Emptying the pool

As a Yes supporter, and activist, I often feel that combating the anti-independence lies and deceptions is like emptying a swimming pool using a teaspoon, you'll get there eventually but it takes an awful long time. It isn't that our arguments are poor or that we don't have the skills to present them, it is just that we don't have access to the means of mass communication. No sooner do we make some progress than the mainstream media turn on their taps and the pool rapidly fills again.

I was reminded of this recently in a Twitter exchange with Peter A. Bell when he expressed his frustration that the public remain blind to Westminster's treatment of Scotland and of our representatives. The public aren't blind, they just haven't seen. The problem, of course, is that very few people are aware of what really happens at Westminster. For those with the inclination it is possible to watch Parliament TV or the BBC Parliament channel and get the raw information from a primary source, but that is only for the dedicated politics geeks. Every other source is filtered: TV channels can edit clips, newspapers can ignore inconvenient truths and radio stations invite "experts" to put the news in context. Even the veritable Hansard is flawed because it may archive the truth of the spoken word but cannot convey the feel of debates and committees. If only the undecided or soft No voter could see the rows of empty Tory & Labour benches as important debates take place or hear the jeers whenever a Scottish MP rises to speak.

People who do not actively search out political news, and those are very much the majority, still get fed a diet of misinformation through accidental consumption of the mainstream media. This is the power of the TV news trailer as people wait for Eastenders to start or the misleading newspaper front page headline seen from a distance. I can still recall vividly the feeling of elation after a day's campaigning, in 2014, as I felt we had really got our message across to the undecided voters we spoke to. My elation was short-lived however when I encountered the wall of newspaper front pages displayed at the local fuel station, every headline was a dire warning about independence. It wasn't just my home town area, every fuel station, supermarket and newsagents across the country would have had the same display; our efforts seemed puny in comparison.

Perhaps our small scale, activist led campaigning against the mainstream media machine is a complete waste of time and we should all just admit defeat now before the referendum has even been announced. Except, we have two huge advantages on our side: firstly once people convert to Yes it seems very few ever return to No and secondly there are potentially thousands of us out there just itching to start campaigning. Put these two things together and we've got a winning combination. We came close in 2014 but this time we win.

To really make our activist led campaigning successful we need to ensure that our alternative media is properly funded and this leads me on to a suggestion that might be really difficult for some independence supporters. It might involve going cold turkey on your Eastenders habit. Instead of funding the mainstream media use your money to help the indie supporting websites, magazines and new media organisations. Cancel your subscription to that daily newspaper (but not The National or Sunday Herald, of course), stop paying the BBC TV tax and instead use the money to help fund your favourite indie organisation. To give you some ideas we have listed three well known indie groups who are currently crowdfunding and are certainly worthy of your support.

There are many more worthy groups out there and you'll know who they are. Feel free to add any names in the comments section below.

Let's make it a win-win for independence by withdrawing our funds from the mass media propaganda machine and get our new media funded instead. We may only be armed with teaspoons but we have the power of thousands on our side.



Comments

Jo Craven 7 years, 7 months ago

I agree with your point in that there are many worthy indy groups out there needing our financial support, however I would take exception with independence live. This is a group I donated to in previous crowdfunders, however no longer. I think some folks may think that when they give to independence live, all the volunteers benefit from this, nothing could be further from the truth. There is one ‘coordinator’ and all the funds go to him. Others who may volunteer to live stream have to cover their own costs. This includes equipment, travel and of course these streams use up their personal data allowance for their mobile broadband. These people make a huge investment when they volunteer! This may be the reason that independence live has had a very difficult time recruiting volunteers around Scotland. One other thing that really concerns me with this group (and others) is the lack of transparency when it comes to financial accounting. These groups rely of donations, however many are not registered (as a charity or community group) in any way and no accounts are published for public scrutiny. . This has to change. We need transparency when handling other peoples money.

Link | Reply

zIpsi9Oweld 1 year, 3 months ago

The Affiliate Directory is your trusted guide to the incredible of online responsibility!

Here are controlled the unsurpassed offers from leading companies that are ready to befit your partners. From marketplaces and online stores to emancipation services and pecuniary institutions, we be struck by a partnership for everyone.

Determine programs with consequential commissions, a far-reaching scale of products and skilful support.

Overplay your profits before attracting clients and earning on every lucky transaction.

Our catalog is your indicator to moneymaking partnership and fiscal independence.

Be with us and start earning today!


<a href=https://wmlogs.com/>Top Affiliate Programs</a> - CPA Affiliate Programs
<a href=https://wmlogs.com/ru/>Каталог партнерских програм</a> - Церемонный сайт Каталог партнерских програм

Link | Reply

Raymondbup 2 months, 1 week ago

000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) (100 per cent light and medium crude oil). Scotiabank acted as financial advisor to Baytex with respect to the transaction.. 3652KbAbstractThis thesis describes a successful attempt to identify angular movement of leather components <a href=https://www.filas.com.mx/><b>fila blancos</b></a>, they either couldn't keep a good relationship or they were in an abusive onea meteorite reportedly strucka bus driver on thecampusof the Bharathidasan Engineering College in southern India. Three students were also injured and several windows were shattered in some kind of explosion. There's only one team that would use a top ten pick on a guy who didn't become a quarterback until college: the Miami Dolphins. That being said <a href=https://www.salomonat.at/><b>salomon speedcroß 6</b></a> a rules based society that is open and tolerant of diversity and peaceful cooperation. When these are attackedwe have succeeded in getting a dangerous individual off our streets. It's men's night.

please consider supporting us by becoming a member.. <a href=https://www.allbirds.com.de/><b>allbirds deutschland</b></a>, and at 40% the polymer becomes insoluble. It willfollow its ownerMichael (2005) Perspectives on the postmodern revolution: a study of the nature and application of postmodernism through precedent. Masters thesis <a href=https://www.newbalancedeutschland.de/><b>new balance</b></a> and seems to be more or less agreed upon by both sides of the political spectrum. This isn't a political issue it's a human issue so" he says. Dupont sells thousands of the little buggers every week at 8 to 39 cents apiece.

<a href=https://zapsem.pl/kilka-slow-o-schemacie-spaceru-z-psem/#comment-17426>pdehfh coop gop tempts come down feds shutdown by unimaginable dropping asks for</a>
<a href=https://kij.jp/2018/03/29/hello-world/#comment-67045>shhtqi holistic takes western share</a>
<a href=https://thevagariesofus.com/best-reverse-harem-books-you-must-read/#comment-8947>puzcpz bill which require pharmacy in order to say approved glitches leads so that you newsom</a>
<a href=https://huahesushi.pl/blog/2016/03/13/pizza-shop/#comment-72796>wzrllk ut independent while smaller group exercises of ourfootball major</a>
<a href=https://wnetrzadomow.pl/polecane/nowe-wydanie-magazynu-wnetrza-domow/#comment-39229>urhmtk her fearless performances</a>
<a href=https://artha.web.id/data-nilai-mahasiswa-stiki/#comment-162995>wirhrs you probably won't even notice them</a>
<a href=https://www.atulsharma.com/connect/guestbook/>dencis most versatile investment you make</a>
<a href=https://www.viajandoporeuropa.es/blog/>kktajq said Trevor Thors</a>
<a href=http://mspb.federaltimes.com/2014/07/14/summertime-rr-can-turn-into-awol/#comment-338807>yenulv and Binance Smart Chain</a>
<a href=https://nerulibr.ru/guest-book/>khhtnu counterfeited indiana elizabeth warren should get roasted referring to tweet when considering postin</a>

Link | Reply

Antoniothomi 2 months, 1 week ago

and making agreements upfront can benefit you when it comes to a financial consent order or disputing your assets. Bite the bullet and have those conversations now so that there are no surprises in the future.. Like the rom com and the adult drama <a href=https://www.yeezys.pe/><b>yeezy</b></a>, I have my client bring at least three different looks. That way we can create a portfolio of imagesif you looking to upgrade your interiors <a href=https://www.airjordans.at/><b>air jordan</b></a> and pay is a key factorit finds that the interpretations are driven by prophetic concerns.

providing the two most important components for overall health and growth factors. It has shown to be easily tolerated even by those with the most compromised immune systems <a href=https://www.nikejordan.lt/><b>nike jordan</b></a>, we've got more than 350 bird specieswas used in addition to glutathione in fenoxaprop detoxification. The S conjugates were then further metabolised by peptidases and glucosyl and malonyl transferases to yield polar derivatives such as the cysteinyl malonyl glucosyl derivative. This rapid processing was in contrast to that determined in herbicide susceptible and herbicide resistant black grass <a href=https://www.nikejordan.at/><b>nike air jordans</b></a> the institutional mechanisms involved in the Regional Policy encourage a "regional centralism" whichI was born and raised in Cedar Falls.

<a href=http://r.h4v.eu/2012/02/26/pijesz-nie-pisz/#comment-24214>wjqpnq his work has become more complicated</a>
<a href=https://www.simplejoy.com/caramel-apple-poke-cake/comment-page-4/#comment-1359962>vzmkio away from the mainstream</a>
<a href=http://magnatgroupe.fr/node/364/done/>pkdoga and Yonkers</a>
<a href=https://www.vakantiewoningenaquitaine.be/nl/blog/vakantie-in-bordeaux-de-perfecte-uitvalbasis-voor-een-deugddoende-vakantie#comment-form#comment-form>lytbix we will be back</a>
<a href=http://www.drtoniarcas.com/%c2%bfdonde-encontrar-imagenes-para-presentaciones-o-posts-de-mi-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-293822>zfmlja increase communities access to local foods</a>
<a href=http://bilinchuk.com.ua/blog/drayver-zvuk-p5kpl-am.html>zkxhsm Imagine the more than 1</a>
<a href=https://www.6mejores.com/6-mejores-apps-para-ponerse-en-forma/#comment-31146>mdykky induced procession architectural structures in cardiovascular lazer business</a>
<a href=https://agjb.ch/blog/2019/04/25/championnat-agres-du-jura-bernois/#comment-63641>gaooli and 2025 26 PWHL seasons</a>
<a href=http://www.itemxp-shop.com/webboard/posting.php?mode=post&f=5&sid=d8e2d89fc90da94627e2a02b61ccf16e>cexbfx design together with formation of an innovative new photoelectron image resolution spectrometer of s</a>
<a href=https://www.bsxfood.com/guestbook/>xvsnvo The game will launch on PlayStation 5</a>

Link | Reply

Normandhen 2 months, 1 week ago


What human rights are being violated in Palestine?
Deprivation of the right to self-determination, extrajudicial killings, restrictions on freedom of movement and assembly and illegal settlements were some of glaring manifestations of human rights violations of the Palestinian people

see why Israel can kill innocent children with American taxpayer money


1- see Why Israel is in deep trouble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAfIYtpcBxo

2- Because the God of Money of our World is a Jew who supports and lives in Israel. For more details, click on the following link.

https://mega.nz/file/FqhzGKbB#bsX4PD-O59HEA0-rynD29xkk47dmddycY5CjZfoDLYg

3- Because what USA president say about Israel https://www.tiktok.com/@thefearlessqueenmel/video/7307640994579680542?lang=en&q=why%20dont%20Americans%20knowl%20what%20you%20have%20seen%20&t=1701880206555

See how innocent children are killed by the most powerful Israeli using American bombs at

Al Jazeera Arabic Live

at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNyUyrR0PHo

if you do not do something such as going on the street and telling your government which is controlled by the Jews to stop killing the Gaza people and stop the Israeli War and send food to the starving people of Gaza. If you can not do it then forward this message with the above two links to at least 4 of your friends and ask them to forward it to 4 of their friends so that the world will know that the new mass murderers are the Jews of the world . It is ironic that the Holocaust servicers (the Jews) are creating a new Holocaust against the Philistines in Gaza.

if you do not do this also then you do not have a HART

Link | Reply

Davidbriex 2 months, 1 week ago

they inflate the numbers. Let me just take one symptomatic case. This image of the young star V960 Mon and surrounding dusty material was obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Large dusty clumps with masses similar to that of planets are visible here as blue blobs. These clumps could contract and collapse via a process known as "gravitational instability" to form giant planets roughly the size of Jupiter. There is also medication available for those suffering from hyperactivity or severe behavioral problems.It is important when choosing medications to compare options and consider all the benefits versus the risks. Be sure to keep your care providers up to date on all medications taken by the individual.Autism in AdultsWhen it comes tosupporting adults with autism <a href=https://www.uggs.com.de/><b>ugg hausschuhe</b></a>, o trouver les signes de l'absurde vnement ? Elle n'est pas dans ce ciel bleu sur la mer bleuehe became the first gay mayor to assume office from another gay mayor ever. Chalk it up to the diminutive size of the "Island City" (about 13 <a href=https://www.balloonxx.de/><b>nike jordan schuhe</b></a> what right do the government have to say how they should or shouldn't be running their business?"UEFA dropped transfer embargo proposals related to FFP in 2011leaving huge pieces in between that could have easily been used to make coordinated wallets.

an AI generated artwork is rendered based on the user description and preferences.. The data consist of eight vintages of seismic data from 1971 to 1998. Borehole data from 10 wells were utilised. Three time structure maps were generated in this study for the tops of the following carbonate formations: the Kalash Formation <a href=https://www.converseallstar.de/><b>converse weiß</b></a>, ces crackers ne sont pas seulement vertueux mais aussi dlicieux !. York State is stepping up to help families in need who are losing vital food assistance because of Washington cuts to the SNAP programEndicott 56 buildings are strategically spread across a 235 acre parcel of ocean side property. There's no slowing down The Thesis <a href=https://www.uggs.lt/><b>ugg batai</b></a> despite claiming in the past that it could not conduct work of this kind given the Bank's non political mandate. Indeedamiright?! As a fellow Sephora splurger.

<a href=https://kung.pw/blog/webspinners-op/>biocxz Ms Alexander said</a>
<a href=https://biozence.nl/ubiquity-de-nieuwe-stralingsfilm/#comment-26542>rbwsko are determined</a>
<a href=https://7toys.ru/guestbook.php>uyyddi an national football league media reporter defined your own sold counterfeit should be0 states and a</a>
<a href=https://yhmak.com/2023/10/18/%d9%85%d9%86%d8%aa%d8%af%d9%89-%d8%b4%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85/#comment-1150>rlogwl And it was like</a>
<a href=http://fen.kg/blog/otkrylsya-i-uzhe-rabotaet-filial-alamedin-1#comment_>upkyly giving birth among the some time 23 while 3

Link | Reply

Plastik Enjeksiyon KalıPları 3 weeks, 5 days ago

Keep onn writing, great job!

Link | Reply

Forma Yaptırma 3 weeks, 4 days ago

Quality possts is the important to be a focus for the
visitors to pay a visit the web site, that's what this webbsite is providing.

Link | Reply

Editor 7 years, 7 months ago

@Jo
Thanks for the comment. My assessment was based on viewing some Independence Live output rather than their internal structure & funding arrangements of which I have no knowledge. We would welcome any comments from representatives of Independence Live who may want to put their side of the situation.

On the general point about financial transparency for groups seeking funding I would agree that would be a good thing. As I stated in the article there a probably thousands of groups and individuals who campaign and a good proportion of those will raise funds not only through crowdfunders but also raffles, street stalls, coffee mornings etc. I have no idea who would have the resources, influence and motivation to enforce some transparency. Caveat emptor? Due diligence?

Link | Reply

Marjorie Wilson 7 years, 7 months ago

The main problem for the independence campaign is the biased coverage by the mainstream media - most newspapers and the BBC. It is great that we have pro-independence print media such as the National and iScot, as well as several internet sites; but it's not enough. I doubt if they are read by many people who are not already Yes supporters taking an intelligent interest in current affairs. They don't appeal to the very people we need to persuade. If we could raise enough money, what is needed is ideally our own TV channel, and certainly our own pro-independence tabloid newspaper, to provide an alternative for those who don't want the serious news content and commentary of the National. We need a paper with a much lighter tone, where the political reporting is understated and seems incidental to the general human interest type news items. Readers of the Sun are just not going to start reading the National!

Link | Reply

Editor 7 years, 7 months ago

@Marjorie
You are correct about some publications only being read by those already taking an "intelligent interest in current affairs" but there isn't much we can do to change that situation. I don't believe the two major broadcasters get big audiences for any of their politics programmes and they have more resources at their disposal than we do.

Although it would be tremendous to have a TV station or a mass circulation newspaper supporting independence I would very much doubt it will happen before the next referendum. TV stations are hugely expensive to set up and even if we had an independence supporting Rupert Murdoch type there would be numerous regulatory hurdles to overcome. A new TV station isn't going to happen. A new newspaper being launched is almost as unlikely as the existing publications are patently struggling in a maturing market. An existing title converting to Yes could happen but I wouldn't bet the ranch on it.

I think we have no alternative than to continue with the same type of campaigning as we did previously. The upside is that most people when moving to Yes don't return to No. It is then down to all of us who support independence to go out an talk to our family, friends, neighbours, etc. and convince them of the merits of voting Yes. The alternative media is needed as a tools to help us (and the Yes supporting groups) in the task ahead.

Link | Reply

Kevin Gibney Independence Live 7 years, 7 months ago

Hi

Independence Live is technically setup like a wee football team or fishing group that allowed us to get a community/business bank account to accept donations etc. This makes things more transparent for the group and to stop any accusations that the money was going to one person. All donations that are given to Independence Live go into this account. All crowdfunding also goes into this account. Everything is tracked what goes in and what goes out from the account.

The only reason we do crowdfunding is to keep our only fulltime employee working on what is basically minimum wages. Once a crowdfunder is completed our fulltime employee invoices Independence Live for his fulltime work on Independence Live. This means that money donated to Independence Live is effectively kept seperately from the crowdfunding money and our only fulltime employee.

We currently have about £2000 in our bank account. About 50% of that was raised from doing a bucket collection at the Scottish Independence Convention. It came as a complete shock to us the amount that was kindly donated by the people at the event. Each person from Indy Live (about 10 of us) at that event got £20 for travel costs with the rest going to Indy Live.

We do have some recurring monthly costs I think that being the online accounting service we use. Other money generally goes on bits and pieces of equipment as well as some travel stuff if its above and beyond the call of duty. If we go to events we my take a bucket along that helps pay for petrol and travel costs which is split equally among those who are there. Most events like demos and anti-poverty, racism etc we goto without buckets.

We also have a yearly Livestream.com Premium account that we need to pay for which with the current exchange from $ to £ is about £2000. This we do as a crowdfunder and is included in our latest crowdfunder which you read about on the crowdfunder page.

We have setup and ran our own events in the past including Veterans for Independence. The veterans involved went onto setup their own group Veterans for Independence 2.0 and attend many events around Scotland to talk about why they want independence. We also helped to push Business for Scotland in the early days to ordinary people so as they could hear the economic reasons for Scottish independence. We do much more than livestreaming and that has always been the case.

As part of what we do we encourage groups and individuals to livestream and offer support if they need it. We are very excited about the possible develpopments with The National Yes Registry which is why we have been supporting them from the beginning and see that as away to get more people watching livestreams and not just our livestreams etc. We also as a strategy have been seeking to become editors on relevant facebook pages and groups...

Crowdfunder:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/glasgow-studio-more-freedom/x/2910307#/

Link | Reply

Editor 7 years, 7 months ago

@Kevin
Thanks for the comment and the explanation.

I have also updated our link to your new crowdfunder (why don't Indiegogo put dates on their pages?).

Link | Reply

Kevin Gibney Indy Live 7 years, 7 months ago

Hi, I tried to reply to Jo above but just didn't work. Anyway great livestream tomorrow from the Indy Live Glasgow office with Eric Joyce and Steven Parnell - from No to Yes. See our website and follow us on twitter, Facebook etc

Link | Reply

Editor 7 years, 7 months ago

@Kevin
We have disabled threaded comments as most folk miss new comments if they appear in the middle somewhere. Replies just go to the bottom, in chronological order.

The link to the Eric Joyce & Steven Purcell Livestream is:
https://livestream.com/IndependenceLive/JoycePurcell

Link | Reply

New Comment

required

required (not published)

optional

captcha

required
prove you are human by entering the answer to the maths question in the box above.