13th March 2018
Paul Bradley is Network Coordinator for Scotland’s Open Government Network and Scotland’s Sustainable Development Goals Network. Let’s assume that you think open government is a good idea. You’d be hard placed to find someone in Scotland who would say otherwise – open sounds better than closed, right? That may be so, but do…
9th March 2018
Written by Colm Burns & David McBurney Conservative and DUP MPs trooped through the voting lobby of the House of Commons on Wednesday to prevent retrospective transparency on donations to political parties in Northern Ireland. With the Conservatives applying a three-line whip, the measure they were voting on – The Transparency of Donations & Loans…
6th March 2018
Original blog posted here. The pace of progress must accelerate to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). That’s according to the latest report from the UN on progress across the world. Now in our third year of action, these words ring true for Scotland as well. Our country’s commitment to the SDGs will be shown by the…
5th March 2018
Ruchir Shah from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations explores why we need to #reimaginedemocracy for 2018 On Thursday March 15th next week, a stramash of people frustrated with the way political decisions are made will descend on the Mac in Belfast. They will be binded by their concern for democracy, and the way in…
26th February 2018
Written by Colm Burns There are many perceptions of our Executive and Assembly; one of them probably isn’t that they are transparent or accountable. Yet in 2016 our Executive signed up to four commitments to help them become more open: Commitment 1: Develop & trial effective open policy-making and public engagement methods Commitment 2: Promote…
23rd February 2018
Job title: Chief Executive Org: Wellbeing Scotland Location: Falkirk Network Member since: June 2017 Contact me at: [email protected] How would you describe your job to a child? Being in charge of quite a big charity with lots of different jobs and looking after people who have been harmed. What does the concept of open government…
23rd February 2018
Job title: Associate Researcher; webmaster and minutes secretary for 3 Edinburgh community councils Org: Edinburgh Napier University Location: Edinburgh Network Member since: I forget! Contact me at: [email protected] How would you describe your job to a child? I try to understand how people use computers to work together to make local things happen. When they…
14th February 2018
Written by Jonathan Bell UN Sustainable Development Goal 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. This Goal implies a link between strong and accountable Institutions and the realisation of sustainable…
5th February 2018
Job title: Network Lead Org: Involve Location: London Network Member since: October 2017 Contact me at: [email protected] How would you describe your job to a child? I help bring together people who want to change the UK to make it more open and fair. What does the concept of open government mean to you? Open government to…
2nd February 2018
Written by Colm Burns & David McBurney “We are the dupes of those who shape the content of our beliefs, who introduce us to each other as enemies and competitors, and who stand exalted on the shambles they create.” (Common Sense: Occupation, Assembly, and the Future of Liberty” by Dan Hind) The Street lights are…