend Mary Troup and accompanied by professional musicians, gave a wonderfully planned and executed performance of 'Wangari's Trees of Peace', the story of how one Kenyan woman's determination founded the green belt movement in Kenya. Educational professionals and MSPs alike were moved and inspired. With its core theme of 'Never give up' it was the perfect 'all singing all dancing' way to lay the foundation for our 'Peace at the Heart of Scottish Schools' exhibition the following week.