Day: September 19, 2012

Young filmmakers SEE for themselves

Short films produced by local schoolchildren through the Cashback for Creativity initiative were premiered at North Edinburgh Arts Centre last night, and both ‘Danny’ and ‘The Clock Strikes Fate’ were real quality productions.

Participants from Broughton High School, CORE, Pilton Youth and Children’s Project and Muirhouse Youth Development Group worked with professionals from Pilton-based Screen Education Edinburgh to produce the two short films, with the young people were involved at every stage of the process – from script writing and finding locations to acting, selecting soundtracks and editing. The young filmmakers discovered that an awful lot of preparation and hard work goes into creating even a short film, but their efforts were richly rewarded with two fine short films.

Introducing the films, SEE project manager James McKenzie said: “I think you will agree that these films are remarkable, given that most of the young people involved had no experience of filmmaking. I am sure they will be very proud when they see what they have produced – these are excellent films”.

Danny dealt with the issue of schizophrenia in an unusually entertaining way, while ‘The Clock Strikes Fate’ was a silent movie, simple yet touching.

In a question and answer session with SEE engagement officer Neil Rolland after the screenings, the filmmakers were unanimous in saying that they had learned a lot from the process and all expressed a wish to go on to make more movies.

Kyle Fitzpatrick said: “I thought to begin with I would only be acting but we all got involved in lots of different aspects, things we hadn’t thought we would be doing – for me it was using film cameras, for example. It was a great experience and we learned a lot over the course of producing the films. This was the first time we’d seen the finished films and I think they look pretty good!”

The films will now be entered into film festivals and will appear on SEE’s website – www.screen-ed.org – sometime soon. The young filmmakers will also get their wish for more opportunities to male movies – Screen Education Edinburgh plan to set up a North Edinburgh Young People’s Film Group in the not too distant future. So you never know, Danny Two – the full length sequel?

Letter: Proud parents

Dear Editor

I would be grateful if you can print a piece on my sixteen year old daughter Gillian, of whom we are very proud. She got an ‘A’ exam result for Art and Design and now has a full-time place at Telford College.

I enclose a picture she took on her mobile while in South Queensferry then painted it onto canvas.

P White

Easter Drylaw Avenue

Letter: This is a rubbish service!

Dear Editor

We residents in Granton Crescent sheltered housing are writing to complain about the communal paladin bins not being emptied regularly, and when we phone they say they will put it through as a special uplift – but nothing happens!

Sometimes they are not emptied for at least three weeks and the bin men complain about the rubbish lying around in the bin store which they are having to clean up! The driver said sometimes our pallet bins are not on his list – also we are told that our bins would be emptied by the morning squad and not the afternoon squad.

Furthermore, I have asked for fourteen years for the bin store cupboards to be cleaned, as the stench coming from it is unbearable and is travelling into our kitchens.

M McGhee (and neighbours)

Granton Crescent

Letter: Who Cares?

Dear Editor

So much has been spoken and written about Care; whether in hospital, at home or care home. In the light of investigations and inquiries and some awful revelations there seems to be an agreement that a huge problem exists, and with an ageing population it is a growing one which must be tackled now. Good caring, in all it’s forms, cannot be done on the cheap.

Inadequate funding and gross under-staffing for the work needed is the reality: the exiting staff with best possible intentions cannot give the time and care,both physically and, in particular, the mental attention needed by an individual.

No-one knows the future health needs of ourselves or our families but we can make sure there is an excellent National Health Service: fully trained, fully staffed and fully funded, giving caring care and dignity to our loved ones in their time of need.

A Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Raise a cup of Fairtrade for Macmillan this month

Equal Exchange women farmers
Macmillan in Edinburgh are delighted to be supported by Equal Exchange, Scotland’s oldest and largest Fairtrade Coffee Co-op. The companies Edinburgh based café partners , including a number of Edinburgh’s Community Cafes,  will take part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event to raise funds on 28 September, helping to reach the national £11 million target.

Heather Baird said: “Macmillan Cancer Support is a fantastic charity and Equal Exchange are delighted to help raise funds from Fairtrade Coffee Mornings across Scotland this September. Cancer affects women worldwide and has touched many of the lives of the farmers we work with. “

All the women who we source our Coffee Grown By Women from are paid a fair price and extra women’s premium for their coffee. This year one of the farmer co-operative Soppexcca in Nicaragua spent their premium on cervical screening for its women members. Norma Gaeda Paiva was one of the woman farmers who set up this project and on her recent trip to the UK said “We want to give value and visibility to the important work that women farmers do and that has been traditionally ignored” Selling her coffee direct to Equal Exchange ensures cancer care like this exists in her community.

Macmillan’s Fundraising Manager, Jayne Forbes, added: “We are very grateful to Equal Exchange for pledging such significant support to us through participation in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. Every penny raised will help fund more services for people affected by cancer in Edinburgh. Their involvement means there will be enough practical, medical, financial and emotional support to help to change the lives of everyone affected by cancer for the better.

“The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is a really fun event that is really easy to take part in, especially as you can tailor it to suit yourself. Look out for the green coffee grown by women farmer’s stickers in cafes and shops across Scotland to show your support. If you were unable to hold it on September 28 just pick another day, if you’re not keen on coffee and would rather have cocktails or even herbal tea then that’s fine as well. All that matters is that you take part. So put a smile on your mug and help Macmillan reach more people affected by cancer in your area.”

To register to host a coffee morning visit: www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 070 1315 or to join Equal Exchange’s pledge to support more women farmers in Fairtrade visit www.equalexchange.co.uk

 

 

Lazarowicz attacks government for 'betrayal' of disabled workers

Mark Lazarowicz MP has condemned the betrayal of Edinburgh Remploy workers by Government and calls on all sides to work together to support workers made redundant.

The North and Leith MP was reacting to news that the Edinburgh Remploy factory in South Gyle is to close. Mark Lazarowicz MP for Edinburgh North and Leith has attacked the betrayal by the UK Government of disabled workers at the factory and called on Remploy, the Department of Work and Pensions, Scottish Government and the City Council to work together to help find the workers alternative employment.

Mr Lazarowicz (pictured below) said: “The news makes me wonder whether the Government was genuinely seeking to find bids to keep factories open or whether it was simply offering false hope. One of the stated aims of its welfare changes is to support disabled people into work wherever possible – laudable in principle but it is hard to square that with the way that it has treated Remploy workers. Staff will now find themselves out of work at a time when unemployment in Scotland is almost two and a half million. I call upon Remploy, the Department of Work and Pensions, Scottish Government and the City Council to make a concerted effort to help them find alternative employment.”

The factory was reprieved from closure along with other factories in July as the Remploy Board deemed that there was a potentially viable business plan to secure its future, but those hopes have now been dashed.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that there had been an expression of interest in the factory, but that it had gone no further. She added: “We have followed the advice of disability expert Liz Sayce to use the £320m protected budget for disability employment more effectively, to support more disabled people into mainstream jobs instead of loss-making segregated factories. We have put in place an £8m package of employment support for those affected, including a Personal Case Worker to help individuals with their future choices, as well as access to a personal budget.”

Lazarowicz attacks government for ‘betrayal’ of disabled workers

Mark Lazarowicz MP has condemned the betrayal of Edinburgh Remploy workers by Government and calls on all sides to work together to support workers made redundant.

The North and Leith MP was reacting to news that the Edinburgh Remploy factory in South Gyle is to close. Mark Lazarowicz MP for Edinburgh North and Leith has attacked the betrayal by the UK Government of disabled workers at the factory and called on Remploy, the Department of Work and Pensions, Scottish Government and the City Council to work together to help find the workers alternative employment.

Mr Lazarowicz (pictured below) said: “The news makes me wonder whether the Government was genuinely seeking to find bids to keep factories open or whether it was simply offering false hope. One of the stated aims of its welfare changes is to support disabled people into work wherever possible – laudable in principle but it is hard to square that with the way that it has treated Remploy workers. Staff will now find themselves out of work at a time when unemployment in Scotland is almost two and a half million. I call upon Remploy, the Department of Work and Pensions, Scottish Government and the City Council to make a concerted effort to help them find alternative employment.”

The factory was reprieved from closure along with other factories in July as the Remploy Board deemed that there was a potentially viable business plan to secure its future, but those hopes have now been dashed.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that there had been an expression of interest in the factory, but that it had gone no further. She added: “We have followed the advice of disability expert Liz Sayce to use the £320m protected budget for disability employment more effectively, to support more disabled people into mainstream jobs instead of loss-making segregated factories. We have put in place an £8m package of employment support for those affected, including a Personal Case Worker to help individuals with their future choices, as well as access to a personal budget.”

Council meeting to be broadcast live

Tomorrow’s full council meeting will be broadcast live in an attempt to ‘open up democracy’. Councillors have agreed that City of Edinburgh Council meetings are to be webcast live as part of a one year pilot programme, and the first meeting which can be viewed via the Council’s website takes place tomorrow (Thursday, 20 September) from 10am.

The council hopes that the project will open up democracy in the capital by helping to create a better understanding among members of the public about how the Council works and makes decisions. Viewers can either watch the meeting live or in the archive later. They can also see the reports and documents for each agenda item. Archived meetings will automatically be indexed by both agenda item and speaker to make it easier for viewers to choose items they are interested in.

Lord Provost, Donald Wilson, said: “The Council makes decisions which affect the lives of every single person in Edinburgh. We are committed to improving how we engage with Edinburgh residents and the pilot will be a great tool to help us to be more open and transparent. More and more people access news and information via the internet. Given that my background is in information technology I am very conscious of the need to take advantage of it and use it to engage with our communities and encourage them to take a greater interest in how the Council works.”

You can join in the debate on Twitter #edinwebcast’

Will you be following tomorrow’s Council meeting? Let us know!