There are still places available at Saturday’s Anti-Poverty conference at Craigroyston Community High School, and organisers are dleighted with the varied programme of speakers and workshops lined up for the event.
North Edinburgh Fights Back’s Willie Black (pictured above) is one of the conference organisers, and he’s looking forward to a day of debate and discussion with some great speakers lined up.
” We’re delighted that Owen Jones, author of ‘Chavs: The demonisation of the Working Class’, has agreed to speak at the conference – he recently appeared on BBC’s ‘Question Time and his attendance at Craigroyston is a real coup for us.
“Kezia Dugdale MSP will be speaking about her motion to parliament on pay day loans. It’s coming up for Christmas when money is even more tight, so this will be a topical contribution!”
Food is another topical issue in North Edinburgh – dare I say a ‘hot potato’?
Willie went on: “Mike Small from Fife Diet will be telling the conference about community gardening, food co-ops and allotments in Fife – how they got started and are now such an influential movement. He will be giving us some ideas to possibly take forward an ‘Edinburgh Diet’.
“This is especially important as our local Co-op – near the school where we are holding the conference – is about to be closed. It is the only place to buy fresh fruit and veg for miles. North Edinburgh Fights Back held a well supported petition and campaign stall outside the Co-op in Pennywell Road today (Wednesday) and people coming out of the shop and passing were shocked that the only large store within walking distance is to be closed. Many petition sheets were filled, and we will be raising this at the conference on Saturday.”
“Andy Wightman, author of ‘Who Owns Scotland’ and ‘The Poor have no Lawyers’ and who appeared as the expert on land ownership in the documentary ‘You’ve Been Trumped’ will be speaking to the conference about land ownership and the rights to common land that are being legislated against by the government. This legislation could result in local communities having the right to use land for their own use and plans. Locally selling the available land on the foreshore with planning permission to an off shore property company for just over 2 million instead of its original price of 40 million pounds will mean even less democratic control over what is built in our local area. we are not the only community facing this question of how land is bought and sold over our heads.”
Another ‘hot’ topic is fuel prices and fuel poverty. The conference has got this covered too:
“The Edinburgh Tenants’ Federation will be holding a workshop on fuel poverty and housing. They are having a ‘Warm-In’ at the east end of Princes Street at 5pm this Thursday (29 November) to highlight the horrendous effect that the rise in fuel prices will have on those who are already struggling to pay their bills and eat (and buy Christmas presents). Latest figures for fuel poverty are to announced tomorrow and the action is part of many protests across Britain.”
So a lot of issues, and a lot to debate – the conference takes place at Craigroyston Community High School this Saturday from 10am – 4pm. See flyer below for details of how to register:
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