UNBREXABLE: SCOTTISH AND EU CITIZENS UNITE FOR BREXIT RESPONSE BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE

Centre for Human Ecology Press Release

28th August 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNBREXABLE: SCOTTISH AND EU CITIZENS UNITE

FOR BREXIT RESPONSE BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE

Glasgow's Centre for Human Ecology host unique event on 2nd September: an active

response to Brexit examining social, environmental and cultural impacts

On the 2nd of September, a happening takes place at the Pearce Institute, Glasgow:

Unbrexable – Connections and Caring in European Scotland. 'We' are citizens, activists,

academics, community workers, artists and migrants who wish to collectively consolidate

what kinds of initiatives and movements Scotland needs to become the kind of welcoming,

inclusive and socially and environmentally just country we want to live in. This event is

taking place because political and media elites have failed to adequately represent the

62% of Scottish citizens that voted to remain in the EU.

The end to Freedom of Movement between the UK and EU countries has been announced

for March 2019, and the future rights of EU citizens currently living and working in the UK

are still uncertain. They don't only concern migrants however - cultural workers and visitors

are also affected.

CHE director Svenja Meyerricks, a German citizen who has lived in Scotland for 14 years,

said: “European Scots are not 'bargaining chips': we have chosen to make Scotland our

home. 'Unbrexable' is in a spirit of caring, connection and solidarity: Scots, Europeans and other

migrants coming together to explore where we go from here”.

The day includes talks, workshops, and sessions to gather contributions from attendees,

with a view to a longer-term citizen's movement against a hard Brexit and increasing

xenophobia and protectionism.

The Centre for Human Ecology, in partnership with Govan Folk University, has conceived

of Unbrexable as series of events and interventions revolving around the idea of citizen

diplomacy, bypassing official channels in order to salvage, protect and strengthen the

connections with European counterparts. The Unbrexable conference will bring together

people working within migrant solidarity networks, connections between grassroots

European activist movements such as the degrowth movement which outlines alternative

narratives to economic growth, European youth exchanges, tools for collaboration,

academia, community arts or services across borders. The event will be led by (mainly

European) migrants – true to the ethos 'nothing about us without us is for us'. The day will

combine talks with participatory workshops, and a panel discussion and plenary on how

we can actively move forward through 'emotional citizenry' at home and abroad – building

bridges across newly enforced borders.

ENDS

For more information please contact: Luke Devlin (Centre for Human Ecology director) info@che.ac.uk

M 07539315736

NOTE FOR EDITOR: full programme details at www.che.ac.uk/unbrexable