FIRST VOTE MOTHERSSON 1

I never would have believed it but have recently decided to offer myself for election as one of the four Councillors for Perth South returned to Perth and Kinross Council in the local elections of 2007.

One reason for standing is that I have long campaigned for a preferential and proportional voting system such as PR, which enables candidates with different views to stand alongside each other, rather than run against each other as happened with the divisive First Past the Post system.  If I fall into bad habits of slagging off other candidates, please remind me!

That said I do think that, along with most Councils in Scotland, Perth and Kinross Council has tended to take decisions which indirectly fit in with the needs of the money system rather than the needs of ordinary people.  Why should any of us be charged for visiting the public toilets in town? When I took a leaflet about a day in Bridge of Earn for Dances of Universal Peace to the new Perth Concert Hall aka 'Horsecross', I was told I couldn't blutack my small notice on any surface, but would have to phone one of two [!] firms in Edinburgh for permission, who had the 'contracts' for signage - ye Gods, and the Horsecross people like to think of what good community links they are building .... even though 40 percent of the visitors come from out of town, often by ecologically damaging private cars.  And even our beloved library service is now 'capitalising' on its own noticeboards to promote library service facilities and events - fair enough - but now to the exclusion of non-profit community notices, which must now be specIAlly looked for in a folder, where once they could catch the eyes of library users going in or out.

I could go on, but doubtless you will have examples of your own which I look forward to hearing about.

Even if I am not able to change the pro-business/'development' drift of Council decisions I hope that if I am elected as a Councillor, this will help to create openings for me (and others) to work as a community development change agent in ways which help people imagine better futures, develop our confidence,  and exert more control over our lives in Perth South than we would otherwise have.

I should also say that I have offered my services to run workshops on sustainability and gender issues to various departments of the Council, also the local prison service,(where I am accredited as an occasional Buddhist prison chaplain), so far with no takers. I have also done various trainings led by the Scottish Civic Forum on how to design and facilitate constructive meetings and events, by the charity Alternatives to Violence, and by trainers in Non-Violent Communication.

On Friday  13th April the Perthshire Advertiser carried a story about my candidacy, here.

The same day my leaflet came back from McKinlay Printers, here is the text (more or less, but minus a nice photo of me at the Fair Maid of Perth statue along with Fair Mother of Perth, Debbie Lonie and her two children, Roddie and Clare, and a Fair Crone of Perth (actually she was a visitor from South Shields who happened to be sitting there when we arrived):

FARE CITY OR FAIR CITY?




 

   

“Born into a Socialist family and reared in the 1930s
depression on the Clydeside, I still deeply respect the values and beliefs of  true Socialism. So I find myself totally estranged from Blair’s so-called Labour Party and its right-wing, anti democratic policies. 

   

Now I see a need for the caring and useful people of all creeds and none to come together to reassert basic values of justice, equality, respect, peace and care for the planet.

    

When he lived in Galloway Keith Mothersson was a well-respected figure, instrumental in starting several visionary groups campaigning for constructive change. Just as the Scottish Parliament has been enriched by the presence of greens, ‘reds’ and independents of true character and vision, Keith could be a real asset to Perth Council.

I cannot commend him too highly to the voters of Perth.” 

 

(Mrs) Jean Pilborough, Dalry, Retired primary head teacher

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Especially if you are disillusioned with politics and don’t usually vote, please read on and on this occasion consider voting for a lifelong non-party person who can sympathise with your frustrations!

 

WHAT ROLE COULD I PLAY IF ELECTED?

ü      As a fresh voice I would work across party lines and seek to make the Council more open, accountable, participatory - drawing on the many pools of volunteer expertise and good will that exist.

ü      I would try to sort out problems – not so much for you as with you - and co-operating also with the three other councillors you elect.

ü      I would work for joined up policy development, based on true values and a vision of the direction we need to be moving in.

 

MY PROMISES  (keep this leaflet and hold me to them!)

1)    If given the opportunity I would vote to scrap the Council tax and replace it with a local income tax based on ability to pay.

2)    I will set aside at least a tenth of my Councillor’s wage to fund constructive community events, suggestions welcome!

3)    I will hold monthly Ward meetings (alternating North and South of Glasgow Rd) where you can share your concerns in a safe respectful atmosphere, I can report on what I’ve been up to, and we can decide on what action we need to take next.

4)    I will propose free use of schools and community centres by community groups, coupled with training of volunteer jannies.

5)    I will propose that across all Council offices, schools, etc we save money and gain many benefits by switching from Microsoft to free and communal ‘Open Source’ software, e.g. Linux.

6)    I will work with undervalued care staff and relatives alike for better checks on super-profitable care homes.

7)    I will keep challenging our widespread denial and/or helplessness about sexual harassment and racist, classist, ageist etc bullying in schools and other places, encouraging genuine honesty, truth telling and whistle-blowing, not more official defensiveness.

8)    I would work with schools, pupils, etc to stop MoD recruitment in Council controlled facilities until the UK ends its global bullying, illegal wars and poisonous ‘weapons’.

9)     I will not pretend to be a superman, nor flatter people’s passivity and cynicism. Change can come but it takes us all to do what we can – in many varied ways, and not just on election day!


My CV to you, my employers for this job

·         Since coming to Craigie in 2003 I have worked as a care assistant and now as a gardener.

·         I have also visited in local prisons. Proud grand-dad of three grand-daughters, who objects to the obtrusive visibility of porn in many public contexts.

·         Born in Ghana, school in Edinburgh, studied sociology at Keele and politics at Birmingham; then lived in Bristol and West Wales (influenced by matriarchal feminism).

·         Returned to Scotland in late eighties, co-founded the Institute for Law and Peace and the World Court Project - a global coalition to get a top advisory ruling on the illegality of the threat and use of nuclear weapons (which the World Court delivered in 1996).

·         In the nineties I was a community councillor in Galloway, started Sustainable Stewartry (and offshoots on Waste, Energy, and Natural Death and Green Burial). I also campaigned for devolution, PR and finally helped secure STV (used in this election).

·         I have been active in the 911 truth movement – huge in the US as the official story keeps unravelling. [Contact me for free DVD,  or check out  www.911review.com  or  www.911truthcampaign.net ]

·         For those with internet access you may like to look at www.keith-mothersson.co.uk , including several letters sent in to the PA!


PERTH FOR ALL THE PEOPLE

In recent months I have been minutes secretary for the St Pauls Action Group, with the aim of securing a multi-purpose non-commercial alcohol-free venue used by socially excluded groups who can’t afford pricey cafes and £12 ‘folk concerts’ , e.g. a ‘happening’ venue for young people - who don’t just want to get drunk!, a ‘clubhouse’ for people with mental health difficulties, an informal meeting place used by Polish farmworkers, Asian restaurant-workers, and native Scots in from Aberfeldy - or down from Oakbank!
 

PUTTING FAMILY VALUES FIRST

True authority protects the equal rights of each one of us – only would-be bullies find this restrictive! Like a fair-minded Mother, as far as possible our Council should put the needy and the carers and the useful people before prestige projects used mainly by the well off e.g. the Concert Hall where one can’t even stick up a community notice!

 

DEFENDING GAIA - OUR ONE EARTH HOME

Our present pattern of ‘civilisation’ is unsustainable.  Sooner or later the money bubble will crash, wars and/or climate havoc will intensify and our lack of food and energy security will be laid bare. We need to relearn the basics - how to grow food, to cook, how to mix in with others of different generation or background or beliefs. The Council is just beginning to take Sustainable Development more seriously, but we all need to go much further: e.g. community horticulturalists working out of every school, college, hospital; affordable ‘co-housing’ in towns and new eco-hamlets; free public transport; zero waste, etc.

 

PROTECTING CIVILIANS – OUR TRUE ‘MOTHERLAND’

None of us would be here if we’d been attacked or poisoned in our cradles. Yet Britain and the US have destroyed countless homes, clinics, schools in Afghanistan and Iraq – with under 5’s accounting for half the soaring cancer rate. Then the ‘Depleted’ Uranium comes home by wind and tide, and in the bodies of our poor deluded sons. So please care, good people, stop moaning about Bush and Blair and on May 3rd make a point of coming out to vote for Peace!

 

WIN OR ‘LOSE’ – LET’S LINK UP FOR POSITIVE CHANGE!

I am experienced in facilitating groups, and have an enhanced disclosure certificate. Whether elected or not I would still be keen to work in a participatory and enjoyable way with you and any groups you may be involved in: e.g.

ü      All generations mixed family football; Sustainability bingo!

ü      Creating one or more stone circle(s) as a focus for community rituals, e.g. at annual non-commercial community festival(s).

ü      In consciousness-raising groups for boys and men, helping them and girls/women to resist peer and commercial pressures and loosen the domination of the (unreal) Real Men’s gangs which menace our poor Earth Motherland.

 

FIRST VOTE KEITH MOTHERSSON 1

Printed by John McKinlay, 11 King St, Perth promoting Keith Mothersson, Candidate for Perth South, 2b Darnhall Cres, PH2 0HH 01738 783677 or 07815 653389. Or keith[dot]mothersson[at]phonecoop[dot]coop . Help welcome!