Category: North Edinburgh News

Stand Together: Holocaust Memorial Day

Join Edinburgh University Students’ Association, the Black & Minority Ethnic Students’ Campaign, & Edinburgh University Jewish Society to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2020.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2020 marks 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

We’ll be joined by a Holocaust survivor & representative of the Holocaust Educational Trust (UK) Francoise who will be sharing her story & reminding us why it’s vital we continue to bear witness for those who have endured & been impacted by genocide.

Following Francoise’s talk there will be a small, informal reception & opportunity to discuss the night’s event.

To reserve your place, please click on the ticket link above & book via Eventbrite.

To find out more about Holocaust Memorial Day & how you can take part, visit www.hmd.org.uk/.

The theme for HMD 2020 is Stand Together. It explores how genocidal regimes throughout history have deliberately fractured societies by marginalising certain groups, and how these tactics can be challenged by individuals standing together with their neighbours, and speaking out against oppression.

In the years leading up to the Holocaust, Nazi policies and propaganda deliberately encouraged divisions within German society – urging ‘Aryan’ Germans to keep themselves separate from their Jewish neighbours. The Holocaust, Nazi Persecution of other groups and each subsequent genocide, was enabled by ordinary citizens not standing with their targeted neighbours.

Today there is increasing division in communities across the UK and the world. Now more than ever, we need to stand together with others in our communities in order to stop division and the spread of identity-based hostility in our society.

HMD 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz – this is a significant milestone and is made particularly poignant by the dwindling number of survivors who are able to share their testimony. It also marks the 25th anniversary of the Genocide in Bosnia.

HMD-2020-theme-vision

#StandTogether online Commemorative Project

Millions of people were stripped of their humanity and murdered during the Holocaust and Nazi Persecution. Each person was unique, with their own interests, friends and family. Take part in our online project to #StandTogether with thousands of others in remembrance, and share information about one of these people on your Facebook or Twitter account.

Take part in #StandTogether

Marking Holocaust Memorial Day and the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

Holocaust Memorial Day is an important reminder of the millions of people who were murdered, or whose lives were changed forever, during the Holocaust and other genocides.

“By marking this date, we must reflect upon and learn the important lessons from these horrendous acts of violence and terror. We pay tribute to the survivors, who were forced to flee their homes and livelihoods in the face of unthinkable persecution. We also honour the legacy of those who demonstrated immense bravery and courage fighting for liberty, freedom and justice, many of whom, sadly, paid with their lives.

“This year is particularly poignant as we observe the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and 25 years since the genocide in Srebrenica. The theme for this Holocaust Memorial Day – ‘Stand Together’ – highlights the importance of our collective societal responsibility to stand against hatred and prejudice and to promote strong, inclusive and respectful communities.

“We all need to work together to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, race, faith or sexuality is treated with equal respect and dignity. Today’s announcement of funding for security measures to protect our places of worship against hate crime will help promote the very clear message that hatred and prejudice will not be tolerated in Scotland.”

UK Government to give £1M funding to the Auschwitzs-Birkenau Foundation

A £1m donation to help preserve the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and ensure the lessons of Auschwitz live on will be confirmed today.

A £1m donation to help preserve the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and ensure the lessons of Auschwitz live on for generations to come will be confirmed today.

The funding will come from the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed.

The announcement comes ahead of a speech by the Foreign Secretary at a Holocaust Memorial Event on Wednesday, in which he will emphasise the importance of Holocaust remembrance and education as a means of ensuring such atrocities never happen again.

The Communities Secretary attended the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem on Thursday at which leaders from over 50 countries assembled to mark the anniversary.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation endowment fund supports the consolidation, restoration and long-term maintenance of the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps.

Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon Dominic Raab said: “I remember as a young boy the regular heart-rending laments by my grandmother for the family lost to Auschwitz and the other death camps.

“The Government is supporting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, because we must never forget history’s darkest moment, and we must educate future generations so it can never be repeated.”

Communities Secretary, The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick said: “I was honoured to attend the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem last week. It was heartening to see leaders of all faiths and nations come together to remember the Holocaust and renew our promise to the victims and survivors.

“This £1m funding for the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation is part of delivering on that promise. Today on Holocaust Memorial Day and the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the camps, the UK stands shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish countrymen and women.

“As the father of children whose great-grandparents endured and survived the concentration camps of the Holocaust, I know how important it is that future generations are aware of the stories of survivors.

“This donation will help to support the preservation of the site so that we can never forget the horror of the Holocaust. We cannot, and will not, let such evil happen again.”

Pollution causes 157 deaths in Edinburgh in just one year

  • Proportion of air pollution-related deaths highest in Edinburgh, and lowest in Aberdeen
  • Estimated 628 air pollution-related deaths in Scotland’s cities in just one year
  • Councils need more money and power to reduce killer air pollution

More than one in 29 deaths in Scotland’s largest cities and towns are related to long term exposure to air pollution, according to new estimates in Centre for Cities’ annual study of the UK’s major urban areas – Cities Outlook 2020.

The proportion of deaths related to the deadly toxin PM2.5 are highest in Edinburgh, with the latest data linking it to 157 deaths in just one year, or 3.7% of all adult deaths in the city.

But Glasgow has seen the most deaths overall in Scotland – 354 in just one year.

In total, an estimated 628 people were killed by PM2.5-related deaths in Scottish cities in just one year.

Aberdeen has the smallest proportion of deaths related to PM2.5 Scotland. There, PM2.5 caused 63 deaths – or 3.0% of all adult deaths in the city.

The proportion of deaths in Scottish cities linked to PM2.5 toxins is lower than the rest of the UK due to their distance from London – by far the biggest emitter of PM2.5 in the UK – and from continental Europe, as some emissions are blown over the English Channel.

But action can still be taken in Scotland to reduce air pollution-related deaths. Transport is a significant, but not sole contributor to air pollution; burning fuels is also a major cause. For example, half of deadly PM2.5 toxins generated in cities and large towns come from sources such as wood burning stoves and coal fires.

PM2.5-related deaths in Scotland
Rank City Total number of PM2.5-related deaths PM2.5-related deaths as a percentage of total deaths
1 Edinburgh 157 3.7%
2 Glasgow 354 3.4%
3 Dundee 55 3.1%
4 Aberdeen 63 3.0%
Deaths in people aged 25 and over, 2017

 Half of local authority leaders polled by Centre for Cities highlighted the environment as a major concern, but progress has been slow and they must do more to prevent more avoidable deaths from air pollution. Cities in Scotland should:

  • Introduce Ultra Low Emission Zones to charge car and van drivers in city centres.
  • Ban the use of wood burning stoves and coal fires in areas where air pollution exceeds guidelines (in coordination with the Scottish Government).

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government should do more to help local politicians in Scotland act by providing financial incentives for cities to improve air quality through the establishment of an Environmental Impact Bond.

Finally, the UK Government should make securing plans with the EU to tackle cross border air pollution a key component of the future relationship. It should also adopt the World Health Organization’s stricter guidelines on PM2.5 – as the Scottish Government has already done – and make a legally binding commitment to meet this by 2030 at the latest.

Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, said: “More than half of people in the UK live in cities and large towns. And while they offer people good employment and lifestyle opportunities, Cities Outlook 2020 shows that they also having a damaging effect on their health, with air pollution killing thousands of people living in cities every year.

“Politicians often talk tough on addressing air pollution but we need to see more action. People in Scotland should be at the centre of the fight against its toxic air and councils should take the steps needed, including charging people to drive in city centres and banning wood burning stoves.

“To help the Government needs to provide the Scotland councils with extra money and introduce stricter guidelines. Failure to act now will lead to more deaths in Scotland.”

Restalrig Circus incident update: dead woman named

Police have confirmed the identity of the woman who died following a disturbance at an address in Restalrig Circus, Edinburgh, on Friday, 24 January, 2020 at 6.50pm.

She was 79-year-old Margaret Grant.

Officers are looking to trace a man they believe entered the property and assaulted Margaret with the intention of stealing from her.

It is believed this was a targeted attack, and that the man responsible may have known Margaret by name. The man was disturbed and left the scene on foot.

Margaret was taken to hospital by ambulance, but died later that night. (Friday, 24 January, 2020)

The death is being treated as suspicious and officers remain at the scene, as enquiries continue to try and establish the full circumstances surrounding her death.

The suspect is described as white, aged between 20 and 30-years-old, about 5ft 6ins tall with combed long black hair and a Scottish accent. He was wearing a black top which may have had white lower sleeves, and dark trousers.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Houliston, from the Major Investigation Team, said: “This was a cowardly and despicable attack on an elderly woman within her home. It is imperative anyone with any information about what happened makes contact with us so we can find the man responsible.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Margaret at this difficult time.”

Anyone who may have been in the Restalrig Circus area on Friday evening, or who recognises the description of the man are urged to get in touch with officers as soon as possible on 101, quoting incident number 3175 of 24 January.

Information can also be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Musselburgh kids help safeguard the future of golden eagles

A group of home schooled children from Musselburgh recently took part in the groundbreaking South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project to help safeguard the future of Golden Eagles in the UK.   

Continue reading Musselburgh kids help safeguard the future of golden eagles

Bonnie Bairn: Scotland’s largest pregnancy & family fair

Bonnie Bairn, Scotland’s premier Pregnancy & Family Fair is set to take place on Sunday 1st March.

Following the huge success of the 2019 fair, which saw over 1,000 local visitors flood through the doors, the organisers have confirmed that the 2020 event will take place at Edinburgh Corn Exchange and will welcome over 80 exhibitors, making it the largest pregnancy & family fair in Scotland.

Setting it apart from other fairs, Bonnie Bairn focuses on supporting local businesses, crafters and retailers. They aim to keep the event affordable for stallholders and ensure the event not only benefits the local community, but also gives a welcoming atmosphere for expecting parents and local families from Edinburgh and beyond.

Bonnie Bairn will also offer a series of taster sessions from participating businesses, which will allow visitors to take part in half hour condensed versions of the brand experience; these will include talks and workshops scheduled throughout the day, where services providers can explain what they offer or provide free advice.

Deby Rainnie, Founder of Bonnie Bairn said: “Pregnancy is such a wonderful time and should be celebrated.

“The early years of parenthood can often be overwhelming and with so many amazing classes and support groups available it can be a little daunting to know which ones to go with.

“Our fairs are designed to be an excellent opportunity for visitors to meet the people behind the businesses, trial the classes and engage in a wide range of informative talks.” 

Bonnie Bairns is all about bringing together the best local experts, activity providers and businesses supporting families from pregnancy to preschool. Their mission is to educate and inform parents and parents-to-be about all of the great local and online businesses that are available to them.

Deby continued: “We want to support parents and parents-to-be, across Scotland, sharing everything that is wonderful about raising a family here.

“Many of our retailers are local businesses, selling beautiful products that are often only available online, so this is also a wonderful chance for them to showcase their products.” 

2020 stall holders confirmed include Baby Sensory, Diana Baker Photography, Edinburgh Baby Co, A-Fotografy, Bumblebee Sports, Mum Me, Sweaty Mama, Water Babies, John Lewis, Positive Birth Scotland, Sleep Safe Scotland, Playroom by Little Lunches and Yummikeys.

For a full list of companies participating visit https://www.bonnie-bairn.co.uk/visit

​Advanced tickets for the event can be purchased online for £6.00 per person. Under 16’s can attend for free and do not require a ticket.

Every ticket purchased will also count as one entry into the Epic Prize Draw, which will be drawn on the day of the event.

For more information visit https://www.bonnie-bairn.co.uk/

Follow Bonnie Bairn on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

A free premium goody bag will be given to the first 250 families who arrive on the day. These are packed full or goodies, samples and local discounts.

All Aboard! Raise money for children’s cancer charity

BRAVE runners are being asked to carry an 85ft-long VIKING boat around the Edinburgh Marathon – to raise money for children with cancer. 
The annual marathon takes place in May  and while entry is still open it’s an event which has sold out every year since 2008. 
One way to book a spot on the starting line is through a charity – and one endeavour will see a group of 40 participants carry a replica of a Viking longship – weighing a quarter of a ton – through the entire 26.2 mile course. 
The ‘Rock the Boat’ project has been launched by events firm Rat Race Adventure Sports, with all proceeds going to partner charity Children With Cancer UK. 
If you want to join the horde of marauders, places aboard the ship are now up for grabs.
Rat Race founder Jim Mee says each participant will need to commit to raisingat least £500 per place and adds: “With many UK marathons already sold out, we’re offering a particularly unique way of making it to the start line.”
The Edinburgh Marathon takes place Sunday May 24, 2020.
It’s just one of a series of marathons where the viking boat will make an appearance next year, as Rat Race aims to raise £1 million for Children With Cancer UK.
And if you do join the viking crew, you could also end up breaking a Guinness World Record – as Rat Race aim to set the ‘fastest marathon in a forty-person costume’ time.
The boat – carried by way of specially made harnesses – had its debut at the recent Yorkshire Marathon, getting round in a time of six and a half hours. 
Rat Race event co-organiser Allie Bailey said that while the challenge is tough, it’s also rewarding. Speaking about their recent exploits, she said: “Running a marathon is tough enough, let alone when you’re carrying a boat weighing a quarter of a ton.
“And then there’s the problem of tackling tight turns in an 85ft-long vessel with a terrible turning circle, and coming across speedbumps and potholes in the road that you can’t actually see beneath you.”
The boat itself is made from a lightweight metal frame inside a plywood exterior.
Jim set up Rat Race Adventure Sports in 2004 and has seen it grow into one of the UK’s largest operators of mass participation, wilderness adventure challenges.
Meanwhile the Edinburgh Marathon is one of the flattest – and fastest – marathons in the UK, with organisers saying it’s ‘ideal if it’s your first marathon or you are looking for a Personal Best’ time.
It’s due to start in Potterrow with the finish line at the Pinkie Playing Fields in Musselburgh.
For information on how to sign up to Rock The Boat, head here: www.marathonmarauders.com

EXPECT LONG DELAYS: D’Mains roadworks to last into March

More local traffic disruption is inevitable next week when Cityfibre undertakes cable connection work in Davidsons Mains, Silverknowes and Cramond.

Commuters have been warned to expect long delays when work starts on 3rd February – and the work is not scheduled to complete until 1st March.

Among the anticipated delights are a temporary one-way traffic system on Quality Street at some times during the works.

Can hardly wait …

Which? – Banks are denying reimbursement to innocent scam victims, despite new rules

Which? is concerned by early signs that some of Britain’s biggest banks are refusing to reimburse blameless victims of devastating transfer fraud, despite the introduction of new industry standards intended to protect fraud victims.

Banking customers lose life-changing sums every day through bank transfer scams – with Which? even hearing from a victim who lost £500,000 through his restaurant business.

It was hoped that the introduction of a voluntary industry code in May 2019 would ensure that all blameless victims get their money back, finally reversing the trend of people being left out of pocket.

But Which? has heard from a number of people who say they have been denied reimbursement unfairly – with a worrying trend emerging of banks relying on fraud warnings to justify not refunding customers. These decisions from banks fly in the face of the voluntary code most banks have signed up to, which pledges to reimburse all blameless victims.

It is now much more common for online or mobile banking customers to see fraud warnings when transferring money, as banks seek to meet new code standards by introducing a range of different features aimed at making a customer think twice about whether they are being scammed.

However, a Which? survey found that almost half (49%) of people are not even aware that new fraud warnings had been introduced by banks – further evidence that victims should not be arbitrarily turned down for reimbursement because they have “ignored warnings”.

Case study – Michelle, 38, London

Which? spoke to Michelle, 38, who lost almost £33,000 after responding to a text message about a ‘suspicious payment to Airbnb’ in August 2019. It appeared to come from Lloyds Bank’s usual phone number, sandwiched between two genuine messages, so she called the number supplied. Over the course of an hour Michelle was persuaded to transfer her money to a new account, in the belief that hers had been hijacked by criminals.

Lloyds says although it has sympathy for Michelle it will not reimburse her, on the grounds that she ‘did not take sufficient steps to verify that either the text message or the person she spoke to on the phone were genuine’, and that she authorised the payments despite receiving ‘specific warnings’ stating that Lloyds would never ask a customer to move money to other banks.

Michelle had no reason to believe the text was fake, and Lloyds is yet to explain the ‘sufficient steps’ she ought to have taken. And, while she did notice an online warning about fraud when she made the first payment, the criminal on the phone was able to quickly dismiss her concerns.

She said: “It was very urgent and compelling. My two-year-old daughter was running around while I was on the phone to them for an hour. I saw the warning about Lloyds never asking me to move money into a safe account and flagged this over the phone. They assured me that these were not “safe” accounts but “new” accounts.”

Which? has advised Michelle to escalate her case to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Which? – working with two leading academics – also analysed the effectiveness of banks’ fraud warnings, to establish whether they are adequately ‘understandable, clear, impactful, timely and specific’ – as set out in the code.

The experts raised concerns about elements of the warnings from some of Britain’s biggest banks.

One researcher voiced concerns over the ‘generic’ messages displayed by First Direct, HSBC, Lloyds, Natwest and Royal Bank of Scotland. Petko Kusev, from Huddersfield Business School, said that it was perfectly rational for customers to ignore generic information when conducting bank transfers.

A second researcher, Patrick Fagan from Goldsmiths University, suggested that some warnings can come too late, as once people have already been targeted by scammers they typically commit to seeing the action through. Mr Fagan suggested that banks use targeting and personalisation to make these warnings more persuasive.

Which? supports the introduction of fraud warnings as an important defence in preventing scams. However, Which? believes that banks must prove their fraud warnings are fit for purpose and should not be used as a means to simply deny reimbursing blameless victims. If a bank can’t prove its warnings are effective then the customer should not be deemed at fault.

The consumer champion also wants the industry code to be made mandatory for all current account providers as many providers still haven’t signed up to the vital fraud protections.

Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor, said: “People are losing life-changing sums of money every day to devastating bank transfer fraud – so it’s shocking that some current account providers still haven’t signed up to offer their customers vital protections.

“All banks must prove that their online warnings are up to scratch – especially if they are denying victims reimbursement, as we’ve seen in some cases.”

The consumer champion put banks’ fraud warnings under the spotlight, and found:

  • Asking customers to tick a box to confirm they have understood the warning could prove more effective than warnings that take consent for granted.However, Which? believes this is still a low bar for establishing consent.

  • Nationwide’s ‘STOP AND THINK’ message ahead of a transfer was deemed to be effective at providing customers with concrete, clear imperatives.

  • Which? is critical of HSBC’s approach that gives customers the option of hiding warnings, raising the likelihood that customers might not see them at all.

  • Meanwhile, customers could easily miss important wording and rush through a transfer if it is towards the bottom of a screen, such as First Direct’s warning.

Banks that have not signed up to the code:

Bank of Ireland, Citibank, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank, Danske Bank, First Trust Bank, Monzo, N26, Tesco Bank, and Virgin Money. Although TSB is not a signatory of the code, it promises to reimburse all victims of fraud under its ‘Fraud Refund Guarantee’, launched on 14 April 2019.

The Lending Standards Board is responsible for overseeing the new voluntary code and assessing how firms are implementing the standards set out in the code.