THERE is a focus on political issues viewed in a fresh way this Friday, the final one of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace, starting with Churches Own 8% of the Planet at St John's (Venue 127) at 10am.
This conversation discusses the responsibility of churches as major
landowners and issues such as environmentalism, co-operation and
collaboration. Featuring Martin Palmer from the Alliance of Religions and
Conservation and the Rt Rev Dr John Armes, Diocese of Edinburgh.
Two more conversations
come lunchtime: at noon, we ask What is Uprising in Syria?, with
Sadarat Kadri, international law barrister, Dr Mounier Atassi, Syrian
organiser of a Glasgow protest again the regime, and Dr Thomas
Pierret, University of Edinburgh lecturer in Contempotary Islam.
At 2pm, a more unusual
conversation, Our Friend Death. Join the writer of sitcom 'Roger and
Val', in which death features prominently, Arthur Smith, one of
Britain's premier comedians, and John Lanchester, author of 'Capital'.
Chaired by Richard Smith, international advocate for a better
understanding of death and dying.
The final conversation
of the day will be Bosnia Twenty Years On at 6pm, the second of our
Feature Conversations. On the twentieth anniversary of the conflict
in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mustafa Ceric, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, the Rev Donald Reeves, the Director of the Soul of Europe
and Professor Hugh Goddard of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal centre
for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World come together to
discuss the legacy of the conflict.
Also at 6pm will be the
last chance to see The Scottish Six, which has created a really positive stir in Edinburgh. Lesley Riddoch and Andy Wightman discuss land, power, culture and social change in the Scotland of today and tomorrow.
On the literary side of
things, there will be another session of Poetry in the Persian Tent
at 11am with an all-woman line-up: Vicki Feaver, Jane McKie and
Patricia Ace will be sharing their poetry, joined by Irene Railley
and her a capella group Just Voices.
After this will come a
whole evening of poetry, starting at 8pm with Wolf at the Door – a
Collaboration of Eco-Poetry and Soundings between Mairi Campbell and
Em Strang. Weaving together word and sound, they will bring a whole
new meaning to mouth music.
At 8pm in the Hall will
be Duncan Mackintosh's second and final Evening with Rumi, followed by
your second chance to see Milosz in Living Pictures.
There will also be two
workshops, Henna Workshop for Beginners at 4pm and The Long and
Winding Road at 7pm, an informal free session for people in their
late teens and early twenties to share their experiences of journeys
and travelling.
As ever, a full and
diverse day of events and entertainment and one final chance to see
some of our great events before the Festival closes.
