Month: April 2015

Letter: A fair share for wealth creators

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Dear Editor

Government money for investment is raised through taxes of all kinds on the people. Private investment comes from the rich and very well-off.

The biggest investment of all is the labour power supplied by working people every day of the working year, transforming money investments into products.

Both government and private investors, after costing materials and labour, keep the surplus – called ‘profit’.

Government profit should be ploughed back into society in the form of public services. Those who give their labour power – without which there would be no profit – do not receive any of those profits; they of course get wages of varying amounts for a year’s work … as opposed to the ‘efforts’ of the rich who in making one investment telephone call!

Private investors, as ever, look to maximise profit, keeping costs as low as possible, particularly wages and working conditions (zero hours contracts are the modern way): this is where trouble starts.

If wages are restricted by private industry or the government, the ability of the working people to buy what they have produced is cut. This eventually leads to private investors withdrawing and closing down companies – reducing further the ability of people to buy goods.

The situation is made worse if the government – like the present Tory/Lib Dem one – is dominated by and operates in favour of private investors, and not those who produce the wealth in the first place.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

 

General Election: Edinburgh candidates confirmed

bigbenThe candidates nominated to stand in the City of Edinburgh’s five constituencies in the UK Parliamentary Elections on May 7th have been announced. Nominations closed at 4pm today.

The nominated candidates for each constituency are listed in full below and can also be found on the Council website:

Edinburgh East Constituency

CORBISHLEY, Oliver John – UK Independence Party (UKIP)
GILMORE, Sheila – Scottish Labour Party
MCCOLL, Peter Andrew – Scottish Green Party
MCMORDIE, James Frederick John – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
SALEEM, Ayesha – Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
SHEPPARD, Tommy – Scottish National Party (SNP)
UTTING, Karen Jane – Scottish Liberal Democrats

Edinburgh North & Leith Constituency

BEATTIE-SMITH, Sarah Elizabeth – Scottish Green Party
BROCK, Deidre Leanne – Scottish National Party (SNP)
LAZAROWICZ, Mark – Scottish Labour Party
MCGILL, Iain – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
MELVILLE, Alan Gordon – UK Independence Party (UKIP)
VEART, Martin – Scottish Liberal Democrats
WHITEHEAD, Bruce – Left Unity – Trade Unionists and Socialists

Edinburgh South Constituency

BRIGGS, Miles Edward Frank – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
FOX, Colin Anthony – Scottish Socialist Party
HAY, Neil William – Scottish National Party (SNP)
MARSHALL, Paul – United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP)
MEYER, Phyl Stuart – Scottish Green Party
MURRAY, Ian – Scottish Labour Party
SUBBARAMAN, Pramod – Scottish Liberal Democrats

Edinburgh South West Constituency

CHERRY Joanna Catherine – Scottish National Party (SNP)
DOHERTY Richard Alan – Scottish Green Party
FARTHING-SYKES Dan – Scottish Liberal Democrats
HENDERSON Ricky – Scottish Labour Party
LINDHURST Gordon John – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
LUCAS Richard Crewe  – UK Independence Party (UKIP)

Edinburgh West Constituency

BLACK Pat – Scottish Green Party
CROCKART Mike – Scottish Liberal Democrats
DAY Cammy – Scottish Labour Party
INGLIS George Grant Gordon Otto – UK Independence Party (UKIP)
PATERSON Lindsay Sheila – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
THOMSON Michelle Rhonda – Scottish National Party (SNP)

Find out more about where, when and how to vote.

Voters: are your details correct?

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Edinburgh’s voters are being urged to check their registration details are correct four weeks ahead of the General Election on 7 May.

Citizens are being reminded that they must be registered in order to cast their vote in May’s election, with tenants and recent movers in particular the focus of a drive to encourage registration.

Members of the public, including students and people who have moved home since the last time they registered, should check they are on the electoral role ahead of the registration deadline on 20 April.

Nominations close on Thursday for General Election Candidates, when the final list of those standing for Edinburgh’s five constituencies will be announced.

Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for the Edinburgh constituencies, said: “Interest in the forthcoming General Election is really starting to build up. It is essential that voters’ registration details are up-to-date so they can cast their votes and I would urge anyone who is unsure to check in plenty of time.”

More than 84% of the city’s residents voted in the Scottish Independence Referendum in September, but changes to the electoral registration system could mean some electors need to re-register. Anyone who has moved since August can update their address or other details by visiting the GOV.UK website.

You can check you are registered by phoning the Lothian Valuation Joint Board on 0131 344 2500.
Find out more about where, when and how to vote here.

Two in hospital following Wardieburn knife attack

Two men stabbed in Wardieburn in broad daylight

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Two men are being treated in hospital following a knife attack in Wardieburn Place yesterday. The incident happened in broad daylight at around 6pm.

An investigation is underway to establish whether a Vauxhall Astra abandoned at the scene was involved in the incident.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police in Edinburgh responded to a report of a serious assault on two men in the Wardieburn/Pilton area of the city around 6pm on Wednesday. Enquiries are ongoing into the full circumstances of this incident.”

If you have any information about the incident call Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Celebrating choreography at Gallery of Modern Art

One-off dance performance at Modern One tomorrow

IMG_9860 (2) (1)Edinburgh College’s contemporary artist in residence has unveiled a new exhibition about choreography at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art – and the college’s dance students are preparing a one-off performance tomorrow (Thursday 9 April) to complete the installation.

Julie Duffy, a former HND Contemporary Art Practice student at the college, is displaying ‘Rhythmic Structure’, the culmination of her residency and an exploration of dance choreography. The exhibition is at the Pig Rock Bothy in the grounds of the Modern One gallery until 12 April.

The final phase of the work involves BA (Hons) Dance students from the college’s Performing Arts Studio Scotland, who will choreograph and perform an original dance piece in the Bothy in response to Julie’s installation on Thursday 9 April at 2pm. All are welcome to attend the performance.

Julie is one of several former college students who have been invited back to the college as artists in residence. During her five-month residency, she undertook the Rhythmic Structure project and has also been working with students to help their development.

Rhythmic Structure explores the formal qualities of dance, focusing on the collaborative work of choreographer Merce Cunningham, composer John Cage, and painters Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, alongside Oskar Schlemmer’s ‘Das Triadische Ballett’. The work includes a screen-printed floor, hanging drapes and delicate structures made from felt, card and expanding foam!

The Artist in Residence (AIR) programme at the college gives practicing artists who are also former students the opportunity to come back to the college, providing them with a dedicated studio space as well as access to specialist resources and facilities. It aims to give them an opportunity to develop their practice and gain experience in learning and teaching in further education.

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Julie (above) said: “Working with the lecturers and students on the Contemporary Art Practice HND has been really stimulating. The AIR residency at Edinburgh College has been a wonderful opportunity to develop a new body of work in a creative and supportive environment. Showing my new work in such an internationally significant institution wouldn’t have been possible without the AIR programme.”

Alan Holligan, lecturer in Contemporary Art Practice and AIR programme coordinator, said: “Julie’s show at in the bothy is a mark of the quality of the artists graduating from the HND Contemporary Art Practice course who then return as artist in residence. Julie’s contribution to the course has been excellent and her influence on students is clear. I’d like to thank the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art for their support.”

Julie-Ann Delaney, curator at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, added: “The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is delighted to be working with Julie Duffy on the presentation of her ambitious new installation within Pig Rock Bothy at Modern One. Julie’s work has transformed the interior of the bothy, and the culmination of the project – which will see a newly choreographed dance work made by Edinburgh College students – will further this by bringing the space to life in a manner unlike ever before.”

Julie, the college’s eighth artist in residence, graduated from her HND in 2008 and went on to gain a 1st class BA Hons Degree in Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD).

Since graduating from DJCAD in 2011, Julie has developed new work and has exhibited regularly throughout Edinburgh including solo exhibitions at Summerhall and group shows at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop. As well as developing her solo practice in sculpture, Julie has more recently been developing collaborative practices with former college artist in residence and DJCAD graduate Hayley Mathers.

Edinburgh College is currently recruiting for courses starting in August, with a range of art and design courses available, including the HND Contemporary Art Practice. For more information about courses and to learn how to apply, go to the college website edinburghcollege.ac.uk

Show them you care: public meeting to discuss Granton Marina plans

‘We are fed up being ignored’ – Granton & District Community Council

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Following the last community council meeting that was well attended by groups and residents in the area we were asked to organise a public meeting to get our views heard on this development.

We are fed up being ignored. Our wishes discarded. No longer. We have an opportunity to really make a noise about this. Please come along and make your voice heard.

The meeting is on Thursday 9 April

at Royston & Wardieburn Community Centre – 7pm.

Please tell as many people as you know. The developer was invited and said no. Show them you do care!

Granton & District Community Council

Walled garden friends set meeting date

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The next meeting of the Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden

will be held on Thursday 23 April from 6 -7.30 pm

at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre 

Agenda so far:

  • Community ideas and aspirations – new additions to our list like the solar powered cycletrack to light up at night, recreation of a bit of the medieval castle!
  • Funding to make things happen – priorities?
  • Awareness raising, membership and voting rights.
  • EDI/WEL meeting
  • Planning committee meeting & Local Development Plan

Seating for 20, so please get in touch if you want to come along or put forward suggestions or questions for the meeting.

PS: Feedback from the exhibition at North Edinburgh Arts café has been very positive with many people surprised and glad to hear about the Friends Group campaign to safeguard and restore the walled garden.

Looking forward to seeing the film Sophia is making!

Kirsty Sutherland

Metafit made easier at Muirhouse Millennium Centre

Ciorcuit Class

The fitness programme previously known as Metafit has changed it’s name and it’s purpose. To allow older people to attend they have made the programme -now called Circuit Class – less intensive for those who cannot manage the more exertive tasks.

The first Circuit Class will take place on 9 April at 6.30pm and will continue weekly every Thursday The cost is £5 per person. Please bring a water bottle (although these will be available in the cafe for 50p).

EXERCISES WILL BE ADAPTED FOR DIFFERENT NEEDS

Participants must be over sixteen years old and should wear suitable clothing and footwear.

James McGinty

Telford rapist jailed for five years

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A man was sentenced to five years imprisonment yesterday at Edinburgh High Court after being found guilty of rape. Mike Okah (26) was found guilty of the rape of a woman at a flat in Telford Grove, Edinburgh on July 19 last  year.

Despite Okah’s denial of his guilt and his attempts to pervert the course of justice, he was arrested and charged following an investigation Police Scotland’s Rape Investigation Unit, based in Edinburgh.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Alwyn Bell said: “I would like to acknowledge the courage of the victim throughout this investigation. This was a particularly violent incident and Okah refused to acknowledge his guilt, going to great lengths to attempt to cover up his crime.

“Tackling sexual crime is a priority for Police Scotland. The National Rape Taskforce and rape investigation units across Scotland are victim focused and we work with partners to ensure that people receive the support they need, when they need it. We continue to encourage anyone subjected to any crime of a sexual nature to contact Police Scotland.”

Hampden hat-trick for Edinburgh College students!

Anti-racism treble for city students

CEE_0219Edinburgh College students came out top in the Show Racism the Red Card Scotland design competition, taking the top three spots in the Further Education category at an awards ceremony at Hampden Park last week.

Jennifer Grieve won the category, with fellow students Liam Philip and William Blake being highly commended for their designs. They are all studying NC Graphic Design at the college, and impressed judges with their poster designs interpreting the competition theme ‘Celebrating Diversity’.

Show Racism the Red Card Scotland runs an annual competition challenging young people to come up with a creative way of promoting their messages of anti-racism and anti-sectarianism.

The students were presented with their prizes by Liam Craig, the club captain of Hibernian FC, and Rangers FC’s Bilel Mohsni.

More than 4,000 young people across Scotland took part in this year’s competition with entrants coming from as far as the Isle of Skye and Dunoon as well as schools in the central belt. The competition sends a clear message that young people want Scotland to be a welcoming and multi-cultural society.

The students’ lecturer, Helena Good, said: “I am delighted that our three talented students were recognised with awards by Show Racism the Red Card Scotland.  I was very impressed by the quality of the poster designs they produced, which really captured the core of the campaign’s anti-racism message using exciting well-thought-out visuals.”

Vicki Burns, campaign manager for Show Racism the Red Card, said: “I am amazed at how creative our young people can be in finding ways to get the anti-racism and anti-sectarianism messages across. Everyone participating in the competition should be congratulated for their inspirational work.  The 4,000 young people who took part in the competition are giving Scotland a clear message – the country they want to live in has no room for racism and sectarianism.”

Art and Design students at Edinburgh College are given a range of opportunities to develop their practical design skills through entering design competitions and taking part in design challenges.  HND Visual Communication: Graphic Design students take part in a yearly one week design challenge with design briefs set by high profile organisations such as Innis & Gunn, Cutty Sark Whisky and Edinburgh Zoo.

Edinburgh College offers a range of art and design courses, from entry level courses for students with additional needs to HND level courses in illustration, graphic design and 3D animation.  Applications are currently invited for these courses and more than 900 other courses across the curriculum offered by Edinburgh College and starting in August on its four campuses.

See www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk for more information on how to apply.