Parliamentary Contact details:

Rob Gibson MSP, Room 4.06, The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh, EH99 1SP

Telephone: 0131 348 5726 
Fax: 0131 348 5943

rob.gibson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Regional Office 
Rob Gibson MSP
4 Grant Street, Wick, Caithness, KW1 5AY  

Telephone 01955 605 016  

Fax  01955 604 963

For more from Rob read his blog here

Carbon routes to Copenhagen – and beyond 19/12/09

Reflections by Rob Gibson MSP as an observer of the missed chances at COP15.

Glenn Campbell on BBC Newsnicht tried to belittle any part Scots participants might play in Copenhagen ahead of the UN Climate Change Summit. I retorted that if it brought the biggest polluters the USA, China, India and Brazil to the table that would be a first. I also pointed out that Scotland’s world leading targets gave us every incentive to develop our huge renewable energy potential without delay despite Scotland’s pitch at Copenhagen being sidelined by UK Labour for petty parochial reasons.

Scottish media coverage took the same disparaging tone of the Scottish government presence. Sour comments in the press followed the pledge by Green co-leader MSP Patrick Harvie to pay out of pocket extra costs to take the train the Danish capital. I was a late sub for my colleague Shirley Anne Somerville. So Cathy Peattie and I along with our Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change TICC committee clerk Alastair Macfie used more CO2 to fly on Sunday 13 December from Edinburgh to Amsterdam thence to Copenhagen as that was ‘cheaper’. Of course a direct flight would have saved some more GHG emissions and anyway trains were overbooked. Also we did have the party whip awaiting our return unlike Patrick.

The transport system in Denmark is a joy. A 20 minute journey by comfortable electric trains runs every 25 minutes between Copenhagen airport and Malmö in Sweden where our hotel was booked. The UN had block-booked five night stays for all accommodation. We could only stay three, but the Parliament still had to pay for five!

Rob meets with Argentinean Farmers during a "reflection" session in Copenhagen

Monday 14 December

Malmö centre is a haven of pedestrian and cycle friendly old streets with old Swedish gothic kirks next to swish shops. Bicycle parking is huge. The rail station packed with frequent trains hugely well used in this university town.

On retracing our rail trip to ?restad and one Metro stop to the Bella Centre the scale of our problems emerged seen from high above the surrounding streets. Near stationary crowds queued all day in the hope of accreditation. It soon emerged that the queue for entry to the UN summit premises was even longer! We took our place and stuck it for 20 freezing minutes while engaging with would-be observers. Graeme Cook decided to queue on.

Richard Dixon of WWF Scotland approached us and described the near impossibility of access. We decided to walk back to ?restad and cut our losses by Metro to Islands Brygge where the Scottish Low Carbon Mission events were held in a bright and cheery gallery complex or Koncersal named after a living Danish artist Mogens Dahl.

Friends asked me before we left Edinburgh what we might hope to achieve. In my view whatever international contacts I could make in Copenhagen would strengthen understanding of Scotland’s world-leading climate busting law. In tandem I would seek as much direct communication with activists from other lands to cement ways to cooperate whatever the outcome of the UN summit talks.

The Scottish Mission Day proved an inspiration. We rubbed shoulders and ideas with dozens of British Council climate champions from a slew of countries, with the Edinburgh University Climate Masters, students from a another dozen lands. Stand out moments included these student speakers’ abilities and enthusiasm. Each of them dispelled our ifs and buts. Above all Mary Robinson, former Irish President and UN human rights commissioner cut to the quick.

The painstaking document building of the past two years had just been trashed in the Bella Centre. Her theme of climate justice: engaging wider society was heart rending. Some 39 references to gender issues had been painfully negotiated into the first draft. After all 70% of small farmers in developing countries are women. How could they cope if Africa is allowed to fry? Prof Alan Miller chairing the session apologized that no other women appeared on the panel!

At the snack lunch and pre-dinner reception I talked with a young Uzbek climate champion Guzal Sultankhodjayeva. Her mission was education with a sustainable edge. A Swedish professional Kaj Wôgdahl works in climate-proofing buildings and he shared some thoughts on the complacency of the Swedish government. It could consult the Scots Government to refresh its targets. I made domestic contacts too and considered it profitable start. A key stunt [according to The Guardian later in the week] was the 20-20 Malt Whisky brought from Scotland. At 42° proof it neatly set out our reduction target. Also present in a kilt was Michael Marra of Stop Climate Change Chaos Scotland. We were determined to highlight the Scottish ambitions as visually as possible.

During the evening reception a frozen Graeme Cook arrived after seven frustrating food and drink-free hours in the queue to get in touching distance of accreditation. He determined to get up at 5 next morning and try again. Indeed he was to succeed. Patrick did the same later in the day and he too got his burgundy lanyard and yellow Non-Governmental pass.

Tuesday 15 December

Alastair, Cathie and I visited the Klima Forum in downtown København. Patrick and Graeme had been there two days before as they arrived ahead of us. I was peeved at missing José Bové the French anti GM activist. They complained there was no French translation that night. Hopefully I could have got the gist.

We hoped to enter the Climate Leaders Summit 2009 as sub-national governments around the world made their pitch to aid a global climate deal through highlighting their own work. Scotland, Ontario, North Rhine-Westphalia, Victoria, São Paulo, Quebec and California were on the bill. All we heard from Scots media was that Gov Schwarzenegger had pulled out and snubbed Alex Salmond. The event was chaired by Helen Clark, former New Zealand premier and UN Development Administrator. Bulky brochures from ‘The Office of Tony Blair’ littered the press area....

Around twenty demonstrators were ejected by a big police presence just before we arrived. Otherwise security was relaxed. We watched a couple of speeches on monitors and chatted to BBC Scotland radio journalist David Miller who tried throughout the week to reflect what was actually being discussed at the UN Summit and in satellite meetings. We then wandered through the people’s summit stalls and events. The green, blue, orange and purple halls beckoned. Resisting the wiles of the orange hall I found gold dust among the NGO displays in the purple hall.

There I spied a huge poster with a picture of two dozen combine harvesters reaping, or raping the broad pampas lands; captioned ‘Chemical no-till agriculture can never be a carbon sink! – Change the System – not the Climate – Rural Reflection Group of Argentina. Rapidly I had found out that they were the contacts used by GM Freeze. I met Jorge Eduardo Rulli and Stella Maris Semino. Pictures were taken and a quick exchange of mutual understanding gained. What a chance to set up a meeting between the NFUS and these concerned farmers from Argentina whose land is trashed to grow GM soya that feeds our pigs at home. I blogged my intentions for such an encounter that same lunchtime in a Danish version of Costa Coffee.

News that Graeme had got accredited cheered us. We still awaited Patrick’s progress but ‘radio silence’ continued. He had apologised in advance for missing our planned meetings with Dansk Cyklist Forbund DCF and the City of Copenhagen traffic department. Our TICC committee enquiry on healthy travel was much enhanced by the NGO and Council officers we met. Lise Bjørg Pedersen the DCF political officer outlined the campaigns that had boosted cycling facilities and attitudes to reach the 37% of journeys to work and school in the city by bike.

Niels Tørsløv director of the traffic department of the city council’s technical and environmental administration revealed how over seventy years the cycling city had evolved. Wet snow was falling as we walked to these meetings but he assured us that an average 80% of normal cycle journeys were taken in winter conditions. The city cleared snow and ice from cycle lanes ahead of the roads!

The Scottish five were re-united at nearby Sam’s Bar with news that Patrick had also gained entry to the Bella Centre under our Global NGO grouping [Global Legislators for a Balanced Environment]. We had to skip the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association reception and he and I headed for an inaugural meeting of the Climate Parliament in an old seaman’s bar in Christianshavn.

Parliamentarians from Iceland to India, Italia to Escocia shared ideas about a huge network of energy grids across Europe and other world regions. Our host was LibDem MEP Graham Watson and his team. Among those I met were the Liberal deputy mayor of Ixelles in Brussels, a Norwegian Conservative MP and the illusive Rafael our GLOBE phone contact in the pyrrhic accreditation process at the UN summit. I had the longest discussion with Italian MEP Vittorio Prodi from Bologna. His great hope was to harness solar energy from the Sahara and pipe electricity to southern Europe. In return he wants biomass to green the former bread basket of the Roman Empire in Tunisia and Algeria.

Over a typical Danish dinner of fish courses and meat we debated in a small wood lined room whose walls were covered in photo mementos of Danish sail training cadets who hold regular reunions on the premises.

All too soon we departed with two female Flemish and Swedish MPs for Malmö. I had a hair’s breadth chase to catch the 11.48pm train as Patrick chatted to the guard as I bought a ticket. Had we all been accredited, travel passes would have been received.

Wednesday 15 December

We all agreed that no early morning heroics were in order. We all checked out and headed to Copenhagen. Patrick and Graeme, who was leaving by sleeper that night aimed for the Bella Centre again. I returned to the Klima Forum. After lunch we headed to the airport to take the aerial sausage machine back to Edinburgh. Earlier Alastair met Patrick and Graeme photographing the Little Mermaid – unable to gain access to the Bella Centre.

Politically it became clear that the summit was in deep crisis. Those of us who did not gain access to the hallowed UN summit knew as much as those who were accredited. Watching TV in the Danish capital pictures of small demos corralled by increasingly tetchy riot police gave a depressing confirmation that global gatherings follow a pattern no matter how well-intentioned the negotiators.

Aftermath

As the ‘Copenhagen Accord’ was cobbled together all the hopes of 40,000 folk from across the planet who had converged on Copenhagen were severely dashed. The UN plenary session that crashed the gavel on a stitch up between the USA, China, India, South Africa and Brazil gained grudging, dog-tired assent from the EU and others.

The Bella Centre could only hold 10,000, a number that was reduced for observers to 90 on Friday 18 December. The frustrations of activists were palpable and totally justified. President Obama, as the FT pointed out on Wednesday 15 is US president, not world leader. The opaque refusal of China to accept targets never mind verification of emission reductions has been highlighted. However villages, towns, regions and countries across the globe are set to show the way.

From Scotland’s perspective the EU targets of 30% reductions by 2020 must be adhered to. Our green renewables revolution can transform our economy and can provide a platform for exporting technologies as well as power. Our contacts with like-minded legislators and activists must underpin a legally binding World Climate Change Treaty as soon in 2010 as practicable, most likely in Mexico next December.

There can be no back sliding to accommodate the benighted attitudes found among US legislators and employers who see only unnecessary cost in a shift from ‘business as usual’. Yet the BBC Scotland poll 61% of respondents agreed or tended to agree that they believe their behaviour and everyday lifestyle contributes to climate change.

That gives encouragement to stick to our SNP Government position. With unanimity the Scottish Parliament passed our world leading climate law. There’s much to do to make a start. But the haunting words of Louisiana ‘swamp rocker’ Tony Joe White linger in my mind after the Copenhagen climate trip. His 1991 album contained the title track that concludes:

Who’s going to tell the children

How the rivers used to flow crystal blue

We keep leaving scars on mother earth

And move in closer to the truth.

RG 19 Dec 09

30/07/09  READ ROB'S HALF YEAR REPORT HERE

17/08/09 Opening of Glendale Heritage Exhibition - HERE

Rob was elected Highlands & Islands MSP in 2003. He is the vice convener of  the Scottish Parliament's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee as well as a member of the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee.

An historian, musician, published author and traditional music festival organiser Rob has many interest including the Scots language (he is the convener of the cross party group for the Scots language in the Scottish Parliament), Gaelic and the Traditional Arts. 

Nuclear disarmament, affordable housing and renewable energy development are also core beliefs.

Born and educated in Glasgow, he attended Dundee University and Education College, Before moving to Easter Ross to take up a Modern Studies teaching post at Invergordon Academy in 1973. In 1977 Rob became Alness Academies Principal Teacher of Guidance until 1995.

Since early retirement, or early ‘relifement’ as he prefers to call it, Rob developed his historical training and skills by writing the book 'Plaids and Bandanas' which focused on cattle drovers in Scotland who took their craft to North America.

A long time SNP activist Rob joined the party in 1966, was FSN President from 1970-1973 and served as a District Councillor in Ross and Cromarty from 1988 to 1996. He has also been a member of the SNP's National Council, Executive, and Shadow Cabinet.

The Glendale Trust

 Opening of Glendale Heritage Exhibition  17th August 2009

The Glendale Trust today formally opened a two week exhibition on Glendale Life at Borrodale School, Glendale.   Speaking at the opening, the chair of the trust Ian Blackford said: “We are delighted to take this opportunity to showcase for locals as well as visitors the rich history of Glendale and the story of its people.

Glendale played an important part in the fight for land reform in the 19th Century not least from the well documented activities of John MacPherson and the Glendale Martyrs”     MSP delves into his student past in Glendale   "Rob Gibson MSP for Highlands and Islands since 2003 has contributed a photographic record of the Federation of Student Nationalist's Skye Crofting Scheme which flourished in the 1970s.

The Glendale Trust Heritage Centre exhibition which was unveiled on Monday 17th August has given Rob the opportunity to present slides and other memorabilia of the students' work and contribution to the area at that time."

Rob said, "Land issues figured prominently in our work.These included collaboration with crofters in September 1972 at Strollamus to demonstrate against the laird Horace Martin. Other pictures of students at work on crofts in Duirinish show what a thriving crofting environment looked like in the 1970s. We also supported the Land League Day in August 1976 against rent rises proposed by Borreraig laird Ollaus Martin [no relation to Horace Martin]."  

"Many of the issues are still with us today and as a local MSP I have much personal knowledge of the area to contribute to current crofting debates."

August 2009 On a day of fine weather the 2009 Glenmorangie Tain Highland Gathering broke many athletic records. As ever the Tain Branch SNP stall raffle and tombola drew a crowd. Meeting SNP members from other parts of Scotland is one feature of such events. Members from Clackn]mannashire and Brechin identified themselves. A fair smattering of local supporters gave the day a good feeling. Pictured Eileen Louden, Rob, Caroline Penman and her sister anne from Cumbernauld.	Rob enjoying Tain Games
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	Rob Gibson MSP attended the first Lairg sheep sale of the autumn. It is billed as the biggest one day event in Europe. Rob said, "Farmers and crofters I spoke to were all smiles as prices often doubled on recent years. Of course it takes much more than a shortage of lamb in one authumn to stabilise sheep numbers in the Far North. But an upward trend in prices begun at Quoybrae and Dingwall marts is set to continue this season. The SNP Government has every intention to back sustainable sheep farming as part of our Scottish Food and Drinks Policy. Slainte, Lairg sales!"

POPULATION BOOST WELCOMED AS DECLINE IS REVERSED 08/08/09
FALL IN BIG KILLERS

SNP MSP Rob Gibson, Deputy Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Economy Committee, has today welcomed figures from the General Registrar for Scotland showing that Scotland's population is at its highest level since 1981 as long term projections of population decline are put into reverse.

Figures show the population increased by just over 24,000 in the year 2007/2008 as migrants exceeded the numbers leaving Scotland and reducing death tolls from ill health such as heart attacks see life expectancy increasing. Births exceeded deaths by 4,000 - the highest natural increase since 1992. And migration accounted for an increase of 19,200 people, with most migrants among young or working age people.

Rob Gibson MSP said;
"These figures show Scotland is beginning to turn around the long term population decline we have faced, with the highest level since 1981. Scotland is proving an attractive destination for migration, and we have the highest natural increase in population since 1992.

"That people are choosing to come and live and work in Scotland and that people born here are choosing to stay at home is a positive reflection on our economy and society, and prospects for the future.

"While these trends are good news for Scotland we must not be complacent, and a growth in the number of young and working age people is essential in building a bright economic future for Scotland."

Commenting on the death rate figures, Health Committee member Dr Ian McKee welcomed the fall in deaths from heart disease over the last 20 years.

"The decline in heart disease as one of Scotland's big three killers is a real tribute to the efforts of the NHS and public health professionals over the years.

"It is now for people across Scotland to make sure they play their part by eating healthily and living healthy lifestyles.

" For example the continuing high level of deaths from alcohol is something that we must address and the Scottish Government's efforts to reverse tackle this problem are essential."

NOTES

• In the year to 30 June 2008, the number of people moving to Scotland from other parts of the UK, and out of Scotland to other parts of the UK, meant that the population increased by around 11,500 people.
• In the year to 30 June 2008, the number of people moving to Scotland from overseas, and out of Scotland to go overseas, meant that the population increased by around 7,700 people.

P.35 "death rates for ischaemic heart disease (coronary heart disease) and cerebrovascular disease (stroke) have shown significant declines. Between 1980-82 and 2008, rates for males had improved by 52 per

cent for ischaemic heart disease and 41 per cent for stroke compared"