The Journal - Edinburgh Issue 049

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EDINBURGH'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

ISSUE XLIX

WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER 2011

SYRIA'S CINEMATIC RENAISSANCE Acclaimed director Hisham al-Zouki talks to The Journal about his life, career and hopes for a bright cinematic future in his troubled nation

» 16

Students claim political 'profiling' at Edinburgh Uni royal event

CHRIS RUBEY

IN NEWS >> 11

Down, under As fees and funding concerns continue to worry UK students, in Australia cuts are also starting to bite...

IN NEWS >> 7

Al Gore in Edinburgh Former US vice-president among the delegates at green conference

IN FILM >> 20

Jane Eyre Visually stunning and literally faithful to the text — a definite win

SPECIAL REPORT: STUDENTS CONNECTED TO PREVIOUS CAMPUS PROTESTS ALLEGE UNIVERSITY SECURITY IDENTIFIED THEM TO THE POLICE AT THE INSTALLATION OF PRINCESS ANNE AS CHANCELLOR OF EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY

»3

Degree costs continue to soar as Napier and QMU announce RUK fees Napier student president endorses £6,500 fees as universities push bursary schemes Amanda Svensson Falk News editor EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY announced on 29 September that RUK fees would be raised to £6,500 per year, with a total degree cost of £26,000 for

a normal undergraduate degree. Queen Margaret University announced the following day that they would charge £6,750 per year — a total of £27,000 for a four-year degree.

Napier Students' Association president Tom Zanelli broke with his fellow student union presidents at other institutions in praising the move, telling

The Journal: "I think the fees are at an acceptable level and we aren't shying away from what we are offering. We are a modern, up-and-coming university."

But the National Union of Students Scotland continued their hard line against the raising of fees, calling Napier's decision "ridiculous" and suggesting that it would further damage

the reputation of Scottish universities.

President Robin Parker said: “Principals in Scotland are at risk of closing the doors to students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The damage of these fee decisions are being felt across the UK with degrees in Scotland, Continued on page 2

IN SPORT >> 23

Hamilton cheesed off Hacker assesses the former champion's long list of gaffes — and wonders where it might end...

2 News

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Degree costs continue to soar at Napier, QMU

THIS WEEK INSIDE

Continued from p1

»6

Water of life

Researchers at Napier hope to use whisky to create a new biofuel

Stars come » 7 out in capital

including Napier, the most expensive in the UK. The reputational damage to Scottish universities should not be underestimated.”

Speaking to The Journal, Mr Parker added that he was convinced that NSA and its members will continue their previously clear opposition to raised fees, saying they will “no doubt” work alongside students from across Scotland to ensure the offered bursary package keeps their RUK students from being “priced out of education”.

The hiked fees mean students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland beginning their education in September 2012 onwards will pay £26,000 for a four year honours course, putting the cost of a degree from Napier University on a level with Oxford or Cambridge.

QMU is the last of Edinburgh's universities to announce their fee plans. Melvin Henley, vice president of

QMU Students' Union condemned the increase in fees, positioning the union as fundamentally opposed to tuition fees of any sort. "I, along with the rest of the Officers' Committee, am disappointed that Queen Margaret University has not shown more courage and dared to set lower, more accessible RUK fees."

Both universities have vowed to offer comprehensive bursary packages in order to secure fair access to students from low-income households.

Mr Henley said QMUSU "welcomes" the pledge, and would continue its dialogue with university officials to ensure a fair deal for all students.

As The Journal has previously reported, Edinburgh's universities have tended towards higher degree costs since the deregulation of tuition fees.

The University of Edinburgh is now one of the most expensive universities in the UK, charging £36,000 for a fouryear degree. A degree from Heriot-Watt

Tom Hanks returns to Edinburgh post-Da Vinci Code to shoot Cloud Atlas — with Halle Berry in tow

King of comedy

» 18

Arthur, Story of a King has kids and parents alike rollicking in the aisles

Freshers' karting

A four-year degree from Napier will cost around £26,000

» 20

EUMSC's karting championship kicks off and wastes no time getting from nought to sixty

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 produced by students in the City of Edinburgh. Contact us if you’d like to get involved. Printed

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STUDENT NEWS

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2011 Scottish SPECIAL REPORT

News 3

Installation of the chancellor

Students allege police harassment at Princess Anne event Students involved in previous campus protests claim they were 'profiled' and identified to the police by Edinburgh University security at ceremony installing Princess Anne as chancellor of the university

Comment

Absurdity and hypocrisy A Party Against Privilege protester defends the decision to picket the installation ceremony Joe Dewhurst Students gather outside the Old College installation ceremony to stage their 'Party Against Privilege' protest

Marcus Kernohan Editor-in-chief SEVERAL UNIVERSITY OF Edinburgh students were prevented by police from attending the installation of a new chancellor of the university last week, on the grounds that they have previously been involved in on-campus protest groups.

Two students, both of whom are involved in the Scottish anti-cuts movement, have told The Journal how they were stopped and questioned by police, and had their tickets to the installation ceremony on 26 September confiscated without explanation.

One of the students has since claimed that police officers told him they had been “instructed by university security to stop, question, search and prevent from entering anyone they recognised from past political demonstrations.”

Economics student Max Crema and Edinburgh University Students’ Association official Mike Shaw both confirmed that they were approached by police upon arrival at the event at Old College. Mr Crema said that he was approached on Nicolson Street by officers who “asked me to stand aside and provide some ID.

“After they had phoned my name in and confirmed that there were no outstanding warrants for my arrest, they then demanded our tickets and said that we were not allowed to go in [to the installation ceremony],” he said.

Condemning his singling-out as “crude profiling”, Mr Crema said: “the fact that I’ve been excluded, and in a very humiliating way, from university activities for having in the past expressed my political beliefs through non-violent, legitimate and legal acts of protest is frankly astounding.”

Mr Shaw, elected to the EUSA executive as SRC editor last year, confirmed that both he and Mr Crema had been subject to police checks, saying that a police officer "told me they were ID'ing anyone standing around outside looking 'suspicious'." Neither student was told why they were being refused access. Both men deny that they had any planned to cause any kind of disruption inside the ceremony, insisting that they attended the event solely as observers.

Both later attended the nearby 'Party Against Privilege' protest staged by the Edinburgh Anti-Cuts Coalition.

The University of Edinburgh refused to respond to the allegations, saying through a spokesman that: “The university does not comment on operational security matters.” Lothian and Borders

Police also declined to comment “for security reasons”.

Mike Williamson, Vice President (Academic Affairs) at EUSA, told The Journal that “university security are there to ensure the safety and security of both the guests and the students attending university events.

“Obviously, with high-profile events they take that responsibility that much more seriously, but I am yet to be convinced that these two students constituted a threat to anyone’s safety, particularly given that guests were unable to take any bags or other items into Old College on the day.”

Mr Crema has now filed a complaint against university security. In a letter to head of security Adam Conn, seen by The Journal, Mr Crema comments that "the idea that [the police] can single me out simply because of who my friends are is frankly worrying."

He goes on to ask Mr Conn: "Can you confirm that University Security now has a policy of profiling students based on their political beliefs and refusing them access to Edinburgh University events which they are entitled to attend?

The installation ceremony was originally scheduled to be held at the university’s New College complex on the Mound, but was moved to Old College

at the eleventh hour with no explanation given. Student representatives have since criticised the university, which closed New College over the preceding weekend and relocated all classes scheduled for Monday, for unnecessarily disrupting teaching.

Princess Anne becomes the eighth chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, succeeding her father, the Duke of Edinburgh, who served for 57 years.

She is also the first woman to hold the largely honorary post. Speaking at the installation, university principal Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea said that he was "delighted that the Princess Royal is to become our new Chancellor, and I welcome her to this important role at the heart of university life."

Two major benefactors to the university — Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling, who last year donated £10 million to create a new regenerative neurology clinic, and investment banker Hugh Langmuir — were also honoured at the ceremony, while Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, the former governor of Hong Kong and current president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, was awarded an honorary doctorate “for his significant contribution to Scotland via education, commerce and culture.” Lord Wilson is also the current chancellor of the University of Aberdeen.

» PARTY AGAINST PRIVILEGE: THE VIEW FROM THE PICKET LINE Janina Engler AS THE UNIVERSITY of Edinburgh formally installed the Princess Royal as their new chancellor, students gathered nearby for the Edinburgh Anti-Cuts Coalition's 'Party Against Privilege' protest. The demonstration, organised specifically to coincide with the installation ceremony, took place on Nicolson Street after the university's last-minute relocation from New

College to Old College.

Writing on their Facebook page, the movement re-stated their belief that "education should be free and publicly funded", and claimed that the university's decision to appoint Princess Anne as chancellor "stands completely at odds with these values."

The aim of the protest, they said, was to oppose the decision to appoint an 'elite' figure who they felt had little if any connection to education at a time when university tuition fees are such

a controversial and sensitive issue.

One student at the protest told The Journal that the group felt the university was "rubbing salt into the wound", and criticised the "massive disruption" caused to teaching due to the university's security preparations. The protestors — many from the same group who recently occupied the George Square Lecture Theatre — have claimed that they have experienced "growing support" for their cause.

However, some students at the

event expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the protest, commenting that the purpose of the event was somewhat vague and thus generated little support from onlookers and passers-by. One spectator told The Journal that "it isn't clear what they are demonstrating about." Despite this, figures within the protest movement remained adamant that the demonstration had been a success, and that they had "made their presence felt."

LAST WEEK I was involved in a protest against the inauguration of Princess Anne as the university chancellor, and more widely against the introduction of £9,000 per year fees for students from the rest of the UK. Quite aside from any political arguments, I think the whole affair highlighted the absurdity and hypocrisy of both university management and the police.

Princess Anne replaces her father, Prince Phillip, who has held the chancellorship for the last fifty years. There was meant to be an election, with all alumni eligible to both vote and propose candidates. But the university failed to properly inform them of this right, resulting in the uncontested installation of somebody who has little in common with those whom she 'represents'.

I have heard that Princess Anne cares deeply about education. If this were the case, she wouldn't have let the university close New College over the weekend and on Monday, frustrating many students working on dissertations and essays and causing several classes to be moved to the far end of George Street. It turns out that the university may never have even been planning on using New College; the event was moved to Old College, citing 'technical difficulties', but I have heard that some attending knew about this the week before the closure.

So we ended up outside Old College, making some noise and engaging in a slow dance with the police, who switched off traffic lights in the name of 'safety' and blocked the pavement with metal barriers to 'make it easier for pedestrians to get past'. Their feeble claims to be 'facilitating protest' have never sounded so hollow. The attitude from the both the university and the police is the same: they expect us to do what we're told without questioning whether or not it makes sense. We need to wake up, stop mindlessly obeying orders, and start to think for ourselves again.

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STUDENT POLITICS

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EUSA constitution stands unopposed President optimistic about student support for reform proposals DAVID SELBY

Daniel Do Rosario

RoN rides again in EUSA by-election As by-elections approach, the students' association prepares to counter the Reopen Nominations vote

Staff writer EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY STUDENT Association (EUSA) last week formally announced the upcoming referendum on its constitution.

Students of the university will later this month be asked to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on whether to adopt the new constitution, which EUSA has admitted has remained largely unchanged since it was first written in 1974.

But concerns have been raised over the current absence of an official 'No' campaign to debate the new proposals.

Commenting on the lack of formal opposition, EUSA Vice President (Academic Affairs) Mike Williamson told The Journal: “If there is anyone who wants to run a no campaign, we would be absolutely happy for that to happen. We don’t want it to be a one-sided campaign.”

However, union president Matthew McPherson said: “Rather than seeing the lack of a 'No' campaign as a sign of weakness of the process so far, actually it’s a huge strength because a lot of people from different political backgrounds have come together over this constitution, so we think it’s a sign of how much better it is than the old one that there is nobody out of our 30,000 students who actually want to run a 'No' campaign.”

The standard format for referenda debates allocates equal time for ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigns to state their positions, and Mr McPherson has informed The Journal that EUSA are still discussing possible changes of format, including the possibility of calling on a neutral member of staff to offer counter arguments. However, a final decision

The Journal Wednesday 5 October 2011

Richard Morgan Staff writer

Old school? is yet to be made. Mr Williamson also pointed out the possibility that a ‘No’ campaign will be formed as the ‘Yes’ campaign gets underway.

EUSA states on its website that the constitutional changes take into account the diversified functions and services that the association now provides. They also emphasise that the new constitution would increase transparency and accountability in the democratic decision-making processes of the association.

EUSA further states that this referendum is not a “one-off”, and that part of the new constitution is to make online referenda “a regular way for Edinburgh students to have their say."

There has been opposition in the past to online referenda: an enabling motion allowing them passed only on the fourth attempt.

Further, the introduction of three

‘external trustees’ onto the board of trustees under the new constitution has also proven controversial. The board of twelve is ultimately responsible for EUSA's actions, and while the student body as a whole does not elect them, they are voted in by the nine student trustees.

Mr McPherson explained that while the board has to make sure that any decisions fit the aims of the association, they are "by no means a filter of policy; they are more of a safety net."

Furthermore, students will be able to remove any trustees through a vote of no-confidence.

Students can find all of the changes to the constitution on the EUSA website. Mr McPherson believes that any students who “feel disenfranchised should reflect on the new constitution.

There are lots of different strengths to it, but fundamentally it is about

WITH THE EDINBURGH University Student Association's October by-elections on the horizon, the democratic impact of co-ordinated RoN (Re-open Nominations) voting is being examined once again.

After heavy disruption in last year's election, EUSA have taken steps in their new constitution to limit RoN's influence.

The current system is effectively a 'none of the above' option that allows students to avoid voting for candidates that they feel are not suited to the position, particularly for single-seat positions like the sabbatical officers.

In EUSA's March election, RoN came second in the ballot for ordinary undergraduate representatives, meaning that only one position out of ten was filled.

The nine unfilled positions are now to contested in this month's by-election.

The current system means that if RoN is elected, all the candidates that place after RoN lose. Additionally, RoN is able to run in numerous elections whereas candidates standing for election usually only stand for one position - and RoN is able to dominate.

Mike Williamson, vice president of Academic Affairs at EUSA told The Journal: "Personally I think the system we currently use makes RoN far

too strong, because if it is elected once, it wins all the remaining seats, rather than just one. I don't think that is a very accurate reflection of the views of the electorate. But the decision is not mine."

To prevent a repeat of the March elections, RoN's power is to be heavily circumscribed. RoN will be re-introduced as a separate candidate once elected in an election of multiple candidates.

This means that RoN being elected first, second or any other position will not discount all other candidates who place after it in a vote. It has also been suggested that the system should be changed to 'Reintroducible RoN', which will mean that when RoN is elected, only one candidate is removed rather than multiple candidates.

There are 80 seats available in this year’s by-elections and EUSA are hoping that the steps taken to control RoN will make the process run smoothly and ensure that it is fair for all candidates.

The decision on whether to switch to ‘Reintroducible RoN’ will be made by the senior member of the Board of Trustees. However, this decision will not be made until after the upcoming by-elections.

The system is not unique to EUSA. Andrew Wildgoose, a former presidential candidate at Napier Students' Association, told The Journal: “This system is obviously in place for a good reason, but whether it is effective is another issue; it can be abused and used in a bitter way.”

HWUSA and EUSA by-elections to begin By-election campaigns open across Edinburgh, with a lack of interest plaguing the process at Heriot-Watt Leonie McSorley Sheridan

MEMBERS OF HERIOT-WATT University Students' Association (HWUSA) have begun voting for candidates in their by-elections this week, including the currently vacant presidency.

Mike Ross, currently senior vicepresident and acting president of

HWUSA, is running for the full-time role.

Unless members vote to Re-Open Nominations, his presidency is secure.

The elections have failed to attract many candidates. Christina Bevan and Mohammad Shariq have been elected unopposed for respective positions of Societies Convenor and International Officer.

Mr Ross said the reason he stood unopposed is due to the nature of the

by-election, arguing that at this late stage “only those more involved with the Union would run and would only run against me if they felt that I was not a suitable candidate." He has worked hard to increase HWUSA presence at a national level and he argues this makes him the best candidate for the position.

He has served as interim president since Michael Bottom resigned shortly after his election in June. Mr Bottom was

offered a place on a graduate recruitment scheme, rendering him unable to take up the presidency.

This week nominations have also opened for the Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) by-elections, to be held later in October.

Nominations for the EUSA by-elections and first year elections will remain open until Thursday 6 October, with elections to be held the following week.

There are three union positions to be elected, while the Student Council has nearly 70 seats to be contested.

Other positions open for nomination include seats on both the National Union of Students UK and NUS Scotland.

According to EUSA's website these seats are the “way in which the views of Edinburgh’s students and the policy of Edinburgh University Students’ Association are represented at a national level.”

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STUDENT NEWS

News 5

EUSA hikes drink prices Students might take their custom elsewhere as union bars become more expensive HANNAH KILLOH

Lydia Willgress

AS EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY Students’ Association (EUSA) approve price rises across their venues, students are left feeling the pinch after a night out.

Although many students hoped the inflated prices would be dropped after the festival period, the cost of food and drink is to remain up to 15 per cent higher than last year. For example, students returning for a new academic year found a pint of coke had been increased by 70p, a cost that has now been reduced due to pressure by the student body.

Speaking to The Journal, Philippa Faulkner, Vice President (Services) at EUSA, justified the rise by claiming: “Despite soaring supplier costs and increased VAT, we have had a long period of keeping prices static.

“This year we had to make the very difficult decision to change that and increase our prices. I want to give students great services which are of good quality and this would not be possible if prices had remained the same.”

With drinks up to 45 per cent cheaper in other clubs and bars around Edinburgh, low prices are no longer an incentive for students to visit Potterow or Teviot on a night out.

However, it is not just clubs that are

ONLINE EUSA targets living wage for staff Board of Trustees debate a motion to pay living wage

University of Edinburgh to offer UK's highest bursaries The institution makes up for record fees with a generous bursary package

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THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT’S spending review has been praised by the higher education sector, after committing to protect the Education Maintenance Allowance and a £7,000 minimum income provision for the poorest students.

The review also confirmed that tuition fees would not be introduced for Scottish students.

Robin Parker, president of NUS Scotland, said that the proposals are "a major step in right direction towards making access to education in Scotland fairer."

A commitment to increase funding to narrow the gap with English universities and keep Scottish universities' international reputation high has also been proposed. Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, vice-convener of Universities Scotland and principal of the University of Edinburgh said: "This settlement marks a serious commitment to Scotland's universities and gives the sector renewed confidence about our ability to compete with the best."

He added: "The protection of our international standing is vital if we are to continue to deliver for Scotland and continue to lever-in well over £1 billion every year to the Scottish economy from UK and international sources."

But the review also contains proposals to cut funding for Scotland’s colleges, which Mr Parker critised, saying: “Colleges serve some of the most deprived communities in

Scotland offering an educational lifeline and local access to education to some of the most excluded in our society.

“They must make sure that no matter what, the number of places at college is at least protected and that quality is maintained.”

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Spending review good news for Scottish universities

EUSA credit rising supply and VAT costs for the price rise

outperforming the Edinburgh University union bars. Students at the University of St Andrews are finding their student loan goes a little further, with a pint of lager starting at £2 and a vodkamixer costing only £1.80.

One second year student expressed his shock at the new rise: “It’s ridiculous. It has got to the stage where the student unions are one of the most expensive places around.

“It wouldn’t bother me but if you go to another university, their unions seem to care about the service and value they’re offering their students. I wish

I could say I felt the same about ours.”

Ms Faulkner disagreed, saying: “I think EUSA still represents good value for money and that is proved by how busy we are. Additionally, all of the money we make goes back into improving the student experience which is what makes us different from other venues.”

In reaction to student complaints, EUSA president Matt McPherson commented on Twitter: “Our unions are still amongst the most affordable to drink. We kept prices down after VAT increases and soars in supply costs.”

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Napier teams up with Mobitel Sri Lanka Napier and Hong Kong Napier University pioneers long-distance learning by using Sri Lankan technology KEN COLWELL

Kirsten Waller

EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY, in partnership with Mobitel, the leading Sri Lankan telecommunications company, is set to host the world's first virtual degree at its Craiglockhart campus.

Students on the course will study organisation, economic and creative business strategies via an mLearning platform, all as part of an MBA programme. Each student will receive a free notebook and dongle to be able to access learning resources from over 5000 miles away, enjoying realtime interaction with module leaders and discuss topics online with fellow students.

Professor George Stonehouse, dean of Napier’s Business School, told The Journal: "Until a few years ago on-line learning could be a pretty dull process.

Recent developments in technology have transformed the situation with real-time virtual teaching becoming a reality.

"Whilst not for everyone, virtual and mobile learning provide an opportunity for highly flexible study - anytime, anywhere – at the same time as the benefits of face to face interaction with fellow students and lecturers."

Prof. Stonehouse went on to explain: "The initiative is part of a much larger suite of programmes which will use the latest technology alongside more

government mull whisky biofuels

Researchers hope the international collaboration could hold the solution to the energy crisis Caroline Nguyen

Lecture theatres a thing of the past? traditional face to face classes to provide the highest quality and most enjoyable learning experience for students."

The programme will be particularly helpful to foreign students who wish to obtain a Scottish qualification but cannot afford the expense of international fees. The British High Commissioner, John Rankin told The Journal: "I congratulate the Edinburgh Napier University and Mobitel (Pvt.) Ltd. on pioneering this unique educational service. British education is held in high regard in Sri Lanka and I am delighted that both [countries] are looking for new ways to make education accessible."

Mobitel is a subsidiary of Sri Lanka

Telecom and the first phone company to offer a 3.5G network in South Asia.

Mobitel's Senior General Manager, Mr. Janaka Jayalath, has praised the partnership, stating: "Sri Lanka [is] constantly on the look out to support and foster our country’s welfare. "Through Mobitel’s mLearning platform, we have harnessed the education pertaining to many industries in our nation, via partnerships with prominent educational institutes.

"Our next step was to facilitate students to follow courses with international patronage […] to enable students to pursue their higher studies at their own convenience."

EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY and Hong Kong have joined forces to investigate new ways of generating energy via Scotland's national drink.

Donald Tsang, the chief executive of the Government of Hong Kong visited Edinburgh Napier University’s Biofuel Research Centre earlier this month to observe the centre’s work, in particular a biofuel made from the by-products of whisky. The visit is part of an ongoing partnership between Napier University and Hong Kong’s City University signed in February 2010, where Napier assisted Hong Kong to open its first biofuel research centre.

Mr Tsang stated: “[It was] fantastic to come here and see the original Biofuel Research Centre that has provided an inspirational template for the twin centre in Hong Kong, as well as for a range of other biofuel initiatives.” Mr Tsang was shown the process behind discovering fuel from by-products of whisky, developed by Napier’s Research Centre over the past year.

A spokesperson for the University

told The Journal: “The process uses the two main by-products of the whisky production process – ‘pot ale’, the liquid from the copper stills, and ‘draff’, the spent grains, as the basis for producing the butanol that can then be used as fuel.”

China’s 9.5 per cent growth rate indicates increasing fuel needs and greater waste accumulation. The Hong Kong Biofuel Research centre will begin similar research to its twin in utilising these wastes and excess materials to produce an alternative biofuel, rather than the specific growing of crops. Ideally, biofuel sources will use locally-available wastes – providing a constructive way to dispose of waste as well as revenue for local companies. Whisky, for example, is one of the UK’s top five manufacturing exports, with £1.8 billion worth of Scotch Whiskey being exported in the first half of 2011.

Recently, Hong Kong’s research centre implemented a re-use cooking oil scheme throughout the city. Mr Tsang said:“[Hong Kong has] proposed a target to reduce carbon intensity by between 50 per cent and 60 per cent by 2020. To do this it is essential to promote green innovation and technology.”

Next Scottish Entrepreneur teams up with Heriot-Watt University Heriot-Watt lecturer involved in developing a label that can detect when food goes off Academic News editor HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY HAS teamed up with the winner of the title 'Next Scottish Entrepreneur' and £50,000 for the invention of smart food labels that can detect w`hen food has expired.

Pete Higgins, founder and CEO of UWI Technology, won the Barclays 2011 ‘Take One Small Step’ business competition and will be investing the cash prize in his idea: the UWI label, meaning "use within". Mr Higgins hopes that the label will become a standardised product in every home across the world.

Mr Higgins told The Journal: “My initial aim was to help to reduce the amount of food wasted each year, save people money and minimise the risk of illness but I am now keen to investigate how it can be used for other products such as blood transfusion bags, veterinary and pharmaceutical products, industrial glues and sealants and even cosmetics – in fact, anything with a critical shelf life once it has been opened.”

Helped by Dr Will Shu, an academic and lecturer at the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, the label is

scientifically programmed to tell a person if food has gone off through the use of green indicators placed on the side of the jar. At the point of purchase all four indicators are green, but when the last indicator has turned red the contents of the jar are no longer edible.

The labels will be applied to jars before they are sold and only activated once a jar has been opened.

In the UK alone, £11bn worth of food is wasted every year, with an average family binning £680 worth of food because they are unsure of its shelf-life once opened. Mr Higgins was said to be “thrilled” at winning the competition, but that he could not have done it without the help of Dr Shu, who has worked with him over the past 18 months to bring UWI into the final stages of its three year production.

Dr Shu said: “I am delighted to have been involved in what has been a highly exciting journey and look forward to continuing to work with Pete to develop the device further for use in other products and move into other business sectors. The results have exceeded our expectations."

Mr Higgins’ UWI invention won the Scottish award in the competition hosted by Barclays and is one of nine regional winners across the UK.

HERIOT WATT UNIVERSITY

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Katie Richardson

Self delusion creates sucess Believing in yourself is scientifically proven to enhance achievement

Financial industry value work experience Work experience may be more valuable than a degree, study shows Smart labels could see the end of vague use-by dates

LOCAL NEWS | News

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7

Forest Cafe on Edinburgh hosts high-profile track for financial green investment summit reprieve Opportunities for a green economy in Scotland highlighted at the Forest Café has half the money it needs to re-open

Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Rosalind Brown

A GROUP OF volunteer fundraisers are halfway to buying back the the Forest Café after months of fundraising.

A campaign was launched following the announcement of bankruptcy by the charity and had been at the very forefront of the Forest's collective thoughts for their last year of opening.

Weekly fundraisers and the creation of a WeFund account has seen the Forest Café raise half of the required amount to buy back their home at Bristo Place.

On 1 September, following a busy festival season, the Forest Café was forced to shut its doors at its Bristo Place venue.

The volunteer-run organisation was treasured as a creative and cultural hub of free thinking in the grassroots art scene.

A registered charity, the Forest was told they would have to raise £100,000 to secure a mortgage and so far it has received over £13,000 in pledges.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for the Lothians region, has been vocal in her support for the Café: “The attitude of the current administrators of the premises on Bristo Place has been incomprehensible, but I remain confident that the dedicated Forest volunteers will be able either to get their old venue back or find somewhere even better.

"This city has been immeasurably better off for their efforts over the years, and that’s why I’m wholeheartedly supporting this campaign."

For many performers, the Forest Café provided them with the venue with which to perform and the Café became a popular haunt for students across the capital.

Ailsa Skudos, a student at the University of Edinburgh told The Journal: "The Forest is an important part of my life. As somewhere to socialise, somewhere to enjoy free entertainment but also to find out more about things I would be totally unaware of like spoken word poetry or vegan brownies. I love the Forest and so when I heard it was shutting I donated £20. I hope other people will too."

Hollywood comes to the capital Tom Hanks and Halle Berry visit Edinburgh during production of new film Cloud Atlas

Hannah Raine Local News editor

Hannah Raine & Megan Wells

OVER 400 DELEGATES from around the world descended on the Edinburgh International Conference Centre last week for the second Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference.

The meeting brought together investors from banks, low carbon companies and financial sectors to discuss Scotland’s potential contribution to clean energy and carbon reduction.

Among the guest speakers were former US vice president Al Gore, Bloomberg New Energy Finance chief executive Michael Liebriech and chief editor Angus McCrone.

Speaking at the conference, Mr Gore praised the country's efforts, saying: “Scotland has not only provided inspiring leadership, you are exploiting one of the greatest resources anywhere on the planet, with wind onshore and particularly offshore, all sorts of variety of windmills and the renewable technologies are especially important."

Last year delegates agreed that

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0131 651 6057 ads@journal-online.co.uk

HOLLYWOOD FILM CREWS visited Edinburgh last week to shoot scenes for upcoming blockbuster Cloud Atlas, which is due for release next year.

Visitors to the city last Friday were hopeful that they could catch a glimpse of stars Tom Hanks or Halle Berry.

The film is based on the book of the same name, written by British author David Mitchell.

The exact location of where the stars were filming in Edinburgh was kept discreet so as to keep disruption in the city centre to a minimum.

The City Chambers building was used as an ‘upmarket London hotel’ for one particular scene. It was reported that in this scene an actor climbed down the side of the building before running off in the opposite direction.

Several scenes were also shot at Scott Monument, near Princes Street Gardens.

The cast and crew had also visited Glasgow city centre from 16 to 18 September to film at locations south of

Blythswood Square in the city.

American actress Halle Berry apparently found it difficult to adjust to the Scottish climate. She was spotted using a hot water bottle on set to keep her hands warm.

Edinburgh has become a much desired location for many filmmakers such as Danny Boyle and John Landis.

Belle Doyle, Locations department manager at Creative Scotland said: “We always try to get filming in all parts of Scotland and Edinburgh is seen as a good option because it is a city that is used to filming and has some amazing locations. We send out images of Edinburgh most days to people interested in filming.”

Figures released last year by Edinburgh Film Focus revealed that 375 productions had been shot over 1073 filming days.

In 2006, Tom Hanks filmed the final scenes of The Da Vinci Code at Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian.

Last month, One Day hit cinemas across the country and also featured scenes shot from Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh which starred Anne Hathaway.

First Minister Alex Salmond with Martin McAdam, CEO of Aquamarine Power investable projects and pioneering funding solutions would be needed in order for Scotland’s dream of being a world leader in the field to become reality.

Scotland is planning to invest £140 billion on a variety of projects across the country, Europe’s most ambitious carbon reduction target.

Speaking about the country’s investment, First Minister Alex Salmond said: “We have some of the best natural resources in the world for harnessing clean, green energy from our wave, water and wind potential and we have a history of technology innovation and engineering expertise that is second to none.”

The conference is part of the Scottish Low Carbon Investment (SLCI) project, a government-backed initiative which supports companies, develops clear business plans and seeks low carbon projects across Scotland. In addition, the project also aims to provide technological solutions in order to attract investment and create wealth.

Head of Environmental Strategy at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Dave Gorman described

October

the young people of today as "hugely important" for future projects.

He believes that young people are the tools to new discoveries, and key to Scotland making their ambitious 2020 low carbon target of producing the equivalent of 100 per cent of the annual electricity consumption from renewables.

The conference also highlighted the wide range of green career opportunities available to young people and encouraged them to consider careers in sustainable energy.

Samantha Barber, non-executive director of Spanish company Iberdrola agreed: “It is the opportunity for young people to lead the change in direction that is required and to challenge the lifestyles and behaviour of other generations to live in a low carbon environment and to challenge the society we have of over consumption and nonsustainable life choices.

“We want future generations to have different behaviour – younger generations need to set out what the future looks like and be able to say that they were the ones that changed it and set out a sustainable lifestyle”.

The Journal Wednesday 5 October 2011

twitter: @EdJournal

www.journal-online.co.uk

NATIONAL POLITICS

News 9

Tory candidates finalised for leadership election The four candidates for the leadership of the Scottish Conservatives have finalised nominations

WS DOUGLAS

Jenny Kassner

FOUR CONSERVATIVE MSPS have been nominated to stand for the leadership of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party, with the election due to take place across October and November.

The MSPs who received the necessary 100 nominations are current deputy leader Murdo Fraser, transport spokesman Jackson Carlaw, new MSP Ruth Davidson and the last-minute candidate Margaret Mitchell.

Annabel Goldie stepped down as party leader after disappointing election results in May, when the Scottish Tories managed to secure only one seat in the Scottish Parliament.

Speaking after his nomination, Mr Fraser said: "This is the first time in decades that our party is having a proper debate about its future.

"I will continue to set out the case for transforming the Scottish Conservatives into a new, stronger centre-right party for Scotland to stand up for the interests of people in Scotland credibly and effectively and to continue to explain why remaining within the United Kingdom is very much in Scotland's interests.”

He wants to leave behind the Scottish Conservatives as we know it and reshape it into a new, right-of-centre progressive party.

Ms Davidson said: "I see the Scottish Conservatives as the party for Scots of all backgrounds who want safer streets, better schools, and a vibrant economy.

"Breaking up the party or just giving it a new name will not achieve any of this.”

The former BBC journalist opposed further new powers to the Scottish Parliament and started a campaign against replacing the existing Scottish Conservatives with a new party.

Mr Carlaw also strongly opposes a newly shaped party. He said: "I am somebody who has an idea of exactly what we need to do to shake the party up.

"And more importantly, I understand that we have to have election-winning policies, supported by an election-winning organisation, capable of standing up to the SNP. I think we have danced to their tune for long enough."

Ms Mitchell said: "I think it is reasonable that you listen to what all the candidates have to say and frankly there weren't any of them that represented my views, or what I believe are the vast majority of the Conservative members.

"There seemed to be a collective sigh of relief, saying at last we've got someone that we think we can vote for and move forward with."

All 8,500 party members are eligible to vote and the results will be announced on 4 November.

Education cuts define Labour conference Student praised after holding animated speech on cuts to the welfare state Rachael Watson & Jon Baldie

HIGHER EDUCATION POLICIES and attacks on government cuts marked the talking points for the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool last week.

In his speech to the conference, Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray attacked the Scottish Nationalist Party's “lack of investment in young people”, claiming that they have “slashed college budgets and started to close universities”.

Gail Lythgoe, student convenor for the SNP, spoke to The Journal commenting on the Labour leader's speech: "Most commentators understand, unlike Mr Gray, the difficulties faced by ordinary Scots and the Scottish Government alike when our budget was slashed by Westminster as a result of the recession.

"The wrong decisions have been taken by a series of UK governments hundreds of miles away with horrendous consequences for ordinary people.

"It's easy for Mr Gray to return to his usual SNP-bashing rather than offer an alternative. The truth is that the Scottish electorate knew Scottish Labour hadn't done their maths before the election."

UK Labour leader Ed Miliband's

keynote speech announced a proposal to cap higher education fees in England and Wales at £6,000, drawing both praise and criticism from commentators.

Former president of the National Union of Students (NUS), Aaron Porter, said that Miliband's proposals “deserved both a first and a fail”.

Rory Weal, 16, received a standing ovation after he spoke out against cuts being made by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, and recounted his personal experience of their effects.

Mr Weal, a student from Kent, attacked the government's decision to cut Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), and said that young people across the UK are getting “a pretty raw deal”: “Two and a half years ago, the home I had lived in since birth was repossessed... I owe my entire well-being and that of my family to the welfare state.

That is why I joined the Labour party.

“That very same welfare state is being ruthlessly ripped apart by a vicious, right wing Tory-led government.”

The Guardian's Zoe Williams compared Weal's performance to that of current British foreign secretary William Hague's as a 16-year-old at the Conservative's 1977 conference.

The race to replace Annabel Goldie as leader of the Scottish Conservatives is set to heat up

Government supports .scot domain Scottish Government backs proposals that would see Scotland gain its own top-level domain

Johnney Rhodes

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT has given its support to an Invernessbased campaign calling for Scottish websites to be granted their own domain name in 2012.

Alex Neil, cabinet secretary for infrastructure, has written to Westminster communications minister Ed Vaizey asking him to support the nonprofit Dot Scot Registry, who hope to have the suffix .scot at the end of Scottish domain names, instead of .co.uk.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a non-profit organisation that controls global domain names, decided this summer to increase the number of domain names from the current 22. Hundreds of bids are expected including .nyc, .london and .cymru.

Mr Neil said: “the Scottish Government is behind this company because we believe there is strong demand for a .scot domain and that it should be run as a public resource on a nonprofit basis that will quickly become self-financing.

“I am sure the UK government with its responsibility for internet governance will want to support us. Across

the board support would undoubtedly strength our hand and build momentum behind the bid."

Continuing, he said that he felt “.scot will be a wonderful asset for establishing a distinctive online identity for many organisation and people who have been described as the world wide family of Scots and want to demonstrate that identity online.”

The move has gained the support of the Inverness Chamber of Commerce, which described the proposals as “welcome”.

Garry Clark, head of policy and public affairs for the Scottish Chambers of Commerce has also given his support telling STV: “I certainly think it will give the brand Scotland more identity."

“Anything we can do to push that strong brand is going to be extremely welcome in years to come."

ICANN declined to comment on the proposals.

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Infrastructure minister Alex Neil has endorsed the plan

P R O P E R T Y L I S T I N G S P R O V I D E D BY W W W. C I T YL E T S . CO. U K

Property

Abbeyhill Regent Place , 1050, 4, 1S 3D G PG O , 0844 635 9340 Earlston Place , 750, 3, -1S 3D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Meadowbank Terrace , 800, 3, 2S 1D , 0844 635 3700 Maryfield , 600, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 1312 Milton Street , 625, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 6872 Moray Park Terrace , 625, 2, 2D -1B -1T P , 0844 635 9314 Dalgety Avenue , 700, 2, 2D -1B -1T G , 0844 635 9332 Maryfield , 800, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 6872 Abbey Street , 550, 1, 1D G Z , 0844 635 4820 Waverley Park , 550, 1, 1D 1B G CG O , 0844 635 6872

Canonmills East Claremont Street , 1500, 5, 5D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 East Claremont Street , 1500, 5, 2S 3D G CG Z , 0844 635 9679 Eyre Place , 1650, 5, 5D G CG Z , 0844 635 9679 Rodney Street , 900, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Rodney Street , 900, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Bellevue Road , 1050, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Rodney Place , 695, 2, 2D E P , 0844 635 9679 Boat Green , 575, 1, 1D G P , 0844 635 4820

City Centre Bank Street , 1550, 5, 5D E Z , 0844 635 9316 Merchiston Crescent , 1300, 4, 4D G O , 0844 635 9300 Blenheim Place , 1600, 4, G Z , 0844 635 6872 East Fountainbridge , 975, 3, 1S 2D G , 0844 635 2256 Hopetoun Street , 1100, 3, 1S 2D G PG P , 0844 635 6872 Leamington Terrace , 1100, 3, 3D G Z , 0844 635 9300 Marshalls Court , 625, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 2627 Marshalls Court , 625, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 9390 South Bridge , 795, 2, 2D E , 0844 635 3931 Buckingham Terrace , 950, 2, 2D G CG Z , 0844 635 9390 Canongate , 1500, 2, Z , 0844 635 9352 Rutland Square , 440, 1, Z , 0844 635 9390 East Crosscauseway , 510, 1, 1D W Z , 0844 635 9406 Brunton Terrace , 540, 1, 1D 1B G O , 0844 635 9302 Bread Street , 595, 1, 1D G Z , 0844 635 9679 Randolph Lane , 650, 1, Z , 0844 635 9352

Comely Bank Dean Park Street , 670, 2, CG Z , 0844 635 9352 Powderhall Rigg , 700, 2, 1S 1D G P , 0844 635 4820 Learmonth Grove , 725, 2, 2D -1B -1T CG Z , 0844 635 9314 Learmonth Grove , 725, 2, Z , 0844 635 9308 Comely Bank Road , 800, 2, 1D 1T G CG Z , 0844 635 4820 Learmonth Crescent , 800, 2, 2D G PG Z , 0844 635 4820 Comely Bank Grove , 625, 1, G CG Z , 0844 635 9316

Dalry Gorgie Road , 1500, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Murieston Crescent , 1200, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Murieston Crescent , 1200, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Slateford Road , 875, 3, 1S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Northcote Street , 900, 3, 1S 2D -1B -1T G , 0844 635 9332 Murieston Crescent , 975, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Murieston Crescent , 1010, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Caledonian Place , 575, 2, 1S 1D G CG Z , 0844 635 2418 Orwell Terrace , 580, 2, 2D W CG Z , 0844 635 9688 Caledonian Crescent , 650, 2, , 0844 635 9338 Caledonian Place , 690, 2, 2D 1B G Z , 0844 635 9560 Caledonian Crescent , 430, 1, 1D Z , 0844 635 3337 Caledonian Crescent , 495, 1, 1D E CG Z , 0844 635 2418 Downfield Place , 495, 1, 1D G CG Z , 0844 635 2418 Springwell Place , 495, 1, 1D -1B -1T G , 0844 635 9332 Springwell Place , 520, 1, 1D G CG Z , 0844 635 2418 Caledonian Crescent , 525, 1, 1D W CG Z , 0844 635 9312

Easter Road Brunswick Place , 1000, 4, 2S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 1100, 4, 3S 1D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 1100, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 1150, 4, 4D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Easter Road , 1150, 4, -1S 4D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Easter Road , 1150, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 895, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Easter Road , 895, 3, -1S 3D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Easter Road , 895, 3, 2S 1D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 900, 3, -1S 3D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Easter Road , 900, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Easter Road , 900, 3, 1S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Albion Gardens , 625, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 4820 Rossie Place , 625, 2, 2D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 650, 2, 2D W P , 0844 635 9456 Hawkhill Close , 650, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 6450 Brunswick Road , 750, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9679 Albert Street , 495, 1, 1D -1B -1T G , 0844 635 9332 Dalmeny Street , 520, 1, CG O , 0844 635 9308 Rossie Place , 525, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 9468 Bothwell Street , 570, 1, 1D 1B G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Easter Road , 575, 1, G CG O , 0844 635 6450

Fountainbridge Fountainbridge , 1950, 3, 3D G P , 0844 635 4820 Gardner’s Crescent , 510, 1, 1D E Z , 0844 635 9406 Watson Crescent , 525, 1, 1D 1B G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Port Hamilton , 650, 1, G , 0844 635 8696 Mcewan Square , 695, 1, , 0844 635 9338

Gorgie Gorgie Road , 1500, 5, -1S 5D -1B -1T CG O , 0844 635 9314 Gorgie Road , 1550, 5, 5D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Westburn Grove , 600, 3, 1S 2D G CG O , 0844 635 1312 Gorgie Road , 900, 3, -1S 3D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Gorgie Road , 900, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Gorgie Road , 510, 2, 2D , 0844 635 1312 Gorgie Road , 600, 2, 1S 1D G , 0844 635 2287 Cathcart Place , 675, 2, 1D 1B G CG , 0844 635 1312 Ashley Terrace , 475, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 2418 Stewart Terrace , 475, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 4414 Stewart Terrace , 495, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9558 Downfield Place , 500, 1, 1D G Z , 0844 635 4820 Smithfield Street , 500, 1, 1D W Z , 0844 635 4820 Smithfield Street , 500, 1, 1D CG O , 0844 635 1312 Stewart Terrace , 520, 1, 1D CG , 0844 635 1312 Stewart Terrace , 525, 1, 1D E CG O , 0844 635 9558 Wardlaw Place , 525, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 3780 Gorgie Road , 550, 1, 1D , 0844 635 4820

Haymarket Haymarket Terrace , 1550, 5, 5D G , 0844 635 3780 Morrison Street , 1360, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Coates Gardens , 950, 3, 3D G PG Z , 0844 635 9688 James Square , 1000, 3, 2S 1D W P , 0844 635 4820 Haymarket Terrace , 625, 2, 2D G CG , 0844 635 9245 Grove Street , 695, 2, , 0844 635 9338 Royston Terrace , 700, 2, 2D , 0844 635 3700 Rosebery Crescent , 750, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 3780 West Maitland Street , 950, 2, , 0844 635 9338 Grove Street , 595, 1, , 0844 635 9338 Douglas Terrace , 650, 1, 1D G PG Z , 0844 635 8696

Hillside Brunswick Street , 850, 4, 2S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Montrose Terrace , 1000, 4, 3S 1D , 0844 635 3700 East London Street , 1275, 4, 1S 3D , 0844 635 3700

Blenheim Place , 1600, 4, CG Z , 0844 635 9352 Albert Place , 725, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Earlston Place , 900, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Earlston Place , 990, 3, 2S 1D , 0844 635 3700 Montgomery Street , 990, 3, 3D G Z , 0844 635 3876 Brunswick Street , 715, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 6872 Hillside Street , 550, 1, 1D , 0844 635 3700 Brunton Gardens , 575, 1, 1D G Z , 0844 635 9392 Montgomery Street , 795, 1, O , 0844 635 9352

A GUIDE TO USING CITYLETS LISTING Meadows

Area Agent phone number

Buccleuch Street, 750, 2, 2D W CG Z, 0870 062 9434

Bedrooms

Holyrood

Monthly Rent

Tytler Gardens , 650, 2, 2D CG P , 0844 635 1312 Viewcraig Gardens , 650, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 9679 Waverly Park , 700, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 4820

Location

Bedrooms: Heating: Garden: Parking: Furniture:

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

Inverleith Montagu Terrace , 1000, 4, 4D G CG O , 0844 635 9592 Montagu Terrace , 800, 3, 3D G CG Z , 0844 635 4820 West Ferryfield , 595, 2, 1S 1D G P , 0844 635 9324

Leith Bonnington Road , 1250, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Kirk Street , 1300, 5, 2S 3D , 0844 635 3700 Leith Walk , 1300, 5, 1S 4D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 280, 4, 2S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Portland Street , 990, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 1000, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 1000, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Croall Place , 1150, 4, 1S 3D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 1150, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Easter Road , 1200, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Coatfield Lane , 695, 3, , 0844 635 9338 Admirality Street , 750, 3, -1S 3D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Admiralty Street , 750, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Great Junction Street , 750, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Portland Street , 750, 3, , 0844 635 9338 Bothwell Street , 775, 3, , 0844 635 9338 Orchard Brae Avenue , 780, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Dicksonfield , 800, 3, 3D , 0844 635 4820 Leith Walk , 800, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Great Junction Street , 825, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Drum Terrace , 850, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Great Junction Street , 850, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Madeira Street , 850, 3, 3D , 0844 635 2267 Portland Place , 850, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Crighton Place , 875, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Ferry Road , 900, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9446 Portland Terrace , 900, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9322 Iona Street , 520, 2, 1S 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9422 Easter Road , 575, 2, , 0844 635 9338 Great Junction Street , 575, 2, -1S 2D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Easter Road , 580, 2, , 0844 635 9338 Pilrig Street , 585, 2, 1S 1D G O , 0844 635 9245 Ferry Road , 595, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 9464 =

Leith Walk Leith Walk , 1200, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Leith Walk , 1500, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Leith Walk , 1100, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Croall Place , 1150, 4, -1S 4D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Croall Place , 1150, 4, 1S 3D , 0844 635 3700 Croall Place , 1150, 4, 4D G O , 0844 635 9679 Pilrig Street , 1200, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Leith Walk , 775, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Leith Walk , 795, 3, 3S -1D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Leith Walk , 850, 3, 3S , 0844 635 3700 Dalmeny Street , 945, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Iona Street , 595, 2, 1S 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9422

Smith’s Place , 610, 2, 1S 1D P , 0844 635 9316 Springfield Street , 625, 2, 2D , 0844 635 4820 Iona Street , 645, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 9362 Smith’s Place , 645, 2, 2D , 0844 635 9316 Springfield Street , 650, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 4820 Springfield Street , 650, 2, , 0844 635 9308 Dickson Street , 675, 2, 2D W CG O , 0844 635 9312 Dicksonfield , 675, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 4820 Madeira Street , 280, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 2267 Allanfield , 450, 1, 1D W CG P , 0844 635 9326 Allanfield , 490, 1, 1D W CG P , 0844 635 9326 Allanfield , 525, 1, 1D , 0844 635 3780 Mcdonald Road , 575, 1, 1D G Z , 0844 635 9679 Balfour Street , 595, 1, 1D 1B G O , 0844 635 9679 Iona Street , 675, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 6872

Marchmont Lauriston Park , 1900, 5, 5D G Z , 0844 635 4820 Warrender Park Terrace , 2250, 5, 2S 3D G , 0844 635 4820 Marchmont Road , 1200, 4, 4D G Z , 0844 635 9324 Warrender Park Road , 1200, 4, 4D G CG Z , 0844 635 9592 Marchmont Road , 1300, 4, 4D G CG O , 0844 635 9322 Spottiswoode Street , 1400, 4, 4D G CG Z , 0844 635 2287 Thirlestane Road , 1400, 4, CG Z , 0844 635 9352 Warrender Park Road , 1440, 4, Z , 0844 635 9308 Spottiswoode Street , 1600, 4, CG Z , 0844 635 9352 Marchmont Road , 1050, 3, 3D 1B G , 0844 635 3780 Strathfillan Road , 1140, 3, 3D G O , 0844 635 9362

Meadowbank Parsons Green Terrace , 1100, 4, 2S 2D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Parsons Green Terrace , 1100, 4, 2S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Parsons Green Terrace , 1100, 4, 4D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Wolseley Terrace , 1175, 4, 4D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Wolseley Terrace , 1175, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Wolseley Terrace , 1175, 4, -1S 4D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Meadowbank Terrace , 800, 3, -1S 3D -1B -1T O , 0844 635 9314 Meadowbank Terrace , 800, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Earlston Place , 990, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Dalgety Road , 575, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 4820 Piersfield Grove , 590, 2, 1S 1D W O , 0844 635 9688 Cambusnethan Street , 595, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Meadowbank , 600, 2, G PG Z , 0844 635 3880 Dalgety Street , 650, 2, , 0844 635 9338 Queen’s Park Avenue , 650, 2, 1S 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9422 Stenhouse Crescent , 700, 2, 2D G PG O , 0844 635 7774 Dalgety Road , 475, 1, 1D CG O , 0844 635 2627 Dalgety Road , 495, 1, 1D CG , 0844 635 3780 Earlston Place , 500, 1, W Z , 0844 635 9688 Marionville Road , 500, 1, 1D W CG O , 0844 635 8694

Meadowbank Crescent , 500, 1, 1D -1B -1T G , 0844 635 9332 Dalgety Avenue, , 525, 1, 1D CG , 0844 635 2418 Lochend Road South , 525, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 3330 Parsons Green Terrace , 530, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 9478 Dalgety Street , 570, 1, 1D CG O , 0844 635 0085 Parson Green Terrace , 675, 1, 1D 1B G O , 0844 635 4820

Meadows Thirlestane Road , 1450, 5, , 0844 635 8696 Simpson Loan , 4500, 3, 3D G P , 0844 635 4820 Moncrieff Terrace , 620, 2, 2D G CG Z , 0844 635 2418 Livingstone Place , 725, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 3780 Simpson Loan , 1000, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 4820

Merchiston Polwarth Gardens , 1350, 5, 3S 2D -1B -1T CG Z , 0844 635 9314 Merchiston Avenue , 2000, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700

Morningside Morningside Road , 1450, 5, 2S 3D , 0844 635 3700 Comiston Road , 1550, 5, 5D -1B -1T CG O , 0844 635 9314 Morningside Road , 1600, 5, 5D G Z , 0844 635 9679 Morningside Road , 1600, 5, -1S 5D -1B -1T Z , 0844 635 9314 Morningside Road , 1625, 5, 2S 3D , 0844 635 3700 Morningside Road , 1625, 5, 2S 3D -1B -1T Z , 0844 635 9314 Morningside Road , 1625, 5, 2S 3D G Z , 0844 635 9679 Morningside Road , 1700, 5, 3S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Morningside Road , 1800, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Morningside Road , 1000, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Comiston Gardens , 1200, 4, 1S 3D , 0844 635 3700 Morningside Road , 1200, 4, 2S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Belhaven Terrace , 1300, 4, 1S 3D -1B -1T CG O , 0844 635 9314 Belhaven Terrace , 1300, 4, 2S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Morningside Road , 1300, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Morningside Road , 1300, 4, -1S 4D -1B -1T Z , 0844 635 9314 Morningside Road , 1300, 4, 4D G Z , 0844 635 9679 Morningside Road , 1400, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Balcarres Street , 775, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9688 Comiston Road , 895, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Balcarres Street , 900, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Balcarres Street , 970, 3, 3D , 0844 635 3700 Steels Place , 990, 3, 1S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Morningside Road , 1050, 3, 3D G CG Z , 0844 635 9592 Belhaven Place , 625, 2, 2D E CG P , 0844 635 4820

New Town Ainslie Place , 2000, 6, 6D G , 0844 635 4820 Henderson Row , 1550, 5, 5D G CG Z , 0844 635 9334 Eyre Place , 1600, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Eyre Place , 1600, 5, -1S 5D -1B -1T Z , 0844 635 9314 East Claremont Street , 1750, 5, 2S 3D -1B -1T G , 0844 635 9332

Windsor Street , 2750, 5, 5D G CG P , 0844 635 4489 East Claremont Street , 1300, 4, 4D G Z , 0844 635 9320 Barony Street , 1400, 4, 1S 3D G Z , 0844 635 9688 Dublin Street , 1400, 4, 4D G Z , 0844 635 4820 Henderson Row , 1580, 4, E CG , 0844 635 9362 East London Street , 1600, 4, 4D G Z , 0844 635 9320 Annandale Street , 1795, 4, CG Z , 0844 635 9352 Windsor Street , 2200, 4, 4D G P , 0844 635 4489 East London Street , 850, 3, 1S 2D G P , 0844 635 9424 East London Street , 875, 3, 1S 2D G P , 0844 635 4820 St Leonards Crag , 895, 3, , 0844 635 9338 St Stephen Street , 950, 3, 1S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Brunswick Street , 970, 3, 3D , 0844 635 9316 Dundas Street , 1295, 3, 3D G Z , 0844 635 6450 Cumberland Street , 1500, 3, Z , 0844 635 9308 Dundas Street , 2150, 3, 3D G Z , 0844 635 4820 Dublin Street Lane North , 700, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 4820 East Silvermills Lane , 750, 2, 2D , 0844 635 3700 Barony Street , 790, 2, 2D G CG Z , 0844 635 9688 Northumberland Street , 800, 2, Z , 0844 635 9308 Bellevue Street , 845, 2, CG O , 0844 635 9352 Hopetoun Crescent , 895, 2, G P , 0844 635 9320

Newington Clerk Street , 1800, 6, 6D G CG Z , 0844 635 9679 Viewcraig Gardens , 1350, 5, 5D G P , 0844 635 9302 East Preston Street , 1750, 5, 5D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 East Preston Street , 1750, 5, -1S 5D -1B -1T Z , 0844 635 9314 East Preston Street , 1750, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Clerk Street , 1800, 5, 5D G CG Z , 0844 635 2287 South Clerk Street , 1875, 5, 5D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 South Clerk Street , 1875, 5, -1S 5D -1B -1T Z , 0844 635 9314 South Clerk Street , 1875, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Hope Park Terrace , 2050, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Dalkeith Road , 345, 4, 2S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Mayfield Road , 1150, 4, 4D E Z , 0844 635 4820 Dalkeith Road , 1175, 4, 4D G O , 0844 635 9446 Blackwood Crescent , 1200, 4, -1S 4D -1B -1T Z , 0844 635 9314 Dalkeith Road , 1200, 4, 4D G O , 0844 635 9679 Dalkeith Road , 1200, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 St Patricks Square , 1200, 4, Z , 0844 635 9352 Causewayside , 1250, 4, 4D G PG P , 0844 635 9464 South Oxford Street , 1250, 4, 1S 3D G , 0844 635 9245 Blackwood Crescent , 1300, 4, 2S 2D , 0844 635 3700 Blackwood Crescent , 1300, 4, 4D G O , 0844 635 9679 Clerk Street , 1300, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Dalkeith Road , 1300, 4, 4D G CG Z , 0844 635 2418 Newington Road , 1300, 4, 2S 2D G CG P , 0844 635 9302 East Preston Street , 1350, 4, CG Z , 0844 635 9352

Montague Street , 1350, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Viewcraig Gardens , 1350, 4, 4D E P , 0844 635 9302 Nicolson Street , 1400, 4, 4D G Z , 0844 635 9679 Parkside Terrace , 1400, 4, 4D G CG , 0844 635 9488 Mayfield Road , 1420, 4, 4D G CG , 0844 635 9316 Mayfield Road , 1500, 4, 4D , 0844 635 9316 Blackwood Crescent , 750, 3, 2S 1D G CG Z , 0844 635 9688 Fountainhall Road , 850, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 2418 Dalkeith Road , 930, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9324 West Mayfield , 950, 3, 3D G P , 0844 635 9488 Montague Street , 980, 3, 1S 2D G Z , 0844 635 9384 Clerk Street , 1050, 3, 3D G Z , 0844 635 9316 Mayfield Road , 1420, 3, 1S 2D G PG P , 0844 635 6450 East Suffolk Park , 1550, 3, 1S 2D G CG P , 0844 635 4820 Causewayside , 575, 2, 1S 1D G , 0844 635 9245 West Newington Place , 675, 2, 1S 1D -1B -1T CG Z , 0844 635 9314 Oxford Street , 725, 2, 2D 1B G CG , 0844 635 9245 Upper Gray Street , 725, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 4820 Dalkeith Road , 795, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Lygon Road , 795, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 3330 Parkside Terrace , 425, 1, , 0844 635 9320 Causewayside , 450, 1, 1D W CG Z , 0844 635 9688 New Johns Place , 500, 1, 1D W P , 0844 635 9326 Upper Gray Street , 550, 1, 1D , 0844 635 9245

Old Town Ramsay Garden , 2000, 4, CG Z , 0844 635 9308 George Street , 1500, 3, Z , 0844 635 9308 High Street , 650, 2, 1S 1D , 0844 635 3700 Canongate , 675, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 9300 Canongate , 675, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 9300 West Bow , 725, 2, Z , 0844 635 9308

Polwarth Polwarth Gardens , 2250, 6, 6D G CG Z , 0844 635 9320 Hermand Terrace , 1700, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Hermand Terrace , 1700, 5, 5D G CG , 0844 635 9679 Polwarth Gardens , 1800, 5, 5D , 0844 635 3700 Polwarth Crescent , 1000, 4, 4D G CG O , 0844 635 9326 Harrison Road , 1200, 4, 2S 2D G Z , 0844 635 2418 Polwarth Gardens , 1400, 4, CG O , 0844 635 9308 Slateford Road , 875, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9679 Polwarth Gardens , 1150, 3, 3D Z , 0844 635 4820 Bryson Road , 650, 2, 2D G CG Z , 0844 635 4820 Watson Crescent , 795, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 2418 Fowler Terrace , 495, 1, 1D G CG , 0844 635 2418 Watson Crescent , 500, 1, 1D G CG Z , 0844 635 9474 Bryson Road , 550, 1, 1D CG Z , 0844 635 9594 Watson Crescent , 575, 1, 1D G CG Z , 0844 635 9326 Bryson Road , 595, 1, 1D G CG Z , 0844 635 6604

Watson Crescent , 600, 1, 1D G P , 0844 635 2418 Polwarth Gardens , 695, 1, 2D G P , 0844 635 2287

Stockbridge Comely Bank Road , 775, 3, CG Z , 0844 635 9308 St. Stephen Street , 1100, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9238 Leslie Place , 700, 2, 2D G CG Z , 0844 635 9464 Comely Bank Road , 750, 2, 2D G CG Z , 0844 635 9446 Silvermills , 750, 2, 2D P , 0844 635 3780 Haugh Street , 775, 2, 2D P , 0844 635 3780 St Stephen Street , 900, 2, 1B G CG Z , 0844 635 9464 St Stephen Street , 475, 1, , 0844 635 9338 Glenogle Road , 580, 1, 1D G CG P , 0844 635 3780 Marys Place , 695, 1, 1B G PG Z , 0844 635 4830

The Shore Henderson Street , 700, 3, O , 0844 635 9352 Hopefield Terrace , 750, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9558 Chapel Lane , 595, 2, 1S 1D E , 0844 635 3780 Tower Place , 795, 2, 2D G CG P , 0844 635 2154 Quayside Mills , 425, 1, G P , 0844 635 9320

Tollcross Lothian Road , 1100, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Gilmore Place , 1400, 3, 1S 2D G , 0844 635 9318 Brougham Street , 575, 2, 2D , 0844 635 3700 Home Street , 695, 2, 2D W CG , 0844 635 9324 Lauriston Place , 740, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 9560 East Fountainbridge , 500, 1, 1D E Z , 0844 635 4820 Glen Street , 595, 1, , 0844 635 9338 Lochrin Buildings , 625, 1, 1D -1B -1T Z , 0844 635 9314 Bread Street , 650, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 4820

West End Alva Street , 1950, 5, 1S 4D G Z , 0844 635 9326 Stafford Street , 900, 4, 1S 3D G CG Z , 0844 635 9326 Hampton Terrace , 1250, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 West Maitland Street , 1300, 4, 1S 3D , 0844 635 3700 Haymarket Terrace , 1380, 4, 4D , 0844 635 3700 Magdala Crescent , 1475, 4, 4D G Z , 0844 635 4820 Coates Gardens , 950, 3, 3D -1B -1T G , 0844 635 9332 Bells Mills , 1500, 3, P , 0844 635 9308 Cambridge Street , 1650, 3, 3D G Z , 0844 635 4820 Buckingham Terrace , 775, 2, 2D , 0844 635 4820 William Street , 800, 2, G Z , 0844 635 9300 Douglas Crescent , 925, 2, 1S 1D , 0844 635 4820 Manor Place , 925, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 4820 Clarendon Crescent , 1000, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 9300 Chester Street , 1100, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 9320 Clarendon Crescent , 1200, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 9245 Drumsheugh Gardens , 1200, 2, -1S -1D -1B -1T G , 0844 635 4475 Atholl Place , 625, 1, G , 0844 635 8696

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News 11

INTERNATIONAL

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In Australia, funding cuts cast a long shadow Focus is on unions, repayment of fees and students from rural areas as the Australian Government shifts its funding priorities GEOFF PENALUNA

Dominique Cottee Staff writer

In an uncomfortable parallel to the UK's current funding debate, students like these at Melbourne University are set to feel the pinch

AUD$250

AUD$1000

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the country - and so have minimal campus interaction.

The rise of online degrees also means that many Australian students do not actually use campus facilities, but would still see them out of pocket for the union fees.

“Students nowadays go to university for lectures and tutorials and then leave

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University, saying: “The introduction and adoption of this (compulsory) fee by Bond would result in an across the board improvement in our student experience.”

Opponents to the fee say it is inconsistent with the changing nature of Australian university campuses. Many students live at home during university – due in part to the geographic expanse of

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director of the Group of Eight – a coalition of Australia’s leading tertiary institutions - called the reduction “inconsistent with reducing the budget deficit because it denies a revenue flow to the government from those who can afford to pay.”

The introduction of compulsory student unionism, a move currently under debate in the Senate, would see each student paying AUD$250 (£164) regardless of their actual involvement in unions, clubs and societies. Speaking in the Senate last Monday, Senator Abetz, shadow minister for employment and workplace relations, described the proposition as “a huge financial impost for students”, adding: “The reason I can say that is that the government, in lockstep with introducing compulsion, has introduced a loan program so that students can actually borrow money to pay this compulsory fee and then pay it off once they are working.”

Francesca Newton, a fourth year arts student at Melbourne University, works part time and lives at home to support herself through university. She expressed her opposition to proposal, saying: “My university has a non-compulsory union fee of AUD$100 (£65) that I don’t pay – I couldn’t afford to.”

Supporters of compulsory student unionism argue that the introduction of the fee will give more funds to student support services and will allow a higher quality of student engagement.

James Graham, president of Bond University Student’s Association, believes the introduction of voluntary student unionism in 2006 saw fewer funds available to various sporting and cultural clubs and societies within the

e Ay

A SERIES OF new laws and budgetary measures implemented by the Australian government are set to increase costs and debts of students in the country, this despite an economy that has not seen two successive quarters of negative growth in 20 years.

The changes include the delay of Youth Allowance benefits to postgraduate students for another three years, the slashing of a discount for students who pay fees upfront, and the possible introduction of an AUD$250 (£164) compulsory student union fee.

Youth Allowance – government assistance for students – has been expanded with a AUD$265 million (£167 million) package which will see students from inner regional areas access more funds than ever before. However, the Government backpedalled on its election promise to introduce Youth Allowance assistance to postgraduate students in a move described by Labour senator Lisa Singh as “a decision we’ve had to make in order to fund this expansion”.

Youth Allowance will now only become available to postgraduates in 2014, and then to a shorter list of eligible degrees. The announcement has come late for many students hoping to switch to full-time master's degrees at the start of the new academic year in January.

President of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, John Nowakowski, expressed his dissatisfaction, saying: “We’re obviously very happy for rural and regional students, but it’s very disappointing that it’s going to come at the cost of Masters-by-Coursework applicants.”

Relocation scholarships for nonregional students will also face cuts, as will start-up scholarships, which helps poorer students pay for the upfront costs of starting university. The rural territory hardship fund is to be scrapped and metropolitan students will face tighter criteria on financial eligibility for Youth Allowance. Fiona Nash MP, shadow parliamentary secretary for regional education, blames poor spending over the past four years, saying: “If the Government hadn’t wasted so much money… they would have had the finance to be able to treat regional students fairly, without having to go delving into other areas.”

The new federal budget also detailed plans to halve a discount for students who pay their fees upfront. The Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) was introduced in 1989 and sees students pay off their university fees through taxes, sometimes at up to 8 per cent of income. Although HECS has no interest charge, the debts increase with inflation. Currently, students who are able to pay fees upfront receive a 20 per cent discount, saving them up to AUD$3,000 (£1,963) per year – a discount claimed every year by 100,000 students seeking to avoid a greater tax burden upon graduation. Many students and their parents save up in the years prior to university to receive this discount.

Cutting the discount to 10 per cent will save AUD$479.5 million (£314 million) in underlying cash across four years. But with the current public HECS debt already at AUD$18 billion (£11.8 billion), Michael Gallagher, executive

ips holarsh

campus. The old days when you had to be on campus for all your activities – educational and social – are well and truly gone,” says Senator Abetz, adding: “One of the worst features of compulsory student unionism is that it is like a poll tax: every single student has to pay an equal amount, irrespective of their capacity to pay.”

12 Comment

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The Journal Wednesday 5 October 2011

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Crossword EDINBURGH’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

ISSUE XLIX

Campus activism

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We must campaign with students — not just on their behalf IN THE SPRING of 1968, a small group of students and intellectuals occupied the University of Paris at Nanterre to protest against university administrators and debate the malaise ailing contemporary French society. What began that day in March continued into May, culminating in the largest general strike in history and almost toppling the conservative De Gaulle-Pompidou government.

The Parisian playbook is open and well-thumbed in Scotland today. Since The Journal last reached your campus a fortnight ago, there have been student occupations at three Scottish universities. In that time, five more institutions have announced vastly increased tuition fees for Rest-of-UK students.

As the situation currently stands, at no Scottish university will an English, Welsh or Northern Irish member of the class of 2016 pay less than £20,000 for their degree.

With each announcement has come a stern press release from NUS Scotland and the respective campus unions condemning the increase. But there has been no mass protest like that which brought London to a halt a year ago. The protests on Scotland’s campuses have been small, sporadic and dominated by a cadre of vocal left-wing and students’

union activists — indeed, many of the same faces are to be seen atop the barricades all the way from Edinburgh University to Strathclyde.

This is not to criticise the student activists of today: their ongoing campaign — against policies that may prove detrimental to the diversity and accessibility of the UK’s higher education institutions — is both valid and wellintentioned. But they must be wary of forgetting or leaving behind those for whom they fight. High-visibility protests are useful in helping to keep the debate over education prominent in the the public discourse, but if a wider student movement cannot be galvanised, what hope can there be for success? If, for example, occupations of university buildings are seen by most students as an inconvenience and nothing more, then the action has at least partially failed. The vocal minority must act as a catalyst; a lightning rod around which the majority eventually rally. If they are in fact the sum of all the voices raised against prohibitively high fees, they can be swatted away like a fly buzzing at the head of government: annoying, but unlikely to effect any real change.

Too little has yet been done to engage the student community at large.

This campaign started in the students'

union, and at this point it suffers from the same sickness ailing those organisations: a lack of popular engagement which leaves a few committed campaigners acting not with students but on their behalf. The challenge now is to talk to students, not policymakers: to explain the dangers of allowing these policies — whether rising tuition fees, failures in widening access or cuts to teaching — to pass by unchallenged, and to illuminate unquestionably the need for action.

The massed student populations of either Scotland or the UK are not as assuredly apathetic as some would have you believe, but perhaps it is the case that no-one — and we include in this The Journal and other campus media organisations — has yet made a convincing enough case. Witty placards and impassioned editorials are not sufficient. There must be a conversation.

May 1968 is not generally seen as a political victory for the French students’ movement or the trades unions who came out in solidarity with them. But it left an indelible mark on the contemporary political discourse in France. If the student movement of today cannot reach beyond sloganeering and carry with them the wider student voice, can they possibly say the same?

Funding for colleges

A zero-sum game FINALLY, SOME GOOD news in the debate over education funding in Scotland. The Scottish Government's spending review, with which the SNP administration has committed to a £7,000 minimum income for the poorest students, protected the Education Maintenance Allowance and explicitly rejects the introduction of tuition fees for Scottish students, is a welcome relief after eighteen months of bad news for students. The commitment to

PUBLISHER Devon Walshe EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marcus Kernohan DEPUTY EDITOR Megan Taylor MANAGING EDITOR Marthe Lamp Sandvik DEPUTY EDITOR (NEWS) Amanda Svensson Falk ACADEMIC NEWS Katie Richardson STUDENT NEWS Leighton Craig LOCAL NEWS Hannah Raine

widening access implicit in the minimum income provision and the vouchsafing of the EMA is commendable, but there are also big holes in the review's conclusions.

Funding cuts to further education will attract fewer headlines than the spectre of tuition fees, but they are no less detrimental to an educated society.

NUS Scotland note in their response to the review that colleges are "an educational lifeline... to some of the most

STUDENT POLITICS Greg Bianchi DEPUTY EDITOR (COMMENT & FEATURES) Jon Baldie COMMENT Emma Elliott-Walker Dominic Sowa FEATURES Daniel Keller INTERVIEW/PROFILE John Foley DEPUTY EDITOR (ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT) João Abbott-Gribben

excluded in our society." In this, they are absolutely correct. Protecting university places and the ability of Scottish students to achieve a degree is one thing, but if at the government slashes colleges even as it is protecting universities, the whole affair is at risk of becoming a zero-sum game. Universities and colleges serve different roles within our society, and they cannot afford to be seen as mutually exclusive.

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COMPILER: JON BALDIE | DESIGN: KATJA TAKSHOLT

Across

Down

1) Notes from a meeting (7) 5) Spear formation used in ancient Greek warfare (7) 9) A feeling of expectation and desire (4) 10) Chemical element denoted ‘K’ (9) 12) Delivery of a newborn by surgical incision (9) 14) Brand of cleaning and air-freshening products (4) 16) Stiff paper, heavy-duty (9) 17) Camouflage (4) 18) Existence (9) 20) Ruler of a Grand Duchy (5,4)

2) Trainee for a white-collar job. Usually also a student (6) 3) British political party founded on Euro-skeptic beliefs (4) 4) Way out (4) 6) A spring festival celebrated by Hindus (4) 7) Philipp ____, captain of German national football team (4) 8) The practice of employing friends and relatives (8) 11) The right-hand side of a ship when facing forwards (9) 12) The source of chocolate (5) 13) Toy-based children’s literature character created by Enid Blyton (5) 15) Saint James, in Spain (8) 19) Japanese shrub plant (6) 20) Stare blankly (4) 21) Having the means to do something (4) 22) State in the western United States (4) 23) Make less serious (4)

24) King in Indian subcontinent (4) 25) A native of the east end of London (7) 26) The fastest animal on land (7)

Looking for the answers?

Find them at www.journal-online.co.uk/crossword

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Comment 13

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Comment Discussion&Debate

A climate of opportunity for a green economy It's time for action on Scotland's shift towards a low-carbon economy, according to one MSP DAVID SELBY

Sarah Boyack MSP (Labour, Lothians region)

D

URING THE LAST session of the Scottish Parliament, MSPs put in place tough climate change targets but it will fall to this and subsequent parliaments to deliver on them.

With the right leadership from the Scottish Government, our efforts to tackle climate change could see students at the vanguard providing the next generation of science, research and engineering graduates.

We need to use the challenge of climate change as a way to kick start new ways of thinking, such as more efficient ways of delivering services and new jobs in green industries.

Estimates indicate that around 60,000 new jobs in the low-carbon sector could be created by 2020. We need a steady stream of well qualified graduates to make it happen. Edinburgh’s further and higher education sector is already taking the lead in this area offering courses in a diverse range of disciplines and creating centres of excellence with world leading research and development.

However, we need clarity from the

Sarah Boyack argues that the renewables sector alone offers huge potential for economic growth Scottish Government now on how they intend to meet the targets contained in the Climate Change Act. We need the right vision, policies and finance. We don’t need more talk, we need action in key areas like transport, building standards and energy generation.

The transition to a low carbon world will require graduates with a

new set of skills and knowledge. We need to ensure new buildings incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy and that existing buildings are brought up to scratch. The benefits will not just be environmental but will help people and businesses save money on their energy bills as prices soar.

We also need to live less wasteful

lives. There are still far too many communities in Scotland where people do not have the opportunity to recycle waste and more pressure needs to be put on retailers to curb excessive packaging. That’s why I’ve lobbied in the past for more recycling facilities around campus and in the city centre.

I also want to see greater support

for low carbon, electric vehicles and was pleased to see Lothian Buses roll out a fleet of new buses this month. As a practical suggestion I have called on the Scottish Government to consider switching their vehicle fleet to low carbon equivalents. Not only would this reduce emissions, it would also be a signal of support for new green industries and the jobs they could provide.

Continued investment in cycle lanes in the city is also important.

There are huge opportunities for Scotland in the renewables sector in terms of jobs and training but under the SNP they are passing us by. Whether it’s small or large, on- or off-shore, the drive to renewables must generate jobs whether from design, manufacture and the logistics of new infrastructure. I’d like to see much more action in our towns and cities to make sure we all benefit from warmer, cheaper homes.

The shift to a low carbon economy offers opportunities not only to help us tackle climate change but also to create jobs and economic growth and to deliver real benefits to people.

How the Scottish Government uses its leadership in this term will be crucial to whether these opportunities are realised.

Sarah Boyack is the Scottish Labour MSP for the Lothians region. She was MSP for Edinburgh Central from 1999-2011.

Shale gas: a game-changer for European energy?

Controversial shale gas finds and fracking in Lancashire has environmentalists warning of potentially damaging environmental impact. Ian Simm explores the precarious situation of shale gas in the UK

T

WO WEEKS AGO, British energy company Cuadrilla Resources announced the discovery of a new shale gas reserve in the Bowland shale basin near Blackpool. Cuadrilla believe the discovery could total around 5.7 trillion cubic metres (tcm) of gas, though this is yet to be verified. Shale gas now has the potential to be an game-changer for European energy — if the discovery proves to be as large as they estimate, it would be the largest gas find ever made in the UK. The announcement received a rapturous welcome in the region, with newspapers talking of a "jobs bonanza". But despite the blaze of publicity that heralded Cuadrilla’s find, Reuters then reported that several industry and environmental sources

had cast doubts over the potential size of the discovery, with opponents accusing the company of "painting an excessively rosy picture to win political support for the controversial project."

Doug Parr, policy director at Greenpeace UK, suggested that the announcement was politically motivated: "They’re obviously looking for further support and if you look at their presentation, they are obviously talking a lot about the benefits to Lancashire... it looks like a pretty clear pitch to Lancashire County Council to give them planning permission," he said.

Hydraulic fracturing (fracking), used to extract oil and gas from shale formations, has struggled with bad publicity in the US and latterly across

Europe because of concerns about pollution to water tables and the environment at large. Indeed, France and parts of Germany have now banned the contentious drilling technique.

Cuadrilla suspended fracking operations near Blackpool in early June after two minor earthquakes were experienced in the area. At the time, the British Geological Survey (BGS) said: "The timing of the two events in conjunction with the fluid injection suggests that they may be related." The firm is now working on a plan to be delivered to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Miller pledged to halt fracking "until DECC has seen the report and is happy about public safety."

On 23 September, Ed Osterwald, managing director of the energy

practice at Navigant Consulting, expressed concern about the "impact that extensive development, including the drilling of many wells and the use of hydraulic fracturing to unlock the very tight shale formations, can have environmentally."

While the recoverable gas in Cuadrilla’s find appears likely to be around the 1.1 tcm level, it would still represent a major find, and could prove to be the largest ever discovery to have been made in the UK. The company said that it expected to begin producing gas by the middle of 2013.

Political will to diversify the energy mix is abundant in Europe. However, local opposition to fracking could prove to be a major stumbling block for the development of shale gas.

With public opinion building against

fracking, it will be interesting to see how the UK government reacts to the find. The government wants to shore up the UK’s energy security to counteract depleting reserves in the North Sea and growing Russian gas imports.

But ministers will also be conscious of environmental opposition to fracking and how shale gas would fit into the greener energy mix they hope to achieve.

Regardless of the political obstacles that lie in the way, it is a potentially very sweet Blackpool rock that is on the lips of everyone in the UK gas industry this week.

Ian Simm is the editor of NewsBase's European Oil and Gas Monitor, EurOil.

14 Comment

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Miliband's ill-informed idea The Labour leader's proposed £6,000 fee cap was a cheap popularity bid by a party losing political ground PLASHING VOLE

Emma Elliott-Walker Comment editor

E

D MLLIBAND HAS come under fire from all sides this week after announcing at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool that “if Labour were in power right now, they would cap tuition fees at £6,000”. This plan — which he claims to be “fully costed” — would see the financial deficit being met by increased interest on loan repayments of students earning over £65,000, and by scrapping the current government's plans to reduce corporation tax. Miliband argued that this would allow the country, and in particular universities, to deal with the financial crisis without laying the burden on students.

Miliband, attempting the route of a political Robin Hood, has vocalised a policy which is both ill-informed and potentially detrimental to students. Highly ironic too, given his parties persistent involvement in the MP’s expense scandal. The idea of corporation tax reduction is aimed not at aiding large corporations, but rather the small businesses who are struggling due to the current financial crisis. Without this vital lifeline, many could potentially face closure over the coming years, thus reducing the employment opportunities, of those students who Miliband claims his policy is trying to help.

Many have criticised the Labour leader over his perceived policy U-turn on tuition fees. But in reality his statements are little more than excuses. True, Labour appears to have

lost ground in their battle against the coalition, but this is a strictly hypothetical claim. Miliband continued by saying that he "hoped they could do more in the future" — clearly indicating that while they may have taken a detour the path ahead remains unchanged.

It is very easy to appreciate and even commend Labour’s sentiment with regards to this issue, but such claims are of little comfort to the student population when there is no plan to back it up. Moreover, Labour's slippage on the issue does call into question their initial stance of opposition. Far from undermining the integrity of the party, this statement calls into question their reliability. More than anything else, it seems like an admittance of error. The fact that they cannot currently conceive of a way of lowering the cap to less than£6,000 surely begs the question of how they ever felt this was possible, and their initial claim that they would use a graduate tax to help ease universities' financial predicaments seems to have fallen by the wayside.

This statement does not signify a vast change in Labour policy, nor is it a viable alternative to the coalition government's policy. It is a cheap popularity bid by a party desperate to claw back its reputation as the champion of the people's economics, and a shameless attempt to win over disenchanted Lib Dem voters and students. What Miliband has actually succeeded to do is undermine the party's existing student sympathies — and perhaps drive away some who may naturally have gravitated towards them over the coming years.

Miliband's fee plan does not offer a viable alternative to our current funding problems

Ordinary people can influence new economic development Change is needed at the international level to enable a more equitable sharing of the world's resources UNICEF

Adam Parsons

I

T IS DIFFICULT to turn on the news today without encountering a sense of unending crisis.

While the media’s attention is fixed on the global financial meltdown, the number of people at risk of dying from famine in Somalia has doubled in the face of an inadequate international response. Meanwhile, more than half the world still struggles without sufficient access to staple food, clean water, adequate shelter or essential healthcare. Every day, at least 30,000 people die needlessly from poverty-related causes — half of whom are young children.

We can no longer deny that the purely market-based approach to development has failed. Finally, even mainstream thinkers now accept that a major restructuring of the global economy is needed in order to create a fair and sustainable world. Given the interdependency of nations and the uneven distribution of the world’s natural resources and economic

power, this presents a huge challenge for the international community to develop more inclusive systems of global governance guided by the principle of sharing.

As a first priority, unprecedented cooperation and redistribution between nations is required to overcome the worst incidences of poverty and hunger. Although an international program of emergency relief will not address the structural causes of poverty, inequality and climate change, a massive transfer of resources to the poorest areas of the world is the only practical way for governments to eliminate extreme deprivation within a short number of years.

In the longer term, a new approach to economic development must be geared to enabling all governments to safeguard the basic economic and social rights of every citizen. Many goods and services that are essential for life and health can be made universally accessible through more effective public services, which should replace private sector alternatives that the poor often

cannot afford. New arrangements are also needed at the international level to enable nations to share the world’s natural resources more equitably.

Water, seeds, oil, gas, forests, minerals and even the atmosphere are all forms of ‘global commons’ that can be managed in the interest of all nations, whilst respecting biodiversity and the environmental limits to economic growth.

Policy-makers in the halls of power can no longer afford to ignore civil societies’ demands for a fundamental reordering of global priorities. As politicians seek to resurrect and preserve the old economic order, millions of people are calling for a better world that ensures all people live in dignity, with the basics guaranteed. Recent uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa act as a crucial reminder that ordinary people have the potential to radically influence government decisions through concerted demands for far-reaching change.

In the challenging time ahead, a unifying call of the global public must be to share the world’s

30,000 people worldwide die every day due to poverty resources in order to end unnecessary deprivation, secure basic human rights for all and preserve the planet for future generations. There is no justifiable excuse for world leaders to continue with business as usual: under a broad coalition of students and civil society, the time to act is

now.

Adam Parsons is the editor at Share The World's Resources (STWR), a London-based NGO campaigning for natural resources to be sustainably managed in the interests of the global public.

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Where is Scottish Labour heading?

The Journal talks to Scottish Labour leadership hopeful and education spokesman Ken Macintosh, and explores the roads ahead for the battered centre-left party TELCHE HANLEY

Jonathan Baldie Comment & Features editor

"Our supporters are just as Scottish as the nationalists"

E

MBARRASSING. HISTORIC. THEORETICALLY unusual.

Many things passed through the minds of Labour supporters in Scotland during the parliamentary elections in May. The Scottish National Party (SNP) won over the country, long a bastion of support for Labour.

Under the Scots’ proportional representation (PR) system, the nationalists had taken 16 seats from them. The voting system, which is designed to reflect voting percentages better than first-pastthe-post, did exactly that, and in doing so allowed the SNP to form the first ever majority government in Scotland.

But what went wrong for Labour?

I sit with Ken Macintosh, the MSP for Eastwood now hoping to win the leadership of Scottish Labour after the position of the incumbent leader, Iain Gray, became almost completely untenable after the defeat in May. Macintosh, a former journalist who has served on the back-benches at Holyrood since 1999 and secured the second-largest majority in Scotland at the last election, made the news recently when his party's UK leader Ed Miliband proved unable to name him in a television interview — despite Macintosh being regarded in Scotland as a front-runner for the leadership.

The problem, Macintosh says, was that by the time of the May election it was too late to convince Scottish voters of Labour's potential. Indeed, such a disappointing result — a seven-seat loss overall —shows a distinct lack of faith in the party to which the Scots have entrusted their governance for almost a decade. This can be attributed in part to complacency on the part of Labour, but Macintosh also credits astute maneuvering by the SNP. In government, he notes, the nationalists managed to move into Labour's policy heartland, delivering a vital blow to the latter's political identity.

He now believes that in order to correct these mistakes a few key movements need to take place within the party's structure. "We need people to know that we want to build a better Scotland," he says, "and we'll need to reform party structure and improve relations within the party." He goes on to explain that in the 2007 election, many in the Labour party failed to accept their two-seat loss to the SNP. The loss, he says, left then-leader Gray "hamstrung". Four years later, in May, Mr Gray retained his East Lothian seat by 151 votes — but a confident party leader should not need to see votes being recounted in his own constituency.

Under his leadership, Macintosh says he would want to see the party become 'Scotland's Labour party', rather than a peripheral entity of UK Labour. "The SNP portrayed us as a London party," he laments, "and while the SNP used devolution to get more power, we use it to make things better for Scotland."

Public sector spending cuts from the Westminster government certainly worked in the SNP's favour in May: Scots were frightened about belt-tightening spending north of the border. In addition, Macintosh says

Ken Macintosh argues that Scottish Labour needs to become more independent of the UK party that the Liberal Democrats "really broke a promise" at Westminster, and that many in Scotland were vigorously against their coalition with the Conservatives — particularly in the Highland regions where the Lib Dems have their Scottish power-base.

Within the context of public sector

spending, university tuition fees have become one of the core issues in UK politics over the last year. In Scotland, fees continue to rocket for Rest-of-UK students, in line with the drastically higher fees now being charged by English universities. Mr Macintosh, currently the shadow education

secretary at Holyrood, derides decisions by Scottish universities to charge up to £9,000 per year in RUK fees as "fundamentally unfair", and a move which could ultimately prove "fatal" to the SNP if higher education in Scotland becomes heavily marketised. The SNP only "added insult to injury" with their

decision to deregulate fees, he claims.

He may have a point. If Labour position themselves carefully on the issue of higher education, they may stand to win significant support at the next election from those angry at RUK fees in Scotland, particularly students.

Point-scoring against the SNP may prove to be an ungraceful but effective way for Labour to claw back support at Holyrood.

But the interaction between Scottish Labour and the UK party will also bear close inspection. Tom Harris, a Scottish MP, has declared his candidacy for the leadership, subject to the results of a rules review by Jim Murphy and Sarah Boyack which could see major reforms to the party structure designed, in part, to make it a more independent political entity for Scotland.

Labour have continued to defend their stance against Scottish independence, favouring a more collegial relationship between Holyrood and Westminster. Macintosh suggests, for example, that taxes can be better managed from London across the UK. But he refutes claims that these positions may deter Scottish nationalists from defecting to Labour. "Our supporters are just as Scottish as the nationalists," he insists, but while this is a clever soundbite there remain clear doubts among pundits and the public about Labour's ability to overturn an SNP majority by the next election.

It is to be expected for a politician, especially one running for his party's leadership, to seem optimistic about his party's electoral chances.

In order for a battered and bruised political party to gain momentum and have a reasonable shot at reclaiming seats, its leader must inspire both the party faithful and the electorate.

Under a proportional representation system like that used in Scotland, public sentiment on voting day counts for everything as seats almost direct correlate to electoral percentages. The next Labour leader at Holyrood must take advantage of popular policies if Labour are to make any kind of positive progression. The party shares fundamental centre-left ideals with the SNP, including similar positions on law, healthcare and education. If there is to be any hope for them to reclaim their traditional safe-haven north of the border, the party will need to engage more actively with Scottish voters on those issues where the SNP have assumed dominance.

Other current declared candidates for the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party include Tom Harris, MP for Glasgow South, and Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok. The official campaign begins on 29 October, and the results will be announced on 17 December.

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A cinematic renaissance for Syria?

The acclaimed Syrian director Hisham Al-Zouki tells The Journal about his hopes for a cinematic resurgence in the troubled Arab state Marthe Lamp Sandvik Managing editor

I

FIRST MET Hisham al-Zouki at a café in a Damascene mall; as we sat down to discuss the script for a short film he was working on. Sadly, because of military movements in the area we were filming in, the project was never concluded.

For the acclaimed Syrian film director, it all started in the late 1970s.

His house was one of the few in the neighborhood to have a television and the adults would gather in the dozens in their living room every night to watch the news or the latest Egyptian movies.

"Entertainment was different back then. Absolutely everyone went to the cinema — if you didn’t you were a bit of an outsider. It was even a big part of the celebrations during Ramadan. In order to make the cinema and television experience available for everyone, there were also these military trucks that would carry big screens around the countryside and set them up in the villages."

Since then, the film industry in Syria has changed. In the early 1980s, the regime forbade the gathering of large groups of people in order to break the political opposition. This move hit the culture scene harder than anything else.

Although the film industry continued as it always had in countries like Lebanon and Egypt, a part of the Syrian cultural soul was taken away. Damascus, which at one point had more than 50 cinemas, now have less than ten.

During his time at Damascus University, where he studied literature and drama studies, the regime imprisoned a number of politically active students — including al-Zouki. After his release he chose to emigrate to Norway and continue his education there. "I'm not a minority director as such. I’m a director from a minority," he says.

"There’s a difference. Although many of my films focus on immigration issues, I look for them to be more than that.

It’s open to interpretation, because I’m more interested in conveying the parts of the human existence that touch and inspire me, than making it complex and set in stone."

This is evident in his film The Wash: in one scene the twirling face of a washing machine shows a bloody US flag swirling inside. Al-Zouki tells me the idea came from the way a Christmas tree is decorated with flags in many countries — indeed, how an arranged set of colours and patterns can represent a whole nation of completely different individuals became a symbol for him. "For a short while, people stand united behind the same colours. So there’s an image that makes an impact, but it isn’t until later that the image takes on a human or political meaning in my mind."

Al-Zouki has always been good with pictures. From a young age he saw the connection between images and how films should work as a comfortable way to explore, and perhaps also expand the mind a bit, "I don’t necessarily mean that I have to focus on sad and tragic things to do this, but there are these situations with a different kind of beauty."

I wonder, then, how someone who grew up in the heat and dry air of the desert can find inspiration in the

caption cold north. "It’s not easy," he confirms, haunted by the heat of the Syrian desert that will always be home. "Norway has beautiful nature, but the trees, the fjord and the snow? I can’t identify with that.

There’s none of the inspiring chaos that you find in the Middle East, and the light in Damascus is something I’ll always return to. I write more, and Syria as a country with all it’s images and chaos translates extremely well onto the screen."

The drive for inspiration takes him back to Syria frequently. He also insists there’s a new generation of filmmakers emerging in the country, a movement that doesn’t care about official funding or the legalities of things. "They just want to make movies, so that’s what they’ll do. Just take what has happened in the past six months, there’s a potent energy in this generation which makes it able to do things well."

The Syrian film industry is poorly placed to make an entrance onto the international stage. Today, most of movies produced in the Middle East come from Egypt, where there is an established entertainment industry. But that doesn’t mean the future can’t be bright.

"We can still be good if we’re small: just look at Scandinavia. Not many Scandinavian movies make it internationally, but that’s not what people want." And it doesn’t seem to be what Syrians want either — rather, he says, "they want films that they connect to, with themes they recognize." In an exceptional year, the industry produces about eight movies, funded both by the government and the private sector. "Many of them take on a Russian feel, we have many directors who are educated there. But the lack of directors have never been the problem, the way the industry is, it’s difficulties nowadays, it might just be a

coincidence though."

The industry has taken a hit from the availability of satellite dishes that has increasingly become the route to entertainment in the Middle East. Especially during Ramadan, drama series take centre stage and draw people away from traditional entertainment such as film and theatre. Commonly referred to in the region as Mussalsal, these types of series pose a threat to the more established but less funded Syrian film industry, although both sectors are suffering due to the economic impact of recent unrest in the country. But, as alZouki points out, a television series will never be able to truly recreate the same magic that emerges from the dusky light of a movie theatre.

"Going to see a movie should be a ritual. Good films aren’t boring, you don’t check the time to see when it’s ending, you just enjoy it. Cinema Paradiso is like

that, and The Godfather."

Hisham al-Zouki was born in Damascus. After studying Drama and English Literature at Damascus University, he moved to Oslo, Norway and finished his studies at the Film and Television Academy in 1999. Al-Zouki has worked on several productions in both Norway and the Middle East, including The Was (2005), Nostalgia (1998), The Door (1999), Ghetto (2000), Eternally Aliens (2002), and Just a City (2003). His work The Door was shown at various filmfestivals and run away with numerous awards including a 'Best Film' at Avezzano, Italy in 2000. Al-Zouki is currently working on various short-films and a series of documentaries for Al-Jazeera.

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Arts & Entertainment 17

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Travel

The Journal On the horizon

A weekend in Prague An underrated gem with a heady combination of ancient history and modern industry

THEATRE 11 - 15 OCTOBER

Dig - A Play, a Pie and a Pint

TRAVERSE THEATRE, £12

The recession is the theme of this play put on by Oran Mor and Plaines Plough theatre companies.

MOYAN BRENN

10 - 22 OCTOBER

The Salon Project

TRAVERSE THEATRE, £25

Light-hearted rom-com set to a classic country soundtrack

19 OCTOBER - 12 NOVEMBER

The writer of BBC 4's 'The Hour' comes to the stage with a meditation on science, religion and ageing.

ART UNTIL 6 NOVEMBER

Tony Cragg

Arts & Entertainment editor

M

Y FIRST IMPRESSIONS of Prague were imprinted at the check-in queue. There, three men stood in front of me; one dressed as a jester, the other a policeman and the last a baby.

Thankfully, due to prior research, I knew that in no meaningful sense did they reflect the nature of my destination. Instead they were symptomatic of the views held by a small (but typically inebriated and noisy) group of travellers. For stag and hen parties Prague is just another pretty playground for premarital excess.

Granted, from postcards Prague does resemble a playground-cumfairy-tale but walking through the city from Staré Mesto (Old Town) to the Nové Mêsto (New Town) quickly dispels this as facile. The architectural tapestry of Prague is something far richer than the sweet inevitability of a Disney story. Nevertheless the simplification is understandable: Prague was only bombed once during WWII, preserving a great deal of its original architecture. Whilst this lends the city a pristine quality, it should not be forgotten that Prague’s people were just as embroiled in the two World Wars and the legacy of communism as any other ex-Eastern Bloc country.

An apt illustration of this, and one of the darkest twists on Prague’s preservation, exists in the form of the fascinating Jewish Quarter.

This area was specifically protected by Hitler, but only so that on the completion of his planned genocide it could act as a museum for the extinct Jewish peoples.

Thankfully Prague's charm isn't limited by this morbid history, or

Full disclosure: Flights and hospitality for the writer's visit to Prague were provided by Czech Tourism.

That organisation had no input into the content of this article.

THE STAND GLASGOW, £12

The risque US comedian comes back to Scotland after a successful Fringe run.

SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER

Craig Campbell

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

27

France with wine, beer in the Czech Republic seemed something appropriate for all occasions, sexes and, legal ages. But predictably, online research into Czech beer consumption yielded understandably more ambiguous results.

Another interesting fact, beyond their primacy in the beer consumption tables, is the Czech Republic’s standing as one of the most atheist countries in Europe. There’s a joke in there somewhere, I’m sure. From the city's aesthetics, the level of Prague’s atheism seems odd. But in its own way, the prevalence of sacred architecture hints as much at an explanation as a conundrum.

The churches point to the long history of persecution and oppression endured by people of Prague at the hands of religion. But this doesn’t stop walking through the gothic style St. Vitus Cathedral in the Prague Castle being a beautiful and quieting experience; the soaring flight upwards of sculpture, windows and architecture is as graceful as any of its European counterparts.

One of the most mesmerising stain-glass windows in the St. Vitus is by Czech artist Alphonse Mucha, the originator of art nouveau. With a matchless eye for sumptuous colour and stylised form Mucha reinvigorates the traditionally staid and decorative tradition. Over the river, the small but densely packed Mucha Museum further illuminates the depth of Mucha’s skill and imagination. The Mucha Musuem, like Prague itself, initially presents an air of saccharine fantasy, but this is only the skin worn by an enduring entity of complexity.

Margaret Cho: Cho Dependent

Peter Nichols' production about a family struggling with a child's illness returns to where it was first staged.

LYCEUM THEATRE, £14.50 - £29

even just by history per se. Lesser cities, with the same degree of tourism and history, might find themselves existing for the sole purpose of being visited. Prague, however, is self-possessed and pragmatic. It doesn’t devalue its history, it doesn’t ignore the financial benefits of encouraging tourism, but it has distinct ambitions beyond both.

This attitude was most evident during my tour around the Budweiser Budvar brewery. Jirí and Petr, the area sales manager and PR manager, were optimistic about the growing markets for highquality locally-produced beers and measured in their response to the 100 year long trademark dispute between themselves and American Budweiser. They clearly believed in the quality of the product they worked with. As anyone who accidentally bought American Budweiser instead of Budvar can attest, it’s grossly unfair that the two should ever be in competition with each other. One tastes like something tasteless diluted and the other is the epitome of sophisticated European brewing.

The most fascinating aspect of the visit was the brewery tour by Adam Brož ,the new brewmaster at Budvar and owner of a Ph.D. from the Prague Institute of Chemical Technology. Beyond the basic ingredients, and the word “fermentation,” I was pretty much in the dark about how beer was brewed. I was also quite content that way. But Adam’s enthusiasm for the subject was infectious and I quickly found myself absorbed by the science and technology that’s poured into what we unthinkingly drink.

In the world rankings of beer drunk per capita, the Czech Republic comes first. But during my visit I didn’t see any of the tell tale signs of a binge-drinking nation. As for

23 - 24 OCTOBER

THE STAND EDINBURGH, £12

21 OCTOBER - 12 NOVEMBER

João Abbott-Gribben

COMEDY

A Day in the Death of Joe Egg

CITIZENS THEATRE, GLASGOW, £10.50 - £18

The Czech capital is a complex, vibrant city

An exhibition that looks at printmaking as a socially concerned, democratic media designed to disseminate radical ideas.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART, £5 (CONCESSION)

A rare chance to experience a retrospective exhibition of work by one of Scotland's best loved artists

UNTIL 28 JANUARY

Alison Watt: Hiding in Full View

INGLEBY GALLERY, EDINBURGH, FREE A collection of visually striking collages and sculptures exploring the legacy of one of the most influential works in the English language.

UNTIL 2 JANUARY

Muse: Paintings from the RSA Collection

ROYAL SCOTTISH GALLERY, FREE Ingrid Calame's first retrospective or as she refers to it 'My Greatest Hits' charts the development of the artist's distinctive abstract style.

2 - 9 OCTOBER

Ruth A Nichol: Leith in Winter

ART'S COMPLEX, EDINBURGH, FREE

Two series of images by the renowned Japanese photographer entitled 'Lightning Fields' and 'Photogenic Drawing'.

UNTIL 18 MARCH

The Scottish Colourist Series: FCB Cadell

SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART, £5 (CONCESSION)

This exhibition brings together over 100 works by the greatest Northern European artists of the 15th and 16th centuries.

4 - 9 OCTOBER

Anish Kapoor: Flashback

EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART, FREE

Packed bill of stand-up headliners and resident comperes. Hosted by Joe Heenan.

Stephen Merchant: Hello Ladies

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE, 18-22 GREENSIDE PLACE, EDINBURGH Ricky Gervais' other half comes to Edinburgh to practice his first love, stand-up comedy.

CLUBS THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

Frisky

THE HIVE, FREE

Two rooms of chart, cheese and all the indie-pop requests you can think of.

FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER

Xplicit

BONGO CLUB, £TBC

Drum 'n bass at one of Edinburgh's

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER

Hungry Beat

NICE 'N' SLEAZY, GLASGOW, £2

One of Glasgow's best-loved clubs puts on one of its signature indie gigs featuring the London-based group Spector.

MUSIC THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER

We Were Promised Jet Packs

THE LIQUID ROOM, £10

All-screaming Basque dance/punk/ folk five-piece, fusing their disparate elements into one weirdly pleasing mix.

SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER

Chasing Owls (Bear Bones, Matt Norris and the Moon)

SNEAKY PETE'S, £5

Edinburgh's folk scene

TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER

Pink Martini

USHER HALL, £19.50

This 'mini-orchestra' from the US plays old favorites and original compositions.

FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER

Joshua Radin

HMV PICTURE HOUSE, £15.50

You may recognize this US singersongwriter from the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack. Catch him at the Picturehouse for one night only!

18 Arts & Entertainment

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Theatre

Film

Art

Arthur, The Story of a King

Jane Eyre

Ingrid Calame

Wee Stories return to the Traverse with a triumphant reminder of the fun of being a child KEVIN LOW

A visually stunning adaptation faithful to the spirit of Charlotte Brontë's Gothic masterpiece Alexandre Johnston

THERE IS A seemingly endless list of Jane Eyre adaptations, and one might have questioned the need for yet another addition to the series.

Nevertheless, there is much to be praised in Cary Fukunaga’s film.

Opening in the middle of events with Jane fleeing Thornfield, the film unravels as a series of flashbacks in which the viewer follows her travails at the house of her wicked aunt, at Lowood School and then at Thornfield. There her fragile, unsatisfied sense of peace is broken by her ingenuous relationship with the tormented Rochester.

Where the film excels is in the recreation of the novel’s atmosphere. The horror sequences in and around Thornfield and seemingly trivial items like the painting on the wall which Jane constantly gazes at, very successfully

VENUE: FILMHOUSE DATES: UNTIL 29 SEPTEMBER establishes the mood of the Gothic Novel. The Yorkshire landscape, brought to prominence by the wonderful cinematography, provides more than a setting for the story; it becomes a part of it. As Jane wanders alone in desperation in the opening scene, the huge landscape engulfs her, like a solitary hero in a Friedrich painting.

Mia Wasikowska is an enrapturing Jane, capable of emanating restrained plainness as well as burning emotion; she is well complemented by the tempestuous Michael Fassbender and an altogether excellent cast.

All told, this film will rank highly among Jane Eyre adaptations. Its sensitive re-telling of the story, superlative acting and pictorial delights make for a visually arresting experience.

Music

Caroline Bottger

WE LIVE IN an age where the line between child and grown-up entertainment is blurred. The appeal of Pixar and young adult fiction like The Hunger Games are encouraging examples of the possibility of common ground between adults and children. Wee Stories Theatre, an award-winning Scottish theatre company, is setting the standard in children’s theatre with Arthur, The Story Of A King. This production makes the experience equally entertaining for the parents and teachers who are not willing to sacrifice their intellectual dignity on the altar of their child’s entertainment.

Over the course of this twohour show Andy Cannon and Iain Johnstone tell the well-known and much-beloved story of King Arthur and his knights. This is all done with the help of their accompanist on piano and spatula, David Trouton, who intrudes upon the tale in a charmingly smarmy fashion with his own observations. Cannon and Johnstone level with their young audience from the beginning: they tell us that when they were young, they collected cornflake boxes to obtain cut-outs of King Arthur and his knights. The boxes are then used to recreate the entire Arthurian legend, from Arthur’s birth, to his betrayal by Lancelot and Guinevere, to his death at the hands of

Mordred.

What the children witness is a thoroughly engaging, intelligent and hilarious version of the legend, with a solid moral lesson at the end, just in time for lunch. There can be little doubt that Cannon, Johnstone and Trouton are a band of mad geniuses with the ability to tell fart jokes but also make the children aware of more serious matters, such as the importance of alternate perspectives in story-telling, the non-verifiable nature of the Arthur stories, and the injustices of primogeniture. Cannon and Johnstone are extremely likeable and dynamic performers, and their relationship of patient teacher and dim pupil never wears thin, even when it is exploited again and again for comic effect.

The elaborate staging is mesmerizing, reflecting the creativity of children and their ability to get caught up in a story while we look on, a little bemused. But the most compelling reason to go is to be there with children, as they have no concept of the fourth wall. They raise their hands to answer rhetorical questions, laugh with abandon and serve as reminders of how fun learning is at a certain age. It’s a shame that this consummate production is not running longer. Put aside your adulthood and see it while you can.

VENUE: TRAVERSE THEATRE DATES: THU 22 SEP 10.30 AM PRICE: £15.00 (£6.00 - £11.00)

Three Trapped Tigers Three Trapped Tigers are anything but Tame Daniel Shyler

VENUE: THE CAPTAIN'S REST DATES: 23 SEPTEMBER PRICE: £10

I HAD BEEN recommended Three Trapped Tigers from various different sources and, having secured a ticket, decided to go. Without looking up earlier gigs, without looking at their MySpace, their former reviews or even other bands they had been compared to. Well thank God, because otherwise I might not have experienced whatever the hell it is that makes up Three Trapped Tigers live.

Having explored more online with post-gig research, I realised I may not have known what to expect had I done it beforehand anyway. Although their incredibly complex set is eerily like their recordings, somehow nothing online can prepare you for the live encounter.

They call themselves an ‘instrumental noise-rock’ band and this

seems to fit the bill. However, the live performance is so much more than that. Yes, it’s almost pure, unrelenting noise from start to finish, but within this noise cocoon are some of the most complex guitar riffs and drum patterns I’ve ever seen performed live. (If you want your jaw dropped by drums, look no further than Adam Betts.)

Not only this, but the craftsmanship of each song, including the electronic sounds and various keys, manages to allow each component part to sing through fully.

The beauty of this is the feeling of a perfectly arranged symphony: of noise-rock.

These guys are on tour up and down the country at least until the end of October. If you get the chance to catch them live, don’t miss it.

A simple request from a dynamic artist Troy Holmes

METHODICAL IN ITS execution and random in its subject, Ingrid Calame’s work records the marks made on streets, studio floors and riverbeds. She patiently traces each blemish, scratch and spill. With these tracings, Calame creates 1:1 scale representations of the floors we walk on everyday, requesting the viewer to stop and stare at the beauty of the mundane. Calame simply asks us to look down. The pieces downstairs, although interesting, are not mindblowing. It is upstairs where the exhibition really comes to life.

The humble beginnings of the later block-colour works are displayed here. Lines wandering, childlike but with purpose, create worm tunnels that dart and curve over the fragile surface of tracing paper.

Then, the grand finale of the show is revealed: etched exquisitely onto the back wall L.A River at Clearwater Street is a site-specific piece. When you get close to the piece you see that each line is in fact thousands of tiny dots. These dots create a dynamic, delicate and organic mass that take on a life of their own. This is the piece that really makes the exhibition.

Calame transforms what we might see as a dull, dirty and graffitied concrete surface into a beautiful rainbow of colour, movement and liveliness. Although downstairs might be disappointing, this piece speaks for the whole exhibition. It defends the method by proving how captivating and ingenious this technique can be. The simple nature of the work makes it effortlessly beautiful and intriguing.

VENUE: THE FRUITMARKET GALLERY DATES: UNTIL 9 OCTOBER 2011 PRICE: FREE

RUTH CLARK

The Journal Wednesday 5 October 2011

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FOOD&DRINK

Ignite Out of many, one South Asian restaurant rises above the rest

Food & Drink editor NOT TO BE confused with the highly trendy, not-at-all embarrassing nightclub in Tollcross, Ignite is an Indian and Bengali restaurant hidden away in Haymarket.

If you have ever taken the train to or from Edinburgh and wondered what there could possibly be on this seemingly superfluous stop, you have your answer. Ignite is a charming, very friendly restaurant with a menu so extensive that you may never want to go anywhere else.

Ignite has some tough competition in Edinburgh, which is home to excellent south Asian restaurants such as Bombay Bicycle Club on Brougham Street, Namaste on Forrest Road and Suruchi on Nicholson Street. Ignite meets the challenge and even sets the bar higher due to its staggering selection of main courses (nineteen, not including vegetarian choices, tandoori, biryani, and seafood). This range extends to side dishes like bendi

bhaji and aloo gobi – the former being okra and the latter potato and cauliflower – not to mention rice and nine types of bread, from naan to chapati.

Every main is under £15, which is not something to sniff at if you are on a student budget and looking to celebrate. Ignite pulls out all the stops, and the result is nothing short of a delicious food coma which you can put in a doggy bag for the next day.

But this wide selection does not mean that the quality suffers.

The opposite, in fact, will become apparent as soon as you tuck in to the small Himalaya of food which you will inevitably order. Ignite’s location off the beaten student track is also one more reason to explore Lothian Road and the East End – even perhaps encouraging a wander into Stockbridge and a respite from the relentless student life we all lead. Even though it is a little far from everyone’s usual three-point trajectory of flat, Sainsbury’s and the library, Ignite will stay in your mind a little longer than its counterparts.

CLUBS

Ultragroove and Heavy Gossip present Tonni Lionni and Rahaan Heavy Gossip and Ultragroove prove a harmonious union at Below Stairs and The Green Room Stephen Duffy

GOOD THINGS COME in pairs. A case in point was the recent union of two of the city’s forefront house nights in Heavy Gossip and Ultragroove, not to mention booking Rahaan and Tony Lionni.

Lionni's 2009 anthem ‘Found A Place’ was issued by Berlin institute Ostgut Ton whilst Chicago’s Rahaan is one of the Windy City’s most popular contemporary DJs. With local talent in Lel Palfrey and Juicy! DJs to ignite what would be a slow burner of an evening, it was left to residents Nick Yuill and Gareth Sommerville to gee up the thickening crowd, and gee up they did. Impressive displays of all things deep and groovy

CLUBS AND FOOD & DRINK

A&E 19

Fast food goes upmarket

Fashion

Caroline Bottger

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from the regular boys were capped off by a driven assemblage from Sommerville that teed up Rahaan perfectly.

Trademark flat cap in tow, Rahaan ambled behind the decks to treat the bustling venue to an hour or so of ebbing, sumptuous disco and upbeat house.

With delicious funk appreciated by the faithful, Lionni's headline slot opted for a change of tack that exchanged melody for looping hooks. An obliged rendition of his synonymous 'Found a Place' comprised the formalities and served to precede a set that plumbed the depths of the four-four spectrum.

With pleasing weekend drinks deals and a selection of high-profile names already under its belt, Heavy Gossip & Ultragroove at The Green Room & Below Stairs promises to become a staple in the weekend diary.

Want some thick-cut, oven-roasted, sea-salt-garnished fries with that? Alexander Woolley explores the growing cadre of fancy fast-food

Alexander Woolley

S

INCE MORGAN SPURLOCK damned McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC forever in the eyes of the middle classes, upmarket fast food chains have cropped up all over Britain and the United States. These restaurants offer the cheap thrills of their predecessors without the crippling shame, desperate hand-scrubbing and reiterated promises of going on that diet.

Nando's, a Portuguese-themed franchise, and Illegal Jack's are two of the leading exponents of this modern phenomenon.

Illegal Jack’s is an independent restaurant which is at pains to stress that its roots are south-western rather than Mexican, pointing out that south-western cuisine traditionally uses “bigger cuts of meat” than across the border. However, with the exception of that paradigm shift, it's unlikely that anybody expecting Mexican food with its sweet small cuts will leave here disappointed.

The menu at Illegal Jack’s is certainly limited, but Jack’s is not

about the menu. What Jack’s is about is burritos, tacos and quesadillas, all of which are assembled before you. There is a reasonable selection of ingredients which you can choose from; from black beans and pinto to beef, chicken and vegetables. Prices are reasonable too. Keep away from the overpriced fajitas and your dinner will come to about £7. The portions are fairly substantial, so don't expect to be hungry again too soon afterwards.

A stone's throw from Jack's is Nando's, where peri-peri chicken rules the roost – though burgers, salads and wraps are also available. Once you have ordered at the till (the fast-food trend of Ordering Your Food In a Queue of Strangers is still alive and well) you are invited to douse your food in a variety of brightly-coloured sauces arranged by hotness and graded upon an incredibly steep incline. It is, perhaps, traditional in Portuguese Cuisine to accept nothing less from one's food than a raging oral fire akin to a mouthful of Agent Orange.

Regardless, I recommend readers steer clear of anything hotter than medium if you wish to enjoy your meal.

The fare at Nando’s is naturally a little more expensive: half a chicken with two sides will set you back £9.65, and some olives to share are another £3.15, simply for the reason that there more are options than at Illegal Jack’s. With Nando’s, as at Illegal Jack's, you can rest assured that the ingredients are of significantly higher quality: the chicken is fresher, the meat is leaner and the vegetables are - well, there are actually vegetables. Both restaurants do a good line in beer; Brew Dog at Jack's, and some otherwise hard to find Portuguese imports at Nando's– such as Sagres.

The bottom line is that up-market fast food restaurants cater to the public in entirely the same capacity as their forebears, but to a different clientele. There are no surprises at Nando’s or Illegal Jack’s, but as affordable, dependable treats on the odd Friday evening, they are a good way to enjoy a middle-class chicken or some middle class tacos, maybe with a side order of middle class chips and some middle class Coca-Cola.

Nando’s 71-73 Lothian Road EH3 9AZ

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MOTOR SPORT

Hacker:

Round One win for EUMSC's Skinner

Hamilton not amused

» 23

Freshers take fight to veterans in EUMSC's championship opener Nick Roberts

LAST TUESDAY SAW the opening round of the Edinburgh University Motor Sport Club's karting championship commence in furious fashion. With 40 drivers present, two-thirds of them in their rookie season, it promised to be an action-packed evening.

The format for the evening consisted of 5 heats for each driver, where points were accumulated in an attempt to qualify for the final. The opening few victories were shared amongst the veterans; Steven Campbell, Nick Roberts, club captain Kirsten Dallas and serial second-place man Scott Douglas. The newcomers were still getting to grips with the circuit, but their times were competitive. In heat 6 Rosalind Gisbey picked up a 3rd place finish, and then in heat 9 the first rookie win of the night was recorded as Patrick NG managed to hold off Matt Holland.

This filled all the Freshers with confidence and in the very next heat they took all three podium positions, with Sally Skinner coming in third, Craig

Horsburgh second, and Ben Doyle getting his first heat win. The standard of racing just got better as the night went on and this led to some slightly optimistic manoeuvres being thrown around in the heat of battle. The Hughes brothers, Ross and double-champion Calum, enjoyed their usual brusing clash, resulting in Ross getting a black flag. Afterwards he gave his analysis of the incident; “Here’s what happened, right. He started it and I finished it!”

One heat in particular, involving lots of experienced drivers, became hugely scrappy. Captain Dallas was, for once, on the receiving end - finding herself buried in the barriers three times. Gary Brown and Adam Corlett were having their own private tussle for second.

Brown deservedly received a warning from the marshals for shunting Corlett out of the way although Corlett, not satisfied, took his own retribution by viciously tailgating Brown’s kart all the way to the end of the race. Brown refused to succumb and took secondplace, with Scott Douglas clear in first.

With the heats wrapped up Scott Douglas qualified top of the table, joint on points with Nick Roberts but just

League Table FOOTBALL Victory lap eschewed in favour of the more traditional podium STEPHEN WALLS

pipping him with a faster fastest lap of 29.065. Adam Corlett qualified third after a solid night’s racing. However it wasn’t a night for the veterans, it was all about the freshers, of which the top 16 made up the two finals. In the ‘B’ final all the drivers were very evenly matched, resulting in very few overtakes, however this didn’t detract from the quality of racing. Kai Weng dropped from 2nd to 4th leaving the podium positions to James Beaven, James Mollard and the winner, after withstanding late pressure from Mollard, was Callum Macfarlane.

The quality of the racing in the ‘A’ final was such that you would not have thought all the veterans had been sidelined. There were some quality overtakes, and far less argy-bargy than was seen in the heats. After 10 laps of racing Sally Skinner claimed the top prize from pole, with the brilliantly consistent Patrick NG behind in second and a battling Craig Horsburgh in third.

So Sally Skinner was crowned Fresher’s Karting Champion. With a string of rapid performances and a fastest lap of 29.947 she may well be worrying the established order this season. With five more rounds to go, the championship next heads to Falkirk later this month.

» STANDINGS (POINTS) Sally Skinner (50) Patrick NG (47) Craig Horsburgh (45) Hans-Joachim Neufeld (43) Ben Doyle (41) Felipe Pinzon (40) Feargus Smith (39) Rosalind Gibsey (38) Fastest lap: Craig Horsburgh - 29.916s

Edinburgh fall at the first in Scottish Cup Edinburgh University's dreams snuffed out in first-round defeat

Edinburgh Whitehill Welfare

0 3

Jak Purkiss

A SPIRITED PERFORMANCE was simply not enough for the Edinburgh University team, who were comfortably beaten in their first-round Scottish Cup tie with Whitehill Welfare. It was always going to be a tough game, Whitehill having already tasted victory at Peffermill in August in the league. The task was made even more difficult with a number of key players absent through injury and with the second half dismissal of centre back Danny Main the game was all but dead and buried by the time Sproule had capped a great performance off with

effort clip the top of the crossbar. The University’s defence was under severe pressure and that pressure eventually took its toll. In the 44th minute the lively Sproule managed to squeeze the wrong side of Main, who brought him down in the area leaving the referee no choice but to award the penalty. Young stepped up and coolly slotted home for a deserved two-nil half-time lead.

The home side regrouped and began the second half in much more positive fashion, although there few real sights of goal as the game descended into scrappiness. In the 65th minute the University were dealt a cruel blow when the referee adjudged Main to have deliberately handled the ball and duly showed him a second yellow card.

Edinburgh faced an uphill challenge from here but for the next ten minutes the numerical disadvantage seemed not to dispirit them; rather they were

P W D L F A GD Pts Heriot-Watt 1st 0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

Edinburgh 1st Glasgow 1st

0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

Edinburgh 2nd

0 0 0 0 0 0

0

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0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

RUGBY BUCS Scottish Conference Men’s 1A P WDL F

A

0 0 0 0 0

0

0

0

St Andrews 1st 0 0 0 0 0

0

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Aberdeen 1st

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0 0 0 0 0

0

0

0

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0

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Robert Gordon 1st 0 0 0 0 0

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Stirling 1st

HOCKEY BUCS Scottish Conference Women’s 1A P W D L F A GD Pts

FOOTBALL

his second of the game.

The first five minutes proved cagey, with neither side threatening or keeping possession for long enough to create a good attempt on goal. In the 12th minute a positive overlapping run by the Whitehill full-back caught out the Edinburgh defence, who failed to clear their lines properly leaving Sproule to blast home from 12 yards out. With that lead, Whitehill looked to press and came forward in numbers pushing the University defence further and further into their own half. This deep line inevitably led to an increase in chances for the visiting side. In the 19th minute Whitehill very nearly doubled their lead when a dangerous corner was eventually cleared off the line. A few minutes later, Whitehill’s Jim Young showed good footwork to beat his marker inside the box, creating space for a shot only to see his

BUCS Scottish Conference Men’s 1A

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0

0

St. Andrews 1st

0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

Glasgow 1st

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0

0

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0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

Caledonian 1st

0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

BUCS Scottish Conference Men’s 1A P W D L F A GD Pts

encouraged to take more of an attacking mentality to the game. A few speculative efforts forced the Whitehill keeper into action but he was never greatly troubled. As the University piled on the pressure big gaps were left in front of the re-shuffled defence, so when, in the 76th minute, Edinburgh’s keeper Mark Tait could only parry a shot from the edge of the area, Sproule’s easily netted the rebound for a deserved second goal. Three down, the game was well out of Edinburgh’s sight, though they fought well for the full 90 minutes.

The University should take pride from their hard-fought second-half performance and not be disheartened by their cup exit. They will need to rally again for the resumption of the East of Scotland Premier Division, as well as the upcoming BUCS League campaign.

Heriot-Watt 1st

0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

Edinburgh 1st

0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

Glasgow 1st

0 0 0 0 0 0

0

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Dundee 1st

0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

Aberdeen 1st

0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

* = points deducted/awarded

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Minnows still only make up the numbers Why the shape of global rugby union has to change FIRE EYES

William Gael Pakianathan

I

T ALL STARTED so promisingly for the minnows. A tenacious Japanese team battled from 20-3 down against France to bring the score to 25-21, only to fall away in the final twenty minutes; Scotland were made to work very hard for their victories against Romania and Georgia; the Americans put up a strong defensive effort against Ireland. For a moment the thrashings and hundred-point margins of previous World Cups seemed but a faint memory. However, that early optimism was short-lived. Georgia and then Romania failed to live up to their early promise, succumbing to heavy defeats against England. Japan were torn apart by the All Blacks, losing 83-7.

Yet the most telling signs of the chasm that still separates the top-tier teams from the minnows were the twelvetry, back-to-back defeats, suffered by Namibia against South Africa and then Wales. This concluded Namibia’s campaign and they were sent home without a win, leaving them winless in four consecutive World Cups.

Other nations have scarcely better records; Georgia have won just two games in the past three World Cups (and one of those was against Namibia); Japan have only ever won against Zimbabwe in 1991, despite qualifying for every World Cup since the competition began in 1987. That teams can repeatedly qualify for the World Cup yet be so consistently uncompetitive is a poor reflection of the state of global rugby. For all its pretensions of being a global sport, exemplified through the World Cup

The status quo is too hard on teams outside the top tier, who are often made to play twice a week theme song of “World in Union”, rugby is still dominated by the usual suspects.

The underlying issue is that the IRB and the top-tier rugby unions are more concerned with financial gain than the global development of the sport. Chasing lucrative broadcast deals, the IRB is a slave to the whims of television companies, who want the big names filling those prime

weekend slots. The World Cup has been scheduled accordingly, with the minnows often made to play twice a week to accommodate the top-tier nations’ week-long breaks between weekend games. Denying them the chance to properly recuperate and prepare for the next match completely stifles the minnows’ potential and places them at a further disadvantage when facing the big boys.

Yet when Namibia lost to Wales just four days after their loss to South Africa, their coach, Johan Diergaardt, chose instead to focus on the fact that they hadn’t played top-tier opposition since the last World Cup. Four years between competitions is a long time; seventeen Namibian players were playing in their first ever World Cup. Adapting to teams that play at a much higher intensity than

'The top-tier rugby unions are more concerned with financial gain than the global development of the sport' they are used to, in addition to the punishing schedule gives the minnows absolutely no chance.

Italy have shown that regular test matches against stronger nations works wonders for smaller teams’ competitiveness. Regularly thrashed in the early years of the Six Nations, they have managed to become a competitive outfit in less than a decade, even beating France earlier this year.

Unfortunately, playing sides like Namibia isn’t lucrative enough for the top nations to even consider it.

Even their neighbours, South Africa have only played them once outside of a World Cup. Spectators and television viewers just aren’t interested in inevitably one-sided contests, and until the IRB and the top-tier unions choose to prioritise the development of global rugby over short term financial gain, these matches will only ever be one-sided. The minnows have shown in the opening stages of this World Cup that they can put in good performances. It is now time for the IRB and the top-tier unions to allow them to build on that promise.

NBA (No Basketball Action) As NBA players decide to strike, The Journal looks at the countrywide apathy the decision received Jamie Timson Sport editor

T

HE WORLD’S BIGGEST basketball superstars appear to be without work for the foreseeable future. Following the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement between the owners and the players, the NBA has enforced what is termed a ‘lockout’ effective immediately.

With no contract governing the economic conditions of the league, the long-expected lockout puts the 2011-12 season in jeopardy and comes after intense negotiations failed to bring to fruition a new deal. It has been on the cards since the beginning of negotiations in early 2010, when league officials certified that 22 of the 30 franchises involved would lose money. Owners took this knowledge and issued a hard-line stance insisting on a salary-cap system that would ensure superstars such as Kobe Bryant and Lebron James would have to take a pay cut. Whilst annually, throughout the league player costs would be cut by $750 million.

Whilst the news was expected, the reaction from the NBA’s fans has been unprecedented. In fact, it is the lack of reaction from the American public, which is most revealing. The NBA’s reputation is still in tatters following the backlash and aftermath of “The Decision” last summer, when the league’s highest rated luminary – the self-proclaimed ‘King James’ – chose which team to move to after his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers expired. The lengthy process became something of a mockery, as team and supporters alike, clamoured for his signature. President Obama no less, even made mention of the move, urging James to sign for his beloved Chicago Bulls. The furore culminated in an excruciatingly sycophantic 90-minute interview with ESPN titled “The Decision” in which the player detailed the hardship and troubles he’d endured deciding which multi-million dollar contract to sign.

The lockout seems to establish the perceived wisdom amongst basketball fans that the teams and in particular their owners care about little more than the money that can be made from the sport.

KEITH ALLISON

With previous strikes and lockouts the fans were always in the background keeping a constant, steady pressure for a resolution to take place.

Both owners and players realized the money they were each leaving on the table by not getting along with one another, as well as the fear each experienced thinking about the possibility of losing their audience in substantial numbers. This time, however, neither seems to be the case.

With the prospect of no professional basketball being played this season in the NBA, The Journal wonders whether each side might not benefit from a measure of perspective. The concept which the owners crave - that of a league which guarantees profitability - doesn’t match up with the reality of a modern world in which no business is assured economic success.

However, no group of professional athletes has ever, collectively, made as much money as the NBA superstars make today. A pay-cut is not preferable obviously, but not even Michael Jordan made the average salary that today’s superstar takes home - and the average superstar is no Michael Jordan.

A high but largely ignored picket line

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The Journal Wednesday 5 October 2011

Simply the Best?

As turmoil continues at Ashburton Grove, The Journal looks back on the Wenger years…

Jamie Timson Masters of the heroic failure Scotland’s unblemished record of never missing a Rugby World Cup quarter final has been lost.

Needing a victory by eight points to have a realistic chance of progressing to the knockout stages, Scotland for long periods of a brutal contest looked as if they might pull it off. Leading at one stage 12-3, their opponents England were staring over the precipice of an early exit from the competition.

However, a series of Jonny Wilkinson penalties followed by a late try

by Chris Ashton meant it was the luckless Scots that lost 16-12 and boarded the plane home from New Zealand. A glaring missed opportunity by Nick de Luca to put the game out of sight will be relived by the Scots, while the performance of surely-soon-to-be-knighted Chris Paterson in particular typified the efforts of the Scottish.

Big-spending Anzhi look for new manager Billionaire-backed Russian Premier League club Anzhi Makhachkala last week sacked head coach Gadzhi Gadzhiyev.

Defeat in the Russian Cup and recent 2-2 home-draw with strugglers Terek Grozny proved decisive. The club, having already signed Roberto Carlos in February, rose to international prominence in August by convincing Samuel Eto’o to join from Italian giants Inter – making him the best-paid player in the world. However, limited progress sees Anzhi well out of the title race with the season soon to conclude. Avram Grant has been heavily linked to the nowvacant post of head coach.

Veteran Hoy sets standard while Cav revels in world road win Sir Chris Hoy won the team sprint on the final day of the National Track Championships in Manchester to complete a hat-trick of gold medals this week. Hoy partnered Jason Kenny and former Olympic champion Jason Queally to push Ross Edgar, Pete Mitchell and Dave Daniell into the silver medal place.

Hoy will surely be hoping he can carry over this form into his preparation for London 2012. Hoy’s GB team-mate Mark Cavendish also had reason to celebrate as he became Britain's first male world road race champion for 46 years as his team rode a near-perfect race in Denmark.The eight-man GB line-up ignored all breakaways to control the peloton over the 266km course, delivering Cavendish to the finish in ideal fashion.

Jamie Timson Sport editor

S

ATURDAY MARKED THE 15th anniversary of the appointment of a bespectacled Frenchman at the helm of Arsenal football club. In the years since, Arsene Wenger’s influence has been felt across far greater plains than just that of North London. Talk to any of the Arsenal players who were there when Wenger replaced Bruce Rioch and they will tell you about a revolution in the way they approached the job of being a professional footballer. However, Wenger’s attention to detail with regards to diet, match preparation and training schedules has changed the top leagues in England indelibly. If there is one man who deserves the title of the Premier League’s best manager it is arguably not Ferguson, but Wenger.

As Manchester City, Malaga and Paris St Germain all attempt to buy success across Europe, the achievements of Arsene Wenger’s side in the 2003/4 season remain all the more remarkable. When you consider how he has built a side from scratch, balanced the books, signed world-class players and won trophies, it seems preposterous to suggest the man is anything but a genius. The ‘Invincibles’, as they were known, played some of the best football of a generation - unrivaled in terms of attacking beauty arguably until Barcelona's extra-planetary football of the past few seasons.

Wenger has so many qualities, but above all the greatest seems to be his

ability to spot talent early and bring it to Arsenal before anyone else has realised its potential. There can be no better illustration of this priceless gift than in the shape of Arsenal's two shining stars of recent years, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira.

Vieira was a youngster in AC Milan's reserves when Wenger brought him to Highbury. Henry was a remarkable coup, because when he came to prominence for France in the 1998 World Cup, he looked like a player with pace and nothing else. It is normally highly unlikely that someone with that pace at the age of 20 or 21 will develop skill and ability, but Wenger clearly spotted something even after Henry had struggled at Juventus.

Wenger knew Henry had that ability and nurtured it brilliantly at Arsenal.

It is not to disparage Ferguson’s work, but is it not the case that had Fergie’s Fledglings - Beckham, Scholes, Giggs - not appeared at the same moment, or had he not been so well financially-backed – Ferdinand, Rooney, Veron – then his greatest achievement might be from his heady days at Aberdeen?

Wenger is shrewder in the market as well; for examples we can recall how he signed Nicolas Anelka, Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit then sold them on for vast fortunes.

Anelka came for £500,000 and left for around £22 million. That is a stunning piece of business. It is Wenger’s ability to spend money and extract value that should be most commended, for that is the key to success on a sporting field. Unfortunately for Arsenal fans this ability has

RONNIE MACDONALD

The most gifted manager in the Premier League? not equated to on the field success in recent years. Where Sir Alex is undoubtedly superior is the ability to win trophies and arguably this is what counts at the end of a season.

Ferguson may be the greatest Premier League manager but for the crown of the most gifted, one should look no further than Arsene Wenger.

Hibs on the edge The Journal looks at the precarious position of the Edinburgh side Gary Paul

MUCH HAS BEEN made of the Leith side's problems, as doubt has been cast over Colin Calderwood's position as manager for several months. A dreadful end to the 2010/11 season saw Hibs take just one point from eighteen in the run-in, all against bottom-six opposition; things needed to change.

The departure of eight players - among them John Rankin, Derek Riordan and Colin Nish - seemed to hint at an imminent overhaul of the playing staff and perhaps an overhaul of the team's fortunes.

Calderwood promised to stamp his own mark on the team and improve the situation, but was quickly caught back-pedalling.

In June, managerial movement in England witnessed Chris Hughton take over at Birmingham and Steve McLaren appointed at Nottingham Forest. Both wanted Calderwood as their assistant manager and he

refused to distance himself from a return to work in the Championship. Weeks of deliberation saw no commitment to the club, and the fans grew restless. Many called for Calderwood to either deny the links or leave the club, but with the season starting earlier than normal things were no clearer come matchday one.

Former players Garry O'Connor and Ivan Sproule signed up, but neither brought the promise of Calderwood's own team forming, while the incoming Sean O'Hanlon, Junior Agogo and Isaiah Osbourne didn't appear to replace the outgoing quality.

One win in the opening eight did little to endear Calderwood to the fans. Garry O'Connor's goalscoring form was the only shining positive in an uninspiring run that saw humiliation at Kilmarnock, a heartless derby defeat to Hearts and a two-goal lead thrown away at Dunfermline.

In previous seasons teams like Hamilton and Gretna have fallen away at the foot of the table, but there is no outstanding relegation

candidate this year. It could well be that Hibs are no longer “too big to go down” and they need to realise this.

The last week has seen a promising league cup win and a home victory against in-form St Johnstone, but

many fans are still not impressed with the product on the pitch. It's not inconceivable that O'Connor will leave in January, which would leave the green half of Edinburgh in a very precarious position indeed.

Is there a way back for the Easter Road boys?

GERTCHA

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Ha-Ha-Hamilton not amused by stuttering form Hacker surveys a turbulent few months for the McLaren ace Sean Gibson Sport editor

W

HATEVER COCKTAIL OF emotions currently bubbles away inside Lewis Hamilton, one certain ingredient must be pure bewilderment. Having long ago been knocked off his pedestal, the former champion is still in freefall – with his humility-parachute still refusing to open.

The soothsayers’ initial disregard of any notion that Hamilton should adapt his driving style has weakened as rapidly as the McLaren man’s string of misjudgements has lengthened. More recently the experts have gently counselled caution, but Hamilton’s poor form has steamrollered on, undisturbed.

There is a joke in there somewhere – ‘Hamilton’, ‘steamroller’ – but it

will take a colder cynic than this one to make it.

In Singapore, McLaren’s Team Principal, Martin Whitmarsh, called for the return of the ‘Old Lewis’.

Whether or not he actually took heed, Hamilton tangled with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa on lap 12, breaking his own front wing, puncturing the Brazilian’s right-rear tyre and earning himself a drive-through penalty. One can picture the aforementioned cynic, icily assembling the compilation video – a veritable world-tour of drive-through penalties with Hamilton as the star.

This is the same man who, a fortnight earlier, was so race-ruiningly careful in tip-toeing around Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes for 27 laps.

Unfortunately these 27 laps glare ever more sharply in contrast with the half-lap that it took McLaren team-mate Jenson Button to weighup and successfully execute his own

manoeuvre on Schumacher. It was this performance which drew that rallying cry from Whitmarsh. Hamilton is damned either way, it seems.

Hamilton would do well, though, to learn from his lesser-paid, lesserrated team-mate. Unquestionably Hamilton has the knack for qualifying, but his power to think beyond the next corner or the next lap – or at least beyond his own cockpit – could be honed through observation of the ultra-reliable Button. How can anyone still call Hamilton the king of overtaking, now that his team-mate has such a high successrate and a catalogue of gutsy yet clinical moves? It seems a long time ago that the experts were criticising the latter for joining ‘Lewis Hamilton’s team’, and his current successes are surely all the sweeter for those initial forecasts of doom.

It will be argued that these dim prognoses of Hamilton’s future

are equally premature; after all, every driver endures rough patches throughout a career. However, what should be of grave concern – and, indeed, of greatest regret – is the fact that Hamilton imploded in 2010 too – and that was an infinitely more winnable championship. Forgivable of a novice was Hamilton’s disastrous 2007 run-in (17 points clear with 20 to play for, at one point), but in 2008 it took a sequence of pit-lane calamities and reliability problems for rival Felipe Massa for Hamilton to secure the title – even then, only at the final corner of the final lap of the season.

In 2009 he looked his most mature in an uncompetitive car, under absolutely no pressure.

It would be remiss of us, amid all this reflection, not to acknowledge the outstanding entourage that trails in Hamilton’s wake at every race, and the consequences of this

‘megastar’ branding for his frame of mind. It is as significant as it is distasteful the fact that many drivers in the midfield receive far less air time than Nicole Scherzinger.

Off-track distractions are worth of a separate article in their own right, but what matters most is the driving of the car .

On-track, Hamilton may often be the man of the moment, but he seems not to have learned a thing since his first day in the sport and his inconsistency over a season has always cost him. Give McLaren the dominant car next year and Button will win the title at a canter.

While the 2011 championship may be sewn up, the preparation for next year should make for an intriguing final few races. Hamilton will be looking for his form to bottom-out and pick up again sooner rather than later, but for now he continues to plummet.

Williams to roll dice on ice-man Raikkonen?

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The Finnish champ is understood to be flirting with the British team Sean Gibson Sport editor IN SOMETHING OF an appendage to the Formula 1 ‘silly season’, there has emerged the possibility of a link-up between former world champion Kimi Raikkonen and the Williams team.

Raikkonen quit Formula 1 at the end of 2009 to take up rallying, but has struggled to compete at the top of the order in the two years since.

The Finn won the 2007 Formula 1 world championship in his first season with Ferrari, having toiled to little effect with McLaren for several years prior. Once champion, though, his form dipped significantly and he was dropped by Ferrari to make room for Fernando Alonso in time for the 2010 season.

The prestigious Williams team are currently enduring their worst season ever, having first entered Formula 1 in 1978, adrift in ninth spot in the constructors’ standings with a measly five points. A Williams car has not

won a race since the final round of the 2004 season in Brazil, with JuanPablo Montoya at the wheel, and the last driver to win the world title in a Williams was Jacque Villeneuve in 1997.

With current driver Pastor Maldonado enjoying such strong financial backing from sponsors in his native Venezuela, Rubens Barrichello would have to be the one to make way for Raikkonen. Barrichello, a veteran of 19 seasons in Formula 1 and the most experienced driver in the sport’s history, is understood to be in no mood to hang up his helmet.

With initial interest established on both sides, doubtless the brinkmanship will now begin. Raikkonen’s salary will be serious money to Williams, but his presence in the team could well attract the significant investment needed to push this ailing giant back into the sport’s elite circle.

What is more, three into two will not go – meaning that either Raikkonen or Barrichello could pop up somewhere else for next season.