Politics

International Women's Day 2012 events

Round-up of talks, exhibitions and events surrounding Thursday 8 March

29 Feb 2012

In Glasgow, Scottish Women’s Aid will be running an all-day seminar to discuss perceptions of domestic abuse (Thu 8 Mar, Wolfson Medical Building, University of Glasgow, 9.30am). Talk of the Steamie, a new series of talks at the People’s Palace, are…

Interview: Doug Stanhope on politics

The controversial comedian discusses his political beliefs ahead of his UK tour

16 Feb 2012

How would you describe you political views? I don’t really like describing myself in those terms, but if I had to, I’m kind of an anarchist, just in a quiet way. I’ve been following the election at the moment [for the Republican presidential…

Opinion: MSP Joan McAlpine on same sex marriage

The need for equal marriage rights for Scotland's same-sex couples

6 Jan 2012

The introduction of civil partnerships in 2004 meant many people believe we already have gay marriage. Lots of us have celebrated the union of gay friends and family. Thirty years ago, few gay people were allowed to be open about their sexuality. Thank…

Wigtown Book Festival: Beyond the Arab Spring

Rosemary Hollis, Martin Bell, Robert Irwin and Robin Yassin Kassab

6 Oct 2011

This year has changed many of us who only had a vague idea of the kings and dictators who have made life hell for many people in North Africa and the Middle East, suddenly we are much better informed as the electrifying events of the year have unfolded.

Life and Debt

Heartbreaking and pertinent documentary about Jamaica's economic misfortunes

22 Sep 2011

Made the year after the launch of the Jubilee 2000 campaign to cancel third world debt at the beginning of the new millennium, Stephanie Black’s agitprop documentary looks at the case of Jamaica. In 1977, fifteen years after achieving independence from…

You've Been Trumped - Anthony Baxter interview

Director of Donald Trump doc on being shunned by Scottish film bodies

22 Sep 2011

‘I live in Montrose and it’s 40 miles south of the Menie Estate, where Donald Trump was planning to build his golf course resort. I read the newspapers every day and I was surprised that the coverage was so one-sided. The other side of the story, as I…

Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival

Annual arts festival returns for biggest year yet

13 Sep 2011

Unless you’ve been gently nestled under some rock for the past several years, you will probably be aware of the annual autumnal arts treat that is the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival (SMHAFF). This year’s brochure boasts almost 300 events…

Take One Action Film Festival 2011

Event highlights from the political film fest

25 Aug 2011

Radical, committed, and delivering a great, high-quality programme, this year the Take One Action Film Festival, celebrating, as patron Archbishop Desmond Tutu puts it ‘the people and movies that are changing the world’, has an excellent programme of…

The Kennedys fares poorly in comparison to The West Wing

BBC TV series can only trundle its way to various fiery denouements

28 Jun 2011

Were you to catch a distant earful of the string-laden theme tune for The Kennedys (BBC2, Fri, 9pm), and glimpse, out the corner of one eye, some swimmy stars and stripes, you could be half-forgiven for thinking that someone has stuck on a West Wing…

Refugee Week Scotland

The week-long events programme sets its stall, 60 years after the UN Refugee Convention was signed

27 May 2011

We’re huge supporters of Refugee Week – so it’s with a happy heart that we can report it’s back bigger and better than ever before. As well as all the special events, activities and talks, this year’s programme boasts Courage: 60 Years of the UN Refugee…

The Pipe

Risteard O’Domhnaill's stirring documentary shows a community's fight against big business

23 May 2011

(12A) 83min In 1996 natural gas was discovered off the west coast of Ireland. Shortly afterwards, Shell UK announced plans to run a pipe through the waters and land of Rossport in County Mayo to an inland refinery. Risteard O’Domhnaill’s remarkable…

Countdown to Zero

Documentary highlights the problems with nuclear weapons, but proposes no solutions

23 May 2011

Following the success of last year’s Oscar-nominated Waste Land, British filmmaker Lucy Walker returns with a persuasive argument for nuclear disarmament in her latest documentary, Countdown to Zero. Featuring a range of high-profile talking heads…

Scotland's biggest ever Refugee Week celebrates the 60th anniversary of the signing of the UN Refugee Convention

17 May 2011

This year, Scotland’s ever-expanding programme of films, performances, music events, exhibitions and club nights celebrating the contribution that refugees have made to our society is marking a very important anniversary: it’s 60 years since the UN…

UK playwrights fight government cuts

Theatre Uncut features work by Mark Ravenhill, David Greig, Lucy Kirkwood and Jack Thorne

18 Feb 2011

Scotland’s art scene seldom stands on ceremony and next month looks set to be just as impressive as Bedlam Theatre hosts a day of theatre, music and talk, as part of a nationwide stand against the Government spending review. Playwrights including Mark…

Dominic Streatfeild - A History of the World Since 9/11

Explores victims caught in the less than friendly fire raging since 9/11

9 Feb 2011

(Atlantic) Penning histories of mind control and cocaine can hardly be described as flights of literary fancy, but Dominic Streatfeild has now hit the mother lode of seriousness with his new work. Ever since those two towers came tumbling down, the…

George Clooney happy to stay out of politics

Celebrity Gossip

22 Jan 2011

George Clooney would never want to be president because he doesn't want to answer to anyone else. The American actor has always been quite vocal with his political views but says he has no intention to run for office as he sees what immense pressure…

Creative Scotland director Andrew Dixon: Why successful cities make creative places

The head of the replacement body for the Scottish Arts Council offers a view on the year ahead

11 Jan 2011

Some of the most successful modern cities in Europe, from Amsterdam to Barcelona, Madrid to Venice, have come to be defined by their artistic and cultural lives. Likewise here in the UK there are many examples of cities that have, in their own way, used…

Scottish Parliament building hosts exhibition exploring Jacobites' international legacy

Rare chance to see historic artefacts from University of Aberdeen

13 Dec 2010

The Scottish Parliament building hosts an exhibition of historical pieces from the University of Aberdeen's Jacobite collections for the next month.

Storyville: Mandelson - The Real PM

Channel Hopper

22 Nov 2010

Winston Churchill once described Labour’s postwar deputy PM Herbert Morrison as a mix of ‘genius and venom’. A lot worse has been said about Morrison’s grandson Peter Mandelson, the Prince of Darkness (aka the Dark Lord) and key architect of New Labour…

PJ O'Rourke - Don’t Vote! It Just Encourages the Bastards

Caustic witticisms from Ohio-born Gonzo graduate not for everyone

19 Nov 2010

(Grove Press) They say that the natural tendency is to get more right-wing with age. Few American political commentators embody this ethical shift more than PJ O’Rourke. A former ‘hippie’ turned Republican Party Reptile, it would be easy to loathe…

Steve Bell - If . . . Bursts Out

Hilarious and hurtful collection of vibrantly satiric strips

19 Nov 2010

(Jonathan Cape) When Ed Miliband was elected leader of the Labour Party, the Guardian website ran footage of cartoonist Steve Bell turning his observations of the new man at the podium into a mocking cartoon. As Bell takes up his spot near the front…

Family weekend: Rebels with a Cause – The Jacobites and the Global Imagination

Traditional music, egg decorating and quiz among highlights of weekend of free children's events

17 Nov 2010

Rebels with a Cause – The Jacobites and the Global Imagination Wednesday 27 October to Saturday 8 January (closed Sundays except Sunday 28 November and 24 - 28, 31 December and 1 - 3 January) Monday and Friday 10:00 - 16.00 (last entry 15:30)…

Take One Action film festival showcases best in political cinema

Budrus, Nero’s Guests and Sweet Crude among highlights of 2010

23 Sep 2010

Take One Action! should have enough films in their 2010 programme to get the most politically slothful citizen socially activated. The film Budrus focuses on small actions leading to big results, with villagers in the little titular town taking things…

The Special Relationship

22 Sep 2010

(15) 88min (Optimum) The third part of writer Peter Morgan’s excellent ‘Blair trilogy’ focuses on the relationship between the former PM and US president Bill Clinton. While Blair will probably be primarily remembered for what many perceive to have…

Glasgow walk encourages critical engagement with centre

Guided walk of city explores use of urban space

14 Aug 2010

The skyscraper-crammed stretch of city centre basking in the title Glasgow’s International Financial Services District is a strange place at the best of times. During the day, the tower blocks are full of call-centre workers; at night the street corners…

Festival of Politics - Annie Lennox on HIV/AIDS in South Africa

Founder of the SING campaign set for Edinburgh appearance

14 Aug 2010

1. Becoming a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador recently has strengthened and broadened my platform. Michel Sidibé, the director of UNAIDS, is a real visionary who has a very clear and innovative directive as to how he wants to lead the response to the HIV…

Gary Younge visits the Edinburgh Book Festival

Exploring issues of identity across this mad world

6 Aug 2010

Returning to Edinburgh holds bittersweet memories for Gary Younge. He was in the city as a student in the late 80s, studying Russian and French at Heriot-Watt and was awestruck by the geography of his new surroundings. ‘Having grown up in Stevenage…

Martin Bell discusses lack of faith in politicians in Edinburgh visit

Festival of Politics and Book Festival appearances scheduled

6 Aug 2010

The man in the white suit is in town for an event at the Festival of Politics but he’s also kindly dropping by to charm the punters in Charlotte Square. Here, he will be discussing the lack of faith we now have in our elected representatives, mainly due…

The Shock Doctrine

Second adaptation of Naomi Klein’s capitalism analysis

23 Jul 2010

(E) 79min (Dogwoof) Not to be confused with Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón’s 2007 short, this second adaptation of Naomi Klein’s chilling book about the evils of modern capitalism is the full-length 2009 documentary co-directed by Michael…

Martin Bell, Mark Thomas and Annie Lennox set for Festival of Politics

Power of the People event examines political process

16 Jul 2010

Were you depressed by the outcome of the general election? The Conservatives back in power despite being all but annihilated in Scotland. Labour collapsed despite being endorsed north of the border. The Lib Dems putting Cameron in Downing Street. The…

Annie Lennox provides HIV/AIDS campaign update

Festival of Politics 2010

16 Jul 2010

A regular visitor to the Scottish Parliament come August time, former Eurythmics co-leader Annie Lennox takes part in two events. First up she is joined by comic Mark Thomas and former war correspondent turned independent MP Martin Bell in Power of the…

How American journalist Heather Brooke became a threat to UK democracy

Five year investigation uncovers parliamentary expenses scandal

15 Jul 2010

In the introduction to her book, The Silent State, Heather Brooke describes herself as a ‘nosey parker’. Whereas some people can’t walk past a curtain without needing to twitch it, Brooke has a yearning to poke around into the lives of those authority…

Videocracy

24 Jun 2010

(15) 84min ‘Television and power are one and the same here,’ narrates Italian-born and Swedish-based director Eric Gandini in this fascinating portrait of Silvio Berlusconi’s Italy. Over the past three decades Berlusconi, the current Prime Minister…

Ballot proof - the people putting the fun into election night

5 May 2010

It’s no Obama showdown, we grant you, but by Blighty’s efforts, vote night is hotting up. Just when we thought Gordy was a goner, and ‘im in the blue corner was in, Nick’s not looking quite so knacked, after a ‘winning’ performance on the live…

The People’s Manifesto - Mark Thomas interview

18 Jan 2010

Political reform may sound like a task filled with difficult problems, but as Mark Thomas explains; we already have all the answers. While touring last year’s “it’s the stupid economy” show Mark asked audiences to suggest policies to sort out British…

Festival of Politics tackles devolution and the Arts

James Kelman, Vicky Featherstone and Germaine Greer on bill

6 Aug 2009

The Scottish Parliament’s annual festival of issues and debate is back again, with lectures on everything from the legality of Facebook to diabetes and time travel. Other events catching our beady little eyes include a discussion on Devolution and the…

Adam Thirlwell's latest novel - The Escape

23 Jul 2009

There’s a scene at the end of Adam Thirlwell’s The Escape in which its British Jewish protagonist Raphael Haffner attempts to explain the concept of a draw in cricket to an American friend. This idea acts as a neat allegory of the book’s plot, in which…

A Life in Politics - Clare Short

Hear the independent MP discuss her career and the issues

13 Jul 2009

Toeing the party line may not be Clare Short’s biggest strength. The feisty politician has frequently received criticism for straying very vocally ‘off message’, and once declared the House of Commons as ‘one of the most depressing and intellectually…

Germaine Greer at the Festival of Politics

The writer joins the Future Scotland Debate on Sustainable Places

13 Jul 2009

If anyone can get punters fired up about politics it’s Germaine Greer. Relations between MPs and the electorate are at an all-time low; kids can’t be bothered to get off the computer to vote; and our PM’s position is looking decidedly precarious. So…

Anthony Suau's World Press Photo shot

The winning photographer's disturbing vision of America

13 Jul 2009

Wars, from Georgia to the Middle East, and the human suffering they cause featured heavily among the winners of the World Press Photo competition this year. American snapper Anthony Suau scooped the top prize for a shot that starkly and ambiguously…

Festival Timeline

Claire Sawers jogs down memory lane with some landmark Festival moments

13 Jul 2009

62 years of Festival memories, including the debut of a young comedy troop with a future Oscar winner in its ranks and a love affair with a pig.

Best of the Rest - Politics

Political highlights at the Edinburgh Festivals

13 Jul 2009

Highlights include Annie Lennox and the SING campaign, From Darwin to Dolly: And Beyond, A Life in Politics: Dennis Canavan, Devolution and the Arts, Young Peoples Question Time, Burns' Radical Voice and Love But Her

Pride Scotia

25 Jun 2009

Scotland’s bi-annual LGBT celebration, Pride Scotia is returning to the capital with its usual array of provocative and outrageous happenings. Revellers are asked to assemble at noon on Sat 27 Jun at the City Chambers for speeches from local politicians…

Tony Allen: Secret Agent

28 May 2009

Nick Gold – producer of Buena Vista Social Club, Toumani Diabate and other special artists – works his alchemy for British-based Tony Allen, one time drummer with Fela Anikulapo Kuti (and latterly Damon Albarn) for a wild Nigerian Afrobeat…

Reel Iraq

14 May 2009

The point of Charlie Brooker’s excellent Newswipe series, which ended recently, seemed to be that, far from being an honest and agenda-free information source, the news is just as much a constructed text as, say, a novel or a film. And for most people…

International Women’s Day

5 Mar 2009

2009 is a significant year for women’s rights in Scotland: Saturday 10th October is the 100th anniversary of the first big suffragette march in the country and there will be a commemorative procession following the original route down Princes Street in…

UnCreative Scotland?

8 Jan 2009

As the arts world waits for a clear proposal from Creative Scotland, the current stalemate is potentially damaging, argues Robin Hodge

Martin Bell

Seeking truth and an end to sleaze

14 Aug 2008

Eleven years after New Labour’s landslide victory, Martin Bell has been considering Tony Blair’s legacy. More specifically, the white suit-wearing BBC war correspondent turned independent MP, and now UNICEF ambassador, wants to work out where it all…

Picture this - World Press Photo

Festival of Politics

22 Jul 2008

From soldiers to skiers, featuring death and dresses, the World Press Photo exhibition captures life at its extremes. David Pollock views the cream of this year’s selection and discusses life through a lens.

The Body Politic - The British Ambassador’s Belly Dancer

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

22 Jul 2008

A story of prostitution, oppression and torture might not sound like fun, but throw in a bit of belly dancing and you have a Fringe hit. Steve Cramer talks to Craig Murray, formerly our man in Uzbekistan, about baring souls on stage.