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Anti-nuclear campaigners are calling for a Scottish boycott of French goods which will add to the escalating international protests against French atomic testing.
Faslane Peace Camp. with backing from the Scottish Campagin for Nuclear Disarmament. advises shoppers to load supermarket trolleys with French champagne. wines. cheeses and any other French produce and then dump them unpaid for at the checkout. This one of a growing number of direct-action protests aimed at focusing public concern over the tests.
There has already been a series of demonstrations at the French (‘onsulatc in Edinburgh. (TNl) has been holding regular Friday morning vigils outside the building. while Friends of the [Earth activists recently chained themselves to the Consulate railings. The Tall Ships event at Leith Docks was also invaded by protestors. who unfurled a banner
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The reason for the resumption of nuclear undeground testing in today's post Cold War climate is difficult to fathom. Tony Southall. joint secretary of Scottish (‘ND suspects that the big powers are negotiating a sub-strategic role for their nuclear arsenals. ‘Now that the traditional enemy has disappeared and tactical nuclear weapons are being phased out. they are looking for new justifications. sttch as exciting control over unruly Third World countries like Iraq for example.‘ he says.
The ‘ln your face' campaign against French imports is holding a National Boycott Day in early August. Activist Julie Silverman. who took part in a recent demonstration at Glasgow‘s Byres Road branch of Safeways. pointed out that on-the-spot boycotting is the most effective way of exerting influence in the short time left before
the planned resumption ofnuclcar testing in September. ‘The urgency of the situation leaves direct action as our only option.‘ she says.
The tithing of the tests which are being hurried through before the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty meeting which is being held in 19%. is regarded by anti-nuclear campaigners as spectacularly insensitive. They will take place just a month after the 50th anniversary of the devastation of the Japanese city of Nagasaki by allied powers. (Conchita Pinto)
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Scots funny man to host ‘chat show’
Jack Docherty, one half of television comedy duo mr den and mr george, has a new alter-ego called Ken Fine (as in ‘ah ken fine whit yer can aboot’). necked out in a plaid jacket that looks suspicioust like it’s out from the Royal Shortbread tartan, this bouncy character takes us on a guided tour through the highways and by- ways of the Scots language.
The Ken Fine Show was conceived as an answer back to the hours of Gaelic programming that BBC Scotland and Scottish Television broadcast to a nation of predominantly non-Gaels. lot that it’s some kind of attempt to politicise Scots or do down Gaelic; the series is just intended as a celebration of some of the crazy words which seem to exist like in no other language.
Docherty’s particular favourite ‘dub- skelper’, which he defines as: ‘one who travels rapidly, regardless of the the road conditions’.
‘This programme is a good idea because we forget Scots is a language as well because it gets so homogenised with English,’ says llocherty. ‘It would be nice if we could be less embarrassed about using it. There shouldn’t be this distinction between playground and classroom speech.’ (Eddie Gibb)
The Ken Fine Show starts on Thurs 10 Aug at 7pm on Scottish.
Edinburgh pins hopes on arts for future economic growth
A multi-media festival, more prestigious sports events and greater support for exisiting cultural activities in Edinburgh are among the proposals contained in a draft economic development strategy which the district council hopes to complete nextyean
Conceived as a starting point for the new city authority when it takes over next April, the Economic Strategy for Edinburgh identifies arts and culture as a major growth industry for the city over the next 25 years. The council is looking at ways to capitalise on events such as the recent Tall Ships Race, which it is estimated attracted
crowds of 1.5 million people and £30 million in extra spending during the regatta’s four-day stay in Leith.
The consultation period for the draft strategy has been extended by the council to the end of August to allow more companies, charities and community groups to comment on the wide-ranging pr0posals. Other proposals for boosting the city’s arts and cultural scene include better marketing tie-ups between shops and venues, with the possibility of introducing a ‘Made in Edinburgh’ mark which would put the official seal of approval on city entertainments.
‘There’s a sense that though the
festivals are good for the city, they aren’t as good as they could be,’ says an economic development spokesman. ‘Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and some of the major festivals are under- resourced when it comes to marketing and they don’t have a year round presence. There is little ioint marketing.’
Though many arts organisations agree that lack of marketing resources is a big headache, the district council has no power to spend hard cash, or even make firm policy commitments, in these areas. ‘These are real resource questions and they are something the new authority will have to think about,’ says the spokesman. ‘The tricky bit is if the new authority has a number of people who don’t like this process.’ (Eddie Gibb)
Ad agency hopes to stub out teen smoking
While people over 25 are finally heeding the accutnulated findings of the medical profession and either giving tip smoking or not starting at all, Scottish teenagers continue to take up the habit with two fifths of girls and a third of boys aged 15 smoking regularly or occasionally.
In order to combat this worrying trend the Health Education Board for Scotland has recently launched a hard- hitting advertising campaign aimed at young people. Research shows that young people often start smoking in order to appear older. The posters show that cigarettes can literally make smokers look a lot older.
Glasgow-based advertising agency The Bridge w as given the difficult brief of thinking tip a campaign which would encourage young people not to start or to quit smoking while avoiding alienating or patronising them at the satne time. ‘The development of the campaign was particularly challenging because of the contradictions of the target audience.‘ says Margaret Byrnes, the campaign account director at The
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Bridge. ‘They feel the desire to rebel but the need to fit in; the demand for independence yet the willingness to receive guidance; the dislike of the smoking experience, but the desire to persevere.‘
The posters convey the anti-smoking message and subtly hint that adults do not know better and that young people. should make their own decisions since they are ‘young enough to know better.‘ (Jonathan Trew)
4 The List 28 Jul-10 Aug 1995