.5”... i L ,, {I 'r t: y. 5 _.

Getting to the heart .of Glasgow's Idea of ‘style'

PAGE 6

Wind ars woo public

u '"JWind' on- or . « -- _ flwoff-Vshorb,’ are an increasingly batsman sight

Controversial clean energy generators open up to the public. Words: Allan Radcliffe

mbrace the Revolution. the national campaign for

wind energy. is running its first ever ‘Wind

Weekend‘ at the end of August. The UK-wide event. which is operated north of the border by Embrace Scotland. is inviting members of the public to visit wind farms the length and breadth of this fair land to experience the powerful turbines up close. And all for the very reasonable price of free. nought. gratis. It takes place over the weekend of 27 and 28 August. and participating centres will be offering such fun. family-friendly activities as kite flying and windmill painting. and there will also be several opportunities to learn about renewable energy sources and the wider issue of climate change.

()f the five participating Scottish wind farms, two. Thorlinn. Burgar Hill and Burray, are on the Orkneys and one. Novar. is in lnverness-shire. Those residing in the Central Belt are pointed firmly in the direction of centres at Ardrossan in North Ayrshire and Dun Law in the Borders. The west coast event features such activities as kite flying. Frisbee-throwing and an interactive learning area with laptops and screens as well as windmill and face painting and a bouncy castle for the kids. Meanwhile. Dun Law

1

wEesrrE JULY 05 1 MAGAZINE - SEPTEMBER 05*

4 THE LIST 18—25) Aug 2005

also boasts wood craft workshops. falconry. energy efficiency and recycling workshops and entertainment on an environmental theme.

Wind Weekend also provides a timely opportunity to explode some of the myths regularly trotted out regarding wind power. For instance. it’s simply not true to say that tens of thousands of turbines will clutter the British countryside like some invading alien army. Only around 3500 additional modem turbines are required to deliver the 8% of the UK‘s electricity required by govemment targets by 2010. The benefits to the environment from pursuing such a clean. renewable source of energy are manifold. and there’s currently no evidence that wind farms negatively affect tourism or harm property prices.

The Embrace the Revolution campaign is run by the British Wind Energy Association. Britain’s largest and most influential trade group representing the wind energy industry. Its Scottish campaign was launched earlier this year. and was championed by Franz Ferdinand‘s Alex Kapranos. as well as broadcaster and historian Magnus Magnusson and actor Brian Cox.

For further details. visit www.cmbracewind.com.

NEW GAY MEN'S MAG FOR SCOTLAND

I Base, a brand new free magazine aimed at Scotland’s gay communities, launches on 5 September. Bearing the tagline ‘Men Love Men’, the pocket- sized magazine is to appear quarterly and will be distributed in bars, clubs and venues across the nation. While it's produced in part by Gay Men’s Health, the sexual health message is dealt with in a less dry, clinical manner than in traditional gay magazines. The first issue hits the ground running with a mix of fashion, sex and lifestyle features. Oh, and there’s a plentiful selection of buff men in pants (and what red-blooded male would turn up his nose at that?) The website, www.basemag.co.uk, features exclusive content, an invitation to get involved, whether as contributor or potential model, and an opportunity to sign up for a free subscription. (AR)

FIVE OF THE BEST

I Kings of Leon At last they’ve shedded their rep

as a bunch of moody prima

donnas. Last year's A—ha Shake Heartbreak was nothing short of tremendous and they're finally where they belong up there among the big boys. See Music. page 29. SECC, Glasgow.

I Barbara Kruger Another visit from New York's queen of agitprop art, this time with an enthralling series of films in a powerful installation. See Visual Art, page 36. Tramway, Glasgow.

I Me and You and Everyone We Know Miranda July's darkly funny ensemble drama. set in the American suburbs. finds something wondrous in people’s everyday interactions. Don't miss it. See Film. page 17. GFT, Glasgow; Cameo, Edinburgh.

I Rock Snob’s Dictionary A book which either shows up the muso as an incredible, ridiculous beast or the essential handbook for boning up on the pointless details of rock lore. Silly and useful. See Books. page 12. Sanctuary.

I Grand Tour Matte Leiden-stem Once again, one of Scotland's finest art venues attracts a highly prized international exhibition. This show is an intelligent. witty feast of ideas for anyone remotely interested in the history of art. See Visual Art. page 36. Dundee Contemporary Arts.