Annette
Lamont, campaigner to save children's nurseries, former Regional Councillor
for Broughton-Inverleith, 16 years office manager for Malcolm Chisholm (MSP
for Edinburgh North & Leith), and human shield in Iraq at the start of the
2003 war, died at home in Edinburgh last month.Annette was politicised in the late 1970's and early 1980's. As a young mother, she joined the campaigns against closures of nurseries and children's centres. She wrote "There had been a vociferous campaign to reduce rates...organised by business and Tory supporters and when they gained control of Lothian Regional Council they started a drastic cut back of local services". Many services were saved and Annette joined the Labour Party (which, like so many, she later left,) and went on to serve a four year term as the Councillor for Broughton-Inverleith.
In 2003 she seized the opportunity to go to Iraq as part of the Human Shield
Movement. Annette was at the Taji food silo 12km north of Baghdad, during the
bombing campaign by the Allies. On her return to Edinburgh, Annette held an exhibition
of photographs of her time in Iraq. She visited Iraq againg and left behind a
manuscript "Not In My Name" which describes the realities of life in
Iraq in her straightforward and direct voice. Annette was irreplaceable, and
probably the bravest person I've ever known.
"Politicians
and officials have knowledge that is too difficult for the rest of us to
understand, or is too secret to pass on, so we must trust to their better
understanding, their better judgement, their better knowledge and their
ability to know what is best for us. The largest demonstrations in history
are scantily covered by a media complicit in an ideal of a hierarchy of
power, knowledge, and influence. Ignoring the people you are supposed
to represent is not seen as undemocratic, but as principled and heroic.”
Annette
Lamont - "Not In My Name".
Article
about Annette's time in Iraq on the BBC web
site >>>
Capital's
Human Shield dies, Edinburgh Evening News, February 19th >>>
Mark Lazarowicz secures Government action to protect
the Firth of Forth
Mark brought forward The Environmental Protection (Transfers at Sea)
Bill which aims to provide better regulation of potentially damaging ship-to-ship
oil transfers around the UK. The issue was flagged in the Leith and North Edinburgh
area recently, by an application to carry out commercial ship-to-ship oil transfers
in the Firth of Forth, and the subsequent concern over a threat to wildlife in
the area.
The Shipping Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, gave a serious response to Mark
in the Bill's 2nd reading debate on January 25th. The Minister agreed to bring forward regulations to address the issues of: which types of cargo are subject to regulation;
where ship-to-ship transfers of such cargoes may or may not be carried out;
what measures will apply in the interests of environmental protection.
The Minister said that Government consultation would be timetabled to
commence in the Spring and that changes to the law would go before Parliament
during the Summer.
"My
Bill aimed to ensure that the whole marine environment is protected from
this practice and that ship-to-ship transfers are carried out where they
can be done safely. I know this is an issue which the UK Government have
been consulting on and I hope the Government will give this Bill a positive
response”,
said Mark.
This was the Edinburgh North & Leith MP's third Private Members'
Bill in seven years. Previous Bills brought forward by Mark, and now enacted,
gave the power to local authorities throughout the UK to introduce 20mph
speed limits to save the lives of pedestrians, and to create a range of
measures aimed at making it easier for renewable energy to be generated.
News
on Mark Lazarowicz's web site (he would love to hear your views and feedback) >>>
L
& B Police: call for witnesses after racial attack >>> Reclaim
the Night: Edinburgh >>>
Tram scheme news: Major work on Leith Walk to run from January to June 2008
As part of the tram scheme, Alfred McAlpine has been appointed to carry out essential utilities work to move and protect underground cables and pipes. This programme of work will start on Leith Walk, from Jameson Place to Brunswick Street on the southbound carriageway, on Monday 7th January 2008 and is expected to last until June 2008.
In order to minimise the overall disruption the City of Edinburgh Council may be asked to grant permission for work to be carried out at weekends and in the evenings if required.
Trams for Edinburgh are inviting residents with "specific requirements", to contact them via a mailshot which will include a card to fill in and send to them.
You can also talk to the uniformed Tram Helper on site, call their Customer Helpline on 0131 623 8726
or email roadworks@tramsforedinburgh.com.
Transport Initiative Edinburgh (TIE) has published a new business case for the trams project. The cost for delivering phase 1a between Newhaven and the airport has been pegged at £498m including contingency funding - significantly below the £545m available.
Also, full details of how the City's roads will fit around the new £498 million tram line have been shared. Several key routes in the city will be closed or re-routed to make way for the trams.
Constitution Street will be partially closed, and the London Rd roundabout at the top of Leith Walk will be replaced with a T-junction. There are links below to enable readers to find out more. We'll bring you more news, as we hear it.
Trams: on time and £47 million under budget: Evening News, October
18th >>>
Rip up road map as trams set to hit streets: Evening News, October
19th >>>
Trams For Edinburgh web site >>>
Download PDF of City road plans >>>
Newslink: Now Council cuts target the Voluntary Sector: The Scotsman, December 10th >>>
Demonstration in North Edinburgh to mark 6th
Anniversary of the Guantanamo Bay camp
Amnesty International UK organised their latest demonstration calling
for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, on Friday 11th January,
outside the US Consulate. 200 people of all ages gathered outside the US
Consulate on Regent Terrace, and marched in orange boiler suits to assume
the infamous submission position at the foot of The Mound in the City Centre.
The demonstration was one of many that took place around the world. A petition calling for the base to be closed was handed in to the White House, signed by over 1200 parliamentarians from around the world, including 53 members of the Scottish Parliament, Malcolm Chisholm among them. Lothians Green MSP Robin Harper was present at the US Consulate.
Leith & North would like to thank Phil Attridge for taking photos which
enabled our reporter to take part in the demonstration.
Amnesty
International UK web site >>>
Protest
in Harmony >>>
Wikipedia
article on the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp >>>
Read
the story in full on Leith & North >>>
Pupils of North Edinburgh School, Forthview build links with children from Burma
Forthview Primary School in Pilton, has developed strong links with Hle Bee school run for, and by, Burmese refugees in Mae Sot (near the western border of Thailand).
Pupils are making saffron ribbons to sell for £1 each - funds go to raise much needed money for Hle Bee school, and the ribbons can be worn to remember and show support for the struggle of the Burmese people against military rule.
At the end of October, Dr Thein Lwin an exchange teacher from Hle Bee visited the school and Edinburgh. (Dr Lwin's visa was in doubt right up to the last minute, but he was able to get to Edinburgh thanks to the efforts of Mark Lazarowicz, MP "at the highest level".
In a packed programme Dr Lwin, Forthview Headteacher, Sheila Laing and pupils met with MSPs (shown below) and took Aung San Suu Kyi’s “Freedom Flag” to the City Chambers,where it now flies. Dr. Lwin spoke with many groups about the situation in Burma, and the work of the school which aims "to make citizens" of its pupils and "teach them to think for themselves" as they grow up.
You can find out how to order your own ribbons to sell, and read much more about both schools and Thein Lwin's visit, by going to the
Forthview Primary School blog site >>>
Mark Lazarowicz praises Forthview, and describes the Burma Educational Scholarship Trustin Parliament >>>
Newslink: Edinburgh Botanics hosts Spring '08 Lantern Festival: Evening News, December 5th >>>
Leith Museum Campaign: Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee discusses Museum proposal
Petition PE1083 went before the
Public Petitions Committee Tuesday, November 6th.Convener Frank McAveety declared it "a good petition worth exploring".
Malcolm Chisholm (MSP for Edinburgh North & Leith) was there urging the committee to support this petition, noting the thousands of signatures gathered on the streets of Leith and speaking of the "strong feeling in Leith, that we have a rich and
varied history ... with a distinct identity.
Campaign for a Leith Museum web site >>>
Sign the online petition today! >>>
Find an MSP to lobby to support the campaign >>>
Read more about the campaign on Leith & North >>>
Malcolm went on to explain that the campaign wants to see a feasibility study carried out and referred to the appropriate bodies for consideration. He explained that Leith Custom House is owned by National Museums Scotland, and that they are happy for the building to be used if the items they store there can be housed elsewhere.
Robin Harper (Green MSP for Lothians, and a committee member) supported the petition, noting that many smaller communities already have their own museums. Malcolm agreed noting that Leith is "one of the largest historic communities" that doesn't have one
The Petitions Committee will seek the views of City of Edinburgh Council, COSLA, Enterprise companies and the Scottish Museums Council, with explicit questions about funding and any possible constraints; it will then make further recommendations. This does not fast track the petition as its supporters would have liked, but it does keep it before the Parliament under active consideration and leaves the opportunity to gather even more support. Mark Lazarowicz MP, was unable to attend, as he was serving in Westminster attending the State Opening of (the UK) Parliament. Steve Mitchell represented Leith Local History Society, and Nick Gardner was there for Leith & North.
Earlier, we heard from relatives of men drowned in the sinking of the troopship Lancastria in June 1940 (visit web site of Lancastria Association, Scotland); they spoke movingly of their desire for recognition of the sacrifice made by some 4,000 men which has been almost completely ignored for 67 years, urging Parliament to strike a commemorative medal.We hope that they win belated recognition, and to bring you news that both petitions are granted before another 67 years have passed.
Newslink: Council threat to Edinburgh's Historic Buildings: Evening News, December 4th >>>
Two generations of Redpath Albion battle for bragging rights in charity match
Redpath Albion are laying on a series of events as part of their Jubilee 50th anniversary celebrations. The young guns of Redpath faced Strathie Albion veterans on November 16th on their home turf in Pilrig Park.
Leith & North's man on the spot writes "A first half goal put the impressive combined Strathie-Albion veterans side into a 0-1 goal lead
but a second half onslaught saw Albion shift into top gear as they blasted home 6 goals from Kerr (3) and
one each from Salton, Steve Morrison and Stevenson". Leith & North suspects that youthful legs and match fitness may have been a factor.
Albion have a track record of raising money for various charities, and the game, combined with a challenge to the Strathmore Bar Darts Team (in Iona St), raised
a total of £200 and kick-started the club's year long Jubilee Charity drive
Redpath Albion web site >>>
Newslink: UNIGHT: 21 of Edinburgh's Clubs establish universal safety policy, October 26th >>>
Greener Leith is looking for volunteers
Mark Lazarowicz's month in Parliament
In our quest to make Leith a greener place (writes Alastair Tibbett,) we are now looking for people who can spare some time each month to help consolidate and develop our organisation. We would be delighted for anyone with good ideas, enthusiasm and drive to join us in this task but we would be particularly happy to find individuals capable in:
IT skills to help us to manage our member database
producing podcasts, and short videos and the like;
communications/Public relations skills to raise awareness of Greener Leith;
graphic design skills to help us design posters, logos and graphics.
Greener Leith projects in the works that you can get on board of include Pilrig Park, the Persevere/Leith Links garden project and the Portobello-Leith Links cycle path campaign.
Thanks to Alastair Tibbett of Greener Leith for permission to use the photo.
Read more on the Greener Leith web site >>>
Mark Lazarowicz (Labour MP for Edinburgh North & Leith) raised various issues in the House recently, and is hard at work on his third Private Members' Bill in seven years.
Some of Mark's questions were on :
Multiculturalism (October 24th) >>>
Renewable energy (November 22nd) >>>
Intenational Nuclear Test Ban (November 27th) >>>
International finance (November 29th) >>>
Nuclear Arms reduction (December 3rd) >>>
Mark's latest bill aims to improve the regulation of potentially damaging ship to ship oil transfers around the UK. Mark’s bill aims to regulate ship-to-ship transfers more generally and introduce regulations that impose environmental constraints on the transfer of any hazardous material between ships in inshore UK waters. Mark’s bill has been backed by RSPB Scotland who have been particularly active campaigners on this issue. Leith & North will keep up to date with progress.
Visit Mark's web site to read more about Mark's work in Parliament >>>
To read Mark's question visit They Work For You >>>
Friends of the Earth News Mark Lazarowicz warns constituents against "The Silent Killer"
Friends of the Earth Scotland have launched a series of 'Training for Change' short courses designed to help people to campaign on neighbourhood improvement issues better. There are three short courses that are scheduled to run between January and April next year. The courses are on Media and Communications, Planning and Environmental Law and Community Development.
You can find out more by following the link below, to visit their web site. Thanks to Greener Leith for the tip off.
Friends of the Earth Scotland moved to Thorn House in Rose St in September.
Friends of The Earth Scotland web site >>>
Greener Leith web site >>>
The Carbon Monoxide Consumer Awareness Alliance (COCAA) launched the ‘Be Carbon Monoxide Aware’ logo in the House of Commons during Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week (15-19 October). COCAA is co-ordinated by gas industry safety watchdog CORGI and consists of all the major energy retailers, representatives across all fuel types, victim support charities and manufacturers of carbon monoxide alarms..
Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith MP) took up the cause enthusiastically. Mark has campaigned hard on many green and safety issues over the years.
Speaking at the launch, Mark said: “I am pleased to see that the industry has come together to raise awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be deadly. I urge my constituents to make sure they have their gas appliances checked regularly by a CORGI registered installer and fit an audible carbon monoxide detector in their home to protect themselves and their families.”
Visit the Be Carbon Monoxide Aware web site to learn more >>>
Visit Mark Lazarowicz's web site >>>
People & Parliament against Trident - March and Rally: Saturday, November 3rd
A march and rally was organised by Scotland's for Peace, (a joint initiative by Scottish religious, trade union and peace organisations) in Edinburgh on Saturday November 3rd. Some 1,000 people, plus police, gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to march up the Royal Mile, and down the Mound to a rally at the Ross Bandstand in Princes St. Gardens.
The Mound was filled with a spectacular rainbow of banners representing a wide range of groups.
Leith & North's Nick Gardner marching with the Leith Labour Party banner, spotted people from Socialist Workers, CND, SNP, the Green Party, Militant, Remember Horoshima, the Centre for Human Ecology, UNISON, Greenpeace, the Communist Party and the Iona Community. Lothian & Borders Police were out in force, calm and courteous. There were an awful lot of cameras and recording devices of a wide variety.
Among those with a Leith and North Edinburgh connection that we saw were Labour Councillors Ewan Aitken (Craigentinny/Duddingston) and Gordon Munro (Leith), SNP Councillor Rob Munn (Leith), Kevin Williamson (promoting a major new project, Bella Caledonia), Phyllis Herriot, (pensioners campaigner,) Mick Napier (Scottish Solidarity with Palestine) and Phil Attridge of Leith FM. If you were there, and saw anyone else of interest, please let us know, send a photograph, and we'll see what we can do. We also had the pleasure of seeing someone from Telford College interviewing young people in Princes St. Gardens to discover their views, and welcomed a hug from a male representative of a free hug giving group.
Scotland's For Peace >>>
Lecturers' strike over conditions for part time staff suspended
Read the full story in our features archive >>>
Telford College lecturers have been withdrawing their labour in support of temporary lecturers in a series of daily strikes. Back in May 2007, the College management announced that they planned to use a recruitment agency - Protocol National - to supply temporary lecturers. This will have an impact on part time lecturers' pension, sick pay and holiday entitlements. Not a good one.
The Telford EIS branch agreed to suspend further strike action
pending negotiations. A statement of October 12th, issued jointly with the College management starts:
"Following a series of meetings, senior managers of Edinburgh’s Telford College and EIS – FELA branch representatives have reached agreement on a series of measures which are designed to bring an end to the current dispute. This agreement will now be put to EIS members in a ballot."
More >>>
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