Making a difference with money

WE all like to think that it isn't just money that makes the world go round, but when we look at our everyday lives it's amazing what a big role it plays. 

Shopping, saving, borrowing... we do it all the time. Fairtrade and ethical local banking are two areas where it's possible to make a difference and to signal a different kind of economy - one where justice, fairness and sharing are priorities not add ons.

These issues are being discussed in detail at Just Festival today. Read all about it here!

Busy Saturday at Just

THERE are six events taking place on Saturday 3rd August, ahead of the 'Just Starting' festival opening at 6pm in the hall at St John's (corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road) tonight. 

Those arriving a bit early can pick up tickets at St John's from the cash box office and enjoy some refreshments in the Persian Tent (pictured), as well as a specific chance to 'Discover Iran and Persia' (4-6pm, free).

'Just faith explores' from 10am-12pm (hall, donation). Then there is a performance of the acclaimed Tejas Verdes, remembering the 40th anniversary of the Chilean coup (12.30-1.40pm, hall, £7).

A different take on economics and everyday life is the focus with 'Fairtrade Matters' (2-5pm hall, £6) and 'What's Your Money Doing?' (4-5pm, church, donation).

In between is 'North East Japan Spirit' (tea ceremony, 2-3pm, church, $10 and $8 concs.). As always, full details and booking links are on the website, or you can visit the box office outside the church..

Festival timetable

HERE'S that all-important full list of Just Festival events, running from 2nd to 26th August 2013, in date order. 

Just click here to view or download the Festival Timetable in *.PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format.

Getting ready for the drama...

THE Just Festival in Edinburgh will get off to a dramatic start with appearances from the cast of Tejas Verdes and Singing I'm no a Billy he's a Tim at its official opening event on 3 August 2013.

Both are part of the festival's performance programme of music, dance, theatre and spoken word.

The former deals movingly with the 1973 coup in Chile, and the latter spotlights the challenge of sectarianism closer to home.

Free and open to all, the 'Just starting' event will take place from 6-7pm in the atmospheric St John's Church on Princes Street, followed by a reception in the hall until 9pm.  More here.

Our picture shows people gathering for the first performances in the Just Festival on Friday 2 August. 

Peace in the frame

THERE was a positive, thoughtful response to Ian Berry's captivating photos at the opening and press call for the acclaimed In Sight of Peace exhibition at St John's Church Hall this afternoon.

Capturing both daily life and struggle during the apartheid era, as well as the emergence of the new South Africa, the exhibition of monochrome prints is both poignant and inspiring.

"It brought back some powerful memories and also reminded me of what the phenomenon of Nelson Mandela's release from prison and emergence on the world stage really meant," one visitor told us.

The Magnum Photos travelling exhibition, in association with Just Festival, is sponsored by the Centre for Theology and Public Issues (CPTI) at the University of Edinburgh and the Binks Trust.

Curated by Dr Geoffrey Stevenson and Brian Fischbacher, In Sight of Peace forms part of a project on Peacebuilding Through Media Arts, directed by Professor Jolyon Mitchell - who will also be speaking at two forthcoming Just events.

A short podcast interview with Dr Stevenson will appear on Just Festival News shortly.

A particular tie-in with this exhibit is 'The Role of photojournalism in peacebuilding', a conversation with Ian Berry and others, from 2-3pm in the hall at St John's on 14 August (£5).

Up and running at last

THE 2013 Just Festival got underway today, with the aroma of anticipation giving way to a buzz of excitement.

Around 150 metres worth of tickets, many thousands' worth, have been sold through the Hub and the Fringe already.

The keen volunteers in the on-site cash box office at St John's Church - volunteers from Bologna in Italy and Melbourne in Australia, respectively - told Just Festival News this afternoon that they have already been busy.

That word will probably be swapped for 'hectic' in the very near future. But customers are guaranteed a warm welcome and good service from the Just team.

The official festival opening event, 'Just starting' is tomorrow evening (Saturday 3rd August) at St John's.

It will give a good flavour of the mix of culture, performance and conversation on offer - in the case of members of Sikh Sanjog women's project in Leith, who will be running Punjabi cookery workshops during the festival.

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.

Fiesty flamenco flashmob gets Edinburgh festivaling

OVER fifty dancers helped a mixture of Edinburghers and international visitors get in the mood for festival season by bringing flamenco, flambouyancy and a good deal of fun to the streets this evening.

After several days of rumours, the venue for the flashmob was finally revealed The Mound, near the RSA, at 6pm on Thursday 1st August. Dancers came from all over Scotland's capital, after a call out from event partners Hispanic Arts Scotland and Just Festival to residents of Wester Hailes and Craigmillar.

The estates have enjoyed a series of free local classes ahead of the event, as well as others hosted by the national dance agency Dance Base. For many participants this has been their first opportunity to learn to dance and perform in public.

The Edinburgh Evening news captured the event in an online video which you can watch here.

PRESS CALL: acclaimed South Africa photo exhibition

MEDIA representatives (press, broadcast and social media) are invited to attend a special opening and preview of an exhibition of work from internationally acclaimed Magnum photographer Ian Berry, focussing on South Africa under apartheid and beyond.

The opening, which will provide a unique insight into Berry’s work, takes place on Friday 2nd August from 4pm – 5.30pm at St John’s Church, Edinburgh (corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road). It is part of the innovative Just Festival 2013.

In Sight of Peace bears eloquent witness to South Africa’s extraordinary journey from segregation and inequality towards justice, peace and reconciliation.

Still moving and challenging today, these iconic images span the years from the 1960 Sharpeville massacre to the free election of President Nelson Mandela and the ‘Rainbow Nation’ reconstruction years.

The frailty of former President Mandela himself at present adds a particular poignancy to these outstanding photograph’s and images of personal struggle and social change.

Magnum Photos (www.magnumphotos.com) is a well known and highly regarded cooperative agency with offices in London, Paris, Tokyo and New York, founded in 1947 by Henri Cartier Bresson, Robert Capa and others.

The exhibition will be open weekdays from 10:00 -14:00 in August | 8 15, 22 Aug • 18:00 – 22:00 | 4, 11, 18, 25 Aug • 10:00 – 14:00. St John’s Church hall, EH2 4BJ.

* RSVP for the opening and preview: simon.barrow@ekklesia.co.uk

* For more information on Insights of Peace, visit www.insightofpeace.org.uk or contact to Geoffrey Stevenson, g.stevenson@ed.ac.uk

Festival's 'compassionate heart'

WHAT is Just all about? Edinburgh Spotlight has an interesting comment in its preview and comment on our launch.

"It would be unfair to suggest that Edinburgh’s other festivals shy away from moral, political and social issues. However, by curating a series of events and performances which both celebrate and highlight the importance of the world’s cultural and ethical diversity, the Just Festival could perhaps be described as the festival season’s compassionate heart."

The picture is of Africa Entsha performing live in the beautiful and historic setting of St John's, the major venue for Just events - though there are 28 in all.

Read the full article here.