Scotland’s Climate Targets

Last month, MSPs voted on scrapping Scotland’s climate targets, and legislation that will see Scotland move to using five year carbon budgets to set climate targets was passed. At this pivotal time Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coordinated an open letter to the First Minister, signed by over 70 organisations across Scotland, including Arran’s Eco Savvy, …

Arran by-election online hustings

A North Ayrshire Council seat has become vacant following the recent resignation of Councillor Timothy Billings. Following the nomination deadline on Monday, August 12th, the candidates have now been confirmed. They are: Charles Currie, Scottish Labour Party James Andrew McMaster, Independent Mackenzie Smith, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Matt Taylor, Scottish Liberal Democrats Carole Thomson, Reform …

Solar Energy, the global hunt for profits, farmers, communities. A two-part exploration and explanation.

“Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.” -Thomas Jefferson    PART TWO UNDERSTANDING BRITISH AGRICULTURE and GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES I needed to better understand British agriculture now, with solar energy and government priorities.  As a child in Wiltshire, I helped stook the sheaves …

No New Oil and Gas for a Liveable Future

By Mike Small, writing in Bella Caledonia, 29th August 2024. Featured image credit Anoop VS on Pexels.com Following the Supreme Court’s historic ruling in June in Sarah Finch’s case against an oil field in Surrey (see article in the Voice for Arran here) the UK Government has just this week, conceded that approving licences for …

Progress, Democracy, Power and Autocracy

By Sally Campbell The Election is done; we have, we hope a more “grown up” Prime Minister and Cabinet whose horizons are longer than a day, but who cautions us all about the time needed to get the UK back to a less divided society, with realistic goals over periods of time. In a society …

Who owns our future energy?

By Molly Scott Cato writing in The Ecologist 29th July 2024. Featured image credit Harry Cunningham on Pexels.com We need public ownership of British Energy – to lower bills and address the climate crisis Ed Miliband’s return as Energy Secretary is something we can all welcome. The lost opportunity of the past 14 years is a …

Climate Change and Future Government Action

To help engage a discussion on the environment prior to the general election this week, Arran Eco Savvy contacted all candidates standing for election in Arran and North Ayrshire with a series of questions concerning their party’s environmental policies and the plans they have for reducing carbon emission and for moving Scotland towards net zero. …

The Ministry of Imagination

Rob Hopkin publishes a Ministry of Imagination Manifesto as the world goes to the polls Written by Rob Hopkins, April 15th 2024, accessed at his website All image copyright Rob Hopkins. Download the Manifesto here This year, 49% of the world goes to the polls in 64 countries. As Time magazine puts it, “2024 is …

Election Time — What choices do we make?

In 1918, women were able to vote in general elections for the first time. The Representation of the People Act 1918 widened suffrage by abolishing practically all property qualifications for men and enfranchised women over 30 who met minimum property qualifications. My grandmother, widowed by the first world war with two small girls was one …

Scotland, the Climate and UK Law

Are our elected politicians responding to our priorities? “If Liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear” George Orwell This has been the wettest winter I can remember. The UK has just experienced the rainiest 18 month period. We know the sea is warming, …