A CROWDFUNDER has been launched for an international conference on independence set to take place in Edinburgh later this year.
The Scottish Independence Convention (SIC) is raising money to bring international delegates to the capital for the major conference in October.
In partnership with the International Committee of European Citizens (ICEC) – an EU-affiliated organisation bringing together European nations with independence or autonomy movements – the SIC is looking to bring over representatives of civic independence movements from 14 European nations.
In order to fund flights and two-nights of accommodation for each delegate, a crowdfunder has been launched with the aim of raising £6000.
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The conference is called Owning Our Future and seeks to bring together representatives from Ireland, Wales, North England, Flanders, Veneto, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Catalonia, the Basque Country, the Faroes, Greenland and South Tyrol.
The conference will be held in Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh on Saturday, October 5, with a ceilidh at night and will form the centrepiece of a weekend of events including the signing of a declaration in support of the right of self-determination in the Scottish Parliament.
Isobel Lindsay, SIC co-convener, said donations of any size were welcomed to help make the event a success.
“From Greenland to Catalonia to Sicily, whatever our differences, our 14 nations share the same principle,” she said.
“We believe that our citizens should have the democratic right to choose independence or greater autonomy and we want to exchange our experiences and build networks across Europe to further that goal.
“That is what this major international conference is about.
“Other of the participating nations have held conferences and paid for delegates for Scotland to go over but Scotland has never brought Europe's autonomy movements here.
“It is time we remedied that and I know readers want to make sure that Scotland puts on a good event for our international partners.
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“Anything you can contribute will help.
“This is not an easy time for our movements which is why we need to be positive and build for the future.
“We really can be stronger working together than any one of us can be entirely alone.
“Let's make this major event a success.”
Details of the fundraiser can be found at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/owning-our-futures with tickets for the conference set to go on sale shortly.
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