Flashback. Five days before the Iran war, I’m on my way to chair a round table discussion about the gaps in Glasgow’s social narrative, the human stories missing from the city’s self-knowledge. I’m a little apprehensive, aware we might stray into sensitivities expressed during my preparatory conversations. Instead, the event revealed something altogether different. As the … [Read more...] about Inside the Wall of Death, a wealth of human kindness
Glasgow
Peat Bog Soldiers: how a Scottish band contributes to a German concentration camp archive
Can a rock band make history? Not in the sense of releasing bestselling records, being garlanded with awards, or achieving notoriety through more controversial means. But rather, can a rock band actually make “History” with a capital H? Song has always been a medium through which popular tales of the past have been recounted. Scotland, for example, has a strong tradition of … [Read more...] about Peat Bog Soldiers: how a Scottish band contributes to a German concentration camp archive
Glasgow’s LEZ kills off Sylvia
Whenever I go to Glasgow to visit my uncle, David Kemp, I generally have the choice of driving or taking the train - but if I had driven today I would have incurred a £60 fine - the car I share with my grown up kids is 12 years old and doesn’t meet the standard for the city’s low emission zone that started yesterday, June 1. In fact, I don’t usually drive - one reason is that … [Read more...] about Glasgow’s LEZ kills off Sylvia
A hundred years of selling
Glasgow’s Barras celebrated its centenary on Saturday. A combination of rain and Covid warnings meant the place was quiet despite the anniversary. Christmas lights were refracted in the puddles outside the long, low, green sheds, painted with faded letters reading: “World Famous Market”. A woman was giving a tour - telling a knot of bystanders about the great days of the … [Read more...] about A hundred years of selling
COP26: Scotland’s green innovation showcase
Every year since 1994, the UN has gathered together the world’s governments at its Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference of the parties (COP), held in a different country each time. The convention’s ultimate aim is to prevent “dangerous” human interference with the climate system. The onus is on developed countries to lead the way and the convention directs … [Read more...] about COP26: Scotland’s green innovation showcase