Changing Seasons | August Newsletter
Hey reader, It’s Evan back at you again with the next SYG newsletter!
It’s already been one month since the new committee took over from our predecessors. Does anyone else feel time flies by in summer?
Anyways please read on to find out what we’ve been up to and what’s to come!
GET INVOLVED
📅 Get your calendars ready 📅
March for trans equality.
🏳️🌈 We’ll be at the march for trans equality at the Edinburgh City Chambers, demanding our representatives take bolder action on trans equality. The march is on Monday 5th of September and starts at the City Chambers. The LGBTQ+ wings of the Scottish Greens, SNP, Scottish Labour and Scottish Lib Dems will all be marching. Please come along to show your support and march in solidarity for our trans and non-binary friends!
Fridays for Future march
🌍 Fridays for Future will be joining the Global Climate Strike in Edinburgh on Friday the 23rd of September. Loads of young people will be joining, from across Scotland, to demand further climate action from our leaders. Follow @fff_edinburgh on Instagram to sign up and for more info closer to the event.
Enough is Enough Rally
🚩 The enough is enough campaign is hosting a rally in Glasgow to demand more action to support workers during this cost of living crisis. The rally is also supported by the union Living Rent. The rally will be held on Wednesday 7th of July at 7pm at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow and you can register for free here. Plus, I’m sure if you come along you’ll be able to meet some of our SYG committee, so don’t be afraid to say hi!
UPDATES
❗ What’s been going on? ❗
✨ It was our one year anniversary of being in the Scottish Government this month and with four more years to go, think of all the progress in Scotland we’ll make!
📜 Our Green MSP Gillian Mackay’s consultation on Buffer Zones received over 1200 responses! SYG fully supports Gillian’s bill and are very excited to see her work come into law!
💚 We also have a written update from our welfare officer Harry Quinn. “Hello all, a warm welcome to this months newsletter. As this years Welfare Officer I’ll be busy making SYG a safe and welcoming place for all. If you have any welfare concerns or want to chat about wellbeing in general as a member of SYG please drop me a line on Slack or by email at welfare.syg@scottishgreens.org.uk. A lot of us will be starting/returning to education this month which can be a stressful time. The cost of living crisis will be affecting us all in different ways too, so please reach out for a neutral and friendly SYG face such as mine if you wish. I have some plans for the year to make welfare and wellbeing more accessible so stay tuned! Harry”.
WE HEREBY STAN…
📢 Shout-outs for seriously fantastic folk
The shoutout for the month of August goes to our very own ordinary member of the SYG council Stewart Rooney (@_stewart04) for his work on reviving the Scottish Greens University of Glasgow society and setting up an interim committee. We have set up a Slack channel for the society so make sure to join if you’re a member. So exciting to see another uni get the Greens society experience!
OPPORTUNITIES ‘N THAT
Represent, consult, write!
⚡ Join Sustainable Futures Energy Forum
The think tank and independent charity Sustainability First are inviting 18-25 year olds to learn about our energy and share their views and ideas to help shape Ofgem’s approach to energy decision-making. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our energy system as well as getting your perspective across to those in charge. You can find out more here!
🗳️ Support Benni in the Italian elections
The FYEG co-spokesperson, Benedetta Scuderi, is running in the Italian parliamentary elections and with YOUR help, she could win a seat! If you want Europe to be Green, feminist and inclusive place to visit and live in, then please fill out this form to find out ways to support Benni. We wish Benni the absolute best in her campaign!
✏️ Another Call for Green writers
FYEG are once again looking for contributions for their magazine Ecosprinter. You can check out their open call on their website here. Below, Hannah O’Sullivan - who sits on the editorial board of the magazine - outlines what this issue’s theme is and how to get in touch. Thank you Hannah for the submission!
“Ecosprinter (the publication of FYEG) are looking for contributors for their online magazine. You can use any format you want (review, interview, essay etc.) about something which affects your local community or the whole country!
To get in touch, you can drop us an email (ecosprinter@gmail.com) or dm us on Twitter or Instagram. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have!”
GOOD NEWS!
To brighten up your day ☀️
This month the Inflation Reduction Act was passed in the US Congress. The bill featured record funding for fighting climate change and reducing emissions. Now, with hope the Republicans will fail to take control of the two chambers, a sense of relief as the US, a global superpower which has been desperately lagging behind on climate action, may finally be catching up.
Thanks for reading! I hope you’re looking forward to the next newsletter as it’ll be the first autumn newsletter (my favorite season), Virgo season, jumper and Docs wearing season and my birthday. I will truly be at my most powerful while writing!
Until then, have a great September.
Evan Macdonald (he/him)
SYG Membership Officer 2022-23
@EvanFM03
