Our Rights Officer
What are the environmental problems that matter to you?
Our Rights Officer is here to explain what your rights are and how to use them for social and environmental justice. They can meet you online or face to face, and organise workshops, webinars, and events. For more information, read our rights flyer and please share it.
We also want to share your stories of challenges and successes. This could be through videos, podcasts, or other creative ways.
Working together we can:
- Increase awareness of environmental human rights
- Take action to address your environmental concerns
- Use your voices and experience to campaign for better environmental laws.
Want to know more about Scotland’s air pollution, water pollution, and greenspaces and what you can do if you have an issue?
Voices for justice
These blogs give voice to the lived experience of people across Scotland fighting environmental injustices.
Wyndford Residents Union: Defending residents’ rights
The Wyndford Residents Union is fighting to save their home from one of Scotland’s biggest demolition projects proposed by Wheatley Homes Glasgow …
Save Our Shore Leith: Two years of advocating for a clean Water of Leith
SOSLeith have been fighting against sewage pollution for over two years, with little action from environmental regulators …
Bathing water case update: Have the waters cleared?
In recent years, outdoor bathing has become increasingly importance to our health and wellbeing. Yet all is not well – not a day goes by without another sewage scandal, another tale of polluted rivers or beaches clogged with plastic waste …
Saving Scotland’s ancient and native woodlands– Help Trees Help Us
Only 1% of Scotland’s ancient woodland remains and much of it is unprotected, in poor ecological condition and with no special designation. These irreplaceable and complex ecosystems are under threat …
The fight to stop the Clydebank incinerator – Kenny’s voice for justice
“I was fighting for my own health, but I felt as if I was fighting for the health of the people in the hospice, the kids in the primary school and the local community generally …”
Sewage polluted waters and a lack of monitoring – Save Our Shore Leith
Community organisation Save our Shore Leith (SOSLeith) campaigns against the impact of sewage outflows and the lack of monitoring in the Water of Leith – Jim Jarvie explains why and what needs to change …
Sewage sludge spreading – the harm and fight for improved regulation
Rural communities affected by sewage sludge spreading on agricultural land continue to wait for the Scottish Government to act on the human and environmental health risks. Read how community representatives, Doreen and Jo, have been at the forefront of public action against sewage sludge for more than a decade …
Exploring environmental rights with Roma youth activists
Our Rights Officer, Cornell, joined the Friends of Romano Lav youth activists in their local neighbourhood of Govanhill, Glasgow. Together, the group walked around Govanhill and took photos of what they liked, disliked, and wanted to change about their local environment …
Reclaiming contaminated land & unaffordable, unfair access to justice
In the Murieston Valley, Livingston lies a plot of vacant contaminated land which is now a valued local greenspace. Despite significant community concerns, a planning application was approved on appeal. Find out more about their struggle and how “its the financial side that inhibits the small man from doing something” …
Ann’s story – The fight for environmental justice
Ann Coleman, has been challenging developments on behalf of communities and the environment for over 25 years. Our Rights Officer interviewed her to learn more about her fight for environmental justice …
Voice from the Human Rights Lived Experience Board – Ann Coleman
Ann Coleman has been a community and environmental campaigner for over 25 years. We are grateful that she agreed to be on the Human Rights Lived Experience Board to inform the development of the Human Rights (Scotland) Bill …
Exorbitant legal fees forced us to close – Aberdeenshire Environmental Forum
The experience of George Niblock accessing Scotland’s legal system for environmental change. “The law and court procedures in Scotland are complex and intimidating. The potential …
