Arran Banner Letters – week 48, 2024

Poppy Scotland thanks

Sir,

Thank you to everyone who gave so generously to Poppy Scotland in Lochranza, Catacol, Pirnmill and the two Brodick Co-op shops.

Thanks also to all the house-to-house collectors and the Royal Bank of Scotland for opening and counting the money in the cans.

The total raised was £998.23.

Yours,

Bill Scott,

Poppy Scotland organiser.

Door-to-door collection total

Sir,

Door-to-door collections for Poppy Scotland in Blackwaterfoot, Shiskine and Machrie raised £970.93.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this worthy cause.

Yours,

Janet Kerr,

Kilpatrick.

Support for stopping the war

Sir,

Thanks for excellent article advising of the Sunday December 1 meeting to gauge support for a Stop the War branch on Arran.

A planning meeting took place on Sunday November 24, chaired by Jay Kramer and Sheridan Waldon, and there’s huge support in the feedback we’ve garnered from leafleting. We expect it to be a packed-out event.

You highlighted Coll McCail’s status as a student and activist. I think he might be an excellent role model for our youngsters who sometimes feel completely dissociated from events far afield and even, politically, at home.

Yours,

Celia Wallace,

Brodick.

Solidarity with Palestine

Sir,

Today (Friday November 29) is the annual International Solidarity with the Palestinian People Day.

Every year on this day, the international community stands in solidarity for the dignity, rights, justice and self-determination of the Palestinian people.

Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people did not start in 2023; the Gaza Strip has been subjected to brutal violence for decades. And while nothing can justify the October 7 terror attacks and hostage taking by Hamas, equally nothing can justify the subsequent collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

More than a year after the terror attacks, Gaza is in ruins, more than 43,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – have been reportedly killed and the humanitarian crisis increases daily.

The situation in Northern Gaza has been described as apocalyptic by humanitarian workers, with tens of thousands suffering from an acute lack of water, food, sanitation and medical supplies. Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israeli military operations, settlement expansion, evictions, demolitions, settler violence and threats of annexation are inflicting further pain and injustice.

A group of people on Arran who find these actions by the Netanyahu government inexcusable and shocking have organised a public meeting on Sunday December 1 at 2pm in Ormidale Pavilion.

If you want to know more about the situation in Gaza and/or would like to be involved in future peaceful actions to try to help the Palestinian people, please come along. We will have two speakers, Katy Clark, regional MSP, and Coll McCail, Stop the War Scotland, who will also answer questions.

We do not stand against the Israeli people per se, many of whom deplore their government’s actions and actively protest against them.

We hope to see you there.

Yours,

Cheryl Burgess,

Whiting Bay.

Help at hand this winter

Sir,

As we head further into winter, I would like to share with readers the support that’s available through the Royal Voluntary Service.

We’ve found through research that at this time of year, unfortunately, feelings of isolation and loneliness can increase, which can impact our health and wellbeing. We want to be there for as many people as possible this winter, so we have created the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide. The guide is filled with essential information, practical tips and advice to help people navigate the challenges of winter.

The guide also encourages us all to make sure we are socially connected and have support in place as we face the difficulties the season can bring. The guide includes details on how readers can sign up for Royal Voluntary Service’s telephone support services, which match volunteers who are available for a friendly chat, with people across the country who are looking to make new connections, share a story or a joke and ease feelings of loneliness and isolation. It also shares information on accessing the charity’s Virtual Village Hall online community of events and activities.

You can download the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide and find out more at www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/safe-warm-well. Physical copies of the guide can also be requested by calling 0800 731 9197. A small P&P charge will apply.

Wishing everyone season’s greetings and a Happy New Year.

Yours,

Sam Ward OBE,

Royal Voluntary Service.