AN organisation which was formed less than two months ago in Aberdeen will host the North East Scottish Independence Conference in the Granite City next weekend.
The Aberdeen Independence Movement (AIM) will be joined by a broad array of organisations including Women for Independence, EU Citizens, Pensioners for Indy, the Common Weal, Radical Independence Campaign and many more at the Copthorne Hotel, Huntly Street, on Sunday, April 8 from 11am to 6pm.
An impressive array of speakers has been lined up along with workshops on various independence-related topics, and this being the fun-loving Yes DIY movement, there will be a social evening afterwards in the Bridge Street Social Club from 7pm.
Speakers include Gordon Smith of Pensioners for Independence, Ash Burnett from EU Citizens for an Independent Scotland, Fiona Robertson of Disabled for Yes and National columnist Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp of Business for Scotland.
Conference organiser Alan Petrie said: “The conference will be a fantastic opportunity for the north east, from Inverness to Dundee to build links, form friendships, get educated and organise. This will hopefully be the start of the campaign in the north east.
“We must convince people in our main industries, such as oil, fish and food production that independence offers the north east the best opportunity for job security.”
Speaking for AIM will be Theo Forbes who told The National: “In my short years as an activist, I have never felt more confident that Scotland will become an independent country. That day may come sooner or later, but it is approaching. However, whilst we eagerly wait for the start gun to fire, the crucially important question for grassroots independence supporters simply is: how?
“It is now 2018. Young people have been left to witness the most reactionary, backward government since Thatcher, which has undone many of the securities our parent’s generation had the luxury of, with the knowledge it was only Holyrood protecting them from everything from the Bedroom Tax to incremental privation of the NHS.
“EU citizens have been used as bargaining chips throughout the UK’s process of exiting the EU and Westminster has reneged on every promise made in the lead up to the No vote in 2014.
“Now is the time to get ready. To prepare. To anticipate. To do the ground work for the next independence campaign. We have never been closer to achieving the independence which this country so rightly deserves. But just because the campaign hasn’t been announced does not mean we should sit and wait. That is why I am so happy to be part of AIM.”
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