Cultural legacy of the Southside to be discussed at all-day conference.

Anyone interested in the Southside of Glasgow, its history, traditions, fun and music will have a feast on Saturday 23 March 2013 when an all-day conference will be held by the South Glasgow Heritage and Environment Trust.

The day will include many great speakers who can tell about the Music, Mirth and Magic  of the cultural life of that part of the city.  Pantomime, Temperance and the Glasgow Apollo are on the list of subjects to be discussed.

All of this for £10 which includes lunch  in the cosy environment of the Premier Inn, Ballater Street, Gorbals G5 from 10.30am till 4pm.

They said all the right things

Monday 4 March 2013

The future of printed media was debated at the University of Glasgow this evening with alumni Andrew Neil chairing the distinguished panel. They comprised: Allan Rennie, editor-in-chief of Media Scotland, publishers of the Daily Record and the Sunday Mail; Bobby Hain, director of channels for STV; Kirsten Morrison, Head of Digital (Newspaper) at DC Thomson and Professor Philip Schlesinger from the Centre for Cultural Policy Research at the University of Glasgow.

As circulation figures for most print editions of newspapers continue to tumble, the panel considered the impact of digitalisation on traditional media and on the wider business community.

Said journalist and broadcaster Andrew Neil who claimed that when he was a student at Glasgow University he was never allowed to enter Bute Hall where the debate took place: ‘More people are reading newspapers and magazines than ever before – just not as printed products. The challenge is to develop new revenue streams around the new digital delivery. Some of the dead-tree press will succeed, some won’t. The failures will die. But the digital market is already being flooded with new entrants. So it is a time for optimism.’

The panel agreed with his stance. Allan Rennie said that as the recession bit in Scotland, more people were using the new media as part of their lifestyle. He said the Sunday Mail, a Media Scotland flagship title, had 3.2 million users on its site.

Bobby Hain considered television was better placed to deliver digital media with a headstart in ‘moving pictures.’ He also mentioned that the digital mediums allowed ‘people to give you stuff without you having to make it yourself!’ Proud of STV’s output of 20 different local news sites and tv channels projected for Glasgow and Edinburgh next year, he said the digital mindset had to be worked at by those who just looked at ‘the box in the corner of the room.’

Kirsten Morrison admitted she was ‘unusual’ because she’d returned to DCThomson and its digital set up after years working on ‘red top’ newspapers. ‘There is a cultural shift and we have to utilise the online content to make money,’ she said. The company’s famous Beano comic is now available only online.

Professor Schlesinger studies how people use digital content and calibrates the findings. He emphasised the importance of a ‘range of voices’ and ‘solid, high-end journalism.’

Opened and closed by University Principal, Anton Muscatelli, the debate was attended by several hundred people and many questions were asked. But there were no fireworks or simple answers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDITORIAL

No sooner has Burns Supper time been digested than we roll out the celebrations for Chinese New Year.  The Confucius Institute at the University of Glasgow has a special free concert arranged for Thursday 7 February at 1pm.  The Harmony Ensemble will play in the University Concert Hall.  Comprising Fong Liu (singer);  Hooi Ling Eng (playing zheng/Chinese percussion); Eddie McGuire (playing bamboo flute- dizi and hawu);  Shona Brown (playing dizi/hulosi) and Xian Shan (playing accordion).

The Confederation of Chinese Associations in Scotland have a big bash planned for Monday 18 February at the SeeWoo restaurant with lots of entertainment, VIPs and festive food. The ticket- only event looks like a good mix of business and pleasure.

And this website would wager no one will be out of their face with alcohol. Maybe other New Year celebrations could take note. Interestingly, in almost every month of the year, one country or another can be found marking their New Year.  Traditions are remarkably similar – clean the house, prepare special dishes, sing, dance and be merry.

Gong Xi Fa Cai – HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

Inspiring citizens honoured by Lord Provost

Actor, funny man and stage presence for 60 years, Johnny Beattie was given Glasgow’s Loving Cup at a civic dinner on Thursday 5 April. ‘I was totally surprised,’ said Johnny who has starred in River City TV soap for ten years.

The fresh looking 85-year-old recollects with total clarity his first day treading the boards. ‘It was May 19^th 1952 at the Tivoli in Aberdeen.  I was with Robert Wilson who was the biggest name around in Scotland at that time. I was the comic – you could tell that by the pillerbox red suit I was wearing!’ Johnny who was honoured by the Queen some years ago with an MBE, added: ‘I’ll keep on working till I’m found out.’

The Loving Cup is Glasgow’s highest honour and is presented to a person who has brought distinction and honour to the Dear Green Place.

Lord Provost Bob Winter presided over the annual awards ceremony  when a roll of honour of key people is thanked publicly by the city for their contribution to its wellbeing.

In what was almost his last public event as Lord Provost, Councillor Winter said: ‘This event is truly one of the most rewarding for me as the city’s Lord Provost. It is such a great occasion when we can honour people from diverse walks of life who all have one thing in common – a commitment to Glasgow and its people. I can think of no better way to express our gratitude to these outstanding men and women by celebrating their achievements this way and presenting them with the Lord Provost’s award and one of them with the Loving Cup.’

The gold awards are in the form of a medal and were given to:

Prominent Accident & Emergency consultant Mr Ian Anderson for improving the health of the people of Glasgow and in keeping the city at the forefront of postgraduate medical education. Based at the Victoria Infirmary, his views are frequently sought at national and international level. He is one of the founding Fellows of the Faculty of Accident and Emergency Surgeons and one of its longest serving Council Members. He was elected President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 2009. He has also played a key role in establishing collaborations with Medical Schools and hospitals in the South of India.

BAE Systems Maritime received the Lord Provost’s award for business. It was accepted by Mr Angus Holt on behalf of the company which is on track to deliver six Type 45 Destroyers for the Royal Navy by the end of 2013. Four have already been handed over. It also produces Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and the Type 26 Global Combat Ship among other complex engineering programmes and services. The yards at Scotstoun and Govan employ 3000 people which includes 140 apprentices and 30 graduates in training.

Professor Jane Duckett was presented with the Lord Provost’s Award for founding the Scottish Centre for China Research at the University of Glasgow. Since its establishment in 2008 it has developed distinctive new MSc programmes in Chinese Studies. A leading international scholar in contemporary Chinese politics, Professor Duckett was instrumental in setting up the Confucius Institute at the University in 2011. It is testament to her dedication to enhancing the understanding and knowledge of China in the communities of Glasgow and the West of Scotland, and her pledge to support the business communities as they reach out to work with Chinese industry.

Dame Elish Angiolini received the Lord Provost’s Award for her services to Law and Justice. Like Johnny Beattie, Dame Elish was born in Govan. She was Solicitor General from 2001 to 2006 and Lord Advocate of Scotland, and was the first woman, the first Procurator Fiscal and the first solicitor to hold either post. Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to the administration of justice, Dame Elish holds honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws from Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian and Aberdeen universities. In September she will replace Andrew Dilnot as Principal of St Hugh’s College in Oxford.

Donald Shaw, founder of Capercaillie was presented with the Lord Provost’s Award for the Performing and Visual Arts. Through his work with the band he built up an international network of contacts and musical partnerships which he has grown in his work with Celtic Connections. A performer, composer, arranger and musical entrepreneur, Donald was acknowledged for his unique contribution to music in Scotland, and Glasgow in particular. His direction of the Celtic Connections festival makes it the city’s largest, most nationally and internationally significant festival.

Robert Booth, who retired in 2011 after 33 years’ service – latterly as Executive Director of Land and Environmental Services at Glasgow City Council – received the Lord Provost’s award for his public service. He joined Glasgow District Council in 1978 and fulfilled senior management roles in both Housing and Building Services before being appointed Director of Land Services in March 2003. In 2007 he became Executive Director of Land and Environmental Services, with responsibility for managing the city’s road network; parks and open spaces; parking; refuse services; enforcement; trading standards; and the design and project management resources of the council. He received an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2011 for services to local government.

The Lord Provost’s Sport Award went to Walter Smith, one of the most successful Scottish football managers in history. He managed Rangers (twice) and the Scottish national team as well as Everton, and was awarded the OBE for services to football in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1997. Previous winners from the world of football in this category include Sir Alex Ferguson (1993) and Ally McCoist (1996).

Bailie Jean McFadden received her award for services to local government. The city’s longest standing councillor, she was first elected to Glasgow Corporation in 1971.

She held key positions in various areas of the council most notably as Leader of the Council (1979-1986) and 1992-94) and also including Opposition Leader (1977-1979), and Vice Lord-Lieutenant City of Glasgow from 1981 to 1992. She was also President of COSLA 1990-92 and City Treasurer 1986-92, and was awarded the CBE in 1992 for services to local government.

The Lord Provost’s Special Award for an Inspiring Individual was presented to Julie McElroy. Despite cerebral palsy, mobility problems and profound deafness, Julie has trekked in the Himalayas, canoed Loch Shiel.

She has used her expertise in assistive technology to make outdoor sports accessible to disadvantaged disabled young people in India. She is an ambassador for Bobath and has received the prestigious John Muir award after completing four adventure challenges and inspiring other disabled people to enjoy the great outdoors.

Jane’s hope lives on

The story of a forgotten Scottish heroine who was murdered in Auschwitz was told in powerful performances by Tram Direct at Theatre at Queens on Glasgow’s Southside this week.

The harrowing details of Jane Haining’s final days as matron of a Church of Scotland orphanage for Jewish girls in Budapest, were dramatically retold by professional and community actors in ‘To Serve is to Resist.’

Because she refused to leave ‘her girls’ she was arrested and died with them in the gas chambers of the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp.

The performances were even more poignant because Jane had worshipped in the very building where Tram Direct now has its headquarters and theatre space. The congregation of what is now called Queen’s Park Church of Scotland, installed two stained glass windows to remember Jane’s sacrifice and some of the current congregation took part in scenes in the play.

One of the cast was from Budapest and had known of Jane’s bravery.  Aniko Szilagyi  is currently working for her PhD at the University of Glasgow. She first visited Glasgow in 1999 as a winner of an English speaking competition run in Budapest as a living memorial to Jane Haining. Said Aniko: ‘It is strange taking part in this play. It is part of my history.’

The play was commissioned by Isobel Barret founder of Tram Direct who runs it and Theatre Ecole from their base within Queen’s. ‘When I heard the story of Jane Haining I commissioned Ian Morland to write this play. It was a story that just had to be told and it was right here on our doorstep.’

The first act tells of Jane’s determination to work abroad as a Christian missionary and how she achieves her dream on being appointed matron of the Budapest girls’ home.

The second act illustrates vividly how, despite her suffering throughout interrogations and in the death camp, she never lost her faith in God. Skilful use of original film footage of Hitler speaking, set the context of the time. Nine songs interspersed throughout the play added to the emotional response of the acting.

Those who watched the play were left with a profound sense of awe at Jane’s courage. ‘This deserves to be wider known and seen,’ said one member of the audience.

 

Singing the song of human rights

An evening of poetry, music, song and food, was celebrated by the Campaign for Human Rights in the Gambia this week in Glasgow.

A key speaker was former Vice President of the West African country, Bakary Dabo, who now lives in London. In a calm and diplomatic way, he explained how a Rule of Fear had overtaken the democratic rule of law which The Gambia had enjoyed before a military coup. ‘The people in power now are not leaders.’ he said. ‘It is a depressing picture. This small country of 2 million people has an appalling human rights abuse record. There is a very vicious despotic system in place run by one man with his clique.’ Mr Dabo emphasised how important it was for groups such as Amnesty International and the Glasgow based Campaign for Human Rights in The Gambia and others to be raising awareness of the situation and to be supportive in the search for a solution.

‘We are hopeful,’ he continued. ‘But The Gambia is right now held by its throat as a hostage.’

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Danny Alderslowe. A Green Party Councillor, he had that day at the final meeting of the Glasgow City Council before the local government elections, won a motion to review the Personalisation process being implemented by the Council.

Danny had orchestrated an excellent programme of entertainment at the Afro Caribbean Centre in Osborne Street G1. This ranged from Haggis on the bagpipes with Omar on the drums, Jethro from the Congo, Scratchy Noises fiddle band, Fozzy singing fighting songs, Lucio and friends on an array of African stringed instruments and Tomona reciting one of his thoughtful poems. Danny, himself, had written a poem based on the fact that the osprey flies between the Gambia and Scotland ‘easier than a jumbo jet!’

Other speakers included Elena Soper from the University of Glasgow’s Amnesty International group who detailed some of the human rights abuses known about in the Gambia; Arthur West, chairman of the Gambia Human Rights Campaign and John Matthews Chair of the Glasgow Branch of the National Union of Journalists. ‘We support the Campaign wholeheartedly,’ said John. ‘We are the first trades union to recognise journalists who are seeking asylum, as members of our union and we can act on their behalf when possible. As a political journalist, our colleague Alieu Cessay had to flee from the Gambia. He is not alone. Some journalists – and others who have displeased the regime – have disappeared, been imprisoned, tortured. The evening is to celebrate life while expressing our compassion for the safety of our brothers and sisters and highlighting the need to have a free press and freedom of speech if a country is to be truly free.’

 

 

Eden Springs replies

Following a request to the bottled water supply company Eden Springs for a comment on our story that  the University of Glasgow was not renewing their £200,000 contract, the company has sent a statement:

‘Eden Springs UK is aware of the campaign and is taking steps to address inaccuracies contained within it.

‘We have a well established customer network across Scotland and the UK, supplying spring and mineral water directly to consumers in their homes and offices, using water coolers and bottles.

‘Water supplied by Eden Springs in the United Kingdom is sourced, bottled and distributed entirely in the UK.  The Scottish water supply is sourced inAyrshire.

‘The long running campaign against Eden Springs’ Scottish operation by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign has been discredited on many occasions, including the official dismissal by MSPs of a petition to the Scottish Parliament due to the campaign’s flawed and inaccurate assertions.  Across all the countries we operate in, the company strictly complies with all laws and legislation as required by national and local government.’

 

Eathquakes and sinking ships – scholarly studies

TITANIC to the Great East Japan Earthquake Documentation of Disasters Public Event Thursday 22nd March Kelvin Gallery University of Glasgow 10am – 3pm The White Star liner Titanic sank after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic in April 1912 and the Great Eastern Japanese Earthquake took place almost a century later in March 2011. Both disasters sent shock waves round the world and were extensively covered in the world press that in both cases had to rely heavily on eye-witness accounts. The sinking of the Titanic still attracts huge public interest and the centenary will be commemorated in many events this year. Will the Great Eastern Japanese Earthquake be similarly commemorated in 2111? The memory of the sinking of the Titanic was transmitted through images, film and records from before the events, the evidence of survivors and the reports of public enquiries on both sides of the Atlantic. The event was memorialized in public monuments such as that in Washington and subsequently in books and films. The memory of the Great Eastern Japanese Earthquake will be transmitted through the same media, but with the important addition of digital images and the recorded testimony made by eye-witnesses at the time, using mobile phones and other personal devices and uploaded on social networking sites. This joint symposium between Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute (HATII), University of Glasgow, and Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies (IIIS), University of Tokyo, in Glasgow, will bring together Japanese and Scottish scholars and is free to members of the public.  10.00 Coffee & welcome 10.30 Titanic: Professor Michael Moss 11.30 The 3/11 Memorial & Archive: Professor Shunya Yoshimi 13.30 Documenting 3/11 and Community Recovery: Professor Katsushi Ikeuchi 14.15 Fragile Communities: Dr. James Currall 15.00 Coffee There is no charge for attendance and all are welcome. For more information or to register for attendance , please contact Kirsti-Ann Mullen, Kirsti-Ann.Mullen@glasgow.ac.uk

Honey stops for Eden Spring

A campaign by students at the University of Glasgow has succeeded in persuading the institution to drop its contract for bottled water from an Israeli company, Eden Springs.

In a well- argued and researched document, the Glasgow University Palestine Society (GUPS) showed that the company was illegally occupying the Golan Heights where the original Eden Springs water comes from. That company is the parent company of the Scottish based one which supplies Scottish sourced water throughout the campus.

Said Sarah Watson a founder of the Society who has travelled in the area and seen for herself what has happened to the Palestinian people: ‘The contract is worth around £200,000. This has been a long time coming – at least seven years. But we have a sense of achievement. It is scandalous for the University to spend so much money while it is sacking staff.’

Secretary of the GUPS, Catherine Harris, added: ‘This is absolutely fantastic news. We had around 500 students and 50 staff who had signed a petition urging the University to stop using Eden Springs company. The links are very clear and the company has forced people to leave that land at the Golan Heights to use the spring water for their own commercial gain. What they’ve done is illegal and that is acknowledged in international law.’

The campaign to stop using the Israeli company has been on-going for several years. But this is the first time the campaigners have compiled a dossier and presented it to the Principal. Glasgow is one of the last universities in Scotland to severe ties with Eden Spring.

Both Eden Springs and the University have been asked to respond and their comments will be posted as soon as possible after they are received.

 

The Burrell takes to China tea

Tea for Thought

 Date: Wednesday 14 March 2012

Venue: The Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow G43 1AT

Join Curator Yupin Chung for a talk ‘A Cup of Spring Tea’ to explore Burrell’s delicate collection of tea ware, followed by a unique event ‘Chinese Tea Tasting and Poetry Reading’ at the Café.  You will have a chance to try Mini Dragon Empire Biscuits specially baked by our chef.

 Curator’s Talk | 12.30 pm, FREE, drop in

Tea Tasting | 2.00 – 3.00 pm, FREE, but as places are limited please book in advance by phoning 0141 287 2550

Sponsored by:

The Confucius Institute at the University of Glasgow in association with Glasgow Life and Glasgow Museums.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/confucius

 

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