Author: Kate Samuels

  • What Happens Now Trump Has Won?

    What Happens Now Trump Has Won?

    The result of the US presidential election has left me, like many others in shock. Although election results can sometimes come as a surprise, I was, again like many others, firmly convinced Hillary Clinton would win. As the news sent shock waves throughout the world, political leaders reluctantly started to change their statements, many of…

  • Dungavel Detention Centre Closure – a New Beginning for Asylum Seekers in Scotland?

    Dungavel Detention Centre Closure – a New Beginning for Asylum Seekers in Scotland?

    You can tell a lot about a country by the way it treats asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected. Often these people are held like criminals with no rights, safety or a place to call home. In Germany those who do not leave voluntarily lose the right to visit the country in the future…

  • Scotland’s No to Brexit – the End of the United Kingdom?

    Scotland’s No to Brexit – the End of the United Kingdom?

    All was relatively calm in Scotland during the EU referendum campaign.  So shortly after the Scottish election, most of the political funding was spent; many students and activists felt they had done enough for the year. Of course, there was a Remain and Leave presence on the streets and the Scottish Greens had a distinct…

  • Thoughts on Campaigning in Scotland: Door Knocking as a Tool in the Fight Against Right-Wing Attitudes

    Thoughts on Campaigning in Scotland: Door Knocking as a Tool in the Fight Against Right-Wing Attitudes

    I have just returned home from 6 hours of leafleting.  A few days ago I did four hours of canvassing for the Scottish Green Party for the upcoming Scottish elections. Last week I knocked on doors for four or five hours to promote and discuss a tenants organisation I am helping to form, Living Rent,…

  • Xenophobia ─ How to Fight It

    Xenophobia ─ How to Fight It

    In our discussions in last year’s capacity building the subject of xenophobia came up. Xenophobia (here used in the sense of dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries) is part of the ideology of far right parties, directly or indirectly. An example of this is when Nigel Farage of UKIP claimed he would…