AGENDA
:— Nature’s way
The world‘s largest nature charity is donning its walking boots and taking to Scotland's hills and glens in the attempt to preserve them from the whims of private landlords. It has taken nine years' hard graft. but the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is finally stepping out of its Scottish base in Aberfeldy. armed with its own identity and a mission to protect.
Born from the intemational charity famed for its cuddly panda logo. WWF Scotland could not have timed its debut better, with the fate of a 42,000-acre Caimgorms estate hanging in the balance. Part of a national nature reserve. the Glen Feshie deer shooting estate has just been sold to a private landlord. despite attempts by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in alliance with the John Muir Trust to buy it. The environmentally-friend.y taskforce was forced to admit defeat when requests for cash from the Govemment-controlled National Memorial Heritage Fund were tumed down.
WWF Scotland argues estate owners should not be allowed to ride
roughshod over the interests of a nation. ‘Yet this is exactly the spectacle we have had to witness for decades while a national treasure dies on its feet.‘ says WWF‘s head of operations Simon Pepper.
Pepper plans to fight for legislation to protect some of Scotland‘s most beautiful — and fragile — countryside from those who put profit before environmental protection. ‘Visitors to Scotland must think we are a crazy society when we place restrictions on the colours we can paint our front doors in conservation areas. but allow land
owners to do as they please with hundreds of square miles of Scotland's most precious landscape.‘ he says. WWF Scotland will fight to raise public awareness in a nation which tends to get angry, but not active. ‘The Scots are generous — we raise more money here than we spend.‘ says policy officer Martin Mathers. ‘They get angry, but they don’t join things. Membership of environmental organisations is lower than the national average.‘ (Kathleen Morgan) For information on W WI" Scot/(1nd. telephone ()887 820449.
I Fringe technology The new Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme was launched last week in the usual A4 format. but the technological]y-minded can download the information through the lntemet (see Almac Gopher, then Fringe‘, ifthat means anything to anybody). Whichever way you access the programme. and it‘s probably still easier to pick one up at the Fringe Office at 180 High Street. you’ll find it contains entries for over 1200 shows by nearly 600 companies at 184 venues. New director Hilary Strong pre-empted the usual criticism ofthe Fringe as too big and unwieldy by saying: ‘Which shows would you turn away'?‘ The Fringe runs from Sunday 14 August—Saturday 3 September.
I Filling in Mayfest has appointed Paul Bassett, currently executive director at the Citizens‘ Theatre, as caretaker director to replace Robert Robson who leaves this week. The board decided against making a permanent appointment until the results ofa consultants' report on the operation of this year's Mayfest was completed. ‘We didn‘t want to rush into making a full-time appointment without considering the report,‘ says deputy chair Mary Picken.
I Censored news Film magazine Sight and Sound has organised a series of public debates on censorship and in the cinema. Richard Falcon. senior examiner at the British Board of Film Classification, will explain the BBFC‘s approach to film and video classification in light ofthe proposed amendment to the Video Recordings Act (The List. 229). Tom Dewe Mathews. whose history of film censorship Censored is published in July, will also be on the discussion panel. The debate is at the, GET (332 8128) on Wednesday 6 July and Edinburgh Filmhouse (228 2688) on Wednesday 27 July.
Hymgs‘luad
‘Seven thousand yogic flyers: the absolute requirement for successful government in Scotland.’ That was one of the many bold claims made by the Natural Law Party during the run up to this week’s Monklands East by- election. There’s a long tradition of eccentrics standing in British elections, but the party’s continued presence on the political scene - it fought every Euro-election seat in Britain and several other countries - is making it harder to ignore. If nothing else, their sheer force of numbers has taken them out of the Screaming Lord Sutch category. Leader Geoffrey Clements claims the party is now being taken increasingly seriously by the media; it already has two party political broadcasts under its belt and Radio Scotland’s Speaking Out is devoting a whole edition to the Natural Law Party next week. The party polled 500,000 votes in the Euro- elections, 100,000 of them in Britain,
Yogic flying: ‘reduces collective stress
which represents proportionally a three-fold increase on its 1992 general election result. ‘There’s a sense of despair in politics,’ says Clements. ‘It’s the responsibility of Government to do something to improve people’s quality of life and the political parties are not doing that.’
That conventional politics is failing to reach large numbers of the electorate is hard to refute. The answer, according to Clements, is two sessions a day of ‘yoglc flying’ - a more energetic version of transcendental meditation - which practitioners claim reduces ‘collective stress’ and helps tackle everything from the incidence of heart disease to the crime rate.
You could say they are flying in the face of convention. (Eddie Gibb) Geoffrey Clements will be on Speaking Out on BBC Radio Scotland on Thursday 7 July at 103m.
V ACTION
I Kicked out The Edinburgh Unemployed Workers‘ Centre is once again technically homeless. An application from the New Town. Broughton and Pilrig Community Council to take over the lease of the Centre's building at 103 Broughton Street had been knocked back by the building‘s owner. Lothian Regional Council. A previous eviction notice on the Centre will now come into effect. However. a spokesperson for the Centre says they plan to occupy the building and will continue to offer a range of services to the local community. All supporters ofthe Centre are welcome tojoin the occupation. further details from 031
557 0718. I Shelter in the storm Wim Wenders'
latest film Faraway. So Close." opens on Fri 1 July with a charity screening for Shelter Scotland, the campaign for homeless people. at Edinburgh‘s Cameo cinema. The evening begins at 6.30pm with a reception followed by an auction of six large film posters including Reservoir Dogs and The Piano.
I Women’s Comedy Network if you've ever wanted to seize that mike and hit the stage with a stand-up comic routine but can‘t find a stage. or wanted to be in a double act but haven't a partner, then the Women's Comedy Network sounds like it should be for you. Offering the chance to try out material in front of friendly faces before going under fire from more hostile audiences, the Network will be meeting at Stockbridge Library on Wed 6 July at 7pm. For more information contact Susan on 031 553 5166.
I Columblan Campaign The Edinburgh branch of Amnesty lntemational is hoping to raise awareness of the disappearances and political killings which occur in Columbia on a regular basis. Geraldine McDonald will explain some of the background issues at a meeting on Wed 6 July at 7.30pm at the Catholic Chaplaincy Centre, George Square where there will also be a video screening, exhibition and refreshments. I Jazz on a Summer Night The Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Centre Project will benefit from a gig by Linda Fletcher and her band at the Tron Bar on Mon 11 July. The Project will be using all funds raised to help establish a gay and lesbian centre in Glasgow. Tickets for the gig which starts at 7pm and will go on until midnight cost £2.50 (£2) and are available from the CCA, Sauchiehall Street on 041 332 0522.
I On The Line if you're a lesbian living in Glasgow and have missed the Glasgow Lesbian Line training sessions again. then don't despair. There are still some places left on their training course for new volunteers. The Lesbian Line provides support and information every Wednesday, 7—10pm on 041 552 3355. So, ifyou are a lesbian with some spare time who would like to work within the lesbian community then phone the Lesbian Line or write to PO Box 686. Glasgow G3 7TL for more information. I If you have news of any events or courses which you want publicised in this column, please forward them to ‘Actlon’ at The list, 14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 HE and Include a day- time phone number.
The List 1—14 July 1994 5