14 December 2012
GREENS REPORT TRUMP TO WATCHDOG FOR "SICK" ADVERT
Scottish Greens have lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority, which if successful, would result in a second reprimand for controversial property developer Donald Trump.
The tycoon has placed full page adverts in two leading Scottish newspapers today (14 Dec) - the Courier and the Press and Journal, both owned by DC Thomson.
The adverts feature a photograph of First Minister Alex Salmond and a Californian wind farm, and state that "tourism will suffer" as well as linking this claim to the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber.
Complaints about an earlier advert were upheld, with Trump and anti-wind group CATS warned by the ASA "not to exaggerate the number of turbines likely to be installed or the possible consequences of the Scottish Government's plans to use wind turbines."
Patrick Harvie MSP, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, said:
“Trump has sunk to a new low. Linking renewables policy to Lockerbie victims is sick.
"Not only did he have no shred of evidence that tourism would suffer when we quizzed him during the parliament's inquiry into renewables, he has already been censured by the authorities for placing similar anti-renewables adverts.
"Trump’s organisation has already trashed a unique environment on the coast of Aberdeenshire and trampled on the rights of local people. Now he appears to be determined to buy up chunks of the Scottish press. It’s vital that Scotland doesn’t allow a bully to think he can flash his cash and get his own way.
"The Advertising Standards Authority is clear that advertising must be responsible, and must not mislead or offend. If DC Thomson has any sense it'll tell him to take his irresponsible, misleading and offensive business elsewhere."
3 October 2012: GOVERNMENT URGED TO OK ABERDEEN BAY PROJECT – TRUMP ISOLATED
Scottish Greens are urging the Scottish Government to come to a swift decision on the proposed Aberdeen Bay project, now that objections from a range of organisations have been resolved.
The 11-turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre has the potential to make Scotland a world-leader in new technologies, attracting millions of pounds of investment, new jobs and speeding up the transition to a low carbon economy.
RSPB Scotland, the Civil Aviation Authority, National Air Traffic Services and the Ministry of Defence have lifted their objections following discussions with the developers.
Billionaire US developer Donald Trump remains opposed, claiming the project will spoil the view from the £13m golf course he built on the unique and internationally-important sand dunes of Menie.
Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow, said:
“The Aberdeen Bay project is crucial to Scotland’s low carbon future, and the resolution of these organisations’ concerns means the way is now clear for a swift decision by the Scottish Government. The project has the potential to transform our reliance on fossil fuels and generate millions of pounds for our economy.
“Mr Trump is entirely isolated on this development and sounds increasingly eccentric on the whole issue. I urge the Scottish Government to do all it can to prevent such an important project from being delayed by the deep pockets of someone so ill-informed, self-interested and litigious.”
9 July 2012: GREENS INVITE MSPs TO CONDEMN TRUMP DEVELOPMENT
As US tycoon Donald Trump prepares to tee-off at the official opening of his £13million environmentally-damaging golf course in Aberdeenshire, the Scottish Greens are inviting concerned MSPs from other parties to show their true colours.
Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow, has lodged a motion asking the parliament to back the Scottish Wildlife Trust's call for top golfers to boycott some of the holes on the course.
The motion also points out that the billionaire developer, who described local people's homes as "slums", has failed to deliver the 7,000 jobs he had predicted and that he has breached planning conditions.
Mr Harvie said:
“The Trump saga has been a monumental embarrassment for Scotland and its governments. The way successive First Ministers, council leaders and industry sucked up to this bully boy billionaire was utterly shameful.
"Perhaps because the development took place away from the central belt little attention was paid to the impact on the community. The intimidation of people living there has been scandalous and the lack of interest from the ministers who sanctioned the project speaks volumes.
"Housing, jobs and a predicted economic boom were the reasons given by the SNP Government when they overruled the council. And what has actually materialised? A Portakabin and an alien landscape where once there was natural beauty.
"We've sent the message that no matter how dodgy you are, flash some cash and Scotland will roll over. As we look forward to a historic decision on the future of Scotland, perhaps a real sign of how progressive we can be would be for the Government to tell this guy precisely where he can stick his nine iron.”
The text of the motion submitted by Mr Harvie is:
That the Parliament notes with disappointment the official opening of a golf course on a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the dunes of Foveran Links on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire; agrees that the development has failed to deliver the 7,000 jobs predicted by the developers; regrets that local residents have suffered intimidation and inconvenience; welcomes plans by Scottish Natural Heritage to assess the extent of environmental damage and habitat loss; expresses concern that the developer has yet to establish a temporary sewage system on site and that neither the entrance sign at the site nor the car park have planning permission; agrees that the £750million figure widely quoted is inaccurate and that in fact to date only £13million has been invested in the project; urges the Scottish Government to demonstrate that it has learned lessons from its handling of the project and supports the Scottish Wildlife Trust in its call for leading golfers attending the opening of the course to boycott the holes built on the SSSI.
4 June 2012: GREEN MSP WELCOMES RULING TRUMP COMPLAINT 'IRRELEVANT'
Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow, has today (4 June) welcomed a ruling by the Public Standards Commissioner for Scotland that a complaint about him by US tycoon Donald Trump is 'irrelevant and inadmissable'.
Following Mr Trump's appearance at the Scottish Parliament in April - in which he claimed he was 'the evidence' against wind power - Mr Harvie posted a tongue-in-cheek image on Twitter using a still from the Monty Python film The Life of Brian.
This prompted a complaint to the standards commissioner by Mr Trump and his right-hand man George Sorial, who described the humourous tweet as 'offensive' and 'blasphemous'.
Mr Harvie said:
"As I said when I heard Mr Trump had apparently taken offence at my tweet, I never expected the Spanish Inquisition. Fortunately the Commissioner has spared me the horror of the comfy chair.
"Trump seems to make a living from insulting behaviour. Just look at the way he has bullied the people on the Menie estate, describing their homes as slums.
"He seems to have an ego of messianic proportions. With this ruling from the commissioner we can all see that, as Brian's mum might have said, Trump is not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy.
"Scotland is on an important journey to a low carbon future. We must not be put off by a millionaire with a megaphone."
26 April 2012: SALMOND DUCKS THE DONALD QUESTION
Scottish Greens are accusing Alex Salmond of ducking an important question about Donald Trump during today's First Minister's Questions at Holyrood.
Mr Salmond failed to take up a suggestion from Green MSP Patrick Harvie to kick the US tycoon and climate change denier out of the prestigious GlobalScot network of business ambassadors.
Mr Harvie's initial question about the proposed European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre that Mr Trump objects to was the first time Greens had been selected for First Minister's Questions since last May's election.
The Glasgow MSP suggested the First Minister was regretting being drawn into Mr Trump’s orbit, finding himself with a half-built carbuncle in his constituency and possible legal action against a vital site for offshore wind.
After the exchange Mr Harvie said:
"It wasn't a surprise that the First Minister stuck up for renewables. But it was a shame he failed to recognise the continued threat from Trump to our renewables potential and the way he is tarnishing Scotland's reputation.
"This was a perfect opportunity for Mr Salmond to take a proper stand against a rich American windbag but he ducked it."
