Allan Campbell – Thursday April 28, 2022

Tha fìor dheagh aimsir earraich air a bhith againn ann an sgìre Inbhir Nis bho chionn seachdain neo dhà agus tha am buntàta tràth anns a’ ghàrradh agam a’ tòiseachadh ri ròdadh, agus tha mi ’n dòchas nach tig an còrr reothaidh a dhèanadh cron air.

 

Bho chionn beagan làithean cuideachd nochd gearradh sa ghaoith bhon ear a dh’ùraich an abairt “crainntidheachd an earraich” na mo chuimhne, briathran air an robh mi glè eòlach nam òige. B’ e seo a theirte ri aimsir fhuar thioram a thigeadh meadhanach tràth sa bhliadhna agus a thiormaicheadh an talamh gu ìre far am biodh e na b’ fhasa cairtean neo baraichean-cuibhle obrachadh airson todhar a sgaoileadh, agus bhiodh daoine a’ dèanamh fiughair ri leithid de dh’aimsir gus am faigheadh iad tòiseachadh air obair-earraich. Ged a tha an saoghal agus na cleachdaidhean sin air atharrachadh gu mòr tha cinn-latha ràithean na bliadhna ag imeachd mar a bha riamh, ged a tha gun teagamh daoine mothachail air caochladh a’ tighinn air an aimsir ri linn blàthachadh na cruinne agus chan ann gun fhios carson a tha eòlaichean gar rabhadh gèilleadh dhan stiùir giùlan dìon àrainneachd a tha ga thoirt dhuinn. Ma tha an cinne-daonna dol a ghleidheadh cor na cruinne feumar cultar dòigh-beatha atharrachadh!

 

Chan eil cultar de chaochladh sheòrsa air a bhith fada bhom inntinn bho chionn greise, eadar brùidealachd iargalta nan saighdearan Ruiseanach ri murt is sgrios anns an Ucràin, agus modh-giùlain mì-chothromach chuid de Bhuill Pàrlamaid na dùthcha seo fhèin! Saoilidh mi gum bheil dearbhaidhean gu math soilleir againn, aig iomadh ìre, air cho fior ’s a tha an seanfhacal “thèid neart thar ceart” agus gu cinnteach tha staid agus cor a’ chinne-daonna an eisimeil air gum buannaich lagh agus ceartas. ’S e an trioblaid gum bheil beartas ionmhais, a tha sa bhitheantas na bhunait air an “neart” sin, a’ fàgail dùbhlan a’ cheartais na amas a tha daonnan a’ tarraing ùine agus cosgais a tha tric cho mòr ’s nach gabh ruigheachd air.

 

Ach tha atharraichean cultarail ann air an urrainnear amas gun chosgais sam bith ach coibhneas agus diongmhaltas, agus ’s e sin cur às do mhasladh gràin-cinnidh. Tha meas mòr agamsa air Èirinn agus tha mi air a bhith uasal às an aoigheachd bhlàth a fhuair mi ann, agus dh’fhàg sin e na annas agus na thàmailt dhomh nuair a leugh mi gum bheil luchd-taisteil na h-Èireann air am meas mar a’ choimhearsnachd as bochda san Roinn Eòrpa. Ann a bhith a’ guidhe gum faigh Èirinn dòigh air an t-suidheachadh sin a leasachadh, tha e iomchaidh cuideachd aithne a thoirt dhan trioblaid ghràin-cinnidh leantainnich a th’ againn san dùthaich seo cuideachd, a dh’aindeoin bliadhnaichean a’ sabaid ri cur às dha.

 

Nuair a thèid Comhairlichean a thaghadh an-diugh tha còir againn uile a bhith a’ sireadh atharrachadh phoileasaidhean bhuapa gus leithid gràin-cinnidh a chur à bith, a cheart cho mionnaichte ’s a tha sinn ag iarraidh leithid staid nan rathaidean a leasachadh!

 

 

While the calendar dictates when seasons come and go farmers, crofters, and even gardeners, are aware of changes in the weather probably due to global warming, and we must recognise that a radical change in the culture of our everyday lives is required to maintain equilibrium in our natural environment.

 

The need for cultural change has been much on my mind of late ranging from the atrocities carried out by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, to the serious misdemeanours of some of our elected members of Parliament! There has been much evidence of the continuing truth of the cynical proverb that “might is right”, and it is clear that just as surely as the future of our environment requires our concerted attention so, too, does the future of mankind require that the rights of people are protected from abuse of power and wealth.  However, the power of wealth can often frustrate the delivery of justice, and at times prevent it completely.

 

I have always enjoyed visiting Ireland and have been delighted with the warmth of its hospitality, so I was surprised and disappointed to read that the travelling community in Ireland are officially rated as the poorest in Europe. While hoping that Ireland can take action to resolve this embarrassment quickly, it is appropriate to also reflect on the continuing disgrace of racism in our own country despite so many initiatives to eradicate it.  This is a cultural change which we can all work toward by applying determination and respect, and we should also require public administration at all levels to be developing policies which address shameful issues such as racism in our society.

 

When electing local authority members next week we should expect such actions of them, just as certainly as we expect attention to education provision and deteriorating roadways.