Country pursuits: Helen Minnis wants a rethink on how we refer to other nations

‘We have to start talking about “Developing” and “Developed” countries in a different way.’

‘True human development means a recognition that we are animals, and that we have no more right to planetary resources than any other species.’ | Photo: by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

One Saturday last month, a group of Glasgow Quakers gathered in the pouring sleety rain to do some gardening in Gilshochill. Gilshochill (pronounced Gilshie-Hill) is known as a ‘materially deprived’ part of Glasgow, and this group meets once a month to tend a beautiful garden, orchard and labyrinth that has been developed on a large grassy hillside there. Another local church group, the Mosaics, has worked hard to transform what our local Housing Association has called a ‘low quality leisure space’ just a bit further up the same hill. This is now a gorgeous little community garden, with a firepit and garden chairs, and a space where outdoor gigs have been held – also in the pouring rain!

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