December 2016 (10)

7.00pm Wed 21 Dec 2016
Bellacaledonia host a Review of 2016

Bella's Review of the Year 2016 Bellacaledonia host a Review of 2016

This Wednesday (21 Dec) we’ll be looking back over the carnage of 2016. Join our two panels of commentators and writers to look back (and ahead) together. You can buy the books from all our panelists on the night, including our own ‘Scotland 2021’ available from Word Power Books or via Waterstone’s here. The book has contributions by Irvine Welsh, Khuloud Saba, Alistair Davidson, Neil Cooper, Maggie Chapman, Adam Ramsay, Robin McAlpine, Kathy Galloway, Tom French, Vonnie Moyes, Anuj Kapilashrami, Sara Marsden, and dozens more. We are looking at the challenges ahead, the state of the nation and the shifting political landscape after Holyrood 2016. If you can’t make it on Wednesday you can get some of our panels books here… indyref2Gordon Guthrie is author of ‘Winning The Second Independence Referendum – a manifesto for Scotland and the EU after Brexit‘ – he writes: “Brexit has not made a vote for Independence a certainty by any means – but it has transformed the terrain on which the next referendum will be held – if indeed it comes to a referendum and not a general election. Indyref was a battle between a Continuity Scotland and an Actually-Existing Scotland – the next struggle is over 2 competing Discontinuity Scotlands.” The book includes an inspiring 63 recommendations for an independent Scotland after Brexit. Buy it here. Gordon is also the author of Bella’s first ebook ‘War is Coming’. It charts the last thirty years of British foreign policy failure confusion ineptitude and cowardice. In the context of the unfolding misery in the Middle East it makes compelling reading. You can watch him discuss the book here: Follow Gordon at @gordonguthrie 6a00d8341c5b0b53ef01901eef8e3b970b-800wiLesley Riddoch – is a broadcaster, podcaster, columnist and community activist is also the author of ‘Blossom – what Scotland Needs to Flourish’. She writes of the thinking behind Blossom: “Blossom is an account of Scotland at the grassroots through the stories of people I’ve had the good fortune to know – the most stubborn, talented and resilient people on the planet. They’ve had to be. Some have transformed their parts of Scotland. Some have tried and failed. But all have something in common – they know what it takes for Scotland to blossom. We should know too. So this book poses a question as important as the one Scots must answer on 18 September 2014. Why is Scotland still the most unequal society and sickest man (and woman) of Europe despite an abundance of natural resources and a long history of human capacity? You can buy it here. Follow Lesley at @LesleyRiddoch indexAndy Wightman is a writer and land rights campaigner. He is author of ‘The Poor had no Lawyers’ and Elite Rule and Radical Democracy. Others have said of his work: “The book is an essential read for all of us who want to live in the Scotland we imagine” –John Watson, Stone Country “Wightman may have trained in forestry and worked as an environmental scientist and campaigner but he brings a lawyerly and forensic analysis to task: a voyage of discovery to find out how landowners in Scotland got their hands on the millions of acres that were once held in common” – The Times Joyce McMillan is a columnist and theatre critic. She is the author of Theatre in Scotland – a Field of Dreams. Nadine McBay reviewed it saying: “…what is ostensibly a collection of reviews, is of course, so much more than that. Borne of her unfinished PhD on Ben Jonson’s tragedies, McMillan’s conviction is that theatre is a place where we explore power relationships, from the personal to the state to the international. As she notes in an attendant essay, three themes recur in her work: the Left’s initially floundering response to Thatcher’s ravaging of Scottish industry, the future of gender relations after the conscious-raising feminism of the 1970s and the story of Scotland’s re-awakening from the bruising defeat of the gerrymandered referendum of 1979. Her longevity and present status as one of the country’s foremost thinkers is due to her ability to see the wider social and political implications of theatrical works, as well as her unfailing fairness. She can tell what went wrong and where, and if there’s something to commend in even a mediocre work, she does, resisting the easier option of a hatchet job. A constructive review is, after all, a more challenging task than a bad one. All reasons why, as Vicky Featherstone, founding artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland, says in a opening quote: “hers was the review we all craved. Hers was the recommendation we took seriously. Hers was the opinion that mattered.” Theatre In Scotland: A Field of Dreams by Joyce McMillan is published by Nick Hern Books www.nickhernbooks.co.uk Christopher Silver is author or ‘Demanding Democracy – the case for a Scottish media’. chris-silver-demanding-democracyRobert Somynne reviewed it observing: “Silver asks two fundamental questions. Firstly, what is wrong with the Scottish media or perhaps journalism in general and secondly – how do we construct a viable alternative? Wrapped up with these questions are the underlying structures of the British state as well as its interactions with the Scottish nation, itself denied its constitution as one. A most acute observation made in the book is the almost eternal bind experienced by the Scottish professional, the pro union media as a whole and by extension the collective consciousness of Scotland. If the media is not just, as often presented a mere portal by which information is disseminated; but is the expression of the “imaginative soul of a nation” – then the Scottish media is in itself an analogy for the trapped spiritual potential of a nation without a clear state or status.” Buy it here. The other panelists are Laura Cameron Lewis, David Pratt, and Heather Burns.
livestream by
Independence Live

Starts at: 7.00pm Wed 21 Dec 2016

Speakers: Gordon Guthrie, Lesley Riddoch, David Pratt, Laura Cameron Lewis, Andy Wightman, Joyce McMillan, Heather Burns and Christopher Silver

Venue: The Melting Pot 5 Rose Street Edinburgh EH2 2PR

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5.00pm Sat 17 Dec 2016
The Third in a year long series of events.

Universal Basic Income Glasgow: From the Grass Routes The Third in a year long series of events.

Universal Basic Income is gathering allot of followers recently As part of a year long campaign to discuss this policy Extra second presents the Third of Six evening's Part 3 : Grass Routes Speakers from a variety of backgrounds coming together with performances and talks as well as time for Q&A and open discussion, come and get involved and organise with local artists and activists in an experimental night More details announced soon. Speakers currently include : Zara Kitson ( Green Party ) Darren Loki McGarvey - Local Artist Matt Lygate - Local Artist and Activist running " on the corner " More to be announced in a few days... Performances and Poetry from Leyla Josephine Rebecca Wallace More to be announced in a few days...
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Independence Live

Starts at: 5.00pm Sat 17 Dec 2016

Speakers: Zara Kitson, Darren McGarvie, Matt Lygate

Venue: For Fika Sake

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7.00pm Tue 13 Dec 2016
A public meeting hosted by Parkhouse Community Council, Glasgow

Bedroom Tax 2 A public meeting hosted by Parkhouse Community Council, Glasgow

Public Meeting Parkhouse Community Council Invited Speakers Sean Clerkin Action for Scotland - Ian McInnes Scottish Tenants Organisation - Billy McAllister Independent Councillor Trinity Possil & Henry Drummond Parish Church, Glasgow
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Independence Live

Starts at: 7.00pm Tue 13 Dec 2016

Venue: Trinity Possil & Henry Drummond Parish Church, Glasgow

8.00pm Sun 11 Dec 2016

Bards In Their Eyes X-Mas Special - Overheard In The Westend

behind the curtain lies dopplegangers , tributes and piss takers. This is the return of Overheard in the Westend with a Bards in their Eyes special . Glasgow Poets and Musicians become other Glasgow Poets and Musicians for one night only on their Christmas night out. Food, words , music, beverages and merriment. `Tonight Matthew, Im going to be.... ` Line up coming soon. If you would like to perform as someone else then email [email protected] Free entry but donations welcome
livestream by
Independence Live

Starts at: 8.00pm Sun 11 Dec 2016

7.30pm Mon 5 Dec 2016
hosted by Yes Edinburgh West

Land, Democracy and the Economy with Andy Wightman MSP hosted by Yes Edinburgh West

Possibly the most knowledgeable person on land ownership in Scotland, Andy Wightman was elected to the Scottish Parliament in May 2016 as a Scottish Green Party MSP. In his short time at Holyrood he has been prominent in attempts to affect change particularly on land and local democracy. At Yes Edinburgh West's December 2016 meeting, he will speak on Land, Democracy and the Economy.
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Independence Live

Starts at: 7.30pm Mon 5 Dec 2016

Speakers: Andy Wightman MSP

Venue: Clermiston Inn, Edinburgh EH4 7EG

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1.30pm Sat 3 Dec 2016
We'll be looking at how education, the legal system and the Prevent / Counter-terrorism regime coalesce to create an environment of hate that facilitates the operation of a de facto Police State.

SACC - Islamophobia Conference 2016 We'll be looking at how education, the legal system and the Prevent / Counter-terrorism regime coalesce to create an environment of hate that facilitates the operation of a de facto Police State.

In this state citizens are either living in fear and self-censorship, or full and knowing complicity, or exceptionalist complacency or a combination of some or all of the aforesaid. Whilst the primary targets and victims of hateful discourse, discrimination and state and street violence are Muslims, everyone lives in this Environment and this State, many minoritised communities now feel a resurgence of hatred and everyone is impacted negatively.Organised jointly by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and SACC, and linked to the conference on the same theme being held by IHRC in London on 10 December.
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Independence Live

Starts at: 1.30pm Sat 3 Dec 2016

Speakers: Yvonne Ridley (journalist and author), Arzu Merali (IHRC), Mohammad N Asif (Afghan Human Rights Foundation), Tasneem Ali (Muslim Womens Association of Edinburgh), Richard Haley (SACC), Faizah Shaheen (questioned by police after being reported reading a book about Syria on a plane), Pinar Aksu (campaigner for refugees), Ibrahim Mohamoud (Cage spokesperson).

Venue: Augustine United Church, 41-43 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL

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7.30pm Fri 2 Dec 2016
1.25 million, including 300,000 children in the UK, are classified as destitute. Suzanne will offer a definition of destitution and relate her research to the situation in Scotland.

Prof Suzanne Fitzpatrick :Destitution - Homelessness and Housing exclusion 1.25 million, including 300,000 children in the UK, are classified as destitute. Suzanne will offer a definition of destitution and relate her research to the situation in Scotland.

Friday 2nd December at 7.30 pm the SNP Club will welcome Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick of Heriot Watt University where she is professor of Housing and Social Policy. Suzanne specialises into research on homelessness and housing exclusion. She was one of the authors of a report for the Joseph Rowantree Foundation on Destitution which revealed that 1.25 million, including 300,000 children in the UK, are classified as destitute. Suzanne will offer a definition of destitution and relate her research to the situation in Scotland. All in all, the perfect antidote to the pre-Christmas consumerist frenzy.
livestream by
Independence Live

Starts at: 7.30pm Fri 2 Dec 2016

Speakers: Prof Suzanne Fitzpatrick

Venue: SNP Club Edinburgh EH3 9QL

11.00am Fri 2 Dec 2016

EGP Council, Glasgow


livestream by
Independence Live

Starts at: 11.00am Fri 2 Dec 2016