Tag: activism

(More) power to the people!

‘Power to the People’, an introduction to the history of protest in Scotland, restarted at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre this morning but a few spaces for new faces are available for the new session.

Community Learning and Development worker Lynn McCabe, who devised and supports the course, said: “The Power to the People course started back this morning (Tuesday 29 January) at 9.45 in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, the first session of the second term which will cover the period 1800 – 1900.  From now until the end of March we will be looking at  the Radical War, Chartism, the Great Disruption, the Campaign for Home Rule and the birth of the Labour and Trade Union Movement.  We have regular visits and have a few outside speakers each term – next  week our guest speaker will be  Alex Wood.  We have a few spaces on the course at the moment and new people can join  at any time.”

The first term proved to be very popular (pictures below), so if you’d like to learn more about the history of Scottish activism drop in to Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Pilton Drive North (telephone 552 5700) on Tuesday mornings for a 9.45 start, or email  lynn.mccabe@ea.edin.sch.uk for further information. It’s free – all welcome.

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South African activist speaks in city tonight

A prominent South African activist is to address a meeting in Edinburgh tonight. Lindela Figlan, vice president of the Shack Dwellers Movement in South Africa, will speak on “Land and Housing in the City”. 

The speaker will describe the struggle of some of the poorest people in South Africa to win access to land and to basic rights such as provision of water, electricity, sanitation, healthcare and refuse removal.

The Shack Dwellers hit the international headlines through their resistance to forced evictions.  When the government has wished to use land occupied by shanty towns for commercial developments the residents in the movement have refused to move, insisting on the right to a home and to land.

Lindela insists: “Land has to be distributed according to social need and not according to who has money. … Every land occupation is a small step towards making this a country for all who live in it and breaking the power of money over land.”

The meeting, at Out of the Blue Arts Centre in Dalmeny Street, starts at 7pm. Admission free.

Social History Group’s site on show at local libraries

North Edinburgh Social History Group will be giving demonstrations of their ‘Never Give Up’ on-line archive at Granton and Muirhouse libraries next month.

The social history group spent three years researching North Edinburgh’s proud history of community activism, amassing a huge volume of material in the process. The group’s ‘Never Give Up’ book received great reviews when it launched last year, and all the background information – and a lot of great material that didn’t make the book due to size constraints – was digitised and launched on-line by charity SCRAN in April for all to share and enjoy.

Members of North Edinburgh Social History Group will be visiting the local libraries to publicise and demonstrate this amazing resource at two local libraries next month – at Muirhouse on Thursday 6 September from 10am and then at Granton on Wednesday 12 September from 1pm.

It’s well worth a visit – a treasure trove of community memories which can be accessed for free by using your library card!

For further information on Scran visit www.scran.ac.uk

Social History Group's site on show at local libraries

North Edinburgh Social History Group will be giving demonstrations of their ‘Never Give Up’ on-line archive at Granton and Muirhouse libraries next month.

The social history group spent three years researching North Edinburgh’s proud history of community activism, amassing a huge volume of material in the process. The group’s ‘Never Give Up’ book received great reviews when it launched last year, and all the background information – and a lot of great material that didn’t make the book due to size constraints – was digitised and launched on-line by charity SCRAN in April for all to share and enjoy.

Members of North Edinburgh Social History Group will be visiting the local libraries to publicise and demonstrate this amazing resource at two local libraries next month – at Muirhouse on Thursday 6 September from 10am and then at Granton on Wednesday 12 September from 1pm.

It’s well worth a visit – a treasure trove of community memories which can be accessed for free by using your library card!

For further information on Scran visit www.scran.ac.uk