Scottish Greens celebrate John Muir day highlighting party's priorities for protecting the environment
Sarah Beattie-Smith used John Muir Day to highlight the party’s priorities for protecting Scotland’s environment.
John Muir Day marks the anniversary of the birth of one of the world’s most popular environmental thinkers. Muir was born and grew up in the town of Dunbar, East Lothian, before emigrating to the United States. There he led the campaign to establish the world’s first national park in California and his influential writings have inspired environmental conservation around the world. Muir’s activism was heavily inspired by the land and sea around his childhood home of Dunbar.
Scottish Greens’ environmental policies continue to protect and preserve Scotland’s natural assets, support the continued restoration of internationally important peatlands and biodiverse habitats, and ensuring our greenbelts remain free from development.
Green MSPs will continue to oppose plans that threaten habitats, such as ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Cromarty Firth. A network of community greenspaces will encourage more people across the country to access the outdoors and we support calls for the establishment of new national parks continuing John Muir’s legacy.
Sarah Beattie-Smith, candidate for South region said:
“Living in Dunbar, John Muir’s legacy is all around me. The stunning country park and the John Muir Way play a hugely important role in connecting people with the land and wildlife around them and ensuring we value them for generations to come.
“But there is much more to be done. Scotland has just two National Parks, but thousands of acres of breathtakingly beautiful landscapes that we must protect. I’m proud to be standing for a party that values our nation’s natural treasures and, if elected, I’ll work to make that a reality.”