Statement on Paris Attacks
As delegates of the Scottish Green Party attending the European Green Party Council in Lyon, France, we express our condolences and sympathy for the families and friends of all those who have been murdered or injured in the violent attacks in Paris last night. We also express our solidarity with people in France who are in shock at what has happened within their communities. The European Green Party Council has suspended activities in order to express condolences, share thoughts and debate the issues. As said by many others in the Party, we also express our solidarity and condolences for the many others around the world who have also suffered from violent attacks and war.
Grief and anger are rightly strongly felt and this is a time for expressing emotion. We also must try to understand and analyse.
We know that such acts of violence do not occur in a vacuum. We are also questioning how our world creates people who are willing to carry out such attacks. We must not just react to the immediate and awful violence but look to alternatives.
The European Green Party had been discussing how to support a humanitarian response to the refugee crisis, many of whom are fleeing the same murderous actions as we have seen in Paris.
We must work in solidarity with people in France and elsewhere to oppose such violence. We must stand firm in calling for solidarity and justice in Europe and around the world for those suffering oppression and welcome refugees who come to us from societies affected by war and violence.
Eurig Scandrett & Gillian Wilson