That the Parliament welcomes the reopening of the West Highland Line; notes that the line was reopened ahead of schedule; understands that engineers have repaired and installed additional protections on an 80-metre stretch of railway at Lochailort, after flash flooding washed away a large section of the railway; recognises that this work was carried out under difficult circumstances, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and thanks Network Rail’s engineers, staff and the contractors, QTS and Story, for their efforts.
Current Status:
That the Parliament welcomes the reopening of the West Highland Line; notes that the line was reopened ahead of schedule; understands that engineers have repaired and installed additional protections on an 80-metre stretch of railway at Lochailort, after flash flooding washed away a large section of the railway; recognises that this work was carried out under difficult circumstances, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and thanks Network Rail’s engineers, staff and the contractors, QTS and Story, for their efforts.
Supported by: Liam McArthur, Bill Kidd, Patrick Harvie, Stuart McMillan, Sandra White, Kenneth Gibson, Stewart Stevenson, Lewis Macdonald, Edward Mountain, John Mason, Elaine Smith, Gil Paterson
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That the Parliament congratulates Stevie Ross, who is the Controller of Inverness Bus Station, on reaching the final of the 2020 Scottish Transport Awards after being nominated in the Frontline Employee of the Year category, recognises Stevie's hard work and dedication to his role; thanks all frontline public transport workers for their tireless efforts, and wishes Stevie all the best for the final.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates Stevie Ross, who is the Controller of Inverness Bus Station, on reaching the final of the 2020 Scottish Transport Awards after being nominated in the Frontline Employee of the Year category, recognises Stevie's hard work and dedication to his role; thanks all frontline public transport workers for their tireless efforts, and wishes Stevie all the best for the final.
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That the Parliament welcomes Fiji becoming the 39th state to ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which prohibits their development, testing, production, acquisition, stockpiling and use; understands that the Fijian soldiers who participated in British nuclear weapons tests in the 1950s received no support or compensation from the UK until 2015; notes that 50 states are required to ratify the treaty for it to become legally binding; thanks the tireless work of campaigners and activists to encourage states to ratification since its adoption by the UN in 2017, and hopes that the world will soon be finally and completely rid of nuclear arms.
Current Status:
That the Parliament welcomes Fiji becoming the 39th state to ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which prohibits their development, testing, production, acquisition, stockpiling and use; understands that the Fijian soldiers who participated in British nuclear weapons tests in the 1950s received no support or compensation from the UK until 2015; notes that 50 states are required to ratify the treaty for it to become legally binding; thanks the tireless work of campaigners and activists to encourage states to ratification since its adoption by the UN in 2017, and hopes that the world will soon be finally and completely rid of nuclear arms.
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That the Parliament understands that refugees in reception and identification centres on the Aegean islands are being held in overcrowded and inhumane conditions; believes that there have been severe restrictions placed on the movement of those in the centres during the COVID-19 pandemic; understands that, despite lifting restrictions in other parts of society, the Greek Government has extended the restrictions on refugees; calls on the UK Government to assist in the urgent resettlement of refugees held on the islands; asks that the UK Government also allows Scottish local authorities to take people held in these camps, and supports the right to family reunification in the UK for unaccompanied minors.
Current Status:
That the Parliament understands that refugees in reception and identification centres on the Aegean islands are being held in overcrowded and inhumane conditions; believes that there have been severe restrictions placed on the movement of those in the centres during the COVID-19 pandemic; understands that, despite lifting restrictions in other parts of society, the Greek Government has extended the restrictions on refugees; calls on the UK Government to assist in the urgent resettlement of refugees held on the islands; asks that the UK Government also allows Scottish local authorities to take people held in these camps, and supports the right to family reunification in the UK for unaccompanied minors.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Alex Neil, Stuart McMillan, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Stewart Stevenson, Pauline McNeill, Gil Paterson, Gail Ross, Rona Mackay, Daniel Johnson, Alex Rowley, Patrick Harvie, Andy Wightman, Alison Johnstone
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That the Parliament supports Shetland Staands Wi Black Lives Matter’s campaign to end the use of so-called blackface at Up Helly Aa, understands that blackface is part of a long history of oppression and dehumanisation against black people, welcomes the assurances from some Up Helly Aa committees that blackface will not be tolerated, calls on other committees to follow this example, and believes that blackface should have no place in modern society.
Current Status:
That the Parliament supports Shetland Staands Wi Black Lives Matter’s campaign to end the use of so-called blackface at Up Helly Aa, understands that blackface is part of a long history of oppression and dehumanisation against black people, welcomes the assurances from some Up Helly Aa committees that blackface will not be tolerated, calls on other committees to follow this example, and believes that blackface should have no place in modern society.
Supported by: Mark Ruskell, Patrick Harvie, Stuart McMillan, Ross Greer, Richard Lyle, Rona Mackay, Mark McDonald, Andy Wightman, Gil Paterson, Beatrice Wishart, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Stewart Stevenson, Alison Johnstone, Maureen Watt, Rhoda Grant, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Clare Adamson, Alex Cole-Hamilton
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That the Parliament remembers the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests; understands that, on the night of 3 June 1989, the Chinese military opened fire at unarmed student-led protestors around the square, clearing it by dawn; further understands that, although there has never been any independently-verified death toll, the then British ambassador to China estimated that at least 10,000 people were killed as a result of the protests and subsequent crackdown; acknowledges that friends and families of victims are still demanding an explanation from the Chinese Government for what happened; believes that activists who wish to commemorate those killed are at risk of being threatened, harassed and detained by the Chinese authorities; notes calls from Amnesty International for China to publicly acknowledge what it sees as the human rights violations that occurred, and for it to launch an open and independent inquiry to hold those responsible for the events accountable; further notes what it believes to be the Chinese authorities’ ongoing attempts to erode human rights protections in Hong Kong and what it sees as the frequent use of excessive force against protestors there; understands that authorities in Hong Kong have banned the annual commemoration of the Tiananmen Square protests, and calls on all governments to recognise citizens’ right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Current Status:
That the Parliament remembers the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests; understands that, on the night of 3 June 1989, the Chinese military opened fire at unarmed student-led protestors around the square, clearing it by dawn; further understands that, although there has never been any independently-verified death toll, the then British ambassador to China estimated that at least 10,000 people were killed as a result of the protests and subsequent crackdown; acknowledges that friends and families of victims are still demanding an explanation from the Chinese Government for what happened; believes that activists who wish to commemorate those killed are at risk of being threatened, harassed and detained by the Chinese authorities; notes calls from Amnesty International for China to publicly acknowledge what it sees as the human rights violations that occurred, and for it to launch an open and independent inquiry to hold those responsible for the events accountable; further notes what it believes to be the Chinese authorities’ ongoing attempts to erode human rights protections in Hong Kong and what it sees as the frequent use of excessive force against protestors there; understands that authorities in Hong Kong have banned the annual commemoration of the Tiananmen Square protests, and calls on all governments to recognise citizens’ right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Bill Kidd, Andy Wightman, Mark Ruskell, John Mason, Sandra White, David Torrance, Kenneth Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Patrick Harvie, Pauline McNeill, Ross Greer, Fulton MacGregor, Clare Adamson, Angela Constance, Elaine Smith
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That the Parliament thanks the Uist children who have participated in befriending networks during lockdown; understands that pupils from Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath, Sgoil Bhaile a' Mhanaich, Sgoil an Iochdair and Sgoil Dhalabroig were encouraged to write letters to people living in care homes as part of the National Literacy Trust Dear New Friend initiative; recognises that schools also wrote to established befriending networks in Uist; notes that letters have been written in both Gaelic and English, ensuring that correspondence can be read in the recipients' mother tongue, and welcomes the compassion and community spirit shown by Uist’s young people.
Current Status:
That the Parliament thanks the Uist children who have participated in befriending networks during lockdown; understands that pupils from Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath, Sgoil Bhaile a' Mhanaich, Sgoil an Iochdair and Sgoil Dhalabroig were encouraged to write letters to people living in care homes as part of the National Literacy Trust Dear New Friend initiative; recognises that schools also wrote to established befriending networks in Uist; notes that letters have been written in both Gaelic and English, ensuring that correspondence can be read in the recipients' mother tongue, and welcomes the compassion and community spirit shown by Uist’s young people.
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Clare Adamson
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That the Parliament congratulates the Oban-based marine scientist, Bhavani Narayanaswamy, on being awarded a professorship at the University of the Highlands and Islands; understands that Professor Narayanaswamy’s research has played a key role in exploring the important issue of microplastics in the world's oceans; notes that she also volunteers as a STEM ambassador, promoting the sciences to local schoolchildren; thanks Professor Narayanaswamy for her work to date, and wishes her the very best for the future.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates the Oban-based marine scientist, Bhavani Narayanaswamy, on being awarded a professorship at the University of the Highlands and Islands; understands that Professor Narayanaswamy’s research has played a key role in exploring the important issue of microplastics in the world's oceans; notes that she also volunteers as a STEM ambassador, promoting the sciences to local schoolchildren; thanks Professor Narayanaswamy for her work to date, and wishes her the very best for the future.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Bill Kidd, David Torrance, Stewart Stevenson, Tom Arthur, Angela Constance, Gail Ross, Clare Adamson, Ruth Maguire
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That the Parliament welcomes the publication of Hands off Press Freedom, the annual report by the partner organisations in the Council of Europe Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists; is concerned by the rise in violent attacks on journalists highlighted in the report and by its claim of moves in some European countries to undermine the ability of journalists to protect the anonymity of their sources; believes that a functioning free press is vital to protecting democracy, and thanks journalists for continuing to carry out their work in the face of intimidation.
Current Status:
That the Parliament welcomes the publication of Hands off Press Freedom, the annual report by the partner organisations in the Council of Europe Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists; is concerned by the rise in violent attacks on journalists highlighted in the report and by its claim of moves in some European countries to undermine the ability of journalists to protect the anonymity of their sources; believes that a functioning free press is vital to protecting democracy, and thanks journalists for continuing to carry out their work in the face of intimidation.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Rona Mackay, Stewart Stevenson, Bill Kidd, David Torrance, Andy Wightman, Neil Findlay, Annabelle Ewing, Clare Adamson, Tom Arthur, Ruth Maguire
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That the Parliament commends the efforts of Inverness Caledonian Thistle on its recently-announced TogetherNess programme, which asks fans and businesses to donate food and household items that the club will then redistribute to its older season ticket holders; applauds Nairn County, which has also launched a similar initiative, and believes that this community mindedness being demonstrated by both clubs is invaluable during the COVID-19 crisis.
Current Status:
That the Parliament commends the efforts of Inverness Caledonian Thistle on its recently-announced TogetherNess programme, which asks fans and businesses to donate food and household items that the club will then redistribute to its older season ticket holders; applauds Nairn County, which has also launched a similar initiative, and believes that this community mindedness being demonstrated by both clubs is invaluable during the COVID-19 crisis.
Supported by: Rona Mackay, Bill Kidd, Edward Mountain, Mark McDonald, Kenneth Gibson, Richard Lyle, Stewart Stevenson, Stuart McMillan, David Torrance, Sandra White, Fulton MacGregor, Ruth Maguire, Clare Adamson
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