Scotland has found itself at the forefront of the war against women’s rights.
The leaked US draft supreme court ruling overturning the landmark Roe vs Wade case that enshrined women’s rights to abortion care has emboldened pro-life campaigners across the world.
Scotland has seen an increasing level of noisy and intimidating protest s outside hospitals and clinics in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
These protests, on the whole, are not silent vigils of prayer. They are often expressions of rage against the world, not love towards unborn children or anguished women.
Because of the polarised views of the angry brigade, the idea that protesters should be corralled outside buffer zones has taken on a greater urgency.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s willingness to chair a round-table discussion on access to abortion clinics is a welcome response to pressure from Scottish Labour’s Monica Lennon and campaign organisations.
There have been legal challenges to buffer zones in Northern Ireland, although examples like Ealing in London – which has established a public space protection order to exclude protesters – show what can be done.
There is a place for protest, it is at the parliament. Houses of worship are also perhaps the best place for prayer.
Abortion clinics are there to meet the needs of women’s health and a baying mob has no right to interfere with that.
Sturgeon’s talks needs to shake off her government ’s innate caution and match the principle of defending a woman’s right to choose with some bold action.
Opening up helps
Jade Scullion has suffered from severe eczema her whole life.
A steroid cream she was taking for years turned out to be making things worse.
She decided to quit the medication in the hope that her skin condition will improve but side effects have caused debilitating flare-ups.
It got so bad that on one occasion a person shamefully took a picture of the mum of two when they thought she wasn’t looking.
Jade has bravely shared her experiences in dealing with the condition on social media.
She has found strength from the support of her followers, some of whom will be going through the same journey.
As of yet, there is no cure for eczema.
Sufferers have to live with the condition as best they can and deal with often unpredictable flare-ups, which can take a mental as well as physical toll.
By speaking so openly, Jade will have helped others cope with the demands of living with eczema.
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