The ‘clash of civilisations’ was predicted by Harvard professor, Samuel Huntingdon, who warned that the ending of the cold war would bring a new world order: “The great divisions among humankind and the dominating source of conflict will be cultural… The clash of civilizations will dominate global politics.“
Or not. “We want to bring that hypothesis into the open and show that it is flawed,” says Rev Brian Cooper who is organising Saturday’s event at the mosque in partnership with Mohammed Aslam, chair of the Pakistan Association of Edinburgh.
At the same time the event supported by Edinburgh Interfaith Association, aims to show that religions can promote peace and understanding between communities locally and globally. Speakers include Dr Paul Weller, Professor of Inter-Religious Relations at Derby University (who has just been appointed as one of the UK government’s national faith advisers), exploring the question “Civilisations in Conflict?’, Shah Jamal the Consul-General of Pakistan talking about the situation in Pakistan and south Asia, and Robin Harper MSP giving a Scottish political perspective.
The event is part of an ongoing conversation organised under the broad umbrella of the World Disarmament Campaign Interfaith Peace Work with Annandale Street Mosque.
A Clash of Civilisations or Towards World Harmony? is at Annandale Street Mosque on Saturday 30 January from 7.30pm.
For more information contact Mohammed Aslam 0131 556 3385 or Brian Cooper 0131 446 9545
]]>The session runs from 2.30 – 3.30pm and you will need to book a ticket in advance – just contact the library for details.
Tel 0131 529 5517 or email: leith.library@edinburgh.gov.uk
]]>Without shrinking from reality, the documentary is a celebration of the life of refugees in Edinburgh. The film, beautifully produced on a low budget by Pilton Video, was made by the refugee drama group IkaZe in collaboration with The Welcoming in 2008.
Jon Busby of The Welcoming along with one of the IkaZe film makers will be joining Mike Cowley, organiser of Red Eye, to take part in discussion after the film.
As ever, this is a free event. All are welcome.
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The ‘poetry tree’ in St Andrew Square Garden
Home is a dead tree in the garden. Well, not quite so dead now that it is fluttering with poems about home to mark Refugee Week in Edinburgh.
The poems are in many languages – Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, English – but they all focus on thoughts of home. The shortest is just three words: “Here and there” a simple reality of a new life in Edinburgh far from the home that was Pakistan. You can fill in your own emotion.
Poems about home were written at a workshop in The Welcoming led by Ryan van Winkle, Reader in Residence at the city libraries and Scottish Poetry Library. The workshop was organised by the poetry library in partnership with The Welcoming and Oxfam. Then, in pouring rain, we hung the poems on the tree near the Coffee Republic Pavillion on Monday 15 June, the start of Refugee Week.
Some of the poems will be read at a simple lunchtime event in St Andrew Square Garden (Edinburgh’s poetry garden) on Thursday between 1pm and 2pm. With luck this time the rain will stay away – but the poetry will remain on the tree until 29 June.
[PS Or will they? You better hurry – at lunchtime, today Thursday, there were empty wires where the poems had been. Ryan says he refuses to be insulted: "I hope they are decorating someone's fridge somewhere"]
In their own words: a rare chance to hear modern Iraqi writers. Meet Sinan Antoon, Hussain Al-Mozany, Betool Khedairi, Gulala Nouri and Saadi Youssef at the McDonald Road Readings.
“I also liked to sit on our roof and watch as the pigeons kept by our neighbour’s son would take their usual flight in the afternoon Baghdad sky. At times, these birds would dodge, and compete with, the kites flown by kids.” This small detail from a 2003 essay by Sinan Antoon gives a glimpse of the great privilege awaiting the audience at Tuesday’s special event in McDonald Road library (19 May 5.30 pm).
There will be other vivid images of the real Iraq – Sinan Antoon writes powerfully about war, love and life in exile from his hometown. Here is an extract from Strings, in the 2003 collection A Prism: Wet with Wars
The sobbing of a man
as he clings to the thread
running from his fingers
towards a white kite
still soaring
in the skies of his childhood
outside the cell
on his execution night
Sinan Antoon is one of five Iraqi writers, poets and film-makers who will be introduced by Ryan van Winkle at the readings event in McDonald Road Library on Tuesday 19 May between 5.30 pm and 8pm.
“I may read a poet’s work whose visa was sadly refused! really a shame…” writes Ryan, the city’s Reader in Residence, in an email promoting the event, which is just a small part of the festival of film, music and words, lasting from 14 May to 12 July. There will be many other unique opportunities to meet and listen to the extraordinary wealth of talent from a country most of us see only through the distorting images of news bulletins.
For details of films, talks, recitals and readings go to the Reel Iraq website.
Fortune-telling in shoes: The Shape of Things to Come was one of our best read stories last year.
In Homecoming year Leith Open Space will report more stories of remarkable new and old Leithers. But first news of our multicultural discussion event for women who care in March, a campaign to get women into politics and a fascinating glimpse of Scottish politics from Opening Doors ’shadow’ Francis Kahembwe. Then treat yourself to a quick world tour without leaving Leith, travel back in time to the Lost World, and pick up a free book on the way.
Natural Progression: 600 pieces of black bamboo set the scene for dance in the Botanics on midsummer night.
Poetry, politics and planting: we can look forward to a long hot summer, if events in this month’s newsletter are anything to go by. Get involved in environment politics through our Leith Open Space Opening Doors shadow scheme, and learn about an inspiring intercultural summer school. Don’t miss Dialogues of Wind and Bamboo midsummer’s event in the Botanics, look out for Poet’s Corner in Dalmeny Street, and watch Redbraes community garden grow. Come and help us plant some tatties in Persevere Garden on 21 June and relax in the Botanics on midsummer eve.
]]>Beginners’ English Class:
Mondays 2-4pm until 10th March
Improvers’ English Class:
Tuesdays 5-7pm
Visit to Scottish Parliament
Monday 10 March 1.15pm
For more information contact: Edinburgh Refugee Centre, St George’s West Church,
Tel 0131 226 1499
]]>Trouble Sleeping, directed by Robert Rae and edited by Tina Hetherington will soon be released. Watch this space as Leith Open Space Group hope to organise an outing to see the film.
For more information see www.trouble-sleeping.co.uk
]]> Thursday 8 February
2:30-4pm
Research project – Childcare in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Refugee Centre, St George’s West Church, Shandwick Place.
Rana Syed will be running a focus group at the centre to gather information for Edinburgh University research into childcare facilities in Edinburgh for ethnic minority families. She would like to hear from parents about their experiences with their children’s doctors, nurseries, primary schools etc. See Focus on Childcare for more details.
Wednesday ‘Curry Club’
12 noon to 2pm
Dr Bell’s Family Centre, Leith
A weekly pilot scheme looks set to become a regular feature thanks to the success of a join venture between volunteers from Sikh Sanjog women’s group and Dr Bell’s equally enterprising community centre. See Out to Lunch for more details.
Friday
Cookery classes at Dr Bell’s Family Centre
There is already a waiting list for the new project at the community centre. See A Healthy Interest in Food for more.
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