Hands of friendship from Poland

POLISH communities make up a rich and important part of the life of Edinburgh, as well as other places in Scotland and across these islands.

Kapela Dudziarska from Poznan, Poland and BARKA presented and played some evocative and emotionally charged music from their homeland, to rapturous applause at the closing event and celebration for Just Festival 2013.

"The common resonance of the string sound and a distinctive Polish bagpipes with the pipes known and loved in Scotland was very noticeable," one audience member noted.

The band played five different short tunes and have been collaborating with Scotpipe on a charity concert.

BARKA is a Polish homeless group, and has been raising money across Edinburgh in festival season, collecting £310 so far.

The aim is help to rehabilitate people of who have become homeless while in the UK, and it has been going for some 20 years now. "Thank you for supporting us," was the message to Just.  The Polish Centre for Culture and Education also brought a message of greeting this evening.

Beata Skobodzinska, the coordinator of Just Festival, who has done another remarkable job this year, hails from Poland herself.

"Since she joined the festival in 2012 as the Festival Administrator, the office has been a very happy place full of laughter and an occassional Polish song," commented colleague Annika Wolf.

The Polish community has been established in Scotland for many years, since at the end of the Second World War many veterans settled after being posted here. When Poland joined the EU in 2001, an opportunity arrived for a new generation of Polish immigrants to work and study in the UK.

Polish immigrants are currently the largest group of immigrant workers in the city, with the health, further education and tourism sectors accounting for the majority of employers. The City of Edinburgh Council estimates that Edinburgh’s Polish community consists of 8,000 residents.

Many have formed their own community networks and have settled in areas such as Leith, London Road and Marchmont. A variety of Polish shops, services and cafes are available throughout the city region, especially in Edinburgh.

TONIGHT AT 8pm: Just together... a celebration!

TONIGHT at 8pm, we celebrate what has been another extraordinary and record-breaking Just Festival (formerly the Festival of Spirituality and Peace) with a 'wrap event' at St John's Church.

Scots pipers will welcome us in and see us out. There will be a swansong or two for Just from the amazing Africa Entsha - of course - along with dance from Ragmala, Polish music, a cameo from Creepie Stool, a reflection from Rabbi Rosen, the Just Festival volunteers bursting into song, and more...

We also look forward to hearing from festival director Katherine Newbigging and chair of the hard-working board, Raymond Baudon.  There will be refreshments in the church hall afterwards.

But don't get the idea that this is the end of Just for 2013!

We will still have a full day left, Monday 26th August. That will be your last chance to see the moving Tejas Verdes, to reflect on Living Our Values, to meet Young Peacemakers, to hear the Canto del Paradiso, to be moved by Sacred Earth, to hear Africa Entsha, to see Creepie Stool... and to answer the question (in a multi-ethnic, multicultural, multi-belief society), "More Tea Imam?"

Also, of course, you can have a final peak at the remarkable In Sight of Peace photo-exhibition: Ian Berry of Magnum offers a unique view of South Africa, past and present, in its quest to leave apartheid behind - without forgetting the torment, and while learning the lessons.

Further previews of all of those events coming up soon here on Just Festival News...

Meantime, Just Together, the official closing event - tonight, 8pm, St John's Church Edinburgh (corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road, venue 127).

It's free, but donations to our charities, Mary's Meals and Waverley Care, and to the ongoing work of Just, will be welcome.

Seeds of bitterness, milk of kindness...

THE recent revelations about direct CIA involvement in the 1953 Iranian coup d'état (known in Iran as the 28 Mordad coup) bring back very personal memories for Yousef Ahadi, who heads up the operation at the Persian Tent.

The overthrow of the democratically elected government of Iran, and of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, took place on 19 August 1953, orchestrated by the UK (under the name 'Operation Boot') and the United States (under the name TPAJAX Project).

Yousef's mother was taking part in a protest against the dictatorship, with Yousef alongside her... the outcome of which is that he reckons the CIA owe him at least a bottle of milk!

Much more seriously, though, he explains in this interview with Just Festival News why the latest revelations need to bring about a real change of heart in the West - and in the world as a whole - away from violence and injustice, and towards a better way of living together.

The legacy of the bitterness between Iran and the West can be found in part in the tragic events which unfolded 60 years ago this month. You can also find out more about Yousef's mother's story here.

Listen to the full podcast here.

Participation is the key to Scotland's future

THINKING Together: Co-Creating Peace is underway at the Quaker Meeting House in central Edinburgh, as part of Just Festival and the Quaker festival lecture series.

More a workshop and discussion than a presentation, the emphasis is on how dialogue, creativity, empowerment, participation and networking can help to generate the democratic innovation needed for developing Scotland's future in a positive way.

Obviously the upcoming independence referendum has focussed attention on where the country is going, but the idea of this evening is not to get into a 'yes' versus 'no' debate, but to see how people in Scotland can find new ways of working together whatever the outcome of 2014.

Inspired by a process used in Iceland, and supported by a bevy of collaborating partners and volunteers, So Say Scotland hosted their first Citizens' Assembly earlier this year.

 'Thinking Together' was and is a people's process, drawing on an enabled gathering of 76 people at the galvanising event, who were encouraged to "exercise their democratic muscle".

Issues of what we mean by and want from welfare, environment, economy, politics and more came to the fore in the conversations - starting with the sharing of values.

"There is an energy that comes from coming together",  one participant said. The process was designed to ensure that all voices were heard, with an opportunity for people to gather and synthesise ideas themselves, rather than have it done for them or to them.

So say Scotland says: "Participative and deliberative democracy is a complement to and an evolution of representative democracy: anywhere a citizen gets closer to the decision making process and does that in collaboration with others.

"Every process and tool has different elements of participation and deliberation, understanding this is also essential to effective use of the process and tools. Deliberation can be defined as ‘an exchange of reasons aimed at transforming the preference of others’.

This means things like: Open Space, World Café, Wisdom Councils, Referendums, Cooperatives/Employee Ownership, Community Land Buy Out, Citizen Assemblies/Juries/Panels & Deliberative Polling, Participatory Budgeting, Pupils Councils, DEMOCS, and Co‐production.

More information here.

Rethinking the financial crisis

EXPLANATIONS of our latest financial crisis are polarised, with emotive stories about immoral financiers going up against dry, supposedly scientific 'rules'.

Tim Johnson, a mathematics researcher from Heriot-Watt University, argues that the truth lies somewhere between the two.

We need to let go of many fixed notions if we are to really get to grips with the economic crisis and other big problems – climate change, pandemic flu and genetic modification included, he suggests.

Brought to you by the Beltane Network and the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas.

Today, Sunday 18th August, 2pm. Venue: The Famous Spiegeltent 54 George Street,  Edinburgh, EH2 2LR - See more here.

Tea, cake and death?

IN an age and western culture which often prides itself on its openness, death remains a taboo subject for many - or at least one that is skirted around rather prosaically.

Yet the one thing we human beings can be certain of is that we will all die. Traditionally, religion and other spiritual paths have been committed to enabling us to face death positively, not simply because of particular and differing beliefs about what might follow, but in order to be able to live without fear and make the most of life.

At 'Death Cafés' people come together in a relaxed and safe setting to discuss death, drink tea and eat delicious cake. It might sound unusual, but a light-hearted natter can the darkness out of the subject, whether you believe in life beyond death (and life) or not.

Two such Cafés are taking place as part of the 2013 Just Festival, both at Punjab’n De Rasoi on Leith Walk, EH6 5DT. The first is this afternoon, 3-5pm, Saturday 10th August. The second is next Saturday, 17th August, between the same times.

On both occasions, Punjab’n De Rasoi will provide traditional refreshments served at a Sikh funeral.

Message from the Scottish government

THE Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs in the Scottish Government, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, was iunable to be at the opening of Just Festival yesterday, but sent a personal message of greeting.

"Once again the Scottish Government is delighted to be supporting the Just Festival, which now has a new name and is in its thirteenth year.

"As ever, the vibrant multi-cultural mix of the Festival is a key feature of its continuing popularity and it is great to see a continued commitment to building positive relations within the diverse communities of Scotland.

"Each year, there are some fantastic and engaging talks on important topics such as peace-making, the future of Scotland and working to eliminate sectarianism and discrimination.

"We wish the Just Festival and all involved in it the very best for their busy programme."

Flagging up a greeting...

FROM the beginning of August until the beginning of September, creative artist Peter Liversidge is inviting anyone in the city of Edinburgh with a flagpole to fly a white flag which bears the text: HELLO.

The project stems from a desire to remind us that in its most basic sense, the flag is not a nationalistic or tribal banner, but a form of HELLO: “a greeting, an indication of intent be that benevolent or with malice”.

In a city which doubles in size each August, as festival season begins, Liversidge’s initiative invites Edinburgh, visitors and residents alike, to join in a collective and universal greeting.

Flags for Edinburgh is one of 10 new public art commissions for Edinburgh Art Festival 2013 and its is being promoted by, among others, Just Festival. St John's Church is one of the public venues that will be 'flying the flag'.

Read more about the Edinburgh Flags Project here.