Singing for Japan

Singers and instrumentalists from Scottish Opera, the RSAMD and the University of Glasgow will raise funds to help Japanese people affected by the tsunami through a concert this weekend.

It will be held in Glasgow University Chapel at 3pm on Sunday 27 March. A donation of £10 is suggested but all donations large and small will be gratefully accepted.

Scottish Opera emerging artists, Marie Claire Breen; Michel de Souza; Rebecca Afonwy-Jones; Scottish guitarist, Sean Shibe; organist, Michael Bawtree; Armenian violinist, Ani Batikian and Glasgow University Choir with Chorus Master, James Grossmith, will perform. Their programme  will include opera,  songs of Scotland and Japan, extracts from the Faure Requiem and Japanese choir pieces.

Professor Graham Caie, Clerk of Senate and Vice Principal said: “The University has offered its deepest sympathy and practical support to all its Japanese students and staff who have been affected by the devastation and terrible loss of life in the events following the earthquake in Japan. The concert is another way that the University can show its support for Japan during this crisis.”

Sean Shibe, 19, the youngest winner of the Royal Overseas League String Award, said : “As a child growing up in Scotland with an British father and a Japanese mother, I was ever aware of the similarities and differences of the two nations. Both are countries proudly steeped in culture of very difference kinds. I often visit Japan, and even in childhood always ended up remembering those shrines of Kyoto, skyscrapers of Tokyo, and the million other wonders that my then-unappreciative eyes ended up permanently capturing.

“But as soon as nature shrugs, humanity’s achievements can be blown to dust, forgotten in that second it takes for devastation to be realised. We only have to read a newspaper to realise that lives are only ever one step from complete chaos – not only in this past fortnight, but on any day. All of us must understand that, situations aside, we share this commonality, we hold this similarity – and we should act upon this empathy.”

Scottish Opera/RSAMD Repetiteur Fellowship, Ayako Kanazawa said: “I am a survivor of the devastating Hanshin earthquake in 1995. Not only was the rescue operation difficult but also the reconstruction. It is a frustrating time for all Japanese in the UK all we can do is pray. But with this concert, I want to believe that our performance will have power to help suffering people in my beautiful country.”

The concert can be watched online on the Chapel Webcam at:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/chaplaincy/index.html

Concert proceeds will be sent to the British Red Cross who will in turn direct the donation to the Japanese Red Cross at:
http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now

University climbs down in face of student action

In a major turnaround, Glasgow University allowed students to re-occupy a building only hours after calling in police to evict them.

A massive police presence with helicopter, police horses and re-inforcements elsewhere on the campus, got the remaining dozen or so, students out of the Hetherington Research Club building at 13 University Gardens on Tuesday 22 March.

They had been there since February 1 in protest at the building lying unused for a year and at other major cuts the University is imposing.

On Tuesday, the University stated it had written to the students still in occupation, asking them to bring their protest to a peaceful conclusion. Some left, ‘But,’ said the University spokesperson, ‘the continuing presence of occupiers in No 13 University Gardens was putting at risk University plans to refurbish the accommodation and to develop it for academic use.

‘After University staff entered the building and asked the remaining occupiers to leave, Police were then asked to attend when a group of protestors gathered outside. The occupiers left the building peacefully, and there were no serious incidents.’

But a mass of students then marched from University Gardens to the Senate offices across the road in the quadrangle. There between 80 and 100 people sat-in.

David Newall, Secretary of Court and Director of Administration at the University met them on Tuesday evening.

He told University students on Wednesday: ‘As well as raising concerns to do with planned higher education cuts, they expressed their anger at the way events had unfolded during the day. The students asked to have open access to sustain a student occupation in the Main Building. In discussion, it was pointed out that this would potentially have a very disruptive effect on staff and student activities. As an alternative, I have agreed with the students that they may return to the Hetherington Building and continue the occupation. I will discuss with them how they will exercise a system of control over those entering the occupation space. I will also give them an assurance that the University will not ask Police back on campus in respect of the occupation unless in future there is a serious public order issue.’

Allegations of a separate group forcing entry to the adjacent property at No 11 University Gardens on Tuesday, have been made.

The number of police officers attending and the strength of the police presence was heavily criticised by many onlookers on Tuesday.

John Eldridge, Emeritus Professor of Sociology told the LOCAL NEWS: ‘If ever there was an example of overkill, this was it. I noticed a police helicopter hovering over my office and thought there must be a major crime being committed. What I witnessed was a large number of police and police vehicles around the Hetherington Building. The decision to call in police to what is a very small scale occupation lacks all sense of proportion. Do the University authorities have no negotiating skills? This was a sad and depressing day for Glasgow University.’

Dr Joanna Ferrie of the Department of Sociology was one of the crowd of several hundred who witnessed the police at work: ‘This was a most peaceful, intelligent and mature sit-in. I took my five year old son along. The students were having seminars and lectures. It was unnecessary to be so heavy handed when dealing with intelligent people’

Added Ph.D student Phillippa Rieck: ‘Saying the space is wanted for academic purposes is a duff argument. There is a lot of empty space around and there will be more when the cuts take effect.’

A senior academic described the scenes at University Gardens as ‘Little Libya’ and questioned how much it cost the University for the Police involvement. A Strathclyde Police spokesperson later said such operational costs are never given out.

Liam, a first year Glasgow University student, said: ‘I was dragged out of  the Hetherington by three police officers. It was completely disproportionate. All we were doing was protesting against cuts at our university.’

Jack Ferguson, a 4^th year Sociology and Anthropology student who had been with the sit-in from the beginning in February told the LOCAL NEWS: ‘We were holding free lectures, having people like Billy Bragg and Liz Lochhead come to share their knowledge. We were doing what the university should be doing – giving access to the local community and giving free education.’ He showed a red welt on his wrist where he had been handcuffed and his arm forced up behind his back. ‘This was a non-violent sit-in. My brother was pinned down on a chair and kneed in the groin. A girl with a kidney condition was punched in the back and slammed against the wall. These things shouldn’t happen and I’m calling for the Principal, Anton Muscatelli, to resign.’

Police Superintendent Nelson Telfer, commenting on Tuesday’s intervention at 13 University Gardens said:’We were not there to evict people or to force our way into any premises. There were some instances of minor disorder which were quickly dealt with.

“No arrests were made during the protest however, as a result of enquiries; one female has been arrested for an alleged obstruction. She was taken to the Western  Infirmary  after complaining of feeling unwell. No officers were injured during the incident.

“We will always do whatever we can to facilitate peaceful protests. However, spontaneous incidents such as this one are a massive drain on resources. We would much rather work with groups or individuals who are seeking to exercise their right to protest so that we can make sure that any demonstration takes place safely and, of course, lawfully. However, where events do become unlawful, robust action will be taken whether that is at the time or retrospectively.’

He added: ‘Any suggestion that the police response to this situation was disproportionate is quite frankly ridiculous. Strathclyde Police regularly facilitates organised protests and marches but we had no prior knowledge of the action at the University and had to react in real time. It is testament to the officers judgement and discretion that no-one was injured.’

On Tuesday one woman was arrested and charged with obstruction. The following morning, early, a 17 year old man and a 35 year old woman were each arrested at their own homes and charged with alleged breach of the peace. The woman was charged, in addition, with alleged police assault.

A University spokesperson said that there would be a ‘full internal review’ of the events.

Citizens’ protest closes bank

In advance of the Budget, and of the Scottish Parliament elections, CITIZENS UNITED shut down Barclay’s bank in Argyle Street, Glasgow on Tuesday 22 March in protest at the swingeing cuts they anticipate.
A group of eight people entered the bank and began their peaceful demonstration by holding up posters saying ‘Bin Barclay’s Banker Bonuses’.
Their spokesman pointed out in a loud voice: ‘There would be no public service cuts if tax avoidance, tax evasion and bankers’ grotesque bonuses were not allowed. They would pay for all the public services that the ordinary voter is going to have to pay for. It will be the sick and the poor who will suffer. Not Bob Diamond, Barclay’s chief executive, who received a £9.5 million bonus.’
After police intervention, the group left the bank premises and proceeded to speak out on the pavement in front. A sizeable crowd gathered and applauded Sean Clerkin, the group’s orator. One man shook his hand afterwards and said: ‘Well put!’

One of the group, Letitia MacGillivray who was due to celebrate her 80th birthday, declared: ‘I worked in the National Health Service all my life. I nursed my parents and my husband. I want to see something done to end people’s suffering.’In similar vein, former shop steward, Charles MacPherson told the LOCAL NEWS: ‘In my opinion the high heid bankers taking the bonuses should be in prison. They are like the Mafia, but without the guns.’Said Sean Clerkin afterwards: ‘It took only eight people to close this bank for an hour. Any group can do what CITIZENS UNITED did if they feel as strongly. We will be asking questions of the politicians standing for election. This is a very serious issue. If the rich were taxed, the poor would not suffer. If tax evasion and tax avoidance was addressed there would be £140 billion more in the public purse. As it is, community centres will close, disabled people will have mobility allowances taken away, cancer patients will have support dramatically cut and vital services will be done away with. People need to remember this when they cast their vote in May.’

Later, Barclay’s Bank commented the ‘short’ demonstration forced temporary closure of the branch and apologised to customers for any inconvenience.

The Argyle Street  Barclays opened on 30th November 2010. Their B Bothwell Street branch opened in July 2008. ‘They are part of a UK wide programme of investment to make Barclays branches the go-to bank on the high street,’ said the spokesman.

He added: ‘ Barclays complies with taxation laws in the UK and in all the countries where we do business. We are one of the UK’s largest taxpayers and the financial services industry as a whole is the single largest tax contributor to HM Revenue and Customs every year.

‘In 2009, Barclays paid over £2bn in taxes to HMRC and we have contributed around £12.5bn of taxes to HMRC in the last 6 years (2004 to 2009).

‘We support, and have signed up to, the UK Government’s tax Code of Practice”.
The spokesman said: ‘We are sensitive to public opinion on the subject of pay. Barclays recognises the need to pay its employees responsibly. In a global market for talent we pay for performance, rewarding success not failure.”

Minister goes flying

In the company of family, friends and illustrious members of the church, the Rev Craig Lancaster was introduced as an RAF chaplain to HM Forces on Sunday 20 March at Hyndland Parish Church in Glasgow’s West End..
Minister to that congregation for seven years, 33-year-old Mr Lancaster will move to England for his formal RAF training. ‘That includes an even shorter hair cut!’ said the popular parish minister.
Moderator of Glasgow Presbytery of the Church of Scotland, Rev Neil Galbraith, said it was a great responsibility to be called as a Chaplain to the Forces and he commended Mr Lancaster for his sense of service.
In the eloquent sermon, the Rev Dr Angus Kerr, Clerk to the Presbytery, gave encouragement to go forward ‘with fire in your heart and on eagle’s wings.’
And in presenting the letter of commission to Mr Lancaster, the Rev Neil Gardner, Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen in Scotland and a Forces chaplain for 20 years, said: ‘men and women, boys and girls in the Forces talk readily and with no embarrassment about how much they appreciate a Padre. In civilian life they may have had no opportunity to meet a minister or hear the Gospel message.’
Mr Lancaster will remain a member of Glasgow Presbytery which assured him of their continued support in prayer.