Don’t miss the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. We are all invited to join Mark Lazarowicz and Malcolm Chisholm, our MP and MSP, at the mammoth annual fundraising event which raised more than £7 million last year. Thanks to Tony Crolla of Vittoria’s the proceeds from every cup of coffee sold at the Edinburgh North and Leith event will be donated to Macmillans who are aiming to raise £8.5 million this year! Continue reading “The world’s biggest coffee morning: in Leith”
There are no right or wrong answers. But the questions speak volumes. For the first time the Scottish government is setting out to discover the diversity of Muslim communities in Scotland and how much they may be affected by Islamophobia. Questionnaires which will help to shape future policy on Islamophobia are now due in next Friday (19 September) so there is still time for you to take part. Continue reading “Research into Islamophobia in Scotland”
Here’s a bumper edition for you. Look for the Red Eye film club on Friday, listen to the Wind and Bamboo podcasts about Chinese culture in Edinburgh, catch a glimpse of China (and a very tall cellist) in Ocean Terminal, find Poetry in St Andrew Square (on Friday lunchtime), discover why we need gardens and green space more than ever and catch up with Opening Doors as we enter the climate change debate…if summer was a wash out there’s lots to look forward to in the autumn!
News just in from Francis Kahembwe, our Opening Doors participant, who is beginning a two month placement with Scottish Environment Link. That means (apart from climbing a lot of stairs to the office in the wonderful tower building on the Royal Mile) a fascinating glimpse of what it is like to be an environmental lobbyist. As Francis explains in his email, the first week started with the hottest issue of the moment, Climate Change… Continue reading “Opening Doors: an autumn of hot debate”
Traditional Chinese music in Edinburgh’s Botanics
We might just as well ask, where is China now? In this fascinating podcast series Kimho Ip explains why you are more likely to find traditional Chinese culture in Edinburgh than the fast developing cities of China. His conversations with Stephen Blackmore, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, find common interest in conserving the best of nature and human culture. You can download the podcasts free of charge.
To subscribe to all four podcasts, click here.
Continue reading “Wind and Bamboo podcasts: what is China now?”
Volunteers digging for fun at Redbraes. Greenspace helps make people healthier and happier and builds stronger, safer communities too.
You may have noticed that gardens are beginning to take up more space in Leith Open Space newsletters. Perhaps that’s not surprising. According to a recent survey by Greener Leith, more people want to use the space in Leith Links for gardens and childrens play areas than for football, golf or, indeed, any other sport. But will the opinions of local people count for anything with planners and developers? Continue reading “A growing need for green space: planners and developers take note!”
He’s done it again. Following the spectacular show in the Botanics on that cold, wet midsummer night, Kimho Ip (that’s him on the right) brought music and dance to another unconventional venue as part of this year’s Mela festival. But this time it could rain as much as it liked because the performance took place in the shelter of Ocean Terminal. And, no, you are not imagining things, Louise Martin the cellist is enormously tall. With a little help from stilts hidden beneath that dress. Continue reading “High (and dry) in Ocean Terminal”
Wring the Scottish rain clouds dry…Ron Butlin
Some hope. It rained of course but the sun shone too so Edinburgh’s new Makar, Ron Butlin, brought the perfect poem to launch Poetry in St Andrew Square: A Recipe for Whisky, laced with all the elements of Scotland’s weather. Come rain, hail, sleet or sun, the poetry garden is now open for business and waiting for you to help it grow… Continue reading “Poetry afloat in St Andrew Square”
Definitely not racist, FOUND loving music at Cabaret Voltaire
Red Eye is the great name for a new film club opening in Leith on Friday 5 September (great whether you are suffering from four long weeks of festival or not). Don’t miss the first night’s screening of Who Shot the Sheriff with fantastic footage of the Clash, Misty in Roots, Estelle, Ms Dynamite and Hard-Fi among others. This history of Rock against Racism (now Love Music Hate Racism) kicks off at 7pm in Pilmeny Youth Club, 44 Buchanan Street. It’s just off Leith Walk and it’s free! Continue reading “Red Eye opens on Friday”
It took a lot of helping hands to install Edinburgh’s most powerful festival exhibition, Return of the Soul: the Nakbah project by Jane Frere. Now more volunteers are needed for the massive task of unhooking more than 3,000 wax figures from the Patriothall Gallery in Stockbridge when the show ends on Monday. “That will involve bubblewrapping the figures and sending them on their way to Lebanon,” says Nick Gardner, one of the volunteers (read his review on Leith and North).
If you would like to help email returnofthesoul@gmail.com or call in at the gallery.