Aye! Referendum for the independence of Scotland

Aye! Referendum for the independence of Scotland

A referendum on whether Scotland should be an independent country will take place on Thursday 18 September 2014. Following an agreement between the Scottish Government and the United Kingdom Government, the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill, setting out the arrangements for this referendum, was put forward on 21 March 2013, passed by the Scottish Parliament on 14 November 2013 and received Royal Assent on 17 December 2013. The referendum question, as recommended by the Electoral Commission, will be "Should Scotland be an independent country?” The referendum is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for people in Scotland to have their say about the country’s future. This work work is part of a bigger project aiming to analyze independence movements in Europe and it’s focused only on the people in favor of the independence of Scotland to analyze the reasons that push people to take such a risky decision, what they see in an independent Scotland that can not be achieved just remaining part of the UK.
Alessandro Rampazzo travelled through Scotland, from Edinburgh to Inverness to the isle of Skye, meeting people from different groups supporting the independence as much as normal people just in favor of an independent Scotland  to understand the different reasons, as much as the shared ones, for voting yes to the independence of Scotland.

by contributor Alessandro Rampazzo

A referendum on whether Scotland should be an independent country will take place on Thursday 18 September 2014. Following an agreement between the Scottish Government and the United Kingdom Government, the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill, setting out the arrangements for this referendum, was put forward on 21 March 2013, passed by the Scottish Parliament on 14 November 2013 and received Royal Assent on 17 December 2013. The referendum question, as recommended by the Electoral Commission, will be "Should Scotland be an independent country?” The referendum is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for people in Scotland to have their say about the country’s future. This work work is part of a bigger project aiming to analyze independence movements in Europe and it’s focused only on the people in favor of the independence of Scotland to analyze the reasons that push people to take such a risky decision, what they see in an independent Scotland that can not be achieved just remaining part of the UK.
Alessandro Rampazzo travelled through Scotland, from Edinburgh to Inverness to the isle of Skye, meeting people from different groups supporting the independence as much as normal people just in favor of an independent Scotland  to understand the different reasons, as much as the shared ones, for voting yes to the independence of Scotland.

Differently from any other vote, in the referendum for independence people see a real possibility to change their future. Most of the people report that the geographical distance from Westminster make their vote almost superfluous in the decision making process of the United Kingdom. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" The local band of Inverness plays typical music on the streets of the city during the summer as to share the Scottish music culture with the lots of tourists visiting the city every year A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Paul (right) is born in Portugal but lives in Scotland since 20 years. As many people, even if not official citizens, he will be able to vote in the referendum just because he is registered as a resident in Scotland. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Fishery is a big resource for Scotland, involving especially the northern and western communities of the region. Most of the fish is directly sold in Europe. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Bradley, a young volunteer of the independence campaign. "I didn't like USA president Obama saying Scotland should not split from the UK. Didn't they fought for independence from Great Britain too a few centuries ago? If it's so good why don't they go back under the Queen?" A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" To involve people and to explaining them the reasons for voting Yes in the referendum, many public events are continuously held. Here the writer Kevin Williamson (center left) in a cafe explaining his way to the yes choice. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" A traditional musician playing a bagpipe in front of the High Court of Judiciary in Edinburgh, during the Fring art festival. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" A banner is seen on northern bridge in Edinburgh inviting people to register to vote in the upcoming referendum. Chris Law a few months ago took a pause from his job and gave the birth to the Spirit of Independence, a 1950's fire brigades truck, transformed in a touring promotion of the independence spirit. Chris and its truck will be traveling trough Scotland to spread the spirit of independence hoping so to involve as many people as possible. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" The palace in Edinburgh A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" The main office for the Yes campaign in Inverness is just behind a bus stop in the city center. " It's interesting to listen to people talking about independence at the bus stop. This make people to think about it and to take a position on it" say Norman, the coordinator of the office. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Ferguson turned 18 few months ago in may. This will be his first time voting. "I'm on the yes side and I'm campaigning with the yes movement because I think this is such a great opportunity to build a future for young people" A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Scotland keeps some cultural difference with England, one of them is the religion A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" To involve people and to explaining them the reasons for voting Yes in the referendum, many public events are continuously held. Depending on the possibility they take place in pubs, public halls, shops. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Jack, 25 is acting for the independence of Scotland distributing free informative material house by house. Normally he leave leaflets in the letter box but sometime people open the door "you came to wrong house, I have a no sign outside my window" said the lady smiling to him. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" The local band of Inverness plays typical music on the streets of the city during the summer as to share the Scottish music culture with the lots of tourists visiting the city every year A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Steven, a mathematician researcher from Glasgow university, is the the founder of the movement "Academics for yes" a movement who reunite many Scottish professors and researcher supporting an independent Scotland. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" While campaigning in favor of the independence of Scotland Iain (center) had a heated discussion with an anti independence supporter. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Scotland culture has been fought for centuries from the UK. People, if found wearing traditional costumes were punished. Also the language was almost forgotten, it's only since few years that the traditional language, coming from the Celtic tradition, is studied and spoken again. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" The Gellions is one of the oldest pub in Inverness and surely one of the most traditional too. The place openly supports the independence of Scotland as the most of its clients do. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Eric is a strong supporter and activist for Scotland independence, he specifically represents the Radical Independence Campaign that groups most of the far left party supporters. "I can't think to any single reason not to support Scottish independence" A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" The Gellions is one of the oldest pub in Inverness and surely one of the most traditional too. Every wednesday bands playing traditional Scottish music play live in the pub. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Eddi a 17 years old yes supporter, will vote for his first time in the referendum for the independence of Scotland. He said to feel very empowered by having the possibility to vote for such an important thing. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Scotland economy is based mainly on oli extraction, fishery, and she breeding for woolen production. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" The Gellions is one of the oldest pub in Inverness and surely one of the most traditional too. The place openly supports the independence of Scotland as the most of its clients do. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" The main office for the Yes campaign in Inverness is just behind a bus stop in the city center. Everyday a lot of people enter and ask for information about the motivation of the yes movement. Also many volunteers everyday pass and take leaflets and informative material. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Isle of Skye is on the west coast of Scotland. From the beginning of the referendum movement many people get involved in favor of the independence. A pub recently changed its name, explicitly supporting the independence. A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" Andy is part of the National Collective for independence a movement grouping artists and creatives supporting the independence of Scotland. "[Under the UK], Scotland has about a ceiling on the arts and innovation, it's always kept aside as it's not a country A referendum on whether Scotland should be and independent country will take place on Thursday 18th September 2014.The referendum question will be 2 Should Scotland be an independent country?" To found the campaign have been created gadgets like t-shirts, badges, bags to be sold to finance the needs of the movement. For this reason some shops have been rented to sell the merchandising. Here two children waving the Scottish flag inside a shop in Edinburgh