Business School recognised by prestigious organisation
Edinburgh Napier University has earned business accreditation from AACSB International, the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools.
The accolade, which recognises ENU’s Business School for excelling in teaching, research, curriculum development, and student learning, is held by less than six per cent of global institutions that offer business degrees.
Founded in 1916, AACSB is a global non-profit association that connects learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. To gain accreditation, The Business School successfully completed a rigorous review process conducted by business education peers.
ENU now joins a network of nearly 1,000 accredited institutions, including more than 40 in the UK.
Professor Christine Cross, Dean of The Business School, said:“AACSB international is a globally recognised benchmark for business education excellence and obtaining this accreditation is a testament to our unwavering dedication to providing high-quality education and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
“Through rigorous evaluation of our academic programmes, faculty qualifications, research initiatives and student outcomes AACSB accreditation reaffirms that Edinburgh Napier University is at the forefront of business education.
“As we celebrate this achievement we also reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment that equips our students with the skills and the mindset necessary to address the challenges of the business world with empathy, integrity and resilience.
“Looking ahead Edinburgh Napier University will continue to push boundaries and maintain the highest standards of education, research and community engagement.”
Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB, said: “Edinburgh Napier University’s commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of their dedication—not only to their students, alumni network, and greater business community, but to the higher education industry as a whole.
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s business leaders, and the addition of the Edinburgh Napier University to the network of AACSB-accredited business schools will have a lasting positive impact for their institution, both locally and globally.
“We congratulate Edinburgh Napier University and Dean Christine Cross on earning accreditation and applaud the entire team—including the administration, faculty, staff, and students—for their roles in earning this respected honour.”
The two alcohol-free companies collaborate for the first-time to create the ‘WilMore Spritz’, a refreshing alternative spritz cocktail with notes of ginger, grapefruit and rosemary – all the complexity of the perfect spritz, but without the alcohol
In celebration of National Spritz Day on 1st August, Edinburgh’s Talonmore is teaming-up with Wilfred’s for the first-time to create a limited-edition non-alcoholic spritz cocktail, the ‘WilMore Spritz’.
On Talonmore’s website, the companies are offering a special bundle deal with 20% off both brands for consumers to purchase the bottles and make the delicious spritz cocktail at-home.
Talonmore’s distinctive taste is fired by the spice of ginger and Assam tea whilst complemented with malty notes and fruit sweetness. Pairing with Wilfred’s complex bittersweet orange & rosemary aperitif, the ‘WilMore Spritz’ offers an exquisitely crafted, impeccably refreshing non-alcoholic spritz.
‘WILMORE SPRITZ’ – Fill a large wine glass with plenty of ice – Add 50ml – Wilfred’s NA Aperitif, then 50ml – Talonmore NA Spirit – Add a dash of Premium Light Tonic Water (100ml) and stir briefly – Garnish with Grapefruit & Rosemary
The popularity of the spritz serve has swept the nation, with CGA data reporting that 78% of consumers would choose a spritz serve at least occasionally. The spritz is a longer drink, meaning it can be consumed over a greater period of time, confirming the narrative of cocktail lovers wanting less, yet more premium drinks.
Talonmore is a Scottish based, family run business established in Edinburgh in 2020. The latest batch of Talonmore includes a brand-new look & feel, with an upgraded label and eye-catching flagship red foil.
Using a mix of rooted and plant-based ingredients and inspired by Edinburgh’s festival spirit and history of innovation, Talonmore was created to provide an exceptional alcohol-free drink that can be enjoyed without compromising health, control and taste.
Choosing brewing methods of manufacture, rather than distilling, Talonmore have developed a unique beverage that ensures flavour is at the forefront, replicating the experience of drinking a dark spirit.
Talonmore can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, with a mixer or in a multitude of non-alcoholic cocktails such as the WilMore Spritz. In 2022, Talonmore was awarded Silver at the International Wine and Spirits Competition scoring an impressive 92 points out of 100.
Wilfred’s was created by founder Chris Wilfred Hughes after being increasingly frustrated by the uninspired, overly sweet and usually unhealthy non-alcoholic options available, both at home and when out.
Aiming to reinvent the spritz, he decided flavour, quality and complexity were of the utmost importance. Inspired by travels around the world his journey eventually led him back home to the authentic flavours he associates most with London – freshly picked rosemary from his mother’s garden, and the bitter oranges in his father’s homemade marmalade.
Made in Britain with natural botanicals, 0% alcohol and only 20 calories per serving, Wilfred’s aperitif pairs impeccably with Talonmore and premium tonic water to create the refreshing ‘WilMore Spritz’.
Lewis Kennedy, Managing Director at Talonmore Drinks Company, said: “Talonmore has admired Wilfred’s for some time now. We always thought the flavours of both brands would work perfectly together. After an exciting chat with Chris and a delicious spritz sampling session, we were absolutely right.
“We only see the popularity of alcohol-free serves getting more and more popular. Talonmore is all about offering choice and versatility and with National Spritz Day coming up, what a perfect opportunity to partner with another forward-thinking alcohol-free brand to create the ‘WilMore Spritz’. We hope this will become a household serve for alcohol-free fans this summer, and many summers to come.
“The ‘WilMore Spritz’ offers the perfect serve for all day summer fun. Enjoying the sun in style, with a mix of refreshing notes of ginger, grapefruit and rosemary – a gorgeously refreshing and complex spritz, just without the alcohol.”
With over 8 million adults in the UK looking to reduce their alcohol intake, Talonmore is designed to shake up the non-alcoholic drinks market through championing the adventurous lifestyle that could normally be sacrificed with traditional alcohol.
Hundreds of new oil and gas licenses will be granted in the UK, PM confirms
Prime Minister commits to future oil and gas licensing rounds, as new analysis shows domestic gas production has around one-quarter the carbon footprint of imported liquified natural gas
North East Scotland and the Humber chosen as locations for two new carbon capture usage and storage clusters – building a thriving clean industry in the North Sea which could support up to 50,000 jobs
Investment in the North Sea will continue to unlock new projects, protect jobs, reduce emissions and boost UK energy independence
Hundreds of new oil and gas licences will be granted in the UK, the Prime Minister has confirmed today (Monday 31 July), as the UK Government continues to back the North Sea oil and gas industry as part of drive to make Britain more energy independent.
The Government and the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) are today announcing a joint commitment to undertake future licensing rounds, which will continue to be subject to a climate compatibility test.
By adopting a more flexible application process, licences could also be offered near to currently licensed areas – unlocking vital reserves which can be brought online faster due to existing infrastructure and previous relevant assessments.
With the independent Climate Change Committee predicting around a quarter of the UK’s energy demand will still be met by oil and gas when the UK reaches net zero in 2050, the Government is taking steps to slow the rapid decline in domestic production of oil and gas, which will secure our domestic energy supply and reduce reliance on hostile states.
This will increase the UK’s energy security and reduce dependence on higher-emission imports, whilst protecting more than 200,000 jobs in a vital industry as we grow the UK economy.
As part of a visit to a critical energy infrastructure site in Aberdeenshire today, the Prime Minister will highlight the central role the region will play in strengthening the UK’s energy independence and meet the next generation of skilled apprentices key to driving this work forward.
The NSTA – responsible for regulating the oil, gas and carbon storage industries – is currently running the 33rd offshore oil and gas licensing round. They expect the first of the new licences to be awarded in the autumn, with the round expected to award over 100 licences in total.
Future licences will be critical to providing energy security options, unlocking carbon capture usage and storage and hydrogen opportunities – building truly integrated offshore energy hubs that make the best use of the established infrastructure.
This comes as new analysis released by the NSTA today shows that the carbon footprint of domestic gas production is around one-quarter of the carbon footprint of imported liquified natural gas.
As the UK is a rapidly declining producer of oil and gas, new oil and gas licences reduce the fall in UK supply in order to ensure vital energy security, rather than increase it above current levels – so that the UK remains on track to meet net zero by 2050.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “We have all witnessed how Putin has manipulated and weaponised energy – disrupting supply and stalling growth in countries around the world.
“Now more than ever, it’s vital that we bolster our energy security and capitalise on that independence to deliver more affordable, clean energy to British homes and businesses.
“Even when we’ve reached net zero in 2050, a quarter of our energy needs will come from oil and gas. But there are those who would rather that it come from hostile states than from the supplies we have here at home.
“We’re choosing to power up Britain from Britain and invest in crucial industries such as carbon capture and storage, rather than depend on more carbon intensive gas imports from overseas – which will support thousands of skilled jobs, unlock further opportunities for green technologies and grow the economy.”
The UK’s oil and gas industry are also vital to driving forward and investing in clean technologies that we need to realise our net zero target, like carbon capture usage and storage, by drawing from the sector’s existing supply chains, expertise and key skills whilst protecting jobs.
Today, the Government has confirmed that projects Acorn in North East Scotland and Viking in the Humber have been chosen as the third and fourth carbon capture usage and storage clusters in the UK.
The Government has already committed to deploy CCUS in two industrial clusters by the mid-2020s – the HyNet cluster in North West England and North Wales, and the East Coast Cluster in the Teesside and Humber – and another further two clusters by 2030 – now confirmed as Acorn and Viking.
Together, these four clusters will build a new thriving carbon capture usage and storage industry, which could support up to 50,000 jobs in the UK by 2030.
The UK has one of the largest potential carbon dioxide storage capacities in Europe, making the North Sea one of the most attractive business environments for CCUS technology. The Government has committed to provide up to £20 billion in funding for early deployment of CCUS, unlocking private investment and job creation.
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said: “In the wake of Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine, our energy security is more important than ever. The North Sea is at the heart of our plan to power up Britain from Britain so that tyrants like Putin can never again use energy as a weapon to blackmail us.
“Today’s commitment to power ahead with new oil and gas licences will drive forward our energy independence and our economy for generations. Protecting critical jobs in every region of the UK, safeguarding energy bills for British families and providing a homegrown fuel for our economy that, for domestic gas production, has around one-quarter the carbon footprint of imported liquified natural gas.
“Our next steps to develop carbon capture and storage, in Scotland and the Humber, will also help to build a thriving new industry for our North Sea that could support as many as 50,000 jobs, as we deliver on our priority of growing the economy.”
The Prime Minister has also tasked the relevant Government departments and regulators to work collaboratively and report back by the end of the year on how we can make the best use of our offshore resources in a truly integrated way as we unlock CCUS and hydrogen opportunities in the North Sea.
A call for evidence has also been launched by Government today, seeking views on the evolving context for taxes for the oil and gas sector to design a long-term fiscal regime which delivers predictability and certainty, supports investment, protects jobs and the country’s energy security.
CAMPAIGNERS FURY OVER NEW LICENSES
‘Rishi Sunak is gleefully encouraging the arsonists to go and put more fuel on the fire‘
Climate campaigners are furious that the Prime Minister is ‘doing the bidding’ of the oil industry after he re-affirmed that the UK Government will issue over 100 new licences for oil and gas exploration this Autumn.
Rishi Sunak also said that the Acorn project was chosen as the third of four carbon capture and storage clusters in the UK. Climate campaigners regard carbon capture and storage (CCS) as an attempt to ‘greenwash’ the oil industry and pointed to the long history of failure of the technology.
Campaigners say that instead of giving more public money to oil firms it should be invested in climate solution that work today and can improve people’s lives such as public transport and home insulation.
Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaign Mary Church said: “Burning oil and gas is driving extreme weather and killing people on every continent yet Rishi Sunak is gleefully encouraging the arsonists to go and put more fuel on the fire.”
“By ignoring the huge harm caused by fossil fuel company greed and doing bidding of the industry, the UK Government is blatantly in denial about climate breakdown.”
“By committing to future licensing rounds on the same day, it’s clear to see that carbon capture is little more than a greenwashing tactic by big oil to try and keep their climate-wrecking industry in business.”
“CCS has a long history of over-promising and under-delivering yet both the Scottish and UK Governments have fallen for the snake oil salesmen rather than face reality that the only solution to the climate crisis is a fast and fair phase out of oil and gas.
“Funding for the Acorn project is yet another massive public subsidy to oil companies like Shell who have been making billions in profits, while ordinary people are struggling to pay the bills.
“Instead of handing more money to polluters, it is time to redirect that investment to climate solutions that we know can deliver emissions cuts and improve peoples’ lives today – such as improving public transport and insulating people’s homes to help with energy bills.”
Commenting on the UK Government’s citation of analysis showing domestic gas production has a lower carbon footprint than imported gas, Ms Church continued: “It’s pure spin to try to sell more climate wrecking extraction as lower carbon when every nation needs to phase fossil fuels out with rich nations like the UK going first and fastest.
“What’s more, the Prime Minister is comparing apples and pears as most of what’s left in the North Sea is heavy oil, that we don’t even use domestically, not gas, so it has to be exported anyway.”
Unsurprisingly, ‘stakeholder’ comments have been overwhelmingly positive:
David Whitehouse, CEO Offshore Energies UK said: “Domestic production is the best pathway to net zero and the UK Government’s commitment to licences is a welcome boost for energy security and jobs.
“Oil and gas fields decline naturally over time. The UK needs the churn of new licences to manage production decline inline with the maturing basin. There are currently 283 active oil and gas fields in the North Sea, by 2030 around 180 of those will have ceased production due to natural decline. If we do not replace maturing oil and gas fields with new ones, the rate of production will decline much faster than we can replace them with low carbon alternatives.
“Developing our new carbon capture industry and its high-value jobs needs significant investment from our energy producing companies. This means that the bedrock to success and delivering growth in the economy can only be collaboration between private and public capital.
“The UK’s skilled offshore workforce, its engineering expertise and its geology have given our nation a unique opportunity to lead the way in building a net zero world.”
Tom Glover, RWE UK, Country Chair said: “RWE is delighted that Viking CCS has been awarded Track 2 status for the Government’s Cluster Sequencing Process.
“RWE is a long-term cluster partner of Viking CCS and is developing two projects that could use this facility, providing firm, secure and flexible low carbon power generation to support our transition to a net zero economy.”
Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to designate Viking as a Track 2 carbon capture utilisation and storage cluster (CCUS). Progressing a CO2 transport and storage network in the Humber represents a significant step toward helping the region meet its Net Zero ambitions and ensuring that it remains a source of high-skilled jobs and energy security for decades to come.
“The announcement shows the importance of CCUS to the Humber and, along with the East Coast Cluster, creates an additional pathway to support our plans for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) at Drax Power Station.
“We are currently engaged in formal discussions with the UK Government on this project and hope to invest billions in its development and deploy this critical, carbon removals technology by 2030.”
Dr Nick Cooper, CEO of Acorn lead developer Storegga, said: “We are thrilled that the Acorn Project has advanced directly into Track-2. Acorn has been progressed by the development partners as the Track-1 reserve since late 2021 and is ready to move promptly to support the decarbonisation of Scotland and the wider UK.
“Today’s news is a defining milestone for us, and the Scottish Cluster. Acorn will be a major contributor towards meeting the UK and Scotland’s carbon reduction targets, able to serve emitters connected by pipeline and ship.
“As Lead Developer, Storegga thanks Acorn partners and Scottish Cluster participants for their support and we look forward to working with Government to deliver the multiple benefits of creating and future-proofing jobs, bringing inward economic investment, developing green-tech industries and, crucially helping decarbonise Scotland and the UK.”
Harbour Energy’s Executive Vice President of Net Zero and CCS Steve Cox said: The successful award of Track 2 status to Harbour’s Viking CCS project in the Humber as well as Acorn in northeast Scotland is another demonstration of how we are well positioned to use our existing skills and infrastructure to help develop the burgeoning CCS industry in the UK.
“More widely, the announcement today shows the key role the North Sea oil and gas sector will play in helping to deliver the UK’s carbon capture goals.”
Ruth Herbert, Chief Executive at the CCSA, said: “We are pleased to see the UK Government pushing ahead with its CCUS deployment programme and selecting the next two CCUS clusters, as time is running out to meet 2030 targets.
“This CO2 infrastructure is critical to safeguarding the UK’s supply chain security, enabling local industries to continue to thrive whilst reducing their emissions as we transition to a net zero economy.
“It is therefore vital that the Government urgently sets out clarity on the process and timeline for selecting carbon capture sites within these ‘Track-2’ clusters and within the previously announced Track-1 cluster expansion.
Billions of pounds of investment is waiting to be deployed to decarbonise these industrial regions, but firm plans are required to secure it.
“There are a number of other clusters under development across the country, which is why last year we asked government for visibility of the longer-term CCUS deployment plan.
“Collectively, CCUS clusters could protect 77,000 current jobs and create a further 70,000 jobs across the UK. Government’s forthcoming vision for the UK CCUS sector needs to be published as soon as possible, to avoid investment flight in those regions that have not been selected today.”
Simon Roddy, Senior Vice President of Shell UK‘s Upstream business, said: “This is an important step forward for one of the UK’s leading CCS clusters. The Acorn Project is a central part of plans to decarbonise North Sea operations, and to store emissions from other parts of Scottish industry.
“As Technical Developer, we bring Shell’s global experience of CCS and the delivery of major projects. T
“o stimulate investment in this and other CCS clusters, continued co-operation with governments will be key to finding the most innovative approaches and business models to allow CCS to reach the scale needed to help the UK achieve net zero.”
Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive of SSE, said: “Carbon capture will play a critical role not only in decarbonising the UK’s power system but also in unlocking economic growth and boosting our energy security, and today’s announcement marks a major step forward in its deployment.
“We know how important it is that the north-east of Scotland and Humber are decarbonised and the decision to support the Scottish Cluster and Viking Cluster shows that there is commitment to doing so.
“Time remains of the essence. Now, we must move quickly to deploy the transport and storage infrastructure which will underpin the rollout of CCS across the chosen clusters. Doing so will allow crucial low-carbon projects – such as our carbon capture project at Peterhead – to be brought forward, supporting the energy transition while providing good, green jobs and enhancing regional economies.
“The UK has a real opportunity to lead the world on carbon capture if we can accelerate progress and today’s announcement provides welcome impetus.”
Cutting-edge equipment for examining premature and sick babies is now in place at the Neonatal Unit in the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh thanks to a £73,000 fundraiser by Specsavers stores across Scotland.
Teams from across the business raised the money after being moved by the story of colleague Michael O’Kane whose daughter Sophie (now 9) was born at 24weeks weighing just 1lb 15oz.
They donated the funds to the Simpsons Special Care Babies (SSCB) charity to buy a piece of equipment called a PanoCam for the Neonatal Unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Premature babies are at high risk of retinopathy which can cause blindness – they need their eyes checked regularly due to rapid changes in organ development (in what would have been the last three months of pregnancy) which can put them under a lot of stress – the PanoCam provides a much quicker and safer way to examine them.
Alongside the fundraiser, Specsavers’ Scottish stores also backed Bliss Scotland as their Charity of the Year to further support Scotland’s premature babies and their families – so the charity’s ambassador Lady Sarra Hoy (whose son Callum was born at 29wks back in 2014) came along to the Royal Infirmary to celebrate the success of the campaign.
Michael O’Kane, a Specsavers optician and store director in Morningside and Cameron Toll, says: ‘There were times when I feared Sophie wouldn’t pull through but she recovered thanks to incredible support from the Neonatal Unit, and I will forever be grateful.
“This fundraiser is testament to what can be achieved when you club together to make a difference, and myself and all my colleagues across Scotland feel immensely proud to have helped bring this equipment to the hospital.’
He joined Lady Sarra Hoy, a lawyer by profession and wife of cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy, at the Neonatal Unit where they were shown the equipment by Professor Ben Stenson, Consultant Neonatologist at the Neonatal Unit, NHS Lothian and SSCB representative.
Lady Sarra Hoy says: ‘As a parent on the neonatal unit, it’s so frightening to see your baby undergo lots of invasive procedures which can be really stressful for them when they’re so tiny.
“This equipment – together with the support that Bliss are providing to families thanks to Specsavers’ incredible fundraising – will make such a difference to babies and their families.”
Staff at the unit are currently being trained in using the PanoCam which, as well as being used to examine premature babies, can also be used to detect ocular tumours in older children.
Mercedes Perez-Botella, Directory of Midwifery, NHS Lothian, says: ‘We are delighted that the PanoCam will soon be operational at the Simpson Centre.
“Retinopathy is a prevalent problem for babies who are born prematurely, and we hope that this new equipment will help our neonatal doctors to promptly identify any deterioration in the baby’s retina and act accordingly to prevent damage.
‘I am sure parents will also welcome this addition to our resources as it will provide them with extra reassurance about the high level of care their babies will get while in the Neonatal Unit.
“We would like to sincerely thank Specsavers and Simpsons Special Care Babies for fundraising for this new equipment, we know that this will make a real difference to families within the Neonatal Unit.”
The funds to purchase the equipment were raised by stores from all over the country who donated £2 from optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans (which helps to spot serious eye conditions, including glaucoma, up to four years earlier than traditional methods) and from earwax removals during a two-month period.
MED Surgical, the company which supplies the Visunex PanoCam Pro, usually charge £113,000 but generously contributed £40,000 to make Specsavers’ fundraising target of £73k more attainable.
The Cast, including international acts, for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo have arrived in Edinburgh for this year’s show, Stories, and were given a very Scottish welcome.
Performers from Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Norway, and Switzerland were greeted at Edinburgh Airport by Tattoo performers before making their way to the iconic Edinburgh Castle ahead of the Show’s opening night on Friday 4 August.
Stories draws inspiration from the sagas, myths, and legends that people across the globe have shared with each other for centuries.
The Tattoo will run from 4 – 26 August 2023. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk, on the phone on 0131 225 1188 or in person at the Tattoo Box Office at 1 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh.
POLICE are appealing for information following a crash on Ratcliffe Terrace at 8.45am on Thursday 26 January, involving a blue Vauxhall Corsa and a cyclist.
A man aged 27, the cyclist, was taken to ERI for treatment.
If you saw what happened or have dash-cam please call us on 101 – Incident 0654 of 26/1/23
Vue Edinburgh Omni has reported its biggest week ever, with record-breaking figures driven by the dual successes of Barbie and Oppenheimer.
The venue is one of 37 across the UK and Ireland that smashed attendance records in a week that also saw Vue break its nationwide record that has stood since the release of Skyfall in 2012.
Toby Bradon, General Manager of Vue UK and Ireland, said: “It has been great to see our venues buzzing for Barbenheimer all week, as we have seen huge demand across the whole country to see both films, with Barbie in particular looking set to become the biggest title of 2023 and could well enter the top ten highest grossing of all time.”
The artwork Bottled Ocean 2123, which imagines the state of the oceans 100 years into the future in an immersive, undersea landscape crafted from recycled plastic, has been installed at the National Museum of Scotland.
The installation, created by the artist George Nuku with the assistance of around 400 people including museum visitors, staff and volunteers from youth and community groups across Edinburgh, will be unveiled to the public next month in the exhibition, Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania (12 August 2023 – 14 April 2024).
The artwork will address humanity’s unsustainable relationship with plastic, highlighting its impact on the natural environment and asking audiences to rethink their relationship with it.
Artist George Nuku said: “Plastic is a fascinating material. We think of it as new, with all the things we use it for. But, in fact, when you think about how it is made, from material created during the Earth’s ancient processes, that simple plastic bottle is in a way one of the oldest things around.
“And if you think about it that way, like an ancestor, then maybe you can start to think about treating it with respect instead of throwing it in the ocean.
“With the help of hundreds of local people, we’ve taken a pile of trash and made something beautiful.”
Groups involved in creating the artwork included the Welcoming, an Edinburgh based charity supporting migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, as well as students from Edinburgh College of Art and children from Granton Youth, and Pilton Youth and Children’s Project.
Neil Hanna
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Dr Ali Clark, Senior Curator Oceania and the Americas said: “We’ve really enjoyed and appreciated working with George Nuku on the installation of Bottled Ocean 2123, and with the many local people and volunteers who have helped with its installation through our community outreach work.
“It makes a fantastic, thought-provoking artwork for the exhibition and we look forward to people’s reactions when it opens next month.”
The exhibition will delve into the most important and pressing issue of our time, humanity’s damaging relationship with planet Earth. This is felt especially deeply in Australia and the Pacific Islands where sea levels are rising due to climate change and the oceans are filling with plastic.
This exhibition considers our relationship to the natural environment through contemporary responses to climate change and plastic waste by Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists.
It will also host the first display in Europe of a set of five kimono which make up an artwork entitled Song of Samoa, by internationally renowned artist Yuki Kihara, newly acquired by National Museums Scotland with the support of Art Fund.
Examples include work by master fisherman Anthony C Guerrero, who uses historic weaving techniques to make contemporary baskets from plastic construction strapping that is found littering Guam.
Rising Tide also features historical material from National Museums Scotland’s collections, such as spear points from the Kimberley region of Western Australia made by Aboriginal men from discarded glass bottles. A recurring theme throughout the exhibition, these spear points demonstrate that Indigenous peoples in Oceania have always innovated, using materials found in their environment to make cultural objects.
Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania is part of Edinburgh Art Festival, taking place between 11–27 August 2023.
The exhibition is supported by a programme of events including a series of morning curator tours in August which take place before the museum opens to the public.
Prime Minister visits North East Scotland, highlighting the central role it will play in defending the UK against disrupted global energy supplies.
There he will also meet with key figures in the energy sector and will visit critical infrastructure projects which will help grow the economy, reach Net Zero, and deliver the next generation of highly skilled jobs for young people in the region.
The Prime Minister will today confirm that Scotland will continue to be at the forefront of UK Government plans to strengthen the UK’s long-term energy security.
During a visit to the North East of Scotland, the Prime Minister will highlight the crucial role that the region will play in enhancing and delivering on the UK Government’s commitment to reaching Net Zero in 2050 and enhancing long term energy security for generations to come.
The UK is leading international efforts by setting ambitious net zero commitments, ramping up the transition to clean energy, reducing total greenhouse gas emissions by 32% since 2010, whilst bringing down energy bills and supporting households.
It is expected that the UK Government and energy authorities will go further than before in announcing continued decisive action to:
Boost the capability of the North Sea industry to transition towards Net Zero;
Strengthen the foundations of the UK’s future energy mix;
And create the next generation of highly skilled green jobs.
The Prime Minister will also meet with key energy industry figures and companies at the forefront of delivering the UK’s energy needs, as well as the next generation of highly skilled people who are working on the projects of tomorrow.
The UK Government says the package ‘will also underpin that Scotland remains a cornerstone of government plans for an energy-independent UK, as well demonstrating what can be achieved due to the strength and scale of UK collective action, in defending the public against global energy supplies which have been disrupted and weaponised by Putin’.
Environmental campaigners have condemned the plans, however. Friends of the Earth Scotland regards carbon capture and storage (CCS) as an attempt to ‘greenwash’ the oil industry and pointed to the long history of failure of the technology.
They say that instead of giving more public money to oil firms it should be invested in climate solutions that work today and can improve people’s lives such as public transport and home insulation.
Shell is a key partner in the Acorn project. Last week the fossil fuel giant announced profits of £3.9billion for just the last 3 months, on top of the £32.2 billion profit in 2022. Despite this vast wealth, the Acorn project appears to be totally reliant on further public subsidy to progress.
Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaign Mary Church said: “Carbon capture is a greenwashing tactic by profit obsessed fossil fuel companies to try and keep their climate-wrecking industry in business.
“CCS has a long history of over-promising and under-delivering yet politicians have fallen for the spin rather than face reality that the only solution to the climate crisis is a fast and fair phase out of oil and gas.
“Funding for the Acorn project would be yet another massive public subsidy to oil companies who have been making billions in profits, while ordinary people are struggling to pay the bills.
“Instead of handing more money to polluters, it is time to redirect that investment to climate solutions that we know can deliver emissions cuts and improve peoples’ lives today – such as improving public transport and insulating people’s homes to help with energy bills.”
