The Journal - Edinburgh Issue 026

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30 YEARS OF WHITE KIDS TALKIN' BLACK » 15

EDINBURGH’S UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER

WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER 2009

ISSUE XXVI

Three decades since the album that brought hip-hop to the mainstream, The Journal asks if the genre has lost its soul on the journey from the Bronx to the bank

>> 15 VINCE TAYLOR

UKBA forces change in resit rules over 'bogus student' fears

ANTI-BNP PROTESTORS GATHER OUTSIDE THE TUN

Universities must monitor attendance of overseas students under new rules Constantine Innemée Student News THE UK BORDER Agency (UKBA) has implemented new guidelines for universities, making it obligatory for them to monitor the attendance of overseas students.

Jeremy Oppenheim, National Lead for Temporary Migration at the UKBA said: “We have made it clear that we will not tolerate either the fraudulent applicants trying to abuse Britain’s immigration rules, or the dodgy colleges that facilitate them. However, Britain will always welcome genuine students who are coming here to receive a first-class education.”

The attendance monitoring procedure includes ten separate points of contact, which are meant to ensure no student gets reported to the UKBA without their absence being verified extensively.

Mr Oppenheim added: “These new requirements were discussed at length with representatives of the education sector, including representatives of higher and further education institutions as part of the consultation.”

Universities have to qualify as “sponsors” with the UKBA before they are allowed to receive students or staff from overseas, in order for them to do

IN NEWS

Shooting star Madcap funny man Vic Reeves on working with longtime foil Bob Mortimer, his new comedy encyclopedia, and heckling Michael Jackson

>> 3

so they have to fully comply with these new regulations.

The new regulations also state that overseas students should not be allowed more than two resits on their exams, in order to “prevent students from unnecessarily prolonging their stay in the UK”.

There has been criticism of the new regulations, which aim to reduce the number of immigrants posing as students entering the country.

Dominic Scott, Chief Executive for the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), expressed certain reservations on the new guidelines.

He told The Journal: “No-one in the sector—nor in UKCISA—was or is entirely comfortable with the requirements to ‘report’ on attendance, although this has now been amended for higher education, to the more flexible interpretation on ‘expected contacts’ and only if ten of those in a row are missed would any report be necessary.

“I think we have to accept that in the new ‘sponsor system’ there may have to be some sort of tracking required to ensure students are doing in the UK what they said they intend to [study], but we will continue to work towards Continued on Page 2

IN COMMENT

>> 21

The time traveller’s estranged wife Audrey Niffenegger refuses to watch the film adaptation of her best-selling novel – she tells The Journal why, and explains how research for her new book led her to befriend a cemetery

Griffiths pledges to fight fees at SRC meeting Local Labour MP invited as part of continuing EUSA campaign against moves to raise tuition cap in England Megan Taylor Student Politics NIGEL GRIFFITHS, LABOUR MP for Edinburgh South, has appeared at the University of Edinburgh's Student Representative Council (SRC) meeting to discuss his decision to support student in the forthcoming government review on tuition fees.

Griffiths, who was present at the request of Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) President

IN ARTS

>> 24

Thomas Graham, described the implications on Scottish universities, should the cap on tuition fees in England be lifted.

“The decision to increase fees will have an adverse affect on my constituents, a large proportion of which are students.

“Lifting the cap in England would mean Edinburgh University being left at a massive disadvantage as the funding gap would grow. For every £1000 the tuition fees increase by, Edinburgh falls behind by £16 million.”

He went on to warn the SRC that

IN FOOD & DRINK

>> 27

Charm Offensive

Can a pint be sexy?

With a second album breaking new ground and winning a new following for Bat for Lashes, her Edinburgh gig proves to be an exercise in coaxing fans exactly where they want to go

Producing beers with names like Trashy Blonde and Punk IPA, the young Scottish duo behind Brew Dogs are reinventing a night at the pub for a new generation

road ahead would be long and difficult: “You are facing some very clever people who will put together excellent reasons for the cap to be lifted and they will have impressive answers to all your counter arguments. Preparation is the key and everyone’s voice will need to be heard.

“NUS Scotland must be involved in this major campaign and I suggest writing to your MPs back home and persuading as many of them to get on board as you can,” said Mr Griffiths.

Continued on Page 2

2 News

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

New rules force universities to track students

THIS WEEK IN THE JOURNAL

Continued from Page 1

Eurythmics singer and Aids campaigners Annie Lennox receives honorary degree from Edinburgh university

» 23

» ONLINE

STUDENT LOANS CHAOS PROMPTS INQUIRY

getting a definition which makes sense in terms of learning styles and patterns in Higher Education. No-one expects that to be a ‘roll-call’ as in primary school.”

All British higher education institutions must comply with the the new rules by next year.

Three schools—Science and Engineering, Medicine and Veterinary and Politics and Social Science—at the University of Edinburgh have begun pilot schemes in monitoring attendance.

Commenting on the matter Mr Scott added: “We and Universities UK have said that we oppose this regulation

and continue to be in discussions on it.

However, there are some students who have in the past made little progress, continued to fail, done little work and stayed on in the UK largely to work, and the UKBA are clearly intent on stamping this out.

“For the time being universities may have to say, in a way which is probably not discriminatory, you can all do three re-sits under our regulations, but we cannot help you extend your visa under UKBA regulations for more than two.”

All new requirements come into force on 1 February 2010, although most universities have already stated they are fully compliying under the UKBA’s regulations.

Local MP takes part in SRC meeting Continued from Page 1

SCOTTISH BALLET CELEBRATES ITS 40TH BIRTHDAY

»9

AFRICA IN MOTION FESTIVAL HITS THE CAPITAL

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Mr Thomas assured the SRC that he would be delighted to give any other MP who wished to support students an opportunity to speak at future meetings.

Edinburgh South is a marginal constituency in next year’s general election with only 405 seats winning victory for Griffiths in the last election. His opponent for the Liberal Democrats, Fred Mackintosh has also recently voiced his concerns over the Tories plans for £7000 per-year study fees.

Griffiths also condemns this plan: “£7000 is a massive amount of money.

When a graduate gets a job — and that is if they can even find one — that’s practically half a year’s salary already.”

After Mr Griffiths left, there were some concerns from some SRC members that the meetings should remain apolitical.

External Convener Kath McMahon told The Journal: “Thomas Graham essentially gave a Labour MP with a vested interest a platform, with a general election on the cards.

“I do appreciate Griffiths coming out against tuition fees, but I do not think that it is appropriate for him to speak at a council meeting — which are often very long anyway — especially as Thomas did not consult with the rest of us about bringing him in.”

Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Evan Beswick, responded by telling The Journal: “It’s worth pointing out that this wasn’t a decision taken by any individual: this was discussed at SRC exec [sic] the week before whereat it was agreed that there was massive benefit in getting SRC members engaged in the debate on Higher Education funding across the UK. “Plonking him in front of 70-odd switched on, politically engaged students was always intended to foster robust debate.

“It’s disappointing that some of those who afterwards objected to Mr Griffifths’s appearance opted not to grill him on his policy at the time. We’re going to be lobbying all politicians on that, regardless of their political colours.”

Corrections & clarifications EDINBURGH’S UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER

Editor Paris Gourtsoyannis Deputy Editor Nick Eardley

Deputy Editor (Arts & Entertainment) Marcus Kernohan

Designers Daniel Buxton, Dorothy Butchard, Joe Pielichaty, Shonagh Taylor, Shannon McLean, Tom McWilliam, Piotr Klarowski

Music Ray Philp Theatre Amy Taylor Art Rachael Cloughton Fashion Helen Broadfoot Food & Drink Jane Maddison

Deputy Editor (News) Matthew Moore General News Emma Towers Local News Anna Fenton Student News Constantine Innemée Academic News Chris Grainger Student Politics Megan Taylor National Politics Joe Pike

Deputy Editor (Comment/Features) Iman Qureshi Comment Marthe Lamp-Sandvik Profile Marion Sauvebois Features Eloise Nutbrown

Deputy Editor (Sport) Liam McCabe Photography Editor Silvia Foteva Sales Manager Rebecca Adams llustrators Tom Hunt, Sophie Cameron, Lizzie Griesedieck, Farlane Whitty, Justyna Grabowska Office Manager Alexandra Ionescu Web Designer Tom Whatmore Copy Editors James Fidler, Jessica Abrahams, Duncan Kennedy, Polly Dallyn, Alex Taggart

Chris Talbot and Benny Little are the drummer and guitarist of Wild Beasts respectively. The interview article incorrectly states that Talbot is the bassist and Little is the drummer.

Constantine Innemee was credited as having written the article 'Edinburgh South MP stands by tuition cap'; in fact Allison Leighton wrote the article.

Adam Bramley was not credited for the fashion shoot on page 26, and Janek Mann for the images in Food & Drink on page 27 - The Journal would like to apologise for this, and for the significant failings in crediting photographers and illustrators in previous issues this year. The publication recognises and appreciates their hard work, and commits to showing them due respect in future.

Marion Sauvebois and Rachael Cloughton's names were spelled incorrectly in the last edition.

The Journal apologises to its readers for the numerous errors in the picture captions and on the front page, due to a lack of sufficient editorial oversight. Again, we aim to hold ourselves to the high standards of our readership The Journal is published by The Edinburgh Journal Ltd., registered address 37 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ. Registered in Scotland number SC322146. For enquiries call 0131 651 6057 or email info@journal-online.co.uk. The Journal is a free newspaper for and written by students and graduates in the City of Edinburgh. Contact us if you’d like to get involved. Printed by Morton’s Printers, Licolnshire.

Copyright © 2008 The Edinburgh Journal Ltd. Elements of this publication are distributed under a Creative Commons license - contact us for more information. Distributed byTwo Heads Media, www.twoheadsmedia. co.uk. Our thanks to PSYBT, Scottish Enterprise, and all who make this publication possible.

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION call our sales department on 0131 651 6057 or send an email to ads@journal-online.co.uk

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Vic Reeves' new book launches the latest chapter of illustrious career

News 3

The Journal talks to the Shooting Stars frontman about his artwork, the Daily Mail, and his Brit Awards 'stitch-up'

A RÉSUMÉ BOASTING numerous cult television series and radio programmes, a hit single, an appearance on I’m a Celebrity... and a ranking in the top ten greatest comedy acts of all time is one that most would be jealous of. For Vic Reeves, however, it provides an opportunity to present his brand of comedy through yet another medium.

In the latest move in a career spanning two decades, he has published his second art collection in the form of Vic Reeves’ Vast Book of Knowledge, a surreal look at the world through the eyes of the Shooting Stars presenter.

In his usual bizarre style, Reeves— real name Jim Moir—delves into subjects such as head lice—”Should you ever be unfortunate enough to have your head invaded by head lice, you will be ostracized from your barracks, mocked by women, oppressed, persecuted and maybe even shot”—and the barn owl— ”It only lives at night, feeding on varmints and loose macaroons. It makes its nest in milk bottles.”

The 260 alphabetically-arranged topics in the book serve to showcase Reeves’ lesser known artistic talent combined with his famous comedy persona.

But as the 50 year-old explains, this focus on art is not something new.

Rather, it’s always been part of what he does: “It’s all art. I’ve always said the same thing; I’ve been saying it for years.

I don’t really see why anyone would think it would be anything different.”

When the Leeds-born 50 year-old was asked to write the book in November last year, the answer was simple: “I spend all day painting, so the book was a work of love for me.” What followed was a fairly rapid process in his garden shed, and the collection was ready in three months.

This is not Reeves’ first artistic venture, and there is no shortage of experience. Publishing his first collection—Sun Boiled Onions—in 1999, Reeves’ work has been exhibited in the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London, and he designs the set for Shooting Stars.

Amongst his creations are the legendary characters ‘the Dove from Above’ and ‘Donald Cox the Sweaty Fox’: “I think that if you’re going to do something, do it from the bottom not the top.

“Don’t let anyone else; I’ve never let anyone do anything.”

Reeves seems to have an unfettered passion for every aspect of his job, and has barely had any time to rest since his career took off nearly twenty years ago.

Having met Bob Mortimer during a gig in Goldsmith’s Tavern in London in the early nineties, the two set about creating their own surreal brand of comedy. A plethora of hit shows including The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Catterick and a remake of Randal and Hopkirk (Deceased) followed.

Given the almost undisrupted collaboration between the pair, it seems

WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK? Reeves' latest literary venture extends the comedian's mastery of all media only logical that they have some sort of rapport that has allowed them to work together for so long? “We just get on.

We’re best mates, and when you work together for so long you become kind of psychic.”

The pair’s best known collaboration—celebrity game show Shooting Stars—returned to the BBC this year after a twelve year hiatus, and whilst the recording process was fairly rapid— the show being recorded live over 40 minutes—Reeves explains that there is

no shortage of work in the background: “We spend a long time actually writing it all. We do everything; design the set, make the props, write it all, rehearse it all.”

It is also perhaps surprising who proposed the latest series; Little Britain’s Matt Lucas, aka Shooting Stars’ score keeper George Dawes. “He kinda started it off. The BBC didn’t want it anymore.

“I think Matt went and had a meeting and said ‘Will you let them do

another shooting stars?’ so it was kind of down to him really.”

Reeves and Mortimer command a high level of respect from their colleagues in the comedy world, and in 2005 were named in the top ten comedy acts of all time in a poll of their peers.

But despite this respect, Reeves is less than enthusiastic when it comes to questions about the comedy circuit: “I don’t watch it, I never have done.”

After some pressing he does admit to having some favorites such as The

Mighty Boosh and Harry Hill, but continues: “I might have a look at some for like two minutes of a comedy show, and if I like it lingers. But I haven’t seen anything good for a long time.”

Despite his scepticism, he is keen to defend his relationship with Jonathan Ross. An article in the Daily Mail in February claimed that Reeves had called the BBC presenter a “bully” over last year’s prank calls to actor Andrew Sachs. According to Reeves, his words were twisted: “I said it’s a big fuss over nothing and you lot should stop being bullies, then they printed Jonathan Ross should stop being a bully.

“That’s the Daily Mail for you, they’ll twist whatever you say and try and start a fight.

“They are terrible, awful gossip mongers and troublemakers.”

Elsewhere in his career, there have been musical collaborations, most famously with The Wonder Stuff on the hit single ‘Dizzy’, an appearance on I’m a Celebrity... with wife Nancy Sorrell, and historical documentaries with shows like Vic Reeves Investigates: Jack the Ripper.

And Reeves was also the mastermind behind one of the most famous moments in the history of music award ceremonies, along with Jarvis Cocker, at the 2001 Brit Awards: “It was me and him who decided to go and show our arses to Michael Jackson. I started it off: I said let’s go and show him our arses.”

However, Reeves didn’t quite make it: “I got lost on the way.”

He was involved in another famous Brit Award moment in 2008, when he appeared to forget what prize he was awarding. Seemingly startled, Reeves stammered through a brief introduction before asking host Sharon Osbourne what the category was, prompting Osbourne to call him a “pissed bastard” before repeatedly telling him to “piss off”.

But Reeves insists it was a stitchup, and organizers kept giving him different information about which award he would be presenting, before throwing him on stage: “Then they said you’re not doing the other award now, you’re going to do best album What you’ve got to say will be on an autocue there. So I got out there, and there was no autocue.

I didn’t know what I was doing.”

It wasn’t Osbourne’s accusation that it was caused by too much alcohol? “No, coz I hadn’t had anything to drink.”

He continues: “I thought she was a terrible cow, but that’s what I thought before I met her anyway.”

Nonetheless, Reeves says that he would be happy to do the Brits again, and seems enthusiastic about every other prospective opportunity. Another series of Shooting Stars and another ‘Great Britain’ themed art–based book are both in the pipeline, and every time one of his shows is mentioned he says he would like to do more. Where does this abundance of energy come from?

“I just really like it; I can’t stop.

I’m too excited about things. I’ve got enough time to do it all.”

But then after a brief pause, he remarks: “Actually no, I haven’t got enough time to do it all… But I work very quickly.”

4 News

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Postal strike causes major disruption for Edinburgh firms Students and small businesses feel the effects as millions of letters go undelivered EMANUEL KHANZAI

Business leader launches student IT award Leading financial services firm JP Morgan offers winning student a year's free tuition John Hislop

Concerns have been raised regarding the effects of the CWU's industrial action, with letters and parcels taking up to two weeks to be delivered Kathleen Oliver THE ONGOING ROYAL Mail strikes are expected to leave many businesses struggling to keep up with with demand and individuals feeling the effects according to experts.

Postal workers went on strike last week after the Communication Worker’s Union (CWU), which represents postal workers, failed to reconcile with Royal Mail after disagreeing on a number of issues.

Stuart Mackinnon, a spokesman from the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland, told The Journal: “Seventy percent of small businesses rely on Royal Mail for more than half of their business post, so it is no wonder that many small firms up and down the country are concerned about what a postal strike could mean for them.”

He continued: “The cash flow of many small firms, in Edinburgh and nationally relies upon timely payment and many customers send invoices and cheques in the post. Delays in receiving this important paperwork could make life very difficult, and be very expensive, for those businesses.”

The first national strikes since 2007 took place on the 22 and 23 October after the two sides failed to come to an agreement. More strikes are expected.

Royal Mail recently recruited over thirty thousand temporary staff in order to deal with their backlog of post.

The CWU are now threatening to take legal action, as recruiting new employees to do the work of those on strike is illegal according to employment law.

UK manager of Coco Chocolate, Kristina Currie, a luxury chocolate shop in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, is concerned about the strikes and their potential affect on the UK company’s mail order service. She told The Journal: “We indeed have been affected by

postal strikes in the past. We use Royal Mail to send out all of our internet orders that come from the UK. This means we use Royal Mail everyday.

“We also advertise a quick service, so when there are strikes and our orders are delayed we receive complaints from our customers.

“We are now considering going with a private company for our Christmas orders to ensure delivery.”

Jean Wood, Manager of Oxfam in Morningside, Edinburgh, expressed similar worries to The Journal, explaining that “recent campaign posters were possibly late” because of postal issues.

Ms Wood continued: “We know posters make an impact on the public and if they do not arrive in time an event and its impact may be adversely affected.”

Many Edinburgh students who rely on the post for books have already been affected by the strikes.

Lauren Mcphee, a student at Edinburgh Napier University told The Journal: “Some of the books and packages I ordered online have taken took almost two weeks to arrive. I would often wait for the postman and he/she would arrive without packages for me, or not arrive at all.”

She continued: “Although I hope the strikes won’t affect me anymore, I think it will definitely affect others because it

"We are now considering going with a private company for our Christmas orders to ensure delivery."

will produce a backlog.”

Muriel Tomlinson, a student from the University of Edinburgh, has faced similar problems as a result of the backlogging caused by the Royal Mail strikes. She told The Journal: “My dad sent a parcel of my clothes from home by first class delivery costing over £8.

After a week I began to get worried so I went to the Edinburgh South sorting office, which is just round the corner from my flat.

“The man on the desk said that they were very short staffed and said he had eight cages of packages in the back that he hadn’t even begun to think about sorting yet, but he reassured me it was almost definitely in there and I would get it eventually. I finally got my parcel almost two weeks after it was sent.”

A previous strike in 2007 ended when the CWU and Royal Mail signed ‘The Pay and Modernisation Agreement’. The CWU have accused Royal Mail of not being willing to carry out the final phase of the deal.

As a result, the CWU is worried about its member’s job security as modernisation plans could mean the loss of jobs in the future. Royal Mail denies refusing to take part in discussions with the CWU but have admitted that because of financial losses, cuts are “inevitable”.

At the beginning of October, postal workers nationally voted to take strike action. There have already been a number of walkouts in Edinburgh and London.

Eighty one thousand members of the CWU took part in the recent ballot and the vast majority backed the strikes that have already caused Royal Mail huge disruptions and significant financial losses.

The CWU recently reported on their website that a secret internal Royal Mail document suggested that the company wanted to “sideline the union”.

The document also stressed: “Royal Mail is prepared to continue with nonagreement and makes threats about taking facility time away from CWU reps.”

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the CWU, deemed the document “a cynical attempt to de-recognize the union.”

The Royal Mail’s Chief Executive, Adam Crozier, said that the CWU have embarked on “an appalling and unjustified attack on customers.”

IN BRIEF

MAIL STRIKES

1971 Workers staged the first ever nationwide postal strike, lasting seven weeks and crippling the union funds 1988 After bonuses were paid to recruit new workers, the union held it's first national strike in 17 years 2003 A union vote on industrial striking was turned down however, non union strikes ensued with up to 20,000 workers picketing 2007 CWU led nationwide twoday strikes from June-October against modernisation plans which included making cuts of £350 million each year for five years The Royal Mail currently employs around 210,000 staff the same number of workers it employed in 1971 The mail company recorded operating profits of £321 million in 2008-09, up from £162 million in the previous year

IT JOBS FOR Graduates have teamed up with JP Morgan, to launch the Student IT Innovation Awards 2009, in a bid to find the entrepreneur who will come up with the next “techie” idea that could change the business world.

The winner of the competition, which is open to students in all years of study attending any university in the UK, will be awarded a year’s worth of tuition fees.

Commenting on the awards, Jamie Bowler, head of marketing for IT Jobs for Graduates, said: “Setting yourself apart from the competition is key for graduates looking to enter the workforce, particularly given the current economic climate. This is why differentiating yourself and building a personal profile have each become increasingly important.

“The judges will be looking for creativity, business reality, critical thinking, feasibility and technical application. These awards offer one budding IT professional the chance to shine, and the opportunity to decrease their university tuition fee debt.”

If the winning student has their tuition fees paid for by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, they will receive £3225 in cash.

In addition, the winner will get to extend their publicity via a press release that will give readers the opportunity to learn more about their innovative idea.

Students are encouraged to write proposals for a technological concept in a work environment, or a platform for a new business.

Those awarded with the highest points in the business proposal screening stage will be invited to present their ideas to a panel of judges at JP Morgan’s office in London. All students submitting ideas will retain the full intellectual property right.

Final submissions are to be received no later than 13 November. Finalists will be notified by 18 November and the winner will be announced on 1 December.

Earlier this year, a survey by High Flyers Graduate Research of the top 100 UK Graduate employers, including award sponsors JP Morgan, found that entry level vacancies for investment banking positions fell by 56 per cent in 2009 with, on average, over 100 applications for every position.

Submitted proposals should be sent to a.gohil@theitjobboard.com with a short covering letter and CV, highlighting why a student believes they should be shortlisted for the award.

News 5

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Confusion remains over suicide rules

Despite official efforts to clarify the law on assited dying, questions remain—as The Journal found out when it spoke to the first doctor to be arrested under the new guidelines PAUL BRENNAN

James Fidler

DR LIBBY WILSON has become the first person to be arrested under the new guidelines presented by Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, that attempt to clarify the law on assisted dying in England and Wales.

Dr Wilson is a former physician and a founding member of the organisation Friends At The End, a group that aims to provide information to people who are considering suicide as a result of illness or frailty.

Dr Wilson was arrested in connection with the suicide of Cari Loder, who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis. In June, Ms Loder, a former university lecturer, killed herself by inhaling helium gas after having spoken to Dr Wilson in order to ensure she carried out her attempt successfully.

As a result of the two phone conversations with Ms Loder, the octogenarian was instructed to travel from her home in Glasgow to Woking, in Surrey, and was held in a cell for several hours before being released. “They took DNA, fingerprints, photographs... they took my shoes, all my belongings,” she recalls.

Her arrest comes at an important time for assisted suicide legislation both in England and Wales, and in Scotland. In England on 23 September, the Department of Public Prosecutions released a number of issues that will weigh for or against public prosecution of those who help others to die.

It is intended as an elucidation of the 1961 Suicide Act, which makes it illegal to “aid, abet, council, or procure the suicide of another”. The new guidelines, whilst attempting to prevent the potential abuses of assisted suicide, aims to discourage prosecution in a number of scenarios, for example, those in which “the suspect was motivated wholly by compassion”, or those in which the victim had “asked personally on his or her own initiative for the assistance of the suspect”.

Starmer is clear that these suggestions are not amendments to the law: “Assisting suicide has been a criminal offence for nearly fifty years, and my interim policy does nothing to change that.”

They will not provide anyone suspected of assisted suicide a guarantee against prosecution. Amendments to the suicide bill were proposed but defeated in the House of Lords this summer. The proposal, by former Lord Chancelor Lord Falconer, attempted to legalise travel abroad to assisted dying clinics, such as the well known Dignitas in Switzerland.

In Scotland, Margo MacDonald is also working to clarify the law relating to assisted suicide, as she considers it an issue “not specifically covered by legislation”.

As MacDonald clearly points out though: “Under Scots law, an act of euthanasia by a third party, including physician-assisted suicide, is regarded as the deliberate killing of another and would be dealt with under the criminal law relating to homicide.”

Her efforts have come in the form of a proposed bill “to permit physician assistance to those who wish to end their lives”. It has garnered twenty one MSP signatures, enough to have the topic debated in Parliament.

Dr Wilson is positive about both initiatives, in particular about

LOCKED UP: Dr Libby Wilson is on bail following her arrest for helping an MS sufferer to end her life

MacDonald’s proposal. “I think Margo’s bill is a very good step in the right direction and will make a huge difference to a lot of people,” she says enthusiastically.

However, she is less sanguine about its success: “(MacDonald) has got twenty one signatures, but what’s that out of one hundred and twenty nine?”

As far as Keir Starmer’s new guidelines are concerned, Dr Wilson can well attest to their current inefficacy. Of her organisation Friends At The End, she says: “We are not motivated, of course, by any financial gain...we are acting out of principle and out of compassion.”

Under the new guidelines these factors would weigh against Wilson’s prosecution, and yet she was still arrested and remains on bail until 18 November.

The case for assisted dying in the UK is still in its infancy. Both public and political opposition to any amendment of the laws pertaining to assisted dying are both vocal and well represented.

Although, Dr Wilson speaks of a number of indications that suggest things are changing. A number of opinion polls recently commissioned and released indicate that public opinion is very much on her side.

Dignity in Dying, an organisation supported by former minister for Health Reform, Lord Norman Warner, which campaigns for improved palliative care and assisted dying, published a poll in June 2008 indicating that 79 per cent of respondents believed “it was important not to have their lives prolonged against their wishes”.

Another poll, published by The Times in July 2009 indicates that 56 per cent of those questioned are in favour of a change in the law for people in extreme pain, over two thirds are in favour of a change in the law for people suffering degenerative, but not terminal illness, and 95 per cent consider that people with terminal illnesses should have the right to an assisted death.

A shift in political opinion is also noticeable. Although Margo MacDonald has only received 21 signatures in support of her proposal she has fared remarkably better than Jeremy Purvis, an MSP whose consultation document in favour of legalising physician assisted suicide, Dying with Dignity, failed to accrue enough support to be debated in 2005.

Dr Wilson thinks that the improvement may be in part because MacDonald is “such a feisty lady...such a prominent character,” it might also indicate a nascent move in parliament towards a reassessment of assisted suicide.

She sees this change of opinion reflected in the ways in which the press now treat the issue: “I do think also there have been an increasingly favourable reactions in the media to the various cases that have been publicised.

Most of the media nowadays write up the cases and report them in a more favourable light than they used to.”

Dr Wilson’s battles for pro-choice have spanned half a century. “In my earlier life I was involved in battles about contraception,” she recalls. “In my working life I was very much involved in women’s right to choose having an abortion or not.”

Anticipating the future success of campaigns to amend assisted dying legislature, she is quick to point out the similarities of today’s debates with those of the past: “It’s the same people who were opposed to abortion that are now opposed to (choice) at the end of life.”

6 News

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

African film festival hits Edinburgh's Filmhouse Festival showcases 60 films illustrating the diversity of African continent SILVIA FOTEVA

Olivia Dobbs

THE BIGGEST AFRICAN film festival in the UK, Africa in Motion will be held at the Filmhouse on Lothian Road from 22 October-1 November.

Co-director of the festival, Stefanie Van de Peer said: “The mission of the Africa in Motion film festival is to display the diversity of the African continent and its cinematic products.”

This year, the festival boasts 60 films, including shorts, documentaries, and features, from 22 African countries.

Van de Peer grew up in Belgium and has long had a keen interest in African culture. She told The Journal that she became interested in African film because she “felt guilty and embarrassed” about her own country’s history with Africa and wanted to learn more about the continent.

Lizelle Bisschoff, co-director and founder of the festival, is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh. A South African native, Bisschoff’s passion was to celebrate the creative side of African films, having realized that there is little opportunity in the UK to see such films.

Bisschoff and Van de Peer selected the films to be featured in the festival this year. The two traveled to Fespaco in West Africa, the biggest African film festival on the continent, where they chose the films that would shown at the

Court evidence says Merck tried to silence critics of new drug Harriet Grecian

Edinburgh audiences will have the chance to see sixty films from twenty-two African countries Edinburgh festival.

Van de Peer says the Edinburgh community has a lot of support for the film festival and, in response, the organizers have begun to offer feedback forms as they are curious about what the public wants to see.

The festival’s audience has been growing steadily from year to year, so much so that the Filmhouse has moved most of the films to Cinema One, their largest cinema. Van de Peer also said that there has been overwhelming coverage of this year’s event.

The film festival is working with the University of Edinburgh’s Centre of African Studies this year, and is offering a symposium on reconciliation during the first weekend. Reconciliation, an underlying theme of the festival, is the idea that art helps to deal with trauma.

Van de Peer said: “We’re used to seeing Africa as a continent that is wartorn but the Africa in Motion festival aims to show that African film-makers find uplifting ways of dealing with and overcoming these traumas.”

The festival also offers events such

as discussions, masterclasses, and music events.

There will be a masterclass at the Edinburgh College of Art led by Wanuri Kahiu from Kenya. Kahiu, who has had filmmaking experience in Hollywood, will speak in a free workshop for two hours about her experience as a filmmaker.

The Africa in Motion film festival opened on October 22 with the UK premiere of the South African feature film, My Secret Sky, and will run until Sunday November 1.

Local charities Treasury court lose out as case thrown out Lloyds funding cut Charities go without crucial funding as donors cut back on charity grants Katariina Rawlins MANY SCOTTISH CHARITIES have been left without vital funding following recession driven cut backs at Lloyds TSB. The Lloyds TSB Foundation, which lost £6 million funding from Lloyds TSB bank, works on turning applications into financial awards for charities.

One Livingstone based charity has been left with a funding gap as a result.

Manager of Braid House Day Centre, Anne Forrester, told The Journal: “The cutbacks have affected us already. We applied for additional funding in June and were turned down completely in August.”

The organisation offers the older community a place to meet and socialise.

Their mission is “to provide a high quality of day care for the older people of Livingston, and to enable them to have the opportunity to enhance their way of life”.

As a result of funding cuts, the foundation’s work has been suspended and their grant application process has been closed.

Ms Forrester said that they normally receive about £22,000 per annum.

This year they only applied for half the

Drug company compiled 'hit list' of doctors

amount to cover the salary of a part time administrator amongst other things.

Lloyds TSB Foundation is not the only source of income for the Edinburgh charity. They receive £230,000 from West Lothian Council annually and are planning to ask for additional funds, as their current amount barely covers salaries and utility bills.

However, the council is also imposing cutbacks and Forrester says that they are prepared to be disappointed.

With only 16 people taking care of the entire community, Ms Forrester stated: “Work can be quite rough, with people getting sick and coming holidays to worry about.”

Fortunately, the loss has been easier on some Scottish charities. East Lothian’s Carefree Kids organisation told The Journal: “Cutbacks will not affect work.”

Representatives from different political parties criticised Lloyds’ move to stop the funding for the charities.

MSPs are protesting against the decision and are hoping for a solution that will allow the charities to stay open.

MSP Robert Brown, the Liberal Democrat justice spokesman, said: “What needs to be remembered is that ordinary people and charities are suffering as a result of the greed culture at the top of banking.”

Nick Eardley Deputy Editor

CAMPAIGNERS HAVE REACTED angrily after a court case which saw the Treasury accused of breaking its own rules on the spending of public money when buying the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) was thrown out of court yesterday.

The case, which sought a judicial review over claims that investing in RBS broke government promises to combat climate and human rights abuses, was halted after a judge ruled that the Treasury acted within the law to protect the interests of its shareholders.

Campaigners have said they will appeal the decision.

Deborah Doane, director of the World Development Movement (WDM)—one of groups involved in the action—said: “We’re incredibly disappointed with the court’s decision not to allow a full hearing on this important case and will be appealing the judgement.

Essentially the judgement means that the RBS’ profits come before the climate and human rights of people.”

The Treasury became a majority shareholder of RBS last year after rescuing the bank from the brink of collapse.

Campaign groups involved in yesterday’s action claimed that RBS’ investments in companies involved in oil exploitation and human rights abuses were unlawful.

Rosa Curling, the solicitor representing campaigners, said: “This is clearly a disappointing result and we have advised our clients to appeal the decision.

“The government has set up an obligation for all government bodies to assess the environmental consequences of its decision and projects and it has failed to do so in relation to the management of RBS investments.”

The group involved in the action comprised of the WDM, student pressure group People and Planet and London based environmental group Platform.

A spokesperson for People and Planet said: “When the government bailed out RBS without placing any conditions on what could be done with the cash, they broke their own rules.

“RBS has used billions of pounds of our money to fund projects inflaming wars, stoking human rights abuses and driving climate change.

“The Treasury argued that any bank which does not do these things could be sued by its shareholders for not maximising profit. That the judge accepted this is terrifying, and of course we are appealing.”

Amongst the more controversial companies which the RBS holds stakes in are Tullow Oil- which is involved in extraction of oil on the Uganda-Congo border- and Vedenta Resources which has been criticised by the government for failing to respect indigenous rights in India.

DRUG GIANT MERCK compiled a “hit list” of doctors to “discredit” in order to stop criticism of their drugs, according to evidence released from the Vioxx drug trial in the US. The evidence contains email correspondence between employees listing the doctors that had condemned Merck’s Vioxx drug.

In reference to the physicians, one employee suggested that they might have to “seek them out and destroy them where they live”.

Employees discussed ways of influencing doctors who were outspoken regarding the ineffectiveness of their antiinflammatory drug, Vioxx.

Background information was gathered on 36 physicians and suggestions were made as how to silence more vocal critics.

If their tactics were unsuccessful, legal action was then intimated that would ban the doctor from talking about the specific drug in any future medical presentations.

A Merck spokesperson said: “Merck believes in scientific debate, and there was and still is a vigorous debate in the scientific and medical communities about Vioxx and other pain relievers.

“Merck also believes that it has a right to participate in that debate, and has often sought to provide doctors, among others, with access to scientific data that would answer their questions. These communications and Merck’s other communications about Vioxx were based on sound science.”

Merck, who last year turned over $23.9 billion (£15 billion), has also been accused of producing fake medical journals as a marketing tool.

In April of this year, Scientist.com reported that the Australian Journal of Bone and Joint Medicine, published by Elsevier, was actually funded by Merck yet had no sign of company sponsorship.

A spokesperson from the Child Health Safety Blog commented: “Wakefield [the UK doctor that spoke out against the MMR jabs] said it pretty well when interviewed by CBS TV news: ‘This is not conspiracy. It is corporate policy’. The Department of Health expects parents to trust their children’s health safety to these companies.

“The medical professions have based their entire ‘scientific’ approach to treatment of you, me and our families on ‘evidence based medicine’— i.e. what is published in medical journals. How much of that can be trusted and how can you tell what to trust and not?”

Merck withdrew Vioxx in September 2004 after a number of patients suffered from circulatory problems after taking the drug. The plaintiff in the Vioxx trial was awarded $47.5 million (£30.5 million) after taking Merck to court in 2007, having suffered a heart attack while on the drug for knee pain.

Local News 7

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Constituents band together to track down Alistair Darling Members of Alistair Darling’s Edinburgh South West constituency launch a campaign to contact their MP FLICKR

Anna Fenton Local News THE RESIDENTS OF Edinburgh South West held a meeting last week to discuss the absence of their local MP, Alistair Darling.

Constituents claim that despite having contacted Darling’s office several times, they were informed that he would not attend any constituency meetings this year.

The chair of the meeting, Simon Bateson from the World Development Movement said: “We were hoping Alistair Darling would come and talk about these issues at some point, but he couldn’t meet with his constituents this year on these issues. We asked again, but the response, again, was no.

Alistair Darling is a wanted man in his constituency.”

This prompted the posting of WildWest themed “Wanted” posters with Mr. Darling’s face on them across Edinburgh.

Local residents and campaigners organised a meeting at the Whale Arts Centre in Wester Hailes, the subject of which was the G20 summit next month.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling is one of the finance ministers due to attend the summit and his

constituents wanted their specific concerns to be taken into account.

The G20 is taking place on 7 November in St. Andrews, a month before UN climate change talks commence in Copenhagen.

Whilst the G20 itself is taking place outside of St. Andrews, “The People’s G20” will be taking place in the town centre.

Campaigning groups united under the slogans “Put People First” and “No more Business as Usual” will be petitioning the G20 countries to take their views on board.

The line up of speakers at the local meeting included Mike Kirby (Convener, UNISON Scotland), Ewan Aitken (Church of Scotland and former leader of Edinburgh City Council) and Juliet Swann (Friends of the Earth Scotland).

Those in attendance were both residents of Edinburgh South-West and members of political activist groups, including People and Planet and the World Development Movement.

Amongst their list of demands is a complete overhaul of the current financial system, compulsory ethical investment for banks, a commitment to acting upon climate change bills and support for local businesses in this time of financial downturn.

A delegation from the residents’

Four months after work-to-rule strike began, almost half of council staff could be set to return to work Polly Dallyn

WANTED: Alistair Darling MP absence has angered his constituents meeting will present the issues raised directly to Mr. Darling before the G20.

Mr. Darling’s office said: “He is very happy to speak to his constituents whenever possible, and if he is able to attend something in his constituency, he does.”

They went on to say: “The meeting could not take place any time soon for very logical reasons… For any MP who happens to be the Chancellor, this is a really difficult time to meet, what with

the pre-budget report due in November.”

They also noted that Mr. Darling is not obliged to speak to campaigning organisations or people outside of his constituency.

Mr. Darling’s last surgery was held on 9 October, and his next one is scheduled for 30 October. His office said that any constituents wishing to speak to him were welcome to book an appointment at his next surgery.

Pandemic continues as swine flu empties Edinburgh high school As vaccination campaign against H1N1 begins, local education chiefs faced with skyrocketing number of cases FLICKR (ENEAS DE TROYA)

Alice Stanes

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people will be vaccinated against swine flu in the coming weeks following flu-like symptoms which have crippled local schools.

Absence figures have rocketed at Linlithgow Academy and Merchiston Castle school as a total of 160 pupils have contracted the H1N1 virus.

Gordon Ford, West Lothian Council’s director of education, said: “Clearly there is a high incidence of flu in the school community and we want to make sure that everyone is aware of the symptoms and that they should seek medical advice if their child shows signs of developing flu.

“We are following government guidance on managing this outbreak and there are no plans to close schools at this time. School closures will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, for example, if enough staff are off sick to mean that we cannot safely open the school.”

Linlithgow primary school has also been affected by the outbreak as ten per cent of the schools 415 pupils have been off sick, causing concerns for local

COVER UP: Medical professionals fear high swine flu rates over winter parents and carers about the nature of the virus and speed at which it is spreading.

Dr Alison McCallum, director of public health at NHS Lothian, said: “We

Edinburgh binman strike near end after violent turn

are working closely with West Lothian Council following reports of a number of pupils with flu-like symptoms in the Linlithgow area. The situation is being closely monitored.”

The vaccination will be administered by a General Practioner. Although not compulsory, high risk individuals, such as pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems will be encouraged to partcipate in the programme.

Controversy surrounding the new H1N1 vaccination has arisen over the potential risks the vaccine poses, especially on pregnant women, with groups forming to protest against the new vaccine procedures.

The Vaccination Awareness Network, a group for parents who have declined the vaccination, gathered in London earlier this month to protest against mandatory vaccination.

The vaccine has being contested on the grounds that the testing of the vaccine has been limited and a belief that potential side effects could be more harmful than the virus itself.

Due to large levels of the flu virus circulating throughout various communities across the UK, it is no longer routinely recommended that schools be closed in order to try and contain the virus.

The distribution of anti-viral medicines as a preventative method is also no longer deemed necessary.

COUNCIL LEADER JENNY Dawe has said negotiations between trade unionists representing Edinburgh’s refuse workers and council bosses are “nearing a compromise”.

After more than four months of “work-to-rule” strike action, the local council has met with a series of focus groups and made an offer to 274 refuse workers.

Cllr Dawe said: “From our point of view, the agreement proposed [to street cleaners] delivers what we want to deliver. I hope that we are nearing a compromise situation that suits everyone.”

The meeting was followed by the council’s decision to repay wages which had been “unreasonably” witheld from workers. Pay was initially docked after workers were deemed to have only worked a “partial performance”.

A council spokesperson said: “There has been a period during the dispute when a small number of refuse collectors only performed a small proportion of the work they were scheduled to undertake. They were therefore not paid for that day.”

A portion of workers had claimed wages for sick days, the honesty of some submissions was doubted by bosses.

The spokesperson continued: “All of these cases are being investigated and will be heard in accordance with the appropriate procedures. Additionally, all cases were reviewed to ensure all action taken was reasonable.”

The council is also investigating reports that strikers have been acting abusively towards supervisors. It was also reported that many refuse staff turned up to last week’s meeting and shouted abuse at the union leaders.

Labour councillor Gordon Munro said: “They need to sit down with the union representatives. They represent the views of all of the workforce. They can have all the focus groups in the world but it won’t lead to a full conclusion on this thorny issue.”

The latest negotiations come after relations flared between strikers and private workers, when a private bin man was attacked near the city’s Scotsman Steps last week.

The man, who has been working an evening shift for Assist Recruitment— the private company employed to deal with the work build-uo—was giving two men directions when they turned on him and beat him to the ground.

8 Local News

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

'Oversubscribed' Students 'punked' by accommodation professor's outsourcing stunt University of Edinburgh lecturer uses fake video link from India market welcomes new UNITE block Marthe Lamp Sandvik

Students question cost of living in 'premium' private housing as EUSA questions residents' complaints Jessica Abrahams

UNITE, THE UK’S leading provider of private student accommodation, have officially opened a new high-spec housing block near the University of Edinburgh’s central campus.

The property on Chalmers Street, which was opened to residents in September, offers 251 rooms at a variety of price levels, ranging from shared bathroom accommodation to large suites including a kitchen, bathroom and sitting room area.

The private halls of residence are being marketed as premium quality student accommodation; all residents have access to a large common room with flat screen TV and a private garden and many rooms have views over the Meadows.

One resident, Chloe Ride, a first year Linguistics student at the University of Edinburgh, told The Journal: “People are amazed when they come to visit me and see where I’m living. It’s not like student accommodation at all. It’s absolutely amazing.”

However, even the cheapest accommodation here—a small bedroom with shared bathroom and kitchen—costs

"People are amazed when they come to visit me and see where I’m living. It’s not like student accommodation at all. It’s absolutely amazing.”

£6090 for the year, more than twice what Heriot-Watt University charge for an equivalent room. The most expensive room is £10,450 for a 50-week lease— almost three times as much as a standard student loan.

UNITE Operations Director for Scotland, Alan Russell, defended the company’s sixth luxury housing development in Edinburgh saying that: “From our extensive research, we know that more and more students are looking for safe, quality accommodation in central locations.”

Speaking to The Journal, he described the student property market in Edinburgh as “over-subscribed and under-supplied,” claiming that UNITE residences fill a major gap in the market.

UNITE houses some 38,500 students in 23 university towns across the UK. Facing huge over-subscription this year, the University of Edinburgh was forced to take 160 rooms in the Chalmers Street building in order to rent out to first year students who would otherwise have been left without accommodation.

HMO (Houses of Multiple Occupancy) licences, which are required for high-density student flats, are restricted to 30% of housing in certain ‘sensitive areas’. In 2006, Edinburgh City Council raised the number of these from 25 to 63, including the popular student areas of Marchmont and Tollcross.

A survey carried out by EUSA President Thomas Graham, then External Convener of the students’ association, showed that there is actually a high level of satisfaction amongst both students and permanent residents in the Marchmont area, one of the most densely student populated areas of the city.

This is the third property opened

by UNITE in Edinburgh in just two years, following Lady Nicolson Court and McDonald Road in 2008. It is their 14th official opening of a new building across the UK in just a few months.

CHLOE RIDE

A CLASS OF students were told last week that their university had outsourced their teaching staff and future lectures would be delivered from India.

Staff deceived the politics students at the University of Edinburgh last Thursday, telling them that an Indian academic, via video, would teach all their future lectures.

“Initially, I was just as confused as anyone else, but slowly it all began to look like an elaborate hoax,” says Louis Chua, a second year student present at the lecture.

As students entered their lecture on International Cooperation in Europe and Beyond their tutors told them this year was going to be “very different.”

After being notified that lecturer Mark Aspinwall no longer worked at the university, the students were asked to sit through an hour long video.

Subsequently an academic, fully informed on their lecture progress, told them he was hired for a fifth of the price their previous lecturer was.

He explained how this was a sensible economic move by the university.

As the lecture came to an end, the remaining students in the lecture hall, were met by Mr. Aspinwall, telling them they had just been taught a valuable lesson on outsourcing by a doctor from Fife who had never been to India.

Teaching methods incorporating

video and other media are not new in the world of academics and are believed to be an effective way of varying teachingstructure to get more student attention.

Universities such as Bath, York and the London School of Economics have already started using podcasts—web based audio broadcasts—of lectures as a learning resource.

Edinburgh University would be joining a long rank of other teaching institutions in using multimedia resources to

enhance the effect of learning methods.

In addition, the global academic community regularly makes use of guest lectures and contacts from other parts of the world, making the scenario more plausible.

Outsourcing in the academic sector is becoming more normal as colleagues from different teaching institutions and parts of the world pull together in order to utilise the best possible resources within the field.

NEWS SHORTS WEAR THEM VOICI LE VOYAGE À LE SUPERMARCHÉ…

Falling interest among students in learning a foreign language spells low enrollment and diverted funds for departments at Universities.

A report sanctioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) announced a 5% drop in student numbers in the last five years and the closing of a third of language departments at Universities in the last seven. One cause cited is the government’s decision to end mandatory language courses in secondary school, while the effect on current University course could be a “dumbing down” of their content to attract new students.

UNIVERSITIES FINED FOR ACCEPTING STUDENTS

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: The UNITE block at Chalmers Street is unveiled

VIDEO NASTY: Students were told Professor Mark Aspinwall had quit

Universities could be fined millions of pounds for ignoring a government cap on the number of student admissions.

Campuses have instead welcomed a record number of students, more than 25,000 than last year according to data provided by university application services (Ucas). While the government ordained a cap of 13,000 new students, it is unknown what penalties universities will face.

The number of students who applied for and failed to find university placement has also increased, from 114,009 last year to 139,520 this year.

Critics allege that the cap failed to account for the increased demand for university placement, and too many qualified students have been turned

away.

THE FUTURE IS ORANGE— FOR LABOUR IN SCOTLAND The Orange Order will encourage its 50,000 Scottish members to vote against the SNP at the next general election in a bid to retain the Union.

The group announced its plans to rally volunteers to campaign against the SNP in a movement that makes unlikely bedfellows of the Order and the Labour Party. The effects on the election could be considerable, as the order claims more members than any political party in Scotland.

JOCK-IN-THE-BOX The Convener of the Young Scots for Independence, Councillor David McDonald, has launched an online TV channel, YSI TV. The channel will cover the work of elected members of YSI, the Federation of Student Nationalists, and the SNP. YSI TV follows in the step of SNP TV, which ran during the 2007 Scottish election as the country’s first political party programme of its kind.

Cllr McDonald hopes for the same success for YSI TV, saying: “We believe that to get as many young people involved in the party we must utilise new online technologies.”

READY FOR CHANGE—AT THE TILL The Conservatives have launched an online store. The store is the largest of any political party in Britain, and will market everything from umbrellas and diaries, to t-shirts, baby-wear,

and fringe magnets, all with a conservative brand. All profits will go toward the party’s election fund, providing buyers the opportunity to both contribute financially and show their support.

ORIGINAL OF THE SPECIES An original manuscript of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species has made its debut at the University of Edinburgh. Written in Darwin’s hand, the piece will accompany other artifacts from Darwin’s life in an exhibition entitled Darwin’s Edinburgh at the Talbot Rice Gallery.

The event focuses on Darwin’s time spent as a medical undergraduate at Edinburgh and its affect on his science.

CHEAP CARRY OUT GOING THE WAY OF THE BENDY BANANA The European Court has ruled that imposing minimum prices on products like tobacco plays a role in encouraging public health.

SNP MSP, Health Committee and European Committee member Michael Matheson greets the ruling as an incentive for the Scottish Government to take action in tackling the health and economic problems posed by alcohol consumption. Legislation concerning the issue is pending, with the potential for setting a minimum price for alcohol to combat cheap deals.

[Lizzie Griesedieck]

Student News 9

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Inquiry launched into student loans crisis as thousands remain to be paid Student Awards Agency Scotland say they are completing all their applications within their estimated target LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY

James Fidler

HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTER David Lammy has ordered an inquiry of the Student Loans Company (SLC) after thousands of students across the UK were forced to start university without having received their loans.

Mr Lammy has asked Sir Deian Hopkin, former vice-chancellor of London South Bank University, and Bernadette Kenny, the director general of Personal Tax for HM Revenue and Customs, to undertake the inquiry to find the reasons behind the loans crisis.

In response to the announcement of the inquiry, Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, said: “I am relieved that Sir Deian Hopkin and Bernadette Kenny have been appointed to cast an independent eye on the investigation into what has gone so spectacularly wrong with the payment of students’ grants and loans this summer” Mr Streeting added: “I hope that this review will lead to a full and frank analysis of this shambles and that the management of the SLC will be held to account for a fiasco that has left hundreds of thousands affected by late payments, lost documentation and

a miserable start to their first term at university.”

News of the independent inquiry came just days after the SLC released figures from the week ending on 11 October, which indicated that of 1,104,500 applications for a loan, 940,000 have been approved.

The problem has coincided with the first year that the SLC has taken on the responsibility of assessing all student loans applied for by first year English undergraduates through their service, Student Finance England.

Previously, this was undertaken at a local authority level. In Scotland, loans are processed by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland but still financed by the SLC. SAAS reports that it is “currently processing almost all applications within target, where those applications are correct and complete”.

SLC chief executive, Ralph SeymourJackson, has apologized for the difficulties that students who do not have their loans are facing: “We are very sorry that students have experienced difficulties with their funding this year and for the worry that this has caused them and their families.”

He also acknowledged that, in part, the problems in processing student loans this year have arisen from

INVESTIGATOR: Former university vice-chancellor Sir Deian Hopkin

technical problems that caused many documents to be mislaid.

They are also the result of under staffing in the face of a 16 per cent increase in the number of loans being applied for this academic year.

Mr Seymour-Jackson said: “The inquiry has been announced to ensure that next year we can deliver the service that students and their parents have every right to expect.”

He provided assurances that his company was “working flat out to process all valid applications as we appreciate that students need their money as soon as possible during tough economic times.”

Mr Seymour-Jackson added: “Students who have sent their application and correct evidence by mid-August and have received an initial non-means tested assessment will receive their full entitlement by the end of October.”

Although Mr Seymour-Jackson did not deny technical problems concerning the scanning of sensitive documents and under staffing, he maintains that, “the number [of loans] being processed is normal for this time of year”.

His statement is supported by last year’s processing figures, where 86 per cent of applications had been processed by 4 October 2008, in comparison to 84 per cent on 4 October this year.

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10 Student News

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Greenwich University accused Study shows youth of lax grading by watchdog unemployment Routine audit suggests that operation for marking and grading figures still rising was not working as "intended" FLICKR (DIMITRY B)

PriceWaterhouseCoopers research shows half of young think not enough is being done

Maya Douglas

THE DEBATE SURROUNDING UK degree classifications has been reignited following accusations that Greenwich University is giving students “better grades” than they deserve.

Greenwich’s system of setting final degree classifications is “not operating as intended” according to last week’s audit by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), the university watchdog.

The QAA audit suggests the new classification system has led to an increase in first and upper-second class degrees.

A Greenwich spokeswoman defended the university stating that the claim “is not true” and “the QAA is citing a preliminary internal report, produced by the university itself”.

According to the university’s own records and final evaluation, the increased distribution of first and second-class degrees is so small “it could simply be a cohort effect”.

Between 2006/07 and 2007/08, when the new degree classification system was implemented, the percentage of “better grades” only rose from 43 per cent to 44 per cent.

Greenwich’s present allocations are several percent lower than the number of first and upper second-class degrees awarded by the university in 2003/04.

The Greenwich spokeswoman also pointed out that the institution

Honor Eldridge

London's Greenwich University is embroiled in a marking scandal is currently rated 113th in national league tables of awarded first and second-class degrees.

The recent QAA audit follows the new initiative to supplement the UK degree classification system with individual Higher Education Achievement Reports (HEAR).

To help differentiate between graduates, the 2007 Burgess Report suggested universities provide graduates with HEARs—an effort currently being trialled at several UK institutions.

According to a university spokeswoman: “Greenwich is one of the universities involved in the pilot roll out of HEAR and we definitely support the use of HEAR to provide a broader profile of the attainments of students whilst at university.”

A spokesperson for student think

tank Million+ said: “There are certainly merits in the proposals to develop the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).

“HEAR is likely to provide a much more rounded picture of graduate achievement.”

Underpinning the issue is the argument of grade-inflation. The Analytical Services Group of the Higher Education Funding Council of England has said that UK institutions witnessed an increase of nearly 5 per cent in the awards of firsts and upperseconds between 1996-2003.

With more students graduating with higher grades, the Burgess Report argues there is a need for consistency between and within institutions in determining final grades “in order to be fair.”

UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG YOUNG recent university graduates has again increased in the last three months, according to the labour market statistics data released by the government last week.

According to the report, there are now 743,000 18 to 24 year olds that are currently unemployed, which is almost a 3 percent rise since May of this year Research released by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP shows that between 45 and 51 per cent of Scottish 18-34 year olds “believe not enough is being done by government, schools, universities and employers to help new graduates get their first jobs.”

These figures for Scotland are more than ten per cent higher than the average figures for Britain.

Of those polled by the company, the majority “blame employers’ short term recruitment strategies,” especially in the financial services industry. Due to Scotland’s dependence on that industry in particular, the figure stands between

58 per cent and 65 per cent.

Employers have been quick to stress their commitment to helping recent graduates gain employment, with many repeatedly emphasizing their internship and work-experience programs as providing the crucial training and practical skills necessary for that particular field and plans to expand those opportunities.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers plan to increase their internships next year to 1,300 places.

Additionally, the government has introduced the Graduate Talent Pool Program this autumn that matches the skills of recent graduates with businesses in search of young talent as a way of tackling the growing unemployment.

The Graduate Talent Pool Program has made it clear that it is not their intention to simply gain free labour out of internships.

Their website states: “We have always been clear that internships are not a substitute for real jobs. They involve time-limited project work or a program of work experience so interns will not replace other employees.”

More co-operation between Arms trade challenged by new 'Wiki' Scottish and Indian unis page aimed at student activists SILVIA FOTEVA

Ishbel Eunson Alex Taggart An agreement has been signed by Universities Scotland and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to promote cooperation in higher education between the two countries.

This is the first international Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed by Universities Scotland, and it marks the first collaboration between the AIU and universities from the United Kingdom. Present at the signing were External Affairs Minister Michael Russell and Mr Ashok Thakur, the Government of India’s Secretary to the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Talking about the alliance, Mr Russell said, “Indian and Scottish institutions have valuable knowledge and expertise, so both countries stand to benefit from the collaboration that will result from this agreement.

“The two bodies will encourage joint degree development and help identify opportunities for enhanced funding to support institutional initiatives.”

He added, “Today’s agreement is a great opportunity to ensure that two countries with similar goals work together for mutual benefit. It also reflects why India is our number one country of interest for educational collaboration.”

Under the agreement, the two bodies will cooperate in areas such as combined research, collaborative projects and student and faculty exchanges.

The preparation for MoU was facilitated by the Scottish Development International (SDI), an agency devoted

to Scotland’s international development. The SDI will embark on its first education mission in November.

Russell also announced an application round for Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships, a scheme which offers prospective students from the USA, Canada, China and India the chance to study postgraduate degrees at Scottish Universities.

By offering money awards to successful applicants, it is hoped that the sheme will encourage more students from India to study in Scotland. Currently Scottish Universities draw 13 per cent of all Indian students studying in the UK. Universities Scotland represent 14 universities, the Open University in Scotland, the UHI Millennium Institute, two art schools, one conservatoire and the Scottish Agricultural College.

The AIU consists of 281 institutions.

AN ANTI-ARMS TRADE campaign group has established a new ‘Wiki’ webpage for students.

Campaign Against Arms Trade, a UK-based NGO, has set up an online ‘University Wiki’ to assist the sharing of information between its student members, in an effort to better equip them to overcome logistical and administrative problems.

Katherine O’Mahoney, universities coordinator for CAAT, said: “We established the Wiki in time for the new university year, to provide more access and to reach out to more young people on their own terms.

“We realised that in this day and age, if we didn’t take advantage of these things, we’d be missing a trick.”

The Wiki contains downloadable campaign posters, petitions and flyers, along with more detailed resources, such as research guides and information on setting up a university CAAT group, or joining a group that has already been established.

O’Mahoney said: “Not only will it be helpful in recruiting new members, but it will also be a great help to those already involved.

“Whilst our older members are obviously very important to us, students are more engaged, with more energy and passion.”

CAAT operates various national

WELL ARMED: Student campaigners are set to get online help anti-arms campaigns, and its university campaigns include promotion of ethical investment on the part of universities, the removal of arms dealers such as BAE Systems from university careers fairs, and the ‘Study War No More’ campaign for transparency about university research funding.

Ruth Cape, co-convener of People and Planet Edinburgh, said: “We work quite closely with CAAT, so this could

be a boost for everyone campaigning on these issues in Edinburgh.”

The Wiki is an addition to CAAT’s growing media profile, which already includes a presence on social media outlets Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr amongst others.

CAAT’s 2009 Universities Gathering will take place in London on Sunday 1 November.

Student News 11

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Opposition parties attack Labour student debt sell-off Government aims to raise £16 billion in firesale of public assets Laura McCaffrey

THE LIB DEMS have criticised government plans to sell off the English student loan book in a bid to raise £16 billion.

It comes as part of a wider plan to sell off public assets, including playing fields, libraries and council estates, in a bid to reduce public debt.

Treasury spokesman, Dr Vince Cable has branded it a “car boot sale”, saying: “Selling off what is left of the family silver is not going to solve the longterm problem of Britain’s structural deficit.

“Selling them off now when markets are depressed is not the most prudent way to go.”

Prime Minister Gordon Brown insists the selling of public assets is better for the economy than the Tory plan to launch immediate spending cuts. He further states that cuts in other areas such as front-line services would be more detrimental.

A spokesperson for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills told The Journal that “the sale of the student loan book will not change anything for students” and reassured that this would be a condition of the sale.

The announcement, which affects English students studying in Scotland, comes after the Sale of Students Loans Bill was passed through Parliament last March. The bill allows for the government to sell off the public asset

Campaign group wants fewer cuts on public spending Constantine Innemée Student News The Liberal Democrats' Dr Vince Cable has been a vocal critic of the sale of public assets in a recession at any point.

However, macroeconomics professor at the University of Glasgow, Gabriel Talmain told The Journal : “Future students, or current students who are thinking about getting an additional loan may be affected.

“The government may feel that they cannot afford to offer the same guarantees as before. Students who need a loan would have to turn to the private sector. As long as the government was guaranteeing students’ loans, banks were quite sure that their loans would be repaid.

“If this guarantee is missing, banks will have to take into account the possibility that the individual students may not be able to repay

their loans. They will have to charge a higher interest rate, maybe shorten the maturity of the loan, or perhaps refuse to make new loans altogether.”

When asked if the same could happen in Scotland, Mr Talmain said: “The Scottish government is getting a large grant from London. It is unlikely that this grant will remain unaffected by the very large UK government deficit.

With money getting tight in Edinburgh, is it realistic to think that higher education will escape completely?”

The government is currently monitoring market conditions and promises to sell only when the best deal can be struck. Gordon Brown, however, has also indicated he hopes to sell within two years.

Due to this uncertainty no selling value has been put on the student loan portfolio of around £18.1billion, but the most likely potential buyers are thought to be banks who would be attracted to the interest and repayments.

The government will maintain control of loan arrangements and regulations, which includes interest rates and repayments, and the administration will still be dealt with by the Student Loans Company.

Other assets up for sale include the Tote bookmaker, Channel Tunnel rail link and the UK’s 32 percent stake in the uranium processing company Urenco. The government hopes that these assets, together with the student loans portfolio will raise £3 billion.

Scottish university funding at lowest level for six years UCAS figures show student acceptances rose 5.5 percent while funding rose 0.4 percent

Matthew Moore News Editor THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT’S announcement of increased student funding last week has been labelled as “spin” by the National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland president.

The Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop pledged to fund 3000 more university places at a cost of £8.6 million during the Scottish National Party (SNP) conference last week.

Speaking to The Journal, NUS Scotland President, Liam Burns said that the government were doing what they were obligated to do according to their own promise, saying: “This was a monumental piece of spin.”

The government’s announcement followed a 10 per cent rise on last year’s university applications. Initially the government only granted full funding for an additional 561 places.

This funding covered the cost of tuition fees, student loans and the associated teaching grant.

Mr Burns said that the government’s latest financial boost is broadly welcomed but is missing the biggest element of funding, the associated teaching grant.

He said: “The government was

Demo in London for youth jobs

incredibly responsive to the huge increase in college applications. That hasn’t been reflected in the university sector, with additional places accepted by students not being fully funded.

“One of the few good things to come out of the recession was the increase in people applying to go to university.”

Mr Burns continued: “There is a fundamental choice here between the government paying for those unlucky enough to have lost their jobs to be on benefits, or paying for additional college and university places. Hopefully, we all agree on the latter.”

The new investment in funding is particularly aimed at STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects, disciplines that the government considers vital to economic recovery.

In 2007, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) changed the university admission guidelines slightly, by allowing more scope with late applications for STEM subjects.

Ms Hyslop said: “I am now happy to announce that the Scottish Government will provide an estimated £8.6 million to meet the increased fee and student support costs associated with the increase in student numbers— effectively supporting around 3,000 additional students this academic year.”

"The SNP are clearly failing to ensure that institutions are given the right support to manage an increase in student numbers.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “In relation to the announcement, students will be benefitting from this during the current academic year and we are meeting the demand caused by the increase in applications and acceptances by providing the resources (student support and tuition fee support) to meet that increase which is already now under way.”

The extra government money was approved by shadow education minister Claire Baker, although she warned that universities would struggle without their part of the funding

Ms Baker, a Labour MSP, said: “The measures mean that 3,000 extra students this year get financial support and we welcome that. However, the SNP are clearly failing to ensure that institutions are given the right support to manage an increase in student numbers.”

Ms Baker pointed towards figures released yesterday by the Universities and College Admission Service and stated that the government needed to reflect that.

“Despite UCAS showing a 5.5 per cent increase in acceptances, universities and colleges in Scotland have only received a 0.4 per cent increase in funding for extra higher education places this year. This is the lowest increase in six years. Fiona Hyslop needs to look at this urgently,” Ms Baker said.

Universities Scotland, the umbrella group for 19 universities, applauded the government’s move, Susannah Lane said: “Universities have worked hard to accommodate additional students and we’re pleased the government has found the resource to provide the much needed student support.”

The Scottish government spent £1.1 billion this year on financing higher education with two thirds going towards teaching costs.

A GROUP CAMPAIGNING against youth unemployment has planned a demonstration to take place in London on 28 November.

Youth Fight for Jobs is calling for government to expand the public sector, creating more “permanent socially useful jobs that pay a living wage for all those that want them”.

Sean Figg, national organiser for the campaign said: “We’re still getting the same old nonsense from Brown and Cameron, that action is being taken to tackle youth unemployment. Today’s figures do not show this. We need a complete change of direction from the politicians if we have any chance of averting a national emergency that sees youth unemployment continue so far.”

The group is angered by the outcomes of the recent party conferences around the country, accusing all “mainstream parties” of being united in their efforts to cut public spending.

Mr Figg continued: “It’s a myth that these cuts and retrench policies are ‘inevitable’. Public sector cuts won’t be an unfortunate necessity, they will be a deliberate and conscious way of making ordinary people pay for an economic crisis not of their making. And young people will be paying the highest price—the hope of a decent future.”

Youth Fight for Jobs was initially created following a ‘march for jobs’ at the G20 in London earlier this year, and their aims also include a call for free education and the expansion of apprenticeships, college and university places.

The group has gained the support of various trade unions including the Communication Workers Union and National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

YOUTH FIGHT FOR JOBS

YOUNG BLOOD: The campaign has won support from trade unions

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Academic News 13

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Edinburgh Napier University Edinburgh scientists join hunt for the launches video games lab Higgs Boson Former student Brian Baglow leads launch of games lab for new degree in 'Interactive Entertainment'

UoE scientists join CERN researchers to search for time travelling particle

NAPIER UNIVERSITY

Adam Bell Chris Grainger Academic News EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY has opened a dedicated games lab on their existing computing campus.

The launch was led by former Napier student Brian Baglow, who worked on the Grand Theft Auto games.

Mr Baglow said: “There is a real pioneering spirit amongst Scotland’s games companies.

“The economic significance of the activity going on up here is now being more widely recognised.”

Another former student, Kenny Mitchell, was also involved with the project.

In an interview for STV he said, “It (Edinburgh Napier) has got a proven track record worldwide, with the Grand Theft Auto franchise and other studios and developments that have spread out throughout the world from talent that’s been grown here.”

Mitchell works for Disney Interactive Studios and has worked on projects including the Harry Potter games.

A central reason for the construction of the new lab is the launch of a new degree pogramme at the university. The BSc in Interactive Entertainment aims to foster a new generation of games designers.

The course will be varied and cover a wide range of topics. On the university’s

LIFE'S A GAME: Degree would tap into the commerical success of gaming website the course listing claims that students will “gain an understanding of digital media development, gameplay and playfulness, software development for games and digital narrative”.

The degree also offers the options to specialise in “computer graphics and animation, digital video and digital imaging, or computer systems and software development”.

In order to facilitate these objectives, the new lab contains a wide-screen plasma television as well as a large projection screen, networked to 24 Xbox 360s and PCs. Robotic development capabilities are also included.

Reinforcing Mr Baglow’s point

University of Edinburgh study paves way for stem cell library Research could revolutionise development of drugs and help create library of liver cells

Chris Grainger Academic News SCIENTISTS HAVE, FOR the first time, produced liver cells from adult stem cells using technology called iPSC, or induced pluripotent stem cell.

The liver cells were created by manipulating the skin cells to resemble embryonic stem cells, which have the ability to become different cells within the body.

The study, led by the University of Edinburgh’s Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine, makes possible the creation of a liver cell library, which could revolutionise the development of drugs, making them more efficient and safe.

Professor Sir Ian Wilmut, responsible for the first successfully cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep, and Director of the University’s MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, said: ‘’We are now looking for ways to bring this technology into routine use for drug testing.

This is an exciting opportunity and

it gives me great pleasure to be able to turn the first recommendation of the UK Stem Cell Initiative into a reality.”

These cells could be used to assess the reaction of drugs for different ethnicities, as in different ethnic populations the liver processes drugs differently.

Dr Gareth Sullivan, of the University’s MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, explains: “What we have been able to do will help drug discovery because it means we are able to represent different populations and make sure the drugs being developed do not have adverse reactions.

“Different populations not only have varying prevalence of disease but there are also genetic differences with regards to how they process drugs.”

The research was carried out in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and has been published in the journal Hepatology.

It is hoped the cells could eventually be used in therapy for patients suffering from liver disease and that they may aid research into liver disease.

on the economic significance of the industry Sally Smith, head of the School of Computing at the university, said: “Designing digital entertainment products aimed at PCs, games consoles and mobile computing devices has become a lucrative industry.”

Smith adds that this has “created a demand for skilled programmers and games designers”.

In 2008, the institution was ranked number one for graduate employment by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

This new degree stregthens the university’s roster of industry-specific degree courses.

A TEAM OF University of Edinburgh scientists will go to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland to work directly in the search for the elusive Higgs boson particle.

The team will work on the Atlas detector, one of four experiments analysing collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), as it aims to recreate the conditions of the Big Bang. Edinburgh researchers are already involved in another project at CERN which is not directly involved in the search for the sub-atomic particle.

Dr Philip Clark, one of the scientists from the university’s School of Physics and Astronomy going to CERN, said: “This project represents the pinnacle of the UK’s ongoing research in particle physics, and is likely to dominate the field for the next 15 years. Our work could contribute to a paradigm shift in our understanding of the physical universe.”

The Higgs boson particle was first predicted by Professor Peter Higgs, now professor emeritus at the University of Edinburgh, while he was working there in the 1960s. He is widely believed to be tipped for a Nobel Prize in Physics if the team at CERN is able to prove him correct.

Much controversy surrounds the LHC and the Higgs boson particle itself. There are fears among the public that it could bring about doomsday phenomena. This is refuted by the scientific community: the American Physical Society expressly endorses CERN’s conclusion, after safety reviews, that the experiments present no danger and there is “no basis for any conceivable threat”.

More recently, two reputable physicists have claimed that the Higgs boson may be travelling back in time to prevent its own creation because it would have such harmful effects.

Many other leading physicists reject this theory: MIT particle physicist Steven Nahn explained to PhysOrg.com: “The premise is fairly crazy, but many things in physics are constructed that way…

“The difference here is that these previous ‘crazy’ ideas gave consequences that were clearly testable and attestable to the new nature of the theory, in an objective manner, and involved the behavior of inanimate objects.”

The LHC has been beset by several accidents which have delayed the start of work at the facility. An electrical fault shortly after the unveiling in September 2008 caused a leak of six tons of liquid helium; repairs following the fault have been further delayed, and experiments are set to recommence in November.

Research funding changes could leave humanities trailing SILVIA FOTEVA

Madeleine Battersby

HUMANITIES RESEARCH COULD be under threat as the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) considers altering its research funding model which decides the level of funding that is awarded to universities.

In a Hefce announcement made earlier this year, it was stated that research will be assessed on three specific levels; that of output, impact and environment, dependent on each department’s contribution to the economy and society.

Every year, an average of £1.76 billion is given by UK funding bodies to UK universities for research, allocated through the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

David Sweeney, Hefce director for research, innovation and skills, said: “The REF will recognise and reward excellent research and the sharing of new knowledge for the benefit of the economy and society. It will also ensure the effective allocation of public funds.

It will encourage the productive interchange of research staff and ideas between higher education and business, Government and other sectors.”

Many humanities based research departments may not be able to compete with other subjects, who are considered

18 Buccleuch place, where the Edinburgh Review was founded crucial to economic recovery.

NUS President Wes Streeting, last week criticised the government’s approach to higher education.

“Much of government higher education policy during the past decade has been worryingly utilitarian. The government must ensure an appropriate balance between utility and the wider

educational value,” Mr Streeting said.

It is unclear at present how changes to the Hefce will affect Scottish universities because the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), which funds higher education institutions in Scotland, is yet to announce whether it will also be implementing the REF as an assessment system.

An SFC spokesperson said that higher education changes were often drawn up with counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“The plans for the new (REF), including the increasing importance of demonstrating the impact that research has had on society and the economy, has been developed in full co-operation with SFC and the other funding bodies. A formal decision whether or not to use the REF in Scotland as a means of assessment will be taken soon,” they said.

There are fears that changes to research funding at English institutions could have detrimental affects on the quality of education.

However, it has been recently announced that Hefce and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) have collaborated to set up an expert group to ensure that any assessments made regarding humanities research funding is fair and well-informed.

14 Student Politics

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

External convener urges EUSA to support striking postal workers Katherine McMahon proposes ban on Royal Mail recruitment adverts in EUSA outlets MITCH MCCABE

Megan Taylor Student Politics EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY STUDENT Association’s external convener plans to bring a motion before the executive meeting which could see EUSA refusing to allow Royal Mail to advertise for temporary workers within unions and publications.

The motion placed at the meeting on Monday by Katherine McMahon is aimed at preventing any job advertisements until the mail company’s strike dispute is resolved.

Miss McMahon said: “We need to show solidarity throughout this strike.

Students are not an isolated group: we must appreciate those who contribute to society—to our lives—and we can and should support to other groups who are struggling for their rights.

“We are facing massive cuts to public services, and every loss affects us all. Education is a public service too, and we may well face a fight for that as well. We need to set a precedent that we will not stand for it.

Along with banning Royal Mail from advertising jobs through EUSA, the motion McMahon is proposing also includes EUSA opposing any other university allowing similar practice.

She has lobbied EUSA to compose a public statement in support of the postal workers and to send a spokesperson to the upcoming public

STUDENT SUPPORT: Ban on temp job adverts on campus is proposed meeting being organised in support of the strike.

McMahon continued: “In the last national strike, Royal Mail targeted students as temporary, strike-breaking labour.

“By not allowing them to recruit on campus for the duration of the dispute, we can help the strike to be as effective as possible.

“The delays to mail are obviously inconvenient, but it just goes to show how much we rely on these workers.

“This action would also send a clear message of support: going on strike isn’t an easy option by any means, and solidarity is essential.”

Vice-President of Societies and Activities Camilla Pierry was at the meeting on Monday and was not convinced by McMahon’s stance on the situation.

Ms Pierry told The Journal: “There is currently no evidence to suggest that the Royal Mail are encouraging ‘strikebreaking’. The extra employees will be

recruited to help with the backlog, not to replace the striking postmen.

“Political beliefs aside, EUSA is here to represent students, and we know that many students need to work to support their studies. Seasonal jobs such as this are invaluable to many, and students should be free to make their own choices about who to work for.”

McMahon acknowledged this and told The Journal: “I appreciate that for those students who have been finding it hard to find a job in recent times this offer of seasonal work may seem like the perfect solution —and as soon as the dispute is over, go for it.

“However, the workers who are on strike are in danger of losing their jobs, having their pay frozen, or their conditions significantly worsened, and I urge students to consider the wider issues before taking a job which could have such detrimental effects on someone else’s. It’s a hard thing to ask, but real and positive change only happens when people stand together.”

Ms McMahon said that she was prepared to take the issue to the Student Representative Council.

In response to this, Pierry concluded: “Although I cannot pre-empt what the SRC will vote for, in my personal opinion banning employers from campus on a whim does not improve the student experience at Edinburgh and is thus not something that EUSA should be focusing our efforts on.”

EUSA hosts annual meeting of university presidents Megan Taylor Student Politics PLANS TO ENCOURAGE cohesion within the Edinburgh community were set last week at the annual Student City Forum (SFC), hosted by Edinburgh University Students Association.

Local politicians and student representatives from Edinburgh’s academic institutions were present including Georgi Badakhshan from Telford College, Stuart Campbell from Napier, Cecile Guilloteau from Queen Margaret and Simon Eltringham from Heriot-Watt .

Mr Eltringham spoke to The Journal about the significance of the forum: “The SFC provided an ideal opportunity for students to get together with other members of the community and discuss ways of working in partnership to make positive contributions to the local community.”

MSP George Foulkes and Gavin Strang Labour MP for Edinburgh East also attended the meeting, along with various councillors and Anne Laird from the Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council.

Mr Eltringham continued: “The event provided an ideal opportunity for networking and sharing of ideas and best practice and I am certain that, as a result of this, there will be a real positive impact for students and local communities through the whole of

Edinburgh.”

The forum resolved to tackle community wide issues within four main categories. The first initiative involved suggesting ways of supporting students’ involvement in the community through volunteering opportunities.

Plans for an Edinburgh wide web portal for students to offer their time through were discussed.

The second step was engaging young people in community councils.

Emphasis was placed on the councils raising their profiles to make sure students are aware when they are discussing issues that directly affect them and ensuring young people know they are eligible to stand in community council elections.

The third measure was addressing the role of the city council in improving community cohesion. Suggestions that local councillors hold a drop-in across Edinburgh’s student associations were positively received.

Finally, the role of the students associations and universities in enhancing community relations was discussed. The steps agreed to be taken were based around a promise to improve the communication levels between students and non-students.

The forum also decided that Student Association’s should host Neighbourhood Partnership meetings, invite community groups to university organised events and engage more with community organisations and projects.

CIVIC PRIDE: Topics included how to get students involved in city life

NSA vote delayed by lack of interest Only two student by-elections going ahead after few nominations received

Megan Taylor Student Politics NAPIER STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (NSA) has been forced to cancel the election for two key roles on the executive due to a lack of nominations.

NSA were forced to extend the nominations deadline and eventually managed to attract potential representatives; however, original nominees have since pulled out of the running.

NSA President Kasia Bylinska told The Journal: “The election was cancelled due to a lack of nominations, but nominations for both posts were received within the extended deadline.

“The posts of FECCI [Faculty of Engineering, Computing & Creative Industries] Officer and Post-graduate representative each attracted two nominees, but one nominee for each post has since dropped out.

“The remaining candidates will go forward to Senate to have their positions ratified along with the Business School Faculty Officer nomination which was received just before the summer break.”

The posts of FECCI Officer and Post-graduate representative which were due to be decided on Friday 9 October are both important roles on the NSA Executive.

Ms Bylinska explained: “The executive works closely together and communicates on a regular basis. We have regular executive meetings and student Senates.

“All other members of the executive can come and see me as often as they require and I will advise and support them.”

Ms Bylinska explained: “The University makes a one off annual payment in respect of attendance at its key committees and some NSA committees that are essential to its functioning.

“It is paid pro rata per committee attended for example, minuted attendance.”

Two elections are, however, actually going ahead: “Four nominations were received for Veritas Editor, two of whom later pulled out. There will be an election the week after next.

“There were also two nominations for Mature Students’ Representative and that post will also be subject to election.”

National Politics 15

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Anti-BNP protests in Edinburgh MPs pre-empt Edinburgh as SNP Legg inquiry expenses audit calls for Scottish television ban Joe Pike National Politics

Elisabeth Griesedieck PROTESTORS GATHERED OUTSIDE the BBC’s office in Edinburgh last Thursday to oppose the decision to invite the BNP leader Nick Griffin on to their ‘Question Time’ show.

A stream of spokespersons addressed the 100 strong crowd—many with anti-BNP banners—on a loud speaker outside the Tun building on Holyrood Road. Other protests were held throughout the country as Mr Griffin took part in the BBC’s flagship political debate programme.

“The BNP is racist and illegal, and the BBC’s decision legitimates them,” said Kimberly Davidson, an Edinburgh Napier student.

Ms Davidson spoke to The Journal about her participation in the protest: “We do need to come out and make a stand after the June election, even if Edinburgh is not a centre for BNP politics. It concerns all the UK. The protest was organized by local union Unison, and included members of local Hebrew, Muslim and interfaith groups.

The BNP is currently facing a courtimposed injunction to remove a clause restricting membership to those of “indigenous Caucasian” descent from its constitution by November.

Edinburgh resident, Zahid Ali, expressed his doubts that this would have an effect, saying: “Removing the clause won’t change anything; whether it’s written into their constitution or not, at the core, they’re racist.”

Protests at BBC locations throughout the UK took place, with the biggest in London where the show was filmed.

In the same week, the SNP’s Westminster broadcasting spokesman, Pete Wishart, asked BBC Scotland to replicate their Welsh counterparts’ decision to deny BNP representatives a platform.

The MP said that support for the party was so low that they have never gained more than 5 per cent of the vote in any by-election a candidate has stood in – failing to retain their £500 deposit.

Mr Wishart said: “The BNP should simply not be allowed a prime time platform to peddle their deeply offensive views.

“BBC Wales has ruled out any involvement by BNP representatives in their panel programmes, and BBC Scotland need to send the same clear message.”

The MP for Perth and North Perthshire called for the news organisation to jettison the fringe party from political discussion programmes.

BNP spokesman, John Walker spoke to The Journal Mr Walker said: “It seems bizarre in the extreme that the party can have councillors across the country, elected members of the European parliament and still not be given a fair amount of airtime.”

The BBC’s controversial decision to allow Mr Griffin to appear on the show elicited strong emotions from fellow panelists and audience members, despite Mr Griffin’s saying early in the programme: “I’m not a Nazi; I never have been.”

With regard to a number of quotations attributed of to him in the media—including those surrounding Adolf Hitler—he said: “Those things are outrageous lies.”

This and other attempts by Griffin to defend his reputation and that of the BNP were met by outbursts of “rubbish” and “liar” from the crowd, as well as the unanimous condemnation of his fellow panelists.

Allegations leveled against him included those of racism, Islamophobia, historical distortion, and holding fascist political beliefs.

“What we see here is a fantasizing conspiracy theorist, a man who defines his politics by race rather than by moral values, and the British people will have nothing to do with that,” Justice Secretary Jack Straw said.

The BBC has defended its invitation to Mr Griffin, saying that impartiality rules meant that a BNP spokesperson was entitled to representation after the recent European elections, at which two representatives of the party were elected to the parliament in Brussels.

EDINBURGH’S FIVE MPS have been left largely undamaged by the audit of parliamentary expenses, after two of them made pre-emptive repayments of expenses.

Mark Lazarowicz, the backbench Labour MP for Edinburgh North & Leith paid back £2,675 earlier this year that he had wrongly claimed for legal and professional fees. Chancellor Alistair Darling has also repaid hundreds of pounds claimed for service charges on his second home in London.

Mr Lazarowicz later said his decision to pre-emptively return the money may have been an overreaction due to a “hysterical atmosphere in Westminster”.

The investigation led by Sir Thomas Legg—a retired career civil servant— is tasked with deciding whether MPs have misused the expenses system and how much, if anything, they should pay back.

The two Edinburgh MPs with contentious expenses claims—Alistair Darling and Mr Lazarowicz—returned money to parliament’s fees office in advance of Legg’s preliminary findings.

Mr Lazarowicz agreed he would still return the funds, saying: “I will pay it back, because I actually accept at the end of the day the fundamental principle that MPs shouldn’t actually benefit from property they have acquired.”

Mr Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Labour MP for Edinburgh South-West, was accused of billing the taxpayer for two homes simultaneously, “flipping” the designation of his second home four times in as many years and claiming the costs of accountancy advice.

Earlier this year he agreed to pay back hundreds of pounds in service charges he claimed on his London flat while also using the second home allowance to cover his grace-andfavour residence in Downing Street.

Under the instruction of Sir Thomas Legg, Darling will now also repay £554 which he claimed towards a chest of drawers to furnish his second home.

He was also asked to provide proof of mortgage interest payments on his second home. When allegations of his wrongful expenses claims originally came to light, Mr Darling commented: “I’m very sorry about it, I unreservedly apologise for it—it shouldn’t have happened.”

Nigel Griffiths, the backbench Labour MP for Edinburgh South has been asked by Sir Thomas to provide written confirmation that the flat he occupies in London is designated as a second home.

He told The Journal: “This is the same flat I’ve occupied during my entire time as an MP, so I’ll be able to provide written confirmation that it is my ‘second home’.”

Mr Griffiths came under fire earlier in the year when details of an unsuccessful £3,604.99 claim for

a television, DVD player and digital radio was published in the Telegraph newspaper.

When queried by the parliamentary authorities, he cited that it was important “as a Scottish MP” to “keep in touch with events during the day, which might affect my constituents.”

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesman and MP for Edinburgh North and Leith was given the all-clear by Legg—albeit after some confusion.

Barrett’s original letter from Legg asked for a copy of a rental agreement that he had supplied to the parliamentary fees office four years previously.

Mr Barrett told The Journal: “They [Legg’s team] confirmed this was the case… No amounts were asked to be repaid and nothing else was asked for.”

The Labour MP for Edinburgh East, Gavin Strang, who is to retire at the next election is seen to have come out best from the furore.

He is the only Edinburgh MP to publish his letter in full, and over the past four years has claimed around half the second home allowance of some of his local counterparts.

Strang has emphasised the need for new transparent regulations. He said: “Full transparency is fundamental if we are to start to reverse the damage to the body politic. After all, this is about public money—there are no commercial or personal security reasons for keeping expenses secret.”

18 Comment

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Averting crises upon crises Malcolm Fleming of Oxfam explains how poverty-stricken countries stumble back to their feet after a natural disaster Malcolm Fleming

I

N JUST A few minutes the city of Padang in Indonesia was reduced to a pile of rubble. An earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, hit the city on 30 September, causing devastation. Houses collapsed, thousands were buried under tonnes of rubble, more than 1,000 people died, and roads and bridges were destroyed. Within hours Oxfam’s teams had distributed 5,000 tarpaulin sheets for shelter, 2,500 hygiene kits and clothes for those who had survived. Responding to emergencies is one of Oxfam’s areas of expertise and we have years of experience on which to draw.

Our priority right now is to provide clean water for the people affected, because the earthquake damaged the local water supply. Clean water is essential at times like this to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases like cholera because they can lead to another wave of deaths and make the emergency situation even worse. We have one water tanker that can deliver 5,000 litres of water already in action, and we have flown in three water purification plants that will provide enough clean water for more than 40,000 people.

Getting aid into the affected areas hasn’t been easy because the earthquake destroyed the country’s infrastructure and there have been

fuel shortages which have made it difficult to reach all those in need.

Oxfam’s local partners have been on the ground working tirelessly since the earthquake first struck, and we are working closely with other aid agencies to ensure that we reach as many people as possible.

But Indonesia is not the only country in the region that needs emergency assistance right now. On 26 September, Typhoon Ketsana caused devastation in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, killing nearly 300 people.

As much rain fell in six hours as would normally fall in a whole month and the water flooded two million homes leaving around 400,000 people homeless. A few days later the country was hit again—this time by Typhoon

As much rain fell in six hours as would normally fall in a whole month, and the water flooded two million homes, leaving around 400,000 people homeless

Parma. Although it missed Manila it caused severe damage in the north of the country, killing 17 people and causing further flooding. Meanwhile, Ketsana was still on the rampage and went on to hit Cambodia and Vietnam. On 29 September, 66 people were killed in Vietnam and hundreds of thousands of homes were damaged, with 6000 being completely washed away, while in Cambodia at least 15 people died and over 2,000 homes were destroyed. More than 30,000 hectares of rice crops were flooded, and thousands of families have been displaced and their livelihoods washed away.

Relief efforts are underway and Oxfam has been providing water and non-food items like blankets, soap, cleaning equipment, clothes and water containers, as well as shelter. However, we are urgently seeking tanks for trucking water supplies to people as an emergency measure while we start repairing water sources. As well as our staff on the ground, we have humanitarian support personnel, such as logisticians and engineers, who are posted to disaster zones to help coordinate the relief effort. A warehouse in Bicester, near Oxford, is filled with everything that could possibly be needed in an emergency situation that can be flown out to people in need.

In the first months after a disaster people are totally reliant on outside aid, which can be anything from soap and toothbrushes to clothes and food. However, after the initial rescue

operation has got under way it starts to become possible to rebuild roads and water systems, and to move people from tents into more permanent homes. We may employ local people to either move rubble to make a road passable, or dig a hole to fit a pipeline into. In exchange, they are provided with money to live off.

As time moves on, long-term planning becomes a priority. Schools have been destroyed and teachers have lost everything, so we try to get them back on their feet. We can provide small loans for people to restart local businesses or to buy a new fishing boat, but these things take time.

On 4 October we joined together with 13 of the UK’s biggest humanitarian aid organisations to launch a Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal for the East Asia region.

The DEC only launch an appeal when a disaster is of such a scale and the need for assistance is of such urgency that it would be impossible to raise enough money for the relief effort in any other way.

Although these disasters are soon forgotten in the media, the situation in the affected areas continues to be dire.

In order for the reconstruction work to be sustainable and as effective as possible, we need help from the public—it is your generosity that keeps us, and the victims of such disasters, going.

Malcolm Fleming is the Campaigns Manager for Oxfam Scotland.

Mad about Musicals

T

WO WEEKS AGO, Andrew Lloyd Webber announced his latest musical Love Never Dies, a sequel to the 1986 triumph The Phantom Of The Opera. Some people will say this is a terrible idea, others cannot wait to find out more of the Phantom’s story (I have already booked my ticket for the first preview!). But when pressing the ‘Confirm’ button on my ticket transaction, I did feel a little sick at forking out £67.50 for a theatre ticket. In these tough economic times, can members of the public really afford to spend that sort of money on a night’s entertainment?

Funnily enough, the answer appears to be ‘yes’. Ticket sales for West End shows have been on the rise for the last three years, and show no signs of slowing . Many will agree that the 2006 BBC show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? helped generate a wider interest in musical theatre. The programme was an X-Factor style show to find a young girl to play Maria von Trapp in Lord Lloyd Webber’s stage production of The Sound Of Music. Any Dream Will Do followed in 2007, with Lee Mead winning the competition to follow in the footsteps of Jason Donovan, Philip Schofield

and the late Stephen Gateley, and play Joseph in that silly show about a technicolour dreamcoat. And then there was Jodie Prenger, the bubbly girl who would “do anything” to get the part of Nancy in Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s lavish revival of Oliver. Who wouldn’t want to share the stage with Rowan Atkinson’s Fagin?

Naturally, people wanted to see the winner of the television show up on the West End stage, and families booked in their thousands to attend these shows.

But, with London theatres seating around 1,800 people, sometimes it just isn’t possible to get tickets for the show on the day that you want. However, there are over thirty shows playing in the West End and, due to the amazing publicity boost these television shows have given musical theatre as a whole, people have started to book for other musicals — Wicked, Billy Elliot, Hairspray and many others have noted a surge in ticket sales following each of the TV series.

During the Great Depression, many were convinced that the theatre, Broadway particularly, would die. But people were attracted to the escape from reality that it created, and the theatre thrived in the 1930s. The same can be said of the theatre today—people need something to lift their spirits and take them away from the reality of the recession. An occasion to look forward to, it makes for a wonderful evening for the whole family.

So why not look into a little theatre trip, and let the entertainment lift your

credit crunch blues. We Will Rock You, a musical based on the songs of Queen, will be on at the Playhouse Theatre this Christmas; the tour of The Sound Of Music, starring Connie Fisher, the winner of the BBC’s hunt for Maria, follows shortly after. And if you really want to make an evening of it, why not travel to Glasgow in March to see Michael Ball, straight from the West End, in the role that won him a Lawrence Olivier Award—Edna Turnblad, in the national tour of Hairspray.

The great thing about being in Edinburgh is that we have the Playhouse and Festival theatres, which are able to secure West End quality tours, but with cheaper ticket prices. And most of them do student concessions…

Simon Burrow acted as musical director on EUSOG’s 2009 sell-out Fringe show, Jonathan Larson’s RENT. He will be musical director for Edinburgh University Footlights’ next production, Anything Goes, in February 2010 at the Church Hill Theatre.

Comment 19

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009 TOM HUNT

Age-old bad form

Leave the odd one in Nick Eardley Deputy Editor

I

T

HE DECISION OF the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to recommend prosecution of BAE Systems is to be welcomed.

Britain’s record in implementing the international convention that makes it illegal to offer a bribe to a public official abroad has been very weak. And I know from my involvement as international development secretary in one of the four cases where the SFO is recommending prosecution, the sale of an air traffic control system to Tanzania, that the record of BAE looks very grubby indeed.

I bumped into this saga in 2000 when we were proposing a big increase in aid to Tanzania in order to help fund universal, free primary education. One of the Department for International Development officials then informed me that an old proposal for the sale of a military air traffic control system, which had been blocked many years earlier, had re-emerged. The old proposal had been divided by BAE into two phases in order to make it appear cheaper.

My problem was that the increased aid would end up paying the BAE bill.

Tanzania had recently received debt relief and one of the conditions was that it would not borrow money except on concessional terms such as those available from the development banks.

Yet this project was to be funded by a loan from Barclays bank, which claimed to be concessional. Since Barclays is a commercial company, it did not seem credible that they would offer loans below market prices. The suspicion was that they had simply inflated the price and then pretended the loan was concessional.

The local representative of the World Bank therefore asked the International Civil Aviation Organisation to report on the project. The report said that the system was very old technology and was military, not civil. Tanzania had no use for such a system. It did need better civil air traffic control to improve tourism. A loan was available from the European Investment Bank to install a state-of-the-art system for Tanzania and its two neighbours that cost less than half the price of the BAE system.

At that stage, there was no evidence of bribery but it seemed obvious to me that such a lousy deal could only be explained by corruption. Later, the Guardian exposed evidence of the bribe.

I did all I could to get the government to refuse an export licence. New Labour came to power on a commitment to tighten up on arms sales. Robin Cook had therefore negotiated an EU-wide deal that banned the sale of equipment that threatened aggression, repression or sustainable development. Clearly, this proposal threatened the development of Tanzania, which is one of the poorest countries in the world. My case was strong, but Tony Blair supported BAE, as always, and other ministers would not stand up to him. To our shame, the export licence was granted.

The evidence in this case must be aired in court. BAE must be prosecuted and then an inquiry held to ensure that no future British government supports dirty deals of the type that I am convinced this was.

Originally printed in The Guardian

Gaza's Goldstone on the backseat LIZZIE GRIESEDIECK

T

HE UN REPORT on Israel’s assault on Gaza one year ago called the operation “a deliberately disproportionate attack designed to punish, humiliate and terrorise a civilian population.” It represents the most powerful international indictment yet of Israel’s policies. Despite massive pro-Israel lobbying the report was accepted by the UN Human Rights Council on 16 October by twenty-five votes to six, with eleven abstentions.

However, some cynics have greeted the report with a weary, “So what’s new?” In the past Israel has ignored dozens of resolutions calling upon it to allow the return of refugees to their homes, to cease colonising territories occupied in 1967, to dismantle the Wall being built on Palestinian land, to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, to abolish imprisonment without trial, and so on, and so on. On each occasion, Israel has given two fingers up to the international community—and gotten away with it.

Judge Richard Goldstone, who headed the fact-finding mission, is known to be a lifelong supporter of Israel and has impeccable legal credentials as the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. He was also chair of the commission in South Africa which investigated the crimes of the security forces in the apartheid era. However he has been accused, predictably, of “naiveté, self-hatred and political bias”.

He is in good company. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was pilloried and denied a visa to Gaza when he participated in a UN inquiry into the killing of 19

members of the Assamna family, that included eight children.

Despite being the architect of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, ex- President Jimmy Carter has been snubbed by Israeli leaders on visits to the region and accused of antisemitism. Time and again, insult has replaced argument when Israel seeks to justify its actions.

Whatever the future of the Goldstone Report—whether it is translated into a Security Council Resolution or taken up by the International Criminal Court— Israel will maintain its position of defiant contempt, and the US will continue to provide Israel with economic, military and political support.

So what is new, this time round?

Those old enough to remember the campaign against South African apartheid will recall that for decades

western governments backed the regime one hundred per cent. Mrs Thatcher famously called Nelson Mandela a terrorist who should be jailed for life. And yet US and British support for apartheid crumbled with surprising suddenness in the face of the accumulated evidence of gross violations of human rights and the growing groundswell of public opinion. Apartheid itself crumbled with equal speed, under the pressure of international sanctions.

The campaign for Palestinian rights is following a similar trajectory. When the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) launched the boycott campaign at a meeting in the House of Commons in 2001, theirs was considered to be a marginal position, wishful thinking, even counterproductive to the ‘peace process’.

Eight years on, as Israel’s policies

of violent colonisation in the occupied territories and apartheid within Israel have become more and more clearly exposed, ‘Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions’ (BDS campaign) have come to be seen as the only possible practical and moral response. In this country, supermarkets are rejecting produce from the illegal settlements. Since these cannot be clearly distinguished from produce from Israel, the next logical step is the avoidance of all Israeli goods. Nineteen national trade unions have affiliated to PSC’s campaign, and at this year’s TUC conference trade unions voted overwhelmingly for an effective consumer boycott.

Around the world the response is growing. More and more Israeli politicians and military leaders are being advised by their own foreign ministry not to travel abroad, for fear of arrest on war crimes charges.

From Spain to Norway, from Venezuela to Australia, governments, unions and churches have been divesting from Israeli companies, and shunning cultural, sporting and academic events.

All these actions have been driven by worldwide grassroots campaigning that will not go away.

The Goldstone Report alone will not change the face of Middle East politics.

But it has ensured that the 1,400 Palestinians who died in Gaza will not sink into oblivion —and it has given massive impetus to the BDS campaign.

Sooner rather than later, global public opinion will be translated into full, government-backed sanctions. Before that tipping point is reached, Israel‘s leaders would be well advised to take a difficult but brave and wise decision: to end the occupation, take responsibility for past actions, and be welcomed into the community of law-abiding nations.

Hilary Wise is deputy editor of Palestine News.

N SCOTLAND, THE forthcoming general election will unfold in a very different way to the rest of the United Kingdom. It seems almost inevitable that the Conservatives will command a majority in the House of Commons, with diminished Labour representation and an unspectacular showing from the Liberal Democrats. However, according to a recent PoliticsHome poll, north of the border the SNP will receive the largest share of the popular vote, ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives.

According to the poll, Labour would remain the party with the most Westminster MPs in Scotland, with the Lib Dems second and the SNP coming a close third. The Conservatives would gain only one additional Scottish seat and remain a virtual non-entity in terms of Scottish representation. It is in this context that the Nationalists are perfectly entitled to a level of representation in the televised debates that will be shown in Scotland in the run up to the elections.

There is a need for broadcasters to address the political imbalance that a three-party debate in Scotland would entail. It is nonsensical that David Cameron, with his one MP north of the border, should feature in a debate broadcast in Scotland, whilst there is no representation for the party with the greatest popular support.

The SNP’s exclusion plays into the hands of those who claim that the UK’s mainstream broadcasters do not represent Scotland. The BBC has attempted to make its news and current affairs coverage more relevant to Scotland since the 2008 King Report; the absence of the SNP would damage those efforts.

Rather than three British-wide debates, it would make more sense for broadcasters to host regional debates for Scotland and Wales. These regional debates would not be irrelevant elsewhere; research for the King Report found that 62 percent of people in the UK believe it is important to understand the different politics of the other nations in the union. Not only would this allow the three party leaders to present their approaches to the devolved institutions in these areas, it would also allow the SNP and Plaid Cymru to be represented in a format more representative of the political diversity of the UK. David Cameron has already alluded to regional debates, saying that Salmond is entitled to a debate with Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie whenever he likes. However, if he is serious about engaging with the Scottish public and answering the questions that will inevitably arise regarding the country’s future in the union, then it would be foolish to ignore a televised debate in Scotland.

A decision not to include the SNP on any level would lead to calls that broadcasters are not taking Scottish political autonomy seriously. The SNP commands the most support amongst the Scottish electorate, and for this reason alone we should have a regional debate in which the the four-way political system in Scotland is reflected.

Comment 19

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009 TOM HUNT

Leave the odd one in Nick Eardley Deputy Editor

I

Gaza's Goldstone on the backseat LIZZIE GRIESEDIECK

T

HE UN REPORT on Israel’s assault on Gaza one year ago called the operation “a deliberately disproportionate attack designed to punish, humiliate and terrorise a civilian population.” It represents the most powerful international indictment yet of Israel’s policies. Despite massive pro-Israel lobbying the report was accepted by the UN Human Rights Council on 16 October by twenty-five votes to six, with eleven abstentions.

However, some cynics have greeted the report with a weary, “So what’s new?” In the past Israel has ignored dozens of resolutions calling upon it to allow the return of refugees to their homes, to cease colonising territories occupied in 1967, to dismantle the Wall being built on Palestinian land, to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, to abolish imprisonment without trial, and so on, and so on. On each occasion, Israel has given two fingers up to the international community—and gotten away with it.

Judge Richard Goldstone, who headed the fact-finding mission, is known to be a lifelong supporter of Israel and has impeccable legal credentials as the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. He was also chair of the commission in South Africa which investigated the crimes of the security forces in the apartheid era. However he has been accused, predictably, of “naiveté, self-hatred and political bias”.

He is in good company. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was pilloried and denied a visa to Gaza when he participated in a UN inquiry into the killing of 19

members of the Assamna family, that included eight children.

Despite being the architect of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, ex- President Jimmy Carter has been snubbed by Israeli leaders on visits to the region and accused of antisemitism. Time and again, insult has replaced argument when Israel seeks to justify its actions.

Whatever the future of the Goldstone Report—whether it is translated into a Security Council Resolution or taken up by the International Criminal Court— Israel will maintain its position of defiant contempt, and the US will continue to provide Israel with economic, military and political support.

So what is new, this time round?

Those old enough to remember the campaign against South African apartheid will recall that for decades

western governments backed the regime one hundred per cent. Mrs Thatcher famously called Nelson Mandela a terrorist who should be jailed for life. And yet US and British support for apartheid crumbled with surprising suddenness in the face of the accumulated evidence of gross violations of human rights and the growing groundswell of public opinion. Apartheid itself crumbled with equal speed, under the pressure of international sanctions.

The campaign for Palestinian rights is following a similar trajectory. When the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) launched the boycott campaign at a meeting in the House of Commons in 2001, theirs was considered to be a marginal position, wishful thinking, even counterproductive to the ‘peace process’.

Eight years on, as Israel’s policies

of violent colonisation in the occupied territories and apartheid within Israel have become more and more clearly exposed, ‘Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions’ (BDS campaign) have come to be seen as the only possible practical and moral response. In this country, supermarkets are rejecting produce from the illegal settlements. Since these cannot be clearly distinguished from produce from Israel, the next logical step is the avoidance of all Israeli goods. Nineteen national trade unions have affiliated to PSC’s campaign, and at this year’s TUC conference trade unions voted overwhelmingly for an effective consumer boycott.

Around the world the response is growing. More and more Israeli politicians and military leaders are being advised by their own foreign ministry not to travel abroad, for fear of arrest on war crimes charges.

From Spain to Norway, from Venezuela to Australia, governments, unions and churches have been divesting from Israeli companies, and shunning cultural, sporting and academic events.

All these actions have been driven by worldwide grassroots campaigning that will not go away.

The Goldstone Report alone will not change the face of Middle East politics.

But it has ensured that the 1,400 Palestinians who died in Gaza will not sink into oblivion —and it has given massive impetus to the BDS campaign.

Sooner rather than later, global public opinion will be translated into full, government-backed sanctions. Before that tipping point is reached, Israel‘s leaders would be well advised to take a difficult but brave and wise decision: to end the occupation, take responsibility for past actions, and be welcomed into the community of law-abiding nations.

Hilary Wise is deputy editor of Palestine News.

N SCOTLAND, THE forthcoming general election will unfold in a very different way to the rest of the United Kingdom. It seems almost inevitable that the Conservatives will command a majority in the House of Commons, with diminished Labour representation and an unspectacular showing from the Liberal Democrats. However, according to a recent PoliticsHome poll, north of the border the SNP will receive the largest share of the popular vote, ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives.

According to the poll, Labour would remain the party with the most Westminster MPs in Scotland, with the Lib Dems second and the SNP coming a close third. The Conservatives would gain only one additional Scottish seat and remain a virtual non-entity in terms of Scottish representation. It is in this context that the Nationalists are perfectly entitled to a level of representation in the televised debates that will be shown in Scotland in the run up to the elections.

There is a need for broadcasters to address the political imbalance that a three-party debate in Scotland would entail. It is nonsensical that David Cameron, with his one MP north of the border, should feature in a debate broadcast in Scotland, whilst there is no representation for the party with the greatest popular support.

The SNP’s exclusion plays into the hands of those who claim that the UK’s mainstream broadcasters do not represent Scotland. The BBC has attempted to make its news and current affairs coverage more relevant to Scotland since the 2008 King Report; the absence of the SNP would damage those efforts.

Rather than three British-wide debates, it would make more sense for broadcasters to host regional debates for Scotland and Wales. These regional debates would not be irrelevant elsewhere; research for the King Report found that 62 percent of people in the UK believe it is important to understand the different politics of the other nations in the union. Not only would this allow the three party leaders to present their approaches to the devolved institutions in these areas, it would also allow the SNP and Plaid Cymru to be represented in a format more representative of the political diversity of the UK. David Cameron has already alluded to regional debates, saying that Salmond is entitled to a debate with Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie whenever he likes. However, if he is serious about engaging with the Scottish public and answering the questions that will inevitably arise regarding the country’s future in the union, then it would be foolish to ignore a televised debate in Scotland.

A decision not to include the SNP on any level would lead to calls that broadcasters are not taking Scottish political autonomy seriously. The SNP commands the most support amongst the Scottish electorate, and for this reason alone we should have a regional debate in which the the four-way political system in Scotland is reflected.

20 Editorial

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

EDINBURGH'S UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER | ISSUE XXVI

Jack Straw man

I

N THE END, it was less of a showdown than a farce. Labouring under the anticipation of the 8 million people who watched it live and the thousands who protested against it at Television Centre in London—as well as the Tun in Edinburgh and BBC Scotland in Glasgow—it was perhaps inevitable that when British National Party leader Nick Griffin finally appeared on the BBC’s Question Time, some of the pressure would be released.

Whether viewers were repulsed by sniggering of the Cambridge graduate as his record and flimsily constructed “policies” were ridiculed, or—as the BNP now claim thousands were—inspired to join up, Mr Griffin’s performance has moved the debate about the far right in this country beyond questions of how much exposure it should be given. Before Question Time’s broadcast, the protestors against his appearance on the BBC had little support and little credibility.

It was a difficult argument to make that democracy and plurality should be protected by denying someone their freedom of speech. Given that for years, BNP election broadcasts have been appearing on public television at the public’s expense, it was also a largely nonsensical one.

The true problem now facing British society is this: Mr Griffin’s poorlydelivered message will nonetheless have appealed to a wide swathe of the public who, like those voters that sent two BNP MEPs to Brussels, wouldn’t describe themselves as racists. Polls conducted immediately after Question Time’s broadcast indicated that 22 percent of people would consider voting for the BNP, and that their share of the vote at the next general election could rise to 3 percent.

Any attempt to combat the BNP’s influence, however, will be undermined so long as the cause of their support remains in place. It is ironic that the Labour Party chose to send as their standard bearer Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, who almost exactly two years ago made headlines by writing a piece in a local newspaper in which he advanced the view that Muslim women should remove their veils in order to gain the trust and acceptance of their communities. Today, we report that the UK Borders Agency has told universities to change the way they administer resits and register the attendance of students, in an effort to cut down on so-called “bogus students” – such as the eleven students who were arrested in and around Manchester earlier this year in dramatic

daylight raids, only to be released without charge. Over the past 12 years of leadership, Labour have actively contributed to an atmosphere in which migrants are feared and reviled, delivering the immigration debate into the BNP’s hands to manipulate at their discretion. Though it might have made more sense in terms of the themes being debated, the government would not have dared send Phil Woolas to spar with Nick Griffin – the Immigration Secretary would have sounded too much like his opponent.

Since the passing of the 1905 Alien Registration Act, which introduced to Britain the concept that a government might seek to arbitrarily determine which migrants can and cannot enter the country, the UK has been on a path along which last Thursday’s spectacle was an inevitable waypoint. The law was enforced in its infancy by a Liberal government that refused to face down public opinion against repeal.

It was the Liberal Democrats’ Chris Huhne who said on air that the role of immigration policy was to assuage the electorate’s fears on immigration, rather than demonstrate those fears to be groundless. As long as the politicians who should be fighting the BNP have that attitude, the far right will continue to thrive.

Passing the bucks

S

TUDENT LIFE IS not cheap, and for the vast majority of students, a loan is essential to funding their time at university.

Naturally, food, rent and books can’t wait until October. These are essential costs which cannot be left until a loan has cleared, and this makes the current problems at the Students Loan Company (SLC) difficult to stomach.

Students should be sure to apply for their loan as early as possible to minimse the likelihood of delays. However, the SLC must accept that they have not dealt adequately with this year’s rise in applications. The recession driven rise in student numbers seems to be an easy excuse for problems in the past month, with accommodation and overcrowding problems both being blamed on an increase in the student population. Given that UCAS figures, in March, showed that applications were up eight percent on last year, those responsible should have been aware that their

services would be in high demand, and should have prepared accordingly.

The announcement of an inquiry into this year’s problems by Higher Education minister David Lammy should be cautiously welcomed. It provides an opportunity to find out why the SLC was ill-prepared to deal with this year’s rush for loans, and to suggest those measures which could be taken to prevent a repeat. Yet, there are problems that will not be addressed by this inquiry, such as the normal turnover time between the submission of an application and the payment of the loan. Systems need to be in place so that students who do submit applications during peak period do not have to wait weeks for notification of their awards, and can have their loan in their banks as quickly as possible. The system should be designed to be as efficient as possible, with the interests of students a priority.

Unfortunately, the government considering to sell the student debt

portfolio in England is another example of student interests being neglected.

Despite claims to the contrary, the lack of assurance that the government will offer back-up guarantee on student loans means that English students may be faced by higher interest as banks look to protect themselves. The practicalities, however, are secondary to the principle. The aim of student loans—to make studying more affordable for students of all backgrounds— is a matter for government. To involve the private sector in the pursuit of this social aim is a non sequitur; the sale of the student loans portfolio implies the government is selling off its responsibility to students, to say nothing of the values of the Labour party.

So whilst the government appear to be showing interest in dealing with the issues faced by the SLC this year, an inquiry is not enough. Student loans should be an accesible source of financial support for students - not for government.

Letters letters@journal-online.co.uk Dear Sir,

Dear Sir,

Campaigning for the right for women to vote, as in the recent reenactment of the 1909 Gude Cause march by suffragettes in Edinburgh, was indeed a just and worthy cause.

It was with considerable disappointment that I read the article

by Joe Pike entitled ‘Lib Dems court student vote at Edinburgh University’.

As it is, 16-year-olds are already treated as adults in several ways— allowed to marry, obliged to pay tax, made to pay full fare when using public transport, imprisoned for serious offences—yet unlike adults are unable to elect someone to represent their views.

One wonders how many of the other parties will be allowed a free page of propaganda with no criticism attached. I noticed there was no mention of how in eight years in government in Scotland the Liberal Democrats had failed to scrap the graduate endowment.

The voting age is currently 16 in some countries. The same should apply in Scotland.

A little more balance wouldn’t go amiss.

Yours, R M Atkinson Dear Sir, Article 11 of the ECHR protects freedom of association. Under the ECHR freedom of association can be restricted only (i) in the interests of national security or public safety, (ii) for the prevention of disorder or crime, (iii) for the protection of health or morals, or (iv) for the protection of the rights or freedoms of others”. Any restrictions must be "prescribed by law, " and they must be "necessary in a democracy" to achieve one of the four listed objectives. In two cases - the Sidiropoulos and Communist Party cases - the Court emphasised that exceptions must be "construed strictly," that only "clear and compelling" reasons can justify restrictions, that any restrictions must be "proportional to the legitimate end pursued," and that there must be "relevant and sufficient" evidence and "decisions based on an acceptable assessment of the relevant facts" before a restriction can be justified.

Labour calls to ban BNP members from particular jobs represent a full assault on freedom of association. Democracy at the least entails that all citizens have claims to participate in the legislative programming of society. Given the size and complexity of democratic societies, rights have to be realised to a significant degree through participation in the debates of the political public sphere and through their membership in and support for political organisations such as Parties. If they lack such opportunities and choices or face intimidation in exercising them, political decisions will lack democratic legitimacy. The burden of justification for futureconstraining regulations on freedom of association and expression is on those who propose and favour them.

It seems to me that they will find if difficult to dress-up their clear political spite in these terms. As Ed Balls made his support for the ban clear and linked it to the BNP European election wins prior to his announcement of an investigation, spite would not be hard to prove.

Yours, Duncan Sneddon

many complaints have been made concerning the political affiliation of teachers at schools in England and Wales. We want to find out if the proposal is addressing any real problem or need. Our current opinion is that the current safeguards are sufficient to ensure that pupils are treated with respect. We have yet to see any evidence of a BNP member discriminating against a pupil on account of their own political affiliation.

Dr Evan Harris MP (Lib Dem) put the strong arguments against introducing political vetting well in a letter to The Times published on 5 October: "It is obviously illiberal to declare that legal membership of a legal political party will be a bar to earning a living as a teacher, especially as what should be actually banned is behaviour—not thoughts, or unexpressed views.

"The logic of a BNP ban is that all its members are racist, that all BNP members will seek to spread racism or to discriminate in the classroom, and that racist people are found only in the BNP. The evidence base for some or all of these assertions is weak, to say the least. Most racists, and therefore most racist teachers, are not members of the BNP. It would be far from a complete solution, given that there were only 15 teachers listed when the BNP membership list was published. How does that compare to the number of teachers who are racist but have never joined a party? Or the teachers who are members of religions that are homophobic or misogynistic?

Ironically, the Government actually allows faith schools to discriminate in favour of such individuals when appointing teachers.

get it on the we

t on the web www.journal-online.co.uk

"The proposals would add nothing to existing prohibitions on workplace discrimination and harassment in schools, or to professional codes of practice. Worst of all, it is fundamentally counterproductive, creating martyrs out of the BNP."

www.journal-online.c

Our union has submitted a number of Freedom of Information Act requests to try to find out how

Patrick Harrington General Secretary Solidarity Trade Union www.solidaritytradeunion.org

Profile 21

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

"Now we recognise you" Her novel The Time Traveler's Wife won her worldwide acclaim, but it has taken time travelling of a different kind-namely—getting back to her Victorian roots—for Audrey Niffenegger to find herself in her writing

AUDREY NIFFENEGGER

H

ER HAIR IS still dyed red from the time she decided that to fully comprehend Claire’s character, the protagonist of The Time Traveler’s Wife, she had to heighten the resemblance between herself and this fictional woman as much as possible—Audrey Niffenegger’s dedication is immediately evident. The obscure visual artist had spent 14 years producing ten handmade copies of her graphic novel The Three Incestuous Sisters and another seven years writing a novel that she was struggling to get published before she finally achieved success. In 2004, when she had almost given up hope, suddenly The Time Traveler’s Wife became an international bestseller, selling over six million copies.

You might be more familiar with the film adaptation produced by Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston released last September. There has been considerable contention surrounding the movie, given the liberties taken with the original plot. Audrey Niffenegger does not have much to say on the matter as she has not seen film and has no intention to do so.

“I read bits of the script but that’s all. I am a control freak and it was hard letting go, and not taking part.

The producers did their own thing. I don’t know what they have changed and I don’t really want to. I know that if I went to see the film Claire and Henry would just become Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams in my mind,” says Niffenegger.

If you are expecting a sequel to the novel or even a story remotely like it, you will be disappointed. Although she flinches at my comment on the cynicism noticeable in her new book, Her Fearful Symmetry, she still admits that this ghost story is much more sinister than her previous novel.

“The characters earn what they deserve. The more selfish the characters are, the more grim what happens to them is. It is not cynical but it certainly is much darker and complex than The Time Traveler’s Wife.”

An image came to her mind in 1997, before she had finished writing The Time Traveler’s Wife, that of “a man who can’t leave his flat and is visited by a woman” and this was the birth of Her Fearful Symmetry. The story later became a ghost story, but more by accident than anything else.

“The girl who was visiting the man in his flat had a roommate and because I was inspired at the time by Wilkie Collins’s The Woman in White, which is the story of two girls who look strangely alike, I decided to turn the roommate into a twin. I wanted them to live near Highgate Cemetery in London. But then I thought, if the flat looks onto Highgate there is no way these girls could afford to live there. They had to have inherited it from someone, an aunt. The aunt is the

typical Victorian cliché. The problem was that Elspeth, their aunt, was a very interesting character, the way I imagined her anyway, and I was not sure what to do since I had killed her off before the story even started. So she came back as a ghost trapped in her flat.”

Elspeth’s strange stipulations in

"I don't know what they have changed and I don't really want to. If I went to see the film Claire and Henry would become Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams in my mind."

her will that the twins must live in the flat for a year before they can sell it and that their parents must not set foot on the property set the story in motion. The increasingly unbearable situation which ensues—the omnipresence of Elspeth’s ghost and her constant interference in the lives of her nieces and bereaved lover, Robert—brings all the characters to breaking point.

“Robert, her lover, says, late in the novel, that the longer Elspeth is dead, the less human she is. The thing she is losing is empathy and she’s becoming more and more selfish as she goes along. She does end up literally destroying lives.”

The story was not originally meant to be set in London but in Chicago where Niffenegger has been living for years. She went to London in 1996 and, being a self-titled ‘graveyard tourist’ and a lover of everything Victorian, decided to visit Highgate.

As this was “the coolest cemetery” she had ever been to, her story had to be set in London. Of course she needed permission to have unlimited access to the cemetery for her research and contacted the chair of The Friends of Highgate, the organization who runs

the cemetery, eighty-two year old Jean Pateman.

“Jean is very protective of the cemetery and when I phoned I had not published anything yet. I introduced myself very enthusiastically talking about my book but what I didn’t know is that she got six calls like this every day and she just said”—Niffenegger puts on a very posh London accent— ”’Oh my dear, I don’t think that would be a very good idea’. But it did happen in the end, though Jean gave me a couple of rules: no sex scenes in the cemetery and not too much swearing in the novel! Jean is great and I based one of the characters, Jessica, on her.”

For her research Niffenegger tried to think and breathe British. She became herself a tour guide in Highgate—still volunteering there when she has the time—and tried to write British English consistently, hounding out Americanisms, and even describes her protagonists watching an episode of Doctor Who drooling over David Tennant’s otherworldly charms.

“It was actually an episode based on The Time Traveler’s Wife. About a man who time travels and comes to see a woman at different times in her life. I heard about it and watched it.

Now I love Doctor Who, it’s a great show. I loved the Agatha Christie episode with the giant wasp,” she adds enthusiastically.

When asked what they are working on at the moment or planning to do next, writers often look at their interviewer in shocked horror as if they had been asked about their sexual life, but Niffenegger replies simply: “I am working on a short story which I will hopefully turn into a novel. It’s called, for now at least, The Chinchilla Girl in Exile. It’s the story of nine-year old girl called Lizzie who has hypertrichosis, also known as the Werewolf Syndrome. Her parents died in a circus fire and she is raised by her aunt. I am obsessed with aunt,” she says laughing. “She is home-schooled and it’s about her wanting to go to school and see the world.”

This story, like Her Fearful Symmetry is much less mainstream than The Time Traveler’s Wife.

“When my friends read The Time Traveler’s Wife they said ‘We don’t recognize you in this’ but when they read Her Fearful Symmetry they said ‘Now we recognize you’. It’s not as modern, it’s from another time, more Victorian.

It is more like me.”

22 Feature

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

White kids talkin' like they're black 30 years after the first commercially successful hip-hop record was released in the US, The Journal looks at how a subversive counter-culture became the lingua franca of today’s youth

I

T IS OCTOBER 1979, and the shelves of music stores across America are being stacked with the sound of the Sugahill Gang reciting the lines, ‘I said a hip hop the hippie the hippie to the hip hip hop, a you don’t stop…’ in rhythmic monotone over a repetitive beat. A more explicit mainstream arrival for hip-hop could hardly have been possible.

Yet even then, as Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank and Master Gee rapped the sentiment, ‘and I like to say hello to the black, to the white, the red, and the brown…’ it can be presumed they weren’t expecting the world to adopt their language and start answering back. This kind of music was a product of ‘the streets’—a distinctive sound and style borne out of the Bronx district of New York in the late 1970s.

In many ways, the music was an artistic mirror to the segregation and social deprivation that riddled the community. 78% of people living in the Bronx were either black or hispanic; levels of unemployment and poverty were high. The poverty and frustration of a disaffected social group shaped both the production of hip-hop, as well as the defiance it communicated.

Illegally channeling electricity from the streetlights into their decks and speakers, DJs would improvise with the limited resources at hand, to pump music out to block-parties across the borough. Big communal affairs, they often included whole neighbourhoods coming together in the streets to party.

Musically, the hip-hop DJs would isolate the instrumental ‘breaks’ in an existing song and then loop them continually, using turntables to repeat the sound. Over the top of the track would come the rap—spoken poetry, often improvised on the spot. Rappers would battle each other in ‘toasting’ displays that resembled some sort of linguistic joust. In creative acts of anarchy— completely disregarding the origins of the songs they manipulated—DJs and rappers would hijack beats and transform them into vehicles for subversive protest.

This counter-culture was powerful in channeling both individual and collective statements about minority experiences of America, serving to challenge the mainstream perspective and the inequalities that perpetually placed such groups on the social margins. Particularly, it became the voice of the post-civil rights generation. For many, it was a new African-American resistance to poverty, drugs and institutionalised racism as they experienced it first hand.

As the three guys rapping about the ‘bang bang boogie’ caught commercial attention, in the hip-hop world, Sugahill Gang represent a diluted example of the music’s creative technique and political consciousness. With their mix between rap and disco, the record notably provides a more accessible

model of the hip-hop enterprise than that offered by others at around the same time. It is the likes of Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and DJ Hollywood who are revered as the originators of hip-hop—the first to introduce ‘mixing’ and to use the turntable as a musical instrument.

That being said, MTV recently lauded the song and its longevity as a hip-hop classic, claiming that “it set an incredible precedent for everything that came after it.” Either way, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ was hip-hop’s ‘in’ to the commercial industry—eventually going platinum and selling over 8 million records worldwide. Rarely has hip-hop been seen out of the charts since.

Undoubtedly, its popularity changed the public image of the young black male in America. The edgy new scene this ‘cool’ genre presented, marketed black youths in a new light, making hip-hop icons the symbols of youthful innovation and creativity. The hip-hop culture gave African Americans—and later, black and minority British and European youths—a platform from where they could define themselves in their own terms, and also demonstrated the opportunity and potential for gaining social and economic success in today’s society.

Nor has the broader cultural significance of hip-hop remained within the musical realm. Fans will speak in terms of the genre’s ‘five pillars’, acknowledging that in addition to rap itself, ‘turntableism’, beat boxing, break dancing and graffiti are also largely viewed as the style’s extension into other contemporary art forms. With this has also come the claim over sneakers, neon, and gold ‘bling’ as the hip-hop attitude has progressively established its visual identity.

Indeed, urban fashion has become an integral component of the hip-hop ‘brand’. Changing at least as much as the music, the ‘image’ has at varying points in the past three decades become synonymous with ‘ghetto-fabulous’, mafioso-influenced, bowler hats and silk shirts; designer sportswear and throwback jerseys; loud neon and aviators and, perhaps most symbolically, platinum medallions.

Hip-hop fashion is now a multimillion dollar industry and has contributed in no small way to hip-hop’s further status as a major commercial enterprise. Starting with Sean “Diddy” Combs and his ‘Sean John’ clothing line, many rappers have themselves gone on to set up their own fashion labels, such as Nelly’s Apple Bottom Jeans and Jay-Z’s Rocawear. The journey from the ‘hood’ to the mansion has become a popular trope in contemporary hip-hop records.

But while in many senses hip-hop is still very much a black-dominated crowd—Kanye West, Jay-Z and 50-Cent remaining some of the most widely popular rappers—the fans that flock to the gigs and download the albums are from a diverse range of backgrounds and ethnicities. Ironically perhaps for a musical form that began as a subculture, and one solely ascribed to the periphery at that, hip-hop has transitioned into a populist and mainstream culture.

By becoming ever more global and inclusive, hip-hop has in many ways managed to bridge some of the racial gaps and has curiously gained kudos as a youth culture in its own right.

Adhered to as a symbol, image and even a lifestyle choice by young people all over the world it provides expression for the universal experiences of the younger generation like no other contemporary musical genre. Just three decades on from ‘Rapper’s Delight’, it is by no means just black kids who sport the hoodies and bling while listening to rap and break-dancing in clubs.

Admittedly, however, this positive view of the hip-hop movement is far from universally accepted. There are many who would scoff at the suggestion that the images frequently cropping-up in hip-hop lyrics and across the media at large of ‘gangsta’ street crime and rich hip-hop playboys surrounded by scantily clad women, do anything more than breed violent and misogynistic behaviour amongst today’s youth. In France, rapper Orelson whipped up a political storm, recently having his concerts canceled because of criticism from politicians and women’s groups alike objecting to lyrics they felt were sexist, violent and homophobic.

In contrast to Public Enemy rapper, Chuck D’s famous claim that rap was “CNN for black people”, many civil rights figures feel the modern industry has allowed hip-hop’s radical political function to fade in favour of the shiny bling and dollar-mountains that come with its ever-growing commercial success. In his 1992 song ‘Us’, rapper Ice Cube rhymed the line, “us will always sing the blues/’cause all we care about is hairstyles and tennis shoes.” For some, hip-hop has lost its musical, and indeed racial, integrity.

Regardless of whether this criticism is justified, however, it would be reductive to say that hip-hop has sold out completely and lost all of its social and political value. In recent years, the ‘hiphop generation’ has been targeted in the US, through high profile campaigns designed to encourage the ‘hip-hop youth’ to engage politically and use their votes.

This kind of ‘hip-hop activism’ was particularly successful in rallying behind Barack Obama’s successful presidential election campaign. The presence of high profile stars singing in campaign music videos and encouraging the hip-hop community to get behind the Democratic candidate— Jay-Z displayed a giant photo of Obama onstage during his recent Heart of the City Tour and rapper Nas released a song entitled ‘Black President’ in the run up to the election—was believed by many to be instrumental to his success, awakening new voters in the previously disaffected youth and ethnic minority groups.

Even this month, Bill Cosby has collaborated with guest-rappers and activists to compile a socially conscious hip-hop CD, which focuses on the critical issues affecting young people. Rapper Super Nova Slom told the media: “Our generation and society at large are at a real crossroads for survival; the times demand that we reopen this chapter of hip-hop.”

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Arts & Entertainment 23

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

A time and a place The Journal talk to two of the young artists involved in the Collective's New Work Scotland Programme COLLECTIVE GALLERY

N

OW IN ITS second year, Place Projects is fast becoming an integral part of the Collective Gallery’s ever-expanding New Work Scotland Programme. The artist-led initiative aims to support emerging artists by developing a community in which constant dialogue leads to the creation of art. Places are coveted by recent graduates, eager to be nurtured by one of Scotland’s leading galleries and keen to collaborate with some of the country’s most talented up-and-coming artists.

In keeping with this spirit of the free exchange of ideas, The Journal spoke to Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) graduate Rachel MacLean and Glasgow School of Art alumnus Simon Gowing. Maclean and Gowing’s collaboration, The Principal Inhabitants of the Moon, is the first of two Place Projects to be shown at the Collective Gallery.

Q. Rachel, how is the environment you’re working in now—within the NWSP—different to your experience at ECA? RM: It’s exciting to be working

collaboratively, as my experience at the ECA has largely been working towards criteria which specifically assess individual achievement. It is great to work with Simon, Place

Project and The Collective—it’s an opportunity to connect with the art scene outside of the college and encounter different perspectives and working methods, which has helped

me to expand my ideas beyond the framework of the art institution.

Q. How did your collaboration come about?

RM: The collaboration was curated

by Place Project, who organised individual interviews with a selection of recent graduates to decide who could work together.

Q. What can we expect from your exhibition?

SG: The exhibition came about as a response to William Hogarth’s etching Some Principal Inhabitants of the Moon, a surreal and obscure work depicting a fantasy lunar ruling-class, illustrating figures with personified, semi-mechanical attributes.

Hogarth’s image is framed within the aperture of a telescope, allowing the voyeur access to a distant fantasy.

However, this vision is defined by familiar signifiers, and as with so many human musings on extraterrestrial life, we try and explain the inexplicable in terms that we can comprehend—explaining the tendency for alien’s to be humanoid.

RM: The print, rather than simply a whimsical fantasy of moon life, can be viewed as a satirical mirror to life at Hogarth’s time. In this sense, he is an outsider looking at contemporary life as something he doesn’t understand, trying to understand it in terms he can comprehend. What is created is an abstract. As a parallel, the exhibition is an abstract of an

abstract— there is a gap in understanding (created by our ignoring the initial intention of the print) upon which we have created further abstract.

Q. As recent fine art graduates, is it difficult to set up a successful, independent art practice?

RM: In some ways it depends upon what that practice involves. The more studio space and equipment necessary the more financially difficult it is to fund your work beyond college. However, I believe that with the networking opportunities offered by the internet, it is much easier to broadcast your work for free, and connect with a local and international art scene than before. Also, if it’s not too romantic a suggestion, I like the notion that some of the most interesting creative moments can emerge from working within undesired limitations—though if you remind me of this optimism in a few months, I may have changed my mind.

For now it seems MacLean and Gowing’s “most interesting creative moments” will have to wait, though their current situation is far from undesirable. With the increasing popularity and prestige of the New Work Scotland Programme their artworks have suddenly been catapulted under the art world’s microscope. With the Collective Gallery as a springboard to their future careers surely the only way from here is up?

Dance

Music

The Gothenburg Address JUTA REINE

Edinburgh quartet The Gothenburg Address impress with a formidable line in haunting shoegaze

Scottish Ballet 40th anniversary tour Chronologically ordered performance demonstrates the versatilty of Scottish Ballet

Neil Stewart Jonathan Goat THE WEE RED Bar, for the uninitiated, is a venue showered in effervescent red fairy lights, furnished with red leather sofas and lit with burning hot spotlights. A tower of humming amps stand like Grecian columns beside a battered drum kit, and the floor is a black spaghetti of cables and plastic beer cups. Before long, all hell promptly breaks loose.

The Fire And I crash into their brand of overdriven dance-rock without introduction. Vocalist Gordon Love’s rugged voice instantly impresses, tearing through the rumble of the distorted bass. Drummer Hooligan Sadikson is lashed with sweat, hardly recognisable behind oversized Muppet-style cymbals that he batters with considerable ferocity. The Fire And I readily employ the face-melting heat of Biffy Clyro, as well as their ear for soft-quiet dynamics. There’s also a nod to The Offspring with lyrics of light-subject matter and a series of killer choruses.

Healthy Minds Collapse follow suit and tear into another round

of hard, swaggering rock. Their exemplary vocals dissect mammoth guitar hooks and melodious tendencies bring to mind Ash, with their feel-good macho elements, and project a defiant stage presence to boot.

The Gothenburg Address, closing the show, offer a rather more contemplative ouevre full of crisp arpeggio guitar, oceans of delay and a measured rhythm section. Most noticeably, unlike the acts that preceded them, there’s no vocalist. After the ear-bleed indie of Healthy Minds Collapse and The Fire and I, the hypnotic effect on the crowd, moshing only a few moments before, creates an interesting juxtaposition. Tipping a figurative hat to outfits like Explosions in the Sky and Mono, the Edinburgh quartet play a generous set, demonstrating that instrumental shoegaze can share the same sort of intensity that eminates from this evening’s noisesome punk rock.

A memorable performance from a post-rock outfit happy to let the music do all the talking.

SCOTTISH BALLET’S CELEBRATION of its 40th birthday arrived in Edinburgh last week with a varied and versatile evening exemplifying creative director Ashley Page’s rejuvenation of the company; that old cliché-ridden chestnut of tradition and experimentation.

The pieces are performed in chronological order, beginning in the ‘60s with George Balanchine’s Rubies, followed by William Forsythe’s 1998 piece Workwithinwork, and culminating in Krysztof Pastor’s In Light and Shadow from 2000. Each piece exhibits a distinctly individual direction in an attempt to showcase the company’s multifaceted personality; we are shown the results of several very different interpretations in their staging, from the strict routines employed in the creation of Rubies, to the more expressive methods that govern Workwithinawork.

Balanchine’s opener is a sexy

and exhilarating document of its time that makes the best of Stravinsky’s maenad-inducing tonic of the beautiful and bizarre. The dancers flit between a genderless neutrality in movement and costume, to moments of an almost incandescent hypersexuality that quickens the beating of the heart. There are moments of actual laughter and the solos are impressive as Balanchine navigates the politics of ‘60s sexuality with a childlike glee. Perhaps it’s the difficulty of following the magic and fluidity of Rubies, but Workwithinawork begins to seem remarkably dull by comparison. The dancers’ solo performances are often nothing short of inspired, but the drone of Luciano Berio’s ‘Duetti for two violins’ begins to conspire with the piece’s deliberately faltering character to annoy rather than innovate.

The best is saved for last, with Pastor’s joyous In Light and Shadow. It begins with a solemn

and ruminative duet over the aria from Bach’s ‘Goldberg Variations’, marked by a show of extreme technical discipline from the leads, before the stage explodes with colour, light and the flamboyant melodies of the same composer’s ‘Suite No. 3’. Pastor describes his intention of making it about, “something being formal, then breaking into a very free expression of movement and music,” and he is entirely successful. Playful lighting tricks and a simple but effective backdrop combine with the performance to produce a jubilant expression of human experimentation and a joyful reflection on ballet’s evolving tradition and influence.

This final piece can be read as the realisation of Page’s mission statement of a bold modernism grounded in classical theory and technique, as Scottish Ballet strides boldly into the new century with a confidence and vision that this show delights in confirming.

24 Arts & Entertainment

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Theatre

Film

Confessions of a Justified Sinner

Film festival sets Africa in Motion for Edinburgh audience

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE

James Hogg's classic novel returns to the stage at the Lyceum

Iman Qureshi

Amy Taylor Theatre FOLLOWING ON FROM their controversial foray into a bleak preapocalyptic future in The Beggar’s Opera, the Lyceum have returned to a familiar beacon of Scottish writing as James Hogg’s 1824 classic novel, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner is finally brought to the stage in Mark Thomson’s new adaptation. But is this an adaptation too far?

In Hogg’s classic story, religious teenager Robert Wringhim (Ryan Fletcher), discovers that he’s a member of the elect and therefore predestined for salvation. But events soon take a sinister turn when Wringhim is befriended by the mysterious Gil-Martin (Iain Robertson) who persuades him to commit murder—among other offences—safe in the knowledge that his crimes will go unpunished.

Thomson’s production gives the story a modern edge as the

unintentional unearthing of Hogg’s most famous work in the present day becomes an apt metaphor for the book’s resurrection over a century after it was written. But while this present-day prologue helps re-introduce the story to a contemporary audience, the main problem with Confessions of a Justified Sinner lies in its overly-familiar plot. While the play briefly explores the varying themes of Calvinism, faith, fanaticism and the thin line between good and evil, it’s Hogg’s original premise, of a young man falling from grace because of his actions, that leads the

ON THE HORIZON MUSIC

COMEDY

play into mundane territory.

Once Wringhim has achieved his dream through a series of murders in the first act, the play finds itself with very little left to say, stumbling through the consequences of Wringhim’s actions with a degree of confusion and repetition. While the play possesses some genuinely eerie and macabre moments, largely thanks to Neil Murray’s rotating cemeteryinspired set, and features a hightly talented cast, it’s the failure to bring anything new to an overworked plot that undermines a promising piece of theatre.

AS THE FOURTH Africa In Motion opened, the most unique medley of guests, tree-huggers and geriatrics alike, took their seats for the opening screening of Izulu Lami. The show began with an African drum bonanza, jarring slightly with the aura of ‘high-culture’ the Filmhouse tends to exude. Braced for several hours of western ‘Africaphilia’ of the most patronising kind, I was please to have my my instincts proved wrong.

The Africa In Motion programme pegs Izulu Lami “as South Africa’s answer to Slumdog Millionaire”; it is definitely selling the film short. Telling the story of an orphaned brother and sister as they leave their remote country life for the big city in the hope of fulfilling their mother’s dream, this film is overwhelmingly powerful in its understated simplicity.

Heart-wrenching childhood innocence is constantly threatened by the dangerous, exploitative world around. I cannot remember the last time I was so emotionally invested in a film; I kept having to dab at tears, and remind myself that it wasn’t real. The rest of the audience were equally fixated, gasping and cringing and tutting

in unlikely unison.

Despite this, the film retains a joviality and gregariousness which saves it from becoming yet another portrayal of African dystopia: there is hope, albeit couched in an all-too-convenient and arguably rather contrived ending. Stunning yet tactful cinematography neither glorifies nor condescends the various African landscapes, and characters are wonderful cocktails of menace and kindness, virtue and desire, resilience and vulnerability. The film transcends politics and culture and appeals directly to our sense of a shared humanity, without detouring through the well-trodden landscape of Guardian-esque wounded liberal conscience.

A lively reception followed, with drinks and ‘African snacks’. The venued buzzed with enthusiastic guests, photographers, media, and festival directors, with the general response to Izulu Lami amongst festival-goers overwhelmingly positive.

Festival Director Lizelle Bisschoff, who opened the event before the screening, outlined the festival’s theme of presenting Africa by Africans, and the possibilities of hope and reconcilliation; Izulu Lami fits neatly into these objectives.

The Africa in Motion film festival runs until Sunday 1 November.

Music

Bat for Lashes EDMUND FRASER

The Mill Edinburgh The Set Up, The Fusiliers Cabaret Voltaire 29 October, free entry The Mill presents another round of exciting unsigned Scottish talent, this time coming in the shape of Edinburgh blues-folk quartet The Set Up and muscular post-punk quintet The Fusiliers.

7pm-10.30pm www.themill-live.com

Dananananaykroyd, Dinosaur Pile, Stage Blood Oran Mor 1 November, £8 Oran Mor host indie darlings Dananananaykroyd, with support from Dinosaur Pile and Stage Blood.

7.30pm-10.30pm www.myspace.com/ dananananaykroyd

THEATRE Kes King’s Theatre Edinburgh 27 October – 31 October, 2.30pm (Wed & Sat only) and 7.30pm, £12.50 £21.00 (opening night and matinees) / £14.50 - £25 (evenings) Nikolai Foster directs an adaptation of Barry Hines’ The Kestrel and The Knave, about a boy finds solace from his family by training a kestrel chick in this affectionate, life-affirmation tale.

Simon Amstell – Do Nothing Edinburgh Festival Theatre 3 November, 7.30pm, £20 Kooks-baiting funnyman Simon Amstell has another chance to shine in Edinburgh after his sell-out Fringe show in August. www.eft.co.uk

Absolute Beginners The Beehive Inn 2 November, £2 A showcase of new comedy talent together with experienced headliners. www.fitothegiggles.com

ART Paul Sandby: Picturing Britain | A Bicentennary Exhibition 7 November – 7 February 2010, Free Sandby’s compositions are a stunning example of the refinement of watercolour art.

National Gallery of Scotland www.nationalgalleries.org

DANCE Richard Alston Dance Company 10 November, 7.30pm, £10 - £16 Richard Alston presents a unique clash of 20th century music, throwing Bach, Stravinsky & Teddy Riley into his history-spanning show.

Festival Theatre www.eft.co.uk

Bat for Lashes and support act Yeasayer up the tempo to dazzling effect Ray Philp Music Editor

“YOU UP FOR a bit of dancing?” chirrups Bat for Lashes to a rather reluctant front row. “That means you have to dance though. You can’t just, y’know...”

Brighton’s finest otherworldly chanteuse isn’t the confrontational sort, and the feeling lingers that some of the crowd are still growing accustomed to Natasha Khan’s leap, however incremental, towards a more propulsive form of sorcerous pop. Two Suns, an album redolent with romance and fantasy that is also, crucially, augmented by a sustained commitment to rhythm that Fur and Gold merely flirted with, has been available since April—Khan’s gentle admonishment, therefore, shouldn’t come as a surprise. First up come Yeasayer, the Brooklynites

whose kinetic influence on Two Suns is quite apparent. Defying the old maxim that says less is more, Yeasayer’s proliferation of equipment is put to good use; flush as ever with oscillating organs, rich harmonies and a spirit of spontaneity, appetites are suitably whetted for forthcoming album Odd Blood.

Bat for Lashes revels in the theatrical license that her Pearl persona, first introduced in Two Suns, allows her. Quite apart from Khan’s fondness for props, her stage presence is resolutely expressive. She lurches into her microphone to nail her high notes on opener ‘Glass’. On the apocalyptic spaghetti western strains of ‘Sleep Alone’, she sways with genuine interest. In one flicker of particular effusiveness, she even offers a soft

howl on ‘The Wizard’. Two Suns seems to have given her more room for expression in other ways too, which is no small thanks to her band; among them, former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley.

Several songs from Fur and Gold are enriched with a vitality that isn’t always apparent on a record that, in hindsight, tends to beatify at the expense of the liveliness inherent in Khan’s quietly confident showing tonight. As it happens, the song that follows Khan’s prompt for some cutting of shapes is recent single and would-be Karate Kid ode ‘Daniel’.

Although not for the fear of an asskicking, a bewitched audience get the hint. www.yeasayer.net

Arts & Entertainment 25

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Art

Art

Collective effort, singular rewards

David Austen digs his own grave

COLLECTIVE GALLERY

The New Work Scotland Programme offers a compelling, if fractured showcase of Scotland's rising stars Michael Grotell

THE FLOOR-TO-CEILING GLASS windows of the Collective Gallery lend a certain lightness to the New Work Scotland Programme, and inform an indifferent public that through this place contemporary art can pass with communal ephemerality.

The works are placed throughout the space’s white halls, with one room for each artist. The exhibition is presented without placards; all the information is provided in a pamphlet. Contributing artist Jennifer Grant offers a quotation from Walter Benjamin: “Real treasure is hidden within the earth: the images, severed from all earlier associations, that stand... in the prosaic rooms of our later understanding.”

Matthew Macaulay

Grant chooses her own interpretation of Benjamin; her only work within the gallery a missable glossy print of found items in a scene of urban decay—tchotchke assembled in an alley, as though the modern viewer would have an association with handicrafts to be severed. Unfortunately, there is no meaning imbued by the juxtaposition.

The next items, from artist Michael White, are without association: enlarged pieces of dried spat-out chewing gum or mud-covered insulation from a demolition site—these things have the fluidity of paint, the movement of sculpture, and the irreducibility of a found object. The room is focused around ‘Julius Shokuin’, a phallus of twisted asbestos with a glossy geodesic head. The entrancing ‘Mask’—its glossy shapes like teeth upon the purple contorted material— does not unwind well into the primitivism of Anna Tanner’s paintings

in the next room. Blurring the lines between kitsch and idyll, the minute paintings de-contextualize the imagery of the American 1950s; an affected naturalism keeps the works aloof.

Tanner stands out among the Scottish group for having been educated in the United States—she recently returned from Rhode Island Schood of Design—and brings into question the unifying theme of the exhibition. As I was leaving I was pointed towards another work by Grant, this one outside on nearby Craig Close. In the narrow cavern assorted teacups hung in rows down several stories above my head like festival lights from an imagined Edinburgh. The two people walking behind me stopped to admire it - one commenting, “That’s cool”.

All the work needed was context: it’s definitely Scottish.

Venue: Collective Gallery | Dates: Until 22 November | Price: Free

ENTERING THE INGLEBY Gallery to view David Austen’s latest exhibition, My Love, I have been digging up my own bones in the garden again, I found that my senses were instantly satisfied. However, it wasn’t Austen’s work that invited such a positive response but the smell of freshly-baked chocolate cake wafting from the kitchen. The gallery-owner’s children were busy making their own contribution to the culinary art world, and it was undoubtedly worthy of five stars.

After this somewhat surreal intervention my appetite had been stirred and I looked to Austen’s work for further sensory delight.

Unfortunately the majority of Austen’s works excited me about as much as the sterile, whitewashed walls on which they were hung.

The exhibition catalogue claims we are presented with “an invitation to step into a parallel existence” in which the artist “reveals the tragicomic potential of human existence and the futility of love”. In reality the depth of many of the artist’s philosophical musings can be summed up in a print which reads ‘Love, Cigarettes & Beer’. I cannot say I felt enlightened.

The etching entitled ‘Sometimes’ verbalizes the thoughts of a distressed woman: ‘Sometimes I think that I made you up and that if I don’t see you everyday you will vanish’, and momentarily redeems the exhibition; communicating the transience and intangibility of love, thus expressing an emotion absent in most of the other works. This piece suggests an underlying perceptiveness of the artist which is otherwise as buried as his ‘bones’.

The smell of that chocolate cake which greeted me as I entered will remain in my memory for some time to come. Austen’s fourth exhibition will soon fade from my mind.

Venue: Ingleby Gallery | Dates: Until 21 November | Price: Free

26 Fashion

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

A successful venture An audience with Holly Bostock, the 4th year student causing a stir with her eye-catching jewellery range.

T

HE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE is one that varies for each and every student. Not only is it a time for one to progress academically but it provides the opportunity to explore alternative avenues. Holly Bostock, a fourth year student at the University of Edinburgh, illustrates this with her new jewellery range, the ‘Beau Stock’ collection, commenting that “it’s an incredibly new venture of mine and is therefore continually developing and progressing—everyday I come up with a new design or perhaps a new fabric—and so it’s in an exciting phase.”

Her designs come in the form of hair bands, clips, rings, necklaces, head-pieces and brooches. She tells The Journal that flowers and colour are her main sources of inspiration: “The power of colour is what is essential to my designs. All my items are unique and individual so in this way I get to play around with different colour combinations every time I make something. Colourful accessories can absolutely transform an outfit and I love playing with colour and patterns to make this happen.”

Her original inspiration came from a random encounter with a lady selling such floral pieces on the streets of Mallorca, which she immediately fell in love with. Seeing this pushed

her into creating the pieces for herself from scratch. Since then, Holly’s creative mind has been let loose, designing the entire collection in her own individual style. She uses a diverse and innovative range of exciting and decorative materials, stating that, “the real bonus of making everything myself is that I can respond quickly to seasonal changes [in style and colour] and I can custom-make items. If someone asks me to make a specific item in a certain colour I can do it.”

A current favourite of Holly’s is the brooch: “I’m going through a massive brooch phase; they can jazz up winter coats, a blazer, a jumper or a hat and they just look so luxurious!” At the moment jewellery is mainly a hobby of hers but she is starting to push her business at markets around Edinburgh and is setting up a professional website: “I do hope I can continue to develop my items more and more. People are always helping to suggest new ideas or products which I am really keen to explore.”

Looking to the future, Holly hopes that her collection will become more established, but at the same time she seems happy just being creative and having fun. Look out for Holly around campus in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday, as she will be selling hand-made poppy brooches in support of the British Legion.

Photographer: Janek Mann | Model: Danni Menzies (Stolen Model Agency) | Make-Up Artist: Paulina Siembor | Email: beaustock@googlemail.com

A pocket full of Rosie's Bruntsfield jeweller Rosie Brown brings unique, handmade quality to everyday accessories

Roisin Watson

“YOUR MOST PRECIOUS pieces of jewellery deserve to be worn every day”: this is Rosie Brown’s philosophy and it is reflected throughout her collections. Every piece is handmade with care in their Edinburgh workshop and described as, “contemporary silver and gold jewellery combining muted colours and subtle textures with simple, organic shapes.” Teardrops, cherries, little birds, pearls, hearts and precious stones adorn necklaces, earrings and bangles— these can be stacked up together or worn with a matching ring.

The entire collection is original but for those wishing to customise their chosen piece Brown offers a personalised service, stamping pendant charms with a birth date, name or initials and then beautifully boxed.

These small touches help make the experience feel special, while also making a perfect gift. The jewellery is successful in being simple enough

to wear every day, but also in being striking and elegant enough to make it perfect for any occasion.

Rosie Brown Jewellery was established nine years ago and since then, the collections have been a growing success. The Edinburgh store on Bruntsfield Place reflects the jewellery; it isn’t overly fussy, white walls brought to life with a few quotes, creating a tranquil atmosphere in which the pieces are displayed in well-lit glass cases.

Brown’s jewellery is stocked across the UK as well as in Switzerland.

The founder had worked for another jeweller before setting up her own shop, and it was this experience that helped her understand how to run her own business. She advises budding jewellers to learn the retail industry first, in order to create a successful jewellery line. Rosie Brown is without a doubt a special experience and the collection is full of beautiful, affordable and thoughtful pieces.

Rosie Brown Jewellery 148 Bruntsfield Place

Food & Drink 27

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Gold standard Fine dining next to the Sheraton

W

ITH CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN cuisine, as with modern culture, more is more. Santini, on Conference Square, offers an array of different areas to dine in; all modern, complementary and rather chic. From high bar-style benches to modest tables lining the glass walls, via the rather ‘70s inspired main dining room, all are very well-presented.

The large, fresh space and lofty ceiling present some unique decorating challenges. I have to say amongst the reams of long gold drapes lining the dining room and accompanying beige/ brown furniture I expected to glance to my right and see Quincy M.E romancing a gazelle-like blonde. Unfortunately, however, he was noticeably absent, replaced by rather less charming businessmen counterparts.

Sitting opposite a glass partition, I found I had a fabulous view of what I can only assume was the chef, towering seven feet tall in nothing but a black bikini… Santini is perhaps not to all tastes but it oozes contemporary cultural cool.

Moving on to the starters: the mussels and clams with tomato, white wine and parsley were good, but perhaps a bit soupy and uninspired. On the other hand the chicken, goat’s cheese, basil and red pepper terrine with crisp bread

was much more enticing, a unique combination of excellent flavors. If you are celebrating I recommend opening your palette with a glass of Taittinger Brut at £11 a glass.

For mains, the braised lamb shoulder ravioloni with sage butter sauce was honest and delicious in its simplicity. The dishes are reflective of authentic Italian cuisine: the grilled rosemary-marinade lamb leg steak with borlotti beans and tomato was admirably prepared - perhaps with too many slightly salty beans for some but the lamb was perfectly pink.

The tiramisu was presented as a lovely cappuccino, and while I felt it could have done with a bit more booze it was delightfully light, while the assorted homemade ice creams and sorbets were pleasantly homespun.

Santini has an excellent wine list for all budgets. Sink into a Rosso di Montalcino, Castello Banfi 2007; rich with berry flavors and excellent with lamb.

If you feel like blowing it all, blow it on an Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Bolla, 2004: while not to everyone’s taste this powerful, oaky wine will modify in taste throughout your meal.

Santini’s atmosphere is somewhat akin to that of an expensive airport restaurant, in that most of the diners are hotel guests just passing through.

The food is overall very pleasing and there are some interesting takes on Italian classics. The service is attentive and knowledgeable and only adds to the already most enjoyable dining experience.

Mains range from £7.50 to £27 | Evening 3-course set menu £18.50 BREW DOG

Dog puts bite back in beer Amy Taylor

B

REWDOG, SCOTLAND’S NEWEST and most controversial brewery, are on a quest for acceptance in their homeland with the launch of their innovative Equity For Punks (EFP) shareholding scheme. The Edinburgh launch took place in the cosy confines of Holyrood 9A following the recent launch in London. The EFP scheme enables fans of Brewdog to own one of 10,000 shares in the company for £230.

Martin Dickie and James Watt founded Brewdog in 2007, after their mutual disillusionment with traditional beers on the market fuelled a desire in them to “change people’s perceptions about what beer can be.” And change them they did, with the USA and Sweden quickly becoming their biggest export markets, leading them to be named 2008 Import Beer of the Year in Sweden.

The entrepreneurs confess that this change has taken the longest in their home country.

Dickie admits

that in the last six months alone they have experienced a “big change in acceptance” within the Scottish brewing industry.

While the Holyrood only carries four of the nine beers in Brewdog’s extensive range—not including the infamous Tokyo stout, currently the UK’s strongest at 18.2% alcohol—the quality and variety of each beer on offer was undoubtedly impressive.

The Brewdog’s very first concoction, Punk IPA (6%) is influenced by the beers of New Zealand. The Punk is a refreshingly fruity take on the traditional pale ale and gets better with each glug. Next, the unforgettable Trashy Blonde (4.1%) is slightly more feminine but a no less aggressive sister drink, complete with hints of citrus.

Onto the beautifully goldencoloured malt beer that is the 77 Lager (4.9%) and finally, Brewdog’s sideproject, the Zeitgeist (4.9%). Billed as “an alternative black lager”, when compared to Guinness the Zeitgeist proves sweeter and lighter.

The beers were undoubtedly the night’s main attraction but the atmosphere and energy surrounding the launch was truly remarkable in itself.

The space soon filled with fans, friends and industry insiders, and an unbelievably friendly evening ensued. As the drinks and conversation flowed the beer supplies began to run low, only for reinforcements to arrive with yet more cases of Brewdog’s first beer, the delectable Punk IPA. If like many of us finding an extra £230 seems unlikely, keep your eye on this company and have a crack at their beer. Their non-conformist message and ethics alone are shining examples of a unique and trailblazing brewery that we haven’t seen the best of yet.

Property

Abbeyhill Meadowbank Terrace, 825, 3, 2S 1D, 0844 635 3700 Ann Terrace, 695, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9422 Milton Street, 695, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Royal Park Terrace, 650, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Montrose Terrace, 440, 1, 1D Z, 0844 635 9434 Milton Street, 435, 1, W CG, 0844 635 9546 Royal Park Terrace, 1225, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Royal Park Terrace, 1195, 4, 1S 3D, 0844 635 3700 Royal Park Terrace, 1180, 4, 1S 3D, 0844 635 3700

Bellevue Hopetoun Crescent, 885, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9320 Bellevue Road, 600, 2, 1D 1B G CG Z, 0844 635 4080 Bellevue Road, 420, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0844 635 3920

Blackhall Keith Row, 650, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9314

Broughton Blandfield, 850, 3, 1S 2D PG P, 0844 635 6450 Brunswick Road, 795, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 2418 Dunedin Street, 550, 2, 1S 1D G CG Z, 0844 635 9460 Broughton Road, 550, 1, 1D W P, 0844 635 4820 Broughton Road, 430, 1, 1D 1B CG Z, 0844 635 9326

Bruntsfield Gilmore Place, 525, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 9234 Bruntsfield Place, 1800, 5, 5D G Z, 0844 635 9560 Bruntsfield Gardens, 1450, 5, 1S 4D G CG Z, 0844 635 9592 Bruntsfield Place, 1400, 4, 4D G CG Z, 0844 635 6782 Viewforth, 1030, 3, 2S 1D, 0844 635 3700

Burdiehouse Burdiehouse Square, 620, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9478

Canongate Nether Craigwell, 950, 2, 2D CG P, 0844 635 1614 Canongate, 575, 1, 1D -1B -1T G, 0844 635 9332

Canonmills Rodney Street, 750, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Warriston Road, 750, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 4820 Heriothill Terrace, 525, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Bellevue Road, 1280, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700

Chesser Chesser Crescent, 675, 2, 2D G PG P, 0844 635 9424

City Centre Nether Craigwell, 900, 2, G CG P, 0844 635 9300 South Bridge, 890, 1, G, 0844 635 9660 Hopetoun Crescent, 850, 2, , 0844 635 9362 Atholl Crescent, 825, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Broughton Place, 825, 2, G Z, 0844 635 3728 Thistle Street, 595, 1, , 0844 635 9308 Brunton Place, 1300, 3, 3D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Queen Street, 1100, 3, 3D G PG Z, 0844 635 2418 Elm Row, 1000, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700

Colinton Spylaw Street, 850, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 4820

Colinton Mains Oxgangs Avenue, 630, 2, 2D CG O, 0844 635 9478

Comely Bank Comely Bank Road, 995, 4, 4D G CG Z, 0844 635 9312 Comely Bank Road, 900, 3, 3D E O, 0844 635 9448 Orchard Brae Avenue, 750, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Comely Bank Street, 700, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9320 Orchard Brae Avenue, 675, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Learmonth Crescent, 625, 2, PG, 0844 635 9352 Avenue Villas, 1250, 2, 2D G PG P, 0844 635 9314

Corstorphine Corstorphine High Street, 650, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Manse Street, 650, 2, 2D G CG, 0844 635 2418 Forrester Park Green, 595, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3780

Craiglockhart Myreside View, 825, 2, CG, 0844 635 9308 Morham Gait, 750, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 6450 North Meggetland, 695, 2, 1S 1D G P, 0844 635 9324 North Meggetland, 570, 2, 1S 1D G O, 0844 635 9560

Cramond Cramond Vale, 795, 3, 2D 1B G CG P, 0844 635 2418

Crewe Toll Ferry Road Avenue, 650, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 9558 West Pilton Drive, 575, 3, 3D W O, 0844 635 9384 Telford Road, 550, 2, 1S 1D W CG O, 0844 635 4820

Dalry Caledonian Crescent, 995, 3, 3D W CG P, 0844 635 9312 Dalry Road, 975, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700

Caledonian Place, 900, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Slateford Road, 1005, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700

Drum Brae Drum Brae Terrace, 650, 3, 3D G PG O, 0844 635 9592 Craigmount Court, 595, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 4820 Parkgrove Drive, 525, 1, 1D G CG, 0844 635 2418

HOW TO USE THE LISTINGS Meadows

Area Agent phone number

Buccleuch Street, 750, 2, 2D W CG Z, 0870 062 9434

Duddingston Duddingston Park South, 575, 2, G P, 0844 635 9384 Duddingston Park South, 575, 2, 1S 1D G P, 0844 635 9384

Bedrooms Monthly Rent

East Craigs Fauldburn, 435, 1, CG, 0844 635 3780

Location

Easter Road Hawkhill Close, 895, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 6450 Easter Road, 800, 3, 3D -1B -1T E, 0844 635 9332 Broughton Road, 700, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Easter Road, 675, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 1614 Rossie Place, 425, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 1992 Easter Road, 1380, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700

Edinburgh Dalmeny Street, 915, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Leopold Place, 850, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Harbour Terrace, 800, 3, , 0844 635 9308 Dalmeny Street, 685, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Pitt Street, 1240, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Montgomery Street, 1150, 4, 2S 2D, 0844 635 3700

Fairmilehead Oxgangs Bank, 750, 3, 1S 2D G PG, 0844 635 2418

Ferry Road Boswall Terrace, 795, 4, 4D G PG O, 0844 635 9234 West Winnelstrae, 550, 1, 1D G CG P, 0844 635 9422

Fettes Leamington Road, 490, 1, 1D G Z, 0844 635 9326 East Fountainbridge, 480, 1, 1D 1B G, 0844 635 9422 Dundee Terrace, 1150, 4, 4D G Z, 0844 635 9340

Gilmerton Gilmerton Road, 675, 2, G P, 0844 635 9245 Robert Burns Drive, 550, 1, 1D E CG, 0844 635 9532 Drum Street, 400, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 4820

Gorgie Sinclair Place, 675, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9234 Gorgie Road, 600, 2, 2D E CG O, 0844 635 9558 Gorgie Road, 600, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9334 Newton Street, 595, 2, 1S 1D G CG Z, 0844 635 2418 Watson Crescent, 480, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 1312 Smithfield Street, 475, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 9560 Wardlaw Street, 475, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0844 635 2418 Westfield Road, 475, 1, E O, 0844 635 7736 Gorgie Road, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9352 Stewart Terrace, 450, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 2418 Stewart Terrace, 450, 1, 1D W CG, 0844 635 9688 Wardlaw Place, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9352 Wardlaw Place, 450, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3704 Wardlaw Place, 450, 1, 1D W O, 0844 635 9234 Wheatfield Street, 450, 1, 1D 1B G CG O, 0844 635 6458 Wheatfield Place, 425, 1, 1D W O, 0844 635 9312 Gorgie Road, 1000, 4, 4D G, 0844 635 9560

Grange South Oswald Road, 2500, 4, P, 0844 635 9308

Granton Saltire Square, 750, 3, G P, 0844 635 9388 Lochinvar Drive, 750, 2, 2D E, 0844 635 8696 Hesperus Crossway, 650, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Wardieburn Street East, 495, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9388

Grassmarket West Port, 675, 2, 2D W O, 0844 635 1614 West Port, 625, 2, 2D W, 0844 635 9314 West Port, 550, 1, 1D E Z, 0844 635 9560 Websters Land, 470, 1, 1D CG Z, 0844 635 9434

Greenbank The Steils, 800, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 4820

Haymarket Easter Dalry Place, 750, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 4820 Easter Dalry Road, 750, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 4820 Morrison Street, 550, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 9560 Morrison Street, 550, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9560 Morrison Street, 550, 1, 1D, 0844 635 9560 Morrison Street, 530, 2, 1S 1D O, 0844 635 9316 Morrison Street, 1000, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700

Hillside Montrose Terrace, 980, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Brunton Gardens, 950, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700

Montrose Terrace, 900, 4, 2S 2D, 0844 635 3700 Hillside Street, 1400, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Brunswick Street, 1395, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700 Brunswick Street, 1370, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Montrose Terrace, 1005, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700

Holyrood Spring Gardens, 825, 3, 2D P, 0844 635 4820 Gentles Entry, 800, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Holyrood Road, 800, 2, 2D, 0844 635 4820 Spring Gardens, 1450, 4, 4D G, 0844 635 4820 Viewcraig Street, 1400, 4, 4D G, 0844 635 1876 Royal Park Terrace, 1000, 4, 4D G CG O, 0844 635 9322

Inverleith Inverleith Terrace, 895, 3, Z, 0844 635 9308 Bangholm Terrace, 850, 3, G Z, 0844 635 9362 Inverleith Terrace, 725, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9320 Inverleith Row, 1400, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 4820

Joppa Morton Street, 525, 2, 1S 1D E O, 0844 635 8690

Juniper Green Juniper Place, 600, 2, 2D E CG O, 0844 635 9320

Kingsknowe Kingsknowe Court, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 2418 Kingsknowe Court, 525, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9456

Kirkliston Main Street, 650, 2, 2D E O, 0844 635 9390

Leith Dalmeny Street, 990, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Bernard Street, 980, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Lorne Street, 980, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Great Junction Street, 965, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Madeira Street, 950, 4, 4D G O, 0844 635 4820 Iona Street, 950, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Easter Road, 940, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Easter Road, 930, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Easter Road, 930, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Timberbush, 750, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 4820 Western Harbour Way, 750, 2, 2D, 0844 635 4820 Hawthornbank Terrace, 500, 1, 1D G PG O, 0844 635 9320 Murano Place, 500, 1, 1D -1B -1T E, 0844 635 9332 Prince Regent Street, 500, 1, 1D, 0844 635 9422 Great Junction Street, 460, 1, 1D 1B G, 0844 635 9546 Albion Road, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9352 Couper Street, 450, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Spiers Place, 450, 1, CG O, 0844 635 9308 Elbe Street, 445, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Leith Walk, 440, 1, 1D, 0844 635 6450 Dalmeny Street, 425, 1, CG O, 0844 635 9308 Sloan Street, 425, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Portland Terrace, 1260, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Madeira Street, 1240, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700 Easter Road, 1240, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Portland Street, 1150, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Madeira Street, 1100, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Gladstone Place, 1000, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Western Harbour Way, 1000, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 4820

Leith Links Links Gardens, 960, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Duke Place, 650, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9388 Easter Road, 625, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 2418 Blackie Road, 550, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 8696 Gladstone Place, 1550, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700 Gladstone Place, 1350, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700

Leith Walk Blandfield, 995, 4, E PG P, 0844 635 9314 Sloan Street, 990, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Leith Walk, 980, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Dicksonfield, 975, 4, 4D G CG P, 0844 635 9326

Dalmeny Street, 960, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Halmyre Street, 960, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 9460 Tinto Place, 950, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Arthur Street, 950, 3, 1S 2D G PG P, 0844 635 1614 Dalmeny Street, 930, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Leith Walk, 915, 3, 1S 2D, 0844 635 3700 Mcdonald Road, 850, 3, 1S 2D G CG P, 0844 635 2418 Pilrig Street, 1340, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Leith Walk, 1300, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700 Crown Street, 1290, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Crighton Place, 1075, 5, 1S 4D G, 0844 635 9468 Dalmeny Street, 1020, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Dryden Street, 1005, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Dalmeny Street, 1000, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700

Liberton Kirkgate, 800, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 4820 Nether Craigour, 495, 1, 1D E P, 0844 635 9424

Lochend Lochend Avenue, 600, 2, O, 0844 635 2152 Piersfield Terrace, 500, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 2414

Marchmont Warrender Park Terrace, 900, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9314 Livingstone Place, 875, 3, 1S 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9334 Marchmont Road, 850, 3, 2D 1B G, 0844 635 3780 Marchmont Crescent, 800, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Sciennes Road, 800, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Sciennes, 550, 1, 1D E Z, 0844 635 6872 Findhorn Place, 1700, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700 Warrender Park Road, 1400, 4, 4D G Z, 0844 635 9320 Warrender Park Crescent, 1350, 4, 1S 3D G CG Z, 0844 635 2418 Thirlestane Road, 1295, 4, 4D G CG Z, 0844 635 1614 Marchmont Crescent, 1150, 3, 3D G O, 0844 635 9322 Arden Street, 1100, 3, 3D G, 0844 635 9314 Thirlestane Road, 1050, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 9478

Meadowbank Royal Park Terrace, 850, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 1312 Piershill Terrace, 725, 2, 2D CG O, 0844 635 2418 Queens Park Court, 650, 3, 1S 2D -1B -1T, 0844 635 9332 Dalgety Road, 600, 3, 2D 1B P, 0844 635 4820 Restalrig Road South, 450, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9334 Comely Green Place, 1350, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700 Parsons Green Terrace, 1120, 4, 2S 2D, 0844 635 3700

Meadows Buccleuch Street, 530, 1, G Z, 0844 635 9434 Leven Terrace, 1380, 4, 3D 1T G CG Z, 0844 635 3920

Merchiston Merchiston Crescent, 1100, 3, 3D G CG, 0844 635 9478

Morningside Maxwell Street, 995, 3, 3D G CG Z, 0844 635 2418 Morningside Drive, 995, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 9422 Falcon Gardens, 950, 3, 3D G CG Z, 0844 635 2418 Falcon Avenue, 900, 3, 3D G Z, 0844 635 9324 Pitsligo Road, 2600, 3, CG P, 0844 635 9308 Cluny Avenue, 2200, 5, 2S 3D G PG P, 0844 635 9314 Leamington Terrace, 1750, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700 Maxwell Street, 1660, 5, 3S 2D, 0844 635 3700 Comiston Gardens, 1500, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3700 Comiston Gardens, 1200, 4, G CG O, 0844 635 9596 Steels Place, 1035, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Hermitage Gardens, 1000, 2, CG O, 0844 635 9308

Murrayfield Roseburn Place, 595, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0844 635 2418 Roseburn Street, 500, 1, , 0844 635 9352 Upper Coltbridge Terrace, 1350, 4, 1S 2D 1T G O, 0844 635 9320 Kinellan Road, 1200, 3, PG P, 0844 635 9308

Musselburgh High Street, 650, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 1876 High Street Cockenzie, 475, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 1876

PROPERTY LISTINGS PROVIDED BY WWW.CITYLETS.CO.UK

Bedrooms: Heating: Garden: Parking: Furniture:

Inveresk Road, 475, 1, , 0844 635 3780 Stoneyhill Road, 400, 1, W CG P, 0844 635 9558

New Town Hillside Crescent, 995, 2, 2D G PG Z, 0844 635 9474 Buckingham Terrace, 950, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 6450 Fettes Row, 950, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Heriot Row, 900, 2, CG Z, 0844 635 9308 Queen Street, 850, 1, Z, 0844 635 9308 Airlie Place, 825, 2, 2D 1B G, 0844 635 4820 St Stephen Street, 825, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 St Stephen Street, 800, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 St Stephen Street, 800, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Gloucester Lane, 775, 1, 1D G Z, 0844 635 9314 Huntingdon Place, 725, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Henderson Place, 650, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 4820 Perth Street, 650, 1, 1S 1D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Barony Street, 630, 2, 2D W CG Z, 0844 635 9688 Heriot Row, 1700, 3, PG Z, 0844 635 9308 Hanover Street, 1600, 5, 5D G Z, 0844 635 9326 Fettes Row, 1100, 3, 3D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Cumberland Street, 1050, 2, CG Z, 0844 635 9308 Claremont Crescent, 1000, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 4820

Newhaven Western Harbour Brkwater, 995, 3, G, 0844 635 1614 Portland Street, 375, 1, G, 0844 635 9560

Newington Dalkeith Road, Newington, 1200, 4, 4D G CG O Dalkeith Road, 999, 4, G, 0844 635 9384 Dalkeith Road, 930, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 West Powburn, 860, 3, 1S 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9434 Minto Street, 840, 3, 3D W Z, 0844 635 9322 Parkside Terrace, 775, 2, 1S 2D G Z, 0844 635 4820 West Mayfield, 770, 2, G P, 0844 635 9362 Macdowall Road, 750, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 1614 Dalkeith Road, 700, 3, 1S 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9326 Causewayside, 700, 2, 1S 1D 1B G Z, 0844 635 9434 Blackwood Crescent, 695, 1, 1S 1D G, 0844 635 4830 South Gray Street, 675, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 2418 Causewayside, 650, 2, E Z, 0844 635 9322 Dalkeith Road, 650, 2, 1S 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9558 West Savile Gardens, 650, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9334 St. Leonards Lane, 625, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9558 Causewayside, 600, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9245 Parkside Terrace, 600, 2, 1S 1D W, 0844 635 9326 Parkside Terrace, 600, 2, , 0844 635 9352 Causewayside, 575, 2, 1S 1D G Z, 0844 635 9558 Langton Road, 575, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9456 Nicolson Street, 575, 2, 1S 1D, 0844 635 4820 Gifford Park, 575, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Buccleuch Street, 550, 1, 1D W Z, 0844 635 9314 Causewayside, 550, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 St. Leonards Street, 520, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0844 635 9558 Causewayside, 500, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 St. Patrick Square, 500, 1, W Z, 0844 635 9326 Causewayside Edinburgh, 495, 1, 1D, 0844 635 9532 St. Leonards Hill, 495, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 6458 Oxford Street, 480, 1, , 0844 635 9352 St. Leonards Hill, 475, 1, 1D G Z, 0844 635 9424 Rankeillor Street, 1900, 5, 2S 3D, 0844 635 3700 Dalkeith Road, 1725, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700 Clerk Street, 1050, 3, 3D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Dalkeith Road, 1050, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Dalkeith Road, 1050, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 9592 East Preston Street, 1000, 3, , 0844 635 9352

Old Town Parliament Square, 800, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 4820 Jeffrey Street, 795, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 1614 Edmonstone`s Close, 750, 2, Z, 0844 635 9308 Jeffrey Street, 750, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 6604 St. Marys Street, 700, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9302

S Single D Double T Twin B Box G Gas Central W White Meter E Electric PG Private CG Communal Z Zone O On-Street P Private UF Unfurnished

St. Marys Street, 575, 1, E CG Z, 0844 635 3880 Ramsay Garden, 2500, 4, CG, 0844 635 9308 Parliament Square, 1600, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9300

Orchard Brae Orchard Brae Avenue, 750, 3, 1S 2D G P, 0844 635 2418 Orchard Brae Avenue, 675, 2, 1S 1D G P, 0844 635 9320

Oxgangs Oxgangs Park, 600, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 8694

Piershill Piershill Place, 580, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3872

Pilrig Pilrig Heights, 675, 2, 2D -1B -1T G, 0844 635 9332

Pilton West Pilton Gardens, 595, 3, 3D E P, 0844 635 9384 West Pilton Crossway, 575, 3, 3D E CG O, 0844 635 9594 West Pilton Gardens, 550, 3, 1S 2D E O, 0844 635 9532 West Pilton Gardens, 525, 2, 2D W CG O, 0844 635 9334 Ferry Road Avenue, 515, 2, , 0844 635 9352 Ferry Road Drive, 499, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9384

Pleasance St. John’s Hill, 575, 1, 1D E P, 0844 635 2418

Polwarth Watson Crescent, 990, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 2418 Fowler Terrace, 960, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Harrison Gardens, 950, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 9592 Yeaman Place, 850, 3, 3D 3T G Z, 0844 635 2418 Watson Crescent, 795, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 2418 Tay Street, 675, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9478 Harrison Gardens, 1200, 4, 4D G CG O, 0844 635 9592 Polwarth Gardens, 1100, 4, 4D G CG O, 0844 635 9334

Portobello Arthur View Crescent, 675, 3, G CG O, 0844 635 1876 Coillesdene Drive, 595, 2, 2D 1B G P, 0844 635 3872 Southfield Place, 595, 2, 1S 1D G CG O, 0844 635 1992 Kings Road, 460, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 4820

Prestonfield Prestonfield Bank, 505, 1, 1D E P, 0844 635 9422

Ratho Hermsiton, 850, 3, 3D E PG P, 0844 635 9424

Ravelston Ravelston Heights, 700, 3, E, 0844 635 4820 Roseburn Street, 525, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9320

Shandon Cowan Road, 725, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9558

Sighthill Calder Grove, 575, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 8312

Silverknowes Ferry Gait Place, 595, 2, W P, 0844 635 9384

Slateford Gorgie Road, 990, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Moat Terrace, 850, 2, 2D, 0844 635 4820 Hermand Crescent, 750, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Duff Street, 650, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Moat Street, 485, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 8252 Hutchison Crossway, 650, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 2418

South Side Potterrow, 750, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 4080 Clerk Street, 1750, 5, 5D G CG Z, 0844 635 9558 Clerk Street, 1500, 4, 4D G CG Z, 0844 635 9558

St Leonards South Gray Street, 1085, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 3728

Stenhouse Stenhouse Avenue West, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 7736 Stenhouse Cottages, 650, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 7736

Stenhouse Terrace, 550, 2, PG, 0844 635 9352

Stockbridge Dean Park Street, 960, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Fettes Row, 950, 3, 3D -1B -1T G, 0844 635 9332 Marys Place, 900, 3, 3D G Z, 0844 635 9388 Carlton Street, 850, 2, CG Z, 0844 635 9308 St Stephen Street, 800, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Comely Bank Street, 785, 2, 2D 2B G Z, 0844 635 4820 St Stephen Street, 775, 2, 1S 1D G Z, Comely Bank Row, 550, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 9558 St. Stephen Street, 550, 1, 1D G Z, 0844 635 9326 Patriothall, 520, 1, , 0844 635 9308

The Shore Constitution Street, 895, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 1614 Ocean Apartments, 650, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9314 Sheriff Bank, 650, 2, 2D E, 0844 635 8696 Timber Bush, 650, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9468 Timber Bush, 630, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 2418 Tolbooth Wynd, 595, 2, 2D -1B -1T G, 0844 635 9332 Giles Street, 580, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 9234 Lindsay Road, 549, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0844 635 2154

Tollcross Lauriston Place, 725, 3, 1S 2D G, 0844 635 6782 Lochrin Place, 700, 2, 2D P, 0844 635 4820 Brougham Place, 650, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9424 Lauriston Place, 645, 2, , 0844 635 9352 Tarvit Street, 595, 2, 2D W CG Z, 0844 635 2418 Fountainbridge, 550, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Fountainbridge, 550, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Fountainbridge, 550, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Tarvit Street, 525, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9478 Fountainbridge, 511, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Lothian Road, 1040, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700

Trinity Granton Road, 675, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 1614 Easter Warriston, 625, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9594 East Trinity Road, 575, 2, , 0844 635 9352 Starbank Road, 550, 2, G O, 0844 635 6604 Craighall Crescent, 550, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9594 Summerside Place, 525, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9460 Trinity Crescent, 525, 1, 1D -1B -1T, 0844 635 9332 South Trinity Road, 485, 1, 1D 1B G O, 0844 635 4820

West End South Charlotte Street, 995, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9314 Manor Place, 975, 3, 3D G Z, 0844 635 9392 Drumsheugh Gardens, 950, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9320 Torphichen Street, 900, 4, 4D G CG O, 0844 635 9326 Buckingham Terrace, 900, 2, Z, 0844 635 9308 Alva Street, 775, 2, 1S 1D, 0844 635 4820 Buckingham Terrace, 750, 2, 2D, 0844 635 4820 Atholl Place, 750, 1, 1D E Z, 0844 635 9320 Coates Gardens, 735, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Buckingham Terrace, 675, 1, 1D W Z, 0844 635 9320 Haymarket Terrace, 1700, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700 Lansdowne Crescent, 1700, 3, 3D G, 0844 635 9468 West Maitland Street, 1650, 6, 6D G CG, 0844 635 9468 Alva Street, 1200, 4, 4D G, 0844 635 9245

Willowbrae Willowbrae Road, 675, 2, CG P, 0844 635 9308 Lady Nairne Place, 650, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9384 Northfield Grove, 550, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 8696 Piershill Terrace, 550, 2, 2D -1B -1T G, 0844 635 9332 Northfield Drive, 525, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3872

Sport 29

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Jenson Button: A Scouse kick in the ball One-hit wonder?

Liam McCabe Sports Editor

Leslie Mabon

“

JENSON BUTTON WAS a journeyman driver who happened to find himself in the right place at the right time.” This is how I imagine Formula 1 history books will introduce the 2009 World Champion in years to come. Behind the sensational revival of Brawn GP and the fairytale ending that reduced a hard-nosed team principal to tears, there seems to lie a solid professional whose season was won over the first seven races. But is this really a fair assessment of a man who did after all come out on top in one of the most open F1 seasons in recent memory?

Of the four World Champions currently competing in F1 – Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Button – the Brawn driver is by far the least remarkable.

Alonso has dragged a frighteningly uncompetitive Renault kicking and screaming onto the podium; Hamilton has knuckled down and turned in some sterling performances this season in a below-par machine; and even Ice Man Raikkonen has shown flashes of the brilliance that marked him out as such a hot prospect prior to his title-winning year. Button, however, came into 2009 with a solitary race win to his name, and once the performance gap between the Brawns and the rest of the field had been reduced, he returned to the kind of banal low-points drives that have been the hallmark of his career up until now.

It is his out-of-car demeanor, however, that I feel marks Jenson out as a worthy champion. In a sport wracked by in-fighting, accusations of cheating and staging of accidents, a mild-mannered non-controversial number one is what is needed at this juncture. Alonso has an uncanny knack of bringing

feuding and conflict wherever he goes, Hamilton appears to be controlled by the sternest kind of Karting Dad, and Raikkonen’s out-of-car antics hardly create the right impression of a professional, dedicated driver. Yes, Jenson does tend to whine at his crew when anything goes slightly wrong, but compared to the characters he is up against, Button comes across as a fairly inoffensive fellow.

So what now for the 2009 champion? Well, I think it is highly unlikely that more championships will follow.

Whisper it, but I really don’t see how Brawn can continue without any major backers. My own view, and it is only my view, is that the Brawns slowed down in the latter part of the season quite simply because they’d run out of cash to develop the car. Up against a resurgent Ferrari and McLaren, a scorching hot Red Bull and a revitalised Toyota with a lead driver who actually cares on race day, they’ll struggle to make the podium come Bahrain next year. A few more seasons cruising round will most likely follow for Button, before a switch to punditry and the obligatory run on Strictly Come Dancing.

When people look back on 2009 in years to come, they will see it as a perfect illustration of what a decent driver can do in a phenomenal car.

If Red Bull get their hands on some good engines, by contrast, 2010 will be the year Sebastian Vettel and Adrian Newey show the world how devastating an excellent competitor in a supreme vehicle can be. So, to answer my question; Jenson Button Deserving 2009 World Champion? Probably. Best driver on the grid? Not a chance.

Leslie Mabon is an Honorary VicePresident of the Edinburgh University Motor Sports Club.

RICK DIKEMAN

A

NDY GRAY FAMOUSLY told a viewing audience of millions that “a balloon’s not going to deviate the ball, it’s not going to divert it anywhere” after Manchester City’s FA Cup tie at Sheffield United last season. Well, Andy: take a bow, son.

Some Liverpool fans have tried to set the blame for their defeat at the Stadium of Light at the door of the young fan who threw a beach ball carrying their Club badge onto the park; others are blaming Sunderland’s stewards for failing to keep the pitch clear of debris.

High profile former refs, though, such as Jeff Winter, are pinning it all on Mike Jones, the match referee, who has since been removed from the Premier League’s list of officials.

If you ask me, there’s no point in trying to pin the blame for this on anyone or anything, though it is

tempting, in true Scooby Doo style, to blame “those pesky kids”. This was an incident that not even the great comedic mind of John Cleese could have conceived, and to try to apply any kind of reason to it is a bit of a waste of energy.

Steve Bruce said post-match that he hoped the freakish nature of their winning goal would not take away from the high quality of his side’s performance. I don’t think that it has.

Sunderland received a large amount of entirely deserved credit for the way in which they took the game to Liverpool.

I do think, though, that the nature of Darren Bent’s winner has protected a struggling Liverpool side from a fair bit of criticism.

Liverpool have lost four of their nine games in the Premiership going into the weekend clash at Old Trafford.

This represents a shocking start to the season for a team that should be the biggest challengers to Manchester

United and Chelsea at the top of the table. Liverpool have spent a quite ridiculous amount of money on their playing squad since Benitez’ arrival, yet as soon as Gerrard and Torres are out of the side they look ordinary at best.

Arsenal were the side that most experts picked as being the most likely to make room for Manchester City in the “big four” of the Premier League at the start of this season, yet the Gunners have been in excellent form early in the season. Playing their distinctive brand of football while dealing with the absence through injury of vital players like Theo Walcott, Arsenal have moved into a very strong position in the table: six points from the top with two games in hand.

If Rafa Benitez isn’t careful, he might find his own side ushered none too gently from the hallowed ranks of the Premiership’s elite. If it comes to that, a beach ball will be the least of his worries.

Veteran's return wins fans' Favre throughout the years who tend to be forgotten in discussions such as these.

Guys like Johnny Unitas of the Colts, who was a star in the 60s, are often overlooked. There is a lot of sentimental feeling and statistical evidence that points to Favre being top of the pile, but we shouldn’t forget the greats of the past, and, of course, my own choice: Dan Marino!

The NFL brought a regular season game to London last weekend, which is great for growing the popularity of the NFL brand in the UK. Unfortunately it’s not done as much as people like myself might have hoped in terms of increasing participation levels in the sport at grassroots level here in Britain, but then that’s not something we can expect the NFL to do for us. In order to boost the sport here in Britain, and through our own Club in Edinburgh, we need to jump on any advantages the NFL’s presence might bring us, and capitalise on them as much as possible.

Doug Adamson

B

RETT FAVRE’S RETURN to the NFL was one of the hot topics of the off-season. Since his return, though, Favre has been nothing short of spectacular, leading an undefeated team, and recently becoming the only quarterback in NFL history to record wins over all 32 teams. Fears that his latest comeback might damage his legacy have been well and truly banished, although Favre’s attitude towards a Green Bay franchise that treated him so well throughout his career has done some damage to his personal reputation.

I see little more for Favre to achieve, perhaps other than earning a Super Bowl ring with a second team. I feel this comeback had its basis in a need for Favre to return to what he knows, after his well-publicised family problems [Favre’s father recently passed away, and he has been through a fairly messy and public divorce]. After all the turmoil in his life, I think coming back to the sport that has been his whole life for so many years has given him something to hold onto, and he seems to be relishing that security at the moment.

Favre’s place among the all-time greats is assured, but the question of who exactly is the greatest of all time is one that could be discussed

Doug Adamson is the General Manager of the Edinburgh Wolves: Edinburgh's American Football team.

for days on end. Though Dan Marino is, in my opinion, the best passing quarterback in the history of the game, there have been many fantastic players

For more information on Edinburgh Wolves football, please visit www. edinburghwolves.com, or look for them on facebook. The Wolves are holding try-outs at Meadowbank Stadium on 21/11/09 for anyone over the age of 18. Anyone interested in trying out is encouraged to contact Doug Adamson, on gm@edinburghwolves.com

30 Sport

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

In a league of their own SCOTLAND RUGBY LEAGUE

Knights reign Abia Mervin

MENTION RUGBY LEAGUE to most Scots, and you will be met with a confused look and no small amount of stammering. The oval ball game has traditionally been dominated by the Union code north of the border, but Scotland’s best have been doing their country proud, as their recent 104-0 demolition of Italy shows. The Bravehearts will take on Lebanon this coming Saturday in the rugbyleague.com European Cup, looking to secure their place in the inaugural final of the sixteam competition.

The emergence of a strong Rugby League programme at Edinburgh Napier University has been one of the keys in the development of the sport at senior levels in Scotland. Two recent Napier graduates will be among the Scots this Saturday, and both Paddy Coupar and John Cox performed admirably in the huge victory over the Italians.

“Both Paddy and John coped excellently with the step up in pace and level that comes as you move into International competition,” said Edinburgh Napier and Scotland ‘A’ Head Coach Angus McNab. “It was especially pleasing to see John get a try on his debut [versus Italy], and his physicality was also hugely impressive”.

Paddy Coupar is undoubtedly one of the real triumphs for a Napier Rugby League programme that is among the strongest in Great Britain. Coupar, who represented Scotland in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in Australia, and now plays professionally for Workington Town, is the perfect example of the rewards of hard work and perseverance.

JOURNAL READERS ARE QUIDS IN!

Edinburgh Napier Knights 30 Newcastle University 8

“Paddy is the big success story of Napier Rugby League” said Angus McNab. “His performances in Australia earned him a lot of recognition, and he had interest in his services from a few other teams before eventually signing with Workington. Going from parks to the professional game in only a few years is testament to Paddy’s work ethic, which is quite unbelievable”.

It is this type of work ethic, and the example set by players like Coupar and Cox, that drives the current Napier squad. The arrival of McNab as coach in 2006 was the catalyst for a change in approach at Meggetland, with the players themselves taking on more responsibility for their physical conditioning, along with McNab’s introduction of a more structured approach to the game, paying major dividends for the Club, as the coach has been telling The Journal.

“Back in 2007, we all sat down and had a meeting about where we wanted to go with the team. Since then, we’ve introduced a serious coaching structure to the Club, and more importantly a very structured approach to the tactical side of the game, which is so important in Rugby League.”

“We’ve had a lot of success with this approach, with quite a few Scottish Students and Scotland ‘A’ Caps having been earned by our players. New players coming to the Club see the successes enjoyed by their team mates in gaining International recognition, and become that bit more determined to get in there themselves, which obviously spurs them on”.

And what of the current Napier side? Can any of them have any hopes of following in the footsteps of Andy Todd and Dave Lynn, the first Napier players to make the grade at Senior International level? Of the current team, Hooker Gyles Lomax is among the top prospects, although he does face a lot of strong competition for a position in this vital area of the pitch.

“Gyles is someone who might have made his debut before now, had it not been for the high calibre of the other Hookers in the squad. He is competing with guys who play in the Super League, who have that bit more experience of high level play that Gyles is lacking just now. He is a very talented player, though, and a great prospect for the future.”

With Lebanon due to take on Italy the week before they travel to Glasgow, the Scottish Coaching staff will have a good indication of the level of team they will face. McNab, though, expects the Lebanese to pose a greater threat to the home team than did the under strength Italians two week ago.

“We expect Lebanon to have a strong and talented squad. There is a huge Lebanese community around Sydney, which is really the heartland of Rugby League, and so we expect to hear a lot of Australian accents, and to face more than a few NRL players this weekend.”

The Scots will welcome Ian Morrison back to the fold this weekend, with the physical and at times under-rated former Scotland Rugby Union U19 Cap having missed the match in Italy due to his wedding, while Gateshead Thunder captain, Andrew Henderson, will tie the Scottish Caps record if selected on Saturday. Coach Angus McNab is hoping for a big turn out for Saturday’s match in Glasgow, which is also live on Sky Sports, and he is certain that everyone in attendance will see a totally committed Scottish side giving their all for their country.

“When our lads pull on that Scotland shirt, we see them gain an extra yard in pace; grow an extra few inches in height; and that little extra bit of strength that they never knew they had.

International representation is the pinnacle of any sport, and for any sportsman, and it’s no different for our guys.”

NEWCASTLE WERE THE visitors at Meggetland on Wednesday and provided Napier with an inital scare when they took the lead after five minutes, after absorbing Napier pressure on their own line.

Napier quickly replied through a try from Lee Ruddock, converted by Cieran Watson and the first half battle continued with Newcastle again coming back strongly to add another score through their livewire half back. However, with a second from Ruddock and another from Watson after a powerful drive from Nial Parkinson was haulted just short of the line, ensured Napier broke the spirit of the Geordie visitors. Half time Score 14 - 8.

The second half was a ruthless and efficient display from Napier with tries scored through Ruddock, for his hattrick, Michael Wallace and American Dan LeMoine. The middle unit of Wallace, LeMoine, Parkinson and Morgan Martin was totally dominant throughout the second half with Martin and loose forward Parkinson throwing their weight about with some massive hits and agressive running.

The final score of 30-8 was certainly a fair reflection of the contest and sees ‘The Knights’ sitting top of North 1 as they bid to bring silverware back to Scotland.

Edinburgh Napier Head Coach, Angus McNab, was pleased with the victory but saw more room for improvement in the coming weeks: “The score today was certainly a fair reflection on the game - we started fairly poorly and were certainly not complaining when we went behind twice. That gave the lads the bit of a kick that was needed and we built from there. There were still too many penalties conceded and certainly no complaints with these, the lads were 100% offside when stung for it - and against better sides we need to cut these out. However there are no bonus points so two wins from two is great and what we need for the next two weeks when we are away down in England.”

£4 OFF FOR JOURNAL READERS On Sunday 1 October, Scotland take on Lebanon in the Rugby League European cup at Anniesland in Glasgow, and Scottish Rugby League have offered Journal readers the chance to see the match for only a pound.

Just cut out the coupon to the left and present it on entry to receive your exclusive discount.

Sport 31

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Hearts held to UoE score three of the best draw by Falkirk Edinburgh 1sts Cruise to victory against Dundee

MITCH MCCABE

Andy Edwards

Hearts forced to settle for a point for the second consecutive week Ross Pilcher

Heart of Midlothian 0 Falkirk 0 NEITHER SIDE WERE able to find the net on a frustrating afternoon for the home side, although Eddie May’s Bairns will undoubtedly be satisfied with the result, despite failing once more to register their first win of the campaign.

A scrappy start saw little in the way of clear-cut chances, as David Obua headed a Lee Wallace cross over the bar, although the Ugandan had been flagged offside in any case. Kjartan Finnbogason then found himself bearing down on goal after Ismael Bouzid missed a clearing header, but the Falkirk striker’s control deserted him and the ball drifted out for a goal kick. Christian Nade was next to threaten at the other end, flashing a right foot shot just wide on 16 minutes.

There was little creativity on show from either side, although the visitors forced their way into the game with a couple of half chances. Alex MacDonald’s delivery from a free kick sailed dangerously close to Janos Balogh’s far post, whilst Ryan Flynn’s near-post effort lacked the power to trouble the Hearts ‘keeper. His opposite number was forced into action on the half hour, as Craig Thomson’s sweetly struck volley was watched all the way by Olejnik.

Falkirk responded immediately; Macdonald broke from midfield before firing a right-footed drive at goal, which had Balogh at full stretch.

Hearts could, and should, have been ahead after 34 minutes. Wallace fed Andy Driver on the left, whose one-two with Suso allowed him in on goal; the winger’s left footed effort going agonisingly wide. Falkirk were afforded another let off just three minutes later, as Suso muscled his way in behind Darren Barr before being hauled back by the Bairns’ captain. Referee Chris Boyle elected to show only a yellow

card, although it could have easily been red. The resultant free kick was played short to Goncalves, whose left foot shot curled well over. Burton O’Brien’s offtarget snap shot was the last action of an uninspiring first period.

The second forty-five began more openly and O’Brien was involved again, his low strike held well by Balogh.

Flynn was replaced by Marceta, and the Slovenian should have broken the deadlock on the hour. MacDonald went

by Lee Wallace on the right before picking out Marceta though he miss-hit his shot when a decent contact would have surely seen him score.

This seemed to light a fire under the home side, as Christian Nade’s flick on was controlled by Suso, who volleyed wide from 18 yards.

It was the substitute Marceta who came close again in the 70th minute, breaking down the left before dragging a left foot shot just wide. He caused more trouble from the left soon after, Goncalves diverting a wicked delivery just over his own cross bar. Falkirk came even closer to putting through their own net with just 10 minutes remaining. Goncalves’ long throw was inadvertently flicked towards his own goal by Brian McLean, and only a fantastic save

by Olejnik spared the ex-Motherwell man’s blushes.

It seemed the hosts were running out of time, although only a late block

by Mark Stewart prevented a late winner for Csaba Laszlo’s side. Ismael Bouzid’s flick on was controlled by Witteveen, who spun and shot from close range, only for Stewart to throw himself in the way. No goals, then, as Hearts struggled to break down a determined Falkirk side, who might even have taken all three points themselves had luck been kinder to them.

Hearts: Balogh; Thomson; Wallace; Bouzid; Goncalves; Suso; Driver(Glen); Palazuelos; Stewart (Black); Obua; Nade (Witteveen). Falkirk: Olejnik; McNamara; Twaddle; Barr; McLean; Arfield; O’Brien; Macdonald (Stewart); Lima; Flynn (Marceta); Finnbogason.

Edinburgh University 1st XV 3 - 54 East Kilbride RFC

Edinburgh Uni Women's 1st 3 Dundee Uni Women's 1st 0 EDINBURGH PRODUCED A strong performance against a competitive Dundee team, with three clinical finishes proving the difference between the two sides.

Edinburgh started the game brightly and were rewarded with a 4th minute strike. Striker Angela Waite latched on to a dangerous through ball from midfielder Chloe Fitzpatrick, before stroking it into the bottom corner.

At 1-0 the game was finely balanced as Dundee pressed forwards in search of an equaliser but it was Edinburgh who showed greater threat, with their fast counter-attacking football. Following the breakdown of the latest Dundee attack, centre midfielder Tracy Donachie rattled the bar from 30 yards for Edinburgh. She was not to be denied however, and struck a powerful shot into the top corner from outside the box to make it 2-0 after 34 minutes.

The half continued in the same vein, as Karen Hanson on the left wing proved a crucial outlet for Edinburgh.

Her pace and set piece delivery were key to Edinburgh’s success, as she terrorised the Dundee defence. After providing another accurate cross in the fortieth minute, Edinburgh should have made it three as Waite headed the ball past keeper Leearn Martin only to see it cleared off the line to safety.

The first half concluded as

GREEN BLUR: Edinburgh's Karen Hanson runs down the left wing Fitzpatrick rattled the Dundee crossbar for the second time in the match following a good stop from Martin. This proved to be a sign of things to come as in the 55th minute Hanson struck a glorious shot. Turning from 30 yards out, she surged forward to the edge of the box and floated a shot over the keeper into the top left corner.

At 3-0 the game looked as if it could become entirely one-sided but Dundee dug their heels in, producing a solid and

more adventurous second half display.

Edinburgh eased up, and this allowed Dundee winger Mhari Stewart to press forward, twice forcing good saves from home keeper Kathy Bayman. The Edinburgh defensive unit stayed solid, however, and despite Dundee’s best efforts the score remained at 3-0.

It was a convincing win for Edinburgh who can now go into their next game full of confidence after a fine performance.

Sport

HACKER THE RETURN OF BRETT FAVRE TO THE NFL, JENSON BUTTON'S FORMULA 1 TRIUMPH AND WHY BEACH BALLS AND FOOTBALL DON'T MIX

RUGBY LEAGUE LIAM MCCABE CHARTS THE RISE OF EDINBURGH'S NAPIER'S RUGBY LEAGUE PROGRAMME

1 £ TO ENTRY

Edinburgh solid in victory

UGBY R D N A SCOTLGUE MATCH A LE E SE

FOR INSIDE

S DETAIL

First-half goals from Beacher and Craigen give Edinburgh victory at Peffermill NORMAN FRANCIS

Liam McCabe Sports Editor University of Edinburgh 2 Preston Athletic 0 TWO FIRST HALF goals gave Edinburgh the win in an intriguing match at Peffermil on Saturday afternoon. Jack Beacher rounded the ‘keeper to roll the ball home on twenty three minutes, before his strike partner James Craigen doubled his side’s advantage only five minutes later.

This match, though not lacking in quality, will likely be remembered more for the horrific injury suffered by the scorer of Edinburgh’s first goal than for the quality of the play. Beacher was carried from the field shortly after the half hour following a seemingly innocuous clash with the Preston captain left the Edinburgh forward with a broken leg.

The best wishes of all at The Journal go out to Jack Beacher, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Edinburgh manager Dougie Samuel handed the experienced Neil Irvine a starting role in the centre of midfield, as the University side looked to match a competitive Preston Athletic team featuring ex-University defender Mark Cathcart and well-known East of

Scotland goal machine Craig Manson.

It took Edinburgh until the fifteenth minute to threaten, after Preston had enjoyed the best of the early exchanges. Kerr Dodds skipped past three challenges, running from his own half before unleashing a fierce shot that tested Gilpin in the Preston goal.

The opening goal came soon after, as Beacher raced onto Ruaraidh Scott’s through ball before rounding the keeper and stroking the ball into the empty net.

Preston squandered a good chance from the restart, before James Craigen doubled his side’s advantage. Scott was once more the provider, crossing low

Coldstream flows red despite Heriot spot kick drama Watt go third after late winner Mitch McCabe

Heriot-Watt University 2 Coldstream 1 A GRITTY EAST of Scotland Premier Division encounter at Riccarton was decided by a late strike from HeriotWatt’s Simon Ferrie. Coldstream, who ended the match with only ten men, were solid throughout but failed to consolidate after taking the lead.

Coldstream’s Douglas Brydon had the first attempt at goal after only four minutes: a thirty-yard sighter that was blocked by Scott Sutherland at the heart of the Watt defence. The visitors were restricted to efforts such as these throughout a first half, which was light on chances.

The only exposure of the away team’s back line before the referee did eventually signal the break came in the forty-first minute when Wilkie slipped the ball along the touchline for James to latch onto. The left back beat his opposite man, made the by-line, and

supplied a peach of a cross for Watson to slot home, but off balance, he spooned it over the bar.

The fans lining the touchline were treated to a much more open and flowing game when the red-kitted ‘Streamers’ restarted the match. The ball zipped around on the greasy surface, as space started to open up in the middle of the park.

The visitors found a breakthrough from a high-paced counter attack in the sixty-sixth minute. Midfielder Aaron Punton guided the ball left to a galloping Tyson, who fizzed it towards the far post. Falconer could only parry the ball sideways as it came hurtling across his body, leaving John Crawford to slot it into the back of the net and put the away team in front.

The home team reacted well and equalised within ten minutes. James burst down the left wing and produced an inch perfect cross to the right boot of team mate Thomson, who tapped the ball in at the near post to equalise in the seventy-fifth minute.

Two minutes later, Watt target man Watson controlled the ball in the penalty area and knocked it deftly beyond

anchored defender Gary Lumsden.

Lumsden left a leg in the challenge, bringing down Watson, giving away a clear-cut penalty and earning himself a booking in the process.

Erik Thomson stepped up to the spot and struck the ball hard and low to the keeper’s right. At full stretch, Walters’ right glove was enough to bat the ball away for a corner; an altogether spectacular save.

With only four minutes remaining, the more athletic home team were able to conjure up some magic. Ten yards outside the box, substitute Ross Lesak directed a meticulous through ball into the path of Simon Ferrie, who, unchallenged, slid the ball beyond the helpless Mark Walters to seal the points.

Tempers frayed towards the end, as Coldstream’s Tim Curtis saw red following two cynical and dangerous challenges in less than thirty seconds.

The match finished two goals to one, in favour of the home side, who now look to press on in the league having moved up to third position with their victory on Saturday.

from the left for Craigen to shoot home low to the ‘keeper’s right after the ball had been missed by the Preston defence.

A lengthy stoppage followed the injury to Beacher, and, in truth, both teams looked tentative in the remainder of the first forty-five minutes. The second half almost started with a bang,

though, as Edinburgh’s David Oswald ran through on goal. The diminutive forward was taken out by the advancing Preston ‘keeper, who had raced far from his area, but the presence of defensive cover dissuaded the match referee from brandishing the red card that most in attendance expected.

Edinburgh were determined to see out the match with their two-goal lead intact, and employed a solid 451 formation to that end. This served to frustrate the visitors, who were unable to pose any serious threat to the home side in the remainder of the match. Mark Tait in the Edinburgh goal was tested on numerous occasions in the second forty-five, but displayed solid handling and a good command of his penalty area throughout.

The referee’s whistle brought an end to proceedings, on a day upon which Edinburgh were good value for their win. These were an important three points for the home side, who now move up to seventh in the Central Taxis East of Scotland Premier Division. Edinburgh will look to build on this victory, as well as their 1-0 victory over Strathclyde in BUCS Competition last Wednesday and move towards the “right” end of the table in the East League over the coming weeks.

MITCH MCCABE

Comment 17

The Journal Wednesday 28 October 2009

Comment Labour: Scotland's best bet?

Discussion&Debate

Jim Murphy, the Secretary of State for Scotland, argues that a Conservative victory at the forthcoming election would be a disaster for Scotland JUSTYNA GRABOWSKA

the SNP is a wasted vote. The SNP’s sole ambition is to separate Scotland entirely from the United Kingdom. In a world where the greatest threats are recovering from a global downturn, tackling climate change and ending poverty in developing countries, separatism is no answer. I love Scotland, and it’s because I love Scotland that I want us to continue to play our part as the most influential small country in the world—a key part of the UK. I know that all nationalists are patriots, but not all patriots are nationalists. Scotland makes Britain a bigger and better country, and I want to keep it that way.

There are two ways for Scotland to end up with a Tory government—by voting for them directly, or by voting for the SNP who have made clear they will help the Tories to power. Mr Cameron’s Conservatives would be a disaster for Scotland. They have got every judgment about the global financial crisis wrong. It was their neo-liberal ideology of deregulation that led to the

T

HE CONTROVERSY ABOUT the appearance of Nick Griffin on the BBC has sparked a discussion across the country about how best to counter the vile and repugnant opinions of the BNP. There are no grounds for complacency in Scotland. Although the BNP vote was low, even at the last European elections, a higher proportion of voters supported them than the proportion of minority ethnic voters in Scotland’s population. We need concerted actions across the mainstream political parties, and involving all faith groups to ensure that neo-fascist views do not get a foothold in Scotland. Ultimately, if people don’t vote, the only ones who will benefit are extremists.

But elections are about much more than that and you will have your choice in how the country is run in a few months at the general election. This will be a choice of two futures. Tackling unemployment and investing in the green industries of the future with Labour, or risking the recovery under the Tories.

Since the beginning of the global downturn last year the government has acted to protect jobs and savings. HBOS and RBS were saved with an injection of £50bn of capital—the equivalent of £10,000 for every person in Scotland. And the toxic assets of the banks are being underwritten by up to £600bn— nearly six times the annual value of the Scottish economy.

Tax cuts of £20bn across the UK have injected £2bn into households in Scotland. To help those who have become unemployed an extra £5bn is being spent across the country - £500m of it in Scotland. We will not abandon a generation of young people to the scrapheap—a mistake the Tories made in the 80s.

But the Tories seem intent on remaking the mistakes of the past.

They have voted against every penny that we are spending on getting people back to work. They would cut £5bn of public spending if they were in power today—one of the only major political parties in the world that want to cut public spending in a recession. Experts are shocked. Professor David Blanchflower, a former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, views Mr Cameron’s agenda as “the most bizarre set of economic policies I have ever heard”, which display an absence of understanding that could push the economy into depression.

He believes that George Osborne’s

There are two ways for Scotland to end up with a Tory government— by voting for them directly, or by voting for the SNP who have made clear they will help the Tories to power

proposals are “a strategy to increase unemployment”, and estimates that under the Tories, unemployment could rise to 5 million, with unemployment in Scotland reaching nearly 500,000.

But this is only the latest in a series of economic misjudgments by the opposition leader. At the outset of the credit crisis, the Conservatives were still calling for the deregulation of all mortgages. Last year the Conservatives voted against the Banking Bill— which gave the British government the

powers to manage the financial crisis and save Bradford & Bingley.

When the financial crisis led to recession they got it wrong again.

Uniquely, they opposed fiscal stimulus—the unprecedented support across the G20 countries which stopped recession becoming depression and is laying the foundations for growth; Paul Krugman, the Economic Nobel Laureate, stated that the recession would be worse for Britain if Cameron was in charge.

At their party conference in Manchester, the Tories made clear that their priority remains giving a tax cut of £200,000 to the richest 3,000 families in Britain. No sign there of the so-called “progressive conservative”. It’s no surprise that the Tories are even more unpopular in Scotland today than they were in the days of Margaret Thatcher.

They still don’t get Scotland.

Only two men can be prime minister after the next election—Gordon Brown or David Cameron. A vote for

banking vandalism that has cost so many jobs. Their policies would deepen the recession and abandon another generation to the scrapheap as they did in the 80s and 90s.

Labour believes in a fairer world.

We want to see an end to the grinding poverty of the poorest nations and thwarted opportunities here at home. We want real action to stop the richest nations polluting our environment. We believe in a society free from discrimination against anyone because of their gender, age, sexuality, race or faith. We believe that all of us deserve a fair chance in life. As we come out of the recession we believe that no-one, particularly the poorest, should be left behind.

Jim Murphy MP (Lab - East Renfrewshire) is Scottish Secretary.