Welcome to summer news from Leith Open Space Group including details of an interesting programme of activities organised by Leith Community Involvement Project (see Summer in the City). There is lots more to come from Leith Open Space too and we will be contacting you again with plans for another Opening Doors shadow scheme and an exciting new Open Space event in 2008. We welcome your thoughts so don’t hesitate to get in touch or post a comment with your news and views.
in case you need reminding, this really is the summer!
July 14th, 2007
What exactly does democracy mean? The Leith Community Involvement Project has organised a ’summer school’ so local people can take part in a thought-provoking programme to stimulate debate about the connection between democracy and the lives of ordinary people.
The programme begins in August with drama in the Scottish Parliament (the theatrical kind rather than political debate!). A trip to Holyrood provides the chance to see a performance of “The Journey of Jeannie Deansâ€? following Jeannie’s journey from Edinburgh to London in an attempt to win the freedom of her sister who, she believes, has been wrongly accused of murder.
The summer school ends with a showing of Ken Loach’s film “Land and Freedomâ€?, about the questions raised by a young woman’s discovery that her grandfather fought in the Spanish Civil War.
All activities are free of charge. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT JACKIE MEARNS ON 554 9951 OR 07732471660 – she will be on holiday for two weeks from July 13.
• Friday 24th August 5pm – 6.30pm
“The Journey of Jeannie Deans� performed at the Scottish Parliament. Set in the decades following the Act of Union, this play takes Sir Walter Scott’s “Heart of Midlothian� as its basis, and documents the human drama of sisters Jeannie and Effie Deans, following Jeannie’s journey from Edinburgh to London in an attempt to win the freedom of her sister who, she believes, has been wrongly accused of murder.
• Tuesday 28th August 10am – 3.30pm
A day trip to New Lanark. This trip includes a guided tour around this beautifully restored 18th Century cotton mill village, entry to the visitors centre and a presentation on the life and philosophy of Robert Owen, the mill manager whose ideas were 100 years ahead of their time - abolishing child labour and corporal punishment, providing decent homes, schools, evening classes, free health care and affordable food.
• Friday 31st August 6.30pm – 9pm :
A showing of Land and Freedom directed by Ken Loach. A young women discovers her newly deceased grandfather, David, fought in the Spanish Civil War. But his idealism was tested as comrades were killed and the alliance disintegrated. The old man is buried. Was his struggle in vain?
The Leith Community Involvement project is funded by the Community Voices Fund and City of Edinburgh Council, Community Learning and Development.
Further events are in the pipeline, including an introduction to the Scottish Parliament and how to lobby MSPs, a women’s event and a European themed evening. Further information about these will be sent out soon. Jackie will be on annual leave from Friday 13th for two weeks,
July 14th, 2007
