Author: scotsvote

Scots Food Strategy: How Do We Access Locally-Grown, Affordable Food?

Discover your local community food strategy and get involved Why is it cheaper and easier for...

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We believe in real people focusing on real issues, honest conversations, real grassroots campaigning, and sharing what we really think within an open and fair democratic society.

Is our modern food system becoming a medical emerg

Is our modern food system becoming a medical emergency that we can no longer afford to ignore?

Click the link in our bio to discover your local community food strategy and how you can get involved!

The UK's latest national food strategy informs us that diet-related illness is one of the top three risk factors for dying of Covid-19.

According to the report, poor diet was responsible for one in seven deaths in the UK (90,000 a year) before the pandemic.

Compare that figure with traffic accidents (1,780 a year) and smoking (95,000 a year).

The virus is REVEALING the damage being done to our health by the modern food system.

How do we rebuild a food system that delivers safe, healthy, affordable food to everyone?

Better yet, how do we, the people, become the new OWNERS of our local community food systems?

Change is coming..

Click the link in our bio to discover your local community food strategy and how you can get involved!

#dietculture #dietlife #ukfood #ukfoods
#foodbanks #foodbank #communityfridge
#communityfairtrade #communityfarm
#communityfood #communityfoodbank
#communityfocused #scottishfood #scottishproduce #localfood #localfoods
#localproduce #localproducers #scotsvoteuk

Click the tags below to discover some of your councillors and MPs in Perth and Kinross and Dundee.

@baileyalasdair @xandermcdade @peter.barrett.9465 @petewishartmp @john_swinney_snp @cllralexander @cllrkhogali @cllrcaroline @dundeewestend @murdo_fraser

@perthandkinross @dundeecitycouncil

At the time of writing, climate change is once aga

At the time of writing, climate change is once again rearing it's ugly head and the UK is melting all previous temperature records with parts of the country recording their first ever 40 degree heatwaves.

Are you one of the estimated 6 million people living in areas exposed to extreme heat?

Check the link in the bio to discover more!

#scotsvoteuk #climatechangeawareness #heatwaveuk #heatmapuk #heatmap #extremeheat #risingtemperature

In the last 5 years, 40% of U.K farms were purchas

In the last 5 years, 40% of U.K farms were purchased by non-farming buyers. The U.K only produces 56% of its food, so what happens when that land becomes tied up in the confused high risk corporate gambling games? Where will you live? What will you eat?

LINKS TO ARTICLES:
Twitter @ scotsvote2

Scottish Housing News - Non-farming investors ‘playing an increasing role’ in Scotland’s rural land market - https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/scottish-land-commission-report-shows-scotlands-changing-rural-land-market

Farmers Weekly - Forestry and natural capital drive huge Scottish land demand - https://www.fwi.co.uk/business/markets-and-trends/land-markets/forestry-and-natural-capital-drive-huge-scottish-land-demand

The Courier - Non-Farming buyers and low supply drive up Scottish Land Prices - https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/farming/3190511/scottish-land-prices/

The Guardian - Cairngorms crofters: ‘We don’t follow a capitalist grow-grow-grow model’ - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/12/nature-is-interconnected-and-collaborative-and-our-business-is-too

The Scottish Government Report - Ambitious future for rural Scotland - https://www.gov.scot/news/ambitious-future-for-rural-scotland/

#scotsvoteuk #localelections2022 #localpolitics #scottishpolitics #scottishfarming #britishfarming #scottishfood #brexit #foodsecurityforall #foodsecurity #ukfood #foodsustainability #homegrownfood #locallygrown #organicfarms #organicfarmingpractices #organicfarmer #chemicalfreefarming

What was the point of a dramatic exit from the EU

What was the point of a dramatic exit from the EU when our food supply depends on imports?

The result is that the UK has had to navigate a global pandemic alone and without the support of the EU.

An isolated and vulnerable U.K. must now navigate a global food crisis while the UK government is yet to agree a post-BREXIT trade agreement.

Currently, in the UK, only 54% of the food we eat is produced in the UK. [source: Gov.uk/foodsecurityreport]

The UK imports 46% of the food it consumes which is made up of £48 billion of food, feed, and drink (FFD). 39% of which comes from four EU countries. [source: Gov.uk/foodsecurityreport]

£21.4 billion of UK food is exported. [source: Gov.uk/foodsecurityreport]

The Ukraine Crisis means German, French, and other EU wheat sources are at risk which means higher food prices for all of us.

Global food prices are rising dramatically.

Sugar +21.8
Cereals +69.5%
Meat +21.9%
Oils +137.5%
Dairy +47.1%
Food Price Index +58.5%
[source: https://graphics.reuters.com/UKRAINE-CRISIS/FOOD/zjvqkgomjvx/]

China's lockdowns and EU sanctions on Russia are also contributing to the blocking of food imports and further delays at shipping ports around the world are expected.

Sky-high fertiliser prices have farmers worldwide reducing planned harvests.

The fertiliser crisis is more worrying because it could inhibit food production in the rest of the world.

"If we don't solve the problem of fertiliser, we'll have a very serious problem of food supply next year", according to Chief economist for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

People on low-incomes are spending 48.8% of their wages on food and are most at risk of being pushed further into poverty. [source: https://graphics.reuters.com/UKRAINE-CRISIS/FOOD/zjvqkgomjvx/]

HOW DO WE GROW MORE OF WHAT WE EAT?
Learn more at scotsvote.uk

#scotsvoteuk #localelections2022 #localpolitics #scottishpolitics #scottishfarming #britishfarming #scottishfood #brexit #foodsecurityforall #foodsecurity #ukfood #foodsustainability #homegrownfood #locallygrown #organicfarms #organicfarmingpractices #organicfarmer #chemicalfreefarming
@thesnp @scotlibdems @scottishlabour @scottories @scottishgreenparty

Revolution or evolution? Young farmers have alread

Revolution or evolution? Young farmers have already begun to restore the health of the land, soil, and people who eat their organically grown, chemical-free food while the UK Government has yet to negotiate a post-BREXIT trade agreement. The world does not change, we do.

READ THE ARTICLE - The Regenerative Farm Working to Improve Soil Without Fertilisers - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/03/the-regenerative-farm-working-to-improve-soil-without-fertilisers

Learn more at scotsvote.uk

#scotsvoteuk #localelections2022 #localpolitics #scottishpolitics #scottishfarming #britishfarming #scottishfood #brexit #foodsecurityforall #foodsecurity #ukfood #foodsustainability #homegrownfood #locallygrown #organicfarms #organicfarmingpractices #organicfarmer #chemicalfreefarming

Did you know that Beekeepers within three kilometr

Did you know that Beekeepers within three kilometres of a Blairgowrie hive infected with American Foulbrood have been advised to step up their biosecurity against the disease?

According to Scottish Government Bee inspectors, this is the first finding of 'AFB' this year.

'AFB' is caused by a spore forming bacterium called, 'paenibacillus larvae.'

This stage of infection begins when food contaminated with spores are fed to larvae by the nurse bees.

'AFB' is very resistant to extremes of hot and cold, and to disinfectants.

The most common way in which Foulbrood transmits is through the Beekeeper moving frames of honey or using contaminated equipment.

Larvae that die from the disease do so from starvation as the bacteria feed on them.

All infected colonies are destroyed and the first stage is to burn the adult bees and brood combs, then the hives.

All equipment is steralised by scorching.

But why should we care? Simply stated, most fruits, berries, and vegetables grown as food for humans require pollinators.

Honey Bees are the primary pollinators that we depend on.

Any microorganism or poison that affects the health of a hive or that could cause colony collapse is of serious concern to local agriculture.

Pollinators improve crop quality and increase genetic diversity which produces food with nutritional value and various flavours.

By choosing to care about Bees and to farm without the use of poisonous pesticides (Glyphosate), we further protect ecosystems.

Crops that do not depend on animals for pollination but on the wind, like corn and potatoes, have doubled in production and make up a large part of the human diet.

But they do not provide the micronutrients that are needed.

The essential nutrients that are necessary in the human diet are found in plants that rely on animal pollinators.

For further reading, and if you want to learn more about American Foul Brood Disease, check out these articles:

1. American Foulbrood disease found in Blairgowrie bee hive - https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/20154265.american-foulbrood-disease-found-blairgowrie-bee-hive/

2. Foulbrood - https://britishbeevets.com/foulbrood/

#scotsvoteuk #americanfoulbrood

They were there for us. Will we be there for them?

They were there for us. Will we be there for them? How will the newly elected councils address the challenges of a rising cost of living that is outpacing wages?

Council workers deliver vital services such as educating children, caring for vulnerable people, cleaning and protecting our communities, and much more serving the people of Scotland.

Nobody who provides vital services to our communities should have to fight for fair and just wages.

READ THE ARTICLE - COPY/PASTE LINK OR CLICK IN OUR STORIES ^^^
link - https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/perth-kinross-council-staff-could-27103629/

#scotsvoteuk #localelections2022 #localpolitics #scottishpolitics #perthshirescotland #perthshire #blairgowrie #rattray #couparangus #alyth #meigle #perthandkinross #binman #binlady #binlorry #bincollection #fairpay #fairwages #livingwage #livingwageemployer #educators #cleaners #workers #lowincome

These are the questions that arise in our mind aft

These are the questions that arise in our mind after reading an article by The Guardian titled, "Hard-right Tories push to delay environmental land management scheme."
.
What are you thinking? What questions come to your mind?
.
Let us know.
.
Link to the article here or click the link in our stories - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/20/hard-right-tories-push-delay-environmental-land-management-scheme-brexit
.
#scotsvoteuk #localelections2022 #localpolitics #scottishpolitics #scottishfarming #britishfarming #scottishfood #brexit #foodsecurityforall #foodsecurity #ukfood #foodsustainability #homegrownfood #locallygrown #organicfarms #organicfarmingpractices #organicfarmer

You also can't eat what you don't grow. What was t

You also can't eat what you don't grow. What was the point of a dramatic exit from the EU when our food supply still depends on imports? Farmers are trying to plant what we need, but they're not getting all of the help they need. Winter will be here sooner than we think.

Below, you'll discover some articles that are full of information about the current situation regarding food security in Scotland and the UK.

Copy/paste the links or Google the title.

Article 1: The Three Fs: Why U.K. Farmers Fear The Soaring Cost of Fertiliser, Feed, and Fuel - https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/apr/10/uk-farmers-fear-fertiliser-fuel-feed-prices

Article 2: Brexit: Tonnes of beetroot left to rot as EU firms look elsewhere: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-61039876

Article 3: Britain’s fruit and veg farmers cut 2022 planting after widespread waste: https://www.ft.com/content/ee933d30-43fc-47ff-b00f-8e7b1c695516

Article 4: A global food crisis looms amid the war in Ukraine. But there's a way Canada can help: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/food-crisis-ukraine-canada-1.6390433

Article 5: Non-farming investors and low supply drive up Scottish land prices: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/4161125/scottish-land-prices/

Article 6: Back to the land: are young farmers the new starving artists?: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/17/young-farmers-millennials

#localelections2022 #scotsvoteuk #scottishfarming #scottishfarmer #youngfarmer #farminglife #britishfarming #perthshirescotland #perthscotland
#sharingiscaring❤️ #bame #womensvoices
#lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqtravelers #lgbtqcouple #blacklivesmatter #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis #universalcredit #scottishpolitics #scotlandvote #scotlandvotes #scottishelection #deafcommunity

The @perthandkinross council have elected their yo

The @perthandkinross council have elected their youngest ever Provost @xandermcdade (Independent councillor for Highland) on Wednesday 25th May and he will take over from Dennis Melloy of the Conservative Party who served as Provost for the last five years.

Congratulations, Xander.

Learn more at scotsvote.uk

#localelections2022 #scotsvoteuk #perthshirescotland #perthscotland #provost #lordprovost
#sharingiscaring❤️ #bame #womensvoices
#lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqtravelers #lgbtqcouple #blacklivesmatter #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis #universalcredit #scottishpolitics #scotlandvote #scotlandvotes #scottishelection #deafcommunity

@perthandkinross have elected their new (and young

@perthandkinross have elected their new (and youngest ever) Provost @xandermcdade and Deputy Provost Andrew Parrott.

The Bailies have also been elected from each political party to support the Provost for the next five years:

@scottishlabour = @baileyalasdair
.
@thesnp = @mikew1960
.
Independents = Rhona Brock
.
@scottories = @andychan818
.
@scotlibdems = None currently elected

Learn more at scotsvote.uk

#localelections2022 #scotsvoteuk #perthshirescotland #perthscotland #provost #lordprovost
#sharingiscaring❤️ #bame #womensvoices
#lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqtravelers #lgbtqcouple #blacklivesmatter #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis #universalcredit #scottishpolitics #scotlandvote #scotlandvotes #scottishelection #deafcommunity

This week saw Perth & Kinross Independent councill

This week saw Perth & Kinross Independent councillor for the Highland ward, @xandermcdade, be elected to serve the council as 'Provost.' While Dundee City Council SNP councillor, Bill Campbell, will take up the role of 'Lord Provost.'

< Here is a really simple guide on the origin of this title, specifically in Edinburgh.

Basically, a Lord Provost has the task of chairing your local council's meetings, representing the city at big events, and being the face of civic life in their respective council boundaries.

On November 15th, 2021, the Perth & Kinross Conservatives asked councillors to vote on the approval of restoring the title of 'LORD Provost.'

Perth's Provosts held the title for 300 years up until 1975 when it became the only city in Scotland to have it removed due to the formation of Tayside and Perth & Kinross.

The goal here, according to the Conservatives, was to enhance 'civic pride' in time for the 2022 Platinum Jubilee. They say it would enhance the status and standing of Perth as a city.

The Stone Of Destiny, a special stone that once crowned Scotland's Kings and Queens, was recently restored to it's home in Perthshire having spent many years on display in Edinburgh Castle. Because of this, the Conservatives believe this to be another logical reason to apply for the restoration.

The SNP were reportedly disappointed that they had not been presented with a chance to ask questions, understand the costs, and whether or not the title was for 'Perth' or 'Perth & Kinross.'

Xander McDade asked to move to the vote. Labour councillor, @baileyalasdair, seconded this procedural motion.

There were 22 votes in favour all coming from the Conservatives, Labour, and Independents to 18 votes against by the SNP and Liberal Democrats.

There was no amendment put forward and the motion to apply for the title of Lord Provost was approved.

[source of information of council meeting: Daily Record]

#scotsvoteuk #lordprovost #localelections2022 #dundeecity #dundeescotland #perthandkinross #perthshirescotland
#sharingiscaring❤️ #bame #womensvoices
#lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqtravelers #lgbtqcouple #blacklivesmatter #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis #universalcredit #scot

Elections to Dundee City Council were held on the

Elections to Dundee City Council were held on the 5 May 2022 as part of the 2022 Scottish local elections.

29 Councillors were elected from 8 multi-members electoral wards under the Single Transferable Vote electoral system.

We're sharing those results with you right here along with all other 32 council elections results to follow.

The election resulted in the SNP gaining a majority, winning 15 seats after gaining a seat from Labour in the West End.

Labour came second with no seat change from the last election, the Liberal Democrats gained two seats, rounding their total up to four.

The Conservatives fell to fourth place, losing two seats making Derek Scott, the group leader, the sole councillor elected to the council.

The sole Alba Party councillor, Alan Ross, who defected from the SNP, failed to retain his seat.

After the election, the SNP's Bill Campbell and Kevin Cordell were appointed Lord Provost and Deputy Lord Provost on 20 May 2022.

Learn more at scotsvote.uk

#localelections2022 #scotsvoteuk #dundeecity #dundeescotland
#sharingiscaring❤️ #bame #womensvoices
#lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqtravelers #lgbtqcouple #blacklivesmatter #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis #universalcredit #scottishpolitics #scotlandvote #scotlandvotes #scottishelection #deafcommunity

[Part Two] Elections to Perth & Kinross Council we

[Part Two] Elections to Perth & Kinross Council were held on the 5 May 2022 as part of the 2022 Scottish local elections.

40 Councillors were elected from 12 multi-members electoral wards under the Single Transferable Vote electoral system.

We're sharing those results with you right here, beginning with Perth & Kinross council.

We'll share all 32 council elections results.

Scottish Conservatives had run Perth and Kinross Council as a minority administration immediately prior to the election, with a previous coalition with the Scottish Liberal Democrats collapsing mid-way through the term.

Twelve incumbent Councillors, including two group leaders, decided not to seek re-election whilst others stood again but lost their seats.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) gained one seat to become the largest group on the council, Scottish Labour Party gained a second seat, the Scottish Liberal Democrats remained steady, whilst the Scottish Conservatives lost four seats.

The Scottish Green Party increased their vote-share but did not gain representation. Four Independent candidates were elected, largely in rural wards.

Following the declaration of the results on Friday 6 May 2022, talks began between the political groupings to determine who will be able to form an administration, which will result in posts such as Committee Conveners, the Council Leader, and the Provost being allocated.

The Conservative and LibDem groups will also need to appoint new group leaders.

Learn more at scotsvote.uk

#localelections2022 #scotsvoteuk #sharingiscaring #bame #womensvoices
#lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqtravelers #lgbtqcouple #blacklivesmatter #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis #universalcredit #scottishpolitics #scotlandvote #scotlandvotes #scottishelection #deafcommunity

Elections to @perthandkinross were held on the 5 M

Elections to @perthandkinross were held on the 5 May 2022 as part of the 2022 Scottish local elections. 40 Councillors were elected from 12 multi-members electoral wards under the Single Transferable Vote electoral system.

We're sharing those results with you right here, beginning with Perth & Kinross council. We'll share all 32 council elections results.

The Scottish Conservatives had run Perth and Kinross Council as a minority administration immediately prior to the election, with a previous coalition with the Scottish Liberal Democrats collapsing mid-way through the term. Twelve incumbent Councillors, including two group leaders, decided not to seek re-election whilst others stood again but lost their seats.

The Scottish National Party gained one seat to become the largest group on the council, Scottish Labour gained a second seat, the Scottish Liberal Democrats remained steady, whilst the Scottish Conservatives lost four seats. The @scottishgreenparty increased their vote-share but did not gain representation. Four Independent candidates were elected, largely in rural wards.

Following the declaration of the results on Friday 6 May 2022, talks began between the political groupings to determine who will be able to form an administration, which will result in posts such as Committee Conveners, the Council Leader, and the Provost being allocated. The Conservative and LibDem groups will also need to appoint new group leaders.

Learn more at scotsvote.uk

#localelections2022 #scotsvoteuk #sharingiscaring #bame #womensvoices
#lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqtravelers #lgbtqcouple #blacklivesmatter #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis #universalcredit #scottishpolitics #scotlandvote #scotlandvotes #scottishelection #deafcommunity

The Guardian recently wrote an article exploring w

The Guardian recently wrote an article exploring where the cost of living crisis originated and whether through their own complacency and carelessness, the UK Government have condemned more Britons to suffer and starve.

Read the full article here - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/11/the-guardian-view-on-the-cost-of-living-a-crisis-made-in-downing-street/

Learn more at scotsvote.uk

#scotsvoteuk #costoflivingcrisis #costofliving #foodcrisis #keyworker #keyworkersupport #scottishpolitics #ukpolitics #endpoverty #endhungernow #endhungeruk #singleparentlife #singleparentingishard #universalcredit #childsupport #workingclass

The Scottish Local Council Elections are over and

The Scottish Local Council Elections are over and we've seen the youngest councillor elected in Perth & Kinross, the first transgender councillor elected in Glasgow, and a very disappointing result for woman councillors with only 6 being elected across the 40 seats in Perth & Kinross.
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All this and more to come in our breakdown of the local elections coming soon.
.
Learn more at scotsvote.uk
.
#localelections2022 #scotsvoteuk

TURN UP. VOTE. Learn more about where your favour

TURN UP. VOTE.

Learn more about where your favourite party is sitting in the polls ahead of the #localelections2022 results.

LINKS:
BBC News - Where Do Parties Stand? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-61293281

BBC News - A Really Simple Guide To Council Elections - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-60764222

HAPPY VOTING! :)

Learn more at scotsvote.uk

#scotsvoteuk #sharingiscaring #bame #womensvoices
#lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqtravelers #lgbtqcouple #blacklivesmatter #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis #universalcredit #scottishpolitics #scotlandvote #scotlandvotes #scottishelection #deafcommunity

Your voice must be heard. Make sure you know how t

Your voice must be heard. Make sure you know how to vote in this years #localelections2022 on May 5th.

LEARN MORE ABOUT STV - https://www.scotsvote.uk/what-is-the-single-transferable-vote/#!/

#scotsvoteuk #CostOfLivingCrisis #sharingiscaring #bame #womensvoices
#lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqtravelers #lgbtqcouple #blacklivesmatter #costofliving #universalcredit #scottishpolitics #scotlandvote #scotlandvotes #scottishelection #deafcommunity

You can’t eat what you don’t grow. What was th

You can’t eat what you don’t grow. What was the point of a dramatic exit from the EU when our food supply still depends on imports? Farmers are trying to plant what we need, but they’re not getting all of the help they need. Winter will be here sooner than we think.

Learn more about the issues facing British farmers right now:

LINKS to further reading:
The Three Fs: Why UK Farmers Fear the Soaring Cost of Fertiliser, Feed, and Fuel - https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/apr/10/uk-farmers-fear-fertiliser-fuel-feed-prices

'Completely Contradictory': NFU Leader Attacks UK Farming Policy - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/22/completely-contradictory-nfu-leader-attacks-uks-farming-policy

Slashing Food Tariffs will not Fix the Cost of Living Crisis, Warns Farmers' Union -
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/apr/27/food-tariffs-uk-cost-of-living-crisis-farmers-union-import-taxes-inflation

#localelections2022 #scotsvoteuk #CostOfLivingCrisis #UKfarmers #scottishfarming

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