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Gordon Munro

About Gordon Munro

Gordon Munro is Labour councillor for Leith Ward, stood as Labour candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith in the 2017 general election and is chair of the Scottish Poetry Library.

Voices for humanity: Max Richter’s quiet protest

December 5, 2020 by Gordon Munro Leave a Comment

Screenshot, from Max Richter's Mercy, official music video by Yulia Mahr

‘If we get back to public performance in time the piece is tailor made to open next year’s Edinburgh International Festival – at its source is the same inspiration that reached out a hand to the vanquished of the Second World War and also led to the creation of the first festival in 1947. It would be apt too given that Max Richter studied at Edinburgh University’.

Scottish councils at breaking point

November 1, 2020 by Gordon Munro Leave a Comment

‘This will not be unique to Scotland’s capital but does illustrate the double bind that local government is in with COVID-19: tackling the problems created along with the cost of doing so with insufficient funding and still having to make cuts of £39m at the same time. This is where the unallocated monies and the underspend can be used especially now in this time of great need.’

Willie Hunter 1940-2020

August 15, 2020 by Gordon Munro Leave a Comment

‘He suffered from depression, remarking once that ‘I’ve written books and poems to self-medicate my depression’. Poetry as medicine for dementia and depression is why the passing of Willie Hunter footballer, poet and ambassador is a loss to poetry as well as those that knew him.’

Optimism of the will in Future Library

May 16, 2020 by Gordon Munro Leave a Comment

Looking up into a canopy of old conifers at The Hermitage in Perthshire

Camus speaks for our era: ‘The time of the irresponsible artists is over… The freedom of art is not worth much when its only purpose is to assure the artists comfort‘. Katie Paterson’s work (Future Library) takes that observation and invocation to heart. Go see it however you can…

Scottish council cuts: enough is enough

March 10, 2020 by Gordon Munro Leave a Comment

‘Without real and substantive change in council funding, both fiscal and legislative, then the only budget option for councils will be more cuts, fewer services, fewer workers.’

Cheaper and more democratic than the Fringe

August 7, 2019 by Gordon Munro Leave a Comment

“Essentially, this is a democratisation of the arts that is most welcome.” Gordon Munro’s pick of exciting new work in Edinburgh Festival – at prices cheaper than Fringe shows.

Strike now for the future – we have a world to win

July 1, 2019 by Gordon Munro Leave a Comment

Young people on Global Climate strike in London March 2019. Picture by Garry Knight

Children around the globe are right to go on strike, and we must listen to them. Gordon Munro explains why

Slaves of Fashion: from Punjab to Paisley

July 9, 2018 by Gordon Munro Leave a Comment

A portrait of Donald Trump, in blue tie, image by Ninian Reid CC By 2.0

As the increasingly unstable UK awaits Donald Trump’s visit, Gordon Munro commends an exhibition challenging west-centric views of trade and art with a portrayal of Trump as King Cotton, the new face of western capitalism. Could we see it in Edinburgh?

The power of words: on and after Holocaust Memorial Day

February 1, 2018 by Gordon Munro Leave a Comment

The power of words was the theme for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day. Gordon Munro reports on how Jewish poets/authors and others wrote about and recorded the (hidden) atrocities occurring in 1942 onwards and asks today’s governments to match fine words with the right deeds to prevent any repetition.

Council cuts: who wields the knife?

November 18, 2017 by Gordon Munro Leave a Comment

Scottish Parliament by Ryan Knight CC BY-NC 2.0

“It is cartoon politics to portray Westminster as the baddie in respect of funding and powers for councils when there is a steadfast refusal by Holyrood to use its powers to prevent cuts to councils..” Gordon Munro on the funding crisis facing Scottish councils.

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